Luján Pushes Trump Administration to Release Affordable Housing Construction Funds

Washington, D.C. – As President Trump continues to slow-walk a bipartisan housing affordability bill that already passed through Congress, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) is teaming up with U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and several colleagues in urging the president to unlock community development tools and promptly release $750 million in federal housing construction funds.

Earlier this month, Congress passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to help build more housing, lower costs, streamline construction regulations, and curb private equity’s ability to buy up single-family homes and drive up housing prices. Instead of signing the law, which passed with veto-proof majorities, President Trump is sitting on it.

With housing prices near record highs, the Trump Administration is also sitting on approximately $750 million in housing construction funds available under the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Production-Financial Assistance Awards (HP-FA) programs. These federal funds can be leveraged by state and local organizations to develop, preserve, rehabilitate, and increase the supply of affordable housing. Together, these programs strengthen communities, revitalize neighborhoods, create jobs, and ensure more Americans can afford a high-quality home at a decent price that fits their budget.

The housing affordability crisis is compounded by the fact that President Trump’s policies – including his tariffs and reckless war with Iran – have increased the cost of construction and slowed the pace of building new affordable housing units nationwide.

This week, Senator Luján and 22 of colleagues sent a letter to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration release housing construction funds without further delay.

“We write to urge you to immediately direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to release approximately $750 million in housing construction funds available under the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Production-Financial Assistance Awards (HP-FA) programs,” the Senators wrote, noting that release of the funds could help build or rehabilitate over 63,000 homes at no cost to American taxpayers.

“Today, Americans are suffering through a housing affordability crisis. Single-family home prices and the average age of first-time homebuyers hit record highs last year, while more households are paying unsustainable amounts of rent than ever before. You have the ability to increase our nation’s housing supply and help address this crisis. With that in mind, we urge you to direct the release of these funds without any further delay,” the letter continued.

In addition to Luján and Reed, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Director Vought:

We write to urge you to immediately direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to release approximately $750 million in housing construction funds available under the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Production-Financial Assistance Awards (HP-FA) programs.

These funds, which are derived from the profits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and revenue from the Emergency Capital Investment Program, could pay to build or rehabilitate over 63,000 homes at no cost to American taxpayers. OMB has never failed to ensure annual CMF and HTF funds are released, even during President Trump’s first term. Regrettably, the Trump Administration has now withheld some of these funds for over a year.

Today, Americans are suffering through a housing affordability crisis. Single-family home prices and the average age of first-time homebuyers hit record highs last year, while more households are paying unsustainable amounts of rent than ever before. This crisis is nationwide: home prices have surged 40% in Texas, 43% in Iowa, 54% in Georgia, and 65% in Maine over the past six years – far outpacing wages and overall inflation. You have the ability to increase our nation’s housing supply and help address this crisis. With that in mind, we urge you to direct the release of these funds without any further delay.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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Members of the N.M. Delegation Demand Answers from USPS Regarding Delay in Rebuilding the Chimayó Post Office

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) wrote to Postmaster General David Steiner demanding that the United States Postal Service (USPS) provide answers and an update regarding the delay in the rebuilding project for the Chimayó Post Office.

This letter follows the USPS’s announcement of delays to the timeline regarding the construction of a new Chimayó Post Office, which burned down over three years ago. Recently, USPS stated that the completion date has been delayed to Spring of 2027 from the expected completion of the fall of 2026. The N.M. Delegation has consistently fought to restore a permanent, full-service post office in Chimayó, where it has long served as a cornerstone of the community.

“Our delegation remains fully committed to advocating for our constituents who depend on these essential services. We call on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide a detailed explanation for this delay, along with an updated, definitive timeline for when full services will be restored to the community,” wrote the lawmakers.

“This further delay is deeply alarming and unacceptable, given that the community was previously assured operations would be fully restored by fall 2026,” continued the lawmakers.

“Chimayo residents have waited long enough; they deserve transparency, a direct response, and real commitment,” concluded the lawmakers.

Read the full letter here and below:

Dear Postmaster General Steiner,

We are profoundly disappointed by the United States Postal Service’s decision to delay the critical rebuilding project for the Chimayó Post Office. Our delegation remains fully committed to advocating for our constituents who depend on these essential services. We call on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide a detailed explanation for this delay, along with an updated, definitive timeline for when full services will be restored to the community.

It has been now more than three years since the Chimayó Post Office burned down on February 12, 2023. Throughout this period, our delegation has consistently urged the USPS to provide transparent updates on reinstating local operations. Regrettably, we have only received broad assurances. In the absence of direct communication from USPS, constituents understandably question whether progress is being made. The community of Chimayó deserves transparent communication from USPS.

On December 12, 2025, we sent a joint letter to Postmaster General David Steiner urging USPS to take all necessary actions to prioritize and ensure that the rebuilding of the Chimayó Post Office is completed in 2026. We also requested that USPS publicly commit to a clear, achievable timeline for the community of Chimayó. USPS responded with a letter which stated that postal officials completed lease negotiations with Santa Fe County for the Postal Service to occupy the space located at 205 Juan Medina Road in Chimayó. They also mentioned that since the lease has been finalized, the Design and Construction team will begin the postal infrastructure buildout and can expect completion by fall 2026.

Recently, we requested USPS provide an update on the Chimayó facility, only to be informed that USPS is still in the construction award phase, with a new projected completion date of spring 2027. This further delay is deeply alarming and unacceptable, given that the community was previously assured operations would be fully restored by fall 2026.

Moving the timeline yet again inflicts undue hardship on the residents who rely on these services daily. Therefore, we urge USPS to brief the delegation no later than July 16, 2026, on the latest setback, along with a concrete, binding timeline for the project’s completion. Chimayo residents have waited long enough; they deserve transparency, a direct response, and real commitment.

We appreciate your attention to this critical matter affecting our constituents and urge USPS to prioritize this project and adequately take the necessary steps to provide full- service post office operations.

Sincerely,

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Ahead of the Nation’s 250th Anniversary, Senator Markey, Rep. Ramirez Introduce Resolution to Reaffirm Commitment to Immigrant Inclusion

Resolution Text (PDF)

Washington (July 1, 2026) – As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03) introduced a resolution to reaffirm Congress’s role in upholding the principles of equality, dignity, and justice for all. Past administrations have supported the inclusion of newcomers by expanding access to English-language education, workforce training, and due process protections. In stark contrast, the Trump administration has targeted the immigrant community through mass detentions and deportations. The resolution commits Congress to pursuing policies that safeguard immigrants’ rights, broaden economic opportunity, and build humane, equitable pathways to full inclusion.

“The United States draws its strength from unity and inclusion, not from fear and division,” said Senator Markey. “This resolution rejects hateful policies that terrorize our immigrant neighbors and calls on the Senate to invest in inclusion, celebrate the contributions of immigrants, and honor our nation’s human rights commitments. A just, equitable future requires fostering belonging for all who call our nation home.”

“The 250th anniversary of our country presents us with an opportunity to reflect on our enduring - BUT NOT YET FULFILLED - commitment to the principles of liberty and justice for everyone, regardless of legal status, origin, nationality, religion, or economic condition. It is an opportunity to prove that we recognize the contribution of immigrant communities, and affirm that they are seen, heard, and valued,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “As Members of Congress, we are called to challenge and transform systems that deny our communities’ dignity and justice. That's why I am proud to join Senator Markey and a coalition of organizations to introduce a resolution calling on Congress to ensure justice and dignity for immigrant communities.”

Specifically, the Resolution calls on the Senate to:

Mark the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary by celebrating the contributions of immigrant communities and reaffirming the universal principles of equality, dignity, and justice;

Expand and strengthen critical programs that help individuals overcome barriers to full civic, social, and economic participation, including language access programs, workforce and employment assistance, legal support, and naturalization services;

Collaborate with community-based groups, non-profit organizations, faith institutions, labor and business partners, and other stakeholders to ensure the existence of culturally responsive, accessible, and effective integration services; and

Urge federal, state, and local governments to increase investments that advance opportunity, strengthen communities, and uphold the nation’s commitments to equity and inclusion.

The resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

“As we mark 250 years of this Nation’s founding, we renew our commitment to an America rooted in interdependence and belonging. We applaud the leadership of Senator Markey and Representative Delia Ramirez for introducing this resolution, which reaffirms Congress’ commitment to building a future where immigrant communities can participate fully in civic, economic, and social life, one where all Americans thrive,” said Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of the National Partnership for New Americans. “We believe in a future where immigrant communities are not just welcomed, but truly included. Where the American Dream is not out of reach, but a reality we build together. On this momentous occasion for our nation, we renew and strengthen our commitment to building a multiracial, multiethnic, and inclusive democracy that works for all of us – and that is inclusive of immigrant and refugee communities.”

The resolution is endorsed by the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Asian Law Alliance, Services Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN), HANA Center, Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants, NAKASEC, Building Skills Partnership (BSP), OneAmerica, the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (HICA), Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Promise Arizona, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, the Legal Clinic Hawaii, Arizona AANHPI for Equity, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, Hawai’i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, Just Neighbors, the Workers Circle, Immigrants Rising, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project – Maine, African Communities Together, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Welcoming America, Quixote Center, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Refugee Advocacy Lab, Refugees International, Muslim Advocates, Rainbow Railroad, Latino Policy Forum, Borderlands Resource Initiative, Just Detention International, California Community Foundation, Vision Y Compromiso, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Maine Immigration Rights’ Coalition, Lawyers for Good Government, Voices for Utah Children, Central American Resource Center – CARACEN of Northern California, Elena’s Light, Freedom Network USA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, and Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef).

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Senator Markey and Representative Frost Sound Alarm After Trump Admin. Evades Questions on Database of Protesters

Letter Text (PDF) | Response from DHS

Washington (July 1, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10) today sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Markwayne Mullin and David Venturella, Senior Official Performing Duties of the Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), renewing their calls for a clear answer on whether ICE has created a database to track protesters. In responses to separate letters that Senator Markey and Representative Frost sent to DHS and ICE in February, the agency evaded the lawmakers’ questions about whether ICE maintains a database of protesters.

In response to Senator Markey’s letter, ICE ignored his question and instead stated that it does not “approve adding individuals or entities to the U.S. government’s Terrorist Screening Dataset.” By contrast, in response to Representative Frost’s letter, ICE stated that it “does not maintain any kind of database of U.S. citizens protesting ICE activities.” This denial, however, has a significant exception: the agency also said it has “collected information to identify individuals reasonably believed to be involved in, or directly supporting, potential violations of federal law and to address officer safety and facility security concerns,” suggesting that ICE may have relabeled a protester database as a database of individuals who pose a “risk” to officers.

In their new oversight letter, Senator Markey and Representative Frost demand that DHS and ICE reconcile their different responses and be transparent with the American people on whether their civil liberties are being violated. The letter also requests additional information about whether DHS is investigating an ICE officer who threatened to add the personal information of a woman in Portland, Maine, to “a nice little database.” In ICE’s response to Senator Markey’s letter, which he is releasing today, DHS alluded to — but failed to confirm — that it was investigating the officer involved in that incident.

In the latest letter, Senator Markey and Representative Frost wrote, “Over the past few months, ICE has taken confusing positions on the existence of a domestic terrorist database. After President Donald Trump’s appointed ‘Border Czar’ stated that he was ‘pushing for’ a database of individuals arrested at protests and the ICE officer in Portland, suggested he would add a protester to a database, ICE denied the existence of such a database in testimony before congressional oversight committees earlier this year. Similarly, in response to Representative Frost’s oversight letter, the former Acting Director of ICE, Todd Lyons, stated that ICE ‘does not maintain any kind of database of U.S. citizens protesting ICE activities.’ By contrast, in response to Senator Markey’s oversight letter, ICE answered that it does not ‘approve adding individuals or entities to the U.S. government’s Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS),’ noted that the TSDS is maintained by multiple agencies, and explained that all nominations to TSDS are subject to an established review process — effectively sidestepping the question. ICE’s shifting and carefully worded responses prevent Congress and the public from determining the extent of ICE’s surveillance activities.”

They continued, “Moreover, even ICE’s denial of a ‘domestic terrorists’ database to Representative Frost leaves the agency with significant room to track Americans. Notably, in its response to Representative Frost’s letter, ICE stated that during ICE protests, ‘ICE collected information to identify individuals reasonably believed to be involved in, or directly supporting, potential violations of federal law and to address officer safety and facility security concerns.’ In other words, if an ICE officer ‘reasonably believed’ that a protester created a risk to officer safety or an ICE facility, they could collect information on the individual. Given the Trump administration’s history of referring to nonviolent protesters as criminals and labeling protests as threats to ICE officers, this practice grants significant discretion for DHS and ICE to develop a database of protesters under the guise of tracking threats against federal immigration officers.”

Senator Markey and Representative Frost requested the following information by July 15, 2026:

Has DHS, ICE, or any component agency of DHS created, or are any of those entities maintaining their own database, list, or record of individuals engaged in protest activity, outside of the TSDS or other lists administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or any other federal entity?

What oversight has been conducted on the database, list, or record of individuals? What mechanisms exist to ensure individuals are appropriately added and removed from the database, list, or record of individuals?

Does DHS, ICE, or any component agency maintain any database, list, or record of individuals identified as threats to officer or facility safety, including those who have not been accused of any crime?

Please provide a copy of the internal January 2026 memo circulated to ICE personnel, as well as any related directives instructing agents to collect personal information about protesters, bystanders, or individuals filming ICE activity.

Please provide a status update on OPR’s investigation, if any, into the Portland, Maine, incident.

Senator Markey is leading efforts to hold ICE and DHS accountable for their violations of Americans’ First Amendment rights, including their weaponization of surveillance technologies against peaceful protestors, immigrants, and American citizens.

In May, Senator Markey and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led their colleagues in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding the agency abandon its dangerous proposal, included in DHS’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027, to develop “smart glasses” for its immigration officers.

In February, Senator Markey, along with Senator Merkley, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), introduced the ICE Out of Our Faces Act, bicameral legislation that would ban ICE and CBP from acquiring and using facial recognition technology (FRT) and other biometric identification systems.

Also in February, Senator Markey wrote to ICE’s Acting Director Todd Lyons demanding that Lyons immediately confirm or deny reports that the agency is maintaining a so-called “domestic terrorists” database to track individuals protesting ICE activities.

In November 2025, Senator Markey wrote to CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott, urging the agency to immediately cease using a system of license plate readers (LPRs) and predictive algorithms to monitor the movements of individual Americans. CBP is reportedly using the system to “identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.”

Also in November, Senator Markey led his colleagues in requesting that ICE cease the use of their biometric phone application known as Mobile Fortify following a previous unanswered request.

In September 2025, Senators Markey and Merkley wrote to ICE’s Acting Director Todd Lyons, demanding that ICE cease use of Mobile Fortify and requesting detailed information about its policies and practices surrounding the use of biometric technology.

In July 2025, Senator Markey, along with Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Schiff (D-Calif.), sent a letter to then-Secretary of DHS Kristi Noem on the DHS’s usage of Predator drones and aerial surveillance against peaceful protesters in Los Angeles. In the letter, the senators raised concerns about the threat to the protesters’ privacy and their constitutional rights that are guaranteed by the First Amendment.

In June 2025, Senators Markey and Wyden wrote two letters to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary Noem about the government’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to determine whether an individual poses a national security risk.

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Senator Marshall Meets with Housing, Energy & Healthcare Professionals in Southwest Kansas

Garden City – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), spent Tuesday in Southwest Kansas meeting with local housing, energy, telecommunications, and healthcare professionals to discuss the successes and challenges of providing services to western Kansas. He highlighted his dedication to making sure rural Kansans have access to housing, affordable energy, internet, and quality medical care.

Highlights from the visit include:

Liberal Housing Tour

Click here for more photos.

Senator Marshall’s first stop of the day was in Liberal to meet with city and Seward County officials and tour ongoing housing projects. He highlighted his support for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which cuts burdensome federal regulations and streamlines the permitting process to expand housing supply.

Ashland District Hospital

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Next, Senator Marshall visited Ashland District Hospital to celebrate their grant award of $361,478 from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to establish a local cardiac rehabilitation program. Senator Marshall highlighted his support for RHTP, which was authorized by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act last year to restore rural healthcare.

United Telephone’s 75th Anniversary

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Also in Ashland, Senator Marshall participated in United Telephone’s 75th Anniversary celebration commemorating their decades of service ensuring rural Southwest Kansas communities have access to telephone and internet services. Senator Marshall thanked them for their commitment to the area and stressed his long-standing support for rural broadband, including provisions in the Senate Farm Bill 2.0, which will establish a program to expand internet connectivity to farm and ranchland.

Conestoga

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In Seward County, Senator Marshall met with the board of Conestoga Energy Partners to discuss energy policy, including his support for year-round E15 and the new 45Z guidance. He highlighted his ongoing commitment to securing market access for Kansas producers, whose biofuels provide affordable, American-made energy to the nation.

Garden City Community College

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At Garden City Community College, Senator Marshall celebrated the grant award of $3,439,901 from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to establish a partnership with Newman University, Colby Community College, and Seward County Community College. This partnership will expand clinical training and build a regional healthcare workforce pipeline across Western and Southwest Kansas.

Logan County Health Services

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Senator Marshall’s last stop of the day took him to Logan County Health Services to congratulate them on being part of a $6,096,062 grant from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). In partnership with Children’s Mercy Hospital, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, and KUMC Great Bend, Logan County Health Services will implement a Rural Pediatric Chronic Care Network to support children in rural communities with asthma, epilepsy, sleep apnea, and type 1 diabetes.

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Krishnamoorthi, Bynum, Merkley, Booker Urge EPA to Begin Monitoring Microplastics in America’s Drinking Water

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Tuesday led a bicameral letter, joined by 53 of their colleagues, urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to add microplastics to the agency’s recently published Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). The lawmakers argue that EPA should begin monitoring microplastics in America’s drinking water, citing a growing body of research linking the emerging contaminant to serious adverse health effects.

In their letter, the lawmakers note that emerging research has found microplastics throughout the human body and associated them with lung disease, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, impaired kidney and liver function, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. They argue that adding microplastics to UCMR 6 would provide critical transparency regarding exposure, inform future health-protective standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and help ensure the federal government meets its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the American people.

The lawmakers write:

“As plastic production continues to expand rapidly, microplastics pose a potential threat to public health in the United States. Emerging research demonstrates that microplastics are now pervasive in the human body and are associated with serious adverse health effects. Concentrations of microplastics in human brain tissue have been reported to increase by nearly 50 percent between 2016 and 2024.”

Later in the letter, they write:

“Accordingly, we urge the EPA to add microplastics to UCMR 6 and to design a robust, nationwide monitoring program for microplastics in drinking water. Doing so will provide critical transparency regarding exposure, inform future health-protective standards under SDWA, and help ensure that the federal government meets its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the American people.”

The letter also highlights growing bipartisan congressional interest in better understanding how microplastics affect Americans’ health, pointing to the recently introduced bipartisan, bicameral Microplastics Safety Act and ARPA-H’s STOMP program to develop technologies to measure and remove microplastics from the body. The lawmakers argue EPA has a critical role to play as the primary agency regulating drinking water.

The full text of the letter is available here.

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Merkley Joins Bipartisan Push to Help Teachers and First Responders Achieve Homeownership

Washington, D.C. –Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced he joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in supporting the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act, legislation to help teachers and first responders buy homes in the communities they serve.

“Across Oregon, teachers and first responders are vital to our communities but too often cannot afford to live in the very communities they serve,” said Merkley. “The HELPER Act is a practical, bipartisan step toward removing unnecessary barriers to homeownership and helping working families afford a decent home in a decent community.”

This bipartisan, bicameral bill would establish a new home loan program — modeled after the successful Veterans Affairs (VA) loan program — to make homeownership more accessible for teachers and first responders by eliminating some of the requirements for first-time homebuyers, such as down payments and monthly mortgage insurance premiums.

The HELPER Act would:

Create a one-time-use home loan program through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for law enforcement officers, firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), paramedics, and pre-K through 12 teachers who are first-time homebuyers;

Eliminate a down payment requirement on a mortgage;

Remove a monthly mortgage insurance premium (MIP) requirement; and

Require an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) to ensure the solvency of the program.

Merkley, early in his career, led Portland Habitat for Humanity and has continued to fight for affordable housing at every level of government. In the U.S. Senate, he has been a leading voice fighting to kick hedge funds out of the housing market as large institutional investors gobble up homes in communities across the United States, driving up both purchase prices and rents for single-family homes.

The introduction of the HELPER Act was led by U.S. Senators Ashley Moody (R-FL) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and U.S. Representatives John H. Rutherford (R-FL-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02).

The HELPER Act is supported by a broad coalition of organizations representing educators and first responders, including the American Association of State Troopers (AAST), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Troopers Coalition (NTC), and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) among others.

Full text of the HELPER Act can be found by clicking here.

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Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Reinstate EPA Employees Attacked for Exercising their Right to Free Speech

Senators’ effort comes on one-year anniversary of “Declaration of Dissent” letter and follows recent revelations that EPA legal counsel advised against disciplinary action due to employees’ First Amendment rights

Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump administration to reverse disciplinary actions taken after about 270 current and former Environmental Protection Agency staff signed the “Declaration of Dissent” in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights and constitutional protections last year.

“In light of recent evidence showing a violation of constitutional and whistleblower rights, we demand that you reverse the firings and disciplinary actions imposed on employees for signing a “Declaration of Dissent” in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights, and constitutional protections,” the senators wrote in their letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

“The language of the letter clearly states that the employees were signing in their personal capacity. EPA has not produced any evidence that would indicate that EPA employees used official resources or otherwise were acting in their professional capacity in writing and signing the “Declaration of Dissent,” nor has EPA provided a legitimate workplace-related justification for disciplining the signers of the letter that would possibly outweigh employees’ free speech rights,” the senators continued

“Even after the recent revelations from EPA legal counsel, EPA continues to retaliate against staff by upholding the suspensions of over 140 workers and the firing of 20 others. Overturning the punishments is crucial to prevent a chilling effect on free speech. Stifling dissent cripples the agency’s ability to protect the public and is causing the loss of the experienced staff needed to carry out EPA’s mission,” the lawmakers continued.

“Given the lack of any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever, we support the EPA employees’ continued campaign to be exonerated and applaud them for the bravery it took to speak out about these matters of grave public concern. We call on you to reverse course, to reinstate all those who were fired for speaking out, and overturn all other discipline imposed. Speaking the truth is not a fireable offense. It is the public duty of every citizen who cares about protecting our health,” the senators concluded.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray, D-Wash., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Chris Coons, D-Del., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md..

Full text of the letter is here.

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Sen. Moran Applauds Temporary Suspension of Duties on Moroccan Phosphate

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement regarding the executive order issued by the White House this week temporarily suspending duties on phosphate fertilizer imported from Morocco:

“The administration’s action to temporarily suspend import duties on phosphate fertilizer from Morocco is welcome news for the Kansas agricultural community. Farmers continue to struggle with stubbornly high input prices and market volatility. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has limited global fertilizer and the availability of fertilizer ingredients, which has only compounded the issue. As the U.S. is a net importer of fertilizer, I have long advocated for the needs of the agriculture industry to be considered in discussions of imposing tariffs on inputs, and I’m pleased that the Trump administration has taken this action to support American agriculture.”

Items to note:

In April, Sen. Moran questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on the impact of import tariffs on fertilizer components, including those from Morocco, on American producers.

Also in April, Sen. Moran asked U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the impact of tariffs on imports related to U.S. agriculture.

In 2023, Sen. Moran called on then-Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to reduce duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco. He was joined by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Reps. Tracey Mann (R-KS-01) and Jim Costa (D-CA-21), along with 35 of their colleagues.

Sen. Moran led his colleagues in 2020 and again in 2021 in calling on the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to oppose tariffs on imported phosphate fertilizer and make certain Kansas farmers have access to affordable fertilizer for their crops.

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Murray Applauds I-5 Bridge Replacement Project Securing Major Federal Environmental Approval

ICYMI: Murray and McEnerny-Ogle Hail Coast Guard Approval of Fixed Span I-5 Bridge Proposal

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement celebrating the news that the Department of Transportation has signed the Record of Decision for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the I-5 bridge replacement between Vancouver and Portland.

“Today’s news is a significant milestone and allows this project to continue moving forward. This growing momentum reflects the years of hard work our region has done to ensure this bridge finally gets replaced. While there is still plenty to do to get this project over the finish line and keep the Pacific Northwest moving forward—this is good news. No one will work harder than me to protect federal investment in this project and to keep this work on track. I remain committed to partnering with state and local leaders to replace the I-5 bridge as quickly as possible for a faster—and safer—commute.”

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Sens. Ossoff, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals in Toys

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing a bipartisan bill to protect children from toxic chemicals in toys.

Sens. Ossoff and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan No Lead in Toys Act to help protect children from toxic chemicals in toys.

In February, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in response to a 2024 inquiry from Sen. Ossoff into how the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) conducts testing on products intended for children ages 12 and under for potential lead contamination and other safety hazards.

The report found that the CPSC has failed to review and update its testing requirements for lead despite being required to do so at least every five years and that the CPSC does not have written procedures for monitoring changes related to toxic substances in children’s products.

Sens. Ossoff and Cornyn’s bipartisan No Lead in Toys Act would direct the CPSC to implement the GAO’s recommendations in order to strengthen that oversight of toxic substances in children’s products and protect kids from dangerous chemicals.

“The safety of children in Georgia and across the Nation must be our highest priority,” Sen. Ossoff said. “I am introducing the bipartisan No Lead in Toys Act with Senator Cornyn to help ensure that lead and other toxins stay out of children’s products.”

“Parents should never have to fear for their child’s health or safety when playing with toys, which are essential to the development of cognitive, motor, and emotional skills,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By ensuring the Consumer Product Safety Commission is properly monitoring and recording inspections for lead contamination, this legislation would reduce children’s exposure to toxic chemicals through toys imported from places like China, preserve the joy and benefits of childhood play, and help parents rest easier at night.”

The bipartisan bill is endorsed by Safe Kids Worldwide.

“Parents and caregivers should be able to feel confident that the children’s products they rely on will not expose their kids to lead or other dangerous toxic substances,” said Torine Creppy, President of Safe Kids Worldwide. “We applaud Senator Ossoff for his leadership in protecting some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect Georgia kids from harmful chemicals and contaminants.

Last December, Sen. Ossoff urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reinstate a grant made to Emory University to research children’s exposure to lead, heavy metals, and other contaminants in West Atlanta following the discovery of dangerously high levels of lead in some West Atlanta yards.

Last April, Sen. Ossoff demanded answers from baby formula producers Abbott Nutrition and Mead Johnson about recent reports of toxic chemicals found in formula.

In 2022, Sen. Ossoff pressed the GAO and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to improve efficiency and coordination in processing product recalls in order to protect families from dangerous products.

Click here to read the No Lead in Toys Act.

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Padilla, Durbin, Congressional Democrats Sound the Alarm on Trump Administration Concerning Green Card Application Changes

In letter to USCIS, Democrats led by Ranking Members Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, and Jayapal sound alarm on requirements for green card applicants to apply abroad and demonstrate their presence under new standards not mandated by Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, led Congressional Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration on recent concerning changes to the green card application process.

In a letter to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, the lawmakers cited a recent USCIS memorandum requiring noncitizens seeking a green card to apply abroad, as well as for the first time to establish their presence in the United States as “in the national interest.”

“We write to object to your new policy memorandum regarding adjustment of status. Adjustment of status is the statutory process by which immigrants may apply for lawful permanent residence, often called a ‘green card,’ from within the United States,” wrote the lawmakers. “On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum (PM-602-0199) with guidance claiming that adjustment of status is an ‘extraordinary form of relief.’ Without any basis in the law and in a departure from decades of precedent, this guidance creates a policy preference for consular processing abroad over adjustment of status in the United States, requiring applicants to meet new, undefined discretionary criteria to be processed domestically. We urge you to reverse this new policy and restore adjudications of adjustment of status applications in a manner consistent with the law, longstanding practice, and congressional intent.”

“PM-602-0199 states that adjustment of status ‘is a matter of discretion and administrative grace not designed to supersede the regular consular processing of immigrant visas.’ This is simply incorrect. There is no statutory preference for consular processing, and legislative history shows that Congress has long maintained a strong preference in favor of allowing eligible noncitizens to adjust status in the United States,” continued the lawmakers. “Adjustment of status was first introduced into law over 70 years ago, in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. The practice was introduced and later expanded in recognition of the significant number of eligible individuals seeking green cards who resided in the United States. In the limited circumstances in which Congress intended to restrict adjustment of status, statutory text has been amended to prevent certain classes of noncitizens from using the process. When individuals are in the United States and eligible for adjustment of status, legislative history shows that Congress has a strong preference that such individuals have an opportunity to adjust their status while remaining in the U.S.”

“By directing adjudicators to treat adjustment of status as an ‘extraordinary form of relief’ and by creating a policy preference for consular processing, the memorandum undermines the very purposes Congress sought to advance when enacting and amending section 245 of the INA,” the lawmakers concluded. “Congress established adjustment of status as a cornerstone of the modern immigration system to promote family unity, administrative efficiency, and economic stability. Any effort to dismantle that statutory framework through internal agency policy is unacceptable.”

In addition to Padilla and Durbin, the letter is signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Dele.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

In addition to Raskin and Jayapal, the letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.-04), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Becca Balint (D-Vt.-AL), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio.-03), Donald Beyer (D-Va.-08), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.-13), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), André Carson (D-Ind.-07), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr. (D-Calif.-31), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.-46), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), James Walkinshaw (D-Va.-11), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.-01), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.-06), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.-06), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas-16), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas-07), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.-04), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.-06), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.-04), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Julie Johnson (D-Texas-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.-26), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Summer Lee (D-Penn.-12), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.-04), Christian Menefee (D-Texas-09), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.-06), Analilia Mejia (D-Calif.-39), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.-07), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.-02), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.-09), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.-05), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.-02), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.-03), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.-05), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Adam Smith (D-Wash.-09), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.-10), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.-01), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.-04), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.-02), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.-15), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Marc Veasey (D-Texas-33), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24).

Padilla has been a longtime champion of immigration rights and reform. Earlier this year, Padilla and his colleagues formally requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate the Trump Administration’s attacks on the legal immigration system. In 2022, Padilla joined Durbin and four of their Senate colleagues to introduce the Resolving Extended Limbo For Immigrant Employees And Families (Relief) Act, legislation to eliminate the family and employment green card backlog by increasing the number of green cards available.

Full letter is available here.

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Padilla, Durbin, Klobuchar, Whitehouse Lead Colleagues in Urging DOJ to Reject Payouts for January 6 Rioters

Ahead of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination hearing, the Senators demand answers to previous letters urging DOJ to abandon any efforts to refund or financially reward convicted January 6 insurrectionists

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led fourteen of their colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to halt any efforts to compensate January 6 rioters and commit to defending taxpayers in any January 6-related lawsuits.

In their letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Senators expressed concern over the DOJ’s ongoing efforts to reimburse January 6 insurrectionists with taxpayer funds and the reported 600 January 6-related claims filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). The Senators’ fourth letter to the DOJ comes after Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward agreed with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in a now-deleted social media post that the DOJ should create a weaponization fund based on the FTCA. This letter comes ahead of Blanche’s confirmation hearing for Attorney General, scheduled for July 15.

The Senators highlighted that since sending their three unanswered letters, the DOJ announced the $1.8 billion slush fund that was intended to pay out alleged victims of DOJ “weaponization,” including January 6 insurrectionists. Following bipartisan backlash and a temporary injunction by a federal court, the DOJ disavowed the slush fund and stated they would not move forward with it.

“Although a federal judge has enjoined the slush fund, there are other plans to undermine the American justice system to pay out January 6 rioters, including those convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers,” wrote the Senators. “According to reporting, approximately 600 January 6 rioters have filed claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), expecting to receive millions of dollars in compensation for alleged injuries they sustained because they were prosecuted for crimes they committed during the attack on the Capitol. Tellingly, one lawyer representing January 6 rioters expressed concern that the $1.8 billion slush fund would result in smaller per-person settlements than settling his clients’ FTCA claims out of the Judgment Fund. Another group of plaintiffs bringing FTCA claims, including a member of the Proud Boys who was charged with assault, has filed a class action in federal court, seeking more than $18 million.”

The Senators raised concerns over the DOJ’s apparent failure to reject these FTCA claims and over additional lawsuits filed by January 6 insurrectionists against the federal government. The Senators reiterated previously raised questions that had gone unanswered by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting information about any FTCA claims related to the January 6 attack and whether the DOJ had addressed those claims.

“The Department of Justice must end this corrupt money grab by publicly committing that it will not pursue any other such compensation fund and that it will vigorously defend taxpayers in any January 6-related lawsuits,” concluded the Senators. “We request a written response to this letter making these commitments and responding to our questions by no later than July 14, 2026.”

In addition to Padilla, Durbin, Klobuchar, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Padilla has consistently fought to hold Trump’s DOJ accountable. In January, Padilla, Durbin, Klobuchar, and Whitehouse urged the DOJ to publicly reject efforts by January 6 rioters to receive payouts as these insurrectionists file claims for millions of dollars in taxpayer money. On the fifth anniversary of the insurrection, Padilla and Whitehouse introduced a pair of bills to prevent January 6 rioters from receiving refunds or cash rewards from the federal government that they are aggressively seeking from Trump’s DOJ. Last month, Padilla joined Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in demanding that the DOJ Acting Inspector General launch an immediate, thorough, and quick investigation into President Trump’s creation of the nearly $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Acting Attorney General Blanche:

We urge you to reject any efforts by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to compensate January 6 rioters for their crimes and to commit to vigorously defending American taxpayers.

Previous letters to the Justice Department dated May 2, 2025, September 29, 2025, and January 15, 2026, made clear that payments to January 6 rioters would flout federal law and be an insult to the American public. The Department failed to respond to Congress, and instead, on May 18, 2026, announced that it had settled an unrelated IRS lawsuit with President Trump to create a $1.8 billion slush fund to compensate alleged victims of DOJ “weaponization,” including his allies and January 6 insurrectionists. That settlement has been enjoined by one federal judge and is now being reviewed by another federal judge to determine whether it was fraudulent. You and the Department have disavowed the slush fund after bipartisan backlash to this brazen attempt to raid taxpayer funds on behalf of January 6 rioters, including those convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers during the attack.

Despite your testimony at a June 2 House Appropriations subcommittee hearing and DOJ’s filings in court, there is still uncertainty about whether the Department will pursue alternative ways to compensate convicted January 6 rioters. President Trump continues to make public comments in support of rewarding these convicted criminals, calling the slush fund “a great idea,” and the Department has not withdrawn the memorandum establishing it. While you testified before Congress that the slush fund is not moving forward, you and other Department officials have refused to disavow the fund in writing or under oath. It has also been publicly reported that Justice Department officials are privately assuring potential beneficiaries that these payouts will still occur.

Although a federal judge has enjoined the slush fund, there are other plans to undermine the American justice system to pay out January 6 rioters, including those convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers. According to reporting, approximately 600 January 6 rioters have filed claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), expecting to receive millions of dollars in compensation for alleged injuries they sustained because they were prosecuted for crimes they committed during the attack on the Capitol. Tellingly, one lawyer representing January 6 rioters expressed concern that the $1.8 billion slush fund would result in smaller per-person settlements than settling his clients’ FTCA claims out of the Judgment Fund. Another group of plaintiffs bringing FTCA claims, including a member of the Proud Boys who was charged with assault, has filed a class action in federal court, seeking more than $18 million.

While most of these claims are barred by the FTCA’s two-year statute of limitations, there is no evidence that the Justice Department has asserted this defense and rejected the claims. Even more concerning, in a now-deleted social media post, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward encouraged this end-run approach to get payouts, posting “We’re on it.” Other rioters are suing the federal government on other grounds, hoping to be rewarded for their actions during the violent January 6 attack. This includes five leaders of the Proud Boys organization, many of whom were convicted for violent crimes and plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election on January 6, who have sued for $100 million.

We request responses to the following questions, which were previously sent to then-Attorney General Bondi on January 15, 2026, and have received no response:

How many claims under the FTCA related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, has the Department received?

Has the statute of limitations run on any of the claims identified in response to Question 1?

Has the Department rejected any FTCA claims related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021? If so, when, how many claims, and on what grounds?

Has the Department approved any FTCA claims related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021? If so, when, how many claims, and what was the total compensation?

Has anyone with the Department participated in discussions with individuals prosecuted for their involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, or with their representative(s) about settling any FTCA claims or other ongoing litigation?

The announcement of the $1.8 billion slush fund was yet another blow to the American public’s confidence in the Department of Justice. This Administration continues to send the message that January 6 insurrectionists, despite being convicted by juries of their peers, will be rewarded for their crimes at the expense of American taxpayers because they tried to overturn the outcome of an election in Donald Trump’s favor.

The Department of Justice must end this corrupt money grab by publicly committing that it will not pursue any other such compensation fund and that it will vigorously defend taxpayers in any January 6-related lawsuits. We request a written response to this letter making these commitments and responding to our questions by no later than July 14, 2026.

Sincerely,

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Padilla, Schiff Demand Answers on Elimination of Yosemite Reservation System

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) urged Department of the Interior (DOI) officials to reconsider the elimination of Yosemite National Park’s reservation system.

In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Acting Director of the National Park Service (NPS) Jessica Bowron, the Senators expressed concern over upcoming peak summertime visitation coupled with reductions in staff and funding.

“The increased visitation we have seen without the reservation system, mixed with the reduction in staff and resources over the past year, leaves us deeply concerned about how the Park will be able to manage visitation safely and effectively protect park resources during the peak summer months,” wrote the Senators. “Yosemite National Park is the crown jewel of the National Park System, yet overcrowding, vehicle congestion, limited parking, and long lines have long been issues that diminish what should be a world class experience.”

“In response to these challenges, Yosemite implemented a reservation system during the summers of 2020-2022 and 2024, which both greatly improved visitor experiences and supported visitation to the Park by spreading visitation across the peak summer months,” continued the Senators. “However, in February 2026, NPS decided to cancel this successful reservation system without providing any scientific justification or evidence of public stakeholder engagement.”

The Senators questioned the decision to eliminate the reservation system and how NPS officials plan to mitigate its impacts during the upcoming peak visitation months.

“According to widespread reporting and testimony from our constituents, the Park has seen bumper-to-bumper traffic around the valley floor, hiking trails backed up with people, and parking lots full in the early mornings causing visitors to illegally park off-road on vegetation and in meadows,” concluded the Senators. “This situation is further complicated by the Administration’s reductions in staff, which has created critical gaps in park operations. Key science and park safety staff have been rerouted and stretched thin to handle traffic monitoring and park maintenance, which hinders Yosemite’s ability to manage wildfire risk, ensure visitor safety, and conserve the treasured natural resources throughout the Park.”

Yosemite is California’s most visited national park, with 4.3 million visitors in 2025. In February, the Trump Administration announced that Yosemite’s timed reservation system would be eliminated for 2026 without justification. This decision has had significant impacts on businesses in the Yosemite area, with conservation organizations and Yosemite’s employees also expressing strong opposition.

“As a small business owner serving Yosemite’s visitors, my team and I have seen firsthand that removing the reservation system has led to the park being functionally inaccessible for many families,” said Elisabeth Barton, CEO of Echo Adventure Cooperative. “Visitors shouldn’t have to spend hours sitting in entrance lines, searching for parking, or abandoning plans altogether. Access to a national park should be measured by the quality of the visitor experience, not just whether someone eventually makes it through the gate. The reservation system successfully spread visitation throughout the weeks and months providing economic stability throughout the year, but the removal has caused volatility that makes it harder for local businesses to retain employees, invest in their communities, and provide the level of service visitors expect. The reservation system doesn’t restrict access; it preserves the quality, predictability, and sustainability of access for visitors, gateway communities, and the park itself.”

“This Administration’s actions are harming natural resources and creating pure chaos for visitors and the incredible employees who care deeply for the park,” said Mark Rose, Sierra Nevada program manager of the National Parks Conservation Association. “Yosemite’s reservation system was a massive success, backed by years of expert analysis and public input. Yosemite Superintendent McPadden’s decision to scrap the reservation system does nothing to benefit the American people who own this park. The crisis unfolding in Yosemite will only end when park leadership listens to the public and its own staff and brings the reservation system back online.”

“Superintendent McPadden’s decision to discontinue the reservation system undermines the hardworking Yosemite staff,” said NFFE Local 475, representing Yosemite National Park NPS employees. “The National Park Service is consistently ranked by Americans as the most beloved, trusted federal agency, and our polling of Yosemite staff shows overwhelming agreement that working conditions and visitors’ experiences have been negatively impacted because there is no reservation system. Staff have reported increased wait times during their commutes, challenges to fulfill their work duties due to standstill traffic, and a heightened strain on all facilities and infrastructures throughout the park. The decision to dismiss the very real concerns of the dedicated park staff who build trails, protect wildlife, restore meadows, and maintain and clean the facilities of this globally significant park is both disheartening and disappointing to the NPS workforce.”

Last week, Padilla pressed the nominee for Assistant Interior Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Kevin Lilly, about Yosemite National Park and secured a commitment from him that the National Park Service will continue to monitor Yosemite wait times throughout peak visitor season and invest in infrastructure and capacity. Padilla also highlighted the Trump Administration’s staffing and budget cuts that could continue to impact Yosemite’s visitor experiences. Last year, Padilla introduced the Review and Evaluation of Strategies for Equal Reservations for Visitor Experiences (RESERVE) Federal Land Act to expand access to public lands, improve the visitor reservation process, and enhance transparency in how fees are collected for federally managed public lands and national parks. In 2025, Padilla also urged Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to allow Yosemite to implement its reservation system, emphasizing its importance in managing park visitation while preserving Yosemite for future generations.

Full letter is available here.

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Padilla Statement on Supreme Court Further Dismantling Limits on Campaign Spending

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee with oversight over federal elections, issued the following statement following the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission striking down federal limits on coordinated campaign spending.

“The Supreme Court’s NRSC v. FEC decision is yet another step by the conservative majority to dismantle the Federal Election Campaign Act, Congress’ response to the Watergate Scandal over 50 years ago. While J.D. Vance claims that the national embarrassment of Watergate would only be a ‘12-hour news story’ today, we cannot become numb to political corruption and the outsized influence of wealthy mega donors in politics.

“The American people deserve a government that addresses their priorities – affordable housing, healthcare, good jobs, and safe schools – and we will only achieve that by strengthening, not undermining, our campaign finance system. I will continue to push to overturn Citizens United so that our elections reflect the will of the people and not the highest bidder.”

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Peters & Slotkin Demand Answers as Trump Administration Further Delays Toxic PFAS Chemical Cleanups at Military Sites in Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Elissa Slotkin (MI) are demanding answers from the Trump Administration for its continued delays in cleaning up toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at military installations in Michigan and across the country. The delays come as Michigan communities and residents continue to face severe challenges with toxic PFAS contamination. Michigan is home to 16 military installations where DOD has identified or suspects PFAS contamination, including Camp Grayling and the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. In a letter to U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth, the senators called on DOD to reverse its unacceptable postponement of PFAS remediation at military bases and requested detailed explanations for the delays in order to give servicemembers, their families, and the surrounding communities the transparency they deserve.

“We remain greatly concerned by the staggering delays at some installations, which include over 170 installations with delays ranging from 1 year to over 20 years,” the senators wrote. “Communities around these installations must not be left behind, and remediation work cannot wait.”

Recently, the Department of Defense (DOD) quietly updated its timetable for PFAS remediation at military sites across the country. Its new timeline, which was only recently made public but dated September 30, 2025, delayed cleanup efforts by over a decade at many installations and even up to two decades in some cases. In total, over 170 military sites were affected by this newest round of delays, including 8 sites in Michigan. This comes just months after DOD initially pushed the PFAS remediation timelines for roughly 150 bases late last year. In November 2025, Peters and Slotkin also led a letter with their colleagues to Secretary Hegseth demanding that he reverse those delays.

In their most recent letter, Peters and Slotkin wrote, “Furthering our concern is the fact that this most recent set of delays is backdated to September 30, 2025, raising the question of whether the Department has further expanded the breadth and extent of its delays in the previous nine months. The longer DOD takes to complete such remediation efforts, the greater the risk to public health and the environment in impacted communities.”

PFAS or “forever chemicals” are widespread contaminants found in many industrial applications and especially around U.S. military installations. At least 700 military sites in the United States are known or suspected to have PFAS contamination from DOD activities. PFAS exposure is linked to an array of health problems, including various cancers, reduced immune function, reproductive challenges, birth defects, thyroid issues, and more. The use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam at DOD facilities, and the subsequent stormwater runoff, is a significant source of drinking water pollution. This contamination poses serious health risks to servicemembers, their families, and the communities surrounding these military sites.

The full text of the letter to Secretary Hegseth can be found here.

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Peters Requests Audit into Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s Unauthorized Dismantling of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into whether the Department of Commerce (DOC), under Secretary Howard Lutnick, has followed the law and properly funded and managed the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. Michigan’s MEP Center, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC), has helped Michigan's small and medium-sized businesses compete and grow for more than 30 years.

“The MEP Program enhances the competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance of the U.S. manufacturing sector,” Peters wrote. “However, since Secretary Lutnick took control of the Department of Commerce, the Department has put the future of the MEP Program and the services it provides to over 600,000 American manufacturers in deep uncertainty with an ever-shifting chronology of statements, actions, and reversals. A robust investigation by GAO would help determine whether and how officials at the Department circumvented or ignored congressional directives on MEP.”

The MEP Program, which is housed under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the DOC, serves as a national network of go-to experts that help small and medium-sized manufacturers enhance productivity and adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. MEP Centers across the country provide assistance to help improve manufacturing firms’ processes and productivity, expand their capacity, utilize best management practices, and train their workforce. Despite its nearly 30-year history of successfully supporting manufacturing in America, on April 1, 2025, NIST began withholding and delaying funds for MEP Centers, greatly reducing federal MEP Program staff levels and leaving MEP Centers in a perpetual state of uncertainty that led to hiring freezes and layoffs in 90 percent of MEP Centers.

When pressed by senators on both sides of the aisle, the Department and Secretary Lutnick have repeatedly blamed the withholding of funds on years-old Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General findings.

“This apparent justification for withholding MEP funds lacks credibility, as the Commerce Department’s Inspector General personally confirmed to Democratic Committee staff that the OIG’s findings and recommendations were not a legal or otherwise appropriate grounds for the Department to defund the MEP program,” Peters continued.

This effort comes after Peters led his colleagues in sending a letter to the DOC in December demanding clear answers about why NIST was withholding and delaying congressionally approved funds to MEP Program Centers.

Peters has led numerous efforts in the Senate to bolster the MEP Program’s efforts to support workers and manufacturers. Peters helped author and pass into law the CHIPS and Science Act which increased funding for the MEP program. Peters secured $400,000 in federal funding for MMTC to help manufacturers in Michigan improve the strength of their supply chains. Peters also authored bipartisan legislation that was signed into law in 2017 to adjust federal cost-share ratio and implement new accountability and oversight provisions within the MEP program.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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Reed Leads U.S. Senators in Pushing Trump Admin. to Release Affordable Housing Construction Funds

WASHINGTON, DC – As President Trump continues to slow-walk a bipartisan housing affordability bill that already passed through Congress, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and a leading group of U.S. Senators is urging the president to unlock community development tools and promptly release $750 million in federal housing construction funds.

Earlier this month Congress passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to help build more housing, lower costs, streamline construction regulations, and curb private equity’s ability to buy up single-family homes and drive up housing prices. Instead of signing the law, which passed with veto-proof majorities, President Trump is sitting on it.

With housing prices near record highs, the Trump Administration is also sitting on approximately $750 million in housing construction funds available under the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Production-Financial Assistance Awards (HP-FA) programs. These federal funds can be leveraged by state and local organizations to develop, preserve, rehabilitate, and increase the supply of affordable housing. Together, these programs strengthen communities, revitalize neighborhoods, create jobs, and ensure more Americans can afford a high-quality home at a decent price that fits their budget.

The housing affordability crisis is compounded by the fact that President Trump’s policies – including his tariffs and reckless war with Iran – have increased the cost of construction and slowed the pace of building new affordable housing units nationwide.

This week, Senator Reed and 22 of his colleagues sent a letter to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration release housing construction funds without further delay.

“We write to urge you to immediately direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to release approximately $750 million in housing construction funds available under the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Production-Financial Assistance Awards (HP-FA) programs,” the 23 U.S. Senators wrote, noting that release of the funds could help build or rehabilitate over 63,000 homes at no cost to American taxpayers.

“Today, Americans are suffering through a housing affordability crisis. Single-family home prices and the average age of first-time homebuyers hit record highs last year, while more households are paying unsustainable amounts of rent than ever before. This crisis is nationwide: home prices have surged 40% in Texas, 43% in Iowa, 54% in Georgia, and 65% in Maine over the past six years – far outpacing wages and overall inflation. You have the ability to increase our nation’s housing supply and help address this crisis. With that in mind, we urge you to direct the release of these funds without any further delay,” the letter continued.

In addition to Reed, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Director Vought:

We write to urge you to immediately direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to release approximately $750 million in housing construction funds available under the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and Housing Production-Financial Assistance Awards (HP-FA) programs.

These funds, which are derived from the profits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and revenue from the Emergency Capital Investment Program, could pay to build or rehabilitate over 63,000 homes at no cost to American taxpayers. OMB has never failed to ensure annual CMF and HTF funds are released, even during President Trump’s first term. Regrettably, the Trump Administration has now withheld some of these funds for over a year.

Today, Americans are suffering through a housing affordability crisis. Single-family home prices and the average age of first-time homebuyers hit record highs last year, while more households are paying unsustainable amounts of rent than ever before. This crisis is nationwide: home prices have surged 40% in Texas, 43% in Iowa, 54% in Georgia, and 65% in Maine over the past six years – far outpacing wages and overall inflation. You have the ability to increase our nation’s housing supply and help address this crisis. With that in mind, we urge you to direct the release of these funds without any further delay.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,


Reed: ‘Soft-Boiled’ Egg Price Manipulation Settlement Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be

WASHINGTON, DC – For years U.S. Senator Jack Reed cried “fowl” over inflated egg prices and urged the federal government to ‘crack down’ on unfair, anti-competitive market manipulation by the ‘Big Egg’ industry.

And last year, after previously warning that industrial egg producers were feeding the American public a phony narrative about how and why egg prices spiked, Reed warned they could be using anti-competitive pricing tactics to force consumers and retailers to shell out more for eggs. Senator Reed also introduced the Ending Taxpayer Support for Big Egg Producers Act (S. 1904).

The five largest egg producers — Cal-Maine Foods, Rose Acre Farms, Daybreak Foods, Hillendale Farms, and Versova/Centrum Holdings — control nearly half of the U.S. egg-laying flock.

This week, two of the companies: Cal-Maine and Versova/Centrum were named in a nationwide multistate settlement in an egg price-fixing scheme that was announced between three egg companies and the U.S. Department of Justice and 17 state Attorneys General.

The proposed settlement, which must still be approved by the court, includes restitution being paid in the form of 53 million eggs being donated and $3.3 million in fines being paid.

Today, Senator Reed said that the egg price fixing settlement is a step forward, but doesn’t do enough to fix the broader issue and seems inadequate. Reed wants DOJ lawyers to show their math and be transparent about how they reached the final settlement figures. Reed issued the following statement:

“After years of calling for government probes and action, it is heartening to see that some industrial egg producers are being publicly named and shamed for manipulative practices. They did real economic damage to consumers and farmers across the country.

“While I appreciate the hard work of investigators and attorneys, it sounds like this settlement, though well-intentioned, could be ‘soft boiled’ and let bad actors off the hook too easy.”

Reed noted that during the egg price-spike period, Cal-Maine reported roughly $1.2 billion in profits – a four-fold increase over the previous year -- and it also took $44 million in U.S. taxpayer support through avian influenza compensation payments. But Cal-Maine’s share of the proposed settlement is only about $1.5 million and allows them to deny wrongdoing, despite the payment.

“Instead of a light slap on the wrist, the industry needs real reform and more transparency when it comes to pricing practices,” said Senator Reed. “American consumers should not have to pay unfairly high prices due to anticompetitive behaviors. We’ve seen how factory farms and big agri-businesses try to distort prices while manipulating public opinion too. They tried to blame ‘eggflation’ on animal welfare standards and avian influenza when the real root cause seems to be flat out greed and collusion. Congress should take concrete steps to help lower prices, protect consumers and small businesses, and ensure fairness in the marketplace.

“Weak settlements leave taxpayers holding the bag and picking up the majority of the tab. Congress should pass my Ending Taxpayer Support for Big Egg Producers Act to prevent these companies from taking taxpayer dollars and using it for things like stock buybacks while consumers get gouged. Profitable egg producers raking in billions shouldn’t need taxpayer subsidies. And if big companies see they can rake in tens of millions of dollars in profit by manipulating markets and get away with paying minimal fines at just a fraction of what they are making, then more bad actors could follow suit. There has got to be more transparency and accountability going forward. And we have to take a hard look at the costly role of industry consolidation to consumers and our food system.”


In Case You Missed It… Sen. Rick Scott Reacts to Supreme Court Rulings, Demands Congress Return to DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rick Scott joined the Charlie Kirk Show yesterday with Andrew Kolvet and Blake Neff to break down the Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship, transgender athletes, and campaign finance rules.

Watch the full interview HERE or by clicking below.

HIGHLIGHTS:

On Birthright Citizenship:

“I don’t get the Supreme Court’s decision. It just doesn’t make any sense. If you come here illegally or if you use a surrogate, how does that make sense that that child is an American citizen?

...

“We’re in a dangerous situation. The government of Communist China wants to destroy us, they hate us and so they’ll do everything they can, from hacking all of our water systems, electrical systems, stealing our jobs, sending fentanyl into our country—you name it. So, this is another way they can go about trying to destroy our way of life.”

On the Transgender Athletes Ruling:

“This is so simple. We have women’s sport to give women opportunities and then why on God’s green earth would anybody support having a man play in a women’s sport? It doesn’t make any sense. How does a Democrat who has daughters want to have their daughter compete against a man on any track or race? The stupidity to think that it’s okay… This is a great decision by the Supreme Court.”

On the SAVE America Act:

““We’re only working two-and-a-half days a week. We shouldn’t be in recess when the SAVE America Act hasn’t passed, we know we’re going to have another government shutdown on October 1. There are so many things we’ve got to do to help President Trump’s agenda. We’ve got to be in DC and work hard to get it done. I invited him to lunch last week to talk about what we are going to do to get his agenda done, but protecting our elections, protecting our border… keeping government running. All of these things are so important. We ought to be in DC doing it.”

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Rosen Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Consolidate National Guard and Reserve Component Duty Statuses, Improve Readiness, Standardize Pay, Secure Veteran Benefits

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in introducing the bipartisan Duty Status Reform Act to make comprehensive reforms to the National Guard and Reserve Component by streamlining the duty status framework, reducing the amount of duty statuses from 30 to four. This bipartisan bill would help standardize pay and benefits for members of the National Guard and the Reserve, clarify and simplify antiquated administrative systems, and improve consistency in veterans’ benefits eligibility for Guard and Reserve members by reducing disparities resulting from differing duty statuses.

“Duty Status Reform is a necessary overhaul to antiquated administrative systems that have negatively impacted our Reserve and National Guard servicemembers’ quality of life and readiness,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to cut through the red tape by simplifying the duty status structure from nearly 30 statuses down to four so the reserve component will receive timely and equitable pay and benefits without preventable delays or disruption. This legislation ensures the reserve component receives fair and equitable treatment when answering the call to service at a moment’s notice.”

“The men and women of the National Guard in Kansas and across the country play a critical role in serving our communities and defending our nation,” said Senator Moran. “As the Guard’s mission has evolved, the duty status system has become increasingly complex. This legislation will simplify the structure and strengthen the Guard’s ability to carry out its missions by standardizing pay and benefits, bolstering readiness and better supporting those who serve.”

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Rosen has made it one of her priorities to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles for our military and ensure that servicemembers and veterans have all the resources and care they have earned. This year, Senator Rosen introduced the bipartisan Sergeant Dave Crete FORGOTTEN Veterans Act, which would require the Department of Defense to join the Department of Energy in identifying all servicemembers and veterans who worked at locations where radiation and toxic exposure occurred, allowing such veterans to better access VA healthcare and benefits. Last year, she also introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow medical providers to more easily practice for both the DoD and the VA – addressing the medical shortage and ensuring care for veterans and servicemembers.

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Rosen Secures $25 Million in Federal Funding for Sun Valley Boulevard Improvements in Northern Nevada

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she secured $25 million in federal funding for the Sun Valley Boulevard Corridor Improvements Project in Northern Nevada. This federal funding was awarded through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program, which Senator Rosen helped create through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that she helped write and pass. Earlier this year, she joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV-02) in a letter urging the Trump Administration to award these funds to the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County. The funding will go toward drainage improvements, additional bus stops, accessibility improvements, improved signage, and more.

“Sun Valley Boulevard is the main connection for residents traveling to schools, parks, local services, and regional employment centers throughout Washoe County and the Reno-Tahoe area. The work being done by this project will help bring significant safety improvements for both pedestrians and drivers who rely on this critical corridor for commercial, educational, and transit purposes,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to have helped secure millions of dollars in federal funding for this project in Washoe County. I will continue supporting infrastructure projects across Nevada, and ensure that they have the federal funding they need.”

Senator Rosen has helped secure millions in funding for critical projects across Nevada. Recently, she successfully pushed the Trump administration to release $21 million in federal funding to combat homelessness in Nevada. Senator Rosen has also secured millions for Nevada’s airports, including over $10 million for Boulder City airport and $20 million for renovations at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

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NEWS: Schiff, Padilla Demand Answers on Elimination of Yosemite Reservation System

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) urged Department of the Interior (DOI) officials to reconsider the elimination of Yosemite National Park’s reservation system.

In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Acting Director of the National Park Service (NPS) Jessica Bowron, the Senators expressed concern over upcoming peak summertime visitation coupled with reductions in staff and funding.

“The increased visitation we have seen without the reservation system, mixed with the reduction in staff and resources over the past year, leaves us deeply concerned about how the Park will be able to manage visitation safely and effectively protect park resources during the peak summer months,” wrote the Senators. “Yosemite National Park is the crown jewel of the National Park System, yet overcrowding, vehicle congestion, limited parking, and long lines have long been issues that diminish what should be a world class experience.”

“In response to these challenges, Yosemite implemented a reservation system during the summers of 2020-2022 and 2024, which both greatly improved visitor experiences and supported visitation to the Park by spreading visitation across the peak summer months,” continued the Senators. “However, in February 2026, NPS decided to cancel this successful reservation system without providing any scientific justification or evidence of public stakeholder engagement.”

The Senators questioned the decision to eliminate the reservation system and how NPS officials plan to mitigate its impacts during the upcoming peak visitation months.

“According to widespread reporting and testimony from our constituents, the Park has seen bumper-to-bumper traffic around the valley floor, hiking trails backed up with people, and parking lots full in the early mornings causing visitors to illegally park off-road on vegetation and in meadows,” concluded the Senators. “This situation is further complicated by the Administration’s reductions in staff, which has created critical gaps in park operations. Key science and park safety staff have been rerouted and stretched thin to handle traffic monitoring and park maintenance, which hinders Yosemite’s ability to manage wildfire risk, ensure visitor safety, and conserve the treasured natural resources throughout the Park.”

Yosemite is California’s most visited national park, with 4.3 million visitors in 2025. In February, the Trump Administration announced that Yosemite’s timed reservation system would be eliminated for 2026 without justification. This decision has had significant impacts on businesses in the Yosemite area, with conservation organizations and Yosemite’s employees also expressing strong opposition.

“As a small business owner serving Yosemite’s visitors, my team and I have seen firsthand that removing the reservation system has led to the park being functionally inaccessible for many families,” said Elisabeth Barton, CEO of Echo Adventure Cooperative. “Visitors shouldn’t have to spend hours sitting in entrance lines, searching for parking, or abandoning plans altogether. Access to a national park should be measured by the quality of the visitor experience, not just whether someone eventually makes it through the gate. The reservation system successfully spread visitation throughout the weeks and months providing economic stability throughout the year, but the removal has caused volatility that makes it harder for local businesses to retain employees, invest in their communities, and provide the level of service visitors expect. The reservation system doesn’t restrict access; it preserves the quality, predictability, and sustainability of access for visitors, gateway communities, and the park itself.”

“This Administration’s actions are harming natural resources and creating pure chaos for visitors and the incredible employees who care deeply for the park,” said Mark Rose, Sierra Nevada program manager of the National Parks Conservation Association. “Yosemite’s reservation system was a massive success, backed by years of expert analysis and public input. Yosemite Superintendent McPadden’s decision to scrap the reservation system does nothing to benefit the American people who own this park. The crisis unfolding in Yosemite will only end when park leadership listens to the public and its own staff and brings the reservation system back online.”

“Superintendent McPadden’s decision to discontinue the reservation system undermines the hardworking Yosemite staff,” said NFFE Local 475, representing Yosemite National Park NPS employees. “The National Park Service is consistently ranked by Americans as the most beloved, trusted federal agency, and our polling of Yosemite staff shows overwhelming agreement that working conditions and visitors’ experiences have been negatively impacted because there is no reservation system. Staff have reported increased wait times during their commutes, challenges to fulfill their work duties due to standstill traffic, and a heightened strain on all facilities and infrastructures throughout the park. The decision to dismiss the very real concerns of the dedicated park staff who build trails, protect wildlife, restore meadows, and maintain and clean the facilities of this globally significant park is both disheartening and disappointing to the NPS workforce.”


PHOTOS: Sen. Schiff Tours Fullerton Fire Station, Highlights $250,000 in Federal Funds Secured

Fullerton, CA – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) toured the City of Fullerton’s Fire Station to highlight $250,000 in federal funding he and Congressman Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46) secured to help modernize the station. The Senator was joined by Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung and local elected officials.

The funding delivered by Schiff and Correa will upgrade the station’s alerting and communications infrastructure and enhance emergency response efforts across all six citywide fire stations. These improvements will benefit not only the residents of Fullerton, but the millions of Californians served throughout Orange County.

The Senator also participated in a roundtable with firefighters to discuss these efforts to improve their dispatch infrastructure, as well as effects the station has felt from cuts forced by President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

View photos from the visit below:

Credit for this photo: Gaston Castellanos

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WATCH: Sen. Schiff Unveils New Actions to Hold Big Oil Companies Accountable for Price Gouging of Californians Ahead of July 4th Holiday

Los Angeles, CA – Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) unveiled new actions to hold big oil and gas companies accountable for the sky-high prices at the gas pump.

Outside of a gas station with the highest gas prices in Los Angeles, Senator Schiff demanded the U.S. Department of Justice investigate price gouging by oil and gas companies, promising to introduce legislation that will force an investigation that would report to Congress on potential gouging. Senator Schiff’s push for an investigation comes as even President Trump has called out oil companies, saying earlier this month that Americans are being “gouged.”

“Big Oil is raking in billions in profits while Californians are struggling to fill their tank this Fourth of July. This president has enabled oil and gas companies to gouge consumers more than any other president in history, and we need a federal investigation into how these oil companies continue to rake in billions while failing to pass on savings to the public when the price of oil stabilizes. If the Trump administration is serious about reversing course on its long track record of enriching oil and gas companies, it can start by launching this overdue investigation,” said Senator Schiff.

Schiff also announced new legislation to levy an excess profits tax on Big Oil companies, who are projected to rake in $96 billion in profits in 2026, $13.5 billion more than last year.

Schiff has previously championed a windfall profits tax on oil companies as a way of shifting the cost burden of gas prices off of American families – who have been spending at least $1.00 a gallon more compared to last year, thanks to Trump’s war in Iran.