Curtis Calls for Countering China’s Influence in Western Hemisphere

At the hearing, Curtis highlighted recent successes following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s engagement with Panama, including Panama’s decision to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the transfer of key Panama Canal port assets from Hong Kong-based operators to a U.S.-led consortium.

He also asked Ambassador Kozak how those developments could serve as a model for reducing China’s influence elsewhere in the hemisphere. Kozak emphasized that many countries have become increasingly aware of the risks associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, including predatory lending practices and strategic investments that undermine national sovereignty.

Video of Senator Curtis’ opening remarks and line of questioning can be found here, and a transcript of his opening remarks and initial questioning is below:

Opening remarks, as prepared:

This hearing is to examine how the Trump Administration’s National Security Strategy prioritizes the Western Hemisphere. In other words, what is the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine,” as it has been termed.

For too long, American policy has treated our own neighborhood as an afterthought while our adversaries have treated it as an opportunity. The National Security Strategy makes a welcome correction by putting the Western Hemisphere near the center of American national security policy.

It is right that the United States should focus first on the safety, security, and prosperity of the American people, and frequently that means focusing on the security of our region. That means securing our border, stopping deadly drugs before they enter our communities, strengthening supply chains closer to home, and ensuring that hostile powers cannot control strategic assets in our own hemisphere.

In many ways, the real test of our Western Hemisphere strategy is whether it can blunt and roll back the presence of our global adversaries—China, Russia, and Iran—within our backyard. China has spent years building influence through ports, telecommunications, infrastructure, natural resources, surveillance technology, and diplomatic pressure.

Russia has used Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua to project influence and challenge U.S. interests from within the hemisphere. Iran and its proxies have also sought footholds through malign networks and anti-American regimes—which is why the Committee has passed my bills, the No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act and BANNED in Latin America Act, which push back on these networks. The National Security Strategy is right to say that non-hemispheric competitors should not be allowed to position forces, threatening capabilities, or control strategically vital assets in our hemisphere.

The Maduro raid was exactly this principle put into practice. Nicolas Maduro’s regime had been a platform for Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and criminal influence in our hemisphere. His regime destabilized neighbors, fueled migration, enriched corrupt networks, cooperated with malign outside powers, and allowed drug trafficking and other illicit activity to flourish.

We were not going to let what amounted to an illegitimate Russian puppet government corruptly cling to power and operate within our backyard. And now Maduro resides in a prison in New York. And now, we are beginning to see early signs of change inside Venezuela. Hundreds of political prisoners have been released, opposition figures are able to organize more openly, Venezuelan oil is no longer being exclusively used to support China, and there are signs of shifts within the governing structure, including the removal of some Maduro loyalists. Venezuela today is thankfully in a much different place than it was a year ago.

However, Congress is going to be interested in what the path now looks like for Venezuela from here to a democratic transition.

Progress has been made throughout the region on the diplomatic front as well. After Secretary Rubio’s visit, Panama announced that it would move to leave China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We also saw the announced sale of port assets operated by Hong Kong-based entities at both ends of the Panama Canal to a U.S.-led consortium.

Those developments should be seen as examples of the kind of strategic competition the United States can win when we are focused, engaged, and willing to use diplomatic and commercial tools together. We should encourage more countries in the region to take similar steps.

I am broadly supportive of this renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere and the recognition that what happens in our neighborhood directly affects the security of the American people. But support does not relieve us of our responsibility to conduct oversight. Congress has a duty to ask hard questions about strategy, legal authorities, coordination with regional partners, and what comes next. And we must ensure that a stronger focus on our own hemisphere does not come at the expense of American leadership elsewhere. Strength at home and in our neighborhood should reinforce—not replace—our engagement in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East.

The goal is not hemispheric seclusion, but strategic prioritization rooted in American strength.

I look forward to hearing from Ambassador Kozak on how the State Department is implementing this strategy, how we are coordinating across the interagency, and how Congress can help ensure the United States remains the partner of first choice in our own hemisphere.

Questioning:

Senator Curtis: After Secretary Rubio’s visit to Panama, they announced they would move to leave China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We also saw the announced sale of the Panama Canal port assets operated by Hong Kong-based entities to a U.S.-led consortium. Are there lessons we can draw from Panama about how the United States can use diplomacy, commercial engagement, and strategic clarity to roll back China’s influence in the region? And part two: Are there other countries in the hemisphere where you believe a similar approach might be equally successful?

Ambassador Michael Kozak: Yes. Thank you, Chairman. I would say there are some good lessons out of it. Each situation is somewhat different, but Panama had come to its own conclusion that being part of the Belt and Road Initiative was more liability than gain, so they told us they were ready to leave.

They also had their comptroller look into the way those port concessions had been granted and found a great deal of fraud and failure to implement the agreement. So, their Supreme Court took action there. I think what was key, though, was that China then attempted to intimidate them by doing inspections and detaining their Panama-flagged vessels in Chinese ports, and so on.

Panama needed a little backup and got it from countries in the region. The countries that joined the Shield of the Americas, by and large, issued statements standing in solidarity with Panama against that threat from China. But we’ve also seen, in other parts of the region, the Chinese try to move in. For example, in some places they’ll go directly to a university and say, “We’ll donate a telescope to you so you can do high-level research.” It turns out the telescope is really designed to spy on American satellites and other things like that. They bypass the national government. We’ve had some success talking directly with subnational groups. We’ve also had success dealing with national governments or urging national governments throughout the region to adopt investment-screening mechanisms.

Curtis: Yeah, let me bore down on that a little bit. Because you kind of hit on one of the questions I want to ask, which is this China strategy. You’ve mentioned a couple of things. I think the loans that become predatory and that they then foreclose on—I mean, there’s quite a long list. Your answer on Panama is interesting. I guess let me come back to this concept. If that’s what brought clarity to Panama, how do we bring clarity to these other countries—not just with elected officials, but with the voters, the constituents, who tend to see all of this coming from China and know the state’s not doing anything? The reality is that we have this little thing called the rule of law, and we do things differently. We’re far more transparent, and the way we help isn’t always seen the way China seems to be seen. So, what would you suggest, particularly from a congressional role, about how we get better clarity on what China is doing and also get better credit for what we’re doing when we’re doing good things?

Kozak: I think it’s super important to get people sensitized to this. At the beginning, governments didn’t realize how predatory the Chinese loan strategy was. They’ve now learned by adverse experience. What we’ve been trying to do—and this goes back to the last time I had this job—is publicize throughout the region just the facts. We’re not saying don’t engage with China. We still buy things from China. But we’re saying, “Look at what happens to you if you get into this kind of a deal. Don’t enter into it on their terms.”

That’s been quite successful, certainly at the national government level, though not as much with the populations at large. We’ve been trying to do more public relations, and I think anything Congress can do to bring focus to this would help.

One of the things we did, which I mentioned in my testimony, was these restrictions on visas. Basically, members of legislatures, judiciaries, labor unions, and others in foreign countries who take bribes from the Chinese—or other forms of compensation—and act as agents for China by pushing some of this activity… The Administration has said, if you’re going to do that, you’re not welcome here anymore. We’re not going to give you or your family visas to come to the United States. We tried this originally in Central America. It worked very well. We’ve now expanded it to the whole hemisphere.

Curtis: It seems like stronger coordination between Congress and State, as we go into those countries—knowing which messages to carry and which things to point out—might also be helpful.


Duckworth to Vote No on NDAA Unless Her Amendment to End Trump’s Illegal War is Included

The Senator’s amendment, which Senate Republicans blocked in committee, would ensure the Senate upholds its constitutional war powers and holds the President accountable

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced she will vote against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA) unless her amendment to end President Donald Trump’s illegal war against Iran is included. Specifically, Duckworth’s amendment would halt additional funding for offensive operations against Iran—while still allowing for self-defense, defense of allies and intelligence gathering—until the American people authorize this war through their Representatives in Congress, as the Constitution requires. The amendment would also withhold travel funding for the Secretary of Defense until the Department of Defense produces a report on the impact this illegal war has had on military readiness and our nation’s wounded servicemembers. Last month, Senate Republicans on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) blocked Duckworth’s amendments that aimed to end hostilities and hold Trump accountable for his unjustified war.

“The Senate cannot authorize $1.14 trillion in defense spending—the largest defense budget ever proposed in our nation’s history—for Donald Trump to continue his illegal and disastrous war that Americans do not want.

“15 of our servicemembers have been killed, billions of dollars have been wasted and our economy is in tatters. Meanwhile, Trump brags that he doesn’t even think about Americans’ financial situation as he tries to hand Iran hundreds of billions of dollars. The President wants to rebuild Iran before he rebuilds America, and it’s outrageous that Republicans are willing to roll over and let him.

“Simply throwing more money at an out-of-control military operation is not strategy. It’s a recipe for a forever war. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and I cannot support a defense authorization bill that doesn’t include my amendment to end this illegal war.”

Duckworth has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s illegal, needless war in Iran since it began. She is one of the Senate Six—the original group of Senators who have been forcing votes on War Powers Resolutions that would cease hostilities in Iran, which Republicans have shamefully blocked nine times.

Ahead of the Senate’s vote on her own War Powers resolution in April, Duckworth gave impassioned remarks drawing on her personal experience serving in our nation’s last war of choice in the Middle East, imploring Republicans to remember their oaths and vote to help rein in this unhinged President—which they did not.

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Durbin Announces Bipartisan Proposal To Initiate Congressional Action To Strengthen Social Security On The Senate Floor

Durbin: “Americans sent us to Congress not to observe the problems but to solve the problems. There is no greater long-term challenge before Congress than preserving Social Security.”

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced new bipartisan legislation to initiate Congressional action on extending Social Security’s solvency. The Protecting Retirement Opportunities and Maintaining Income Security for Everyone (PROMISE) Act follows the release of the Social Security Board of Trustees’ annual report, which found that the Social Security Trust Fund will only be able to cover 78 percent of benefits in 2032—meaning that Americans who rely on the program will have their benefits reduced by 22 percent if Congress does not act.

“Last month the Social Security Board of Trustees released an alarming report on the status of Social Security’s finances. That Board found that Social Security will be unable to make full payments to eligible Americans by 2032… This is alarming—and it is a call to arms for Congress,” said Durbin.

During his speech, Durbin reflected on the time he served in the House of Representatives when then-President Ronald Reagan and a Democratic House majority bought 50 years of solvency for Social Security.

“That was 1983 [and] I voted for it. Democrats and Republicans all voted for it. To my knowledge, not a single member of Congress lost reelection over that vote. People said we had to do it,” said Durbin. “Now the question is: Can we respond with the same bipartisan effort to buy 50 years more solvency in Social Security? I think we can.”

“In just six short years, Social Security will only be able to pay 78 percent of benefits. That means the average senior faces monthly benefits cuts of $450… For some, that cut is an inconvenience. For others, that’s quite a disaster. And it would force seniors to choose between purchasing groceries or paying their utility bills or refilling their prescriptions,” Durbin continued.

Seventy million Americans, including seniors and people with disabilities, rely on Social Security to afford the basics: food, medication, housing, utilities, and more. In Illinois, more than 2 million people receive Social Security. Twenty percent of Illinois seniors rely on Social Security for virtually all of their income.

“If Congress sits on its hands and does nothing to respond to this looming crisis, millions of Americans will be expected to make ends meet with fewer-and-fewer dollars each month. The fact of the matter is that Congress has known about this issue of insolvency for quite some time. But year-after-year, Congress has avoided confronting the question, instead kicking the can down the road for a future Congress to step up and save the program. That is unacceptable. We owe it to our seniors, and we owe it to ourselves. We know that the longer we wait, the more drastic the policy changes become,” said Durbin.

“Today, I’m doing something that is rarely done in the Senate, introducing a bill sponsored by a bipartisan group of Senators—four Democrats and four Republicans. Our goal is to protect and strengthen Social Security. Our bill is called the PROMISE Act. It seeks to create a fair, bipartisan process to ensure Congress finally debates and votes on the future of Social Security. Under our proposal, the independent bipartisan Social Security Advisory Board would collect public input and send a proposal to Congress that would keep the trust fund for Social Security solvent for 50 years, at least. That would kick start a process in both the House and the Senate, to do something we rarely, rarely do around here. It’s called legislating, writing a law, [and] passing a law. Under our bill, Congress would have the opportunity to hold hearings, offer amendments, debate, competing proposals, and ultimately vote on them,” said Durbin.

“[Our] bill simply guarantees that the American people, through their elected representatives, finally have an open, transparent debate… Members would be able to offer substitute proposals, provided they also protect Social Security for at least the next 50 years. Let me say that another way: every Member with a serious proposal would have the opportunity to bring their ideas to the table and get a vote. It restores the Senate to debating, amending, and voting under regular order, compared to what we see today,” said Durbin.

“The PROMISE Act finally creates a pathway for those ideas to receive the consideration they deserve. Americans sent us to Congress not to observe the problems but to solve the problems. There is no greater long-term challenge before Congress than preserving Social Security… So, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. We will be working to pass this measure before we depart for the August recess,” Durbin concluded.

Durbin introduced the proposal with U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Alan Armstrong (R-OK).

Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s floor speech is available herefor TV Stations.

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Durbin, Cassidy, Kaine, Tillis, King, Cornyn, Coons, Armstrong Introduce Bipartisan Proposal To Initiate Congressional Action On Social Security

Americans of both political parties want Members of Congress to work across the aisle to protect and strengthen Social Security

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Alan Armstrong (R-OK) today introduced a bipartisan proposal to initiate Congressional action on Social Security. The Protecting Retirement Opportunities and Maintaining Income Security for Everyone (PROMISE) Act follows the release of the Social Security Board of Trustees’ annual report, which found that the Social Security Trust Fund will only be able to cover 78 percent of benefits in 2032—meaning that Americans who rely on the program will have their benefits reduced by 22 percent if Congress does not act.

“Here is our chance to agree on a bipartisan process to rescue Social Security this year,” said Durbin. “Our bipartisan proposal opens Congress to debate this issue in a transparent, fair, and bipartisan way. We were elected to solve problems—and there’s no greater problem than the solvency and future of Social Security.”

“Millions of Americans rely on Social Security to live. In 6 years, those families will see a 22% cut to their benefits if Congress doesn’t act. Our plan starts the process of preserving promised benefits for current retirees and the next generation of Americans,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“For nearly a century, Social Security has been a lifeline that allows Americans to retire with dignity. Congress should not wait around until the last minute to shore up this critical program and prevent broad-based benefit cuts upon Trust Fund depletion,” said Kaine. “That’s why I’m joining a bipartisan group of my colleagues in introducing legislation that will encourage Congress to roll up its sleeves and find a path forward to ensure current and future generations of retirees and their families are able to receive the benefits they have earned and which they are owed.”

“Social Security is on an unsustainable path that will lead to dramatic benefit cuts for retirees and growing skepticism among workers paying into a program on the brink of insolvency. With each passing year, the menu of options that preserve benefits and limit tax hikes narrows. The modest reforms Congress contemplated in 2010 would have put Social Security on solid footing for 75 years; today, those same reforms would add less than two years to our current runway,” said Tillis. “I won’t pretend there’s consensus on how we solve this, but the math is unforgiving: the longer Congress waits to act, the fewer good options remain, which is why I am proud to support this legislation.”

“For years, we've known that Social Security faces serious long-term financial challenges, yet Congress has repeatedly chosen to look the other way,” said King. “This legislation creates a bipartisan process to ensure Congress finally does its job. Social Security is a promise millions of Americans have earned through a lifetime of work – household budgets rely on the timely arrival of these earnings to pay for mortgages, heat, and medications. We have a responsibility to preserve that promise for today's retirees and for generations to come.”

“Americans have paid into Social Security with the expectation that the benefits they earned would provide the foundation for their retirement, and Congress has a responsibility to keep that promise,” said Cornyn. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan plan of action to address Social Security’s rapidly approaching insolvency before it becomes a bigger crisis so Congress is not caught flat-footed and Texans are not left holding the bag.”

“Congress has talked for years about the need to shore up Social Security so that Americans who have spent decades paying into the program can count on it to be there for their retirement. Senator Durbin understands that now is the time to turn that talk into action, and he has created a real, bipartisan process to force Congress to get serious and find a solution,” Coons said. “I’m proud to cosponsor this bill and help find a way to save Social Security.”

“For the millions Americans who have worked hard, paid into the system, and simply want the security of knowing they can retire with dignity, this is not an abstract fiscal policy debate. The growing financial strain on Social Security can be easy to ignore until it directly threatens someone’s retirement,” said Armstrong. “I’m proud to stand with a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues to tackle tough challenges head-on rather than rely on short-term fixes, and to put Social Security on a lasting, sustainable foundation for current beneficiaries and future generations.”

More than 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits. Social Security is a bedrock promise that hard-working Americans paying into the program will earn their retirement and not have to worry about putting food on their table, a roof over their heads, or medicine in their cabinets. However, last month’s Trustees report means that seniors and people with disabilities would have their benefits reduced by $450 per month (based on the average Social Security benefit of $2,071 per month). If Congress does not act, this automatic across-the-board benefit cut could push more than three million additional seniors and people with disabilities into poverty.

Members of Congress have introduced several pieces of legislation that would ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds are funded for the next 75 years. Some of these bills have nearly 200 cosponsors, and others are bipartisan and have broad, popular support. However, almost none of them have ever received a vote. Congress should not wait until the Social Security Trust Fund is empty to address this issue when it can act now to protect and strengthen the Social Security Trust Fund for current and future generations.

The PROMISE Act would create a procedure to initiate Congressional action on Social Security. Specifically, under the Senators’ proposal:

The Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB), an independent, bipartisan advisory committee established to make recommendations to Congress, would transmit a base bill (which must ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds are funded for at least the next 50 years) to Congress.

The Majority Leaders of the Senate and House would introduce the base bill. If they do not, any Member of Congress could do so.

The base bill would be referred to the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee. Both committees would have the chance to hold hearings and amend the base bill.

The Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee would report the base bill (as potentially amended). If the Committees do not report the base bill, it automatically would be discharged and placed on the Senate and House calendars.

The Majority Leaders of the Senate and House would move to proceed to the base bill (as potentially amended). If the Majority Leaders do not, any Member of Congress could do so.

Members of Congress could offer substitute amendments (which must ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds are funded for at least the next 50 years) to the base bill (as potentially amended) after the motion to proceed.

The Senate and House would vote on passage of the base bill (as potentially amended) after 100 hours of consideration. Final passage would require a three-fifths vote in the Senate and a majority vote in the House.

According to polling from the Bipartisan Policy Center, 64 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of Republicans agree on the need for bipartisan cooperation to protect and strengthen the program. And 67 percent of those polled want Congress to take near-term action to solve Social Security’s impending challenges. Specifically, 47 percent say that they want Congress to address Social Security’s financial shortfall as soon as possible, with both parties working together, and an additional 20 percent say that they want a bipartisan commission created to develop a comprehensive plan—and for Congress to approve that plan.

The following organizations support the PROMISE Act: Bipartisan Policy Center, Third Way, and Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

“America’s current and future retirees deserve a Social Security system that is financially strong and able to meet its financial commitments to seniors. With the trust funds nearing insolvency, Congress cannot remain in entrenched partisan positions. BPC Action endorses the PROMISE Act and commends Senators Durbin (D-IL), Cassidy (R-LA), Kaine (D-VA), Tillis (R-NC), and King (I-ME) for creating a serious bipartisan process to break the status quo of inaction. Their leadership should spur other members—and advocates committed to Social Security’s future—to come to the table, confront difficult choices, and help secure Americans’ earned benefits for generations to come,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

“The longer Congress waits to address Social Security’s looming insolvency, the more expensive and narrow the eventual reforms become. This legislation will help Republicans and Democrats debate and craft a credible, bipartisan solution that keeps Social Security sustainable for decades,” said Jessica Riedl, Fellow of Economic Studies at Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

“Social Security now faces insolvency before the end of the next president's term. Seniors are staring down the possibility of steep and sudden benefit cuts, while working Americans risk being saddled with an undue tax or debt burden — all because policymakers waited too long to avert a crisis they all knew was coming. The PROMISE Act should be commended for not only offering one possible mechanism to fast-track bipartisan solutions that are long overdue through regular order, but also creating a recurring check-in to discourage policymakers from getting this close to a similar cliff again in the future,” said Ben Ritz, Vice President of Policy Development for the Progressive Policy Institute.

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Durbin Presses Justices Kagan, Barrett On Judicial Security In Rare Congressional Appearance

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, pressed Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett on judicial security in a rare Congressional appearance. This is the first time Supreme Court justices have appeared before Congress since 2019 and before the Senate since 2011.

“Tomorrow we're considering Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination, who has said of the courts that they are full of ‘rogue activist judges,’ repeatedly claiming the administration is ‘at war’ with the federal judiciary. That kind of rhetoric, I think, is unacceptable on either side of the table, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. It just inflames people and has them thinking in terms of violence that may reach physical violence if we're not careful. So, I want to add to the chorus that violence is unacceptable,” began Durbin.

Durbin then invoked the case of Northern District of Illinois Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow, whose mother and husband were killed.

“We had some terrible incidents in the Northern District of Illinois not that long ago, where one of the federal district court judges had a disgruntled person that appeared in their court, then went to her home and took the life of her mother and husband. It was a horrible incident. Since then, I've done my best to try to provide the resources, not just for that court, but for the courts across the country… is it your impression, it is mine, that speaking to judges, they often lament the fact that they're waiting for the GSA to respond to security measures in their courts, court buildings?” asked Durbin.

“Yes, and I think that's part of their budget request… I served with Judge Lefkow when I was on the Seventh Circuit, and I think precisely because of those sorts of things, yes, it is my understanding that the lower federal courts are also in great need of security funding and have been pushing for that in their courthouses and through GSA as well,” replied Barrett.

“We're in a bit of a different position, because we don't use GSA. We're under the Capitol Architect and have done very well with the Architect of the Capitol, that office has always been very attentive to our needs. But lower federal courts are reliant on GSA, and I know have some significant concerns,” said Kagan.

“Very much so. It's interesting. A few of the judges came to Capitol Hill to speak to Members, and each time they would speak to one of the Senators about this situation in their courthouses, they got the same response: ‘Where do we sign up for going a different route, more efficient route, for a quicker response when it comes to security?’ And I just say that I think this is going to fall in our jurisdiction here in the future, and I hope we take it seriously. I thank you both for being here today,” concluded Durbin.

Video of Durbin’s remarks is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks is available here for TV Stations.

Reporting found that USMS has seen a spike in threats against federal judges. One report identified more than 600 posts on social media and right-leaning message boards since February 2025 targeting family members of judges who ruled against the Trump Administration—with the posts viewed more than 200 million times. Another report described federal judges and their family members receiving anonymous deliveries to their homes intended to show that those seeking to intimidate the targeted judge know the judge’s address or their family members’ addresses. Some of these deliveries were made using the name of Judge Esther Salas’s son, who was murdered at the family’s home by a former litigant.

The spike in threats coincides with escalating, threatening language by President Trump and his allies, including calls for impeaching judges who don’t rule in the President’s favor. Durbin has urged the Justice Department and FBI to investigate the ongoing and increasing threats against federal judges.

When Durbin was Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation provided additional intelligence analysts and deputy Marshals to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and allowed judges to remove sensitive personal information from government websites and private publications.

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Durbin Statement On Courtesy Meeting With Trump’s Attorney General Pick Todd Blanche

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after his meeting with Todd Blanche, President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Attorney General:

“Mr. Blanche is at the helm of a weaponized Justice Department, putting President Trump ahead of the Constitution, the rule of law, and you.

“It’s clear that Mr. Blanche has never stopped being President Trump’s personal attorney, and I pushed him on his role in the botched release of the Epstein Files, the MAGA slush fund for cop beaters, the Trump-IRS sweetheart deal, and his crypto corruption.

“I look forward to continuing my questioning from the dais at tomorrow’s hearing on his role aiding and abetting the most corrupt Administration in history.”

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Durbin Statement On Fatal ICE Officer Shootings In Houston And Maine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the fatal shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers:

“The fatal shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero are tragic, heartbreaking, and enraging. There must be full, fair, and independent investigations into these shootings so the truth can be revealed, and it is critical that DHS not deport any eyewitnesses and allow them to participate fully in the investigation.

“We must rein in ICE abuses before another life is lost.”

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Ernst Honors Senator Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON – Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) honored the life and legacy of her dear friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham (S.C.).

Watch Ernst’s remarks here.

Ernst’s full remarks:

“I rise today with a heavy heart to honor my dear friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

“Before he ever set foot on this floor, he wore the uniform of the United States Air Force, serving 33 years between the Air Force, the South Carolina Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve.

“That service, and his upbringing in the back of his parents South Carolina bar, shaped everything about how he approached his work here in the Senate.

“He understood in a way too few in Washington, D.C. do, what it costs to defend freedom.

“He was one of the loudest, most persistent voices this institution has seen on the importance of American leadership in this world.

“And before I joined the Senate, Lindsey was one of my earliest supporters.

“I am so grateful for his mentorship and his friendship throughout the years.

“Lindsey was really dear to my family.

“My mother's birthday was just a few days before Lindsey's. And through the years he would call her on her birthday and wish her the happiest of birthdays.

“As my daughter entered the United States Army, he would call her and just give her words of encouragement in a hilarious way that only Lindsey Graham could.

“He was such a good and decent man.

“One thing we all knew about Lindsey was his great sense of humor.

“I'll never forget the gift he gave me after I won Iowa Senate seat. In fact, I may be the only senator in history to be handed a mounted castration clamp with a plaque engraved ‘make ‘em squeal Joni’ just off the floor of this chamber, courtesy of Lindsey Graham.

“And I think he's probably still laughing about that one.

“Earlier this year, we were talking about Lindsey, doing dinner with Lindsey as many of us did. And we were talking about this year's race because he was running for another term in the Senate.

“And my mother, again, being very close to Lindsey and his number one fan in Iowa.

“And in fact, she had a screensaver on her computer. It was her and Lindsey Graham.

“If you asked my mother who her favorite senator was, it wouldn't be Senator Chuck Grassley or even her own daughter. It would be Senator Lindsey Graham.

“She was agonizing, should I send Lindsey a donation for his campaign? And I was laughing about this with Lindsey. And so he's like, ‘give me your phone. He said, let's shoot shoot a video for your mom.’

“And so he took my phone and he made this cute little ten second video.

“And it went something like this. ‘Marilyn, we love you. We love Joni. I know times are hard, but send money anyway, lindseygraham.com”

“He did that all the time, and he was always so funny.

“And I can't tell you how many times I've watched that video over and over again and just laughed.

“He was certainly a very funny man, even when times were difficult.

“But behind the jokes was one of the most serious and effective legislators this body has ever known.

“He didn't care whose name was on a bill if the policy was right. He brokered friendships and alliances that many people in this town said were no longer possible.

“He fought hard, and then he would sit down and crack a joke with the people that he had just been arguing with.

“All of us here on this floor know that Lindsey was always moving. The man never stood still.

“He was always working the phones. Phone call after phone call. Whether it was President Trump or my mom back in Iowa.

“He was always certain that presence was power.

“I had the privilege of traveling many times over with Lindsey.

“The very first CODEL, which is a congressional delegation trip, that I took in the United States Senate, was with Lindsey.

“It was to the Munich Security Conference in Germany and other senators on that trip, former Senator Joe Lieberman, a dear friend of his, Senator John McCain, who was his deepest and truest friend, and Senator Kelly Ayotte.

“We had a wonderful trip together, and it was such a great experience for me to see him on the world stage.

“Easily moving from conversation to conversation with some of the world's most important and powerful leaders, and to see how much they deeply respected Senator Graham.

“His contributions to conflict resolution went well beyond the United States.

“Just days ago, Lindsey was in Ukraine meeting with President Zelensky and standing with a nation fighting for its survival because he believed, at his core, that American leadership was the difference between peace and oppression.

“Lindsey Graham was tough. He was funny, and he loved this country.

“To the people of South Carolina and to Lindsey's family, and most especially to his sister Darline, and all who loved him, we're all mourning together.

“As a Christian like Lindsey, I know God will bring comfort where there is fear, strength where there is shock, and hope where there is loss.

“Lindsey, we miss you. And this chamber will never be the same without you.

“Godspeed, my dear friend, and thank you for your service.”

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Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Mid-States Companies

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Mid-States Companies of Story County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“Mid-States Companies’ American entrepreneurial spirit steels the show with their dependable services to the agricultural industry in the heart of the Grain Belt,” said Chair Ernst. “The Vier family has built a business rooted in excellence, earning the trust of their customers while demonstrating an unwavering commitment to strengthening their community.”

Founded in 2001 by Kevin and Shelley Vier, Mid-States Companies is a group of businesses that supply premier grain handling, engineering, fabrication, crane, and trucking services. What started in a 7,000-square-foot millwright fabrication “mom-and-pop” shop, with only five employees, now operates in several states, with a more than 100,000 square foot facility in Nevada, Iowa, and over 100 employees.

Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award.

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At Fetterman’s Urging, FEMA Continues to Release Disaster Recovery Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released nearly $13.5 million in funding to support disaster recovery in Pennsylvania. The funding is the latest to be released after U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) penned a letter in April urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release delayed grants to entities across the Commonwealth.

“I’m grateful that FEMA continues to release funding that was owed to communities across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Fetterman. “Our communities count on hospitals and disaster recovery teams to work overtime to keep them safe. We should expect the same of the federal government.”

The newly released funding includes roughly $13 million for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Allegheny County for expenses related to COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts, as well as $350,000 to local governments to prevent and reduce future disaster damage in Pennsylvania.

Earlier this year, FEMA released nearly $600 million in delayed funding to hospitals across the Commonwealth and an additional $10 million for Tropical Storm Debby. Since then, Senator Fetterman has worked with stakeholders and DHS to identify outstanding funding and ensure Pennsylvania communities continue to receive their fair share.


Gallego, Colleagues Demand Pentagon Release Long-Awaited Report on U.S. Bombing of Iranian Elementary School

Investigation into the school strike was reportedly submitted in April, but has not been released to Congress or the public

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined 24 of his colleagues in continuing to demand answers from the Department of Defense (DoD) over the U.S. bombing of an Iranian elementary school in February. The strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, which reportedly killed approximately 120 children and at least 175 people in total, represented the worst civilian casualty incident caused by the U.S. military in decades.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper, the senators called for the swift completion and release of the Pentagon’s investigation into the school strike, which was reportedly submitted in April, but remains under review by senior military officials. They also requested that the Pentagon provide Congress with a comprehensive plan to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again.

“More than four months after the strike, and after the reported submission of the investigation in April, Congress and the American people still have not received the Department’s investigation and findings,” the senators wrote. “There is no justification for withholding an unclassified accounting of what happened, what went wrong, and what the Department is doing to prevent recurrence.”

In early March, Reuters first reported that U.S. military investigators believed U.S. forces were likely responsible for the Minab strike. Days later, Pentagon officials reportedly concluded through their preliminary investigation that a U.S. Tomahawk missile had struck the school. Investigators have also reportedly found that multiple failures led the school to be targeted in error, including missed 2019 remarks by an intelligence analyst indicating that the site had changed from a naval facility to a school. The analyst had entered the remarks into a digital system that was not connected to the authoritative targeting database, and officials planning the attack used imagery that had not been updated in several years and did not show a school at the site. In fact, according to recent reporting, senior U.S. military commanders ignored warnings that intelligence about potential targets was severely out of date for the sake of “expediency,” which directly contributed to the strike on the school.

“These reported issues, if accurate, raise deeply troubling questions about the integrity of U.S. target development, the adequacy of target validation and vetting procedures, the interoperability of intelligence and targeting databases, the timeliness and reliability of intelligence used for lethal targeting, and the Department’s implementation of civilian harm mitigation policies,” the senators wrote. “They also raise urgent questions about whether the Department has sufficient targeting personnel, training, accountability mechanisms, and technical safeguards to support large-scale conventional operations.

Despite this reporting, Trump administration officials have not publicly taken responsibility for the strike or the resultant civilian deaths. President Trump himself has suggested multiple times that the strike was not the U.S.’ fault and has even blamed Iran. Additionally, Secretary Hegseth has spent his tenure deriding the rules of engagement and cutting DoD programs that aim to prevent harm to civilians during war, including slashing the civilian harm mitigation and response mission by over 90%.

The senators concluded, “The United States military has a legal and moral obligation to take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian harm. When a U.S. strike kills civilians, the Department owes Congress, the American people, and the victims’ families a clear accounting of what happened and a credible plan to prevent future failures.”

The letter was led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and in addition to Senator Gallego was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).


Gillibrand, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Rescind Rule Giving President Sweeping Power To Politicize Federal Grants

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought immediately rescind OMB’s proposed changes to federal financial assistance. The senators warned the proposal exceeds OMB’s statutory authority, undermines Congress’ constitutional power of the purse, and would allow the president to weaponize federal grants for political purposes.

“New Yorkers will not tolerate the Trump administration playing political games with the grant money that fuels scientific innovation, life-saving research, and modern infrastructure in our state and our nation,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Instead of co-opting taxpayer dollars to serve his reckless agenda, President Trump should focus on serving working Americans and lowering costs.”

The proposed rule would dramatically expand agencies’ authority to terminate or suspend federal grants at any time and without notice. It would also require political appointees to make funding decisions without deferring to expert peer review. The senators warn this would inject partisan politics into grantmaking, threaten America’s leadership in scientific and medical innovation, and create chaos for communities and organizations that rely on federal funding to deliver critical services.

“Your proposal exceeds OMB’s authority, will make it impossible for grant recipients to faithfully carry out the funding priorities that Congress establishes in statute, and would turn federal grants into a new cudgel for the President to unilaterally advance his partisan agenda and punish political rivals,” the senators wrote. “Ultimately, these changes will make it harder for grant recipients to apply for and manage federal funds – undermining public safety, public health, economic competitiveness, and the government’s ability to address rising costs.”

The senators also argue that OMB’s proposal would force grant recipients to comply with vague, undefined, and political grant conditions that conflict with existing statutes. At the same time, it would weaken transparency and accountability requirements intended to safeguard taxpayer dollars. These changes could discourage qualified organizations from applying for federal grants and increase the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse.

The senators concluded: “Article I of the Constitution vests the power of the purse in Congress, which Congress has historically exercised by appropriating taxpayer dollars through federal grants to fund critical programs, including to protect public safety, advance scientific research, and support health and nutrition initiatives. OMB’s proposal unlawfully seeks to substitute Congress’s role in directing federal spending with the President’s preferred priorities, and in doing so, makes it harder for every community and organization in the United States to fairly access federal funding. We call on you to rescind this proposal.”

Joining Senator Gillibrand in signing the letter were Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text of the letter is available here.

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Gillibrand Demands Accountability From Military Leaders On Cost Of Iran War, Minab School Bombing

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, demanded accountability from the Pentagon on President Trump’s requested $350 billion in taxpayer dollars as a slush fund for his administration on top of the defense budget and $67.1 billion to pay for his reckless war in Iran. The funding requests follow Americans spending over $56 billion more on gas because of the war, with New Yorkers spending over $2.2 billion more to fill up their tanks.

“New Yorkers do not want to give billions more of their hard-earned dollars to fund President Trump’s chaotic, illegal, and unnecessary war that he has no idea how to get out of, ” said Senator Gillibrand. “They want their tax dollars to go to their healthcare, bringing down the cost of living, and making life easier for working families.”

In addition, Gillibrand continued to demand answers from the military on the U.S.’ bombing of an Iranian elementary school in February that reportedly killed approximately 120 children and at least 175 people in total. A day after she led 24 of her colleagues in calling for the Pentagon to release its long-awaited report on the bombing, she pressed for details on how the target was selected and how the bombing was executed.

Footage of Senator Gillibrand’s questioning can be found here.

Transcripts of key moments can be found below:

ON SPENDING ADDITIONAL BILLIONS ON WAR WHEN AMERICANS NEED RELIEF AT HOME

Sen. Gillibrand: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Hurst, thank you for your service. You have an incredible career, and I want to thank you and your family for continuing to dedicate your time and talent to the defense of this country. It’s a significant undertaking. You have a very important job as comptroller. Your job fundamentally is going to be about transparency and accountability, and one of the burdens, I think, of this job you’re going to have right now is that the American people are very concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to this war. From their perspective, it’s an unauthorized, illegal, unwanted war. The amount of spending is astronomical. I think you’ve just recently given us the $67 billion number. If they had a choice, they’d rather $67 billion fund Medicaid and their health care. They’d rather have $67 billion fund—to get the cost of groceries down, to get the cost of fuel down. And with the constant problems in the Strait of Hormuz and the continuing and the escalating of this war, people are very distressed about the cost of fueling their cars, fueling their homes, the cost of diesel for truck drivers, and the cost it’s having on everything because of that increase. So, transparency is something that we care very much about, and in your budget, it is not clear—especially for the supplemental—what is creating these enormous costs. You’re asking for an additional $350 billion, which to New Yorkers is going to seem like a slush fund to them. So it’s unclear: are these costs to pay for the destruction because of the war to our bases and operations abroad? Is this cost because of the increase in cost to our Navy ships because they were extended at sea? Are these costs because of wasteful domestic deployments of DoD personnel?

Honorable Jules W. Hurst III: Senator, again, thanks for the question. The $67 billion supplemental—I wasn’t involved in the generation of that because I’m not in a position of comptroller. But let me say this: the department needs a generational investment. It’s a defense, right? The Arleigh Burke class destroyer, the first one was commissioned in 1985, 40 years ago. It’s still the mainstay of our surface fleet. The Air Force is planning to fly the KC-135 until potentially the 2070s. We have to update our platforms. We have to buy affordable mass. We have to procure autonomous warfare platforms and integrate them into the force.

ON THE FAILURE OF HEGSETH TO RELEASE MINAB REPORT

Sen. Gillibrand: I’m highly concerned about the bombing of a school in Iran, a girls’ school. That bombing has been deeply upsetting to New Yorkers. 120 children were killed, and we still don’t have a report on that. Again, transparency and accountability. It is essential that this department give this Congress the report of how that target was selected, why more recent data and information showing that it was clearly a girls’ school and no longer part of the military base that was next door. Have you been given the report on how that targeting was made and whether AI systems were used?

Honorable Jules W. Hurst III: Senator, I have not seen that report. I regret the loss of any civilian life in any conflict.

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Gillibrand Statement On Her Vote To Block A Blank Check For Trump’s Iran War

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement regarding her vote against the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act:

“Donald Trump launched this conflict in Iran with no clear objective, no plan, and no exit strategy. I cannot support a defense bill that places zero constraints on an out-of-touch administration waging a price-increasing war that directly hurts working families.

“Every day, the White House offers a shifting rationale for the chaos they’ve created while demanding a blank check for a deeply misguided conflict. The American people are paying the price at the pump and in the grocery checkout line as inflation, gas prices, and healthcare costs have soared.

“This must end. We cannot afford an endless conflict abroad while hardworking families are told to sacrifice their livelihoods to fund it.”

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Gillibrand Statement On New York State Data Center Moratorium

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive order to implement a one-year pause for hyperscale data centers to assess for environmental impact:

“I applaud Governor Hochul for taking decisive action on data center construction. Today’s executive order sends a clear message New Yorkers deserve a say in how this technology impacts their lives and communities.

“This one-year moratorium is fundamentally about trust. Right now, New Yorkers aren’t convinced these massive facilities benefit them. Before we move forward, our communities need ironclad guarantees that their energy bills won’t spike, their water will be protected, and their air will remain clean.

“At the federal level, my mission is to ensure AI innovation benefits every American, not just a powerful few. That requires establishing clear, reliable rules of the road. We must build a framework that protects our kids from harmful algorithms and social media tools; shields seniors and consumers from AI-driven scams and fraud; and safeguards American jobs and livelihoods from displacement.”

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Capitol Hill Report, 7-14-26

Audio from this afternoon’s call is available HERE.

Topics include: Sen. Lindsey Graham’s passing, Iran, U.S. Supreme Court security and the ROAD to Housing Act.


Grassley Applauds National Science Foundation Award to Support Sustained Rural Prosperity, Unlock Innovation and Boost Bioeconomy

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) applauded an announcement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that the RuralSTAMINA program would receive a Regional Innovation Engines award of $15 million over two years. The program could receive up to $160 million over the next decade. In September, RuralSTAMINA was chosen as an NSF engines finalist. This award reflects the cutting edge leadership of Iowa State University and its regional partners, including the University of Iowa, to accelerate the bioeconomy by expanding biomanufacturing capacity, supporting technology commercialization, strengthening workforce development and creating new economic opportunities for producers, entrepreneurs and communities.

“I’m very glad to see this funding headed to support such an important effort here in Iowa. Our family farmers feed and fuel the world, and their productivity creates a lot of feedstock. With the RuralSTAMINA program, we can leverage Iowa’s agriculture abundance, innovation and advanced biomanufacturing to create new value-added products. I congratulate Iowa State University and its regional partners, including the University of Iowa, for their expertise and collaboration to harness the local workforce and accelerate the bioeconomy in rural communities across the state,” Grassley said.

Background:

The NSF Engines program aims to build and scale regional innovation ecosystems nationwide. Each NSF Engine is powered by a broad coalition of private sector, regional and scientific leaders and organizations to accelerate breakthrough emerging technology R&D that drives growth and ultimately bolsters U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.


Grassley Opens Judiciary Hearing on Patent Eligibility, Highlights Need for All Americans to Benefit from Innovation and Advancement

Prepared Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

“From Genes to Machines: The Patent Eligibility Debate”

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

We’re here to discuss a cutting-edge legal question – what inventions should be eligible for U.S. patent protection.

First, though, it’s important for us to take a few minutes to remember and honor our friend and colleague, Senator Lindsay Graham, who passed away over the weekend. He leaves behind a distinguished legacy as a United States Senator and former chairman and ranking member of this committee.

Lindsey was a resounding voice on the Judiciary Committee - especially through the high-profile and successful confirmations of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett. He saw many conservative judges appointed to all levels of the federal courts. Notably, he did this and more through the COVID pandemic.

Public service was Lindsey’s calling. He approached it with enthusiasm, energy and tireless dedication. His leadership on this committee, in the Senate and for this country will be missed.

I ask that we take a moment of silence to remember Senator Lindsey Graham.

Now, on to the business at hand.

Our nation’s founders understood the importance of patent protection to the economy and growth of our newborn nation. They guaranteed this protection in our Constitution. They enacted the first patent law in 1790, during the first Congress.

The task before us today isn’t an easy one. Patent eligibility’s a multilayered legal issue with detailed tests and case-by-case rules created by the Supreme Court. This law must be culled and gleaned from the many pages of the Court’s nuanced opinions.

Next, we tie in science – all the sciences, from genes to machines to artificial intelligence. Then we mix in insatiable human curiosity and boundless creativity, and we begin to understand why this area of law’s so challenging and relevant today. It’s rules trying to keep up with scientific development and the human imagination.

There’s much debate about how to deal with this complex patent issue. Senator Tillis has done excellent and diligent work, including holding multiple hearings in the Intellectual Property Subcommittee. But I believe this is the first hearing we’re holding on this legislation at the full committee level.

We may or may not agree on his bill - the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, also known as PERA. I don’t know yet – most of us are still studying and trying to understand the bill and the effects it’ll have in order to determine what’s the best path forward. That’s why we’re here today – to study and understand this important issue that has tremendous impact on the wellbeing of humanity and the success of our economy.

We have four experts joining us today, and others who are submitting written testimony for the record, to help us understand this with their insights and experiences.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Our country leads the world in cutting edge inventions and technology. This momentum fuels our economy and advances our society. It cures disease and helps us grow enough food to feed people throughout the world. We have a responsibility to Americans to hold this lead, and to the world to fulfill our potential.

The question we must ask today is how do we maintain this momentum, while also making sure that all Americans can benefit from these advancements? Learning how to strike this balance is why we’re holding this hearing today.

I look forward to a fascinating discussion. I now turn to my colleague, Senator Durbin, to give his opening remarks.


NEWS: Jack Smith’s Investigative Team Secretly Obtained Text Messages from 44 Members of Congress Amid Trump Probe

WASHINGTON – Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigative team obtained and reviewed text messages from 44 Members of Congress as part of the Biden Department of Justice’s (DOJ) criminal investigation into President Trump. Evidence shows the investigators bypassed a required Filter Team review process, violating investigative protocols and potentially infringing on constitutional guardrails.

The bombshell discovery comes in new records released today by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) as part of their ongoing Arctic Frost oversight. Grassley and Johnson requested the records from DOJ after receiving legally protected whistleblower disclosures.

The Justice Department’s letter to the chairmen and the provided records indicate Smith’s investigative team circumvented its own filter review process, which was established to protect privileged materials from being swept up in a criminal prosecution, and directly accessed the content of texts sent by Republican and Democrat senators and members of the House of Representatives to White House officials during Trump’s first term. Communications from Members of Congress pertaining to their official legislative duties are protected from criminal prosecution under the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause. Bypassing a Filter Team evades consideration of additional privileges, such as attorney-client privilege.

Both Grassley and Johnson’s text messages were obtained by Smith’s team.

“Jack Smith’s criminal investigation of President Trump was a runaway train that had no brakes. Based on the information that’s been produced to me and Senator Johnson, Biden DOJ and FBI investigators apparently ignored their own routine investigative protocols to obtain and review work-related messages from me and dozens of my Republican and Democrat colleagues who were outside the scope of the government’s investigation,” Grassley said. “I hope my Democrat colleagues, several of whom had their own texts swept up, finally put partisanship aside and recognize the severity of these actions. Smith’s team ran roughshod over the Constitution even after repeated warnings. Jack Smith has answering to do, and I intend to have him before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming months to hold him accountable.”

“This is yet another grotesque example of the Biden administration’s weaponization of the Justice Department,” Johnson said. “Jack Smith’s team acted with impunity as they disregarded their own protocols to obtain and access White House text messages, including messages to and from 44 Members of Congress. At this point, no one should be shocked by Jack Smith’s recklessness and blatant abuse of power, but they should be outraged.”

Read DOJ’s summary of the records HERE and access the records HERE.

Background:

The records, as summarized in a DOJ cover letter, provide evidence the Biden Justice Department “established a Filter Team to evaluate materials obtained in the course of both Jack Smith’s investigation relating to January 6 (referred to as ‘Project Coconut’) and his Mar-a-Lago documents investigation (referred to as ‘Project Cranberry’). The Filter Team’s purpose was to prevent investigators from the Special Counsel’s Office and the FBI (‘Investigative Team’) from accessing privileged materials among the records obtained during the course of these investigations.” The DOJ letter further states “the Special Counsel’s Investigative Team apparently bypassed the Filter Team and directly accessed these text messages,” in reference to Members’ communications.

In June 2023, the Special Counsel’s Office (SCO) subpoenaed the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to provide all text messages from October 2020 through January 20, 2021, from phones associated with a long list of personnel serving in the White House during President Trump’s first term, including Trump himself as well as: Mark Meadows, Dan Scavino, Ivanka Trump, Stephen Miller, Peter Navarro, John Ratcliffe, Kash Patel, Rudy Giuliani, Kellyanne Conway and Mike Pence.

NARA provided the texts to SCO on August 21, 2023. Within half an hour, one of Smith’s senior lawyers, Thomas Windom, downloaded the texts and, within one hour, other members of Smith’s investigative team downloaded and began reviewing the texts. It appears the review was done without waiting for the Filter Team to evaluate and segregate privileged information.

Smith’s team accessed texts to and from the following current and former senators and members of the House of Representatives:

1. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

2. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)

3. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)

4. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

5. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)

6. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah)

7. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

8. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.)

9. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)

10. Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.)

11. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)

12. Senator Martha McSally (R-Ariz.)

13. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.)

14. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.)

15. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

16. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)

17. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine)

18. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.)

19. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)

20. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.)

21. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

22. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.)

23. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)

24. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)

25. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.)

26. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)

27. Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.)

28. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.)

29. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.)

30. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.)

31. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

32. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)

33. Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.)

34. Rep. Joshua Gottheimer (D-N.J.)

35. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.)

36. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.)

37. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.)

38. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.)

39. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.)

40. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.)

41. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.)

42. Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho)

43. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.)

44. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)


ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings with Maria on Fox Business to Discuss CLARITY, the SAVE Act, Reconciliation 3.0 and Lindsey Graham’s Legacy

Washington—Today, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Mornings with Maria on Fox Business to honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and to discuss the CLARITY Act, the SAVE America Act and Reconciliation 3.0.

*Click the photo above or here to watch*

Partial Transcript

Hagerty on Lindsey Graham’s passing: There is a pall over all of D.C. Frankly, over much of the world. Lindsey was very well traveled as a legislator and very well liked. We will all dearly miss him. He played a critical role in the Senate. He always brought levity to everything that he did… I remember him walking into an important meeting with members of the House of Representatives, and Lindsey announced, “I am from the United States Senate, and I’m here to help.” It just broke the room, it broke the ice. And he had a way of piercing even the most tense situation with a little bit of levity. He always also was very clear in his goals. You might not always agree with his goals, but Lindsey always had a plan to get them accomplished. And I think he is resting better—God bless him—knowing that he accomplished so much, particularly with the situation in Ukraine right now. His breakthrough efforts that just occurred with Russian sanctions, I think will make a big difference in terms of bringing peace to that area that he’s worked so hard at […] Lindsey was chair of the [Senate Budget Committee] and we’ve made great progress on the Reconciliation 3.0 package. We need that to get critical aspects of legislation done. We are at a point in the political environment right now where it is difficult to get any cooperation from the Democrats and getting the SAVE America Act passed, which is so important to us, many elements of that can be done through Reconciliation 3.0. There are a number of other impacts to the economy, to the housing market: indexing capital gains on housing, the budget for the Defense Department, and a number of other matters that we do need to address. Lindsey was riding front and center on that in the budget committee. It is going to take a lot of dedication. I think we should dedicate our efforts in memory of him to get that done as well […] Having [Sen. Graham] on the [Senate Judiciary Committee] was certainly an advantage for Republicans. [Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche] will be a great [United States Attorney General]. He is already doing a very good job, but I think having Lindsey there would have been a plus. We will certainly figure out how to address the gap that Lindsey’s departure leaves, but again, I say we will miss his voice in so many areas—Judiciary, of course, as you point out, being one of those critical points.

Hagerty on the SAVE America Act: I think we should try every aspect available to us. I’m one of the co-sponsors of this bill and am very keen to see it passed. What Lindsey Graham was working on in the Reconciliation 3.0 package does not require Democrat votes. I think that was one of the paths that offered the most promise, and I think we need to continue our efforts full bore to make sure we get it done, and this is the time to do it. I agree that this is the legislative period before August to work hard to get it done. We have got a lot on the agenda. We need to get the National Defense Authorization Act passed; Lindsey was a strong voice there as well. We have made great progress there. I think we’re very close to being ready to do that… I put great effort forward last year to get the Genius Act passed, and what the Genius Act did for stable coins in bringing America to the absolute lead on an international basis can be done as well with the CLARITY Act for the remainder of the digital assets industry, we need to get that passed also. So, there are a lot of pressures on us right now and a lot of work ahead.

Hagerty on Reconciliation 3.0: I think we’re going to have to be able to both walk and chew gum at the same time. We’re going to be working on multiple components of this, and it will be up to [Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD,] to decide which is ready and which is most, most passable on any given day. But we’re going to have to be proceeding side by side with these incredibly important pieces of legislation that is in the Senate Banking Committee. A lot of good work has gone into that, I think we are very close there. The SAVE America Act being “budgetized,” if you will, in the Senate Budget Committee, a lot of work has happened there. The House is working very hard right now to send something our way. And again, the National Defense Authorization Bill has got a lot of elements in it that, um, that will be critical to our national security. I think Leader Thune will be looking at which [bills] are prime and ready to go. But we are going to be voting and pushing this forward at a very rapid pace… Nobody will be able to fill [Sen. Graham’s] place, there is no question about that. But there are procedures in place to roll in a new chair of the budget committee. There are procedures in place for the governor of South Carolina to replace Lindsey, and all of that will be taking up a good part of this week, I am certain.

Hagerty on the CLARITY Act: [The CLARITY Act] certainly has the momentum, and I think the interest to get it done. I will just say this: it has been transformative to see what the GENIUS Act has done to the stablecoin arena. We have the opportunity to maintain that lead for America on a global basis if we can get CLARITY done. And the right time to do it is right now. The elements are there in front of us. I would hate to see us kick the can down the road any further, but we have a lot ahead of us on the agenda. I certainly hope we can get this done soon.

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Hawley Negotiates Inclusion of STOP CSAM Act in Senate NDAA

WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced that his legislation to combat child sex abuse material online, the STOP CSAM Act, was added to the text of the defense policy bill currently being considered in the U.S. Senate. Senator Hawley negotiated the inclusion of the STOP CSAM Act into the manager’s amendment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following successful passage of his bill out of the Judiciary Committee in a unanimous vote last year. If signed into law, this legislation would crack down on egregious cases of child exploitation online and give victims the right to sue Big Tech platforms.

The STOP CSAM Act would crack down on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online by allowing victims to sue companies that host it. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has served as co-lead on this legislation. Senator Hawley reintroduced the legislation in March 2025 ahead of the senators’ joint committee hearing highlighting witnesses impacted by CSAM, including survivors, advocates, and law enforcement experts. The bill then passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in June 2025.


Hawley Slams Biden DOJ for Illegally Obtaining His Text Messages in Trump Probe

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statements regarding new developments in the Arctic Frost case, in which he and other senators’ personal text messages were illegally acquired by former Special Counsel Jack Smith.


Heinrich Introduces Bill to Expand Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) reintroduced his Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act, legislation to strengthen the pipeline for careers in New Mexico and nationwide, address workforce shortages, and grow the economy through quality pre-apprenticeship programs.

Pre-apprenticeship programs are a proven way to build the skilled workforce needed to meet industry demand. They equip participants with foundational literacy and math skills, workplace readiness, and hands-on training that can be tailored to the needs of students, employers, and local labor markets.

“My Pre-Apprenticeships to Hardhats Act will help workers gain the skills and training they need to succeed in high-demand careers they can build their families around. These are the kinds of jobs that allow folks to put food on the table and get ahead,” said Heinrich. “I remain committed to solutions that expand pathways to in-demand jobs, grow our local workforce, and ensure New Mexico has the skilled workers it needs for the future.”

Specifically, the PATH Act directs the U.S. Department of Labor to award grants to a broad range of eligible entities, including employers, unions, workforce development boards, community-based organizations, colleges and universities, school districts, state education agencies, small businesses, and veterans’ organizations. Grant recipients would provide pre-apprenticeship training that equips participants with the skills and competencies needed to enter registered apprenticeship programs in the building trades.

Funding must be used for training, curriculum development, assessments, and program evaluation. The legislation also requires grantees to prioritize outreach and training opportunities for veterans, women, and low-income communities.

In the House, the PATH Act is led by U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (D-N.J.).

“Young people need to know that expensive four-year degrees are not the only way to earn a good living and provide value to your community,” said Norcross. “America needs to build more of everything from housing to energy to infrastructure, and pre-apprenticeships are the perfect entry point for the high-paying, fulfilling careers available right now. My own electrical apprenticeship kickstarted a life I’m extremely proud of and serves as my inspiration to create more of those opportunities for today’s workforce, too.”

The PATH Act is endorsed by United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 412 (U.A. Local 412), North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), and SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 49.

“North America’s Building Trades Unions understand the training and education pathways required to produce a highly-skilled workforce, and we fully support apprenticeship readiness programs,” said Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions. “The efforts in the PATH Act not only open the pipelines of the skilled trades to underserved communities across America, they are essential to securing a strong foundation for America’s middle-class and ensuring national and local economic growth.”

“At the United Association Local 412 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we strongly believe in the investment in pre-apprenticeship as a pathway for young people into apprenticeship and great careers,” said Courtenay Eichhorst, Business Manager, U.A. Local 412, and President of New Mexico Building Trades. “The United States is facing a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople and with important initiatives and projects from federal investments needing the skilled trades workforce, we must provide workforce development to achieve the most out of those investments. Optimizing these investments must include pre-apprenticeship which lead into great paying careers in the skilled trades and economically uplifts our communities, all while improving the infrastructure in our great state and nation. We need to fund pre-apprenticeship programs to carry out these initiatives and build our communities. Pre-apprenticeship is a crucial stepping-stone into registered apprenticeship and provides a ‘pathway out of poverty.’”

The full text of the bill is here.

Heinrich is a champion of policies to expand opportunities for New Mexico workers and has consistently fought to create good-paying union jobs.

Heinrich recently announced that after nearly two decades of his advocacy to complete one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in the Western Hemisphere, the SunZia Project has become fully operational. SunZia includes a 550-mile transmission line spanning New Mexico’s Torrance, Lincoln, and San Miguel Counties. It will deliver up to 3,650 megawatts (MW) of energy and generate an estimated $20.5 billion in economic benefits for New Mexico and the Southwest. The project supported more than 2,000 construction jobs and will create more than 100 permanent jobs as it begins full operations. For a detailed timeline of Heinrich’s actions to build and bring SunZia online, click here.

In February 2025, Heinrich introduced his Apprenticeship Pathways Act, legislation to create pathways to high-demand careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeships and technical education.

Heinrich, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, also announced $1,350,000 in federal funding that he secured through the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations process for the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 412 (U.A. Local 412). The funding will support specialized journeyman training focused on filling jobs created by the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, including needs specific to semiconductor plants, hospitals, and heat pump installation, service, repair, and maintenance. In the same Fiscal Year Appropriations bills, Heinrich secured $1,200,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the SMART Local Union No. 49 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee to enhance and expand specialized HVAC apprenticeship training.

In October 2024, Heinrich visited U.A. 412’s mobile training unit, which is creating more pathways to in-demand careers in the skilled trades and has already trained dozens of New Mexicans in Española, Taos, Las Vegas, Mora, Raton, and Santa Fe. Heinrich also participated in a training demonstration with U.A. Local 412 leadership and apprentices who are learning skills in the plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC trades.

The U.A. Local 412 Mobile Training Unit was initially paid for by an Economic Development Administration (EDA) Good Jobs Challenge Grant, as part of a $6.4 million award to the Northern N.M. Workforce Integration Network. The Good Jobs Challenge funds were authorized by the American Rescue Plan, the critical economic recovery legislation that Heinrich was proud to pass in 2021.

In August 2024, Heinrich announced the Senate Appropriations Committee passage of bills that included an additional $870,000 CDS award that he secured to sustain the U.A. Local 412’s mobile training unit’s operations past the original EDA funding, and to expand its reach to new communities including Grants, Gallup, Silver City, and Zuni Pueblo.

In October 2024, Heinrich hosted a “Pro-Worker, Pro-Business Opportunities” roundtable to talk directly with New Mexicans about how federal legislation he helped pass into law, like the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Law, is creating careers in high-demand sectors and strengthening New Mexico’s health care, early childhood education, and skilled trades workforce.

In the last Congress, Heinrich introduced the bipartisan Apprenticeship Pathways Act, legislation to create pathways to careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeship programs for occupations with high need, including the building trades, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, and early childhood education.

Heinrich also convened a hearing, as then-Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC), on “Job Training for the Clean Energy Transition.” Courtenay Eichhorst, Business Manager of U.A. Local 412 and President of New Mexico Building Trades, testified at the hearing about the importance of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.

In March 2024, Heinrich introduced the Providing Resources and Opportunities for Health Education and Learning (PRO-HEAL) Act, legislation that will tackle the health care provider shortage in New Mexico and nationwide by expanding pathways to high-quality, in-demand health care careers that medical professionals can access in their communities. Specifically, the PRO-HEAL Act addresses medical provider shortages by incentivizing states and institutions of higher education to expand or create health care provider pipeline programs, particularly in underserved and rural communities. The legislation is inspired by the success of the Combined BA/MD Degree Program at the University of New Mexico, where over 65% of students who have graduated from their program practice medicine in New Mexico.

Heinrich previously introduced the Pathways to Health Careers Act, legislation that reauthorizes and modernizes the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program to help address health care shortages in New Mexico and across the country and create pathways to high-quality, in-demand health care careers. The HPOG program has a proven track record of successfully educating workers for jobs in the health care industry, while also providing career coaching, job placement, and a mix of other support services. The Pathways to Health Careers Act restarts and expands the HPOG Program, providing $425 million to make HPOG available nationwide from FY24 through FY28 and includes set asides for Tribes and U.S. Territories.

In 2021, Heinrich and Moran introduced the Championing Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in Technology (CHANCE in Tech) Act, bipartisan legislation to create earlier pathways to high-paying careers in the information technology (IT) industry. Heinrich previously introduced the bipartisan legislation in 2019 with former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.).

In 2021 and 2022, Heinrich helped pass the Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which helped bring manufacturing to Central New Mexico, including companies like Arcosa Wind Towers. Later in 2022, Heinrich also helped pass the CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan legislation to lower costs, boost domestic manufacturing, strengthen domestic supply chains, and invest in skilled trades and workforce training programs.

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ICYMI: Hickenlooper Visits Aspen Acres Burn Site in Beulah, Talks Drought and Wildfire in the San Luis Valley

In case you missed it, last week U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper traveled across Southern Colorado to survey wildfire damage, drought impacts, and discuss rural investment in the San Luis Valley.

On Thursday, Hickenlooper began the day in Buena Vista, meeting with firefighters and local law enforcement at the Willow Fire Incident Command Center before joining forest service staff and public lands advocates at the Collegiate Peaks Overlook to discuss Colorado’s wildfire emergency — and how Trump administration staffing cuts have left public lands agencies under-resourced this season. He then visited the San Luis Valley: touring an affordable housing project in Saguache that he helped secure over $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for, meeting with ranchers and farmers at the Rio Grande Water Conservation District in Alamosa to discuss the West’s historic drought and how falling Rio Grande water levels are threatening local crops.

On Friday, Hickenlooper stopped in Walsenburg for a discussion on economic development and federal investment in rural Colorado, then traveled to Beulah, where he toured the Aspen Acres burn site, held a briefing with local law enforcement and fire chiefs at the Pueblo Incident Command Center, and visited the Red Cross shelter to check on evacuees and the community’s needs.

Check out what they’re saying:

CPR: The Aspen Acres fire roared through the small, close-knit community of Beulah, but residents fought back

…Colorado’s senators, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, toured the area on Friday, and were struck by the level of destruction. “This is obviously a tragedy for Beulah,” said Bennet, adding that it’s also “an amazing example of resilience to see the volunteer firefighters fighting these blazes to save this town while their own houses were being destroyed.”

Hickenlooper spoke about spending cuts to federal agencies charged with firefighting, fire mitigation and more. He said resources were available for this fire. “That ain’t going to be true for all the other fires,” he said. He promised to put pressure on the Trump administration, “They made a lot of promises during the campaign that they would provide resources to rural America and we’re not seeing it when we need it.”

Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado senators pledge federal aid for Aspen Acres Fire

Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper promised on July 10 to do whatever they can to aid Pueblo and other counties affected by the Aspen Acres Fire.

…Hickenlooper said that the state of Colorado would owe a “serious debt” to the state of Alaska — the home state of the national critical incident management team overseeing firefighting operations — for its aid.

“This should also be a wake-up call. People all over the state of Colorado recognize this is going to be a hot, dry summer, by all accounts,” Hickenlooper said.

Ark Valley Voice: Hickenlooper Hears Concerns Over Wildfire’s Economic Toll During Buena Vista Visit

While firefighters continue working to contain the Willow Fire, local leaders told U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper that another challenge is already taking hold across the Arkansas River Valley – the local economy.

During a visit to Buena Vista on Thursday, July 9, Hickenlooper met with fire officials before sitting down with local business owners, emergency managers, public land officials, and community leaders. Speakers described how the wildfire has disrupted tourism, strained local businesses, and highlighted the growing challenges communities face as wildfire seasons become longer and more severe.

…Earlier that day, Hickenlooper stopped at the Willow Fire Incident Command Post at Buena Vista High School. Fire managers briefed him on current suppression efforts before the roundtable discussion.

Valley Courier: Sen. Hickenlooper listens, talks agriculture with local growers.

…“I want to hear your stories. People’s stories can change how a senator votes.”

Those were some of Colorado U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper’s first words when he began a dialogue with a group of farmers and ranchers from the San Luis Valley at the Rio Grande Water Conservation District.

The event, held on Thursday, was the last in a three-stop itinerary. Hickenlooper’s day began in Buena Vista with a conversation about public lands, continued to Saguache where he spoke with locals about affordable housing and ended with the dialogue in Alamosa.

In some cases, the stories that producers shared reflected the harsh reality of an ag industry getting hit on all sides at the same time, largely by factors outside of producers’ control.

Increasing water scarcity. Inflation, the cost of diesel and fertilizer and other soaring input costs caused by wars on the other side of the globe. Unpredictable markets with a decline in what profits can be made. Tariffs, persistent drought that’s drawing the lifeblood out of agriculture and sweeping budget cuts in areas that can least afford them.

“The cuts are staggering,” Hickenlooper said, “and they’re coming in a time of dire need.”

…Hickenlooper shared his thoughts, starting with legislation. “We must get a farm bill. Putting the farm bill in a reconciliation is insane,” he said. “We haven’t had any stable footing for ag in a decade…”

WATCH:

CBS (Denver, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

CBS (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

NBC (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

FOX (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

FOX (Denver, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

9 News (Denver, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

ABC (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

LISTEN:

Bloomberg (San Francisco, CA): Aspen Acres FireKRDO (Colorado Springs, CO): Aspen Acres Fire

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Hoeven Pays Tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today delivered remarks on the U.S. Senate floor honoring the life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham following his passing. Hoeven remembered Graham as a close friend and dedicated public servant highlighting his decades of military and congressional service, his leadership on national defense, budget and judicial issues, and his unwavering commitment to the nation’s servicemembers and their families. Hoeven also reflected on Graham’s devotion to his family and welcomed his sister Darline as she prepares to carry on his legacy of service in the Senate.

“It’s hard to imagine the Senate without Lindsey. We will miss his humor, his advice and his friendship. From the military to the South Carolina House to the past 31 years in Congress, Lindsey was dedicated to serving the people of South Carolina and the nation,” said Hoeven. “But for all his accomplishments in the Senate and around the globe, Senator Graham was most proud of his family. He was a loyal and loving brother and uncle, who once said of his sister, ‘Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is the highlight of it by far.’ It is only fitting that his sister, Darline, will serve in his place. We extend her a warm welcome to the Senate, like Senator Graham did with so many of us.”

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Husted helps secure millions for northeast Ohio manufacturing hub, supporting up to 20,000 jobs

“I was proud to advocate for this project because it aligns with our state’s strengths and America’s priorities.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today announced that the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) selected Case Western Reserve University’s Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology (NEO-SMART) initiative as one of just 12 recipients nationwide to receive an NSF Regional Innovation Engines award.

This comes after Husted wrote a letter to Acting Director of NSF Brian Stone advocating for the NEO-SMART project on May 22, 2026. The NSF Engines program can provide up to $160 million over 10 years to support the initiative.

“Ohio has long been a manufacturing powerhouse, and this investment will help ensure northeast Ohio remains at the forefront of innovation for decades to come. Ohio was just named the top state in the nation to do business, and the NEO-SMART initiative’s collaboration—bringing together researchers, manufacturers, educators and workforce partners—to strengthen domestic supply chains and advance cutting-edge technologies is one example of why we earned that rating. I was proud to advocate for this project because it aligns with our state’s strengths and America’s priorities,” said Husted.

The NEO-SMART proposal outlines a 10-year plan that would create an estimated 20,000 jobs across 18 counties in northeast Ohio. The program is a partnership of more than 70 entities from sectors spanning industry, academia, job training, philanthropy and government.

Once funded, this program will:

Drive economic prosperity by fortifying domestic supply chains in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, defense and medical devices

Accelerate innovation by advancing key technologies in manufacturing and fostering new entrepreneurship

Train Ohio’s future workforce for in demand and meaningful jobs


Senator Justice Celebrates NSF Energy Investment in WVU

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Jim Justice released a statement celebrating the National Science Foundation’s selection of the Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure (RETI) Consortium, which is led by West Virginia University (WVU) in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and more than 60 regional partners, to be one of 12 National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award recipients.

“This is a landmark moment for West Virginia. Securing the RETI Consortium, the largest National Science Foundation award in our state’s history, is a testament to the incredible work being done at West Virginia University and by partners across our region. This $321 million investment is going to create jobs, grow our economy, and continue to cement West Virginia as a national leader in energy innovation. There has never been a better time to believe in West Virginia, and I’m excited for what is ahead,” said Senator Jim Justice.

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