Merkley: Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill Advances in the U.S. Senate, Includes Key Priorities for Oregon

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee—announced today the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 cleared a key hurdle by passing out of the EPW Committee.

WRDA is critical, bipartisan legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects and policy initiatives in Oregon and across the nation. This includes maintaining Oregon’s ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, and other water infrastructure, as well as supporting flood and coastal storm management and ecosystem restoration work. The bipartisan bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote.

“WRDA 2026 has a lot of wins for our state, and I am pleased these critical Oregon priorities are one step closer to becoming law. I’ll keep fighting to ensure our waterways and water infrastructure are well-maintained and resilient for generations to come,” said Merkley, who helped write the bill as a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Oregon’s coast and rivers are the lifeblood of our state. Updating and modernizing aging water infrastructure—including ports, levees, dams and much more—will better prepare our communities for droughts and floods and improve access to safe, reliable drinking water.”

WRDA 2026 includes several projects and policy initiatives that benefit Oregon:

Cole Rivers Hatchery – Prioritizes the completion of the hatchery project.

Columbia River Treaty – Extends the flood risk management provision from the Columbia River Treaty through 2029.

Columbia River Clean-Up Act – Includes this bill led by Senator Merkley and Representative Hoyle (OR-04) to reauthorize the region’s Geographic Program that helps reduce toxins in the Basin.

Coos Bay – Clarifies that in the construction of the container port, the Corps will be responsible for routine maintenance up until the authorized depth level.

Financial Assistance for Drawdown Impacted Communities – Authorizes a new Environmental Infrastructure Authority at $33 million for communities impacted by deep drawdowns in the Willamette Valley System and provides a mechanism for communities to access Emergency Army Corps funding for emergency clean water supply.

Flood Risk Reduction – Authorizes a feasibility study for a flood risk reduction and watershed resilience project in Hood River County.

Harmful Algal Blooms – Authorizes a project to mitigate harmful algal blooms at Ross Island Lagoon.

Leaburg and McKenzie Hatchery Water Supply – Authorizes a feasibility study for the water supply at this fish hatchery.

Lower Columbia River Turning Basin Improvements – Authorizes the construction of improvements to the Turning Basin near Longview, Washington, to enhance safety on the Columbia River.

Tillamook Bay – Authorizes the establishment of a stepped channel and routine dredging at the entrance of Tillamook Bay to reduce hazards of breaking surf and restore predictable navigation conditions to the bay.

Section 219 Environmental Infrastructure Authority – Modifies the most significant Environmental Infrastructure authority, Section 219, to allow non-Federal interests to lead design and construction and receive reimbursement for the Federal share of costs, which will streamline implementation and lower costs.

Dredged Material Management Plan – Modifies the cost share to alleviate financial burdens for the construction of aquatic disposal facilities to hold dredged material.

Aquatic Nuisance Funding – Modifies the cost share for the Corps’ Aquatic Invasive Species Program to 35 percent.

Land Use – Removes restrictive covenants for federal land for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Small Ports – Prioritizes the publication of implementation guidance from WRDA 2024 to assist with projects at emerging harbors (marina dredging).

WRDA 2026 also contains critical Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water infrastructure programs under the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act. Highlights include:

Strengthening the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which provide funding for water and wastewater projects across the country.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) – $3.5 billion per year.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) – $3.75 billion in FY 2027, increasing by $25 billion each year to reach $4.5 billion by FY 2030.

Authorizes new uses for the Drinking Water SRF for rural and high-fire-risk communities that have projects that benefit drinking water and fire suppression activities.

Increasing funding for the Merkley-created program Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to $65 million.

Supporting key programs and initiatives to reduce plastics in our environment such as:

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program at $55 million.

The Trash Free Waters Program at $10 million.

The drinking water and wastewater infrastructure grant program at $10 million each.

A new study, championed by Merkley, directing the EPA to evaluate new and upcoming technologies to help identify, classify, capture, and potentially remove micro and nano plastics from drinking water and wastewater systems.

Establishing new grant programs to enhance cybersecurity resiliency in our water systems, allow water systems to incorporate digital technology modernization into their systems, and support point-of-use filtration for households.

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Merkley, Krishnamoorthi Fight Back Against Predatory For-Profit Colleges Scamming Students with Worthless College Degrees

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) reintroduced legislation to protect students from predatory higher-education programs—which are often run by for-profit colleges—that target financially vulnerable students, leave borrowers buried in debt, and force taxpayers to foot the bill for federal aid that never delivered on its promise.

The bicameral Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act ensures that predatory and worthless degree programs are ineligible for federal financial aid dollars. Merkley and Krishnamoorthi’s updated bill also responds to the Trump Administration’s recent attacks on college affordability, including a final rule that fails to ensure that federal student aid only flows to programs that keep their commitments to students and delays accountability for students enrolled in programs that prepare them for occupations where a majority of workers receive tipped income.

“Students should not be saddled with a worthless degree or mountains of debt for pursuing the dream of higher education,” said Merkley. “The Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act restores common-sense protections so graduates are not left with unmanageable debt and ensures that federal funds are not going toward worthless college degrees. This is a win-win for both students and taxpayers—delivering on the promise of quality education, meaningful career opportunities, and the responsible investment of federal financial aid dollars.”

“Students should never spend years earning a degree, take on tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and then discover they were never actually qualified for the career they were promised,” said Krishnamoorthi. “Higher education should be a pathway to the middle class—not a pipeline to debt. Our bill ensures colleges receiving taxpayer dollars actually prepare students for the careers they promise.”

The bicameral Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act would:

Ensure that students and taxpayers are not left footing the bill for predatory and worthless degree programs by making these programs ineligible for federal education assistance funds.

Restore a strong debt-to-earnings standard for for-profit college programs and non-degree certificate programs at any school so that programs that consistently leave graduates with unmanageable debt relative to their earnings lose access to federal aid.

Ensure that the earnings premium test, which measures whether the typical graduate from a program who received federal aid is earning at least as much as a typical high school graduate, applies to undergraduate certificate programs.

Guarantee that programs that prepare students for employment in occupations where a majority of workers receive tipped income are not subject to a one-year delay in program eligibility consequences.

Require all programs—including distance education programs—to meet any federal or state licensure requirements and programmatic accreditation that is necessary for graduates to enter their intended field.

Ensure that states can apply and enforce their laws against online schools based in other states to provide consistent student protections.

The Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act is cosponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL-07). The bill is endorsed by The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), New America’s Higher Education Program, Third Way, EdTrust, The Century Foundation, and AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services.

“This bill takes important steps to protect students from worthless degrees that do not lead to the jobs they were promised and builds on efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted on programs that do not deliver for students,” said Christopher Madaio, Senior Advisor for Federal and State Accountability at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS).

“Students deserve confidence that the degrees they pursue will open doors—not leave them with broken promises or unaffordable debt. By codifying and strengthening accountability for low-financial-value programs, this legislation reinforces the principle that federal dollars should support programs that deliver real opportunity and economic mobility. Third Way applauds Senator Merkley and Representative Krishnamoorthi for their leadership in protecting students and safeguarding taxpayers’ investment in higher education,” said Michelle Dimino, Director of Education at Third Way,

“Students deserve programs that deliver real economic opportunity, not mountains of unaffordable debt. The Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act would help restore meaningful accountability in higher education and protect students from low-value, often predatory programs,” said Carolyn Fast, Director of Higher Education Policy and Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation.

“Research has consistently shown that the number one reason students go to college is to get a good job. This bill takes a meaningful step towards ensuring students can get that job and earn enough to be able to repay the debt they take on when they enroll,” said Wesley Whistle, Project Director for Student Success & Affordability at New America.

Previously, Merkley led the charge to overturn a new rule that caps federal student loans and overhauls the student loan system. He also wrote the Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) Act to better protect student loan borrowers from unaffordable payments and runaway balances due to rapidly accruing interest, while offering a clearer path to debt relief after at least a decade of payments.

Full text of the Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act can be found by clicking here.

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NEW: Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Aviation Safety After Slackline-Helicopter Tragedy

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), and U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-OR-02) and Val Hoyle (D-OR-04) introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, with support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).

The new bipartisan legislation would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address urgent aviation safety issues by reviewing and updating existing safeguards for temporary obstructions in the low-altitude airspace, such as slacklines.

“Strengthening aviation safety is something that both Republicans and Democrats can get behind, especially following the tragic slackline collision that took the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,” said Merkley. “The FAA must do all it can to keep the flying public safe, and our bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act directs the agency to prioritize aviation safety. We must move swiftly to reduce the risk of any similar tragedy in the future.”

“High-adventure activities in Utah, like slacklining, should not come at the cost of aviation safety, particularly for helicopter pilots who transport patients, fight wildfires, and support search and rescue missions,” said Curtis. “Our bipartisan bill takes a practical look at where the FAA can modernize its policies, improve coordination, and reduce unnecessary risks so everyone sharing our airspace can do so more safely.”

“This tragic accident claimed cherished members of two Oregon families far too soon, and our hearts remain with everyone suffering this profound loss. As we look ahead, it is my hope that meaningful changes can be made to ensure a tragedy like this is never repeated,” said Bentz. “This legislation directs the FAA to review and update low altitude airspace safety regulations to help prevent similar incidents in the future.”

“Last January’s deadly helicopter crash in Arizona exposed a serious safety challenge in low-altitude airspace. I’ve been vocal in the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee that action is needed so this kind of tragedy doesn’t happen again,” said Hoyle. “Oregonians know the value of both outdoor recreation and aviation, and we all share a responsibility to ensure that pilots, first responders and wildfire crews have the visibility and information they need to operate safely.”

“Congress must act with urgency to ensure federal regulators are taking every possible step to prevent low-flying aircraft crashes with slacklines like the tragedy that cost the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,” said Wyden. “This bill would accomplish that goal by setting deadlines for the Federal Aviation Administration to update and improve its policies and regulations for low-altitude airspace safety.”

“David, Katelyn, Rachel, and Faith lost their lives in an Arizona helicopter crash that never should have happened. I’ve met with their family. No one should have to go through what they’ve been through. This bill makes sure the FAA acts quickly to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,” said Kelly.

The McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act follows a deadly helicopter crash caused by a collision with a slackline on January 2, 2026, that tragically claimed the lives of four Oregonians—David McCarty and his three nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman. The bipartisan bill would instruct the FAA to use its authorities to review existing policies and regulations related to low-altitude airspace safety, including identifying appropriate policy, operational, or technical improvements such as updated requirements related to markings on slacklines.

Previously, Oregon’s U.S. Senators pressed the FAA on implementing emergency safety actions following the deadly crash.

The bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act is supported by key stakeholders and organizations, including the Vertical Aviation International (VAI), National Transportation Aviation Association (NATA), Balloon Federation of America (BFA), United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA), Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), BackcountryPilot.org, American Spray Drone Coalition, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Life Flight Network, National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), Commercial Drone Alliance, and Southern Utah University (SUU) Aviation.

On behalf of the McCarty and Heideman family, “We are very grateful and excited to see the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act be introduced. It is a crucial and urgent step towards making the airspace safer for pilots, passengers, cargo, and anyone using the airspace for work or recreation. We look forward to working on getting this across the finish line!”

“No family should ever have to endure the heartbreak our community has experienced. While nothing can erase the unimaginable loss suffered by the McCarty and Heideman families, we are deeply grateful that Senator Merkley’s legislation seeks to turn this tragedy into meaningful action. If it can prevent even one family from experiencing the same pain, it will stand as a lasting legacy to David, Rachel, Katelyn, Faith, and the families who have endured so much,” said Oregon State Representative Bobby Levy.

“Sen. Merkley’s bill takes an important step toward improving safety for pilots, crews, passengers, and the communities they serve. The Arizona accident was a tragic reminder of the serious risk temporary suspended obstructions can pose to low-altitude aircraft. This legislation focuses on practical steps to improve pilot awareness and help prevent future accidents,” said François Lassale, President and CEO, VAI.

“The National Air Transportation Association appreciates Senator Merkley’s attention to low-altitude airspace safety through the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, which will improve awareness and communication around temporary obstructions. Safety is central to NATA’s mission, and a thoughtful FAA review can help reduce avoidable risks in the National Airspace System,” said NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna.

“Wildfire airspace overlaps public lands and recreation. Formal coordination with the FAA, Forest Service, BLM, and Park Service—paired with real outreach and right sized penalties for creating low altitude hazards—prevents tragedies before they happen. We strongly support this bill and urge swift passage,” said Paul Peterson, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighters Association.

“As a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot and the CEO of an air medical organization whose crews fly thousands of low-altitude flights each year, I know firsthand how critical it is to identify and mitigate hazards before they become tragedies. This legislation reflects the kind of collaborative, data-driven approach that has long made aviation safer. We appreciate Senator Merkley’s leadership in bringing together industry and government to make our national airspace safer for everyone,” said Ben Clayton, CEO, Life Flight Network.

“AMOA appreciates Senator Merkley’s leadership in advancing this legislation and his commitment to improving helicopter safety through a thoughtful FAA review and collaboration with industry stakeholders,” said Sally Veith, Executive Director, Air Medical Operators Association.

“NASAO supports efforts to strengthen aviation safety in low-altitude airspace. Ensuring that temporary obstructions are properly identified and that pilots have access to accurate, timely information is critical to a safe national aviation system. We commend Senator Merkley for his leadership in introducing this bill,” said Gregory Pecoraro, President & CEO, National Association of State Aviation Officials.

“The National Agricultural Aviation Association firmly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act. The requirements this act places on the FAA will help ensure no more aviators operating in the low altitude airspace lose their life because of an unmarked slackline or other hazard strung across the landscape,” said Matthew Woolard, President, National Agricultural Aviation Association.

“The American Spray Drone Coalition (ASDC) strongly endorses the ‘McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act,’ reflecting our deep commitment to promoting high standards of low-altitude airspace safety for both crewed and uncrewed aviators. By directing the FAA to review existing safety policies, this legislation takes a critical first step toward assessing necessary improvements for temporary obstruction markings and ensuring obstacle data can be seamlessly integrated into modern digital flight planning tools,” said Eric Ringer, President, American Spray Drone Association.

“The tragic slackline crash earlier this year underscored the importance of ensuring pilots have better awareness of potential hazards when operating at low altitude,” said Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). “The McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act would direct the FAA to make common-sense but important changes to improve awareness for crewed and uncrewed aircraft alike, helping prevent tragedies like this one from happening again. We applaud Senator Merkley for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with him to advance our shared vision of an airspace with zero collisions.”

Full text of the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act as introduced in the Senate can be found by clicking here.

This press release has been updated.

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Senator Moody Works with HHS to Make Food in Florida Hospitals Healthier and Praises Tampa General Being the First to Sign the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody is working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make food in Florida hospitals healthier. Today, Tampa General became the very first hospital in the nation to sign the HHS Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge. The hospitals that sign the pledge are committing to providing healthier, more nutritious food for patients. Tampa General has pledged to limit ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, added sugar, deep fried foods, and so many more menu items that contribute to chronic disease.

“If any place should serve healthy food, I think we can all agree, it’s a hospital. I’m excited Tampa General is leading the charge by signing on to the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge. This announcement comes after my office has worked with HHS to find ways to ensure Florida is at the forefront of improving our nation’s health,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“Hospitals exist to heal people, and the food they serve should help patients recover—not contribute to the chronic disease that brought so many there in the first place. That’s why the Trump administration launched the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge. Every patient deserves real, nutritious food that supports healing. I commend Tampa General Hospital for leading by example and encourage every hospital to join us,” saidSecretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“Real food starts with America’s farmers and ranchers, who produce the safest, most abundant food supply in the world. President Trump has made it clear that making America healthy again begins with putting wholesome, American-grown food back at the center of our institutions. USDA is proud to partner with Secretary Kennedy and HHS to ensure more wholesome, nutrient-dense food reaches our schools, hospitals, and communities. We are thrilled Tampa General is joining this pledge, because when we connect patients and families with American-grown foods, we strengthen public health while supporting the hardworking producers who make it all possible,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins.

BACKGROUND:

As part of the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge, hospitals that sign the pledge commit to aligning patient food services with the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. That means they plan to:

Limit ultra-processed foods.

Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.

Ensure meals limit added sugar.

Limit processed meats and foods high in added sugars, sodium, and artificial additives.

Emphasize whole grains over refined grains.

Prioritize minimally processed proteins, including plant-based options.

Emphasize vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, seafood, and healthy fats.

Use baked, broiled, roasted, stir-fried, or grilled preparation methods; eliminate deep frying.

Senator Moody talked with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. during a committee hearing about the department’s efforts to improve Americans’ health via dietary changes.

Prior to the current administration, the overwhelming majority of medical students received no nutrition education—less than 1% of lecture hours in medical schools were dedicated to nutrition. Earlier in the year, HHS secured historic agreements with more than 50 top medical schools in America to require comprehensive nutrition education. Six Florida schools were part of this agreement.

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VIDEO: Senator Moody Honored by Bipartisan Group for Constituent Services

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, a bipartisan group, The Congressional Management Foundation, honored Senator Moody for her work to serve the constituents of Florida. Although Senator Moody has only been in office for little over a year, the exceptional work her office has done to serve Floridians won her the Democracy Award for Constituent Service. Since taking office, Senator Moody has helped thousands of constituents including over a thousand veterans and service members.

“I came to Washington to fight for Floridians and make sure the people trust we are working for them. Constituent service is often the most difficult, emotionally demanding role in public service. It is quiet, relentless, behind-the-scenes problem-solving. Yet, it is the heartbeat of our office. There is nothing more meaningful, and nothing more deeply rewarding, than knowing your hard work materially improved someone’s life when they had nowhere else to turn. While my name might be on the door, I know full well that this award belongs entirely to our constituent services team. They are the ones on the front lines, answering the phones, and doing the heavy lifting every single day,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody is the first Senator to win this award after just one year in Congress.

The Best of Constituent Service category recognizes offices that demonstrate outstanding dedication through effective casework, timely resolution of individual issues, personalized support, and a relentless focus on ensuring constituents receive the help they need.

Winning this award indicates outstanding attention to detail, empathy, and persistence in solving constituent requests. Some examples of outstanding constituent service include, but are not limited to:

an office’s casework procedures and outcomes,

supporting constituents navigating federal grants,

and processes for vetting and nominating students to military service academies.

The Congressional Management Foundation is the premier bipartisan foundation dedicated to strengthening the first branch of government. The Democracy Awards are CMF’s signature program recognizing the best in congressional non-legislative achievements.

To learn more about CMF’s Democracy Awards, click here.

To learn how Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL)’s office can serve you, click here.

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Sen. Moran, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Sanction Purchasers of Russian Oil

Moran spoke on the Senate floor, paying tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham & reaffirming U.S. support for Ukraine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this week joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in introducing the Sanctioning Russia Act, the result of an agreement negotiated by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and the White House that would hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. Sen. Moran cosponsored Sen. Graham’s original legislation, introduced in April 2025, that would bring primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia.

“As we reflect upon the life of our colleague, our friend, our fellow citizen, a patriot toward the United States of America and a friend really of the world, Senator Lindsey Graham, we honor his commitment to promoting liberty and fighting tyranny throughout the world,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation would make a difference against Russia’s unjust war in Ukraine and serves as a fitting tribute to the cause Senator Graham championed throughout his life and service in the United States Senate.”

“The White House has taken an important step in endorsing this longstanding legislation,” continued Sen. Moran. “The message is clear to friends and foe alike: you can do business with Russia or the United States, but not both. I welcome Leader Thune’s intention to bring this to a vote quickly and send it to the President’s desk.”

Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor following introduction of the legislation, paying tribute to Senator Graham and emphasizing the need for increased economic pressure on Russia. Watch Sen. Moran’s full floor remarks here.

Watch Sen. Moran’s Remarks on Introduction of the Sanctioning Russia Act HERE

Specifically, the Sanctioning Russia Act would:

Impose sanctions targeting Russia’s war machine – legislation includes mandatory sanctions on Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, oligarchs, state-owned enterprises, Russian financial institutions, Russia’s largest state energy projects and foreign companies supporting Russia’s defense industrial base.

Explicitly sanction Russia’s Shadow Fleet and any foreign person or vessel that is used by the Russian government for sanctions evasion.

Enforce targeted duties on top purchasers of Russian oil and gas – imposes tariffs on imports from countries that are the world’s top five purchases of Russian oil or natural gas or are among the top five facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion.

Provide for presidential waiver authority – contains a waiver, consistent with other mandatory sanctions legislation, allowing the President to waive sanctions, restrictions or duties upon a justification and certification to Congress that the waiver is in the national interest of the United States.

Repeal the sunset of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 – applies additional pressure directly on Iran as it continues to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Full text of the Sanctioning Russia Act can be found HERE.

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Landless Bill Advances from Senate Committee

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today announced that her bill allowing five Alaska Native communities to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) passed out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) by voice vote. The legislation, which would remedy a decades-long inequity for Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee, now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.

Senator Murkowski’s bill, S.2554, the Alaska Native Landless Equity Act, would amend ANCSA to allow these five communities to form Alaska Native urban corporations and receive 23,040 acres—or one township—of federal land. The communities were excluded from ANCSA when it was enacted on December 18, 1971. Last month, H.R. 41, Congressman Nick Begich’s (R-Alaska) companion legislation, passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and no recorded opposition.

Click here to watch Senator Murkowski’s remarks

Click here to see the one-pager on Senator Murkowski’s legislation.

Some of the strongest advocates for protecting the Tongass National Forest have weighed in with their support for this legislation.

TRANSCRIPT

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Indeed, we are trying to fix this.

Again, this has been one of those efforts that, when you think about legislation you have worked over the course of a legislative career, the engagement that goes on within the communities, the engagement that goes on with different groups, the engagement that goes on with legislators...

This dais changes from time to time, and from Congress to Congress. I've had the opportunity to work with various ranking members on this, and now with Senator Heinrich, as we work to again educate and try to reinforce the wrong that we are attempting to right here.

I think oftentimes when you think about the Alaska Native Claims Settlement (Act), you think, "Okay, a settlement is a settlement. 50 years ago. One and done." And in fairness, it is all about ensuring that the terms of the settlement, as were agreed to, actually translate into the opportunities that settlement was intended to provide.

I mentioned the outreach that we have been engaged in. At the beginning, it was very much viewed as a fight (over) giving back federal land into the hands of individuals. Environmental concerns were expressed that we were going to allow untrammeled environmental degradation of the land. (There were) lots of concerns, and I think a lot of scare tactics that were there.

There are no better stewards of our Alaska's lands than the people who have lived on them for thousands of years. We have been able to not only to engage with but turn the views of many of the initial opponents to this legislation, among them The Wilderness Society, The Nature Conservancy, some of the strongest protectors of environmental values in the Tongass. Both have written letters of support for this bill, recognizing that we need to find this balance while also addressing the inequities (faced by) the Native people who were left out.

I added the letters from The Nature Conservancy and The Wilderness Society to our hearing record in February, so I don't feel like I need to add them here. But I'll just remind (people) that this should not be the controversial measure it has historically been viewed as.

I think all you need to do is look at the House and their recent actions on this. They worked on this bill, together, across the aisle, reported it from full committee… and the full chamber passed it on suspension by a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

So I’m just going to remind you: no opposition in the House—in this current House, where we don't see a lot of measures, particularly lands measures, (move without opposition). I think there's good reason for that, because it comes back to the inequity that we have seen and an effort to do right by the Alaska Native people who were excluded so many decades ago.

Again, I want to thank all who have worked with us, and I especially want to thank Senator Heinrich for your engagement on this. I understand your views toward conservation, and we respect them. The concern we hear from so many back home is that, when we're (talking) about an area where so much of the land is already federally owned and so much is already in conservation status, there’s just not a lot left over. So, again, making sure we can get ourselves to a good place on this is deeply appreciated.

I appreciate your willingness to have this measure move out by voice today. I acknowledge that you have asked to be recorded as a "no," and my goal, and my ambition, and that of (my) team, is to help you and your team get to a place where we can all be supportive of rectifying this long-overdue wrong.

With that, I thank the committee, and I look forward to further engagement and moving this (legislation) and passing it into law.

Thank you very much.

Background: ANCSA transferred 44 million acres of land to more than 200 regional, village, and urban corporations to resolve land claims throughout Alaska—but did not include the five Southeast communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee.

The lands selected for conveyance to the new ANCSA Native Corporations in the bill were chosen by the landless communities in consultation with the Alaska Native communities, affected communities, local stakeholders, the U.S. Forest Service, and the public to allow for consideration of existing land uses.

Consistent with ANCSA, each community will form an urban corporation and receive approximately 23,040 acres identified on the maps referenced in the legislation. The total amount of land to be transferred equals roughly 115,000 acres and will account for less than 0.7% of the Tongass National Forest’s 17 million acres.

The Alaska delegation has introduced landless legislation since the early 1990s with Congressman Don Young leading the fight. In 2020, the delegation pivoted and introduced legislation with proposed land selections identified on maps. In December 2023, ENR favorably reported the Alaska Delegation’s Landless legislation.

Click here to view maps of proposed land selections that would be conveyed to the five communities through the legislation.

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Murkowski, Schatz Introduce Major Legislative Package to Support Native Children, Families, and Communities

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai?i), Vice Chairman of the Committee, introduced the Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act (S.4976), a comprehensive legislative package aimed at advancing the well-being and future opportunities of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children. A culmination of Senator Murkowski’s longstanding commitment to improving outcomes for Native children and families, this legislation builds on more than a decade of work to identify and address the unique challenges facing Native communities. This bill was developed based on the recommendations and themes of the report, The Way Forward, by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, issued in February 2024.

The Commission, established through bipartisan legislation co-led by Senator Murkowski and former Senator Heitkamp, was created to conduct the first comprehensive, national examination of the programs, systems, and supports serving Native children. Through years of hearings, listening sessions, and site visits across Indian Country, the Commission elevated the voices and experiences of Native children, families, Tribes, and Native organizations. Its final report provided a roadmap for strengthening federal programs, improving coordination and service delivery, addressing data challenges, and supporting culturally grounded solutions that better meet the needs of Native children and communities.

“Every Native child carries the strength, hope, culture, and future of their community, and we have a responsibility to ensure they have every opportunity to thrive. Throughout my time in the United States Senate and my visits to hundreds of Alaska Native communities, I have seen the challenges families face, but I have also seen the incredible strength, resilience, and solutions that come from within these communities. The Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act reflects what I have learned from listening to Native families, youth, leaders, and communities across Alaska and Indian Country—that lasting change comes from supporting the solutions communities know will work best for their children,” said Chairman Murkowski.

“The Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act is an investment in the future of Native Hawaiian families. It strengthens support for Native Hawaiian children, improves health and housing, invests in education and language revitalization, and ensures Native Hawaiians have a seat at the table in shaping programs that affect their community,” said Vice Chairman Schatz.

“The National Congress of American Indians celebrates the introduction of the Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act by Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Brian Schatz. Ten years ago, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children became law, charged with identifying solutions for the crisis facing Native children. Today, we finally have an opportunity to act on those recommendations. The Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act proposes over $800 million in investments, including nearly half a billion dollars that could begin flowing through set-asides to Indian Country immediately. These are real resources that Tribal Nations will use to protect children, strengthen families, and build lasting systems of care. Our children have already waited a decade. They cannot afford further delay. Congress must act now to pass this legislation and ensure Native children and families receive the support and opportunities they deserve,” said Larry Wright, Jr., Executive Director for the National Congress of American Indians.

“The Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act marks a historic and comprehensive federal commitment to meeting the unique needs of Native children and families. By addressing health, education, housing, nutrition, and justice through an integrated legislative approach, this bill embodies the collective voices and expertise of our communities that informed the Commission’s work. Meaningful reform at this scale is not typically swift or simple. It is built on years of testimony, deep engagement, and rigorous analysis of the systems impacting Native children nationwide. This bill transforms those efforts into actionable, cross-sector policy solutions. Cook Inlet Tribal Council strongly supports this legislation and extends our sincere gratitude to Senator Murkowski for her unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of Native children and families,” said Gloria O’Neill, President and CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.

"Native children thrive when decisions about their well-being are informed by the communities, cultures, and traditions that have sustained our people for thousands of years. The introduction of this legislation reflects a growing recognition that Native leaders must have a meaningful role in shaping policies that impact Native children and families. We are encouraged by this collaborative approach and remain committed to advancing solutions that support healthy, strong, and resilient Native communities,” said Ben Mallott, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN).

"Mahalo nui loa to Senators Murkowski and Schatz for their leadership and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of our children. The Native Children’s Act will provide a broad range of resources to address systemic barriers and challenges which impede progress for Native families. Although we support all sections of the bill, we especially appreciate the provisions aimed at providing stable and direct funding to Native American language schools and programs, including special training for teachers required to master both language fluency and subject matter expertise. Those provisions acknowledge the transformational success of Native American language medium education, and the decades of determined efforts by Native American communities to preserve, protect and revitalize their own cultures and languages,” said Dr. Kauanoe Kamana, President of the ?Aha Punana Leo, the sole Native Hawaiian educational organization providing statewide Hawaiian language revitalization-focused childcare, early education and follow-up support into adulthood. “Passage of this legislation will hold the federal government accountable to carry out the trust responsibility of the United States. Most importantly, this legislative effort by Senators Murkowski and Schatz promises to move us closer to a future where Native children have a chance to reach their full potential.”

Additional stakeholder quotes can be found here.

The Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act turns years of listening into action by advancing solutions shaped by Native communities, strengthening Tribal self-determination, and supporting the health and well-being of future generations.

The legislation included eight titles aimed at improving the livelihoods of Native children and families in the areas of justice, housing and homelessness, education, childcare and workforce issues, nutrition, the expansion of research and data capabilities, and physical, behavioral, and environmental health.

A section-by-section summary of the legislation can be found here.

Additional information on Chairman Murkowski’s work to develop the Native Children’s Implementation Act can be found here.

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At HELP Hearing, Murray Grills Trump’s Secretary of Labor Nominee on Wasteful Interagency Agreements, Trump’s Anti-Worker Agenda

***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full questioning***

***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s full opening remarks***

Washington, D.C. — Today—at a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing to consider Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the HELP committee, grilled Trump’s nominee Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) wasteful interagency agreements with the Department of Education (ED) and a recent proposed rule that if finalized rips away minimum wage and overtime protections from 3.7 million home care workers.

[INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS BETWEEN DOL AND ED]

Senator Murray began by calling Sonderling out for working with Secretary Linda McMahon to senselessly move some of the complex education programs that help kindergarteners and other elementary school students from ED to DOL.

MURRAY: Acting Secretary Sonderling, right now you are working with Secretary McMahon to take over Department of Education programs to help Trump “abolish” that Department.

It makes zero sense that DOL, an agency whose expertise is in supporting wage earners and job seekers, that it’s being tasked now with taking over complex education programs from the Department of Education to help kindergarteners and other elementary school students.

Do you know how many programs at the Department of Labor are focused on elementary school students?

SONDERLING: I can tell you that it makes a lot of sense for us to work with the Department of Education. You have education systems—

MURRAY: I asked you a specific question and I have very little time. Do you know how many programs?

SONDERLING: We have our IAA agreements under the Economy Act—

MURRAY: I am asking if you know how many are focused—I will tell you. The answer is none. None of them. And that’s concerning because while some offices within your department are taking on a set of responsibilities they have no experience dealing with—they are also struggling to manage their own grant programs.

As recently as this last January, a report from the DOL Inspector General noted the Employment and Training Administration is “challenged in effectively managing its grant portfolio.”

Acting Secretary Sonderling, do you believe it is a smart management decision to add more grant responsibilities to an agency that’s consistently unable to handle those tasks?

SONDERLING: I think it makes a lot of sense. Our systems at the Department of Labor are more sophisticated based on prior reports and implementing those recommendations than the Department of Education system. They are on a legacy G-5 system. We use Grant Solution, which is the same system that WIOA title funds are distributed by from the labor side and from the education side to the same states and from an efficiency standpoint from the states who take this money they are used to having to go to Education and Labor.

The IAA is not dealing with policy it’s dealing with providing the Department of Education a service. And I can tell you that the Department of Education career staff have been detailed to the Department of Labor and they are making those policy decisions regarding the pre-K-12 program, regarding OCTAE, regarding those other decisions where the Department of Labor is assisting them on the backend with these grant systems, working with states. And the states love this. 21 states have now submitted a joint plan for efficiency for getting that very important money to pre-K-12 institutions.

MURRAY: Let me just say, I appreciate smart new reforms—but the facts are, these arrangements are wasteful—one of them cost taxpayers an extra million dollars! And the rest, the Administration has refused now to tell us for months how much they cost or really anything else, despite bipartisan demands for that information.

And it’s not working! In one case, ED transferred responsibilities to you only for you to have to send that work to yet another Department because DOL lacked the expertise to handle it.

SONDERLING: On July 1st at midnight $1.5 billion came over to the Department of Labor. It was out by 1:00, 2:00 in the morning. There was no lag. The money went out to the states in our updated system, and the Department of Labor will continue to provide those services under the IAAs which are lawful under the Economy Act, and also is most efficient for taxpayers and the states getting these monies.

MURRAY: I will just say again, I just have to tell you Americans want an agency that is focused on the education of early learners all the way through. They don’t want it shuffled off to another department that they cannot find out the information or don’t have the expertise to do it. That is my opinion. Let me move on here because I just have a minute left.

[RIPPING AWAY OVERTIME AND MINIMUM WAGE PROTECTIONS]

Senator Murray then questioned Sonderling about a rule proposed on July 2nd that would strip minimum wage and overtime protections away from 3.7 million home care workers by DOL’s own estimate.

MURRAY: The Labor Department founding mission is “to promote the welfare of wage earners.” You’ve run this Department for three months. And in that time, you’ve formalized taking overtime away from four million people, moved to cut care workers’ minimum wage, teed up longer hours for 14-year-olds, and defended a budget that leaves workers in the dust.

So, let me [ask] a very specific question: On July 2nd of last year, DOL proposed a new rule about wages and overtime pay for home care workers. If this draft rule is finalized, how many workers will be stripped of minimum wage and overtime protections?

SONDERLING: This is a very complicated issue we have worked on for a long time and the current rule, you know, has essentially created a secondary market where workers are not getting overtime, they’re not getting protections. Those who are you know, receiving the services, are not going to companies to get the proper background checks. So this rule will allow third parties to come back in to properly manage the payroll, to properly manage their ability to do background checks, and have more workers and continuity of care.

MURRAY: You didn’t answer my question.

SONDERLING: What the prior rule did was, people were not getting overtime. When 40 hours hit, they would get a different person—

MURRAY: I’m out of time and I’m going to correct the record here. Because if this draft rule is finalized, which is what my question was to you, it’s 3.7 million home care workers who will be stripped of minimum wage and overtime protections. That’s how many home care workers the Department is working to rip away minimum wage and overtime protections from. And Mr. Chairman, to me that is anti-worker.

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Murray, Kaptur Blast DOE for Illegally Funneling Carbon Capture Funds to Prop Up Coal Plants, Demand Department Halts Plans

Washington, D.C. — Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, sent a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright calling on him to immediately halt the Department of Energy’s (DOE) plans to illegally spend funds provided for carbon capture programs to instead prop up coal plants.

In their letter, the top Democratic energy appropriators explain that using these funds to subsidize coal plants is not only illegal, but undercuts work funded explicitly by Congress to advance clean, affordable energy and cut costs for American families.

“Congress provided funding to cut pollution and lower energy costs, which DOE is now diverting to instead subsidize big coal’s uneconomic power plants, raising costs for families,” write Murray and Kaptur. “The Department’s plan to repurpose $350 million in dedicated carbon capture funding to restart and recommission coal-fired power plants is a misuse of public funds and a violation of Federal law.”

The lawmakers call on DOE to halt all obligations of funds to support these coal plants, writing: “The Department must immediately desist from obligating funds for these projects, provide a complete response to this letter, and begin complying with the law.”

They note that the Department has itself conceded that it plans to spend carbon capture funding on projects that do not include carbon capture, and they explain that after months of correspondence with the Department, it has failed to provide any acceptable legal justification: “We have raised our concerns repeatedly since the Department first announced this initiative in late September 2025. After more than eight months of correspondence, DOE has not provided the Committees a single legal justification that withstands scrutiny.”

Murray and Kaptur demand the Department refrain from obligating any awarded funds until it can demonstrate it is complying with the law and request detailed responses to their questions by August 7.

The full letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Wright:

American families are already struggling to afford to keep the lights on. They deserve a Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) that is actually focused on affordability, lowering their costs, and following the law—meaning spending every taxpayer dollar Congress provides to do just that. In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117–58), Congress provided funding to cut pollution and lower energy costs, which DOE is now diverting to instead subsidize big coal’s uneconomic power plants, raising costs for families. The Department’s plan to repurpose $350 million in dedicated carbon capture funding to restart and recommission coal-fired power plants is a misuse of public funds and a violation of Federal law. No administration has the power to take funds Congress provided for one purpose and spend them on another.

We write specifically regarding the Department’s selection of awards under its Notice of Funding Opportunity, DE-FOA-0003605, “Restoring Reliability: Coal Recommissioning and Modernization,” which DOE publicly announced on June 4, 2026, and described to the Committees on Appropriations in Congressional notifications dated April 8, 2026 (NETL #26-13) and May 7, 2026 (NETL #26-19). Those notifications indicate the Department intends to obligate $350 million in carbon capture funds provided in the IIJA to sustain aging coal-fired power plants with these awards, even though those funds were appropriated for carbon capture pilot and demonstration projects, and the selected activities do not align with that purpose. The funds are therefore not legally available to be spent on these awards, and any obligation or expenditure of the funds for these purposes violates the Antideficiency Act. The Department must immediately desist from obligating funds for these projects, provide a complete response to this letter, and begin complying with the law.

We have raised our concerns repeatedly since the Department first announced this initiative in late September 2025. After more than eight months of correspondence, DOE has not provided the Committees a single legal justification that withstands scrutiny. To the contrary, the Department has acknowledged in writing that its solicitations “were not fully clear” and has amended them after the fact, in an attempt to address the very defects we first identified. Those changes do not cure the problem—they confirm it.

Congress appropriated these funds for carbon capture pilot and demonstration projects.

The $350 million is drawn from two IIJA programs: the Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program and the Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects Program. These are not general-purpose coal accounts. The funds are made available for “a carbon capture technology program for the development of transformational technologies that will significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, costs, emissions reductions, and environmental performance of coal and natural gas use, including in manufacturing and industrial facilities” (Section 962(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005). The statute clearly states that these are funds to demonstrate and pilot carbon capture technologies. Any plant that is awarded funds under this program is required to integrate carbon capture technologies that achieve emissions reductions.

DOE selected projects that do not align with the purpose of these appropriated funds.

By DOE’s own description, the selected awards fund the construction, commissioning, recommissioning, overhaul, and restart of coal-fired power plants—not the demonstration of carbon capture technology. The aforementioned notifications that the Committees received state that “[p]rojects may be staged so that near-term reliability upgrades are federally cost-shared without requiring immediate carbon capture, utilization, and storage installation.” The Department plainly intends to use carbon capture appropriations for activities it concedes do not include carbon capture.

DOE’s own published project descriptions make as much clear. For two of the awards, the Department describes the primary objective to be modernizing an existing coal plant “to ensure continued operation” in one and restarting a plant through “routine maintenance and repairs” in the other. Carbon capture is an afterthought, and only as a study. The first description states it “includes a carbon capture and utilization system front-end engineering design study;” the second states it “will also assess the feasibility of adding a carbon capture, utilization, and storage component.” The Department is clear—Federal funds are being used to restart coal plants, and at most, carbon capture would be studied. The two remaining awards, which fund new-build concepts described as having “integrated” capture, likewise only underwrite scoping, design, and viability-assessment work, not the construction or operation of any capture technology. None of the four award notifications include any demonstration or large-scale piloting of the carbon capture technologies that these appropriations were specifically provided for by Congress, consistent with the law.

DOE has conceded that the original solicitations did not require carbon capture at all. The Department amended the Broad Agency Announcement on October 30, 2025, and the related Notice of Funding Opportunity on January 6, 2026, to add carbon capture “as a requirement,” explaining that the solicitations “were not fully clear.” Further, DOE told applicants the opposite of what it now tells Congress. The amended Notice of Funding Opportunity states, “Federal funds will be tied to pilot or demonstration outcomes, with non-CCUS reliability work covered through recipient cost share.” The Congressional notifications state that near-term reliability upgrades will be “federally cost-shared without requiring immediate” carbon capture. These statements are irreconcilable, and nothing the Department has said changes that the purpose of these funds is to demonstrate and pilot carbon capture technologies.

Obligating these funds would violate the Purpose Statute and the Antideficiency Act.

The Purpose Statute provides that appropriations “shall be applied only to the objects for which the appropriations were made except as otherwise provided by law.” Funds appropriated for carbon capture demonstration projects and large-scale carbon capture pilots are not available to restart and rehabilitate coal power plants unless the coal plants will only use the funds to carry out a carbon capture demonstration or pilot project. The Department has not identified any other legally available funds to cover these awards, meaning any resulting obligations would exceed the amounts available for the purpose and therefore violate the Antideficiency Act, which bars obligating or expending funds in excess of, or in advance of, available appropriations.

Requested actions and information.

Given likely violations of the Purpose Statute and the Antideficiency Act, we demand that the Department refrain from obligating any funds under the DE-FOA-0003605 selections until it can demonstrate that these funds would be obligated lawfully. To evaluate the legality of these awards before funds are obligated, we request that no later than August 7, 2026, the Department:

Provide the written legal opinion of the Office of the General Counsel analyzing the availability of Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects and Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects appropriations for each selected award, including the specific statutory authority relied upon;

For each award, provide the amount of Federal funds budgeted for project phases prior to the incorporation of carbon capture, utilization, and storage, broken out by phase;

Reconcile the contradiction between the Notice of Funding Opportunity (non-CCUS reliability work covered through recipient cost share) and the Congressional notifications (near-term reliability upgrades federally cost-shared without immediate CCUS);

Identify, for each award, the appropriation account, program, and fiscal year of every dollar to be obligated; and

Provide all records relating to the competitive process for these selections, including the evaluation and selection criteria applied and how they were satisfied.

Congress provided this money to develop technology that makes energy cleaner and cheaper in the long run — not to subsidize big coal and force families to foot the bill. When an Administration takes funds Congress provided for one purpose and spends them on another, it breaks the law and betrays public trust. We expect the Department to follow the law and answer for its decision-making expeditiously.

Sincerely,

###


On Senate Floor, Murray Urges Colleagues to End Trump Administration’s AI Program that is Delaying and Denying Seniors’ Health Care

Murray: “People choose Traditional Medicare because they want to make their health care decisions with their doctor—not with a private company that’s out to make a profit.”

ICYMI: Murray, Cantwell Introduce Resolution to Overturn A.I.-Driven Program That’s Overruling WA Doctors & Delaying Care for Seniors

***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full speech***

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote on her Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn a new pilot program implemented by the Trump administration that’s using artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct prior authorization in Traditional Medicare to deny or delay certain procedures for seniors.

In December last year, Senator Murray introduced the Seniors Deserve SMARTER (Streamlined Medical Approvals for Timely, Efficient Recovery) Care Act, legislation that would prohibit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) model that began on January 1, 2026 and is set to last for six years in six selected states, including Washington state.

Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

“I wanted to talk today about not just how Republicans are making health care more expensive, but also how they are making it just plain worse for seniors. President Trump came into office saying that he wouldn’t cut Medicare. But that was clearly a lie. Because right now, his administration is trying to privatize Medicare—in part, by putting AI between Medicare beneficiaries and their health care!

“In January of this year—under Secretary Kennedy’s and Dr. Oz’s leadership—CMS began this pilot program that uses AI to require prior authorization in Traditional Medicare. For the first time ever. And it is set to run for 6 years. They call it the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction model—well, they got the wasteful and inappropriate part right!

“The ‘WISeR’ Model uses AI to deny vulnerable seniors the care they need and that their doctors recommend. Not only that, but the for-profit contractors that conduct this prior authorization are paid a percentage of the cost of care that they deny. They are literally incentivized to rip health care away from seniors because that is better for their bottom line. When your business model relies on denials, denials are what seniors are going to get—and that is perverse.

“WISeR was rolled out in the beginning of this year in my home state of Washington and five other states, without safeguards, and without any transparency, and without the best interest of Medicare beneficiaries at the heart of the program.

“President Trump is saying: forget the doctors who went to medical school and took an oath to do no harm—AI knows better when it comes to health care decisions for our seniors. The consequences of that poor judgement are real and they are life threatening.

“I hear from Medicare patients in Washington state all the time who are suffering in debilitating pain for weeks because they are not getting the care they need, thanks to this harmful model.

“Patients like Joanne—she’s a Medicare beneficiary from Quilcene, Washington. She went to her doctor for severe pain and an MRI showed that a herniated disc was pressing on her sciatic nerve. Joanne’s doctor prescribed an epidural injection to help ease that pain. This was standard, routine care—care that, before this year, she would have been able to get quickly after it had been recommended by her doctor.

“But because of this WISeR model, she had to wait 6 weeks to get approval. That means that thanks to WISeR, Joanne had to deal with unnecessary, un[treated] pain for six weeks. Because of this nonsense delay, her day-to-day life was disrupted—and the burden fell on her then to fight for the care she needed.

“This is simply outrageous! But that is also WISeR working by design. And that is a direct impact of the Trump administration’s actions.

“We’ve seen way too many stories like Joanne’s from states that have been selected for this pilot program—no way should an algorithm decide if seniors should get the care that they need.

“That’s why I joined my colleagues in introducing a resolution to overturn this model. And I want all of my colleagues to join me in voting for it so we can make sure seniors in my state and all over this country can once again receive their health care on time, without interruption.

“Let’s just use our common sense: it is clear as day that some AI model should never be at the wheel making health care decisions left and right.

“And it’s not just patients I hear from, I’ve met with health care providers all over my state. Whether it’s a rural hospital or a doctor in Seattle—no one has had anything good to tell me about prior authorization in Traditional Medicare.

“Now I ran for office exactly because I believe regular people deserve a say in how their government is run—and that is especially true when it comes to the government deploying AI technology.

“I don’t know any senior, Republican or Democrat, who asked President Trump to let AI decide if their doctor-recommended treatment was necessary. Of course, AI can help make things more efficient or do good things, but that’s not what the WISeR model is doing!

“So, let’s get to the crux of it, as a country, we make a promise to American seniors: if they paid their taxes throughout their careers, they earned their Medicare coverage. Full stop. WISeR breaks that promise to seniors with these senseless, AI driven prior authorizations that deny and delay care.

“Let me be clear, many seniors choose traditional Medicare over other options because traditional Medicare rarely requires prior authorizations. People choose traditional Medicare because they want to make their health care decisions with their doctor—not with a private company that’s out to make a profit.

“Simply put, the WISeR model—which again delays and denies necessary care to Medicare patients—it is reckless and irresponsible.

“I want my Republican colleagues to join us in voting to get rid of WISeR once and for all, because M. President, this should not be a partisan issue.

“We all have seniors in our states that deserve the highest level of care, without having to deal with red tape and delays. Thanks to Trump, AI is getting in between seniors and their health care: in Arizona, in New Jersey, in Ohio, in Oklahoma, in Texas, and my state of Washington.

“We have an opportunity to stop this harmful, experimental pilot program before more seniors are harmed. No senior in America should have to appeal their pain and suffering to a machine.

“To my colleagues, if it was your spouse or parent who needed care, who would you want to decide if they get their treatment? Their doctor or a for-profit algorithm? Would you want them to suffer in pain for weeks for care they are entitled to?

“I know what my answer is. Let’s maintain the promise of Medicare. Let’s pass this resolution.”

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Sen. Murray’s Opening Remarks at HELP Hearing on Keith Sonderling’s Nomination to be Secretary of Labor

***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full opening remarks***

Washington, D.C. — Today—at a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing to consider Keith Sonderling’s nomination to be Secretary of Labor—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), delivered the following opening remarks on the Department of Labor’s mission to support and protect workers, and how Sonderling’s record at the Department of Labor makes him grossly unqualified for the job.

Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

“Thank you, Chair Cassidy. Thank you Acting Secretary Sonderling for being here today.

“I am going to be straight where I stand here. The Department of Labor has a straightforward mission. It is right there in the name—it’s not called the Department of big business and billionaires. It is called the Department of Labor. DOL exists to protect the people who do the work in this country. It exists to make sure an honest day’s work means a fair wage, a safe workplace, and a voice on the job.

“That mission is more important than ever since this President and this Republican Congress decided that their policy priorities would be trillions in deficit-busting tax cuts for billionaires and giant corporations, and starting new wars in the Middle East. That agenda has worked for the very richest and for defense contractors. Elon Musk became a trillionaire!

“But the basics? Groceries, health care, gas? All of that has gotten more and more expensive for regular working people. All while millions of Americans lose their health care, inflation is sky-high, and there is no end in sight to Trump’s costly war.

“That’s the state of our economy for working families thanks to this President—that’s the reality for everyone who doesn’t get a tax write-off for their private jet.

“So, now you are here, asking this committee for a promotion since your predecessor apparently created such a hostile and scandal plagued work environment, she was pushed out. But let’s clear: you are not a bystander to this administration’s anti-worker policies and agenda.

“You were confirmed as Deputy Secretary in March of last year. You have run it as Acting Secretary since April. I just talked about the harm this Republican majority has done to our economy—but you’ve built your own anti-worker record at DOL. You rescinded the overtime rule in May—slamming the door on time-and-a-half pay for more than 4 million workers who already aren’t making much to begin with.

“At the same time, you’re working to rescind the independent contractor rule. You want to let giant corporations classify workers as contractors so that they don’t have to pay them minimum wage and overtime—a conservative estimate finds this rule would rob workers of $3.7 billion a year—that is an outright grift. You are also pushing a joint-employer rule to let giant corporations take advantage of employment structures, so they aren’t liable when people like janitors or nurses get a paycheck stolen, or when there are child labor violations or other workers’ rights violations.

“But here is what every worker watching needs to understand: this Department treats its own employees exactly the way it is letting the worst employers treat theirs.

“For example, Trump’s Department of Labor fired ninety percent of the office that worked to protect workers from discrimination by federal contractors since 1965! And when they did that, they ignored the four months’ notice its own union contract required. The Department of Labor—violating a labor contract. You can’t make that up!

“Then, this Department of Labor stood by while this administration stripped collective bargaining rights from more than a million federal workers. And you actually helped this administration pressure the federal agency that helps protects our civil servants! And when the Bureau of Labor Statistics did its job and reported honest employment numbers the President didn’t like, its commissioner—was fired with no cause.

“Who should workers call when this administration has been nothing short of outright hostile toward workers—in its policies and towards its own employees?

“I don’t even have time to really get into how you have undercut this agency’s capacity to crack down on wage theft and child labor violations. But needless to say, it will not be easy to rebuild what you broke.

“Finally, I have to raise something I never imagined addressing at a hearing for a Secretary of Labor. In January, this Department’s official account posted a video captioned: ‘One Homeland. One People. One Heritage. Remember who you are, American.’ Historians immediately recognized the echo of the Nazi slogan: ‘one people, one realm, one leader.’ Nobody had to really squint to make that connection. Union leaders condemned that. Your own career employees called it disturbing.

“And that was not a one off. It has been a pattern. Under your leadership, this Department posts constant propaganda about ‘Americanism,’ you decry ‘globalism,’ and make misleading comments about ‘native-born’ workers. It is so apparent this Department is posting this kind of garbage as a wink and a nod to extremists and to get a rise out of everyone else who is paying attention.

“But you need to hear it from somebody: this kind of language and imagery is a disgrace.

“Mr. Sonderling, Frances Perkins—the woman who we can thank for the minimum wage, for the forty-hour work week, for Social Security—she built this Department to stop employers with records like yours.

“So, I’ll close with this: the four million workers whose overtime you shut the door on didn’t get a vote on that policy.

“But I have a vote here in the Senate. And I fear any vote to confirm you is for more of the same: to strip overtime protections for our workers, to undercut our unions, and to let giant corporations get away with robbery—literally.

“America does need a Labor Secretary who understands our workers who should not be denied overtime pay, who will prosecute wage theft and child labor violations, who believes we should increase the minimum wage, who understands America is way overdue for a national paid leave program, and who will stand up every minute for every worker’s right to form a union.

“That’s just where I stand.”

###


Padilla Advocates for Protection Against Election Interference Amid Trump Election Chaos

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections and California’s former Secretary of State, convened a voting rights breakfast roundtable with Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force and faith organizations and civil rights groups to sound the alarm on the Supreme Court’s rollback of voting rights and President Trump’s election interference efforts. During the event, Padilla discussed legislative and oversight efforts to strengthen federal elections and previewed a bill he will be introducing to increase accountability for Trump’s continued attempts to undermine and interfere in federal elections.

At the roundtable, attendees discussed their concerns about the threats to voting rights and the Trump Administration’s ongoing threats to federal elections. The event was held to mark the sixth anniversary of former Congressman John Lewis’ passing and Padilla underscored the importance of continuing Lewis’ voting rights work which remains critically important ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The breakfast was co-hosted by the Faithful Democracy coalition, and opening remarks were delivered by Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Bishop William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Della J. Owens-Barber, and Rabbi David Saperstein.

“This is an interfaith group and it’s beautiful to see so many different faith traditions united by the common belief that everybody deserves to be treated with dignity and that every voice deserves to be heard by our government,” said Senator Padilla. “As we remember the life and the legacy of John Lewis, I also reflect on not just the religious and faith leaders that he marched with, but those that marched with him. There’s 110 days between now and Election Day. And clearly, we have a lot of work to do.”

Amid President Trump’s unlawful attempts to take over elections, Padilla emphasized his upcoming bill would strengthen election safeguards and hold accountable those who attempt to interfere with elections.

“I used to serve as California Secretary of State, so I know how elections work in California and through the network of secretaries around the country, and I can assure you our elections are safe. They are secure,” continued Senator Padilla. “But our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter has an easy opportunity to vote and have their vote counted.”

In addition to Padilla, the roundtable included remarks from U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D- Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) also attended. The roundtable also included remarks from Bishop William J. Barber II, President of Repairers of the Breach and Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, Rev. Dr. Della J. Owens-Barber, Rabbi David Saperstein from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Rev. Paul Raushenbush, President & CEO of Interfaith Alliance, Maya Wiley, President & CEO of Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Haris Tarin, VP of Policy and Programming of Muslim Public Affairs Council, Laurie Carafone, Executive Director of NETWORK Advocates for Catholic Social Justice, Harman Singh, Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition, Darcy Hirsh, VP of Government Relations & Advocacy at the National Council of Jewish Women, Bishop Julius C. Trimble, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, Ria Chakrabarty, Senior Policy Director at Hindus for Human Rights, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, President of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Carlos Malavé, President and Founder of the Latino Christian National Network, Sr. Carol Zinn, Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Juan Proaño, CEO of LULAC, Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA USA, and Demetria McCain, Director of Policy at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.

As California’s former Secretary of State, Padilla knows first-hand the importance of taking proactive steps to protect the fundamental right to vote. Last month, Padilla and Schumer convened a Rules Committee Democrats and Senate Democrats’ Election Protection Task Force spotlight forum focused on state and local responses to combat efforts by the Trump Administration to undermine election administration in the upcoming midterm elections. Padilla and his Senate colleagues also demanded answers from Trump Administration officials about their lack of election security preparation, insufficient coordination with Congress and election officials, and unsupported public claims about voting system vulnerabilities.

Video of Padilla’s remarks from today’s roundtable is available here.

Full livestream of the event is available here.

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Padilla Responds to Trump’s Election Conspiracy Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, which oversees federal elections, released the following statement on President Trump’s continued unfounded election denial claims during a primetime address to the nation:

“Let me lay out the facts: Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. Period. Despite his false claims, there is no evidence of any widespread voter fraud in that election and we heard nothing new today. Remember, Donald Trump was President at the time and even his own Administration said the election was safe and secure. It’s been more than half a decade, with numerous audits, recounts, and more than 60 court cases, each finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Clearly, this is no longer about an election Donald Trump lost six years ago. It’s about him laying the groundwork to try to ‘take over the voting’ in the upcoming midterm elections. Donald Trump is desperate to pass the anti-voter SAVE Act and sow doubt in our elections because Republicans will have to face voters in November — and voters are ready to hold them accountable for Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran, higher prices for gas, groceries, rent, and healthcare, and Trump’s shameless corruption.

“As California Secretary of State for the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, I oversaw safe and secure elections with record voter participation — the sign of a strong democracy. Donald Trump’s conspiracy theories about the integrity of our elections are false. We cannot and will not let him erode trust in American democracy.”

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Senate Committee Advances Padilla Bill to Support Ecological Restoration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) bipartisan bill to restore a long-lost salmon run on the San Joaquin, California’s second longest river. The bill advanced out of committee by voice vote.

“As droughts, floods, rising project costs, and funding delays continue to threaten watersheds across our state, Congress has a responsibility to restore salmon and improve recreational access to free-flowing rivers in areas like the San Joaquin Valley,” said Senator Padilla. “I am proud to see my bill to authorize additional funding to support ecological restoration of the San Joaquin River advance. My bill also mitigates water supply losses for Friant Division farmers, and I will continue to advocate for bolstering drought resiliency and water supply across California.”

This bipartisan bill would authorize additional funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act. To further support the ongoing implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP), this legislation would raise the cap on federal appropriations for the program by $500 million while increasing the authorization of appropriations for Friant Division canal improvements.

Congress authorized the SJRRP following the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, which was the result of an 18-year lawsuit over operations of the Friant Division of the Central Valley Project. The SJRRP is a comprehensive, long-term effort in the Central Valley to restore flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River and restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river, while reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts from restoration flows.

Because the original estimated cost of implementation has risen, the restoration program needs continued funding for projects that are vital to securing a healthy river.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is cosponsored by Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.).

Padilla has consistently advocated for strong federal investments in California’s water infrastructure. Yesterday, Padilla advocated for affordable water utilities and stronger flood protections for communities at a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works markup. Earlier this year, Padilla secured $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties to increase flood protection.

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Reed Calls Out Vought for Needlessly Blocking Aid to Vulnerable Americans & Making U.S. Servicemembers More Vulnerable to Financial Scams

***VIDEO: Reed Questions OMB Director Vought***

WASHINGTON, DC – His days in his second job as acting director of the Consumer Financial Bureau (CFPB) may be numbered, but today Russell Vought, whose full-time job is Director of the Office Management and Budget (OMB), got an earful from U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) who hammered Vought for failing to release approximately $750 million in affordable housing construction funds; a recent OMB proposal to end merit-based review of federal grant funding and inject hyper-partisanship into the decision-making process; and for Vought’s gutting of the CFPB, specifically the Office of Servicemember Affairs and its examination function which is leaving U.S. servicemembers vulnerable to exploitation by predatory lenders.

Earlier this month, Senator Reed led 22 of his colleagues in demanding that the Trump Administration swiftly release $750 million in stalled affordable housing construction funding that has been held up by the Trump Administration for over a year. The funding is primarily from the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) and Housing Trust Fund (HTF), which can be leveraged by states and local organizations use to develop, preserve, rehabilitate, and increase the supply of affordable housing. In his questioning of Vought, Reed pointed out that this funding could be used to build or rehabilitate about 63,000 affordable homes across the nation and wouldn’t cost taxpayers a dime, as CMF and HTF funds come from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac profits, not taxpayers.

Additionally, Reed criticized the Trump Administration’s recent OMB proposal that would place all federal grants under constant threat of penalty or termination and subject them to hyper-partisan coercion from President Trump’s political appointees. The OMB’s proposed rule to end the federal government’s longstanding merit-based, largely independent, peer review process for grantmaking decisions would stunt scientific progress, weaken national security, and undermine Congress’s constitutional power of the purse while allowing President Trump and all future presidents to weaponize federal grants for political purposes.

As a creator of the CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs and a leading defender of the Military Lending Act, Senator Reed blasted Vought’s gutting of the primary federal consumer watchdog which has left U.S. servicemembers increasingly vulnerable to financial manipulation from payday lenders and other bad actors who seek to exploit active-duty personnel and their families. Reed credits his own experience as a former U.S. Army officer who commanded paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne as a central component of his efforts to create the dedicated watchdog to protect the financial security of servicemembers and their families. Since becoming OMB Director and acting director of CFPB, Vought has cut staff at the Office of Servicemember Affairs from 47 personnel to just 9 staff members while simultaneously slashing CFPB supervisory staff by 85%. Meanwhile, enforcement actions meant to return illegal fees collected from servicemembers have ground to a halt.

A video of Senator Reed’s questioning of Director Vought can be found here and a full transcript follows below:

SENATOR REED: Mr. Vought, we have a housing supply crisis in the United States which is obvious to everyone. Yet, the Trump Administration is sitting on $750 million in homebuilding funds, mostly from the affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund that could build or rehabilitate about 63,000 homes across the country. These programs are not funded by the taxpayer. They are funded from a portion of the profits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. 22 of my colleagues joined me in writing on June 30 urging you to release these funds which you are holding. Will you commit to releasing these funds? And when will you do it?

DIRECTOR VOUGHT: I'm happy to look at that. I did see your letter and we will be happy to follow up. We are looking to expeditiously move on all of those apportionments as quickly as we can.

REED: How quickly is quickly?

VOUGHT: Well, it's halfway through the fiscal year. We obviously want to make sure that the funds get to the agency and they can be spent.

REED: You have been sitting on those funds now for more than a year. I doubt you'll need much more time. I urge you to respond quickly, actually immediately.

You have also proposed a regulation to overhaul the federal grantmaking process that would effectively end merit-based decisions and give political appointments unprecedented control of $1 billion in federal grants. There have been 350,000 comments already about your proposal – most of them I suspect are in opposition. In fact, we have already seen the effects of this kind of approach to decision-making. Last month, the Trump Administration began dismantling the NSF Ocean Observation Initiative which provides critical, real-time monitoring of our oceans. The political appointees who made the decision clearly did not know what they were doing, not understanding the science, and were forced to quickly reverse their decision. How will this rule ensure that political litmus tests will not be used to make grants?

VOUGHT: Senator, I think that this rule is about ensuring we have democratic control of the spending that is going out at the executive branch agencies so that when you have a policy official in charge of an agency based on themselves being in the cabinet, those are the ones making the final call on how and what we are spending money on through the grant program. I was up here last year, I think you were there, talking about the recissions process. One of the biggest questions I got was, Mr. Director, why don't you just not spend it on this or that? You have an opportunity to impose your own policy objectives. To the extent that's a valid argument, this CFR is part of that process. We want to make sure that NIH is not spending money on gain-of-function research that contributed to the last pandemic just because Tony Fauci, who was not a policy official of a political nature, decides it's a wise thing to do.

REED: Excuse me, so you have a non-doctor, nonscientist making decisions about scientific research which seems to me to be a fairly bad approach.

VOUGHT: In that case…

REED: Let me move on. I was the lead sponsor of the Military Lending Act, based on my experience as a soldier. In February of 2025, I sent you a very simple letter asking for an explanation and I still have not had a response. In fact, you are not at all very responsive. In June 2025, you testified to me at the Appropriations Committee that you specifically made military lending and enforcement a priority.

Well, let's look at the record. Before your tenure, the CFPB took 40 enforcement actions that yielded $363 million in relief for servicemembers. You have taken only two enforcement actions, securing only $6.75 million. Again, as Senator Warren has pointed out, you released the Navy Federal Credit Union from an obligation to refund $80 million in illegally charged fees to U.S. servicemembers. And this argument that oh, they’ll all pay because it's a cooperative… These people were denied funds. You said stop, we are not going to pay them back.

You have reduced the Office of Servicemember Affairs from 47 employees to 9. You have reduced the CFPB’s supervision staff by 85% and cut the number of annual exams from hundreds to only 70. You are basically abandoning the troops and the soldiers, sailors, and airmen that are being exploited by payday lenders, by all sorts of used car dealers and everything else.

To me that is a shame. Because you would probably be the first one to stand up and say how much you do for servicemembers. You are not doing anything for servicemembers. My time has expired.


Reed Statement on Trump’s Prime-time Speech on 2020 Election Allegations

WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, after President Trump delivered a primetime address seeking to relitigate the 2020 election and sow doubt about election integrity, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:

“Tonight, President Trump demonstrated his distrust of the American people and their right to vote in a free and fair election, because his administration has failed to control prices, has involved ourselves in an expensive, difficult, and at this point, indefinite war. Trump knows that, and he’s trying to figure a way to distract the American public. And, to also position himself so that he can deny the results of this election. So distraction and denial were the themes tonight. This is a hoax that President Trump hopes he can inflict upon the American public so that they doubt the forthcoming elections. This is all about his personal political survival. It has nothing to do about giving the American people the right – which they have – to voice their opinion on who should lead this country and how it should be lead.”