U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
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Comer: Bill and Hillary Clinton Must Appear for In-Person Depositions
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Comer: Bill and Hillary Clinton Must Appear for In-Person Depositions
Today, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a letter to Bill and Hillary Clinton's attorney, David Kendall, emphasizing that while the Committee remains engaged in good-faith negotiations, the Clintons are required to comply with lawful subpoenas and appear for scheduled in-person depositions.
"The House
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Comer: Bill and Hillary Clinton Must Appear for In-Person Depositions
Today, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a letter to Bill and Hillary Clinton's attorney, David Kendall, emphasizing that while the Committee remains engaged in good-faith negotiations, the Clintons are required to comply with lawful subpoenas and appear for scheduled in-person depositions.
"The HouseOversight Committee is continuing its review of the federal government's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. In July, Democrats and Republicans on this Committee approved a motion to issue subpoenas to Bill and Hillary Clinton. The Committee has since worked in good faith to schedule in-person depositions, but further delays are unacceptable. Given their history with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, any attempt by the Clintons to avoid sitting for a deposition would be in defiance of lawful subpoenas and grounds to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings. The Committee looks forward to confirming their appearance and remains committed to delivering transparency and accountability for the survivors of Epstein's heinous crimes and for the American people," said Chairman James Comer.
In the letter to the Clintons' attorney, Chairman Comer states that Bill Clinton's deposition is scheduled for December 17, 2025, and Hillary Clinton's deposition is scheduled for December 18, 2025.
On July 23, 2025, the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved a motion by voice vote directing the Committee to authorize and issue deposition subpoenas for Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. The Committee may use the results of this investigation to inform legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex-crime investigations.
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November 21, 2025
To: Mr. David E. Kendall, Senior Counsel, Williams & Connolly LLP
Dear Mr. Kendall:
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Committee) has received your November 3, 2025 letter outlining your arguments for why former President Bill Clinton (President Clinton) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (Secretary Clinton) should not be required to appear for "live testimony."1 The crux of your argument is that the Committee should accept "a written proffer of what little information [the Clintons] may have," because it is "the most efficient and equitable way to proceed."2 The Committee disagrees. You highlight the fact that the Committee elected to forego deposing other individuals subpoenaed as part of this inquiry. However, your assertion conveniently ignores the fact that these individuals affirmed, subject to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001, that they lacked any information relevant to the Committee's investigation or otherwise had serious health issues that prevented their testimony.3
As your letter indicates, both President Clinton and Secretary Clinton possess information relevant to the Committee's investigation:
What we have learned over the years about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell is abhorrent. The public's demand for transparency from its government about their criminality is both understandable and warranted. Former President Clinton and former Secretary Clinton welcome legitimate oversight in this matter that is grounded in fact. In that regard, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary Hillary Clinton have little to contribute to that legitimate goal, all of which can be readily submitted on paper.4
Given the admission that your clients possess some relevant information, your position amounts to a demand that the Committee forgo in-person testimony potentially relevant to its legislative oversight. The Committee sets the terms of its oversight, including deciding which witnesses to interview, in what order to interview them, and whether or not to compel testimony in a time, place, and manner of its own choosing.5 Federal courts have consistently held that witnesses may not "impose [their] own conditions upon the manner of [congressional] inquiry."6 That is because "a witness does not have the legal right to dictate the conditions under which he will or will not testify"7 or "to prescribe the conditions under which he may be interrogated by Congress."8
Simply put, the fact that other witnesses may have been afforded certain accommodations is not a defense to a congressional subpoena. The Committee is not obligated to defer to either your or your clients' determination regarding the importance or quantity of the information they possess; and it declines to do so. Rather, the Committee is entitled to a fulsome examination of this information, which should include the ability to elicit the information in person and to ask relevant follow-up questions. While you argue that the Committee has not provided "a persuasive rationale for why deposing the Clintons is required to fulfill the mandate of your investigation,"9 this misstates the relevant standard. The Committee need only conclude that deposing your clients would be helpful in advancing its investigation. Therefore, the Committee does not find your argument against an in-person deposition in favor of written interrogatories compelling.
Additionally, your suggestion that your clients' testimony would not be relevant to the stated purposes of the Committee's investigation because the events in question took place outside of the Clintons' respective official duties, misses the Committee's point. It is precisely the fact President Clinton and Secretary Clinton each maintained relationships with Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell in their personal capacities as private citizens that is of interest to the Committee.
In sum, your arguments lack merit and completely ignore the lengthy rationales provided in the Committee's October 22, 2025 letter.10 Accordingly, pursuant to the Committee's August 5, 2025 subpoenas,11 depositions of President Clinton and Secretary Clinton are scheduled for the following dates:
* President Clinton - December 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in Washington, D.C.
* Secretary Clinton - December 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in Washington, D.C.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate "any matter" at "any time" under House Rule X.12 If you have any questions, please contact Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority staff at (202) 225-5074.
Sincerely,
James Comer, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
cc: The Honorable Robert Garcia, Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
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1 Letter from David E. Kendall to James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform (Nov. 3, 2025).
2 Id.
3 See Letter from Jefferson B. Sessions III, former U.S. Att'y Gen., to James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform (Aug. 28, 2025); Letter from Merrick B. Garland, former U.S. Att'y Gen., to James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform (Sept. 24, 2025); Letter from Robert K. Kelner on behalf of Eric H. Holder, former U.S. Att'y Gen., to James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform (Sept. 26, 2025); Letter from Alberto R. Gonzales, former U.S. Att'y Gen., to James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform (Aug. 22, 2025); Letter from James B. Comey, former Dir. of Fed. Bureau of Investigation, to James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform (Oct. 1, 2025); Letter from Theodore V. Wells Jr. on behalf of Loretta E. Lynch, former U.S. Att'y Gen., to James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform (Oct. 17, 2025).
4 Letter from David E. Kendall to James Comer, supra note 1 at p. 3 (emphasis added); see also id. at p. 1 ("[W]e believe that allowing them to make a written proffer of what little information they may have is the most efficient and equitable way to proceed.") (emphasis added).
5 See, e.g., Todd Garvey, CONG. RESEARCH SERV., LSB11093, COMMITTEE DISCRETION IN OBTAINING WITNESS TESTIMONY (Dec. 22, 2023).
6 Eisler v. United States, 170 F.2d 273, 280 (D.C. Cir. 1948).
7 United States v. Costello, 198 F.2d 200, 205 (2d Cir. 1952); see also United States v. Brewster, 154 F.Supp. 126, 134 (D.D.C. 1957) (finding a witness guilty of Contempt of Congress because "a witness has no right to set his own conditions for testifying").
8 United States v. Hintz, 193 F.Supp. 325, 335 (N.D. Ill. 1961).
9 Letter from David E. Kendall to James Comer, supra note 1 at p. 2 (emphasis added).
10 Letter from James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight and Gov't Reform to David E. Kendall (Oct. 22, 2025).
11 Letter and subpoena from James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight & Gov't Reform, to Hillary R. Clinton (Aug. 5, 2025); Letter and subpoena from James Comer, Chairman, H. Comm. on Oversight & Gov't Reform, to William J. Clinton (Aug. 5, 2025).
12 Rule X, cl. 4(c)(2), Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, 119th Cong. (Jan. 16, 2025).
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Original text here: https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-bill-and-hillary-clinton-must-appear-for-in-person-depositions/
Comer Requests Staff Briefing on Third-Party Litigation Reforms to Protect American Innovation
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Comer Requests Staff Briefing on Third-Party Litigation Reforms to Protect American Innovation
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is continuing an investigation into the lack of transparency across the United States legal system and oversight from federal agencies that support U.S. private sector innovation and economic growth, including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Comer Requests Staff Briefing on Third-Party Litigation Reforms to Protect American Innovation
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is continuing an investigation into the lack of transparency across the United States legal system and oversight from federal agencies that support U.S. private sector innovation and economic growth, including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office(USPTO). In a letter to USPTO Director John Squires, Chairman Comer requests a staff-level briefing from USPTO on the agency's reform initiatives and its coordination with other federal agencies to boost American innovation in the private sector.
"USPTO plays a vital role in ensuring American innovation is protected and enabling businesses to grow and create new jobs. The Committee understands USPTO has initiated plans, including necessary departures from the policy of the previous Administration, to propose regulatory changes to timely and fair adjudication of patent validity challenges," wrote Chairman Comer. "The Committee has received evidence that in some cases before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), USPTO is not aware of the actual organizations or individuals funding or directing the petitions."
The House Oversight Committee investigated third party litigation funding during the 118th Congress and discovered evidence of activists and foreign governments abusing the lack of disclosure requirements to fund litigation that could threaten national and economic security. The House Oversight Committee wrote Chief Justice John Roberts urging the Judicial Conference to "examine these unaffiliated funders of litigation and to consider enacting rules requiring disclosures of third-party litigation funding to protect litigants and ensure a fair adjudication of claims."
"On October 17, 2025, USPTO proposed significant changes to the inter partes review (IPR) before the PTAB. Additionally, on October 17, 2025, USPTO released an open letter and accompanying memo which noted that one of the major reasons for recent changes to adjudicative review mechanisms is a 'perception of self-incentivization' inviting, even if for unfounded reasons, outside concern. I applaud your efforts, and changes happening across the Trump Administration to strengthen American leadership in innovation from life-saving medicines to artificial intelligence. Confidence in USPTO and our country's system for rewarding innovation is vital for the patent community, businesses, and our future economy," concluded Chairman Comer.
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November 21, 2025
To: The Honorable John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Dear Under Secretary Squires:
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is continuing its investigation into the lack of transparency across our legal system and oversight of federal agencies that support U.S. private sector innovation and economic growth including U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). USPTO plays a vital role in ensuring American innovation is protected and enabling businesses to grow and create new jobs. The Committee understands USPTO has initiated plans, including necessary departures from the policy of the previous Administration, to propose regulatory1 changes to timely and fair adjudication of patent validity challenges. To understand how USPTO intends to implement these changes and further improve U.S. protections on intellectual property, the Committee requests a staff-level briefing.
The Committee has received evidence that in some cases before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), USPTO is not aware of the actual organizations or individuals funding or directing the petitions.2 During the 118th Congress, the Committee investigated third-party litigation funding and found evidence that activists and foreign governments were abusing the lack of disclosure requirements to fund litigation that could undermine our economic and national security. 3 On July 12, 2024, the Committee wrote Chief Justice John Roberts urging the Judicial Conference to "examine these unaffiliated funders of litigation and to consider enacting rules requiring disclosures of third-party litigation funding to protect litigants and ensure a fair adjudication of claims."4
On October 17, 2025, USPTO proposed significant changes to the inter partes review (IPR) before the PTAB.5 Additionally, on October 17, 2025, USPTO released an open letter and accompanying memo which noted that one of the major reasons for recent changes to adjudicative review mechanisms is a "perception of self-incentivization" inviting, even if for unfounded reasons, outside concern.6 I applaud your efforts, and changes happening across the Trump Administration to strengthen American leadership in innovation from life-saving medicines to artificial intelligence.7 Confidence in USPTO and our country's system for rewarding innovation is vital for the patent community, businesses, and our future economy.
The Committee seeks to better understand USPTO reform initiatives and how the agency is coordinating with other federal agencies. To assist the Committee in its oversight, we request a staff-level briefing from USPTO to occur as soon as possible, but no later than November 28, 2025.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate "any matter" at "any time" under House Rule X. To ask any related follow-up questions, please contact the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority staff at (202) 225-5074. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
James Comer, Chairman
cc: The Honorable Robert Garcia, Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
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1 Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Office of Management and Budget, View ICR -Agency Submission, OMB Control No: 0651-0069 (Oct. 17, 2025), https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202510-0651-001.
2 [On file with the Committee].
3 Unsuitable Litigation: Oversight of Third-Party Litigation Funding: Hearing before the H. Comm. On Oversight and Gov't Reform, 118 Cong. (2023).
4 Letter from James Comer, Chairman H. Comm Oversight and Gov't Reform, to John Roberts, Chief Justice U.S. S. Ct. (Jul. 12, 2024).
5 Revision to Rules of Practice Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, 90 FR 48335 (proposed Oct. 17, 2025) (to be codified at 37 C.F.R. pt. 42) 6 Open Letter and Memo, Sec. Squires, Bringing the USPTO Back to the Future: Return of Institution Authority under 35 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 314 and 324 to the Director (Oct. 17, 2025), https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/open-letter-and-memo_20251017.pdf.
7 Office of Sci. & Tech. Pol'y, The White House, American's AI Action Plan (July 2025) https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Americas-AI-Action-Plan.pdf.
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Original text here: https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-requests-staff-briefing-on-third-party-litigation-reforms-to-protect-american-innovation/
Chairman Walberg Delivers Opening Statement at Member Day Hearing
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Chairman Walberg Delivers Opening Statement at Member Day Hearing
Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at the Committee's Member Day hearing:
"Thank you all for being here for this year's Member Day hearing.
"Today is about listening. Member Day gives our colleagues who aren't on the Committee a chance to share what's happening back
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Chairman Walberg Delivers Opening Statement at Member Day Hearing
Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at the Committee's Member Day hearing:
"Thank you all for being here for this year's Member Day hearing.
"Today is about listening. Member Day gives our colleagues who aren't on the Committee a chance to share what's happening backhome--the stories, ideas, and challenges shaping their communities. These real-world perspectives help guide our work as we shape policies that actually meet people where they are.
"Every district is different, and no one knows its needs better than the Member who represents it. That's why your input matters--it keeps this Committee grounded in what's really happening across the country.
"I maintain my belief that the Committee on Education and Workforce is the hardest working Committee in Congress. So far this year, we've passed 29 bills and resolutions, held dozens of hearings, led more than 50 oversight letters, and played a pivotal role in the reconciliation process that saved Americans trillions.
"In fact, the Working Families Tax Cuts tackle the rising costs of higher education and student debt by increasing accountability for colleges and making education more affordable. The bill also strengthens our nation's workforce by increasing access to high-quality job training programs that prepare students for well-paying careers without forcing them into a baccalaureate degree. If America is going to lead in the 21st century it needs to ensure students have practical skills aligned with high-demand jobs.
"In addition, we have pushed back against the radical indoctrination happening in schools, protected women's sports, deterred foreign influence that allowed our enemies to infiltrate our universities, and combated the disturbing rise of antisemitism on our college campuses.
"On the workforce side, the Committee has advanced legislation to improve the lives of American workers, reduce burdens on small businesses, address critical workforce shortages, and stimulate economic growth. The Biden-Harris administration's radical regulatory agenda coupled with its reckless spending spree, left American families and businesses rocked by record-high inflation. Workers saw their standard of living decline as inflation outpaced average wage growth. Many of the challenges from the last four years remain. But the Committee is dedicated to advancing pro-growth economic policies that will unleash the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the American workforce.
"To sum up, from early learning to lifelong careers, our work touches the lives of Americans at every stage of life. And that's exactly why the ideas shared today are so important.
"I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and working together to provide students, workers, and job creators with the opportunities to reach their full potential."
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Original text here: https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=412821
Chairman Mast, Ranking Member Meeks Send Letter to Secretary Rubio Urging Engagement in Support of Jamaica's Recovery Following Hurricane Melissa.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Chairman Mast, Ranking Member Meeks send letter to Secretary Rubio urging engagement in support of Jamaica's recovery following Hurricane Melissa.
Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging U.S. engagement in support of Jamaica's recovery and electrical infrastructure reconstruction following Hurricane Melissa.
The hurricane, which
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Chairman Mast, Ranking Member Meeks send letter to Secretary Rubio urging engagement in support of Jamaica's recovery following Hurricane Melissa.
Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging U.S. engagement in support of Jamaica's recovery and electrical infrastructure reconstruction following Hurricane Melissa.
The hurricane, whichmade landfall in October, was the strongest storm to make landfall in the Atlantic Basin in history and left catastrophic damage to core infrastructure in its wake.
In the letter, Chairman Mast and Ranking Member Meeks emphasized the importance of uplifting a critical partner to maintain regional security, trade, and energy.
"This presents both a strategic opportunity and a vulnerability for U.S. interests," the lawmakers wrote. "If Jamaica must rely on foreign expertise, financing, and equipment to rebuild its electrical grid, the United States should encourage competitive opportunities for American firms and workers to provide such support. Otherwise, the People's Republic of China (PRC) will seize this opening. PRC state-owned enterprises have invested billions in Latin American and Caribbean infrastructure to establish strategic footholds in the region--owning the electrical infrastructure of a nation just 600 miles from U.S. shores would provide Beijing with significant economic and political leverage in the Caribbean."
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November 21, 2025
To: The Honorable Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Rubio:
We write to urge immediate U.S. engagement in support of Jamaica's recovery and electrical infrastructure reconstruction following Hurricane Melissa. On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica as the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic Basin in history, leaving 70-80% of Jamaica's electricity customers without power and causing an estimated $6-7 billion in damages--roughly 30% of Jamaica's GDP. Jamaica is a critical partner in regional security, trade, and energy, and our nations share deep cultural, familial, and economic ties--particularly through the vibrant Jamaican American community whose family members have been left in the dark back home.
The scale of destruction to transmission and distribution networks is unprecedented, with officials describing conditions as catastrophic and warning that full restoration could take months. Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), the island's national electric utility, has indicated that large portions of the grid require complete rebuilds rather than repairs. The hardest-hit western regions remain blacked out, with downed power lines preventing land access to entire communities and leaving hospitals, schools, and water facilities struggling to maintain operations. JPS has already announced it must bring in overseas line workers and specialized heavy equipment to augment Jamaica's limited domestic capacity.
This presents both a strategic opportunity and a vulnerability for U.S. interests. If Jamaica must rely on foreign expertise, financing, and equipment to rebuild its electrical grid, the United States should encourage competitive opportunities for American firms and workers to provide such support. Otherwise, the People's Republic of China (PRC) will seize this opening. PRC state-owned enterprises have invested billions in Latin American and Caribbean infrastructure to establish strategic footholds in the region--owning the electrical infrastructure of a nation just 600 miles from U.S. shores would provide Beijing with significant economic and political leverage in the Caribbean.
We urge the Department of State to take the following actions:
Coordinate with the U.S. Department of Energy, JPS, the Government of Jamaica, and other relevant stakeholders, including from U.S. industry, to assess resource requirements and facilitate rapid deployment of U.S. firms for grid damage assessment, emergency restoration, and reconstruction.
Work with the Government of Jamaica to expedite travel documentation, equipment customs clearances, and on-island logistics for any U.S. contractors and crews involved in post-hurricane recovery activities to ensure they can mobilize immediately.
Work with the Government of Jamaica and relevant U.S. agencies to help U.S. firms compete successfully for grid reconstruction and long-term infrastructure hardening.
Surge support to health, water and sanitation sectors in Jamaica to bring hospitals, health centers, and water treatment and pumping stations managed by the National Water Commission (NWC) back to full service.
Extend U.S. Helicopter Operations in Jamaica for aerial reconnaissance, medical evacuations, and relief distributions as downed power lines and damaged roads thwart the delivery of aid to remote and isolated communities.
Jamaica's recovery is a test of U.S. leadership in the hemisphere. The United States, its private sector, and the NGO community possess the skilled workforce, equipment, and technical expertise to restore Jamaica's grid while protecting our strategic interests. We look forward to your response and to working together to ensure this reconstruction serves both Jamaica's recovery and U.S. national security objectives.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Mast, Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee
Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member, House Foreign Affairs Committee
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Original text here: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairman-mast-ranking-member-meeks-send-letter-to-secretary-rubio-urging-engagement-in-support-of-jamaica-s-recovery-following-hurricane-melissa
Chairman Hill, Vice-Chairman Huizenga Encourage CFPB to Maintain Consumer Choice and Strong Consumer Financial Data Privacy and Security Standards Under 1033 Rulemaking
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release:
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Chairman Hill, Vice-Chairman Huizenga Encourage CFPB to Maintain Consumer Choice and Strong Consumer Financial Data Privacy and Security Standards Under 1033 Rulemaking
House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and Committee Vice-Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04) sent a comment letter to the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau (CFPB) as part of the agency's advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on consumer personal financial
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release:
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Chairman Hill, Vice-Chairman Huizenga Encourage CFPB to Maintain Consumer Choice and Strong Consumer Financial Data Privacy and Security Standards Under 1033 Rulemaking
House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and Committee Vice-Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-04) sent a comment letter to the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau (CFPB) as part of the agency's advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on consumer personal financialdata rights under Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
Hill and Huizenga commend the CFPB for their efforts to ensure consumers can meaningfully control and use their personal financial data. They encourage the CFPB to ensure the new rules are written in a manner that permits consumers to share their financial data with authorized firms and emphasize that the CFPB should base any related consumer financial data privacy and security rules on existing frameworks under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA).
Read the full letter online HERE (https://files.constantcontact.com/9f2b5e3d701/6359425a-6ec8-4aca-80ae-4ac1b7b3ed3d.pdf).
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Original text here: https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410920
Cantwell Demands Answers From BP About Pipeline Spill Severely Impacting Delivery of Jet Fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Cantwell Demands Answers from BP About Pipeline Spill Severely Impacting Delivery of Jet Fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today wrote to BP North America Chief Executive Officer Murray Auchincloss demanding immediate answers about the Olympic Pipeline leak that has cut off
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Cantwell Demands Answers from BP About Pipeline Spill Severely Impacting Delivery of Jet Fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today wrote to BP North America Chief Executive Officer Murray Auchincloss demanding immediate answers about the Olympic Pipeline leak that has cut offdelivery of jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) just days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, there are concerns that the incident may increase gas prices in Western Washington for the next several weeks.
"The Olympic Pipeline, owned and operated by BP, has shut down two of its pipelines due to a leak identified by a local farmer near Everett, WA.," wrote Sen. Cantwell. "As a result, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has lost its primary source of jet fuel immediately before the busiest travel holiday of the year. An estimated 900,000 people will travel through SEA for Thanksgiving, many of them trying to spend time with family and loved ones."
More than 1,000 airplanes take off and land each day at SEA each day, and it will take 90 trucks every 24 hours to deliver even half of the fuel the airport needs on a daily basis. In addition to seeking information about the spill and about how quickly the pipeline can be returned to normal operation, Sen. Cantwell expressed disappointment at BP's lack of operational awareness about their own pipeline.
"With so much riding on the reliable transportation of fuel through your system, pipeline safety and operational integrity must be top priorities," continued Sen. Cantwell. "The fact that a blueberry farmer--not BP--first identified the spill, and that it is still not known for certain which of the two pipelines is leaking, raises significant concerns about the capabilities of the Olympic Pipeline's leak detection systems and the adequacy of your inspection and maintenance programs."
The full text of the letter to Mr. Auchincloss is below and HERE (https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/EB5696B7-5B5A-4A10-8A3F-4E456C070127).
November 21, 2025
Dear Mr. Auchincloss,
The Olympic Pipeline, owned and operated by BP, has shut down two of its pipelines due to a leak identified by a local farmer near Everett, WA. As a result, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has lost its primary source of jet fuel immediately before the busiest travel holiday of the year. An estimated 900,000 people will travel through SEA for Thanksgiving, many of them trying to spend time with family and loved ones. I am also concerned about reports that this leak will raise Western Washington gas prices for the next several weeks, increasing the costs of local holiday travel plans.
The State of Washington, and the entire Pacific Northwest region, depends on SEA. It is a major hub for both Delta and Alaska Airlines, connecting to airports around the world and to regional airports in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The airport generates $17 billion in revenue for the region and supports more than 170,000 direct and indirect jobs. All of this activity depends on the ability of over 1,000 airplanes to take off and land each day -- which requires reliable access to fuel. It will take 90 trucks in a 24-hour period to deliver even half of the fuel the airport needs.
In addition to the jet-fuel pipeline being shut down, another pipeline in the vicinity transporting gasoline throughout Western Washington has been shut down. This will cause the supply to gas stations to be constrained during a period of high holiday travel demand. The Seattle Times reported this could increase gas prices by 10 cents.
With so much riding on the reliable transportation of fuel through your system, pipeline safety and operational integrity must be top priorities. The fact that a blueberry farmer--not BP--first identified the spill, and that it is still not known for certain which of the two pipelines is leaking, raises significant concerns about the capabilities of the Olympic Pipeline's leak detection systems and the adequacy of your inspection and maintenance programs.
Given the urgency of this situation, please provide a briefing to the Committee that answers the following questions no later than Monday, November 24, 2025. Please provide written response and responsive documentation to the following requests as soon as possible, but no later than November 28, 2025:
* What are BP's plans to swiftly and safely repair the Olympic Pipeline and restore service? When do you expect service to resume?
* What was the cause of the leak?
* BP's Cherry Point in Blaine, WA, is the largest refinery in the Pacific Northwest and the largest supplier of jet fuel to SEA. What actions are you taking to mitigate the disruption caused by the pipeline leak and ensure fuel continues to reach SEA?
* When was the last time the Olympic Pipeline was inspected in the area of the leak? Were any defects or concerns identified that could have indicated a need for maintenance? Please provide relevant documentation from the most recent inspection to support your answer.
* When was the last time the Olympic Pipeline underwent an inline inspection in the area of the leak? Were any defects or concerns identified that could have indicated a need for maintenance? Please provide relevant documentation from the most recent inspection to support your answer.
* Why was BP unable to detect the leak? Please describe the leak detection systems used on the Olympic Pipeline, including their performance standards, such as the smallest leak they can reliably detect.
* Please provide a copy of the inspection and maintenance plan for the Olympic Pipeline.
* What impact do you estimate the partial pipeline shutdown will have on regional gas prices?
* If Washington state drivers are forced to pay more for gasoline as the result of this leak, who will benefit from these higher costs and is BP developing any plans to compensate drivers who are being forced to pay more at the pump?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/11/cantwell-demands-answers-from-bp-about-pipeline-spill-severely-impacting-delivery-of-jet-fuel-to-seattle-tacoma-international-airport
Ahead of Holiday Season, Ranking Member Markey Renews Calls for Trump Administration to "Gift" Main Street Their Own Money Back
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Ahead of Holiday Season, Ranking Member Markey Renews Calls for Trump Administration to "Gift" Main Street their Own Money Back
Letter urges development of an equitable tariff refund process that doesn't disadvantage small importers
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Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick,
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Ahead of Holiday Season, Ranking Member Markey Renews Calls for Trump Administration to "Gift" Main Street their Own Money Back
Letter urges development of an equitable tariff refund process that doesn't disadvantage small importers
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Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick,U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Acting Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) Pierre Yared, calling on the Trump administration to establish an equitable process to provide tariff refunds that prioritizes small businesses. During arguments in the tariff case brought by small businesses earlier this month, the Supreme Court expressed skepticism about the legality of Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs. Small importing businesses may be entitled to relief if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Main Street. In August, Ranking Member Markey sent a similar letter asking the Administration to prepare a refund plan following several lower court rulings in favor of small businesses.
In the letter, Ranking Member Markey writes, "[N]early three months ago, I urged Administration officials to prepare a refund process if Trump's tariffs are struck down. Lower courts have already ruled the tariffs unlawful, and the Supreme Court's skepticism sets up the prospect that the Administration will be required to repay small businesses more than $30 billion."
Ranking Member Markey continues, "For the small businesses leading the litigation challenging the tariffs, this isn't about politics, it's about survival. The Administration's tariffs have brought pain to main street, threatening to shutter decades-old, family-run small businesses. Small businesses don't have Mar-a-Lago memberships, golden gifts, or ballroom invitations granting them special access to tariff exemptions. Their only remedy is justice in federal court. If, as expected, the Supreme Court strikes down Trump's tariffs, it will be the Administration's job to refund small businesses what they are owed."
Ranking Member Markey requests answers to the following questions in writing by November 29, 2025:
1. Has the Administration made plans to refund tariff payments if the Supreme Court declares the tariffs imposed under IEEPA unlawful? Please provide any plans, guidance, or memos the Administration has prepared regarding repaying tariff costs to affected businesses. To the extent that a tariff refund process may already exist, will the Administration modify or expand it to handle any refunds required if the Supreme Court strikes down the Trump tariffs?
2. Will the Administration issue tariff refunds even if a federal court does not specifically order refunds for all affected businesses? If not, why not?
3. If the Administration decides to issue tariff refunds, how does it plan to ensure a smooth and equitable process that small businesses can easily navigate?
4. What actions does the Administration intend to take to ensure that all small businesses clearly understand any available refund process? How does the Administration intend to address the high volume of refund requests? Has the Administration allocated any resources to handle the anticipated volume of refunds?
5. How will the Administration prevent large corporations that passed tariff costs onto consumers from unduly enriching themselves through refund windfalls?
Ranking Member Markey has led the fight to deliver real relief for America's 36 million small businesses who are struggling because of Trump's reckless economic policies. Earlier this month, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference with Senate Democrats and small business owners to call on the Supreme Court to strike down Trump's devastating and illegal tariffs. In September, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference to highlight the voices of small business owners impacted by Trump's tariffs, and to release new data on the cost of the tariffs for small businesses.
Previously, Ranking Member Markey introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act, which exempts small businesses from the "Liberation Day" tariffs and requires the President to provide refunds to small businesses who have paid them. In August, Ranking Member Markey returned to the Senate floor in an effort to pass the Small Business Liberation Act, legislation that would exempt small businesses from the broad, reckless global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Ranking Member Markey first attempted to pass the Small Business Liberation Act in May. Republicans blocked his legislation on the Senate floor on both occasions.
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November 21, 2025
To: The Honorable Kelly Loeffler, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, SW, Washington, DC 20416
The Honorable Jamieson Greer, Ambassador, U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
The Honorable Howard Lutnick, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230
Mr. Pierre Yared, Acting Chair, Council of Economic Advisers, 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20500
Dear Administrator Loeffler, Secretary Lutnick, Ambassador Greer, and Acting Chair Yared,
As the holiday season approaches, Main Street small businesses aren't asking for gifts from this Administration, they're simply demanding the return of tariff dollars that President Trump wrongfully took from them. These are the same small, family-run firms that have borne the brunt of the President's legally dubious tariffs, paying billions in extra costs. Now, with the Supreme Court openly questioning the tariffs' legality and poised to strike them down, the Administration must be prepared to offer small businesses a simple and straightforward process to seek and receive tariff payment refunds. During this make-or-break shopping season, their very survival depends on it.
To date, the Trump administration has extracted more than $100 billion in tariff payments using a highly questionable invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).1 It is estimated that American small businesses have paid for roughly one-third of that total.2 President Trump is now openly musing about using that money -- tax revenue, really -- to give $2,000 "rebate" checks to Americans and to pay down the national debt.3 If the President wants to finance pie-in-sky economic policies, he should do it by reversing disastrous tax policies that shower trillions of dollars in tax breaks on large corporations and the wealthiest Americans, not on the backs of small businesses through tariff revenue that it will likely have to refund to them.
That's because the tariffs are in serious legal jeopardy. On November 5, 2025, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, the case brought by small business owners challenging Trump's tariffs. In the arguments, the Court voiced skepticism of their legality and appeared ready to strike them down. The Court also grappled with how the Administration would pay back the billions of dollars in tariff payments collected. Referring to the potential refund process, Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked one lawyer arguing the case: "How would this work? It seems to me like this could be a mess."4 Indeed, if the Administration fails to prepare an equitable refund process, it will be a mess of your own making.
On August 21, 2025, nearly three months ago, I urged Administration officials to prepare a refund process if Trump's tariffs are struck down. Lower courts have already ruled the tariffs unlawful, and the Supreme Court's skepticism sets up the prospect that the Administration will be required to repay small businesses more than $30 billion, something the Administration has already recognized it would be obligated to do. Before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the tariff case, the U.S. Department of Justice said that "the companies that brought the lawsuit would receive a refund, including interest, for tariffs paid if they ultimately prevail in the litigation,"5 and later Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Administration "would have to" issue refunds if the Supreme Court struck the tariffs down.6
For the small businesses leading the litigation challenging the tariffs, this isn't about politics, it's about survival. The Administration's tariffs have brought pain to main street, threatening to shutter decades-old, family-run small businesses. Small businesses don't have Mar-a-Lago memberships, golden gifts, or ballroom invitations granting them special access to tariff exemptions. Their only remedy is justice in federal court. If, as expected, the Supreme Court strikes down Trump's tariffs, it will be the Administration's job to and refund small businesses what they are owed.
The Administration must therefore immediately commit to a plan to ensure small businesses receive the refunds they deserve, without bureaucratic obstruction, given that many cannot afford to hire lawyers to vindicate their rights. If the Administration fails to provide a straightforward process, it will advantage large, sophisticated businesses over smaller ones.
To understand how you are preparing for this refund process, I ask that you answer the following questions in writing by November 29, 2025:
1. Has the Administration made plans to refund tariff payments if the Supreme Court declares the tariffs imposed under IEEPA unlawful? Please provide any plans, guidance, or memos the Administration has prepared regarding repaying tariff costs to affected businesses. To the extent that a tariff refund process may already exist, will the Administration modify or expand it to handle any refunds required if the Supreme Court strikes down the Trump tariffs?
2. Will the Administration issue tariff refunds even if a federal court does not specifically order refunds for all affected businesses? If not, why not?
3. If the Administration decides to issue tariff refunds, how does it plan to ensure a smooth and equitable process that small businesses can easily navigate?
4. What actions does the Administration intend to take to ensure that all small businesses clearly understand any available refund process? How does the Administration intend to address the high volume of refund requests? Has the Administration allocated any resources to handle the anticipated volume of refunds?
5. How will the Administration prevent large corporations that passed tariff costs onto consumers from unduly enriching themselves through refund windfalls?
Thank you for your attention to this serious issue.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Markey, United States Senator
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1 Mike Snider, Trump says potential $2,000 tariff dividend checks could come mid-2026. See latest., USA Today (Nov. 18, 2025), https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/11/18/trump-tariff-checks-2026-update/ 87333616007/.
2 U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship (2025), The Trump tariffs: A small business crisis, https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/a/7/a760a470-5f3b-40ca-b728-634359e07490/ DB068FE37D91B435A2A5129F16312542E67F495E3EE68150167EF9FCC14ADE1A.the-trump-tariffs-a-smallbusinesscrisis.pdf
3 Megan Cerullo, Trump proposes $2,000 dividend funded by tariffs. Here's what experts say about the plan, CBS News (Nov. 17, 2025), https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-2000-tariff-rebate-check-what-to-know/.
4 Transcript of Oral Argument, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, No. 241287 (U.S. Supreme Court Nov. 5, 2025), https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1287_b07d.pdf
5 Jan Wolfe and Alex Leary, Tariff Ruling Is Put On Hold While Trump Administration Appeals, Wall St. J. (May 29, 2025), https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-administration-races-to-stop-bombshell-tariff-ruling4501e4fe?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqco-XJ2K9ZJ2Gu2VMW-_g26aCGnHx91D4G737_J14rc5ahqckiYOLP7VQ22hp4%3D&gaa_ts=691ce6eb&gaa_sig=fVAVq-tvprhYtQQvDEQK7IhiD81_CdtLvzxApZ7r98ZtSF7-D3Q-2fAcpXeht8IIYhFQdTVYLmCD5IFhE_g9w%3D%3D
6 Ben Berkowitz, Treasury Would Face "Terrible" Tariff Refund Hit on SCOTUS Loss, Bessent Says, Axios (Sept. 7, 2025).
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Original text here: https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=83E4B9E7-5D7D-45DE-862E-B4620EBEC6C5
