Sen. Cruz Leads Bill to Restore State Authority Over Insurance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) reintroduced the Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act. The legislation abolishes the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, returning sole regulatory authority over the insurance industry to the states.

Sen. Cruz said, “The Federal Insurance Office is a redundant, ever-expanding, unaccountable entity that infringes upon states’ authority to regulate the insurance industry. This legislation will rein in bureaucratic overreach by the federal government and empower state regulators to focus on what is best for consumers in their states.”

Sen. Lee said, “The Federal Insurance Office does not need to exist. It’s an Obama-era expansion of the federal bureaucracy created to intrude on states’ rights. Our bill will formally abolish this needless expense and return insurance regulation to the states, where it has always belonged.”

Sen. Blackburn said, “Insurance regulation has long been, and should remain, a responsibility of the states. The Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act would eliminate unnecessary federal overreach, cut red tape, and return power to the states.”

Read the bill text here.

BACKGROUND

In 1945, Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act, solidifying states’ regulatory authority over the insurance industry. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) was created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which granted the FIO specific financial stability, monitoring, and international responsibilities. However, these responsibilities duplicate functions within an industry that has long been regulated at the state level and traditionally overseen by state insurance regulators.

The Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act would eliminate the FIO and restore primary regulatory authority over the insurance industry to the states.


Curtis, Kelly Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program

Bipartisan legislation would empower states and address growing workforce demands in Utah

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to create a new temporary visa program that allows states to address their unique workforce and economic development needs while maintaining strong federal oversight and immigration enforcement.

“I’ve heard time and again from small business owners, farmers, and ranchers across Utah how difficult it has become to hire enough workers to meet growing market demands,” said Senator Curtis. “Our legislation would help fill the gap by creating a pilot program allowing states to sponsor visas tailored to their unique economies, without sacrificing rigorous federal vetting or accountability.”

“States understand their own economic needs best, but federal rules currently determine who can live and work here,” said Senator Kelly. “Our bipartisan bill would let Arizona and other states choose the visas they need to fill labor gaps and strengthen their local economies.”

Background:

Despite having one of the strongest economies in the country, Utah faces a significant workforce shortage—particularly in agriculture, construction, and hospitality. A report published by the Sutherland Institute found that Utah “is experiencing one of the more severe workforce shortages among the states,” and “had a Worker Shortage Index of 0.72, meaning that there are 72 available workers for every 100 open jobs.”

Under the legislation, states could voluntarily establish state-sponsored visa programs tailored to their labor market demands, subject to approval by the Department of Homeland Security. Participating states would determine which workers or investors they sponsor while remaining responsible for monitoring compliance with program requirements. The federal government would retain authority over security screening, visa issuance, and immigration enforcement. Every applicant would be required to pass comprehensive federal background and security checks before receiving a visa.

To ensure accountability, the legislation requires participating states to:

Assess workforce needs and prevailing wages on a regular basis;

Prevent displacement of American workers and investigate complaints;

Track participants’ employment and residency;

Report compliance to the federal government; and

Accept reductions or suspensions in visa allocations if compliance standards are not met.

The bill also includes strong safeguards to protect taxpayers and uphold immigration laws. State-sponsored visa holders would be ineligible for federal means-tested benefits, would be subject to all applicable federal, state, and local labor and tax laws, and could lose their status if they violate program requirements or leave the sponsoring state without authorization.


Durbin Praises Dr. Fauci On The Senate Floor For His Significant Contributions To public Health And Life-Saving Research

Durbin slammed Republicans’ shameful HSGAC hearing last week: “Dr. Fauci deserves an apology for the way he was treated by my colleagues, and the American people deserve better than the pitiful display we saw in the Senate last Wednesday.”

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised Dr. Anthony Fauci for his many contributions to public health—including leading us through the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV/AIDS research, and various public health crises over his decades of public service. Due to his incredible contributions and hard work spanning decades, Dr. Fauci has saved millions of lives. Durbin also condemned Senate Republicans’ sham hearing last week where they berated Dr. Fauci in a reprehensible attempt to smear a devoted public servant in order to distract from President Trump’s failures to address the real issues facing Americans nationwide.

Durbin began his speech by reflecting on the breakthrough of the Polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk during the Senator’s childhood.

“By 1979, polio was eradicated in America [thanks to Dr. Jonas Salk]—a disease that struck fear in the hearts of everyone was a distant memory. There is a special place in history reserved for researchers and scientists—like Dr. Salk and Dr. Sabin—who devoted their lives to saving others—people like Norman Borlaug, Edward Jenner, Madam Marie Curie, and Albert Calmette. But there is another person whose name could be on that list as well—someone who has saved millions of lives, both in America and around the world, throughout his lifetime of public service. His name? Dr. Anthony Facui,” Durbin said.

During his floor speech, Durbin noted that Dr. Fauci worked for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for 54 years—38 of which he served as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He has advised seven presidents of both parties and seen our nation through countless public health crises—from SARS, to avian flu, swine flu, Zika, and Ebola. Aside from his work against COVID-19, Dr. Fauci also made significant contributions in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Dr. Fauci’s tireless efforts on HIV/AIDS both domestically and worldwide—through the creation of PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief—is the main reason why this horrible disease is no longer a death sentence. In recognition of this achievement, Dr. Fauci was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008—our nation’s highest civilian honor—from then-President George W. Bush.

“Dr. Fauci is an example of American excellence, a brilliant scientific mind and yet, the Republican Party has chosen to make this doctor who saved countless lives a political target,” said Durbin. “Last week, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subpoenaed Dr. Fauci in front of Congress for a hearing [designed] with the express goal of humiliating and vilifying him. For nearly three hours, my Republican colleagues berated, cursed, and insulted a man who has dedicated his life to protecting the health of American families.”

“If my colleagues had genuine concern for America’s public health, they would turn their attention instead to the destruction wrought by this Administration’s anti-science agenda. Listen to this roll call: measles cases are at a 35-year high; whooping cough has resurged; our response to the hantavirus and cyclospora outbreaks has been abysmal; and hundreds of thousands of people have died due to the Administration’s vaccine skepticism and public health cuts,” Durbin said.

Durbin also noted the Trump Administration has made significant cuts to NIH research funding which has slowed research into heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lost 20 percent of its staff under this Administration, deeply damaging food safety efforts.

Durbin concluded, “These are the real crises we face today, all entirely of this Administration’s own making. But my Senate Republican colleagues have chosen to ignore the real life and death issues to re-litigate COVID conspiracy theories. Not in an effort to learn what might have gone wrong or how to prepare for the next pandemic but instead to try and tear down a man who has devoted his entire life to lifting others up. Dr. Fauci deserves an apology for the way he was treated by my colleagues, and the American people deserve better than the pitiful display we saw in the Senate last Wednesday.”

Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

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

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Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Present Company

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

"Present Company has been the gift that keeps on giving to Audubon for more than three decades," said Chair Ernst. "From helping revitalize Main Street to supporting countless local events and charities, Telia Carter and her team continue to present the very best of Iowa's entrepreneurial spirit. Their commitment to exceptional service, unique products, and hometown values proves that investing in your community always comes back around."

Founded in 1990 by Nancy Oleson, Present Company opened its doors in downtown Audubon as a home décor boutique. After more than three decades of serving southwest Iowa, ownership transitioned in 2022 to Telia Carter. Under her leadership, Present Company has continued its tradition of personalized customer service while adapting its inventory to meet the needs of customers from Audubon and the surrounding communities. Today, Present Company remains a downtown Audubon staple, offering a carefully curated selection of gifts, home décor, apparel, jewelry, and specialty items. The boutique has earned a reputation for unique merchandise, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the character of small-town Iowa.

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

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Fetterman, McCormick, Introduce Bill to Stop Spread of Spotted Lanternflies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dave McCormick (R-PA), joined by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act to designate the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive species that poses a significant threat to our nation’s agricultural economy, as a high-priority research initiative for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“Spotted lanternflies have ravaged crops that are critical to Pennsylvania’s economy including grapevines, apples, peaches, hops, and more,” said Senator Fetterman. “For over a decade, they have cost the Commonwealth millions of dollars and thousands of jobs. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill to combat this invasive species and protect our farmers.”

“Pennsylvania’s farmers work hard to produce some of the best agricultural products in the world, and it’s concerning that their hard work is at risk of being eaten away by pests,” said Senator McCormick. “By investing in research to combat spotted lanternflies, this bill will help protect our farms, strengthen our agricultural economy, and better control this invasive species.”

Spotted lanternflies were first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. They have since spread throughout the Commonwealth and are currently found in 51 counties. Studies estimate that the species could cost the state $324 million annually if not contained because of the significant damage they cause many pieces of critical agriculture.

Watch Senator Fetterman’s subcommittee hearing on lanternflies here.


ICYMI: Grassley Invites Jack Smith to Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee

Jack Smith invited to testify before Senate next month

August 3, 2026

POLITICO

Jack Smith, the former special counsel who brought criminal charges against President Donald Trump, has been invited to testify Sept. 22 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to an invitation from Chair Chuck Grassley reviewed by POLITICO.

Smith previously testified before the House Judiciary Committee in January, but Grassley (R-Iowa) and his team have been probing Smith and his investigations for months.

Grassley recently revealed that Smith obtained text messages that 44 members of Congress sent to White House officials during the waning months of Trump’s first term leading up to and around the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Grassley’s texts were among those accessed by Smith’s team, along with Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)

“In the process of a deeply flawed, weaponized investigation, Jack Smith subpoenaed phone toll records from a dozen senators, scooped up text messages from over 40 members of Congress, and subpoenaed the private communications and financial records of hundreds of other Republican entities and individuals,” Grassley said in a statement.

“He needs to answer directly to Congress for his actions,” Grassley added. “Smith has requested to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and our committee looks forward to hearing from him as part of Congress’ investigation into Arctic Frost and his time as Special Counsel. Smith must be honest and forthcoming in his answers, because the American people deserve nothing less than full transparency and accountability.”

Read the rest HERE.


ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Kudlow on Fox Business to Discuss Spain, Iran and Community Reinvestment Act Reforms

Washington—On Friday, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss Spain’s immigration crisis, the latest in Iran and the Trump Administration’s proposed reform of the Community Reinvestment Act.

*Click the photo above or here to watch*

Partial Transcript

Hagerty on Spain’s immigration crisis: I think it is precisely what the president is warning against, and it’s a preview of what could happen if the Democratic Socialists of America are able to get in charge. If you think about it, the Socialist Workers Party in Spain, a leftist, socialist organization, is taking control of that country. This is what you get… It’s an invitation to these people to overrun their country. I think all of Europe should be on alarm. Again, this is a preview of what could happen right here in America. We already saw [President Joe Biden] try it before. Thank God [President Donald Trump] came into office and has put a complete stop to this. It’s out of the news right now, but this could happen again. It’s a preview and it’s a wakeup call to all of us, and I think as we head into the midterm elections, to remember what the Democrat socialists can do—it’s happening right now in Europe.

Hagerty on Iran: Much to Washington’s shock, President Trump has been very good about not telegraphing his every move. But I’ll say this, [Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper] had completed roughly 75 to 80% of the target package that initially was set to deal with Iran. He stepped back from that when we went into negotiations, into the ceasefire to deal with the straight before moves. I think the time has come. Go back, finish the package, finish the job. I think this is what the American public needs to see. As soon as this happens, I’ll tell you this. The polling data that [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.] and the Democrats are thrilled about right now, because Americans don’t like to see this sort of unclear situation. Once we have clearly defined this and ended this, this whole bit in Iran, we’ve taken the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)] and put them where they belong… I think you’re going to see the president’s poll numbers; you’re going to see joy back in America again. Americans love a winner; Americans love to win. We can do that, and I think the time has come to deliver on it […] our Israeli partners, they have exquisite intelligence and capabilities on the ground there. You saw what they did with the supply chains when every one of Hezbollah’s leaders had their fingers and thumbs blown off. I think the Israeli Military possesses incredible covert capabilities… I think we should put every option on the table… Let’s execute the alternatives.

Hagerty on the Trump Administration’s proposed reform of the Community Reinvestment Act: I’m glad to see the Trump Administration doing as they have been and going in and taking a very hard look at this regulatory regime. This is a tool that has been misused. I’m certain this was not the original intent, but this has basically been a tool used to shake down any bank or financial institution that wants to merge or expand into a given market, and they get shaken down by liberal regulators and those that want to control them to write checks to support efforts, particularly liberal efforts. That just shouldn’t be the case. That’s coming to an end, again, thanks to the Trump Administration, and thanks to strong leadership on the economic front led by [U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett], and the new comptroller. I’m very pleased with where we are headed.


ICYMI—Hagerty JoinsThe Sunday Briefing on Fox News to Discuss Iran, Blanche Confirmation and the SAVE America Act

Washington—On Sunday, United States Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking Committees, joined The Sunday Briefing on Fox News to discuss the latest in Iran, Todd Blanche’s pending confirmation and the SAVE America Act.

*Click the photo above or here to watch*

Partial Transcript

Hagerty on Iran: We continue to maintain the strategic advantage and Iran’s strategic capabilities continue to be degraded. If you think about it from a military standpoint, now we have other neighbors in the region joining us, dealing militarily with Iran. That [should be] quite concerning to the Iranian regime. The other aspect of this is the fact that the economic sanctions that [U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent] and his team at Treasury have been imposing are having a dramatic effect on the Iranian economy. The question is, how much more can they take? Their economy is shut off; their economy is shut down. The military componentry has been devastated, and now we have other players in the region joining the United States to deal with Iran in a way that they’ve never seen before. I’m certainly optimistic that President Trump is going to make certain that at the end the goal is accomplished, that is no nuclear capability for Iran. I’d like to see this done sooner than later, I think the rest of America would, too.

Hagerty on the Middle East’s Maritime Defense Coalition against Iran: Iran would like to destabilize the entire region because they’d like to control the entire region. And the fact is that neighbors [in the Middle East] are stepping up and realizing that they have a role to play here. They’re going to be the most immediately impacted, and frankly, given Iran’s military attacks on everybody in the neighborhood, that’s become painfully clear. I welcome the fact that these nations are stepping up, that they’re joining us, and I think this is going to be a regional solution to a problem that has been very specific for 47 years. It’s time to bring it to an end, and I think we get there much more rapidly with allies like Saudi Arabia and others stepping into the fray and working arm-in-arm and side-by-side with us. And again, I think the sooner we can put this to conclusion the better everybody will be in the world.

Hagerty on conflicting viewpoints regarding the conflict in Iran: The president takes advice from multiple sources. I’m honored by the fact that he reaches out to me from time to time, but he is constantly absorbing information. He is constantly trying to deal with the situation on the ground. And I think what you have [Vice President J.D. Vance] doing is indicating there are considerations here that are very real. The president needs to hear all of those considerations. The one person that the president cannot fire is the other person that stood elected alongside [him], and that’s Vice President Vance. I think Vice President Vance takes it seriously upon himself. He has told this to me, that he needs to sound out every concern that could possibly exist, and I think you see another example of it right here. At the end of the day though, I’ll come back to this: We hold the strategic advantage. President Trump has been incredibly clear. He will not allow the Iranian regime to have nuclear capacity. And I think President Trump’s patience is worn quite thin. So, with this current ceasefire, we’re at the verge of being ready to unveil and unleash a tremendous amount of power on Iran. They need to pay attention to this, and they need to pay attention to the fact that other neighbors in the region are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with [the United States] right now. I think this [conflict] is going to come to an end very soon.

Hagerty on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation and the Anti-Weaponization Fund: I know [Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R- has been working hard to get both [Senator Tom Tillis, R-N.C.,] and [Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas,] to a place of comfort. But I also say this: I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that this is something that’s undeserved. The [Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Biden Administration] did attack many people. Several people on my staff were targeted and weaponized by the DOJ… The hurt and harm were very real… I’m not looking for any compensation, but I do think that justice needs to be served here. And to say that there is nothing here to look at the weaponization fund is just evidence that something very, very bad did happen under the Biden DOJ. There should be accountability, however that takes form. I don’t think that we need to just sweep this under the rug. I think there needs to be an acknowledgement. I’m willing to accept Todd Blanche’s word that this fund will not be put into motion. I think Todd Blanche is a very qualified nominee, I’m looking forward to getting him confirmed.

Hagerty on the SAVE America Act: There are 50 [Senate Republicans] or more that are willing to push this through, but we need more Democrats to get to 60 votes if we’re going to pass [the SAVE America Act] as it stands. What we’re focused on right now is a reconciliation product. [Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.,] was working on this before his untimely departure, bless his heart. But we are, again, working on a product that I think we can use the reconciliation process, which only requires a [simple] majority vote, which we can deliver. We are navigating that process right now. This is not an easy situation when you have every Democrat in the Senate opposed to any type of election integrity. I think it’s quite embarrassing for the Democratic Party, and people should be asking why they’re doing this—What’s their underlying motive? But at the same time, I’m ready to stay here to get this done in whatever form it requires. We do have a vehicle that is under consideration right now that I think we can get significant elements of the SAVE America Act passed.


Heinrich Introduces Legislation to Ensure Large Users of Electricity Pay for Grid Upgrades, Protect Customers From Costs of Data Center Expansion

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the GRID Savings Act, legislation that aims to ensure that the biggest new electricity users play by the same basic rules that have applied to new power plants for two decades, while increasing transparency, protecting grid reliability, and making sure that families and businesses aren’t left paying for infrastructure that only serves new, high-demand customers.

“If a company is driving the need for expensive new facilities, that company should pay for it — not families and small businesses. That’s the basic principle behind my GRID Savings Act,” said Heinrich. “Electricity demand is growing, driven in large part by hyperscalers, AI data centers, and other large new electricity users. These companies have promised to protect customers from paying for their energy usage, and my GRID Savings Act gives teeth to that commitment by requiring large load customers to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid, while incentivizing hyperscalers to fund transmission-level upgrades. We need to make sure America can meet growing electricity demand without forcing working families and small businesses to fully subsidize the infrastructure required by the nation’s biggest energy users.”

The GRID Savings Act makes sure the biggest new electricity users play by the same basic rules that have applied to new power plants for two decades.

Today, when a company wants to connect a new power plant to the electric grid, it has to go through a detailed review process, pay for the upgrades needed to connect safely and reliably, and put up financial commitments to show it’s serious about moving forward. The GRID Savings Act applies the same basic approach to very large new electricity users. It requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish clear rules so these companies understand what upgrades are needed, what they’ll be responsible for paying, and how those costs will be determined. The legislation also increases transparency, protects grid reliability, and helps ensure that families and businesses aren’t left paying for infrastructure that only serves new, high-demand customers.

The legislation also allows for these large-use companies to voluntarily fund certain transmission facilities and receive transmission service in exchange for funding backbone transmission upgrades.

Heinrich’s Leadership on Transmission and Grid Infrastructure:

Heinrich has long been one of the Senate’s leading advocates for expanding and modernizing America's electric grid. He has consistently pushed to build more high-voltage transmission, reform the permitting process for major transmission projects, strengthen interregional planning, reduce interconnection delays, and ensure the grid can reliably deliver cheap, American-made energy while supporting economic growth. For the last decade and a half, Heinrich has been a steadfast champion of SunZia, one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in the Western Hemisphere, shepherding the project through lengthy permitting processes for nearly two decades. The project, based in New Mexico, is now fully operational and is delivering up to 3,650 megawatts (MW) of energy across the Southwest.

Last week, during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Heinrich asked FERC Chairwoman Laura Swett and fellow Commissioners Lindsay See, Judy Chang, David LaCerte, and David Rosner, about how Congress can support incentivizing advanced transmission technologies and the potential to automate generator interconnection processes.

Earlier this month, Heinrich introduced the Grid Connection and Congestion Management Act, which would require grid operators to establish a fast-track process for connecting new energy projects to the electric grid, reducing delays and easing congestion. The introduction of the bill launched Heinrich’s Grid for Growth initiative, a policy roadmap to modernize the nation’s electrical grid and bring new, affordable energy online.

In March, Heinrich organized a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing examining the state of America's electric grid and solutions to lower electricity costs. During the hearing, Heinrich highlighted the need to expand interregional transmission, reduce transmission congestion, accelerate interconnection of new generation, and modernize the grid to meet growing electricity demand driven by manufacturing, data centers, and electrification. He called for investing in a "Grid for Growth" to strengthen reliability while lowering costs for consumers.

In July 2024, Heinrich voted to advance the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The legislation incorporated several provisions Heinrich had championed, including his Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act, provisions based on his FASTER Act and his bipartisan Geothermal Energy Optimization (GEO) Act, which puts geothermal projects on an equal footing with oil and gas projects on public land and will help accelerate the adoption of geothermal energy nationwide.

In May 2024, Heinrich welcomed the Biden administration’s Federal-State Initiative to Bolster America’s Power Grid, which brought together 21 states, including New Mexico, to meet electricity demand while delivering reliable, affordable, and resilient power. The initiative supports deployment of grid-enhancing technologies and better coordination between federal and state governments on transmission planning.

In April 2024, Heinrich welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to New Mexico to highlight how investments from recent landmark legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act created a clean energy manufacturing renaissance in communities like Albuquerque and Belén, N.M.

In June 2023, Heinrich introduced the Facilitating America's Siting of Transmission and Electric Reliability (FASTER) Act, landmark legislation to modernize the permitting process for major interregional transmission projects. The legislation would designate the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the lead permitting agency for qualifying transmission projects, establish a predictable permitting timeline, strengthen coordination among federal agencies, encourage community benefit agreements, and invest in local communities hosting transmission infrastructure.

Also in 2023, Heinrich introduced the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act, legislation to improve planning and cost allocation for multi-state transmission projects. The bill would give FERC greater authority to ensure the costs of new transmission are allocated fairly among states that benefit from new infrastructure, helping remove one of the largest barriers to building interregional transmission.

In 2023, Heinrich delivered a keynote address at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Policy Forum, where he laid out his vision for expanding America's transmission network and announced his legislative priorities to improve how the nation plans, permits, and pays for transmission infrastructure. Heinrich argued that transmission must become "the central piece" of America's clean energy strategy and emphasized that future projects cannot spend more than a decade navigating permitting processes like SunZia did.

In 2023, Heinrich also published an op-ed, "The Backbone of Our Clean Energy Future," arguing that expanding transmission is essential to improving grid reliability, lowering energy costs, strengthening resilience during extreme weather, and fully utilizing America's domestic energy resources. In the piece, Heinrich called for faster permitting, new federal financing tools, and investment incentives for nationally significant transmission projects.

A one-page factsheet of the bill is here.

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

The full text of the bill is here.


Hickenlooper, Colleagues Demand Trump Admin Restore Funding for Energy Projects That Were Illegally Canceled and Politically Targeted

$600M in Colorado projects were illegally cancelled by the Trump admin

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined 38 of his Senator colleagues to demand that the Trump administration restore funding for the 223 energy projects cancelled in October 2025, including $600M for Colorado energy projects. The Trump administration has since admitted to illegally canceling energy grants because those projects were in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election.

“Once an administration begins punishing Americans for how they vote, the threat extends far beyond these projects: no state, community, business, or worker can trust that the federal government will apply the law fairly,” the senators wrote. “This is not only an attack on jobs, affordable energy, and America’s economic competitiveness. It is an attack on the rule of law and the basic democratic principle that the federal government serves the entire country – not merely those who support the President.”

The senators continued: “At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, the administration is hell-bent on political retribution instead of working to bring down costs for millions of Americans. The American people deserve to have a government that works for them – not one that is willing to push energy prices even higher and put the country’s energy security at grave risk. For the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding.”

Last month, Hickenlooper launched an investigation into the Trump administration’s efforts to kill offshore wind energy projects after the Trump administration agreed to pay four companies more than $2.7 billion in taxpayer funding to abandon offshore wind projects.

Hickenlooper has called out Republican attacks on clean energy and introduced the Lowering Electric Bills Act to protect clean energy projects. He introduced the Geo POWER Act to help deliver clean, affordable electricity across the country, the bipartisan Co-Location Energy Act to expedite the permitting and construction of wind and solar projects on existing federal agency leases. Hickenlooper was also instrumental in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which invested $373 billion in the climate and clean energy transition and continues to fight Trump administration attacks on the legislation and their attempts to hike energy costs for American families.

Read the full text of the letter HERE and below:

Secretary Wright and Director Vought:

Now that court documents have confirmed what we knew to be true, we write to demand that you restore previously awarded funding that the Trump Administration has weaponized in an attempt to punish perceived political enemies.

In October 2025, we wrote to you to express strong opposition to the Administration’s callous decision to unlawfully terminate $8 billion in federal investments for 223 energy projects. You not only acted outside the bounds of the law, but canceled projects that would have provided jobs, onshored manufacturing, and lowered skyrocketing energy prices. Congress authorized those projects and appropriated funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and annual appropriation bills. At the time of the termination of those projects, we expressed outrage that the terminations appeared politically motivated and confined to states that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in the 2024 presidential election. The Administration has now admitted in federal court what it denied to Congress and the American people.

On July 24, 2026, citing court filings, The New York Times reported that the Trump Administration acknowledged that it terminated more than $7.5 billion of grants due to political motivations. In a two-step process, the Department of Energy (DOE) first recommended more than 600 grants for potential termination, including grants in states represented by both Republicans and Democrats. It appears the Office of Management and Budget then selected all the grants in “Blue States” for cancellation, which DOE executed. In court filings, DOE’s lawyers conceded that the cancellations occurred “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state.” Specifically, as the court filings stated, “[w]ith one exception, the 284 terminated grants had a recipient location and/or at least one place of performance in a state that awarded its electoral votes to Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and has two Democratic-caucusing Senators (“Blue State” grants).” Similar grants in Red States, however, remained intact and were not the subject of termination. What’s more, DOE lawyers conceded that the decision to terminate these blue state grants was not “based on any programmatic, statutory, cost-reduction, or performance-based factor.”

Once an Administration begins punishing Americans for how they vote, the threat extends far beyond these projects: no state, community, business, or worker can trust that the federal government will apply the law fairly. This is not only an attack on jobs, affordable energy, and America’s economic competitiveness. It is an attack on the rule of law and the basic democratic principle that the federal government serves the entire country—not merely those who support the President.

At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, the Administration is hell-bent on political retribution instead of working to bring down costs for millions of Americans. The American people deserve to have a government that works for them—not one that is willing to push energy prices even higher and put the country’s energy security at grave risk.

For the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding.

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Hickenlooper, Warren Call on Regulators to Strengthen Bank Supervision Rule Supporting Access to Credit for Small Businesses and Consumers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter urging federal banking regulators to strengthen proposed revisions to the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (known as “CAMELS”) to ensure that bank supervision is forward-looking, so bank management and supervisors address risks before they fester into more serious problems that threaten credit availability for small businesses and households. The letter was sent to Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W. Bowman, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould, FDIC Chairman Travis Hill, NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman, and Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought.

“The failure of [Silicon Valley Bank] illustrates the need for the CAMELS rating system to require rigorous evaluation of the capabilities and performance of bank management and forward-looking bank supervision,” the senators wrote. “Exclusively identifying material weaknesses in banks’ financial statements today may miss an opportunity to catch emerging risks early and prevent a bank crisis tomorrow.”

The senators detailed how “when Silicon Valley Bank failed, the federal government stepped in to keep the crisis from spreading…But the hidden cost from the crisis, which lasted far longer, was the significant reduction in credit available to small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and consumers, particularly in rural and underserved areas.”

In the letter the senators urged the agencies to revise the proposed amendments to the CAMELS ratings by:

Restoring several references to the need for supervisors to evaluate bank management’s ability to “identify, monitor, measure, and control” risks, including emerging risks.

Requiring that bank supervisors conduct a forward-looking assessment of risks that could develop into material financial risks.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

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Husted, Acting Labor Secretary Sonderling visit Owens Community College to discuss workforce development

“I appreciated the opportunity to welcome Acting Secretary Sonderling to Owens Community College and highlight one of the many outstanding programs that are equipping students with the skills needed for today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities.”

TOLEDO, Ohio – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today hosted Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling at Owens Community College for a roundtable discussion at the college’s Dana Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.

The discussion focused on Husted’s work alongside the administration to secure Workforce Pell Grants, which will soon make short-term, high-quality workforce training programs eligible for federal financial aid. They also discussed how Owens Community College is addressing critical workforce needs across northwest Ohio.

“Thanks to the work we’ve done in recent years, Ohio has become a national leader in workforce development, preparing Ohioans to compete and succeed across every sector of our economy. I appreciated the opportunity to welcome Acting Secretary Sonderling to Owens Community College and highlight one of the many outstanding programs that are equipping students with the skills needed for today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities. That’s why I supported expanding Pell Grants through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act—to help more Americans access high-quality workforce training programs and gain the skills they need for good-paying careers,” said Husted.

Husted fought to include Workforce Pell Grants in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Workforce Pell Grants will:

Allow students to use federal Pell Grant aid for short-term job training programs that lead directly to employment.

Open pathways for people who want rapid skill development without the time and cost of a traditional degree.

Include training programs as short as 8–15 weeks.

Expand the federal investment in skills training while making sure students can afford the education they need to succeed.

Make job training more accessible, especially for low-income learners who might otherwise be shut out by cost.

Husted is also leading efforts in the Senate to ensure students and families have the information they need to make informed education and career decisions. He is leading:


Senator Justice Addresses Industry Leaders at GO-WV Summer Meeting

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV – Today, Senator Jim Justice addressed industry leaders at the Gas & Oil Association of West Virginia (GO-WV) Summer Meeting, where he provided an update on the energy landscape in Washington and discussed the importance of advancing policies that keep West Virginia at the forefront of American energy production.

“America cannot be energy dominant without West Virginia. It’s just that simple. When I came to the Senate, I knew one thing: West Virginia’s energy story needed a strong voice at the table. Serving on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee gives me the opportunity to be right in the middle of the conversations that matter most for the industries in this room. Whether it’s permitting, investments, or policies that impact our ability to produce energy, I’m working to make sure Washington understands what West Virginia already knows—we have the resources, the people, and the know-how to power this country,” said Senator Jim Justice.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Justice has been a staunch advocate for the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia.

As a member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Justice continues fighting to keep West Virginia and American energy strong.

Recently, Senator Justice celebrated a new natural gas plant being developed alongside an existing coal plant in Mt. Storm.

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Kaine Presses President on Military Strikes in Caribbean and Pacific, Calls for Accountability

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, sent a letter to President Donald Trump pressing him on U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific and calling for accountability. The Trump-Vance Administration has not provided any legitimate legal justification for the military strikes or evidence to support its claims that the targeted vessels were narcotraffickers. It was recently reported that analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) found that the military strikes have had no impact on curbing the supply of cocaine to the U.S.

“To date, according to public reporting, the United States has engaged in more than 65 kinetic operations killing more than 220 people pursuant to your directive,” Kaine wrote. “I’ve reviewed these classified notifications to Congress pursuant to those attacks, which vary in detail but often include descriptions of the targets and their activities during the kinetic operations.”

“My review of your directive, the OLC legal opinion, the EXORD, and the notifications of the boat strikes, makes clear that the United States is engaged in violent and fatal attacks against people far beyond those whom the OLC opinion claimed could be lawfully targeted. In other words, a careful review of the available evidence suggests that the United States has killed individuals who are not involved in narcotrafficking,” Kaine continued. “They are murder victims.”

“Adding to the deep concern over these illegal killings is the fact, recently confirmed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, that Operation Southern Spear has had no effect on the flow of illegal drugs into the United States,” Kaine concluded. “I ask that you closely examine the circumstances of these strikes, to ensure that you are personally aware of the extent to which the leadership of the Department of Defense has exceeded your July 2025 directive, incurring massive expense and operating with dubious legality, and with no progress towards your stated objective. And once you have done so, I urge you to halt this illegal, costly and ineffective operation.”

Kaine has led War Powers Resolutions to block the use of U.S. Armed Forces in the Caribbean and Pacific, but they have been blocked by Republicans. Kaine previously joined his colleagues in sending a letter to the Trump-Vance Administration on a September 2 military strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea that reportedly killed all 11 passengers on board. Serious concerns have been raised about the possibility that those passengers included human trafficking victims.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Mr. President:

In late July 2025, you directed the Department of Defense to conduct kinetic operations to combat narcotrafficking operations in the Americas. You selected numerous organizations for targeting. That target list is classified so I cannot reveal it. Importantly, the classification of the list means that those you have asked the Department of Defense to target are entirely unaware that they are marked for execution.

In September 2025, the United States launched boat strikes in international waters in the Americas pursuant to your directive. A Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion issued in September 2025 provided legal support for such operations so long as they complied with specific factual conditions. That legal opinion (and the specific factual conditions) is classified. As a result, these conditions are also unknown to those being targeted.

A Department of Defense order implementing your July directive (the EXORD) was issued in October 2025. The EXORD contains targeting criteria that the Department of Defense should use in carrying out your kinetic operations directive. The EXORD and its targeting criteria are also classified.

To date, according to public reporting, the United States has engaged in more than 65 kinetic operations killing more than 220 people pursuant to your directive. I’ve reviewed these classified notifications to Congress pursuant to those attacks, which vary in detail but often include descriptions of the targets and their activities during the kinetic operations.

My review of your directive, the OLC legal opinion, the EXORD, and the notifications of the boat strikes, makes clear that the United States is engaged in violent and fatal attacks against people far beyond those whom the OLC opinion claimed could be lawfully targeted. In other words, a careful review of the available evidence suggests that the United States has killed individuals who are not involved in narcotrafficking.

They are murder victims.

Adding to the deep concern over these illegal killings is the fact, recently confirmed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, that Operation Southern Spear has had no effect on the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

I ask that you closely examine the circumstances of these strikes, to ensure that you are personally aware of the extent to which the leadership of the Department of Defense has exceeded your July 2025 directive, incurring massive expense and operating with dubious legality, and with no progress towards your stated objective. And once you have done so, I urge you to halt this illegal, costly and ineffective operation.

Sincerely,

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Kaine Statement On Voting Against Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted against proceeding to a continuing resolution to extend government funding through December 11:

“The funding resolution negotiated by Senate Appropriations leaders has much good substance that would, in normal times, earn my vote. But, in the midst of an illegal war killing and injuring our troops and sticking American families with unnecessary costs, I am not yet able to support proceeding to this proposal. I hope that the President will follow the law and end this foolish war before the House returns to take up the measure in September. Once that occurs, passage of this resolution will be the right thing to do.”

Last week, Kaine spoke on the Senate Floor to express his strong opposition to President Trump’s three illegal wars in Iran, Venezuela, and the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. In the speech, he called for congressional action to end these unauthorized military operations. Kaine previously led the successful passage of a War Powers Resolution to end the Iran war.

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Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program

Bipartisan legislation would empower states and address growing workforce demands in Arizona

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to create a new temporary visa program that allows states to address their unique workforce and economic development needs while maintaining strong federal oversight and immigration enforcement.

“States understand their own economic needs best, but federal rules currently determine who can live and work here,” said Kelly. “Our bipartisan bill would let Arizona and other states choose the visas they need to fill labor gaps and strengthen their local economies.”

“I’ve heard time and again from small business owners, farmers, and ranchers across Utah how difficult it has become to hire enough workers to meet growing market demands,” saidCurtis. “Our legislation would help fill the gap by creating a pilot program allowing states to sponsor visas tailored to their unique economies, without sacrificing rigorous federal vetting or accountability.”

The State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026 is supported by ThirdWay, UnidosUS, the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) Action, the National Immigration Forum, Aliento, the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC).

See what Arizona and national leaders are saying in support of the legislation:

“Small businesses cannot grow or compete when critical positions remain unfilled. Hispanic-owned small businesses understand firsthand both the economic contributions of immigrant workers and the need for a lawful, secure, and accountable process. I commend Senators John Curtis and Mark Kelly for working across the aisle and offering a pragmatic, innovative, flexible, and pro-business solution to address critical labor shortages, strengthen local economies, and keep American businesses competitive,” said Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, U.S. Hispanic BusinessCouncil.

“We are grateful to Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for their bipartisan leadership in creating common-sense immigration and workforce solutions that recognizes the contributions of skilled, long-term immigrants and reflects the realities of our modern economy,” said Rebecca Shi, CEO, ABIC Action. “This legislation is a significant step toward solving the chronic workforce shortages that have hampered growth across diverse sectors, from agriculture and construction to hospitality and manufacturing. Families across America are feeling the squeeze of higher prices, and the lack of legal pathways for workers who are already here and contributing plays a key role. With food costs up 30% and a national housing shortage of 3.7 million homes, we simply cannot staff the farms, job sites, and restaurants that keep our economy moving. We can’t lower prices unless we protect our essential workers.”

“Our economy depends on a vibrant workforce, and states often know best how to achieve that in their jurisdiction,” said Jennie Murray, President and CEO, theNational Immigration Forum. “The State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Actwould allow states to close local labor gaps with a legal immigrant workforce. It would also allow states to adjust the number of worker visas allowed each year depending on the state’s economic growth. This is an innovative effort that would update our immigration system to better address current economic needs, creating opportunity for all.”

“At Aliento, I meet young people every day who grew up in Arizona, went to school here, and are ready to work and give back, but have no legal way to do it, and I know that feeling myself as a DACA recipient. This bill gives states the flexibility to solve their own workforce challenges instead of waiting on Washington, and it gives Arizona employers in agriculture, health care, and technology a legal, reliable way to fill jobs. It’s a practical, state-driven approach that lets us work, pay taxes, and build the lives we’ve already started. One both parties should be able to get behind,” said Reyna Montoya, Founder and CEO,Aliento.

“Southern Arizona’s economy depends on both a secure border and a workforce that allows our businesses to grow and compete. Thoughtful proposals like this recognize that states understand their economic needs while maintaining accountability, transparency, and the rule of law. That’s the kind of balanced conversation our country should be having,” saidRob Elias, President & Chief Executive Officer, Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“Small-owned businesses are engines of Arizona’s economic growth and they need a reliable, authorized workforce to thrive. This bill gives states the flexibility to meet their own workforce needs and bring the talent for businesses to be successful. This bill is a common-sense approach that’s good for businesses, good for workers, and good for Arizona. We’re grateful to Senators Kelly and Curtis for their leadership on this issue,” said Mónica S. Villalobos, President & CEO, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry appreciates Sens. Mark Kelly and John Curtis for recognizing that states have unique workforce needs that often require tailored solutions. Employers across Arizona continue to face persistent labor shortages in key sectors, and legal visa holders play an important role in helping businesses meet those workforce demands while supporting economic growth. Our current worker visa system is too cumbersome and too slow to respond to changing labor market conditions and needs. We applaud Senators Kelly and Curtis for getting the conversation started on a thoughtful proposal to modernize the system, and we look forward to working with them as the legislation continues to take shape,” saidDanny Seiden, President and CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“This bipartisan legislation reflects growing interest in place-based immigration to strengthen local economies. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Community Partnership Visa working group proposal emphasizes community partnership, demonstrated need, and long-term integration,” said Matthew Slaughter, Paul Danos Dean and Earl C. Daum 1924 Professor of International Business, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College and Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Community Partnership Visa Working Group.

“The Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC) applauds Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for introducing legislation to establish a state-sponsored visa pilot program. We commend the senators for contributing a serious, constructive proposal to the national conversation about legal immigration reform and for recognizing that states, communities, and employers across the country face workforce challenges that demand lawful, flexible, and accountable solutions,” saidLaura Reiff, Co-Chair,Essential Worker Immigration Coalition.

Click here to read the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition’s full letter of support.

Background:

Under the legislation, states could voluntarily establish state-sponsored visa programs tailored to their labor market demands, subject to approval by the Department of Homeland Security. Participating states would determine which workers or investors they sponsor while remaining responsible for monitoring compliance with program requirements. The federal government would retain authority over security screening, visa issuance, and immigration enforcement. Every applicant would be required to pass comprehensive federal background and security checks before receiving a visa.

To ensure accountability, the legislation requires participating states to:

Assess workforce needs and prevailing wages on a regular basis;

Prevent displacement of American workers and investigate complaints;

Track participants’ employment and residency;

Report compliance to the federal government; and

Accept reductions or suspensions in visa allocations if compliance standards are not met.

The bill also includes strong safeguards to protect taxpayers and uphold immigration laws. State-sponsored visa holders would be ineligible for federal means-tested benefits, would be subject to all applicable federal, state, and local labor and tax laws, and could lose their status if they violate program requirements or leave the sponsoring state without authorization.


Senator Andy Kim Statement Supporting Bipartisan Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) released the following statement after voting to move a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) forward that would keep the government funded through December 11, 2026:

“When Democrats stand up for the American people, we can deliver for them; that’s what this continuing resolution does. It not only keeps the government open, it stands in the way of Donald Trump weaponizing this funding for his extreme political agenda.

“Congressional Republicans have an opportunity to work with us on a budget aligned with the priorities of American working families. Those families will be watching in the coming months; it’s up to Republicans to do the right thing and help deliver a full budget that provides the relief and support the American people deserve.”

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King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Medicare Patients, Physicians

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to support physicians and preserve their ability to care for Medicare patients. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would modernize the Medicare’s Physician Fee Schedule (MFPS) – how much medical professionals are reimbursed for providing care – and preserve patient access to care by adjusting payments to cover more of the actual cost of delivering medical services.

As reported by the American Medical Association (AMA), the average Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined roughly 33 percent since 2001 when adjusted for inflation. This reduction can be largely attributed to the Medicare budget neutrality threshold last updated in 1992, which has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of care. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act reforms key structural elements of MPFS, supporting physicians and preserving their ability to care for Medicare patients.

“Accessible, reliable health care is essential for seniors across Maine, particularly in our rural communities where providers are already stretched thin,” said Senator King. “The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would help ensure that Medicare providers are fairly reimbursed so they can continue delivering the full range of care that Maine seniors depend on for their healthcare needs. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this commonsense bipartisan legislation to strengthen access to quality care for older Americans.”

King is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

Senator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the provision of affordable, accessible healthcare for all Americans. In June of 2026, Senator King introduced the Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Access Act, requiring private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. In 2022, Senator King also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, a historic package which included significant, commonsense changes to Medicare that caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2000 a year and allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for many of the drugs it purchases.

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Klobuchar: Hemp Ban Delay Included in Senate Budget Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that the Senate’s bipartisan government funding bill includes a provision to delay the federal hemp ban, based on the bipartisan Hemp Planting Predictability Act she introduced with Senators Paul (R-KY) and Merkley (D-OR) and negotiated with the strong support of Sen. Sheehy (R-MT).

The Senate’s bill would fund the federal government and delay the looming federal hemp ban through December 11, 2026, giving Minnesota hemp farmers, brewers, and small businesses additional time to plan for the future and giving Congress more time to pursue a long-term solution rather than allowing a federal crackdown to shut down a thriving, multi-billion-dollar American industry. In order to best protect public health and safety, the bipartisan Senate budget bill also bans synthetic hemp derivatives.

“Brewers, farmers, small businesses, and customers in Minnesota have made clear that the federal ban on hemp products will be devastating,” Klobuchar said. “The new government funding bill in the Senate includes a key provision based on my bipartisan bill to delay the federal hemp ban, which I opposed last November, so other states can put more sensible safety rules in place like we have in Minnesota. This delay was immediately necessary to give Minnesota hemp producers and customers certainty, while giving Congress more time to get to a long-term fix.”

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Lee Bill Fixes Loophole for Adoptees of American Families

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) closing burdensome loopholes for America’s adoptive families. The bill updates adoptee citizenship protocols in alignment with established law to grant citizenship for adopted children of American parents.

“Established law provides America’s adopted kids with naturalization, but a loophole has excluded those who were over 18 when this policy was passed decades ago. This bill will fix this oversight to bring these adopted Americans into accordance with the law and close the loopholes afflicting established families,” said Senator Mike Lee.

“Adoption is a wonderful thing. It gives children a loving family, opportunity, and hope for a better life. It often saves unborn lives. If you are adopted by American parents, grow up American, and love America, you are American. However, the law is not currently written to reflect that reality,” said Senator Rick Scott. “Adopted children of American parents should also be Americans, and there should be no legal hurdles to getting there. I’m proud to join Senator Lee in his effort to correct this issue.”

The legislation is endorsed by eighteen organizations and individuals: Adoptee Advisory Committee, Adoptees for Children, Adoptees Supporting Adoptee Citizenship, Adoptive Parents for Citizenship, Advisory Committee for Intercounty Adoption, American Academy of Adoptions Attorneys (AAAA), Barker Foundation, Care for Children International, China Children Adoption International (CCAI), Dr. Ron Federici, Holt International, Hope Leads Home, Diane Kunz, Lifeline Children’s Services, National Center for Adoption Law & Policy, National Council for Adoption (NCFA), Pono Roots, and Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea (MPAK).

"Holt International applauds Senator Lee for his leadership and determination to move adoptee citizenship legislation forward. His commitment to finding a path that can make meaningful progress in Congress is an important step for thousands of intercountry adoptees who have lived for years without the security and recognition of U.S. citizenship.” — Mark Loux, Interim President & CEO, Holt International

"This legislation would correct a longstanding inequity. It reflects the fundamental principle that children legally adopted by American citizens should enjoy the same security and legal status as other members of their families. Providing citizenship to these adoptees promotes family stability, recognizes the commitments made by adoptive families, and remedies an unintended consequence of earlier legislation and regulations. It is both a matter of fairness and an affirmation of America's longstanding support for permanent family placement for children in need. We are grateful that you have introduced this legislation and look forward to working toward its prompt enactment." – Janna Annest, President, and Genie Miller Gillespie, Adoption Policy Director, American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA)

"I'm grateful for Senator Lee's leadership in introducing this important legislation. For decades, international adoptees have played an invaluable part in the flourishing of our communities. Thousands of American parents have welcomed them into their families, and provided safe, loving and permanent homes for the world's most vulnerable children. This bill provides a legal remedy for the sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who were left in the gap of legal uncertainty." – Herbert M. Newell IV, President & Executive Director, Lifeline Children’s Services

Background

Congress granted naturalization to international adoptees of U.S. citizen parents through the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, but thousands of legally adopted children were left out due to an arbitrary age cutoff. This technicality has resulted in continuous legal issues for a group whose only disqualifying characteristic was their date of birth. Senator Lee’s bill corrects this loophole for America’s adoptive families by providing naturalization to those adopted by U.S. citizens decades ago.

The bill grants automatic citizenship to individuals who were legally adopted by U.S. parents but were over 18 when the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 took effect. Specifically, the bill instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue a certificate of citizenship if adoptees establish through an application that their adoption was lawfully completed, that they resided in the legal physical custody of their U.S. citizen adoptive parents, that they have not committed serious criminal offenses, and that they meet other standard criteria under the INA.

Read the full bill text here.

Read the full letter of endorsement from AAAA here.

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Luján, Schatz, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to High Quality Health Care in Remote and Rural Areas

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Reauthorization Act, which will increase access to high-quality health care in hard-to-reach areas. The bill reauthorizes funding for an innovative medical education program that deploys interactive videoconferencing to link specialist teams with primary care providers in rural areas, helping rural and remote communities access the health care services they otherwise would not be able to receive.

“When emergencies happen, care close to home can save lives. Too many New Mexicans in rural communities face barriers to getting specialized care. Project ECHO was first developed at the University of New Mexico, and we’ve seen how this model helps providers deliver better care closer to home,” said Senator Luján. “The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Reauthorization Act will build on that success so more communities can benefit.”

“Telehealth hasn’t just transformed how doctors care for patients, it has helped health care providers work and learn from with each other,” said Senator Schatz. “Our legislation will help connect more primary care providers in rural areas with specialists from across the country so that more families have access to the critical health care services they need.”

“In rural Alaska, you have to improvise. That’s why I’m always interested in innovations that help our communities adapt to the realities on the ground. The ECHO training model has a proven track record of improving health outcomes by helping rural providers access specialized expertise, strengthening the quality of care, increasing provider retention, and reducing the need for patients to travel for specialty care,” said Senator Murkowski. “I’m proud to help the University of Alaska, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and other healthcare providers continue expanding this innovative model that lowers costs and improves care for Alaskans, wherever they live.”

“Project ECHO is an invaluable tool for health outcomes in West Virginia and across the nation, especially in our rural areas. It provides training for primary care doctors, nurses, and other clinicians to deliver excellent specialty care to patients close to home, directly in their communities. As more breakthroughs occur in treating chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s, Project ECHO offers clinicians the knowledge they need to diagnosis and treat their patients effectively. I’m proud to work with my colleagues to bring this reauthorization effort forward,” Senator Capito said.

The ECHO program grants will continue to be used for:

Equipment to support the use and expansion of the models, including for the secure exchange of electronic health information;

Support for health care providers that provide services under these models;

Instructional programming and training; and

Information collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of such models.

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Markey, Pressley Release Report Showing Success of Fare-Free Transit in Massachusetts

Report calls for passage of their Freedom to Move Act, which invests $25 billion in public transit

Fare Free Transit Reduces Costs for Travelers and Boosts Transit Ridership

Report (PDF)

Washington (August 3, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) today released a new report, Making Transit Free, Frequent, and Reliable: Massachusetts shows the need for federal investment in fare-free transit, detailing the need for increased federal investments in fare-free transit. Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pressley are lead sponsors of the Freedom to Move Act, which would provide $25 billion to communities to pilot fare free service and expand existing transit service.

“From Worcester to Boston to the Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts is showing the nation what is possible when transit goes fare-free,” said Senator Markey. “Our report shows that fare-free transit saves families money, increases ridership, and helps make transit easier and simpler for passengers. More transit riders can mean less congestion, cleaner air, and safer streets. This report provides a roadmap for bringing those benefits to communities across the country. Congress should pass the Freedom to Move Act and help any community go fare free.”

“The data doesn’t lie and this report makes plain what we’ve long known: fare-free transit is essential to building connected communities, improving mobility, and making life more affordable for our families,” said Congresswoman Pressley, Co-Chair of the Future of Transportation Caucus. “Transit equity is an economic, racial, and climate justice issue, and it’s time we invest in public transit as the public good that it is. That’s why Congress must pass our Freedom to Move Act to continue to support fare-free transit across our state and nation.”

Massachusetts has become a national leader in fare-free transit through a range of programs serving urban, suburban, and rural communities. Regional transit authorities in Worcester, the Merrimack Valley, and elsewhere have launched systemwide or targeted fare-free service, while Boston has eliminated fares on several heavily used bus routes. The Commonwealth has also supported statewide pilot programs that have helped transit agencies test and expand fare-free operations.

Drawing on data from these efforts, the report examines how fare-free service is working across different transit systems and communities. The Massachusetts experience shows how eliminating fares strengthens public transit when paired with reliable service and sustained investment. It also demonstrates that communities nationwide could pursue similar programs with stronger federal support.

The Massachusetts evidence points to five core lessons. Fare-free transit:

Lowers costs for riders

Brings riders back to transit

Leads to long-term ridership gains

Makes transit easier to operate

Works best when paired with operating support

Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pressley have long championed fare-free transit in Congress. In July 2025, they re-introduced the Freedom to Move Act which would provide $25 billion in funding for transit agencies to offer fare free service and improve on existing transit service offerings.

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Sens. Markey, Warren, Reps. Lynch, Keating, Pressley, Auchincloss Demand Trump Administration Reverse Denial of Massachusetts Disaster Request for February Blizzard

Letter Text (PDF)

Washington (August 3, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Robert Fenton demanding that the Administration rescind its denial of Massachusetts’ request for a major disaster declaration following the February 2026 blizzard. The storm overwhelmed the Commonwealth with more than three feet of snow, caused an estimated $38 billion in damage and economic losses, cost the Commonwealth more than $45 million in direct expenses, and endangered communities. The lawmakers pressed the Administration to reverse course and approve the Commonwealth’s appeal, which was filed on Friday, to ensure that Massachusetts communities receive much-needed relief as they continue to struggle under the weight of snow-related expenses.

On July 2, 2026, Massachusetts was notified that the Trump administration denied the Commonwealth’s major disaster declaration request to help fund expenses related to the historic blizzard that hit the state last February. FEMA’s stated rationale for the denial appears to disregard federal law. On July 31, Governor Healey filed a formal appeal in response. Recent reporting suggests that Trump personally denied Massachusetts’ request as part of the overall politicization of disaster declaration requests, despite FEMA’s determination that the blizzard met major disaster requirements.

The lawmakers wrote, “If FEMA’s initial denial was based on an attempt to reinterpret or narrow the definition of a major disaster, we urge FEMA to comply with the Stafford Act and reverse course. However, if the denial was influenced by partisan political considerations, we must insist on a full reconsideration of this decision to restore parity in the federal disaster response process. Accordingly, and given the profound impacts Massachusetts experienced and the clear eligibility for assistance under the Stafford Act, we also request that you approve Governor Healey’s appeal of the Commonwealth’s major disaster declaration following the February 2026 blizzard.”

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Senator Marshall: It’s Time to Get the SAVE America Act on the Senate Floor

Senator Marshall Joins the FOX News Rundown

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined The FOX News Rundown to discuss the Senate’s legislative priorities, including passing the SAVE America Act, funding the federal government, and advancing commonsense solutions to lower the cost of living for American families.

Senator Marshall also discussed his continued efforts to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci accountable, his call for a special counsel investigation into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of getting the American people the transparency and answers they deserve.

Click HERE or on the image above for Senator Marshall’s full interview.

On the SAVE America Act and Government funding:

“At least we need to get it on the floor somehow, some way, and get the Democrats on the record. That’s what Americans want to see: why can’t we get 10 Democrats to vote in favor of voter ID? I think that’s upfront and what we need to get to do. The other thing I would like to get done, though, is fund the federal government. Three times already, Democrats have shut the government down on funding. It would be great for America to fund the government, maybe a month past the November election, and give some people some stability, some certainty as far as that goes. So we’re making good progress. We’ll see though if Chuck Schumer pulls the chair out from us one more time.”

On Senate Republicans’ priorities:

“We need to stay focused on the cost of living. Look, we’ve already got our housing bill signed into law. We think that’s going to impact housing. On the health care side of things, We have a bill that’s passed through committee- our price tag bill, forcing every healthcare provider to show you the prices up front that passed through the committee 22 to one, we think that’ll bring down the cost of healthcare $1,000 a month. And then I would add, if we want to bring the cost of gas and groceries, our credit card bill, which forces competition, would bring down the cost of gas and groceries one or 2%. So I think in September we need to stay locked in on the cost of living for Americans.”

On Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination:

“So, number one, we need to get Todd Blanche across the finish line. I’m calling for a special counsel investigation of Anthony Fauci after what’s been revealed in his diary. So we need a steady person at the helm of that ship to start launching these special counsels out there as well. On the weaponization fund, look, I think we should just move on from it. the attorney general nominee, acting attorney general, has said it’s dead. I understand President Trump said some other things, but look, it’s time for the Republicans to work together. This Republican-on-Republican violence has to stop. We need to put bygones behind us and stay focused on America’s future here.

On Dr. Fauci’s Senate Testimony:

“Yeah, I was sitting right behind him, and certainly he was just shaking with fear as he read his opening statement through the hearing. You know, he took blow after blow as people used his own words from his own diary, commenting that what he said to his diary was so different than what he was telling the American public. So, pointing out how he had misled Congress, the president, and the people as well. So you know, at the end of the day, that’s why I’m calling from this special counsel. There’s so much out there. As you read Anthony Fauci’s diary, he is drunk with power. He’s more fascinated with his own celebrity than he is with the million Americans that died, the 20 million people that now have long COVID. This would have a great time for him to come clean and say, “Look, lessons learned. He was funding gain-of-function research for over 30 years. That was his ticket to get a Nobel Prize, and that’s why you know he covered up this huge mistake that came out of this laboratory.”

On Dr. Fauci’s Diary and COVID origins cover-up:

“The diary was absolutely a game changer. It really confirms everything I’ve been saying since January 2020, when I was the first member of Congress to go to the Senate floor and say, “Hey, we’ve got a problem here.” What are the chances this virus came from 2,000 miles away, where the bats live, versus coming from a biosafety level 4 laboratory just a few blocks away? To me, it was obvious then, and it’s even more obvious now. You can literally go back and track lie after lie that he told. By the end of January, he had already concluded this virus could not have come from the wet market. But then he went on television and told the American people, and told the President, that it came from the wet market. Four days later, on February 1, 2020, he was on a phone call with 12 of the world’s leading scientists studying gain-of-function research. Ten of those 12 scientists said it most likely came from a laboratory, yet he continued telling the President the opposite. I think we all realize that if Dr. Fauci had walked into the White House on February 1 or February 2 and said, “Mr. President, 10 out of the 12 greatest scientists in the world believe this virus came from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. Americans will have no immunity to it. This is going to be a very lethal virus. We need to circle the wagons right now,” we could have slowed the spread of that virus and saved lives.”

“Gosh, it seems like the cover-up is always the worst part of it. It wasn’t his fault that this virus leaked out of a laboratory. But it is his fault that gain-of-function research was being conducted there and that he was partially funding it. No laboratory in America would conduct this type of research anymore for this very reason. But I think the cover-up is the real tragedy. It’s not just the more than one million Americans who died. It’s the fact that so many of them died alone. It’s that we were locked out of our churches. It’s that our kids lost a year of school. It’s that so many students missed their senior year of high school or college. And now, 20 million Americans are living with long COVID. It will be interesting to see how history ultimately answers that question. But the fact that he’s never told the truth, and that he continues to perpetuate this lie, makes me think he’ll go down as a modern-day Dr. Frankenstein in the history books.”

On Dr. Fauci’s pardon:

“Yeah, I wasn’t surprised. Number one, let’s remember this was the auto-pen pardon, and I think that’s exactly why I want a special counsel to investigate it. The question is: Is it even constitutional? Even if you had Supreme Court justices sitting here in front of me, I bet you’d get a split answer to that question. I think he’s afraid of that issue. And once you start telling lies, it’s really hard to keep them straight. He’s told so many lies over the years that he would have been crazy to come before Congress and try to resurrect or explain all of them.”

On rebuilding trust in America’s public health agencies:

“It won’t be easy. One of the first lessons I learned as a physician was that once you lose your reputation, you can never truly get it back. That’s where these public health agencies find themselves today. That said, I think the change in administration and the change in leadership are moving us in the right direction. Secretary Kennedy has taken a very different approach than Anthony Fauci. I think Dr. Oz has been a calming force, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has brought a renewed focus on scientific integrity. We also need to get our CDC director across the finish line. She has an outstanding reputation, served as an admiral in the Coast Guard, and has one of the strongest résumés I’ve ever seen. It will take years to rebuild that trust. But I do have faith in the people who are there now because they’re asking hard questions and following the science. Instead of relying on a single study and treating it as settled, they’re working to validate the science by having independent researchers replicate those findings. That’s how good science is supposed to work. As we see more of that, I think confidence will begin to return. But rebuilding public trust will take years, if not decades.”

On the top issues for Kansans:

“Oh, without a doubt, it’s the cost of living. It’s the cost of gas and groceries. Under Joe Biden, we saw the cost of housing, health care, child care, and property insurance all increase by roughly 50%. Inflation is cumulative, and while it’s not nearly as bad as it was, we still have inflation. We’re moving in the right direction, and wages are beginning to catch up, but everyday families are still struggling to put food on the table. Many have maxed out their credit cards just trying to make ends meet. So when I’m back home, I tell people what we’re doing about it. We’ve already gotten our housing bill across the finish line. It’s going to reduce unnecessary regulations and make it easier and less expensive to build homes. Our health care bill—the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act—would bring down the cost of health care by requiring price transparency. And our credit card competition bill would help lower the cost of gas and groceries by bringing more competition to the payment system. Those are the issues people want to hear about. They want to know what we’re doing to lower the cost of living. At the same time, I think many Americans are beginning to take their safety and security for granted. We also need to remind them how different the situation is today compared to where we were just a short time ago.”

On the Iran conflict:

“You know, it’s easier said than done, but I’ve said from day one that we need to stay focused on our goals. Number one, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Number two, no boots on the ground. And number three, we have to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. The President needs to do whatever it takes to accomplish those goals, short of putting American boots on the ground. In the meantime, thank goodness for American energy independence. Frankly, I’m surprised gas prices aren’t another dollar a gallon higher. Because the United States is the world’s leading oil producer, we’ve been able to help stabilize energy prices here at home despite the instability overseas.”

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Merkley, Padilla, Shaheen, Schiff, Rosen, Cortez Masto, Heinrich, Wyden, Klobuchar: CFTC Must Rein in Wildfire Bets on Prediction Markets

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to press the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on its plans to crack down on prediction markets now offering event contracts for individuals to bet on wildfires.

As wildfires burn in Oregon and across the nation, the Senators are demanding action from the CFTC following public reporting that highlighted the public safety and insider trading concerns of allowing prediction market platforms to offer bets on natural disasters such as wildfires.

“Offering bets on destructive wildfires threatens to minimize communities’ suffering all so the rich and powerful can profit,” the Senators wrote in a letter to CFTC Chair Michael Selig. “There’s also the heightened risk—according to state and local fire officials—that individuals could be tempted to commit arson in order to make sure their bets are successful. By offering contracts on fires, prediction market sites run the risk of encouraging people to influence fires that have already started, creating additional concerns around public safety and insider trading.”

The Senators pressed the CFTC to swiftly tackle unrestricted betting on wildfires and put in place common-sense guardrails to prevent gamblers from making a profit as wildfires threaten communities nationwide.

Merkley has long sounded the alarm over the dangers that prediction markets pose to our democracy. Previously, he urged the CFTC to tackle insider trading and betting on elections, war, and government actions.

He also wrote the STOP Corrupt Bets Act to ban betting through prediction markets on issues that are against the public interest and have no economic value, such as elections, government actions, sports, and military actions. Merkley introduced the End Prediction Market Corruption Act to prevent the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and other public officials from trading event contracts, curbing the potential for insider trading and conflicts of interest.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Chair Selig,

We write to express concern regarding the disturbing news that prediction markets are now offering event contracts for individuals to bet on wildfires. Prediction markets have been enabled to expand rapidly, increasingly inviting speculation on war, political violence, disasters, and public emergencies that raise ethical and public policy concerns. These markets risk creating perverse incentives, undermining public trust and commodifying human suffering in ways that warrant careful scrutiny.

Recent public reports have highlighted how Polymarket—the largest prediction market platform in the world—accepted more than $1.2 million in bets surrounding the Palisades and Eaton fires in January 2025. These fires devastated the Los Angeles area, claiming the lives of 31 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures. Another report even spotlighted the launch of a new prediction market platform that accepts only simulated bets on wildfires in California and whose slogan boasts, “You can’t predict fire, but you can trade on it.”

Offering bets on destructive wildfires threatens to minimize communities’ suffering all so the rich and powerful can profit. There’s also the heightened risk—according to state and local fire officials—that individuals could be tempted to commit arson in order to make sure their bets are successful . By offering contracts on fires, prediction market sites run the risk of encouraging people to influence fires that have already started, creating additional concerns around public safety and insider trading.

As the United States faces yet another record-breaking fire season this year, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) cannot allow these prediction markets to offer unrestricted betting on wildfires. While these bets appear to be offered only on the offshore Polymarket site, it is only a matter of time before other U.S. based Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) try to offer these. The CFTC must lead the charge to rein in these contracts in the U.S. and offshore and put in place common-sense guardrails to prevent people from profiting as wildfires threaten communities.

As such, we request you provide answers to the following questions by August 14, 2026:

Is the CFTC considering prohibiting DCMs from offering event contracts on wildfires as part of the rulemaking process currently underway, given they are against the public’s interest?

Does the CFTC have any plans to curb bets on wildfires on prediction markets in the United States? Does the agency have plans to address these contracts being offered on offshore markets?

Does the CFTC believe event contracts offered on the following wildfire-related events are in the public interest:

How long would a wildfire last?

How much would a wildfire destroy?

How much would a wildfire grow by?

Does the Commission have guidance or planned enforcement related to these wildfire event contracts?

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to hearing from you.

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VIDEO: Senator Moody Brings No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime Home to Local Florida Restaurant Chain

ORLANDO, Fla.— Senator Ashley Moody is continuing to celebrate one year of No Tax on Tips for Florida’s service industry workers. Senator Moody recently visited Beth’s Burger Bar in Edgewood, where she met with the owner, restaurant employees, and customers to discuss the real impact of No Tax on Tips, a historic win secured through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

“Floridians know how to spend their money better than the federal government, and that is why I fought so hard to pass the largest tax cut in U.S. history. It’s exciting to see how well these tax cuts are being received by hardworking Floridians back home—like the employees of Beth’s Burger Bar. As your United States Senator, I will continue to fight so you can keep more of what you earn,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody championed the No Tax on Tips provision included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

The provision allows eligible workers in tipped occupations to deduct qualified tip income from their federal taxable income.

No Tax on Tips is designed to allow Florida’s Service Industry workers to keep more of their hard-earned money.

More than 7.5 million workers have already claimed No Tax on Tips – with an average deduction of over $7,000.

There are about 1.34 million employees in the Leisure and Hospitality industry in the state of Florida.

Senator Moody heard firsthand from service workers about how keeping more of their tips will support their families and strengthen Florida’s hospitality sector.

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Sens. Moran, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Access to Air Travel for Survivors of Human Trafficking

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) recently introduced the Jimmy Deal Trafficking Survivors Assistance Act to help survivors of human trafficking access air travel and resources they need to reach safety. The bipartisan legislation would establish a partnership between Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and anti-human trafficking service providers to help survivors escape traffickers and return home. The bill requires every TSA screening airport to designate a trained employee as a Trafficking Survivor Point of Contact.

“Victims of human trafficking often lack a government-issued ID needed for air travel, hindering their ability to find safety or reunite with family,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation aims to eliminate this barrier by creating a process that helps make certain every survivor has the means to access air travel when they desperately need it to escape danger and reach safety.”

“We should be making it as easy as possible for human trafficking survivors to escape their captors and get the help they need,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “My friend Jimmy Deal saved lives by helping survivors without identification get approved for travel, and I’m proud to honor his legacy with this legislation.”

Items to note:

Human traffickers often control access to their victims’ identification documents, and many survivors leave their documents behind when attempting to flee, making air travel difficult.

According to Rescue America’s national emergency hotline for trafficking survivors, more than 1,000 survivors who have called its hotline since October 2020 did not have identity documents.

Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV-03) plans to introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation is supported by Awaken, American Association of Airport Executives, Airports Council International – North America, Polaris, Street Grace, Freedom Network USA, Rescue America, Nevada Policy Council on Human Trafficking, Hope for Family Resilience, Sex Trade Survivor Caucus, Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking and 3Strands Global Foundation.

Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

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