U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
House Overwhelmingly Passes Smith Bill to Reauthorize and Strengthen U.S. International Religious Freedom Board
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:* * *
House overwhelmingly passes Smith bill to reauthorize and strengthen U.S. international religious freedom board
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2026 (HR 1744), legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to extend and authorize annual appropriations for USCIRF through fiscal year 2028.
During the floor debate on HR 1744, Smith reiterated the necessity of continued ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026: * * * House overwhelmingly passes Smith bill to reauthorize and strengthen U.S. international religious freedom board The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2026 (HR 1744), legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to extend and authorize annual appropriations for USCIRF through fiscal year 2028. During the floor debate on HR 1744, Smith reiterated the necessity of continuedfederal funding for the Commission: "USCIRF's high-quality reporting and high-profile commissioners influence the State Department's work on religious freedom, making it more transparent, honest and effective.
"The Commission defends the universal right to freedom of religion abroad. It sponsors hearings, fact-finding trips, and reviews reports of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations," the leading human rights lawmaker continued.
Ahead of yesterday's vote, HR 1744 had garnered significant bipartisan backing, including from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), who wrote a letter in support of USCIRF and urged lawmakers to vote "yes" on the legislation:
"The Catholic Church has long viewed religious freedom as a basic human right since it is rooted in the dignity of the human person and is critical to the health of societies. Over the years, USCCB has advocated strongly for the mission of USCIRF because of its critical role in promoting human rights around the world by monitoring and promoting religious freedom. At a time when international religious freedom is increasingly imperiled, it is vital that USCIRF be reauthorized so that it can continue to highlight the need to protect those who are discriminated against, harassed and even killed for their faith."
USCIRF, an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency designed to promote religious freedom, was created through the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 (PL 105-292), of which Smith was an original cosponsor. The law instituted a strong, coordinated U.S. government response for addressing and combatting worldwide religious persecution, establishing numerous religious freedom-focused offices and positions at the State Department and the National Security Council.
"[The IRFA of 1998] created a system for naming and taking action against Countries of Particular Concern, or CPCs," Smith said on the House floor. "History has shown that when the U.S. elevates religious freedom and that priority is conveyed to Countries of Particular Concern, conditions often change for the better, prisoners of conscience gain their freedom and progress is made toward freer exercise of religious liberty."
Smith is also the author of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (PL 114-281), which updated the IRFA of 1998 to enhance and expand United States' actions to advance religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy, training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts.
"Since its founding, USCIRF has issued 27 annual reports and recommended that 26 countries be designated CPCs--18 of them have ultimately been designated by the State Department," noted Smith, who has chaired more than 30 congressional hearings on the state of religious persecution throughout the globe.
A notable and recent example of the State Department implementing USCIRF's recommendations for CPC status is the case of Nigeria, where thousands of Christians and non-radical Muslims are executed by Islamist extremists for their religious beliefs every year.
"USCIRF recommended Nigeria for the CPC list in 2009 and has done so every year since. But, the Obama Administration would not make the designation," stated Smith. "The first Trump Administration got it done in 2020, but the Biden Administration returned to the Democratic position of attributing this horrific modern martyrdom to climate change and tribal conflict.
"The second Trump Administration restored Nigeria to the CPC list last year. Through it all, USCIRF recommended CPC status, calling it like it is and pulling no punches," asserted the senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
"USCIRF is a genuinely independent force, a constructive influence on the State Department... USCIRF is important to millions of people of all faiths. I therefore ask all our colleagues to join us in reauthorizing it for two more years," concluded Smith.
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Original text here: https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415696
Heinrich Leads Letter Urging Secretary Wright to Reverse Course on Illegal Guidance for the Home Energy Rebate Program, Allow Working Families the Freedom to Purchase Energy Appliances That Lower Their Utility Bills
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:* * *
Heinrich Leads Letter Urging Secretary Wright to Reverse Course on Illegal Guidance for the Home Energy Rebate Program, Allow Working Families the Freedom to Purchase Energy Appliances That Lower Their Utility Bills
Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led ten Senate Democrats in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026: * * * Heinrich Leads Letter Urging Secretary Wright to Reverse Course on Illegal Guidance for the Home Energy Rebate Program, Allow Working Families the Freedom to Purchase Energy Appliances That Lower Their Utility Bills Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led ten Senate Democrats in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)Secretary Chris Wright opposing DOE's new High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) program guidance.
The home energy rebate program is based on Heinrich's Zero-Emission Homes Act, which he authored in 2021 and fought for the inclusion of in the Inflation Reduction Act. The program, as Heinrich intended, would help families with the upfront costs of high-efficiency electric home appliances, delivering lower costs for New Mexico families, making homes healthier and more comfortable, and giving more people the freedom to choose the appliances that work for them.
By prohibiting families from using the program to update their gas appliances with electric appliances, DOE's guidance reflects the exact opposite of Congress' intent in creating the program.
"We write to express strong opposition to the Department of Energy's (DOE) new High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) program guidance. Congress authorized and provided $4.28 billion to the HEEHR program to ensure that Americans could purchase more efficient appliances and install home upgrades. This voluntary program saves households around $1,000 annually on their energy bills. Because unlike one-time payments, efficiency upgrades provide relief for decades, locking in long-term, predictable savings for American families," Heinrich and his colleagues began.
"The Department's guidance released earlier this month prohibits families from using the program to update their gas appliances with electric appliances," the senators noted. "The statute explicitly states that rebates can be used 'to replace a nonelectric appliance.' DOE does not have the authority to rewrite the statute through guidance. At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, this Administration should be focused on making energy affordable - not hamstringing one of the few programs that puts money directly in families' pockets."
"The Department's recently released guidance will halt HEEHR programs already operating in 12 states as state energy offices race to comply, and delay approval for dozens of states that have been ready to launch since the beginning of this Administration," the senators continued.
The lawmakers concluded the letter urging Secretary Wright to reverse course and "implement the program as Congress intended."
The letter is led by Heinrich and signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono, (D- Hawaii), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
In 2024, Heinrich celebrated the launch of the home energy rebate program he authored and fought to secure in the Inflation Reduction Act. At the time, New Mexico was the third state in the nation to launch the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) portion of the rebate program - and the first to do so at the point-of-sale in retail stores. In New Mexico, the program offers eligible households up to $14,000 to help with the purchase of clean and efficient home appliances, including up to $8,000 for heat pumps, $1,750 for a heat pump water heater, and $4,000 for panel/service upgrades.
In July 2023, Heinrich welcomed the U.S. Department of Energy's announced guidance for State and Territorial Energy Offices on the implementation of the Home Energy Rebates Programs. In December 2022, Heinrich announced that $87,742,040 will be available to the State of New Mexico and Tribes in the state to establish the Home Energy Rebates Program, which also includes the Home Efficiency Rebates Program that allows States, Territories, and Tribes to create rebates to help reduce the upfront cost of whole-home energy efficiency upgrades in both single-family and multi-family homes.
Read the full letter here (https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/AB08BE9E-5E2A-4F60-8A31-7B45F248C0F1) and below:
Secretary Wright:
We write to express strong opposition to the Department of Energy's (DOE) new High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) program guidance. Congress authorized and provided $4.28 billion to the HEEHR program to ensure that Americans could purchase more efficient appliances and install home upgrades. This voluntary program saves households around $1,000 annually on their energy bills. Because unlike one-time payments, efficiency upgrades provide relief for decades, locking in long term, predicable savings for American families.
The Department's guidance released earlier this month prohibits families from using the program to update their gas appliances with electric appliances. This not only eliminates consumer choice, but goes against Congressional intent and the letter of the law. The statute explicitly states that rebates can be used "to replace a nonelectric appliance." DOE does not have the authority to rewrite the statute through guidance. At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, this Administration should be focused on making energy affordable -- not hamstringing one of the few programs that puts money directly in families' pockets.
The Department's recently released guidance will halt HEEHR programs already operating in 12 states as state energy offices race to comply, and delay approval for dozens of states that have been ready to launch since the beginning of this Administration. Rather than clearing this backlog and getting funding out the door, DOE has issued illegal restrictions that will reduce consumer choice and delay much needed resources.
We urge you to immediately reverse course and implement the HEEHR program as Congress intended.
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Original text here: https://www.energy.senate.gov/2026/6/heinrich-leads-letter-urging-secretary-wright-to-reverse-course-on-illegal-guidance-for-the-home-energy-rebate-program-allow-working-families-the-freedom-to-purchase-energy-appliances-that-lower-their-utility-bills
Khanna, Moolenaar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reshore America's Magnet Supply Chain
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:* * *
Khanna, Moolenaar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reshore America's Magnet Supply Chain
Today, Ranking Member Ro Khanna and Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party introduced legislation that would create tax credits to support American magnet production and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026: * * * Khanna, Moolenaar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reshore America's Magnet Supply Chain Today, Ranking Member Ro Khanna and Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party introduced legislation that would create tax credits to support American magnet production anda domestic magnet supply chain. The Magnets Value Chain Support Act of 2026 would help reshore the magnet supply chain, from rare earth oxide production all the way through to magnet manufacturing and into the motors and defense systems that depend on magnets. This would reduce America's dangerous dependence on China for components essential to economic and national security.
"For too long, the United States has watched an essential industry move overseas, leaving us woefully dependent on China. The Magnets Value Chain Support Act will level the playing field. It will address a critical chokepoint by rebuilding the entire magnet supply chain here at home and creating incentives for American magnet production that power everything from electric vehicles to military systems. By supporting American workers, this legislation will meet the growing demand for these essential technologies," said Ranking Member Khanna.
"Magnets are in the technology Americans rely on every day, and right now, China controls over 90 percent of the supply chain for these critical components. China spent decades deliberately cornering the magnet market, and last year it weaponized that leverage to restrict rare earth exports essential to our defense systems and broader economy. This bill creates the market incentives needed to reshore a vital supply chain and helps ensure American manufacturers lead the growing future of magnet production," said Chairman Moolenaar.
What the Bill Does
Establishes the Magnet Value Chain Support Credit -- a tiered per-kilogram production credit covering each upstream chokepoint in the supply chain: rare earth oxide production ($5/kg), magnet metal metallization ($15-$25/kg), Tier 1 high-performance permanent magnet manufacturing ($20-$30/kg), Tier 2 defense-grade permanent magnet manufacturing ($33-$40/kg), and a technology-neutral rare-earth-free pathway ($20/kg) for qualifying alternative chemistries.
* Establishes the Domestic Magnet Input Usage Credit -- a demand-side credit equal to 15 percent of documented purchase price of qualifying U.S.-produced permanent magnets for U.S. motor manufacturers, phasing to zero by 2039 as the domestic industry matures.
* Requires magnet manufacturers claiming production credits to maintain three percent of annual production capacity in an available, unencumbered state for DPAS-rated defense orders -- ensuring defense motor manufacturers are not crowded out by commercial demand.
* Bars all credits for any material produced, processed, purchased from, or sold to a Prohibited Foreign Entity at any point in the supply chain.
* Limits credits to U.S. manufacturing activity, with partner country inputs from NATO allies, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, and Secretary of Treasury-designated facilities.
Background
Permanent magnets enable the motors, generators, and actuators moving electric vehicles, wind turbines, industrial robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, guided munitions, and advanced defense platforms. China produces over 90 percent of the world's rare earth permanent magnets -- a position achieved through a decades-long state-directed strategy documented in the Select Committee on China's bipartisan investigation, "Predatory Pricing: How the Chinese Communist Party Manipulates Global Mineral Prices to Maintain Its Dominance." In 2025, China escalated that leverage by restricting exports of dysprosium and terbium, the heavy rare earths essential to the highest-performance defense-grade magnets, disrupting U.S. production lines and exposing the fragility of American supply chain dependence.
Global permanent magnet demand is projected to more than double by 2035 -- from approximately 260,000 metric tons today to over 600,000 metric tons. Without targeted market-oriented incentives, virtually all of that growth will be captured by Chinese state-backed producers, locking in supply chain dependence for a generation.
A copy of the legislation is available here (https://files.constantcontact.com/f0eecb46901/cd5225bf-e96d-450f-a7fe-ebc670e89fbb.pdf).
Endorsements for the Magnets Value Chain Support Act
"This is a sensible bipartisan approach to strengthening a critical industry that is central to both America's economic competitiveness and national security. The policy helps catalyze the momentum already underway to rebuild domestic supply chains while rewarding companies investing in American manufacturing capacity." -- Matt Sloustcher, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, MP Materials
"Vulcan Elements supports the bipartisan introduction of the Magnets Value Chain Support Act of 2026 by Chairman Moolenaar, Ranking Member Khanna, and the House Select Committee on China. The bill represents an important step toward securing a reliable, domestic rare earth magnet supply chain independent of China that ensures the United States has the critical materials and components it needs to win the 21st century's key technology races. By incentivizing both manufacturers and consumers of rare earth magnets and their upstream suppliers to develop a domestic capability, the Select Committee is advancing U.S. national security and protecting against Chinese economic aggression." - Vulcan Elements CEO John Maslin
"Rare earth permanent magnets are essential for defense, aerospace, automotive, energy, and industrial applications. The Magnet Value Chain Support Act of 2026 will promote domestic production of these critical rare earth permanent magnet solutions. This legislation is vital to ensuring U.S. national security and a resilient industrial base." - Scott Pelhank, Vice President, of eVAC Magnetics
"China is trying to lock up the global supply of rare earth magnets that are essential to automotive manufacturing in America. Reps. Moolenaar and Khanna are right: It's critical to reduce dependence on China. They have a plan to increase domestic production of rare earth magnets with targeted incentives that support investment, innovation and supply chain resiliency here at home. This is a strategy to strengthen American competitiveness and protect our economic and national security." - John Bozzella, President and CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
"The Magnets Value Chain Support Act of 2026 will help manufacturers of electric motors and other electrical products using permanent magnets diversify their supply chains and enhance domestic manufacturing. As electrical manufacturers ramp up production to meet rising energy demand, legislation like this strengthens the U.S. manufacturing base and builds more resilient supply chains. NEMA appreciates Reps. Moolenaar and Khanna for introducing this critical legislation, and we look forward to working with Congress as the bill advances through the legislative process." - Spencer Pederson, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
"Niron Magnetics proudly endorses this legislation as a defining moment for America's permanent magnet supply chain. This bill reflects the kind of comprehensive, forward-looking thinking that our national competitiveness demands. Congress is sending a powerful signal to innovators, manufacturers, and investors: America will back the best technology and ensure that no single point of failure can threaten our industrial capabilities. That is exactly the right approach. We are proud to support this legislation, which will ensure the next generation of permanent magnets is designed, developed, and manufactured right here in the United States." - Mark Schramek, Vice President of Government Affairs, Niron Magnetics
"Rare earth permanent magnet production is overwhelmingly dominated by China, creating a supply-chain bottleneck and posing a serious national security risk. Through targeted tax credits, the bipartisan Magnets Value Chain Support Act would incentivize greater production of these critical resources and reward manufacturers who use domestically-produced permanent magnets. We thank Chairman Moolenaar and Ranking Member Khanna for their leadership on this important issue." - New American Industrial Alliance CEO Julius Krein
"FAI Action is pleased to support the Magnets Value Chain Support Act of 2026 and applaud Chairman Moolenaar and Ranking Member Khanna for their leadership in introducing this legislation. This bill recognizes the critical role magnets play in our economy and the urgency of acting now to ensure China cannot lock in a permanent advantage over this critical supply chain. The proposed 45BB Production Tax Credit and 45CC Downstream Manufacturing Tax Credit, coupled with strong FEOC restrictions, will ensure that the United States is positioned to meet surging demand for the technology. We look forward to working with Chairman Moolenaar, Ranking Member Khanna, and the Select Committee to ensure this critical piece of legislation is enacted into law." - FAI Action
"The American Critical Minerals Association strongly supports this forward looking legislation establishing a tax credit for the rare earth and permanent magnet supply chain. Rare earth elements and permanent magnets are essential to advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies, and U.S. defense systems, yet the nation remains heavily dependent on foreign sources for these critical inputs. China currently controls an estimated 80-90 percent of global rare earth processing and permanent magnet production, creating a strategic vulnerability for the United States and its allies. This bill is a meaningful step toward rebuilding domestic capacity, driving investment, and strengthening resilient supply chains vital to America's economic competitiveness and national security. We commend lawmakers for advancing policies that restore U.S. leadership in this critical sector." - Sarah Venuto, Executive Director, American Critical Minerals Association
Supporting Organizations
Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE)
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Original text here: https://democrats-selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/media/press-releases/khanna-moolenaar-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-reshore-americas-magnet
Congressional Democrats Release GAO Report Detailing Dangerous Expansion of Immigration Detention Under Trump
WASHINGTON, June 10 (TNSbrep) -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, posted the following news release on June 9, 2026:* * *
Congressional Democrats Release GAO Report Detailing Dangerous Expansion of Immigration Detention Under Trump
Today, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the release of the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) newly-completed report examining the Trump Administration's immigration detention expansion, specifically regarding waste and performance ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 (TNSbrep) -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, posted the following news release on June 9, 2026: * * * Congressional Democrats Release GAO Report Detailing Dangerous Expansion of Immigration Detention Under Trump Today, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the release of the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) newly-completed report examining the Trump Administration's immigration detention expansion, specifically regarding waste and performanceissues at Camp East Montana.
The report was also originally requested by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
"Not only did DHS and the inexperienced and unqualified contractor it hired waste millions in taxpayer funds to hastily open Camp East Montana for Trump's mass deportations, those housed at this facility faced horrific conditions and inadequate medical care that led to multiple deaths. Those in the Federal government's care must be treated humanely and must be provided medical care, sanitary conditions as well as safety and security. We must hold DHS to account for its treatment of migrants and its flagrant waste of taxpayer funds," said Thompson.
"This report is damning. We now know even more details of how dangerous and irresponsible the Trump Administration's mass deportation campaign truly is. Not only is the Administration often wrongly detaining people, those detained are experiencing conditions that shock the conscience. Excessive use of force, lacking medical and mental health care, and wasted taxpayer dollars are emblematic of this mass deportation scheme. The American people have rightfully expressed outrage at these policies, and it's time to hold ICE and their private contractors responsible," said Durbin.
"This report is an indictment of the Department of Defense under President Trump. I'm deeply disturbed that the United States military is financing detention camps on American soil and doing so without basic safeguards to protect human life or taxpayer dollars. Preventable deaths, inhumane conditions, and millions of dollars in waste are the direct result of the Pentagon cutting corners and handing a billion-dollar contract to an inexperienced vendor that wrote its own performance standards. My colleagues and I are demanding answers from the Department of Defense," said Reed.
"This report details alarming shortcuts taken by the Department of Defense, ICE and the contractor that led to inhumane conditions, inadequate medical care, and multiple deaths that could have been prevented, all while charging taxpayers exorbitant fees," said Peters. "The federal government has a responsibility to provide appropriate care and safe conditions for people in its custody - but this is just the latest disturbing example of troubling conditions across numerous ICE facilities. I will continue pushing for strong oversight and accountability of the Administration's detention operations."
The report finds that Camp East Montana, ICE's largest-ever detention facility--a 5,000-bed soft-sided camp on Fort Bliss in El Paso created in a hurried effort to detain immigrants--wasted tens of millions in taxpayer funds, opened without meeting basic detention standards, and has had serious ongoing performance and oversight issues related to health care, use of force, and suicide prevention.
The report details disturbing incidents at the facility:
* a detainee was killed in a use-of-force incident the county coroner ruled a homicide and in which related evidence was missing or destroyed;
* a detainee died by suicide after being placed in the wrong room and left unmonitored;
* a TB-positive detainee was housed in general population after the contractor skipped required testing;
* detainees with diabetes and HIV did not have treatment plans; and,
* a loaded firearm was lost inside the facility and never recovered.
The report ties these failures in part to a rushed contracting process in which the Army used a military logistics vehicle never designed for detention (WEXMAC), selected an inexperienced contractor based on lowest price available, cut ICE's own contracting experts out of the process, and handed ICE a $1.3 billion contract it didn't design and couldn't enforce.
As ICE finalizes the terms of a new contract, GAO warns that incorporating GAO's recommendations is essential. In addition, GAO points out that ICE's planned facility expansion--a $38 billion program to convert warehouses into detention facilities using the same contracting vehicle--risks repeating every one of these failures at a dramatically larger scale.
A copy of the final report can be found here (https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108886).
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Original text here: https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/news/press-releases/congressional-democrats-release-gao-report-detailing-dangerous-expansion-of-immigration-detention-under-trump
Congressional Democrats Release GAO Report Detailing Dangerous Expansion Of Immigration Detention Under Trump
WASHINGTON, June 10 (TNSbrep) -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:* * *
Congressional Democrats Release GAO Report Detailing Dangerous Expansion Of Immigration Detention Under Trump
Sens. Durbin, Reed, Peters, Rep. Thompson release damning findings on hurried efforts to expand immigration detention, wasted tens of millions in taxpayer funds, failures to meet basic detention standards, and serious ongoing performance and oversight issues
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Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 (TNSbrep) -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026: * * * Congressional Democrats Release GAO Report Detailing Dangerous Expansion Of Immigration Detention Under Trump Sens. Durbin, Reed, Peters, Rep. Thompson release damning findings on hurried efforts to expand immigration detention, wasted tens of millions in taxpayer funds, failures to meet basic detention standards, and serious ongoing performance and oversight issues - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL),Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the release of the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) newly-completed report examining the Trump Administration's immigration detention expansion, specifically regarding waste and performance issues at Camp East Montana.
In addition to Durbin, the report was originally requested by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC); and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee.
"This report is damning. We now know even more details of how dangerous and irresponsible the Trump Administration's mass deportation campaign truly is. Not only is the Administration often wrongly detaining people, those detained are experiencing conditions that shock the conscience. Excessive use of force, lacking medical and mental health care, and wasted taxpayer dollars are emblematic of this mass deportation scheme. The American people have rightfully expressed outrage at these policies, and it's time to hold ICE and their private contractors responsible," said Durbin.
"This report is an indictment of the Department of Defense under President Trump. I'm deeply disturbed that the United States military is financing detention camps on American soil and doing so without basic safeguards to protect human life or taxpayer dollars. Preventable deaths, inhumane conditions, and millions of dollars in waste are the direct result of the Pentagon cutting corners and handing a billion-dollar contract to an inexperienced vendor that wrote its own performance standards. My colleagues and I are demanding answers from the Department of Defense," said Reed.
"This report details alarming shortcuts taken by the Department of Defense, ICE and the contractor that led to inhumane conditions, inadequate medical care, and multiple deaths that could have been prevented, all while charging taxpayers exorbitant fees," said Peters. "The federal government has a responsibility to provide appropriate care and safe conditions for people in its custody - but this is just the latest disturbing example of troubling conditions across numerous ICE facilities. I will continue pushing for strong oversight and accountability of the Administration's detention operations."
"Not only did DHS and the inexperienced and unqualified contractor it hired waste millions in taxpayer funds to hastily open Camp East Montana for Trump's mass deportations, those housed at this facility faced horrific conditions and inadequate medical care that led to multiple deaths. Those in the Federal government's care must be treated humanely and must be provided medical care, sanitary conditions as well as safety and security. We must hold DHS to account for its treatment of migrants and its flagrant waste of taxpayer funds," said Thompson.
The report finds that Camp East Montana, ICE's largest-ever detention facility--a 5,000-bed soft-sided camp on Fort Bliss in El Paso created in a hurried effort to detain immigrants--wasted tens of millions in taxpayer funds, opened without meeting basic detention standards, and has had serious ongoing performance and oversight issues related to health care, use of force, and suicide prevention.
The report details disturbing incidents at the facility:
* a detainee was killed in a use-of-force incident the county coroner ruled a homicide and in which related evidence was missing or destroyed;
* a detainee died by suicide after being placed in the wrong room and left unmonitored;
* a TB-positive detainee was housed in general population after the contractor skipped required testing;
* detainees with diabetes and HIV did not have treatment plans; and,
* a loaded firearm was lost inside the facility and never recovered.
The report ties these failures in part to a rushed contracting process in which the Army used a military logistics vehicle never designed for detention (WEXMAC), selected an inexperienced contractor based on lowest price available, cut ICE's own contracting experts out of the process, and handed ICE a $1.3 billion contract it didn't design and couldn't enforce.
As ICE finalizes the terms of a new contract, GAO warns that incorporating GAO's recommendations is essential. In addition, GAO points out that ICE's planned facility expansion--a $38 billion program to convert warehouses into detention facilities using the same contracting vehicle--risks repeating every one of these failures at a dramatically larger scale.
* * *
A copy of the final report can be found here (https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108886).
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Original text here: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/congressional-democrats-release-gao-report-detailing-dangerous-expansion-of-immigration-detention-under-trump
Chairman Graham Statement on House Passage of the Secure America Act
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement on June 9, 2026:* * *
Chairman Graham Statement on House Passage of the Secure America Act
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today made this statement following the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Secure America Act. It now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.
"I applaud my House Republican colleagues for their swift passage of the Secure America Act. Despite Democrat efforts ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement on June 9, 2026: * * * Chairman Graham Statement on House Passage of the Secure America Act U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today made this statement following the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Secure America Act. It now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. "I applaud my House Republican colleagues for their swift passage of the Secure America Act. Despite Democrat effortsto shut down ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans have now fully funded these agencies through President Trump's entire second term to the tune of nearly $70 billion.
"Thanks to President Trump, our border has gone from its weakest point to its most secure point in less than two years. This bill fulfills the mandate given to us by the American people and ensures we won't go back to the failed immigration policies of the Biden Administration.
"Well done to President Trump, Speaker Johnson, Leader Thune and all involved in getting this legislation over the finish line."
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Original text here: https://www.budget.senate.gov/chairman/newsroom/press/chairman-graham-statement-on-house-passage-of-the-secure-america-act
Chairman Babin Congratulates Artemis III Crew on Selection for Historic Mission
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:* * *
Chairman Babin Congratulates Artemis III Crew on Selection for Historic Mission
Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin congratulated the Artemis III crew following NASA's announcement of the astronauts selected for the mission.
"Congratulations to Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, Mission Specialist Frank Rubio, Mission Specialist Andre Douglas, and Backup Crew Member Bob Hines ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026: * * * Chairman Babin Congratulates Artemis III Crew on Selection for Historic Mission Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin congratulated the Artemis III crew following NASA's announcement of the astronauts selected for the mission. "Congratulations to Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, Mission Specialist Frank Rubio, Mission Specialist Andre Douglas, and Backup Crew Member Bob Hineson your selection to the Artemis III mission," said Chairman Babin. "Following the success of Artemis II, you are preparing to carry forward America's proud legacy of exploration and help advance our nation's deep space ambitions. As you begin training for this mission, know that you have my prayers and the support of the American people.
"Artemis is about more than returning astronauts to the Moon--it is about securing American leadership in space, maintaining our strategic advantage over China, and ensuring the next great chapter of exploration is led by the United States. The nation that leads in space will help shape the future of science, technology, economic growth, and national security, and America must remain at the forefront.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to help ensure the success of Artemis and sustain America's leadership in space. May your mission inspire future generations to dream boldly, explore fearlessly, and push the boundaries of what is possible."
Artemis III will build on the success of Artemis II and mark another important step in America's return to the Moon. The mission will advance scientific discovery, strengthen partnerships with our allies, and demonstrate capabilities needed for future lunar surface missions. Together with the Artemis missions that follow, it will help establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon and pave the way for future exploration of Mars.
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Original text here: https://science.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D91CFDB1-E0C2-48AF-A349-5526B09FE6D5
At Senate Hearing, Peters Pushes for Harnessing Emerging Technology to Advance U.S. Transportation Industry
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:* * *
At Senate Hearing, Peters Pushes for Harnessing Emerging Technology to Advance U.S. Transportation Industry
Peters Again Called on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Federal Framework for Autonomous Vehicles to Improve Roadway Safety, Create American Jobs, and Cement U.S. Global Leadership in Mobility Innovation
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During a hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the subcommittee, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026: * * * At Senate Hearing, Peters Pushes for Harnessing Emerging Technology to Advance U.S. Transportation Industry Peters Again Called on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Federal Framework for Autonomous Vehicles to Improve Roadway Safety, Create American Jobs, and Cement U.S. Global Leadership in Mobility Innovation - During a hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the subcommittee,emphasized the need to harness new technologies to improve safety, lower costs, boost U.S. economic competitiveness, and create American jobs in the transportation industry. Peters also reiterated the need to ensure emerging technologies support, not replace, the transportation workforce.
"I have long advocated for harnessing technological innovation to combat the challenges we face in the transportation sector, from unsafe roads to harmful environmental impacts to freight and infrastructure challenges that raise prices for everyday Americans," Peters said in his opening remarks. "Technology has the potential to improve safety and productivity for American workers, including America's truck drivers, if we play our cards right. But technology should also create good-paying American jobs, which is why I believe we must develop and manufacture it here at home."
During the hearing, Peters also called for Congress to pass a bipartisan regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles (AV) to improve roadway safety, cement U.S. economic competitiveness, and protect American jobs. Throughout his time in the Senate, Peters has championed efforts to advance a set of "rules of the road" for AVs in the United States and repeatedly pushed for an AV regulatory framework to help usher in safe adoption of this technology.
"For years, I have said that Congress cannot continue to stand on the sidelines when it comes to these AVs. I believe we must pass a federal AV framework to harness the safety benefits of this technology, ensure that it is deployed responsibly, and cement U.S. leadership in the development, manufacturing, and deployment on our roads," said Peters.
Peters reiterated how AVs and other emerging vehicle technologies can make transportation safer for Americans across the United States.
Peters continued, "Every year, 40,000 Americans die on our highways, and nearly 1,000 die on our railways. These aren't just numbers, they are families that will never be whole again. We must take action, and we know that technology is certainly part of the solution. I believe it will require government, industry, labor, and advocates coming together to address this safety crisis and to ensure that technology is deployed across our transportation system in a way that benefits all Americans."
Peters also emphasized that leading the development and deployment of transportation technology is critical to U.S. national security.
"For example, today's vehicle technologies have advanced sensor suites that collect and utilize a huge amount of data, which would be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands," Peters said. "That's why I have pushed to keep Chinese vehicles and vehicle technologies out of the United States, and why I want to hear from our witnesses today about protecting Americans' data from exploitation by our adversaries as well as here at home."
Throughout his time in the Senate, Peters has consistently fought to support Michigan's automotive sector and advocated for responsible adoption of innovative vehicle technologies. During a hearing on autonomous vehicles earlier this year, Peters emphasized the need for the upcoming surface transportation bill to include policies to guide the safe deployment of AVs on our roads to ensure American innovators pave the way on autonomous technologies.
Leveraging his role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Peters has consistently fought to advance provisions in funding legislation to help accelerate the safe development of cutting-edge vehicle technology. This includes $13.9 million secured in recent funding legislation for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Automation Safety and $3.5 million for NHTSA's Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS) Program, which focuses on collaboration between automakers and federal agencies to share data on, and improve the performance of, advanced driver assistance systems. In 2025, he also introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow NHTSA to expand its research of emerging driver assistance systems, helping to improve roadway safety for Americans.
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Original text here: https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-at-senate-hearing-peters-pushes-for-harnessing-emerging-technology-to-advance-us-transportation-industry
Assistant Secretary of VA for Accountability & Whistleblower Protection Nominee Tierney Testifies Before Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Michael Tierney, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs for accountability and whistleblower protection, from a June 3, 2026, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and Members of the Committee -- thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It is a genuine honor.
I want to begin by acknowledging my family members who are here with me today. My wife of 26 years, Margaret, and two of my children: my son Michael, a rising ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Michael Tierney, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs for accountability and whistleblower protection, from a June 3, 2026, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and Members of the Committee -- thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It is a genuine honor. I want to begin by acknowledging my family members who are here with me today. My wife of 26 years, Margaret, and two of my children: my son Michael, a risingsecond class midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, and my younger daughter Caroline, a rising freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. My older daughter Madeleine is preparing for her graduation at The University of Chicago where she is a business economics major.
Thanks, also, to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Douglas A. Collins for their confidence in me.
There is a quote often attributed to Sir Thomas More, the English lawyer and philosopher, that has relevance today: "In matters of law, morality aside, one must remember that the law itself is the foundation of justice, and all who practice it must not evade it." In the practice of being a lawyer, I was reminded daily of the importance of the principle to simply follow the law.
My legal career spans 30 years -- first as a litigator, then as a corporate attorney and senior partner at a Philadelphia law firm, then as in-house counsel to the Federal Government. I have led large teams through complex, high-stakes matters. In one of my larger engagements, I managed a team of 40 lawyers through my client's successful $560 million acquisition of Philadelphia's two major newspapers. I also represented the Delaware River Port Authority for more than 15 years, serving as senior outside counsel. Most recently, I have served as Deputy Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State, and previously, as Acting General Counsel at the U.S. Agency for International Development. These legal roles - both in private practice and as an in-house attorney - have shaped my evolution as a lawyer.
The Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) holds a statutorily mandated leadership and oversight role under the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017. Besides oversight and policy guidance to VA's distinct Administrations, the office which I hope to lead is responsible for following defined procedures for handling whistleblower disclosures and senior leader misconduct.
Running an organization with over 400,000 employees delivering direct services to some 9 million Veterans involves one of the Federal Government's most demanding missions. Yet, despite the unique challenges VA faces, Veterans, taxpayers, and VA staff alike all deserve an accountability office that functions with integrity, independence, and genuine commitment to their interests. President Trump and Congress created this office in a bipartisan fashion to protect Veterans. As the President said at the time, "With the creation of this office, we are sending a strong message: Those who fail our Veterans will be held, for the first time, accountable. At the same time, we will reward and retain the many VA employees who do a fantastic job."
I undertake this pursuit with great respect for OAWP's history of conducting investigations and protecting whistleblowers. This opportunity represents something more than a career step - it is something very personal. My father and two oldest brothers were Veterans, and as I mentioned, my son will one day be a Veteran.
For this reason alone, if confirmed, I commit to this Committee, to all Veterans, and to all VA employees, that I will work relentlessly to continue to improve efficiency within OAWP's operations and processes. As President Lincoln stated in his second inaugural address near the end of the Civil War, the country's duty is "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan." These words are inscribed near the entrance to VA headquarters. They are not a suggestion. They are a promise - one that every function of this Department, including OAWP, exists to keep.
I will pursue that mission zealously and professionally.
Finally, if confirmed, I will work - in conjunction with this Committee - to continue to improve efficiency within OAWP's operations and processes and address all matters independently, with a commitment to accountability and transparency. Serving and respecting our Veterans is our country's most sacred obligation. I am grateful for this opportunity to appear before you, and I welcome your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/F8182C05-14A8-48A4-8092-FB83060C8999
Agriculture Secretary Rollins Testifies Before House Agriculture Committee
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The House Agriculture Committee released the following testimony by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins from a June 4, 2026, hearing on supporting farmers and ranchers through trade, nutrition policy and farm security:* * *
Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished members of the Committee: I appreciate the opportunity to be back before you to provide an update on the Department of Agriculture since we last met nearly one year ago. I am proud of the work we are doing, under the bold leadership of President Trump, to put our hardworking farmers, ranchers, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The House Agriculture Committee released the following testimony by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins from a June 4, 2026, hearing on supporting farmers and ranchers through trade, nutrition policy and farm security: * * * Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished members of the Committee: I appreciate the opportunity to be back before you to provide an update on the Department of Agriculture since we last met nearly one year ago. I am proud of the work we are doing, under the bold leadership of President Trump, to put our hardworking farmers, ranchers,and rural communities back at the center of policymaking and the national conversation. Truly, it has never been more important that we continue to put first the men and women who work the land, tend livestock, and call the heartland home. As Thomas Jefferson correctly noted, agriculture is our "wisest pursuit." More than just an economically vital industry, it helps make our very freedom possible. If we wish future generations to enjoy the same blessings of liberty that have characterized our nation for 250 years, we must fight for the prosperity of American agriculture with every ounce of our being. That is exactly what we have done over the past 15 months, and it is what we will continue to do.
As many of you are aware, the Trump Administration inherited a farm economy that saw the cost of doing business skyrocket. Commodity prices plummeted from 30-year highs. Farm income experienced historic declines. And our farmers saw no new trade deals and inherited a forecasted $50 billion U.S. agricultural trade deficit.
From Day One, we went to work. By rightsizing government. By cutting red tape. By reforming and modernizing outdated programs and infrastructure. By expanding market opportunities for farmers both abroad and here at home. By restoring the integrity of programs under USDA's purview. By defending our producers from politically motivated lawfare. By making crystal clear that farm security is national security. And by taking some of the toughest, deep-seated threats to the very foundation of our freedom and prosperity head on.
Notably, President Trump has already secured 19 new trade deals and frameworks, cutting the forecasted agricultural trade deficit by nearly 42 percent. We have delivered more than $30 billion in timely assistance to farmers, and have combatted pest and disease threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza and New World screwworm to ensure our food supply remains safe, secure, and affordable. We have reformed the Adverse Effect Wage Rate to lower labor costs, and we have undertaken a massive reset of our nation's nutrition policy through the Make America Healthy Again agenda.
Further, President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts Act, as supported by House Republicans, delivered a much-needed landmark victory for farmers and ranchers, by increasing reference prices for the first time in over a decade, adding up to 30 million new base acres for farm safety net programs, saving two million family farms from the death tax, and providing greater program integrity for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other advantageous provisions.
While we have clearly made tremendous progress, I want to acknowledge that such a seismic reroute cannot happen overnight. As such, I hope we will continue to work together to build upon the great progress together. Since the beginning of second Trump administration, USDA's Office of Congressional Relations has processed over 2,400 Congressional inquiries and more than 300 Congressional letters. We have also helped provide over 400 congressional briefings, and have gladly taken countless phone calls, all in the spirit of working together collaboratively on behalf of our nation's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Putting Farmers First
Chief among our top priorities has been providing our farmers with the short-term support they need to survive. We have rapidly provided disaster and economic aid, ahead of our statutory deadlines. Through the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, we have also driven historic, targeted, and direct relief to farmers and ranchers. This is in addition to Congressionally directed programs such as the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), and the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP), just to name a few. Since January of 2025, USDA has delivered billions of dollars in assistance and support to American farmers to help them weather rising input costs, devastating storms, and unfair trade practices that have been levied against American producers for decades.
Our farmers deserve timely support and first-rate customer service. For too long, the status quo was slowing things down and driving costs up. The Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area alone was running on over 500 separate outdated systems, managed by more than 1,000 contractors, and costing taxpayers over $1 billion every year for FPAC IT alone. So, we took an assistance application system that was siloed, outdated, and burying our farmers in red tape, and we transformed it with our "One Farmer, One File" initiative that I introduced in February at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio. Now our farmers can utilize a single, streamlined record that follows them throughout the entire USDA system. Those who attended USDA Deputy Secretary Vaden's roundtable participated in a brief tutorial of the application, and we cordially invite any other interested member to visit either USDA headquarters or their local office and see the software in action.
The very first program running fully on this new platform was the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which committed $11 billion in targeted support to American row crop farmers. In the first four days after applications opened, we witnessed 50 times more producers sign up online than ECAP did over its entire five-month sign up period last year. Adoption is up over 5,000 percent and several billion dollars have already been obligated, faster than any program ever before.
As stated before, the Working Families Tax Cuts was the largest working-class tax cuts in history and championed several pro-farmer provisions, including historic reforms such as increasing reference prices for the first time in over a decade, improving crop insurance by enhancing coverage and lowering premiums, making the higher death tax exemption permanent for 2 million family farms, permanently doubling small business expensing under Section 179, and so much more.
Empowered by President Trump, we have implemented bold Deregulatory Agenda for American Agriculture and Consumers. Fewer onerous regulations means that our farmers, ranchers, and foresters have more freedom to do what they do best. For USDA specifically, we have proposed rules to speed up lines at poultry and swine processing plants, streamline seven separate USDA regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act into one rulemaking, and in partnership with Secretary Burgum and the Department of the Interior we are making it easier for livestock to graze on federal lands--just to name a few. Across the federal government, this administration has cut 129 regulations for every new one--netting $211.8 billion in cost savings.
Input costs remain top of mind for our farmers, including fertilizer availability. This is a long-term problem that demands both short- and long-term solutions across government for a now consolidated industry, which saw prices rise as much as 99% in little more than a year between January 2021 and April 2022. Indeed, the entire Cabinet is working on solutions. The 60-day Jones Act temporary waiver and subsequent 90-day extension that President Trump issued this spring boosts shipping flexibility from port to port, helping to ease short-term supply pressures. President Trump also directed EPA Administrator Zeldin to revise Diesel Exhaust Fluid regulations to better prioritize farmers' access to agricultural productivity and equipment reliability over climate change mandates. The administration recently lifted sanctions on Venezuela to catalyze additional investment capacity, another meaningful short-term action. And just last week, the Department of Transportation waived trucking Hours of Service Rules. This common sense 90-day waiver is ensuring the supply chain stays resilient by enabling greater operational flexibility across over 30 states to facilitate U.S. production and distribution of critical fertilizer products. This step is vitally important, as over 50 percent of all fertilizer tonnage moves by truck, and all fertilizer touches a truck at least once.
And while it has been a busy first half of the year in terms of our work to harness input costs, these efforts were well under way last year. In September 2025, USDA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division to ensure that farmers have access to competitive, affordable, inputs.
In addition to input costs, between 2020 and last year, labor costs increased 44%, partly thanks to a portion of the U.S. Department of Labor's 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rate rule that required unnecessarily high wages for workers on some farms. Thankfully, last August a federal court in Louisiana vacated the relevant portion of the rule, an important ameliorative measure after four years of the Biden Administration's disastrous labor policies. That's why USDA partnered with the Department of Labor to craft an Interim Final Rule that reformed the Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology for the H-2A program, saving farmers over $2 billion annually in labor costs.
Protecting and Promoting Livestock and Poultry
When I appeared before you last year, Americans were understandably concerned about the high price of eggs. From my first day in office, we went to work on an aggressive, five-pronged approach to combat avian flu and bring costs down. Our comprehensive $1 billion plan is working. We have doubled down on biosecurity and funded $100 million in innovative solutions through our HPAI Grand Challenge to see what additional tools we might be able to employ to combat this disease. Compared to this time last year, HPAI cases in commercial poultry and turkey flocks have decreased by 61%, with affected birds being reduced by 46%. That's significant for farmers who need certainty that their flocks won't get sick, and for American families that need affordable food. Since its peak last spring, the wholesale price of eggs has dropped over 90%. And speaking of affordability, the cost of other staples has continued to go down as well for everyday Americans. For example, a USDA Economic Research Service analysis of Circana retail scanner data from the week of May 10, 2026, shows the cost of fresh berries is down 13%, fresh avocados are down 19%, chicken breasts are down 2.4%, cheese is down 5.6%, and butter is down 13.4% all since the start of the Trump Administration.
Over the past year we have also worked at warp speed to ward off another major threat to our livestock producers: the New World screwworm. Since I was last before this committee, USDA has made substantial progress across both our offensive and defensive New World screwworm strategies. We have significantly expanded sterile fly dispersal capacity, advanced next generation tools, strengthened surveillance with more than 8,000 traps and more than 57,000 screenings along the border, and completed audits and rapid response actions inside Mexico. We thank our partners at the Department of Health and Human Services, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for nine emergency use authorizations and three conditional approvals for animal drugs to prevent or treat New World screwworm in multiple species. In February, I was with Governor Abbot to open a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas. In April, we officially broke ground on a new sterile fly production facility also in South Texas. By moving at Trump speed, this facility will be operational by the end of next year and able to produce 300 million sterile flies a week once at full capacity.
Finally, we are working with our partners across the government to do everything we can to manage and monitor the wildlife movement from Mexico into the United States. By bolstering our offensive and defensive capabilities and remaining vigilant against this threat to our ranchers, we continue to be ready in the event that screwworm comes north.
While we protect our producers here at home from threats to their operations, we are also promoting homegrown American meat, poultry, and egg products. On National Ag Day in March, USDA launched a national public awareness campaign to promote the voluntary "Product of the USA" label that went into effect on January 1, 2026. When consumers see this label on a meat, poultry, or processed egg product, they can be confident it was entirely born, raised, harvested, and processed here in the United States. No shortcuts. No exceptions. No confusion. And we are already seeing this voluntary label be adopted at ranches across the country. I saw it firsthand last week at Applewood Farm in Scott Township, Pennsylvania, on national television recently for direct-to-consumer sales such as with Riverbend Ranch, and even in grocery stores, including the local Fareway I visited in Des Moines last month. In the coming months, we will continue working with our producers, processors, and retailers to promote use of this label and help level the playing field for our farmers and ranchers by supporting products that are 100% American made.
Opening Markets for American Agriculture
We are also working nonstop to ensure our farmers can compete and win in global markets through America First trade policies that level the playing field. I am pleased to report that USDA, after inheriting a nearly $50 billion forecast agricultural trade deficit and zero new trade deals under the last Administration, predicts that the agricultural trade deficit will decrease by 42%. The Trump Administration has signed 9 new agreements on reciprocal trade, successfully securing zero-tariff access for U.S. products in a handful of countries like Indonesia as well as purchase commitments for cotton, soybeans, and wheat in markets like Bangladesh; and obtained billions of dollars' worth of investment commitments from countries like Japan. Just a few weeks ago, China also agreed to resume poultry imports from 17 states and renew listings for 425 U.S. beef facilities. For beef, this significant step is expected to restore up to $165 per head in added value for exports of variety of meats that are not preferred by U.S. consumers. This market access is an immediate win, but also a long-term win, as it provides consistency in exports so ranchers can have confidence to invest in their operations and rebuild the herd, which has seen historic lows.
Working with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, we've also supported wins for our producers through the elimination of non-tariff trade barriers. Apple producers from Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia can now sell their apples in Thailand, a $5 million opportunity. The new Namibia market also represents a $15 million opportunity for poultry growers in Georgia and Arkansas. We also convinced Australia to open the market for U.S. beef for the first time in two decades, Costa Rica to streamline its dairy access, Japan to recognize U.S. heat-treated poultry products and streamline import approvals for U.S. almonds, and India to reduce its bourbon tariff by 50 percent.
Looking ahead, USDA will continue to build on this momentum, improve foreign market access for U.S. producers, and address the remaining agricultural trade deficit. We still have more to do, but already these trade wins are supporting rural jobs and helping reduce the agricultural trade deficit.
Food and Nutrition
In partnership with Secretary Kennedy, I am proud to say President Trump is carrying out the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy through the Make America Healthy agenda. Whether flipping the traditional food pyramid upside down by prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, or finalizing stocking standards for authorized SNAP retailers, President Trump and my Cabinet colleagues are prioritizing better health. USDA's largest line item by far is what we spend on our nutrition programs, and taken together, USDA spent nearly $400 million dollars per day across our 16 nutrition programs in fiscal year 2025.
In each of these nutrition programs, we will continue to aggressively root out fraud and punish bad actors. For example, over the past year, USDA's Special Investigations Unit, in conjunction with Federal law enforcement partners and USDA's own Office of the Inspector General, has conducted operations targeting criminals that defraud taxpayers by stealing SNAP benefits. Already, we have made over 900 arrests, over 120 convictions, and $132 million in restitution. In recent months, USDA, together with partners in Federal law enforcement, coordinated retailer sweep operations across Cleveland, Cincinnati, Denver, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, and the District of Columbia. Hundreds of undercover investigations elicited dozens of administrative actions and disqualifications. Separately, this fiscal year to date, more than two thousand SNAP authorized retailers have committed program violations. My message has been clear: if you steal from the American taxpayer, you will be located, prosecuted, and punished. This work, and so much more to come, is highlighted through our partnership with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud led by the Vice President. As of February 2026, there are 4.9 million fewer Americans on SNAP than when President Trump took office. For the first time since 2020, the SNAP rolls are below 40 million. This positive trend aligns with strong employment numbers, and the reforms found in H.R. 1.
Protecting and Preserving American Farmland
From Day One I have also been clear that farm security is national security. Last summer, we launched our National Farm Security Action Plan that boldly integrates agriculture into a national security strategy for the first time ever. Our plan, which has largely already been implemented, treats foreign ownership of farmland, animal disease defense, and strengthened food supply chains as the major national security issues that they are.
Threats to our farmers have come not only from foreign nations, but from their own government as well. Previous administrations engaged in an unprecedented amount of lawfare and weaponization of government against rural America. To address this issue, last spring I worked with the Department of Justice to remove politically motivated criminal charges against the Maude family in South Dakota. They were caught up in a dispute over 25 acres their family had worked for decades. And in October, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and I saved Andy Henry's 175-year-old farm in Cranbury, New Jersey from eminent domain as the result of the state's unworkable housing mandate. These were significant victories, but our work isn't finished. We are currently fighting for Wade and Teresa King of Washington State, who have been targeted with $250,000 in fines by senior officials at the Washington Department of Ecology for normal ranching activities. We are also fighting for the farmers and ranchers in Potter Valley, California, who are facing the loss of two critical PG&E dams should the licenses go unrenewed.
All of this strong work is cataloged as part of USDA's Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework, which is designed to combat politically-motivated lawfare.
Right-Sizing the Department
Over the past year, USDA has initiated a comprehensive reorganization of our agency. Our goal is to align with President Trump's vision of right-sizing government and putting the taxpayer first. USDA's top priority is and always must be supporting the men and women of American agriculture. This reorganization will allow us to better serve that mission by streamlining runaway bureaucracy and moving core operations closer to the communities we serve. I was proud to announce the planned disposal of the South Building, signaling the beginning of the reorganization. Our proposed structural changes are long overdue and respond to years of fiscal pressures, workforce constraints, and rising operational demands.
Upon my arrival at the Department, we found that it was significantly overstaffed, over budget, and supportive of extraneous diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and climate programs irrelevant to supporting an America First agricultural policy. The prior administration had hired employees and created programs with abandon--and with no viable way to sustain them. For example, as a result of the unsustainable hiring, the previous administration secured voluntary separation approval for 7,000 Forest Service employees, many hired with temporary Inflation Reduction Act funds. This approval is one of many examples of how little the previous administration cared about its fiscal constraints. The reorganization currently underway corrects years of mismanagement, including the elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy and an aggressive review of the Department's physical footprint.
The Next 250 Years
Our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities serve the vital role of feeding, fueling, and clothing our entire nation and the world. Even more importantly, however, they sustain a set of values that make our very way of life possible, and our nation unlike any other. Like the pioneers who forged westward and settled this nation, our farmers and ranchers helped build civilization from wilderness, and to this day they fulfill God's command to till the earth. As we celebrate 250 years of freedom, including at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall this summer in front of the People's Department, I hope we will continue to fight together for the men and women who help make our country great. As St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, "let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart" (6:9). Thanks to President Trump's tireless dedication to our nation's farmers, ranchers, and producers, we are already reaping unprecedented accomplishments from coast to coast, but the best is yet to come.
I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/testimony_secretary-rollins_06.04.2026.pdf