Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

---

---

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

05.31.23

Federal Grants to Help Pay for Cleanup at Former Industrial Sites in WA

Sites include a former gas station on the Port Orchard waterfront, a former brewery in Tumwater, a former sawmill site in downtown Pasco, a vacant hospital in Colfax, a former log yard on the Colville Reservation, a former car lot in Spokane; Funding for program in WA more than tripled from 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Communities in the State of Washington will receive federal funding to conduct cleanup assessments at former industrial sites known as brownfields, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced today.

A total of $4,568,689 was awarded to Washington state communities through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant (MARC) programs. In 2022, MARC funding to communities in Washington state totaled $1.5 million. The increased funding comes, in part, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) reinstatement of Superfund chemical excise taxes, an action Sen. Cantwell has long supported.

“These funds will give communities across the State of Washington a head start as they plan to clean up and repurpose former industrial sites,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Many brownfield sites are near the center of cities and towns, and cleaning them can help communities revitalize their business districts. And thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the state is receiving more than triple the funding from last year.”

The seven sites receiving funding in the State of Washington are:

Grays Harbor Council of Governments ($1,000,000)

Target areas: Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Westport, Elma, Cosmopolis, and Oakville

Priority sites include vacant properties in Aberdeen; a former lumber mill, former shipbuilding yard, and former cabinet manufacturer in Hoquiam; a former ferry terminal that was turned into a landfill and an industrial and commercial corridor in Westport; former furniture repair and paint shop properties in Elma; and corridors in Cosmopolis and Oakville. Non-lead coalition members include the Summit Pacific Medical Foundation and the cities of Aberdeen, Hoquiam, and Westport. Grant funds will be used to conduct 18 Phase I and 14 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare 10 cleanup plans, four reuse plans, and one area-wide plan, and to conduct community engagement activities.

 

Port of Bremerton, WA ($800,000)

Target Area: Downtown Port Orchard waterfront

Grant funds will be used to conduct up to six Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments. Two of the Phase II assessments will take place at the former Kitsap Bank site and the former gas station and bulk oil storage site located at 619 and 620 Bay Street, respectively, in Port Orchard. Grant funds also will be used to develop a cleanup plan and conduct cleanup activities at the former gas station and metal fabrication site located at 525 Bay Street in Port Orchard. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities.

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation ($768,689)

Target Area: The Colville Indian Reservation

Priority sites include a former trim and window manufacturing facility, a log processing facility, a former log pond and log yard, a former wood treatment facility, a former car wash, a convenience store, a truck maintenance facility, and an outdated jail cell. Grant funds will be used to conduct nine Phase I and 14 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare two cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including developing a Community Involvement Plan.

Kelso, WA ($500,000)

Target Area: The City of Kelso, with a focus on its Urban Downtown Core and the South Kelso Waterfront, both adjacent to the Cowlitz River

Priority sites include a nearly 3-acre former scrap metal and salvage yard that has been vacant since 2007, a 4.7-acre site that operated as a sawmill for decades, and the Kelso American Legion building that was historically occupied by a photo development studio and a carpentry shop. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 10 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare two cleanup plans and support reuse planning and community outreach activities including public meetings.

 

Port of Whitman County, WA ($500,000)

Target Area: Colfax, Rosalia, and LaCrosse

Priority sites include the vacant 2.5-acre St. Ignatius Hospital property, a 1.9-acre former industrial and equipment storage site, a vacant utility works yard, and a former gas station. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct nine Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop three cleanup plans and two site reuse plans, and support community outreach activities.

 

Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium, WA ($500,000)

Target Area: Spokane’s Northeast, East Central, and West Central neighborhoods

Priority sites include a 1.8-acre commercial site, a 0.28-acre industrial site, a 0.11-acre vacant residential structure, a 0.28-acre vacant residential site, a 1.6-acre former county storage facility, a 0.41-acre former auto sales center, and an 11.3-acre former residential site. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 10 Phase I and seven Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare four cleanup plans and one area-wide plan, and to conduct community engagement activities.

 

Tumwater, WA ($500,000)

Target Area: Tumwater’s Brewery District and Capitol Boulevard Corridor

Priority sites include a 4-acre former brewery facility, a 22-acre vacant warehouse complex with a decommissioned power station, and a 12-acre office complex that has been vacant since 2020. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 15 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to inventory sites, develop five cleanup plans and support community outreach and reuse planning activities.

A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The EPA Brownfields Program assists states, communities, Tribes and other stakeholders to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. Research has shown that cleaning brownfield sites leads to increased property values, more tax revenue, and environmental benefits.

Nationwide, 262 communities were selected to receive 267 grants totaling more than $215 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the MARC programs. The EPA is also providing $45 million in non-competitive supplemental funding to 22 successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs that have already achieved success in their work to clean up and redevelop brownfield sites. The EPA also announced $55 million to strengthen research and technical assistance support to communities.

Sen. Cantwell has long worked to ensure timely cleanup of Washington’s environmental cleanup sites, including the former ASARCO site on Commencement Bay near Tacoma. To provide additional funding for environmental cleanups, Sen. Cantwell advocated for reinstating the Superfund chemical excise tax in negotiations over the BIL. She has also introduced legislation that would help ensure that polluters, not taxpayers, pay to clean up contaminated sites, known as the “Polluter Pays” principle.

 

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

05.31.23

City of Washougal Receives $40M Grant to Eliminate Traffic-Blocking Rail Crossing

Grant from Cantwell-created, Murray-supported program will fund 32nd Street Underpass Project with second-largest award in the country; Seattle and Burlington also receive grants to study eliminating at-grade rail crossings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the City of Washougal will receive a $40,480,000 grant to fund design and construction of the 32nd Street Underpass Project. The project will reconnect Washougal’s Addy Street neighborhood with the downtown and port area by reconstructing five key intersections along 32nd Street. 

The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. Sen. Cantwell authored this program and shepherded its passage through Congress as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

“This grade crossing is one of the busiest along the BNSF railroad line in the entire State of Washington, and it creates a real hardship for the Washougal community. When a train blocks the crossing, emergency vehicles can’t get through, and traffic backs up onto State Route 14. Building a new railroad bridge and underpass structure between Main Street and F Place will connect the two halves of Washougal while helping the entire transportation corridor – both road and rail – operate more efficiently,” Sen. Cantwell said.

“This funding for Washougal is a really big deal and it will be put to good use, helping reconnect neighborhoods and delivering all kinds of major infrastructure improvements,” said Sen. Murray. “This investment will help ensure that goods get to where they need to be on time and make sure this crossing is safer and more effective for everyone. Grants like these are why I’ve fought hard to fund programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law when I’m writing and negotiating the Senate’s spending bills.”

The 32nd Street Underpass project will include a new railroad bridge and underpass structure between Main Street/B Street and Evergreen Way along the crossing. Elements of the project will include new roundabouts, intersection improvements, better pedestrian and bike facilities, and roadside stormwater management. The project will also help rail freight move more efficiently.

DOT announced more than $570 million for 63 projects across the United States today. The Washougal grant was the second-largest award in the nation, behind a $41 million award to fund a grade crossing project in Pelham, AL.

Two other grants were also awarded in the State of Washington: 

The City of Burlington will receive $2 million for a study to identify one railroad crossing to replace with an overpass, based on traffic conditions and proximity to housing.

The City of Seattle will receive $2 million for a study to evaluate the effect of closing two railroad crossings at S. Holgate St. in SODO. 

In April 2021, Sen. Cantwell introduced legislation to establish the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program to help states, cities, and Tribes plan and construct grade crossing separation and improvement projects. In June 2021, Sen. Cantwell led the legislation through the Commerce Committee as part of the Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021. This legislation was included in the November 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $3 billion over 5 years for this program. 

Sen. Cantwell has been a leading and vocal advocate for at-grade rail crossing reform and safety. In March of 2021, she released a report studying and assessing safety and efficiency concerns at at-grade railroad crossings, finding current federal programs are not sufficient to address these pressing issues of safety and congestion.

###

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

This Bipartisan Legislation Comes At Time When Iran is Increasingly Launching Cyberattacks Against the United States and Abraham Accords Countries Targeting Critical Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), James Lankford (R-OK), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Abraham Accords Cybersecurity Cooperation Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation would build upon the recent expansion of the Abraham Accords into cybersecurity by authorizing cybersecurity cooperation between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Abraham Accords countries – Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain – including participating in information-sharing, providing technical assistance to help partners respond to cybersecurity incidents, and conducting joint cybersecurity training and exercises.  This increased partnership will help defend against shared cyber threats from Iran and other hostile cyber actors, including those targeting critical infrastructure and ransomware attacks.

“The Abraham Accords are fostering an unprecedented level of security cooperation between the U.S., Israel, and our Arab partners,” said Senator Rosen. “At a time when Iran and other hostile cyber actors are targeting the United States and Abraham Accords countries with malicious cyberattacks, this bipartisan legislation will help strengthen our collective cybersecurity defenses against shared threats.”

“The Iranian regime has persistently attacked the American homeland and our partners and allies seeking to degrade our cyber infrastructure and steal our secrets,” said Senator Ernst. “I am proud to support this legislation to strengthen the Abraham Accords and counter Iran’s malicious activities.”

“Cybersecurity is a global problem that requires international cooperation and collaboration,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will enhance cooperation between Abraham Accords countries by facilitating information sharing and coordinating responses to cyberattacks, strengthening our collective ability to combat these evolving threats.”

“Most Oklahomans and Americans never get to hear about the quiet work of our national cybersecurity teams who work to keep us safe,” said Senator Lankford. “Bad actors like Iran relentlessly engage in cyber warfare, including targeting of critical infrastructure and ransomware attacks. Allies like Israel bring tremendous capabilities to the table to strengthen our mutual security in the cyber domain, which is why I am co-leading this bill to formally strengthen our network defense and cybersecurity work alongside the Abraham Accords countries.”

“The signing of the Abraham Accords was a historic milestone in forging a lasting peace in the Middle East and has encouraged cooperation and economic prosperity,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The bipartisan Abraham Accords Cybersecurity Cooperation Act would increase civil cybersecurity cooperation, strengthen our ability to protect critical infrastructure, and enable greater security in the region.”

“As DHS officials and regional ambassadors highlighted just last week, increased information sharing, technical assistance, and joint training in cybersecurity among the United States and the Abraham Accords countries will bring national security, law enforcement, and economic benefits to all participants,” said William Wechsler, Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s N7 Initiative. “Senator Rosen’s legislation provides an important boost to increased cooperation in this critical area.”

Since the signing of the Abraham Accords, Senator Rosen has led the way on efforts to strengthen the agreements. Senators Rosen, Ernst, Booker, and Lankford are the founding co-chairs of the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus. Last month, Senator Rosen led the Caucus in introducing the bipartisan Maritime Architecture and Response to International Terrorism in the Middle East (MARITIME) Act to counter maritime threats posed by Iran. Earlier this year, Senators Rosen and Lankford also led a bipartisan delegation of Senate colleagues, including Senator Gillibrand, on a visit to Abraham Accords countries to discuss ways the Accords could be strengthened and expanded to bring in additional countries. 

###

Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

WASHINGTON, May 31 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday issued the following statement on the debt ceiling agreement:

Let’s be clear. The original debt ceiling legislation that Republicans passed in the House would have, over a 10-year period, made savage cuts to programs that working families, the children, the sick, the elderly, and the poor desperately need.

The best thing to be said about the current deal on the debt ceiling is that it could have been much worse. Instead of making massive cuts to health care, education, childcare, nutrition assistance, and other vital programs over the next decade, this bill proposes to make modest cuts to these programs over a 2-year period. This bill will also prevent an economic catastrophe by extending the debt ceiling until January 1, 2025 – when we will have to go through with this absurd process once again.

Having said that, I cannot vote for this bill.

At a time of massive wealth and income inequality I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a bill that takes vital nutrition assistance away from women, infants, children, and seniors, while refusing to ask billionaires who have never had it so good to pay a penny more in taxes. I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a bill that makes it harder for working families to afford the outrageously high price of childcare, housing, and health care while making it easier for the wealthiest people and most profitable corporations in America to cheat on their taxes.

At a time when climate change is, by far, the most existential threat facing our country and the entire world I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a bill that makes it easier for fossil fuel companies to pollute and destroy the planet by fast-tracking the disastrous Mountain Valley Pipeline. When the future of the world is literally at stake we must have the courage to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and tell them, and the politicians they sponsor, that the future of the planet is more important than their short-term profits.

At a time when we spend more on the military than the next ten nations combined I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a bill that increases funding for the bloated Pentagon and large defense contractors that continue to make huge profits by fleecing American taxpayers with impunity. Let me remind my colleagues that the Pentagon is the only federal agency that cannot pass an independent audit or account for trillions of dollars in spending.

At a time when the pharmaceutical industry is charging the American people, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a bill that does nothing to take on the greed of the big drug companies that are bankrupting Medicare and cancer patients while spending tens of billions of dollars on stock buybacks and dividends.

At a time when over 45 million Americans are drowning in student debt I cannot, in good conscience, vote for a bill that eliminates the moratorium on student loan payments that has been a lifeline to millions of working families during the pandemic.

Deficit reduction cannot just be about cutting programs that working families, the children, the sick, the elderly, and the poor depend upon. It must be about demanding that the billionaire class and profitable corporations pay their fair share of taxes, reining in out-of-control military spending, reducing the price of prescription drugs, and ending billions of dollars in corporate welfare that goes to the fossil fuel industry and other corporate interests.

The fact of the matter is that this bill is totally unnecessary. The President has the authority and the ability to eliminate the debt ceiling today by invoking the 14th Amendment. I look forward to the day when he exercises this authority and puts an end, once and for all, to the outrageous actions of the extreme right-wing to hold our entire economy hostage in order to get what they want.

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

---

---

Next Article

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

May 31, 2023

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – As the summer travel season ramps up and millions of Americans continue to board crowded flights, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today reintroduced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its emergency evacuation standards. The FAA’s current standards require that passengers—regardless of age or ability—be able to evacuate aircraft within 90 seconds, but recent simulation tests failed to adequately take into account whether a flight is full or mostly empty, has passengers with mobility issues or many other real-life conditions that Americans deal with every time they fly. An identical companion bill was introduced in the House today by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), who authored the law that led the FAA to conduct these simulation tests.

“Imagine being on a crowded flight when the worst-case scenario happens: the crew tells you that you have 90 seconds to evacuate—but how can more than 150 passengers on a crowded flight actually safely evacuate in less time than it takes to brush your teeth?” said Senator Duckworth. “While we know that aviation is one of the safest ways to travel, we can’t put our heads in the sand and ignore the risks that come with ever-growing numbers of passengers on each individual flight. That’s why Senator Baldwin and I are reintroducing the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabins (EVAC) Act to require the FAA to finally establish evacuation standards that take real-life conditions into account like the presence of carry-on bags, children, seniors and passengers with disabilities. We must act to make flying as safe as we know it can be—and as safe as Americans deserve.”

“Every American should be able to fly with dignity and peace of mind knowing that safety protocols are in place that take every passenger into account,” said Senator Baldwin. “That’s why in the event of an emergency, it’s critical the Federal Aviation Administration considers realistic circumstances like heavy luggage and passengers of different ages, sizes, and abilities when checking evacuation and safety plans are effective. Our legislation will ensure Americans and their loved ones are safe when flying because that is what they demand and deserve.”  

Recently, the FAA limited in-person simulations to test subjects who were all adults, under age 60, despite that fact that senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities may also be present on a flight. Additionally, according to CBS News, the tests did not include the presence of obstacles like carry-on baggage that could slow down an evacuation, and were conducted in groups of just 60, while Boeing 737 MAX 8 seating capacity, for instance, ranges from 162 to 178. Then-FAA Administrator Steve Dickson even conceded the tests “provide useful, but not necessarily definitive information…” 

Following a 2016 emergency evacuation of an American Airlines 767 at O’Hare, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that FAA conduct further study on the risk posed by carry-on bags during emergency evacuations. That recommendation remains open.

“I have long held doubts that the FAA’s 90-second evacuation standard can be met in most instances, which is why I previously introduced and passed the Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act to require the agency to establish minimum standards for seat sizes and distances between rows of seats in order to ensure passengers can safely evacuate,” said Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation. “The EVAC Act will ensure the FAA’s emergency evacuation standards address the needs of all members of the flying public, including those with disabilities.”

The EVAC Act would direct the FAA to issue a rule establishing evacuation standards that take into account certain real-life conditions including:

1. Passengers of different ages, including young children and senior citizens
2. Passengers of different heights and weights
3. Passengers with disabilities
4. Passengers who do not speak English
5. Passengers who cannot speak, are non-vocal or non-verbal
6. Presence of carry-on luggage and personal items like purses, backpacks and briefcases
7. Seat size and pitch
8. Seat configuration, location and other obstacles in pathway to exit
9. Presence of smoke, darkness or other factors diminishing visibility

This legislation is supported by a broad coalition: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Allied Pilots Association (APA), Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, FlyersRights.org, AARP, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), National League of Cities, Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Association of the Deaf, World Institute on Disability, Autism Society of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), American Foundation for the Blind, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), Muscular Dystrophy Association, All Wheels Up, Amputee Coalition, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, United Spinal Association, ALS Association, Access Ready and American Council of the Blind.

A copy of the bill one-pager can be found here.

“The safety improvements in the EVAC Act are essential and will enhance passenger and crew safety by making aircraft evacuation standards better reflect the reality of emergency evacuations—full aircraft, people of all ages and physical abilities—and it will save lives when seconds count,” said Ambassador and Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

“APFA, representing 26,000 dedicated Flight Attendants at American Airlines, fully supports the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-9),” said National President of Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) Julie Hedrick. “Evacuation testing conducted in 2019 did not reflect the realities of everyday flying. By not including or even accounting for senior citizens, young children, passengers with disabilities, or carry-on luggage, the study was inconclusive. APFA believes that the passage of the EVAC Act is a significant step forward in addressing the evolving challenges and complexities associated with emergency evacuations. By supporting this legislation, we demonstrate our commitment to passenger safety and dedication to ensuring that Flight Attendants have the necessary tools and resources to fulfill their responsibilities.”

“Cheers to Senator Duckworth for reintroducing the EVAC Act to direct the FAA to establish evacuation standards that reflect the current realities of cabin environment including cabin density, carry-on bags, charging cords, and challenges for passengers with disabilities,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing 50,000 Flight Attendants at 19 airlines. “In order to save lives, Flight Attendants are charged with evacuating passengers in 90 seconds during an emergency. We are concerned that current regulations for certification of the aircraft cabin don’t reflect our real world conditions. We don’t need the first test on this to be an active emergency. Let’s get real now! That’s what Senator Duckworth is making possible with this legislation.”

“As professional pilots, safety will always be our highest priority, and we strongly support the common-sense recommendation that the FAA reevaluate transport-category aircraft evacuation standards,” said Allied Pilots Association President Capt. Ed Sicher. “The realities of commercial air travel today — including widely differing passenger ages and physical abilities, language barriers, seat pods blocking access across aisles, and ever-shrinking seat size and pitch — all come into play when an evacuation becomes necessary. We applaud Senator Duckworth, Senator Baldwin, and Representative Cohen for taking the lead on this critical safety issue.”

“For too long, the needs of passengers with disabilities have been absent in the planning process for evacuating an aircraft in an emergency,” said Associate Executive Director of Government Relations Heather Ansley, Esq., MSW of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “We appreciate the efforts of Senator Duckworth to ensure the needs of all passengers, including those with disabilities, are fully considered and addressed.”

-30-

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

May 30, 2023

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Tina Smith (D-MN) to expand their investigation on the effects of state abortion bans on women. As the country nears the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Senators sent letters to five leading healthcare organizations representing physicians, nurses, pharmacists and hospitals asking for updates since the organizations’ responses to the Senators’ questions about threats to abortion sent in August and September 2022. The Senators are also requesting information about the effects of attacks on medication abortion amidst ongoing legal challenges. 

“Since the Supreme Court’s devastating decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade, Republican politicians across the country have enacted draconian laws banning or severely limiting abortions, with Republicans in Congress even introducing a 15-week national abortion ban. In particular, medication abortion, which accounts for over half of all abortions in the United States, is increasingly under attack,” wrote the Senators. 

In the letter, the Senators call on the American Medical Association, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Nurses United, the American Pharmacists Association and the American Hospital Association, noting the importance of access to medication abortion, which accounts for more than half of abortions nationwide. In states that restrict access to mifepristone, a medication used in conjunction with misoprostol to induce abortion, women are more likely to seek procedural abortions later in their pregnancies, resulting in higher costs and elevated health risks. Beyond abortion care, mifepristone is also used to treat miscarriages, allowing mothers to safely manage a painful loss in private.

“Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, online misinformation about the safety and efficacy of mifepristone… has exploded despite extensive evidence proving the drug’s safety. Anti-abortion organizations, including crisis pregnancy centers, have also promoted erroneous claims that medication abortion can be reversed, commonly referred to as ‘abortion pill reversals,’ resulting in confusion and fear… A federal district court’s ruling challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 23-year-old approval of mifepristone has further fueled this surge in misinformation, which has left women across the country unsure whether they can legally access the medication – even in states without restrictions,” wrote the Senators. 

Given these serious concerns, the Senators are asking each organization to answer a set of questions by June 8, 2023 to better assess how challenges related to accessing medication abortion, including misinformation, affect patients and providers across the nation and to better understand the effects of a potential judicial decision staying the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. 

Duckworth is a fierce advocate in protecting Americans’ right to access the reproductive healthcare they need. Recently, Duckworth joined more than 250 members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, in support of the Biden Administration’s appeal of a federal district court ruling that suspends the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) more than 20-year-old approval of mifepristone as well as the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit—which does not revoke FDA approval of mifepristone in its entirety but does significantly restrict access to the drug nationwide and ultimately overrides FDA’s scientific judgment. Duckworth and also helped introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023, federal legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive healthcare for millions of Americans.

Duckworth hosted Dr. Erin King of Illinois’s Hope Clinic as her 2023 State of the Union guest, as part of the Senator’s continuing efforts to defend Americans’ right to full, comprehensive reproductive healthcare—no matter their zip code, income, ability status or skin color. In 2021, she introduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, as well as previously supported the Women’s Health Protection Act, which she vocally criticized Republicans for blocking. After she urged Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to proactively protect servicemembers’ abortion rights, the Department of Defense announced several new protections and services to ensure our female troops can access the healthcare they need. Duckworth also pushed back against Republican attacks against the Biden Administration’s efforts to protect female Veterans’ access to care.

A copy of this letter can be found here and below:

Dear Dr. Resneck:

Since the Supreme Court’s devastating decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade, Republican politicians across the country have enacted draconian laws banning or severely limiting abortion,¹ with Republicans in Congress even introducing a 15-week national abortion ban.² In particular, medication abortion, which accounts for over half of all abortions in the United States,³ is increasingly under attack. As we approach the first anniversary of the Dobbs decision, I’m writing to you to request an update to the responses you shared in September and October 2022⁴ to understand how conditions have changed. I am also deeply concerned about the escalating attacks on medication abortion and write to seek the American Medical Association’s perspective on the impacts of state laws and court proceedings related to medication abortion on women’s health.

Last year, I asked you to share how state-imposed abortion restrictions⁵ and the proposed 15-week nationwide abortion ban have affected and would affect women’s health.⁶ I deeply appreciate your response to those requests, which underscored the dangerous consequences of these policies on women’s health. Given the escalating assault on medication abortion, I write today to seek updated information on the impact of these restrictions.

Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, online misinformation about the safety and efficacy of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in conjunction with misoprostol for medication abortion,⁷ has exploded despite extensive evidence demonstrating the drug’s safety.⁸ Anti-abortion organizations, including crisis pregnancy centers, have also promoted erroneous claims that medication abortion can be reversed, commonly referred to as “abortion pill reversals,”⁹ resulting in confusion and fear. These claims “that exaggerate the harms of medication abortion, that use very shoddy and in many cases, non-rigorous science…do a lot of fear mongering and stigmatizing.”¹⁰ Such tactics can have devastating consequences for women seeking abortion care, including creating unnecessary delays that could jeopardize a woman’s ability to access this care entirely.

A federal district court’s ruling challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 23-year-old approval of mifepristone¹¹ has further fueled this surge in misinformation, which has left women across the country unsure whether they can legally access the medication – even in states without restrictions.¹² And while the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the ruling from Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk to stay the FDA’s approval of mifepristone from going into effect while the litigation proceeds, the district court decision and ensuing legal fights will only add to the widespread confusion about the medication’s legal status and safety.¹³

Medication abortion accounts for more than half of abortions nationwide.¹⁴ In states that restrict access to mifepristone, women are more likely to seek surgical abortions later in their pregnancies, resulting in higher costs and elevated health risks.¹⁵ But even beyond abortion care, mifepristone is used to treat miscarriages and stillbirths, allowing mothers to safely and effectively manage a painful loss in private.¹⁶ As such, a reckless decision to stay the approval of mifepristone, a drug that has been safely administered for over two decades, would only endanger the health and safety of women across the country.

Given these alarming events, I am writing to the American Medical Association — and other leading organizations representing physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers — to better understand how challenges related to accessing medication abortion, including misinformation, affect patients and providers across the nation, and to better understand the effects of a potential Supreme Court decision staying the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. Accordingly, I request that you answer the following questions by June 8, 2023:

1. How has access to medication abortion changed since the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and since the District Court’s ruling in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA?
2. Have your providers seen an increase in confusion from patients and/or providers regarding the safety, efficacy, and legality of medication abortion?
1. Please describe how this relates to both mifepristone and misoprostol.
3. How have state-imposed restrictions on medication abortion affected patients?
4. Are your members experiencing challenges related to pharmacist refusals of prescriptions for misoprostol? Please describe.
5. What guidance have you provided to your members, if any, about how to administer medication abortion in light of increased misinformation and the ongoing litigation in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA and Washington v. FDA?
6. What effect would a stay of the FDA’s approval of mifepristone have on patients and providers?
7. How would a stay of the FDA’s approval of mifepristone affect providers’ ability to treat miscarriages?
8. Is there additional information you would like to share regarding women’s health care, including access to abortion and medication abortion, the impacts of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and the District Court’s ruling in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, and how providers are navigating the criminalization of abortion and increased surveillance in a number of states?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Source: United States Senator for South Dakota Mike Rounds

---

---

Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott

Wednesday | May 31, 2023

WASHINGTON – In his opening statement at today’s U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing, Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) emphasized the growing threat the United States faces from China. The Ranking Member detailed the Biden administration’s heavy regulatory burden, which has incentivized American companies to take their business overseas with China, as well as the Chinese suppliers actively facilitating the deadly flow of fentanyl across American borders.

Senator Scott urged for a return to the free-market principles the American economy is built on – protecting economic freedom, incentivizing innovation, and reducing regulations – which would unleash the United States’ ability to successfully compete on the global stage. The Senator also highlighted his FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which would target Chinese fentanyl suppliers and cut off their resources to continue operations.
 

                                                                                                               Watch Senator Scott’s full statement here.

Ranking Member Scott’s opening remarks as delivered:

Every day, there’s news story after news story about our foreign adversaries searching for a foothold to expand their global reach. Whether it’s China brokering so-called ‘peace deals’ to Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine, or Chinese precursors sent to Mexico to fuel cartels’ deadly fentanyl trade—America needs to have strong leadership.

Today, we’ll be hearing from Biden administration witnesses from Treasury and Commerce, to better understand their thinking and frankly, learn why the White House is choosing to follow instead of leading.

Advancing U.S. national security, economic security, and foreign policy are all vital to our domestic security here at home. As I’ve said before, you can’t secure your house with the doors wide open.

In our ever-connected and ever-evolving world, the United States and our vibrant economy are continuously impacted by other countries. We spend a great deal of our time on this committee discussing our government’s response to our own economic issues, but it is vital to consider the decisions being made oceans away by governments and countries with very different ideals and values than those we hold near and dear here at home in America.

China is at the top of that list. For years, China has grown in force and strength, persistently engaging in coercive economic policies to further its interests and undermine those of the United States and our allies.

To try and gain a leg up on America and our allies, China has resorted to intellectual property theft, unfair trade practices, and other harmful actions that ultimately challenge free markets and U.S. innovation. And innovation is the crown jewel of America’s success. It’s about the birth of ideas and the fertile ground for them to grow and to prosper.

As the internet creates a web of connectivity worldwide, protecting American data from would-be bad actors— like China—becomes even more important. That’s why I recently introduced the Know Your App Act to increase transparency and protect Americans by requiring app stores to label apps controlled by foreign adversaries. It’s about empowering our parents with information to make informed decisions.

Further, China exploited America’s openness to do business on the global stage. But we cut our own selves off, with rules and regulations, dictating everything from climate requirements to burdensome building regulations taken to an extreme—making it more and more difficult to build here at home and perversely encouraging companies to search for more open environments around the globe.

There should never be a world—there should never be a world—where a company finds China easier to do business [with], a better business environment. Our country was built on freedom, hard work, and innovation. We should encourage policies that foster these ideals in the marketplace—and that means lessening burdensome regulations.

Furthermore, American companies should not be on an uneven playing field simply because they must abide by progressive regulations far stricter than the ones in China. We must work simultaneously to provide businesses with room for growth and opportunity here at home while also robustly responding to China’s unfair practices globally.

The United States possesses tools to curb China’s economic aggression, including sanctions, export controls, and investment screening, but we must use these tools strategically and effectively. Policymakers must think beyond the Washington bubble and ensure that when the government uses its economic security tools, it evaluates the economic impact on communities and small businesses across our country.

From securing our farmland to protecting our U.S. technological innovators—this is the lifeblood of our economy and our communities. I know that firsthand from my home state of South Carolina, where advanced manufacturing is our engine, we have some of the largest global brands making their home in South Carolina, the foreign direct investment in my state is tremendous, from BMW to Volvo, an important component of the success that we offer the nation from South Carolina. After all, efforts to advance national security will never succeed if the government undermines the economic security, and economic opportunities, of everyday Americans.

Regrettably, under President Biden, America’s economic strength has waned, and the administration has led this country down a path of reckless spending that has led to a 40-year high of inflation—which every single American knows all too well.

The more this administration spends on progressive policies, the more their attention is diverted from issues that our communities actually need the federal government to focus on—like preventing the deadly fentanyl deaths that Chairman Brown alluded to.

The Chinese Communist Party is facilitating the flow of the deadly fentanyl into our nation through the Mexican cartels, leading to 70,000 American deaths. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for young Americans—the leading cause of death. Americans who will never marry, have children, grow old, or make an investment into our economy simply because they took fentanyl. That’s why I, along with Chairman Brown, introduced the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which will target the illicit fentanyl supply chain, using sanctions to choke off the income of cartels and the Chinese laboratories that make precursors of this deadly drug. We must hit them, of course, where it hurts the most, which means in their wallets.

We must boost economic growth and competitiveness through a renewed commitment to free enterprise, free trade, rule of law, and international U.S. leadership. And we must maintain our technological edge, promote capital formation, and ensure supply chain resilience.

Let me close with this. Concerns about China’s rising strength and aggression are certainly understandable. However, America can always outcompete China. Our economic system and our values have lifted countless people out of poverty by providing economic freedom for everyday people to work hard, apply their talents, and pursue their dreams. There’s no better system in the world today.

It’s time we renew our commitment to the principles that made us the greatest nation on God’s green earth.

Related Issues: