Sen. Rick Scott Highlights Senate To-Do List Before Leaving Town on “Mornings with Maria”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, U.S. Senator Rick Scott joined Fox Business’s “Morning with Maria” to lay out next steps to pass the SAVE America Act and the Senate’s upcoming vote to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.

Senator Rick Scott also discussed yesterday’s Senate Budget Committee hearing about closing Medicaid abuse loopholes and tackling fraud.

Watch the full interview HERE and read the highlights below.

HIGHLIGHTS

RECONCILIATION 3.0/SAVE AMERICA ACT:

“We have to get [SAVE America Act] done before we leave town. We’ve got to get the budget done; make sure we don’t shut down government… We don’t work that hard. We only work two-and-half days a week. When I was in business, I was working seven days a week, and most people are at least working five days a week.”

FAUCI FALLOUT:

“There was no logic to what Fauci did. He just lied. The gain of function – just a complete lie, the origin of Covid – complete lie. His diary showed that he believed different than what he was telling us… He’s going to be held in contempt, it needs to be referred, and he’s going to serve time for what he did.”

MEDICAID FRAUD:

“The amount of fraud in the Medicaid program is unbelievable. First off, the way it’s structured to where these states can use all sorts of gimmicks to get all this free federal money. And we, as the federal government, we give more money to states to take care of able-bodied adults than we do disabled Americans. This is the most foolishly set up program ever.”

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Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. Byron Donalds Push Bill to Expedite State Wildlife Conservation Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rick Scott recently introduced the Make State Wildlife Action Plan Efficient (SWAPs) Act to require the U.S. Department of the Interior to act on state conservation efforts within 180 days of submission.

States develop and submit annual State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), detailing which non-game species require state intervention so they do not become threatened or endangered. Currently, there is no deadline for the federal government to approve SWAPs, forcing states to wait a year or longer to receive funding for critical conservation needs.

In December 2025, Congressman Byron Donalds’ companion legislation passed the House of Representatives.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Florida’s natural beauty, including its wildlife, is worth protecting. It is unacceptable that federal bureaucracy stalls critical wildlife funding year after year, leaving Florida’s wildlife and our environment vulnerable. The American people deserve prompt and efficient use of their tax dollars. I’m glad to join Congressman Donalds to fast-track this funding and protect Florida’s wildlife.”

Congressman Byron Donalds said, “When states do the work to protect wildlife, Washington should do its part by reviewing their plans on time. Giving agencies 180 days to act will help cut through red tape and ensure states can keep protecting the wildlife and natural resources their communities depend on. I am grateful to Senator Scott for joining this effort to get the bill across the finish line.”

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Risch Introduces Bill to Improve Veteran Access to Disability Benefits

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced theVeterans’ Earned Benefits Access Act to allow veterans to access their disability benefits when repaying separation pay. Under current law, the VA is required to withhold a veteran’s entire monthly disability payment until their separation pay has been recouped. The Veterans’ Earned Benefits Access Act would allow veterans to instead repay the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through monthly payments of no more than 25 percent of their monthly disability compensation.

“Idaho veterans who answered the call to serve our country should not face delays in accessing their earned benefits,” said Risch. “My Veterans’ Earned Benefits Access Act ensures veterans can receive the disability benefits they need while repaying their separation pay.”

The Veterans’ Earned Benefits Access Act applies to veterans who were involuntarily separated from military service, such as those separated due to downsizing. The bill does not apply to those who were dishonorably discharged.

The Veterans’ Earned Benefits Access Act is supported by the Idaho Division of Veteran Services.


Risch, Warner Introduce Civil Nuclear Export Act to Strengthen U.S. Competitiveness

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), co-chairs of the Senate Advanced Nuclear Caucus, today introduced the Civil Nuclear Export Act to strengthen the United States’ ability to compete in existing and emerging nuclear markets and counter Russian and Chinese civil nuclear technologies.

“The United States and Idaho are the home of nuclear energy and ought to be the world’s source for the next generation of technology,” said Risch. “The Civil Nuclear Export Act gives the U.S. the tools needed to compete, expand and succeed in new markets, and maintain U.S. nuclear technology as the global standard.”

“In order to meet U.S. and global energy demands, we need to advance the next generation of nuclear energy technology,” said Warner. “This bipartisan legislation will help rebuild the domestic supply chain and make sure the U.S. remains competitive.”

“Civil nuclear energy exports are among the United States’ most strategically significant exports, creating commercial, energy, and security partnerships that last for generations. As Russia and China continue to pair their nuclear exports with aggressive government-backed financing, the United States must ensure its exporters have the tools they need to compete. The Civil Nuclear Export Act will strengthen America’s ability to compete for these opportunities by ensuring the Export-Import Bank has the authorities it needs to support U.S. exporters in an increasingly competitive global marketplace,” said Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute.

The Civil Nuclear Export Act would:

Modify existing law to allow for the financing of civil nuclear facilities, materials, and technologies that support nuclear innovation;

Enhance financing tools available through the Export-Import Bank to help American civil nuclear companies compete against Chinese and Russian state-owned and operated entities; and

Expand international access to American-developed technologies to establish and bolster diplomatic relationships while benefiting our domestic economy.

Idaho is home to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the flagship laboratory for civil nuclear energy research and the first place in the world to generate electricity with a nuclear reactor. INL is driving significant progress in the development of advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, microreactors, and safer, more efficient nuclear fuels. This year alone, three microreactors have gone critical at the INL. These efforts, made possible through public-private partnerships, contribute to American energy independence and strengthen U.S. global leadership in civil nuclear energy.

Senator Risch is a long-time advocate for nuclear energy. He has spearheaded legislation to increase domestic energy production, enhance national security, and bolster U.S. nuclear advancement, including the International Nuclear Energy Act, which became law last year. In February, Risch introduced the Accelerating Reliable Capabilities (ARC) Act to accelerate investment in and encourage completion of new commercial nuclear reactors by mitigating the risk of project cost overruns.


Schatz: Trump, Republicans Are Raising Prices On Purpose

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor today about how President Donald Trump and Republicans are raising prices for Americans on purpose.

“The price of everything is up and that's on purpose,” said Senator Schatz. “The President of the United States has decided that Americans should pay more for everything. And so, while he's busy lining his pockets with crypto schemes and insider information subscription programs, regular people can't afford their lives.”

Senator Schatz continued, “It is common for presidents have to deal with the problems related to the economy. And specifically, what can be a real political killer is the question of inflation. But this is very unusual and maybe unprecedented in American history. You have a President of the United States whose stated policy on tariffs, on energy, on Iran, on health care, on food, is to raise the price of everything. That is not a sort of accidental outcome of his economic policy. People are going broke, and they are doing it to you on purpose.”

A transcript of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.

The price of everything is up and that's on purpose. It's on purpose because Donald Trump made it so. We are not in the middle of a pandemic or a recession or a national emergency. But the President of the United States has decided that Americans should pay more for everything. Food, gas, electricity, health care, housing, clothes – everything. And so, while he's busy lining his pockets with crypto schemes and insider information subscription programs, regular people can't afford their lives.

Now, I say he's doing this on purpose because these are deliberate policy choices that he's made. First, it was the tariffs that jacked up the prices of goods across the board. Tomatoes went up 40%. Coffee went up by 20%. Clothes and car seats were up by 20%. Electronics shot up by hundreds of dollars. And so it wasn't as if you could avoid the hit by not shopping at a particular store for a particular thing. And people in Hawai‘i are very expert at figuring out, okay, turkey's high, let's get chicken. Okay, pork is high, let's get beef.

The difference now is there's no escape. Literally everything is up. And that's because the president of the United States has decided through this Iran war, through the tariffs, through the energy bans, through the Medicaid and Medicare cuts, through the ACA cuts, through the nutrition cuts to make literally every aspect of your life more expensive.

Then came the One Big Beautiful Bill where in order to cut taxes for billionaires, Trump and the Republicans slashed subsidies for affordable health care and food assistance. And I want you to understand this sounds like the kind of thing a partisan would say. And it is. But it's also true that the way they paid for tax cuts for the wealthiest people and the wealthiest corporations on this planet, the way they literally paid for it, is to take away people's health care. Without the enhanced premium tax credits, ACA premiums went up by close to 60%. And as a result, millions of Americans are living without health care this year. Millions of Americans are living without health care this year – not by choice, but by force. And I want to read some of what those people had to say about it. A man in Texas said, “The prices are simply too high. I don't think we can afford our mortgage if I had to pay for health insurance. If I had catastrophic health event, it makes more sense for me to just declare bankruptcy than it would for me to be delinquent on our other payments.” Here's another, a 38-year-old from Alabama: “I can't afford insurance, I can't afford health care without insurance. So basically just hoping and praying I don't get sick.” People are having a gamble on their health so that the richest people ever to live can pay even less in taxes. And the price hikes aren't over yet, because premiums are set to rise by double digits again next year, according to proposals from insurers.

Aside from health care, the Republican tax bill also compounded Trump's ban on wind and solar energy. They are banning wind and solar energy, which is not only clean and helps us to address the climate crisis, it's just the quickest and cheapest energy that we can possibly get on the grid. And so it's not like we're in 1970 and we're arguing about the climate crisis versus the price that people pay on their utility bills. Now, the way to address the climate crisis is to do a lot more wind and solar. And the benefit is that it's the cheapest form of energy. And yet this president has banned wind and solar energy through their administrative actions. And that is spiking the price of utilities across the country.

And that's all before you factor in the war in Iran, which in addition to being a spectacular failure that has achieved very little of Trump's own stated goals, has also caused gas and energy and food prices to spike everywhere. Gas is over four bucks right now nationally, and it's even higher in Hawai‘i at $5.45. Diesel is $1.60 more than it was a year ago, which means that we're all paying more at stores and for deliveries. In Hawai‘i, electricity bills went up 20% in one month – 20% in one month – because of skyrocketing oil prices. And food prices continue to climb everywhere as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz extends a global fertilizer shortage.

It is common for presidents have to deal with the problems related to the economy. And specifically, what can be a real political killer is the question of inflation. But this is very unusual and maybe unprecedented in American history. You have a President of the United States whose stated policy on tariffs, on energy, on Iran, on health care, on food, is to raise the price of everything. That is not a sort of accidental outcome of his economic policy. It is his economic policy to raise the price of everything. People are going broke, and they are doing it to you on purpose.

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NEWS: Schiff, Gillibrand, and Colleagues Press Trump Administration on Chaotic, Opaque Oversight of New Artificial Intelligence Models

Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and other Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the Trump administration for answers about its unpredictable oversight of frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and its opaque standards for evaluating a model’s national security risk. The letter follows the Trump administration’s recent haphazard responses to frontier models from Anthropic and OpenAI and comes as basic questions surround the implementation of Executive Order 14409, the White House’s voluntary pre-release review framework for frontier models.

In the letter, the Senators expressed their support for maintaining the United States’ competitive lead in AI development while protecting the country from serious national security risks. However, they stressed that continued reliance on ad hoc, case-by-case regulation will not sufficiently address the cybersecurity and other risks frontier AI models pose. The Senators also warned that without consistent policy governing American models, consumers and businesses would be incentivized to migrate to models from foreign vendors, including those based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

“Last month provided a dramatic example of these potential risks. During an internal evaluation, OpenAI models escaped their testing environment and used high-level technical capabilities to compromise a third party’s network without any instructions to take those actions. The Federal Government cannot be passive as these capabilities emerge. At the same time, the administration’s recent actions surrounding access to advanced U.S. AI models have raised serious concerns about process, transparency, and strategic effect. On June 12, 2026, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) utilized an infrequently used authority to direct Anthropic to suspend all access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for foreign nationals (including foreign national employees inside the United States) citing an undisclosed national security concern later described as a narrow jailbreak finding. Because the directive took effect immediately and Anthropic had no reliable way to verify users’ nationality in real time, the company was forced to disable both models for all users worldwide within hours. Over the following eighteen days, the Department and Anthropic negotiated a resolution outside of public view: a partial restoration of Mythos 5 to a defined set of trusted partners on June 26, followed by a full lifting of the export controls on June 30,” the Senators wrote.

The Senators continued, “While the Administration may have been responding to real security concerns to protect the United States, even justifiable interventions can create broader harm if the standards and decision-making processes are opaque, ad hoc, or unpredictable. Moreover, when the Executive Branch exercises authority delegated from Congress, such as in the conduct of export control administration, it is essential that it keep Congress fully apprised of its actions and procedures.”

The Senators concluded the letter with a list of areas of clarification that will bring transparency to the public processes and standards the administration uses to deem frontier AI models a national security risk, the legal authorities the administration relies on to restrict access to AI models, and the administration’s assessment of whether its oversight strategy could incentive adoption of Chinese or other non-U.S. AI models.

“We support serious, technically informed action to prevent frontier AI from being misused by adversaries or criminals and to mitigate risks posed by misalignment in the models themselves. The United States cannot afford to create a policy environment in which the most advanced American AI systems are subject to opaque, case-by-case restrictions while Chinese alternatives appear cheaper, easier to access, and more predictable to deploy. A clear public framework is necessary to protect national security, preserve U.S. AI leadership, and give industry and allies confidence that the United States remains the safest and most reliable source of advanced AI technology. We hope you will work with Congress to pursue such a framework,” the Senators wrote.

In addition to Senators Schiff and Gillibrand, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

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NEWS: Sen. Schiff, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Drop Plans to Roll Back Commonsense ATF Rule Regulating Device Used in Major Mass Shootings

The ATF’s proposed rule would remove guardrails against the use of the stabilizing brace, which has been utilized by mass shooters to kill dozens in recent years.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is leading an effort urging the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to drop its plans to amend federal firearm rules and remove the guardrails currently in place combatting the improper use and classification of stabilizing braces, a device used in several mass shootings that can turn a semiautomatic pistol into a short-barreled rifle – making it easier to control and more effective at inflicting harm. Current law treats firearms equipped with certain stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles, reflecting the increased lethality of a gun using the enhancement.

Schiff and his colleagues argue that ATF’s proposal to remove the criteria for that classification poses a risk to the American public and allows the gun industry to profit off the sale of stabilizing braces at the expense of public safety.

“Under ATF’s newly proposed rule, firearms equipped with stabilizing braces would no longer be treated as short-barreled rifles even though such firearms look, are used, and shoot just like short-barreled rifles. This proposed rule would reopen the door to the same uncertainty and inconsistency – creating serious risks to public safety,” the Senators wrote.

Their effort cites several recent high-profile shootings where stabilizing braces were used, including the 2022 shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs and the 2023 shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, to emphasize the need for a clear regulatory framework to determine when firearms equipped with stabilizing braces should be classified as short-barreled rifles.

Further, the Senators point out that the ATF previously documented the heightened risks posed by stabilizing braces.

“In ATF’s own words, ‘Should a person choose to circumvent the NFA by effectively making unregistered ‘short-barreled rifles’ by attaching an accessory such as a ‘stabilizing brace,’ these dangerous, easily concealed weapons would pose an increased public safety problem.’ ATF continues, ‘Removing from the regulations the criteria for assessing whether a given stabilizing brace/accessory-firearm configuration qualifies as an NFA firearm increases the public risk,’” the Senators continued.

“We strongly urge ATF to withdraw this proposed rule and retain the factoring criteria for firearms with attached stabilizing braces. Doing so will preserve the consistent enforcement of the NFA, support law enforcement’s ability to identify and trace dangerous easily concealed weapons, and help ensure that individuals seeking firearms functionally equivalent to short-barreled rifles – including those seeking to commit acts of mass violence – cannot evade longstanding safeguards established by Congress,” the Senators concluded.

Schiff’s letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

This is the third such effort recently led by Schiff opposing ATF’s proposed rollbacks of commonsense firearm regulations. Schiff and others opposed ATF’s proposals to weaken marking requirements for NFA firearms and to eliminate a longstanding requirement that those seeking to make or distribute NFA firearms notify their Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) play a critical role in protecting American communities from violent crime involving the illegal use of firearms. However, in April, the ATF announced over 30 new rules that will make significant changes to federal firearms regulations, threatening decades of progress in advancing public safety, supporting law enforcement, and ensuring the consistent administration of our federal firearms laws. One of these proposed rules, “Removing Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces’” (RIN 1140-AA98, Docket No. ATF-2026-0335) , would rescind the agency’s 2023 regulation establishing the framework used to determine when firearms equipped with stabilizing braces are properly classified as short-barreled rifles under the National Firearms Act (NFA). We urge the ATF to carefully consider the significant legal, public safety, and practical consequences of this proposal and retain the objective criteria for classifying firearms equipped with stabilizing braces.

The 2023 rule established a series of factors for determining whether a firearm fitted with a stabilizing brace is designed, made, and intended to be fired from the shoulder, thereby subjecting it to the existing statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to short-barreled rifles under the NFA, including application, registration, identification, and recordkeeping requirements. The rule was adopted in response to concerns that stabilizing braces were being made, sold, and used to circumvent longstanding restrictions on short-barreled rifles and followed several high-profile shootings during which stabilizing braces were used. These incidents include:

The 2019 mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, where the shooter used an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15-style pistol equipped with a stabilizing brace and killed nine people and injured 17 others.

The 2021 shooting at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, where the shooter used a Ruger AR-556 pistol equipped with a stabilizing brace, killing ten people, including a law enforcement officer.

The 2022 shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where the shooter used an unserialized privately made firearm equipped with a stabilizing brace, killing five people and injuring 19 others.

The 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee where three children and three staff members were killed.

The 2025 Midtown Manhattan mass shooting where four were killed, including an off-duty New York Police Department Officer.

These and other incidents underscore the increasing use of brace-equipped firearms in violent crime, likely due in large part to the concealability of the weapons, and reinforce the need for a clear, objective regulatory framework to determine when such firearms need to be properly classified as short-barreled rifles under federal law.

Congress enacted the NFA in 1934 to regulate particularly dangerous weapons, including short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, machine guns, silencers, and destructive devices. Congress determined that these firearms warranted heightened regulation because of the ease with which they could be concealed and their potential use in violent crime. Nearly a century later, these weapons continue to pose significant crime problems when they are unregistered or unregulated, evidenced by the several high-profile shootings noted above. Even the Trump DOJ has acknowledged Congress’s intent behind the NFA, describing the foundational federal firearms law as “a legislative effort animated by the emergence of armed crime as a major national problem” that sought to “[target] particularly dangerous and easily concealable weapons that could be used readily and efficiently by criminals.” The NFA’s heightened regulatory framework helps ensure accountability for these firearms and provides law enforcement with essential tools to trace these firearms when recovered during criminal investigations.

Prior to the 2023 rule, ATF issued a series of classification letters and guidance documents addressing firearms equipped with stabilizing braces, resulting in considerable uncertainty regarding how the NFA applied to these firearms. With this uncertainty, the gun industry began to make and sell more stabilizing braces to circumvent NFA restrictions and regulations. The 2023 stabilizing brace rule sought to replace this inconsistent, case-by-case approach with objective criteria for determining whether a firearm equipped with a stabilizing brace is designed, made, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and therefore falls within the statutory definition of a short-barreled rifle. By replacing inconsistent case-by-case determinations with objective regulatory criteria, the 2023 rule promoted greater consistency, predictability, and transparency in the administration of the NFA, and, in turn, did what the NFA was intended to do: protect the public from violent crime.

ATF now seeks to rescind the 2023 rule altogether. Under ATF’s newly proposed rule, firearms equipped with stabilizing braces would no longer be treated as short-barreled rifles even though such firearms look, are used, and shoot just like short-barreled rifles. This proposed rule would reopen the door to the same uncertainty and inconsistency – creating serious risks to public safety. In ATF’s own words, “Should a person choose to circumvent the NFA by effectively making unregistered ‘short-barreled rifles’ by attaching an accessory such as a ‘stabilizing brace,’ these dangerous, easily concealed weapons would pose an increased public safety problem.” ATF continues, “Removing from the regulations the criteria for assessing whether a given stabilizing brace/accessory-firearm configuration qualifies as an NFA firearm increases the public risk.”

In addition to serious public safety concerns, this rule creates more regulatory uncertainty for firearm owners, manufacturers, dealers, and law enforcement agencies. Rescinding an existing framework would also eliminate the objective standards for evaluating brace-equipped firearms. Further, eliminating these standards risks inconsistent enforcement, increased litigation, and uncertainty regarding the scope of existing statutory definitions. This uncertainty benefits neither responsible firearm owners seeking clear guidance, nor law enforcement agencies charged with enforcing federal firearm laws.

We strongly urge ATF to withdraw this proposed rule and retain the factoring criteria for firearms with attached stabilizing braces. Doing so will preserve the consistent enforcement of the NFA, support law enforcement’s ability to identify and trace dangerous easily concealed weapons, and help ensure that individuals seeking firearms functionally equivalent to short-barreled rifles – including those seeking to commit acts of mass violence – cannot evade longstanding safeguards established by Congress.

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NEWS: Sen. Schiff Leads 25 Colleagues in Push to EPA to Drop Effort to Weaken Health Protections for Millions of Americans

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, is spearheading an effort with 25 Democratic colleagues demanding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdraw their proposal to roll back drinking water protections – which, if finalized, would remove federal public health limits on the amount of certain PFAS compounds in our drinking water.

The Senators emphasize in a new letter to the EPA that removing these health limits will expose Americans to unsafe levels of chemicals that have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, immune suppression problems, developmental harm, thyroid disease, pregnancy complications, and liver damage.

“Safe drinking water is not a partisan issue. Families across the country expect that when they turn on the tap, their water is safe to drink. Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure EPA relies on the best available science to protect public health—not to weaken existing protections once the science has been established,” the Senators wrote.

Despite the administration touting their ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) agenda, if enacted, EPA’s proposal would rescind the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFAS and delay compliance for the PFOA and PFOS standards until 2031 – putting the health of millions of Americans at risk.

“As far back as the 1950s, scientists observed that PFAS compounds could accumulate in human bloodstreams. It took decades of advocacy and heroic scientific research to reach the historic moment in 2024 when EPA finally promulgated the very first national drinking water standards for PFAS compounds. We cannot afford to go backwards and make Americans’ health worse,” the Senators concluded.

In addition to Schiff, the letter is signed by Ranking Member of the EPW Committee Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We write in strong opposition to EPA’s proposal to rescind the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and the Hazard Index mixtures, while also delaying compliance for the PFOA and PFOS standards until 2031. These actions would reverse the first-ever national drinking water protections for six of the most dangerous and well-studied PFAS chemicals, despite overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrating that there is no safe level of exposure to many of these chemicals. Furthermore, there is a strong case to be made that this proposal contravenes the Safe Drinking Water Act’s anti-backsliding provision.

The agency’s proposal is inconsistent with both the scientific record and EPA’s own prior findings. The 2024 drinking water standards followed years of scientific review, public input, and economic analysis. EPA concluded that the standards would protect up to 105 million people from exposure to toxic PFAS in drinking water, prevent thousands of premature deaths, reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses, and generate billions of dollars in public health benefits.

PFAS contamination is one of the most widespread public health concerns facing our nation. Nearly every American has PFAS in their blood, and millions of people continue to rely on drinking water contaminated with these persistent chemicals. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, immune suppression, developmental harm, thyroid disease, pregnancy complications, and liver damage.

EPA has repeatedly stated that protecting Americans from PFAS is a top priority. Yet these proposed rollbacks move in the opposite direction. In addressing revisions to drinking water regulations, the Safe Drinking Water Act itself states that “each revision shall maintain, or provide for greater, protection of the health of persons.” Rather than strengthening protections, the proposal eliminates enforceable standards for four PFAS entirely and delays protections for the two most prevalent PFAS. Communities living with contamination should not be forced to wait additional years for clean drinking water while polluters and regulated entities receive regulatory relief.

Your agency has suggested that regulating only PFOA and PFOS is sufficient because these chemicals are often found alongside other PFAS. However, EPA’s own scientific record demonstrates otherwise. Other PFAS occur independently, contribute to cumulative health risks, and warrant their own enforceable protections. Removing standards for these contaminants will leave significant gaps in public health protections and create unnecessary uncertainty for water systems and states that have already begun compliance planning.

Moreover, many utilities and states have already invested substantial resources to comply with the 2024 standards using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and other federal assistance. Weakening the standards now undermines those investments, creates regulatory uncertainty, and penalizes communities that have acted responsibly to protect public health.

Safe drinking water is not a partisan issue. Families across the country expect that when they turn on the tap, their water is safe to drink. Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure EPA relies on the best available science to protect public health—not to weaken existing protections once the science has been established.

We therefore urge EPA to withdraw its proposal to rescind the 2024 drinking water standards for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and the Hazard Index mixtures, reject the proposed delay for the PFOA and PFOS standards, and fully implement the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations as finalized.

As far back as the 1950s, scientists observed that PFAS compounds could accumulate in human bloodstreams. It took decades of advocacy and heroic scientific research to reach the historic moment in 2024 when EPA finally promulgated the very first national drinking water standards for PFAS compounds. We cannot afford to go backwards and make Americans’ health worse. Thank you for your consideration.

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NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Padilla Join Van Hollen and 18 Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Use Leverage to Prevent Further Atrocities in Sudan

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and 18 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the State Department to use its leverage to prevent further atrocities in Sudan and help bring the war to an end. To do so, the Senators urge the State Department to cease certain U.S. arms sales to external actors like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which continue to arm the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) in Sudan. The Senators’ letter notes the immediate need for the State Department to take action in light of the impending siege of the city of El Obeid and following the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher last year.

“We write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department’s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF,” the Senators wrote.

They continued, “We have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF’s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the ‘hallmarks of genocide’ according to United Nations investigators. […] The siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration’s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration—and the international community—continues this current pattern of inaction.”

The Senators go on to warn, “And now those alarm bells are ringing once again – this time in El Obeid. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on July 3, ‘This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world. Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and in other places in Kordofan.’ […] The State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of ‘alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent’ and said ‘the RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering.’”

“The evidence is clear – the United Arab Emirates is the primary external backer of the RSF, providing unparalleled military, financial, and technical support to the group,” the Senators note.

“Now, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher’s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end,” the Senators concluded.

In addition to Schiff, Padilla, and Van Hollen, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Secretary Rubio,

We write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department’s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF.

We have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF’s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the “hallmarks of genocide” according to United Nations investigators. A United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission found that “the Rapid Support Forces steadily squeezed the life out of El-Fasher and surrounding displacement camps, cutting off food, water, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance, while subjecting the city to recurring shelling and ground assaults. Civilians were increasingly trapped, as escape routes were restricted or closed, and forced to endure conditions of life progressively incompatible with human survival.” This 18-month siege culminated in a 3-day rampage in October 2025, where survivors describe the slaughter of civilians, mass executions, and crimes against humanity.

El-Fasher University “became one of the bloodiest execution sites in the city.” According to survivors, over a hundred civilians were gunned down or executed as they sought shelter or attempted to flee. Survivors described notorious RSF commander Abu Lulu, known as the “Butcher of El-Fasher”, asking a pregnant woman how far she was in her pregnancy and then firing seven bullets into her abdomen when she replied that she was seven months along. He at one point said, “I was planning to kill 2000 people today, but I lost count, so I will start all over again.” In the case of El-Saudi Hospital, RSF forces stormed the hospital and “proceeded to search the wards and killing those they found, including patients, accompanying persons and medical personnel…it is estimated that over 460 patients and others present were killed.” Flight didn’t bring safety, according to survivors, as “The Rapid Support Forces pursued fleeing civilians along escape routes…where they had established ambushes and checkpoints…the perpetrators chasing people in open fields, firing at them with automatic rifles and mounted submachine guns, and running over fleeing persons with vehicles, causing mass casualties.” The horrors were visible from space, with satellite images analyzed by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab showing bodies piled up in the streets, pools of blood on the ground, and mass burial sites.

The siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration’s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration—and the international community—continues this current pattern of inaction.

And now those alarm bells are ringing once again – this time in El Obeid. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on July 3, “This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world. Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and in other places in Kordofan.” Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said of El Obeid on June 30, “Too often in this brutal war, clear warnings have been ignored. Civilians have paid the price. The international community must make itself heard. We cannot say we were not warned.”

The State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of “alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent” and said “the RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering.” On June 23, State Department Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said that he spoke with RSF leadership and “strongly urged them to halt any actions that could endanger civilians in and around El Obeid.” And this Administration has repeatedly affirmed, including in July 2025, that “The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed genocide.” In November 2025, you yourself said that the RSF is “clearly receiving assistance from outside” and that “something needs to be done to cut off the weapons and the support the RSF is getting as they continue their advances.”

The evidence is clear – the United Arab Emirates is the primary external backer of the RSF, providing unparalleled military, financial, and technical support to the group. In May 2026, a new report by Human Rights Watch found that the UAE trained hundreds of Colombian mercenaries who then “took part in combat in and around El Fasher and, according to media reports, provided training to RSF recruits–including child soldiers”. In February 2026, a Reuters investigation found that Ethiopia has built a secret camp to train thousands of RSF fighters, and that the UAE financed the construction of the camp and provided military trainers and logistical support. This follows U.S. intelligence from October 2025, including separate reports from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the State Department’s intelligence bureau, that “show an increase in the flow of materiel from the U.A.E. to the rebel Rapid Support Forces since the spring.” These findings are part of a large and growing body of credible evidence that the UAE is both arming and providing military support to the RSF.

Now, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher’s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end.

We request a response to this letter by August 17, 2026.

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Schmitt Joins VP Vance at White House Anti-Fraud Roundtable

Schmitt Commits to Leading White House’s Proposed Reforms to Combat Fraud Nationwide

U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) joined Vice President JD Vance, Trump Administration officials, and Members of Congress at the White House for a roundtable on Republican and Trump Administration-led efforts to crack down on fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has taken significant action to address endemic fraud that was running rampant in Democrat-led states. Senator Schmitt also committed to drafting and leading an anti-fraud legislative package codifying the Trump Administration’s proposed reforms.

“Fraud is endemic. Under the Biden Administration, criminals and fraudsters ran schemes that exploited American taxpayers and robbed our nation’s most vulnerable of help they desperately needed. America is the most generous nation in the world, but that generosity is being abused by illegal aliens and career criminals who reject our nation’s values and pillage the federal welfare state. Taxpayers are paying the price. Thankfully, the Trump Administration has a clear and simple message for fraudsters: time is up. Vice President Vance has done an incredible job cracking down on fraud and exposing rampant waste, fraud, and abuse of our federal programs. In the Senate, I am proud to lead the Anti-Fraud Task Force to work alongside this Administration to strengthen federal oversight and hold criminals accountable so we can ensure federal programs actually help Americans in need. I look forward to taking the White House’s proposed reforms and fighting like hell to pass them into law,” said Senator Schmitt.

Background:

In June, Senator Schmitt announced the launch of his Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force to examine fraud, waste, and abuse across federal programs; identify vulnerabilities in existing systems; and strengthen government accountability to ensure the proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Schmitt was joined by Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ron Johnson (R-WI).

In January, Schmitt introduced the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation (SCAM) Act to restore integrity to the naturalization process by expanding and clarifying grounds to revoke the citizenship of certain individuals who demonstrate through their involvement with fraud, other serious felonies, or terrorist organizations that they never met the statutory requirements for citizenship.

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Schmitt Leads Bill to Prioritize Research on Tick-Borne Livestock Disease

Bill Designates Tick-Borne Livestock Disease as High-Priority Research Area to Protect Missouri Livestock Producers, Specifically for Disease Associated with the Asian Longhorned Tick

U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), joined by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV), introduced the Emerging Tick-Borne Livestock Disease Research Prioritization Act, which statutorily designates tick-borne livestock disease as a high-priority research area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill authorizes USDA to make competitive grants within pre-existing research programs aimed at developing vaccines, therapeutics, and treatments for tick-borne livestock disease. Specifically, the bill targets diseases associated with the Asian Longhorned Tick, several of which lack an approved vaccine or treatment.

“Missouri is one of the nation’s leaders in livestock production, and our farmers and ranchers work too hard to have their livelihoods threatened by emerging tick-borne diseases. Invasive species like the Asian Longhorned Tick pose a growing risk to our livestock industry and the families who depend on it. By elevating the need for critical research into tick-borne livestock disease, we’re helping ensure producers have the tools they need to protect their herds, strengthen our food supply, and keep America’s agriculture industry competitive. I’ll keep working with Missouri’s farm families to protect for the Show-Me State’s number one economic driver,” said Senator Schmitt.

“Cattle producers are not short on issues impacting their industry right now. The national cattle herd size is the lowest it’s been in 75 years, and with emerging threats like Asian Longhorned Ticks and New World Screwworm, the industry is under even more pressure. USDA needs to do everything they can to help find ways to combat vector-borne diseases and other threats to livestock, and this bill makes it a priority for them,” said Senator Jim Justice.

“Kansas ranchers already have enough challenges without worrying about another invasive pest threatening their herds. As the Asian Longhorn Tick continues to spread, we need to stay ahead of it—not play catch-up,” said Senator Marshall. “This bill makes sure USDA treats this growing threat like the priority it is by directing more research toward protecting our cattle, our producers, and our food supply.”

Background:

Thanks to Senator Schmitt’s advocacy, this legislation is included in the current draft of the Senate Farm Bill.

Missouri consistently ranks among the nation’s top three beef producers, supporting nearly 40,000 jobs.

Asian Longhorn Ticks have spread aggressively across Missouri over the last several years. These ticks spread debilitating diseases including Theileriosis, which cause anemia, persistent infection, or death in livestock. There are no effective treatments for the condition, costing producers thousands of dollars per head when an animal dies.

Missouri’s livestock industry contributes more than $9 billion in value added annually

Statements of Support:

“The Asian Longhorned tick is a rapidly growing threat to cattle and humans, with more research needed to combat this pest and the infectious diseases it carries. This legislation would fund critical research and education efforts that will improve cattle health, animal welfare, and the long-term financial stability of farmers and ranchers. Cattle producers understand it will take a collective effort to protect the future of U.S. cattle industry, and this bill is an important step in these efforts. NCBA thanks Senator Schmitt for introducing this legislation and working with U.S. cattle producers to lead the way on cutting edge research efforts,” said Sigrid Johannes, Director of Government Affairs, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

“We met with Senator Schmitt and his team multiple times about the emergency in the U.S. cattle herd created by the Asian longhorned tick. He listened and went to work. Missouri producers are facing serious losses and lack tools to deploy to address the issue. We need research now that will lead to solutions as quickly as possible,”said Mike Deering, Executive Vice President, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

“As the University of Missouri’s land-grant college of agriculture, we hear directly from the farmers, ranchers, and rural communities we serve about the challenges they face. Emerging tick-borne livestock diseases are a growing concern, and our role is to turn research into real-world solutions through innovation, Extension, and partnerships with producers. Senator Schmitt’s legislation recognizes the importance of investing in research and Extension so we can continue equipping Missouri’s livestock producers with the tools they need to protect herd health, strengthen rural communities, and keep America’s food supply strong and secure,” said Christopher Daubert, Dean of the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

“Livestock producers know firsthand how tick-borne illnesses can disrupt herd health and daily operations. When farmers invest their time, money and care into their animals, they need clear answers about the diseases that threaten them. Prioritizing research on tick-borne illnesses will help producers respond when disease strikes. Better data, improved diagnostics and stronger management tools all begin with focused scientific research. Understanding these diseases isn’t optional; it’s essential. We appreciate Sen. Eric Schmitt and his colleagues for recognizing this growing challenge and highlighting the need for stronger, targeted research,” said Garrett Hawkins, a 5th generation farmer from St. Clair County and President of Missouri Farm Bureau.

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SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND URGE PASSAGE OF BILL TO RENAME BUFFALO POST OFFICE IN HONOR OF “FATHER OF AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE” WILLIAM J. DONOVAN

Today, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand called on Congress to quickly pass legislation renaming a Buffalo, New York post office in honor of Buffalo native William J. Donovan, known as the “Father of American Intelligence.” The bill, H.R. 1706, would designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 1200 William Street as the William J. Donovan Post Office Building. Donovan was a World War I and World War II hero, a Medal of Honor recipient, and a longtime public servant who helped position the U.S. as a global leader in national security as founding director of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

In a letter to Rand Paul, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Ranking Member Gary Peters, Gillibrand and Schumer wrote that the renaming would be a fitting tribute to a leader who dedicated his life to national and local service.

"William J. Donovan served our nation with honor and dedication," said Senator Gillibrand. "He defended our country during both world wars, received the Medal of Honor for his bravery, and helped position the United States as a leader in national security. Renaming the post office in his honor will help his incredible legacy endure in Western New York."

“‘Wild Bill’ Donovan is an American hero who received the Medal of Honor and also was a founder of the modern intelligence community. He dedicated his life to serving Western New York and our country and played a key role protecting our national security during both world wars and in the decades after,” said Senator Schumer. “I cannot think of any better way to honor his legacy than with a Buffalo post office designation.”

In 1923, Donovan received the Medal of Honor for his actions during a 1918 battle near Landres-et-Saint-Georges, France, where he was shot but refused to leave the battlefield. He later served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York and as an assistant attorney general under President Calvin Coolidge. During World War II, Donovan founded and directed the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the modern-day Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He retired from military service as a major general.

If approved by the committee, the bill moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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Sheehy Introduces the Use Sovereignty to Reduce Rx Act

U.S. SENATE – Senator Tim Sheehy today introduced the Use Sovereignty to Reduce Rx Act (USTRx Act), a bill to combat unfair, foreign pharmaceutical price controls that force the American people to shoulder the cost of developing lifesaving drugs while other countries reap the benefits.

“America leads the world in developing lifesaving medicines, but for too long, foreign governments have gamed the system with price controls that force hardworking Americans to pick up the tab for these drugs. That’s not free trade – it’s freeloading. The USTRx Act will hold trading partners accountable, protect American innovation, and put our patients and taxpayers first,” said Senator Sheehy.

The United States has subsidized foreign drug prices through the export of pills and biologics fully funded by U.S. research. Foreign countries have then imposed strict price control regimes that transfer the bulk of the cost of research and development to American consumers.

A recent Special 301 report from USTR confirmed several foreign governments, including Germany and Japan, continue to use unfair policies to suppress pharmaceutical prices below fair market value and arbitrarily limit access to these lifesaving products. On June 18, 2026, USTR opened a Section 301 Investigation against Germany to determine whether persistent underpayment for innovative pharmaceutical products by Germany is unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.

The USTRx Act establishes a Chief Pharmaceutical Trade Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), increases oversight of foreign drug pricing policies, and equips the United States with tools to hold countries accountable for suppressing the value of American pharmaceutical innovation.

Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) joined Senator Sheehy in introducing the bill. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Jody Arrington (R-Texas).

Background:

The USTRx Act directs the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to:

Establish the position of Chief Pharmaceutical Trade Negotiator at USTR. The position would identify foreign price controls on drugs innovated in the U.S.

Compile and release an annual report to Congress on the policies and practices of high-income countries relating to the trade of pharmaceutical products

Submit to the Committee on Ways and Means in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance in the Senate a plan to respond to the policies and practices of high-income countries, which may include initiating an investigation under title III of the Trade Act of 1974


Thune: Farm Bill to Provide Real Support and Certainty for South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers

Click here to watch the video.

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, America’s farmers and ranchers got some good news at the end of last week.

“After a lot of hard work from members of the Agriculture Committee, Chairman Boozman released the text of a five-year farm bill, which is slated for a markup tomorrow and will, I hope, be headed soon to the floor.

“Mr. President, as someone who hails from an ag state and who’s been part of the drafting of now five farm bills, I know how important the farm bill is, and how much work goes in to getting it right.

“As I made clear at the start of this Congress, America’s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority.

“That started last year with the Working Families Tax Cuts, which strengthened the farm safety net, bolstered critical farm programs, and delivered tax relief to America’s agriculture producers – including relief from the unfair death tax and making the 199A deduction permanent.

“And it continues this year with this farm bill, which builds on the important measures in the Working Families Tax Cuts to give farmers and ranchers certainty into the future.

“After the Working Families Tax Cuts raised reference prices last year, this farm bill makes further improvements to commodity programs as well as crop insurance – cornerstones of the farm safety net.

“It modernizes farm loan programs to get America’s next generation of farmers and ranchers off to a strong start.

“And it strengthens other programs that producers depend on.

“It improves the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program so that it covers the cost of hauling feed or water and opens the program to producers dealing with drought or other adverse weather conditions.

“And it includes my CRP Flexibility and Improvement Act, which will make the Conservation Reserve Program a more working-lands-oriented option for producers.

“Mr. President, CRP plays a very significant role in South Dakota’s economy by helping to provide habitat for pheasants.

“But producers in my state have been frustrated for years with how the program is managed – in particular by the fact that its restrictions on land use can be excessive.

“And that’s why I introduced the CRP Flexibility and Improvement Act.

“My bill allows grazing options – including fencing and water distribution – on all CRP acres.

“And on top of that, it increases the annual CRP payment limit for the first time in the program’s 40-year history.

“This bill will make CRP an attractive option for more producers and open up access for livestock forage in drought conditions.

“Mr. President, the farm bill also includes a number of bills I’ve worked on that make it easier for producers to do business and get their products to market.

“It includes a bill I worked on with Senators Grassley, Klobuchar, and Baldwin that establishes reporting requirements on fertilizer prices, which will bring more transparency to the fertilizer marketplace by helping producers make more informed and cost-effective choices for their operations.

“Another bill of mine – the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act – will facilitate the creation of industry-led, voluntary standards for precision ag technology that will help more farmers adopt this promising tool.

“And my Strengthening Local Processing Act gives smaller processors access to critical information and allows more meat products approved by a state inspector to be sold across state lines.

“Mr. President, the farm bill is about more than just what happens on a farm or a ranch.

“It also supports America’s rural communities.

“That includes water infrastructure, rural development, and health care – among other critical services.

“It also includes our continued efforts to provide broadband in unserved communities.

“And I’m pleased that this bill will help ensure that broadband dollars are going to communities that need it – places where 90 percent or more of the residents lack access to basic internet services.

“Mr. President, there’s a lot more I could talk about with this bill.

“A lot more.

“This is a bill that will provide real support and certainty for America’s farmers and ranchers.

“And that’s good news for all Americans, who depend on our hardworking producers for food, fuel, and fiber.

“And fuel, Mr. President, is the final thing I want to discuss this morning.

“Mr. President, for decades, the seasonal sale of E15 has been a win-win for America’s farmers and for the American people.

“It has strengthened the agriculture economy while providing the American people with an affordable source of homegrown energy.

“And for many years, Mr. President, it’s been a priority for me – and for many of my colleagues here – to allow E15 to be sold all year.

“Mr. President, it’s taken a lot of work to get here, but I’m very proud that this farm bill delivers permanent – permanent – year-round E15.

“This is something that is going to further help producers and help bring down fuel costs for all Americans.

“And I want to thank Chairman Boozman as well as Senators Daines, Capito, and Fischer, for all of their hard work on this issue.

“I’m looking forward to getting it across the finish line.

“Mr. President, I spend a lot of time with farmers and ranchers back home in South Dakota.

“They talk to me about the uncertainty and the headwinds they face.

“And I’ve listened to their priorities and made them my own.

“As I said, America’s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority.

“And with the Working Families Tax Cuts and now this farm bill, we’re making real progress on the challenges facing our producers.

“But of course our work is never finished.

“There will be more to do in the future to support and strengthen American agriculture.

“And America’s producers can be confident that their needs will always be at the top of my list.”


Thune’s Big Tech Algorithm Transparency Bill Unanimously Approved by Committee

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today applauded the Commerce Committee’s unanimous passage of his bipartisan Filter Bubble Transparency Act, which was included in a larger bill to address kids’ safety on the internet. Thune’s bill would make it easier for internet platform users to understand the potential manipulation that exists with secret algorithms and require large-scale platforms to allow those users to consume information outside of that potential manipulation zone or “filter bubble.”

“Consumers deserve more transparency when it comes to how social media and other internet platforms use algorithms to amplify or suppress content on their services,” said Thune. “This bill would help consumers better understand how algorithms are used to select content in their feed and give users more control over what information they are digesting. I’m pleased that the committee has passed my bill as part of the Kids Online Safety Act, and I thank Senator Blackburn for her leadership on this important issue.”

The Filter Bubble Transparency Act would require large-scale internet platforms to disclose algorithm use to consumers and allow users to view content that has not been curated as a result of a secret algorithm. The bill would also make it unlawful for any person to operate a covered internet platform that uses a secret algorithm unless the platform complies with the two above requirements. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the legislation’s requirements, and it would be authorized to seek civil penalties for knowing violations.


Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $560,000 for Workforce Development, Supportive Housing in Western Maryland

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $562,851 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for education, workforce development, and supportive housing for adults recovering from mental illness or with developmental disabilities in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties.

“When we invest in opportunities for education, workforce training, and supportive housing, we invest in the long-term success of our communities. These federal dollars from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help create educational opportunities, open pathways to good-paying jobs, and strengthen the financial stability of Marylanders,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“When we invest in Western Maryland, our entire state benefits. This federal investment will support research at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Lab in Frostburg, create more opportunities for Marylanders developing their careers at Garrett College’s Career Technology Training Center, and renovate critical housing for adults recovering from mental illness or developmental disabilities. This isn’t just an investment in Marylanders; it’s an investment in our economy and our future,”said Senator Alsobrooks.

“Western Maryland is full of talent and potential, and these federal investments will help turn that potential into opportunity,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “This funding will expand research and student training at Frostburg’s Appalachian Lab, prepare Garrett College students for good-paying welding jobs, and provide stable housing and employment support through Archway Station. I’ll keep fighting to bring home resources that strengthen our rural communities.”

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

$312,851 to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Lab in Frostburg to acquire advanced scientific equipment and computing infrastructure, including atmospheric gas analyzers, upgrades to a high-capacity computing cluster, a dilution system for laboratory analysis, and more. The funds will expand the Appalachian Lab’s ability to conduct high-precision environmental and agricultural research, improve data processing and artificial intelligence capabilities, and support workforce training opportunities for students and participants.

$200,000 to Archway Station, Inc., to renovate seven apartments to support up to 18 participants in the Archway Recovery Program. Participants will receive temporary supportive housing, assistance with securing permanent housing, obtaining and retaining jobs, and advancing financial stability.

$50,000 to Garrett College to upgrade equipment in the existing welding lab at the Career Technology Training Center. The funds will support the purchase of 11 multi-process welders and one band saw and are anticipated to support 135 students over the course of three years.

These investments are provided through the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. Senator Van Hollen secured $200 million in federal funding for the ARC through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, and the lawmakers have since worked to prevent cuts to the program from the Trump Administration.


New Data: Black Lung Rate in Appalachia Highest in Nearly 50 Years

WASHINGTON – Following a new report that found that coal miners in central Appalachia are suffering from black lung at the highest rates in nearly 50 years, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) highlighted the urgent need to strengthen protections for miners and ensure they receive the health care and benefits they have earned.

“Coal miners in Appalachia are getting sicker and at younger ages, and this new data that black lung rates are at their highest in nearly 50 years is devastating. The administration’s decision to cut funding for programs that protect miners’ health and pause enforcement of the silica dust rule is leaving miners at greater risk,” said Sen. Warner. “Miners have risked their lives to fuel and power our nation. I am proud to fight for coal miners in Appalachia and across the country, and we must do right by them. Congress must enact legislation to ensure miners can access the medical care, compensation, and benefits they have earned.”

The report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a federal research agency, found that among miners in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia with at least 25 years in the mines, 32.5 percent tested positive for black lung, the highest recorded rate since 1978. The report also found that miners with at least 15 years underground are developing black lung at rates not seen in nearly 40 years.

Sen. Warner has introduced the Relief for Survivors of Miners Act and the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, bills that would remove barriers to benefits and ensure that miners and their families receive the compensation they are entitled to. He also previously spoke out against the Trump administration’s decision to pause enforcement of a Department of Labor rule to protect miners from silica dust, which is contributing to a significant uptick in severe black lung disease, particularly among younger miners in their thirties and forties.

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Warner, Banks Introduce Bill to Better Match a Patient to their Health Records

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Patient Matching and Transparency in Certified Health IT (MATCH IT) Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve standardization of patients’ demographic data entered into certified health IT products to help decrease patient misidentification and promote interoperability. The bill would also create an anonymous, voluntary system to measure patient match rates across the healthcare ecosystem. The ability to match patients to their health records is critical to health data interoperability, vital to HIPAA Privacy Rule compliance, and would improve patient safety.

“Patient misidentification is a serious problem that has led to medical mistakes and even patient death,” said Sen. Warner. “My bipartisan bill would improve the interoperability between health care systems and decrease patient misidentification, while protecting patient privacy and leading to better patient care.”

“Patient matching errors are a hidden tax on the healthcare system,” said Sen. Banks. “This bipartisan bill would make sure doctors have the right patient’s records and reduce medical errors, speed up care, and reduce healthcare costs.”

The MATCH IT Act would:

Direct HHS to develop uniform data standards and definitions for accurate and precise patient matching;

Establish minimum data set standard needed to support the adoption of patient match rate at 99.9;

Require all Certified Electronic Health Record Technology systems to adopt these standards; and

Establish a voluntary Medicare bonus for providers who meet a patient matching rate of 90%.

The MATCH IT Act is endorsed by the Patient ID Now Coalition, American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), American Heart Association, Becton Dickinson (BD), College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc. (HIMSS), Intermountain Health, 4medica, Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE), American College of Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Baptist Health, Civitas Networks for Health, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), DirectTrust, e4health, Harris Data Integrity Solutions, Imprivata, Medical Group Management Association, MyLigo, Inc, Nemours Children’s Health, OrthoVirginia, Parkland Health, Parkview Health, Robert Wood Johnson Barnabus Health, SynchroLink AI, Valley Children’s Healthcare, and Verato.

“A close family member was undergoing cancer treatment when they were taken to the emergency room within the same hospital system where they had been receiving care. Despite being treated within that system, the ER staff had no record that they were a cancer patient. They didn’t have an active medication list or information about ongoing treatments. I had to rush to the ER to provide the missing medical information without which I don’t believe they’d be alive today,” said Terri Ripley, CIO of OrthoVirginia. “The MATCH IT Act is critical to solving this issue and ensuring providers have access to a complete medical history—including previous x-rays, surgical history, and active medications—to deliver safe, high-quality care.”

“At Virginia Health Information, we see every day the essential role accurate, timely data plays in delivering quality patient care. When health information is correctly connected to the right patient, clinicians can spend less time searching for records and more time caring for people,” said Kyle Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Health Information. “The MATCH IT Act advances a common-sense national approach that improves patient safety, reduces unnecessary costs, and affords Virginians the right care at the right time.”

“Patient misidentification directly threatens lives, transforming what seems like a technical challenge into an urgent patient safety crisis,” said Heather Stebbins, President of Virginia Health Information Management Association. “The MATCH IT Act recognizes the importance of data integrity and interoperability in modern healthcare. The Virginia Health Information Management Association (VHIMA) commends Senators Mark Warner and Jim Banks for championing legislation that helps ensure the right information reaches the right provider at the right time.”

“AI has the potential to transform healthcare, but its effectiveness depends on accurate, trusted patient data. As providers manage a historic volume of health information, the need for a national patient matching standard has never been more urgent,” said Russ Branzell, CEO of College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). “The MATCH IT Act will strengthen patient safety, protect patient privacy, and improve interoperability by ensuring health information is accurately matched to the right individual. By reducing duplicate records and eliminating costly, manual reconciliation processes, this legislation will create new efficiencies across the healthcare system while laying the foundation for safe and effective AI adoption.”

“On behalf of HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), I applaud Senators Mark Warner and Jim Banks for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the MATCH IT Act in the Senate,” said Hal Wolf, President and CEO of HIMSS. “Accurate patient identification is fundamental to safe, interoperable, and high-quality care. By addressing the persistent challenge of patient misidentification, the MATCH IT Act will help improve patient safety, strengthen privacy protections and ensure providers have access to complete and accurate information for delivering informed care. We now urge Congress to advance this critical legislation.”

“Medical care begins with the information found in a patient’s health record. However, patient misidentification within the healthcare ecosystem continues to threaten patient safety and privacy, which can lead to dire outcomes,” said David D. Cella, CEO of American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). “With the introduction of the MATCH IT Act, we are one step closer to ensuring patients’ health information is complete and accurate. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) commends Senator Warner and Senator Banks for leading the effort to address this critical issue.”

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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Warner, Kaine Announce Over $5 Million in Federal Funding to Support Victims of Sexual Assault, Combat Violence Against Women

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $5,285,635 in federal grant funding for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to help law enforcement, court personnel, and victim services organizations support victims of sexual assault and their families, enhance victim protection and safety, and curb violent crimes against women. This funding comes from the Office on Violence Against Women’s (OVW) STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program and the Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Formula Program. The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program is made possible by the Violence Against Women Act, which Sens. Warner and Kaine successfully fought to reauthorize in 2022.

“Unfortunately, there’s still far too much work to be done to combat sexual assault and domestic violence against women. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to stand with survivors, ensure they have access to the support and resources they need, and hold perpetrators accountable,” said the senators. “We’re pleased to announce this federal funding, which will help communities across Virginia strengthen services for survivors, prevent violence from occurring, and support efforts to keep women and families safe.”

The grant awards include:

$4,269,937 through the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to reduce violent crimes against women, apprehend and prosecute perpetrators effectively, and strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

$1,015,698 through the SAS Formula Program to support rape crisis centers and nonprofit organizations that provide core services, intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. This funding will provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and others affected by sexual violence.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought for efforts that support survivors of sexual assault and combat violence against women. Both senators strongly supported reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which successfully passed Congress and was reauthorized in 2022. In 2020, the senators announced more than $5 million in federal funding to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault across Virginia. Sens. Warner and Kaine also sponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, a law to aid domestic violence survivors and their pets included in the 2018 Farm Bill.

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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *

Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner


Senate Passes Welch, Budd’s Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Foreign Robocalls

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage of their bipartisan Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, legislation to bring together government and private sector experts to find additional means of eliminating unlawful robocalls placed into the U.S. from abroad. The Senators’ bill is the first piece of legislation related to robocalls to be advanced by the Senate since 2020.

“Vermonters have received 27 million robocalls so far in 2026. And it’s not only our state—folks in red and blue states alike are sick and tired of picking up the phone and wondering if they’re being scammed. As foreign robocallers step up their efforts to exploit and prey on vulnerable people, we need to do more to combat this unlawful practice and protect Americans from scams,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to work with Senator Budd on this bipartisan legislation and am grateful for the Senate’s support. I urge the House to join us in sending it to the president’s desk.”

“Too many American households have been targeted by foreign scam calls that threaten to steal identities and defraud innocent victims. We cannot allow these criminals to continue preying on Americans without consequence. I am proud this timely legislation passed the Senate with unanimous support, and I urge my House colleagues to swiftly pass it so we can strengthen international cooperation to crack down on foreign robocall scammers,” said Senator Budd.

According to recent studies, nearly 50 million U.S. adults have reported losing money to an online scam or attack. Additionally, most U.S. adults report receiving scam messages daily or weekly via phone (68%) or text (61%), and 41% of U.S. adults (106 million) say a scam email, text, or call led them to give away personal information.

Online scams are also a major threat to national security. Last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documented nearly $21 billion in annual losses from internet crime—a 25% increase from 2024. Accounting for under-reporting, total fraud-related losses to U.S. consumers exceed $158 billion per year.

The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds on landmark legislation like the TRACED Act to create an interagency task force to evaluate foreign robocalls and how best to combat them, with the goal of increasing international cooperation to reduce illegal robocalls. The task force will consist of key representatives from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice (DOJ) and experts in the field of voice service and analytics, telecommunications technology, marketing organizations, and consumer advocates.

Additionally, the task force will help ensure that the DOJ is adequately equipped to address and prosecute criminals behind the influx of foreign robocalls. The bill also extends the FCC’s renewal period for the Industry Traceback Group from one year to three years. That change will help the Traceback Group, established in the TRACED Act, continue its successful work of tracing back the source of unlawful robocalls.

The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act is endorsed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and USTelecom.

“AARP, which advocates on behalf of more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act. This legislation represents a critical next step in protecting Americans from fraudulent and abusive robocalls originating from outside the United States. Older Americans are disproportionately targeted by robocall scams, which often lead to financial loss, identity theft, and emotional distress. These calls not only exploit individuals but also erode trust in telecommunications systems and public institutions. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds upon the TRACED Act and addresses this growing threat by convening a task force of government and private sector experts to develop actionable strategies for eliminating harmful foreign robocalls,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, AARP.

“Illegal robocalls are not just a nuisance—they’re a threat to vulnerable Americans and a tool for scammers around the world. Thanks to strong partnerships between the Industry Traceback Group and federal, state, and local law enforcement, we’ve made measurable progress in stopping these bad actors. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds on this success to empower industry and law enforcement to use what works to crack down on the bad actors overseas preying on Americans. Big thanks to Senators Budd and Welch for their leadership and commitment to consumer protection,” said Josh Bercu, Senior Vice President, Policy at USTelecom – The Broadband Association and Executive Director, The Industry Traceback Group.

Read and download the full text of the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act.

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Welch, Curtis, Murkowski, Schatz Host Bipartisan Roundtable on Extreme Weather Response, Supporting Disaster-Impacted Communities

Thirteen Senators joined the bipartisan discussion

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) this week hosted a bipartisan roundtable on Capitol Hill focused on the high costs of extreme weather and climate change, and how Washington can better help communities prepare for, mitigate, and recover from these disasters. Senators Welch, Curtis, Murkowski, and Schatz were joined by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

“From brutal flooding in Vermont and Alaska to destructive wildfires in Utah, California, and Hawaii, extreme weather is wreaking havoc in communities across America—and it’s only getting worse,” said Senator Welch. “This roundtable made it crystal clear that Washington isn’t doing enough to support rural communities and constituents recovering from climate disasters. The Senate needs to take action to ensure that Americans in disaster-impacted communities—in red and blue states alike—can rebuild, recover, and withstand the rising impacts of climate change.”

“Utahns know firsthand the devastating toll that wildfires, drought, and other extreme weather events can have on families, communities, and local economies,” said Senator Curtis. “This roundtable confirmed what we all know: preparing for disasters, protecting lives, and helping communities recover are shared responsibilities and non-partisan issues. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss practical solutions that improve emergency responsiveness and ensure our communities have the tools they need before and after disaster strikes.”

“Thank you to my colleagues and the experts who came to the table for this critical discussion about the growing costs and impacts of extreme weather. In Alaska, we’re on the front lines for increasingly common events. Flooding, wildfires, landslides, earthquakes, and even remnants of major typhoons have devastated communities across the state,” said Senator Murkowski. “Rural communities face especially difficult situations, making it essential that our disaster policies recognize the unique costs of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from these events. We know the most cost-effective disaster is the one that never happens, which is why investments in mitigation, forecasting, resilient infrastructure, and early warning systems are so important. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss practical solutions that will strengthen preparedness, improve recovery, and help communities build greater resilience for the future.”

“My heart goes out to the people of Washington who are dealing with this across our state, particularly in Spokane, and in the Lake Chelan area as well. Between Washington and Oregon, we’ve hit a record for the amount of acreage that has been burning,” said Senator Cantwell. “Technology can play a big role. We have to show people that the connection between the information that we can get, and then the actual action plan that we can put into place, that’s where the gaps are.”

“Extreme weather will, in one way or another, affect all Americans regardless of region, as well as our overall economy. In Virginia, we have seen the effects firsthand – from flooding at military installations in Hampton Roads, to Southwest Virginia’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, to periodic drought conditions throughout the Commonwealth,” said Senator Kaine. “I was pleased to join a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues and a group of experts to discuss how to invest in resilience on the front end, improve response, and support recovery efforts for those affected by extreme weather.”

“In California, we’ve seen firsthand how extreme weather disasters like wildfires and flooding impact communities, and it’s past time we expand disaster mitigation and improve disaster response,” said Senator Padilla. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan push to help communities across the country build resilience and get better access to resources when extreme weather hits.”

“This was a thoughtful, informative, and eye-opening discussion on a pressing issue that impacts every state. I commend Senators Welch, Curtis, Schatz, and Murkowski for convening this forum and advancing bipartisan dialogue about how we can improve disaster response and better support communities and states,” said Senator Reed. “Congress must ensure the disaster declaration process is merit-based and not politicized. I have put forward legislation, the Disaster Relief Fairness Act (S.5018), which would prevent the administration from unfairly denying disaster assistance to states and communities when they have clearly met the criteria to qualify. I hope my colleagues will consider supporting this bill. Every state has different needs, but all of us are impacted by extreme weather events and we all need help at some point, regardless of who is in the White House when disaster strikes.”

“For years, the biggest polluters have made trillions in profits while destroying the environment and damaging our public health. The result is not only a rise in extreme weather, but an increase in Americans paying the price – from rising insurance premiums to the costs of rebuilding communities after major flood events like the one in Western Maryland last year. It’s polluters who should be paying to clean up the mess they made – not the American people. This important bipartisan discussion on standing up for disaster-impacted communities makes clear that we must ensure that the communities most harmed by the effects of climate change do not have to bear the costs alone,” said Senator Van Hollen.

View photos from the event below and on the Senator’s website:

The roundtable featured Michael Gaughan of the Vermont Bond Bank, which in 2023 launched the first-of-its-kind Municipal Climate Recovery Fund to support rural disaster recovery; Adam Smith, Senior Climate Impacts Scientist at Climate Central and the former lead scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Database; and Chief Bob Roper, Senior Wildfire Advisor to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.

Senator Welch has championed efforts in the Senate to better protect rural communities from the impact of extreme weather events. This Congress, Senator Welch led 13 of his colleagues in introducing the Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act, legislation that requires NOAA to restore and maintain the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, which collects and publishes information on natural disasters resulting in at least $1 billion in damage each year in the United States. The Senator also introduced the Disaster AID Act, legislation that would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns, and expedite funding for disaster response.

In July, Senator Welch joined U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) and the Climate Action Network for an event in Barre, Vermont, to hear firsthand from Vermonters impacted by natural disasters and highlight how climate change is fueling more dangerous and deadly extreme weather. The Senator also led 14 colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to reinstate terminated employees at the National Weather Service (NWS) and NOAA to ensure community preparedness ahead of natural disasters.

In December 2023, Senator Welch testified before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and advocated for the inclusion of CDBG-DR funding in the comprehensive disaster supplemental package. The comprehensive disaster relief bill, signed by President Biden in 2024, provided more than $100 billion total in disaster relief, and contained many of Senator Welch’s top priorities for Vermont: flexible spending through the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery fund; support for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF); dedicated help for flood-impacted farmers; and low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help businesses and homeowners recover, among many other resources.

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