Senator Marshall: This Farm Bill Was Written By Kansas Farmers

Senator Marshall Hosts Press Conference on Farm Bill Mark-Up

Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), hosted a local virtual press conference to discuss the upcoming Farm Bill markup and the benefits it will provide to farmers and rural Americans, including permanent, year-round E-15 and childcare and broadband expansion as well as Senator Marshall’s priorities in farmer mental health, biofertilizers, SNAP nutrition, and conservation.

Click HERE to download the full video.

Highlights from Senator Marshall’s remarks include:

On passing the Farm Bill:

“Well, good afternoon, everybody, and welcome back to my office. It’s been a quick 18 hours or so — in Wichita last night, got back here early this morning, and proud to just get a CDC director across the finish line, by the way, as well. But today I want to talk about the magical Farm Bill.”

“It’s been certainly the honor of my life to represent Kansas on the Ag Committee — first in the House for four years, and now in the Senate for six years. As a fifth-generation farm kid, it’s certainly just, again, the honor of a lifetime to get to work on this bill that’s so important — not just to our farmers — but to rural Americans, and tomorrow we’ll have the markup of this bill. And I’m so proud that Kansas farmers’ fingerprints are all over this bill. We have 22 bills that we authored that’ll be part of the bigger package here. You know, for instance, on the House side, I had maybe two pieces that were inserted in the Farm Bill, but we’re going to have 22 of those, and as we go through that markup tomorrow, maybe we can kind of highlight what you might be looking for and why this is so important to Kansans.”

On the importance of the Farm Bill to all Americans:

“I think one of the big misconceptions is that a Farm Bill is just important to farmers — but I can assure you it’s important to every American and certainly every Kansan. And this is why: we’re so fortunate in this country that we pay a fraction of what folks from other developed nations pay for groceries. We pay a fraction — maybe it’s a half, maybe it’s a third — and the reason is that we have a very reliable, stable supply of food. And what the Farm Bill does is creates a safety net so when farmers have a bad year — whether it’s drought or whether it’s hail — production is down, prices are down, this safety net from the Farm Bill keeps them in business. And then, of course, to rural America, there’s other important reasons, and we’ll talk about those in a second.”

On the importance of the Farm Bill for farmers:

“If Pat Roberts taught me one thing in writing a Farm Bill, it was to go to sit on the tongue of the wagon and listen to the farmers, and they’ll tell you what should be in it. And I think that’s exactly what we did here. To a farmer, let me talk about what’s most important in this Farm Bill to them. And I think number one, the simplest one to explain, is it’s going to include year-round E15. So year-round ethanol 15% blended is going to mean the consumption of about 500 million extra bushels of corn or milo consumed. 500 million bushels. And so what’s that mean? It’s almost like increasing our exports by 25, 30 percent, something like that. That’s what this means, and it’s a consistent market. And the farmer gets a premium — he maybe gets a 10, 20 cent kicker on this from the ethanol plants. The ethanol plants, of course, have more jobs in rural America as well. And by the way, ethanol brings down the cost of gasoline as well. The more ethanol that’s blended, the less expensive gasoline is. So year-round E15 is the big win.”

“And then the second win — I’ll go back to that farmer safety net that’s so important in this bill. And this would be why the farmers say their top priority is the crop insurance and something called an ARC and PLC program. So, if you recall, in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill we added $65 billion to crop insurance, we raised reference prices for those commodities by 10 or 20%. Now, what this bill is going to do is give those farmers at least five years of certainty. So, when they’re trying to decide which crop to plant this fall. You know, whether they’re going to go back and plant wheat, or maybe they’re going to change something to alfalfa or whatever it is. This gives them certainty again on those bad years, the lean years, that they’re at least going to get enough money to be able to plant next year’s crop. So those are the top two things I think that are in this for the American farmer as well: the crop insurance and the E15.”

On the importance of the Farm Bill to rural Americans:

“Then I want to talk for a second about rural America — what’s in this for rural America? You know, as agriculture goes, so goes rural America. So, number one is this provides for a stronger, steady economy, so that’s important for rural America. And then next, I would talk about infrastructure and connectivity. So, the one thing I did get accomplished in my last Farm Bill was increased funding for high-speed internet to rural America — getting that last mile connected — and this Farm Bill builds on that. So, everybody understands roads and bridges wear out, and you have to keep replacing them. Well, you can think about the same thing with high-speed internet — here’s always the next rendition. And just like in your own jobs, the American farmer is using more and more megabytes, gigabytes, whatever it is, when they’re doing their precision agriculture. And of course, there are so many people that are working remotely from home that we need more of that high-speed internet as well across rural America. So, this funds connectivity.”

“And then next, I would talk about infrastructure. As you can imagine, a lot of our water structures — our clean water, our waste disposal systems — all those systems are aging out across the state, so this has funding for infrastructure. And then something else I’m really proud of — again building on the Working Families Tax Cuts bill — is childcare money. So traditionally, USDA can make loans for new hospitals, all sorts of what we would call rural development opportunities, but this is going to allow childcare centers to be eligible for more USDA monies as well. So, I think that’s at the top of the list for what’s going on with rural America.”

“We also have more funding for farmers’ mental health. You all may know this, but we lose more farmers to suicide than we do from farm accidents. So, one of our big priorities up here is farmer mental health, and this will have more funding to continue those programs. So, for instance, K-State Extension has a farmer outreach program, and that would be the typical type of program that we would be looking to fund as well.”

On Senator Marshall’s conservation priorities:

“Okay, I want to go through some of our more specific ones here for a second as well — some things that I have made my priorities. And I think I would start off talking about conservation projects that are important to me. You know, I want to leave this world cleaner, healthier, and safer than I found it. And anything that we can do in agriculture to promote more conservation — I’m all in. And by the way, farmers and ranchers, we were the original conservationists. I remember back in the early 1960s, my grandfather building terraces, and we were learning about soil conservation and soil erosion in our grade school science classes. So, we continue these conservation programs, and a big concern of mine and Kansans is water. So, one of the things we’ve done is set up a water conservation program where we would reward farmers who don’t use all their water allotment. So, we’re going to reward people for using less water and less fertilizers. So proud of our efforts in that direction.”

On Senator Marshall’s biofertilizer priorities:

“And then another thing that’s a priority for me is getting biofertilizers to market. So rather than just using the traditional chemicals — nitrogens, the sulfurs of the world — there are fertilizers, microorganisms that come from nature that we can use. That’s going to leave the soil healthier. So, for instance, in Pratt, Kansas, a company takes manure from the feedlots, uses a byproduct from the ethanol plants and enriches that, and then adds certain bioorganisms, microorganisms that enrich that soil. So, trying to promote more healthy soil by using biofertilizers.”

On Senator Marshall’s SNAP nutrition priorities:

“On the nutrition standpoint, I’m very proud of what we’ve done on some work in that area as well. Specifically, we have reward programs within SNAP — reward programs if you make healthy choices. We’ve had fruits and vegetables on that for quite some time — that if you choose fruits and vegetables, we give you extra SNAP benefits. Well, we’re going to extend that to milk products as well as protein products. So, I understand carbohydrates are cheaper, but trying to get families to buy more proteins will be much healthier for their families as well. So proud of the work that we’ve done on this MAHA side of things, where we touch both conservation as well as nutrition.”

“I think I’ll stop there again. This has been a six-year project to get here, and it’s an exciting day for me. This is one of the reasons I came to Washington, D.C. — to use that experience as a fifth-generation farm kid, growing up in the industry, continuing to be invested in the industry, and then learning the agriculture policy here, so that we can keep farmers in business, help the Kansas economy be stronger, and at the same time make Kansans healthier. And then add on the conservation piece of this, and you have a good strong Farm Bill.”

On regulating fertilizer use:

“I’m trying to remember what we did with this. So, on the House side, they were working on the preemption side of things, and I think in our bill we’re just going to leave it alone. We’re not going to overexercise the federal government’s job in regulating fertilizers right now. I see the American farmer, through their own volition, wanting to use less and less fertilizer. And why wouldn’t they? They’re so expensive — they’re about maybe 20% of their input costs right now. So, we’re seeing American farmers and ranchers use less and less chemical fertilizers anyway, so we’re going to stay out of that issue right now. And we’ll see if someone offers an amendment tomorrow; otherwise, I won’t be surprised if they do.”

On changes to SNAP funding and decreasing error rates:

“Yeah, I think that’s the critical issue. And I can’t tell you exactly what the Democrats are going to do, but all across the country, we’ve seen a rising error rate in the administration of the SNAP dollars — and we’ve seen that in Kansas as well. So, what we had suggested is if the state is not going to be efficient and is going to have more and more errors, then they should weigh a bigger portion of their share of the food stamps. So, what we’ve suggested is a one-year delay in that and allow states to improve their efficiencies and decrease the error rates. And then, if that happens, it wouldn’t change any of the funding at all. That’s a good point to talk about the other food programs in general. People want to stay focused on just SNAP dollars, but in my time here in Congress, I’ve seen increased funding for our food programs go from around maybe $70 billion a year to now $140-150 billion dollars a year.”

“The SNAP program, unfortunately, is probably the most ripe with fraud and abuse. The good ones that are working great are our food banks, our Meals on Wheels, our senior centers, our school lunches. So, across the state of Kansas now, at least 50% of the kids are on free or reduced lunches. But now almost every school in Kansas offers free breakfast, and most of them are offering free dinners if you’re sticking around for after-school activities, and in many instances, we’re sending them home with food as well. So, to me, the priority here is I don’t want anyone to go to bed hungry. We’re making some increased funding for making healthy choices with the SNAP dollars as well, but we also don’t want the SNAP program to be administered frivolously. So, we’re asking states to do a better job to be more efficient as they’re administering these programs.”

On the timeline of passing the Farm Bill:

“Right, right. So, I expect it to get out of committee tomorrow, and determining the future, we’ll see how many — if any — Democrats vote for it. If we can win several souls over, and we have a nice, strong bipartisan support of the bill… And by the way, all these 22 things that I mentioned are all bipartisan; I have co-sponsors for them in the bill — this bill is very well represented with bipartisan support. So, depending on how many Democrats vote for it tomorrow will help determine how quickly it’s going to get to the floor for a vote. Because on the floor in the Senate, you may recall, it takes 60 votes to get it across the finish line. So, we need some type of a product that can get to those 60 votes, and then I think that’s when we have to do some more negotiating regarding this delay in the SNAP share of cost. So, we’ll see — I don’t know if we can get it done before the election, or if it’s a lame duck situation. We’ve got a jam-packed week as well — I think it’ll kind of slow down when we get back, and everyone’s attention turns towards that November election. I didn’t mean to evade the question there: the bottom line is I don’t know.”

“Yeah, and when the dam breaks, it’ll break. I think that we’ll go from zero Democrats supporting it to 30 supporting it. And what is the magic piece of that puzzle that makes that dam break, I’m not sure of — but I think it’s time to get this markup done so then we can get it to the floor and figure out what amendment we need to get it across the final finish line. But certainly, we’re going to do everything we can to get it done this year.”

###


Senator Marshall to Jake Tapper: Dr. Fauci Clearly Lied to You

Senator Marshall Joins CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined CNN’sThe Lead with Jake Tapper to discuss Dr. Fauci being held in contempt of Congress, how he misled the President and the American public during COVID, and how Americans deserve an investigation into the COVID pandemic to uncover the truth.

Click HERE to download the full video.

On Senator Rand Paul holding Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress:

“Well, certainly it’s within Chairman Paul’s abilities and privileges to do what he’s doing. But beyond all this — this is why I think we need a special counsel, that the Department of Justice needs to appoint a special counsel to dive into all this. I mean, we haven’t talked about the autopen yet — this was an autopen pardon. How does that come into the area as well? So, I think there’s a lot out there. And I think, to me, more importantly, this is about what’s morally right to do. There was a moral obligation to the million families that lost a loved one, to the 20 million Americans who have long COVID to this day, and all just the emotional challenges we have because of those years of the COVID response. And what we do know is Anthony Fauci clearly lied, misled Congress, and misled the President. What his diary said was completely different than the advice he was giving the President, as well as the American public.”

On Dr. Fauci’s lies revealed in his diary:

“Yeah, January 26th, he tells his diary that there’s no way that this virus came from a wet market in Wuhan, China. But he goes out publicly and says that it came from nature — that it came from this wet market. And then just four days later, he’s meeting with all the gain-of-function scientists — the top gain-of-function scientists in the world — and 10 of the 12 say that this came from a laboratory, but he never offered that explanation to the President or to the American people. And I think the President’s response would be completely different if he’d walked in there and said, ‘Look, there’s a new virus out there, it was made in a lab, by the way. America’s help funded the development of this virus; we’ve been doing this research for decades. We have no idea what this virus is going to look like when it gets out into the world, but we do know that nobody has any immunity to it.’”

“Jake, I mean, what I’m disappointed here is Dr. Fauci didn’t tell you about his decades of funding viral gain-of-function research — that’s not in question at all…. I just don’t think there’s any way he wouldn’t have known about it. I think he clearly lied to you about all that — he was clearly, through EcoHealth, funding this. When President Obama told him we didn’t want to do this type of research anymore, he found some type of loophole to do it, and when that loophole was closed, he took this research out to foreign countries. He orchestrated this. This was his ticket to the Nobel Prize — he thought if he could get this gain-of-function research done, he was going to get a Nobel Prize. I think that those are facts. And for him to even begin to deny that this came from a laboratory is beyond the pale to me. He never could show any type of an intermediate species or progenitor of this virus; there’s just a plethora of evidence to say that this virus came from a laboratory, and he knew that.”

On whether an invalid autopen pardon would give Dr. Fauci the right to plead the 5th:

“So, it does. But I’m saying that needs to go to a special counsel and go to the Supreme Court. There’s no way that I could even begin to answer that legal question. And I think if the Supreme Court was on our call tonight, that it would be some type of a split decision. But I think there’s so many questions here that are going to go unanswered — that’s why we need this special counsel. And take it out of Washington, take it out of the politics, and let the special counsel dive into all these issues, starting with the autopen pardon.”

On establishing a 9/11 style commission to look into the COVID pandemic:

“You read my mind, Jake. So, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand — a good friend of mine — and I, had that bill — we’ve been pushing for that for years. You know, she lived through the 9/11 stuff there in New York herself, and that’s what she said from the beginning. I said, ‘You’re right. You’re absolutely right.’ And again, get it out of Washington. To me, this is what we would call an autopsy, right? You lose a patient, you don’t know why, family members want to know why, that’s why we need a postmortem examination here. And we did make mistakes — we all made mistakes through this process, let’s learn from those mistakes so we can have a better response next time. You’re spot on.”

###


Update From Senator Mitch McConnell

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today:

“Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home. Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff.

“On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business.”


SENATORS MCCORMICK, KAINE, RICKETTS AND HASSAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN CAMPUS LIFELINE ACT TO STRENGTHEN STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION

Legislation Expands Student-Led Mental Health Programs and Increases Awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced the bipartisan Campus Lifeline Act, legislation to strengthen student mental health and suicide prevention efforts by expanding student-led outreach on college campuses and increasing awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young Americans, with nearly one in five high school students reporting suicidal thoughts. Congress has supported youth suicide prevention through the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (GLSMA), which provides grants to colleges and universities to improve mental health and substance use disorder services, suicide prevention programming, and student outreach. Research shows peer-to-peer engagement can play an important role in identifying students in crisis and connecting them with appropriate support.

The launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has also expanded access to immediate behavioral health support, but awareness of the resource among college students remains inconsistent. The Campus Lifeline Act builds on existing federal efforts by strengthening peer-led outreach and helping colleges connect students with lifesaving mental health resources before a crisis escalates.

“No family should have to experience the heartbreak of losing a child, classmate, relative, or friend to suicide,” said Senator McCormick. “Students are often the first to recognize when someone is struggling. The Campus Lifeline Act strengthens peer-led mental health efforts, expands awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and gives colleges additional tools to connect students with support before a crisis becomes a tragedy.”

“We can and must do more about the alarming spike in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation that we’ve seen among young people across the country over the last 15 years,” said Senator Kaine. “That includes encouraging schools to take commonsense steps to ensure that students know that help is out there, including through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that is free and available 24/7. This bipartisan legislation would help do that, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join us in pushing to get it signed into law as quickly as possible.”

“The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides critical support for those struggling with their mental health. As Governor, I was proud to lead the effort to make this resource available to every Nebraskan. The Campus Lifeline Act would increase awareness of this resource and others available to students nationwide. Every student deserves to know that they are not alone, and help is there if they need it,” said Senator Ricketts.

“Young people in crisis need to know where to turn for help. This bipartisan bill would encourage colleges to put information about 988, the suicide and crisis hotline, on student IDs to increase awareness about this lifesaving resource. In addition, it would encourage colleges to develop plans for peer outreach about the 988 hotline, making it easier for people to get the support that they need,” said Senator Hassan.

Specifically, the Campus Lifeline Act would:

• Expand eligible Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act campus mental health grants to support student organizations promoting peer mental health awareness, suicide prevention, substance use disorder education, and campus awareness campaigns.

• Expand peer education programs to help students recognize and appropriately respond to warning signs of mental health and substance use disorders.

• Require grant applicants to seek student input and ensure outreach and behavioral health resources are accessible to students enrolled in online, hybrid, and distance-learning programs.

• Expand technical assistance to both grant recipients and unsuccessful applicants implementing evidence-based campus mental health programs.

• Encourage states and colleges to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through student ID cards and campus awareness campaigns.

This bill has bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House. Representatives Erin Houchin (R-IN), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Valado (R-CA), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) are sponsoring companion legislation, H.R. 8657, in the House of Representatives.

The Campus Lifeline Act has received support from over 35 organizations including: Active Minds, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Group Psychotherapy Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American School Counselor Association, Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare (AABH), Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, EDGE Partners, Inseparable, Institute for Educational Leadership, International OCD Foundation, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, Mental Health America, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Board for Certified Counselors, National Council on Problem Gambling, National Eating Disorders Association, National Federation of Families, National League for Nursing, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), REDC Consortium, Sandy Hook Promise, The Kennedy Forum, The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, The Trevor Project, Vibrant Emotional Health, Youth Villages.

“At Active Minds, we believe that every student deserves access to mental health support before they reach a crisis. We are grateful to the U.S. Senators for coming together across party lines to champion this effort, which recognizes that supporting young people’s mental health is not a partisan issue, it should be a national priority. By strengthening campus mental health resources and expanding access to evidence-based supports, this legislation will help ensure more youth and young adults can get the care they need, when they need it,” said Anika Rahman, Director of Policy, Active Minds.

“At SAVE, through our The Green Bandana Project program, we work with high school and college students across the country and see firsthand how important connection and accessible support are,” said Erich Mische, CEO of SAVE, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. “The Campus Lifeline Act will help remove barriers by including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on newly issued student ID cards and investing in youth-informed mental health strategies on college campuses. SAVE strongly endorses this legislation and looks forward to working with Senator McCormick and members of both parties to make it law.”

The full bill text may be read here.

###


Merkley’s ‘Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting’ is Coming to Bend

Bend, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold a ‘Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting’ in Bend on Thursday, August 13.

Future events will be announced soon for later this year.

“Our democratic republic works best when elected officials work for the public good, not the elected official’s personal profit,” said Merkley. “Trump and his family abuse his office and official connections to rake in billions for themselves at every turn, while making life more expensive for hard-working Americans. During the ‘Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meetings,’ we invite Oregonians to come share their ideas for how to restore ‘government by and for the people.’”

At each event, Merkley will provide a brief update about the extent of corruption and discuss proposed solutions, before turning to attendees to discuss the impact of corruption and why it must be stopped.

In the U.S. Senate, Merkley has led the charge to end public corruption—including preventing lawmakers from trading stocks, banning cryptocurrency-related corruption by elected officials at the highest levels of the federal government, cracking down on the dangers that prediction markets pose to our democracy, getting dark money out of politics, and reforming the Supreme Court.

Details about Merkley’s ‘Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting’ are as follows, with additional details to be sent to local media ahead of each event:

Thursday, August 13

Bend ‘Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting’

Time: 3:00 pm PT

Location: Central Oregon Community College, Mazama Building – Gym

2600 NW College Way

Bend, OR 97703

More events across the state to be announced soon.

###


Murkowski, Merkley Seek Information on Executive Order Targeting Smithsonian

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior Subcommittee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum requesting additional information on the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) planned implementation of Executive Order 14416, “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution.” The Executive Order directs the National Park Service (NPS) to install temporary signage and exhibits on NPS-managed property surrounding the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

“For the past 180 years, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to sharing objective historical evidence through research and education, not political narratives,” the senators wrote. “The Smithsonian Institution has worked tirelessly to present a comprehensive narrative of our nation’s amazing history, from its many triumphs to its trials. There is nothing more American than telling our story truthfully.”

As Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over both the Department of the Interior and the Smithsonian Institution, Murkowski and Merkley requested additional information regarding the scope, cost, funding source, and timeline for the directive, as well as the process used to develop the signage and accompanying materials.

The full letter is available here or can be read below:

Dear Secretary Burgum:

As Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, we write to express our concern and to request more information regarding the role the Department of the Interior (DOI) will have in implementing Executive Order (EO) 14416, “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution.”

EO 14416 directs you to work through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to install temporary signage along NPS-maintained sidewalks and walkways near the National Museum of American History (Museum) to: 1) inform visitors of the findings of the recent report entitled, “Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage” (Report); and 2) notify visitors that “the Museum exhibits should be renovated consistent with the findings in the Report”1 while directing visitors to “locations and resources for accurate information regarding America’s history.”2 The EO also directs you to install temporary exhibits or signage on NPS-maintained sidewalks, walkways, and land that “corrects inaccurate information presented in the Museum.”3

For the past 180 years, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to sharing objective historical evidence through research and education, not political narratives. The Smithsonian Institution has worked tirelessly to present a comprehensive narrative of our nation’s amazing history, from its many triumphs to its trials. There is nothing more American than telling our story truthfully.

The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee has jurisdiction over both the DOI and the Smithsonian Institution and it is our role as Chair and Ranking Member to conduct oversight over the use of taxpayer dollars in areas within our jurisdiction. Accordingly, please answer the following questions:

Is there any precedent by which NPS land has been used to communicate conflicting information or messages related to an outside entity’s ongoing activities or operations?

Is there any precedent by which NPS funding has been used to disseminate conflicting information or messages related to an outside entity’s ongoing activities or operations?

Where will the signage direct visitors to go to for additional “accurate” information? Who is compiling this information?

Will NPS solicit public feedback on this additional information before installing the new signage?

Please describe plans for the signage (including a map of where each sign will be placed):

How many signs will there be and where will the signs be placed?

What will be the size of each sign? What will each sign be made of? Will these be made in-house at DOI?

What will be the content of each sign and who is drafting and finalizing the content?

What is the expected cost per sign?

Will signs be affixed to existing poles or structures?

Will new poles or structures be built to support the signs? If so, what is the expected cost?

How long does the Department anticipate these “temporary” signs will be in place for?

What is the total expected cost of carrying out all activities, including, but not limited to, planning, sign-making, and installation, that you are directed to undertake under EO 14416?

Where will the funding come from within DOI/NPS to pay for this directive? How many DOI/NPS staff will be working on this directive?

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

United States Senator Lisa Murkowski

United States Senator Jeff Merkley

###


Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Drop Effort to Weaken Health Protections for Millions of Americans

New EPA rule would roll back federal protections for clean drinking water

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight said today they have joined colleagues to demand the Trump administration withdraw its proposal to roll back drinking water protections, which would remove federal public health limits on the amount of certain polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) or “forever chemicals” in our drinking water.

The senators emphasize in their letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that removing these health limits will expose Americans to unsafe levels of chemicals linked to kidney and testicular cancer, immune suppression problems, developmental harm, thyroid disease, pregnancy complications, and liver damage.

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

Despite the Trump administration touting its ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda, if enacted, the EPA’s new proposal would rescind the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFAS and delay compliance for the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) standards until 2031 – risking the health of millions of Americans.

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

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

The full text of the letter is here.

###


Senator Moody Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt of Congress for Failing to Answer Questions while under Subpoena

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody voted in support of a resolution to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for failing to sufficiently testify while under subpoena before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

“Dr. Fauci lied to the American people, promoted unjustified mandates that destroyed businesses, disrupted our children’s education, stripped Americans of their freedoms. Now, he believes he should not have to answer for his actions. His refusal to cooperate with Congress not only obstructs a congressional investigation but is a complete slap in the face to the American people, who deserve answers. We must push forward for accountability from the man who claimed to be the sole representative of ‘the Science.’” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

In an interview with Margaret Brennan, Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that he represented ‘the Science.’ – and supported unjustified mandates and directives that upended Americans’ lives.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who testified last week, refused to answer the questions and pleaded the Fifth over 100 times in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing.

During her time as Attorney General, Senator Moody supported Florida’s efforts to reopen the economy and protect residents, workers and businesses during COVID-19. Moody worked with Governor DeSantis on the Re-Open Florida Task Force that was instrumental in opening businesses and schools.

As the former Attorney General, Senator Moody led 20 other states in a multistate legal action against the Biden administration’s unlawful mask mandate on public transportation.

Senator Moody boldly advocated for restarting the cruise industry after it had been shut down for more than a year, challenging the CDC’s restrictions on Florida’s cruise industry, and arguing they harmed the state’s ports, tourism economy, and workforce.

Senator Moody also opposed federal vaccine mandates and supported legal challenges to those requirements. Moody led a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the commonwealth of Kentucky’s multistate suit against Biden’s federal contractor vaccine mandate.

Early in the pandemic, Senator Moody activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline for essential supplies and issued consumer alerts warning about COVID-19 related scams. Her office investigated complaints involving essential goods, fraudulent schemes, and recovered more than $11 million.

Senator Moody repeatedly cited a Florida grand jury investigation that found masks and lockdowns were harmful and ineffective.

Read the full resolution here.

# # #


Sen. Moran Urges Postmaster General to Resolve Mail Delivery Issues Affecting Colwich Residents

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today urged Postmaster General & CEO David Steiner to address current mail delivery issues that threaten the ability of Colwich residents to receive important U.S. Postal Service deliveries, including absentee ballots, Medicare-related correspondence and other critical federal mail.

“My office has heard from constituents who are concerned with the delivery of absentee ballots, Medicare related correspondence, and other mail critical to their everyday life,” wrote Sen. Moran. “To that end, I respectfully request that USPS identify an administrative solution that ensures Colwich residents can reliably receive essential mail. Specifically, I ask that USPS consider incorporating Colwich into a nearby existing residential delivery route or establishing a new delivery route specifically for the residents of Colwich.”

“Residents of Colwich should have the same ability to receive important federal correspondence as residents of larger, urban cities,” continued Sen. Moran. “While I recognize the operational challenges USPS faces in serving rural towns, I am concerned that the current system leaves Kansans at a disadvantage through no fault of their own.” The full letter be found here and below.

Dear Postmaster General Steiner,

I write regarding an issue affecting residents of Colwich, Kansas, that could result in critical federal mail being returned to sender.

Unlike most communities in the United States, Colwich does not receive residential mail delivery. Instead, USPS has determined that, due to cost effectiveness and staffing shortages, residents will be served exclusively through complimentary PO Boxes at the local post office rather than through home delivery. While that approach may have once been sufficient, it’s clear that the practice of solely delivering mail to PO boxes is no longer an effective means of ensuring residents in Colwich can reliably receive important federal correspondence.

For many years, mail addressed to residents' physical addresses was placed into their assigned PO Boxes, allowing Colwich residents to continue receiving important correspondence despite the absence of residential mail delivery. Following a change in personnel, that longstanding practice came to an end, and mail addressed to a resident's physical address is now returned to sender if it does not include the assigned PO Box, consistent with USPS policy. While I appreciate USPS providing residents ample notice before implementing this change, the warning does not solve the underlying issue. Because Colwich residents do not have the option of residential mail delivery, they are left caught between USPS policies and the requirements of other federal agencies, such as CMS, the IRS, and the US Election Commission, that often require the use of a physical address rather than a PO Box.

As a result, my office has heard from constituents who are concerned with the delivery of absentee ballots, Medicare related correspondence, and other mail critical to their everyday life. To that end, I respectfully request that USPS identify an administrative solution that ensures Colwich residents can reliably receive essential mail. Specifically, I ask that USPS consider incorporating Colwich into a nearby existing residential delivery route or establishing a new delivery route specifically for the residents of Colwich.

Since its founding, the United States Postal Service has played a pivotal role in ensuring that every American, regardless of where they live, remains connected to their government, their communities, and to one another. Residents of Colwich should have the same ability to receive important federal correspondence as residents of larger, urban cities. While I recognize the operational challenges USPS faces in serving rural towns, I am concerned that the current system leaves Kansans at a disadvantage through no fault of their own.

I am confident the Postal Service shares the goal of ensuring every American has reliable access to essential mail, and I stand ready to work together to identify a practical solution that fulfills that mission.

# # #


Murkowski and Colleagues Work to Modernize Fisheries Science

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation that would help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) better assess and protect our fisheries. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into NOAA's fisheries science programs, allowing for more cost-effective and expanded survey coverage. This would bolster, not replace, traditional stock assessment surveys by providing NOAA with additional scientifically validated tools to improve data collection, expand survey coverage, and strengthen fisheries management.

This bill would establish national standards for this innovative technology while expanding workforce capacity, strengthening interagency coordination, and supporting private-sector innovation without imposing new regulatory burdens. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Angus King (I-ME), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) are co-sponsors.

“Without accurate stock assessments, we cannot make the informed, science-based management decisions needed to ensure our fisheries remain sustainable for generations to come,” said Senator Murkowski. “Environmental DNA is an innovative, cost-effective tool that will give our scientists a clearer picture of our fisheries while expanding survey coverage and reducing costs. This legislation is the product of extensive collaboration with NOAA, Alaska fishermen, Tribal partners, academia, and industry to modernize how we assess fish stocks using the best available science.”

“With climate change wreaking havoc on fisheries, researchers need to stay ahead of the curve,” said Senator Whitehouse. “This bill will allow NOAA to harness new technologies to keep fish stocks healthy and robust.”

“Reliable fisheries surveys and stock assessments are the foundation of sustainable fisheries management,” said Sen. Sullivan. “I've consistently fought to ensure NOAA maintains robust fisheries survey coverage in Alaska, where changing ocean conditions are impacting our subsistence, recreational, and commercially important species and the communities that depend on them. As fish stocks shift and ocean conditions become more variable, we need to invest in both the traditional surveys that have served us for decades and innovative technologies that can make those surveys even stronger. By thoughtfully investing in and integrating new tools, we can improve the quality of stock assessments, better support our fishermen and communities, and ensure America's fisheries remain among the best managed in the world.”

“To implement the best possible fisheries management strategies, we need the best available data,” said Senator Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill modernizes federal fisheries science and invests in innovative data collection and analysis. Bolstering our tools to monitor fisheries is critical to supporting both Oregon fishermen and responsible, sustainable fishing for generations to come.”

"Environmental DNA is a promising new tool for fisheries and ecosystem assessment that could improve fisheries management while also lowering costs," said Linda Behnken, Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. "Senator Murkowski’s Fisheries Science Modernization Act will advance this technology while also improving oversight and collaboration.?ALFA supports this bill and applauds Senator Murkowski for her commitment to science-based management of Alaska’s fisheries."

"The Fisheries Science Modernization Act comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. fisheries management,” said Austen Thomas, Senior Application Scientist. “As an eDNA service provider, Wilderlab USA sees firsthand how environmental DNA can expand monitoring coverage, reduce survey costs, and deliver data on species that traditional methods often miss. This bill's focus on national standards and predictable procurement pathways is exactly what the private sector needs to invest with confidence in U.S. eDNA capacity. By bringing the private sector into closer partnership with NOAA and other resource agencies, this legislation will help ensure fisheries decisions are grounded in the best available science. We commend Senator Murkowski for this forward-looking legislation and look forward to supporting NOAA's efforts to modernize how we understand and manage our nation's fisheries."

“United Catcher Boats supports the Fisheries Science Modernization Act of 2026 and appreciates Senator Murkowski's continued leadership in advancing science-based fisheries management,” said Andrea Keikkala, Executive Director of United Catcher Boats. “Senator Murkowski has long demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of sound fisheries science and the need to ensure NOAA Fisheries has the tools necessary to sustainably manage our nation's fisheries. We appreciate her leadership in championing innovative technologies that have the potential to strengthen stock assessments, expand scientific capacity, and improve fisheries management. We recommend that Congress ensure NOAA Fisheries has adequate resources to successfully implement these important new responsibilities without reducing investment in existing stock assessments, fishery-independent surveys, cooperative research, observer programs, or other core science activities that are fundamental to science-based fisheries management. Investments in eDNA should complement, rather than displace, the core science programs that have made the United States the global leader in sustainable fisheries management.”

"The United States is a global leader in sustainable fisheries because of our commitment to science-based management,” said Joanna Slaney, Environmental Defense Fund’s Vice President for Political and Government Affairs. “As technology and science continue to advance, it is crucial for NOAA to examine innovative methods to collect fisheries data and further the best available science. EDF appreciates Senator Murkowski and Senator Whitehouse’s leadership to further science that supports thriving ecosystems, fishery resources, and the communities that depend on them."

“Environmental DNA collection is an exciting new scientific frontier for augmenting our understanding of fisheries and their ecosystems,” said Meredith Moore, Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Fish Conservation. “The Fisheries Science Modernization Act lays a solid foundation for unlocking this new source of data to improve fisheries management.”

"America's 11.8 million saltwater anglers depend on healthy fisheries, and sound fisheries management starts with sound science,” said Mike Leonard, the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) Vice President of Government Affairs. “Environmental DNA has shown tremendous potential as a tool to supplement traditional fisheries surveys, improve our understanding of marine fish populations, and help managers make more informed decisions. By testing and validating these technologies before incorporating them into stock assessments, the Fisheries Science Modernization Act takes a thoughtful, science-based approach to strengthening marine fisheries research. Better science leads to better management, which ultimately benefits both fish populations and the millions of anglers who contribute more than $145 billion in economic activity to our nation's coastal communities. ASA appreciates Senator Murkowski's leadership on this important legislation."

The legislation is further endorsed by the Cape Cod Fishermen’s Alliance, the Alaska Ocean Observing System, the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, the Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program, and the Pacific Seafood Processors Association.

Background

Currently, NOAA's stock assessment methods are constrained by high operational costs and limited vessel availability, resulting in gaps in survey coverage. The integration of eDNA, already widely used in the private sector, would help close these gaps by enabling sampling in remote or hazardous environments while reducing costs.

The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would provide the federal government with key tools to better protect and grow our fisheries by modernizing how fish stocks are assessed while expanding agencies' capacity to use eDNA. Specifically, the legislation:

Modernizing Stock Assessments

Establishes a NOAA eDNA Fishery Stock Assessment Pilot Program to validate methods across diverse regions and species.

Requires NOAA to develop an agency-wide eDNA Implementation Plan detailing how eDNA will be integrated into federally managed fisheries.

Directs NOAA to routinely collect eDNA samples during existing surveys to improve accuracy, expand coverage, and build long-term datasets.

Integrates eDNA into fisheries research and ecosystem monitoring by amending the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Promotes collaboration among NOAA, fishermen, Tribal Nations, academia, and industry.

Requires annual coordination meetings and reports to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Congress to ensure accountability.

Building National eDNA Capacity

Creates the National Aquatic Biomolecular Coordination Network (NABCN) to develop national standards for sampling, laboratory workflows, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), metadata, and bioinformatics.

Establishes a coordinated multi-agency framework enabling consistent biomolecular monitoring across freshwater, estuarine, coastal, and marine environments.

Expands NOAA's workforce and laboratory capacity while supporting complementary private-sector services.

Trains National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) technicians in eDNA collection, handling, and modeling.

Supports research, innovation, and technology transfer across agencies, academia, Tribal partners, and industry.

Provides transparent performance standards and predictable procurement pathways to encourage U.S. innovation and commercialization of emerging eDNA tools, including autonomous and AI-enabled sampling systems.

###


Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior Subcommittee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum requesting additional information on the Department of the Interior's (DOI) planned implementation of Executive Order 14416, "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The Executive Order directs the National Park Service (NPS) to install temporary signage and exhibits on NPS-managed property surrounding the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

“For the past 180 years, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to sharing objective historical evidence through research and education, not political narratives,” the senators wrote. “The Smithsonian Institution has worked tirelessly to present a comprehensive narrative of our nation’s amazing history, from its many triumphs to its trials. There is nothing more American than telling our story truthfully.”

As Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over both the Department of the Interior and the Smithsonian Institution, Murkowski and Merkley requested additional information regarding the scope, cost, funding source, and timeline for the directive, as well as the process used to develop the signage and accompanying materials.

The full letter is available here or can be read below:

Dear Secretary Burgum:

As Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, we write to express our concern and to request more information regarding the role the Department of the Interior (DOI) will have in implementing Executive Order (EO) 14416, “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution.”

EO 14416 directs you to work through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to install temporary signage along NPS-maintained sidewalks and walkways near the National Museum of American History (Museum) to: 1) inform visitors of the findings of the recent report entitled, “Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage” (Report); and 2) notify visitors that “the Museum exhibits should be renovated consistent with the findings in the Report”1 while directing visitors to “locations and resources for accurate information regarding America’s history.”2 The EO also directs you to install temporary exhibits or signage on NPS-maintained sidewalks, walkways, and land that “corrects inaccurate information presented in the Museum.”3

For the past 180 years, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to sharing objective historical evidence through research and education, not political narratives. The Smithsonian Institution has worked tirelessly to present a comprehensive narrative of our nation’s amazing history, from its many triumphs to its trials. There is nothing more American than telling our story truthfully.

The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee has jurisdiction over both the DOI and the Smithsonian Institution and it is our role as Chair and Ranking Member to conduct oversight over the use of taxpayer dollars in areas within our jurisdiction. Accordingly, please answer the following questions:

Is there any precedent by which NPS land has been used to communicate conflicting information or messages related to an outside entity’s ongoing activities or operations?

Is there any precedent by which NPS funding has been used to disseminate conflicting information or messages related to an outside entity’s ongoing activities or operations?

Where will the signage direct visitors to go to for additional “accurate” information? Who is compiling this information?

Will NPS solicit public feedback on this additional information before installing the new signage?

Please describe plans for the signage (including a map of where each sign will be placed):

How many signs will there be and where will the signs be placed?

What will be the size of each sign? What will each sign be made of? Will these be made in-house at DOI?

What will be the content of each sign and who is drafting and finalizing the content?

What is the expected cost per sign?

Will signs be affixed to existing poles or structures?

Will new poles or structures be built to support the signs? If so, what is the expected cost?

How long does the Department anticipate these “temporary” signs will be in place for?

What is the total expected cost of carrying out all activities, including, but not limited to, planning, sign-making, and installation, that you are directed to undertake under EO 14416?

Where will the funding come from within DOI/NPS to pay for this directive? How many DOI/NPS staff will be working on this directive?

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

United States Senator Lisa Murkowski

United States Senator Jeff Merkley


Murphy, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Coast Guard Installations, Allow Cost-Saving Community Partnerships

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), along with U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced the Strengthening Coast Guard Communities Act, bipartisan legislation to allow the U.S. Coast Guard to collaborate with state and local governments through intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs).

For over a decade, every branch of the U.S. military has been able to benefit from the authority to enter into IGSA except for the Coast Guard. By requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to grant IGSA authority to the Coast Guard Commandant, the Strengthening Coast Guard Communities Act would enable the Coast Guard to secure better contracting agreements in collaboration with local government bodies, deliver lower-cost, higher-quality services to its installations, and strengthen local ties within Coast Guard communities – across Connecticut and nationwide.

In December 2024, Senator Murphy led a letter to the DHS Secretary calling on the Department to finalize IGSA authority for the Coast Guard. In August 2025, he led a CT delegation letter calling for serious investments by the Coast Guard to modernize the Coast Guard Academy campus infrastructure in New London and support the Academy in meeting its full potential in educating the leaders of America’s multi-mission, maritime military force.

“This long-overdue step will save millions in taxpayer dollars, cut red tape, and support economic development by allowing better collaboration between the Coast Guard and its surrounding communities – in places like New London, Connecticut, home of the Coast Guard Academy,” said Senator Murphy. “By taking advantage of IGSAs to contract for local services – from waste management to snowplowing to transportation – the Coast Guard can save money while delivering the improved support and quality of life that Coasties, and their neighbors, deserve.”

“In Alaska, supporting our military services takes an all-hands-on-deck approach. We’ve seen firsthand how IGSAs benefit both military installations and local communities by combining resources for critical functions: everything from infrastructure maintenance to emergency dispatch systems. However, DHS has yet to issue the guidance necessary for the Coast Guard to do the same,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation would allow the Coast Guard to partner with local communities to address essential functions like childcare, utility services, and housing needs. It is important that we give the Coast Guard cost-effective tools to efficiently build operational capacity in communities like Kodiak and Seward, where the service will homeport the first of the new coming to Alaska.”

“The U.S. Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay in Baltimore is the Coast Guard's only major ship-repair facility. We are so proud of the work our Coast Guardsmen do protecting our nation, and the Marylanders working every day at Curtis Bay to keep our Coast Guard on the water,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “I am proud to partner with my colleagues on this legislation, which would enable the Coast Guard to secure better contracting agreements in collaboration with local governments to deliver lower-cost, higher-quality services to its installations. This legislation will help provide savings for the Coast Guard and Maryland communities.”

"The Coast Guard is one of Maine's most important federal partners, protecting our maritime economy, conducting lifesaving search and rescue missions, and safeguarding our national security," said Senator King. "Giving the Coast Guard the same authority already available to every other military service branch is simply common sense. These partnerships are already saving the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines millions of dollars a year, and I know the Coast Guard installations in Maine are ready to advance projects, cut red tape, and save American taxpayer dollars.”

“All branches of our Armed Forces deserve our enduring support and gratitude for their honorable service to our country, including access to high-quality services that improve their efficiency — anything short of that is unacceptable,” said Senator Padilla. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will ensure the U.S. Coast Guard can access the same cost-saving benefits as the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. This is a simple step Congress can take to make it easier for the Coast Guard to work with state and local governments to acquire services that benefit both the Coast Guard and the communities that host them.”

“All U.S. military services are encouraged to collaborate with local communities for infrastructure and development, except for the U.S. Coast Guard. It’s an oversight that slows modernization efforts and makes it harder for the Coast Guard to meet their mission,” said Senator Blunt Rochester, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries. “I’m proud to support the Strengthening Coast Guard Communities Act to streamline the Coast Guard’s partnership with local governments and enable USCG to better support Coasties and the communities they serve.”

“By allowing the Coast Guard to enter intergovernmental support agreements, this bill will unlock millions of dollars in savings, create jobs for military spouses, provide expanded services for Coast Guard members, and deliver opportunities for local small business,” said Senator Schiff. “It’s time to finally extend the same IGSA authority other military services have enjoyed for decades to the Coast Guard.”

“Because of President Trump’s leadership on revitalizing the Coast Guard through Force Design 2028, this is the most exciting time to be in the Coast Guard since it was founded,” said Senator Scott. “However, Congress needs to do our part to help in that revitalization. The Coast Guard’s broad, and highly specialized mission set is critical to our national security, and these intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs) will benefit personnel, Coast Guard families, local communities, and overall mission success. I’m proud to join in this bipartisan effort to get our coasties in Florida – and around the world – what they need.”

“From search and rescue to securing U.S. coasts and waters to ensuring marine environmental protection, the Coast Guard is critical to making New England’s shores and waterways safer,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort that will cut administrative red tape, save money and make it easier for the Coast Guard to effectively collaborate with the coastal communities it protects.”


Senator Murray Slams Trump’s Latest Attack on Head Start, Calls on Teachers and Parents to Protect the Program

Murray, a former preschool teacher and the Senate’s leading advocate for child care, secured $12.35 billion for Head Start in the FY26 funding bill she negotiated

Murray has sounded the alarm on Trump’s leaked memo to gut Head Start and Trump’s illegal impoundment of Head Start funds

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), released the following statement in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued today by the Department of Health and Human Services that guts Head Start by shredding basic standards that keep kids safe and advance their education. The rule removes most of Head Start’s 133 pages of requirements for math and literacy curriculums, class sizes, medical screenings, home visits and more.

“Whether it was his leaked memo to eliminate Head Start, his illegal impoundments, or his decimation of the Office of Head Start—President Trump has all but declared war on Head Start and affordable child care in America. After Congress and the nation forcefully rejected Trump’s efforts to destroy Head Start, this administration now wants to quietly gut Head Start by eliminating the basic health and safety standards our kids rely on—well I refuse to stay silent about this travesty.

“For millions of families, Head Start is the first place anyone will check their child’s hearing, vision, or teeth—ignoring the health and safety of these kids today will just cost us more tomorrow. There’s a reason Head Start tells providers how many toddlers one adult can supervise—it’s how many kids any one teacher can actually keep safe on a busy day. This proposed rule also gives programs across the country a green light to slam the door shut on any kid with a disability they decide is too difficult or too much work to take care of. None of this helps families—much of it could lead to catastrophe.

“This rule is not final—every parent and teacher can speak up and speak out to save Head Start. I want parents to weigh in, and I want teachers to weigh in—because I have seen what happens when enough ordinary people refuse to let something get ripped away from them. I will press administration officials when they come before Congress, I will sound the alarm as loudly as possible, I will carry this fight in every negotiation I walk into—and I will keep at it until we protect Head Start.”

Head Start currently serves over 750,000 kids nationwide, and the program has served more than 40 million children and their families nationwide since its inception in 1965. There are over 17,000 Head Start centers nationwide and these centers are particularly important in serving rural communities with fewer options for care.

Throughout his second term, President Trump has gutted the offices that keep Head Start centers and child care programs across the country running. Since taking office, the Trump administration has fired 40 to 50% of the staff at the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care. In April of 2025, Trump continued to hollow out HHS, by shuttering five of the 10 regional offices for both Office of Child Care and Office of Head Start, which served 22 states and five territories. President Trump also illegally impounded funding provided by Congress for Head Start programs across America, in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA). In response, Senator Murray raised alarm bells and she led her colleagues in demanding that the funds get moving.

Notably, a leaked memo indicated that the Trump administration—in keeping with Project 2025—would push to completely eliminate Head Start as a part of its FY26 budget request. Ultimately, strong public outcry and backlash prevented the Trump administration from including the elimination of Head Start in its budget request.

In April, President Trump said “Don’t send any money for day care, because the United States can’t take care of day care… We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care… It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things.”

Last year, HHS took steps to attack immigrant children and their families by issuing a notice reinterpreting longstanding guidance under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) to reinterpret Head Start as a federal public benefit subject to immigration restrictions. The guidance, currently tied up in litigation and stalled from being enforced, threw programs and families into chaos, sparking confusion and driving many families to keep their kids at home out of fear of discrimination or immigration enforcement.

HHS has also proposed changes to the Head Start Program that would roll back regulations targeted at increasing salaries for the Head Start workforce—one of the top barriers to recruitment and retention leading to fewer children being served.

In the face of Trump’s calls to cut investments in state early childhood education programs and repeated attacks on the program, Democrats have consistently defended resources for child care and early childhood education. In March of this year, Senator Murray led her colleagues and established a new working group as the latest major push in Democrats’ fight to lower costs and deliver child care for every American family. The Child Care for America working group will bring Democratic members of Congress together to coordinate broad support for landmark child care legislation.

###


Senators Murray, Luján, and Advocates Sound the Alarm on Trump’s Latest Attack on Head Start, Vow to Save Head Start

ICYMI: Senator Murray Slam’s Trump’s Latest Attack on Head Start, Calls on Teachers and Parents to Protect the Program

*** WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE HERE, DOWNLOAD HERE***

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), held a virtual press conference with Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and advocates in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued today by the Department of Health and Human Services that guts Head Start by shredding basic standards that keep kids safe and advance their education. The rule removes most of Head Start’s 133 pages of requirements for math and literacy curriculums, class sizes, medical screenings, home visits and more.

Joining the press call were Joel Ryan, Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start; Dr. Ruth Friedman, former Director of the Office of Child Care at the Administration for Children and Families at HHS; and Lori Pittman, a parent from Washington state a Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations Advisor for Early Learning K-12, and Postsecondary at Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD), and a co-founder of the Washington State Parent Ambassador Program, a statewide initiative supporting parent leadership and advocacy.

“Your child’s safety should not depend on their zip code. That has been the entire point of Head Start since 1965. If they wanted to serve more kids, they could ask Congress for more funding. I’d write that bill this afternoon. Instead, they’re saying they might be able to serve more children by promising each child less. Nobody should pretend this came out of nowhere. President Trump has all but declared war on Head Start,” said Senator Murray. “This rule is not final. There is a public comment period. I want parents to weigh in. I want teachers to weigh in. Because I have seen what happens when enough ordinary people refuse to let something get ripped away from them. And on my end: I will press administration officials when they come before Congress. I will sound the alarm as loudly as I possibly can. I will carry this fight into every negotiation I walk into. And Congress just funded Head Start at an increase, on a bipartisan basis, so let me be clear: Congress funds Head Start to be Head Start. Trump is coming after America’s kids. That is so unacceptable. This isn’t partisan. This is a program red and blue states rely on. Parents, teachers, and communities across America need to speak up and speak out—together we will beat this rule and save Head Start.”

“I know the value of Head Start, it got me to the U.S. Senate,” said Senator Luján, one of only two U.S. Senators who attended Head Start. “Since President Trump took office, he and his administration have made it harder and harder for young children to get an early education. Now, he is moving forward with a proposed rule to gut Head Start and strip basic education, health, and safety standards our kids rely on. That is why I joined Senator Murray and advocates today and will continue to fight to protect Head Start.”

Head Start currently serves over 750,000 kids nationwide, and the program has served more than 40 million children and their families nationwide since its inception in 1965. There are over 17,000 Head Start centers nationwide and these centers are particularly important in serving rural communities with fewer options for care.

Throughout his second term, President Trump has gutted the offices that keep Head Start centers and child care programs across the country running. Since taking office, the Trump administration has fired 40 to 50% of the staff at the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care. In April of 2025, Trump continued to hollow out HHS, by shuttering five of the 10 regional offices for both Office of Child Care and Office of Head Start, which served 22 states and five territories. President Trump also illegally impounded funding provided by Congress for Head Start programs across America, in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA). In response, Senator Murray raised alarm bells and she led her colleagues in demanding that the funds get moving.

Notably, a leaked memo indicated that the Trump administration—in keeping with Project 2025—would push to completely eliminate Head Start as a part of its FY26 budget request. Ultimately, strong public outcry and backlash prevented the Trump administration from including the elimination of Head Start in its budget request.

In April, President Trump said “Don’t send any money for day care, because the United States can’t take care of day care… We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care… It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things.”

Last year, HHS took steps to attack immigrant children and their families by issuing a notice reinterpreting longstanding guidance under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) to reinterpret Head Start as a federal public benefit subject to immigration restrictions. The guidance, currently tied up in litigation and stalled from being enforced, threw programs and families into chaos, sparking confusion and driving many families to keep their kids at home out of fear of discrimination or immigration enforcement.

HHS has also proposed changes to the Head Start Program that would roll back regulations targeted at increasing salaries for the Head Start workforce—one of the top barriers to recruitment and retention leading to fewer children being served.

In the face of Trump’s calls to cut investments in state early childhood education programs and repeated attacks on the program, Democrats have consistently defended resources for child care and early childhood education. In March of this year, Senator Murray led her colleagues and established a new working group as the latest major push in Democrats’ fight to lower costs and deliver child care for every American family. The Child Care for America working group will bring Democratic members of Congress together to coordinate broad support for landmark child care legislation.

Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

“You know, this morning, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed shredding the rule book that has protected kids in Head Start for sixty years—133 pages of standards, gutted. And I want to be really concrete about what is in those pages that they are throwing away.

“It’s duration requirements—meaning, is the program actually open while parents are working? It’s professional development requirements to make sure that our teachers are equipped to keep our kids safe—that’s everything from instruction on our kids social-emotional development, and training to recognize and report child abuse. It is watering down quality standards for families that want home-based and family-care—like safety requirements: are there play areas? Is there space for food prep? Are the bathrooms up to standard?

“It’s class sizes—because there’s a reason Head Start tells providers how many toddlers one adult can supervise. It’s how many kids any one teacher can actually keep safe on a busy day. It’s the medical screenings—for countless families, Head Start is the first place anyone will ever check their child’s hearing, or vision, or teeth. Ignoring these kids’ health today, costs us more tomorrow. It’s eliminating protections that keep a kid with a disability safe from harmful practices like restraint, or seclusion and expulsion—that’s just not something any of us should accept.

“And there is one more piece that really doesn’t make sense: this rule forces English-only instruction. There are American children who have different language needs. Denying children instruction in their first language—that’s backwards, and it doesn’t help anyone. Now, the administration has given this rule a very nice name: Reducing Federal Burden.

“So, let’s look at what they actually list as burdens: background checks for the adults who are alone in a room with your four-year-old; safety standards for the buses that drive your toddler to school; vision and hearing screenings for your kids. That is not red tape. That’s all important stuff to keep our kids safe and healthy! They want to hand all of it to the states—and if you live in a state that never writes those rules, too bad.

“Your child’s safety should not depend on their zip code. That has been the entire point of Head Start since 1965. If they wanted to serve more kids, they could ask Congress for more funding. I would write that bill this afternoon. Instead, they’re saying they might be able to serve more children by promising each child less.

“Nobody should pretend this came out of nowhere. President Trump has all but declared war on Head Start. He illegally impounded Head Start funding that Congress passed into law—in violation of the Impoundment Control Act—and centers couldn’t make payroll until we raised the alarm and forced the money out the door.

“He fired 40 to 50 percent of the staff at the Office of Head Start and the Office of Child Care. He shut down five of the ten regional offices—which served 22 states and five territories—overnight.

“One of those offices was in Seattle. It served every Head Start program in Washington state—15,000 kids. In the Yakima Valley, a provider waiting on funding that never showed up had to lay off 72 employees and shutter a dozen classrooms, that served 400 kids. Now eventually that money came, but only after the layoffs. In Walla Walla, a program that has served kids for decades is warning it may not survive.

“Funding delays and uncertainty continue to persist. And let’s not forget, a leaked memo showed that Trump planned to eliminate Head Start altogether—straight out of Project 2025—until public outcry forced him to back down.

“He rolled back the rule raising pay for our Head Start teachers. His HHS tried to rewrite thirty years of guidance to turn Head Start into an immigration checkpoint—that one is stalled in court, but it already drove scared families to keep their kids home.

“If anyone doubts me, listen to the President’s own words. He said, ‘Don’t send any money for day care, because the United States can’t take care of day care…We’re fighting wars.’

“I taught preschool. I got into politics because politicians decided a preschool program wasn’t worth saving—one of them told me a mom in tennis shoes couldn’t make a difference. So here’s what happens now. This rule is not final. There is a public comment period. So, I want parents to weigh in. I want teachers to weigh in. Because I have seen what happens when enough ordinary people refuse to let something get ripped away from them.

“And on my end: I will press administration officials when they come before Congress. I’ll sound the alarm as loudly as I possibly can, and I will carry this fight into every negotiation I walk into. And Congress just funded Head Start at an increase, on a bipartisan basis, so let me be clear: Congress funds Head Start to be a Head Start.

“Trump is coming after America’s kids. That is unacceptable. This is not partisan. This is a program red and blue states rely on.

“Parents, teachers, and communities across America need to speak up and speak out—together we will beat this rule and save Head Start.”

###


Padilla, Cortez Masto Introduce Bills to Lower Costs for Families, Take Advantage of Emerging Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in introducing three bills to make electric vehicles (EVs) and other clean transportation technologies more accessible to consumers throughout the country.

The series of bills support the adoption of cost-effective clean transportation technologies, which have expanded dramatically in recent years and are creating good-paying, union jobs. Putting more zero-emissions vehicles on the road would reduce American reliance on oil and gas and lower costs across the board.

“At a time when Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran is driving up the costs of oil and gas, Californians and consumers across the country are in need of relief,” said Senator Padilla. “I am proud to introduce these bills with my colleagues to guarantee American families and businesses have access to affordable and clean transportation technologies in the midst of Trump’s affordability crisis and an increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

“During the Trump Administration, Nevadans have been struggling with skyrocketing costs. Whether you’re driving to work, shopping for groceries, or traveling to visit family in another town, everyday life has become more expensive,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “By helping more American families and businesses access clean transportation technology, we can bring costs down for everyone, reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and create jobs – all while becoming more economically competitive with China.”

The bill package includes three pieces of legislation:

Cleaner Transportation Access for All Act

This legislation restores and extends tax credits and grant programs passed in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for consumers who purchase new or used EVs and supports the construction of EV-friendly infrastructure, especially along travel and tourism corridors. It also contains a fuel conservation program to encourage federal government fleets to reduce their fuel use when consumers are paying increased prices. In addition to Padilla and Cortez Masto, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

The text of this legislation can be found here.

A one-pager can be found here.

Clean Transportation Jobs and Development Act

This legislation strengthens the clean energy and transportation supply chain, by supporting battery manufacturing and recycling, strengthening the domestic critical mineral supply chain, and investing in research and development to lower the cost of low-emission vehicles. In addition to Padilla and Cortez Masto, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Rosen, Van Hollen, and Bennet.

The text of this legislation can be found here.

A one-pager can be found here.

Deploying Revolutionary and Innovative Vehicle Energy-supply (DRIVE) Across America Act

This legislation would establish the Cleaner Transportation at Recreational Areas to Improve our Landmarks and Sites (TRAILS) Initiative. This comprehensive initiative would facilitate the adoption of zero-emission technologies in tourism corridors, by adding fueling infrastructure at National Parks and U.S. Forest Service sites and near airports and other tourist destinations. The Cleaner TRAILS Initiative will make it easier and cheaper for tourists to travel in their EVs and reduce emissions in the country’s most pristine sites. In addition to Padilla and Cortez Masto, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Rosen, Van Hollen, Bennet, and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

The text of this legislation can be found here

A one-pager can be found here.

###


Padilla Introduces Bills to Strengthen Support and Protections for Farm and Food System Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced a trio of bills to improve support, coordination, and labor protections for farm and food system workers. Padilla’s Fairness for Farm Workers Act, Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act, and Voice for Farm Workers Act would provide resources for farm and food system workers, increase representation and collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and farm workers and food system workers, and ensure farm workers receive fairer wages and compensation.

“Farm and food system workers are essential to feeding our country and bolstering California and the nation’s economy, but for far too long, they have been unjustly excluded from protections extended to other workers, have inadequate representation, and not nearly enough resources,” said Senator Padilla. “As the Trump Administration continues to target farm and food system workers, I will keep fighting to make sure our essential workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve for their back-breaking, critical work. These bills would correct our nation’s labor laws to bring economic justice for farm workers and equip the USDA with more tools to integrate worker perspective, priorities, and staffing to better represent its farm and food system workers.”

Fairness for Farm Workers Act

The Fairness for Farm Workers Act would update the nation’s labor laws to ensure farm workers receive fair wages and compensation. 88 years ago, the Fair Labor Standards Act established federal standards for minimum wage and overtime pay but excluded millions of domestic and agricultural workers who were overwhelmingly people of color. Although farm workers gained some minimum wage protections in 1966, exclusions on overtime pay persist. This bill would gradually implement overtime pay over the course of four years and bring greater equity to the American agricultural industry.

Specifically, the Fairness for Farm Workers Act would require time-and-a-half overtime pay for all agricultural workers, remove exemptions to overtime for agriculture and end the exemptions for overtime and minimum wage requirements for certain small farms, hand harvest laborers, non-local minors, and range livestock production, and remove exemptions to overtime for workers employed in irrigation projects, livestock auctions incidental to farm work, small country grain elevators, certain sugar processing, certain types of intra-state transportation and preparation for transportation of fruits and vegetables, cotton ginning, and cotton compressing.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is co-sponsored by Senators Anegla Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The Fairness for Farmworkers Act has been endorsed by over 100 organizations including United Farm Workers (UFW), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), HEAL, Communication Workers of America (CWA), CRLA Foundation, NAACP, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Latino Justice PRLDEF, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, Legal Aid Justice Center, Hispanic Federation, Migrant Justice, Farmworker Justice, SEIU, UAW, UnidosUS, National Council of Churches, National Employment Law Project, National Farm Worker Ministry, and Equal Rights Advocates.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act

This legislation would establish the Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce within the USDA to uplift the voices of farm workers and food system workers at the federal level. The Office would serve as a link between these workers and the USDA, providing a platform for their concerns and interests and helping develop recommendations and new initiatives for the Department.

The bill would also create a Farm and Food System Worker Advisory Committee of relevant stakeholders — such as farm and food system labor unions, workers, civil rights advocates, higher education, women farm worker or food system groups, and non-profits — to better represent these workers’ interests and perspectives. Building upon the USDA Equity Commission recommendations, it would also set up a Farm and Food System Workforce Interagency Council, comprised of representatives from various federal agencies to improve coordination, planning, program development, and policymaking across cabinet-level leadership.

In addition, the Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act would require the Office to summarize its efforts in a publicly available report annually, to improve the work and livelihood of farm and food system workers, address climate change impacts on the food system, and reduce barriers workers face to access federal programs.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is co-sponsored by Senators Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Luján, Markey, Rosen, Schiff, Warren, and Wyden.

The Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act is endorsed by over 30 organizations including the AFL-CIO, United Farm Workers (UFW), UFCW, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Farmworker Justice, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Legal Aid Justice Center, HEAL Food Alliance, and more.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Voice for Farm Workers Act

This legislation would strengthen the USDA Farmworker Coordinator position with new resources and staffing capacity to improve the ability of the Coordinator to act as USDA’s primary point of contact on farm worker issues, coordinate and advise on farm worker serving programs across the Department and federal agencies, and support farm workers and farm worker-oriented community-based organizations to better access USDA programs. The USDA Farmworker Coordinator position, established in the 2008 Farm Bill, serves as a dedicated liaison for the Department and farm workers nationwide, but has lacked the sufficient staff and resources to adequately address farm workers’ needs.

Specifically, the Voice for Farmworkers Act would reauthorize the Farmworker Coordinator position and expand its duties to allow the Coordinator to create recommendations for new initiatives and programs, conduct further outreach and research related to farm workers, and collaborate within the Department on programmatic and policy decisions related to farm workers. In addition, it would integrate additional entities for the Farmworker Coordinator to consult with such as institutions of higher education, local education agencies, and community-based nonprofit organizations.

Furthermore, the bill would allow the USDA to employ the staff necessary to assist the Farmworker Coordinator carry out their responsibilities to better meet the needs of our nation’s farm workers.

In addition to Padilla, the bill is co-sponsored by Senators Booker, Gillibrand, Luján, Markey, Schiff, Warren, and Wyden.

The Voice for Farm Workers Act is endorsed by over 30 organizations including the AFL-CIO, UFW, UFCW, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Farmworker Justice, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Legal Aid Justice Center, Union of Concerned Scientists, Alianza Campesinas, HEAL Food Alliance, and more.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Padilla is a longtime champion for farm workers and food system workers in California and across the country. Last year, Padilla and Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) introduced bicameral legislation to provide disaster relief for farm workers. The Disaster Relief for Farm Workers Act would provide compensation for farm workers who lose out on wages due to extreme weather, public health emergencies, and other disasters beyond their control. In 2023, Padilla introduced the Supporting Farm Workers’ Mental Health Act, bicameral legislation to improve peer-to-peer mental health services to address the behavioral health needs of farm workers.

###