Category: US Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) in introducing the groundbreaking Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act, a package of five bills aimed at directly addressing the issues driving the skyrocketing cost of higher education and the increasing amounts of debt students take on to attend school.  

This legislation pushes back on President Biden’s attempt to enact his student debt cancelation scheme, which would transfer up to $20,000 in student loan debt per borrower onto taxpayers, totaling an estimated $400 billion. Biden’s scheme does nothing to address the underlying cause of the debt crisis, which would lead to Americans with student loans returning to the same level of debt in 5 years, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.  

“Education is the closest thing to magic in America. Ensuring access to an affordable, high-quality education – from grade school to post-secondary – is the key to a brighter future,” said Senator Scott. “President Biden continues to push his illegal and unconstitutional student loan scheme, which forces hard working Americans to shoulder debt they never signed up for. In stark contrast, this groundbreaking, conservative package attacks the root cause of skyrocketing student loan debt, seeks to drive down the cost of education, and sets all students up to succeed.”

“Our federal higher education financing system contributes more to the problem than the solution. Colleges and universities using the availability of federal loans to increase their tuitions have left too many students drowning in debt without a path for success,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Unlike President Biden’s student loan schemes, this plan addresses the root causes of the student debt crisis. It puts downward pressure on tuition and empowers students to make the educational decisions that put them on track to academically and financially succeed.”  

“Iowans understand that when you take out a loan, you have a responsibility to pay it back. The Biden administration’s plan to forgive student debt would only transfer the burden of repayment onto American taxpayers, costing them billions of dollars. That’s an outrageous approach to the student debt crisis. It’s as effective as closing the barn door after the horses have already gotten out,” said Senator Grassley. “Our legislative package takes a proactive approach by informing students and their families of their best options, and I’m proud to see my legislation included in the package.”   

“Student loan repayment should not fall on the backs of hardworking American taxpayers, and students should not be getting federal loans for degrees that don’t result in better-paying jobs,” said Senator Cornyn. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this legislation to streamline this confusing system, save students money, and ensure higher education is accessible to Americans without an out-of-touch loan cancellation scheme.” 

“More and more of our students are paying more to get less,” said Senator Tuberville. “Over my four decades as a Coach, I watched prices go up and academic achievement go down all across our nation, and that was one of the reasons I ran for Senate. Today, Senate Republicans are putting forward a plan that would ease the burden on the taxpayer, and especially ease the burden on young people starting out. This legislation would be the first step to ensuring that America’s future generations get a better deal.”  

Summary of the Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act:

• Creates downward pressure on the cost of colleges and universities that have used the availability of federal loans to artificially increase their prices, leading students to take out rising amounts of debt;   
• Provides students and families with better information to choose the right school and program of   study to achieve the best return on investment for them;
• Ensures borrowers can navigate student loan repayment options without unnecessary confusion; and 
• Guides students against taking on debt to attend programs that do not translate to higher-paying job opportunities.  

Senator Scott’s advocacy on behalf of students includes:

• Supporting a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn President Biden’s student loan cancelation scheme which would end the pause on student loan payments and will have cost Americans a total of $195 billion by the time the most recent Biden extension is set to expire in August of 2023; 
• Writing a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona seeking answers about federal employees potentially receiving refunds for student loan payments that the federal government made on their behalf;
• Fighting against President Biden’s Biden’s $300 Billion Student Loan Plan; 
• Supporting the Student Loan Accountability Act, legislation to prohibit the Biden administration from cancelling student loan debt, a move which would add up to $1.7 trillion to the national debt, further fueling inflation; and
• Championing the Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act, which seeks to increase transparency for those looking to acquire student loans on a federal level – providing applicants with a clear and succinct disclosure form, and empowering them to be responsible borrowers. 

Related Issues: 

Right to Contraception Act would protect statutory right to contraception as Supreme Court threatens to roll back fundamental rights in the wake of Dobbs decision

Ninety percent of Americans support access to all forms of birth control; bill backed by more than half of the Senate Democratic caucus

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in reintroducing the Right to Contraception Act to codify and strengthen the right to contraception, which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its Griswold v. Connecticut decision. This legislation would reverse steps already taken by Republicans in states across the country to restrict access to birth control and ensure that any future attempt by the far-right majority on the Supreme Court to overturn Griswold would not endanger access to this essential health care. 

The lawmakers first introduced the legislation last July in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade when Justice Clarence Thomas urged the Court to “reconsider” its substantive due process precedents, including Griswold.

“Far-right politicians and judges across the country continue to threaten access to birth control in this country, and we need to stand up and protect this essential health care for women,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to join legislation to safeguard every woman’s right to contraceptives and reaffirm our commitment to reproductive freedom.”

Although nine out of 10 American adults support access to all forms of birth control, several states restrict access to contraceptives by eliminating public funding for it, defining abortion broadly enough to include contraception, and allowing health care providers to deny service related to contraception on the basis of their own beliefs.

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

Specifically, the Right to Contraception Act would uphold access to contraception by:

• Guaranteeing the legal right for individuals to get and use contraception and for health care providers to provide contraceptives, contraception, and information, referrals, and services related to contraception;
• Prohibiting the federal government or any state from administering, implementing, or enforcing any law, rule, regulation, standard or other provision that would prohibit or restrict the sale, provision, or use of contraception; and,
• Allowing the Department of Justice (DOJ), providers, and individuals harmed by restrictions on contraception access made unlawful under the legislation, to go to court to enforce these rights.

 Senator Cortez Masto has been fierce advocate for women’s reproductive rights. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Senator Cortez Masto introduced the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Actto ensure legal protections for women traveling across state lines to receive reproductive care. She has urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect the data privacy of women seeking reproductive health care and introduced legislation to make sure women across the country have access to affordable over-the-counter birth control. She took on one of the nation’s biggest pharmaceutical wholesalers to ensure Nevadans can access the abortion pill in retail pharmacies, including Walgreens.

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Legislation will require the federal government to purchase flags produced entirely on American soil with American materials

Washington, DC – On Flag Day, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Gary Peters (D-MI) reintroduced the bipartisan All-American Flag Act, which would require the federal government to exclusively purchase flags that are entirely produced and manufactured in the United States.

“It’s plain and simple: the United States flag, which serves as a symbol of our founding history and values, should not be made overseas,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud to reintroduce this commonsense legislation to require the federal government to purchase flags manufactured entirely in the United States. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan legislation to protect our symbol of American ideals and encourage American manufacturing jobs.”

“American flags should be made in America, period,” said Senator Brown. “Today, half of the materials that our women and men in uniform fight under can be made in China. We have to change that. We shouldn’t use taxpayer dollars to purchase American flags made overseas when American companies – and companies right here in Ohio – proudly produce the American flag. My bipartisan All-American Flag Act would ensure that the government buys flags that are entirely produced and manufactured in America, by American workers.”

“The American flag serves as a symbol of our identity, resolve, and values as one people. To honor its significance, the federal government should only use flags entirely manufactured in the United States,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure that the symbol of our nation is preserved while supporting American jobs and manufacturers.”

“The American flag is our nation’s most visible symbol and there is no question the United States government should buy flags that are made here at home,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan bill will ensure we appropriately honor this emblem that represents America’s spirit around the world, and will support businesses and workers in Michigan and across the nation who manufacture our flag.”

Currently, the federal government can buy flags that contain only 50 percent American-made materials. The Senators’ legislation would require the government to buy flags that are produced entirely with American-made materials and manufactured completely in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Data, in 2015 the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags was $4.4 million. Of that amount, $4 million of imported flags came from China. In 2017, the U.S. imported 10 million American flags. Of those, all but 50,000 came from China.

Earlier today, Senator Manchin released a statement and poem commemorating Flag Day. 

The full text of the legislation is available here.

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, celebrated the Senate passage of his bipartisan resolution to designate June 2023 as Great Outdoors Month to celebrate the economic growth, positive health outcomes and better quality of life provided by outdoor recreation. The resolution also highlights the importance of ensuring access to outdoor recreation is available to all West Virginians and Americans for generations to come.

“Anyone born and raised in West Virginia knows that when it comes to the Mountain State, there is no better place to enjoy the great outdoors. Like so many of my fellow West Virginians, I enjoy hunting, fishing and exploring our public lands, and I’ve instilled that love and appreciation in my children and grandchildren,” said Chairman Manchin. “I’m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan resolution to celebrate the great outdoors and all the ways it enriches our lives and communities. As Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to boost outdoor recreation opportunities and ensure our public lands are protected for generations to come.”

Senator Manchin was joined by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jon Tester (D-MT).

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on his decision to vote against Dale Ho’s nomination to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

“Mr. Ho’s prior inflammatory statements make me doubt whether he can be impartial when interpreting the Constitution. Hateful words and partisanship should never be characteristics of someone on a federal bench and, for this reason, I have voted against Mr. Ho’s nomination.”

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $5,504,439 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). The funding will support statewide public health emergency preparedness efforts.

“West Virginia must be prepared for any public health threat that comes our way, and I’m pleased HHS is investing more than $5.5 million in strengthening emergency preparedness across our great state,” said Senator Manchin. “The funding announced today is welcome news and will support the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources in detecting, preventing and responding to public health emergencies. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to keep West Virginians safe, healthy and prepared for any future threats.”

CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant program provides critical funding for state, local and territorial public health departments to help build and strengthen their abilities to effectively respond to a range of public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters and biological, chemical, nuclear and radiological events. The top five investments for preparedness activities are public health laboratory testing, community preparedness, medical countermeasure dispensing, emergency public information and warning and volunteer management.