Thune: Democrats Embrace Far-Left Agenda

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, at the beginning of last year the New York Times took a poll of American voters.

“And the headline captures their results:

“This is what it said: ‘Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities.’

“Let me repeat that, Mr. President.

“‘Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities.’

“That’s right.

“A New York Times poll taken … weeks after voters rejected Democrats at the ballot box suggested that one of the reasons for Democrats’ loss was that Americans don’t think Democrats share their priorities.

“The story went on to say, and I quote, ‘The issues that people cited as most important to them personally were the economy and inflation, health care and immigration…’

“But when the poll asked Americans to identify Democrats’ most important priorities, Americans identified issues like abortion and climate change, among others.

“Mr. President, our Democrat colleagues have found themselves out of power for 18 months now.

“And we’ve given them plenty of opportunities to show some evolution – perhaps even moderation – to voters.

“But as the record shows, Democrats are still in thrall to the far left of their party.

“They still have the same priorities that turned voters off from Democrats in the last election.

“For starters, radical transgender ideology remains an article of faith among Democrats.

“Democrats have repeatedly opposed efforts to keep biological men out of women’s sports.

“And when the Supreme Court ruled unanimously last month that state laws protecting women’s sports are allowable under the plain language of Title IX, one Democrat senator called the ruling ‘unjust.’

“Unjust, Mr. President.

“As if a young woman working hard all season only to lose to a man with an inherent biological advantage is somehow just.

“Mr. President, the overwhelming majority of Americans believe that biological men should not be playing women’s sports.

“But that doesn’t seem to matter to Senate Democrats.

“And their commitment to transgender ideology doesn’t end with supporting the presence of men in women’s sports.

“Democrats have also tacitly – or not so tacitly – endorsed radical gender transition procedures being performed on minors.

“Procedures, I might add, with no substantial medical evidence to support them – and plenty of reason to believe they are extremely dangerous for children.

“But apparently Democrats are fine subjecting children to those risks.

“And of course, Mr. President, Democrats are still proudly pro-abortion.

“And when I say pro-abortion, I mean pro-abortion.

“How else do you describe a party that won’t even support legislation to provide medical care to a baby born alive during a failed abortion?

“A party that can’t bring itself to support a bill to ensure that a pregnant college student knows that there are resources available to help her finish her degree and have her baby.

“A party that directed small-business COVID relief funds to Planned Parenthood, even though they were legally ineligible.

“A party that is doing everything it can to eliminate pregnancy resource centers simply because they won’t recommend abortion.

“Mr. President, as I said, Democrats are in thrall to the far left of their party.

“And it’s not just on those issues.

“Far-left activists seem to be the audience for almost everything Democrats do these days.

“Take, for example, Democrats’ two – that’s right, two – record-long government shutdowns.

“Last fall, Democrats shut down the entire federal government for a record 43 days to show the far left that they were ‘fighting’ President Trump.

“And while TSA lines snaked outside of airports and Americans were visiting food banks because they had to work without pay, the Democrat leader was quoted saying, and I quote, ‘Every day gets better for us.’

“Better, that is, for Democrats seeking the approval of the far left.

“Then earlier this year, Democrats shut down the Department of Homeland Security because they didn’t want to fund law enforcement.

“That’s right.

“Defunding law enforcement – once a fringe position in their party – became the official position of the Democrat Party as they tried to completely – completely – defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.

“Once again, it didn’t matter to Democrats whether Americans would be less safe with open borders.

“Their audience – far-left activists – wanted them to defund border security and immigration enforcement officers, so they did.

“And Democrats weren’t done.

“Last week, Democrats here in the United States Senate blocked the National Defense Authorization Act, the bill that authorizes funding for our military.

“That’s right, Mr. President.

“Democrats voted against authorizing funding for our military.

“Mr. President, it’s a sad day when Democrats are playing politics with everything all the way up to our national security.

“But that’s where we are.

“Democrats have had numerous opportunities in the last year and a half to work with us on things that matter to the American people.

“And again and again, they have chosen to follow members of their far-left base.

“In some cases – see New York City’s mayor – follow them directly into socialism.

“That’s right.

“Self-identified democratic socialists have been winning elections across the country.

“So what’s next?

“Will the Democrat Party adopt the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America?

“Mr. President, to quote the New York Times again, and I quote, ‘Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities.’

“A year and a half later, it’s obvious that that’s still the case.

“Men in women’s sports. Abortion up until the moment of birth. Open borders. Defunding law enforcement.

“Instead of moving toward the middle, Democrats are just getting more extreme.”


Thune, Rounds Legislation to Advance Lewis and Clark Water Expansion Project Approved by Committee

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) applauded the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for passing their legislation on Thursday, July 16, that would authorize a feasibility study for the proposed expansion of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. The bill now heads to the full Senate.

“The Lewis and Clark Regional Water System continues to achieve meaningful progress toward fully serving its member communities across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota,” said Thune. “I’m pleased that the committee has passed our legislation and look forward to its consideration by the full Senate. I thank Senator Rounds for working with me on this important effort.”

“Continued access to clean and reliable water is critical to economic development and quality of life in our state,” said Rounds. “I’m pleased that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has advanced our legislation that would authorize a feasibility study for an expansion of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. I look forward to working with Senator Thune and my colleagues to get this feasibility study through the Senate and into law.”

“Lewis and Clark Regional Water System is grateful to Congress and the champions of this legislation, including Leader Thune, for recognizing the importance of long-term water infrastructure planning,” said Troy Larson, executive director of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. “The success of our region depends on a dependable water supply, and this measure will help ensure we are prepared to meet future needs as our communities grow. Thoughtful planning today will help secure reliable water service, economic opportunity, and quality of life for generations to come. We thank the bill sponsors for their leadership.”

In addition to Thune and Rounds, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act (S. 3725) is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn).


Tuberville Continues Advocating for Alabama’s Catfish Industry

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in endorsing a request made by the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help the industry by purchasing catfish products. Sens. Tuberville and Hyde-Smith wrote a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins asking her to approve a request to purchase U.S. farm-raised catfish products through the Agricultural Marketing Service Section 32 Program.

Section 32 is a permanently authorized program that allows the USDA to make emergency purchases of surplus U.S. commodities for distribution to domestic food assistance programs. The program is funded through 30 percent of the previous year’s customs receipts collected by the U.S. government from imported products.

The letter is a continuation of advocacy by the Senators to include farm-raised catfish, Gulf shrimp, and other commodities included in USDA Section 32 decisions.

“The industry’s USDA Section 32 purchase request would provide needed relief by providing essential cash flow to farmers to help alleviate the severe financial strain imposed by inflationary pressures. USDA purchases of catfish would provide immediate relief and enable 2026 fish crops to be harvested and processed, while also supporting rural communities and providing nutritious, American-grown product to families, children, and those in need,” wrote the Senators.

Sens. Tuberville and Hyde-Smith were joined by Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in signing the letter.

Read full text of the letter below or here.

“Dear Secretary Rollins,

We write to support the request made by the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase surplus catfish products through the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service Section 32 Program. Surplus purchases will assist catfish farmers and the thousands of jobs dependent upon this industry throughout the Southeast.

The U.S. farm-raised catfish industry is extremely important to the states we represent. Nearly $2 billion in economic output, including more than 9,100 jobs, is directly or indirectly attributable to the production of U.S. farm-raised catfish. Farms and processing facilities in our states are typically among the largest employers in the economically depressed counties.

The industry has been caught in a severe inflationary squeeze, particularly from 2023 to the present, fundamentally altering its production economics. This pressure has consistently driven the cost of producing U.S. farm-raised catfish above the prices farmers receive for their fish, leading to three continuous years of negative financial returns.

The industry’s rising costs are dominated by the increasing expenses of key inputs, especially feed and energy, which represent the backbone of catfish farming operations.

Feed costs remain high and account for 43 percent of catfish production expenses. While the most recent data indicates some reduction in pricing, feed costs remain elevated above the historical normal range of $350–$375 per ton, especially for the 32 percent protein diet. As soybean meal is the major ingredient in U.S. catfish feed, its price volatility and high cost directly translate to increased production expenses.

U.S. catfish farmers have adopted modern, intensive pond production methods and improved energy efficiency per acre, but fuel and electricity costs — which account for 10 percent of production expenses — remain a significant burden. Energy-intensive processes like pond aeration are essential to maintaining healthy fish populations, and producers have limited ability to absorb volatility in fuel and electricity markets.

Together, these cost pressures have pushed the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry into a crisis of economic sustainability, with the cost of production far surpassing the price of fish at the dock — resulting in three consecutive years of negative margins for producers.

The industry’s USDA Section 32 purchase request would provide needed relief by providing essential cash flow to farmers to help alleviate the severe financial strain imposed by inflationary pressures. USDA purchases of catfish would provide immediate relief and enable 2026 fish crops to be harvested and processed, while also supporting rural communities and providing nutritious, American-grown product to families, children, and those in need.

We encourage you to consider all the factors facing the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry and approve this request. We also look forward to our continued partnership in supporting agriculture and our nation’s rural communities.

Sincerely,”

MORE:

Tuberville, Britt Send Letter to Secretary Rollins on Threats to Alabama’s Catfish Industry

Tuberville Raises Concerns Over Foreign Seafood and Lumber Imports Undercutting Alabama Producers

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

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Warner, Kaine, and McClellan Celebrate $16 Million in Federal Funding for Richmond-Petersburg Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hub

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04) celebrated $16 million in federal funding for the Virginia Advanced Pharma Manufacturing (APM) and R&D Cluster in the Richmond-Petersburg region. The cluster is led by the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs Program, will help the cluster fully establish a domestic manufacturing pathway for essential medicines and advance U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. The members wrote letters in support of the funding.

“For years, Virginia and the Virginia Advanced Pharma Manufacturing Cluster have been leading the charge in establishing our country’s dominance in the production of critical medicines,” said Sen. Warner. “These federal dollars will help cement the Commonwealth’s position as a national leader in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing while creating good-paying jobs in the Petersburg region, strengthening our economy, reducing our reliance on foreign supply chains, and protecting our national security.”

“I’m thrilled that $16 million is headed to the Virginia Advanced Pharma Manufacturing Cluster to support the domestic manufacturing of critical medicines, boost our supply chains, and grow our regional economy,” said Sen. Kaine. “When I was on the Richmond City Council, I helped form the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority, and I’m immensely proud of what we’ve done together to turn it into a thriving domestic manufacturing hub and economic engine in the region. I look forward to the continued partnership.”

“To remain competitive on the global stage, we must continue to invest in domestic manufacturing for life-saving medicines that create jobs, support regional growth and offer reliable access to medications for patients in need,” said Rep. McClellan. “This grant funding will do all that and more by supporting the Virginia Advanced Pharma Manufacturing Cluster in its core mission to create a sustainable and cutting-edge manufacturing hub in the Richmond-Petersburg region. I thank Senators Warner and Kaine for their partnership and look forward to the developments this will bring to Virginia’s Fourth District.”

Warner, Kaine, and McClellan have long supported the APM cluster in Richmond-Petersburg and have supported policies to strengthen domestic manufacturing of critical medicines. In 2023, the APM cluster was designated as a Tech Hub under the CHIPS and Science Act for its innovative work in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. In September 2022, the senators helped secure $52.9 million from the American Rescue Plan Act for the cluster. In January 2025, the senators announced $3.9 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand regional workforce training programs that support the APM cluster.

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ICYMI: Warnock, Atlanta Mayor Dickens, Councilmember Boone Celebrate Warnock-Led Provision That Will Keep Homes in the Hands of Georgia Families

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s provision to ban large corporations from mass purchasing single-family homes is federal law

The provision is part of the historic 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest housing reform and affordability legislation in a generation

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Housing is dignity, housing is stability, housing is hope”

Atlanta, GA – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) held a press conference in the Adamsville neighborhood of Atlanta with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta City District 10 Councilmember Andrea Boone, and prospective first-time homebuyer Jacob Parcel to celebrate the enactment of Senator Warnock’s landmark provision prohibiting private equity firms from mass-purchasing single-family homes.

The provision, and many other provisions championed by Senator Reverend Warnock, are included in the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, thelargest housing reform and affordability legislation in a generation. Despite passing the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, President Donald Trump declined to sign the bill within the constitutionally designated 10-day timeline, prompting formal enactment to occur without the president’s signature.

In addition to the ban on private equity, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act also includes provisions from Senator Warnock’s Appraisal Modernization Act, the only fair housing provision in the legislation, and several bills Senator Warnock has championed for years to reform rural housing programs, penalize local governments for failing to meet housing goals, incentivize local governments and banks to invest more in the construction of housing, and provide grants and forgivable loans to help homeowners repair and weatherize their properties.

More media coverage of Senator Reverend Warnock’s press conference below:

WANF: Warnock authored the section of the bill that caps the number of homes corporations can own at 350 per investor group, with a fine of $1 million or three-times the price of a home’s value for every property they own over the cap.

WABE: U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock celebrated a bipartisan housing affordability package becoming federal law this weekend, which includes a provision he championed capping corporate ownership of single-family homes.

Atlanta Voice: Warnock said there was still work to be done. The act doesn’t apply to homes that have already been purchased by corporations. Asked what the act means for the corporations or private equity that might remain involved in the Georgia housing market. Warnock said, “I want to stop the spread. They are picking homes like you, and I pick tomatoes in the grocery store.”

Courier Georgia: During a press conference Monday, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) celebrated the legislation. He wrote several key provisions, including the limit on the number of additional homes private equity can buy and the measure making discrimination in the appraisal process illegal. “Let’s be clear, if you’re a single mom,” he said, “you cannot compete with Wall Street. They will outbid you every time, and so this is about fairness.”

AJC: Standing in front of a three-bedroom Adamsville rental owned by a private equity firm, the Democratic senator was joined by Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta City Council member Andrea Boone, both of whom grew up in the Westside community. “They are picking houses the way you pick tomatoes at the grocery store,” said Warnock, calling Atlanta “ground zero” of corporate homeownership.

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Welch Joins King, 37 Senators in Renewing Demands to DHS for Civilian Protections, Greater Transparency Following Killings in Maine and Texas

Following tragic killings in Maine and Texas last week, Senators call for reforms, body-worn camera deployment, and independent investigations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 37 Senators in calling for stronger accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers following tragic killings involving immigration officials last week in Maine and Texas. The fatal shootings of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas occurred six days apart.

In their letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, 39 Senators urged DHS to fulfill its previous commitments to deploy and expand the usage of body-worn cameras, strengthen officer identification requirements, and review enforcement protocols. The measures suggested by the Senators are intended to help prevent future deadly encounters involving ICE enforcement officers.

“The recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, specifically within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas, coupled with similar incidents elsewhere in the country, are completely unacceptable,” the Senators wrote. “Rather than making our communities safer, these actions endanger our citizens and seriously undermine confidence in law enforcement generally.”

“The tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero occurred less than a week apart and carry startling similarities. In both incidents, the individuals were killed in enforcement actions in which they were not the intended targets. Furthermore, both individuals were shot by DHS officials while inside a vehicle. The unnecessary loss of life in these incidents demands immediate, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations (including the full involvement of local and state law enforcement personnel) along with a comprehensive examination of enforcement protocols, training, and operational approaches necessary to prevent such tragedies,” the Senators continued. “These recent events have further compromised the credibility of DHS and fractured public trust within communities across our country. In each case, DHS quickly issued statements asserting that officers were acting in self-defense, even before evidence of the facts surrounding the incidents had been gathered. Compounding this failure, no DHS officials involved in these fatal shootings wore body-worn cameras that could be reviewed by investigators or members of the public.”

“We remain supportive of removing dangerous convicted criminals from our communities, but this goal can and must be achieved without endangering these very communities in the process. By no stretch could either of the victims in Texas and Maine be characterized as ‘the worst of the worst,’ making these tragic deaths even more egregious. The American people deserve clarity and accountability. We urge you to honor your Department’s earlier commitments and take immediate action to implement these necessary reforms. We also stand ready to work with you to codify reforms into law,” the Senators concluded.

In addition to Senators King and Welch, the letter is cosigned by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and John Fetterman (D-Pa).

Read and download the full text of Senators’ letter to DHS Secretary Mullin.

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Welch Reintroduces Bills to Protect Small-Scale Farms and Support Farmworkers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety, led Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act and Agricultural Worker Justice Act, a pair of bills to support workers in the agricultural industry and uplift small, family farms across the United States. The Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act aims to create a level playing field for farmers and consumers by weakening the hold consolidated interests have on the agricultural economy. The Agricultural Worker Justice Act would require major food companies to provide decent wages and safe working conditions to do business with the federal government.

“Small and family farms are at the heart of Vermont’s economy and culture. Without them, Vermont wouldn’t be the place we know and love,” said Senator Welch. “But rapid consolidation has jeopardized the well-being and vitality of farms across America—we can’t let that happen. We also need urgent, commonsense safeguards to protect workers in the agricultural industry who face hazardous and exploitative working conditions.”

The Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The legislation is endorsed by the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA), the Health, Environment, Agriculture, and Labor (HEAL) Food Alliance, National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

“For too long, our food system has rewarded large corporations while squeezing the workers and small farmers who feed our communities,” said Senator Booker. “These bills are about restoring fairness to our food system, addressing decades of consolidation, protecting family farms in New Jersey and across the nation, standing up for workers, and ensuring that people, not corporate profits, always come first.”

“Multinational food and agriculture corporations are raking in billions of dollars at the expense of farmers, workers, consumers, and our future. While their top executives and shareholders profit, consumers face rising grocery prices and farmers and ranchers teeter on the verge of bankruptcy,” said Judith McGeary, Executive Director, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA). “The Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act stops consolidation from getting even worse through a moratorium on future corporate mergers in the sector. It also makes crucial policy changes that farmers have long asked for — including the restoration of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for beef, greater investment in local food systems and livestock infrastructure, and funding that helps socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers have a fair chance to make a living raising food for their communities.”

Learn more about the Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act and view a section-by-section summary of the bill. Read and download the full text of the legislation here.

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The Agricultural Worker Justice Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Booker, Sanders, John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The bill is endorsed by the HEAL Food Alliance and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

“The people who put food on our table deserve more than just our gratitude. They deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect,” said Senator Fetterman. “I’m proud to work alongside my colleagues to support the workers not only in our Commonwealth, but across the country.”

[“Farmworkers are the backbone of our nation’s economy,” said Senator Wyden. “The workers that put in hours each day to keep farms running, harvest our food and help get it to our grocery stores and dinner tables are the real power behind our nation’s agricultural industry, and I’m proud to support this bill that will help protect this essential workforce and ensure they’re earning the wage they deserve.”

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture spends billions of dollars every year buying food, and that food should not come from companies that mistreat their workers. The Agricultural Worker Justice Act ensures that food and agricultural companies that exploit workers cannot do so on the dime of American taxpayers,” said Milton Jones, International President, UFCW. “Food workers are critical to the health of our nation and deserve fair wages and safe working conditions. How we spend our tax dollars shows our values as a country, which is why the

Learn more about the Agricultural Worker Justice Act and view a section-by-section summary of the bill. Read and download the full text of the legislation here.

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Senator Welch has championed bipartisan and bicameral legislation to support the farmers and ranchers who feed America’s families, including the Milk From Family Dairies Act, Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act, Fair Credit for Farmers Act, Freedom for Agricultural Repair and Maintenance Act (FARM Act), Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act, Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act, Honor Farmer Contracts Act, and the Farm Ownership Improvement Act.

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Welch Statement on Trump’s New Tariffs on Canada

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today released the following statement on the Trump Administration imposing new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods:

“These new tariff threats against Canada are an extreme escalation of President Trump’s reckless and irresponsible trade war. The White House’s endless attacks on our Canadian neighbors—Vermont’s closest partner in trade—have caused undeniable harm to our state’s economy, and the aftershocks of today’s announcement will do lasting damage. The president is only making trade talks and diplomacy more challenging, all while the USMCA, the trade agreement governing our relationship with our closest trading partners, is up for review. I urge President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Greer to drop these new tariff threats immediately,” said Senator Welch. “This is yet another reason why Congress needs to take back its constitutional power over trade policy. This administration needs to answer for the economic chaos it’s creating; I look forward to questioning Ambassador Greer about these careless decisions when he testifies before the Finance Committee on Wednesday.”

Senator Welch is the lead sponsor of the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Senator Welch also cosponsors the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which seeks to restore Congress’ constitutional role in trade policy.

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Whitehouse & Reed Introduce Disaster Relief Fairness Act to Counter Trump’s Politicization of Federal Emergency Management Decisions

Washington, D.C. — When catastrophic natural disasters strike, the federal government has historically used a merit-based, non-partisan process to do its part to assist states in the aftermath of major hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, or blizzards, presuming impacted states can prove the severity of the damage caused by the event.

On February 22-23, 2026 Rhode Island was hit by a severe snowstorm that shut down the state for days. Over three feet of snow fell on the state in a 24-hour period – the highest one-day snowfall on record for Rhode Island. The storm hit Rhode Island with the intensity of a Category 2 hurricane, with heavy winds up to 74 miles per hour. It caused widespread power outages and tragically resulted in two fatalities and hundreds of emergency room visits. Local businesses faced prolonged closures due to disruptions to transportation, utilities, and public services across the state.

The historic blizzard caused over $19.3 million in damages across Rhode Island – amounting to more than nine times the threshold required for a Major Disaster Declaration under Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations. Rhode Island emergency management officials worked hand-in-hand with FEMA to prepare a package documenting the damage, and a request was made to President Trump to make the necessary declaration to unlock funding to help with the recovery. Under federal law, only the president can approve a major disaster declaration.

Under any other administration, Rhode Island’s disaster declaration request would have been approved on the merits, given the blizzard’s historic nature and FEMA’s own damage assessment guidelines. However, on July 2, the Trump Administration denied Rhode Island’s request — along with similar requests from other northeastern states that were severely hit by the snowstorm, but whose states did not vote for Trump in the last election.

This is not a one-off: According to the Associated Press, President Trump “has approved more than three-fourths of the requests from states that voted for him in the 2024 election but less than half the requests from states that did not.” No other president in history has such a disparity in denials between states that supported him politically and those that did not. For example, during the Obama Administration, President Obama’s approval rate was identical for states that voted for and against him.

The same week President Trump denied applications from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York – states that are led by Democratic governors and that voted for Kamala Harris in the last election – he approved disaster declarations for nine Republican-leaning states. During Trump’s second term, the White House has approved 89 percent of disaster aid requests from Republican governors, and 23 percent of Democratic-led states, according to a memo compiled by minority members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee.

These unfair denials negatively impact state, city, and town budgets and property tax rates for residents.

Now, in an effort to counter Trump’s unfair, unwarranted politicization of federal emergency management decisions, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) are teaming up to introduce the Disaster Relief Fairness Act (S.5018).

Under current law, major disasters are declared pursuant to Section 401 of the Stafford Act and based on consideration of several factors included in regulations at 44 CFR § 206.48. One key factor is a comparison of the cost of the disaster’s impact to the state’s ability to handle the event, a metric that is typically calculated by multiplying the per capita indicator by the state’s population. While the declaration process included in Section 401 leaves significant discretion to the president, no other president has ever before made politics the deciding factor in which states receive federal aid and which do not.

The Whitehouse-Reed bill would prevent Donald Trump from maliciously denying disaster assistance to states and communities when they have met the criteria to qualify.

“When disaster strikes, Americans have always thrown partisanship out the door to support their neighbors and local businesses in need,” said Senator Whitehouse. “President Trump plays a dangerous, cruel game when he injects partisanship into the decision to deny much-needed disaster aid for states that didn’t vote for him. Our legislation would remove the President’s whims from the disaster aid process and ensure Rhode Islanders get every cent they are due.”

“Time and again, President Trump has shown that he can’t see past his own personal grievances and partisan biases when it comes to providing disaster aid,” said Senator Reed. “The Disaster Relief Fairness Act would ensure that the disaster declaration process is both impartial and consistent. Our bill would prevent Trump from using disaster assistance for political leverage or retribution by ensuring that every request for disaster assistance made during his presidency will be approved as long as it meets FEMA’s established requirements and thresholds. This will guarantee that states and tribes will get the relief they need to fully recover from disasters.”


Miss. Delegation Urges Trump to Approve Major Disaster Declaration for Mississippi

WASHINGTON – The Mississippi congressional delegation today shared its strong support for Governor Tate Reeves’ request for a major disaster declaration after severe storms, tornadoes, and flash flooding struck on June 18-19, 2026. Remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur brought 30 inches of rain onto the state within a five-day period, damaging homes, businesses, farms, and infrastructure.

U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Mike Ezell, R-Miss., sent President Trump a letter endorsing the governor’s request for a major disaster declaration. The eight counties included in the request for public assistance are Covington, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, Stone, and Wayne. Of the eight, the state is requesting individual assistance for the following four counties: Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, and Stone.

If approved, the major disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts. This request could be amended if any additional damage is discovered or reported.

“This extraordinary volume of rainfall triggered life-threatening flash flooding, threatened the integrity of earthen dams, and pushed multiple river basins into major flood stage,” the lawmakers wrote. “We have seen firsthand the critical role federal disaster assistance plays in helping our communities recover from devastating events.”


Senator Wicker Votes to Advance Water Resources Legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., voted to pass the 2026 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Senator Wicker’s unique position on the committee allows him to advocate for Mississippi’s communities and priorities. The committee’s legislation would expand water infrastructure projects and streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' planning and project delivery process. The bill will now move to the full U.S. Senate for consideration.

“These investments will help advance critical water projects, strengthen Mississippi's economy, and support the communities and industries that rely on our waterways. I will continue using my position on the Environment and Public Works Committee to deliver meaningful results for Mississippi communities,” said Senator Wicker.

Among other policies that are going to benefit Mississippi, WRDA would:

Increase transparency of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ annual funding capabilities, informing congressional funding allocations for water resource projects.

Authorize a feasibility study for flood risk management and restoration along the Hatchie River in Tippah, Alcorn, and Union counties.

Authorize a feasibility study to improve and reconstruct the Walkiah Bluff weir in Pearl River County.

Expedite completion of the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Study. Ultimately, this study would modernize the operations of the Bonnet Carré Spillway.

Require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate the condition of locks and dam facilities along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway system.

Require a study on the use of hydrokinetic turbines in the Mississippi River.

Authorize $5 million in Section 1301 environmental infrastructure funding for 10 Mississippi communities, including Brandon, Choctaw County, Columbus, Flowood, Forest, Hattiesburg, Lucedale, Natchez, Vicksburg, and West Jackson County Utility District.

Increases Section 219 Environmental Infrastructure authorizations for four Mississippi communities including:

Clinton, from $13.6 million to $18.6 million;

Madison County, from $24 million to $26 million;

Oxford, from $10 million to $15 million; and

Picayune, from $5 million to $10 million.

Update the water supply contract for the Pat Harrison Waterway.

Improve the national levee safety program to support the long-term planning for, inspection of, and rehabilitation of levees. Mississippi maintains one of the nation’s largest levee systems.

Authorize a feasibility study for the Gulfport Widening and Deepening Project to increase the depth and width of its main ship channel.

The 2026 WRDA also contains a host of provisions for nationwide drinking water and wastewater infrastructure initiatives:

Grants technical assistance for emergencies affecting small public water systems at $26 million for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2030, an $11 million increase.

Reauthorizes funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund,

$3.75 billion for fiscal year 2027:

$4 billion for fiscal year 2028,

$4.25 billion for fiscal year 2029, and

$4.5 billion for fiscal year 2030.

Reauthorizes the Safe Water for Small and Disadvantaged Communities program, including $140 million for the fiscal years 2027 through 2030.

Addresses perfluoroalkyl substances and lead service line replacement projects, reauthorizing $3.5 billion for each of the fiscal years of 2027 through 2030.

Reauthorizes $65 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2030. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to publish the amount of time for the application to be processed by the EPA and the Office of Management and Budget before the obligation of funding.

Reauthorizes $50 million for the National Estuary Program during each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2030 and adds the Mississippi Sound to the program.

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Wyden, Merkley Demand Civilian Protections, Greater Transparency for ICE Officers

Following killings in Maine and Texas, Oregon senators join colleagues calling for reforms, body-worn camera deployment, and independent investigations

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded stronger accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers., urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fulfill its previous commitments to deploy and expand the usage of body-worn cameras, strengthen officer identification requirements, and review enforcement protocols.

The measures suggested by the Oregon senators along with more than 30 of their colleagues in a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin seek to help prevent future deadly encounters involving ICE enforcement officers – and comes after two recent fatal shootings during immigration enforcement operations in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas.

“The recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, specifically within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas, coupled with similar incidents elsewhere in the country, are completely unacceptable,” the senators wrote. “Rather than making our communities safer, these actions endanger our citizens and seriously undermine confidence in law enforcement generally.”

“The tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero occurred less than a week apart and carry startling similarities,” the senators continued. “In both incidents, the individuals were killed in enforcement actions in which they were not the intended targets. Furthermore, both individuals were shot by DHS officials while inside a vehicle. The unnecessary loss of life in these incidents demands immediate, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations (including the full involvement of local and state law enforcement personnel) along with a comprehensive examination of enforcement protocols, training, and operational approaches necessary to prevent such tragedies. These recent events have further compromised the credibility of DHS and fractured public trust within communities across our country. In each case, DHS quickly issued statements asserting that officers were acting in self-defense, even before evidence of the facts surrounding the incidents had been gathered. Compounding this failure, no DHS officials involved in these fatal shootings wore body-worn cameras that could be reviewed by investigators or members of the public.”

“We remain supportive of removing dangerous convicted criminals from our communities, but this goal can and must be achieved without endangering these very communities in the process,” the senators finished. “The American people deserve clarity and accountability. We urge you to honor your Department’s earlier commitments and take immediate action to implement these necessary reforms. We also stand ready to work with you to codify reforms into law.”

In addition to Wyden and Merkley, other co-signers of the letter led by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) are U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and John Fetterman (D-PA).


Young Applauds $30 Million for Bloch Quantum Tech Hub that Includes Northwest Indiana Partners

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) that the Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, which includes partners in northwest Indiana, will receive $30 million in federal funding.

The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub is a regional consortium spanning Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin that brings together leading universities, national laboratories, manufacturers, startups, investors, and workforce partners to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies.

The Hub aims to scale U.S. production of quantum materials, components, and subsystems by leveraging the region’s research and industrial assets, expanding shared manufacturing facilities, helping local firms enter the quantum supply chain, and fostering collaboration between hardware and software teams.

“This investment will build on northwest Indiana’s research and advanced manufacturing strengths, accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies, and further establish the Midwest as a global hub for innovation,” said Senator Young. “I helped create the Tech Hubs Program through the CHIPS and Science Act, and I commend the Trump Administration for prioritizing this investment in America’s economic competitiveness and national security. I look forward to seeing the opportunities this funding will create for Hoosier workers, researchers, and manufacturers.”

“The Trump Administration’s continued investments in quantum technology are leading the world into a new era of American innovation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. “This award will position the Midwest as a global leader in quantum technology and strengthen U.S. production of quantum materials, components, and subsystems.”

Senator Young introduced the Tech Hub concept in his Endless Frontier Act of 2020, which eventually became law as a key pillar in the CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in 2022.

The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub is the second hub with Indiana connections to receive federal funding. In 2024, Indiana-based Heartland BioWorks received approximately $51 million. Heartland BioWorks aims to transform Central Indiana into a global leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing by increasing the region’s capacity to make and deploy life-saving medicines.

Through strategic investments with local backing, the Tech Hubs Program empowers U.S. regions to emerge as global leaders in critical technologies over the next decade. Tech Hub investments accelerate technology commercialization, moving breakthroughs out of labs, through manufacturing lines, and into the marketplace faster, and at greater scale.


Castor Breast Cancer Awareness Bill Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) celebrated passage of her bipartisan Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act Reauthorization (H.R. 4541) with Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01).

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States, where the average risk for developing it sometime in her life is about 1 in 8. More than 316,000 new diagnoses and 42,000 deaths are expected from breast cancer in 2025. And with incidences rising in younger women each year, the earlier it’s caught, the better the chance to survive and overcome this devastating disease.

The key to early detection and treatment starts with education and awareness. This is especially true for younger women and those at greater risk of death from more aggressive forms of breast cancer.

“Too many young women face breast cancer without the knowledge or support they need to catch it early and fight back,” said Rep. Castor. “For more than fifteen years, the EARLY Act has supported young women through outreach and resources that meet them where they are. I’m proud to lead the charge for this bipartisan reauthorization to ensure these critical initiatives that empower women to understand their risks, advocate for their health and get the tools they need to fight the disease continue.”

View Castor’s remarks on the EARLY Act reauthorization here.

The EARLY Act authorizes three programs administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), designed to empower young and high-risk women. This includes the Bring Your Brave effort, which amplifies stories of real women to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women between the ages of 18 and 44, and encourages them to understand their risk and the signs and symptoms. It also funds the Young Breast Cancer Survivors Program, which provides grants to non-profit organizations aimed at delivering supportive services and resources to increase patients’ survival and improve their quality of life. And it offers continuing medical education (CME) courses for health care providers about breast cancer.

After fifteen years of successful implementation, it is now time to again reauthorize the EARLY Act to ensure that it continues to reach even more young and higher-risk women across the United States. Reauthorizing the EARLY Act is vital to continuing to save women’s lives.

The EARLY Act is endorsed by: