Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined Senate and House colleagues in reintroducing the bicameral Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would 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. Enshrining the right to contraception into federal law would reverse steps already taken by Republicans in states across the country to restrict access to contraceptives 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 reproductive health care.

The lawmakers first introduced the legislation last July in the wake of Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — which overturned Roe v. Wade and the Constitutional right to an abortion. In his concurring opinion, Justice Thomas urged the Court to “reconsider” its substantive due process precedents, including Griswold.

“Reproductive rights remain under a coordinated assault by Republicans across the nation including the latest attempts to ban medication abortion. It’s critical that we work to reverse steps taken by the far-right and codify the right to contraception for all Americans,” said Sen. Menendez. “The Right to Contraception Act would safeguard the ability to access this essential reproductive health care without interference. We must protect these rights so everyone, regardless of race, socio-economic status, or zip code, has equal access to essential health services.” 

“Birth control is a crucial part of reproductive health care,” said Sen. Booker. “At a time when reproductive rights are under attack throughout the country, protecting Americans’ access to contraception is more important than ever. By enshrining the right to contraception into federal law, the Right to Contraception Act would protect access to this fundamental right so individuals can control their own bodies and futures.”

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. Attacks on health care, especially reproductive health care, fall hardest on Black, Brown, Indigenous and immigrant communities, as well as LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, low-income people, and those living in rural and underserved areas.

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

1. 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;
2. 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
3. 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.

In addition to Sens. Menendez and Booker, the legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

In the House, the bill is supported by 71 members.

The Right to Contraception Act is endorsed by Advocates for Youth, AIDS United, American Atheists, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Americans for Contraception, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Catholics for Choice, Center for American Progress, Center for Biological Diversity, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, Coalition to Expand Contraceptive Access, Contraceptive Access Initiative, Equality California, Girls Inc., Hadassah, House Pro-Choice Caucus, Ibis Reproductive Health, Interfaith Alliance, Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, Minority Veterans of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Coalition of STD Directors, National Council of Jewish Women , National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Health Law Program, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, People For the American Way, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Population Connection Action Fund, Power to Decide, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Reproductive Health Access Project, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Collaborative, and Upstream USA.

In April, Sen. Menendez led a group of Senate colleagues in introducing the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act that would ban false advertising related to abortion services by Crisis Pregnancy Centers. The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prohibit deceptive or misleading advertising related to the provision of abortion services and collect penalties from organizations in violation.

In 2022, Sens. Menendez and Booker joined a group of colleagues in commenting on the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule prohibiting discrimination in health care under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. In their comment letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the Department’s Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Melanie Fontes Rainer, the group of senators applauded the Biden Administration for restoring and expanding key nondiscrimination protections dismantled by the Trump Administration and urged to strengthen protections for underserved communities.

Also in 2022, the Senator joined a group of Democratic colleagues in introducing the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act which would make it clear that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for reproductive health care services and would empower the Attorneys General and affected individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict a woman’s right to cross state lines to receive such care.

For a copy of the legislation text click HERE.

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Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a continued effort to expand and strengthen access to dental care for veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both-D-N.J.) joined their colleagues in introducing the Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act. The legislation would establish a new pilot program to provide comprehensive dental care to veterans diagnosed with diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Funded for four years, the program would also study the health outcomes and cost effectiveness of such care, as well as provide loan reimbursement opportunities for qualified dental care professionals who agree to serve for the duration of the pilot at a VA dental clinic deemed high need.

“Access to high-quality dental care is integral to one’s overall physical health and should be part of the whole spectrum of care we offer our veterans,” said Sen. Menendez. “I have long-championed expanding health care for our veterans and this pilot program will ensure that dental care is part of comprehensive health care at the VA.”

“Many of America’s veterans are unable to access dental care due to current VA eligibility restrictions,” said Sen. Booker. “Dental care is important to our overall health and well-being. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to establish a pilot program that would work towards providing comprehensive dental care to veterans. We owe it to our veterans, who risked their lives in service of our nation, to ensure they have the comprehensive care they deserve.”

Study after study shows that poor dental hygiene is directly linked to other chronic health care conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes triples the risk of getting periodontal disease, a severe gum infection that can lead to tooth loss, bone loss, and other serious health complications. An individual with diabetes and periodontal disease is also three times more likely to develop cardiorenal mortality, a fatal combination of ischemic heart disease and diabetic nephropathy. Another study has found that people with periodontitis, or gum disease, have a greater risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke.

However, out of the 9.2 million veterans enrolled in VA health care, only 1.4 million are eligible for comprehensive dental care. According to the VA, in 2020, more than 3 million veterans with diabetes and heart disease went without access to affordable, comprehensive dental care, increasing their exposure to the fatal risks associated with these chronic health conditions.

Studies estimate that if 50 percent of veterans are treated for gum disease, over six billion dollars would be saved annually in heart disease and diabetes treatments. In 2020, the VA spent an average of $86,000 per veteran per year on health care for veterans with heart disease, while it spent an average of $11,000 on veterans with diabetes. Compare that with the $1,132 it costs the VA annually to provide a veteran with comprehensive dental care. Additionally, the VA has spent over $124 million in the past four years on emergency room care for veterans with oral health problems who do not have access to affordable dental care. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, of the 2 million Americans who visited the Emergency Room in 2018 for dental emergencies, 1.9 million could have been treated by a dentist, reducing associated ER expenses by 78 percent.

“The goal of this legislation is really pretty simple: To improve and expand access to dental care for veterans throughout the country,” said Sen. Sanders, who is a longtime member and former chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Today, millions of veterans have access to timely, high-quality health care through the VA. However, very few of these veterans have access to dental care through the VA and many also struggle with chronic health conditions made worse by that lack of dental care. To my mind, this doesn’t make sense. The evidence is very clear that a person’s oral health is directly linked to a person’s general health. This pilot program would be an important step toward delivering essential dental care to veterans who really need it, so that no veteran is left behind.”

The Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act is endorsed by American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH), American Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Heart Association, Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, Care in Action , CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Common Defense, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Minority Veterans of America (MVA), National Domestic Workers Alliance, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), National Council on Aging, Public Citizen, Save our VA (SOVA), SMART Recovery, Social Security Works, and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

“AMVETS believes in granting our veterans additional opportunities to access treatments and care that could prevent more severe conditions from manifesting. We support the Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act that will provide dental care for veterans with certain conditions that could be made worse by lack of access to this resource,” said Don McLean, AMVETS National Commander.

“As a grassroots organization, Common Defense and our members strongly support the Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act,” said Naveed A. Shah, Political Director at Common Defense. “Expanding access to dental care for veterans who are suffering from diseases which amplify the risk of potentially fatal complications is a commonsense measure. Not only does this fit with the VA’s Whole Health mission, but also will help to reduce health care costs overall, and save lives. We applaud Senators Sanders, Menendez, Whitehouse, Welch, Merkley, Wyden, Blumenthal, Booker, and Fetterman for bringing this important legislation forward. We hope Congress will take it up swiftly.”

“The need for dental care to lessen the complications of diabetes and cardiovascular heart disease is obvious to experienced health care providers,” said Dr. James Martin, National Representative of the American Federation of Government Employees and National VA Council. “This bill gives the VA the opportunity to demonstrate that providing dental care to veterans, will improve their overall health and well-being, lessen their risk of complications from cardiovascular heart disease and diabetes, and accomplish this at impressive cost savings. These savings will be apparent when historical costs and outcomes of those who did not have dental benefits are compared with those who will have dental benefits.”

Sen. Menendez has been a strong advocate for providing better health care and benefits for our veterans. In May, Sens. Menendez and Booker, along with U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.-14) and Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), reintroduced the bicameral Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, historic legislation to save the lives of pregnant women and mothers, and increased funding for programs to improve maternal health care for veterans.

In March, Sen. Menendez introduced legislation to ensure U.S. veterans can access education benefits they have earned. The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update its technology to pay GI Bill benefits for veterans taking approved coursework while attending educational institutions — such as universities — abroad that lack an Employee Identification Number (EIN) or a U.S. bank account.

In 2022, the Senator celebrated the signing of bipartisan legislation into law, which expanded health care and benefits for more than 3.5 million veterans across the country who were exposed to toxins while serving in the military. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act, includes the Sen. Menendez’s Improving Benefits for Gulf War Veterans Act, which expanded access to essential benefits for veterans who served in the Gulf War and other wars in the region.

In addition to Sens. Menendez and Booker, the Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act is cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26) introduced the House companion to this bill.

For a copy of the legislation text click HERE.

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Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) today introduced the bipartisan Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, legislation that would permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The bill would also prohibit the export of live horses to Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses to be sold overseas. Companion legislation was introduced last month in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.-16).

“The gruesome practice of horse slaughter for food consumption has no place in the United States. It is well past time for Congress to act decisively in putting an end to this cruelty,” said Sen. Menendez, a regular recipient of the annual Humane Society’s Humane Champion award. “Horses are routinely treated with drugs that are dangerous for human consumption and should not be a part of our nation’s food supply or export of goods. Our bipartisan legislation will help put an end to the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses while protecting families from toxic horse meat and safeguarding the reputation of the U.S. food industry worldwide.”

Although the practice of slaughtering horses for human consumption is currently illegal in the United States, the ban is temporary and subject to annual congressional review and no federal law exists to prohibit the transport of horses across America’s borders for slaughter in Canada or Mexico. The lawmakers hope to include the SAFE Act as part of the 2023 Farm Bill when it is considered by Congress later this year.

In 2022, approximately 20,000 American horses were exported to Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses, according to the Animal Welfare Institute. Those horses are butchered and then transported overseas for consumption in Japan, Italy and other countries.

Joining Sens. Menendez and Graham in cosponsoring the legislation are Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and John Fetterman (D-Pa.).

“The practice of slaughtering horses to meet foreign demand simply does not reflect the admiration we as a nation have for these animals,” said Sen. Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, which is the same prohibition we enacted for dogs and cats during the consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill.”

“I have long opposed the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses for human consumption. I am proud to co-sponsor the SAFE Act, which would permanently ban this practice and protect our horses from this horrific fate,” said Sen. Rubio.

“Horse slaughter is a cruel and inhumane practice that must finally be put to an end,” said Sen. Booker. “That is why I am joining my colleagues in introducing this bill that will permanently end the practice of slaughtering horses in the United States and will stop the shipment of thousands of American horses to slaughter across our borders.”

“Any mistreatment of horses is simply unacceptable. I am joining this bipartisan bill to protect our animals, our farmers, and consumers everywhere,” said Sen. Fetterman.

“Horses simply should never be slaughtered for humans to eat. These cherished, iconic animals should be protected, not butchered and shipped abroad for profit,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “Our measure ends this despicable practice and prioritizes the welfare and safety of these animals. We can and must protect our nation’s horses.”

Find a copy of the legislative text HERE.

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This week, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act, bipartisan legislation to provide affordable housing opportunities for volunteer firefighters and first responders to help recruit and retain more volunteers, especially in rural and under-served communities.

“Hundreds of rural communities across West Virginia rely on volunteer firefighters and EMS professionals,” Senator Capito said. “This bill works to address the staffing and retention issues many stations face—some which were a result of the recent pandemic—by providing housing incentives. The goal is to encourage these local heroes to continue their brave work in their communities, and this bill gives them access to opportunities enjoyed by other public servants to help accomplish that.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association’s 2020 U.S. Fire Department Profile, 65% of firefighters nationwide are volunteers, and fire departments and local governments across the country rely on these volunteers to respond to a wide array of emergencies. Recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters is critical for thousands of communities, yet local volunteer fire departments, especially those serving small and rural communities, find it difficult to meet staffing needs and attract younger volunteers. Since 2019, there has been a 4% overall decrease in volunteer firefighters across the nation – the lowest total reported since 1991.

The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would expand eligibility for qualified volunteer first responders to participate in certain federal housing assistance programs and provide a greater incentive for more volunteers to stay and continue to serve their communities.

“Cities, Towns and Villages in West Virginia rely significantly on volunteer first responders and continually find it difficult to recruit those professionals to stay and serve in their communities. And the West Virginia Municipal League applauds Senator Capito for her introduction of The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act that will add additional incentives to help attract top quality talent in our communities,” Travis L. Blosser, WVML Executive Director, said.

“The availability and affordability of housing can be a challenge when recruiting paramedics and EMTs to our rural counties. The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act will provide tools to help EMS personnel in West Virginia more easily establish homes within the communities they serve,” Chris Hall, Executive Director of the West Virginia EMS Coalition, said.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

This legislation makes it possible for more volunteer emergency responders to participate in the Single-Family Housing Guaranteed Loan program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. This existing program assists approved lenders in providing loans to low-and moderate-income households to build, rehabilitate or improve a home in eligible rural areas. The bill will allow volunteers to participate in the loan program even if their income exceeds the maximum allowable income level by up to $18,000.

This bill also makes volunteer emergency responders eligible to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. This existing program gives law enforcement, teachers, career firefighters, and emergency medical technicians a 50% discount from the list price of a home located in a revitalization area.

More information on the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act is available here.

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), co-chair and co-founder of the Senate Women in STEM Caucus, participated in an event with the Girl Scouts of the USA in Washington, D.C., about their ongoing work to build a STEM pipeline for K-8 girls. During the event, Senator Capito highlighted her advocacy to make STEM education more accessible for young girls and encouraged more girls to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Girl Scouts CEO Bonnie Barczykwoski, Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, and Department of Education (DOE) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly were also in attendance and participated in a panel discussion to help kick off the first Women in STEM Caucus event of this year.

“STEM fields are where the in-demand jobs are right now, and it’s where they will be in the future. That’s why it’s important we do what we can to encourage the next generation to get excited and involved in this field,” Senator Capito said. “I thank the Girl Scouts for teaming up with our STEM Caucus efforts and helping us to inspire that next generation to lead and grow as engaged citizens. Now is the time to help future female leaders in STEM blaze a new trail and I am excited to see what the girls here today, and girls all across our country, can accomplish.”

“I was tremendously inspired after meeting with Girl Scouts from across the country as well as their national leaders and fellow supporters Senator Rosen, Senator Capito, and Deputy Education Secretary Marten to talk about how critical it is to get more young women involved in STEM,” Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), said. “At a time when technology continues to transform the way we live, work and learn, the need to close the STEM gender gap is more critical than ever. We need their creativity, their passion, and their imagination in the technology workforce. As the Director of the Nation’s Cyber Defense Agency, I’m committed to close this gap and look forward to working with the Girl Scouts, Congress, and our partners across government to bring more girls and women into cybersecurity.” 

“At Girl Scouts, we inspire girls to think big and imagine all the good they can do with a strong foundation in STEM—from discovering treatments for chronic diseases to creating sustainable energy solutions and addressing cybersecurity threats,” Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, said. “We are so grateful to Senators Rosen and Capito for their leadership and attention to this issue so we are able to build the curious and confident STEM superstars of tomorrow.”

BACKGROUND:

In November of 2021, Senators Capito and Rosen launched the Senate’s first Women in STEM Caucus, a bipartisan group that works to advance women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and math education and careers.

Since joining the Senate, Senator Capito has strongly advocated for more female involvement in STEM fields through legislative efforts. Additionally, as West Virginia’s first female U.S. Senator, Senator Capito launched a female empowerment program known as, West Virginia Girls Rise Up, which inspires the next generation of female leaders through education, physical fitness, and self-confidence. Since launching, Senator Capito has hosted several STEM-focused Girls Rise Up events with NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson,  IBM, and NASA Astronaut Loral O’Hara.

Additionally, Senators Capito and Rosen teamed up on bipartisan legislation, Building Blocks of STEM Act, which was signed into law in 2019. Specifically, this law:

• Provides research grants through the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase understanding of the factors that contribute to the participation of young girls in STEM activities, study the barriers to engaging young girls in STEM, and develop strategies for prekindergarten and elementary school educators to increase the participation of young girls in computer science.
• Enhances support for early childhood STEM education within an NSF research program that seeks to improve PreK-12 STEM education and teaching. 
• Helps increase the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields. 

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

Current U.S. trade law includes a de minimis exception, which is a duty and tax exemption for imports valued under $800. Countries such as China and Russia are taking advantage of this exception and shipping a high volume of low-value goods. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has little information about incoming packages and is thereby allowing goods made with forced labor into the country.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Import Security and Fairness Act to end de minimis treatment for goods from China and Russia, and to require CBP to obtain more information about de minimis packages entering the country.

• “China exploits our capital markets and uses slave labor to undercut American businesses. It is bad for our country to let China flood our country with duty-free packages using the de minimis exception. The Import Security and Fairness Act will close this loophole and take another critical step to stop China from cheating on trade.” – Senator Rubio

• “Our trade laws can only protect Ohio workers and Ohio businesses if they aren’t riddled with loopholes. This loophole is essentially a backdoor way for competitors like China to ship goods into the U.S. without paying the tariffs and other taxes and fees they owe. Ohio workers should not be forced to compete with foreign competitors that cheat. Our bill would stop Chinese companies from abusing our trade laws to undermine Ohio businesses and their workers.” – Senator Brown 

U.S. Representatives Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced companion legislation in the House. 

• “The current de minimis threshold provides incentive for the gaming of American laws. Foreign exporters can access our market for free when each importation is less than $800. Right now, the Chinese Communist Party is operating a shell game with their trade. The Import Security and Fairness Act is a momentous step in the right direction – by eliminating China from this non-reciprocal trade benefit and strengthening U.S. Customs screening, China will need to start complying with our trade laws.” – Congressman Dunn

• “The de minimis loophole is a threat to American competitiveness, consumer safety, and basic human rights.“It is used by primarily Chinese companies to ship over two million packages a day into the United States. It puts American businesses at a competitive disadvantage while flooding American consumers with undoubtedly harmful products. There is virtually no way to tell whether packages that come in under the de minimis limit contain products made with forced labor, intellectual property theft, or are otherwise dangerous. It is time to close this loophole once and for all.” – Congressman Blumenauer

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Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) responds to major disasters through assistance to individuals, households, and non-federal government entities. The DRF is expected to run out of funds during the first week of August, in the middle of the 2023 hurricane season. The Biden Administration has failed to take the necessary steps to ensure that the federal government is prepared to respond to natural disasters in a timely and effective manner.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and colleagues introduced the Disaster Relief Fund Replenishment Act to ensure FEMA has sufficient resources to continue ongoing disaster response and is prepared for unforeseen major disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and other events.

• “Congress cannot allow the Biden Administration to use disaster funding as a bargaining chip, doing so puts countless vulnerable communities at risk. Our communities deserve better than this. It’s time for Congress to act and provide FEMA with the funding they need for disaster relief.”  – Senator Rubio

Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are original cosponsors.

• “Floridians know that responding to natural disasters is a team effort, which requires every level of government to be ready to assist families in need at a moment’s notice. This good bill will ensure the federal government can uphold its obligation to quickly deploy emergency funding and resources to communities and Americans impacted by natural disasters.” – Senator Scott

• “The federal Disaster Relief Fund has been drained by recent severe weather, leaving us vulnerable for the future. The last few months have shown how vital ongoing crisis response is. This legislation would ensure FEMA is able to continue providing sufficient resources for unexpected disaster.” – Senator Wicker 

Looking forward … If Congress doesn’t act to prevent a shortfall in the DRF, there will be no funds for unforeseen major disasters until the end of the fiscal year.