Congress
U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
At Hearing on Autonomous Vehicles, Fetterman Declares "Respect the Parking Chair!"
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Feb. 5, 2026:* * *
At Hearing on Autonomous Vehicles, Fetterman Declares "Respect the Parking Chair!"
Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) questioned a panel of industry leaders on autonomous vehicles (AVs), with a particular focus on how they impact Pennsylvania's workers and how AV companies plan to keep roads and highways safe.
"Back in 1994, I worked with UPS drivers there and I was proud to work with the Teamsters back then. I also realized how difficult their way of life is but I ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Feb. 5, 2026: * * * At Hearing on Autonomous Vehicles, Fetterman Declares "Respect the Parking Chair!" Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) questioned a panel of industry leaders on autonomous vehicles (AVs), with a particular focus on how they impact Pennsylvania's workers and how AV companies plan to keep roads and highways safe. "Back in 1994, I worked with UPS drivers there and I was proud to work with the Teamsters back then. I also realized how difficult their way of life is but Ialso think that is something necessary we need to protect. I am not going to bash AV or any of these things nor am I a luddite...I see it is a necessary part of the future moving forward," said Senator Fetterman in his opening remarks.
"I also want to acknowledge that Pittsburgh played a significant part of the history of developing AV...For me, I am going to be the voice for the 90,000 drivers here and I am going to be the Teamsters voice here...Those union members are very critical in this economy," continued the senator.
As a former truck driver for UPS, Fetterman worked alongside the Teamsters and experienced firsthand the crucial role truckers have in our economy. As Pennsylvania's senior senator, he represents a state that has the fifth most truck drivers in the nation.
Last year, Senator Fetterman stood with the Teamsters after the CEO of a self-driving truck company rejected the union's demand for human operators to supervise their driverless vehicles. Fetterman remains concerned by efforts to replace workers with autonomous vehicles and asked Mr. Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, what he and his organization plan to do to address the concerns of workers, like the 90,000 truckers in Pennsylvania, who are afraid of losing their jobs to this technology. Mr. Farrah responded, "Truck drivers are an indispensable, critical aspect of our supply chain. They are the backbone of the American economy...The goal of the industry here is to coexist with autonomous trucks."
Senator Fetterman then brought up Waymo's recent decision to bring its robotaxi service to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and directed his line of questioning to Waymo's Chief Safety Officer, Dr. Mauricio Pena. "How does your technology account for these kinds of different drivers and the cultures and different communities across my state and the country?" asked Fetterman, referencing the differences in terrain and street design across neighborhoods, and the driving culture and norms people are accustomed to in their communities. Senator Fetterman made a point to ask if Waymo's autonomous cars would respect the parking chair, particularly after the recent snowstorms Pennsylvanians experienced.
"I would strongly encourage Waymo to incorporate that, to respect the parking chair. When you see examples of people that don't, it doesn't really end very well for folks," quipped Senator Fetterman.
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Original text here: https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/at-hearing-on-autonomous-vehicles-fetterman-declares-respect-the-parking-chair/
Alsobrooks, Warren, Quigley, 55+ Lawmakers Press HHS on Health Impacts of Violent ICE Raids, Arrests on Children
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Feb. 5, 2026:* * *
Alsobrooks, Warren, Quigley, 55+ Lawmakers Press HHS on Health Impacts of Violent ICE Raids, Arrests on Children
As reported in ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/warren-slams-kennedys-disregard-child-welfare-amid-immigration/story?id=129861809), U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) along with Representative Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), led over 55 colleagues in pressing Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Feb. 5, 2026: * * * Alsobrooks, Warren, Quigley, 55+ Lawmakers Press HHS on Health Impacts of Violent ICE Raids, Arrests on Children As reported in ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/warren-slams-kennedys-disregard-child-welfare-amid-immigration/story?id=129861809), U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) along with Representative Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), led over 55 colleagues in pressing Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. KennedyJr. on children's exposure to ICE's escalating violence in American communities, which threatens to leave them with lasting physical and psychological trauma.
Senator Alsobrooks was the first senator to call on RFK Jr. to resign or be fired in May 2025.
"ICE and CBP operations that treat children like collateral damage threaten their physical and mental health and wellbeing... This disregard for child welfare undermines the government's core child-protection obligations," wrote the lawmakers. "Yet your agency does not appear to be taking any action to speak out against or investigate the impacts of the Trump Administration's immigration agenda on children."
Under the Trump administration, children -- both U.S. citizens and noncitizens -- have been exposed to increasingly violent and intense immigration enforcement operations. After Donald Trump rescinded ICE's sensitive locations policy on Day One, ICE has carried out raids at schools, day care centers -- and even a child's birthday party. ICE has also become more violent, employing military-style techniques in communities across the country. Even when children are not the direct target, their exposure to this violence can create lasting trauma.
"[ICE and CBP's] practices have triggered national outrage and risk traumatizing children and depriving them of access to education and basic services, with lasting consequences for their behavioral, physical, academic, and emotional wellbeing," wrote the lawmakers.
Five-year-old Minnesota resident Liam Ramos was detained for more than a week in a Texas facility after reportedly being used as "bait" to capture his father. Liam's father said Liam was not eating well and was sleeping a lot and asking about his mother and classmates.
In Massachusetts, a man suffered an apparent seizure while ICE agents attempted to detain his wife as their toddler cried within arm's reach. Witnesses allege agents pushed him, struck him, and pressed on his neck while the child remained trapped between the adults.
In Illinois, ICE agents forcibly detained a day care teacher in front of her students. In another incident, masked agents deployed tear gas near an elementary school in Chicago, sending children running and teachers scrambling for cover. In Texas, ICE agents stormed a five-year-old child's birthday party, where state and federal officers conducted an operation that resulted in the apprehension of 47 people, including nine minors -- one of whom was just three years old.
"Children's exposure to traumatic ICE raids occurring in their communities across America can have lasting effects on their long-term health and development, including their behavioral and psychological wellbeing," wrote the lawmakers.
ICE operations are also hurting children's academic and social development. In districts where ICE raids have occurred, schools are reporting declining student attendance and performance; in some schools, nearly half of students have been absent following school-based ICE raids. Early childhood providers have reported attrition from day care, after-school programs, and other community programs that typically serve as spaces for positive socialization, mental health counseling, and other forms of support.
Immigration enforcement actions are also impacting children's access to health care. Most health care workers report significant or moderate decreases in patient visits since January 2025; for the children that do continue to visit the doctor, they reportedly have declining physical and mental health. One doctor observed "abnormal weight gain trajectories" in children not getting exercise outdoors due to "fear of encountering ICE," and another pediatrician reported that "minors [are] constantly crying during their well-child checks expressing their fear for themselves and their families."
"Given HHS's responsibility for the health and wellbeing of children in the United States, we request any data your department has collected regarding the impact of immigration operations on children's health and development," wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers noted HHS's various programs, offices, and agencies that research and provide for children's physical and mental health and wellbeing, and requested that Secretary Kennedy share any information HHS has regarding the impact of ICE and CBP operations on children's mental health and development.
Other signers include: Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.); and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Emily Randall (D-Wash.), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Summer Lee (D-Ohio), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Johnny Olszewski, Jr. (D-Md.), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), George Latimer (D-N.Y.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), James Walkinshaw (D-Va.), Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.).
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February 4, 2026
To: The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Kennedy:
We write with grave concerns about children's exposure to increasingly violent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations and the impacts of that exposure on their health, wellbeing, and long-term development. Children have become ensnared in ICE's and CBP's aggressive and indiscriminate enforcement tactics, with ICE conducting raids in or near schools and day care centers and apprehending young children. These practices have triggered national outrage and risk traumatizing children and depriving them of access to education and basic services, with lasting consequences for their behavioral, physical, academic, and emotional wellbeing. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a variety of programs, offices, and agencies that research and provide for children's physical and mental health and wellbeing, including the Administration for Children & Families (ACF), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). We request that you provide any information HHS has regarding the impact of ICE and CBP operations on children's mental health and development.
Under the Trump Administration, children -- both U.S. citizen and immigrant children alike -- have been exposed to more frequent and intense immigration operations. On Day 1 of this administration, President Trump rescinded ICE's sensitive locations policy that protected schools, places of worship, hospitals, and other sensitive places from ICE raids.1 Since then, ICE has carried out raids at schools,2 day care centers,3 and even a child's birthday party.4 ICE has adopted more militarized and chaotic arrest tactics, including smashing car windows and raining glass on drivers and passengers, deploying tear gas in residential neighborhoods and schools, and unleashing "attack dogs."5 Even when children are not the direct target, their exposure to such tactics can create psychological trauma,6 with some children describing life under a Trump-led ICE as "like living in fear all the time."7
Recent incidents include:
* In Minnesota, a 5-year-old boy arriving home from preschool was taken by federal agents along with his father to a detention facility in Texas, "making him the fourth student from his Minneapolis suburb to be detained by immigration officers in recent weeks."8 Alarmingly, neighbors and school officials have alleged that federal immigration officers used the preschooler as "bait" by telling him to knock on the door to his house so that his mother would answer.9 That same week, immigration agents arrested and detained a 2year-old girl in the city and flew her to Texas, reportedly in violation of a court order.10
* Also in Minnesota, armed U.S. Border Patrol officers entered school property during dismissal and reportedly "began tackling people, handcuffed two staff members and released chemical weapons on bystanders."11 A video of the incident "show[s] armed, masked officers with apparent Border Patrol insignia on their uniforms dragging a person on a sidewalk outside of the high school."12 After this incident and the killing of a U.S. citizen mother named Renee Good, Minneapolis Public Schools canceled classes for children district-wide.13
* In Massachusetts, a man suffered an apparent seizure while ICE agents attempted to detain his wife as their toddler cried within arm's reach.14 Witnesses allege agents pushed him, struck him, and pressed on his neck while the child remained trapped between the adults.15
* In Illinois, ICE agents forcibly detained a day care teacher in front of her students.16 In another Chicago-based incident, masked agents deployed tear gas near an elementary school in Logan Square, sending children running and teachers scrambling for cover.17 In yet another incident, a man and his U.S.-citizen family were in their car during a routine shopping trip when federal immigration agents pepper-sprayed them, including the oneyear-old daughter, who was left struggling to open her eyes and to breathe.18
* In Texas, ICE agents stormed a five-year-old child's birthday party, where state and federal officers conducted an operation that resulted in the apprehension of 47 people, including nine minors -- one of whom was just three years old.19
Children's exposure to traumatic ICE raids occurring in their communities across America can have lasting effects on their long-term health and development, including their behavioral and psychological wellbeing.20 One expert warns that "[w]e are witnessing the effects of chronic fear, disrupted attachment, and intergenerational trauma on a massive scale."21 Research shows that children who witness the arrest of a parent often display symptoms of toxic stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, reactions comparable to those observed in children exposed to war or community violence.22 In mixed-status families, children "increasingly live with the fear that a routine day could result in detention or deportation of a loved one, which is associated with increased PTSD and internalizing symptoms."23
ICE operations also appear to be impacting children's academic development.24 In districts where raids have occurred, schools have reported declines in school attendance and student performance.25 For example, during a period of intense immigration raids in Central Valley, California, children in the area missed 22 percent more school days compared to the same period in past years, with the effect most pronounced among children in Kindergarten through 5th grade.26 In some schools, nearly 50 percent of students have been absent following school-based ICE raids,27 and "[m]issed school days often translate into academic decline, social isolation, and missed opportunities for developmental support."28 Students from immigrant families who continue to attend class do so "fearfully," while taking on new responsibilities such as dropping their younger siblings off at school, doing the grocery shopping, or working to pay for their families' needs.29 Similarly, early childhood providers have noted attrition from day care, after-school programs, and other community programs that typically serve as spaces for positive socialization, mental health counselling, and other forms of support.30
Finally, immigration enforcement actions appear to be disrupting children's access to health care. More than four out of every five health care workers report significant or moderate decreases in patient visits since January 2025.31 When children forego routine immunizations, developmental screenings, and preventive interventions, it can lead to delayed diagnoses and late-stage disease presentations.32 Physicians have noted signs of declining physical and mental health during children's medical visits. For example, one doctor observed "abnormal weight gain trajectories" in children not getting exercise outdoors due to "fear of encountering ICE," and another pediatrician reported that "minors [are] constantly crying during their well-child checks expressing their fear for themselves and their families." 33
ICE and CBP operations that treat children like collateral damage threaten their physical and mental health and wellbeing -- compounding the threats children are facing from other immigration policy changes, such as the Trump Administration's attempt to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement's protections for children in immigration custody.34 This disregard for child welfare undermines the government's core child-protection obligations.35 Yet your agency does not appear to be taking any action to speak out against or investigate the impacts of the Trump Administration's immigration agenda on children. Given HHS's responsibility for the health and wellbeing of children in the United States, we request any data your department has collected regarding the impact of immigration operation on children's health and development, including answers to the following questions by February 18, 2026:
1. How have children been affected by ICE's and CBP's aggressive tactics, including the use of tear gas, explosives, attack dogs, and window smashing in or near schools, child care centers, bus stops, residential neighborhoods, playgrounds, and other locations? Based on studies that HHS or HHS agencies or offices have conducted, please describe any mental health challenges, behavioral changes, or developmental setbacks that children may experience because of these tactics.
2. Please describe any mental health challenges, behavioral changes, or developmental setbacks that children may experience in the case of the detention or deportation of their caregivers.
3. Immigration enforcement operations appear to be prompting children to miss school, perform more poorly in school, and miss doctor's appointments.36 Based on studies that HHS or HHS agencies or offices have conducted, please describe any impacts on children's health and development that children may experience due to such changes.
a. Beyond attrition from schools and doctor's appointments, have HHS agencies or offices observed attrition from any other programs or services (such as day care and after school programs, community health centers, work or volunteer opportunities, or public safety resources), including any HHS programs (such as Head Start, Early Head Start, and Healthy Start)?
4. Have HHS agencies and programs that serve children such as ACF, CMS, and ORR, seen disruptions to the ability to impart services to children and families or a decrease in participation as a result of ICE's enforcement tactics in communities across America? Please provide any specific data illuminating these trends.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Warren, United States Senator
Mike Quigley, Member of Congress
Angela D. Alsobrooks, United States Senator
Pramila Jayapal, Member of Congress
Tammy Duckworth, United States Senator
Danny K. Davis, Member of Congress
Alex Padilla, United States Senator
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Member of Congress
Adam B. Schiff, United States Senator
Jasmine Crockett, Member of Congress
Raphael Warnock, United States Senator
Bonnie Watson Coleman, Member of Congress
Chris Van Hollen, United States Senator
Judy Chu, Member of Congress
Richard Blumenthal, United States Senator
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Member of Congress
Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Member of Congress
Al Green, Member of Congress
Becca Balint, Member of Congress
Nanette Diaz Barragan, Member of Congress
Paul D. Tonko, Member of Congress
Maxine Dexter, Member of Congress
Stephen F. Lynch, Member of Congress
Emily Randall, Member of Congress
Shontel M. Brown, Member of Congress
Jill Tokuda, Member of Congress
Andre Carson, Member of Congress
Frederica S. Wilson, Member of Congress
Summer L. Lee, Member of Congress
SETH MOULTON, Member of Congress
Brendan F. Boyle, Member of Congress
Diana DeGette, Member of Congress
Sean Casten, Member of Congress
Dina Titus, Member of Congress
Dwight Evans, Member of Congress
Raja Krishnamoorthi, Member of Congress
Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr., Member of Congress
Madeleine Dean, Member of Congress
Dan Goldman, Member of Congress
Valerie P. Foushee, Member of Congress
Adam Smith, Member of Congress
Betty McCollum, Member of Congress
Rashida Tlaib, Member of Congress
Yassamin Ansari, Member of Congress
Jan Schakowsky, Member of Congress
Jerrold Nadler, Member of Congress
Lateefah Simon, Member of Congress
Julia Brownley, Member of Congress
Johnny Olszewski, Jr., Member of Congress
Kelly Morrison, Member of Congress
Joe Neguse, Member of Congress
George Latimer, Member of Congress
Jimmy Gomez, Member of Congress
Angie Craig, Member of Congress
Sara Jacobs, Member of Congress
Robin L. Kelly, Member of Congress
John Garamendi, Member of Congress
Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia, Member of Congress
James R. Walkinshaw, Member of Congress
Gregory W. Meeks, Member of Congress
Jahana Hayes, Member of Congress
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1 White House, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," January 20, 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-american-people-against-invasion/.
2 MPR News, "Minneapolis schools cancel classes after Border Patrol clash disrupts dismissal at Roosevelt," Elizabeth Shockman, January 8, 2026, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/08/after-border-patrol-clash-atroosevelt-minneapolis-schools-cancel-classes.
3 CNN, "Chicago day care teacher detained by ICE agents as parents were dropping off their children," Whitney Wild, November 6, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/us/chicago-day-care-ice-arrest-hnk.
4 The Texas Tribune, "Months after detaining 47 people accused of being Tren de Aragua in Austin, authorities offer no evidence of gang ties," Alejandro Serrano, June 4, 2025, https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texasimmigration-raid-hays-county-austin-venezuelan-gang/.
5 CNN, "As ICE escalates its tactics, are federal agents truly 'untouchable' in the eyes of the law?." Josh Campbell, November 15, 2025, https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/15/us/ice-federal-agents-immigration-force; The Guardian, "Senator says ICE 'attack dog' caused 'horrific' injuries to unresisting man as he was detained," Adam Gabbatt, December 6, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/06/us-senator-ice-attack-dog-horrific-injuries; The New Republic, "ICE Agents Released an Attack Dog on a Man: Report," Robert McCoy, December 6, 2025, https://newrepublic.com/post/204073/ice-agents-attack-dog-immigration-washington.
6 American Immigration Council, "U.S. Citizen Children Impacted by Immigration Enforcement," June 24, 2021, https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/us-citizen-children-impacted-immigration-enforcement/; Society for Research in Child Development, "Deportation Threatens the Psychological, Physical, and Socioeconomic Well-being of Children and Families," March 2025, https://www.srcd.org/sites/default/files/202511/Child%20Policy%20Brief_Deportation_10292025.pdf.
7 New York Times, "A Winter of Anguish for Minneapolis Children," Corina Knoll, February 4, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/us/minneapolis-children-ice-schools.html?smid=nytcore-iosshare&referringSource=articleShare.
8 PBS News, "Federal officers detain 5-year-old boy who a Minnesota school official says was used as 'bait'," Hallie Golden and Sarah Raza, January 22, 2026, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/federal-officers-detain-5-year-oldboy-who-a-minnesota-school-official-says-was-used-as-bait.
9 Id.
10 CNN, "Minnesota toddler taken into ICE custody with father and flown to Texas is returned to mother next day, lawyer says," Emma Tucker, January 24, 2026, https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/24/us/elvis-tipan-echeverria-toddlerice-arrest-minnesota.
11 MPR News, "Minneapolis schools cancel classes after Border Patrol clash disrupts dismissal at Roosevelt," Elizabeth Shockman, January 8, 2026, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/08/after-border-patrol-clash-atroosevelt-minneapolis-schools-cancel-classes.
12 Id.
13 Id.
14 The Guardian, "ICE facing fierce backlash after video apparently shows unconscious man clutching child during arrest," Marina Dunbar, November 7, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/07/ice-videounconscious-man-child-arrest; The Guardian, "Senator says ICE 'attack dog' caused 'horrific' injuries to unresisting man as he was detained," Adam Gabbatt, December 6, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/06/ussenator-ice-attack-dog-horrific-injuries.
15 The Guardian, "ICE facing fierce backlash after video apparently shows unconscious man clutching child during arrest," Marina Dunbar, November 7, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/07/ice-videounconscious-man-child-arrest.
16 CNN, "Chicago day care teacher detained by ICE agents as parents were dropping off their children," Whitney Wild, November 6, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/us/chicago-day-care-ice-arrest-hnk.
17 Associated Press, "Chicago's children are getting caught in the chaos of immigration crackdowns," Claire Galofaro, October 28, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/chicago-immigration-trump-crackdown-school-childrenc9a19835cac13c0fbbebcc9f4bf4f0a2.
18 The Guardian, "ICE agents accused of pepper-spraying Illinois parents and their one-year-old," Richard Luscombe, November 11, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/11/ice-agents-pepper-spray-manbaby-daughter.
19 The Texas Tribune, "Months after detaining 47 people accused of being Tren de Aragua in Austin, authorities offer no evidence of gang ties," Alejandro Serrano, June 4, 2025, https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texasimmigration-raid-hays-county-austin-venezuelan-gang/.
20 Center for Disease Control, "About Adverse Childhood Experiences," September 24, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html; NEA Today, "The Trauma Immigration Raids Leave in Classrooms," Brenda Alvarez, September 10, 2025, https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/trauma-immigration-raidsleave-classrooms; University of California Riverside News, "Child mental health crisis tied to immigration enforcement," Iqbal Pittalwala, August 8, 2025, https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2025/08/08/child-mental-health-crisistied-immigration-enforcement; The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, "Children, Youth, and Families Who Experience Migration-Related Trauma and Family Separation," Elmore Borbon, D., Tant, E., and Rosado, J., 2021, https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/children_youth_and_families_who_experience_migrati on_related_trauma_and_family_separation.pdf.
21 University of California Riverside News, "Child mental health crisis tied to immigration enforcement," Iqbal Pittalwala, August 8, 2025, https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2025/08/08/child-mental-health-crisis-tied-immigrationenforcement.
22 American Psychological Association, "U.S. immigration policy: Mental health impacts of increased detentions and deportations," Myriam Vidal Valero, September 1, 2025, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/09/mental-healthimmigration-enforcement; Children's Equity Project, "The Impacts of Family Separation and Deportation on Children," Cinthia Palomino, Gladys Aponte, Xigrid Soto-Boykin, Darielle Blevins, Shantel Meek, Maki Park, Jennifer Oppenheim, and Eric Bucher, May 2025, https://cep.asu.edu/sites/g/files/litvpz916/files/2025-05/The %20Impacts%20of%20Family%20Separation%20and%20Deportation%20on%20Children's%20Health%2C %20Mental%20Health%2C%20Economic%20Conditions%2C%20Development%2C%20and%20Education %20%286%29.pdf.
23 Id.; Psychiatry Online, "Special Report: U.S. Immigration Policy and the Mental Health of Children and Families," Lisa Fortuna, Kevin Gutierrez, Paula Mendoza, Omar Abbas, Austin Nguy, and Natan J. Vega-Potler, August 1, 2025, https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/epub/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.08.8.19.
24 The Journalist's Resource, "Student absences spiked in California, test scores fell in Florida amid surge in US immigration enforcement," Denise-Marie Ordway, November 25, 2025, https://journalistsresource.org/education/students-absent-test-scores-immigration-enforcement-arrest-research/.
25 NEA Today, "The Trauma Immigration Raids Leave in Classrooms," Brenda Alvarez, September 10, 2025, https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/trauma-immigration-raids-leave-classrooms.
26 PNAS, " Recent immigration raids increased student absences," Thomas Dee, November 4, 2025, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2510395122; Stanford Report, "Student absences rose amid heightened immigration enforcement, Stanford study shows," Carrie Spector, June 16, 2025, https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/06/student-absences-immigration-california-study/.
27 NEA Today, "The Trauma Immigration Raids Leave in Classrooms," Brenda Alvarez, September 10, 2025, https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/trauma-immigration-raids-leave-classrooms.
28 Psychiatry Online, "Special Report: U.S. Immigration Policy and the Mental Health of Children and Families," Lisa Fortuna, Kevin Gutierrez, Paula Mendoza, Omar Abbas, Austin Nguy, and Natan J. Vega-Potler, July 25, 2025, https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/epub/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.08.8.19.
29 El Pais, "ICE raids trigger school absenteeism and traumatize children: 'They have been forced to leave their childhood behind'," Alba Asenjo Dominguez, December 19, 2025, https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-12-20/iceraids-trigger-school-absenteeism-and-traumatize-children-they-have-been-forced-to-leave-their-childhoodbehind.html.
30 The Hechinger Report, "Immigration enforcement is driving away early childhood educators," Jackie Mader, December 10, 2025, https://hechingerreport.org/immigration-enforcement-is-driving-away-early-childhoodeducators/.
31 Physicians for Human Rights, "ICE Tactics and Deportation Fears Limit Access to Health Care for Children of Immigrants: Survey," press release, November 19, 2025, https://phr.org/news/ice-tactics-and-deportation-fears-limitaccess-to-health-care-for-children-of-immigrants-survey/.
32 Id.
33 Id.
34 New York Times, "Judge Rejects Trump's Attempt to End Standards of Care for Detained Migrant Children," Miriam Jordan, August 15, 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/us/migrant-children-trump-floressettlement.html.
35 Congressional Research Service, "Child Migrants at the Border: The Flores Settlement Agreement and Other Legal Developments," December 3, 2024, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11799.
36 The Journalist's Resource, "Student absences spiked in California, test scores fell in Florida amid surge in US immigration enforcement," Denise-Marie Ordway, November 25, 2025, https://journalistsresource.org/education/students-absent-test-scores-immigration-enforcement-arrest-research/.
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Original text here: https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-warren-quigley-55-lawmakers-press-hhs-on-health-impacts-of-violent-ice-raids-arrests-on-children/
After 25 Years and Billions in Federal Subsidies, Not a Single Train Operating in California
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:* * *
After 25 Years and Billions in Federal Subsidies, not a Single Train Operating in California
Sen. Cruz Investigation Reveals Wasted Federal Funds on California High-Speed Rail
*
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released a supplemental investigative report examining how, despite billions of dollars in state and federal funding, California's high-speed rail is nowhere close to functioning. Instead, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026: * * * After 25 Years and Billions in Federal Subsidies, not a Single Train Operating in California Sen. Cruz Investigation Reveals Wasted Federal Funds on California High-Speed Rail * U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released a supplemental investigative report examining how, despite billions of dollars in state and federal funding, California's high-speed rail is nowhere close to functioning. Instead,gross mismanagement by California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, has led to countless delays and ballooning costs. After more than a quarter of a century and $6.8 billion in awarded federal funds, not a single high-speed train is operational in California. On July 16, 2025, the Trump administration announced it would terminate $4.2 billion in funding previously awarded to the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) after the Federal Railroad Administration concluded CHSRA would not meet its commitment to begin operating by 2033 a 171-mile project segment between Merced and Bakersfield.
Last year, CHSRA further admitted that the Merced-to-Bakersfield line would not be profitable even once operational and therefore, incapable of recouping taxpayer dollars spent on its construction. As for the project's original promise of high-speed rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles, CHSRA admits trains will not begin running until 2038--more than 12 years later than its original estimate. With this in mind, Congress acted this week to permanently rescind $929 million for California High-Speed Rail in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
Chairman Cruz's supplemental account builds on the findings of a report he released last month, which detailed how the Obama-Biden administration pressured Amtrak to jointly acquire a high-speed trainset with the California High-Speed Rail Authority--ultimately leading to delays and flawed design specifications for Amtrak's NextGen Acela trainset.
Discussing the report, Sen. Cruz said: "The report exposes how, despite ballooning costs and delays, Governor Newsom and the Biden-Harris administration continued to pour billions of dollars into the non-operational and unprofitable California high-speed rail project. Democrats made false promises on high-speed rail in California, failing to take into account the project's practical challenges. I applaud the Trump administration for working with Congress to stop the frivolous waste of the hard-earned money of American taxpayers."
Read the full report HERE (https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/F25E6EA7-11A3-4797-BB16-1E2511BE4797).
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/2/after-25-years-and-billions-in-federal-subsidies-not-a-single-train-operating-in-california
"Advancing Peace in DRC and Rwanda Through President Trump's Washington Accords - Part II"
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:* * *
"Advancing Peace in DRC and Rwanda through President Trump's Washington Accords - Part II"
Tues., February 10: Rep. Chris Smith to chair Foreign Affairs hearing
*
On Tuesday, February 10th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his fifteenth congressional hearing focused exclusively on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, including the geopolitical conflict and human rights violations occurring in the region.
In ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026: * * * "Advancing Peace in DRC and Rwanda through President Trump's Washington Accords - Part II" Tues., February 10: Rep. Chris Smith to chair Foreign Affairs hearing * On Tuesday, February 10th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his fifteenth congressional hearing focused exclusively on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, including the geopolitical conflict and human rights violations occurring in the region. Inwake of President Trump's historic peace deal between Rwanda and the DRC on December 4th, 2025, this hearing will examine the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in helping to facilitate the implementation of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity.
WHAT: Congressional hearing on the role of NGOs in facilitating the directives of the Washington Accords to achieve lasting peace, stability, and wealth in the DRC and Rwanda.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM
WITNESSES: (Partial list)
* The Honorable Tony Hall, Africa New Day
* Mr. Ethan Tan, Policy Analyst, American Security, America First Policy Institute
* Christian-Geraud Neema, Nonresident Scholar, Africa Program, Carnegie Endorsement for International Peace
WHERE: 2200 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreaming on YouTube (https://youtu.be/2TZFK8yjLWw)
WHO: Chairman Chris Smith, other members of the HFAC Africa Subcommittee, and witnesses
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Original text here: https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415324
Brennan Center for Justice Senior Director Goitein Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee (Part 1 of 3)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee released the following testimony by Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, from a Jan. 28, 2026, hearing entitled "Review and Reform: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Executive Accountability":* * *
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ("FISA") allows the government to target foreigners abroad and obtain their communications and other personal information without obtaining an individualized court ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee released the following testimony by Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, from a Jan. 28, 2026, hearing entitled "Review and Reform: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Executive Accountability": * * * Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ("FISA") allows the government to target foreigners abroad and obtain their communications and other personal information without obtaining an individualized courtorder. Congress passed the law in 2008 to give our government more powerful tools to address international terrorism and other foreign threats.
Consistent with this purpose, the law has been used (according to the government) to obtain information about terrorist plots and the intentions of hostile foreign powers, and -- more recently -- to gain insight into international drug trafficking activities and investigate foreign threats to cybersecurity.
Needless to say, these activities are not why Section 702 has become so deeply controversial, leading many lawmakers to demand either sunset or reform. If the government were using Section 702 solely to spy on hostile foreign actors, there would be little to debate in this year's reauthorization. The fundamental problem with Section 702 is that the government is also using it as a rich source of warrantless access to Americans' communications. According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence ("ODNI"), the government conducted more than 13,000 known searches of Section 702 data in 2024 for the purpose of finding Americans' communications and other personal information -- though the FBI's failure to track all of its searches means that the actual number may be much higher. This outcome is contrary not only to the original intent of Section 702 and to basic Fourth Amendment principles, but to Americans' expectations and their trust that Congress will protect their privacy and freedoms.
Recent changes to Section 702 have heightened the program's impact on Americans' privacy. The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act ("RISAA"), enacted in April 2024, authorized the government to compel surveillance assistance from a dizzying range of U.S. companies and organizations, vastly expanding the potential reach of Section 702 surveillance.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ("FISA Court") also recently approved the government's request to collect data related to international narcotics trafficking -- collection that the Court acknowledged is likely to result in acquisition of a larger volume of Americans' communications. Additionally, RISAA authorized entirely suspicionless searches of Section 702 data for the purpose of vetting individuals seeking to travel to the United States, increasing the number of overall searches that in turn risk retrieving Americans' data for review.
Moreover, since the inception of the program, the rules designed to protect Americans' privacy have been honored in the breach. Agencies have repeatedly, and in some cases systemically, violated statutory or court-ordered limitations on collection, retention, querying, and dissemination. Some of these violations have rendered the operation of the program unconstitutional. Breaches in recent years have involved baseless searches for the communications of protesters, journalists, campaign contributors, and members of Congress.
Between 2018 and 2024, Section 702 required the FBI to obtain a warrant before accessing Section 702 data about Americans in a subset of criminal investigations; over the six years this requirement was in place, the FBI never complied with it.
Since RISAA was passed, FISA Court opinions and a Department of Justice Office of Inspector General ("OIG") report suggest that the rate of violations by the FBI has decreased.
However, OIG cautions that it is much too soon to conclude that the pattern of violations is in the past. More fundamentally, there is an enormous caveat to these bodies' findings. For one of the methods it was using to search Section 702 data, the FBI failed to follow the procedural requirements mandated by law, including the requirements to obtain attorney approval and record the factual basis for searches that target U.S. persons. Because the government did not track or audit these queries, the number of U.S. person searches and the rate of violations that took place when FBI agents used this method remain unknown.
Congress should not reauthorize Section 702 without sweeping reforms to ensure that it cannot be used as a domestic spying tool. At a minimum, that means closing the backdoor search loophole that enables government officials to access Americans' phone calls, text messages, and emails without a warrant. It also means walking back RISAA's radical expansion of the types of U.S. entities that may be obligated to assist in the government's Section 702 surveillance; ending suspicionless travel-vetting queries; strengthening Section 702's reverse-targeting and minimization requirements; and right-sizing the scope of Section 702 surveillance targets.
Addressing the problems with Section 702 will also necessitate reforms to FISA more generally, starting with its judicial review provisions. Despite changes that Congress made in 2015, the FISA Court still hears only from the government in too many cases. RISAA compounded the problem by limiting the issues amici curiae are permitted to address and weighting amici selection towards former government personnel. Congress must strengthen amici participation at the FISA Court -- and other mechanisms for judicial review -- to ensure that there is meaningful oversight of the government's surveillance.
Finally, it is critical to recognize Section 702 as one authority within an ecosystem of often-overlapping surveillance authorities, many of which contain gaps and loopholes that are increasingly allowing warrantless access to Americans' most sensitive information. Reform of any single statute, on its own, is unlikely to make a serious dent in the broader problem: the government could evade any new restrictions by using other, more permissive authorities -- or, in some cases, by simply purchasing the information from data brokers. Moreover, Section 702 is one of the few surveillance authorities that includes a sunset. Congress should thus view the expiration of Section 702 this year as a rare and vital opportunity to reverse the broader drift, in the law and in practice, toward warrantless surveillance.
I. History and Design of Section 702
Congress passed FISA in 1978 following revelations that the government had engaged in extensive surveillance abuses, including spying on civil rights activists, anti-war protesters, and political opponents, throughout the early decades of the Cold War.1 The purpose of the law was to ensure that Americans' rights were protected when the government conducts foreign intelligence surveillance.
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1 See Lee Lacy, "Curtailment of the National Security State: The Church Senate Committee of 1975 - 1976," Boise State, Frank Church Institute, May 13, 2019, https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/2019/05/13/curtailment-of-the-national-security-state-the-church-senate-committee-of-19751976/.
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Under Title I of FISA, the government was required to obtain an order from a special court (the FISA Court) to conduct "electronic surveillance." To obtain the order, the government had to show probable cause that the target of surveillance -- whether that target was a foreigner or a "U.S. person" (an American citizen or legal permanent resident) -- was a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power.2 For non-U.S. persons, the terms "foreign power" and "agent of a foreign" power are defined quite broadly,3 but for U.S. persons, "agent of a foreign power" is defined to require potential involvement in certain criminal activities, including espionage, sabotage, and terrorism.4 This requirement remains in place today for electronic surveillance that is not targeted at foreigners abroad.
The term "electronic surveillance" is defined in a complex manner keyed to the communications technologies and government surveillance programs that existed at the time.5 In practice, the definition means that most surveillance activities conducted inside the United States are covered by FISA, whereas most surveillance activities conducted outside the United States -- other than those intentionally targeting U.S. persons -- are not covered by FISA and are not subject to any of the law's privacy protections for people in the United States. Overseas collection of communications between foreign targets and Americans, for instance, takes place without any statutory authority or FISA Court involvement.
After 9/11, Congress raced to loosen restrictions on surveillance, including some contained in FISA. The 9/11 Commission later determined that U.S. intelligence agencies had ample intelligence about the planned attacks; they simply failed to share and act on that intelligence.6 But in the attacks' immediate aftermath, lawmakers assumed otherwise. Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act ("Patriot Act"), a 341-page bill that made extensive changes to over a dozen federal statutes, only one day after introduction -- before many members had even had time to read it.7
The law's sweeping new surveillance powers did not satisfy the government, however.
President George W. Bush authorized a set of secret programs, code-named Stellar Wind, to collect communications and other personal data without congressional authorization.8 One of these programs involved the domestic warrantless collection of the content of communications between suspected foreign terrorists and Americans in the United States. This was a clear violation of FISA: although the Patriot Act expanded the purposes for which the government could seek a Title I order, it did not eliminate the requirement to obtain one.
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2 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1805.
3 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(a), (b)(1).
4 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(b)(2).
5 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(f).
6 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the U.S., The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States 254-77, 339-60, July 22, 2004.
7 See Electronic Privacy Information Center, "PATRIOT Act," Electronic Privacy Information Center, accessed June 11, 2023, https://epic.org/issues/surveillance-oversight/patriot-act/; Kate Tummarello, "Debunking the Patriot Act as It Turns 15," Electronic Frontier Foundation, October 26, 2016, https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/debunking-patriot-act-it-turns-15.
8 See Offices of Inspectors General, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Report on the President's Surveillance Program, July 10, 2009, https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/savage-foia-stellarwind-igreport/fd1368590db24fe1/full.pdf; Jake Laperruque, "Secrets, Surveillance, and Scandals: The War on Terror's Unending Impact on Americans' Private Lives," Project on Government Oversight, September 7, 2021, https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2021/09/secrets-surveillance-and-scandals-the-war-on-terrors-unending-impact-onamericans-private-lives.
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After investigative journalists exposed the program,9 the government attempted to obtain legal cover by securing the FISA Court's approval. When the court balked,10 the government turned to Congress. Officials observed that changes in communications technology had altered which communications qualified as "electronic surveillance." As a result, the government was being required to obtain a FISA Title I order to collect foreigners' communications handled by U.S. service providers. Officials argued that this was impeding counterterrorism efforts, and they asked Congress to "modernize" FISA by loosening its restrictions.11
Congress responded by enacting the Protect America Act in 2007,12 soon to be replaced by the FISA Amendments Act -- which created Section 702 of FISA -- in 2008.13 Section 702 allows the government to target any foreigner abroad for foreign intelligence collection. Under this authority, the government may collect all of the target's communications, including those with Americans, without obtaining any individualized court order. The only substantive
restriction is that a significant purpose of the collection must be the acquisition of foreign intelligence information, defined extremely broadly to include information "related to . . . the conduct of the foreign affairs of the United States."14
The Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence make annual certifications, which historically have included broad categories of foreign intelligence information the government seeks to acquire, and submit general procedures for the surveillance to the FISA Court.15 The Court approves the certifications and procedures but has no role in approving individual targets.16 Currently, the government may obtain foreign intelligence information under four certifications covering the following topics: foreign governments and related entities; counterterrorism; combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and protecting against certain types of international drug activity.17
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9 James Risen and Eric Lichtblau, "Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts," New York Times, December 16, 2005, https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/politics/bush-lets-us-spy-on-callers-without-courts.html.
10 See Charlie Savage, "Documents Shed New Light on Legal Wrangling Over Spying in U.S.," New York Times, December 12, 2014, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/13/us/politics/documents-shed-new-light-on-legalwrangling-over-spying-in-us-.html.
11 Modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Hearing Before the S. Select Comm. on Intelligence, 110th Cong., May 1, 2007 (statement for the record of J. Michael McConnell, Director of National Intelligence), https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/sites-default-files-hearings-110399.pdf.
12 Protect America Act of 2007, Pub. L. 110-55, 121 Stat. 552 (2007), https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/110/140.pdf.
13 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110-261, 122 Stat. 2436 (2008), https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/110/261.pdf.
14 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(e)(2).
15 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1881a(h); Office of the Director of National Intelligence, "ODNI Releases February 2025 FISC Certification D Opinion and April 2025 FISC Amended Certification D Opinion and Agency Procedures," August 19, 2025, https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2025/4099-pr-23-25.
16 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1881a.
17 Memorandum Opinion and Order, In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certifications 2025-A, 2025-B, 2025-C, and Predecessor Certifications, Nos. 702(j)-25-01, 702(j)-25-02, 702(j)-25-03, and predecessor dockets (FISA Ct. March 18, 2025), https://www.intelligence.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2025/FISC_Opinion_Cert_ABC_03182025_Redacted.pdf; Memorandum Opinion and Order, In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certification 2024-D, Nos. 702(j)-24-04 (FISA Ct. April 9, 2025), https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2025/FISC_Opinion_2_Apr_2025_2024_Cert_D_Redacted_8-19-25_final.pdf; Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Annual Statistical Transparency Report Regarding the Intelligence Community's Use of National Security Surveillance Authorities: Calendar Year 2023 at 16, April 2024, https://www.intelligence.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/statistical-transparency-report/2024_ASTR_for_CY2023.pdf [hereinafter ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2023].
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The government uses Section 702 to engage in two types of surveillance. The first is "upstream collection," whereby communications flowing into and out of the United States on the Internet backbone are scanned for selectors associated with foreign targets. Although the data are first filtered in an attempt to weed out purely domestic communications, the process is imperfect and domestic communications are inevitably acquired.18 The second type of Section 702 surveillance is "downstream collection," also known as "PRISM," under which the government provides selectors, such as e-mail addresses, to U.S.-based electronic communication service providers, who must turn over any communications to or from the selector.19
Using both approaches, the government collected more than 250 million Internet transactions a year as of 2011 -- the last year for which such information is publicly available.20 Because agencies generally store Section 702 data for at least five years, a yearly intake of 250 million Internet communications would result in at least 1.25 billion such communications residing in government databases at any given time. Given the growth in the program -- from 89,138 targets in 201321 to 291,824 targets in 202422 -- the number of communications collected today is likely closer to one billion annually, with several billion sitting in storage.
II. The Impact on Americans' Privacy
Although Section 702 may only be targeted at foreigners overseas, it inevitably sweeps in Americans' communications, for the simple reason that Americans communicate with foreigners.
The government does not deny that Section 702 results in the collection of Americans' communications in large numbers, although it has rebuffed lawmakers' requests23 to provide a rough estimate of how many Americans' communications are collected.24 Given the prevalence of international communication, however, it is safe to assume that the billions of communications acquired under Section 702 include millions of communications involving Americans.
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18 Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, Report on the Surveillance Program Operated Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 174-78, 2023, https://documents.pclob.gov/prod/Documents/OversightReport/d21d1c6b-6de3-4bc4-b018-6c9151a0497d/2023%20PCLOB%20702%20Report,%20508%20Completed,%20Dec%203,%202024.pdf [hereinafter 2023 PCLOB 702 Report].
19 Id. at 64-65.
20 Memorandum Opinion and Order, [Redacted], No. [Redacted], 2011 WL 10945618, at *29 (FISA Ct. October 3, 2011). In addition, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board reported that, "as of 2021, NSA acquired approximately 85.3 million internet transactions per year in upstream collection, which constitutes a small percentage of NSA's Section 702 collection." 2023 PCLOB 702 Report, supra note 18, at 178.
21 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Statistical Transparency Report Regarding Use of National Security Authorities: Annual Statistics for Calendar Year 2013, June 2014, https://www.dni.gov/files/tp/National_Security_Authorities_Transparency_Report_CY2013.pdf.
22 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Annual Statistical Transparency Report Regarding the Intelligence Community's Use of National Security Surveillance Authorities: Calendar Year 2024 at 22, May 2025, https://www.intelligence.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/statistical-transparency-report/ASTR_CY24.pdf , [hereinafter ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2024].
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The government refers to the collection of Americans' communications as "incidental," to signify that Americans are not the intended targets of the surveillance.25 Indeed, if the government's purpose were to spy on those Americans, the program would be unlawful. Such surveillance would require either a warrant (in a criminal investigation) or a FISA Title I order (in a foreign intelligence investigation). To prevent the government from using Section 702 as an end-run around these constitutional and statutory requirements, Congress included two key provisions in the law. First, it required the government to "minimize" the collection, retention, and sharing of U.S. person information.26 Second, it required the government to certify to the FISA Court, on an annual basis, that it is not engaged in "reverse targeting" -- i.e., using Section 702 to gain access to the communications of "particular, known" Americans.27
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23 See Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall to I. Charles McCullough III (Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence), and Dr. George Ellard (Inspector General, National Security Agency), May 4, 2011, https://www.wyden.senate.gov/download/?id=CE360936-DFF9-4273-877709BF29565086&download=1; Ron Wyden, "Senators Seek Answers from DNI on How Many of Americans' Communications Have Been Monitored," July 12, 2012, https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/pressreleases/senators-seek-answers-from-dni-on-how-many-of-americans-communications-have-been-monitored; Rep. John Conyers, Jr., et al., to James Clapper (Director Of National Intelligence), April 22, 2016, https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/legal-work/Letter_to_Director_Clapper_4_22.pdf; Reps. Bob Goodlatte and John Conyers to Daniel Coats (Director of National Intelligence), April 7, 2017, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uaCE_5atwxhh0opdXdtekdHaZ7FqPI4V/view.
24 Initially, the government claimed that providing such an estimate would itself violate Americans' privacy. See I. Charles McCullough, III (Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence), to Sens. Ron Wyden and Mark Udall, June 15, 2012, https://www.wyden.senate.gov/download/?id=E5DEF293-A8D6-4014-A23A-909C82A3C510&download=1. After privacy experts and advocates refuted that claim, see Brennan Center for Justice, et al., to James Clapper (Director of National Intelligence), October 29, 2015, https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/analysis/Coalition_Letter_DNI_Clapper_102915.pdf, the Obama administration agreed to provide an estimate in early 2017. See U.S. House Comm. on the Judiciary Democrats, "Bipartisan House Coalition Presses Clapper for Information on Phone & Email Surveillance," December 16, 2016, https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-house-coalition-presses-clapper-forinformation-on-phone-email-surveillance. The Trump administration then reneged on that promise, see Dustin Volz, "NSA Backtracks On Sharing Number of Americans Caught in Warrant-less Spying," Reuters, June 12, 2017, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-intelligence-idUSKBN19031B, and the Biden administration took a similar approach.
25 In this statement, I use quotation marks for the terms "target," "incidental," and "minimize," to underscore that they are terms of art with particular legal meanings. Legal and policy defenses of Section 702 rely heavily on these terms and concepts. The impact on Americans' privacy, however, does not. If the government is collecting tens of millions of Americans' communications and keeping them for years in databases where they are vulnerable to abuse, inadvertent mishandling, or theft, it matters little -- from a practical perspective -- that their initial acquisition was "incidental," or that the procedures allowing them to be kept and stored include "minimization" in their title. And if FBI agents are searching this data for Americans' communications, reading and listening to them, and using them against Americans in legal proceedings, those Americans will not be particularly comforted (indeed, they may well be baffled) to hear that they are not "targets."
26 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1881a(e).
27 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1881a(b)(2), (h)(2)(A)(iii).
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Over the past 18 years, it has become abundantly clear that these protections have failed.
Rather than actually "minimize" the retention and use of Americans' communications, as Congress directed, the government retains such data for years on end and routinely runs electronic searches designed to locate and retrieve the communications of particular Americans.
The resulting privacy intrusion is exacerbated by recent changes in the law that further expanded the scope of surveillance authorized by Section 702 and the purposes for which Section 702 data may be searched.
A. Minimization and Its Loopholes
While the concept behind minimization is fairly simple, the statutory language is much more complex. It requires the government to adopt minimization procedures, which it defines as procedures "that are reasonably designed . . . to minimize the acquisition and retention, and prohibit the dissemination, of nonpublicly available information concerning unconsenting United States persons consistent with the need of the United States to obtain, produce, and disseminate foreign intelligence information."28 The statute also prohibits disseminating non-foreign intelligence information in a way that identifies U.S. persons unless their identity is necessary to understand foreign intelligence information or assess its importance. The one caveat is that the procedures must "allow for the retention and dissemination of information that is evidence of a crime which has been, is being, or is about to be committed and that is to be retained or disseminated for law enforcement purposes."29
The lack of specificity in this definition, and the tension between its general rule and its caveat, has allowed the government to craft rules that are permissive and contain multiple exceptions. To begin with, the NSA may share raw data from its downstream collection under three of the four current certifications with the FBI, the CIA, and the National Counterterrorism Center ("NCTC").30 All four agencies generally may keep unreviewed raw data -- including data about U.S. persons -- for five years after the certification expires;31 they also can seek extensions from a high-level official,32 and the NSA and FBI expressly exempt encrypted communications (which are becoming increasingly common among ordinary users of mobile devices) from the five-year limit.33 The agencies may keep indefinitely any U.S. person information that has foreign intelligence value or is evidence of a crime.34
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28 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(h)(1).
29 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(h)(3).
30 See Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Minimization Procedures Used by the National Security Agency in Connection with Acquisitions of Foreign Intelligence Information Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as Amended Sec. 9, January 13, 2025, https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2025/NSA_MPs_2025_Cert_ABC_01172025_Redacted.pdf [hereinafter 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures] (minimization procedures for three of the four current certifications, i.e., Certifications A, B, and C). The minimization procedures for Certification D, adopted in April 2025, allow the NSA to share raw data with the CIA but not the FBI or the NCTC. Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Minimization Procedures Used by the National Security Agency in Connection with Acquisitions of Foreign Intelligence Information Concerning the International Production, Distribution, or Financing of Certain Illicit Drugs Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as Amended Sec. 9, December 11, 2024, https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2025/NSA_MPs_2024_Cert_D_12-16-24_Redacted_8-19-25_final.pdf [hereinafter 2025 NSA 702 Cert D Minimization Procedures]. Because the procedures for this new certification differ from those for prior certifications, this Part's discussion is limited to the minimization procedures for Certifications A, B, and C. Certification D is discussed in more detail infra in Part II.C.1.
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If the NSA discovers U.S. person information that has no foreign intelligence value and contains no evidence of a crime, the agency is supposed to purge the data.35 The NSA, however, maintains that data with no apparent foreign intelligence value "may have foreign intelligence value in the future or for another concurrent investigation." 36 Accordingly, "communications are rarely purged before their designated age-off date."37
The FBI, CIA, and NCTC have no affirmative requirement to purge irrelevant U.S. person data on detection, relying instead on age-off requirements.38 Moreover, if the FBI reviews U.S. person information and does not identify it as foreign intelligence information or evidence of a crime, the five-year limit evaporates, and the FBI may keep the data for 15 years.39 A similar rule applies to the NCTC.40
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31 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30, at Sec. 4(c)(1)-(2); Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Minimization Procedures Used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Connection with Acquisitions of Foreign Intelligence Information Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as Amended Sec. III.D.4.b, January 13, 2025, https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702- documents/declassified/2025/FBI_MPs_2025_Cert_ABC_01172025_Redacted.pdf [hereinafter 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures]; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Minimization Procedures Used by the Central Intelligence Agency in Connection with Acquisitions of Foreign Intelligence Information Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as Amended Sec. 2.a, January 13, 2025, https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702documents/declassified/2025/CIA_MPs_2025_Cert_ABC_01172025_Redacted.pdf [hereinafter 2025 CIA 702 Minimization Procedures]; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Minimization Procedures Used by the National Counterterrorism Center in Connection with Acquisitions of Foreign Intelligence Information Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as Amended Sec. B.2.a, January 13, 2025, https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702documents/declassified/2025/NCTC_MPs_2025_Cert_ABC_01172025_Redacted.pdf [hereinafter 2025 NCTC 702 Minimization Procedures].
32 2023 PCLOB 702 Report, supra note 18, at 78; 2025 NCTC 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. B.2.a.; 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec.III.I.1; 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30, at Sec. 7(1); 2025 CIA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. 2.a.
33 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30, at Sec. 7(1)a; 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. III.I.4. The CIA has also historically permitted communications to be retained indefinitely if they are "enciphered or contain[] secret meaning." See Lisa O. Monaco, Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Minimization Procedures Used by the Central Intelligence Agency in Connection with Acquisitions of Foreign Intelligence Information Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as Amended Sec. 3.c, October 14, 2021, https://www.intelligence.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2024/2024_Cert_CIA_MPs_for_Public_Redacted_3-13-23.pdf [hereinafter 2024 CIA 702 Minimization Procedures].
34 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30, at Sec.Sec. 6(2), 7(3); 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec.Sec. III.A.3, III.C.1.b; 2025 CIA 702 Minimization Procedures supra note 31, at Sec.Sec. 2.a, 3, 8; 2025 NCTC 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec.Sec. B.2.a, B.3, B.4, C.4.
35 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30, at Sec. 4(b)(1).
36 2023 PCLOB 702 Report, supra note 18, at 78.
37 Id.
38 Id. at 78-80.
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If any of the four agencies -- all of which have access to raw data -- disseminate information to other agencies, they must first obscure the identity of the U.S. person; but once again, there are several exceptions to this rule. For instance, the agencies need not obscure the U.S. person's identity if it is necessary to understand or assess foreign intelligence or if the communication contains evidence of a crime.41
In short, the NSA routinely shares raw Section 702 data with the FBI, CIA, and NCTC; and the agencies' minimization procedures suggest that U.S. person information is almost always kept for at least five years and, in many circumstances, much longer. The sharing and retention of U.S. person information are not unrestricted, but it is a stretch to say that they are "minimized" under any commonsense understanding of the term.
B. Backdoor Searches
Perhaps the most glaring failure of the protections Congress put in place for Americans' privacy is the practice of "backdoor searches." Before conducting Section 702 surveillance, the government must certify that it does not intend to target particular, known Americans (which would constitute "reverse targeting"). Immediately upon obtaining the data, however, all four agencies have procedures in place that allow them to sort through the data looking for the communications of particular, known Americans -- the very people who the government just certified were not intended targets.42 This is a bait and switch that is utterly inconsistent with the spirit, if not the letter, of the prohibition on reverse targeting. It also creates a massive end run around the requirements of the Fourth Amendment and Title I of FISA.
According to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board ("PCLOB"), the FBI routinely conducts these searches at the "pre-assessment" and "assessment" phases of its investigations43 -- i.e., before agents have a factual basis to suspect a national security threat or criminal activity, let alone probable cause and a warrant.44 For years, the FBI resisted calls to disclose how many backdoor searches it performs each year. But after Congress and the FISA Court forced the FBI to track those queries, the government lost its excuse to withhold the number. In 2022, the ODNI's annual statistical transparency report revealed that, in 2021 alone, the FBI conducted up to 3.4 million U.S. person queries of federated data systems that included Section 702 data.45
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39 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. III.D.4.c.
40 2025 NCTC 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, Sec. B.2.b.
41 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30, at Sec. 8(2), (9); 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. IV.A.1-2, B; 2025 CIA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec.Sec. 5.a, 7.d; 2025 NCTC 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. D.1-2. In addition, the FBI may disseminate unminimized Section 702 data to the NSA, CIA, and in some cases the NCTC. 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. IV.E.
42 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30, Sec. 4(b)(4); 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. III.D.3; 2025 CIA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. 4; 2025 NCTC 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31, at Sec. C.1.
43 2023 PCLOB 702 Report, supra note 18, at 11.
44 Id. at 38-39.
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In 2022, after the FBI made changes to its data systems that required FBI agents to "opt in" to receiving Section 702 data in response to queries rather than having to "opt out," the number of U.S. person queries reportedly conducted by the FBI dropped to around 200,000;46 following additional changes to internal querying procedures, the number dropped further in 2023 to 57,094./47 While that represents a sizeable decrease, it is still an enormous number by any standard, comprising more than 150 warrantless searches for Americans' communications each day.
The number of backdoor searches conducted by the FBI in 2024 is unknown. In September 2024, the Department of Justice's National Security Division ("NSD") notified the FISA Court that it was evaluating the FBI's use of a particular tool known as an "advanced filter function."48 When using this tool to retrieve the communications of particular targets, FBI agents could select from a list of "participants" who were in contact with those targets and review those participants' communications. Although this functionality enabled FBI to search for U.S. persons' communications, the FBI did not consider these searches to be queries and therefore did not track them or, presumably, follow required querying procedures (such as obtaining attorney approval and providing a written justification for U.S. person queries). After the NSD determined that these searches constituted queries, it informed the FISA Court that it "'does not presently have access to historical data' . . . and is coordinating with FBI to assess what records of the use of this functionality may have been generated and maintained."49 Without such records, data on the number of U.S. person queries in 2024 -- and perhaps other years -- is incomplete.
This failure to track an entire category of queries could help to explain an otherwise perplexing drop in the number of reported queries to 5,518 in 2024./50 Both the FISA Court and the OIG attribute this drop in part to reforms made by RISAA. Yet, as OIG acknowledges elsewhere in the report,51 most of those reforms -- including several of those highlighted by OIG as being the most significant -- simply codified changes the FBI had already implemented well before RISAA's enactment.52 The few additional changes made by RISAA might explain some portion of the subsequent drop in reported queries, but it is highly implausible that they alone caused a decline of more than 90%.
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45 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Annual Statistical Transparency Report Regarding the Intelligence Community's Use of National Security Surveillance Authorities: Calendar Year 2021 at 21, April 2022, https://www.dni.gov/files/CLPT/documents/2022_ASTR_for_CY2020_FINAL.pdf, [hereinafter ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2021].
46 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Annual Statistical Transparency Report Regarding the Intelligence Community's Use of National Security Surveillance Authorities: Calendar Year 2022 at 24, April 2023, https://www.dni.gov/files/CLPT/documents/2023_ASTR_for_CY2022.pdf [hereinafter ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2022]. The government has provided a "de-duplicated" number of 119,383, which represents the number of unique identifiers used to perform queries. Id. That is likely a more accurate proxy for the number of Americans affected, but it fails to capture situations in which the FBI performs repeated searches of the same account to find additional information. Each of those searches is a distinct privacy intrusion. Accordingly, the number of total searches (204,090) is a better indicator of the cumulative privacy impact of this practice.
47 ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2023, supra note 17, at 25.
48 Memorandum Opinion and Order, In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certifications 2025-A, 2025-B, 2025-C, Nos. 702(j)-2501, 702(j)-25-02, 702(j)-25-03, supra note 17, at 40.
49 Id.
50 ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2024, supra note 22, at 6.
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Even if the number of U.S. person queries reported by the FBI in 2024 could be taken at face value, 5,518 warrantless searches of private communications would still represent a gross intrusion on U.S. persons' privacy and civil liberties. The government is able to present that number as a success story only because the FBI conducted 3.4 million U.S. person queries in 2021. But a burglar should not escape condemnation for robbing a house -- let alone be applauded for his restraint -- simply because he robbed an entire neighborhood three years ago.
The shockingly low bar the government set in 2021 cannot be used as the measure of Americans' rights. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the number of U.S. person queries conducted by the CIA, NSA, and NCTC during this period -- from 4,684 in 2022 to 7,845 in 2024./53 In total, the U.S. government conducted 13,363 known warrantless searches of Americans' emails, text messages, and phone calls in 2024.
Government officials have defended backdoor searches, claiming that as long as information is lawfully acquired, agencies may use the information for any legitimate government purpose.54 This argument ignores Congress's command to agencies to "minimize" information about U.S. persons. The very meaning of "minimization" is that agencies may not use the information for any purpose they wish. Minimization is a constitutional requirement as well as a statutory one: As one FISA Court judge has observed, "[T]he procedures governing retention, use, and dissemination bear on the reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment of a program for collecting foreign intelligence information."55 Whatever merit the government's defense might or might not have in other contexts,56 it is contrary to the constitutional and statutory grounding of the Section 702 program.
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51 See Oversight and Review Division, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Justice, A Review of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Querying Practices Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 13-14, October 2025, https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/26-002_0.pdf [hereinafter 2025 OIG Report].
52 Compare Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, Pub. L 118-49, Sec. 2(b), (d), 138 Stat. 862, 862-65 (2024), https://www.congress.gov/118/plaws/publ49/PLAW-118publ49.pdf [hereinafter RISAA], with Oversight of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Related Surveillance Authorities, Hearing Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 118th Cong., June 13, 2023 (joint statement for the record of Chris Fonzone, General Counsel, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, et al.), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-06-13%20-%20Joint%20statement%20-%20ODNI,%20NSA,%20CIA,%20FBI,%20DOJ%20(1).pdf, and ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2022, supra at note 46, at 22.
53 ODNI, Annual Statistical Transparency Report: Calendar Year 2024, supra note 22, at 25.
54 See, e.g., The FISA Amendments Act: Reauthorizing American's Vital National Security Authority and Protecting Privacy and Civil Liberties Reauthorization, Hearing Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 115th Cong. (June 27, 2017), C-SPAN, 44:02, (testimony of Stuart J. Evans, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Intelligence, National Security Division, Department of Justice), https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/fisareauthorization/481407; Oversight of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Related Surveillance Authorities, Hearing Before the S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 118th Cong. 14, 27 (June 13, 2023) (testimony of Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Department of Justice), https://www.congress.gov/118/chrg/CHRG-118shrg58969/CHRG-118.
55 [Redacted], 2011 WL 10945618, supra note 20, at *27.
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Despite these principles, the FISA Court has held that backdoor searches are lawful. But among the handful of regular federal courts outside the FISA Court that have had the opportunity to weigh in on this question, a divide has emerged, with several judges -- including a unanimous panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the only federal appellate court to rule on this question -- raising constitutional concerns.57 In December 2024, a district court judge held that the Fourth Amendment applies to backdoor searches and that the searches at issue in the case were unconstitutional.58 Outside of the courts, constitutional scholars have assessed that backdoor searches must be treated as a Fourth Amendment event that is separate from the underlying collection,59 thus generally triggering the warrant requirement.60
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56 In fact, restrictions on searches of lawfully obtained data are the constitutional norm, not the exception. In executing warrants to search computers, the government routinely seizes and/or copies entire hard drives. However, agents may only conduct searches reasonably designed to retrieve those documents or files containing the evidence specified in the warrant. See, e.g., United States v. Ganias, 755 F.3d 125 (2d Cir. 2014), rev'd en banc on other grounds, 824 F.3d 199 (2d Cir. 2016); United States v. Mann, 592 F.3d 779, 786 (7th Cir. 2010) ("[O]fficers and others involved in searches of digital media [must] exercise caution to ensure that warrants describe with particularity the things to be seized and that searches are narrowly tailored to uncover only those things described."). The fact that the data was lawfully obtained does not give the government permission to conduct a fishing expedition that goes beyond the authorized purpose for the seizure. In an analogous 2014 ruling, the Supreme Court held that police officers must obtain a warrant to search the contents of a cell phone even after they lawfully seized that cell phone without a warrant during a search incident to arrest. See Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014); see also Walter v. United States, 447 U.S. 649, 654 (1980) ("The fact that FBI agents were lawfully in possession of the boxes of film did not give them authority to search their contents."); United States v. Odoni, 782 F.3d 1226, 1237- 38 (11th Cir. 2015) ("We . . . must analyze the search and the seizure separately, keeping in mind that the fact that police have lawfully come into possession of an item does not necessarily mean they are entitled to search that item without a warrant.").
57 See United States v. Hasbajrami, 945 F.3d 641, 669-73 (2d Cir. 2019). The Second Circuit remanded to the district court for further factual development about the search that occurred in that case. Judge Carlos Lucero of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, in a dissenting opinion, similarly expressed constitutional concerns about backdoor searches, opining that such searches must be analyzed as separate Fourth Amendment events from the original collection; the majority did not reach the issue, as they held that the record did not establish that a backdoor search occurred. See United States v. Muhtorov, 20 F.4th 558, 678-80 (10th Cir. 2021). The judges on the other side of this divide have relied heavily on a misrepresentation that the Department of Justice made in litigation, i.e., that government officials need to review Americans' communications anyway as part of the minimization process. See United States v. Mohamud, 2014 WL 2866749, at *26 (D. Oregon 2014); United States v. Hasbajrami, 2016 WL 1029500, at *12 n.20 (E.D.N.Y. 2016); United States v. Al-Jayab, No. 16 CR 181, at 55-56 (N.D. Ill. June 28, 2018), available at https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilnd.324196/gov.uscourts.ilnd.324196.115.0.pdf; see also Elizabeth Goitein, "Americans' Privacy at Stake as Second Circuit Hears Hasbajrami FISA Case," Just Security, August 24, 2018, https://www.justsecurity.org/60439/americans-privacy-stake-circuit-hears-hasbajrami-fisa-case/ (explaining the misrepresentation on which the court relied). In fact, none of the agencies' minimization procedures require them to review communications to determine whether they must be minimized. See generally 2025 NSA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 30; 2025 FBI 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31; 2025 CIA 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31; 2025 NCTC 702 Minimization Procedures, supra note 31. Indeed, such a review would be literally impossible, given that the government collects close to a billion communications per year under Section 702. See Part I, supra.
58 United States v. Hasbajrami, No. 1:11-CR-623 (LDH), 2025 WL 447498, at *5-9, *16 (E.D.N.Y. February 10, 2025)
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C. Recent Expansions of Section 702 Surveillance
Recent changes to the collection of communications under Section 702 have heightened the program's impact on Americans' privacy, underscoring the need for reform. RISAA dramatically (and unnecessarily) expanded the types of entities that can be compelled to assist the government in Section 702 surveillance. It also amended the definition of "foreign intelligence" to include information relating to international narcotics trafficking, and it authorized suspicionless queries of Section 702 for the purpose of vetting individuals seeking to travel to the United States. The first change creates massive potential for abuse, while all three changes increase the volume of Americans' communications that may be collected "incidentally" and/or retrieved through warrantless searches.
1. Expanded Definition of "Electronic Communication Service Provider"
The government conducts Section 702 surveillance with the compelled assistance of "electronic communication service providers" ("ECSPs"),61 generally by requiring them to turn over the communications of targets identified by the government.62 In 2023, the FISA Court ruled that FISA's definition of "electronic communication service provider" did not cover a specific type of provider63 -- reportedly, a data center for cloud computing.64 The Biden administration solicited an amendment to RISAA that would expand the ECSP definition.
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59 See Barry Friedman and Danielle Keats Citron, "Indiscriminate Data Surveillance," Virginia Law Review 110, no. 6 (2024): 1403-04, 1410 n.258; see also Orin Kerr, "The Fourth Amendment and Querying the 702 Database for Evidence of Crimes," Washington Post, October 20, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokhconspiracy/wp/2017/10/20/the-fourth-amendment-and-querying-the-702-database-for-evidence-of-crimes/.
60 The Supreme Court has held that warrantless searches are per se unreasonable unless they fall within an established exception to the warrant requirement. City of Los Angeles v. Patel, 576 U.S. 409, 419-420 (2015). A few circuit courts have held than there is a narrow "foreign intelligence" exception to the warrant requirement in at least some cases; the Fourth Circuit, for instance, recognized such an exception in cases where the surveillance is for the primary purpose of obtaining foreign intelligence and the target is a foreign power or agent of a foreign power. See United States v. Truong Dinh Hung, 629 F.2d 908, 913 (4th Cir. 1980). In addition, the district court that ruled certain backdoor searches unconstitutional recognized a much broader version of this exception. See Hasbajrami, 2025 WL 447498, supra note 58, at *13-16; see also Hannah James, "The Dangerous Foreign Intelligence Exception Loophole in the Hasbajrami Decision," Just Security, April 7, 2025, https://www.justsecurity.org/109879/foreign-intelligence-exception-hasbajrami/. The Supreme Court has not recognized any such exception, however. Accordingly, it would be a stretch to say that there is an established foreign intelligence exception to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement, let alone one that is broad enough to support the government's current practice with regard to U.S. person queries. See Elizabeth Goitein and Faiza Patel, What Went Wrong with the FISA Court 11-12, Brennan Center for Justice, March 14, 2015, https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/what-went-wrong-fisa-court (discussing case law on foreign intelligence exception).
61 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1881a(i).
62 See 2023 PCLOB 702 Report, supra note 18, at 34, 54.
63 See Opinion and Order, In re: Petition to Set Aside or Modify Directive Issued to [Redacted], Nos. [Redacted], (FISA Ct. Rev. 2023), https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2023_FISCR_ECSP_Opinion.pdf.
64 See Charlie Savage, "Secret Rift Over Data Center Fueled Push to Expand Reach of Surveillance Program," New York Times, April 16, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/us/fisa-surveillance-bill-program.html.
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Because the type of provider was (and remains) classified, however, the amendment was deliberately drafted using vague and broad language to conceal the type of provider at issue. It was unveiled three days before the House voted on it, leaving members with little time to investigate assurances that the amendment was a narrow fix to address a specific FISA Court decision.65 In reality, while the issue the amendment sought to address was a narrow one, the amendment itself, enacted in RISAA, is a truly breathtaking expansion of surveillance authority.
The provision expands the ECSP definition to include not only providers of communication services, like Verizon and Gmail, but providers of any service (with certain narrow exceptions), as long as they have access to equipment on which communications are transmitted or stored.66 This change vastly inflates the universe of entities that can be compelled to assist the government in Section 702 collection. Almost every public-facing business or organization, large or small, provides some type of "service," and they all have access to communications equipment (e.g., phones and computers). The new definition sweeps in grocery stores, barber shops, fitness centers, places of worship, and a host of other establishments frequented by the American public. It also encompasses the commercial landlords that lease office space where tens of millions of Americans go to work every day.67
Although the government is still limited to collecting the communications of foreign targets, this sea change in the law has direct consequences for, and poses alarming risks to, Americans' privacy. For one thing, expanding the range of entities from which the government may compel assistance increases the volume of communications it can collect, which in turn increases the number of Americans' communications that may "incidentally" be obtained.
Moreover, unlike Verizon or Gmail, many of the businesses covered by the expanded definition lack the ability to isolate and turn over particular communications. Their only option may be to give NSA personnel access to the relevant equipment. That, in turn, would give the NSA access to all the communications transmitted through or stored on the equipment, including purely domestic communications between and among Americans. NSA would be on the "honor system" to pull out and retain only the communications of valid foreign targets.
Put simply, this provision potentially gives the NSA the authority to directly access the communications equipment of nearly every business and organization in the United States. The potential for abuse in a system that provides such broad access is difficult to overstate. It is for this reason that Senator Ron Wyden described the amended ECSP definition as "one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history."68 Tacitly conceding the danger of the expanded definition, the Biden administration made a public commitment to apply it only to the specific type of provider at issue in the FISC opinion and to notify Congress when requiring such providers' assistance.69 However, that commitment is not binding on the current administration nor on future ones.
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65 See Rebecca Beitsch, "Intelligence Community Largely Won House FISA Fight. Now Comes the Senate," The Hill, April 16, 2024, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4596017-intelligence-community-largely-won-house-fisafight-now-comes-the-senate/; 170 Cong. Rec. H2354 (daily ed., April 12, 2024) (statement of Rep. Mike Turner).
66 See RISAA, supra note 52, at Sec. 25(a)(3). In response to criticism of an earlier version of the amendment, see, e.g., Marc Zwillinger and Steve Lane, "House Intelligence Committee FISA 'Reform' Bill Would Greatly Expand the Class of Businesses and Other Entities Required to Assist in FISA 702 Surveillance," ZwillGenBlog, December 8, 2023, https://www.zwillgen.com/law-enforcement/fisa-reform-bill-702-surveillance/, its drafters excluded hotels, residential buildings, food service establishments, and community facilities (such as libraries and hospitals) in the final version. See 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1881(b)(4)(E).
67 See Elizabeth Goitein, "The FISA Expansion Turning Cable Installers Into Spies Cannot Stand," The Hill, April 17, 2024, https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4599695-the-fisa-expansion-turning-cable-installers-into-spiescannot-stand/.
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2. International Narcotics Trafficking
RISAA also amended the definition of "foreign intelligence information" to include "information that relates to, and if concerning a United States person is necessary to, the ability of the United States to protect against . . . international production, distribution, or financing of illicit synthetic drugs, opioids, cocaine, or other drugs driving overdose deaths, or precursors of any aforementioned."70 Pursuant to this change, the government in April 2025 obtained FISA Court approval of a new certification authorizing acquisition of foreign intelligence information "concerning the international production, distribution, or financing of illicit opioids [redacted] or cocaine."71
Both the collection and the querying authorized under this certification have significant implications for Americans' privacy. As the FISA Court observed, the threat sought to be addressed under this certification "encompasses a domestic component . . . [i]ndeed, the domestic impact . . . is what makes the threat posed by international trafficking so significant."72 This domestic nexus increases the likelihood that Americans' communications will be "incidentally" collected. Moreover, because information at the collection stage "need only bear on, or have some relation to" the ability of the United States to protect against the threat of drug trafficking,73 the FISA Court expressed "concern[] that the NSA and CIA might acquire a larger number of communications of or concerning U.S. persons, including those engaged in purely legitimate business" under this certification.74
This certification also poses unique concerns regarding the use of Section 702 data for ordinary crime control. As the FISA Court recognized, there is "inherent overlap" between what constitutes foreign intelligence information as defined in the certification and evidence of ordinary drug crime.75 As a result, the government is more likely both to acquire evidence of ordinary crime under this certification and to retrieve such evidence through its foreign intelligence queries.76 The statute then permits the government to disseminate that information for law enforcement purposes.77
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68 Ron Wyden, "Wyden: 'I Will Do Everything In My Power' to Stop Bill Expanding Government Surveillance Under FISA 702," April 12, 2024, https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-i-will-do-everythingin-my-power-to-stop-bill-expanding-government-surveillance-under-fisa-702.
69 Carlos Felipe Uriarte (Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice) to Sen. Mark Warner, (Chairman, Senate Select Comm. on Intelligence), April 17, 2024, https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1348621/dl?inline.
70 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(e)(1)(D).
71 See In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certification 2024-D, Nos. 702(j)-24-04 (April 9, 2025), supra note 17, at 2.
72 Memorandum Opinion and Order, In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certification 2024-D, Nos. 702(j)-24-04, at 49-50 (FISA Ct. February 20, 2025), https://www.intelligence.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2025/FISC_Opinion_1_Feb_2025_2024_Cert_D_Redacted_8-19-25_final.pdf.
73 Id. at 25.
74 In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certification 2024-D, No. 702(j)-24-04 (April 9, 2025), supra note 17, at 6.
75 In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certification 2024-D, Nos. 702(j)-24-04 (February 20, 2025), supra note 72, at 7.
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In short, the certification facilitates scenarios in which "evidence of drug-related crime will have been collected without a warrant, identified through a subsequent query using a U.S. person identifier . . . and then used for a non-foreign intelligence law-enforcement purpose."78 Such scenarios stray far from the intent of Section 702 and from the constitutional safeguards ordinarily present in domestic criminal investigations.
3. Suspicionless Queries for Travel Vetting
The primary substantive restriction on queries of Section 702 data is that they must be reasonably likely to retrieve foreign intelligence information. RISAA created an exception to that restriction in a provision that requires agencies' querying procedures to "enable the vetting of all non-United States persons who are being processed for travel to the United States using terms that do not qualify as United States person query terms."79 The provision permits entirely suspicionless searches of individuals seeking to travel to the United States -- whether on student or work visas or as tourists and business travelers -- even when the multiple other vetting mechanisms used by the government have not revealed any basis for believing that the individual poses a threat to the United States.
The provision has an obvious and significant impact on non-U.S. persons, whose private communications can now be searched simply because they apply to travel to the United States.
The provision impacts Americans' privacy, too. Any query of Section 702 information runs the risk of returning communications that involve Americans. Because querying for the purposes of travel vetting increases the number of queries run -- presumably by a significant amount, considering the United States issued more than 11 million visas in 202480 -- it increases the chance that Americans' private communications will be accessed as a result of those queries.81 Moreover, given the suspicionless nature of the queries, any U.S. person communications that are retrieved are highly likely to contain innocuous private conversations rather than foreign intelligence.
III. Violations of Statutory and Court-Ordered Privacy Protections
Section 702 has been marked since its inception by repeated, often systemic violations of the rules Congress and the FISA Court have put in place to protect Americans' privacy. The extent of this non-compliance is alarming in its own right. Any unauthorized collection, search, or dissemination can result in Americans being investigated without proper legal basis or sensitive information falling into the hands of people who could misuse it. But violations in recent years raise even more acute concerns: the use of foreign intelligence surveillance powers against Americans based on their race, ethnicity, politics, or journalistic activity. The government has been quick to celebrate improved rates of compliance since 2023, glossing over the potentially significant gaps in compliance information and the serious compliance incidents that have occurred.
* * *
76 Id. at 7, 60.
77 50 U.S.C. Sec. 1801(h)(3).
78 In re DNI/AG 702(h) Certification 2024-D, Nos. 702(j)-24-04 (April 9, 2025), supra note 17, at 60.
79 See RISAA, supra note 52, at Sec. 24.
80 See U.S. Department of State, Summary of Visas Issued by Issuing Office Fiscal Year 2024 at 6, 2025, https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2024AnnualReport/Table%20IV.pdf.
81 Visa applicants are unlikely to be Section 702 targets themselves, so any communications retrieved by travel vetting queries are likely to be communications between the applicants and targets, both of whom must be non-U.S. persons. However, such communications could involve U.S. persons as additional participants (e.g., in group emails or text chats).
* * *
(Continues with Part 2 of 3)
* * *
Original text here: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/d228d3bc-b6fc-52c4-d91c-fc76a1db618e/2026-01-28_Testimony_Goitein.pdf
Alford Delivers Almost $23 Million for Fourth District Through Fiscal Year 2026 Government Funding Process
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, issued the following news release:* * *
Alford Delivers Almost $23 Million for Fourth District Through Fiscal Year 2026 Government Funding Process
*
Today, Congressman Mark Alford issued the following statement after securing almost $23,000,000 million in targeted federal investments for Missouri's Fourth District in the appropriations process for fiscal year 2026.
"Missouri's growth requires strategic investment," said Congressman Alford. " The kind that strengthens infrastructure, advances research, supports rural health care, and prepares ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Alford Delivers Almost $23 Million for Fourth District Through Fiscal Year 2026 Government Funding Process * Today, Congressman Mark Alford issued the following statement after securing almost $23,000,000 million in targeted federal investments for Missouri's Fourth District in the appropriations process for fiscal year 2026. "Missouri's growth requires strategic investment," said Congressman Alford. " The kind that strengthens infrastructure, advances research, supports rural health care, and preparesthe workforce of tomorrow. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I've worked to make sure Missouri's Fourth District is not left behind in that equation. For the upcoming fiscal year, we've secured nearly twenty-three million dollars in targeted federal investments for the Fourth District. These are not giveaways. They're investments with measurable returns in jobs, innovation, healthcare access, and long-term economic resilience. To put it simply: we're turning the Show Me State into the Grow Me State."
Congressman Alford delivered $22,839,700 in Community Project Funding for Fourth District communities, including:
* $6,000,000 for the Skyhaven Airport expansion at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg
* $6,000,000 for the Workforce Training Center for Agriculture Advancement at State Fair Community College in Sedalia
* $4,200,000 for safe and reliable reactor operations at the University of Missouri in Columbia
* $3,000,000 for an agriculture animal genetics facility at the University of Missouri in Columbia
* $1,622,500 for a regional maternal health center at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton
* $750,200 for the Missouri Rural Health Innovation Center at Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia
* $750,000 for the sally port at the Missouri Law Enforcement Center in St. Claire County
* $397,000 for the White Road Bridge replacement in Oak Grove
* $120,000 for Peculiar Police Department radios
Community Project Funding is a way for Members of Congress to direct federal money to specific local projects in their districts as part of the annual appropriations, or government funding, bills. This gives Members a tool to address real community needs, with new rules aiming to reduce waste and increase transparency compared to the previous earmark process.
Congressman Alford is the only Missourian on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which controls the purse strings for the entire federal government. He is the only appropriator to sit on four subcommittees, which include:
* Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, where he serves as Vice Chair
* Commerce, Justice, and Science
* National Security, State Department, and Related Programs
* Financial Services and General Government
***
Original text here: https://alford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1466
AFTER TRUMP THREATENED TO ELLIMINATE FEDERAL HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LEAVING NEW YORKERS OUT IN THE COLD, SCHUMER SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTS AND BOOSTS FUNDING FOR LIHEAP TO HELP FAMILIES AND SENIORS...
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release:* * *
AFTER TRUMP THREATENED TO ELLIMINATE FEDERAL HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LEAVING NEW YORKERS OUT IN THE COLD, SCHUMER SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTS AND BOOSTS FUNDING FOR LIHEAP TO HELP FAMILIES AND SENIORS...
*
Schumer Has Long Fought To Protect And Boost Funding For Federal LIHEAP Program Which Helps Seniors And Families Keep Their Homes Heated In The Winter And Cool In The Summer
After Firing All Staff Who Work On LIHEAP, Trump's Proposed Budget Would Have Zeroed Out Funding ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (Sen.) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * AFTER TRUMP THREATENED TO ELLIMINATE FEDERAL HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LEAVING NEW YORKERS OUT IN THE COLD, SCHUMER SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTS AND BOOSTS FUNDING FOR LIHEAP TO HELP FAMILIES AND SENIORS... * Schumer Has Long Fought To Protect And Boost Funding For Federal LIHEAP Program Which Helps Seniors And Families Keep Their Homes Heated In The Winter And Cool In The Summer After Firing All Staff Who Work On LIHEAP, Trump's Proposed Budget Would Have Zeroed Out FundingFor Vital Fed Program But Schumer Led Democrats To Fight Against Cuts And Secured $20 Million Increase Compared To Last Year
Schumer: NYers Can Continue Tapping Into Fed Funds They Need To Lower Heating & Cooling Costs
After leading the fight against Trump's proposal to completely eliminate all federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced he has successfully protected funding that helps families and seniors across America heat their homes in the winter and cool their homes in the summer. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education funding bill which was just signed into law provides more than $4 billion for LIHEAP, a $20 million boost above the FY 2025 enacted level and sound rejection of Trump's proposed elimination of the program.
"Everyone in New York should be able to come home to warmth in the winter. We all know Upstate winters can be harsh, which is why when Trump threatened to completely eliminate funding for LIHEAP, I fought to ensure this vital program was protected so seniors and families can afford their energy bills and repair their heating systems," said Senator Schumer. "I've pushed to boost federal funding for LIHEAP because I know how important it is to lower energy costs for New York's families and will keep fighting to protect LIHEAP from Trump's cruel cuts and ensure that New Yorkers have the resources they need to be safe and warm."
Ater firing all program staff who worked on LIHEAP last year, Trump's budget proposed completely eliminating all federal funding for LIHEAP, which provides federal support to seniors & families to help pay their winter heating bills or summer cooling bills. Schumer fought back against these cuts and successfully protected this vital program which has historically had bipartisan support. The just-passed Labor, Health and Human Services, Education funding bill provides more than $4 billion for LIHEAP, a $20 million boost above the FY 2025 level.
Maintaining safe indoor air temperatures is critical, particularly for households that include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and young children. By helping to reduce the costs of home heating and cooling bills, reconnecting energy services that have been disconnected, preventing energy shutoffs, and financing minor energy-related home repairs, LIHEAP helps make sure that all Americans can meet their home energy needs and stay safe in their homes.
Last year, nearly 1.7 million families across New York State received more than $375 million in funding thanks to LIHEAP. A full county-by-county breakdown of New Yorkers receiving LIHEAP can be found HERE, with some of the largest counties highlighted below:
Upstate NY Major Counties LIHEAP Benefits
Counties
Households
Benefits
Erie
100,707
$36.3 million
Monroe
59,390
$18.3 million
Onondaga
35,524
$12.8 million
Oneida
24,453
$12.1 million
Albany
17,101
$6 million
Westchester
30,278
$3.1 million
Broome
18,332
$9.1 million
St. Lawrence
12,473
$7.9 million
***
Original text here: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-trump-threatened-to-elliminate-federal-heating-assistance-program-leaving-new-yorkers-out-in-the-cold-schumer-successfully-protects-and-boosts-funding-for-liheap-to-help-families-and-seniors-lower-energy-costs-and-heat-their-homes-in-the-winter
Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Defending Religious Freedom Around the World
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following opening remarks on Feb. 4, 2026, at a hearing entitled "Defending Religious Freedom Around the World":* * *
Congratulations and special thanks to Ambassador Sam Brownback and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett co-chairs of the International Religious Freedom Summit just concluded here in Washington for an extraordinarily powerful, comprehensive call to action for global religious liberty.
With incisive commentary and analysis from a broad swath of faith leaders, we ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following opening remarks on Feb. 4, 2026, at a hearing entitled "Defending Religious Freedom Around the World": * * * Congratulations and special thanks to Ambassador Sam Brownback and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett co-chairs of the International Religious Freedom Summit just concluded here in Washington for an extraordinarily powerful, comprehensive call to action for global religious liberty. With incisive commentary and analysis from a broad swath of faith leaders, wehave all been challenged to do more to mitigate and God-willing end religious persecution.
In the United States, religious freedom is often called America's "first freedom," since it is listed first in our Bill of Rights.
There our Founders wrote: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
The Establishment clause and the Free Exercise clause protect the right of conscience of every American--that inviolable domain in the heart of every human being.
This, of course, flows directly downstream from Jefferson's stirring words in the Declaration of Independence: that "all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."
Religious freedom is not an 'American' right alone but one that belongs to every human being on earth.
Yet all around the world today, religious persecution is festering and exploding. What has been unconscionable for decades and centuries has gotten worse.
Billions of human beings, made in the image of God, live in countries where their God-given right to freely exercise their religion is restricted--many to the point of incarceration, torture and execution.
According to Open Doors 2025 World Watch List: "More than 380 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith."
Anti-Semitism is exploding not just in the Middle East but throughout Western democracies including and especially the United States.
Brutal dictatorships --like China, Russia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Belarus and Cuba--are terrified of letting their people practice their faith.
In many other parts of the world, authorities heavily restrict independent religious activity that does not accord with strict Islamic law--for example, in Afghanistan, in Iran, in Pakistan, in many parts of Nigeria--which have death penalty blasphemy laws--and unfortunately increasingly in Syria, where under the new authorities Christians, Kurds, Yazidis, Druze, and Alawites are facing increasing religious violence.
Anything outside of the ubiquitous state--especially the search for deeper spiritual truths that speak directly to the human soul--is automatically a threat to these regimes.
Let's begin with China, where people of all faiths are subject to deplorable treatment by the Chinese Communist Party.
As we speak, Uyghur Muslims in China are suffering a genocide. Today they are still brutally repressed: many are shipped off to labor camps while their mosques are destroyed and their children forced to speak Mandarin instead of Uyghur.
When unleashing terror on the Uyghurs, Xi Jinping said show no mercy--and despite the pervasive use of torture, murder and rape, much of the world looks askance and kowtows to Beijing.
In May of last year, as part of it ongoing Sinicization campaign, China issued a decree effectively banning foreign missionaries from evangelizing within China. This includes bringing bibles into the country.
And just months ago the Chinese Communist Party began a massive new crackdown on Chinese Christians. Today we have testifying before us Grace Jin Drexel, the daughter of Pastor Ezra Jin, who is one of dozens of church leaders who were arrested and are now detained.
On a trip to China in 1994 I had the awesome privilege of meeting with Bishop Su Zhimin. Bishop Su was a leader of the underground Catholic Church.
As we spoke and then prayed, the Bishop prayed for his persecutors, he prayed for the misguided leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. Bishop Su's body bore witness to the brutality of China's Communist Party.
He was beaten, starved, and tortured for this faith and spent some 40 years in prison.
Yet, he prayed not just for the persecuted church, but for the conversion of those who hate, torture and kill. His witness and his faith absolutely amazed me. Love those who hate you as Christ did from the cross.
Unfortunately, only a few years later, Bishop Su was arrested again and disappeared. He has not been heard from since.
Xi Jinping is crushing people of faith with torture, jailing, rape and murder. We must act.
We must also remember the persecuted in North Korea--another of the world's worst violators of religious freedom. There, the constitution states that "Religion must not be used as a pretext...for harming the State." All of life, public and private, is subjugated to North Korean state ideology.
Escapees from the DPRK say unequivocally that religion is simply not tolerated. An estimated 30,000 Christians are held in political prison camps. They are subject to "the harshest forms of torture and imprisonment," according to USCIRF reporting. Even possessing a Bible can result in execution.
We must also absolutely be monitoring Sudan. I recently chaired a hearing on Sudan, which exposed the religiously-motivated killings and atrocities facing too many caught in the middle of civil war.
On the topic of Nigeria, President Trump's Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation in October was necessary, long-overdue, and bold.
In his first administration, with the strong backing of his Ambassador-at-Large San Brownback who testified at my 2020 hearing, President Trump recognized that the mass killings by Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa, and armed Fulani terrorists against Christians in the Middle Belt--which were clearly motivated by ethnic and religious animus--meant Nigeria met the criteria for a CPC designation, and was so designated.
Tragically, and inexplicably, President Biden and Secretary Blinken took Nigeria off the list--effectively giving the Nigerian government a free pass for enabling religious violence.
Genocide Watch has called Nigeria "a killing field of defenseless Christians."
That wrong in our foreign policy has been righted with the President's CPC designation. We commend and thank him for that action.
Now, while the iron is hot, we must urge the government of Nigeria to protect the rights of persecuted Christians and non-radical Muslims. The CPC designation is a phenomenal first step, but in statute it is accompanied by 15 different policy tools--including sanctions and other economic penalties that can and must employed to improve the situation on the ground.
We cannot take our eye off the ball. Christians in the Middle Belt are still being massacred. The government of Nigeria has taken small steps but a culture of denial by Nigerian officials persists.
I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Street lobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that's $750,000 a month) and a Nigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcour to influence Congress and the Executive Branch.
Elsewhere in Africa, Tanzania has seen concerning backsliding on religious freedom.
Many Catholic clergy, including Father Charles Kitima, were assaulted or abducted after criticizing injustices committed by President Samia Suluhu's regime. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains imprisoned, former Tanzanian ambassador Humphrey Polepole is still missing after a violent abduction, and as many as hundreds, possibly thousands of Tanzanians have vanished without a trace following acts of dissent.
More than 2,000 church branches linked to Bishop Josephat Gwajima's Glory of Christ Church of Tanzania were closed after he spoke against those abductions and extrajudicial killings. Congregants were often beaten, Sunday after Sunday, by authorities for attempting to gather for worship.
If the international community stood in solidarity with these religious leaders sooner, the October 29 massacre might have been prevented. This massacre included the killing of street orphans, pregnant women, infants, as well as violations of religious freedom in Catholic hospitals, where authorities pressured nuns to move wounded protesters into mortuaries. Nuns courageously resisted.
I am very pleased that former Congressman Mark Walker is now Principal Advisor on Global Religious Freedom at the State Department. I wish him all the best as he speedily gets to work on confronting religious persecution, exposing the worst human rights violators, and advocating for people of faith all over the globe. America's leadership is absolutely essential.
Now that Principal Advisor Walker is in the building, I have every confidence the Department will release the 2025 annual report on international religious freedom, as well as the long-awaited CPC designations.
Countries whose governments engage in--or tolerate--severe, systemic, and egregious violations of international religious freedom against their own people merit extra scrutiny and diplomatic pressure from the United States.
Following the President's CPC designation for Nigeria, it's time for the Department of State to issue the full list of CPC designations.
As Vice President Vance said last year, "Part of our religious freedom initiatives means recognizing in our foreign policy the difference between regimes that respect religious freedom and those that do not."
More than ever before, vigorous U.S. leadership and diplomacy are needed to address religious freedom violations globally--and end persecution of Christians and all other vulnerable religious groups.
This committee and I are committed to working with the Administration to make this a reality.
I want to thank all the witnesses for being here today to share their expertise and to shine a light on the most egregious violations of religious freedom being committed today.
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Original text here: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/news/press-releases/africa-subcommittee-chairman-chris-smith-delivers-opening-remarks-at-hearing-on-defending-religious-freedom-around-the-world
ACLU National Political Advocacy Division Senior Policy Counsel Hamadanchy Testifies Before House Oversight & Government Reform Committee
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets released the following testimony by Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel for the National Political Advocacy Division of the American Civil Liberties Union, from a Jan. 22, 2026, hearing entitled "Declassified MLK Records: What They Reveal and Why They Matter." MLK stands for Martin Luther King Jr.* * *
Chairwoman Luna, Ranking Member Crockett, and members of the Task Force, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets released the following testimony by Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel for the National Political Advocacy Division of the American Civil Liberties Union, from a Jan. 22, 2026, hearing entitled "Declassified MLK Records: What They Reveal and Why They Matter." MLK stands for Martin Luther King Jr. * * * Chairwoman Luna, Ranking Member Crockett, and members of the Task Force, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU) about the release of files related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and the broader issues of accountability for government surveillance that this declassification effort brings into sharp focus.
Today's hearing should not just be about illegal surveillance decades ago but should also be about the continuing need for meaningful congressional oversight and accountability over government surveillance. The need for Congress to act against abuse of federal power is at least as great today as it was fifty or sixty years ago. We suggest today that Congress look back fifty years to how a special congressional committee successfully exposed and pushed back against grave abuses of government power to surveil, track, and threaten individuals and communities.
* * *
Illegal Surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King
The surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. represented one of the darkest abuses of government power in the history of our country. Under COINTELPRO Dr. King was subjected to extensive, warrantless surveillance that violated both his constitutional rights and the fundamental principles of a free society.
The FBI's campaign against Dr. King had no connection to any legitimate national security concerns or law enforcement purpose. It was about suppressing and disrupting the movement for civil rights and racial equality. The FBI wiretapped Dr. King's phones, bugged his hotel rooms, monitored his associates, and attempted to destroy his reputation. It remains one of the most shameful episodes in FBI history. This surveillance was warrantless. It was illegal. And it was wrong and represented a profound abuse of executive power.
This experience helps show how surveillance powers that the government claimed for ostensibly legitimate purposes could very easily be turned against nonviolent movements and ordinary citizens. No community or political group is safe from this threat. History shows that surveillance authorities can be easily weaponized against whichever groups the government views as threatening at any given moment--whether civil rights activists in the 1960s, anti-war protesters in the 1970s, Muslim Americans after 9/11, or anyone else wrongly targeted by Executive Branch officials.
* * *
The Church Committee: A Model for Accountability
In 1975, the Senate established the bipartisan Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities. Otherwise known as the Church Committee, it was one of the most significant efforts in American history to investigate and restrict the authority of the executive branch to infringe on our civil liberties, undermine democratic accountability--and to violate our laws. It remains the gold standard for congressional oversight over misuse of Executive Branch power.
The creation of the Church Committee was driven by a convergence of scandal and public outrage over revelations of domestic spying and covert operations. The Watergate investigations had revealed the Nixon administration's misuse of federal agencies to target political opponents, and the exposure of programs such as COINTELPRO revealed the breadth of executive misconduct. As reporters and congressional investigators dug further, it became clear that the federal abuse of power dated back decades before Nixon, implicating administrations of both parties, as well as key agencies and officials across the government.
In December 1974, the New York Times published a story detailing how the CIA had engaged in a "massive, illegal domestic intelligence operation" against antiwar activists and other American citizens.1 At this point, it had become abundantly clear that US intelligence and law enforcement agencies had been operating far beyond their statutory and constitutional limits. And in response in January 1975, the Senate voted 82-4 to create the Church Committee, led by Idaho Senator Frank Church. Under his leadership, the Committee launched a sweeping bipartisan inquiry-- with a mandate to investigate federal abuse of power for a roughly 30-year period from the 1940s to the 1970s--and over the course of sixteen months, the Committee conducted 126 committee meetings, 40 subcommittee hearings, and 800 witness interviews.2 It was also entirely a bipartisan effort and all 14 reports issued by the committee were supported on a bipartisan basis.3
The investigation uncovered:
* COINTELPRO: The FBI's program created under J. Edgar Hoover to infiltrate and disrupt civil rights and antiwar movements. Few members of any of the groups targeted by COINTELPRO were ever charged with a crime. The Church Committee concluded
that, "The Government has often undertaken the secret surveillance of citizens on the basis of their political beliefs, even when those beliefs posed no threat of violence or illegal acts on behalf of a hostile foreign power....Groups and individuals have been harassed and disrupted because of their political views and their lifestyles."4 In 1986, a federal court determined that COINTELPRO was responsible for at least 204 burglaries by FBI agents, the use of 1,300 informants, the theft of 12,600 documents, 20,000 illegal wiretap days, and 12,000 bug days.5
* Operation CHAOS: The CIA's domestic surveillance of anti-war protestors, political dissidents, and civil rights activists under which it spied on as many as 10,000 Americans.6
* Operation SHAMROCK: An NSA program that collected the contents of private telegrams and communications without warrant or judicial approval.
* * *
1 Levin Ctr. for Oversight & Democracy, Frank Church and the Church Committee, https://levin-center.org/frankchurch-and-the-church-committee/
2 Id.
3 Id.
4 S. Select Comm. to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, Intelligence Activities and the Rights of Americans, S. Rep. No. 94-755, bk. 2, at 5 (1976).
5 Press Release, Am. Civil Liberties Union, "Trust Us, We're the Government": ACLU Looks at Domestic Surveillance and the Need to Watch the Watchers in Times of Crisis (Oct. 10, 2001), https://www.aclu.org/pressreleases/trust-us-were-government-aclu-looks-domestic-surveillance-and-need-watch-watchers.
6 Seymour M. Hersh, Huge C.I.A. Operation Reported in U.S. Against Antiwar Forces, Other Dissidents in Nixon Years, N.Y. TIMES (Dec. 22, 1974), https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/22/archives/huge-cia-operation-reported-inu-s-against-antiwar-forces-other.html.
* * *
The Committee's investigations revealed not only the extent of these abuses but their systemic nature and found that, "intelligence activities have undermined the constitutional rights of citizens, primarily because checks and balances designed by the framers of the Constitution to assure accountability have not been applied."7
The Church Committee's work led to critical reforms: the creation of permanent Senate and House Intelligence Committees, passage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and establishment of oversight mechanisms for covert action. And as importantly, it represented a reassertion of congressional authority and a demonstration that even the most secretive elements of the executive branch must be brought within the reach of democratic accountability.
Over time, however, these achievements eroded. Intelligence committees grew to be protective of classified programs rather than skeptical in the name of oversight and public accountability.
And the executive branch resisted oversight and accountability by reasserting control through doctrines like state secrets and expansive interpretations of inherent presidential authority. In practice, the oversight framework established in the 1970s has proved ill-equipped to handle digital surveillance and covert operations conducted in the name of counterterrorism.
For example, we have also seen concerns from across the political spectrum as to the current conduct of the FBI. In recent years, the Heritage Foundation issued a report on reforming the FBI that contained extensive suggestions as to how to rebuild the FBI from the ground up.8 Similarly, the ACLU and other civil society groups wrote to current FBI Director Kash Patel following his confirmation urging specific reforms to many of the FBI's current practices.9
* * *
Current Surveillance Abuses
Under the Fourth Amendment, we all have the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Yet in recent decades--under presidents of both parties--we have seen a massive expansion of the government's surveillance apparatus in ways that threaten those rights, fueled by emerging technologies and often operating with limited oversight or transparency. Using, and sometimes misusing, authorities like Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and Executive Order 12333, along with the government's purchase of massive quantities of data from commercial data brokers, the federal government has access to vast amounts of personal information and communications, often without warrants or the kinds of robust safeguards needed to protect individual privacy and constitutional rights.
Both Democratic and Republican administrations have abused these authorities and overstepped constitutional limitations. Recent advances in artificial intelligence threaten to accelerate both the scope and invasiveness of many of these surveillance programs. And the concerns regarding these programs from Congress have been bipartisan, including legislation introduced by the Chairwoman of this Task Force to repeal the PATRIOT Act. Many members of this Task Force-from both sides of the aisle--are among the most consistent and active supporters of Congress asserting its constitutional authority to rein in Executive Branch overreach.
* * *
7 S. Select Comm. to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, Intelligence Activities and the Rights of Americans, S. Rep. No. 94-755, bk. 2, at 289 (1976).
8 Steven G. Bradbury, How to Fix the FBI, Heritage Found. Backgrounder No. 3777 (July 10, 2023), https://www.heritage.org/the-constitution/report/how-fix-the-fbi.
9 23 Civil Society Groups Including Restore the Fourth Request Meeting with FBI Director Kash Patel on Surveillance Reform, Transparency, Restore the 4th (Jan. 17, 2025), https://restorethe4th.com/23-civil-societygroups-including-restore-the-fourth-request-meeting-with-fbi-director-kash-patel-on-surveillance-reformtransparency/.
* * *
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
In about three months from now, on April 20, 2026, Section 702 of FISA is scheduled to expire.
While Section 702 requires that surveillance must be "targeted" at foreigners overseas, large quantities of the communications that Americans exchange with people abroad are also swept up and stored for future investigations. The result is that the government collects Americans' international phone calls, text messages, emails, and other digital communications, all without a warrant. And to this day, despite repeated bipartisan requests from Congress, intelligence officials have refused to provide basic transparency about the number of U.S. persons whose communications are collected under the program.
The FBI, NSA, and CIA then conduct searches of their Section 702 databases for the communications of Americans--without having to demonstrate probable cause, as the Fourth Amendment would otherwise require. The FBI conducted more than 57,000 of these warrantless searches, through what is known as the "backdoor search" loophole, in 2023 alone.10 A recent report from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) found very little justification as to the value for the close to 5 million U.S. person queries conducted by the FBI from 2019 to 2022.11 The reality is that Section 702 has been abused under presidents from both political parties, and it has been used to unlawfully query the communications of individuals and groups across the political spectrum. These include searches of:
* Members of Congress and their donors.12
* Journalists and political activists.13
* More than 141 individuals protesting the murder of George Floyd.14
* * *
10 Office of the Dir. of Nat'l Intel., Annual Statistical Transparency Report Regarding the Intelligence Community's Use of National Security Authorities: Calendar Year 2023, at 19 (2024), https://www.odni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ODNI_CY2023_Annual_Statistical_Transparency_Repor t.pdf.
11 Privacy & Civ. Liberties Oversight Bd., Report on the Surveillance Program Operated Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (2023), (here).
12 See Department of Justice and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Semiannual Assessment of Compliance With Procedures and Guidelines Issued Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Submitted by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence 58, December 2021, https://www.intelligence.gov/assets/documents/702%20Documents/declassified/24th-Joint-Assessment-ofFISA702-Compliance.pdf [hereinafter DOJ & ODNI, Semiannual Assessment December 2021]; 2023 PCLOB 702 Report, supra note 18, at 155 and [Redacted], No. [Redacted] (FISA Ct. April 21, 2022), supra note 97, at 29.
13 Department of Justice and Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Semiannual Assessment of Compliance With Procedures and Guidelines Issued Pursuant to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Submitted by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence 60, August 2021, https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702%20Documents/declassified/22nd_Joint_Assessment_of_FISA_702_Co mpliance_CLEARED_REDACTED_FOR_PUBLIC_RELEASE.pdf.
14 No. [Redacted] (FISA Ct. April 21, 2022), supra note 97, at 27.
* * *
* Over 20,000 individuals associated with the events of January 6th.15
* * *
Executive Order 12333
Beyond the surveillance authorities established by statute, one of the most powerful and least understood surveillance authorities is Executive Order 12333. Signed by President Reagan in 1981 and modified many times since, this executive order is the primary authority relied upon by intelligence agencies, including the NSA, to conduct surveillance of foreigners outside the United States.
Surveillance conducted under EO 12333 is implemented almost entirely by the executive branch, with little review by Congress or the courts. It lacks even the plainly inadequate legislative and judicial checks that exist for other surveillance authorities like Section 702 of FISA. What disclosures that do exist indicate that the government operates a host of large-scale programs under EO 12333, many of which appear to involve the collection of vast quantities of both U.S. and non-U.S. person information.
Programs that have been publicly disclsoed under 12333 in the past have included the NSA's collection of billions of cellphone location records each day16, its acquisition of hundreds of millions of text messages from around the world daily17, its recording of every single cellphone call into, out of, and within at least two countries18, its collection of hundreds of millions of contact lists and address books from personal email and instant messaging accounts19, and its interception of data from Google and Yahoo user accounts as that information traveled between those companies' data centers located abroad.20
The government frequently argues that its sweeping surveillance approach is lawful because it follows certain procedures when searching and sharing the information it gathers. However, if the NSA cannot or will not ensure that it is correctly identifying Americans' communications when it vacuums them up, the public cannot trust that the NSA is properly safeguarding Americans' private information.
* * *
15 [Redacted], No. [Redacted] (FISA Ct. April 21, 2022), supra note 97, at 29.
16 Barton Gellman & Ashkan Soltani, NSA tracking cellphone locations worldwide, Snowden documents show, WASH. POST (Dec. 4, 2013), https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-tracking-cellphonelocationsworldwide-snowden-documents-show/2013/12/04/5492873a-5cf2-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html.
17 James Ball, NSA Collects Millions of Text Messages Daily in 'Untargeted' Global Sweep, THE GUARDIAN (Jan. 16, 2014), http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/16/nsa-collects-millions-text-messages-dailyuntargeted-globalsweep.
18 Ryan Devereaux, Glenn Greenwald & Laura Poitras, Data Pirates of the Caribbean: The NSA is Recording Every Cell Phone Call in the Bahamas, THE GUARDIAN (May 19, 2014), https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/05/19/datapirates-caribbean-nsa-recording-every-cell-phone-call-bahamas/.
19 Barton Gellman & Ashkan Soltani, NSA Collected Millions of E-mail Address Books Globally, WASH. POST (Oct. 14, 2013), http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-collects-millions-of-e-mail-addressbooksglobally/2013/10/14/8e58b5be-34f9-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_print.html.
20 Barton Gellman & Ashkan Soltani, NSA Infiltrates Links to Yahoo, Google Data Centers Worldwide, Snowden Documents Say, WASH. POST (Oct. 30, 2013) https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsainfiltrateslinks-to-yahoo-google-data-centers-worldwide-snowden-documents-say/2013/10/30/e51d661e-4166-11e38b74d89d714ca4dd_story.html.
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Commercial data purchases by law enforcement and intelligence agencies
In recent years, we have seen the ever-growing practice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies circumventing constitutional protections by purchasing access to data that they would otherwise need a warrant to obtain, including location and internet search records. Federal agencies that have purchased such data include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. The Wall Street Journal has also reported that the Internal Revenue Service "attempted to identify and track potential criminal suspects by purchasing access to a commercial database that records the locations of millions of American cellphones."21
According to former deputy director of the CIA Michael Morell, "[t]he information that is available commercially would kind of knock your socks off. If we collected it using traditional intelligence methods, it would be top secret sensitive. And you wouldn't put it in a database; you'd keep it in a safe."22
Information vulnerable to purchase by the government in this manner includes:
* Information from individuals' visits to health clinics23, as well as reproductive tracking applications installed on people's phones;24 and
* Information regarding people's race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, income, and political and religious affiliations.25
More recently, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a partially declassified report that details the intelligence community's purchase of commercially available information.
The report found that the intelligence community is collecting increasing amounts of commercially available information, but did not know how much it is collecting, what types, or what it was doing with the data. While the Biden Administration issued a new policy framework, it does not adequately address the problem as it applies only to the intelligence community and leaves agencies wide latitude to create their own guidelines for gathering and using this data.
More critically, it does not prevent agencies from buying information that would otherwise require judicial oversight such as a warrant. Indeed, the ACLU recently released a partial DHS legal analysis that we obtained under the Freedom of Information Act that shows the agency contorting itself to distinguish the cell phone location data that the Supreme Court held requires a warrant in Carpenter v. United States, from the equivalently sensitive and revealing location information to which the government is now purchasing access in bulk.26
* * *
21 Byron Tau, IRS Used Cell Phone Location Data to Try to Find Suspects, WALL ST. J. (Jun. 19, 2020)
22 Byron Tau, U.S. Spy Agencies Know Your Secrets. They Bought Them., Wall St. J. (Mar. 8, 2024),
23 Joseph Cox, Data Broker Is Selling Location Data of People Who Visit Abortion Clinics, Vice (May 3, 2022).
24 Joseph Cox, Data Marketplace Selling Info About Who Uses Period Tracking Apps, Vice (May 17, 2022).
25 Joseph Cox, How the U.S. Military Buys Location Data from Ordinary Apps, Vice (Nov. 16, 2020).
26 DHS Is Circumventing the Constitution by Buying Data It Would Normally Need a Warrant to Access, ACLU (May 24, 2022), https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/dhs-is-circumventing-constitution-by-buying-datait-would-normally-need-a-warrant-to-access.
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This is allowed to occur because of gaps in the law. Current law prohibits email, social media and internet service providers from disclosing this sensitive data to law enforcement without a warrant or, in some cases, a court order. However, that law --- the Electronic Communications Privacy Act --- does not address situations in which law enforcement obtains the same data without a court order from data brokers and other entities that do not have a direct relationship with consumers. The Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act, which passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support last Congress, including from the Chairman and Ranking Member of this Task Force, would have closed this dangerous loophole.
* * *
NSPM-7 targeting nonprofits and activists
The Trump Administration recently issued National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM7, titled "Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence," which directs federal departments and law enforcement agencies to focus existing authorities on investigations of civil society groups, including nonprofits, activists, and their donors. Through this memorandum, the administration instructs agencies to investigate and disrupt what it characterizes as networks and organizations engaged in "domestic terrorism" and political violence. While the memorandum and its focus are new, it builds on structures that were built, expanded, and routinely misused for more than twenty years, causing harm to Americans across four administrations, under presidents from both parties.
Specifically, NSPM-7 orders Joint Terrorism Task Forces, which are FBI-operated partnerships between federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies and state and local law enforcement that are intended to conduct counterterrorism investigations, to instead investigate and disrupt groups and individuals based on vaguely defined categories of "ideological agendas." JTTFs already have a documented history of investigations that wrongly target protestors, communities of color, and those engaged in dissent. In major cities, these task forces have monitored Black Lives Matter activists, targeted Muslims, journalists, and environmentalists for investigation, including with intimidating visits to their homes or workplaces.
Although this memorandum does not create any new federal powers or crimes, it uses dangerously stigmatizing rhetorical labels to paint groups and individuals as "domestic terrorists." It asserts the "designation" of groups as domestic terrorism organizations without any citation to authority--and there is no such authority. Unlike for foreign terrorism, there is no domestic terrorism labeling or designation regime, and Congress has passed no law creating one for very good reason: it would inevitably sweep in Americans' First Amendment protected beliefs, associations, and speech.
NSPM-7's strategy to investigate and disrupt networks, entities, and organizations goes right back to many of the abuses uncovered by the Church Committee, including illegal surveillance of Dr. King and other civil rights leaders. The memorandum instructs federal departments to use authorities they already have and focus them on investigations of civil society groups to disrupt and prevent activities the administration characterizes as terrorism and political violence, using categories that are subject to political, ideological, and racial manipulation and bias.
* * *
Department of Homeland Security Expansion of the Surveillance Infrastructure
Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in recent years Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has built one of the most expansive and invasive surveillance operations in the federal government. While many of these tools are not new and their use in some instances predates the current administration, the scale and integration of these surveillance technologies has expanded dramatically in the past year.
* * *
Facial Recognition Technology
ICE has deployed a smartphone application called Mobile Fortify that enables ICE agents to perform facial recognition searches against a dataset reportedly containing over 200 million images and to conduct fingerprint scans directly from government-issued mobile devices.27 The app integrates multiple federal, state, and Department of Homeland Security databases, granting ICE agents access to an expansive suite of personally identifiable information.
Individuals are not given the opportunity to decline or consent and the use of this technology on anyone regardless of immigration status means that both citizens and non-citizens alike are being impacted and subject to being tracked through this biometric surveillance system.
The dangers of this technology are profound. Facial recognition systems have well-documented accuracy problems, particularly in identifying people of color and women, leading to false matches and wrongful detentions. And despite these issues ICE officials have stated that an apparent biometric match by Mobile Fortify is a 'definitive' determination of a person's status and that an ICE officer may ignore evidence of American citizenship, including a birth certificate, when the app says a person is undocumented.28 There also appear to be no meaningful limits on how ICE uses this technology or what other agencies it shares results with. All for a program that has never been authorized by Congress and appears to be being deployed without any clear statutory restrictions, usage auditing, or accountability mechanisms.
* * *
Automated License Plate Readers
The U.S. Border Patrol, which is part of Customs and Border Protection within DHS, has also secretively built a system of automated license plate readers across the nation that carries out dragnet surveillance of millions of Americans' movements. Border Patrol intelligence operatives monitor this data for movements they deem suspicious, though we know little about what they consider suspicious or what kinds of algorithms they are using to do so.
This system uses Border Patrol's own plate readers strung across highways from the southern border to such faraway places as Illinois and Michigan, though we do not know the full extent of their placement. The agency also accesses a similar nationwide network of plate readers run by the DEA and has been authorized to access systems operated by private companies. An important element of this program is the extent to which Border Patrol relies on local officers to assist, such as by carrying out pretext stops based on ALPR data.
* * *
27 Joseph Cox, Inside ICE's Supercharged Facial Recognition App of 200 Million Images, 404 Media (July 17, 2025), https://www.404media.co/inside-ices-supercharged-facial-recognition-app-of-200-million-images/.
28 Joseph Cox, ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples' Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship, 404 Media (Oct. 29, 2025), https://www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-agents-are-scanning-peoples-faces-on-the-street-to-verifycitizenship/.
* * *
DHS operates this extensive network of automated license plate readers not just near the border but far beyond it, creating a dragnet that captures data on millions of Americans who are simply going about their daily lives. Such data can reveal where people worship, seek medical care, attend political meetings, and engage in other constitutionally protected activities.
* * *
Mobile Device Surveillance and Spyware
ICE has also invested heavily in acquiring and deploying sophisticated surveillance technologies that can extract complete data from mobile devices and track individuals' locations without warrants or meaningful oversight.29 In August 2025, the Trump administration lifted a previous hold on a contract with Paragon Solutions, an Israeli spyware company, allowing ICE to acquire access to software called Graphite that can reportedly be used to hack into any mobile phone, including encrypted applications.
These tools allow ICE to access text messages, emails, photos, location history, and other sensitive data from smartphones, track individuals through their mobile devices in real time, map social networks and associations based on digital communications, and monitor applications including encrypted messaging services. What is used by ICE for one targeted population will very likely migrate over to other federal law enforcement to target literally anyone in the United States, even those not engaged in any unlawful conduct, and in fact, even those who are exercising their constitutional rights. These tools also leave Americans vulnerable to criminal hacking, by giving the government an incentive to keep vulnerabilities in widely used apps and operating systems secret instead of disclosing them to the companies so they could patch their software to protect their users from harm.
ICE has also deployed cell-site simulators, commonly known as 'stingrays,' which mimic cell phone towers to force nearby phones to connect to them, allowing ICE to track individuals' locations. According to reports, ICE has used these devices to locate and apprehend immigrants, with the technology capable of sweeping up data from any phone in the vicinity, including those belonging to U.S. citizens who happen to be nearby.30
* * *
Data Fusion and Integrated Surveillance
Recent reporting has revealed that ICE is working on deploying tools in development by Palantir that integrate data from multiple government sources.31 A tool reportedly called ELITE populates maps with potential deportation targets, brings up dossiers on each person, and provides confidence scores on current addresses. The system draws information from sources including the Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and commercial investigation databases.
* * *
29 Stephanie Kirchgaessner, Ice Obtains Access to Israeli-Made Spyware that Can Hack Phones and Encrypted Apps, The Guardian (Sept. 2, 2025), https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/02/trump-immigration-iceisraeli-spyware.
30 Thomas Brewster, How ICE Is Using Fake Cell Towers to Spy on People's Phones, FORBES (Sept. 9, 2025), https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-wiretap/2025/09/09/how-ice-is-using-fake-cell-towers-to-spy-onpeoples-phones/.
31 Joseph Cox, 'ELITE': The Palantir App ICE Uses to Find Neighborhoods to Raid, 404 Media (Jan. 15, 2026), https://www.404media.co/elite-the-palantir-app-ice-uses-to-find-neighborhoods-to-raid/.
* * *
ICE previously signed agreements with Palantir to develop an ImmigrationOS platform, which uses artificial intelligence to identify and track potential targets. These vendor platforms fuse driver's license images, phone extractions, travel and tax records, and commercial face-search databases to create unified investigative files. ICE has also gained access to taxpayer records at the Internal Revenue Service and Medicaid records at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Other components of DHS are integrating Social Security data, passport information, and state DMV and voter records into an unprecedented database of U.S. citizens.
The civil liberties implications extend far beyond the immigration context. The facial recognition databases ICE accesses include millions of American citizens. The location tracking tools ICE deploys can and have been used to surveil U.S. citizens engaged in lawful activity. Moreover, none of these technologies are likely to remain siloed within ICE. The infrastructure ICE builds will likely be shared with other law enforcement agencies. And the databases ICE accesses could become available to an expanding web of federal, state, and local authorities.
* * *
Conclusion
What has often been consistent when it comes to both surveillance abuses and broader abuses of power by the executive branch is that there is a hesitancy when it comes to trying to restrain presidents of one's own political party. When your political allies hold power, surveillance authorities can seem like reasonable tools for legitimate purposes. For some, it is only when the other party wields these powers that the dangers become clear.
But in reality, the surveillance authorities you grant or tolerate when your party controls the executive branch will be inherited and likely expanded by the next administration. The infrastructure built to monitor individuals or groups you distrust today could very well be turned against causes you support tomorrow. The only sustainable approach is principled oversight that constrains executive power and related surveillance authorities regardless of who holds the office of presidency. This requires bipartisan commitment to civil liberties and a return to the ideals behind the original Church Committee.
The question before this Task Force and before Congress is whether we will continue down its current path or whether we can change course and conduct the kind of comprehensive investigation that the current surveillance state demands. A new Church Committee, tasked with investigating the exercise and abuse of executive power, would represent the first comprehensive review of presidential authority in nearly half a century
As Senator Frank Church himself warned: "The capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn't matter. There would be no place to hide."32
Thank you for your attention. I welcome your questions.
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32 Meet the Press (NBC television broadcast Aug. 17, 1975) (statement of Sen. Frank Church).
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Original text here: https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Hamadanchy-Written-Testimony.pdf
"Interim Docket" or "Shadow Docket" - Non-Merits Matters at the Supreme Court Topic of White Paper From CRS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11391) on Feb. 2, 2026, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe:* * *
The "Interim Docket" or "Shadow Docket": Non-Merits Matters at the Supreme Court
Over the past decade, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued approximately fifty to eighty decisions per year in merits cases - matters that receive full briefing and oral argument - as well as thousands of orders disposing of non-merits matters. The Court's non-merits matters, or subsets of its non-merits matters, are known by ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11391) on Feb. 2, 2026, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe: * * * The "Interim Docket" or "Shadow Docket": Non-Merits Matters at the Supreme Court Over the past decade, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued approximately fifty to eighty decisions per year in merits cases - matters that receive full briefing and oral argument - as well as thousands of orders disposing of non-merits matters. The Court's non-merits matters, or subsets of its non-merits matters, are known byvarious names, including the emergency docket, the shadow docket, and the interim docket. The non-merits docket encompasses a variety of matters--ranging from petitions for writs of certiorari to routine procedural motions to requests for emergency relief - that can have immediate and far-reaching practical impacts.
In recent years, the Supreme Court's non-merits decisions have attracted increasing attention from commentators and policymakers, with a particular focus on the Court's disposition of requests for emergency relief. This Legal Sidebar provides an overview of the Supreme Court's non-merits docket and the procedures that apply to non-merits matters. It briefly describes the legal and policy debate around the non-merits docket then discusses recent developments in this area. The Sidebar closes with selected considerations for Congress related to regulating procedures in non-merits matters.
Overview of Non-Merits Matters
Like all federal Article III courts, the Supreme Court decides both merits cases and an array of non-merits matters. Merits cases are what most people think of when they picture Supreme Court litigation: The parties file written briefs with the court, sometimes supplemented by briefs from non-party amici curiae ("friends of the court") who raise additional issues and arguments relevant to the case; the Court holds oral argument at which attorneys for the parties present their cases and answer questions from the Justices; then the Court issues a written opinion deciding the case and explaining its reasoning.
Non-merits decisions are decisions of the Court other than final opinions in argued cases. Key examples of non-merits matters at the Supreme Court include the following:
* Petitions for writs of certiorari. Most cases that reach the Supreme Court come via these filings, which are also known as "cert petitions." When a party seeks Supreme Court review via certiorari, the Court has discretion whether to hear the case. It declines to hear the vast majority of those cases, making denials of cert the most common type of order the Court issues.
* Procedural matters. The Court issues orders setting briefing and argument schedules. It also rules on procedural motions from litigants, such as motions to extend time, to exceed word limits in filings, or to allocate time at oral argument.
* Emergency applications. Emergency litigation before the Supreme Court primarily comprises requests for preliminary injunctive relief and requests to stay injunctions issued by lower courts. (Less commonly, requests may take other forms, such as an application to vacate a stay issued by a lower court. While the procedural posture in these cases differs slightly, they raise similar legal and policy considerations.)
Legal and policy debate around the non-merits docket generally focuses on the third category: emergency applications for preliminary injunctions or stays pending appeal.
As background, an injunction is a court order requiring a person or entity to take or not take some specific action. A court may issue a permanent injunction when it finally decides a case on the merits. By contrast, a preliminary injunction is generally issued early in litigation and serves to preserve the status quo as a case makes its way through the courts. A stay is a court order pausing a government action. Parties asking the Supreme Court to grant a stay pending appeal often want the Court to pause an injunction issued by a lower court while an appeal of the injunction is litigated. Courts, including the Supreme Court, may also stay other government actions such as agency actions or the execution of prisoners.
In theory, preliminary injunctions and stays pending appeal are temporary in nature, serving to preserve the status quo while cases are pending and remaining in effect only until the courts can fully consider the merits of each case. The term "interim docket" reflects the provisional nature of these orders. Parties often seek preliminary injunctions and stays pending appeal on an expedited basis, arguing that they face imminent practical harm. Thus, these requests are sometimes called "emergency matters," and this portion of the Court's non-motions docket is sometimes called the "emergency docket," though some commentators question the extent to which some of these matters are truly urgent.
Although preliminary injunctions and stays are deemed forms of temporary relief, in practice, emergency matters often arise from fast-moving events, and sometimes the federal courts are not able to consider the merits in full before the relevant events occur or the opportunity to act passes. For instance, cases related to elections or the scheduled execution of prisoners are often litigated on an emergency basis. The Court's October 2025 term has seen emergency litigation on topics including (in no particular order) National Guard deployment, congressional redistricting, citizenship and immigration policies, federal funding, and presidential control of executive agencies. In many of these cases, court-ordered relief may be ineffective or significantly less effective if delayed, so a decision to grant or deny a preliminary injunction (or a stay of a lower court's injunction) may be the last meaningful ruling in the case.
Procedures in Non-Merits Matters
The Supreme Court's usual procedures in non-merits matters differ significantly from its procedures in merits cases. As noted, in merits cases, the Court typically considers briefs and oral argument from the parties and may receive input from non-parties known as amici curiae. By contrast, in non-merits matters, the Court generally does not hear oral argument and receives less input from non-parties. Briefs from the parties are generally shorter than merits briefs, may be prepared on a tight timeline, and may be based on a limited factual record. In some cases, the Court does not wait for full briefing before issuing an order. While Supreme Court merits decisions are generally announced publicly on scheduled days, non-merits decisions may issue without warning and at inconsistent times, sometimes in the middle of the night.
The Supreme Court's decisions also generally take different forms in merits cases and non-merits matters. When issuing a merits decision, the Court usually publishes a written opinion that explains the majority's reasoning and identifies the Justice who authored the opinion and the Justices who joined it. (A small number of merits decisions are unsigned and are issued per curiam, meaning "by the court.") Justices may also file separate opinions concurring or dissenting in full or in part. Those separate opinions are signed by their authors and identify any other Justices who joined them.
By contrast, the Court frequently decides non-merits matters using summary orders. Many summary orders briefly state how matters have been resolved without explaining the legal reasoning underlying the decisions. Justices may choose to issue written opinions on non-merits matters, though such opinions have historically been relatively rare and are usually shorter than the written majority opinions in merits cases. Justices may also choose to file concurring or dissenting opinions in non-merits matters or to indicate that they dissent from a disposition without filing a separate dissenting opinion. Summary orders typically do not reveal how the Justices voted, though it may be possible to ascertain how most or all members of the Court voted based on concurrences or dissents.
Debate Over the Non-Merits Docket
Court observers generally agree that, in recent years, the Supreme Court has issued an increased number of orders on its non-merits docket that concern high-profile litigation relating to issues of public interest. The rising prominence of the non-merits docket has generated discussion on several fronts, including, in no particular order:
* Speed. The rapid pace of litigation on the non-merits docket can allow the Court to respond quickly in time-sensitive situations, but some raise concerns that the factual and legal records in these cases may not be fully developed. With less time to consider the issues and fewer opportunities for amicus participation, some worry that Justices may be less able to reach a well-reasoned decision and seek compromise or consensus when appropriate.
* Transparency. Beginning with the commentator who coined the term "shadow docket" more than a decade ago, some contend that the lack of noted votes and written explanations for non-merits orders may make it difficult for observers to evaluate the Court's reasoning and determine whether Justices are being consistent over time. Some note, however, that in the past few years the Court appears to be providing more explanation of its non-merits rulings than it did in the past.
* Politicization and judicial legitimacy. Some commentators contend that the increase in high-profile non-merits decisions may exacerbate concerns about politicization of the Supreme Court, though some believe that the Court's rulings in politically charged non-merits rulings do not differ significantly from the outcomes in merits cases. Relatedly, some note that it may undermine public confidence in the judiciary when the Supreme Court overturns precedent or sets aside a lengthy and carefully reasoned lower court decision through a brief summary order.
* Guidance to lower courts. Lower federal courts are bound by Supreme Court precedent, and the Supreme Court has indicated that this requirement includes an obligation to follow its non-merits decisions to the extent they indicate the likely resolution of substantive legal questions. Without comprehensive written opinions, it may be difficult for lower courts to determine how the Supreme Court's non-merits decisions should apply in other cases that present similar but distinct legal and factual questions.
The Non-Merits Docket During the 2024 and 2025 Terms
Key developments related to the non-merits docket during the Supreme Court's October 2024 and October 2025 Terms involve suits against the federal government. While emergency litigation before the Supreme Court can involve a variety of public and private parties, many recent, high-profile non-merits cases concern challenges to policies of the federal executive branch.
One significant development is the increase in the number of emergency applications filed in the Supreme Court by the second Trump Administration. Relatedly, the Justices have granted relief to the federal government in a relatively high number of cases. One commentator has identified thirty requests for emergency relief filed between January 20, 2025, and November 6, 2025. He contrasts that number with nineteen such applications filed during the four years of the Biden Administration and a total of eight such requests in the sixteen years of the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations. Of the thirty requests filed by the second Trump Administration in that time period, twenty-four were granted and two remained pending as of the date of the count. Another tracker using a different methodology identified "25 decisions on the shadow docket concerning administration actions" as of December 23, 2025. The Court ruled in favor of the federal government in twenty of those decisions and against the government in five. (These rulings are preliminary in nature, and as noted below, the government's success rate may be due in part to its selection of cases in which to file emergency appeals.)
There are several possible reasons for these changes. Some observers point to the litigation strategy of parties, particularly the federal government, filing more requests for emergency relief, though at least one commentator contends that the second Trump Administration has prevailed on many of its applications because it "has been very selective in deciding which cases to bring to the justices." Some attribute the increase in high-profile non-merits rulings at least in part to the Court itself, citing possible changes in how the Justices apply the legal test for emergency relief. Others debate whether use of the non-merits docket has been driven in part by lower courts' issuance of nationwide injunctions - court orders that bar the federal government from taking a certain action not only against parties to the litigation but also against anybody else. Because nationwide injunctions prevent the government from implementing an enjoined policy in its entirety, the government may be more likely to file an emergency appeal of a nationwide injunction than it would of a more limited injunction that allows the government to implement its policy as to non-parties.
To the extent nationwide injunctions have been a significant factor in the caseload on the non-merits docket, the Supreme Court's June 2025 decision in Trump v. CASA, Inc. may alter the relevant legal landscape. As discussed in more detail in a CRS report, the Supreme Court's decision in CASA imposed a new limit on nationwide injunctions but left open the possibility that courts could issue nationwide injunctions in some cases. The impact of CASA on federal court litigation remains to be seen, but if the decision causes lower federal courts to issue fewer nationwide injunctions, the government may have less incentive to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court.
CASA is also of potential interest as an example of a non-merits case in which the Supreme Court departed from its usual procedures. CASA reached the Court when the government sought partial stays of three nationwide injunctions issued by district courts. The Supreme Court ordered responses from the parties opposing the stays, consolidated the cases, and held oral argument. One commentator noted that this was the fourth time the Court held oral argument on emergency applications since 1971. The Court ultimately decided the consolidated cases in a lengthy, signed written opinion like those that it issues in merits cases, accompanied by five concurrences and dissents. Thus, while the cases originally came to the Court as emergency matters, the Court considered and resolved them more like it would a merits case. In January 2026, the Court heard oral argument in another emergency matter, Trump v. Cook.
Justice Kavanaugh wrote a concurrence in CASA that specifically touched on the role of the Supreme Court's non-merits docket. While the majority opinion focused on the power of district courts to issue nationwide injunctions, Justice Kavanaugh wrote separately to emphasize the role of the federal appellate courts - and particularly the Supreme Court - in determining whether a challenged law or policy will apply while a case remains pending. Justice Kavanaugh opined that "there often (perhaps not always, but often) should be a nationally uniform answer on whether a major new federal statute, rule, or executive order can be enforced throughout the United States during the several-year interim period until its legality is finally decided on the merits" and that, typically, that answer should come from the Supreme Court. He explained that "the Court's disposition of applications for interim relief often will effectively settle, de jure or de facto, the interim legal status of those statutes or executive actions nationwide" and concluded that the decision in CASA "will not affect this Court's vitally important responsibility to resolve applications for stays or injunctions with respect to major new federal statutes and executive actions."
In addition to Justice Kavanaugh's CASA concurrence, almost every current member of the Court has discussed the non-merits docket in separate opinions or public remarks. In 2024 remarks before the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference, Justice Thomas attributed the rise in filings on the "expedited docket" to aggressive strategies by litigants and lower courts' issuance of nationwide injunctions. He stated that emergency filings "short circuit" the Court's process and that the Court's current way of handling those matters "is not a thorough way." In a 2021 speech, Justice Alito defended the Court's practices, dismissing critiques of the handling of non-merits matters as "silly" and asserting that such criticism "feeds unprecedented efforts to intimidate the court or damage it as an independent institution."
Justice Kagan has made multiple statements about the non-merits docket. For instance, in a 2025 dissent in Trump v. Wilcox, she opined, "Our emergency docket, while fit for some things, should not be used to overrule or revise existing law," and objected that the majority's grant of a stay in that case amounted to doing so. In 2025 remarks before the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, she stated that some cases warrant emergency relief but emphasized that the Court "should be cautious" in its handling of emergency matters and should explain its reasoning in resolving them.
In a 2025 dissent in Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D., Justice Sotomayor asserted that the majority had improperly granted emergency relief to the government despite the government's "flagrantly unlawful conduct" and contended that "each time this Court rewards noncompliance with discretionary relief, it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law." In contrast, Justice Gorsuch authored a 2025 opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part in National Institutes of Health v. American Public Health Association in which he admonished the district court for failing to follow a prior non-merits decision of the Supreme Court, stating that the reasoning in such decisions "binds lower courts as a matter of vertical stare decisis."
In a 2024 dissent in Ohio v. Environmental Protection Agency, Justice Barrett wrote that the emergency docket "requires us to evaluate quickly the merits of applications without the benefit of full briefing and reasoned lower court opinions. ... Given those limitations, we should proceed all the more cautiously in cases like this one with voluminous, technical records and thorny legal questions." In a 2025 speech, Justice Barrett emphasized the interim nature of decisions on the emergency docket and said that writing full opinions in these matters "risks a lock-in effect" when the cases are fully litigated.
Justice Jackson has addressed the non-merits docket in separate opinions, including a 2025 dissent in Trump v. Orr, in which she opined that it "is becoming routine" for the government to seek emergency stays of lower court orders and for the Court to misapply the relevant legal standards in ruling on those requests. She criticized the majority for what she viewed as disregarding harms to private plaintiffs and "opting instead to intervene in the Government's favor without equitable justification, and in a manner that permits harm to be inflicted on the most vulnerable party."
Some lower court judges have also expressed views on the Supreme Court's handling of non-merits matters, with some supporting the Court's current practices and others raising concerns, including that the Court's non-merits decisions may undermine public confidence in the judiciary or provide insufficient legal guidance to lower courts.
Considerations for Congress
Commentators and policymakers have proposed a number of possible reforms related to the Supreme Court's non-merits docket. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet held a hearing on the issue in 2021.
If reforms are made, one key question is which branch of government should implement any changes. Some commentators assert that it would be most appropriate for the Court itself to address these issues out of deference to the judicial branch and to avoid any possible constitutional issues related to the separation of powers. To the extent the increasing prominence of the non-merits docket stems from the federal government's litigation strategy, the executive branch could also play a role in reform. Some commentators assert that Congress also has authority to act in this area. Judicial procedures are generally based on statutes or rules created by Congress or the courts rather than constitutional mandates, and Congress can alter those procedures through legislation.
Some recent legislative proposals would regulate Supreme Court emergency litigation directly. For example, some commentators have suggested that Congress could codify the legal test for emergency relief or enact legislation imposing more stringent standards for when the Supreme Court may overrule a lower court. A proposal from the 119th Congress, the Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025 would provide in relevant part that the Supreme Court could not issue certain rulings granting or denying stays or injunctions on appeal unless it "publishes a written explanation of reasons supporting such order and indicates in writing how each participating justice voted regarding such order." The Restoring Judicial Separation of Powers Act would provide in part that "[n]o order reversing a decision of a court on appeal[ ] ... shall issue unless [the reversing] court provides to the parties a written explanation supporting such reversal, which shall be published on the website of such court." Some commentators have also proposed reforms that would apply to particular types of emergency litigation, such as death penalty cases.
Other proposals do not specifically target the Supreme Court's non-merits docket but could affect the Court's non-merits proceedings. For instance, multiple recent legislative proposals would limit the authority of lower federal courts to issue nationwide injunctions, and some commentators have advocated for such limits in part to limit the pressure on the Supreme Court to resolve emergency appeals in nationwide injunction cases. The Supreme Court's decision in CASA may lessen the perceived policy need for legislative limits on nationwide injunctions, but it does not render the proposals moot, because the limits on nationwide injunctions in the CASA decision and the legislative proposals differ in scope.
Other proposals concern forum selection. As background, plaintiffs bringing lawsuits have some flexibility in selecting the courts where their suits will proceed. They sometimes choose where to file suit based on their perceptions of how particular legal rules in certain jurisdictions might apply or how likely the judges or juries in particular courts are to rule favorably on their claims - a practice colloquially called forum shopping. Some commentators posit that forum shopping may drive cases to the Supreme Court on an emergency basis if plaintiffs are able to find outlier courts that are willing to enjoin federal policies, perhaps nationwide, giving the government a strong incentive to appeal. They thus assert that proposals limiting forum shopping - for example, by allowing the defendant to transfer to another forum - may reduce demand for emergency rulings from the Supreme Court. A related proposal would require a suit challenging a federal statute or policy to be litigated before a three-judge district court, potentially in a specific venue such as the District of Columbia district court.
Legislation related to the non-merits docket is just one way in which Congress might consider regulating the Supreme Court. A CRS report provides general analysis of congressional control over the Court.
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The white paper is posted at: https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/LSB/PDF/LSB11391/LSB11391.1.pdf
[Category: CRSCRS]
Amata Honors President Reagan's Birthday, and Recalls His Message to American Samoa
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release:* * *
Amata Honors President Reagan's Birthday, and Recalls His Message to American Samoa
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Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is honoring the February 6 th birthday of the late President Ronald Reagan, and recalling his historic video message sent to American Samoa and the South Pacific Conference, which was hosted in American Samoa that year by Uifa'atali Governor Peter Coleman.Governor Coleman in the Oval Office presenting President Reagan a specialty license plate ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release: * * * Amata Honors President Reagan's Birthday, and Recalls His Message to American Samoa * Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is honoring the February 6 th birthday of the late President Ronald Reagan, and recalling his historic video message sent to American Samoa and the South Pacific Conference, which was hosted in American Samoa that year by Uifa'atali Governor Peter Coleman.Governor Coleman in the Oval Office presenting President Reagan a specialty license platefrom American Samoa
"President Reagan sent a special video message to American Samoa for the South Pacific Conference, at the invitation of Governor Coleman. That was a historic moment from a U.S. President, particularly back then in the early 1980's," said Congresswoman Amata. "Every head of government from the South Pacific was on hand, so all the titles were there: king, president, prime minister, and governor. The special event was held at the Lee Auditorium for the Conference to hear from President Reagan, using the seats from the Fono to seat the dignitaries.Amata speaking with President Reagan in 1985 at his inauguration
"Governor Coleman personally invited President Reagan to head the U.S. delegation to the South Pacific Conference he was hosting in our islands as chairman in 1982. While the President couldn't make the long trip to the South Pacific, he offered to address the opening remotely, which was the first (and probably only) time a U.S. president ever addressed the Conference, and it was a big undertaking in those pre-internet and pre-digital days.
"President Reagan was born 115 years ago, and served as the 40 th President of the United States. His great legacy is the eight determined years of public policy that directly preceded and led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, and his ringing call at Germany's Brandenburg Gate: 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!'
"He was known for a major U.S. economic turnaround, his optimism and connection with the American people, his enjoyment of telling jokes, along with several appointments to the Supreme Court, including the first woman to serve on the Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Among his many finest moments were comforting the American people after the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, and the Normandy 40 th Anniversary of D-Day speech memorializing 'the boys of Pointe du Hoc.'"
Issues : Culture
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Original text here: https://radewagen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/amata-honors-president-reagan-s-birthday-and-recalls-his-message
All Banking Committee Democrats Demand Chairman Scott Delay Warsh Nomination Hearing Until Sham Investigations Against Fed Board Members are Closed
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release:* * *
All Banking Committee Democrats Demand Chairman Scott Delay Warsh Nomination Hearing Until Sham Investigations Against Fed Board Members are Closed
All eleven Democratic Members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs sent a letter to Chairman Tim Scott calling on him to delay the nomination hearing of President Trump's Fed Nominee, Kevin Warsh, until all pretextual investigations against current ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * All Banking Committee Democrats Demand Chairman Scott Delay Warsh Nomination Hearing Until Sham Investigations Against Fed Board Members are Closed All eleven Democratic Members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs sent a letter to Chairman Tim Scott calling on him to delay the nomination hearing of President Trump's Fed Nominee, Kevin Warsh, until all pretextual investigations against currentFederal Reserve Board members are closed. Signers of the letter to Scott include Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-Mary.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Wanock (D-GA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Mary.).
"The (Warsh) nomination comes after months of repeated efforts by President Trump and his Administration to influence the Fed by intimidation, including by opening criminal investigations into Fed Governor Lisa Cook and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. These ongoing efforts by the President to control the Fed - which must be able to exercise independent judgment - undermine public confidence in any nomination for chair at this time," wrote the Banking Committee Democrats.
The Banking Committee Democrats continued: "We demand that you delay any nomination proceedings for Mr. Warsh until after the pretextual criminal investigations involving Chair Powell and Governor Cook have been closed."
The Senators wrote: "The Administration's apparent effort to seize control of the Fed through criminal prosecutions is dangerous and unprecedented. It would be absurd on its face to allow President Trump to handpick the next Chair of the Federal Reserve as his Department of Justice actively pursues criminal investigations of not one, but two sitting members of the Federal Reserve Board. This Committee should not participate in this farcical effort that threatens to undermine our democracy and confidence in our financial markets."
Letter to Chairman Tim Scott (https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/bhua_dems_letter_to_scott_re_delaying_fed_nomination.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/all-banking-committee-democrats-demand-chairman-scott-delay-warsh-nomination-hearing-until-sham-investigations-against-fed-board-members-are-closed
Agentic Artificial Intelligence & Cyberattacks Topic of White Paper From CRS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13151) on Feb. 3, 2026, by Catherine A. Theohary, national security policy, cyber and information operations specialist and Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security specialist:* * *
Agentic Artificial Intelligence and Cyberattacks
Introduction
Agentic means autonomous, or independent. Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are of increasing interest to the U.S. military and to Congress. According to an IBM definition, "Agentic AI is an artificial intelligence ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13151) on Feb. 3, 2026, by Catherine A. Theohary, national security policy, cyber and information operations specialist and Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security specialist: * * * Agentic Artificial Intelligence and Cyberattacks Introduction Agentic means autonomous, or independent. Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are of increasing interest to the U.S. military and to Congress. According to an IBM definition, "Agentic AI is an artificial intelligencesystem that can accomplish a specific goal with limited supervision. It consists of AI agents - machine learning models that mimic human decision-making to solve problems in real time.... Unlike traditional AI models, which operate within predefined constraints and require human intervention, agentic AI exhibits autonomy, goal-driven behavior and adaptability." For an explanation of AI- and machine learning-related terms, see CRS Infographic IG10077, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Taxonomy, by Laurie Harris and Nora Wells. According to the Department of Defense (DOD) - which is "using a secondary Department of War designation" under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025 - Cybersecurity and Information Systems Information Analysis Center, there are "no known official government guidance or policies yet specifically on agentic AI."
Agentic AI and Defense
Advanced militaries are exploring a number of potential defense applications for agentic AI. These applications
'might include AI agents performing autonomous decision-making (independently analyzing intelligence, suggesting tactical and strategic moves, carrying out battlefield tasks, etc.), initiating and conducting operations (especially in the digital realm) at a speed and scale beyond human capabilities, and executing rapid AI-agent-organized cyberattacks to include friendly and enemy cyberattacks that target the AI-agents themselves.'
Several components of DOD have been analyzing the military applications of agentic AI.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
DARPA is actively involved in developing and utilizing agentic AI for a variety of defense applications, including through its AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC), the Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program, and Thunderforge. These programs endeavor to create autonomous systems that can perceive their environment, make decisions, and act with minimal human intervention.
DARPA's AIxCC competition is focused on developing AI systems capable of autonomously identifying, exploiting, and patching software vulnerabilities at machine speed. The goal of the two-year challenge is to harden critical infrastructure by enabling proactive, autonomous cyber defense. According to DARPA, the 2024-2025 challenge successfully demonstrated that AI agents can find and fix real-world, open-source vulnerabilities faster than human teams in some cases.
The AIR program aims to develop dominant AI agents for live beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat missions. This involves creating advanced modeling and simulation environments to train AI pilots (or "robotic wingmen") to perform complex maneuvers and make autonomous decisions in high-stakes environments.
Thunderforge is intended to "integrate [AI] into military operational and theater-level planning, and fusing cutting-edge modeling and simulation tools." The initiative could serve as a decision-support tool, synthesizing information drawn from a variety of sensors and data streams, and proposing optimal courses of action to military planners.
Defense Information Analysis Centers (DODIAC)
Established in 1946, the DODIAC is a research and analysis organization chartered by DOD. It helps researchers, engineers, scientists, and program managers use existing science and technical information (STI) "to drive innovation across DOD with technical analysis and development of material solutions to advance DOD's warfighting capabilities."
Specialized centers such as the Defense Systems Information and Analysis Center (DSIAC) and the Cybersecurity & Information Systems Information Analysis Center (CSIAC) collect, analyze, and disseminate STI in specific technical domains for DOD researchers. DSIAC has the task of seeking out and collecting STI generated from research paid for by DOD or the U.S. government and then uploading it to the Defense Technical Information Center's Research & Engineering Gateway in order to increase the body of knowledge available to DOD researchers and engineers. CSIAC published a study, Agentic Artificial Intelligence: Strategic Adoption in the U.S. Department of Defense, in June 2025, that provides an overview of DOD agentic AI use cases and cybersecurity concerns.
Agentic AI and Cyberattacks
Some researchers point to agentic AI as creating new opportunities for attackers to find and exploit a "backdoor," a hidden entry point into a computer system, network, or application that bypasses normal security, allowing unauthorized access for malicious purposes such data theft, system control, or surveillance. Once inside a network, attackers can imbed malicious code, create hidden accounts, or exploit system software vulnerabilities that give malicious threat actors high-level access, allowing them to operate undetected.
Agentic AI Cyberattack Targets and Threats
Agentic AI systems allow threat actors to perform tasks that normally require teams of sophisticated hackers, such as analyzing target systems, producing exploitative code, and examining large swaths of stolen data. Autonomous agents can execute these tasks quicker and more efficiently than human operators. As a result, both state-sponsored and less sophisticated criminal groups could potentially perform large-scale attacks using agentic AI. Targets of cyber espionage include government entities and corporations. AI may also be used to conduct disruptive cyberattacks that threaten delivery of essential services.
Known Agentic AI Cyberattacks
In mid-September 2025, the American AI company Anthropic detected a "highly sophisticated cyber espionage operation" that it attributed to a Chinese state-sponsored hacker organization that it labeled "GTG-1002." According to Anthropic's report on detecting and mitigating the attack, GTG-1002 targeted the code behind the company's Claude AI tools. Using the Claude AI software, attackers were allegedly able to automate 80%-90% of a large-scale cyber espionage campaign targeting around 30 organizations worldwide. The threat actors bypassed Claude's safety features primarily through social engineering the AI itself (e.g., the hackers tricked Claude into believing it was an employee of a legitimate cybersecurity firm conducting authorized defensive penetration testing). Reportedly, human operators were involved only in strategic decisionmaking, such as target selection and data exfiltration approval. The campaign marks the first documented case of an AI-orchestrated cyberattack. However, some researchers question whether the campaign was as successful or as autonomous as reported.
This case is an escalation from the "vibe hacking" that Anthropic identified in August 2025. In vibe-hacking operations, human operators direct the operations rather than agentic AI, which can operate autonomously. In the September 2025 attack, human involvement was reportedly much less frequent, despite the larger scale of the attack. Anthropic stated that the Claude case study demonstrates how threat actors are adapting their operations to exploit advanced AI capabilities.
How AI Could Detect and Counter Cyberattacks
Agentic AI can potentially bolster cybersecurity software by providing rapid reactive and adaptive threat detection that traditional, rules-based cybersecurity technology is unable to provide. Operating autonomously, AI agents could deploy real-time countermeasures to mitigate threats before they escalate. Machine learning models could train on cybersecurity datasets to anticipate future threats, assess risks, and recommend preventive policies and actions for the present. Agentic AI could be used for an "AI-on-AI" defense that can stay abreast of automated attacks. Defensive AI can observe anomalies, generate comprehensive incident reports, and take immediate counter actions.
Agentic AI in the FY2026 NDAA
Section 1535 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026 NDAA; P.L. 119-60) directs the Secretary of Defense to establish, no later than April 1, 2026, an AI Futures Steering Committee to (1) "[formulate] a proactive policy for the evaluation, adoption, governance, and risk mitigation of advanced artificial intelligence systems by the Department of Defense that are more advanced than any existing advanced artificial intelligence systems"; and (2) "[analyze] the forecasted trajectory of advanced and emerging artificial intelligence models and enabling technologies across multiple time horizons that could enable artificial general intelligence [AGI]," including agentic AI. (AGI refers to a theoretical form of AI that would be capable of human-level cognition.) Section 1535 additionally directs the steering committee to assess adversary development of advanced AI technologies and "[develop] options and counter-artificial intelligence strategies to defend against such use"; analyze the "potential operational effects" of incorporating advanced AI technologies into DOD networks and systems; and "[develop] a strategy for the risk-informed adoption, governance, and oversight of advanced or general purpose artificial intelligence by the Department." The steering committee is to deliver a report to the congressional defense committees no later than January 31, 2027, outlining its findings.
Issues for Congress
Congress may consider the implications of the AI Futures Steering Committee findings for authorizations, appropriations, and oversight of DOD agentic AI programs. Congress may also consider the following:
* How, if at all, might agentic AI enable new attack vectors in cyberspace? Is DOD appropriately postured to detect and respond to such attacks? If not, what additional resources, authorities, and/or capabilities does DOD require?
* Some U.S. companies voluntarily partner with the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) in the Department of Commerce to engage in "rapid predeployment testing" of AI models and exchange "critical information about [the] models' national security implications." Should such partnerships be mandatory? What restrictions, standards, and/or testing requirements, if any, should be placed on commercial agentic AI products to reduce the possibility of exploitation by adversary?
* Congress is currently considering reauthorization of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-113), which, as amended by Section 106 of P.L. 119-37, expired on January 30, 2026. How might this legislation be expanded to include greater information sharing on or preparedness for agentic AI security with industry and other stakeholders?
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The white paper is posted at: https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF13151/IF13151.2.pdf
[Category: CRSCRS]
"Sounding the Alarm" Congressman Neguse Delivers Address on House Floor Condemning Trump Administration's Rampant Corruption
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Joseph Neguse, D-Colorado, issued the following news release:* * *
"Sounding the Alarm" Congressman Neguse Delivers Address on House Floor Condemning Trump Administration's Rampant Corruption
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Washington, D.C. - Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse delivered an address on the House Floor "Sounding the Alarm" for the American people about the rampant corruption of the Trump administration. The 41-year-old millennial lawmaker, who represents Western and Northern Colorado, addressed the Chamber and Americans writ large to expose the Trump administration's pay-to-play ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Joseph Neguse, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: * * * "Sounding the Alarm" Congressman Neguse Delivers Address on House Floor Condemning Trump Administration's Rampant Corruption * Washington, D.C. - Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse delivered an address on the House Floor "Sounding the Alarm" for the American people about the rampant corruption of the Trump administration. The 41-year-old millennial lawmaker, who represents Western and Northern Colorado, addressed the Chamber and Americans writ large to expose the Trump administration's pay-to-playself-enrichment schemes and demand that Congress vindicate the Constitution and put a stop to the President's corruption.
Neguse called on his Republican colleagues specifically to stand up for hard-working American taxpayers and to confront President Trump and his inner circle's reckless self-dealing. His closing remarks were interrupted by the Speaker Pro Tempore, but not before he delivered a grave warning from America's Founding Fathers about the corrosive effects of corruption in government.To see the full video of Congressman Neguse's remarks, click HERE (link is external).
A full transcript of his remarks is available below.
NEGUSE: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound an alarm. To sound an alarm about something dangerous and dark and pernicious that is happening inside our government.
And I recognize there are only a handful of my colleagues in the Chamber to hear that alarm. A few folks in the gallery. But I pray that Americans writ large will hear it.
George Orwell, in his famous book 1984, wrote of a time when, "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
His warning proved prescient, because today the Trump administration asks the American people to ignore what they see with their own eyes and what they hear with their own ears, which is the complete corruption of their government from the inside out.
The Trump administration's pay-to-play schemes are literally ripping off hard working American taxpayers as we speak. We see the evidence everywhere.
A $10 billion payout that Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America, now demands from his own Treasury Department in a lawsuit that he filed against the IRS. And, by the way, who does he demand pay him this $10 billion? The American taxpayer.
Countless pay-to-play schemes. Vanity projects that have consumed his administration. All paid by American taxpayers.
They are stripping the pocketbooks of Americans to line their own.
Last weekend, The New Yorker (link is external) reported that the president and his family have raked in $4 billion in personal profits by leveraging the presidency. Think about that. $4 billion dollars.
And you know the most salient example of this, by the way, we just learned about in the last seven days. An expose by the Wall Street Journal (link is external) about a scheme that the Trump administration engaged in last year.
The Trump family, according to these public reports, sold a 49% stake in their crypto company to a member of the Emirati Royal Family. They did so for nearly half a billion dollars.
We don't know every detail of this transaction. We do know that the Trump family received $187 million from that transaction. A payday entangling the president's financial interests with a foreign country.
And months later, we know that the Trump administration approved a crypto deal with the UAE that included transferring advanced U.S. technology and AI chips.
Mr. Speaker, this is corruption, plain and simple.
It is the prioritization of personal profit over the national security interests of our country. The country we all love so dearly.
It is wrong. It is immoral.
And my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say nothing.
Worse. Some of them defend this conduct. Notwithstanding that they know it is unlawful, that it is violative of our Constitution.
We have an Emoluments Clause, Mr. Speaker, for a reason.
The Foreign Emoluments Clause in our Constitution was one of the few provisions to survive and be transferred from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution in 1787. It was contemplated for precisely a scenario as this one.
George Mason, one of our founding fathers, during the Constitutional Convention he warned his fellow delegates that, "If we do not provide against corruption, our government will soon be at an end."
His words, they are as true today as they were when he said them 240-some-odd years ago.
It is shameful, the lack of courage from my Republican colleagues. It is repugnant to the Constitutional order that we all have been sworn to defend, to protect, to vindicate.
So, the question I have, Mr. Speaker, for my Republican colleagues, for every American of good faith is when is enough enough?
[Gavel bangs, interrupting. SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: The Gentleman's time...]
How many sweetheart deals will Republicans refuse to defend?
The corruption must end, Mr. Speaker.
[SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:...has expired.]
The corruption must end.
[SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: The Gentleman is no longer recognized.]
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Original text here: https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/sounding-alarm-congressman-neguse-delivers-address-house-floor-condemning
Amata Welcomes Passage of Five Appropriations Bills to End the Partial Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release:* * *
Amata Welcomes Passage of Five Appropriations Bills to End the Partial Government Shutdown
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Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is welcoming House passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, with a vote of 217 to 214, sending five full-year FY26 appropriations bills to President Trump's desk to be signed into law, and end the partial government shutdown.Congresswoman Amata with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on a CODEL ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release: * * * Amata Welcomes Passage of Five Appropriations Bills to End the Partial Government Shutdown * Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is welcoming House passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, with a vote of 217 to 214, sending five full-year FY26 appropriations bills to President Trump's desk to be signed into law, and end the partial government shutdown.Congresswoman Amata with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on a CODELflight Jan 24 2026
Notably, this package has the Transportation Appropriations, which contains funding for highways, bridges, airports and ports, including $1 million that Amata requested for American Samoa's port upgrade efforts. In passing the Defense appropriations, the vote also locks in this year's congressionally authorized pay raise for the military.
Congress has now completed final passage of 11 of the 12 appropriations bills (the House has passed all 12), but full-year Homeland Security appropriations have not yet reached the necessary bicameral, bipartisan agreement. Instead, Tuesday's vote secures two weeks of extended funding to continue work on the last remaining appropriations bill.
"I'm pleased to secure this port funding, and recently we secured $900,000 growth in American Samoa's operations fund in the DOI appropriations," said Congresswoman Amata. "All of our federal support in grants and formulas for the year will come from this major group of bills, which supports everything from medical research to classrooms. I especially welcome final completion of the pay raise for our very deserving troops."
"It is imperative that Congress finish appropriating funds for Homeland Security," she concluded. "This Department includes the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, so we need funds in place and ready to provide services to the American people."
Issues : Congress
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Original text here: https://radewagen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/amata-welcomes-passage-five-appropriations-bills-end-partial-government
House Passes Major Veteran Education and Workforce Opportunity Reform Bills
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2026:* * *
House Passes Major Veteran Education and Workforce Opportunity Reform Bills
Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), released the following statements after the House passed two key, bipartisan bills: H.R. 980, The Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act, and H.R. 1458, The VETS Opportunity ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2026: * * * House Passes Major Veteran Education and Workforce Opportunity Reform Bills Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), released the following statements after the House passed two key, bipartisan bills: H.R. 980, The Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act, and H.R. 1458, The VETS OpportunityAct, both bills which would reform, expand, and modernize certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) GI Bill education and workforce programs, including the Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) program.
"We must continue to modernize the GI Bill to meet veterans' needs so that today and tomorrow's veterans can get high-paying jobs in in-demand fields across the country. I am proud of the two key education and workforce opportunity bills we passed out of the House this week, led by my friends and colleagues, Rep. Van Orden and Rep. Ciscomani, both with bipartisan support to accomplish that goal," said Chairman Bost. "House Republicans will continue to advance policies that makes a real difference in veterans' day-to-day lives by boosting the programs veterans, active-duty servicemembers, Nation Guardsmen, Reservists, and their families use to get the education and job training they want - where they want it, and when they want it - without a bunch of bureaucracy standing in the way."
"As a retired Navy SEAL, taking care of veterans is personal to me. No veteran should wait months for answers or fight through red tape to use the benefits they earned. Too many veterans get stuck waiting on paperwork and chasing answers just to access benefits they've already earned. My bill strengthens the Veterans Readiness and Employment program by putting more counselors on the ground, standing up a direct support hotline, and expanding training opportunities so veterans can transition faster and with confidence," said Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Van Orden.
To learn more about H.R. 980, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act, click here.
"As I represent nearly 80,000 veterans in Southern Arizona, I know firsthand when service members transition to civilian life, they bring discipline, leadership, and a strong work ethic. Too often, the system limits how they can use the benefits they earned. The VETS Opportunity Act changes that by modernizing the GI Bill and expanding access to high-quality certificates and technical training programs, possibly offered in a hybrid format, that lead directly to good-paying jobs in high-demand fields. Not every veteran wants or needs a traditional four-year degree. Many want fast, skills-based training that connects them to careers in the trades, health care, technology, and other critical fields. This bill recognizes reality and gives veterans the flexibility to choose the path that works best for them and their families. This legislation empowers our nation's veterans, strengthens our workforce, and honors the promise this country made to those who served. By strengthening education benefits, we empower veterans, build a stronger workforce, and drive a stronger economy," said Rep. Ciscomani.
To learn more about H.R. 1458, the VETS Opportunity Act, click here.
In addition to H.R. 980 and H.R. 1458, the following bills were passed out of the House today:
H.R. 3123 - Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act, as amended (Rep. Stefanik)
H.R. 658 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration, as amended (Rep. Brownley)
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Original text here: https://veterans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7849
House Natural Resources Subcommittee Sets Feb. 4 Legislative Hearing
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries issued the following information for a legislative hearing at 10 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 1324 Longworth House Office Building:Agenda:
* H.R. 3276 (Rep. Dingell), "Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025"
* H.R. 6021 (Rep. Begich), "Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act"
* H.R. 6568 (Rep. Downing), "Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act"
* H.R. 7159 (Rep. Gosar), "Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026"
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Original text here: https://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=418575 ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries issued the following information for a legislative hearing at 10 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 1324 Longworth House Office Building: Agenda: * H.R. 3276 (Rep. Dingell), "Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025" * H.R. 6021 (Rep. Begich), "Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act" * H.R. 6568 (Rep. Downing), "Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act" * H.R. 7159 (Rep. Gosar), "Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026" * * * Original text here: https://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=418575
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Sets Feb. 4 Hearing on Defending Religious Freedom Around the World
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees on Middle East and North Africa and Western Hemisphere issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Defending Religious Freedom Around the World" at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 2172 Rayburn House Office Building:Witnesses
* The Honorable Sam Brownback, Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, U.S. Department of State
* Grace Drexel, Daughter of Pastor Ezra Jin
* Dr. Stephen F. Schneck, Former Chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
* * *
Original text here: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/defending-religious-freedom-around-the-world ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees on Middle East and North Africa and Western Hemisphere issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Defending Religious Freedom Around the World" at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 2172 Rayburn House Office Building: Witnesses * The Honorable Sam Brownback, Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, U.S. Department of State * Grace Drexel, Daughter of Pastor Ezra Jin * Dr. Stephen F. Schneck, Former Chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom * * * Original text here: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/defending-religious-freedom-around-the-world
House Financial Services Subcommittee Sets Feb. 4 Hearing on Day at SEC - Restoring Accountability, Due Process & Public Confidence
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets issued the following information for a hearing entitled "A New Day at the SEC: Restoring Accountability, Due Process, and Public Confidence" at 2 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 2128 Rayburn House Office Building:Witnesses:
* Mr. Peter Chan, Partner, Baker McKenzie
* Mr. Alexander Cohen, Partner & Co-Chair of the National Office, Latham & Watkins
* Mr. Chris Iacovella, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Securities Association
Legislation:
* H.R. 3318, the SEC Modernization Act
* H.R. 216, the Securities ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets issued the following information for a hearing entitled "A New Day at the SEC: Restoring Accountability, Due Process, and Public Confidence" at 2 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 2128 Rayburn House Office Building: Witnesses: * Mr. Peter Chan, Partner, Baker McKenzie * Mr. Alexander Cohen, Partner & Co-Chair of the National Office, Latham & Watkins * Mr. Chris Iacovella, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Securities Association Legislation: * H.R. 3318, the SEC Modernization Act * H.R. 216, the SecuritiesEnforcement Clarity Act of 2025
* H.R. ___, the SEC Reform and Restructuring Act
* H.R. ___, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act
* H.R. ___, the SEC Cybersecurity Act
* H.R. ___, the SEC Transparency Act
* H.R. ___, the Review the Expansion of Government (REG) Act
* H.R. ___, the SEC Regulatory Evaluation, Verification, and Integrity of Effective Workflows (REVIEW) Act
* H.R. ___, the Streamlining Public Company Accounting Oversight Act
* H.R. ___, a bill to amend the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission to seek disgorgement, and for other purposes
* H.R. ___, a bill to amend the securities laws to codify certain disqualification waiver processes, and for other purposes
* H.R. ___, a bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study regarding major rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission
* H.R. ___, a bill to establish a minimum public comment period with respect to proposed rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission
* H.R. ___, a bill to require the Director of the Office of International Affairs of the Securities and Exchange Commission to semiannually report to Congress with respect to discussions with international securities standard setting bodies
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Original text here: https://financialservices.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=410992
Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Energy Subcommittee Markup of Five Bills to Strengthen American Cybersecurity
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2026:* * *
Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Energy Subcommittee Markup of Five Bills to Strengthen American Cybersecurity
Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a subcommittee markup of five bills.
WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy markup of five bills.
DATE: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
TIME: 2:00 PM ET
LOCATION: ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2026: * * * Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Energy Subcommittee Markup of Five Bills to Strengthen American Cybersecurity Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a subcommittee markup of five bills. WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy markup of five bills. DATE: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 TIME: 2:00 PM ET LOCATION:2123 Rayburn House Office Building
Items to be considered:
* H.R. 7258, Energy Emergency Leadership Act (Reps. Lee-FL and Landsman)
* H.R. 7266, Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act (Reps. Miller-Meeks and McClellan)
* H.R. 7257, Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid (SECURE Grid) Act (Reps. Latta and Matsui)
* H.R. 7272, Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (Reps. Weber and Dingell)
* H.R. 7305, Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026 (Reps. Castor and Evans)
This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The markup will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins with the Committee staff at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov.
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Original text here: https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairmen-guthrie-and-latta-announce-energy-subcommittee-markup-of-five-bills-to-strengthen-american-cybersecurity
Chair Cassidy Continues Investigation Into 340B Drug Program, Seeks Information From 340B Prime Vendor
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news:* * *
Chair Cassidy Continues Investigation into 340B Drug Program, Seeks Information from 340B Prime Vendor
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, is seeking information from the 340B prime vendor, Apexus, on how it generates revenue from and structures its business practices around the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This is part of Cassidy's years-long investigation ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news: * * * Chair Cassidy Continues Investigation into 340B Drug Program, Seeks Information from 340B Prime Vendor U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, is seeking information from the 340B prime vendor, Apexus, on how it generates revenue from and structures its business practices around the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This is part of Cassidy's years-long investigationinto how revenue flows between different participants in the 340B Program, ensuring it supports American patients and families by lowering health care costs.
"As I indicated in my report on the 340B Program last spring, a serious lack of transparency in the 340B Program prevents 340B discounts from translating to better access or lower costs for patients," wrote Dr. Cassidy. "In light of Apexus's role as the current 340B prime vendor, and given questions raised into its business practices, I am requesting information and data to better understand how Apexus generates its revenue and designs its commercial offerings related to the 340B Program."
Since 2004, Apexus has held an exclusive contract with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as the sole 340B prime vendor. As the prime vendor, Apexus is tasked with negotiating drug prices for covered entities that are below the 340B statutory ceiling price, establishing distribution solutions and networks to improve access to affordable medications, and providing educational products and other services. Apexus also has a number of other 340B-related business practices that fall outside of its contract with HRSA, which nonetheless generate significant revenue from covered entities and manufacturers.
Last year, media reports found that Apexus generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue through fees it collects for almost every drug sold under the 340B Program. It also found that Apexus has expanded its business beyond its core role as the 340B prime vendor, working with covered entities to increase 340B utilization and adding additional business lines to increase its profits.
As Chairman of the HELP Committee, Cassidy is committed to strengthening accountability and transparency in the 340B Program to ensure patients in need can access quality health care. To this end, Cassidy wants further clarity from Apexus to ensure the 340B Prime Vendor Program operates as efficiently as possible, while benefitting patients and avoiding misaligned incentives.
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INFODOC: https://www.help.senate.gov/26-02-01-chairman-cassidy-letter-to-apexus_finalpdf
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Original text here: https://www.help.senate.gov/rep/newsroom/press/chair-cassidy-continues-investigation-into-340b-drug-program-seeks-information-from-340b-prime-vendor-1
House Education & Workforce Subcommittee Sets Feb. 4 Hearing on Runaway College Spending Meets Working Families Tax Cuts
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts" at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 2175 Rayburn House Office Building:Witnesses:
* Dr. Beth Akers, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
* Mr. Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
* Dr. Julie Margetta Morgan, President, The Century Foundation
* Mr. Raymond Rodrigues, Chancellor, State University System of Florida
* * *
Original ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts" at 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, at 2175 Rayburn House Office Building: Witnesses: * Dr. Beth Akers, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute * Mr. Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education * Dr. Julie Margetta Morgan, President, The Century Foundation * Mr. Raymond Rodrigues, Chancellor, State University System of Florida * * * Originaltext here: https://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=413049
Barr Delivers Federal Dollars to Upgrade Harrodsburg Police Equipment
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release:* * *
Barr Delivers Federal Dollars to Upgrade Harrodsburg Police Equipment
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Harrodsburg, KY- U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) secured $96,192 in federal funding to modernize equipment for the Harrodsburg Police Department as part of the Closing the Technology Gap initiative. Barr secured the funding through the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. He voted for the appropriations package earlier this month and President Trump recently ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * Barr Delivers Federal Dollars to Upgrade Harrodsburg Police Equipment * Harrodsburg, KY- U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) secured $96,192 in federal funding to modernize equipment for the Harrodsburg Police Department as part of the Closing the Technology Gap initiative. Barr secured the funding through the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. He voted for the appropriations package earlier this month and President Trump recentlysigned the funding bill into law.
The funding will provide the Harrodsburg Police Department with 20 Taser 7 devices and related equipment. The project is designed to enhance officer safety, improve de-escalation capabilities, and equip officers with modern, less-lethal tools to protect the community.
"Providing our law enforcement officers with modern, effective tools is essential to public safety," said Congressman Barr. "I'll always fight for our law enforcement so that they can defend our communities and keep us safe. I also want to thank President Trump for signing this funding bill into law and making strategic investments like this to support our police."
Harrodsburg officials identified this project as a critical priority to close technology gaps and strengthen officer readiness. The new tasers will allow officers to respond more safely to dangerous situations, reducing the risk of serious injury for both law enforcement and the community.
"Thanks to Congressman Barr, our department will be able to equip officers with modern, life-saving technology," said Harrodsburg Police Chief Scott Elder. "This funding will help us protect our community and ensure our officers have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively."
"We are extremely and profoundly fortunate to have a friend in government, Rep. Andy Barr, through whose support and assistance we received funding to help our local law enforcement provide a better and safer level of service to our community. Thank you, Rep. Andy Barr, for your continued leadership, dedication, and support," said Mayor of Harrodsburg Bob Williams.
"This is exactly the kind of investment that makes our community safer," said Mercer County Judge/Executive Sarah Steele. "Congressman Barr fought to secure this funding, so our police officers have modern equipment to keep themselves and the public safe, and we're thankful for his continued support of law enforcement."
"Strong public safety starts with cooperation at every level of government, and this announcement is welcome news. I recently joined Attorney General Russell Coleman to highlight state-funded protective vests for law enforcement across Kentucky. Building on that commitment to giving officers the tools they need to serve, I commend Rep. Barr for securing federal support for Harrodsburg Police Department, directly supporting the officers who serve and protect our community," said State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-KY-12).
"Without a doubt the funding Congressman Barr secured will go a long way toward providing our police department with the tools they need to protect and serve the people of Harrodsburg safely and effectively. I appreciate Congressman Barr's commitment to Harrodsburg and our Commonwealth," said State Representative Kim King (R-KY-55).
Permalink: https://barr.house.gov/2026/2/barr-delivers-federal-dollars-to-upgrade-harrodsburg-police-equipment
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Original text here: https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=70AB90D8-3782-44DB-A8D0-60D365F6084F
Amata Expects American Samoa's Port Funding to Be Secured
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release:* * *
Amata Expects American Samoa's Port Funding to Be Secured
*
Congress Negotiating End to Partial Government Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is expecting American Samoa's funding to be secured, despite the current partial government shutdown. American Samoa has one House-passed funding addition that Congresswoman Amata requested now awaiting the vote that will end the shutdown, while another recent announcement is completed and was signed into law a ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release: * * * Amata Expects American Samoa's Port Funding to Be Secured * Congress Negotiating End to Partial Government Shutdown Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is expecting American Samoa's funding to be secured, despite the current partial government shutdown. American Samoa has one House-passed funding addition that Congresswoman Amata requested now awaiting the vote that will end the shutdown, while another recent announcement is completed and was signed into law aweek ago.Her House-passed requests include $1 million in project funds for port improvements, awaiting one last vote, and a $900,000 boost to American Samoa's operations fund via OIA that was signed into law in late January. These appropriations legislative packages also contain broadly all other federal funding and services that the territory receives from various U.S. departments and agencies over the course of a year, including formulas and grants.
The House has successfully passed the traditional 12 appropriations bills for the year, but the Senate did not pass half of them in time to prevent a partial shutdown at midnight January 31, when the Continuing Resolution expired. Senators held up the remaining government funding over disagreements regarding Department of Homeland Security support levels. However, it is a partial shutdown because six of the 12 appropriations, already passed, were signed into law.
Currently, a negotiated compromise proposal could be sent to the House this week that would pass full-year funding for remaining departments, agencies, and programs, including American Samoa's port funding.
"I'm very confident our funds will be secured," said Congresswoman Amata. "American Samoa's funding is in the House-passed appropriations bills that include the Department of Transportation, while the Department of the Interior is already funded. Our remaining funds are right at the finish line. I'm optimistic the necessary agreement will be in place soon, government funding will be voted through, and this partial shutdown will end much sooner than the unfortunate one that lasted from October 1 through November 12, 2025."
She continued, "I oppose these shutdowns as they are generally unnecessary and funding disagreements should be resolved for the good of the country before deadlines."
Funded departments include Agriculture, with its Nutrition programs, including American Samoa's grant; Interior, with $29 million for American Samoa operations and other grant support; Veterans Affairs; Commerce; and Justice. Some of the key funded agencies include EPA, NOAA, and FDA.
Departments awaiting final passage include Transportation, with highway and port funds for American Samoa; HHS; Labor; Education; Defense, which funds the military pay raise Congress already authorized; and Homeland Security.
Issues : Congress
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Original text here: https://radewagen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/amata-expects-american-samoa-s-port-funding-be-secured
Amata Emphasizes World Cancer Day 2026
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release:* * *
Amata Emphasizes World Cancer Day 2026
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Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata released the following statement emphasizing World Cancer Day on February 4th:
"Modern nutrition and health care knowledge have done wonders for our overall longevity and well-being, but cancer remains an especially difficult illness to fully defeat. Fortunately, medical understanding, procedures and technologies are always growing to develop more effective treatments. Sadly, cancer still ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release: * * * Amata Emphasizes World Cancer Day 2026 * Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata released the following statement emphasizing World Cancer Day on February 4th: "Modern nutrition and health care knowledge have done wonders for our overall longevity and well-being, but cancer remains an especially difficult illness to fully defeat. Fortunately, medical understanding, procedures and technologies are always growing to develop more effective treatments. Sadly, cancer stillends up affecting almost every family or circle of friends at some point in every lifetime, and we all know a survivor or those battling this disease."The goal of World Cancer Day is to raise awareness, improve prevention, and save lives. Our first tool against cancer is the earliest possible detection to start rapid treatment. It's a fact that American Samoa has additional challenges due to our remote geography. We continue to work towards improved infrastructure, better equipment, telehealth access, and doing what we can to attract and keep good doctors and nurses. We are blessed with the dedicated health care professionals choosing to serve our people here. Thank you to each one of you, and we support you."
The 2026 appropriations effort, upon either final passage in the Senate or a House/Senate compromise likely this week, includes a variety of bolstered support for cancer efforts, and out of this comes funding for American Samoa. Final passage is expected for $47 million for National Institutes of Health this year, $7 billion for National Cancer Institute, over $30 million for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $55 million for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative programs, and over $410 million for CDC cancer programs. None of these amounts will change in final congressional negotiations, and these funding efforts have been widely applauded by various major cancer fighting organizations.
Issues : Healthcare
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Original text here: https://radewagen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/amata-emphasizes-world-cancer-day-2026
Advisory: Norton, Van Hollen, DC Vote, Free DC to Host Virtual Press Conference Opposing Resolution to Nullify Local D.C. Law
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Rep.) -- Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., issued the following news release:* * *
Advisory: Norton, Van Hollen, DC Vote, Free DC to Host Virtual Press Conference Opposing Resolution to Nullify Local D.C. Law
*
The House is expected to vote on the disapproval resolution tomorrow.
(WASHINGTON, DC) - On Tuesday, February 3rd at 11:00 a.m., Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the Senate sponsor of the D.C. statehood bill, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), DC Vote (link is external), DC Fiscal Policy Institute (link is external), and Free DC (link is external) will ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Rep.) -- Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., issued the following news release: * * * Advisory: Norton, Van Hollen, DC Vote, Free DC to Host Virtual Press Conference Opposing Resolution to Nullify Local D.C. Law * The House is expected to vote on the disapproval resolution tomorrow. (WASHINGTON, DC) - On Tuesday, February 3rd at 11:00 a.m., Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the Senate sponsor of the D.C. statehood bill, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), DC Vote (link is external), DC Fiscal Policy Institute (link is external), and Free DC (link is external) willhost a press conference to oppose a disapproval resolution that the House is expected to vote on tomorrow. If signed into law by the president, the resolution would repeal a local D.C. law that restores the child tax credit, increased an existing earned income tax credit, and decoupled D.C.'s tax code from certain provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
D.C. isn't alone in decoupling parts of its tax code from the OBBBA. Nearly half the states, including Virginia and Maryland, have decoupled their state's tax codes from parts of the federal tax code. Enactment of the resolution would be unprecedented, as Congress has never overturned a revenue-raising effort for D.C.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 3 rd at 11:00 a.m.
WHO: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Stasha Rhodes, Senior Director of Public Affairs, DC Vote, Erica Williams, Executive Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute, and Michelle Chappell, Co-Chair Congress Working Group, Free DC.
WHERE: Zoom. Participant link will be provided to media after RSVP is sent to Jeannette O'Connor at JOConnor@DCvote.org (link sends email).
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Original text here: https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases/advisory-norton-van-hollen-dc-vote-free-dc-host-virtual-press-conference
Begich, Bonamici Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Water Power Innovation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Rep. Nicholas J. Begich III, R-Alaska, issued the following news release:* * *
Begich, Bonamici Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Water Power Innovation
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Feb. 2, 2026 - Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced H.R. 7129 (link is external), the Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen America's water power technologies and modernize federal research efforts critical to grid reliability, energy security, and innovation.
"Hydropower has long ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Rep. Nicholas J. Begich III, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Begich, Bonamici Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Water Power Innovation * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Feb. 2, 2026 - Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced H.R. 7129 (link is external), the Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen America's water power technologies and modernize federal research efforts critical to grid reliability, energy security, and innovation. "Hydropower has longbeen a proven part of America's baseload energy mix," said Congressman Begich. "This legislation will support the development of next-generation hydropower and marine energy technologies that can provide long-duration storage and critical grid services. By continuing to invest in innovation and performance validation, we're ensuring water power remains a dependable solution that works for Alaska and helps build a more reliable energy grid nationwide. I'm proud to work across the aisle to advance energy policies that make sense for Alaska and for the nation."
Congresswoman Bonamici previously led the most recent reauthorization of these programs in 2020, which was signed into law with bipartisan support.
"Water power technologies have tremendous potential to provide cheaper, cleaner, and more resilient energy," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "This legislation will spur innovation to leverage the power of waves, tides, and currents to create opportunities for more Oregonians and Americans to benefit from this promising energy source."
BACKGROUND:
The Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act would reauthorize and modernize the Department of Energy's (DOE) water power research, development, demonstration, and commercialization programs. The legislation supports advancements in hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy technologies, including wave, tidal, and current-based power systems.
Companion legislation, S. 3684 (link is external), is led in the U.S. Senate by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).
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Original text here: https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/begich-bonamici-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-strengthen-water-power
Barrett Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Establish Term Limits for Federal Judges
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Michigan, issued the following news release:* * *
Barrett Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Establish Term Limits for Federal Judges
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Washington, D.C. -Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today announced a new piece of government reform legislation to build on the first pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America -Restoring Trust in Government. The constitutional amendment would limit federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, to serving a 20-year term.
The Judicial Term Limits Amendment ( H.J.Res 145 (link is external) ) would also prevent ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Michigan, issued the following news release: * * * Barrett Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Establish Term Limits for Federal Judges * Washington, D.C. -Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today announced a new piece of government reform legislation to build on the first pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America -Restoring Trust in Government. The constitutional amendment would limit federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, to serving a 20-year term. The Judicial Term Limits Amendment ( H.J.Res 145 (link is external) ) would also preventjudges who complete a 20-year term from getting reappointed to the same federal court. This would only apply to newly appointed federal judges, allowing the term limit to take effect gradually as current judges leave the bench, while preventing the president and Senate from immediately getting new judicial vacancies to fill.
"Our federal courts are responsible for upholding our most fundamental rights and liberties," said Barrett. "Lifetime appointments were designed to protect judicial independence, but instead have too often emboldened judges to wield their enormous power long after they should have retired. When our Constitution was ratified, 20 years practically was a lifetime appointment. Along with the Keep the Nine Amendment that I co-sponsored, a reasonable term limit will ensure occasional turnover in powerful offices, preserve the independence our judiciary needs to apply the law without fear or favor, and protect the integrity of the courts for generations to come."
The average age of federal judges has risen significantly (link is external) since the nation's founding. The average judge as of 2024 is 68 years old, compared to 49 years old in 1789.
The Judicial Term Limits Amendment builds on Barrett's effort to preserve judicial independence and keep partisan politics from interfering with the judiciary by permanently setting the Supreme Court's membership at nine justices.
About Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America
Restoring Trust in Government is the first of five pillars of Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America. The Congressman will continue to unveil additional proposals in the coming weeks to address all of the five key policy pillars of this agenda:
* Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests
* Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan
* Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families
* Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength
* Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning
To learn more, click here or visit barrett.house.gov/reform.
Read the full bill text for the Judicial Term Limits Amendment here.
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Original text here: https://barrett.house.gov/media/press-releases/barrett-introduces-constitutional-amendment-establish-term-limits-federal
Chairman Arrington: "Kevin Warsh is the Right Man for the Job."
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release:* * *
Chairman Arrington: "Kevin Warsh is the right man for the job."
House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) released the following statement after President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to serve as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System:
"Kevin Warsh is the right man for the job.
"Kevin is a longtime friend and former White House colleague--one of the smartest and most talented people I have ever served with.
"Kevin is a ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Chairman Arrington: "Kevin Warsh is the right man for the job." House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) released the following statement after President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to serve as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: "Kevin Warsh is the right man for the job. "Kevin is a longtime friend and former White House colleague--one of the smartest and most talented people I have ever served with. "Kevin is aconservative economist, financial markets expert, and respected authority on fiscal, monetary, and economic policy.
"Kevin is a strong leader with deep convictions for free people, free markets, and fiscal responsibility. He has questioned the Fed's recent failures, criticized the Fed's overreach of the past, and rightfully admonished the Fed's complicity in the explosion of our national debt.
"He has dedicated his career to serving our great country and advancing the principles that made America the most powerful and prosperous nation in human history."
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Original text here: https://budget.house.gov/press-release/chairman-arrington-kevin-warsh-is-the-right-man-for-the-job
Chair Smith: Trump Accounts are Transformational for America's Children
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release:* * *
Chair Smith: Trump Accounts are Transformational for America's Children
Drawing on his own upbringing, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08), during a Government Leaders Panel at the Trump Accounts Summit, described how limited opportunity can shape a child's future and how the new Trump Accounts, passed in the Working Families Tax Cuts, will change that reality by delivering a transformational investment for kids in every zip code.
Chairman ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Chair Smith: Trump Accounts are Transformational for America's Children Drawing on his own upbringing, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08), during a Government Leaders Panel at the Trump Accounts Summit, described how limited opportunity can shape a child's future and how the new Trump Accounts, passed in the Working Families Tax Cuts, will change that reality by delivering a transformational investment for kids in every zip code. ChairmanSmith: "I was raised in a single wide trailer for most of my life, until we upgraded to a double wide. And my hometown that I still live in today, the average income for an individual is less than $26,000 a year. And so when you look at that, this is the opportunity for those kids. It doesn't matter if you live on a city block or a county road, you're going to have this investment, and it will be transformational...Trump Accounts are going to be the most transformational coming from what we were able to deliver, and Americans' lives are going to be affected in such a positive way for generations."
Chairman Smith also shared how many late nights of debate and hard work by members of Congress combined with a decisive, last-minute push from President Trump helped ensure that Trump Accounts would be included in the Working Families Tax Cuts and solidify one of the President's biggest legacies during his second term.
Chairman Smith: "Without a doubt, President Trump's push and involvement for these Trump Accounts are the only reason why they ultimately made it in the big, beautiful, bill in the House of Representatives...We had to really thread a needle, and we put in more than 60 hours over at the Library of Congress, the Ways and Means Republicans debating and building consensus in all different provisions...We had the discussion on the Trump Accounts, and I was able to tell my members of the committee, this is a priority. This is a priority of President Trump...This is transformational in the lives of every single American, and so without a doubt, it would have never happened without President Trump weighing in, and that will be, I think, one of the biggest legacies of his presidency."
Signed into law on July 4, 2025, as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, Trump Accounts allow parents, guardians, or other custodians to establish a new type of tax-advantaged individual savings and investment account for their children. As part of a special pilot program, every American child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, is eligible to receive an automatic $1,000 deposit from the U.S. government into their Trump Accounts, giving every newborn a stake in the future success of the American economy. Parents can also contribute up to $5,000 per year and employers up to $2,500 per year.
Background
* Trump Accounts give millions of American children, regardless of background, a share of the American economy and a personal stake in the future success of our country.
* Children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, are eligible to receive $1,000 from Treasury as a pilot program contribution.
* In addition to the pilot program, parents can contribute up to $5,000/year, and employers up to $2,500/year.
* State, local, and tribal governments, as well as charities can also contribute.
Visit here (https://trumpaccounts.gov/) for more information on Trump Accounts.
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Original text here: https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2026/01/30/chair-smith-trump-accounts-are-transformational-for-americas-children/
Chainalysis Cyber Threat Intelligence Head Koven Testifies Before Senate Special Committee on Aging
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging released the following written testimony by Jacqueline Burns Koven, head of cyber threat intelligence at Chainalysis Inc., New York, from a Jan. 14, 2026, hearing entitled "Made in China, Paid by Seniors: Stopping the Surge of International Scams":* * *
Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand, and distinguished members of the Special Committee: Thank you for inviting me to testify before you today on the pressing issue of international fraud and scams targeting older Americans, largely perpetrated by Chinese Organized Crime syndicates.
My ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging released the following written testimony by Jacqueline Burns Koven, head of cyber threat intelligence at Chainalysis Inc., New York, from a Jan. 14, 2026, hearing entitled "Made in China, Paid by Seniors: Stopping the Surge of International Scams": * * * Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand, and distinguished members of the Special Committee: Thank you for inviting me to testify before you today on the pressing issue of international fraud and scams targeting older Americans, largely perpetrated by Chinese Organized Crime syndicates. Myname is Jacqueline Burns Koven, and I am the Head of Cyber Threat Intelligence for the blockchain data platform Chainalysis, where we harness the transparency of blockchains so that banks, businesses, and governments have the data and investigations, compliance, and security solutions they need for this new digital economy to thrive. We track cryptocurrency use by illicit actors, such as those carrying out investment and impersonation scams, and provide data on their financial activity to private- and publicsector customers, including the federal government.
In my testimony, I provide our assessment of the extent of scam activity and the role that cryptocurrencies play, and recommend how we can best mobilize and fight back against the growing scourge of scams that are putting all Americans, especially the most vulnerable among us, at risk. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on this important topic and continue to be a helpful partner on initiatives by Congress to better protect Americans - especially the most vulnerable - against scams and fraud.
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Key Takeaways
* Cryptocurrencies are a primary channel for scammers' operations; with the right data, tools, and resources, this should put the government at an advantage.
* AI technology is making scams more effective, but it can also help detect fraud and prevent potential victims from falling victim to scams and sending money.
* Scammers are leveraging a vast, industrialized ecosystem of illicit tools and Chinese-language money laundering networks for their operations.
* Government and industry responses are fragmented and reactive. This crisis requires a unified and technology-enabled response.
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The growing intersection of scams and cryptocurrencies: $17B stolen in 2025
Americans, and especially older Americans, have not been immune to the threat posed by a global, organized, and pernicious scam industrial complex that adeptly leverages technological developments in social media, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrencies are often the financial rails of choice for scammers for the same reasons legitimate users use them - transactions are cross-border and instantaneous. But I am here today to emphasize that fraudsters' use of cryptocurrency should place them at a fundamental disadvantage, given the traceability and freezeability of many of these assets.
At Chainalysis, we analyze transaction data from blockchain networks in conjunction with open-source intelligence to map the ecosystem of legitimate and illicit flows. Our software provides a clear, visual representation of potential scam networks and laundering activities, a level of transparency that isn't possible for traditional forms of value transfer. Indeed, identifying a single cryptocurrency payment to a scam enterprise can often lead to identifying hundreds of other victim payments, the illicit services they leverage, and, in some cases, the scam compound from which the scammers operate. This visibility also enables us to estimate the amount of crypto funds stolen in fraud and scams over time.
According to Chainalysis data, 2025 was a record year for cryptocurrency scams, totalling an estimated $17 billion worth of cryptocurrency globally. Fraudsters can always be counted on to abuse novel technologies, and scam conglomerates are exceptionally adept at wielding new tools to scale their schemes to defraud Americans. Nobody is better than Chinese organized crime groups. They are the global market leaders in criminal fintech, and the Chinese-language underground ecosystem underpinning them is the most advanced in the world. They provide the entire spectrum of "crimeware" needed to conjure up a scam-- social media profiles, mass calling and text spamming tools, stealer malware, data targeting lists with names and phone numbers of potential targets, AI technologies for deepfakes and voicecloning or fake investment platforms, laundering engines, and critical underground banking infrastructure - leveraging cryptocurrency as a form of payment.
The unique intelligence provided by the blockchain should be considered foundational for understanding the fraud problem at both a strategic and tactical level. The inherent transparency of blockchains, combined with the right data and tools, can illuminate the key components of the scam supply chain that support our national scam crisis. This can empower the U.S. Government to understand the scale of the problem, measure the impact of a counterscam strategy, surface investigative leads for the attribution of threat actors behind these campaigns, and identify opportunities for disruption.
Law enforcement and regulatory bodies can disrupt these networks, cut them off from the global financial system, and make it harder for them to profit by targeting illicit entities and networks on the blockchain with sanctions and asset seizure. Blockchain analytics offers unique opportunities to trace illicit proceeds of crime, identify additional victims, and partner with the private sector to disrupt illicit networks and pursue restitution, rather than relying on one-off criminal investigations.
However, despite this huge potential for disruption, scammers are exploiting the disjointed, siloed nature of how the public and private sectors respond to their schemes. To be truly effective, we must pursue a multifaceted strategy that prioritizes uprooting the enabling scam infrastructure and identifying and bringing to justice the individuals responsible for perpetrating the scams.
Finally, we need to focus on prevention. AI-powered fraud prevention technology can stop victim funds from being stolen by scammers. But financial institutions and cryptocurrency businesses need guidance on when and how to intervene when they suspect their customers may be in the process of being scammed. On one hand, providing some friction may be critical to preventing funds from being sent to scammers. On the other hand, financial institutions may be hesitant to limit what their customers can do with their own money. Part of the solution involves using data to help financial institutions stop their customers from sending to likely scams at the point of transaction, rather than trying to anticipate what their customers are doing based on behavioral red flags alone. But even so, regulatory guidance on what these businesses can and cannot do to protect their customers is needed.
As such, our recommendations include:
1. Mobilize a whole-of-government and industry national anti-scam strategy that prioritizes enhanced reporting and collaborative information sharing that can best disrupt scam conglomerates;
2. Leverage technologies designed for both the prevention and remediation of scams;
3. Ensure financial institutions and crypto businesses are incentivized to assist in the prevention of transactions to scams and have appropriate guidance to enable them to do so;
4. Advocate to close gaps in the implementation of AML/CFT standards by FATF members, especially countries that scammers rely on to launder funds defrauded from Americans.
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Chainalysis data and insights on scam activity
Chainalysis publishes an annual Crypto Crime Report that provides a detailed survey of the various types of illicit activity involving cryptocurrencies. In 2025, we estimate that the total amount of cryptocurrency received by illicit actors will be over $154 billion. This number will inevitably increase as we identify more illicit transactions associated with activity in 2025.
In each of the past five years, scam operators received over $12 billion in cryptocurrency payments, and 2025 is estimated to be a record year for cryptocurrency scam revenue. Our data shows at least $14 billion worth of cryptocurrency scammed globally, and we expect that figure will exceed $17 billion as we retroactively identify more scams, based on historical trends.
Overall scam inflows have also surged, particularly through impersonation tactics that saw a staggering 1400% year-over-year growth. While high-yield investment programs (HYIP) and pig butchering remain dominant categories by volume, we're seeing increasing convergence across scam types as fraudsters leverage AI, sophisticated SMS phishing services, and complex money laundering networks to target victims more effectively than ever before.
These tools and services underpinning all manner of scams are paid for with cryptocurrency, including the mass text phishing scam impersonating E-ZPass that targeted millions of Americans in 2025. To pull this off, the Chinese Smishing Triad leveraged software from "Lighthouse," a Chinese-language vendor on Telegram that accepts cryptocurrency in exchange for "phishing for dummies" with hundreds of templates for fake websites, domain setup tools, and features designed to evade detection. The scale of Lighthouse phishing attacks is staggering. In 20 days, approximately 200,000 fraudulent websites created using Lighthouse were used to attract 'well over 1,000,000 potential victims' in at least 121 countries.
Human trafficking is also behind some of the most pernicious scams. Chainalysis collaborates with NonGovernmental Organizations such as the International Justice Mission, which operates in the world's corruption hotspots, including the Golden Triangle, enabling Chainalysis to identify cryptocurrency wallets belonging to crime syndicates operating within specific compounds. These wallets tell of the horrors not only of the scam victims themselves but of the estimated hundreds of thousands of human trafficking victims behind the scam compounds. Chainalysis has previously detailed how we have traced a single ransom payment in cryptocurrency made by a trafficking victim held captive in the KK Park compound in Myanmar to a centralized wallet commingled with hundreds of millions of dollars in scam proceeds. We've now identified cryptocurrency wallets belonging to compounds across multiple countries and continents.
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The International threat: Scam laundering leverages offshore exchanges and Chinese-language money laundering services, with a strong regional nexus to East and Southeast Asia
We not only track the amount of cryptocurrency funds received by scam operators but also where those funds are directed for purposes of laundering or cashing out to fiat currency. In the last few years, centralized exchanges (CEXs) have been the primary destinations for laundering funds from scams; however, Decentralized Exchanges and Chinese Money Laundering Networks (CMLNs) have seen increased adoption among scammers. The regional connection of the scamming syndicates is evidenced by the off-ramping patterns we observe, with a significant portion of the proceeds from pig butchering scams flowing to CMLNs. It is important to note that scam proceeds are largely laundered through overseas entities, reinforcing the effectiveness of the US anti-money laundering regime domestically.
In recent years, CLMNs have emerged as dominant channels for laundering illicit cryptocurrency, including funds stolen through fraud and scams. Guarantee services operate as one-stop shops for illicit actors needing the technology, infrastructure, and resources to conduct scams. They function primarily as marketing venues and escrow infrastructure for these networks. While they provide trust mechanisms for vendors, they don't control the underlying laundering activity. Huione and Xinbi have dominated the market for the past few years, and many other guarantee services continue to operate freely. Many merchants on these platforms put little effort into masking their illicit activities, advertising the types of services they offer using thinly veiled code words. They openly cater to the scam ecosystem by providing technology for facial recognition or facial alteration, targeted data lists for outreach to potential victims, web hosting services, social media accounts and content creation, orchestration of pig butchering and Ponzi schemes, and global passports, visas, and purportedly assisting with applications, and AI software.
Our on-chain analysis continues to show persistent connections between cryptocurrency scams and operations based in East and Southeast Asia. While the Huione Guarantee platform identified in our 2025 report was effectively shut down following FinCEN's 311 designation -- which severed its access to the U.S. financial system -- we've observed expansion of similar operations across the region.
Our analysis reveals that funds originating at U.S. crypto ATMs frequently flow into wallets associated with Southeast Asia-based CMLNs and guarantee services, which serve as key intermediaries in the broader global scam infrastructure. While not all on-chain flows from scams to CMLNs can be traced directly to ATM on-ramps, crypto ATMs remain a critical input for scammers targeting older adults, who are often instructed to convert cash into cryptocurrency at these kiosks before funds are quickly transferred. In this context, actors leveraging crypto ATMs as both payment conduits and loci of fraud increasingly depend on CMLNs to launder and integrate stolen funds into the wider financial system, illustrating how traditional elder fraud has evolved into a transnational, crypto-enabled ecosystem.
Stronger state protections that require owners and operators of crypto kiosks to set transaction limits, inform users of risks, provide receipts, and refund qualifying payments could help prevent older adults from falling prey to certain scams.
The chart below shows the centrality of Southeast Asia to pig butchering scams by examining the 'holiday effect' associated with the Chinese New Year public holiday (7 days at the start of the 15-day new year celebration). Starting around 2022, roughly when Huione began to play a central role in laundering funds from scam compounds such as KK Park, there was a notable reduction in pig butchering scam activity during the 7-day public holiday associated with the Chinese New Year. After the data have been detrended and seasonally adjusted, average daily pig butchering activity drops notably during these short windows. This pattern suggests that the Chinese holiday is associated with a reduction in inflows to pig butchering scams, indicating that actors in East and Southeast Asia play an important role in this scam ecosystem.
Recent enforcement actions against overseas money laundering facilitation networks, including sanctions designations and advisories, have shed light on the national security threat that impacts victims worldwide. These actions include the designation of the Prince Group by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) by HM Treasury in the UK, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)'s Final Rule designating Huione Group as a primary money laundering concern, and FinCEN's advisory on Chinese money laundering networks.
We applaud these actions, but the threat actors are resilient. As with other genres of illicit on-chain activity, actions against guarantee services can be disruptive, but the core networks persist and migrate to alternative channels when challenged. While Huione's guarantee operations were disrupted after Telegram removed some of their accounts, vendors using Huione have continued to use or advertise on alternative platforms, their operations largely uninterrupted. While these hubs continue to connect vendors and buyers, most vendors promote advertisements across platforms and are not reliant on any specific service. As with legitimate e-commerce platforms, service ratings and reviews create accountability within the illicit ecosystem, and vendors often cultivate their market reputation through public attestations of their reliability and service quality.
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The Local Impact: Elderly US citizens are uniquely vulnerable to the threat of scams, and the role that cryptocurrency can play
Scams targeting older adults represent some of the most financially devastating frauds reported in the US. Recent estimates indicate that Americans aged 60 and older lose billions of dollars annually to financial exploitation and fraud, including nearly $4.9 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, more than any other age group, according to AARP and FBI data. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) further underscores this trend: in 2024, individuals aged 60 and older reported $2.8 billion in losses from crypto-related scams, reflecting both the scale and the growing role of digital assets in modern fraud.
While elder fraud encompasses a broad range of schemes, cryptocurrency ATMs have emerged as a notable on-ramp for scams. Reported losses from Bitcoin ATM fraud have risen sharply in recent years, and older victims are disproportionately affected by these kiosk-based conversions. The elderly, who often have significant retirement savings yet limited familiarity with irreversible digital payment methods, remain particularly vulnerable to such tactics.
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AI and professional scamming tools increase scam severity
While generative AI can accelerate legitimate innovation, it can also make scams more scalable and affordable for bad actors. We are rapidly moving toward a future in which virtually all scams will incorporate AI into their operations to some degree. While many scams involve buying AI tools through traditional payment channels, a significant subset buys these tools on-chain, making their transactions visible. Exploring the differences between scams with visible on-chain associations to Chinese AI vendors lets us probe the scale and efficiency of AI.
As depicted below, 76% of AI scams are in the time-weighted high-value/high-volume quadrant. This means that a large majority of scams with demonstrable on-chain links to often Telegram-based Chinese AI vendors selling face-swap software, deepfake technologies, and LLMs tend to (1) scale more quickly (i.e., higher incoming transfer rates) and (2) be more severe (i.e., higher daily USD volumes) than scams without these clear on-chain links to AI vendors.
Our analysis reveals that, on average, scams with on-chain links to AI vendors extract $3.2 million per operation compared to $719,000 for those without an on-chain link -- 4.5 times more revenue per scam. These AI-related operations also demonstrate significantly greater time-weighed efficiency:
* Higher daily revenue: $4,838 vs $518 median daily revenue
* Increased transaction volume: 35.1 vs 3.89 average transfers per day (9x more transaction activity)
These metrics suggest both higher operational efficiency and potentially broader victim reach. The increased transaction volume indicates that AI is enabling scammers to reach and manage more victims simultaneously, a trend consistent with the industrialization of fraud. In contrast, the increased scam volume suggests that AI is likewise making the larger scams more persuasive.
The professionalization of scamming tools is also a force multiplier to execute industrial-scale scams.
Many of these campaigns have a social media angle, given that such platforms provide access to millions of users, and are thus prime targets for sending automated messages. In such cases, scammers may buy bulk social media profiles and use SMS and phishing kits to communicate. Scams leveraging these phishing kits are 688 times more effective in dollar terms and four times more effective in average transaction size than regular scams. Scams that buy bulk social media accounts are likewise 238 times more effective in dollar terms and two times more effective in average transaction value than regular scams.
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Chainalysis data and tools as part of the response
The uniquely transparent manner in which blockchains operate opens up powerful opportunities to gain insights into illicit activity occurring on these networks. However, this data is difficult to access without the right tools, training, and data. Over the past ten years, Chainalysis has become indispensable to the workflows of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the US and globally, as well as to corporate compliance and risk departments.
The most demonstrable result from this work is the support that Chainalysis has provided on hundreds of cryptocurrency cases since its inception, involving seizures and freezing of assets in partnership with government agencies worldwide, helping secure an estimated $34 billion dollars worth of illicit crypto.1 2025 saw unprecedented law enforcement action against scams, including two of the largest-ever crypto-related law enforcement actions directly connected to scam operations.
The following notable scam-related crypto seizures were only possible due to the transparency of the blockchain and the availability of state-of-the-art tools and data like those Chainalysis provides. These actions mark a shift from reactive victim recovery to systematic dismantling, targeting not just front-line scammers, but also the executives, infrastructure, shell companies, and financial rails that sustain them.
Together, they illustrate a new, more integrated phase in scam enforcement: one focused on breaking the economic backbone of crypto-enabled fraud at scale and across borders, rather than treating scams as local, isolated, or purely digital crimes.
* In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed charges against a Cambodian national and Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi for allegedly overseeing Cambodian forced-labor scam compounds that powered large-scale cryptocurrency fraud targeting victims worldwide.
According to prosecutors, these compounds operated as vertically integrated fraud factories: trafficked individuals were coerced into running pig butchering investment scams and romance fraud schemes, laundering proceeds through cryptocurrency to obscure attribution and scale operations globally. Critically, U.S. authorities paired these indictments with large-scale financial disruption, including arrests across transnational money laundering networks and actions to seize and forfeit more than $15 billion in illicit proceeds linked to scam activity.
* In November 2025, the UK's Metropolitan Police secured convictions in a landmark crypto money laundering case that led to the world's largest confirmed cryptocurrency seizure, recovering over 61,000 Bitcoin -- currently valued at around pound sterling5 billion -- from Chinese national Zhimin Qian (also known as Yadi Zhang), who orchestrated a multibillion-pound investment fraud in China that victimized more than 128,000 people between 2014 and 2017.
* Also in November 2025, the U.S. Scam Center Strike Force's success in seizing over $401 million in cryptocurrency demonstrates the effectiveness of blockchain intelligence in taking action against transnational scam operations.
* In August 2025, it was revealed that APAC-based law enforcement froze $47 million in pig butchering funds through collaboration with the private sector, following a similarly successful public-private sector collaboration that resulted in the freeze of $225 million in funds.
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1 "Asset Seizure and Cryptocurrency: How Chainalysis Creates Opportunities for Self-Sustaining Law Enforcement," Chainalysis, Mar. 26, 2025, https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/cryptocurrency-assetseizure/.
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AML compliance and the need for prevention
Chainalysis data and tools are not only integral to public sector operations and seizures but also play an important role in the AML programs of financial institutions, crypto businesses, and a broad swath of private sector businesses motivated to stop scam activity. Chainalysis data is leveraged by cryptocurrency businesses and financial institutions for transaction monitoring, enhanced due diligence, and, when appropriate, enhancing SAR filings.
At Chainalysis, we also think it is imperative to move beyond reactive compliance and fraud workflows and to develop processes to prevent Americans from falling prey to scams altogether. Furthermore, in the same way that we observe criminals adapt to and leverage technological developments to their own ends, so too can we harness and encourage the use of AI technology to help financial institutions and crypto platforms prevent their customers from sending funds to likely scams.
Chainalysis Alterya provides real-time proactive fraud protection for payments and enhanced fraud detection during KYC for exchanges, blockchains, and wallet providers. Alterya has already helped top crypto exchanges decrease fraud by up to 60%, reduce scam-related disputes, and improve the efficiency of manual operations. Alterya utilizes artificial intelligence and other advanced techniques to identify scam activities across various online sources, enabling large-scale early "upstream" detection.
We construct a comprehensive scam social graph that interconnects fraudulent activities across multiple platforms, payment systems, and blockchains. Our adversaries are leveraging AI to rob Americans of their life savings, and we must leverage that very technology to beat them at their own game.
Alterya monitors $23B+ in monthly transactions and helps protect hundreds of millions of users across crypto and fiat payment rails, focusing on recipient side risk and money mule detection, critical for stopping authorized push payment (APP) fraud, where victims are socially engineered into authorizing transfers from their own accounts to criminals. Over the past 12 months, Alterya has prevented more than $300 million in losses by supporting customers in proactively reducing fraud. This is what the future of combating scams looks like.
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Recommendations
We are encouraged that this Committee is considering ways to strengthen the U.S. response to scams and fraud involving cryptocurrency that target older victims. We suggest a multi-pronged approach to address this complex problem, consisting of four key recommendations:
1. Mobilize a whole-of-government and industry national anti-scam strategy that prioritizes enhanced reporting and collaborative information sharing that can best disrupt scam conglomerates;
2. Leverage technologies designed for both the prevention and remediation of scams;
3. Ensure financial institutions and crypto businesses are incentivized to assist in the prevention of transactions to scams and have appropriate guidance to enable them to do so;
4. Advocate to close gaps in the implementation of AML/CFT standards by FATF members, especially countries that scammers rely on to launder funds defrauded from Americans.
Taken together and properly implemented, these recommendations will help limit financial flows to scammers, either by preventing victims from sending funds in the first place or by dismantling the scam operations themselves. Further details on each of these are provided below:
1. Create a national anti-scam strategy to orchestrate a comprehensive response which includes centralizing U.S. victim scam reporting, streamlining coordinated action to dismantle scam conglomerates and return funds to victims, and facilitating information sharing between the public and private sectors.
i. Improved reporting mechanisms
Today, scam victims in America have multiple options for reporting their crimes to federal and local law enforcement. This is one factor contributing to a fragmented approach to combating scams and has hindered our response time and visibility into the true scale of the impact on potential victims, both in the US and abroad.
A centralized reporting database that feeds from state, local, and federal sources is critical to enhancing efficiency and actionable intelligence for cases that lead to the recovery of funds, restitution, and the prevention of additional victims. National coordination could streamline the process of connecting a single victim to a larger scheme that has netted thousands of victims and millions of dollars in funds, optimizing opportunities for disruption, the prospect of returning seized assets to victims, and making scammers less profitable overall. Similarly, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are filed by financial institutions, but the crucial information contained in these reports about specific scams is not accessible to other financial institutions or to entities supporting scam prevention. This lack of information sharing creates blind spots and delays in response, enabling scammers to continue their illicit activities unabated.
ii. Prioritizing information sharing and collaboration
Addressing the challenge of crypto-integrated laundering networks demands a coordinated publicprivate partnership and a paradigm shift from reactive enforcement against individual platforms to proactive disruption of the underlying networks. By combining law enforcement's legal authorities with the private sector's technical capabilities and blockchain analytics expertise, the industry can more effectively identify and dismantle these services operating across multiple platforms, jurisdictions, and communication channels. On-chain transparency provides unprecedented visibility into these operations, enabling stakeholders to assess the cost and risk of operating large-scale money laundering services. Future intervention strategies must prioritize this collaborative approach to achieve meaningful, lasting disruption of crypto-integrated laundering networks, including Chinese-language money-laundering operations.
Public-private partnerships are already having success. Chainalysis's Operation Spincaster program was designed to disrupt and prevent scams through public-private collaboration by proactively identifying thousands of compromised wallets.2 This actionable intelligence formed the basis for a series of operational sprints across six countries, including 19 public-sector agencies and 18 crypto exchanges.
Over 7,000 leads were disseminated during these sprints relating to approximately USD $187 million of losses. These leads were used to close accounts, seize funds, and build intelligence to prevent future scams.
Further, Chainalysis is a member of the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center, the first-ever national effort that analyzes and assembles private and public sector data and resources into the investigative packages needed by law enforcement to investigate and prosecute criminal fraud rings targeting older Americans. These are examples of how formalized efforts to streamline private-public collaboration can optimize outcomes.
Singapore's Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) serves as a potential model for efficiently combating scams by eliminating silos and working constructively with over 80 private-sector partners. The industry and regulatory bodies must work together to break down these information silos and adopt a more cohesive, collaborative approach to combating cryptocurrency-related scams. This will ensure that the inherent advantages of blockchain technology for tracing and combating financial crime are fully leveraged and that scammers cannot exploit the system due to gaps in communication and information sharing.
The recently announced Scam Center Strike Force and proposed legislation, such as the Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization Act, will help define and execute an international strategy to take on scam compounds globally. This approach should study the scam supply chain holistically and leverage all levers of government, including law enforcement and regulatory actions, to target the entire scam supply chain, from money launderers to gambling syndicates to compounds to phishing kit developers to data brokers.
2. Encourage the adoption of advanced technologies to combat scammers' growing sophistication and to prevent and remediate scams across fiat and digital asset rails.
i. Broaden access to data, tools, and training
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2 "Introducing Chainalysis Operation Spincaster: An Ecosystem-Wide Initiative To Disrupt and Prevent Billions in Losses to Crypto Scams," Chainalysis, Jul. 18, 2024, https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/operation-spincaster/.
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With the broader adoption of cryptocurrency on the rise, including among illicit actors, it is no longer sufficient to confine knowledge of crypto networks to a small group of technical experts. Rather, government agencies and departments must have the resources to ensure that a broad spectrum of personnel receive the latest training on how crypto networks operate, how blockchain analysis can supplement traditional analytical and operational workflows, and what actions can be taken to quickly disrupt illicit fund movements through crypto networks. Too often, victims are turned away from local authorities who are ill-equipped or even uninformed as to how to take on crypto cases. Other times, an individual complaint might not be prioritized if law enforcement doesn't have the analytic tools it needs to connect a low-value scam payment to a larger scam conglomerate that nets tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Furthermore, we must acknowledge that a significant number of scams likely go unreported; however, the transparent nature of the blockchain enables investigators to identify all potential victim payments into a scam and can vastly expand their case with assistance from cryptocurrency businesses.
While the proposed Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act would expressly allow federal law enforcement agencies to assist in these cases, we believe this should not replace providing tools and training to state and local agencies so they can help victims in their jurisdictions.
Particular offices within agencies have invested in integrating blockchain analytics into their workflows and achieved significant success, among them IRS Criminal Investigations and the FBI's Virtual Asset Unit. However, the extensive overlap of crypto across many agencies' missions necessitates a broader cohort of agencies and their staff to understand the underlying technology, have access to the same tools, and receive training to encourage more successful outcomes.
ii. Adoption of cutting-edge technology, systems, and tools that move beyond reactive enforcement While the traditional reactive paradigm of enforcement is important, it is not enough for the speed and scale of scams today. The organized crime groups behind scams move quickly and operate in regions that are difficult to access, making real-time prevention mechanisms a vital line of defense. Given these challenges and the sheer volume of victims, some agencies and investigators across the public and private sectors are now turning to advanced proactive detection techniques.
The future of fraud prevention relies on the deployment of novel technologies such as machine learning and AI. Chainalysis Alterya provides financial institutions with the tools to map the entire lifecycle of fraudulent operations, from initial online scam campaigns and money muling to monetization within financial services and subsequent money laundering and cash-out processes through proactive AI-driven solutions. It identifies scammers before they meet their victims, collecting identifying information about the scammers and the fraudulent scheme. This data is then integrated with customers' transaction monitoring platforms, providing real-time analysis of scam exposure and enabling them to identify and track interactions with scam addresses, assess risk, and take preventive measures.
All relevant agencies and law enforcement should also have this opportunity to move decisively upstream and take the fight directly to scammers. In such a scenario, rather than simply investigating reported crimes, the public and private sectors could best leverage real-time blockchain data, DNS data, and AI technology to identify, disrupt, and potentially prevent illicit activity.
For example, Chainalysis Alterya can help agencies transform scattered victim reports into mapped scam campaigns that connect wallets, domains, social accounts, and other identifiers, giving agencies a single source of truth on how a fraud network actually operates. That same network view becomes the foundation for case triage and victim support--analysts can quickly see which victims are linked, what other identifiers to pursue, and where to prioritize investigative resources. This network view can also power supervisory analytics and market wide disruption, enabling agencies to track typologies over time, measure exposure across institutions and rails, and coordinate targeted interventions against the scamming infrastructure that makes these frauds possible in the first place.
Congress should ensure that relevant federal, state, and local agencies have the tools, resources, and legal authorities necessary to: (1) access, analyze, and act on blockchain and other digital intelligence; (2) collaborate effectively with financial institutions, crypto platforms, and other private sector intermediaries; and (3) integrate AI enabled risk detection into their investigative, supervisory, and consumer protection workflows. This combination of AI driven analytics and blockchain intelligence can materially improve our ability to detect, disrupt, and deter scams at scale, while strengthening restitution outcomes for victims and raising the cost of doing business for organized scam networks.
3. Provide guidance to financial institutions and crypto businesses to help them prevent customers from sending funds to scams and intervene when scam-detection technology identifies risk.
Although the technology exists for cryptocurrency businesses and financial institutions to detect when a customer is trying to send funds to a scam wallet, they lack the legal basis to hold a customer's funds.
Even after a crypto business warns a customer that they are trying to send funds to a scam, more often than not, the customer is so duped by the scammers that they will still opt to release their funds to the scammer. The U.S. Government should establish clear, consistent guidelines for how financial institutions and cryptocurrency businesses may intervene when they suspect customers are being targeted by scams, so that firms are not forced to choose between overreaching into consumers' access to their own funds and passively facilitating payments into organized scam networks.
Today, banks and crypto platforms lack standardized expectations and a legal basis around when and how they can slow, block, or scrutinize suspicious transactions, and what forms of customer outreach and friction are appropriate in these scenarios. With better access to data, typologies, and public private information sharing, these institutions would be far better equipped to strike the right balance between consumer protection and customer autonomy. Congress should therefore direct regulators to issue guidance that encourages the use of advanced fraud prevention technologies, such as Chainalysis Alterya, which enable financial institutions and cryptocurrency businesses to detect and prevent likely scam payments in real time. These tools have already demonstrated that they can significantly reduce authorized push payment (APP) fraud losses, lower the volume of customer disputes, and help institutions retain customers by protecting them from devastating financial harm while preserving safe access to their own money.
One solution could be to implement an optional, scams-specific hold on funds, backed by liability protections, that allows stablecoin issuers, cryptocurrency businesses, and financial institutions to temporarily stop suspicious transactions as soon as they or law enforcement identify red flags.
4. Close gaps in AML/CFT standards implementation for FATF members, especially countries that host scam compounds and the services they rely on to launder funds defrauded from Americans.
More capacity building is needed in jurisdictions with weak AML and CFT policies - particularly across Southeast Asia, where scam compounds operated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations and their local partners have become major hubs for large-scale fraud targeting Americans and other victims worldwide. These same networks increasingly rely on Chinese-language money laundering services as key vehicles for laundering the proceeds of these schemes and cycling them back into the global financial system. In the absence of cooperation, more pressure is needed to disrupt the financial networks and the digital asset services flagrantly abusing laws and regulatory norms. Sanctions have proven to be an effective tool, and sustained enforcement actions targeting every facet of the scam supply chain - especially the offshore institutions that defy international norms and AML/CFT processes and standards - would help cut off scam perpetrators and their facilitators from the global financial system.
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Original text here: https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/f57529d9-aa4d-34b8-2e16-1c4d42153913/Testimony_Burns%20Koven%2001.14.26.pdf
Cantwell, Colleagues, Call on GAO to Expand MBDA Investigation to Include Potential Violations of Court Orders by Lutnick, Other Administration Officials
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2026:* * *
Cantwell, Colleagues, Call on GAO to Expand MBDA Investigation to Include Potential Violations of Court Orders by Lutnick, Other Administration Officials
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2026: * * * Cantwell, Colleagues, Call on GAO to Expand MBDA Investigation to Include Potential Violations of Court Orders by Lutnick, Other Administration Officials U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.),Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to expand its investigation into the Department of Commerce's actions to illegally dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to include possible violations of federal district court orders and to assess whether Department leadership has taken adequate steps to ensure compliance.
"[N]ew information has come to light indicating Secretary Lutnick and other Department officials may have violated--and may continue to violate--a May 13, 2025, Preliminary Injunction and subsequent November 21, 2025, Permanent Injunction issued by a federal district court ordering the Trump Administration to reverse its actions against the MBDA and restore its personnel and grantmaking capacities," the Senators wrote in a letter to GAO Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown. "Congress has a compelling interest in ensuring executive branch officials comply with court orders guarding against unlawful attempts to dismantle federal agencies like the MBDA, which Congress statutorily authorized and funded on a bipartisan basis."
On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) which purported to eliminate the MBDA and other federal agencies. Despite an earlier commitment from Secretary Lutnick that he would do no such thing, following the EO, the Department proceeded to carry out the illegal dismantling of the MBDA, an agency created and authorized by Congress to promote American entrepreneurs facing historical barriers to small business ownership--helping them innovate, start successful businesses, and create good-paying jobs.
In April 2025, 21 State Attorneys General filed a lawsuit seeking to put a stop to the destruction of the MBDA. In May, the federal district court issued a Preliminary Injunction prohibiting further implementation of the EO and ordering the Department to reverse its dismantling of the agency. In November, a Permanent Injunction ordered the Administration to reverse its actions and restore MBDA's personnel and grantmaking capacities. Instead, the Department has taken several actions, including terminating the funding for at least nine MBDA business centers and sending Reduction in Force (RIF) notices to terminate the last 24 employees still working at the agency.
"Although the Department later rescinded the RIFs after Congress passed legislation requiring it do so and before the district court could rule on whether the Department's actions violated the court's order, the court admonished the Administration 'that it is never acceptable to violate a court order' and warned any such violations may 'warrant further Court action,'" wrote the Senators. "These developments, coupled with the Department's lack of transparency regarding its actions toward the MBDA, raise serious questions about the sufficiency of the Department's protocols for ensuring compliance with the district court's orders and whether Department leadership is violating the court's clear commands."
The full text of the letter is available HERE (https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/B6AD4722-8DC9-42C5-9058-8BD1A66C1B5F) and below.
January 30, 2026
Acting Comptroller Brown:
On June 3, 2025, we requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of the actions taken by the Department of Commerce (Department) under the leadership of Secretary Howard Lutnick to unilaterally dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Since then, new information has come to light indicating Secretary Lutnick and other Department officials may have violated--and may continue to violate--a May 13, 2025, Preliminary Injunction and subsequent November 21, 2025, Permanent Injunction issued by a federal district court ordering the Trump Administration to reverse its actions against the MBDA and restore its personnel and grantmaking capacities. Congress has a compelling interest in ensuring executive branch officials comply with court orders guarding against unlawful attempts to dismantle federal agencies like the MBDA, which Congress statutorily authorized and funded on a bipartisan basis. Accordingly, we request GAO expand its ongoing inquiry to evaluate whether Secretary Lutnick or other Administration officials have violated the court's orders and assess the adequacy of the policies and protocols the Department has implemented, if any, to ensure compliance.
On January 29, 2025, Secretary Lutnick appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and testified he did not support dismantling the MBDA. However, on March 14, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14238, which purported to eliminate the MBDA and other federal agencies. Notwithstanding his testimony, Secretary Lutnick proceeded to unilaterally dismantle the agency--terminating almost all of MBDA's staff and canceling its grant programs. Of the 40 individuals employed at the MBDA before the EO, only five employees remained working at the agency after Secretary Lutnick began implementing the order.
On April 4, 2025, 21 State Attorneys General filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against any further implementation of the EO. As part of that case, an MBDA employee submitted a sworn declaration to the court explaining how the remaining five employees would "not be capable of carrying out MBDA's statutorily mandated functions, administering its existing programs, or spending its appropriated funds" because it was "not possible for five employees to monitor the existing portfolio of grants for waste, fraud, and abuse, or to ensure that they are being used for authorized purposes consistent with the grant award," all of which "requires consistent contact with grantees to monitor and evaluate grantee performance, train, conduct site-visits, and to ensure compliance" with the grants' terms. The MBDA employee also informed the court that "MBDA allowed its contract with Salesforce to expire," making it "particularly difficult" to adequately monitor grants without this management platform.
On May 13, 2025, the federal district court issued a Preliminary Injunction that both prohibited any further implementation of the EO and ordered the Department to reverse its implementation. This included "tak[ing] all necessary steps to restore" MBDA employees "involuntarily placed on leave or involuntarily terminated" and "resum[ing] the processing, disbursement, and payment of already awarded funding" and any "funds previously withheld" to the States due to the EO. Following the district court's order, multiple Senators sent a letter to the Acting Under Secretary for MBDA seeking information about how the agency intended to comply with this Preliminary Injunction--but, consistent with Secretary Lutnick's pattern of stonewalling Congress, the Department has refused to provide any relevant information.
Despite the court's clear order, the Department has taken several actions that appear to violate its terms. First, in a September 2, 2025, letter to the Office of Inspector General, the Acting Director of MBDA Business Centers revealed that the Department had "terminated or discontinued" funding for at least nine MBDA business centers as of August 29, 2025--months after the district court's order took effect. Then, on October 10, 2025, the Department sent Reduction in Force (RIF) notices to the 24 employees who then-remained working at the MBDA stating their positions were being eliminated due to supposed "lack of funding" and because their functions "are not consistent with the Secretary's priorities."
The Department implausibly claimed the RIF--which would eliminate every employee working at the MBDA and leave only one political appointee responsible for carrying out all of the agency's required functions --would "not prevent the Department from fulfilling its statutory obligations." In a sworn declaration, an MBDA employee explained to the court how effectuating these obligations requires "experienced MBDA employees to expend approximately 20 hours per week per grant" and affirmed it is "not feasible that one or two political appointees who lack training and experience in grants management" could carry out those duties. Although the Department later rescinded the RIFs after Congress passed legislation requiring it do so and before the district court could rule on whether the Department's actions violated the court's order, the court admonished the Administration "that it is never acceptable to violate a court order" and warned any such violations may "warrant further Court action."
These developments, coupled with the Department's lack of transparency regarding its actions toward the MBDA, raise serious questions about the sufficiency of the Department's protocols for ensuring compliance with the district court's orders and whether Department leadership is violating the court's clear commands. Therefore, to supplement the review requested in our June 3, 2025 letter, we request GAO also examine and provide a detailed report on the Department's compliance--or lack thereof--with the May 13, 2025, Preliminary Injunction and November 21, 2025, Permanent Injunction issued by the District Court of Rhode Island in State of Rhode Island v. Trump, and any policies or protocols the Department has implemented to ensure its compliance.
Sincerely,
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/1/cantwell-colleagues-call-on-gao-to-expand-mbda-investigation-to-include-potential-violations-of-court-orders-by-lutnick-other-administration-officials
Boyle Statement on President Trump's Nomination of Kevin Warsh to Chair the Federal Reserve
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2026:* * *
Boyle Statement on President Trump's Nomination of Kevin Warsh to Chair the Federal Reserve
Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced he will nominate Kevin Warsh to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve:
"Donald Trump has spent months trying to bully the Federal Reserve into serving his political agenda. He has ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2026: * * * Boyle Statement on President Trump's Nomination of Kevin Warsh to Chair the Federal Reserve Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced he will nominate Kevin Warsh to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve: "Donald Trump has spent months trying to bully the Federal Reserve into serving his political agenda. He hasmade clear he wants loyalty to his political whims as the price of serving as Fed Chair. Any nominee must make an unequivocal commitment to protect the Federal Reserve's independence and follow the facts and the data.
Families already face higher costs and a tepid job market because of Trump's reckless economic policies, including tariff taxes that raise prices. Even more political interference in the Fed will only inject more uncertainty and undermine confidence in the economy.
If the President keeps up his political attacks on Chair Powell and Governor Cook, the Senate should not confirm any new Federal Reserve nominees."
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Original text here: https://democrats-budget.house.gov/news/press-releases/boyle-statement-president-trumps-nomination-kevin-warsh-chair-federal-reserve
Boyle Statement on December 2025 Producer Price Index
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2026:* * *
Boyle Statement on December 2025 Producer Price Index
Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the December 2025 Producer Price Index (PPI) report, which showed producer prices rose 0.5 percent in December. The report also showed core PPI is up 3.3 percent over the past year:
"This report is a flashing red light: ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2026: * * * Boyle Statement on December 2025 Producer Price Index Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the December 2025 Producer Price Index (PPI) report, which showed producer prices rose 0.5 percent in December. The report also showed core PPI is up 3.3 percent over the past year: "This report is a flashing red light:prices are rising dramatically and with no end in sight. Trump's tariffs are driving up the price of everyday goods. This economy isn't working for most Americans; it's only working for the mega-rich."
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Original text here: https://democrats-budget.house.gov/news/press-releases/boyle-statement-december-2025-producer-price-index
"Skinny Labels" for Generic Drugs Under Hatch-Waxman Topic of White Paper From CRS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12700) on Jan. 28, 2026, by legislative attorney Kevin J. Hickey:* * *
"Skinny Labels" for Generic Drugs Under Hatch-Waxman
New "brand-name" drugs are often protected from generic competition by patents. In general, a drug manufacturer intending to market a generic version of a brand-name drug must either wait for those patents to expire or challenge the validity or applicability of the patents in court.
While some drug patents cover the active ingredient itself, other patents ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12700) on Jan. 28, 2026, by legislative attorney Kevin J. Hickey: * * * "Skinny Labels" for Generic Drugs Under Hatch-Waxman New "brand-name" drugs are often protected from generic competition by patents. In general, a drug manufacturer intending to market a generic version of a brand-name drug must either wait for those patents to expire or challenge the validity or applicability of the patents in court. While some drug patents cover the active ingredient itself, other patentscover different things related to the drug, such as a method of using the drug. When some methods of using a drug are still patented but other uses are not, the Hatch-Waxman Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-417) provides a special process to allow limited generic entry before patent expiration. This process--sometimes called Hatch-Waxman's "skinny-label" provisions--allows a generic manufacturer to seek approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only for approved uses of the drug no longer protected by patents. This In Focus provides background on the skinny-label provisions and issues for Congress relating to skinny labels.
New and Generic Drug Approval
All new drugs must be approved by FDA before they can be marketed or sold in the United States. New drugs are generally approved by FDA through a new drug application (NDA). To obtain FDA approval, NDA sponsors typically conduct clinical trials to demonstrate a drug's safety and effectiveness--a costly and time-consuming process. NDA sponsors must also submit proposed labeling for the drug for FDA's approval, including the approved indications for use of the drug (e.g., the diseases or conditions that the drug is approved to treat). Although FDA approves new drugs for specific indications, physicians may still prescribe an approved drug "off label" to treat other indications that FDA has not reviewed for safety and effectiveness.
To encourage market entry of generic drugs, Hatch-Waxman created a separate pathway for FDA approval through abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). ANDA filers need only show that their product is pharmaceutically equivalent and bioequivalent to an FDA-approved drug with the same active ingredient (such that the new drug can be expected to have the same therapeutic effect). As a result, generic drug manufacturers need not conduct their own clinical trials on safety and efficacy, and often sell the drug at lower prices. ANDA filers must also propose labeling for the generic drug, which generally must be the same as the referenced brand-name drug's labeling.
Pharmaceutical Patents
Patents are granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect new and useful inventions. Patent rights last for about 20 years. If the patent is valid, no one else may make, use, sell, or import the patented invention in the United States during that period without permission from the patent holder. Drug manufacturers may patent a drug's active ingredient, formulations, methods of use (indications), and devices to administer a drug, among other things. A single drug may be protected by multiple patents that expire at different times.
Orange Book Patents and "Use Codes"
An NDA sponsor must submit to FDA information on any patent that either (1) claims the drug (i.e., an active ingredient, formulation, or composition patent) or (2) claims a method of using the drug for which FDA approval is sought.
For method-of-use patents, FDA regulations require the NDA sponsor to include a description of the patent and information on whether the patent claims one or more FDA-approved methods of using the drug. This description must be adequate to assist future ANDA filers in determining whether the patent covers a given approved use (i.e., a drug's indication). The description provided by the NDA sponsor on method-of-use patents is known as a use code. The NDA sponsor must also identify the sections of the proposed drug label that describe the method(s) of use claimed by the patent. If the drug is approved, FDA publishes the patent information and use codes (along with any updates) in a resource known as the "Orange Book." The Orange Book lists all FDA-approved nonbiologic drugs, along with therapeutic equivalence evaluations and information on drug patents and other exclusivities. (For more information, see CRS In Focus IF12644, Patent Listing in FDA's Orange Book.)
FDA views its authority over patent information in the Orange Book as "ministerial." That is, FDA does not independently verify the accuracy of use codes and other patent information; FDA merely publishes it in the Orange Book. NDA sponsors must declare that the patent information they submit is accurate and complete.
ANDAs and Patent Certification
Paragraph I-IV Certifications
Under Hatch-Waxman, ANDA filers must usually make a certification for each patent listed in the Orange Book for the drug at issue. For example, ANDA filers may certify that there are no patents listed for the drug or that all the listed patents are expired. In that case, FDA may approve the ANDA whenever its review is complete.
ANDA filers may also make what is called a paragraph IV certification: a claim that the listed patent is either invalid, or would not be infringed (i.e., violated) by the ANDA filer making and selling the generic drug. Paragraph IV certifications often lead to patent litigation in federal court. If the NDA sponsor timely files suit following a paragraph IV certification, FDA generally cannot approve the ANDA for 30 months while the litigation proceeds (known as the "30-month stay").
Section viii Statements and "Skinny Labels"
Hatch-Waxman provides an additional patent certification option for method-of-use patents. With a section viii statement, an ANDA filer certifies that the patent does not cover the uses of the drug for which the ANDA filer seeks approval. Section viii statements are typically used when some (but not all) approved methods of using the drug are still patented. Through a section viii statement, an ANDA filer may seek FDA approval only for the approved uses of the drug that are not patented. Unlike a paragraph IV certification, a section viii statement does not delay FDA's ability to approve the ANDA (i.e., the 30-month stay does not apply). Along with a section viii statement, the ANDA filer must submit proposed labeling that omits the parts of the brand-name drug's labeling that correspond to still-patented uses identified by the NDA sponsor. For this reason, generics relying on section viii statements are said to "carve out" the patented uses. The result is a skinny label for the generic version.
Challenges to Orange Book Use Codes
The use codes and label portions identified by the NDA sponsor define what the ANDA filer must carve out when using a section viii statement. If the use codes are overly broad (i.e., they extend beyond what a patent actually claims) then an ANDA filer may be unable to use a section viii statement as a practical matter, and may choose to file a paragraph IV certification or wait to file the ANDA.
ANDA filers' ability to challenge the use codes and other patent information provided by NDA holders is limited. While FDA provides a regulatory process to dispute Orange Book patent information, FDA will not change Orange Book patents or use codes unless the NDA holder agrees to update or correct them. In the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MPDIMA) (P.L. 108-173), Congress created a counterclaim allowing ANDA filers to seek a court order correcting or deleting Orange Book patent information. Because the counterclaim is not an independent cause of action, an ANDA filer cannot assert it unless they are sued first (e.g., after a paragraph IV certification).
In Caraco Pharmaceutical Labs. v. Novo Nordisk (U.S. 2021), the Supreme Court construed the scope of this counterclaim that MPDIMA created. The Court unanimously held that the counterclaim could be used by generics to correct inaccurate use codes (e.g., use codes that purport to cover methods not actually protected by patent). Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote separately in Caraco to express her view that action from FDA or Congress is needed to fully "fix" the problem of overly broad use codes.
Skinny Labels and Induced Patent Infringement Liability
Because the brand-name drug is still protected by one or more patents, patients and doctors may use a skinny-label generic in an infringing manner (i.e., for still-patented uses). If a generic manufacturer takes active steps to encourage the "carved out" patented uses, they may be held liable for inducing patent infringement. Recent judicial decisions on patent infringement liability for skinny-label drugmakers have increased concerns by some stakeholders about whether the skinny-label provisions remain effective in facilitating partial generic competition.
In GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA (Fed. Cir. 2021), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit) affirmed a jury verdict finding a generic manufacturer liable for inducement even though the manufacturer carved out the label portions identified by the brand's use codes and did not specifically tell doctors to use the generic for carved-out uses. The majority in GSK v. Teva held that a jury could reasonably find that Teva actively induced patent infringement based on the generic's label (which included an infringing indication not identified by the use code), advertising, and press releases. The Supreme Court declined to hear Teva's appeal in 2023.
In Amarin Pharma, Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA (Fed. Cir. 2024), the Federal Circuit reversed a lower court decision that dismissed a complaint alleging induced infringement by a generic manufacturer using a skinny label. The allegations of inducement in that case focused on the skinny label itself and press releases that promoted the skinny-label drug as a "generic equivalent" of the brand-name drug. Following a brief from the U.S. Solicitor General arguing that skinny labels themselves should not "be treated as evidence of culpable encouragement to infringe," the Supreme Court agreed to hear argument in Hikma v. Amarin during its October 2025 term.
Considerations for Congress
Should Congress seek to clarify Hatch-Waxman's skinny-label provisions, there are several possible issues it may consider. One issue concerns responsibility for monitoring and correcting Orange Book use codes and other patent information. The FDA does not independently verify use codes and generic manufacturers have limited means to challenge them, yet inaccurate use codes may interfere with generic drugmakers' ability to effectively use section viii statements. This may lead to litigation and delay in generic approval in some cases. Congress may consider whether to impose more responsibilities on FDA to monitor Orange Book patent information, or to expand current procedures for challenging that information. For example, Congress could consider creating an independent cause of action to correct Orange Book patent information (such as that proposed by S. 1128 in the 118th Congress).
Cases like Hikma v. Amarin and GSK v. Teva make clear that under current law a drug manufacturer may sometimes be liable for inducing patent infringement when marketing skinny label generics. These cases have arguably increased risk and uncertainty for generic manufacturers when using the section viii pathway. Congress may thus consider whether to clarify when generic manufacturers using a skinny label should be liable for indirect patent infringement through a statutory safe harbor (such as that proposed by S. 43 and H.R. 6485 in the 119th Congress).
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The white paper is posted at: https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF12700/IF12700.4.pdf
[Category: CRSCRS]
Barr Announces $1 Million for Rockwell Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements in Clark County
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release:* * *
Barr Announces $1 Million for Rockwell Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements in Clark County
*
Winchester, KY- Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06) celebrated the delivery of $1,000,000 in federal funding to support the Rockwell Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements, a critical infrastructure project serving western Clark County.
The project will extend sanitary sewer service to the western portion of unincorporated Clark County, an area that currently lacks access to centralized wastewater infrastructure. ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * Barr Announces $1 Million for Rockwell Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements in Clark County * Winchester, KY- Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06) celebrated the delivery of $1,000,000 in federal funding to support the Rockwell Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements, a critical infrastructure project serving western Clark County. The project will extend sanitary sewer service to the western portion of unincorporated Clark County, an area that currently lacks access to centralized wastewater infrastructure.In addition, the project will eliminate an existing package treatment plant that is nearing catastrophic failure.
"Reliable wastewater infrastructure is essential to protecting public health, preserving our community, and supporting responsible development," said Congressman Barr. "This investment will provide long-term solutions for Clark County residents while preventing potential system failures that could have severe consequences for the community."
"This project addresses a critical infrastructure need for western Clark County and helps prevent a serious failure that could impact public health and the environment. We are grateful to Congressman Barr for his support in helping our county move this important project forward," said Les Yates, Judge/Executive of Clark County.
"I want thank Congressman Barr for advocating for Clark County and for recognizing the importance of this investment to our region's future. Congressman Barr always delivers for Clark County and Central Kentucky in Congress and that is why he is our champion in Washington," said State Senator Greg Elkins (R-KY-28).
"Reliable wastewater systems are essential to public health, community well-being, and responsible development," said Magistrate Chris Davis. " I thank Congressman Barr for his support of Clark County and for recognizing the long-term value of this investment."
Local officials have identified the Rockwell Road project as a priority due to the aging condition of existing infrastructure and the growing need for dependable sanitary sewer service in the area. By replacing the failing package plant and extending sewer access, the project will reduce the risk of overflows, and improve water quality.
Barr secured the funding through the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. He voted for the appropriations package earlier this month and President Trump recently signed the funding bill into law.
Permalink: https://barr.house.gov/2026/1/barr-announces-1-million-for-rockwell-road-sanitary-sewer-improvements-in-clark-county
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Original text here: https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B56483CB-E6B5-442A-B9BB-68A58FB68C01
Bank Capital Reforms: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Should Clarify Policy for Retaining Documents
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report:* * *
Bank Capital Reforms: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Should Clarify Policy for Retaining Documents
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Fast Facts
U.S. banking regulators, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), are members of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which sets regulatory standards for banks to enhance financial stability.
U.S. banking regulators have policies that generally direct their staff to retain documents that they create or receive during their participation ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Government Accountability Office issued the following report: * * * Bank Capital Reforms: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Should Clarify Policy for Retaining Documents * Fast Facts U.S. banking regulators, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), are members of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which sets regulatory standards for banks to enhance financial stability. U.S. banking regulators have policies that generally direct their staff to retain documents that they create or receive during their participationon the Committee. But OCC's policy doesn't clearly tell staff whether or when to treat such documents as records. We recommended clarifying this policy to help ensure OCC has the documents it needs to support rulemaking and leadership during Committee negotiations.
A magnifying glass next to a folder stamped with the word confidential
Highlights
What GAO Found
To promote global financial stability, U.S. and foreign banking regulators negotiate and develop nonbinding minimum capital standards for banks through the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. U.S. members are the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
The Basel Committee expects members to treat Committee work as confidential. Its internal regulations state that internal discussions and the analyses on which they are based should be kept confidential. It also has a process for collecting sensitive bank data (for assessing the effect of standards on select banks), which requires analysts to sign a confidentiality agreement intended to protect the data. The Committee imposes no penalties for violating these expectations, but could take informal action (e.g., restrict a member's access to information).
U.S. members vary in the extent to which they are subject to the Federal Records Act and have different policies for retaining Basel Committee and related documents as records under the act:
* FRB's policy expressly covers its work on international organizations, including the Committee, and FRB also issued related guidance.
* FDIC's policy does not expressly cover its Committee work, but FDIC officials said the policy applies. FDIC also has a procedure directing staff to document their Committee work to share with leadership.
* OCC's policy does not expressly cover its Committee work. OCC officials said that only documents used as background or working files in rulemaking to implement Basel standards are considered records under their policy.
OCC's policy does not instruct staff whether to treat-and thus retain-Basel Committee or related documents as records under the Federal Records Act when first created or received. The act requires covered agencies to preserve records documenting the organization's functions and decisions and to communicate records management responsibilities to staff. However, OCC has not clarified how to treat Committee and related documents, citing its current policy as sufficient. Taking such action could help OCC ensure staff retain documents needed to support rulemaking, consult leadership during Committee negotiations, and demonstrate accountability.
U.S. members said they process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for Basel Committee or related records in the same way as other FOIA requests. In 2019-2024, FRB received two FOIA requests related to the Committee and FDIC received one. FRB identified information responsive to the requests but deemed it confidential and therefore exempt from FOIA disclosure. FDIC provided the requested information.
Why GAO Did This Study
In 2025, GAO reported on U.S. participation in the Basel Committee's development of Basel III bank capital standards. U.S. members told GAO that Committee discussions and related information are governed by confidentiality expectations.
GAO was asked to review these expectations and their potential implications. Among its objectives, this report examines the Basel Committee's confidentiality expectations; U.S. members' records retention policies for their Committee work; and U.S. members' processes for handling FOIA requests for Committee or related records.
GAO reviewed Committee and U.S. member documents on confidentiality expectations and associated penalties. GAO assessed relevant records retention policies of U.S. members against provisions in the Federal Records Act and its associated regulations. GAO also reviewed relevant FOIA regulations and data on related requests and interviewed U.S. Committee members.
Recommendations
GAO recommends that OCC revise its records retention policy or issue supplemental guidance to clarify which documents created for or received from the Basel Committee should be treated as records. OCC agreed with the recommendation.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency The Comptroller of the Currency should revise the agency's current records retention policy or issue supplemental guidance to clarify which documents created for, or received from, the Basel Committee should be treated as records. (Recommendation 1)
Open Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned.
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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Original text here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108015
As Teen Suicide Rises, Senator Moody Introduces Combating Online Predators Act to Protect Children From Sextortion
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Ashley Brooke Moody, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2026:* * *
As Teen Suicide Rises, Senator Moody Introduces Combating Online Predators Act to Protect Children from Sextortion
Today, as teen suicide rates are on the rise, Senator Ashley Moody announced she is introducing the Combating Online Predators Act to protect children from sextortion. Sextortion is a form of sexual exploitation in which perpetrators threaten to distribute private or sensitive images unless victims comply with demands for additional sexual content, sexual favors, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Ashley Brooke Moody, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2026: * * * As Teen Suicide Rises, Senator Moody Introduces Combating Online Predators Act to Protect Children from Sextortion Today, as teen suicide rates are on the rise, Senator Ashley Moody announced she is introducing the Combating Online Predators Act to protect children from sextortion. Sextortion is a form of sexual exploitation in which perpetrators threaten to distribute private or sensitive images unless victims comply with demands for additional sexual content, sexual favors,or money. Children and teens are particularly vulnerable to these crimes.
Sen. Moody's Combating Online Predators Act explicitly criminalizes intentional threats to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Under current law, sextortion has fallen outside existing CSAM statutes, forcing prosecutors to rely on patchwork charging theories that fail to reflect the gravity of these crimes.
Senator Ashley Moody said, "As parents of the first generation of online kids, it is important we protect them from the new threats they may face. My Combating Online Predators Act will ensure the monsters who engage in sextortion against our children are put behind bars. Congress needs to get off the sidelines and keep our kids safe, and I won't stop until every perpetrator of this heinous crime is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Stranger danger is happening under your own roof - let's pass my commonsense legislation and end this once and for all."
Congresswoman Laurel Lee said, "Sextortion is a devastating crime that preys on fear, shame, and vulnerability--especially among children. When predators threaten to distribute explicit images of minors, the harm is real and often irreversible. Congress has a duty to ensure our laws keep pace with the tactics used by online predators, and this legislation closes a critical gap to protect children and deliver justice for victims."
Reported sextortion cases in the U.S. has risen sharply--the FBI received nearly 55,000 reports of crimes related to sextortion and extortion, a 59% increase in the reports received a year earlier. Children are particularly vulnerable, with boys aged 14 to 17 most often targeted. In tragic cases, sextortion has led young victims to commit suicide.
Read full bill text here (https://www.moody.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SIL26150.pdf).
This bill is a companion to legislation introduced by Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15), that has passed the House.
More...
* As Teen Suicide Rates Rise, Senator Moody Cosponsors Stop Sextortion Act to Protect Kids from Online Predators (https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/news-release-as-teen-suicide-rates-rise-senator-moody-cosponsors-stop-sextortion-act-to-protect-kids-from-online-predators/)
* Attorney General Moody Warns About How AI Can Be Used to Target and Extort Teens (https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-moody-warns-about-how-ai-can-be-used-target-and-extort-teens)
* Warning About Increase in Sextortion of Minors (https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/warning-about-increase-sextortion-minors)
* * *
Original text here: https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/news-release-as-teen-suicide-rises-senator-moody-introduces-combating-online-predators-act-to-protect-children-from-sextortion/
Amo Convenes Local Faith Leaders to Call Out Trump's ICE Attacks and Discuss Protecting Our Communities
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release:* * *
Amo Convenes Local Faith Leaders to Call Out Trump's ICE Attacks and Discuss Protecting Our Communities
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Providence, RI - TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) hosted Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faith leaders to strategize about how congregations and elected leaders can work together to protect against Trump's violent ICE and Border Patrol invasion of our cities.
"Trump's masked agents are terrorizing our cities, inflicting fear, and inciting chaos, which is antithetical to the lesson of caring ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Amo Convenes Local Faith Leaders to Call Out Trump's ICE Attacks and Discuss Protecting Our Communities * Providence, RI - TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) hosted Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faith leaders to strategize about how congregations and elected leaders can work together to protect against Trump's violent ICE and Border Patrol invasion of our cities. "Trump's masked agents are terrorizing our cities, inflicting fear, and inciting chaos, which is antithetical to the lesson of caringfor your neighbor that I learned through my Catholic upbringing," said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI-01). "We have to stand up for the least among us, which is why I'm grateful to the wise council of these faith leaders who shared what they are doing to protect their communities from Trump's attacks. I renewed my commitment to withhold funding from ICE and Trump's Department of Homeland Security until there is real change and Secretary Noem is impeached and held accountable for her actions."
"Our communities are afraid," Mufti Ikram ul-Haq, Imam of Masjid Al-Islam in Smithfield. "ICE's enforcement actions are terrifying to many I serve. I am grateful to Congressman Amo for convening this group of esteemed faith leaders to hear our concerns and find ways to work together to make sure every Rhode Islander, no matter their background, is safe."
"Thank you to Congressman Amo for leading the fight against ICE violence," said Rabbi Preston Neimeiser. "Our communities are not made safer by their brutal actions, and I look forward to continuing working with Congressman Amo to ensure our Jewish community and every Rhode Islander can live without fear of persecution."
"Caring for our neighbors is at the heart of our faith tradition," said Jeremy Langill, Executive Minister, RI State Council of Churches. "ICE and immigration agents are making our neighbors afraid. We are thankful to Congressman Amo for the conversation and commitment to stopping ICE's abuses."
"Our faith tradition tells us that migration is, as Bishop Lewandowski has said, in our DNA," said Jim Jahnz, Secretary for Catholic Charities and Social Ministry for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. "We continue to pray and advocate for immigration reform and just policies and procedures. I am grateful that Congressman Amo has brought together fellow faith leaders to discuss how we can achieve our common moral imperative of keeping our neighbors safe."
Background
Congressman Amo, voted no on funding Trump's out of control ICE force and Department of Homeland Security.
He also helped introduce articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to remove her from power and begin the process of holding her accountable for egregious abuses of power resulting in the death of two American citizens at the hands of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
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Original text here: https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-convenes-local-faith-leaders-to-call-out-trump-s-ice-attacks-and-discuss-protecting-our-communities
AFTER CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN'S PETITION TO STOP PROPOSED ICE FACILITY RECEIVES MORE THAN 20,000 SIGNATURES, RYAN RALLIES HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY IN CHESTER: "WE WILL WIN THIS FIGHT"
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Pat Ryan, D-New York, issued the following news release:* * *
AFTER CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN'S PETITION TO STOP PROPOSED ICE FACILITY RECEIVES MORE THAN 20,000 SIGNATURES, RYAN RALLIES HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY IN CHESTER: "WE WILL WIN THIS FIGHT"
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After Congressman Pat Ryan's Petition to Stop Proposed ICE Facility Receives More than 20,000 Signatures, Ryan Rallies Hudson Valley Community in Chester: "We Will Win This Fight"
Today, Congressman Pat Ryan joined hundreds of community members in Orange County to rally against the Trump Administration's proposal for an ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Pat Ryan, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * AFTER CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN'S PETITION TO STOP PROPOSED ICE FACILITY RECEIVES MORE THAN 20,000 SIGNATURES, RYAN RALLIES HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY IN CHESTER: "WE WILL WIN THIS FIGHT" * After Congressman Pat Ryan's Petition to Stop Proposed ICE Facility Receives More than 20,000 Signatures, Ryan Rallies Hudson Valley Community in Chester: "We Will Win This Fight" Today, Congressman Pat Ryan joined hundreds of community members in Orange County to rally against the Trump Administration's proposal for anICE facility in Chester; facility would be part of a larger ICE plan to house 80,000 immigrants in warehouses across the country (link is external)
Congressman Pat Ryan immediately sounded the alarm, releasing this petition (link is external) in opposition to the proposed facility; Ryan's petition - which can still be accessed here (link is external) - amassed more than 1,000 signatures its first day, and has gotten more than 20,000 signatures to date with support continuing to grow
Ryan has sponsored articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Noem (link is external), submitted evidence of widespread community backlash to DHS last week, and voted against funding DHS's continued ICE operations citing un-American, illegal actions in cities across the country
Especially after ICE murdered another American citizen - a VA nurse - in Minnesota, and as ICE agents are given the green light to unconstitutionally and illegally come into people's homes, Ryan is rallying the entire Hudson Valley community to make their voices heard
CHESTER, NY - Today, Congressman Pat Ryan was joined by hundreds of local leaders, advocates, and Hudson Valley community members to rally against the Trump Administration's proposal to open an ICE detention center in Orange County.
The proposed facility would use a vacant warehouse in Chester, NY as part of a larger Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plan to house 80,000 migrants in warehouses nationwide.
Ryan and local leaders, receiving no warning or information from the Administration, immediately sounded the alarm. Ryan released a petition to the entire Hudson Valley community opposing the proposal, which amassed more than 1,000 signatures on Day 1 and 20,000 signatures to date as support continues to grow.
Last week Ryan submitted initial evidence of widespread community backlash to the proposal, sending anonymized survey results to DHS. ICE responded, refusing to provide any answers or additional information citing the "heightened threat environment" and "unprecedented opposition being thrown up by the Left."
Ryan has also sponsored articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and voted against funding DHS's continued ICE operations, citing un-American, illegal actions in cities across the country. Now, especially after ICE murdered another American citizen - a VA nurse - in Minnesota, and as ICE agents have been given the green light to illegally enter people's homes, Ryan is rallying the entire Hudson Valley community to continue making their voices heard.
"In just two weeks, tens of thousands of members of our community have made their voices heard, loud and clear: the Hudson Valley strongly rejects the Trump Administration's plans for a mass detention camp in our own backyard. It's shameful, un-American, and the exact opposite of everything our community stands for," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "The President promised to focus on deporting violent criminals, but instead we're seeing innocent civilians harassed, detained, and even killed. Now they're claiming they can enter Americans' homes without warrants - a blatant violation of the Constitution. The power to keep ICE from moving in, terrorizing our neighbors, and making us all less safe is in our hands. So let's show ICE, DHS, and Kristi Noem exactly what the Hudson Valley is made of as we stand together on the side of justice, accountability, and humanity. Together, we will win this fight."
"Now more than ever we need to exercise our 1st Amendment right to speak out and protest any ICE presence from coming to Chester and the Hudson Valley at large," said Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge. "The state, country, and world needs to know we do not support this facility, we do not support their abuses of power, and we do not support their acts of violence."
"The proposal to turn a warehouse in the Village of Chester into an ICE detention center is illegal, immoral, and inhumane. People must not be warehoused," said Richard Witt, Executive Director of Rural & Migrant Ministry. "RMM stands firmly with our immigrant neighbors, and we celebrate their humanity and the profound contributions they make to our community, our state and our country. We urge our lawmakers not only to condemn this proposal, but to take ACTION against the shameful policies of ICE and this Administration."
"An ICE facility in Chester-or anywhere in Orange County-is not something I can support," said Laurie Tautel, Orange County Legislature Chairwoman. "Our residents deserve to live without fear, and our local governments should be focused on policies that build trust, protect families, and support the well-being of our communities. This proposal moves us in the opposite direction."
"As a first-generation daughter of immigrants and representative of a largely immigrant community, I want to be clear: opposing an ICE detention facility is necessary, but it is not enough," said County Legislator and Democratic Caucus Leader Genesis Ramos. "Immigrant families are living in fear, hurting our neighbors, our local economy, and family-run businesses. We must stand against this proposal and show up for our immigrant community. I urge residents across our region to take action now, sign the petition, join the rally, and help stop this harmful proposal. Our community's dignity and safety depend on it."
"ICE has crossed a line. What's happening in Minnesota has not just claimed innocent lives, it has divided families, endangered residents, and put all our communities at risk. The Federal government's proposed ICE facility in Chester is an 80,000 square/foot affront to our values as Americans," said Yvette Valdes-Smith, Dutchess County Legislature Chairwoman. "In the Hudson Valley, we believe in treating our neighbors with dignity and respect. Everyone, regardless of their immigration status, deserves due process under the law. As elected officials and residents, we oppose this facility and the rising tide of violence against law-abiding immigrants and innocent bystanders. Not in our name."
"The Ulster Immigrant Defense Network ("UIDN") opposes building an immigration detention facility in Chester, NY.," said Victor Cueva, UIDN Executive Director. "Detention centers are places where there have been reported inhumane conditions for immigrants, and many reported deaths. We do not support the continued dehumanization of community members through ICE enforcement actions and detention."
Community members are encouraged to sign this petition (link is external) in opposition to the proposed facility.
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Original text here: https://patryan.house.gov/media/press-releases/after-congressman-pat-ryans-petition-stop-proposed-ice-facility-receives-more
BREAKING: Warnock Secures Additional $192 Million in Outstanding Helene Payments for Georgia
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, D-Georgia, issued the following news release:* * *
BREAKING: Warnock Secures Additional $192 Million in Outstanding Helene Payments for Georgia
*
Latest round of reimbursements comes after months of pressure from Senator Reverend Warnock and as Georgia communities were preparing for lawsuits from contractors seeking payment for work done in the wake of Hurricane Helene
News comes after December 2025 announcement that Senator Warnock secured $300 million in outstanding Helene payments for Georgia
In September 2025, Senator Warnock released ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, D-Georgia, issued the following news release: * * * BREAKING: Warnock Secures Additional $192 Million in Outstanding Helene Payments for Georgia * Latest round of reimbursements comes after months of pressure from Senator Reverend Warnock and as Georgia communities were preparing for lawsuits from contractors seeking payment for work done in the wake of Hurricane Helene News comes after December 2025 announcement that Senator Warnock secured $300 million in outstanding Helene payments for Georgia In September 2025, Senator Warnock releaseda report finding the Trump Administration was shortchanging Georgians half a billion dollars in disaster relief aid
Following the Senator's September report, the Senator found the number increased to $600 million
Senator Warnock will continue fighting until the administration delivers Georgia every penny they were promised
Senator Warnock: "I am thrilled to announce I have secured an additional $192 million in federal funding owed to Georgia communities recovering from Hurricane Helene"
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced he secured an additional $192 million in federal funding for outstanding payments owed to Georgia counties and entities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The money was released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following months of pressure from Senator Warnock to get Georgia communities, particularly in rural parts of the state, the money they were promised for recovery efforts following Helene's destruction. The latest round of reimbursements comes after a December 2025 announcement that Senator Warnock secured $300 million in outstanding Helene payments for Georgia.
"I am thrilled to announce I have secured an additional $192 million in federal funding owed to Georgia communities recovering from Hurricane Helene. Hurricanes and natural disasters are not political; they do not care if you voted red or blue, and Georgia counties and cities went right to work recovering from Helene's destruction with the understanding the federal government would fulfill its promises and pay their share," said Senator Warnock. "It should not have gotten to this point, and there is still more work to be done. I will continue fighting until Georgia's communities, particularly in rural Georgia, get every cent they are owed."
In December 2025, Senator Warnock released a statement after new evidence emerged showing that the Trump Administration owed $600 million in Hurricane Helene recovery aid to Georgians. That same month, Senator Warnock announced he secured $314 million in federal funding for outstanding payments owed to Georgia counties and entities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. In September 2025, the Senator released a report finding that nearly $500 million in promised federal funding for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts remained unpaid. The funding, part of a disaster recovery bill championed by Senator Warnock in 2024, is meant to reimburse local communities for funds spent on recovery. Despite bipartisan Congressional support for the immediate delivery of disaster recovery funds, the distribution of aid has been stifled by bureaucratic red tape and chaos in the Trump Administration.
A list of Georgia counties and entities receiving federal funding can be found below (this is not a comprehensive list of entities receiving funding):
Locality/Entity Funding Amount
Georgia Department of Transportation $78,292,950.89
Appling County $1,071,758.62
Augusta-Richmond County $4,037,671.15
Burke County $6,588,740.61
Clinch County $2,599,287.01
Coffee County $4,700,298.24
Columbia County $16,638,536.90
Emanuel County $11,305,015.82
Irwin County $2,247,042.63
Jefferson County $10,494,968.61
Lowndes County $3,364,859.16
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Original text here: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/breaking-warnock-secures-additional-192-million-in-outstanding-helene-payments-for-georgia/
Blumenthal, Murray, Schumer & Committee Democrats Introduce CRA to Overturn Trump Administration Rule Ending Life-Saving Abortion Care for Veterans
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on Jan. 27, 2026:* * *
Blumenthal, Murray, Schumer & Committee Democrats Introduce CRA to Overturn Trump Administration Rule Ending Life-Saving Abortion Care for Veterans
Senators roll out Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Trump VA's new policy ending abortion care and counseling for veterans
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Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Democratic Leader ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on Jan. 27, 2026: * * * Blumenthal, Murray, Schumer & Committee Democrats Introduce CRA to Overturn Trump Administration Rule Ending Life-Saving Abortion Care for Veterans Senators roll out Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Trump VA's new policy ending abortion care and counseling for veterans * Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Democratic LeaderChuck Schumer (D-NY) and Committee Democrats today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Trump Administration's new rule ending abortion counseling entirely and abortion care for veterans who have been raped or whose pregnancy is threatening their health.
"The Trump VA's new policy's primary purpose is to prevent women who are victims of rape or incest or whose health is at risk from receiving abortion care. We cannot let the Trump Administration deprive women veterans of essential health care so they can score cheap political points. Our Congressional Review Act resolution aims to overturn this cruel, misguided action. If my Republican colleagues really believe in protecting women veterans who have been raped or whose health is at risk, they can prove it-- simply support this resolution," said Ranking Member Blumenthal.
"Trump's VA abortion ban is a profound betrayal of women who put their lives on the line for our country--ripping away access to abortion care even when a woman is raped or her pregnancy endangers her health. If the Trump administration thought they could quietly implement this extreme abortion ban and get away with it, they thought wrong--we won't stop being loud about this. Trump's policy not only rips away VA's already-limited ability to provide abortion care, but it gags VA providers from even talking to their veteran patients about their health care options. It does not get more extreme than this. I hope every Senator will join me in fighting to overturn Trump's abortion ban at VA and restore essential health care for our veterans," said Senator Murray.
"The Trump administration seems hellbent on abandoning our veterans by withholding lifesaving health care. But Senate Democrats will not let this happen without a fight," said Leader Schumer. "The rule by the Trump administration is just another cruel step toward their clear, extreme goal of a national abortion ban, an idea that is way out of step with the American people. This CRA gives senators the opportunity to support the health and safety of the servicemembers who sacrifice to keep our country safe," said Leader Schumer.
The joint resolution is cosponsored by Committee members U.S. Senators Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
The CRA is also endorsed by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Vet Voice Foundation, Minority Veterans of America, Common Defense and twelve other organizations dedicated to protecting the rights and freedoms of our nation's veterans, including Modern Military Association of America, Service Women's Action Network, Reproductive Freedom for All, National Partnership for Women & Families, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Rights, Guttmacher Institute, National Council of Jewish Women, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Power to Decide.
"The VA exists to serve all who served, including women in need of abortion counseling in extenuating circumstance. With nearly 70% of our members overwhelmingly supporting women veterans' access to care post-Dobbs, IAVA applauds the CRA action taken in both the House and Senate, which would ensure that timely and necessary care is continued," said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of IAVA.
"After all that veterans have sacrificed to defend our freedoms, it is appalling to strip them of the right to make their own health care decisions. We applaud every lawmaker who signed onto this resolution condemning the rule to ban abortion care and counseling at the VA, including in cases of rape or incest, and we urge both chambers to act swiftly to overturn this extreme policy that puts veterans' health and safety at risk," said the group of twelve organizations.
"Veterans were promised care, dignity, and respect when they raised their right hand to serve. This decision breaks that promise. Stripping veterans of access to abortion care and even basic medical counseling is cruel, medically dangerous, and fundamentally dishonest. Veterans, especially women veterans, face higher rates of complicated and high-risk pregnancies because of their service. Denying them full, evidence-based reproductive healthcare is not about protecting life, it is about imposing ideology at the expense of veterans' health and autonomy. The VA exists to serve veterans, not to make their most personal medical decisions for them," said Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice Foundation.
"With the stroke of a pen, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) increased the risk of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by reducing veterans' access to basic, necessary, and life-saving reproductive health care. The removal of abortion care and counseling places veterans at further risk, particularly women and gender-diverse veterans who have already sacrificed their health in service to this country. These actions are not merely administrative or ideological policy shifts; they are dangerous barriers to essential medical care. To uphold its mission to serve those who have served, the VA must withdraw this policy. Abortion care and counseling are not simply about choice, they are matters of health, human rights, and survival. Preserving access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care is essential to honoring the service, sacrifices, and dignity of women and minority veterans," said Lindsay Church, Executive Director of Minority Veterans of America.
"The Department of Veterans Affairs banning reproductive healthcare is a profound betrayal of those who have sacrificed for our country. By eliminating comprehensive healthcare access, that veterans have earned, this ban disregards the overwhelming public opposition demonstrated by thousands of comments, many made by Common Defense members. It's essential that Congress overturn this ban and prioritize the health and well-being of our veterans. Our service members deserve better than this callous erosion of their rights," said Naveed Shah, Political Director of Common Defense.
This CRA follows a new final rule filed by the Trump Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to end VA's ability to provide these services to veterans. A CRA resolution is an oversight tool Congress can use to overturn final rules issues by federal agencies with a simple majority vote. House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) also introduced a companion CRA resolution in the House to overturn this rule.
In September 2022, VA began to offer abortion counseling to all pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries, and abortion in cases of rape, incest, or life or health endangerment of the veteran or CHAMPVA beneficiary. This was in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling, which created urgent risks to the lives and health of pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries in states that banned or otherwise severely restricted access to abortion.
Prior to the publication of the final rule, the Trump Department of Justice issued a memo banning this abortion care and counseling at VA, and the Trump VA issued its own internal memo implementing this new policy immediately. This follows the Trump VA's announcement in August of its intent to issue this change in a proposed rule.
More than 462,000 women veterans of reproductive age are enrolled in VA health care, and more than 112,000 women of reproductive age are enrolled in CHAMPVA. More than half of these women live in states that have enacted abortion bans or restrictions.
The full text of the CRA resolution can be found HERE (https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/FE366B45-2A67-4848-8BA2-7111EF670E47).
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2026/1/blumenthal-murray-schumer-committee-democrats-introduce-cra-to-overturn-trump-administration-rule-ending-life-saving-abortion-care-for-veterans
Barr Announces $1 Million in Federal Funds to Modernize Lancaster Wastewater System
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release:* * *
Barr Announces $1 Million in Federal Funds to Modernize Lancaster Wastewater System
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Lancaster, KY- U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06) announced $1,000,000 in federal funding to support wastewater system improvements for the City of Lancaster. Barr secured the funding through the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. He voted for the appropriations package earlier this month and President Trump recently signed the funding bill ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: * * * Barr Announces $1 Million in Federal Funds to Modernize Lancaster Wastewater System * Lancaster, KY- U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06) announced $1,000,000 in federal funding to support wastewater system improvements for the City of Lancaster. Barr secured the funding through the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. He voted for the appropriations package earlier this month and President Trump recently signed the funding billinto law.
This project will modernize Lancaster's wastewater collection system, alleviate overloading in critical portions of the network, and take failing pump stations offline. These improvements will prepare the city for significant economic growth on the northwest side of town, ensuring the city's infrastructure can support new development while maintaining safe and reliable wastewater services.
"Thanks to President Trump signing this funding into law, Lancaster is getting the investment it needs to modernize its wastewater system and support future growth," said Congressman Barr. "I fought to secure this funding because infrastructure matters, jobs matter, and Kentucky communities deserve results."
City officials have emphasized the importance of the project to address aging infrastructure and plan for future development. Once completed, the upgrades will reduce system failures, improve service reliability, and support the city's long-term growth and economic development goals.
"Congressman Barr didn't just support this project -he made it a priority," said Judge/Executive Chris Elleman. "Because of his leadership, Lancaster is receiving the funding needed to fix aging infrastructure, take failing pump stations offline, and prepare our community for future development."
"We are extremely thankful to Congressman Barr for his leadership and support in securing this funding," said Lancaster Mayor Michael Gaffney. "This project will modernize our wastewater system, take failing pump stations offline, and position our city for future growth, benefiting residents and businesses alike."
"This is great news for Lancaster, and I appreciate the work Congressman Barr put into making this happen. Water and wastewater infrastructure is a major priority for our area and this funding will go a long way towards keeping sewer and wastewater services safe and reliable," said Kentucky Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade (R-KY-80).
"Congressman Barr's unwavering commitment to his constituents is exemplified by his advocacy for infrastructure projects that drive economic development, promote health and safety, and improve the overall quality of life for all communities he represents, both urban and rural," said Jeff VanHook, Executive Director of the RGL Regional Industrial Authority.
"Lancaster-Garrard County expresses its sincere appreciation for Congressman Barr's efforts in securing these funds," said Anthony Roy, Chairman of the Industrial Development Authority. "Congressman Barr's support for Mayor Gaffney's forward-thinking approach to infrastructure improvements is a testament to his dedication to a better future for Lancaster/Garrard County. Over the past several months, the IDA Board, Mayor Gaffney, and Judge Elleman have engaged in discussions regarding the necessity of replacing the two oldest pumping stations with new ones and replacing approximately 10,000 feet of old clay sewer line with new PVC. This will enable the county to prepare for future growth opportunities once the bypass is complete and sewer services are expanded into northern Garrard County. We are fortunate to have the support of Congressman Barr aligned with Judge Elleman, Mayor Gaffney, and the members of the IDA board, whose vision for expanding and improving the wastewater system will provide a great opportunity to attract more businesses to Garrard County in the future."
The project reflects a commitment to long-term infrastructure improvement, economic development, and public health, ensuring Lancaster is prepared for growth while maintaining reliable services for all residents.
Permalink: https://barr.house.gov/2026/1/barr-announces-1-million-in-federal-funds-to-modernize-lancaster-wastewater-system
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Original text here: https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2E95CFFA-513B-4542-9C4B-2F3EC1F4B5FB
Antifa Extremist Who Threatened To Kill Congresswoman Mace Now Charged With Attempted Murder
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release:* * *
Antifa Extremist Who Threatened To Kill Congresswoman Mace Now Charged With Attempted Murder
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (Jan. 28, 2026) -Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) today issued the following statement after learning a transgender named "Rem Heathen" whose real name is Michael Richard Fadich, the Antifa violent extremist who posted a death threat against Rep. Mace in May 2025, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in Oregon:
In May 2025, Fadich posted a graphic on Instagram depicting ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Antifa Extremist Who Threatened To Kill Congresswoman Mace Now Charged With Attempted Murder * CHARLESTON, S.C. (Jan. 28, 2026) -Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) today issued the following statement after learning a transgender named "Rem Heathen" whose real name is Michael Richard Fadich, the Antifa violent extremist who posted a death threat against Rep. Mace in May 2025, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in Oregon: In May 2025, Fadich posted a graphic on Instagram depictinga gun pointed directly at Rep. Mace's face. The message was unmistakable: he wanted her dead.
The Office of Rep. Mace reported this threat. Prosecutors did nothing. Now, eight months later, he is charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting someone in Portland just last month. A man is in the hospital because the system failed to stop a violent extremist when it had the chance.
Now Fadich, because of Oregon law, sits in a women's prison.
"This blood is on the hands of every prosecutor who looked at this threat and looked away," said Rep. Mace. "I pray for the safety of the women he's housed with."
Fadich didn't hide who he was. His social media was filled with Antifa / Trantifa propaganda, celebrations of violence, and explicit threats. He posed with Antifa flags. He owned an AR-15 and multiple handguns. Every warning sign was there. Nothing was done.
When prosecutors ignore death threats, they don't just fail one victim, they create more.
Rep. Mace receives on average over 1,300 threats per year. Rep. Mace added:
"When prosecutors do their job, lives are saved. For example, Samuel Cain sits in a jail cell today and has been denied bond three times after threatening to kill me. But when they fail, like with Fadich, innocent people pay the price.
"I am asking the Department of Justice and FBI to immediately investigate why federal prosecutors failed to act on one more death threat against me and to determine whether Fadich should face federal charges for threatening a Member of Congress.
"To every prosecutor who declined to act: you had the chance to stop this man, and you didn't. And someone took a bullet for it.
"To the violent extremists: your threats won't silence us."
BACKGROUND
The Threat Against Congresswoman Mace:
In May 2025, Fadich posted an image on his Instagram account ("that.heathen") depicting Congresswoman Mace's official portrait with a first-person graphic of a gun pointed at her face. The threat was reported to law enforcement, but prosecutors declined to prosecute.
See the post below:The Attempted Murder:
On December 21, 2025, Fadich and an accomplice allegedly shot a man in Portland, Oregon. The victim was found with gunshot wounds in a parking lot and transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Police seized an AR-15-style rifle and two semi-automatic pistols at the scene.
Fadich fled to California but was arrested on January 8, 2026, at a gas station in Mt. Shasta. He has been charged with:
\- Attempted Murder
\- First-Degree Assault
\- Second-Degree Assault
\- Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2 counts)
\- Coercion
Fadich's Extremist Background:
According to reports, Fadich is a member of an Antifa cell in Portland with a years-long history of militant involvement. His social media accounts contain Antifa propaganda, celebrations of political violence, and threats against elected officials and journalists. He has been photographed posing in front of Antifa flags and has connections to the terrorist group Antifa International.
READ MORE HERE. (link is external)
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Original text here: https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases/antifa-extremist-who-threatened-kill-congresswoman-mace-now-charged-attempted
Allen Announces Hearing on Adopting AI at Work
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 27, 2026:* * *
Allen Announces Hearing on Adopting AI at Work
Tuesday, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA), will hold the second hearing in a series examining artificial intelligence, titled "Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work."
What:
Subcommittee hearing titled "Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work"
When:
10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, February ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 27, 2026: * * * Allen Announces Hearing on Adopting AI at Work Tuesday, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA), will hold the second hearing in a series examining artificial intelligence, titled "Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work." What: Subcommittee hearing titled "Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work" When: 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, February3, 2026
Where:
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Press:
The hearing is open to the press and will be live-streamed on the Committee's YouTube page.
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Original text here: https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413047
Cantwell, Duckworth, Warner, Markey & Shaheen Reintroduce Legislation to Review and Strengthen FAA's Safety Management System to Ensure Agency Comprehensively Identifies and Corrects Safety Risks
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 27, 2026:* * *
Cantwell, Duckworth, Warner, Markey & Shaheen Reintroduce Legislation to Review and Strengthen FAA's Safety Management System to Ensure Agency Comprehensively Identifies and Corrects Safety Risks
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill,), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 27, 2026: * * * Cantwell, Duckworth, Warner, Markey & Shaheen Reintroduce Legislation to Review and Strengthen FAA's Safety Management System to Ensure Agency Comprehensively Identifies and Corrects Safety Risks U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill,), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation,Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 to improve the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) safety oversight and its ability to identify and address aviation safety issues.
"The FAA must ensure that its own safety management system (SMS) is working well if the agency is going to properly oversee the SMSs of those it regulates," said Sen. Cantwell. "Following years of weak oversight which contributed to the DCA mid-air collision, the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 door-plug incident, and the Ethiopian and Indonesian crashes, it's past time to bring in outside safety experts to examine and recommend how FAA can create an agency-wide SMS to be most effective in identifying and correcting safety risks to prevent future incidents."
"From the deadly DCA crash to the spike in near misses and air traffic control equipment outages, there are too many alarm bells ringing that we must strengthen safety in our aviation system," said Sen. Duckworth. "It's the FAA's job to keep the flying public safe, so it only makes sense that the FAA should be held to the highest standard of safety when it comes to its own policies and procedures. Our bill seeks to ensure that the FAA is optimizing effectiveness in its work to strengthen aviation safety and protect passengers and crew."
"As we approach the one-year mark of the mid-air collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Airport, it is our responsibility as legislators to make sure that nothing like that tragic crash ever happens again," said Sen. Warner. "This bill creates an independent, expert-driven process to identify system-wide safety improvements so that they can be addressed in order to prevent another tragedy."
"Increasingly frequent near-misses and close calls over the last several years--coupled with recent aviation tragedies--are important reminders that we must do more to keep our skies safe, and that all starts at the top with the FAA," said Sen. Shaheen. "By establishing an independent panel of experts to make recommendations for an agency-wide safety management system, our legislation would address long-standing concerns at FAA and help keep the flying public safe."
The bill directs the FAA to establish an independent expert review panel to make recommendations for a comprehensive, integrated and effective FAA safety management system (SMS) to better predict, manage and mitigate safety risks across the agency.
In his response to the Committee following his nomination hearing, FAA Administrator Bedford expressed support for Ranking Member Cantwell's longstanding push to ensure a stronger, and more integrated FAA-wide SMS. Administrator Bedford has also expressed support for a stronger FAA SMS as part of FAA's Flight Plan 2026.
In its preliminary report following the January 29, 2025 mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional commercial jet operating as American Airlines flight 5342 that took the lives of 67 people, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found the FAA failed to act appropriately in response to safety data pointing to over 15,000 near misses between helicopter and commercial fixed-wing aircraft at DCA during the approximately three-year period leading up to the tragedy.
This has spurred enhanced scrutiny of the efficacy of FAA's own SMS and whether individual SMS at safety-critical FAA offices - including the Air Traffic Organization and the Aviation Safety Organization - are effective in identifying and correcting safety issues. The expert review panel created by this legislation would examine FAA's agency-wide SMS as well as the individual SMS of these key FAA offices. The bill would also direct the panel to evaluate the efficacy of FAA employee voluntary safety reporting systems, a key component of a healthy SMS, and a subject highlighted by air traffic controllers during last summer's NTSB's investigative hearings on the January 29 mid-air collision, who voiced concerns about their ability to flag safety issues.
"Senator Cantwell has long understood the importance of an effective safety management system at the FAA, and the NTSB's presentation today underscored why. The record showed that vital safety information existed but was not consistently acted on--reflecting failures in both systems and safety culture. The American people deserve an FAA that identifies risk and acts before tragedy, not after. If a functioning safety management system had been in place, our loved ones might be alive today." - Families of Flight 5342
"In December, we spoke with FAA Administrator Bedford about his plans to consolidate safety teams and systems across the agency. The FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 complements that critical work. We commend Senator Cantwell's continued leadership and strongly support her efforts to advance a robust, FAA-wide Safety Management System." - Tim & Sheri Lilley, parents of Flight 5342 first officer Sam Lilley
"Safety Management Systems have proven to be an effective tool in aviation, and are now required across the aerospace industry, from airlines to manufacturers. This bill helps ensure that the FAA itself is has an effective SMS that is able to work and interface with its industry counterparts for the benefit of the flying public." - Dr. Javier De Luis, Lecturer, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Organization Designation Authorizations (ODA) Expert Panel Member
"I enthusiastically support this legislation and believe it addresses critical gaps in the FAA's safety management framework. The bill's comprehensive scope reflects a sophisticated understanding of SMS implementation challenges." - Dr. Najmedin Meshkati, Professor Civil/Environmental Engineering; Industrial and Systems Engineering; USC Aviation Safety and Security Program University of Southern California, Organization Designation Authorizations (ODA) Expert Panel Member
"Frontline aviation maintenance professionals are the backbone of aviation safety. The FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 reinforces the principle that safety management systems must be trustworthy and dependable for the professionals on the frontlines. When technicians are empowered to report hazards without fear of reprisal, the entire safety system becomes reliable and safer. Strong oversight, protect confidentiality, and a focus on fixing systemic issues--not blaming workers--are essential to a safety culture that truly delivers results." - Bret Oestreich, National President of Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association
"The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) thanks Senator Cantwell for introducing the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026, which, when passed, will result in critical improvements to the FAA's Safety Management System." - National Air Traffic Controllers Association
"We thank Senator Cantwell for her continued leadership on aviation safety. The FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 strengthens oversight of FAA's Safety Management System and ensures it is integrated across the entire agency. This important safety program is critical to maintaining the highest standards and identifying hazards before they become serious. By including pilots on this independent expert review panel, the bill reinforces the essential role of frontline aviation professionals in advancing a strong and effective agency-wide safety culture."- Captain Jason Ambrosi, Air Line Pilots Association, International
"As the frontline operators of our nation's aviation system, the Allied Pilots Association recognizes that a world-class safety culture must begin at the regulatory level. While the FAA has mandated SMS for airlines and manufacturers, it is essential that the agency itself be held to the same rigorous, data-driven standards. This bill is entirely necessary in ensuring the FAA has the robust internal safety systems necessary to protect the flying public." - First Officer Nick Silva, Allied Pilots Association President
"The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) strongly supports the introduction of the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). As the professional pilots of Southwest Airlines who operate within the National Airspace System every day, we know that a robust Safety Management System (SMS) is a cornerstone of aviation safety. It is imperative that the FAA not only enforces these standards on operators but also effectively implements them within its own agency. We specifically applaud the legislation's requirement to include frontline labor representatives on the expert review panel. A true safety culture relies on non-punitive, voluntary reporting and the direct input of the pilots and air traffic controllers who witness the system's realities firsthand. By examining the efficacy of the FAA's current safety reporting programs and risk management policies, this bill ensures that the voices of aviation safety professionals are heard. SWAPA urges Congress to pass this critical legislation to ensure the FAA's internal safety culture matches the high standards required of the U.S. aviation industry." - Captain Jody Reven, President, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association
The bill models the successful expert review panel convened due to Section 103 of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, which recommended key safety reforms to FAA and Boeing to strengthen safety culture and aircraft certification and production oversight in the aftermath of the 737 MAX crashes.
Ranking Member Cantwell included this FAA-wide SMS provision in her legislation to strengthen aviation safety in light of safety failures highlighted by the DCA mid-air collision - S. 1985, the Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act. As Chair of the Commerce Committee, Senator Cantwell previously introduced a similar provision in the FAA SMS Compliance Act of 2024 in August 2024 following the January 2024 Alaska Airlines flight 1282 door plug incident.
During an April 2024 Committee hearing with members of the ODA Expert Review Panel, which was tasked with reviewing Boeing's safety culture, Sen. Cantwell also raised concerns about FAA's safety culture.
"I believe the FAA needs not only a strong workforce strategy to exercise the oversight of the manufacturers to ensure proper implementation of SMS," said Sen. Cantwell, before asking the panel: "What SMS should the FAA implement in their own house to make sure that they are improving the safety culture and standing up on these important safety measures?"
In response, Dr. Najmedin Meshkati recommended the establishment of a specific expert panel to review the effectiveness of the FAA's implementation of its own SMS.
This legislation builds on Senator Cantwell's extensive record on aviation safety. Under her leadership as Commerce Committee Chair, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, prioritizing air traffic controller hiring, FAA safety staffing, and implementing key NTSB safety recommendations like 25-hour cockpit voice recorders. Her landmark 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act strengthened FAA oversight of manufacturers following the Boeing 737 MAX crashes. Senator Cantwell has pursued accountability and solutions following the January 29th collision, calling for permanent helicopter restrictions, demanding Defense Secretary Hegseth provide clarification on military ADS-B policies and joining Chairman Cruz in requesting concurrent DOT and Army Inspector General audits of DCA airspace safety issues.
A section by section of the bill is HERE (https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/297B14AB-079B-4435-ADD9-36B52B59ADB6) and the full bill text is HERE (https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/3F98EB37-0C2F-4843-BC8B-C210783CB1E6).
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2026/1/cantwell-duckworth-warner-markey-shaheen-reintroduce-legislation-to-review-and-strengthen-faa-s-safety-management-system-to-ensure-agency-comprehensively-identifies-and-corrects-safety-risks
Alford Introduces Resolution Honoring President Trump's Historic Greenland Deal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, issued the following news release:* * *
Alford Introduces Resolution Honoring President Trump's Historic Greenland Deal
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Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) introduced a resolution honoring President Donald J. Trump for securing a historic strategic agreement establishing permanent United States sovereignty and control over critical military installations in Greenland, strengthening Arctic security, and countering malign Russian and Chinese influence.
Read the text of the resolution here.
"President Trump has once again displayed ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Alford Introduces Resolution Honoring President Trump's Historic Greenland Deal * Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) introduced a resolution honoring President Donald J. Trump for securing a historic strategic agreement establishing permanent United States sovereignty and control over critical military installations in Greenland, strengthening Arctic security, and countering malign Russian and Chinese influence. Read the text of the resolution here. "President Trump has once again displayedthe Art of the Deal on the world stage," said Congressman Alford. "The historic Greenland accord will deliver a new era of global security in the Arctic. By securing this deal to deter Russian and Chinese aggression through diplomacy, rather than force, this administration is showing America First does not mean America alone. I'm proud to introduce this resolution to recognize President's steadfast leadership and this extraordinary accomplishment."
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Original text here: https://alford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1465
Burlison to Host IRS and SBA Assistance Week Throughout Missouri's 7th District
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release:* * *
Burlison to Host IRS and SBA Assistance Week Throughout Missouri's 7th District
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WASHINGTON -The office of Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) will host an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Small Business Administration (SBA) Assistance Week from Feb. 23 through Feb. 27, with in-person sessions held daily from noon to 3:00 p.m. Central Time at five locations across Missouri's 7th Congressional District. No appointment is necessary.
The assistance week is intended to help constituents address ongoing issues ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Burlison to Host IRS and SBA Assistance Week Throughout Missouri's 7th District * WASHINGTON -The office of Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) will host an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Small Business Administration (SBA) Assistance Week from Feb. 23 through Feb. 27, with in-person sessions held daily from noon to 3:00 p.m. Central Time at five locations across Missouri's 7th Congressional District. No appointment is necessary. The assistance week is intended to help constituents address ongoing issueswith the IRS and the SBA, including delayed tax refunds, incorrect bills, audits, loan concerns, and other complex matters before the agencies.
While Rep. Burlison's office cannot file taxes on behalf of constituents, district staff can serve as a liaison between constituents and federal agencies by helping resolve communication delays, clarify case status, and cut through bureaucratic red tape. In prior cases, the office has assisted constituents in recovering significant delayed refunds and resolving longstanding issues involving the SBA.
To provide direct support, Rep. Burlison's office will host IRS and SBA Assistance Week at five locations across the district.
All sessions will be held from noon to 3:00 p.m. Central Time.
Monday, Feb. 23
Pineville Library
808 Bailey Road
Pineville, MO
Community Room
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Joplin Public Library
1901 E. 20th St.
Joplin, MO 64804
Community Room 1
Wednesday, Feb. 25
206 W. Water St.
Mt. Vernon, MO 65712
Community Room
Thursday, Feb. 26
312 Esplanade Drive
Hollister, MO 65672
Community Room
Friday, Feb. 27
Springfield Library
4653 S. Campbell Ave.
Springfield, MO 65810
Community Room A
Constituents will be able to meet one on one with district staff to receive guidance on resolving issues with the IRS or SBA. Participants are encouraged to bring any relevant documentation related to their case.
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Original text here: https://burlison.house.gov/media/press-releases/burlison-host-irs-and-sba-assistance-week-throughout-missouris-7th-district