“A DEBT WE CAN NEVER REPAY”: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN HONORS HUDSON VALLEY HEROES ON NATIONAL PURPLE HEART DAY

National Purple Heart Day marks the anniversary of the military’s highest honor; on this day in 1782, George Washington awarded the very first award for military merit

Ryan – an Iraq War combat veteran and the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress – was inspired to join the service by his grandfather, World War II Navy Veteran and Purple Heart recipient John Porsch

This week, Ryan honored Army Veteran Jesse Clune at his Purple Heart presentation ceremony; earlier this year Ryan introduced historic legislation posthumously honoring Wappinger’s Chief Daniel Nimham with the Purple Heart for his heroism in the Revolutionary War

KINGSTON, NY – On National Purple Heart Day, Congressman Pat Ryan – an Iraq War combat veteran, two-time Bronze Star recipient, and the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress – is honoring Hudson Valley heroes.

National Purple Heart Day marks the anniversary of when George Washington first awarded the Badge of Military Merit – the predecessor of the Purple Heart and first American award of military merit – in 1782. The Hudson Valley has a rich history of military service and is home to not only Ryan’s alma mater – the Military Academy at West Point – but also the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

Ryan is a fifth-generation Hudson Valley native, born and raised in Kingston, New York. He served 27 months in combat in Iraq, and was inspired to serve by the example set by both of his grandfathers. His mother’s father, Navy Veteran John Porsch, was on the last ship sunk in the Pacific by a Japanese Kamikaze pilot in World War II. He had to cling to debris from the ship for over 48 hours and was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery.

“On National Purple Heart Day, we honor the best among us: selfless Patriots who risked their own lives for this country. My grandfather, John Porsch, was one of those Patriots. A Navy Veteran, he was awarded the Purple Heart for his heroism in World War II. His example of service and duty has been an inspiration to me throughout my life,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Duty, Honor, Country. These are the values I was taught at West Point, and these are the values that run deep throughout our Hudson Valley community and history. Today, I want to thank the generations of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have time and time again answered the call to serve. We owe each and every one of you a debt that can never be repaid – and your sacrifices to our community and country will never be forgotten.”

Just this week, Congressman Ryan was proud to honor Army Veteran Jesse Clune at his Purple Heart presentation ceremony.

Ryan has a long history of fighting to ensure Hudson Valley heroes get the honor and recognition they deserve. Earlier this year, he introduced the Chief Nimham Purple Heart Act, legislation allowing Chief Daniel Nimham – the last sachem of the Wappinger people and Revolutionary War hero – to be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

Chief Nimham fought alongside the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He and members of his community aligned themselves with the cause of American independence, demonstrating extraordinary courage and commitment at a pivotal moment in our nation’s founding. Despite his service and sacrifice, Chief Nimham was never formally recognized with the honors awarded to others who fought and died in the Revolutionary War. Congressman Ryan’s bill posthumously awards Chief Nimham with the Purple Heart, the military’s highest honor.

Ryan also led the push to honor fallen Korean War Hero Charles Johnson with the Medal of Honor. PFC Johnson, a Millbrook native and Arlington High School Grad, was killed in action June 12, 1953 on the frontlines in South Korea. His heroic actions are credited with saving at least eight other American soldiers, but for more than 70 years he was not awarded the Medal of Honor he deserved. Ryan called on President Biden to immediately remedy the injustice, noting that PFC Johnson had long been denied the proper recognition for his heroic actions. In January of 2025, after years of advocacy by Ryan and the entire Hudson Valley community, PFC Johnson was posthumously awarded his Medal of Honor.

Congressman Ryan is the first West Point graduate to represent the Military Academy in Congress. He served two combat tours in Iraq as an Army intelligence officer and has long fought to deliver the recognition and benefits that veterans, servicemembers, and military families deserve.

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For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee Scotland

August 7, 2026 202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT'S STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

U.S. Virgin Islands – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) released the following statement regarding the Executive Orders titled “Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” and “Ending Birth Tourism” signed on August 6, 2026, by President Donald Trump:

“Following the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026, decision in Trump v. Barbara, which upheld birthright citizenship generally while permitting narrower exceptions, yesterday President Trump issued Executive Orders that expand restrictions on birthright citizenship. The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. Birthright citizenship exists for people born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands because of federal statutes enacted by Congress. This remains unchanged by yesterday’s Executive Orders.

“The ‘Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship’ Executive Order applies in cases where a child is born in the United States or a territory while neither parent is a United States citizen and any of the following applies: those with a parent designated as a terrorist, those with a parent employed by a foreign government, those born through a birth-tourism or surrogacy arrangement undertaken to secure citizenship, or those born in a United States territory where citizenship is not conferred by federal statute.

“The territorial provision of the Executive Order does not touch the Virgin Islands today. Under current federal statute, people born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands are recognized as citizens, while those born in American Samoa are not – they are United States nationals. The provision in the Executive Order currently applies to American Samoa, which does not have a citizenship statute, and it would apply automatically to any other territory if Congress later repealed or narrowed the statute that grants citizenship.

“This provision raises serious concerns regarding precedent and represents a troubling escalation in this Administration's approach to birthright citizenship in the territories – which should not be in question. Our office has joined amici briefs cited in the Supreme Court by Justice Brown Jackson to protect territorial birthright citizenship.”

Congresswoman Plaskett continues to advocate the longstanding legal principle that citizenship follows the land - that territory owned by the US confers citizenship. She said, “I will continue to work with my colleagues to defend the statutory protections in place for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”

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BREAKING: Pressley Slams Trump’s Ongoing, Unlawful Attempt to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook

Trump’s Illegal Bid to Fire Gov. Cook Threatens Fed Independence and Comes After Supreme Court Blocked His Initial Attempt

BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement on social media condemning reports that Donald Trump is moving forward with his unlawful attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook after the Supreme Court blocked his initial attempt.

“Trump is continuing his racist, sexist, and baseless attack on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. But it’s as unlawful today as it was a year ago,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “We must stop this brazen, anti-Black power grab and defend the Federal Reserve’s independence.”


Ramirez, Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders Reintroduce the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act

Washington, DC —Today, Congresswomen Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act. Landmark housing legislation, the bill would rebuild the United States’ public housing stock, address the longstanding capital backlog, and create thousands of union jobs. The legislation provides a much-needed infusion of federal funding to update every public housing unit through weatherization, electrification, and modernization so that it may serve as a model of efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency for the rest of the nation.

This Congress, the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act has been endorsed by three building trades unions: the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).

"Safe, sustainable, resilient, affordable housing is a HUMAN RIGHT, plain and simple. The policies we advance in Congress must help us realize that truth for EVERYONE. As our nation reckons with both a worsening housing crisis and urgent climate crisis, we must fight for and realize bold policy action and investment," said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez. "I am proud to stand with Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Sanders to reintroduce legislation that will secure the future of our public housing, prioritize climate and racial justice, and strengthen our economy and labor force. The Green New Deal for Public Housing is a bold solution to our national housing crisis.”

“From record-breaking heat waves to extreme flooding displacing public housing residents, Americans are feeling the parallel impacts of the housing and climate crisis. Now more than ever, it is integral that Congress put forward bold solutions that ensure our nation’s housing stock is both affordable and resilient," said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “I am proud to reintroduce the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act alongside Representative Delia Ramirez and Senator Bernie Sanders to deliver a generational rebuild of our nation’s public housing stock, reduce emissions, and create hundreds of thousands of union jobs, including job opportunities for public housing residents. This Congress, we received our first endorsements from building trades unions. We are proud to fight for a bold future for public housing alongside the people who will build it.”

“In the richest country in the history of the world, it is unacceptable that our nation’s public housing is in a state of chronic disrepair. It is unacceptable that hundreds of millions of Americans are facing the disastrous impacts of climate change while the fossil fuel industry makes huge profits. And it is unacceptable that far too many Americans are working multiple jobs just to keep a roof over their head,” Sanders said. “What the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act does is say that yes, we can create decent and affordable public housing for more than 1.5 million Americans that is based on energy efficiency and sustainable sources of power. And that when we do that, we can also create hundreds of thousands of good-paying, union jobs. That is a win-win-win situation.”

The bill would create seven grant programs under one application process to modernize our public housing stock through:

Deep energy retrofits to increase energy savings in nearly a million public housing units;

Workforce development programs, prioritizing good-paying job opportunities for residents;

Energy efficiency, building electrification, and water quality upgrades;

Community renewable energy generation, the profits of which will be controlled by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to boost their coffers and increase self-sufficiency;

Community resiliency and sustainability measures;

Climate adaptation and emergency disaster response systems.

“The United States faces a serious housing crisis, one which intensifies with every passing year. Grounded in strong protections for workers, the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act tackles this crisis in part by mandating fair wages, benefits, and labor standards as a requirement for funding public housing upgrades. The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers urges Congress to act quickly to enact this much needed legislation,” said Tim Driscoll, President, IUBAC.

“The Green New Deal for Public Housing is the most significant investment in preserving and improving public housing that we've seen in generations. This bill will preserve hundreds of thousands of safe, affordable homes for those who need them the most, while centering public housing residents at every stage in the process. It enables communities to retain and modernize their homes by bringing units up to code, dramatically improving energy efficiency, and unlocking on-site renewable energy infrastructure, all while removing outdated limits on the construction of new public housing. NHLP is proud to endorse Sen. Sanders, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, and Rep. Ramirez's vision for bringing public housing into the future,” said Shamus Roller, Chief Executive Officer of the National Housing Law Project.

"We are living through a housing crisis decades in the making. After years of federal underfunding, public housing residents are enduring record heat in homes that need repair. It does not have to be this way," said DaMareo Cooper, Executive Director of Popular Democracy. "The Green New Deal for Public Housing repairs the homes of 1.6 million tenants and families, creates 280,000 good union jobs with residents hired first, and puts working people at the center of decisions about their own communities. That is what democracy looks like.

The legislation is cosponsored by 40 representatives, including Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-02), André Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-9), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Jesus Garcia (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jerold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), & Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

The legislation also has 6 cosponsors in the Senate, including Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

The legislation is endorsed by The Alliance for a Greater New York (ALIGN), Alliance For Housing Justice, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), California Green New Deal Coalition, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund, Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH), Citizen Action of New York, Climate and Community Institute, Climate Critical, Food and Water Watch, For the Many, Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc., Inner City Green Team, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Labor Network for Sustainability, Long Island Progressive Coalition, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition, New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN), Oil Change International, Popular Democracy in Action, Public Advocates Inc., Residents to Preserve Public Housing, Save Section 9, Sunrise Movement, The Point Community Development Corporation, UAW Region 9A, VOCAL-NY & VOCAL-US.

The full bill text is available here.

A one-pager of the bill is available here.

A section-by-section of the bill is available here.

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Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez continues to be on a planned medical leave. The re-introduction of the Green New Deal for Public Housing reflects her office’s work to advance the legislative priorities of IL-03 while she is on leave.


Idaho Has Led the Nuclear Renaissance Before. We Should Lead It Again

I’ve spent the last few years reading and laughing at the so-called hit pieces Marc Johnson writes about Idaho elected officials, including myself.

The reason I find them comical is that they are rarely grounded in the facts. But my red line was watching Marc spread false and misleading information about Idaho National Laboratory being considered as a potential host for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus.

His piece does Idahoans a disservice by collapsing a serious national research initiative into a punchline about a "cash for trash scheme." Idaho's history with nuclear energy, and its stake in this decision, deserves a more careful look.

Start with what the Idaho National Laboratory actually is. For more than 70 years, INL has been the country's lead laboratory for nuclear energy research, not a waste dump with a friendly name. It is where the Navy's nuclear propulsion program was born, where the first usable electricity from a nuclear reactor was generated in 1951, and where today's advanced reactor designs, fuel fabrication techniques, and reprocessing science are being developed and tested.

The Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus proposal is best understood as an extension of work INL is already positioned, and in many cases already funded, to do. It is not a new invention designed to trick Idaho into becoming a dumping ground.

That doesn't mean the waste question is illegitimate. It isn't, and Idahoans are right to ask hard questions about it. Research, fuel fabrication, and reprocessing are fundamentally different from permanent waste disposal. The proposal is about advancing technologies that can reduce and recycle used nuclear fuel, not simply moving waste from one state to another. Those are important distinctions Marc ignores.

The same is true of the 1995 Batt Agreement. That agreement protected Idaho by establishing enforceable commitments with the federal government. The lesson isn't that Idaho should never sign whatever the Department of Energy puts in front of it without asking tough questions first. It's that Idaho should negotiate from a position of strength, with clear terms, firm deadlines, and accountability.

Idaho didn't become the nation's nuclear leader by being afraid of hard problems. It became the leader by being the state willing to do the difficult, careful work that others wouldn't. That's still the right instinct now.

The work taking place at INL strengthens our national security, supports thousands of high-paying Idaho jobs, and positions the United States to compete with Russia and China in advanced nuclear technology. That's something Idahoans are proud of.

What makes Marc Johnson's latest attack so predictable is that he has never meaningfully contributed to the scientific, technical, or policy discussions surrounding spent nuclear fuel. Instead, he has spent years criticizing the elected officials responsible for protecting Idaho's interests.

More remarkable is that Marc hasn't lived in Idaho for decades. He chose to leave the state, yet continues attempting to lecture Idahoans about decisions being made by the leaders they elected.

That raises a simple question: when was the last time Marc had to live with the consequences of Idaho policy? The last time Mark voted in an Idaho election was over a decade ago.

Idahoans don't need lectures from someone who no longer lives here or answers to the people of this state.

Over the last several decades, my focus has remained the same: putting Idaho first. That means protecting Idaho's interests in negotiations over spent nuclear fuel, supporting Idaho National Laboratory, strengthening our communities, fighting for Idaho agriculture and water, and ensuring public lands remain in public hands.

Idaho is more than capable of solving Idaho’s challenges. We don’t need lectures from someone who chose to leave decades ago. We especially don’t need someone offering advice when his state’s failed policies are driving Oregonians out of the state.

Maybe the next time Marc Johnson offers to write commentary about Idaho policy, he should reconsider writing about Oregon’s high homelessness rate, property crime, or maybe even taxes that burden Oregonians and everything else Oregonians can thank their elected officials for.


Rep. Steube Urges Army Corps of Engineers to Fund Venice Jetty Repairs in FY27 Work Plan

WASHINGTON–Today, Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allocate sufficient federal funding in the FY27 Work Plan to repair and restore the south jetty in Venice, Florida. The jetty sustained catastrophic damage during the 2024 hurricane season and serves as one of the only access points to the Gulf of America for several miles in each direction, making its repair critical to navigation, public safety, and the regional economy.

To read the full letter, click here.


Reps. Subramanyam and Walkinshaw Demand Answers on Interior Department Relocation from Reston

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) and James Walkinshaw (VA-11) are demanding answers from the Department of the Interior (Department) regarding its plans to relocate federal employees. The Department has said it plans to relocate the Business Integration Office (BIO) from their current office in Reston, Virginia to the Department’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. This relocation would put the BIO’s ability to carry out their mission in serious jeopardy and force dedicated federal employees out of their jobs.

The Members issued the following statement:

“Relocating BIO staff will significantly undermine the agency’s ability to serve the American people. Staff will no longer be able to seamlessly collaborate with their partner contractors in Reston, and many federal employees will likely choose to resign rather than navigate a more costly and time-consuming commute and degraded working conditions. This plan is bad for our region and bad for our country.”

Rep. Subramanyam and Rep. Walkinshaw wrote to the Secretary of the Department, Douglas J. Burgum, on June 2, 2026, raising concerns about the Department’s plans to relocate 600 employees from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) out of their Reston, Virginia headquarters to the Department’s headquarters in D.C. To date, the members have not received a response.

This July, since learning that the Department notified 17 BIO employees that their jobs would be relocated out of the very same building to Washington, D.C. effective August 2026, the members have demanded that the Department answer how and why relocating these federal agencies are beneficial to the agency’s productivity and a responsible use of taxpayer dollars.


Subramanyam, Beyer, Walkinshaw Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit at Chantilly ICE Facility

Chantilly, VA – U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Don Beyer (VA-08) and James Walkinshaw (VA-11), released the following statement after conducting an unannounced oversight visit yesterday evening at ICE’s temporary holding facility in Chantilly, Virginia.

“We exercised our right to direct congressional oversight over ICE facilities after hearing reports of overcrowding and lengthy stays at a facility designed for temporary processing.

At the time of our visit, we did not witness overcrowding. ICE staff asserted that they are complying with a recent court order limiting stays at temporary processing facilities like Chantilly to 12 hours.

Our oversight does not end with one visit. We will continue monitoring this facility and holding ICE accountable to ensure everyone in its custody is treated humanely and in accordance with the law.”


Rep. Lee Joins Mon Valley Initiative to Celebrate Completion of 3 Miller Ave Rehabilitation in Rankin

Photos (Dropbox)

RANKIN, PA – AUGUST 7, 2026 — Yesterday, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined Mon Valley Initiative (MVI), Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED), elected officials, project partners, and community members to celebrate the completion of its rehabilitation of 3 Miller Ave with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, August 6. The renovated 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home, located in Rankin, will soon welcome new homeowner Emily Perry and her family.

Congresswoman Summer Lee reflected on what the project means for the community. “The completion of 3 Miller Avenue shows what becomes possible when people invest in Rankin, work together, and deliver something real for the community. A home can change the direction of a family, and a block full of strong families can change the direction of an entire community,” she said.

“Since 2000, MVI has renovated 14 homes and built 9 new ones along this corridor. 3 Miller Avenue is the latest piece of that work, an over $340,000 investment that turns a vacant property back into a home a family can afford and build a future in,”said Laura Zinski, MVI CEO.

The approximately 1,759-square-foot home includes a front porch, an extra side yard lot, rear parking, a third-floor bonus room, and an unfinished basement, and was put on the market for $140,000. The property sits on a primary public transit corridor within walking distance or a short drive of the Swissvale Shopping Center, Edgewood Towne Center, and the Waterfront.

The renovation was funded through ACED’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which supports the redevelopment of vacant and underused properties across the county. Investments like this deliver value beyond the home itself. The borough, county, and school district will benefit each year from new taxes generated by the property, helping stabilize and grow the local market.

“HOME is a critical federal resource that allows us to invest in housing projects that strengthen neighborhoods. Restoring a vacant property like 3 Miller Ave supports new homeowners while also reinforcing neighborhood stability and long‑term economic growth. We’re grateful to MVI for their partnership on this project, and to the federal, state, and local programs that make these housing investments possible,” said Lauren Connelly, Director of ACED.

Perry, who is set to move into the home later this summer with her family, joined the ceremony and toured the finished property with guests.

About Mon Valley Initiative

Mon Valley Initiative (MVI), founded in 1988, works to improve the lives of people in the Mon Valley area by helping to rebuild community infrastructure, provide safe and affordable housing, and connect employers to people seeking new jobs and careers. We do this by delivering quality services to the people of the Mon Valley, including housing counseling, workforce development & financial coaching, real estate development, and community development. For more information, visit www.monvalleyinitiative.com.

For photos of the event, click here.


Congresswoman Tenney Releases 2026 Israel and Iran Plan

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released her 2026 Israel and Iran Plan, outlining a legislative agenda to strengthen the United States' alliance with Israel, confront the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies, promote regional security, and advance President Trump's Peace Through Strength strategy.

The 2026 Israel and Iran Plan focuses on supporting Israel's right to defend itself, increasing pressure on the Iranian regime and its network of terrorist organizations, strengthening cooperation between the United States and Israel on national security and emerging technologies, countering international efforts to delegitimize Israel, and promoting religious freedom and Israel's historical ties to Judea and Samaria. The plan also emphasizes preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, disrupting its support for terrorism, and ensuring American foreign policy advances the security interests of both the United States and its allies.

“The United States must stand with Israel and remain resolute in confronting the Iranian regime, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “A nuclear armed Iran would threaten not only Israel, but the security of the United States and our allies around the world. My Israel and Iran Plan reinforces our unwavering commitment to Israel, supports President Trump's Peace Through Strength agenda, and advances policies that deny Iran the resources it uses to spread terror, destabilize the Middle East, and threaten American lives. America's security and Israel's security are deeply connected, and we must continue leading from a position of strength.”

To view Congresswoman Tenney’s full Israel and Iran Plan, click here.

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Thompson Secures More than $1.5 Million in Grants for Pennsylvania’s Timber Industry

BELLEFONTE, Pa. – This week, U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) announced $1,552,631 in funding for forestry businesses in Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District to support forest management, increase production capabilities, improve processing equipment and technologies, and support our rural economy.

"Pennsylvania has one of the largest hardwood timber industries in the nation, and our forest products generate tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars across the state annually,” Rep. Thompson said. “I am proud to secure this funding to ensure these local businesses have the tools they need to help expand and strengthen our timber markets.”

“The greatest threat to forest landowners and those who use forests is the lack of critical markets in today’s timber and wood products industries,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “There are significant gaps where low-value wood, small diameter trees and restoration byproducts lack viable buyers. To close these gaps, we are investing in companies and organizations that are developing technologies, products, business models and training to expand and strengthen markets directly connected to forest restoration. Over time, this will help create new uses for underused materials, strengthen rural economies, improve forest health, and make forest management more financially sustainable.”

Wood Innovation Grants were awarded to the following businesses:

Brownlee Lumber, Inc. of Brookville, Pa. Funding will upgrade sawmill production capabilities to improve operational efficiencies and support active forest management of the Allegheny National Forest.

Emporium Hardwoods Operating Company, LLC of Emporium, Pa. Funding will install sawmill processing technologies to increase production capacity and efficiencies.

Forcey Lumber Company, Inc. of Woodland, Pa. Funding will upgrade veneer processing capabilities to retain rural jobs and produce over 3 million board feet annually.

Gutchess Lumber Co., Inc. of Brookville, Pa. Funding will install sawmill processing technologies to increase production capacity by 1.4 million board feet annually.

Northwest Hardwoods of Marienville, Pa. Funding will upgrade sawmill processing equipment to increase timber markets by 10% annually supporting the Allegheny National Forest.

Wheeland Lumber Co., Inc. of Liberty, Pa. Funding will upgrade sawmill processing equipment to expand lumber production by 2 million board feet annually while supporting rural jobs in Pennsylvania.

This funding from the U.S. Forest Service is a part of the Wood Innovation Grant Program, which is awarded to projects that support active management of national forests and grasslands, promote wood and energy infrastructure by increasing manufacturing capacity and operational efficiencies, and support rural economic prosperity and jobs.


Walkinshaw Calls for Elon Musk Subpoena as GAO Report Exposes DOGE’s Fraud

Washington, D.C. – Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement.

“This week’s bombshell GAO report shows that DOGE fraudulently lied to the American people. Elon Musk promised massive savings. Instead, DOGE spent nearly $16 billion paying people not to work and fired essential federal workers the Administration is now trying to hire back.

DOGE claimed hundreds of billions in savings that GAO found were flat-out false. Now we know the full truth, DOGE was a colossal failure built on fraudulent claims. It was a fraud perpetrated against the American people.

Chairman Comer created the DOGE Subcommittee to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. Much like DOGE, it has failed. Now he and Chairman Burchett have a responsibility to bring GAO before the Committee, subpoena Elon Musk, and force him to answer under oath for DOGE’s deception and waste.”

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Reps. Walkinshaw and Subramanyam Demand Answers on Interior Department Relocation from Reston

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives James Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) are demanding answers from the Department of the Interior (Department) regarding its plans to relocate federal employees. The Department has said it plans to relocate the Business Integration Office (BIO) from their current office in Reston, Virginia to the Department’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. This relocation would put the BIO’s ability to carry out their mission in serious jeopardy and force dedicated federal employees out of their jobs.

The Members issued the following statement:

“Relocating BIO staff will significantly undermine the agency’s ability to serve the American people. Staff will no longer be able to seamlessly collaborate with their partner contractors in Reston, and many federal employees will likely choose to resign rather than navigate a more costly and time-consuming commute and degraded working conditions. This plan is bad for our region and bad for our country.”

Rep. Subramanyam and Rep. Walkinshaw wrote to the Secretary of the Department, Douglas J. Burgum, on June 2, 2026, raising concerns about the Department’s plans to relocate 600 employees from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) out of their Reston, Virginia headquarters to the Department’s headquarters in D.C. To date, the members have not received a response.

This July, since learning that the Department notified 17 BIO employees that their jobs would be relocated out of the very same building to Washington, D.C. effective August 2026, the members have demanded that the Department answer how and why relocating these federal agencies are beneficial to the agency’s productivity and a responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

The letter can be found HERE.

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Walkinshaw, Beyer, Subramanyam Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit at Chantilly ICE Facility

Chantilly, VA – U.S. Representatives James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) released the following statement after conducting an unannounced oversight visit yesterday evening at ICE’s temporary holding facility in Chantilly, Virginia.

"We exercised our right to direct congressional oversight over ICE facilities after hearing reports of overcrowding and lengthy stays at a facility designed for temporary processing.

At the time of our visit, we did not witness overcrowding. ICE staff asserted that they are complying with a recent court order limiting stays at temporary processing facilities like Chantilly to 12 hours.

Our oversight does not end with one visit. We will continue monitoring this facility and holding ICE accountable to ensure everyone in its custody is treated humanely and in accordance with the law.”

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Rep. Watson Coleman Demands Immediate Action Following Death and Medical Neglect at Delaney Hall Detention Center

Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), along with four of her Democratic colleagues from New Jersey, sent a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella demanding answers regarding the death of Edwin Lopez Cornejo and the severe medical neglect of Amro Sehaim, both of whom were held in ICE custody at Delany Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Mr. Lopez Cornejo passed away on August 1st after repeatedly raising concerns about his health. He collapsed while attempting to seek medical treatment, and EMS transported him to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His family reports they learned of his death from the hospital and have yet to be contacted by ICE. Mr. Lopez Cornejo was 39 years old and leaves behind a young daughter.

The letter also raises serious concerns about the treatment of Mr. Amro Sehaim, who has been detained at Delaney Hall since December 2025. Mr. Sehaim is a cancer patient whose diagnosis and pre-existing conditions are known to ICE, yet he has been denied consistent medical treatment, medication, and access to necessary appointments. He reports being coerced by staff into signing documents stating he refused care, and his condition continues to worsen while vital treatment is withheld. The Congresswoman supplemented her letter with over 300 pages of medical documentation detailing the seriousness of Mr. Sehaim’s condition and the severe decline of his health, underscoring the depth of neglect at this facility and the need for immediate federal intervention.


Reps. Whitesides, Houlahan, Haridopolos Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Military Readiness for Natural Disasters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. George Whitesides, Chrissy Houlahan, and Mike Haridopolos introduced the bipartisan Military Readiness Through Resilient Lands Act, legislation that instructs the Department of Defense to develop and maintain goals and metrics to assess natural resources on military installations. Natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods, and deterioration of environmental conditions can compromise important operations on military installations, reducing military preparedness and posing risks to national security. This bill asks the Department of the Defense to assess technologies that could be used to monitor their natural resources, which would enable better preparation on military installations for natural disasters and other threats to the ecosystem.

“As our nation’s military continues to protect our country, it is imperative that our bases and installations are prepared for potential threats, including natural disasters,” said Rep. Whitesides. “If a wildfire strikes a military installation, like we saw in Camp Pendleton earlier this year, it could shut down its operations, putting all of us at risk. Through the use of advanced technology and cutting-edge monitoring systems, our military can better understand the natural resources that exist on their installations, and take preventative actions to protect the installation from threats like natural disasters.”

“As ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, I believe readiness begins with protecting our servicemembers and ensuring they have safe, resilient installations where they can live, work, and train. Wildfires, flooding, and other effects of a changing climate can threaten our people, disrupt operations, and undermine mission readiness,” said Rep. Houlahan. “I am proud to co-lead the Military Readiness Through Resilient Lands Act with Congressman Whitesides to give military leaders better data and modern tools to manage our natural resources, strengthen installation resilience, and keep our forces safe and ready.”

“America’s military bases are critical to keeping our country safe, and it’s important that they stay strong and ready to do their jobs,” said Rep. Haridopolos. “The Military Readiness Through Resilient Lands Act protects our land and natural resources around these bases that are needed for training and operations, using improved technology and better information to make sure our military stays prepared to meet new challenges.”

Specifically, the Military Readiness Through Resilient Lands Act directs the Department of Defense to:

Evaluate, test, and, where appropriate, use, technologies and methodologies to improve natural resources programs on military installations.

Assess natural resources and ecosystem services on military installations to allow for the comparison of conditions and trends concerning wildfire risk and fuels conditions, flood risk, ecosystem conditions, and biodiversity within that installation.

Provide consistent and regular updates to data for use in integrated natural resource management plans.

Add additional information to a report that the Department of Defense gives to Congress concerning progress made and benefits of using the metrics, technologies, methods, and data.

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ICYMI: Sen. Banks Introduces Amendment Protecting Female Athletes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) offered an amendment to the Protect College Sports Act alongside Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) that would prevent the legislation from preempting state laws protecting women’s sports.

Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “Indiana has one of the strongest laws in the country that keeps biological men from competing in women’s sports. As a father of three daughters, I can’t support and legislation that would preempt Indiana’s law. This amendment would make sure the Protect College Sports Act protects female athletes.

See the Amendment featured on Fox & Friends:

Click the image above for the full discussion.

See the Amendment featured on America Reports:

Click the image above for the full discussion.

AmendmentSummary:

Protects state and local laws, regulations, rules, requirements, and standards that prohibit biological men from participating in women’s intercollegiate sports from being preempted by federal law.

Background:

Indiana has enacted protections for female athletes at every level of education. In 2022, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation to prohibit biological males from competing in girls’ K-12 sports. In 2025, Governor Mike Braun signed a second law extending those protections to women’s collegiate athletics.

Here’s what they’re saying:

Terry Schilling:“The NCAA has shown us time after time: without clear laws, it will always side with radical transgender ideology over female athletes. The PCSA, while well-intentioned, must protect all female athletes. A simple amendment, like the one just introduced by Sens. @HawleyMO, @Jim_Banks and @SenTuberville, will do just that.”

Kristen Waggoner: “URGENT: The current version of the Protect College Sports Act could jeopardize women’s sports. Every Senator who cares about women’s equal opportunity should act immediately to clarify that this bill does not preempt state laws protecting girls’ sports.”

Riley Gaines: “The Protect College Sport Act protects the NCAA. The NCAA does NOT protect female athletes. Unless its amended, I do not support the Protect College Sports Act. There is no room for ambiguity.”

Alliance Defending Freedom: “Momentum is growing to FIX the Protect College Sports Act and minimize its risk of being misused to challenge women’s sports laws. We’re grateful to our allies who publicly support a simple fix. We don’t have to choose between protecting college sports and keeping women’s sports for women. We can do both. Fix the PCSA.”

Kevin Roberts: “This is 100% correct: we’ve made way too much progress protecting female athletes from transgender ideology to backtrack now.”

Sage Steele:“For those who understand the importance of protecting women’s sports, please listen. And those politicians who SAY they want to protect women & girls, the vote you cast tomorrow will solidify that. PLEASE do the right thing!”

Kim Shasby Jones: “The PCSA must be rock solid for female athletes if we are really serious about granting legal immunity power to the NCAA. Until women are protected, NO DEAL.”

Jennifer Sey: “It sounds great to ‘protect college sports’. And it is. But the bill can’t leave women out. And right now , the bill leaves an opening for the NCAA to run roughshod over female athletes. Fix it make sure women’s sports are protected too.”

Tina Descovitch: “We have to get this right!”

Concerned Women for America: “The Protect College Sports Act could undermine the ability of states to pass laws banning men from female athletics. Protecting female sports should not be negotiable. Congress should not attempt to fix the broader issues within college sports at the expense of female athletes.”

Fox News Digital: Republican senators file amendment to stop college sports bill from overriding state women’s sports laws

Outkick: The “Protect College Sports Act” has a fatal flaw: it doesn’t protect women – Riley Gaines

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ICYMI: Sen. Banks Joins Just the News with John Solomon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) joined Just the News: No Noise with John Solomon on Real America’s Voice to discuss the SAVE America Act, his introduction of the Citizenship Act of 2026, and the weaponization of the FBI against President Trump.

Click the image above for the full discussion.

Key Excerpts on the SAVE America Act:

Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “Let’s stay in Washington, let’s get our work done, let’s pass the SAVE America Act, there’s a lot of other issues that we’re focusing on too, but I don’t think anything is more important than voter ID at the ballot box to make sure that only American citizens vote in American elections. By the way, the big news that the mainstream media hardly covered was that the new Democrat governor in New Jersey announced a week ago that they accidentally added 66,00 noncitizens to the voter roll and hundreds of them voted in the last two elections, if that’s not a reason in and of itself… That’s why we need the SAVE America Act: we need to pass it now; we don’t need an August recess; we don’t need a vacation. Let’s pass the SAVE America Act before we head out of town.”

“We can pass it; it’s a version of the SAVE America Act, and it’s related to grants to the states that provide for voter ID. It would incentivize more states to pass voter ID laws, but it’s better than nothing, so let’s do everything that we can to secure our elections. No political issue I’ve seen has been more popular. President Trump is right to push to pass it. Let’s pass it before we go home.”

Key Excerpts on the Citizenship Act of 2026:

“I’m concerned about it because right now about 250,000 babies of illegals in our country are born in America and are automatically given birthright citizenship. The 14th Amendment doesn’t grant that someone who’s here illegally should get birthright citizenship, but they struck down the president’s executive order…We don’t need a constitutional amendment, and Congress can’t overturn a Supreme Court decision. My bill, the Citizenship Act, declares an invasion and says that the babies of illegal immigrants are not eligible for birthright citizenship. This is important to the future of our country. I mean 250,00 babies a year; that’s a magnet for more illegals to come into our country; this is what attracts them to come into our country to begin with.”

Key Excerpts on Oxferd Comma:

“Those first two years that I was in the House, those years were completely lost, they were derailed because of the Russian collusion hoax and what these guys did to our country and they have never been held accountable for it, so I’m glad you exposed this story because it reminds us the damage that Comey and those in the Deep State the damage they did to our country and the missed opportunities in those two years… there was so much more that President Trump tried to do for our country, that he was elected to do for our country that didn’t get done because of that whole agenda was derailed by a hoax.”

“Time has proven that President Trump has been as tough on Putin and Russia as any other President. The whole thing was a farce; it was all narrative created by those who were upset President Trump ever won to begin with and wanted to block him from getting anything done, and the losers out of it were the country, the United States of America, and the progress that we lost for this great nation over two years because of what they got away with. We can’t let them get away with that again. This is why accountability matters.”

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ICYMI: Sen. Banks Joins Katie Pavlich Tonight on NewsNation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) joined Katie Pavlich Tonight on NewsNation to discussthe importance of mass deportations, the debate over birthright citizenship, his introduction of the Citizenship Act of 2026, and the weaponization of the FBI against President Trump.

Click the image above for the full discussion.

Key Excerpt on the Citizenship Act of 2026:

Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “Congress has an oversight role first and foremost to make sure that we are doing everything that we can to deport every single illegal that we can find and arrest and deport them. And right now we have this debate in Congress over defunding ICE or funding and supporting ICE. The Democrats want to defund or eliminate ICE, and Republicans are doing everything that we can to make sure that they can do their job. You look at the estimates of what happened when Joe Biden was in the White House: 15 million illegals or more came into the country.”

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Bennet Statement on Senate Passage of Russia Sanctions Legislation

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Finance Committee, released the below statement after voting to pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Bennet was an original co-sponsor of the legislation, a version of which he supported for over a year, to impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle and his enablers across Russian industry and financial institutions, the Russian shadow fleet, and firms supporting Russia’s defense industrial base.

“Today, the Senate took a significant step to support the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russian aggression. This legislation will impose greater pressure on Putin to end his unprovoked war by denying him key oil and gas revenue and placing further sanctions on the architects of Russia’s war economy – which is already under strain thanks to the combined weight of existing U.S. and allied measures.

“This vote could not have come soon enough. Ukraine is seizing the momentum on the battlefield and increasingly taking the fight to Moscow. Only by demonstrating our firm resolve can the United States and our allies support Ukraine’s pursuit of a just and durable end to this war and successfully defend the principle of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. The House must take up this legislation as soon as possible when they return in September. And the Senate must do everything we can to support Ukraine — including by passing my legislation to bolster intelligence and drone cooperation.”

Bennet’s bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act served as the legislative vehicle for passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026:

“This bill also incorporates my bipartisan SEED Act, which allows early childhood educators to claim the same tax deduction available to elementary and secondary school teachers. As the former Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, I know firsthand how often educators dip into their own pockets to provide school supplies for their students – this bill ends an unfair double standard and ensures that those who teach our youngest kids are not left behind.”

For more information on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, see HERE. For more information on Bennet’s SEED Act, see HERE.

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Blumenthal & Peters Release GAO Report Finding DOGE Misled Americans About Claimed Savings

[Hartford, CT] — U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finding that DOGE’s claims of massive taxpayer savings on its “Wall of Receipts” were severely overstated and plagued by unreliable data, unexplained calculations, and a lack of transparency.

“The Trump Administration has used DOGE to recklessly slash government programs, ransacking critical services and resources and proudly displaying supposed ‘savings’ on its Wall of Receipts,” said Senator Blumenthal. “GAO’s report, though, reveals data quality concerns and a lack of clarity regarding how savings were calculated, making DOGE’s findings unreliable and unclear. My report with the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations last year showed that DOGE was clearly never about efficiency or saving the American taxpayer money—wasting at least $21.7 billion at the time while the Trump Administration cut health care, nutrition assistance, and emergency services. This GAO report underscores the need for increased transparency and accountability from the Trump Administration so the American public can better understand DOGE’s activities as the organization guts vital government programs.”

“Everyone supports rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, but DOGE was a slapdash and deceptive effort that misled the American people while doing real damage to the government’s ability to serve them,” Senator Peters said. “Elon Musk and the Trump Administration claimed billions of dollars in savings it could not substantiate, took credit for work already underway, and refused to show its work, all while putting Americans’ sensitive data at risk and hollowing out critical agencies.”

The GAO report, requested by Blumenthal and Peters in June 2025, finds that DOGE failed to provide enough information to verify 96 percent of its claimed grant savings. GAO also found that no termination action had been taken on 2,503 contracts associated with $27.4 billion in claimed savings, and two-thirds of DOGE’s purported contract savings were unverifiable or did not follow stated methodology. Of the 264 leases DOGE identified for termination, 108 were already in the termination process.

Since last year, the Trump Administration has been forced to reverse numerous staff purges and contract cancellations carried out by DOGE after the cuts created staffing shortages and serious operational problems—further exposing the recklessness of DOGE’s approach.

Last year, a Blumenthal report found that DOGE generated at lease $21.7 billion in waste across the federal government between January 20 and July 18, 2025. This included $14.8 billion through its Deferred Resignation Program for paying approximately 200,000 employees not to work for up to eight months, $6.1 billion for over 100,000 employees who have involuntarily separated from federal service or who remain on prolonged periods of leave pending separation who were paid not to do their jobs for extended periods of time, and $263 million in lost interest and fee income at the Department of Energy due to dozens of loan freezes.

The report is available here.

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Blumenthal & Wasserman Schultz Introduce Legislation to Address Youth Vaping Use

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced the Preventing Opportunities for Teen E-Cigarette and Tobacco Addiction (PROTECT) Act, bicameral legislation to address the alarming rise in e-cigarette use among youth.

The PROTECT Act authorizes $100 million in funding each year for five years for a proactive Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative to address this alarming trend through funding for enhanced research, grants for states and localities to address this issue in their communities, the development of evidence-based policies, and other critical activities to combat the rise in e-cigarette use among youth.

“Youth vaping in our schools and communities is an epidemic, fueled by Big Tobacco aggressively targeting yet another generation of young people,” Blumenthal said. “Our measure addresses this crisis and gives those on the frontlines of this fight the tools they need to prevent teen e-cigarette addiction. The Trump Administration’s recent actions to undermine federal anti-smoking efforts and greenlight flavored e-cigarette products make our PROTECT Act all the more necessary to prevent addiction and keep our kids safe and healthy.”

“Youth vaping is a public health crisis, and we need to treat it like one. For too long, Big Tobacco has preyed on America’s youth with flavored vapes specifically designed to get them hooked young,” said Wasserman Schultz. “The PROTECT Act is needed now more than ever as the Trump Administration decimates key tobacco cessation programs and rubber stamps dangerous, flavored vape approvals at FDA. I’m very proud to partner with Senator Blumenthal on this effort to protect our country’s children and keep them healthy.”

More than 1.4 million youth report using e-cigarettes, including roughly 1 in 13 high school students and about 1 in 29 middle school students, according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey. Nearly 40 percent of youth who vape report frequent use, an alarming trend worsened by the Trump Administration dismantling key anti-smoking programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and authorizing flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to children.

The PROTECT Act is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and endorsed by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Academy, and the American Cancer Society.

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Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 7/31/2026-8/7/2026

Celebrating Senate Passage of Landmark Russia Sanctions Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) celebrated Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. The legislation, led by Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-SC), would hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Blumenthal spoke on the Senate Floor ahead of the final vote. Video is available here.

“Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine. And Putin is watching from Moscow. I would like to think that Lindsey Graham is watching, too. And I know how proud he would be of his sister today, who has taken his place on the Floor and has been such a profoundly strong and effective advocate for this bill. Today, we say to the people Ukraine: you are not alone. And we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine; you will not defeat this free, brave people, who are turning the tide against your blood-thirsty aggression,” Blumenthal said.

“I would like to close with some brilliant rhetorical flourish, but I’d rather just recall some of Senator Graham’s last words to me. He said, ‘This is a big eff-ing deal. We all did good.’”

Last week, Blumenthal and U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Jim Risch (R-ID) hosted a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and supporters of the legislation at the U.S. Capitol. Photos of the meeting are available here.

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) first introduced legislation to bring primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine in April 2025, and spent the last year building support for the effort in Congress and the Administration. Lindsey Graham secured an agreement with the White House on the bill just before his death.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet.

The legislation allows the President to impose targeted tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the vast majority of Russian oil or gas, and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The bill limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, and top five countries that aid Russia’s energy sanctions evasion.

The bill also includes a provision to prevent a lapse in sanction authority that restricts funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

The text of the bill is available here.

Blumenthal hosted a press conference following Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.

“It is a momentous day. President Zelenskyy is watching in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is watching in Moscow. I like to think Lindsey Graham is watching as well and proud of what we’ve done. Because today we send a message to Vladimir Putin—you will not win this war. Time to come to the table for peace,” said Blumenthal.

Denouncing Todd Blanche as Trump’s Nominee for U.S. Attorney General

Blumenthal a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted against Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as Attorney General of the United States at this week’s Committee markup. At the markup, Blumenthal spoke out against Blanche’s nomination, raising concerns about Blanche’s lack of independence.

“‘I’m his lawyer.’ That is what Mr. Blanche told us he was. ‘I’m his lawyer.’ Namely Donald Trump’s lawyer. Maya Angelou famously said, ‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.’ Todd Blanche is Donald Trump’s lawyer. He will say anything, do anything, conceal anything for his boss,” Blumenthal said at the markup.

Pointing to Blanche’s purported rescission of the so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to reward the President’s political allies and violent criminals who attacked Capitol Police officers on January 6, Blumenthal continued, “Commentators have talked about loopholes. There are no loopholes here. This document itself is a sham.”

Blumenthal underscored that Donald Trump remains committed to seeing the slush fund move forward, despite Blanche’s assurances: “The President of the United States yesterday, in the Oval Office, repeated his commitment to the Anti-Weaponization Fund. We don’t need to say the quiet part out loud. The President is shouting it.”

Blumenthal continued, “The position of the United States Attorney General is a position of supreme trust. Any of us who have worked in the Department of Justice—I was the United States Attorney for Connecticut—knows that the Attorney General of the United States, like every lawyer who represents the United States, has a trust, in going to court, in making representation…Todd Blanche has betrayed that trust. And his betrayal of that trust is disqualifying for his nomination.”

“My fear is that Todd Blanche will represent Donald Trump, be his consigliere, and he will put Donald Trump ahead of the American people and the right to vote. I cannot support him. I regret that this committee will in effect betray its trust in the party-line vote that is to follow and approve Todd Blanche as Attorney General of the United States,” Blumenthal concluded.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks is available here.

Blumenthal joined CNN’s Anderson Cooper to discuss Blanche’s nomination.

Blumenthal also spoke on the Senate Floor denouncing Blanche as Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Attorney General.

“‘I’m his lawyer,’ is what Todd Blanche said in the course of his confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate. ‘I’m his lawyer,’ meaning, ‘I’m Donald Trump’s lawyer.’ He will be guided by blind loyalty to the President and contempt for the law, enabling the President in continued corrupt crypto schemes as well as condoning and empowering the President to establish a slush fund for January 6 rioters, as well as tax immunity,” said Blumenthal. “That is not the conduct of an Attorney General of the United States carrying out and respecting the Constitution. That’s Donald Trump's personal lawyer.”

A video of Blumenthal’s full speech on the Floor is available here.

Blumenthal further slammed Blanche as unfit to be U.S. Attorney General on Twitter/X, specifically highlighting his supposed “walking back” of the anti-weaponization fund and his inability to recognize the January 6 insurrection as an attack on our Capitol.

“Blanche’s walk-back of the anti-weaponization fund is a sham. There is absolutely nothing stopping Trump from going to court tomorrow & establishing this slush fund,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“To Todd Blanche Jan 6th was just ‘events.’ No wonder he is in favor of a slush fund that pays out the insurrectionists who violently attacked law enforcement & the Capitol,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“As Attorney General of the United States, Todd Blanche will not be a lawyer for the American people—he will be Donald Trump’s personal lawyer,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Applauding Commerce Committee Passage of Bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) released the following statement on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation’s passage of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) by voice vote:

“For years, heartbroken parents have demanded Congress take action to protect America’s children from Big Tech’s exploitation, and today is a major victory for the courageous families who refused to give up,” said Blumenthal and Blackburn. “The Senate has repeatedly shown that there is broad, bipartisan support for a version of KOSA that creates a duty of care to protect kids from online predators, addictive algorithms, and harmful product design. We want to thank our large, diverse, and determined coalition for standing with us today, and we look forward to getting this bill to the President’s desk.”

Blumenthal further highlighted the need for the Senate Kids Online Safety Act on Twitter/X, after Meta was ordered to pay $942 million to address harm to kids from social media.

“Groundbreaking loss for Zuckerberg. While Meta has bought off House Republican leadership, it is finally facing justice in the courts—near a billion dollars in penalties & meaningful mandated changes in this historic decision. The strong Senate Kids Online Safety Act is ready to become law—once again receiving a resounding Committee approval this week. The question is whether Speaker Johnson wants his legacy to be protecting Mark Zuckerberg or American families,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Slamming Trump’s Loyalist Judicial Nominees

Blumenthal was joined by three former federal prosecutors to raise alarm over the ongoing refusal of Trump Administration judicial nominees to acknowledge the results of the 2020 election or admit that what happened on January 6, 2021, was an attack on the Capitol.

The three prosecutors – Michael Romano, Sean Murphy, and Brendan Ballou – worked on cases relating to violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Prior to the press conference, they joined a group of twelve former federal prosecutors who all worked on cases relating to the violent attack on the Capitol in sending a letter urging members of the Senate to reject judicial nominees who cannot “cannot identify that (1) January 6 as an attack on our democracy, (2) the attack was led by supporters of Donald Trump, and (3) Joe Biden was legitimately elected in the 2020 election.”

Video of the press conference is available here.

Michael Romano prosecuted rioters who brawled with police officers on Capitol grounds, who attacked officers with wooden and metal poles, and who pepper-sprayed officers defending the Tunnel. As a manager, Romano also oversaw many cases prosecuted by others. Romano also served as a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section between 2019 and 2025.

“The fact of the matter was, the riot was an attack on our democracy. It was an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power. It was an attempt to install the loser of the 2020 election back in office against the will of the American people. I know this because the evidence was overwhelming,” Romano said. “Now, these people were convicted before Republicans and Democratic judges, they were sentenced before Republican and Democratic judges, judges appointed by any President of any party recognized the truth of what this day was. And anybody seeking a position on the bench now should be able to do the same. They should be able to tell the truth.”

Sean P. Murphy joined the Capitol Siege Section in January 2021 and remained with the team until it was disbanded in January 2025. Among those Murphy investigated, prosecuted, and secured convictions against are an individual who beat an officer with a flagpole with the American flag still attached until the flagpole broke; an off-duty police officer; a man that used wasp spray to attack police officers, and a man that punched a police officer twice in the head before ripping away the officer’s riot shield, leaving him defenseless. Murphy also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico between 2018 and 2025.

“To the Senators voting on these nominees today, please stop poisoning our courts by confirming appointees who refuse to admit basic historical truths. This is not a problem of perspective or political persuasion; it is fundamental question of competence. We would no more hire a schoolteacher who refuses to believe in fractions, or a mechanic who won’t admit that gas goes in a gas tank than you should confirm someone to a lifetime seat on the bench who cannot admit that Donald Trump lost, and who refuses to recognize that those who assaulted police officers at the U.S. Capitol were wrong to do so,” Murphy said.

Brendan Ballou was involved in the trial teams that prosecuted a husband-and-wife duo who assaulted officers along the Capitol's western front before they were finally repelled by pepper spray, and prosecuted one of the first rioters who entered the Senate chamber, who triumphantly stood atop the dais within the chamber. Ballou also served as Special Counsel in the Antitrust Division from 2016 to 2017 and from 2020 to 2025.

“So, we have a president that is trying to subvert a future election, we have an acting Attorney General who is eager to help in that effort, and the danger that we face with these judicial nominees is that future court cases that will determine whether our democracy continues may be people who deny the reality of January 6th,” Ballou said. “Think about how dangerous it is, how scary it is, to have a court case about voting rights, about democracy, about the rule of law, prosecuted by Todd Blanche, and overseen by one of these judges who denies the reality of what happened that day. So, it is important to be talking about this, it is important that these judges not be confirmed if they refuse to acknowledge the reality of January 6th.”

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, Blumenthal questioned Trump Administration judicial nominees and slammed them for their refusal to truthfully answer questions about the 2020 election and the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

“The word ‘attack’ seems to have been stripped from Trump judicial nominees’ vocabulary. It isn’t a political controversy to speak the truth about what happened on January 6th,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“Another panel of political puppets. Trump’s judicial nominees refuse to state the simple fact that Joe Biden won the 2020 election,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“After only 6 months on the District Court, Anna St. John has proven herself such a loyal sycophant that she is up for a promotion to the 5th circuit. She knows what lies the President demands to hear and still won’t say Trump lost the 2020 election,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal posted a Substack article on Trump’s crypto corruption.

Blumenthal introduced a resolution blocking Trump tax amnesty and January 6 slush fund.

Blumenthal released a statement on the U.S. Army’s award of two contracts for Sikorsky.

Blumenthal introduced legislation to address youth vaping use.

Blumenthal called on Yale to reject settlement with Trump Administration.

Blumenthal demanded answers from FDA and Taylor Farms about the cyclosporiasis outbreak.

Blumenthal released a GAO report finding DOGE misled Americans about claimed savings.

Blumenthal introduced legislation to end unprecedented Presidential corruption and to stop “pay-to-play” pardons.

Blumenthal joined sweeping legislation to counter Trump’s authoritarian takeover and to defend our democracy.

Blumenthal will host a passport, TSA Precheck, and Global Entry enrollment and renewal event in Hartford.

Blumenthal announced a grant for East Street in New Britain to improve the safety of a dangerous intersection.

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Video: Blumenthal Celebrates Senate Passage of Landmark Sanctions Bill to Hold Purchasers of Russian Oil & Gas Accountable

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) celebrated Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. The legislation, led by Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-SC), would hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Blumenthal spoke on the Senate Floor ahead of the final vote. Video is available here.

“Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine. And Putin is watching from Moscow. I would like to think that Lindsey Graham is watching, too. And I know how proud he would be of his sister today, who has taken his place on the Floor and has been such a profoundly strong and effective advocate for this bill. Today, we say to the people Ukraine: you are not alone. And we say to Vladimir Putin: You will not conquer Ukraine; you will not defeat this free, brave people, who are turning the tide against your blood-thirsty aggression,” Blumenthal said.

“I would like to close with some brilliant rhetorical flourish, but I'd rather just recall some of Senator Graham's last words to me. He said, ‘This is a big eff-ing deal. We all did good.’”

Last week, Blumenthal and U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Jim Risch (R-ID) hosted a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and supporters of the legislation at the U.S. Capitol. Photos of the meeting are available here.

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) first introduced legislation to bring primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine in April 2025, and spent the last year building support for the effort in Congress and the Administration. Lindsey Graham secured an agreement with the White House on the bill just before his death.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet.

The legislation allows the President to impose targeted tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the vast majority of Russian oil or gas, and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The bill limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, and top five countries that aid Russia’s energy sanctions evasion.

The bill also includes a provision to prevent a lapse in sanction authority that restricts funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

The text of the bill is available here.

Video of Blumenthal’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here. A full transcript is copied below.

The Presiding Officer: The Senator from Connecticut.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Mr. President, shortly, we will vote on the Russia Sanctions bill, as we have come to call it, and I want to begin by thanking my colleagues for their overwhelming support for this measure, and in particular, to thank Senators Shaheen, Britt, Wicker, Risch, Coons, Whitehouse, Durbin, and of course Senators Schumer and Thune. Their help has been invaluable, as we reach this important moment. Last week, with President Zelenskyy watching from the gallery, this body sent a powerful message to Vladimir Putin, and all who are supporting him with funding for his vicious, blood-thirsty, illegal war against the brave, free people of Ukraine. Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine. And Putin is watching from Moscow. I would like to think that Lindsey Graham is watching, too. And I know how proud he would be of his sister today, who has taken his place on the floor and has been such a profoundly strong and effective advocate for this bill.

Today, we say to the people Ukraine, you are not alone. And we say to Vladmir Putin, you will not conquer Ukraine. You will not defeat this free, brave people, who are turning the tide against your blood-thirsty aggression. Nearly two years ago, Lindsey Graham and I began working on this bill, but really, the journey began with our first trip to Ukraine together some four years ago. Robert Frost once said, when he was asked how he began his poems, he said, a poem begins with a lump in the throat. Our journey toward this bill began with a lump in our throats, and tears in our eyes, when we visited Bucha, not long after the Russians were pushed out of that small town, just kilometers away from President Zelenskyy’s bunker, which we also visited on that trip, just weeks after Ukraine succeeded in pushing them out.

We saw the mass grave where Putin's military shot innocent women and children in the back of their heads. We talked to Ukrainian troops who lost limbs, loved ones who lost sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. We talked to children who were kidnapped by Putin, literally abducted and placed in education camps. And on one of those long train rides, we took six or seven trips into Ukraine together, we began thinking about this bill, to impose scorching sledgehammer sanctions and tariffs on Ukraine, to stop the flow of money fueling Putin's war machine. Money that was essential to his slaughterous aggression against Ukraine.

And like one of those trains, the journey to this bill was filled with a lot of bumps, a lot of stops and starts, and through it all what sustained us as much as anything was Senator Graham's overwhelming sense of optimism. His sense of humor. His belief in freedom and democracy. His belief in America. And so, this bill is a tribute to him. We disagreed about many issues, he and I, and I could be on the receiving end of his anger, as well as his praise. But the partnership that we forged, I think, is a lesson, without exaggerating it, to perhaps the people of America that, yes, we can work together and accomplish good things for the world. One of Senator Graham's final acts as a member of this body was to reach an accord with the White House on our behalf and secure the President's support. He died literally the next day. I spoke to him shortly before his death and I know as well as anyone that this chamber, this body will not be the same without him, we miss him and this bill, named in his honor, carries on the work that he believed was so important.

It will impose scorching sanctions on the Russia war machine and the shadow fleet that sustains it. It will prevent critical resources from flowing to the Kremlin's coffers, it will authorize the president to impose duties and penalties on the Russian crude oil and natural gas, punishing the profiteers for buying discounted energy products and pushing them to decrease purchases. It is a powerful deterrent against complicity in Putin's illegal war. And it provides a powerful pressure point in stopping buyers of Russian oil and gas from continuing to provide the essential fuel for that war machine. It will give the administration the tools it needs to punish anyone who aides Russia as they continue to evade United States sanctions and promote stronger, stricter enforcement of those stations. For years, countries have been allowed to permit bad actors to broker deals and support the shadow fleet's movement all around the world. They have become fabulously rich. These companies will be exposed as facilitating evasions of sanctions and it will help us end the war. The goal is peace. We have the power to help end this war, and we cannot stand idly as a young democratic nation desperately fights for survival against a murderous dictator.

We know from history, appeasement is a failed hope, and hope is not a strategy. We cannot appease Putin in the hope that he will abandon his imperialist ambitions because history shows he will not. And his ambition doesn't end with Donbas or Lugansk, it reaches deep into Europe and it threatens our national security and our allies, yes we need our allies, and they have steed up to aid Ukraine in this war. Appeasing Putin is a disservice to the brave men and women of our military who are defending our freedom all around the globe, became it puts them in greater risk if Putin thinks he can move against our NATO allies and then we will be required to put our sons and daughters in harm's way.

For four years, Ukraine has refused to bow to Putin's will. They have beaten back wave after wave after wave of Russian attacks. Our military gave them maybe a few weeks in 2022 to survive Putin's onslaught. They pushed the Russians back in those weeks after the first wave of assaults, and they have continued a brilliant campaign of using new technology that has amazed and awed the world, including our own military, which is learning from Ukraine about the use of drones and other unmanned weapons platforms. Their ingenuity and determination are awe inspiring, even as their stockpiles of interceptors and other air defense run dry. And we must provide the kind of military defense aid, the interceptors, the pack 3's, for the patriot system, for the Thad platform, that are essential to defend the Ukrainian people who are enduring night after night drones, killing civilians, aimed at schools, hospitals, malls, civilian targets. Putin not only abducts children, he kills them in their beds as they sleep with missiles and drones that are aimed purposely at civilian targets to terrorize and intimidate the people of Ukraine.

But they will not yield. And today they continue to stand as beacon of hope and liberty shinning against the darkness. Today we cannot provide all that military aid that they need, but we can take this step, a step to stand with the people of Ukraine and show that their fight is our fight. I would like to close with some brilliant rhetorical flourish, but I'd rather just recall some of Senator Graham's last words to me. He said, this is a BIG effing deal. We all did good. Decorum prevents me from saying what he actually said, but I would like to say, looking across the chamber where he sat that he is with us today and that he will be proud of what we are doing. Thank you Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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ICYMI: Senator Blunt Rochester Presses Big Tech Companies on Recent Autonomous Hacking Incidents

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent letters to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, regarding recent cybersecurity incidents in which the companies’ models gained unauthorized access to the internet, autonomously hacked third party systems, and even launched direct attacks on people and real-world targets.

The letters seek clarity on the cybersecurity breaches, development of testing environments, future capabilities of advanced AI models, and the companies’ internal safeguards to prevent additional incidents.

“These incidents mark the first publicly confirmed instances of a frontier AI model autonomously launching unauthorized attacks on real people and companies, underscoring the urgent need for federal oversight of frontier AI systems,” wrote Senator Blunt Rochester in a letter to OpenAI. “OpenAI models’ repeated attacks on third parties with no knowledge of, or role in, the company’s internal evaluations demonstrate an alarming pattern of malicious behavior. We cannot wait for a more consequential incident before establishing federal testing standards, containment requirements, and disclosure obligations for frontier model evaluations. Left unaddressed, these gaps could allow a future model, potentially one with greater capability or less oversight, to compromise critical infrastructure, financial systems, or sensitive data.”

In a letter to Anthropic, Blunt Rochesterwrote, “I appreciate Anthropic’s voluntary review of its cybersecurity evaluations and public disclosure of the findings, and I encourage other companies to follow suit. However, these incidents demonstrate the potential risks of deploying pre-release models internally, particularly when safeguards are reduced, even when strictly for testing and evaluation.”

In a letter to Meta, Blunt Rochester concluded, “In each scenario, without specific tasking direction, the models gained internet access and independently planned and executed an attack on a live third-party system. This is precisely the kind of emergent, autonomous behavior and offensive cyber capability that Congress, the intelligence community, and experts have repeatedly warned could outpace existing safeguards and could pose a severe threat to the safety and security of all Americans.”


NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Experts on Increasing Capital Access for American Families

“Capital markets are ultimately about opportunity.”

Click here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester’s remarks.

U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today participated in a hearing on increasing capital access for everyday Americans. Blunt Rochester’s questions focused on how emerging technologies like AI can increase opportunities and how tokenization will strengthen investor protections.

Senator Blunt Rochester’s questions can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:

Senator Blunt Rochester: “Helping families build wealth increasingly means understanding how technology is changing the way financial decisions are made. We’re seeing artificial intelligence transform healthcare, our workplace, and now investing. Millions of Americans are already using AI to answer financial questions.

“Mr. Dumas, as these tools become more sophisticated, what role should Congress play in making sure they help families build wealth without exposing them to new risks?”

Mr. Dumas: “I think AI has an opportunity to transform our economy. It has an opportunity to expand opportunity for everyone. But at the same time, I think that especially in the financial markets, we should be careful using AI without understanding the background. AI has the potential to have certain biases, right?

“So we need Congress to understand AI, provide certain guardrails, provide some type of protection, and inform investors or people who look to AI for investment advice to see some type of disclosure, some type of information, letting them know that AI could be wrong.”


STATEMENT: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester Releases Statement on Russia Sanctions Vote

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today released the following statement on the Lindsay Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026:

“Let me be clear: I fully support sanctioning Russia and helping the Ukrainian government and its people protect their sovereignty, and I have consistently voted to support Ukraine. However, this bill seeks to solve one problem by worsening another. It dramatically expands the president’s tariff authority at a time when he has demonstrated an irresponsible use of it.

“While I don’t support the bill in its current form, it would have received my support if any of the meaningful bipartisan amendments introduced by my colleagues had been adopted. Most notably, the Paul-Wyden amendment – which I cosponsored – would have struck the excessive tariff provisions while maintaining the sanctions in the legislation.

“For over a year, this president has unilaterally leveraged tariff authorities to bully allies and serve himself with no regard for the economic consequences. The reckless, arbitrary tariffs he’s already imposed have dramatically raised prices for families and small businesses. It is evident that if this administration is entrusted with this authority, it will likely be abused. Given this reality, we should consider more narrowly targeted ways to curtail foreign demand for Russian oil and gas and support the Ukrainian resistance without putting the American economy at risk.

“American families are suffering enough in this economy. With them in mind and without proper guardrails on the president’s tariff authority clearly enshrined in the bill, I voted no.”


STATEMENT: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester to Oppose Todd Blanche’s Nomination for Attorney General

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today released the following statement opposing Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as United States Attorney General:

“Todd Blanche said it himself – he serves one person: Donald Trump. I have absolutely no confidence that he will respect the rule of law, remain impartial, or honorably serve the American people. Throughout the confirmation process, he has committed to restricting abortion access, restated his blind allegiance to the president, and defended Trump’s slush fund for January 6th rioters. His letter to the committee does not convince me that he will uphold his new position.

“I opposed his nomination as Deputy AG over a year ago, and I will do the same now. Nothing he said throughout the confirmation process gave me confidence that he would not weaponize the Department of Justice to serve the president. The American people deserve an Attorney General who values the rule of law above all else – that is not Mr. Blanche.”


Booker, Kim Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Oversight of Immigration Detention Facilities and Hold Private Contractors Accountable

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced legislation to strengthen oversight of the federal immigration detention system by designating ICE funds for reopening the independent Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill would also pause DHS payments to detention contractors and subcontractors that the OIDO finds have violated federal law or detention standards until they have implemented recommendations from the OIDO.

Congress created the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman in 2019 to investigate detainee deaths in custody, access to medical care, and employee misconduct in ICE facilities to address the record of systemic abuse during the first Trump administration. On March 21, 2025, DHS began to place staff from the OIDO on administrative leave, shutting the Office entirely by May 5, 2026. This dismantling of oversight and accountability came at the same time that DHS surged its immigration detention operations. At least 56 people have died in ICE custody during President Trump’s second term, and more than 70 percent of people detained by ICE have never been convicted of a criminal offense.

“The federal government has a responsibility to ensure that anyone in its custody is treated with dignity and humanity. Yet, for too long, private detention contractors have operated with too little accountability and too little oversight. When facilities violate standards, use excessive force, or fail to provide humane conditions, there must be real consequences. This legislation ensures independent oversight and ends the practice of using taxpayer dollars to reward contractors who fail to meet the most basic standards of humane treatment,” said Senator Booker.

This legislation would amend the so-called Secure America Act to reduce funding by approximately $114.6 million, from $2.5 billion to $2.385 billion, and provide $28.641 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to reestablish the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman within DHS. The Ombudsman would review complaints, investigate misconduct, and recommend improvements to detention conditions. The bill would also prohibit DHS from using these funds to pay contractors found by the Ombudsman to have engaged in misconduct, excessive force, or violations of federal law or detention standards until they implement corrective actions.

Read the full text of the legislation here.

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