Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Washington — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined more than 20 of his colleagues led by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in reintroducing the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act, legislation to allow qualified TPS recipients to apply for legal permanent residency.

TPS is a temporary, legal immigration status granted to foreign citizens who are endangered by conditions in their home country resulting from extraordinary events such as ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or epidemic. TPS status is granted for set periods ranging from six to 18 months, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to extend a country’s status on a recurring basis. Each time a country is recertified, recipients must reapply and pass a thorough background check. Currently, there are approximately 670,000 people with TPS in the United States.

The SECURE Act is needed now more than ever in light of the pending decision in Ramos v. Nielsen in the Ninth Circuit. In that case, beneficiaries of TPS and their U.S.-citizen children challenge the Trump administration’s termination of protections for individuals from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Sudan, and later for Nepal and Honduras. Though the Biden Administration has since re-designated TPS for Haiti and Sudan, it has not done so for the other four countries. Without executive action, an adverse ruling in this case would result in the potential deportation of thousands of TPS recipients from these four countries who have built lives, started businesses, and raised families in the United States to countries facing ongoing violence and instability.

The SECURE Act will provide long-term stability for these individuals and their communities by giving them the ability to apply for legal permanent residency. Under the bill, all TPS recipients who were qualified under the most recent TPS designation and who have been continuously present in the United States for at least three years would be eligible to apply for legal permanent residency.

Additionally, under the SECURE Act:

• A spouse, domestic partner, child, or unmarried child of a qualifying non-citizen would be eligible to obtain permanent resident status (upon meeting certain requirements).
• Individuals with a pending TPS application will receive work authorization and be eligible for travel authorization.
• Non-citizens who have a pending application or is prima facie eligible for permanent status under the bill and intends to apply are shielded from deportation.
• Information from an applicant’s application may not be shared or used for immigration enforcement purposes, with limited exceptions, such as for the identification of fraudulent claims.
• DHS must report to Congress when terminating a country’s TPS designation with an explanation to justify the termination. 

Senator Markey was joined by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in reintroducing the SECURE Act alongside Senators Van Hollen, Cardin, and Feinstein.

Bill text can be viewed here.

This legislation is endorsed by the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), CASA, United Workers Party, TPS Alliance, and Working Families United.

“LIUNA commends Senators Van Hollen, Cardin, and Feinstein on their continued leadership in working to protect Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients with the re-introduction of the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act. Many thousands of union members in the construction industry have Temporary Protected Status. The SECURE Act would allow these valued members of our union to remain in our country. The bill would protect workers from all TPS designated nations, and their immediate family members, who have had a continuous presence in the U.S. The bill will also give them a path to legal permanent resident status as well as eventual naturalization. Thousands of union members have lived and worked in our country for years under TPS, paying taxes while supporting their families. Approximately thirty percent of TPS recipients work in the construction industry. These workers build America every day and are vital to our nation’s economy. LIUNA is proud to endorse the SECURE Act and urges the Senate to bring this legislation to the floor for passage immediately,” said Brent Booker, General President, LIUNA.

“This critical legislation recognizes the urgent need to protect and provide a path to permanent residency to those most in need. The SECURE Act not only upholds our values of compassion and fairness but also acknowledges the invaluable contributions our community has made to society. CASA stands in strong support and looks forward to continuing to work alongside Senator Van Hollen to ensure that those who have sought safety and stability in our country can build a secure future for themselves and their families,” said Gustavo Torres, Executive Director, CASA.

“Despite the political challenges in congress TPS migrant families continue to advocate for a pathway to residency. The National TPS Alliance encourages any legislative vehicle that will guarantee our permanent residency and bring justice to our immigrant community. Today’s reintroduction of the SECURE Act in the Senate serves as a confirmation of our advocacy. We applaud Senator Van Hollen’s allyship in this effort and hope to see other congressional leaders support this legislation,” said Mardoel Hernandez, TPS recipient from Honduras and National TPS Alliance Executive Committee Member.

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Source: United States Senator Mike Braun (Indiana)

WASHINGTON—Today, Ranking Member Mike Braun and Chairman Bob Casey led members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging in sending a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan requesting information on the FTC’s efforts and strategies to protect older Americans from increasing threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI) related frauds and scams. There has been an increase in cases of scammers utilizing AI to impersonate loved ones to scam people, often the elderly, out of money.
 
In addition to Ranking Member Braun and Chairman Casey, the members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging are Sen. T. Scott, Sen. Rubio, Sen. R. Scott, Sen. Vance, Sen. Ricketts, Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Blumenthal, Sen. Warren, Sen. Kelly, Sen. Warnock, and Sen. Fetterman. 
 
The Senators wrote:
 
“Combatting frauds and scams has been a longstanding priority for the Committee across annual hearings, the Committee’s fraud hotline, and its fraud book. You recently noted how ‘generative AI risks turbocharging fraud.’  While AI contains significant promise as an innovative technology, it can also be manipulated by malicious actors targeting vulnerable populations, particularly older Americans.”
 
The Senators ask:
1.       What is the FTC’s understanding of recent developments in AI-related scams?
2.       What information and data does the FTC have on the prevalence of AI-related scams and accompanying risks?
3.       What steps is the FTC taking or preparing to protect older Americans from AI-related scams?
4.       Is the FTC preparing to update its counter-scam educational and awareness materials, including the “Pass It On” campaign’s materials directly intended for older Americans, to account for the rising risks of AI-related scams? 
 
Read the full letter here.
 
 
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Source: United States Senator Mike Braun (Indiana)

WASHINGTON—Today, Sen. Mike Braun, Ranking Member of the U.S. Special Committee on Aging, delivered the following opening remarks at the committee’s hearing on nursing homes titled, Residents at Risk: The Strained Nursing Home Inspection System and the Need to Improve Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability.
 

Watch here
 
Sen. Braun also sent a letter today to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) requesting the NCHS to improve its survey with respect to details about costs and facilities ownership to help
Americans make better decisions for their own futures and those of their loved ones.  
 
Read the letter here.
 
Remarks as prepared:
 
Thank you, Chairman Casey and our witnesses here today. 
 
Aging Population & Workforce Shortages
For the first time in U.S. history, older adults are expected to outnumber children by 2034.
 
As our population ages, we are facing growing health care workforce shortages.
 
Indiana has 4,300 job openings for nurses; and is projected to need 5,000 more by 2031.
 
Nursing homes have not been spared from these shortages, leading to issues with patient care and overall quality.
 
My home state has worked to address this issue.
 
A law championed by Ivy Tech Community College and the Indiana Hospital Association removed limits on nursing school enrollment.
 
Ivy Tech partnered with nursing homes to offer paid apprenticeships.
 
Last month, I went to West Washington High School where they have a program for students to earn a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) license by the time they graduate.   
 
Congress can also do more to fill the skills gap for health care jobs.
 
Senator Kaine and I introduced the JOBS Act, which would make short-term education and training programs eligible for federal Pell Grants.
 
I’ve also introduced the Prioritizing Evidence for Workforce Development Act, which prioritizes funding for evidence-based workforce programs. 
 
Biden Overtime Rule Hurts Nursing Home Residents
 
The federal government should make it easier for people who are looking for work to enter the health care field.
 
Instead, excessive federal rules and regulations pose barriers.
 
President Biden is expected to propose an overtime rule that would increase the salary cap of just above $35,000 for overtime exemptions.
Some Democrats have called for increases up to $80,000.
 
This would make more nursing home workers subject to overtime regulations, reducing staffing flexibility and quality of care.
 
As an employer, I dealt with the Obama Administration’s 2016 overtime rule myself, and know the obstacles presented by federal overreach.
 
Nursing Home Costs and Federal Spending
 
As we work to build up the health workforce, we must also do more to improve transparency and accountability in nursing homes.
 
In 2021, we spent $181 billion on nursing home care: more than half was government spending through Medicare or Medicaid.
 
However, nursing home cost data is not readily available.
 
I’ve sent a letter to the National Center for Health Statistics asking to improve an important Long-Term Care survey that runs every 2 years.
 
Currently, the survey does not ask about nursing home costs, so I have asked to add new questions to address this void.
 
Creating transparency will spur competition to improve quality of care.
 
Quality Oversight and Transparency
 
The federal government is required to conduct annual surveys of nursing homes, which is vital to protect our most vulnerable populations.
 
CMS incorporates survey data in developing Five-Star Quality Ratings, which are displayed on the website Care Compare.
 
I am developing a bill that would make Care Compare more accessible.
 
I would also like to recognize the Majority’s report.
 
Over the past two years, nursing home inspection rates have been unacceptable – COVID policies contributed to some of these delays.
 
Nevertheless, we must do better to protect nursing home residents.
 
I agree with a few of the recommendations in the Majority report: the need to improve Care Compare and expand the health care workforce.
 
I look forward to working with the Chairman on these and other bipartisan proposals to improve care for our most vulnerable seniors.
 
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Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

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Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) joined a bipartisan group of senators this week to introduce legislation to help communities recover from major disasters. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would strengthen the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) disaster recovery program for states, local governments, and tribes. 

“Too many North Carolinians are still waiting for assistance after losing their homes because of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence and it’s clear that reforms at the federal level and stronger leadership at the state level are needed to cut through the red tape and stop the delays,” said Senator Tillis. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation to streamline the grant process to get long-term federal assistance sooner to the families and small businesses that need to be made whole again.”

The bill addresses long-standing recommendations from the HUD Office of the Inspector General and Government Accountability Office to establish a permanent and predictable funding process. The bill accelerates assistance to disaster-impacted communities by:

• Creating a disaster recovery fund to allow HUD to predictably assist communities;

• Authorizing HUD to issue regulations to codify program requirements and reduce unnecessary red tape, delays, and unpredictability that stems from the current process;

• Supporting resilience as a part of – rather than separate from – disaster recovery; 

• Authorizing “quick release” funds to support grantee capacity right after an event;

• Improving federal coordination by establishing an office at HUD devoted to disaster recovery and resilience, and;

• Reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and interagency requirement conflicts.

The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act is supported by more than 40 organizations including BPC Action, Council of State Community Development Agencies, Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, National Community Development Association, and National Low Income Housing Coalition. 

The full text of the bill is available here.

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Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

05.19.23

Cantwell, Murray Reintroduce Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act

According to the GAO, the FBI’s open domestic terrorism cases increased by 357% between 2013 and 2021

WASHINGTON D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined nine Senate colleagues in reintroducing S.1591, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2023. The bill would enhance the federal government’s efforts to prevent domestic terrorism by establishing offices dedicated to combating this threat; requiring federal law enforcement agencies to regularly assess domestic terrorism; and providing training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement in addressing it.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), from 2010-2021, there were 231 domestic terrorism incidents in the U.S., including nine in the State of Washington. Nationwide, the DHS found 35% of incidents were racially or ethnically-motivated. 

This legislation was reintroduced a week after the horrific mass shooting in Allen, TX, in which the gunman reportedly posted images of himself online with Nazi emblems. According to the 2022 FBI report on domestic terrorism, white supremacists “pose the primary threat” of committing lethal violence against civilians.

“Washingtonians have witnessed horrific displays of domestic terrorism, including the 2015 firebombing of Planned Parenthood in Pullman and the 2012 attempted bombing of the Spokane MLK Day Parade,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This legislation will establish offices at federal agencies dedicated to assessing and investigating threats, and provide training and resources for state, local, and tribal law enforcement to address the rise of domestic terrorism and white supremacy.”

“Domestic terrorism is just as real and just as dangerous as threats from overseas,” said Sen. Murray. “We need a whole-of-government-approach to protect families and communities in Washington state from this growing threat, and our Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act does just that—by giving federal agencies the resources and training they need to prevent more horrific incidents of domestic terrorism that have become far too familiar over the past few years.”

The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2023 authorizes dedicated offices within the Department of Justice (DOJ), DHS, and FBI to monitor, analyze, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism. 

The bill also requires these offices to issue joint biannual reports to the House and Senate Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Intelligence Committees. These reports would:

• Assess the domestic terrorism threat posed by white supremacists, including white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the uniformed services;
• Analyze domestic terrorism incidents that occurred in the previous six months, and;
• Provide transparency through a public quantitative analysis of domestic terrorism-related assessments, investigations, incidents, arrests, indictments, prosecutions, convictions, and weapons recoveries.

The DHS, DOJ, and FBI domestic terrorism offices would be required to focus their limited resources on the most significant domestic terrorism threats, as determined by the number of domestic terrorism-related incidents outlined in the joint report. The legislation also codifies the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee (DTEC), an interagency task force, which was originally created by the DOJ in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing. 

Additionally, the bill requires DOJ, DHS, and the FBI to provide training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement in understanding, detecting, deterring, and investigating acts of domestic terrorism.  Finally, the legislation would establish an interagency task force to combat white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of the uniformed services and Federal law enforcement agencies.

In May 2022, Senate Republicans filibustered the House-passed Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. 

Senators Cantwell and Murray joined Sens. Durbin (D-IL), Baldwin (D-WI), Menendez (D-NJ), Cardin (D-MD), Gillibrand (D-NY), Whitehouse (D-RI), Murphy (D-CT), Schatz (D-HI), and Cortez Masto (D-NV) in reintroducing the legislation.

The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act is endorsed by the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights; the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism; the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund; Human Rights Campaign; Bend the Arc: Jewish Action; and the Sikh Coalition.

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Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor regarding judicial nominations.

• GRAHAM: “The White House decision to withdraw Michael Delaney from consideration for the First Circuit Court of Appeals was correct. I say this with no animosity toward Mr. Delaney, but his performance at the Senate Judiciary Committee answering questions regarding his handling of sensitive litigation was beyond the pale. This was disqualifying him, in my view, for such a consequential position.”

• GRAHAM: “Judicial nominees should expect to be questioned about their record and basic understanding of the law, and our Republican committee members will continue to do so.”

Click here to watch Graham’s floor speech

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Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

NASHVILLE, TENN. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, and Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today opened an investigation into and called on the beer industry’s self-regulatory body—the Beer Institute—to investigate whether Anheuser-Busch’s partnership with influencer Dylan Mulvaney violates the Beer Institute’s guidelines prohibiting marketing to underage individuals. 

The letter outlines evidence showing that Dylan Mulvaney’s audience skews younger than the legal drinking age and that Mulvaney’s social media content appeals to young viewers. The letter also calls on Anheuser-Busch to sever its relationship with Dylan Mulvaney.

In a letter to Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Anheuser-Busch and Chairman of the Beer Institute, Sens. Blackburn and Cruz write:

“We are writing to you today in both your capacity as the United States Chief Executive Officer of the Anheuser-Busch Companies (“Anheuser-Busch” or “your company”) and as the Chairman and Senior Director of the Beer Institute, the beer industry’s self-regulatory body with authority over the advertising of beer. Our requests are two-fold.

“First, we write to ask that the Beer Institute’s Code Compliance Review Board open an investigation to review Anheuser-Busch’s recent and ongoing marketing partnership with Dylan Mulvaney. The Beer Institute must examine whether your company violated the Beer Institute’s Advertising/Marketing Code and Buying Guidelines prohibiting marketing to individuals younger than the legal drinking age.

“The evidence detailed below overwhelmingly shows that Dylan Mulvaney’s audience skews significantly younger than the legal drinking age and violates the Beer Institute’s Advertising/Marketing Code and Buying Guidelines. We would urge you, in your capacity at Anheuser-Busch, to avoid a lengthy investigation by the Beer Institute by instead having Anheuser-Busch publicly sever its relationship with Dylan Mulvaney, publicly apologize to the American people for marketing alcoholic beverages to minors, and direct Dylan Mulvaney to remove any Anheuser-Busch content from his social media platforms.

“Second, we believe that Anheuser-Busch’s clear failure to exercise appropriate due diligence when selecting online influencers for its marketing efforts warrants detailed oversight by Congress. To that end, this letter includes a series of document requests that will help clarify how Anheuser-Busch vets its partnerships and how Anheuser-Busch failed in assessing the propriety of a partnership with Dylan Mulvaney.”

The letter highlights that Dylan Mulvaney’s audience skews predominantly towards young people below the drinking age, providing a number of examples in support:

As you and your Anheuser-Busch colleagues are aware, Dylan Mulvaney is a prominent social media influencer with 1.8 million followers on Instagram and 10.8 million followers on TikTok. As Mulvaney’s talent agency CAA notes, he is infamous for the “series titled ‘Days of Girlhood’” which “received over 750 million views in less than 100 days.” (emphasis added) Mulvaney’s “Days of Girlhood” series should have been the first red flag to Anheuser-Busch that it was entering into a partnership with an individual whose audience skews impermissibly below the Beer Institute’s proscribed guidelines.

The use of the phrase “Girlhood” was not a slip of the tongue but rather emblematic of a series of Mulvaney’s online content that was specifically used to target, market to, and attract an audience of young people who are well below the legal drinking age in the United States.

Examples include:

1.       Dylan Mulvaney lip-syncing “I am Eloise, I am six” while dressed as a small child. This video gathered 7.1 million views. It aired thirteen days before the Bud Light partnership.

2.       Dylan Mulvaney during “Day 100 of being a girl” “at the mall” giving away merchandise and cash to teenage girls, at least one of whom was still in braces. That video garnered over 11 million views.

The Senators also request a number of documents from both Anheuser-Busch related to the partnership including communications, scripts of social media content, solicitations for content, and documents relating to Anheuser-Busch’s corporate policy for advertising on social media platforms.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-M), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Animal Disease and Disaster Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023. This legislation would boost resources for programs that help prevent and respond to animal disease outbreaks, including the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) and the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB). These programs were created through Klobuchar and Cornyn’s Animal Disease and Disaster Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2018. 

“When animal disease outbreaks hit, the impact is felt by farmers, rural communities, and our entire food supply chain. That’s why I worked with Senator Cornyn to ensure that animal disease preparedness would be part of the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will continue this progress in order to prevent animal disease and help ensure our farmers have the tools they need to succeed.” 

“Foreign animal diseases cost our agriculture industry millions of dollars, disrupt international trade, and threaten livestock supply chains,” said Cornyn. “This bill would provide USDA the resources to prevent, prepare, and respond to foreign animal disease outbreaks, which will protect Texas agriculture and ensure the U.S. continues to enjoy the safest and most abundant food supply in the world.” 

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX). 

The Animal Disease and Disaster Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act would help bolster the USDAs prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities before a foreign animal disease outbreak makes its way to the U.S by increasing critical investments into the NADPRP, the NAVVCB, and National Animal Health Laboratory Network programs. 

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Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

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