U.S. Congress
Here's a look at documents from all members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate
Featured Stories
Grassley Statement on Attorney General Announcement
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Grassley Statement on Attorney General Announcement
BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement regarding President Trump's decision to nominate a new U.S. Attorney General:
"I want to thank Pam Bondi for her work leading the Justice Department. Over her tenure, Pam Bondi helped bring violent crime down to historic lows. Under her leadership, this Justice Department
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Grassley Statement on Attorney General Announcement
BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement regarding President Trump's decision to nominate a new U.S. Attorney General:
"I want to thank Pam Bondi for her work leading the Justice Department. Over her tenure, Pam Bondi helped bring violent crime down to historic lows. Under her leadership, this Justice Departmenthas been more responsive to my congressional oversight requests than any prior administration I've worked with - Republican or Democrat - and I expect that reputation to continue under Bondi's successor. Safety and transparency ought to remain the Justice Department's core focus.
"The Judiciary Committee stands ready to advance President Trump's next Attorney General nominee."
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Original text here: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/grassley-statement-on-attorney-general-announcement
Congressional Hispanic Caucus: Espaillat, Menendez Conduct Welfare Check on New Jersey Pastor Detained During Holy Week
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Espaillat, Menendez Conduct Welfare Check on New Jersey Pastor Detained During Holy Week
This Holy Thursday, Reps. Espaillat and Menendez visited Pastor Yeison Cortes Vasquez -- a pastor in ICE custody despite no criminal record, as faith leaders and churches are increasingly being targeted
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NEWARK, NJ - Today Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and Rob Menendez (NJ-08), CHC Vice Chair of Policy, gained access to Delaney
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Espaillat, Menendez Conduct Welfare Check on New Jersey Pastor Detained During Holy Week
This Holy Thursday, Reps. Espaillat and Menendez visited Pastor Yeison Cortes Vasquez -- a pastor in ICE custody despite no criminal record, as faith leaders and churches are increasingly being targeted
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NEWARK, NJ - Today Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and Rob Menendez (NJ-08), CHC Vice Chair of Policy, gained access to DelaneyHall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey to conduct a welfare check on Pastor Yeison Cortes Vasquez, a faith and community leader detained at the facility by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Pastor Cortez Vasquez, a New Jersey constituent of Congressman Menendez, remains in ICE custody despite having no criminal record and deep ties to his faith community. His bond hearing is scheduled for later today.
"The worst of the worst? We saw working men and women that were contributing to the economy of this nation. Is that the worst of the worst? We saw average people that are just trying to make better for their family, their children, their spouses. Is that the worst of the worst?" said CHC Chair Rep. Espaillat.
"I think that message was a lie, a blatant lie, and I'll go further: A betrayal to the underpinnings of our nation, which is to be a big tent nation where everybody is included. If you follow the law and you're on the path to regularizing your status, you should not be thrown into jail. Yeison Cortes Vasquez did not miss a court appointment and yet he was detained, handcuffed and arrested, and he is in jail today for something he did not do."
"Trump promised to focus immigration enforcement on violent criminals. Instead he is detaining beloved community members like Pastor Cortes Vazquez and keeping him away from his family and his congregation," said Rep. Menendez.
"Our team has been and will continue to work closely with faith leaders on the local and national level on securing Pastor Cortes Vazquez's release."
The members visited Pastor Cortes Vasquez's cell, which held ten men, six of whom showed symptoms of respiratory infection or irritation. Detainees complained about the quality of air, food and medical services in the facility.
In an hour-long conversation with Pastor Cortes Vasquez, Espaillat and Menendez learned he was denied access to his Bible for more than a week. Yet Pastor Cortes Vasquez remains in high spirits and is ministering to his fellow detainees this Holy Week.
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About the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is 43 members strong. The CHC serves as a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, please visit chc.house.gov.
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Original text here: https://chc.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/espaillat-menendez-conduct-welfare-check-new-jersey-pastor-detained
Committee Report: Trump Immigration Crackdown Gutting Workforce and Threatening Main Street
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, ranking member of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Committee Report: Trump Immigration Crackdown Gutting Workforce and Threatening Main Street
Today, House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) released a second staff report detailing how the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign is draining the American labor force and destabilizing the core sectors that power Main Street.
The report, The Dying American Dream and the Trump Administration,
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, ranking member of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Committee Report: Trump Immigration Crackdown Gutting Workforce and Threatening Main Street
Today, House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) released a second staff report detailing how the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign is draining the American labor force and destabilizing the core sectors that power Main Street.
The report, The Dying American Dream and the Trump Administration,Part II: Immigrant Workers, warns that the Trump administration's campaign of mass deportations and warrantless raids is a moral and economic crisis, systematically stripping small businesses of the staff they need to function and grow.
"Immigrant workers are the backbone of our small business economy. When the Trump Administration targets them with state-sponsored chaos, they are threatening the livelihoods of entrepreneurs across the country," said Velazquez. "This cruel, racist approach is bleeding our labor force dry and robbing citizens and immigrants of our collective economic future."
For decades, the U.S. economy has relied on foreign-born workers to fill critical gaps. Immigrants currently make up sizable shares of the civilian labor force in farming, construction, food preparation, and transportation. However, the Administration's management of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has resulted in high-profile raids and indiscriminate arrests that have, in some instances, resulted in the deaths of U.S.-born citizens.
Key Findings of the Report Include:
* Exacerbated Labor Shortages: Small businesses in construction, agriculture, and logistics are disproportionately impacted by the loss of immigrant staff, leaving employers struggling to fill thousands of lost man-hours.
* Slashed Worker Productivity: The physical and mental toll of abuse--and the constant fear of warrantless arrests--has severely degraded the productivity of the remaining workforce.
* Destabilized Federal Safety Nets: By expelling immigrant workers, the administration is undermining the U.S. health care system. Immigrants frequently pay more into federal health care programs and private insurance than they receive in benefits, effectively subsidizing care for all Americans.
* Stifled Macroeconomic Growth: The crackdown is preventing new commercial investment and slowing the overall growth of local economies by removing taxpayers and consumers from the marketplace.
* Systemic Failures at ICE and CBP: The report highlights an "entrenchment of poor practices" and a culture of abuse within enforcement agencies, necessitating major structural reforms.
Click here (https://democrats-smallbusiness.house.gov/uploadedfiles/immigrant_workers_staff_report_final.pdf) for a full copy of the report.
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Original text here: https://democrats-smallbusiness.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5180
Chairmen Steil, Jordan, and Comer Issue Statement Following New York Times Reporting That ActBlue May Have Misled Congress
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Administration Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Chairmen Steil, Jordan, and Comer Issue Statement Following New York Times Reporting that ActBlue May Have Misled Congress
Today, Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Committee on the Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (OH-04), and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (KY-01) issued the following statement after reporting from the New York Times alleged ActBlue may have misled Congress
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Administration Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Chairmen Steil, Jordan, and Comer Issue Statement Following New York Times Reporting that ActBlue May Have Misled Congress
Today, Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Committee on the Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (OH-04), and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (KY-01) issued the following statement after reporting from the New York Times alleged ActBlue may have misled Congresson how it vets foreign donations:
"Our investigation found ActBlue's internal fraud prevention measures were wholly insufficient for preventing illegal foreign campaign donations. Today's reporting reconfirms that finding and raises serious questions about whether ActBlue's CEO intentionally misled Congress at the onset of this investigation," said the Chairmen. "We will continue our investigation and keep all options on the table as we seek the truth."
The New York Times report is based on internal legal memos authored by the organization's former outside counsel, Covington and Burling. This firm employs several attorneys that previously held senior roles for Democrat government officials, including for President Biden.
According to the Times, the internal legal memos claimed that ActBlue did not always follow the fraud-prevention mechanisms detailed in ActBlue's initial response to Chairman Steil in 2023. The memos also allege that ActBlue staff were aware of the potential risks, which could pose additional legal issues given the contradictory statements made in the organization's 2023 response to Congress.
Background:
On October 31, 2023, following reports that ActBlue, a major Democratic fundraising platform, was accepting political contributions without a card verification value (CVV), Chairman Steil sent a letter demanding answers on ActBlue's practices, questioning if they are complying with federal campaign finance laws and preventing foreign and illegal contributions.
On November 27, 2023, ActBlue responded to Chairman Steil's letter saying it did not require a CVV in order to contribute on their website.
On September 6, 2024, Chairman Steil introduced H.R. 9488, the Secure Handling of Internet Electronic Donations (SHIELD) Act. The legislation prohibits political committees from accepting an online contribution unless the contributor provides the CVV and billing address associated with the card and from accepting online contributions from prepaid cards. It also adopts a top legislative recommendation from the FEC to prohibit individuals from knowingly aiding or abetting a person making a contribution in the name of another person.
On September 11, 2024, the SHIELD Act passed the Committee on House Administration by a voice-vote.
On September 18, 2024, Chairman Steil sent letters to the Attorneys General from Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri, updating them on the Committee's investigation into ActBlue. Along with the letter, the Attorneys General received the data and evidence that the Committee has collected over the course of almost a year.
On October 28, 2024, Chairman Steil sent a letter to ActBlue demanding documents and information related to the platform's donor verification policies and potential vulnerabilities that foreign actors may exploit to illegally participate in the U.S. political process.
On October 30, 2024, Chairman Steil issued a subpoena to ActBlue for documents related to ActBlue's donor verification policies and the potential for foreign actors to use the platform to launder illicit money into U.S. political campaigns.
On December 10, 2024, Chairman Steil released findings from his subpoena of ActBlue.
On March 10, 2025, Chairman Steil and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Rep. Langworthy sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting access to suspicious activity reports previously withheld by the Biden Administration.
On April 2, 2025, the Committee on House Administration, the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a joint interim staff report that revealed ActBlue made its fraud-prevention rules "more lenient" twice in 2024--even though there is extensive fraud on the platform, including from foreign sources.
On April 2, 2025, the Committee on House Administration, the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent a letter to ActBlue requesting documents and transcribed interviews.
On June 25, 2025, Chairmen Steil, Comer and Jordan issued two subpoenas, to a current and a former ActBlue employee, after they both failed to comply with the Committees' request for transcribed interviews.
On July 22, 2025, Chairmen Steil, Comer, and Jordan issued a subpoena to ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones for materials related to the Committees' investigation into the fundraising platform.
On September 4, 2025, Chairmen Steil, Comer and Jordan issued subpoenas to one current and two former employees at ActBlue to appear for depositions.
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Original text here: https://cha.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E7832F7D-4FA5-4F79-91B7-BB01323FA901
Chairman Guthrie Leads E&C Republicans in Letter to Secretary Duffy Praising Proposed Rule on CAFE Standards
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Chairman Guthrie Leads E&C Republicans in Letter to Secretary Duffy Praising Proposed Rule on CAFE Standards
Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a letter along with 28 Republican members of the Committee to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in support of the Trump Administration's proposed rule to address the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
The
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Chairman Guthrie Leads E&C Republicans in Letter to Secretary Duffy Praising Proposed Rule on CAFE Standards
Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led a letter along with 28 Republican members of the Committee to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in support of the Trump Administration's proposed rule to address the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
Theproposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reversing the overreach created by standards issued by the Biden-Harris Administration and ensuring that families--not politicians--pick the car that best serves their needs.
"The Biden-Harris Administration's NHTSA established unlawful fuel economy standards that served as a de facto electric vehicle mandate," said Chairman Guthrie. "The rule instituted aggressive fuel economy targets that could only be achieved through broad vehicle electrification, made improper assumptions on vehicle electrification, expressly considered 'dedicated automobiles,' and allowed consideration of the fuel economy credit program in establishing fuel economy standards."
Key excerpt from the letter:
"In June 2025, NHTSA appropriately concluded that the previous Administration's approach contradicted EPCA and exceeded the agency's authority. NHTSA's new proposal appropriately brings the CAFE program back in statutory compliance and aligns with congressional intent in establishing the program through setting achievable fuel economy targets, not picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and addressing credit trading.
"Even during a time when Americans were already struggling to afford groceries due to Biden-inflation, the Biden-Harris Administration plowed ahead with CAFE standards that were projected to increase the average cost of new motor vehicles. By contrast, your Department's proposed standards are estimated to save American families approximately $109 billion over the next five years. Regulatory costs often price consumers out of newer vehicles, meaning fewer Americans would have access to new motor vehicle safety technologies. The current proposal is estimated to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries by improving access to newer vehicles."
BACKGROUND:
* The Biden Administration used the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to impose de-facto EV mandates, driving up prices and reducing options for American families.
* When drivers aren't incentivized with taxpayer subsidized handouts to purchase an EV, their sales have plummeted. According to data from Cox Automotive, EVs totaled nearly 12% of the U.S. market in September, a record high. In January, that share dropped to 6%.
* By addressing fuel economy standards, President Trump and his administration are ensuring that Americans are not forced into purchasing costly EVs that they do not want to buy.
* By reducing costs and making newer, safer vehicles more affordable, this proposal is projected to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries.
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April 2, 2026
To: The Honorable Sean P. Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20590
Secretary Duffy:
We write to express our strong support for the Department of Transportation's (Department) proposed rule to reset the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The proposal appropriately realigns the CAFE program with the statutory framework established by Congress and addresses the substantial legal concerns with the Biden-Harris Administration's approach to fuel economy standards. Further, this rule addresses the urgent need to improve the affordability of automobiles in the United States.
NHTSA's authority to establish fuel economy standards originates from the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), which Congress further amended through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.1 EPCA directs NHTSA to establish "maximum feasible" fuel economy standards after considering factors such technological feasibility, economic practicability, impact of other federal motor vehicle standards, and energy conservation.2 The statute also prohibits consideration of the fuel economy of "dedicated automobiles," such as electric vehicles, as well fuel emissions credits, when determining such standards.3 Further, the statute requires that NHTSA must consider duel fueled vehicles operated solely on gasoline or diesel fuel.4
Despite these legal requirements, the Biden-Harris Administration's NHTSA established unlawful fuel economy standards that served as a de facto electric vehicle mandate.5 The rule instituted aggressive fuel economy targets that could only be achieved through broad vehicle electrification, made improper assumptions on vehicle electrification, expressly considered "dedicated automobiles," and allowed consideration of the fuel economy credit program in establishing fuel economy standards. All of these requirements conflict with the statute's explicit directives.6
In June 2025, NHTSA appropriately concluded that the previous Administration's approach contradicted EPCA and exceeded the agency's authority.7 NHTSA's new proposal appropriately brings the CAFE program back in statutory compliance and aligns with congressional intent in establishing the program through setting achievable fuel economy targets, not picking winners and losers in the marketplace, and addressing credit trading.8
Even during a time when Americans were already struggling to afford groceries due to Biden-inflation, the Biden-Harris Administration plowed ahead with CAFE standards that were projected to increase the average cost of new motor vehicles.9 By contrast, your Department's proposed standards are estimated to save American families approximately $109 billion over the next five years.10 Regulatory costs often price consumers out of newer vehicles, meaning fewer Americans would have access to new motor vehicle safety technologies. The current proposal is estimated to save more than 1,500 lives and prevent nearly 250,000 serious injuries by improving access to newer vehicles.11
We applaud the Trump Administration, the Department, and NHTSA for this proposal to reset fuel economy rules to achievable, workable levels that are consistent with the statute. The proposed reset will also provide much needed regulatory certainty to manufacturers and benefits to consumers. We urge the Department to expeditiously finalize the proposed rule, and we stand ready to support the Department in this effort.
Sincerely,
Brett Guthrie, Chairman, Energy and Commerce
Gus M. Bilirakis, Chairman, Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
H. Morgan Griffith, Chairman, Subcommittee on Health
Robert E. Latta, Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy
Richard Hudson, Chairman, Subcommittee on Communication and Technology
Gary Palmer, Chairman, Subcommittee on Environment
John Joyce, Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation
Neal P. Dunn, Vice Chairman, Energy and Commerce
Earl L. Buddy Carter, Member of Congress, Energy and Commerce
Randy K. Weber, Member of Congress, Energy and Commerce
Rick W. Allen, Member of Congress, Energy and Commerce
Troy Balderson, Member of Congress, Energy and Commerce
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1 49 U.S.C. Sec. 32902.
2 49 U.S.C. Sec. 32902(f).
3 49 U.S.C. Sec. 32902(h).
4 Id.
5 Diana Furchtgott-Roth and Andrew Weiss, CAFE Standards: From Energy-Security Measure to Backdoor EV Mandate (The Heritage Foundation, May 9, 2025), https://www heritage.org/energy/report/cafe-standards-energysecurity-measure-backdoor-ev-mandate.
6 Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks for Model Years 2027 and Beyond and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans for Model Years 2030 and Beyond, 89 Fed. Reg. 52,635 (Jun. 24, 2024) (to be codified at 49 C.F.R. pts. 523, 531, 533, 536, 537).
7 A Rule by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Program, Federal Register (Jun. 11, 2025), https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/11/202510586/resetting-the-corporate-average-fuel-economy-program.
8 The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, 90 Fed. Reg. 56,438 (Dec. 5, 2025) (To be codified at 49 C.F.R. pts. 523, 531, 533, 536, 537).
9 Press Release, Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces the Reset of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards, The White House (Dec. 3, 2025), https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/12/fact-sheetpresident-donald-j-trump-announces-the-reset-of-corporate-average-fuel-economy-cafe-standards/.
10 Featured Commentary, Trump Proposes to Slash Biden's Fuel Economy Standards, Institute For Energy Research (Dec. 10, 2025), https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/regulation/trump-proposes-to-slash-bidens-fueleconomy-standards.
11 John Egan, Trump Administration Seeks to Nearly Halve Vehicle Mileage Efficiency Standards, Industrial Info Resources (Dec. 5, 2025), https://www.industrialinfo.com/iirenergy/industry-news/article/trump-administrationseeks-to-nearly-halve-vehicle-mileage-efficiency-standards--350203#:~:text=Trump's%20proposed%20rule%20seeks%20annual,injuries%20through%202050%2C%20DOT%2 0projected.
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Original text here: https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairman-guthrie-leads-e-and-c-republicans-in-letter-to-secretary-duffy-praising-proposed-rule-on-cafe-standards
Chairman Cruz: Successful Rocket Launch Advances U.S. Leadership in Space
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2026:
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Chairman Cruz: Successful Rocket Launch Advances U.S. Leadership in Space
Today, America took a major step forward in what Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has called the "second space race" as NASA launched Artemis II, the first crewed mission to circumnavigate the Moon in more than fifty years. The successful launch moves the United States one step closer to setting foot on the Moon again by 2028.
Chairman
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2026:
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Chairman Cruz: Successful Rocket Launch Advances U.S. Leadership in Space
Today, America took a major step forward in what Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has called the "second space race" as NASA launched Artemis II, the first crewed mission to circumnavigate the Moon in more than fifty years. The successful launch moves the United States one step closer to setting foot on the Moon again by 2028.
ChairmanCruz said: "Artemis II is more than a mission; it's a message to the world that the United States will lead this era of space exploration. I am incredibly proud of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, whose courage and spirit of discovery will inspire generations and reaffirm our nation's commitment to pushing the boundary of what is possible.
"While today's success is historic, it is important to remember that we are not the only nation with eyes on the Moon, as China is advancing its own space ambitions. I have been very clear: we cannot afford to finish as a runner-up. It's vital for American economic and national security interests that we retain the high ground in space, and I'm confident that with sustained discipline and innovation, America will win the second space race.
"During my time as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, we've secured massive, long-term funding for NASA and advanced a bipartisan reauthorization of NASA's programs that includes building a permanent American base on the Moon. I look forward to continuing to work with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to achieve this critical goal."
Last month, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously advanced the NASA Authorization Act of 2026, landmark legislation to secure American dominance in the new space race. Cruz led the successful effort in Congress to secure $10 billion in long-term funding for NASA in last year's Working Families Tax Cut Act, commonly referred to as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/press/rep/release/chairman-cruz-successful-rocket-launch-advances-u-s-leadership-in-space/
Cantwell Statement on Successful Artemis II Launch
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2026:
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Cantwell Statement on Successful Artemis II Launch
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the below statement following the successful launch of the Artemis II mission around the moon. Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program and is designed to test the life support system and other critical components
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2026:
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Cantwell Statement on Successful Artemis II Launch
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the below statement following the successful launch of the Artemis II mission around the moon. Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program and is designed to test the life support system and other critical componentsof the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion vehicle on a 10-day lunar flyby mission.
"The world will be watching in awe as the Artemis II crew pushes the limits of what humanity can do by traveling around the moon," said Sen. Cantwell. "This trip lays the groundwork for returning to the Moon's surface and staying there. And Washington state's space industry is making it happen - from the thrusters that will guide the Orion spacecraft to and around the moon, to the parachute deployment systems that will return the astronauts safely to Earth."
Sen. Cantwell has been a champion for our nation's space industry and its aerospace workforce. Earlier this week, she visited several Washington companies that are supporting the Artemis II mission. In March, Sen. Cantwell led bipartisan, unanimous passage through the Commerce Committee of the NASA Authorization Act of 2026, which confirms support for the Artemis missions.
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Original text here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/press/dem/release/cantwell-statement-on-successful-artemis-ii-launch/
Bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group Co-Chairs Respond to President Trump's Comments on NATO
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group Co-Chairs Respond to President Trump's Comments on NATO
Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC), co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, released the following statement on President Trump's threats to pull out of NATO:
"NATO is the strongest and most successful military alliance in history.
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group Co-Chairs Respond to President Trump's Comments on NATO
Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC), co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, released the following statement on President Trump's threats to pull out of NATO:
"NATO is the strongest and most successful military alliance in history.It promotes economic stability and protects our most important trading relationships. It is a crucial force multiplier in an increasingly dangerous world. Our allies, year after year, have stepped up decisively in the face of mounting threats and have agreed to spend five percent of GDP on defense to bolster burden sharing. Our citizens know that NATO makes Americans safer and more prosperous, which is why NATO's favorability is consistently above 60 percent among the U.S. public.
"NATO stood by America when we were under attack and came to our aid after the September 11th attacks. Their soldiers fought and died alongside our troops in Afghanistan.
"Any President that contemplates attempting to withdraw from NATO is not only fulfilling Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping's greatest dreams but would be undermining America's own national security interests.
"Let us be clear, Congress will not allow the United States to withdraw from NATO. A bipartisan bill drafted by then-Senator Rubio which passed into law prevents any President from unilaterally doing so. Instead, the law clearly states that only Congress can authorize the President to withdraw the U.S. from NATO. That will not happen. Congress and the American people know we are stronger when we stand with our allies. This is a basic fact and one that we ignore only to our own detriment."
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Original text here: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/release/bipartisan-senate-nato-observer-group-co-chairs-respond-to-president-trumps-comments-on-nato
