Booker, Underwood, Adams Reintroduce Bicameral Momnibus Act to End America’s Black Maternal Health Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the landmark Momnibus Act, a comprehensive legislative package designed to end the nation’s maternal health crisis and directly confront the devastating disparities that continue to claim the lives of Black mothers at alarming rates. U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Alma S. Adams (D-NC-12), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, introduced companion legislation in the House.

“Black mothers in America are dying at rates that are as shocking as they are unacceptable,” said Senator Booker. “The United States has the worst maternal mortality rates among high-income nations, and Black women are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes—even though most of these deaths are preventable. This crisis demands urgent, targeted action. I am proud to reintroduce the Momnibus Act, which invests in better care, strengthens community support, and confronts the systemic inequities that put Black moms at risk. Congress must act now to protect mothers and save lives.”

“80% of maternal deaths in America are preventable, and the Momnibus is designed to stop them. I’m proud to introduce this historic legislation with Representative Alma Adams and Senator Cory Booker to build on the progress we have made and secure the investments we need to end this crisis,” said Representative Lauren Underwood. “This bill has the tools we need to make America a safer place to give birth, especially for the Black moms and other women of color who are at the highest risk. The Momnibus will save moms’ lives, and Congress must act urgently to pass it.”

“The Momnibus Act is the most comprehensive piece of legislation ever drafted to address the maternal health crisis.” said Congresswoman Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “The maternal mortality rate in the United States is worse today than it was 20 years ago. With all the advances of modern science, that speaks to a serious lack of investment in our research and health care systems that care for our moms. Not only that, the rate of mortality for Black women is disproportionately higher and that gap has not shrunk in decades. This is an unacceptable reality, and we must act urgently and boldly to address this crisis. The Momnibus is the solution. Congress must make the safety and health of our moms a priority and get this bill passed into law.”

For years, the United States has had the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, with stark racial disparities. In 2024, Black women faced a pregnancy-related mortality ratio more than three times higher than White women—even though more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (CA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Tim Kaine (VA), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Raphael Warnock (GA), Ruben Gallego (AZ), Martin Heinrich (NM), Brian Schatz (HI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Mazie Hirono (HI), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Peter Welch (VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Adam Schiff (CA), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Michael Bennet (CO), Andy Kim (NJ), Tina Smith (MN), Edward Markey (MA), John Hickenlooper (CO), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Patty Murray (WA), Gary Peters (MI), and Bernie Sanders (VT).

“In California and across the country, mothers often navigate pregnancy without the resources they need,” said Senator Padilla. “That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor the Momnibus Act to save and improve moms’ lives through smart investments in pre and postnatal care.”

The Momnibus Act makes targeted, high-impact investments to address the drivers of the Black maternal health crisis, including social determinants of health, access to culturally congruent care, maternal mental health, community-based supports, and the effects of climate change and public health emergencies on Black mothers and babies.

The Momnibus Act is composed of 14 bills that will:

Invest in social determinants of health—including housing, transportation, and nutrition—to reduce preventable risks disproportionately affecting Black moms.

Extend WIC eligibility during postpartum and breastfeeding periods.

Fund community-based organizations trusted by Black families and rooted in the communities they serve.

Increase maternal health care funding for veterans, including Black women veterans who face unique barriers.

Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure Black mothers receive care from providers who understand their lived experiences.

Improve maternal health data collection to identify and eliminate disparities.

Expand maternal mental health and substance use disorder support, with attention to the needs of Black moms.

Improve care for incarcerated mothers, who are disproportionately Black.

Invest in digital tools to expand access to care in underserved communities.

Promote innovative payment models that incentivize high-quality, culturally congruent care.

Strengthen federal programs addressing maternal and infant health risks during public health emergencies.

Support climate resilience initiatives for moms and babies, including Black families disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards.

Invest in research to eliminate racial disparities and prevent maternal deaths.

Promote maternal vaccinations to protect moms and infants.

The Momnibus Act is endorsed by more than 250 organizations. View the full list of endorsers here.

To read the full text of the one-pager here.


U.S. Senator Katie Britt Votes to Pass Russia and Iran Sanctions Legislation, Applauds Senate, White House Leadership, Calls for Expeditious House Passage

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today voted to pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 to hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine and extend the Iran Sanctions Act. The bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11 and now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Today is a day Lindsey Graham would be deeply proud to see. While he is not with us physically, his presence could certainly be felt in the Senate chamber as we overwhelmingly passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act,” said Senator Britt. “Thanks to his leadership over several months in shoring up Congressional and White House support, this bill to impose crushing sanctions to hamstring Russia’s war machine and hold accountable those fueling it now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. I strongly urge my House colleagues to vote to send this peace through strength legislation straight to President Trump’s desk. Russia is the weakest it has been since the start of the war, and now is the time to land this crippling blow by giving the President the tools and economic firepower he needs. Importantly, this bill will also extend the Iran Sanctions Act and hold the murderous regime in Tehran accountable for fueling 47 years of terrorism around the globe.”

Senator Britt has proudly championed this legislation in honor of Senator Lindsey Graham along with Senators Darline Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). The bill is also supported by the White House, which issued a Statement of Administration Policy last month stating that if the bill were presented to the President, his advisors would recommend he sign it into law.

Ahead of Senate passage, Senator Britt highlighted the urgency of passing this legislation on the Senate floor, stating, “The Senate has a spine. That’s exactly what we’re doing here today, is standing with a steel spine. We are standing against Putin’s aggression. You saw this week him actually attack innocent Ukrainians … Today we stand together to say we are going to cut off the flow of money to Putin. Senator Lindsey Graham said that this …. was actually the heart of this bill. That this was the way to hit Putin where it hurt most … Today we send a message to Vladimir Putin, and we give President Trump the tools he needs to end this war.”

Following overwhelming Senate passage, Senator Britt joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues in a press conference where she delivered remarks:

“What an incredible day. Being able to stand on the United States Senate floor and watch the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act pass in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion was incredible. And while Senator Lindsey Graham wasn’t physically present on the floor, you could feel him on there as votes kept coming in and in and in. As we stood unified as a Senate (and) United States of America telling Putin, ‘we will accept this no more’ … Too many people have died. Too much blood has been shed. Now is the time to give the President the tools he needs to drive Putin to the table.

“I’ve been reflecting on a conversation that Senator Graham and I had … after we left Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, he was reflecting on how Churchill said that World War II was an unnecessary war and that when people in power don’t do what they should, innocent people lose their life. Senator Graham said, we failed to do what we needed to then and as a result, 50 million people died. He said people miscalculated Hitler, and we’re doing the same thing to Putin right now. And he said the cost of that miscalculation would be enormous. Today, we stood up tall for Senator Lindsey Graham, for freedom, for what the United States stands for, for the people of Ukraine and peace and prosperity across the globe … (A) special thanks to Senator Darline Graham, who has had an unthinkable several weeks, has picked up this mantle with grace and dignity and grit, was laser focused on achieving this goal not only for her brother, but she knew this was what was best for the United States of America and she knew it’s what was best for peace across the globe. And so, watching her call this overwhelming vote today was an incredible moment, and I look forward to working diligently with our House colleagues, to getting this into law so that we can bring a resolution.”

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

The legislation also directs the President to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas or are among the top five facilitators of Russian oil sanctions evasion. The bill exempts countries whose Russian natural gas imports account for less than 15 percent of Russia’s total natural gas exports and that are taking significant steps to reduce those imports.

Additionally, the legislation extends the Iran Sanctions Act by five years to prevent a lapse in sanction authority that restricts funding for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

“I remain sincerely grateful to Senators Darline Graham, Blumenthal, Shaheen, Risch, and Wicker for their continued leadership on this issue and for the incredible support of President Trump and the White House. Let’s get this done. The United States and the world need Putin’s war of aggression to end,” Senator Britt concluded.

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Capito Statement on Senate Passage of Legislation Sanctioning Russia and Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee (RPC), released the below statement on the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, legislation to hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine and extend expiring sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector and development of weapons of mass destruction.

“The Senate’s passage of this legislation sends a strong message that the United States remains committed to holding Russia and its enablers accountable, and cutting off resources to the rogue regime in Iran” Senator Capito said. “These sanctions will help restrict the financial flows backing Putin’s unjust war by imposing consequences on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas. Additionally, it will extend expiring sanctions against Iranian energy and nuclear development programs. I am proud to support this effort to strengthen America’s leadership and national security, and honor the legacy of our dear friend and colleague, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.”

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Senator Collins’ Bipartisan Bill to Allow Early Childhood Educators to Deduct Out-of-Pocket Purchases of Classroom Supplies Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the Senate passed the Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 86 to 11. This legislation, which Senator Collins introduced last year with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), would ensure that early childhood educators can claim the same federal tax credit for out-of-pocket classroom supply purchases that is currently available to K-12 teachers. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“In Maine and across the country, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated educators who work hard to ensure that every child has a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and enriching,” said Senator Collins. “Despite tight personal budgets, it is truly remarkable how often teachers use money out of their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies for their students. As the author of the original tax credit for K-12 teachers, I am delighted to help lead this effort to expand this benefit to pre-K educators. The Senate’s passage of this commonsense bill brings us one step closer to providing early childhood educators with tax relief for the resources they invest in our next generation.”

Research shows that educators spend an average of $895 annually on supplies for their students. Yet, under current law, early childhood educators cannot deduct those out-of-pocket expenses.

The SEED Act would correct this and extend tax relief to the teachers working with America’s youngest learners. The bill would expand the above-the-line $300 educator expense deduction, established for K-12 teachers in 2002, to also include pre-K and early childhood educators. This deduction helps offset hundreds of dollars teachers spend out of their own pockets each year on classroom supplies, books, and other learning materials.

The SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, the First Five Years Fund, and Trying Together.

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Senator Collins Introduces Bill to Combat Medicare Home Health Fraud

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation today to protect the Medicare home health program from fraud and strengthen access to these important services for the Americans who need them. The Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act would give the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) additional tools to prevent and detect fraud while helping ensure that legitimate home health agencies are fairly reimbursed for the care they provide.

“When billions of dollars are improperly siphoned from the Medicare home health program, this can undermine the integrity of the payment system used to reimburse legitimate providers and threaten care for the seniors who depend on it. I have long been a strong supporter of home health care, which allows millions of Americans to remain in the comfort, security, and privacy of their own homes, while helping to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and nursing home admissions,” said Senator Collins. “Fraudulent home health providers harm beneficiaries and diminish reimbursements for honest agencies that are already confronting workforce shortages and rising costs. My legislation would give CMS stronger tools to stop fraud before payments are made and prevent fraudulent spending from distorting the data used to reimburse honest agencies for medically necessary care.”

“The National Alliance for Care at Home applauds the introduction of the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act by Senator Susan Collins. This bill corrects longstanding flaws in home health reimbursement and takes a meaningful step toward a home health benefit that is stable and built for how care is delivered today. We strongly support the bill for its payment reforms, as well as measures to protect patients and preserve the integrity of the Medicare home health benefit. Consistent with our community’s commitment to provide the highest-quality, person-centered care in the home, we support the bill’s goal to strengthen access while focusing on targeted oversight, protecting the legitimate providers who serve patients every day. We look forward to working with Senator Collins, a long-time champion of care at home, to build support for this important and timely legislation,” said Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home.

“Senator Collins, a longtime champion of Medicare home health, appreciates the shortcomings of current Medicare home health payment approaches, as this bill demonstrates. We are particularly encouraged by its recognition that the standard prospective payment amount requires recalibration. We appreciate Senator Collins’ leadership in presenting a much-needed reset of the Medicare home health payment to promote its stability and ensure access. In addition, we also share the desire to address fraud in the home health setting. LeadingAge has long expressed concern about the disproportionate increase in home health providers in Los Angeles County. This bill’s oversight provisions are reasonable, appropriately targeted policies that would help maintain the benefit’s integrity. Those, along with the important proposed payment changes, will help to ensure support for legitimate providers—including our nonprofit and mission-driven members. We look forward to working with Senator Collins to advance this legislation,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge.

“VNS Health applauds Senator Susan Collins for introducing the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act. For more than 130 years, VNS Health has cared for vulnerable New Yorkers in their homes and communities. From rural Maine to urban New York and across the country, older adults face a common and growing challenge: obtaining the skilled care they need to remain safe and independent at home. Yet each year, hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries are unable to access that care. Senator Collins' legislation offers a thoughtful path forward by addressing years of unjustified payment cuts that have harmed seniors' access to care. It also includes sensible and effective program integrity measures that target bad actors without penalizing responsible providers, undermining access, or jeopardizing the agencies that care for patients with the greatest needs. We urge Congress to advance this important legislation,” said Dan Lowenstein, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for VNS Health.

Despite the rapid aging of the U.S. population, the number of traditional Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services declined from approximately 3.3 million in 2019 to 2.7 million in 2024. Excluding California, more than 500 Medicare-certified home health agencies closed during that period, a decline of five percent. In California, however, the number of Medicare-certified home health agencies nearly doubled, with almost all of the growth occurring in Los Angeles County.

Although Los Angeles County is home to only two percent of the nation’s Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, it accounts for nine percent of Medicare fee-for-service home health expenditures nationwide. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the California State Auditor have raised significant concern about fraud and abuse associated with the unusual concentration of home health agencies and spending in the county.

The consequences of this questionable concentration of agencies and spending can extend far beyond Los Angeles County. Fraudulent or improper payments can distort the data underlying Medicare’s home health payment system and diminish reimbursements for legitimate providers nationwide. This can fall especially hard on small, rural agencies like those serving many Maine seniors, which already confront workforce shortages, rising costs, and the challenges of providing care across large geographic areas.

Specifically, the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act would:

Require that the identity of home health administrators be verified before agencies are enrolled and authorized to provide services;

Require proof of liability insurance for agencies that exhibit high risk of fraud;

Provide the Administrator with the authority to determine the factors that indicate that an agency presents an extreme risk of fraud, and to impose heightened screening requirements on such agencies;

Require much more frequent surveys of newly enrolled home health agencies, agencies that undergo ownership changes, and agencies that reactivate their billing privileges;

Increase inspections of home health agencies that fail to submit quality data to CMS, or that engage in practices that are aberrant or signal fraudulent behavior;

Increase financial penalties for failing to report quality data;

Require accrediting agencies that work with CMS to meet or exceed CMS standards;

Require CMS training of home health surveyors for accreditation purposes;

Establish ongoing CMS oversight of accrediting organizations and provide CMS with authority to terminate deficient accreditors;

Direct CMS to “reset” home health agency payment rates to adjust for fraud in the system as well as changes in the use of home health care since Covid;

Authorize funding for CMS and federal law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of organized home health fraud schemes;

Authorize funding for CMS and its state agency partners to conduct accelerated surveys, enrollment validation, unannounced site visits, and operational verification of home health agencies; and

Provide CMS with rulemaking authority to carry out its provisions and require it to report to Congress.

Click here to read the complete text of the legislation.

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Senator Collins’ Statement on Senate Passage of Bipartisan Russia & Iran Sanctions Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement today after the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by a vote of 86 to 11:

“As an original cosponsor of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, I was pleased to see the bill pass the Senate today with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle.

“Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked war four and a half years ago, and Ukraine has resisted his aggression valiantly and with inspiring resolve. Russia’s energy sales and shadow fleet are the engine of its war machine, and sanctioning them will help bring this brutal conflict to a quicker end.

“This bill also extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which is critical to denying Iran resources for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its support for terrorism through its proxies. For nearly 47 years, the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have threatened both the United States and broader stability in the Middle East.

“My friend and colleague Lindsey Graham worked tirelessly to advance this bill. The passage of this legislation named in his honor is a fitting tribute to his legacy of leadership on these critical issues.

“This bill is important not only for America’s national security, but also for the security of our European and Middle Eastern allies. I applaud my colleagues for joining together to make clear the Senate’s determination to stand with our allies and to hold Russia and Iran accountable.”

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Senator Coons, Tillis, introduce legislation to further protect law enforcement after targeted shootings of officers

Introduction follows killing of Corporal Matthew “Ty” Snook in Delaware last December

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), today introduced the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 to deter attacks on law enforcement officers by creating new federal charges against criminals who intentionally target them. The introduction comes in honor of law enforcement officers in Delaware and North Carolina who were killed in targeted attacks.

Senator Coons was inspired to introduce the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 following the tragic shooting of Corporal Grade One Matthew “Ty” Snook, who was killed in the line of duty on December 23, 2025, at a Wilmington Division of Motor Vehicles office. Corporal Snook was a father, husband, brother, and friend who died serving and protecting the people of Delaware.

“No law enforcement officer should have to fear for their lives just because they put on their badge before they go to work each day. Yet too many officers have been killed in targeted attacks designed specifically to take the lives of law enforcement, leaving a gaping tear in the hearts of spouses, parents, children, and communities,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to introduce the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 because those who perpetrate crimes like this one should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Law enforcement officers in North Carolina and across the country are heroes who risk their lives every day to protect our communities,” said Senator Tillis. “Those who commit senseless acts of violence against law enforcement officers must be held accountable for their actions, which is why I am proud to lead the bipartisan Protect and Serve Act of 2026. Officers put their lives on the line to protect us, and we should do the work in Congress to protect them.”

“Targeted violence towards a law enforcement officer is completely unacceptable and anyone who tries to hurt a cop because of their job should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Our police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect their communities, and this bipartisan bill shows we have their backs.”

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law,” said Senator Crapo. “Those who deliberately target officers with the intent to kill must face severe consequences. The Protect and Serve Act would give federal prosecutors additional tools to hold these violent offenders accountable and reinforce our commitment to those who protect and serve.”

“Our members are under fire by individuals motivated by nothing more than a desire to kill or injure a cop. Despite a decrease in the nation’s homicide rate, firearms attacks on law enforcement officers have remained alarmingly high, underscoring a dangerous and persistent trend of deliberate attacks – too many of which are not spontaneous confrontations, but calculated assaults intended to inflict maximum harm on officers,” said Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police. “We are deeply grateful to Senators Tillis and Coons, with whom we have been working to develop this ‘Protect and Serve Act’ to better protect our men and women in law enforcement. The bill they have introduced is a product of true collaboration and we sincerely appreciate their leadership and dedication. We look forward to working with them and with our other Senate allies to get this bill to a vote on the floor.”

The Protect and Serve Act of 2026 will protect our servicemen and women who put their lives on the line each and every day. It establishes a new federal crime against those who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers in targeted attacks meant to kill them solely because of their status as law enforcement officers. It has been revised from prior versions to focus federal prosecutors on the most heinous attacks designed to kill law enforcement.

The Protect and Serve Act of 2026 is endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police.


Cornyn, Cloud Introduce Bill to Protect Army Depots from Financial Harms Caused by Cancelled Government Projects

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) today introduced the Defense Expenditure Planning for Optimizing Throughput and Sustainment (DEPOTS) Act, which would help protect Army depots and their workforce from incurring burdensome financial loss as a result of cancelled government work:

“Texas’ two extraordinary Organic Industrial Base sites, the Corpus Christi and Red River Army Depots, make immeasurable, ongoing contributions to our nation’s defense readiness, from remanufacturing and sustaining rotary-wing aircraft to remanufacturing and overhauling tactical wheeled vehicles,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Army depots are a critical part of revitalizing our defense industrial base, and we must provide budgetary flexibility so they are not hampered by financial losses from cancelled government work. I’m proud to introduce the DEPOTS Act, which would allow the Department of War to provide surpluses to depots whose labor rates have been negatively impacted by government-directed mission changes.”

“The DEPOTS Act is a common sense fix for a real problem. Depots shouldn’t be left holding debt for Pentagon-initiated mission changes,” said Rep. Cloud. “Corpus Christi Army Depot does critical work keeping our service members’ aircraft safe and reliable, and this practical reform makes sure they can fulfill their duty to keep the Army flying.”

Background:

The DEPOTS Act aims to protect the workforce and labor rates of a depot or arsenal that incurs debt because of cancelled, planned government work. These financial losses are not the fault of the depot, and the legislation would help ensure these depots remain competitive and good stewards of American taxpayer dollars.

This provision would provide the Department of War and the component services additional flexibility to use surpluses to write off internal debt affecting depots or arsenals. The legislation requires that all revolving fund cash outlays be recovered. It is included as Section 327 of the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act for FY27 (S. 4784).

OIB sites provide critical capabilities for materiel and sustainment support for the U.S. military. These specialized installations maintain readiness of the most crucial platforms and serve as experts for modernization and repair of military equipment. These sites are also key employers of American talent. Corpus Christi and Red River Army Depots are together comprised of thousands of skilled artisans, engineers, and laborers that do critical work at the U.S. Army’s Rotary-Wing Center of Excellence and the U.S. Army’s Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Tactical Wheeled Vehicles.


Cornyn, Colleagues’ Bill to Sanction Russia, Honor Senator Graham’s Legacy Passes Senate

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to hold major purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine passed the Senate. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act was made possible by an agreement negotiated by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and the White House prior to Sen. Graham’s passing:

“Senator Graham was unyielding in his support for the Ukrainian people as they fight to defend their sovereignty, and I can think of few ways more fitting to honor him than by finishing what he started and imposing strict sanctions on the bad actors who have supported Russia’s war against Ukraine,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m proud to join with my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation, which will honor Lindsey’s legacy, help dismantle Putin’s war machine, and strengthen U.S. national security.”

The legislation is being led by U.S. Senators Darline Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and is cosponsored by more than 60 Senators.

Background:

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russian officials and other actors supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Shadow Fleet that Russia assembled to evade sanctions. The legislation also directs the President to impose tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the largest volume of Russian crude oil or natural gas and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The bill limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas and the five largest facilitators of Russia’s sanctions evasion.

Senator Lindsey Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the effort and secured an agreement with the White House before his death.


Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Community Health Center Week

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jim Justice (R-WV), Peter Welch (D-VT), James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Shelley Capito (R-WV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced a Senate resolution designating Aug. 2-8, 2026, as National Community Health Center Week, celebrating the important partnership between community health centers and the communities they serve. Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.

“Whereas, for over 60 years, community health centers have provided access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive, preventive care for individuals in the United States, having a positive impact on the health system of the United States;

Whereas, as the largest primary care network in the United States, over 1,500 community health centers provide high quality care for up to 52,000,000 individuals in 17,000 communities, such that 1 in 7 individuals across the United States and 1 in 3 in rural areas rely on community health centers;

Whereas community health centers are an important element of the health system of the United States, serving rural, suburban, island, frontier, and urban communities, often as the only accessible and dependable source of primary care;

Whereas community health centers are responding to the growing burden of chronic disease by expanding access to nutrition services and lifestyle counseling, reducing expensive emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and keeping the people of the United States healthy;

Whereas community health centers integrate a wide range of services into primary care, such as mental health, dental, vision, hearing, and pharmacy services, creating a one-stop shop for all health-related needs;

Whereas community health centers are uniquely governed by patient-majority boards, ensuring communities are fully engaged in the strategy of community health centers for improving care access and quality;

Whereas community health centers are locally operated nonprofit organizations that empower local economies by generating nearly $262,000,000,000 in economic activity across the United States;

Whereas community health centers nationally support 809,000 jobs, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, counselors, dentists, pharmacists, and community health workers on multidisciplinary teams;

Whereas the community health center model of care is effective at overcoming barriers to access, improving health outcomes, and saving taxpayer dollars;

Whereas, in 2025, community health centers provided cancer screening to nearly 11,000,000 patients and helped more than 4,000,000 patients control their hypertension and nearly 2,500,000 patients control their diabetes;

Whereas community health centers are on the front lines of addressing opioid overdoses, responding to health care needs arising from natural disasters, expanding access to care for our veterans, and operating nearly 4,600 school-based sites and over 1,300 mobile units to reach people living in rural and remote areas; and

Whereas National Community Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize the contributions of every community health center: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) honors the dedicated staff, board members, patients, and all those responsible for the continued success of community health centers since the first centers opened their doors 6 decades ago;

(2) celebrates the legacy of community health centers and their vital role in shaping the past, present, and future of the health system of the United States;

(3) supports the designation of the first week of August 2026, as “National Community Health Center Week”; and

(4) encourages all people of the United States to participate in National Community Health Center Week by visiting their local community health center and celebrating the important partnership between community health centers and the communities they serve.”


Cornyn, Fetterman, Cloud, Gonzalez Introduce Bill to Improve Transparency in Funding for Depots

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Representatives Michael Cloud (TX-27) and Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) introduced the Depot Data Transparency Act, which would amend U.S. military reporting requirements to increase transparency of depot-level maintenance funds going to Organic Industrial Base sites:

“A balanced allocation of maintenance funding is essential to ensuring the Department of War can sustain the Organic Industrial Base, preserve critical repair and remanufacturing capabilities, and serve as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By updating the 50-50 rule’s reporting requirements, this legislation would improve transparency into how depot-level maintenance funds are allocated and allow Congressional oversight at each depot.”

“Military depots like Tobyhanna and Letterkenny are the foundation of our military readiness, and the people there are some of the best technicians,” said Sen. Fetterman. “The Depot Data Transparency Act ensures efficient federal oversight of those military depots in Pennsylvania and across the country. This necessary change makes sure tax dollars are being allocated properly to support and maintain a crucial workforce.”

“This bill brings needed transparency to how depot maintenance work is distributed, ensuring facilities like Corpus Christi Army Depot get a fair individual look. Transparency like this strengthens our organic industrial bases and protects our national security,” said Rep. Cloud.

“Over the past decade, Corpus Christi Army Depot’s highly trained civilian workforce has dropped by thousands due to the Army’s increasing reliance on private companies for helicopter repair work. This is a federal issue hurting depots across the country and requires a federal solution; it starts with bringing greater transparency to the Army’s maintenance and overhaul schedule. Our bill builds on bipartisan language we secured in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act, and would ensure we protect South Texas’s military competitiveness and the thousands of workers it employs,” said Rep. Gonzalez.

U.S. Representative Michael Cloud (TX-27) is leading companion legislation, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027.

Background:

The Depot Data Transparency Act would amend the reporting requirement for the “50-50 rule” (10 USC 2466) that necessitates each U.S. military service dedicate no less than 50% of all depot-level maintenance funds to work done by federal employees at Organic Industrial Base sites. The updated reporting requirement in the legislation would improve Congress’ visibility into the distribution of funds, including at the individual depot-level, to better support workload, improve military readiness, and maintain a trained workforce at these domestic industrial sites.


Cortez Masto, Britt Introduce Legislation to Bolster U.S. Space Force Readiness

This legislation would expand the Space Force’s capacity to be ready for any threat from China or other foreign adversaries

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen U.S. Space Force readiness. The Space Superiority Readiness Act would expand wargaming, modeling, simulation, and training for Space Force Guardians to establish space superiority.

“Space is a cutting-edge frontier we must take seriously. Communist China is expanding its military activities in space, and the United States cannot afford to fall behind,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Senator Britt and I recently saw the incredible work the U.S. Space Force is doing at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, and I know that by providing Guardians with the tools, training, and resources they need, they will continue to be ready to confront any threat.”

“It is well documented that China is determined to dominate the space domain and is working tirelessly to advance its space programs by investing in key sectors of the commercial space economy. The Space Superiority Readiness Act of 2026 underscores how critical space is as a warfighting domain. The United States must be able to maintain space control in a potential conflict with the People’s Republic of China and have the resources and capability required to respond and react to future threats. I’m proud that Alabama has established itself as pivotal to our national space priorities, and I will continue fighting to ensure that our state and nation remain at the forefront of this mission,” said Senator Britt.

Space is now central to deterring foreign adversaries. U.S. forces depend on space-based systems for missile warning, positioning and navigation, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting. A capable adversary’s ability to disrupt those services could undermine U.S. operations from the outset of a conflict. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission warns that China is rapidly expanding its space and counterspace capabilities and the U.S. needs to stay ahead.

The Space Superiority Readiness Act would require training programs for space operators focused on the tactics, techniques, and procedures necessary for the U.S. to remain ahead in space. It would also improve visibility into China’s space sector by requiring, within 180 days of enactment, an unclassified report to Congress on Chinese commercial space capabilities and their potential military applications. This legislation helps bring greater focus to the importance of space readiness and ensures Congress continues to prioritize the capabilities needed to deter and respond to future threats.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to stand up to Communist China and protect American interests in the Pacific. This spring, she introduced the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan ties and reaffirm America’s enduring commitment to Taiwan’s security and democratic values. Last year, her FIGHT China Act, prohibiting U.S. investment in certain technologies in China, was signed into law. Senator Cortez Masto introduced the bipartisan PASS Act to protect U.S. military installations and sensitive sites. She has also introduced the Pacific Partnership Act to strengthen America’s strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations and combat the increasing Chinese aggression in the region.

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Cortez Masto, Grassley, Wyden, Crapo Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Health Care Fraud

The Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act Would Save Taxpayers an Estimated $45 Billion Dollars

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced the bipartisan Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act, which would invest in and improve the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Program. HCFAC was created to combat fraud, waste, and abuse across federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

“Medicaid and Medicare are lifelines for families. To ensure they are working as intended, we have to crack down on bad actors taking advantage of Americans,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Funding our national fraud and abuse investigation unit will save taxpayers billions and restore Americans’ trust that the government can target and go after real fraud and abuse.”

“My oversight has revealed fraud, waste and abuse across our health care system, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Obamacare marketplace. By bolstering efforts to go after these bad actors, our bipartisan legislation will crack down on people stealing the taxpayers’ money and driving up health care costs for families,” said Senator Grassley.

“The best way to fight health care fraud is to fund the cops on the beat who can identify and prosecute fraudsters quickly and efficiently. This common sense approach empowers independent watchdogs in the federal government to use their know-how to recoup taxpayer dollars from these bad actors, and widens the net to ensure every federal health care program has adequate protection from those seeking to bilk taxpayer dollars. I’m pleased that this approach is receiving bipartisan support and I will be working to fund these fighters quickly on a bipartisan basis,” said Senator Wyden.

“Health care programs account for the federal government’s largest source of improper payments, including through waste, fraud and abuse. This commonsense legislation equips the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Justice with the resources they need to uncover and prevent fraud, preserving federal health care programs for those who depend on them while protecting taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Crapo.

Federal health care spending is expected to exceed $24 trillion over the next decade. As health care fraud schemes continue to grow in scale and complexity, the HCFAC program needs long-term, stable funding to keep pace with evolving threats and strengthen efforts to prevent, detect, and prosecute fraud. This legislation would save taxpayers at least $45 billion, per estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). For the first time, the bill allows HCFAC partners to use mandatory funding to combat fraud in the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace and related private insurance programs. It also gives the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new tools to strengthen oversight and protect the integrity of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), requires timely reporting to track the HCFAC program’s effectiveness, and asks the Government Accountability Office to report on HCFAC’s performance.

In FY 2025, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) HCFAC activities recovered $12 for every $1 spent on Medicare program integrity efforts, resulting in $5.7 billion in expected recoveries and receivables. HHS-OIG also excluded more than 2,500 individuals and entities from doing business with federal health care programs for fraud, patient abuse, and other misconduct, including egregious neglect of nursing home residents, improper billing practices, and facilitating fraudulent providers and suppliers. Across all HCFAC partners, including HHS, CMS, HHS-OIG, DOJ, and the FBI, the program has had a positive return on investment since its inception, demonstrating the value of coordinated, multi-agency enforcement to fight fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.

Read the bill here.

Senator Cortez Masto has worked to strengthen the Medicare and Medicaid programs and go after legitimate fraud and abuse. She passed legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and cap the cost of insulin at $35-a-month for Medicare recipients through the Inflation Reduction Act. She has also pushed pharmacy benefit managers to help continue to lower prescription drug costs. As Nevada Attorney General, Cortez Masto worked with the Nevada Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to go after bad actors within the system.

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Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Support Construction Worker Mental Health

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto introduced legislation to prevent suicide among construction workers. The Constructing the Path to Suicide Prevention Act would authorize a national study through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect data on the unique suicide risk factors facing construction workers that can be used to inform future suicide prevention programming. This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).

The construction industry has the second-highest risk of suicide across all industries. In 2023, almost a fifth of deaths by suicide with a reported industry code were tied to construction, despite construction workers making up only seven percent of the American workforce.

“From our homes to our offices, our roads to our favorite coffee shops, construction workers are responsible for building America,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “But work in this industry presents distinct mental health risks, and we owe it to construction workers to find solutions. This legislation will give us the tools we need to combat the tragically high rate of suicide among construction workers and work to end the stigma around mental health on the jobsite.”

“There is an unacceptably high rate of suicide among construction workers,” said Senator Warner. “This legislation will give us the resources to understand how we can combat it and better inform suicide prevention programs.”

“The high rate of suicide among construction workers should be alarming to us all,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to help introduce legislation alongside a group of my colleagues who understand the importance of figuring out what’s fueling this crisis and the urgent need to make sure we’re getting mental health resources where they’re needed.”

“In New Mexico and across the country, our construction workers are the backbone of our country,” said Senator Luján. “The high rate of suicide in the construction industry is deeply concerning, and we must do more to address this crisis. This legislation will do just that and help us better strengthen suicide prevention programs.”

“Construction workers build America—our homes, our roads, and our communities. With an alarming suicide rate in this industry, they should have the resources to take care of their mental health,” said Senator Kelly. “This bill will help us understand what’s driving those numbers to prevent more deaths.”

“The people who build Colorado from the ground up are also among those most at risk of suicide,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “We need to understand why and make sure construction workers have access to the support they need.”

The CDC study authorized by the Constructing the Path to Suicide Prevention Act would investigate risk factors for deaths by suicide among construction workers, including employment and financial stability, history of substance and alcohol use, and access to essential resources like health care coverage, employment benefits, and employee assistance programs. The bill would also require the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress on policy recommendations for future suicide prevention programming targeted to construction workers.

The Constructing the Path to Suicide Prevention Act is endorsed by the Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions (SNBTU), the Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada (BCTNN), the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), and the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT).

The full text of this legislation can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto has been a consistent champion of mental health during her time in the Senate. She has introduced legislation to address mental health in AANHPI communities, improve access to behavioral health, and bolster peer support for mental health. The Senator helped secure funding for Nevada State University’s first mental health clinic. She also led her colleagues in a letter demanding answers from the Department of Education on mental health funding cuts.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tatum Wallace or Hannah McCarthy

August 7, 2026

Cotton Statement Following Passage of Lindsey Graham’s Russia Sanctions Bill

WASHINGTON — Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after Senate passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026:

“Lindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity, and he believed the United States is the greatest force for freedom that mankind has ever known. Through every bill he introduced, every speech he gave, every statement he made, Lindsey ensured our allies knew our word was good and our enemies feared our resolve. Today, with the passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, we honor his legacy and send a clear message to our allies and enemies alike: the United States will defend freedom around the world.”

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Sen. Cramer: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Awards $6 Million to North Dakota

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $6 million to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. The funds will support services designed to improve mental health outcomes for children and youth, who are at risk for or experiencing serious emotional disturbances (SED), as well as for their families.


Senate Approves Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill

Package Includes New Penalties on Iran

***Click here to download audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 86 to 11 today, uniting Congress and the Trump administration in pursuit of escalating penalties against Vladimir Putin and Iran, whose malign cooperation enables Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Iranian regime’s terrorization of the globe. Before his unexpected passing on July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had finalized an agreement with the White House, paving the way for Senate passage of the measure. The package is supported by over 60 senators from both parties.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee which has jurisdiction over sanctions policy, cosponsored the legislation introduced by the late senator’s sister, U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-SC). Cramer had previously joined the late Lindsey Graham and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introducing the original sanctions bill in April 2025. Over the past year, the coalition worked with Members of Congress and the Trump administration to strengthen the legislation and build support for its enactment.

“Vladimir Putin and the Iranian regime have spent decades testing the resolve of the free world, and too many times the free world has come up short in those tests—but not today,” said Cramer. “Today, the Senate spoke with one voice alongside the Trump administration in support of stronger consequences for Russia and Iran, and others enabling their aggression on America and our allies. I knew Lindsey Graham really well, and he never let up on the principle of Peace Through Strength; he pushed for tougher sanctions like those in this bill. Moscow, Tehran, and all those who bankroll them have to feel the consequences of the terror they’re inflicting around the world. And this bill certainly helps do that.”

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 imposes primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and its network of financial allies in its war against Ukraine. It targets Russia’s “shadow fleet” of shell corporations and repurposed maritime infrastructure and extends to individuals including Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, and financial institutions. The legislation empowers President Trump to hold Iran accountable for sponsoring terrorism by extending the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 and strengthening sanctions on entities investing in Iran’s energy sector.

It also authorizes the President to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports from the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas, the ultimate financiers of Putin’s war and enablers of his sanctions evasion.


Senate Confirms Gen. Douglas Schiess as Chief of Space Operations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate confirmed General Douglas Schiess as the third Chief of Space Operations, succeeding General Chance Saltzman. Schiess, who served at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) from April 1993 to September 1995 in multiple missile operations roles, will train and equip Guardians serving in the United States and overseas.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), co-chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus and chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, applauded Schiess’ confirmation.

“General Schiess is the right leader to take the helm of the United States Space Force,” said Cramer. “Having served at Grand Forks Air Force Base, he already knows North Dakota’s vital role in our national security mission. I look forward to working with him to modernize PARCS at Cavalier Space Force Station, strengthen our partnership with the University of North Dakota, and ensure our Guardians at Grand Forks Air Force Base have the tools they need to succeed. Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to securing the space domain.”

Schiess previously served as the Commander of U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S) and the Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. In August 2025, Cramer visited the base with Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Dr. Troy Meink. They joined Schiess in touring the Space Development Agency (SDA) and National Reconnaissance Office payload processing facility where they viewed 21 satellites from SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer.

As Chief of Space Operations, Schiess will oversee key Space Force missions in North Dakota, including the 10th Space Warning Squadron at Cavalier Space Force Station, which operates the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) to provide critical missile warning and space surveillance. He will also play a central role in advancing the Space Force’s growing presence at GFAFB, where a new satellite operations center is planned to expand SDA’s missions and strengthen the region’s role in the nation’s space architecture.

During Schiess’ confirmation process, Cramer secured his commitment to maintain the Space Force’s partnership with GFAFB and the University of North Dakota. The two also discussed preserving the rapid acquisition culture that has fueled SDA’s success as it merges into the Space Force.


Idaho Delegation Highlights Benefits of the USMCA

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), joined by U.S. Representatives for Idaho Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, along with Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), are urging the Trump Administration to strengthen and fully enforce the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), citing its critical role in supporting Idaho’s economy.

In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, the Idaho delegation highlighted the importance of the USMCA to the state’s agricultural industry, emphasizing that the agreement’s market access provisions helped increase the value of Idaho’s exports to Mexico and Canada by nearly 50 percent between 2020 and 2025.

From the letter:

“USMCA and, importantly, its full and effective implementation are crucial to Idaho’s agricultural producers and processors, which are the commercial and cultural backbone of our rural communities and drive 190 diverse commodities into the foreign and domestic marketplace.”

“Idaho’s agricultural landscape relies heavily on the market access and trade commitments secured under USMCA. However, some persistent, unresolved implementation and compliance gaps obstruct complete realization of the market opportunities Idahoans were promised. These challenges illustrate the need for strong enforcement constructs that make certain Canada and Mexico fulfill their obligations and that Idahoans reap the full benefits of USMCA.”

“The ongoing USMCA joint review presents a critically important opportunity to both reinforce the agreement’s core strengths and to ensure that its commitments are honored.”

What they are saying:

"USMCA has been critical to the success of Idaho barley growers and accessing important export markets. This program strongly supports U.S. agriculture, benefits our rural communities and helps create and sustain demand for Idaho and American-grown barley and other U.S. farm commodities. Idaho is the top producing barley state in the U.S., growing 39 percent of the nation’s barley crop in 2025 valued at $324.3 million. The majority of that barley, over 75 percent, is malt barley—one of the most important ingredients in brewing beer. Mexico has long been the primary export market for Idaho and U.S. barley and barley malt. Idaho and U.S. farmers are inextricably linked to Mexico, and it is imperative that we protect this relationship through USMCA." – Laura Wilder, Executive Director, Idaho Barley Commission

"As an Idaho grain grower, I see firsthand how USMCA supports healthy export markets and the import of essential farm inputs. This agreement is foundational to the long-term stability and competitiveness of family farms across Idaho and the country." – Kyle Wangemann, President, Idaho Grain Producers Association

“Maintaining and expanding global trade markets for U.S beef is critical to the economic viability of Idaho’s cattle industry. In a state where cattle outnumber people, it is vital that we have opportunities to export beef outside of our borders. The continuance of fair and equitable trade agreements with our global trading partners is a key priority for our industry. The Idaho Cattle Association encourages the timely review and renewal of USMCA.” – Val Carter, President, Idaho Cattle Association

"USMCA has been a win for Idaho agriculture. It provides reliable access to key export markets, supports jobs throughout the food supply chain and gives farmers and ranchers greater confidence to invest in the future. We encourage its continuation and strong enforcement." – Matt Dorsy, President, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

"As one of the nation's leading hop-producing states, Idaho benefits from the certainty and market access provided by the USMCA. A renewed and fully enforced USMCA helps ensure our world-class hops continue supporting North American breweries, as well as our rural communities and family farms." – Michelle Gooding-Badiola, President, Idaho Hop Growers Association

“The Idaho Dairymen’s Association thanks the state’s congressional delegation for their letter to the nation’s trade negotiators advocating for improvements to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement during the ongoing USMCA joint review. Senator Mike Crapo continues to lead on international trade from his position as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher are also strong advocates for Idaho agricultural products in export markets. The USMCA is critical for Idaho’s dairy farm families as Mexico is the number 1 international market for U.S. dairy and Canada is number 2. IDA appreciates the message from the congressional delegation asking our trade negotiators to make the USMCA even stronger.” – Rick Naerebout, CEO, Idaho Dairymen’s Association

“Mexico and Canada are top export markets for Pacific Northwest apples, cherries and pears, accounting for approximately half of all exports. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been crucial to the tree fruit industry’s ability to grow and succeed in those markets. We greatly appreciate the continued work by Senators Crapo and Risch, and Representatives Simpson and Fulcher to maintain tree fruit growers’ access to these important markets.” – Mark Powers, President, Northwest Horticultural Council

“The USMCA is essential for the continued success of Idaho's potato industry, amplifying our reach in North American markets and ensuring our farmers thrive. By prioritizing the renewal and enforcement of this agreement, we can enhance the competitiveness of Idaho potatoes, a cornerstone of our agricultural economy, and support the livelihoods of countless families across the state.” – Jamey Higham, CEO, Idaho Potato Commission

“The Idaho Onion Growers’ Association appreciates the diligent work that the Idaho delegation has done for farmers and our members in Idaho and urges the renegotiation and reinstatement of USMCA. The USMCA should be a tool that facilitates prosperity and equalizes playing fields for growers on both sides of the border and promotes sustained enforcement. Idaho onion growers are required to be subject to food safety standards and audits for the safety of American consumers. It stands to reason that imported onions competing in American markets should be held to the same standard. Our members are suffering from high input costs and low domestic pricing so equalizing the food safety standards and cost of production for Mexican and American onion growers would be a welcome step in the negotiations.” – Jarom Jemmett, President, Idaho Onion Growers’ Association

“The USMCA provides certainty to Idaho’s mint industry because it acts as a primary driver by securing a place for the industry to export mint essential oils. Idaho’s mint industry applauds the efforts of our Idaho Congressional Delegation. Through their diligent work, Idaho mint producers are ensured that the promises and commitments in this Agreement continue to be honored.” – Roger Batt, Executive Director, Idaho Mint Growers Association

“The Idaho Pork Producers Association strongly supports the continued success of the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement and encourages policymakers to preserve this important agreement for the benefit of U.S. agriculture and the communities we serve. While Idaho may not be among the nation’s largest pork-producing states, our producers are directly tied to the strength of export markets that support the entire U.S. pork industry. USMCA provides critical stability and a strong trade relationship to Canada and Mexico helping to ensure long-term growth, competitiveness and opportunity benefiting farmers, consumers and rural communities across Idaho.” – Bonnie Holtry, Executive Director, Idaho Pork Producers Association

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

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Curtis, Van Hollen Introduce Legislation to Combat Affordable Housing Crisis, Strengthen USPS

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act, bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of affordable housing and funding shortfalls at the United States Postal Service (USPS). Amid record-breaking housing costs, the Senators’ new bill would allow local communities to lease Postal Service propertyrights for new affordable housing construction. At the same time, this legislation protects against the sale of Postal Service assets, supports the rehabilitation and new construction of Postal facilities, and eases the Postal Service’s critical financial constraints.

“Utah desperately needs more housing, and the Postal Service needs new sources of revenue; this commonsense legislation helps accomplish both,” said Senator Curtis. “By giving USPS the authority to lease underutilized property for housing development, we can put unused land to work, expand the housing supply, and strengthen an institution that millions of Americans rely on every day.”

“Far too many working Americans are faced with housing costs they simply cannot afford. At the same time, the Postal Service faces financial struggles that, if left unaddressed, will result in USPS running out of money to operate. With this legislation, we’re not only bringing new, affordable homes to communities across the country, we’re also working to shore up the Postal Service so that it can continue serving Americans for generations to come. It’s a win-win,” said Senator Van Hollen.

Background:

Currently, USPS owns about 8,500 properties around the United States, many of which are located in places suitable for housing construction and in areas with high housing demand. According to a recent analysis from Brookings, housing construction on postal property could build over 200,000 new homes and bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the Postal Service each year.

The Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act would set guardrails on housing construction by USPS by allowing for the lease, but prohibiting the sale, of Postal Service property for housing construction and ensuring USPS maintains discretion over its real estate assets. The bill also requires housing units constructed on Postal Service property to include tenant affordability restrictions on at least 20% of units, among other provisions.

A one-page summary of this bill is available here, and the full text of the legislation is available here.

The legislation is supported by the Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Chamber of Progress, and Inclusive Abundance Action, among others.

“I applaud Senators Van Hollen and Curtis for their leadership in crafting this win-win legislation,” said Aaron Shroyer, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Metro. “This bill would enable the United States Postal Service to tap an underutilized asset—its land—to create a durable revenue source, while also adding much-needed housing to main streets and downtowns across the country.”

“USPS-owned sites could offer meaningful opportunities to add homes in communities where housing is badly needed,” said Ben Metcalf, Managing Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation. “Terner Center research has identified hundreds of USPS-owned sites that warrant closer evaluation for housing. While not every site will be feasible, underutilized postal properties could offer one solution to policymakers who are looking for ways to increase their affordable housing stock.”

“The Postal Service owns 8,500 properties, many of them on prime, well-located land that cities and states need for housing,” said Colin Higgins, Executive Director of the National Housing Crisis Task Force. “In our Federal Housing Policy Agenda, the National Housing Crisis Task Force called for putting federal land to work this way, and it’s good to see a bipartisan bill take up the idea. The hope is that cities and states can chart a path to build homes on underused public land while the Postal Service keeps its footprint and earns revenue.”


Daines Congratulates Chris Anderson, Longtime Staffer, on Confirmation to Be U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the below statement congratulating Chris Anderson on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia. Chris has served as Daines’ National Security Advisor for the past several years.

“Cindy and I congratulate Chris on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia. Chris is exceedingly well-qualified and has an extensive background in foreign relations. He has served as my National Security Advisor for the past four years, so his confirmation today is especially significant for me and for everyone on Team Daines. We couldn’t be prouder and wish him nothing but the best in this new role!” said Daines.

Daines spoke in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in favor of Chris’s confirmation- watch it HERE. Read Chris’s official bio HERE.

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Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Legislation To Further Sanction Russia And Hold Purchasers Of Its Oil Accountable

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after the Senate passed legislation that will add sanctions on key Russian individuals and industries as well as hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. Durbin was an original cosponsor of the legislation.

“This bipartisan bill that Senator Lindsey Graham worked so tirelessly to advance couldn’t be better timed. Momentum in the war has shifted toward Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Russia and those key purchasers of Russian oil should help add pressure for the Kremlin to finally negotiate. I am pleased to have helped co-lead this timely legislation and encourage the House to take it up immediately when they return from their August recess.”

The legislation will impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet. The legislation also provides for penalties against top purchasers of Russian energy, proceeds from which help fund its war against Ukraine.

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Durbin Statement On Unlawful Birthright Citizenship Executive Orders

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s latest executive actions to try restricting birthright citizenship:

“Birthright citizenship is the law of the land, which the Supreme Court just upheld in June.

“But Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s anti-immigrant agenda will never miss a chance to sow doubt and fear in immigrant communities.

“The Trump Administration should abandon this latest shameful attempt to subvert the Constitution, federal statute, and clear Supreme Court precedent.”

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Ernst’s Urbandale ZIP Code Fix Heads to Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs successfully advanced U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) bipartisan billrequiring the U.S. Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP code for 83 specific communities across the country. The bill passed by a vote of 10-3 and now advances to the full Senate for consideration.

Watch Senator Ernst’s remarks here.

For years, Ernst has worked to deliver certainty for Urbandale residents that would end confusing mail delays and delivery issues faced by Iowans and cities throughout the nation.

“This vote brings residents of Urbandale and communities across the country one step closer to ending years of delayed and misdirected mail caused by ZIP code boundary disputes,” said Senator Ernst. “All Americans deserve timely, accurate, and efficient mail service, and this bill provides a clear solution by establishing unique ZIP codes for 83 affected communities. I’m proud we advanced this commonsense legislation and look forward to getting it across the finish line in the Senate.”

Read the full bill here.

Background:

Ernst has worked for years with Urbandale leaders to resolve the city’s ZIP code boundary dispute, which has caused misdirected mail, delivery delays, and challenges for local businesses and services.

In 2025, she joined Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) on bipartisan legislation directing USPS to establish unique ZIP codes for 14 communities, including Urbandale. Building on that effort and feedback from local Iowa leaders, in May 2026, Ernst introduced broader legislation establishing unique ZIP codes for Urbandale and 74 other communities nationwide.

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Senate Unanimously Passes Ernst’s Bipartisan Stop Secret Spending Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) bipartisan bill requiring public disclosure of tens of billions of secret government spending was approved by the Senate today and is headed to the president to become law.

Watch Senator Ernst’s full speech here.

Current law requires most federal spending to be publicly reported on USAspending.gov, allowing taxpayers to see who receives federal funds and details about how, where, and why the money is spent. However, a loophole has allowed agencies to withhold thousands of spending arrangements known as Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) from public disclosure.

The Stop Secret Spending Act closes that loophole by requiring OTAs to be reported in the same manner as grants, contracts, loans, and other federal expenditures, helping ensure taxpayer dollars are fully accounted for. The bill also requires the federal government to publish a summary of any spending that remains exempt from public disclosure, including the total amount withheld and the justification for doing so, increasing transparency within Washington.

"When Iowans send their hard-earned tax dollars to Washington, they deserve to know exactly where every cent goes and why," said Senator Ernst. "Bureaucrats have been playing hide and seek with tax dollars for far too long. I’m forcing them to open the books, stop the secret spending, and give taxpayers the transparency they deserve."

Background:

Senator Ernst has been a longtime advocate for ending secret federal spending and increasing transparency for taxpayers. She first introduced the bipartisan Stop Secret Spending Act after raising concerns about billions of dollars in undisclosed federal spending through Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and has repeatedly pushed the legislation. Ernst has continued working across the aisle to advance the bill, which previously passed the Senate with unanimous bipartisan support, and has consistently fought to get the legislation across the finish line to ensure taxpayers have greater visibility into how their hard-earned dollars are spent.

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Fischer Votes for Sanctioning Russia Act

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed and she voted for the Sanctioning Russia Act, which she championed as an original cosponsor:

“The Kremlin’s war machine runs on the money it makes from selling cheap oil and gas to countries like China, India, and Brazil who then profit by reselling Russian energy at a markup. It is long overdue for these enablers to pay a price. The Sanctioning Russia Act will pressure the world’s largest purchasers of Russian energy to reduce their dependence on Moscow. I urge the House to take it up swiftly and send it to the president’s desk.”

Fischer recently spoke on the Senate floor in support of the bill to tout its mandatory sanctions on Russia’s political leadership, financial institutions, and energy sector — which will put economic pressure on Moscow to end Vladimir Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine.

Background

Fischer was an original cosponsor when the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) first introduced this legislation with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in 2025. She was also an original cosponsor of the updated version when Senator Darline Graham (R-SC) introduced it on July 16, 2026.

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Fischer Statement on Democrats Blocking the Farm Bill in Committee

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after Democrats on the committee voted against advancing the Farm Bill:

“It is disgraceful Democrats refused to advance the bipartisan Farm Bill out of committee. First, Senate Democrats refused to stand up for our service members by not moving the bipartisan NDAA. Now, they’re turning their backs on farmers, ranchers, and rural America. We worked with them to secure bipartisan support for E15 and offered a compromise on SNAP cost share concerns.

“What did the Democrats do? They voted against every policy they claim to care about: funding food banks, improving rural and mental health services, increasing access to safe drinking water, and expanded broadband connectivity.

“This is a massive disservice to producers and communities across the country. I certainly hope they wake up and realize the pain this will inflict on American families.”

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Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Permanently Make Federal Services Language Accessible

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined a bicameral group of colleagues to introduce the Language Access for All Act, legislation to codify language access requirements for federal agencies and protect language access for the 25 million individuals in the United States with limited English proficiency. The legislation would prioritize customer service governance by reducing barriers to federal services and making sure federal agencies are equipped to meet diverse language needs.

“Millions of New Yorkers rely on federal services to feed their children, obtain necessary medical care, or run their businesses,” said Senator Gillibrand. “As the Trump administration makes accessing these services more difficult for non-English speakers, the Language Access for All Act will ensure that every American can get the help they need, regardless of language barriers. I will continue fighting to hold our federal agencies accountable so that no New Yorker is shut out of the services they’re entitled to.”

The Language Access for All Act is being introduced as services come under threat from the Trump Administration. In March 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14224 that declared English as the official language of the United States and revoked EO 13166, a 25-year-old mandate that required agencies to provide critical language access to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Trump administration’s Department of Justice issued new guidance that minimizes multilingual services and redirects resources towards English language assimilation.

These policy changes threaten language access for the over 25 million people in the United States—eight percent of the U.S. population—with limited English proficiency. About 30% of New Yorkers, or 5.8 million people, speak a language other than English at home. Of them, around 2.5 million have LEP. Nearly 40% of Spanish speakers, who make up the majority of those who speak another language both in the United States and in New York State, report speaking English “less than very well” in the most recent U.S. Census.

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 would modernize and strengthen the federal government’s language access services by formalizing EO 13166 and establishing a coordinated, accountable framework to ensure meaningful access to government services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Specifically, the legislation would:

Requires federal agencies to ensure that individuals with LEP can meaningfully access the federally conducted programs and activities of the agency, including through translation and interpretation.

Creates a public complaint system to track complaints regarding barriers to meaningful access at agencies.

Requires agencies to develop and maintain language access plans consistent with EO 13166, with public notice and comment, and to submit plans to Congress and publish them on LEP.gov.

Establishes language access technical standards that allow individuals with LEP to access agency content. This applies to all agency communications, including AI and automated language assistance services.

Ensures AI-assisted language services do not replace qualified translators and interpreters, comply with federal privacy requirements, and are continuously tested for bias, discrimination, and errors.

Creates an interagency language access working group to provide guidance, coordination, and technical assistance.

Requires each agency to designate a language access coordinator to lead implementation and serve as a point of contact.

Senator Gillibrand has long advocated for improving accessibility in language translation for non-native English speakers. In February 2023, she co-signed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission with Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-06) urging for more languages to be included in their emergency alerts, ensuring the safety of all regardless of language barriers. She also championed a $2 million investment in March 2023 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand transportation services for commuters with limited English proficiency.

In addition to Gillibrand, the legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and was introduced in January 2026 in the House of Representatives by Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), and Dan Goldman (D-NY-10).

Read the full text of the Language Access for All Act here.

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Grassley, Cortez Masto, Crapo, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Healthcare Fraud

WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced the bipartisan Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act. The legislation would improve and invest in the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) program, which was created to combat fraud, waste and abuse across federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Grassley and Cortez Masto are members of the Senate Finance Committee. Crapo and Wyden serve as the committee’s chairman and ranking member, respectively.

“My oversight has revealed fraud, waste and abuse across our healthcare system, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Obamacare marketplace. By bolstering efforts to go after these bad actors, our bipartisan legislation will crack down on people stealing the taxpayers’ money and driving up healthcare costs for families,” Grassley said.

“Medicaid and Medicare are lifelines for families. To ensure they are working as intended, we have to crack down on bad actors taking advantage of Americans,” Cortez Masto said. “Funding our national fraud and abuse investigation unit will save taxpayers billions and restore Americans’ trust that the government can target and go after real fraud and abuse.”

“The best way to fight health care fraud is to fund the cops on the beat who can identify and prosecute fraudsters quickly and efficiently. This common sense approach empowers independent watchdogs in the federal government to use their know-how to recoup taxpayer dollars from these bad actors and widens the net to ensure every federal health care program has adequate protection from those seeking to bilk taxpayer dollars. I’m pleased that this approach is receiving bipartisan support and I will be working to fund these fighters quickly on a bipartisan basis,” Wyden said.

“Health care programs account for the federal government’s largest source of improper payments, including through waste, fraud and abuse. This commonsense legislation equips the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Justice with the resources they need to uncover and prevent fraud, preserving federal health care programs for those who depend on them while protecting taxpayer dollars,” Crapo said.

Background:

Federal healthcare spending is expected to exceed $24 trillion over the next decade. As healthcare fraud schemes continue to grow in scale and complexity, the HCFAC program needs long-term, stable funding to keep pace with evolving threats and strengthen efforts to prevent, detect and prosecute fraud. This legislation would save taxpayers at least $45 billion, per estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

For the first time, the bill allows HCFAC partners to use mandatory funding to combat fraud in the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace and related private insurance programs. The legislation includes additional measures giving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new tools to strengthen oversight and protect the integrity of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It also requires timely reporting to track the HCFAC program’s effectiveness and asks the Government Accountability Office to report on HCFAC’s performance.

In Fiscal Year 2025, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS OIG) HCFAC activities recovered $12 for every $1 spent on Medicare program integrity efforts, resulting in $5.7 billion in expected recoveries and receivables. HHS OIG also excluded more than 2,500 individuals and entities from doing business with federal healthcare programs for fraud and patient abuse and other misconduct. That conduct includes egregious neglect of nursing home residents, improper billing practices and facilitating fraudulent providers and suppliers.

Across all HCFAC partners, including HHS, CMS, HHS OIG, DOJ and the FBI, the program has had a positive return on investment since its inception, demonstrating the value of coordinated, multi-agency enforcement to fight fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.

Download bill text HERE.


Q&A: Where Things Stand on the Farm Bill

Q: What legislative priorities were you able to secure in the current Senate Farm Bill so far?

A: The Senate Agriculture Committee recently met to consider the long-delayed Farm Bill. Building upon substantive reforms enacted last year to strengthen the farm safety net in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, farmers and rural communities are counting on Congress to enact a full, five-year Farm Bill to bring much-needed certainty to the struggling ag economy. As a lifelong family farmer, I understand the financial hardship farm families are facing today to keep their operations afloat. It’s costing more money to put crops in the ground than what farmers are getting when they market their crops. High input costs, low commodity prices and trade uncertainty put farmers in an unsustainable financial situation. We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the 1980s Farm Crisis. That’s why I keep in touch with producers, commodity groups and community bankers to stay on top of the challenges in farm country. That feedback informs my work on behalf of farm families at the policymaking table to address market uncertainty and deliver stability.

During the committee’s work on the Farm Bill, a number of my legislative priorities were included to support family farmers and boost the ag economy, including:

Year-Round E15, which would deliver a $14 billion boost in corn demand and lower prices at the pump by up to 40 cents per gallon.

Improvements to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission whistleblower program to help uphold integrity in U.S. commodity markets that farmers use to manage risk and lock in prices for their crops.

Transparency tools to help bring down fertilizer, seed and fuel costs.

Q: Where does the Farm Bill stand in the Senate?

A: I’m disappointed the bipartisan, regional alliance that has helped shape the nation’s Farm Bills for decades is on shaky ground. After hours of debate and a series of votes on amendments, the Senate Agriculture Committee did not advance the Farm Bill after every Democrat on the committee voted no. They chose to block the Farm Bill in protest over commonsense reforms to curb waste in the food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Their partisan blockade puts passage of the Farm Bill in jeopardy and leaves farm families hanging in the balance. Both Sen. Joni Ernst and I voted to advance the Farm Bill. The committee recessed so debate on the Farm Bill can continue in September and hopefully prove to be more fruitful.

The House of Representatives has already passed a version of the Farm Bill, backed by Iowa Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn and Randy Feenstra. In the Senate, I’m going to continue fighting to get the Farm Bill to the president’s desk this year. That includes my efforts to deliver year-round E15, drive down input costs, fix Proposition 12, enact sensible farm payment reforms to reinforce the integrity of the farm safety net and sharpen tools at the USDA to stop anticompetitive practices in the meatpacking industry. Rural Americans are counting on us to get the job done.


Senate Confirms Iowan Glen Smith to Serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) welcomed today’s Senate confirmation of Glen R. Smith of Atlantic, Iowa, to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Smith served as Chair of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) during the first Trump administration.

“Glen Smith is a product of rural Iowa who’s spent his career serving fellow farmers. Having grown up in southwest Iowa, he understands our way of life and what it takes for family farmers to feed and fuel the world. I congratulate Under Secretary Smith on his confirmation, and I look forward to working with him to deliver for the hardworking men and women who keep food on our tables,” Grassley said.


Senate Republicans Confirm Four U.S. Attorneys, Four U.S. Marshals and DOJ Inspector General

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) applauded the Senate’s confirmation of four U.S. Attorneys, four U.S. Marshals and the Inspector General for the Department of Justice (DOJ). The nominees were confirmed as part of a nominations package of 74 executive nominees, by a vote of 51-47.

Under Grassley’s leadership in the 119th Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced 141 of President Trump’s nominees, including 11 circuit judges, 46 district judges, one Court of International Trade judge, 48 U.S. attorneys and 12 U.S. marshals. The Senate has now confirmed 136 of those nominees.

“U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals are vital parts of our nation’s law enforcement system – responsible for prosecuting violent criminals, protecting the American public and enforcing the rule of law,” Grassley said. “As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’ve been proud to advance and confirm President Trump’s law and order nominees to protect communities across America.”

The nominees advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee and confirmed today include:

Kenneth Sorenson, to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii.

Timothy VerHey, to be U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

Sean Costello, to be U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.

Christopher Nassar, to be U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Johnson TeeHee II, to be U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

James Arnott, to be U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Missouri.

Jack Chambers, to be U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Jason Holt, to be U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Don Berthiaume, to be Inspector General for the Department of Justice.

Background:

Historically, executive nominees, such as U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals, were routinely confirmed on a bipartisan basis due to their non-political and non-controversial nature. That bipartisan tradition was destroyed last year when Senate Democrats placed an unprecedented blanket hold on all of President Trump’s 93 U.S. Attorneys.

Senate Republicans overcame the partisan blockade in October of 2025, confirming 16 U.S. Attorneys as part of an initial nominations package of 107 executive nominees. The Senate then confirmed 14 U.S. Attorneys in December 2025, as part of a second nominations package, and 13 U.S. Attorneys and eight U.S. Marshals in May 2026, as part of a third package.


PASSED THE SENATE: Hassan, Cramer Bipartisan Bill to Help Strengthen Northern Border Security

WASHINGTON – Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to strengthen security at the Northern border by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to regularly complete a new Northern Border Threat Analysis and update its Northern Border Strategy unanimously passed the Senate. Even though criminal activity continues to evolve along the Northern border, there has not been a Northern Border Threat Analysis conducted since 2017, and the Northern Border Strategy has not been updated since 2018.

“As threats at our Northern border continue to evolve, the federal government’s strategy must keep pace,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad that the Senate unanimously passed our bipartisan bill to give law enforcement officers current information and a clear strategy to combat drug smuggling and other illegal cross-border activity, and I urge the House to pass this commonsense legislation without delay.”

“A secure nation requires secure borders, but the threats differ from North to South,” said Senator Cramer. “The Senate’s passage of the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act recognizes our two borders are distinct and require different strategies. This bill gives us the tools to better identify and respond to emerging threats while preserving the strong U.S.-Canada partnership keeping our communities safe and our economy moving.”

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security. Senator Hassan most recentlyvisited the Northern border last year in Pittsburg, where she received a security briefing from Border Patrol and state and local law enforcement officials and she toured a segment of the border. Senator Hassan has also introduced bipartisan legislation to allow U.S. and Canadian law enforcement personnel to jointly patrol both sides of the Northern border by aircraft, helping them more effectively combat drug smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan met with federal law enforcement officials working at the Southern border to discuss efforts to counter drug trafficking, terrorism, and other national security threats.

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