Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
January 29, 2025
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday announced his Committee assignments for the 119th Congress. In addition to maintaining his positions on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Murphy will serve as the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation.
Murphy is the first U.S. Senator from Connecticut to serve on the Appropriations Committee since 1987. As a member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, Murphy will continue working to secure funding to create good-paying jobs, combat the fentanyl crisis, and support communities in Connecticut.
As a member of the HELP and Foreign Relations Committees, Murphy will also continue advocating to invest in mental health care, stand up for workers, improve school safety, advocate for anti-gun violence programs, and support U.S. diplomatic efforts abroad.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. voted in support of President Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing today.
Senator Marshall highlighted America’s chronic disease epidemic and the impact ultra-processed foods have had on our national health. Additionally, Senator Marshall questioned RFK Jr. about the impact of his proposed initiatives on American agriculture.
As the founder of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus, Senator Marshall has been vocal in his support of RFK Jr. and the MAHA movement. In his hearing, RFK Jr. emphasized his holistic approach to leading HHS and what making America healthy again means: increasing access to fresh foods, ensuring medical transparency, and supporting America’s farmers and ranchers by working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) every step of the way.
You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks.
Highlights from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Responses to Senator Marshall Include:
On RFK Jr.’s Vision to Make America Healthy Again:
“We’re having epidemics of all these chronic illnesses, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, allergic diseases, obesity. When my uncle was president, 3% of Americans were obese. Today, 74% of Americans are obese or overweight. No other country has anything like this. In Japan, the obesity rate is still 3%.”
“Epidemics are not caused by genes. Genes may provide the vulnerability, but you need an environmental toxin. Something is poisoning the American people, and we know that the primary culprits are our changing food supply – the switch to highly chemical-intensive processed foods.”
“We don’t have good science on all these things, and that is deliberate. That’s a deliberate choice not to study the things that are truly making us sick, that are not only contributing to chronic disease, to mortalities, from infectious disease. We need to get a handle on this because if we don’t, it’s an existential threat.”
“Our country is not going to be destroyed because we get the marginal tax rate wrong, or because we get one of these culture war issues that we’ve been talking about today wrong, it’s going to be destroyed if we continue down this trajectory of chronic disease. We need to fix our food supply, and that’s the number one.”
On RFK Jr. supporting America’s farmers and ranchers:
“What we need to do is we need to support the farmers. We need the farmers as partners if we’re going to make the MAHA work – and I don’t want a single farmer to go out of business under our watch.”
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, introduced former Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), President Trumps’ nominee to lead the U.S. Small Business Administration, at her confirmation hearing.
“As a small business owner for 15 years, I have great confidence in your ability to do the job. To my fellow members of this Committee, I hope that you’ll hear her out. But I’m also asking for you to vote for her, because it is time for us to right the ship to focus on the underserved communities around this country, and to make sure that every single zip code in this nation has strong, powerful small businesses,” said Senator Scott. “Because without small businesses, we will have high unemployment [and] low enthusiasm.”
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF THE FULL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE HERE
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy’s career has focused on touting disproven claims about vaccines, and he has a rapidly changing record on abortion rights.
Responding to Kennedy’s statements maligning Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Warner said (0:05):
“Well, I have to tell you, for literally hundreds of thousands of Virginians, Medicaid is what prevents them from health crises on a daily and weekly basis. And some imaginary new plan? If there was a new plan, that was to be the basis of what Trump was going to do on repealing Obamacare… I would have thought by now we’d have seen it.”
Sen. Warner’s questions also follow an unlawful directive from President Trump on Monday night to freeze trillions in government grants, loans, and programs. While the action was successfully blocked until Feb. 3 by a federal judge, it could still go into effect at that point, directly threatening countless federal benefits, funding for public schools and community health centers, local domestic violence shelters, firefighters and law enforcement, and much more.
Kennedy’s campaign fundraised off this unlawful directive in an email to supporters, celebrating it as a way to “prevent unelected bureaucrats from further undermining our health freedom.” Kennedy’s unsuccessful presidential campaign is $2 million in debt, and the email was an attempt to garner donations from supporters to cover that shortfall. Questioning Kennedy on these decisions, Sen. Warner said (1:20),
“So the fact that you celebrate this freeze, do you think that was a good idea to put all of this on hold for 90 days, NIH funding, and any kind of further work in your research? I’d like you to explain to a domestic violence center in Richmond that’s saying, because of this freeze, they may have to close down… where are those battered women going to go? Or to a rural nonprofit I’ve got in the Shenandoah Valley saying that freeze is going to potentially shut down their ability to operate…”
Sen. Warner also pushed Kennedy on his pledge to remove 2,200 HHS employees, and asked what departments he might be firing people from. He also touched on President Trump’s questionably legal action to offer all federal employees a “buyout” (2:41):
“Now, you’ve said publicly you want to immediately get rid of 600 workers on job one on day one… When we had our meeting, you said you actually like to get rid of 2,200 people from HHS. Which offices are you going to start cutting and ripping these 2,200 workers from? … When we’re looking at this purge and we’re looking at laying off workers, when we’re looking at potentially the president’s illegal offer to try to buy out federal employees, which I would say to any federal employees, think twice… has this individual in his business role ever fulfilled his contracts or obligations to any workers in the past? … But if you are in this position, will you pledge that you will not fire federal employees who work on food safety, work on trying to prevent things like salmonella?”
While Kennedy refused to answer any specific departments he would protect or fire, Sen. Warner pushed him to see if his determinations on worthy departments would be at his discretion or based on President Trump’s ideas. When Kennedy responded that it would be his choice, Sen. Warner answered (5:09),
“So I guess that means a lot of folks who’ve had any type of views on vaccines will be out of work.”
Sen. Warner went on to question Kennedy about protecting funding for community health centers (5:20) and continue to push him on the federal funding freeze (6:00). His full comments can be watched here.
Kennedy will face additional questioning in front of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) tomorrow, before the Finance Committee eventually votes on his nomination.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF SEN. WARNER’S SPEECH IS AVAILABLE HERE
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today spoke on the Senate floor about the recklessness of President Trump’s attempt to freeze all federal funding.
“President Trump got hired because he promised to bring down prices. None of this is going to bring down grocery prices. None of this is going to bring down consumer prices. None of this is going to make our government more efficient or effective… This is day 10 of the Trump administration. We have chaos on steroids… In the meantime, I implore the administration: get your act together. Don’t put out two separate statements totally contradicting each other. It just makes chaos and stress go up.”
Sen. Warner’s remarks follow an unlawful directive from President Trump on Monday night to freeze trillions in government grants, loans, and programs. The pause directly threatened countless federal benefits, funding for public schools and community health centers, local domestic violence shelters, firefighters and law enforcement, and much more.
On Tuesday evening, a federal judge halted the unlawful order. On Wednesday afternoon, OMB seemingly rescinded the order, before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added fuel to the fire with a confusing tweet that implied the freeze was not canceled. The battle, while paused for now, is currently working its way through the federal court system.
Sen. Warner’s full remarks as prepared are below:
Mr. President, I rise to the floor today amid a great deal of confusion.
Two days ago… the Trump administration issued an order to freeze all federal spending.
Earlier today… less than 48 hours later…that order was formally rescinded.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Shortly thereafter, the White House tweeted… that the federal funding freeze remains in place… and will be rigorously implemented.
So I ask… which one is it?
Unfortunately… I’m not the only one asking that question. And I’ve got a list of stressed-out Virginians to prove it.
In Virginia, federal funding supports countless programs that serve children… seniors… community infrastructure needs… and more.
Yesterday alone, my office was flooded with outreach from organizations and local governments.
I heard from firefighters in Southwest Virginia. They’re worried that they won’t be able to replace their tanker truck without the funding that was supposed to head their way.
I heard froman affordable housing organization in Northern Virginia. They’re worried that they will need to cease operations entirely.
I heard from law enforcement in the Valley… and the greater-Richmond area. These localities rely on federal funding to pay the salaries of several police officers.
That’s right… this federal funding freeze will take cops off the streets.
I also heard from a number ofdomestic violence shelters across the Commonwealth. Without funding… they’ll have to leave battered women and children without housing support.
You’ve also got meals for low-income seniors… child care for vulnerable kids… support for teens who have been trafficked… that’s what’s on the chopping block.
As someone who ran a business… as someone who ran the Commonwealth… this is unbelievable.
This is not the way to run the most important enterprise in the world: the American government.
And the truth is: Rescinded or not… these chaotic antics have real consequences.
I know of organizations in Virginia that had to call emergency board meetings yesterday.
I’ve heard from folks who are worried that they’ll have to lay off all their employees. Without federal funding… many organizations simply won’t be able to make payroll.
One Virginian wrote in, saying “the mental and physical damage is already immense.”
It’s not right to toy with people’s lives… or with the resources that keep folks fed… police employed… fire departments stocked… and domestic violence shelters running.
As long as I’m Senator, I’m going to keep fighting back against these antics, which frankly, make the President’s first term look organized.
With that, Mr./Madam President, I yield the floor.
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today released the following statement after the Laken Riley Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The bill was introduced by U.S. Senator Katie Boyd Britt (R-Alabama), and Graham is an original cosponsor.
“This is a bittersweet day for America. I appreciate President Trump signing the Laken Riley Act into law, which will require illegal immigrants charged with theft and other crimes to be detained. If this law had been in place, it would have prevented Laken Riley’s murder.
“The man who killed Laken Riley was released from custody because of lack of detention space and had previous arrests for theft that were ignored by the Biden Administration.
“Congratulations to Senator Britt who spearheaded this in the Senate. It is my hope and prayer that this legislation will be a deterrent and save lives.”
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF KAINE’S FLOOR SPEECH IS AVAILABLE HERE.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) spoke on the Senate floor to discuss President Trump’s alarming pardon of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, the world’s largest online drug marketplace. Trump pardoned Ulbricht, who was serving life in prison, on his second day in office. In 2015, Ulbricht was convicted on seven counts, including distributing narcotics and conspiring to launder money, for his involvement with Silk Road. Government investigators identified six individuals whose lethal overdoses were caused by drugs purchased on the site, one of whom was 16 years old.
“On Inauguration Day, January 20, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border of the United States, and I want to read two sentences from that declaration,” said Kaine. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans have tragically died from drug overdoses because of the illicit narcotics that have flowed across the southern border…As Commander in Chief, I have no more solemn duty than to protect the American people.”
Kaine continued, “Those two sentences are why I was so surprised at an action the President took the next day, January 21, 2025: the pardon of drug kingpin Ross Ulbricht.”
“Mr. Ulbricht launched Silk Road in 2011 and turned it into one of the most popular outposts of the so called Dark Web, a hidden corner of the internet that people can access only through a special browser. Silk Road facilitated over 1.5 million transactions, generating more than $200 million in revenue from the sale of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other drugs,” Kaine said. “At least six deaths were attributed to drugs bought on Silk Road.”
“I just want to raise the obvious question. If illicit narcotics trafficking is sufficient to declare a national emergency, then why, one day later, was it a justifiable, appropriate, laudable use of presidential power to give a pardon to somebody who had set up an online global digital drug trafficking network that had generated $200 million in revenue, 1.5 million transactions of sales of illicit drugs, six overdose deaths of individuals, and other challenges?” Kaine asked.
“I would assert that the pardon of Mr. Ulbricht undercuts the legitimacy of the claim of what Mr. President Trump is worried about is drug trafficking,” Kaine concluded. “…If the only thing that can be done is to put it on the public record so that people can be aware, less than 24 hours after this emergency declaration, this drug trafficker was pardoned, I feel like that’s an important thing that needs to be made visible to the American public.”
Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, questioned Howard Lutnick at the confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of Commerce.
During the hearing, Senator Fischer’s exchange with Lutnick focused on federal spectrum management and its critical role in national security, the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing, the need to expand export markets, preserving critical broadband funding, and strategies to counter threats from China in technology markets.
Click the image above to watch a video of Senator Fischer’s questioning
Click here to download audio
Click here to download video
On the Role Spectrum Plays in Protecting National Security:
Senator Fischer: If confirmed, you will lead a massive federal agency across 13 bureaus. And to start with, I want to highlight one that you’ve already heard of—the NTIA. It has critical influence over the U.S. economy and over our security, as well. Among its roles . . . NTIA coordinates spectrum management, ensuring that federal airwaves are being used most effectively. But, as spectrum becomes more scarce, critical federal operations, especially those essential for our national security, have been seen as obstacles. At the onset, I want to make it clear to you that DOD airwaves are not lying dormant and that proposals to clear them would jeopardize our national security.
We have constellations of DOD satellites that rely on spectrum. Our nuclear command and control relies on spectrum. Advanced fighter aircraft like F-35s rely on spectrum. And we are investing tens of billions of dollars in developing sixth-generation aircraft that will rely on spectrum. We have radar systems on our Navy ships tracking incoming missiles around the world. These allowed us to help defend Israel from over 300 missile and drone attacks last year. They rely on spectrum. I can go on and on, as my colleagues know, but this is all to say that I hope we can work together so that we can come up with a really strong strategy for federal spectrum management in the future.
On Protecting Nebraska’s Industries From Retaliatory Tariffs:
Senator Fischer: I’m from Nebraska, and Nebraska’s agricultural and manufacturing industries rely on our strong export markets for our products. You and I talked about trade and about the need under this administration for trade to be front and center. We know that we didn’t see much of that happen in the previous administration. We also know, though sir, that other countries may try to retaliate against our agricultural and our manufacturing industries. So, if confirmed, will you work with your colleagues at other agencies to understand the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing?
Howard Lutnick: I will.
On Opportunities To Expand Export Markets:Senator Fischer: Thank you. Can you also talk a little bit about what opportunities you view that are out there so that we can expand certain export markets over the next four years under this administration?
Howard Lutnick: I think our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen are treated with disrespect.Senator Fischer: Always, the fish.Howard Lutnick: Always, you have to include them. You know, how often do we eat seafood? Come on. So they are treated with disrespect around the world. They are our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen are treated with disrespect. The countries take advantage of American kindness, American gratitude, that we used to rebuild the world after the World Wars, and after the Korean War, and after the Vietnam War.
We need that disrespect to end. And I think tariffs are a way to create reciprocity, to be treated fairly, to be treated appropriately. And I think it will help our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen to flourish. And that’s what I expect this administration is going to drive. And that’s why I am honored to serve President Trump in his pursuit of that reciprocity and that fairness, and the end of the disrespect.
These countries have reliance on the American economy, and they need to start respecting us and respect us now.
On Understanding the Importance of the BEAD Broadband Program:Senator Fischer: Thank you. You heard about the BEAD funding from Senator Thune and other members of this committee as well. And I hope you will take that to heart and help our states get through some of those regulations that are out there. It has been an impediment to us.
On Bolstering American Competitiveness Against China: Senator Fischer: I’d like to talk a little bit here in the last few seconds about technology and competitiveness. I think I have Senator Wicker’s time.
In previous hearings, this committee has discussed the United States’ AI capabilities and that we are in a dead heat with China. This week, we heard about DeepSeek, and I think it’s having us to examine kind of where we are right now with that.
If confirmed, given the Commerce Department’s breadth of influence on that issue, how will you address different threats that we see coming from the CCP within these information and technology markets?Howard Lutnick: I take a very jaundiced view of China. I think they only care about themselves and seek to harm us. We need to protect ourselves, we need to drive our innovation forward, and we need to stop helping them.
Open platforms—Meta’s open platform, let DeepSeek rely on it. Nvidia’s chips, which they bought tons of and they found their ways around it, drive their DeepSeek model. It’s got to end.
If they are going to compete with us, let them compete, but stop using our tools to compete with us. So I’m going to be very strong on that. I am thrilled to oversee BIS and I’m thrilled to coordinate and empower BIS with tariffs that will improve the strength. When we say no, that answer’s got to be no.Senator Fischer: I look forward to working with you, sir. Thank you.Howard Lutnick: Thank you.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting against Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“Lee Zeldin is not qualified to lead an agency tasked with protecting the air and water of millions of Americans. His deep ties to the Koch brothers and Big Oil are clear conflicts of interests, and I’m not confident he has hardworking Nevada families’ best interests at heart. That’s why I voted no on his confirmation.”
WASHINGTON – Today, at the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing on the nomination of the Honorable Kelly Loeffler to serve as the Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) highlighted the need to reform the agency.
Ernst asked Loeffler about her plans to refocus the SBA on its mission to empower entrepreneurs and unleash the small business economy by increasing transparency, slashing red tape, and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Click here to watch Chair Ernst’s remarks.
During Ernst’s questioning, Loeffler committed to a “collaborative and responsive” relationship with Ernst to improve transparency at the SBA.
After the agency had a 66-day disaster funding shortfall last year and failed victims in desperate need, Ernst asked Loeffler how she would work with Congress to improve critical relief programs at the agency.
As part of her plan, Loeffler noted that she will make sure that the agency is accountable to taxpayers, that she will get it back to work, and be committed to the success of small businesses and responsible to taxpayers.
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration issued yet another dangerous executive order that aims to withhold federal funds to schools that teach the whole history of America.
NEA President Becky Pringleissued the following statement in response to the latest Trump executive order that attempts to restrict educators’ ability to teach an honest and accurate curriculum and create schools where students feel safe, seen, and valued:
“Every student, of every race and in every place, deserves the freedom to learn from a quality educator in a safe and welcoming public school. At a time when our students need us most and when parents and educators are working together tirelessly to do everything we can to support them, this administration continues to take action that aims only to distract and divide us. This unnecessary and punitive executive order does nothing to help educators inspire their students to learn and to give them the resources needed to succeed.
“Instead of lifting students, Trump and his allies are shamelessly trying to restrict the freedom of educators to teach and students to learn, while also punishing educators for ensuring schools are a safe space where all students—regardless of gender identity or race—have a sense of belonging.
“Educators won’t be silent as anti-public education politicians hurt our students, our families, and our communities across America. Together with parents and allies, we will continue to organize, advocate, and mobilize so that all students have well-resourced schools that provide an honest, accurate, and inclusive curriculum that prepares them for the future.”
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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org
It’s a new year and brand-new home for the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center at UConn Health.
CEO Dr. Andy Agwunobi leading a round of applause for Dr. Biree Andemariam on Jan. 29.
The Institute held a large, festive celebratory grand opening and ribbon-cutting for leadership, supporters, and its patient community on January 29.
The newly renovated multi-million-dollar, patient-friendly 12,840 sq. ft. comprehensive care space is located on the fully renovated fourth floor of UConn Health’s Main Building in the Connecticut Tower of UConn John Dempsey Hospital.
Sickle cell and bleeding disorder patients at UConn Health now have a combined Institute as a dedicated place to call home for all their outpatient care needs. The Institute brings the latest innovative care, medications, supportive services, and clinical trials to its patients all in one space that patients can call their home away from home.
“Dedicating a new brick and mortar medical home– a place of healing, a place of nurturing, a place of expertise, a place of guidance, and, honestly, a place of love– will ensure that individuals with sickle cell disease and bleeding disorders will always have a safe place to receive top-notch care into the infinite future—including those not yet born!” shared Dr. Biree Andemariam, founder and longtime director of the Institute at the celebration event attended by over 400 guests including 150 patients and their family members.
Large patient room of New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center.
The new space marks a formal beginning of a joint home for the care of individuals with sickle cell disease as well as those with inherited bleeding disorders. Both conditions affect the blood, both are hereditary, both are relatively rare and largely without a lot of doctors and nurses and social workers with experience or comfort in taking care of them. Together, the two programs at UConn Health provide care for patients from all over Connecticut and serve as both a regional and national referral base from physicians across many disciplines, including other hematologists.
The new location has all new equipment such as apheresis technology used for blood transfusions, ultrasound, and EKGs. It has six large patient rooms, ten infusion rooms, and even a large common area for patients and their families to use.
The Institute, founded in 2009, has served the majority of adult sickle cell patients in the state. Part of the renovation project was supported with a $75,000 generous grant from CHEFA. Uniquely, the Institute with the help of UConn Health’s art curator Andre Rochester hand-selected original artwork of artists from across Connecticut to decorate and brighten its new hallway and room spaces. The artists hail from across the state in Hartford, Bloomfield, Bridgeport, New Haven, Wolcott, and beyond. Plus, one Oakland, California artist shared a beautiful terra cotta sculpture.
Dr. Genice Nelson embracing sickle cell patient Lola Odesina on Jan. 29.
“Our new Institute home is absolutely amazing, and the high-quality space definitely matches the high-quality care our patients always receive,” shared the Institute’s Nursing Director Dr. Genice Nelson. “The old hospital space has been completely renovated down to his studs to be a very modern, comfortable, patient-centered, and colorful, warm inviting space for our patients who often spend a great amount of time receiving therapeutic treatments here.”
“We sincerely thank Caryl Ryan, RN, COO of John Dempsey Hospital, Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health, Dr. Pramod Srivastava, director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of the UConn School of Medicine. Without their strong leadership this new, dream home for our Institute would not be possible. Thank you!” says Andemariam.
Andemariam also pays tribute to her former UConn Health mentor Dr. Robert Bona who was a longtime director of the bleeding disorders program: “This year marks the 50th year since the start of UConn Health’s first Hemophilia Center. Without him, the bleeding disorders program would not have continued to thrive for so many decades, and I would not have been able to launch our sickle cell program back in 2009 without his support and encouragement.”
Dr. Biree Andemariam on Jan. 29 hosting the opening of the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center.
UConn Health’s Bleeding Disorders Center is one of the longest-running specialty clinical programs in the institution’s history. In fact, it has long been recognized as a premier center for the care of patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders and one of only two adult bleeding disorder programs in the state.
“Biree is the visionary that has made this all possible! I want to thank everyone who has come together to make this Institute possible. The number and excitement of the people here today is a true testament to the work of the Institute,” shared Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health, in the full Keller Auditorium.
“This Institute opening is a major milestone for us. Congrats to Dr. Andemariam and all of your team,” shared Dr. Bruce T. Liang, dean of the School of Medicine. “For patients, and future patients, hope is right here, right now at UConn Health.”
In 2009, Andemariam first established at UConn Health the New England Sickle Cell Institute after witnessing first-hand the health care disparities experienced by sickle cell disease patients. The Institute is the first and only dedicated outpatient regional center of its kind for managing the painful inherited red blood cell condition to help adults combat the daily suffering associated with sickle cell disease and improve their overall quality of life.
Waiting room of the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center.
Continued mentorship and support were vital to Andemariam’s ability to develop the world-class Institute, and she credits her chairman and mentor, Dr. Pramod Srivastava, for playing that role, “every single day and every step of the way.” She says, “Most hospital systems don’t have the courage to do what we have done. Dr. Srivastava assured me that we would find a way, and together, we did.”
Andemariam and her team have tirelessly worked to identify more and more sickle cell patients in the surrounding communities to help them better manage their health, reduce their pain symptoms and disease complication risks, and to keep them out of the hospital so they could enjoy their lives more.
The once small program has grown to serve the Institute’s hundreds of patients and has a national referral base. Plus, the Institute’s global collaborations have published evidence-based, best practice guidelines, and the research team is conducting clinical trial testing for promising experimental drugs aimed at reducing the disease’s trademark cell sickling, blood vessel blockages, organ damage, frequent hospitalizations, and premature deaths.
Andemariam concludes, “It was the willingness of UConn Health and School of Medicine leaders, Dr. Agwunobi, Dr. Liang, and Caryl Ryan, who heeded our call to do something extraordinary for the community of individuals with sickle cell disease who had long been abandoned by the medical community.”
Lola Odesina sharing her sickle cell success story at the celebration.
Patient Success
One of the many patient success stories of the Institute include Lola Odesina, 40, of Wethersfield. She was born with the painful, inherited red blood cell disease of sickle cell and has been treated by UConn Health since 2007. As a result of her regular, comprehensive care at the Institute she reports that she is thriving.
“In my adulthood I definitely have hit a stride with my health,” says Odesina. “It has a lot to do with the comprehensive care I have received at the Institute.”
Odesina is a pharmacist. Her career path was inspired by her health experience and to work in the health care world to help other people just like her.
“We are all so very excited for the Institute’s new home and the opportunity for sickle cell patients to be served in an enhanced way, and the greater capacity to serve even more patients,” says Odesina. “It is very reassuring to know people here at UConn Health care and always want to help. The Institute has an amazing supportive team that is always there for us and in anyway.”
Sickle cell patient Lola Odesina celebrating at the Institute’s grand opening. She is thriving thanks to the Institute’s longtime care.
Odesina is a mom of two young children. She is very grateful and credits the Institute’s care team for helping her safely through each of her pregnancy journeys with excellent coordinated care and communication with her maternal care providers.
For blood disorder condition care at the Institute’s Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center, one of the many grateful patients is Robert Hoyt, 66, of Naugatuck. He has long turned to UConn Health’s expertise for his blood disorder care since 2008.
He was first diagnosed at 9 months old after hitting his head on his baby crib and the bleeding just wouldn’t stop. He has the most severe form of hemophilia called hemophilia A with inhibitor.
“I have the worst of the worst type of hemophilia. I spent half of my first 11 years of life in the hospital. Back then there were no good treatments. But I survived!” he happily shares. “At about 40 years of age I needed a knee replacement, but another center wouldn’t do the operation due to its dangers. So, I went to UConn and Dr. Andemariam and the care team guided me through. It was so successful I had my second knee replaced.”
Robert Hoyt sharing his successes thanks to the longtime care of Dr. Andemariam for his severe form of hemophilia.
Hoyt adds, “Dr. Andemariam is the doctor I have been looking for my whole life. I want to live life to the fullest, to do that you need to take chances. Her and the Institute’s care has allowed me to do that!”
“UConn Health is really on the cutting-edge of helping the bleeding disorder community,” Hoyt concludes. “With today’s medications and technology, life with hemophilia is much easier.”
Hoyt also shared at the ribbon-cutting ceremony other successful health news thanks to the close management of his bleeding disorder condition care by UConn Health’s Andemariam: “I had the first in the nation mitral valve clip repair at Mount Sinai for a hemophilia patient.”
He concluded, “We will see generations of patients succeed at this new clinic.”
Looking to the Future The Institute, in collaboration with the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program directed by Dr. Kapil S. Meleveedu, is working diligently to bring bone marrow transplant offerings to sickle cell patients.
Minister Shevalle T. Kimber, M.Div. sharing her invocation for the new Institute and its sickle cell and bleeding disorder patients.
Also, they are working in earnest to soon bring access to the newly FDA-approved sickle cell gene therapy currently available right now only at a few centers nationwide. They also have several clinical trials open at UConn Health.
Plus, the Institute will continue to train and educate the next generation of health care providers for sickle cell and bleeding disorders.
“We are going to take sickle cell disease treatment to new heights,” shared the Neag Cancer Center’s Dr. Pramod Srivastava with the large crowd of attendees.
The grand-opening event also included a special invocation for the Institute’s new home by the sister of Dr. Genice Nelson. Minister Shevalle T. Kimber, M.Div. shared a special blessing and prayer for all patients of the Institute to continue to thrive in 2025. Kimber is co-pastor of The First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven and serves as the First Lady of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
“We are filled with gratitude and reverence,” shared Kimber. “We ask for your blessing on the lives these programs will touch. May this be a safe place of healing and hope.”
The doors are open at the New England Sickle Cell Institute and Connecticut Bleeding Disorders Center. It was opened by Dr. Genice Nelson, Caryl Ryan, RN, Dr. Andy Agwunobi, Janel Simpson, Dr. Pramod Srivastava, Dr. Biree Andemariam, and Dr. Bruce T. Liang (UConn Health Photo/Tina Encarnacion).
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
01.29.25
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin as the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Lee Zeldin has the right experience and record to lead the EPA and make sure that the agency’s regulations work in the real world. He’s committed to roll-back unnecessary regulations like the Waters of the U.S. and others that have tied the hands of our energy producers, farmers, ranchers and private property owners. We all want clean air and water, but the EPA under the previous administration has gone overboard. We look forward to working with Administrator Zeldin to rein in the EPA’s overreach.”
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.– At the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s hearing today to consider the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) praised Mr. Kennedy’s commitment to ending the chronic disease epidemic and working with Congress to create a more effective, affordable and transparent health care system.
At the end of the hearing, Crapo concluded, “Thank you for appearing before this Committee. You have been accessible to the members and staff on both sides of the aisle throughout a rigorous process, and I want the whole world to know that you spent hours in meetings answering questions outside of this hearing, and providing documents and responses on issue after issue. You have gone through the most thorough vetting process that any committee in this Congress puts anybody through, and I think that you have come through well and deserve to be confirmed.”
Click here to watch Chairman Crapo’s opening statement.
Click here to watch Chairman Crapo question Mr. Kennedy.
On fixing the American health care system:
In his opening remarks, Crapo highlighted opportunities for Mr. Kennedy, if confirmed as HHS Secretary:
“Mr. Kennedy, if confirmed, you will have the opportunity to chart a new and better course for the federal approach to tackling both the drivers and the consequences of our ailing health care system. Your commitment to combatting chronic conditions that drive health care costs will be critical to our success.
“Prioritizing disease prevention and addressing the factors that fuel conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, Alzheimer’s disease, COPD and cancer will save lives, reduce costs and build a healthier, stronger country.
“Private-sector breakthroughs, from groundbreaking cancer medications to curative gene therapies, offer hope. But misguided government initiatives and market volatility risk eroding American leadership in lifesaving R&D.
“Your advocacy for health care transparency has the potential to empower consumers across the country, promoting competition to enhance quality while cutting excessive spending, both for patients and for taxpayers.”
On how nutrition is critical for prevention:
Crapo questioned Mr. Kennedy on the importance of nutrition in preventing chronic disease, reducing health costs and improving health outcomes. Mr. Kennedy clarified his beliefs on the government’s role in food regulations, saying:
“I don’t want to take food away from anybody. If you like a McDonald’s cheeseburger, Diet Coke—which my boss loves—you should be able to get them. If you want to eat a Hostess Twinkie, you should be able to do that, but you should know what the impacts are on your family and on your health.”
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced legislation to expand insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings. The bipartisan Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Screening for High-risk Insured Men (HIM) Act would require private health insurance plans to cover preventive prostate cancer screenings without imposing any cost-sharing requirements for men who are at high risk of developing prostate cancer.
“Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States, with Black men being disproportionately impacted and over twice as likely to die following a diagnosis,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will increase affordability and access to lifesaving screening services, help men detect the disease early, and save lives.”
“Like so many others, my family has experienced the impact of this disease. Since we know early detection leads to better health outcomes, making access to screening easier can help save lives. I’m proud to work in a bipartisan way to expand prostate cancer detection and early intervention, particularly for at-risk men,” said Senator Boozman.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 American men in their lifetime and disproportionately affects African American men with 1 in 6 being diagnosed. Individuals who have at least one close family member diagnosed with the disease are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed themselves.
Currently, the Prostate-Specific Antigen test is the most effective tool for detection. When detected in early stage, it is almost 100 percent survivable.
“The PSA Screening for HIM Act is a crucial step toward removing financial barriers to life-saving prostate cancer screenings,” said chair of the American Urological Association’s Public Policy Council Mark Edney, MD. “By ensuring high-risk groups can access PSA testing without cost-sharing, this legislation will save countless lives through earlier detection, where survival rates are nearly 100 percent, compared to later stages where survival rates are around 30 percent.”
“The introduction of the PSA for HIM Act represents a critical step forward in protecting men’s health and saving lives through early detection. At ZERO Prostate Cancer, we know that access to prostate cancer screening is fundamental in the fight against prostate cancer, particularly for those at highest risk,” said ZERO Prostate Cancer CEO Courtney Bugler.
“The PSA Screening for HIM Act would eliminate a significant hurdle that keeps far too many at high risk for prostate cancer from getting tested for the disease,” said Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, interim Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “We thank Sens. Boozman and Booker for introducing this bill and look forward to working with them to get it passed.”
“With the increase in prostate cancer diagnoses and deaths, and the growing racial disparity, the PSA Screening for HIM Act is more important now than ever,” said Thomas A. Farrington, President and Founder of the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN).
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
Premier David Eby praised Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, OBC, for her service to the people and the Province of British Columbia over the past six years and nine months.
“I thank Her Honour for her hard work on all our behalf,” said Premier David Eby. “She has been a steady and trusted hand through turbulent times, including a global pandemic and the passing of a beloved monarch. All British Columbians have benefited from her dedication.”
Her Honour’s legacy includes the introduction of the Lieutenant Governor’s British Columbia Journalism Fellowship, which promotes democracy through a thriving journalism community.
As well as fulfilling her essential constitutional role as vice-regal representative, she has also granted patronage and supported more than 100 worthy organizations. Such patronage reflects the Crown’s role as the source of the highest honours and awards granted by our society.
Her Honour named reconciliation as one of the key priorities of her mandate. Her commitment included promoting awareness of this ongoing process. She took lessons in SENĆOŦEN, the language of the W̱SÁNEĆ people of southern Vancouver Island. She did so as a sign of respect and as a way to champion the revitalization of Indigenous language and culture, which her colonial predecessors had once sought to extinguish.
In a ceremony in the Hall of Honour in the Parliament Buildings, Premier Eby announced the Province is making a $5,000 donation to the Lieutenant Governor’s B.C. Journalism Fellowship in gratitude for her service. Her Honour was also presented a pair of binoculars and two birdwatching books. The Vice-Regal Consort, His Honour Ashley Chester, also received gifts.
Premier Eby also bestowed a certificate declaring Jan. 29 to be Vice-Regal Canine Consort Day in honour of MacDuff. Their Honours received a leash and collar featuring the official British Columbia tartan, a gift for their beloved, 14-year-old West Highland white terrier. The colourful patterned cloth includes green for the forests, blue for the ocean, red for the maple leaf, white for the Pacific dogwood, which is the province’s official flower, as well as gold to represent the sun and the Crown.
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rand Paul (R-KY), Angus King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Kennedy (R-LA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) reintroduced the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, a bipartisan bill to direct the FDA to implement the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 (FDAMA 2.0), legislation passed by Congress to modernize drug testing protocols and improve patient outcomes.
The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 is a bipartisan effort to reduce unnecessary animal testing while advancing scientific innovation. By fully implementing FDAMA 2.0, drug development can be both more humane and more efficient, ultimately leading to faster and more reliable treatments for patients. An astonishing 90-95% of drugs that pass animal tests go on to fail in human clinical trials, wasting precious time for patients.
“It’s been over two years since Congress ended the statutory mandate that investigational new drugs (INDs) undergo mandatory animal testing before human clinical trials,” said Senator Booker. “We cannot allow the FDA to continue to delay on implementing this critical law. If passed, this bipartisan legislation will require FDA to finally update its regulations and will pave the way for more scientifically reliable and humane methods of drug development.
“The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 is aimed to do exactly what this bipartisan legislation is named to accomplish – modernize the FDA and remove overbearing animal testing mandates and regulations on new drugs. I am thankful for the support of my colleagues in helping to ensure passage, and I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law,” said Senator Schmitt.
“The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 builds on the critical reforms we achieved with FDA Modernization Act 2.0, ensuring that modern, humane, and scientifically advanced testing methods can finally replace outdated animal testing. For too long, bureaucratic inertia has delayed the implementation of these changes, which are vital to saving lives, reducing costs, and bringing life-saving treatments to patients more efficiently. This legislation sends a clear message: Americans deserve a regulatory system that embraces innovation, not one stuck in the past,” said Dr. Rand Paul
“The Biden administration had two years to implement the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, but it didn’t act. Congress should send this bill to Pres. Trump’s desk to help protect animals from mandatory testing at the FDA,” said Senator Kennedy.
“Modern technology has led to innovative medical solutions—it’s time we take advantage of them and move on from outdated, unnecessary animal testing. With the FDA Modernization 3.0 Act, we protect animals from often inhumane testing and update our drug testing protocols, paving the way for more accurate and reliable health care treatments,” said Senator Blumenthal.
“Congress has continued to press the FDA to modernize its research and shift away from testing on animals to more humane models that would expedite our drug development. However, there is more work to be done. I am proud to be a part of this bipartisan legislation to advocate for the FDA to abide by the directives Congress has passed into law,” said Senator Marshall.
In 2022, FDAMA 2.0 was signed into law by President Biden. This law removed the longstanding requirement under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) that investigational new drugs (INDs) undergo mandatory animal testing before human clinical trials. Instead, the law provided FDA and drug developers the option to use advanced, non-animal methods such as cell-based assays, organ chips, computer modeling, and bioprinting.
Despite FDAMA 2.0 being enacted into law over two years ago, the FDA has yet to update its regulations to conform with the law, leaving numerous FDA regulations that continue to require animal testing. The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 seeks to resolve this by mandating the FDA to update its regulations within twelve months of the bill’s enactment. It also includes a technical correction to the statute by addressing a duplicated section heading.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) announced that on Jan. 28, 2025 he issued his first subpoena as chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for records relating to COVID-19 vaccine safety data and communications about the COVID-19 pandemic, including a subset of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s emails. The announcement came during Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.
Sen. Johnson’s subpoena to HHS is a culmination of a multi-year fight to overcome the obstruction of the Biden administration to get unredacted records and data about the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. For years, Biden officials at HHS and its subcomponent agencies withheld crucial health information from Sen. Johnson and the public. Many of Sen. Johnson’s more than 70 oversight letters to the Biden administration were either completely ignored or inadequately addressed. Now, having recently been named chairman of PSI, Sen. Johnson has the authority to issue subpoenas.
Sen. Johnson stated, “In the waning days of the Biden administration and after years of obstructing my oversight efforts, I warned HHS officials that when I become chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I will subpoena records and data on the COVID-19 pandemic that have been inappropriately withheld from Congress and the American people for far too long.
“Just days after being named chairman of the Subcommittee, I have kept my word.
“Yesterday, I subpoenaed HHS for documents on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic—including a subset of Dr. Fauci’s emails—and the development and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. Many of these records should have been turned over to me years ago, but the Biden administration opted to keep Congress and the public in the dark.
“I look forward to HHS’s full compliance with the subpoena.”
Sen. Johnson signing the Jan. 28th subpoena to HHS
Sen. Johnson’s subpoena requires HHS to produce:
Previously withheld or heavily redacted communications about the pandemic, including Dr. Anthony Fauci’s emails, including but not limited to the approximately 50 pages of his emails that have been withheld from my office since September 2021;
Safety surveillance data on the COVID-19 vaccines including proportional reporting ratios and empirical Bayesian data mining;
Unredacted records previously released through Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the government’s awareness of myocarditis and pericarditis cases in post-vaccinated individuals;
Data and records relating to COVID-19 vaccine lots associated with higher rates of adverse events;
Order forms and receipts showing government researchers purchasing DNA sequences from a biotechnology company; and
All communications relating to HHS’s receipt of and response (or lack thereof) to my oversight letters between January 2021 and the present.
HHS is required to comply with the subpoena by Feb. 18, 2025.
Sen. Johnson’s questioning of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. can be found here.
The complete subpoena can be found here.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC—This week, after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revoked the security detail for retired General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019-2023, and initiated a series of punitive actions against him, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:
“General Milley and other former Trump Administration officials continue to face credible, deadly threats from Iran because they carried out President Trump’s order to kill Iranian General Soleimani. It is unconscionable and recklessly negligent for President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to revoke General Milley’s security detail for their own political satisfaction. The Administration has placed Milley and his family in grave danger, and they have an obligation to immediately restore his federal protection.
“Indeed, just months ago President Biden said that a foreign assassination attempt against then-candidate Trump would be an “act of war.” Do President Trump and Republicans—who celebrated the Soleimani strike—not believe that U.S. military servicemembers deserve the same protection?”
The Director of National Intelligence’s most recent unclassified annual threat assessment includes the following finding: Iran seeks to target former and current U.S. officials as retaliation for the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, and previously has attempted to conduct lethal operations in the United States.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the Senate Appropriations Committee fully organized, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) announced his full slate of committee and subcommittee assignments for the 119th Congress.
Senator Reed will continue serving on four ‘A’ committees: Armed Services; Appropriations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and the Select Committee on Intelligence. These assignments include two of the three ‘Super A’ Committees: Armed Services and Appropriations.
Senator Reed will serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and as the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), which has jurisdiction over a diverse group of agencies responsible for regulating the financial and telecommunications industries; collecting taxes and providing taxpayer assistance; providing small business assistance; overseeing the White House and judicial branch operations, and the District of Columbia; construction and management of federal buildings; and overseeing the Federal workforce.
With these assignments, Reed is well-positioned to deliver for Rhode Island while overseeing the U.S. Department of Defense and federal spending decisions through the appropriations process.
“These key committee posts help me fix our roads and bridges, strengthen our economy, deliver for Rhode Island, and chart a responsible fiscal path. My new assignment on the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee provides another tool to support small business growth, expand economic opportunity, boost Rhode Island’s broadband connections, and ensure the health and safety of our financial markets,” said Reed. “As Congress grapples with a range of complex challenges, I will do everything in my power to help lower prices for working families and ensure Rhode Islanders’ needs are met. I will continue to be a relentless advocate for our state and focus on the issues that Rhode Islanders care about. And I will promote and uphold the constitutional role of Congress, including Congress’s power of the purse. ”
ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
Senator Reed is the Ranking Member of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), military services operating across the domains of land, sea, air, cyberspace, and space, and all DOD agencies, including their budgets and policies, and national security aspects of nuclear energy. Each year, SASC is tasked with producing and passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
In 2024, under Reed’s leadership as SASC Chairman, Congress passed the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorized $883.7 billion for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security programs of the U.S. Department of Energy. The NDAA offers a blueprint to equip, supply, and train U.S. forces; provide for military families; and strengthen oversight of the Defense Department and military programs. The defense industry is a high-tech sector that contributes to Rhode Island’s economic growth, generates good-paying jobs, and has been a resilient segment of the state’s economy. According to the latest Rhode Island data, the defense industry generated over $4.3 billion in annual economic impact for Rhode Island and a total employment share of 6.2 percent of the state’s workforce.
In addition to his leadership on the Armed Services Committee, Reed is also a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which provides him with additional oversight responsibilities in determining how defense dollars are spent.
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
Senator Reed will continue to serve as Rhode Island’s only member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, which controls the funding of the federal government.
Senator Reed is the third most senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. He works tirelessly to direct federal funding to the Ocean State to create jobs, strengthen infrastructure, and support economic and community development initiatives.
Senator Reed will give up his leadership post on the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch in order to help lead the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.
The FSGG subcommittee drafts the spending plan and oversees annual funding for financial-related agencies including the U.S. Department of Treasury; the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is responsible for funding the Executive Office of the President and federal election security initiatives. The panel also has jurisdiction over two dozen key agencies and programs that have a direct impact on Rhode Island, including:
– The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which supports local entrepreneurs and small businesses with outreach and loans and also provides loans following federally-declared disasters.
– The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which helps ensure competition in broad sectors of the economy and helps protect consumers from false advertising and business practices.
– The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has jurisdiction over telecommunications and broadband matters.
– The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which provides funding for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas nationwide and to Rhode Island.
– The Federal Election Commission (FEC), with has jurisdiction over federal campaign finance laws.
– The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal properties in Rhode Island and nationwide.
– The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund which provides hundreds of millions annually to generate economic growth in local communities and provide access to credit and technical assistance to underserved areas.
Additionally, Senator Reed will serve on five other Appropriations Subcommittees: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H); Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA); and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD).
BANKING, HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS
A champion of affordable housing, consumer protection, and mass-transit, Senator Reed will continue serving as a key member of the Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee, which has broad oversight over our nation’s financial institutions, capital markets, consumer finance, monetary policy, and housing and mass-transit programs.
Senator Reed is the most senior Democratic member of the panel, but Senate rules dictate that members may only serve atop one full committee at a time.
Senator Reed has used his Banking Committee post to author Wall Street reform and consumer protection laws, including his ‘warrants law,’ which forced the return of over $10 billion dollars to taxpayers. He also successfully urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to focus greater attention on climate risk disclosures for public companies. The committee also oversees federal housing policy and authorizes mass-transit investments, and Senator Reed used his role on the committee led to create two affordable housing funds: the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund.
It was Senator Reed’s leadership on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, coupled with his work on the Appropriations Committee, that earned him a spot as one of twenty members of the bipartisan working group that was tasked with developing the CARES Act (Public Law No. 116-136). Senator Reed was the driving force behind the successful effort to create the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) in the CARES Act and successfully secured a small state minimum of $1.25 billion in the law. Senator Reed continues to play an active role in pushing legislation to direct additional federal funds to states and local governments to help save lives and address the economic impact caused by the pandemic.
As America faces an affordable housing crisis, which worsened during the pandemic, Senator Reed will play a key role in providing relief for renters and homeowners, and helping to revitalize communities by expanding the supply of affordable housing. Reed will also use his seat on this committee to boost mass-transit infrastructure in order to help connect communities and more Americans to jobs and economic opportunity.
Senator Reed will serve on three key Banking subcommittees: Economic Policy; Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection; and Securities, Insurance, and Investment.
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
By virtue of his leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Reed is also an ex officio member of the high-profile Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the U.S. Intelligence Community. As an ex officio member of the panel, Senator Reed regularly participates in open and closed-door briefings and hearings with top intelligence officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the National Security Agency (NSA), but he does not vote in committee.
The Intelligence Committee was established in 1976 to oversee the range of civilian and military agencies and departments that make up the U.S. Intelligence Community, and has wide influence over U.S. national security and foreign policy.
The President of the United States is required by law to ensure that the Intelligence Committee is kept “fully and currently informed” of intelligence activities. As a result, U.S. intelligence agencies must notify the Committee of its activities, including covert actions.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to purge the federal workforce of non-partisan civil servants, the Trump Administration is trying to pressure federal workers into taking a “deferred resignation” buyout, which would mean they agree to resign almost immediately but could supposedly get paid – with no guarantee – through September. Using the classic ‘pressure sales’ tactic, the e mail urges workers to act fast now: the Trump Administration set a deadline of February 6.
As of December 2024, Rhode Island had 8,439 federal civilian employees, many helping our military, according to the Congressional Research Service. Nationwide, the federal government employs approximately 2.3 million civilians. And according to the Brookings Institution: “Federal civilian employment has stayed the same since the mid-1960s, even as the U.S. population has grown by 68%.”
U.S. Senator Jack Reed is warning local federal workers that the Trump Administration’s offer may not be what it seems and taking it would be a huge risk. Reed is urging civil servants to carefully weigh their options before making a decision.
“This risky offer is simply not credible and fails to offer any guarantee. Trump has a long, well-known history of stiffing workers and anyone who thinks his administration will stick to the terms of this e mail could be in for a rude awakening. Congress, not the president, has the power of the purse. President Trump has zero authority to pay a single federal employee beyond March 14th unless Congress passes a new appropriations law. Moreover, blindly cutting the workforce like this and culling it of experienced employees could create new, costly problems down the road while reducing services for taxpayers. I would urge federal workers to focus on their jobs and continue serving the American people and the Constitution. Administrations routinely change every four years, but the Constitution and responsibilities of civil servants remains steadfast,” said Senator Reed.
In an e mail from the Office of Personnel Management, with the subject line “Fork in the Road,” federal employees interested in resigning were instructed to leave their positions by replying to the e mail with a one word subject line: “resign.” The e mail, which echoed language similar to that of a previous e mail Elon Musk sent to his former Twitter employees, also suggested the majority of federal agencies would likely be downsized and that a substantial number of federal employees would be furloughed.
Notably, OPM’s website clearly states there is a $25,000 limit for incentive packages for voluntary resignations, not eight months’ pay. Moreover, some federal employees can’t even be offered Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP). The OPM email suggests the Trump Administration will try to get around this is by defining the process as “deferred resignation” and implying workers won’t necessarily have to work while sitting getting paid for several months – far from a legal guarantee.
In the past, Donald Trump has bragged about his businesses not paying workers what they are owed and stiffing contractors for their labor resulting in hundreds of lawsuits, many for unpaid wages. According to U.S. Department of Labor data, Trump’s companies have also been cited for two dozen violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act since 2005.
Reed noted that if Trump carries out his anti-worker polices, purges the federal government of civil servants, and follows through on its ‘DOGE’ pledge to slash $2 trillion in spending, average Americans are the ones who would suffer from both lack of essential services and weakened job protections potentially spreading into other sectors of the economy.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC—This week, after President Trump issued an executive order effectively banning transgender individuals from serving in the military, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:
“All military members, including the thousands of transgender Americans who have stepped forward to serve our nation, swear the same oath to protect their fellow citizens. The transgender members of our military have met the same qualifications, made the same sacrifices, and accomplished the same feats—including in combat—as their comrades in arms. President Trump should be thanking these men and women for their service, not targeting them.
“This executive order endangers every American. Our military is a merit-based organization, not a political one. Every American with the skills and qualifications to meet the standards should have an opportunity to serve. To willfully strip skilled troops from our ranks at a dangerous moment in the world is to invite disaster.
“We must recruit and retain every American who is willing and able to serve their country, and they should be able to serve openly, free of discrimination. I urge President Trump to rescind this order immediately.”
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
“When was it that you decided to sell out the values you’ve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?”
WASHINGTON – At a Senate Finance Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) slammed President Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for being “willing to sacrifice your values, your knowledge, if President Trump tells you to do that,” specifically highlighting Mr. Kennedy’s flip-flopping on issues such as reproductive freedom.
Click here to watch Senator Hassan question RFK Jr. on his refusal to put the health and well-being of the American people above his allegiance to Donald Trump.
Senator Hassan began by highlighting Mr. Kennedy’s record of spreading dangerous vaccine misinformation. Then, Senator Hassan highlighted his rapidly shifting positions on the right for women to make their own reproductive health care decisions. “Mr. Kennedy…You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values. The question is do you stand for that value or not? When was it that you decided to sell out the values you’ve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?” said Senator Hassan when pressing him during the confirmation hearing today on his shifting positions.
“What you’re telling us is if President Trump orders you to take action to make it harder for women to get direly needed health care, you’ll follow his order. If Mr. Trump, as he did yesterday, orders a halt on Medicaid payments that are essential for taking care of people with disabilities all around this country, you’re going to follow that order. Because you are willing to sacrifice your values, your knowledge, if President Trump tells you to do that. That to me is unacceptable in a Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Senator Hassan concluded.
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she has been named the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism. Senator Rosen was also named a member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues; and the Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policy.
“I’m grateful for the honor to serve as the leading Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism,” said Senator Rosen. “At a time of unrest throughout the Middle East, U.S. leadership is needed more than ever to support Israel, oppose Iranian aggression, and navigate political transitions in Syria and Lebanon. I look forward to working with Chairman Dave McCormick to tackle these complex challenges and maintain strong, bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship.”
Senator Rosen has been a strong leader in maintaining U.S. support for Israel and our partners in the Middle East. Following the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel, Senator Rosen has repeatedly taken action to ensure Israel receives the unconditional support necessary to defend itself, defeat Hamas, and bring the hostages home. Senator Rosen was also outspoken in pushing her own party to counter Iranian aggression, including by freezing its assets. She sent a bipartisan letter calling on President Biden to leverage the U.S. relationship with Qatar to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and urged the Administration to designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement after Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revoked a previously authorized Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension for immigrants from Venezuela.
“I’m outraged by the misguided action by the Trump Administration to rescind the TPS extension for Venezuelans who are fleeing an oppressive anti-democratic government and unsafe conditions,” said Senator Rosen. “This action by the Trump administration is reckless, and I’ll keep fighting to protect this critical program.”
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
Washington (January 29, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement today after the Trump administration rescinded a memo from the Office of Management and Budget directing the cut-off federal grants and assistance, while continuing to state that funding was still frozen.
“Trump’s administration isn’t governing—it’s careening from chaos to crisis that it created, leaving people guessing whether life-saving services, school lunches, home heating, health care, and public safety are going to be funded day by day. The collective outrage of literally everyone got them to rescind their latest directive to cut off federal money, but the Trump administration has made clear they intend to proceed with their callously cruel plan of stalling or stopping essential federal funding.
They’ll lie, disregard Congress, and now they’re bypassing the Courts. We’ll need all of our collective engagement to make sure that Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their unelected, unqualified henchmen keep our services going and don’t break the law.”
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted 56-42 to confirm Lee M. Zeldin to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with her support.
“Today, the Senate has confirmed an EPA administrator who is well qualified and capable of returning the EPA to its core missions of protecting our land, air, and water, without inhibiting economic development. Congressman Zeldin will lead the EPA as the agency addresses the environmental needs of our country, and he is committed to properly implementing the laws of Congress through collaboration with the members of our Committee. I have been continually impressed by Congressman Zeldin’s character, and his dedication to our country through service in both the U.S. Army and Congress. I am confident he will perform the role of EPA administrator exceptionally well, and be a central member of President Trump’s cabinet as they enact policies and solutions to the environment, infrastructure, and energy challenges of our time,” Chairman Capito said.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
01.29.25
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today received commitments from Howard Lutnick, President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Commerce, to visit Alaska, champion the interests of Alaska’s fishermen and seafood industry, help implement President Trump’s “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential” executive order, and work to advance the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project. Sen. Sullivan highlighted the serious challenges facing Alaska and America’s fishermen, including the decade-long unfair, non-reciprocal seafood trade relationship between the U.S. and Russia, which was fixed by executive orders Sen. Sullivan secured in 2022 and 2023. Sullivan noted the Commerce Department’s important role in enforcing the comprehensive ban on the import of Russian seafood and advocating for America’s fishing communities.
Sen. Sullivan posed his questions to Mr. Lutnick during his confirmation hearing before the committee.
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Below is a full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s exchange with Mr. Lutnick.
Sen. Dan Sullivan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Lutnick, congratulations to you and your family. Thank you for that very powerful opening statement. I appreciated our meeting. I’m really enjoying this hearing, all the focus on fish. It’s great. In all seriousness, certain secretaries, most secretaries, in my view, have not embraced their role that they are really important to our fishing community. As you and I talked about, this is really important to my state. Alaska is the superpower of seafood. Over two-thirds of all seafood harvested in America—commercial, subsistence, sport—is harvested in Alaska’s waters. Over two-thirds. So we’re it. We’re the 800-pound gorilla. Tens of thousands of Alaskans are connected to this industry. We are a huge powerhouse in terms of American exports. Mr. Lutnick, the vice president, in his opening statement, called you a “product guy,” a “sales guy,” a “good dude.” That’s a quote from the vice president. Good dude. I want to also maybe give you the title of “Godfather of American Fishermen” or the patron saint of American fishermen…
Howard Lutnick: This is working for me.
DS: …to keep a focus on these communities, on these great Americans—just look at Deadliest Catch and things like that—and to be a leader on focusing on them. That does not always happen. As a matter of fact, it usually hasn’t happened with the Secretaries of Commerce. Can you commit to me on doing that?
HL: Well, I love to fish, and I’m happy to commit to you. The fishermen of the United States of America are one of our great assets. It’s easy for me to promise to take care of them.
DS: Great. Since you love to fish, this next question might be the easiest one you get all day. I need a commitment from you to come to Alaska. You can bring the family.
HL: As long as I can bring my family, we’re coming.
DS: You can go fishing—but to meet these great American fishermen who are my constituents. It’d be great for you to get up there soon to meet them. Can I get your commitment to do that as well?
HL: It’s my pleasure.
DS: Great. Let me mention—we already talked about it: The last four years have been tough on my state. This is a chart I’ve shown all over the place—the Last Frontier Lock Up, we called it. 70 executive orders and actions from the Biden administration singularly focused on shutting down Alaska. 70. Fortunately, this is now a thing of the past. We want to get rid of that. On day one, the President issued this executive order, President Trump. It’s called “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.” It’s long, right? It’s very detailed. The Secretary of Commerce is mentioned in it. One of the lines in there: “It’s the policy of the United States”—this is from President Trump on day one—”to fully avail itself of Alaska’s vast lands and resources for the benefit of the nation and the American citizens who call Alaska home.” You’re mentioned in this, the Secretary of Commerce. Can I get your commitment to work with me on implementing every aspect of this really great Trump day one executive order?
HL: Yes.
DS: Great. Thank you. You mentioned disrespect for our fishermen. You and I talked about what we’ve been enduring for the last ten years. Russia instituted a ban on any exports of American seafood in 2014, and yet we had open borders essentially for them, for the last ten years, taking market share. Literally the most disrespectful, unfair trading situation I could see anywhere in the world. They were coming after our market share. Our fishermen in America could not export one fish to Russia. I worked really hard to get that changed. We got a ban, and then the Russians start sending their fish to China to essentially create a loophole, then to come into the U.S. We shut that down finally. Can you work with me to make sure we don’t have that incredibly unfair—Russia bans everything and they can import everything here. Ridiculous. Same with China. You’re a sales guy, a products guy. I want you to commit to me to promote American “freedom fish,” Alaska “freedom fish,” and don’t allow “communist fish” from Russia and China coming into our markets. Can you commit…
HL: We’ve got to get rid of those communist fish.
DS: So can I get a commitment on that?
HL: I do.
DS: Excellent. No “communist fish.” Freedom fish is what we want. Finally, Mr. Lutnick, the chairman is going to focus this committee a lot on energy, which I think is great. I know you care about unleashing our extraordinary energy potential. One of the big areas of focus of the Trump day-one EO on unleashing Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential is moving forward and finally getting done this massive Alaska LNG project that we’ve been working on for a number of years. We got all of the permits during the Trump administration. Of course, Biden blocked those. This would create thousands of jobs, would revitalize the American steel industry, would—estimates are—would reduce our trade deficit by about $10 billion a year. Can you commit to work with me, the President—who’s very focused on that in his EO, the secretaries of Interior and Energy, and other cabinet officials, including our Asian allies, to make this project a reality, which will be great for the country, great for our workers, great for our trade deficit, and really boost America’s national security?
HL: I can.
DS: Thank you.
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming John Barrasso
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced legislation to update 911 emergency call centers inside the National Park System (NPS).
The Making National Parks Safer Act directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to develop a plan to upgrade NPS 911 call centers with Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology. This technology will enable call centers to receive text messages, images, and video submissions in addition to traditional phone calls. This capability will improve the speed and accuracy of emergency responders in locating and assisting callers in need of emergency aid.
Additionally, in the event of any natural disaster or technical issue, the updated call centers would be equipped to forward 911 calls and messages to any working call center until they become operational again.
“Our country’s national parks receive hundreds of millions of visitors every year. Our public safety technology needs improvements and resources to ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy our national parks without worry,” said Senator Barrasso. “This bipartisan bill updates and modernizes 911 call centers and ensures visitors who may need assistance can be reached in an accurate and timely manner. These much-needed updates will improve our national parks and protect the safety of visitors.”
“People travel from every corner of the world to connect with America’s incredible natural beauty and to make memories that last a lifetime,” said Senator King. “However, when natural disaster strikes or an unexpected emergency occurs, we need to make sure that our visitors to the parks are safe. The bipartisan Making National Parks Safer Act would improve emergency reporting and responding by upgrading the technology at National Park Service-operated emergency call centers. This legislation is an important step forward in improving the visitor experience at our public lands and serves as a proud reminder that stewardship of these lands is not a partisan issue.”
Co-sponsors of this legislation include U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
This legislation is supported by the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Public Safety Next Generation 911 Coalition, National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO).
“National Parks are becoming increasingly popular with tourists often visiting areas that are unfamiliar to them. It is vitally important that we do everything we can to ensure the safety of those visitors as they enjoy our wonderful parks. Due to the rural nature of Wyoming coordination between the Park Service and local public safety answering points (PSAPs) is essential. We believe that this study will be a step in the right direction to evaluate and implement the NG911 system across the nation, starting with our National Parks.” – Lynn Budd, Director, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security
The Making National Parks Safer Act will direct the U.S. Department of Interior to:
• Complete an assessment of current call centers at national parks and the estimated cost of implementing NG911 technology across the National Park System.• Develop a plan based on the assessment to install NG911 systems at identified points in the National Park System. This plan must include consultation with state and local emergency operations and stakeholders, as well as relevant federal agencies to ensure its successful implementation.
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming John Barrasso
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) discussed the various challenges health care providers and patients in rural America face with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Specifically, Senator Barrasso and Mr. Kennedy discussed the threat of hospital closures and the lack of maternity services in rural and frontier communities. They also talked about the Biden administration’s shortsighted nursing home staffing mandate, which if implemented would result in nursing home closures in Wyoming and across rural America.
Kennedy’s confirmation hearing was held today by the Senate Committee on Finance.
On Challenges Facing Rural Hospitals and Patients:
“Thank you for taking the time to visit with me in my office prior to today’s hearing to talk about a lot of the important issues affecting health care in my home state of Wyoming, as well as the nation. I appreciate your willingness to serve our country.
“During our meeting, we discussed the challenges health care providers and patients are facing in rural America including: financial obstacles facing rural hospitals, workforce shortages, issues with OBGYN, and new regulations that are painful that came out of the Biden administration hurting our ability to provide nursing home staffing.
“Let me start off with rural hospitals and the closures of hospitals like that. There are a lot of challenges facing hospitals in rural communities and frontier areas.
“We have 33 hospitals in Wyoming. Twenty-six are located in various locations often hard to get to or weather impacts them. Six of the hospitals are at risk of closing, two are in immediate risk of closing in the next two years, and 10 have had to cut available services.
“This is a concern of rural hospitals both Republican and Democrat states. It’s bipartisan. It is critical that the financial, workforce challenges that we are facing are addressed.
“Can you commit to working with us on a plan to address this critical nationwide issue in rural healthcare?”
Follow-up on maternity services in rural areas:
“With financial strains on a local hospital, one of the common services to be cut in rural hospitals is maternity services. We have women in Wyoming having to drive over 100 miles to access care.
“Thirteen counties in Wyoming don’t have access to OB. Counties that are larger than the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware.
“Will you commit to working with my office to find solutions to help address these specific maternal health challenges?”
Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s remarks on rural hospitals and maternity services.
On Nursing Home Closures:
“Another issue we specifically spoke about is the harmful Biden administration rule that would have been really bad for our rural nursing homes.
“It is a rule that would triple the registered nurse requirements in nursing homes. There just are not enough registered nurses in our state to be able to comply with this. This would lead to nursing home closures across our state.
“Will you commit to working with me to fix this serious problem that would have been the result of a rule that came out by the Biden administration that clearly doesn’t understand rural America?”
Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s remarks on nursing home closures.