Video Clips
Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.
Glenn Graham
“I think people in the VA by large, at least those that I work with, were dedicated civil servants. They felt that federal service was an honor and a privilege and a duty to veterans. But yet somehow the federal civil servants, even including in the VA, were treated somehow as a public enemy. And that created a hostile work environment that I did not understand.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“research at the Pittsburgh VA to predict stroke risk was put on hold. Enrollment into clinical trials for advanced cancer was delayed, and a clinical trial in Florida on preventing dementia and heart disease was canceled.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“I'm very concerned by the actions by this administration that have demoralized a lot of our VA research staff and created instability in research funding and really put up barriers that has slowed the research process. On the very first day of the Trump administration, all VA research staff became subject to a hiring freeze.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Richard Blumenthal
“I'm concerned about the effects of staffing cuts, shortages in funds for research, various actions taken by this administration that may inhibit or impede the kind of research that is done by the VA in the past. The VA has been a pathbreaker, an innovative force in American medicine.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“the president's budget proposes a substantial reduction to VA's research program, not only through cuts to dedicated research appropriations, but also through reduced support from medical care accounts and lower projected reimbursements that many of our research programs rely on. Those reductions raise very serious concern about VA's ability to sustain its ongoing research and continue developing new innovations that improve our veterans' care.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“it is my intention to rip Trump's budget up and write a new one.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“I just want to emphasize what I made— comment I made in the opening remark about the pending OMB rule that would really undermine our current system and allow— take away decision-making power from our experienced scientists and just allow political appointees, whether this administration or into the future, decide where research is going to go. That is really concerning to VA researchers. We need decisions based on science, not based on somebody's mad at somebody or political decision in any administration.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Glenn Graham
“I was struck by the fact that people who had gone through the entire recruitment process up to basically signing on would sometimes decline jobs. I tried to get a specific percentage of that, it's hard to know. Although one media source said that early in the first part of 2025, there were about 40% of jobs offered to physicians in the VA were declined.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Glenn Graham
“No, in fact, Senator, I can't, particularly given the accomplishments of VA. I think this comes at a very bad time. It's already been alluded that other federal sources of funding, including NIH, are facing great uncertainties now. VA research being a constant, you know, reliable source of support for research helping veterans certainly would be, would be very welcome.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“a planned study on RSV missed its enrollment window and could not even enroll participants. Another clinical trial closed after it took 6 months to hire a researcher. The study's principal investigator and its lead clinician both resigned from the VA after that debacle.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“a VA researcher's NIH grant for studying opioid use disorder among minority veterans was canceled. Why? It was deemed DEI. Large VA research sites are also reporting their non-VA federal funding is down a third or more compared to the previous year. And in one final blow to research, the Office of Management and Budget has proposed a— or published a proposed rule that would require all federal grants, including those for VA research, to be approved by political appointees.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Catherine Masto
“your own data shows increased demand for hydro licensing activities in the next decade, right? With more than 40% of the non-federal hydropower fleet due to be relicensed, I think by 2035. For that reason, Senator Daines and I, actually working together, introduced S. 3500, which is the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act, and it requires annual FERC reports to Congress on pending projects and action plans.”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
John Barrasso
“it's critically important that Wyoming's concerns are thoughtfully and carefully considered in this process. So, Madam Chairman, I would ask you and others if you would commit to taking a renewed look at the state's comments and consider their incorporation into your final decision?”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Mike Lee
“Yes. You know my answer, Senator. Yes. Okay, nobody said heck yes or more than that, but good. I'm glad to hear yes.”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Steve Daines
“There's one source of energy that has bipartisan cooperation, support is hydropower. Uh, it's a renewable source of energy. It's great baseload power. It's low cost. And this week I introduced the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act with Senators Risch and Murkowski.”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Steve Daines
“right now resource agencies can put mandatory conditions in hydropower licenses. While FERC is the agency that grants the permits for non-federal hydropower projects, resource agencies like the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service can set mandatory conditions on a license that FERC, you all, issue. This can also happen during a relicensing of an existing project. Unfortunately, this process can be abused. Resource agencies can end up on a wish list of projects that have no direct connection to a hydropower dam.”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Steve Daines
“with 40% of the nation's hydropower fleet being up for relicensing, 40% in the next 4 years, do you agree that we need to streamline and look for ways to simplify the hydropower licensing and relicensing process at a time when we are constrained brain as we look forward here. Just like to hear from each of you. Do you think we need to simplify and streamline it?”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Steve Daines
“Chairman Sweat, there are multiple large hydropower projects up for relicensing in Montana, including the Thompson DAM. Will you work closely with resource agencies and push back against indirect or costly mandatory conditions imposed by agencies on existing projects? Thank you, Senator. Yes, we are spending an inordinate amount of time on hydro during this commission right now, more than this commission ever has focused on it, because it is so important, because those licenses are coming up for renewal and I myself am personally actively pushing back on those types of conditions when I become aware of them and they hold our processes up.”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Steve Daines
“This bill is very simple. It requires all conditions to be directly related to a project.”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Steve Daines
“Absolutely. Let's go a little left to right here. Yeah. Yes. Thank you.”Senate Energy and Natural Resources (Murkowski): An oversight hearing to examine the Federal Regulatory Commission. · Jul 22, 2026
Susan Collins
“Our bill would cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for individuals who are on commercial insurance plans. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 40% of people with diabetes have rationed or skipped insulin doses due to the cost.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Bill Cassidy
“The Insulin Act, sponsored by Senators Collins and Shaheen, caps how much patients pay for insulin, preserving access for the 40 million Americans with diabetes.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Bill Cassidy
“we're also marking up Senator Sanders' Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act. This bill increases transparency for families around ultra-processed food and restricts targeting of junk food ads towards kids.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Susan Collins
“Maine continues to face a serious shortage of nurses, particularly in our rural communities where hospitals struggle to recruit and retain staff. This shortage is driven by a severe shortage of nursing faculty. Our bill would help to strengthen the nursing workforce by reauthorizing critical programs that support nursing education, expand access to clinical training, and help schools prepare more students for careers in nursing.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Bernie Sanders
“in America today we have an obesity epidemic and a diabetes epidemic. They are both directly related and they are both getting worse. More than 35 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, over 10% of our population.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Bill Cassidy
“The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, championed by Senators Marshall and Hickenlooper, will make pricing information more easily available, empowering patients to compare prices and to pick the highest quality affordable option for care.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Susan Collins
“I am concerned that his bill will not truly combat diabetes. That's why the diabetes advocacy groups have not taken a position on this bill. But it will have the unintended consequence of making food more expensive for Americans.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Tammy Baldwin
“As drafted, the legislation could require many dairy products, including milk, cheese, and yogurt to carry an FDA warning label unless the FDA chooses to exempt them through its regulatory authority. This places tremendous weight on agency discretion rather than providing a clear direction in statute. I oppose this bill today because I think we have more work to do to get this right.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Susan Collins
“I support this amendment and pleased to be the principal co-sponsor. The original bill that we reintroduced in this Congress had this provision in it in an attempt to move the bill along. We agreed to take it out and decide it at the committee level. But I think it's important that we not leave this population, the most vulnerable population, behind.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Tammy Baldwin
“This bipartisan amendment would restore a pilot program for uninsured patients to access insulin for $35 a month and a resource center to help patients afford and access affordable insulin. Both of these policies were in the original text of the Insulin Act, but unfortunately are not in the manager's amendment before us today.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Business meeting to consider S.2355, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for hospital and insurer price transparency, S.4189, to reduce the price of insulin and provide for patient protections with respect to the cost of insulin, S.4974, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food safety, S.5026, to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children, S.1414, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that clinical studies required for licensure of biological products as biosimilar shall not be required to include the assessment of immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics, or comparative clinical efficacy, S.3788, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug labeling to include original manufacturer and supply chain information, S.3794, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to further regulate compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities, S.494, to establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, S.4110, to revise and extend health workforce programs under title VII of the Public Health Service Act, S.1874, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs, and S.380, to improve obstetric emergency care. · Jul 22, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“in our request, we also asked for an additional 2,000 civilians.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“the portfolio acquisition executives is trying to take all of the things that the SDA did correct and put those in all of the PAEs, and so, you know, Secretary Mink talks about giving 90% of contracting to them, and so what I would say to you, if confirmed, I promise you to continue to work that so that all of our PAEs take some of that capability to bring on fast systems”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“we did have large folks that took the DRP and other programs. And so that, that was a significant cut to us. But we are working to bring those back. As a matter of fact, Space Systems Command is trying to hire 100 civilians a month”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“the $71.1 billion that the president has asked for is exactly what we need in a couple areas in there.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“The People's Liberation Army has rapidly expanded its space capabilities and is fielding systems designed both to exploit space for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and to deny U.S. ability to use space capabilities in a crisis or a conflict.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“we need the ability to have space superiority, and what that means is we have to have the ability to counter someone else's ability to, to hold our satellites at risk and to be able to destroy them. And the vast bulk of that money is for, is for equipment, not, not personnel.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Angus King
“Your budget's increasing by 124% this year. This country is facing a serious budget and deficit problem, as you know, and please explain to the committee and to the American people why this really massive increase is necessary.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“what they are doing with what I'll call counter-space and space superiority capabilities is breathtakingly fast. They have watched the Space Force and the Air Force before that and the activities that we have had to enable the joint force, and they have determined that they need to come up with capabilities to do that. So we've seen anti-satellite tests from the ground. There are capabilities in space that hold our satellites at risk, and they continue to do that at a rapid pace.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“weapon systems, facilities, uh, training capability, all of those things are in there. We are requesting an increase in Guardians, 2,800 personnel, but it is mostly equipment.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“The threat China poses is real.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Douglas Schiess
“they are using their intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance efforts to target our forces much farther than they ever have in the past. They've built a kill chain to be able to see our carrier strike groups, our bombers at much farther, pace, speed, and distances, and they've also developed missiles and weapon systems to go after that.”Senate Armed Services (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess, USSF, to be general and Chief of Space Operations. · Jul 16, 2026
Patty Murray
“I'll tell you, the answer is none. None of them. And that is concerning because while some offices within your department are taking on a set of responsibilities they have no experience dealing with, they're also struggling to manage their own grant programs. As recently as this last January, a report from the DOL Inspector General noted The Employment and Training Administration is, quote, challenged in effectively managing its grant portfolio.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Hearings to examine the nomination of Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor. · Jul 16, 2026
Keith Sonderling
“Like I said last year, the president wouldn't have me do that. And I would follow the law. And I said last year I would follow the law, and I will follow the law.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Hearings to examine the nomination of Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor. · Jul 16, 2026
Keith Sonderling
“I would rely and have relied on the career ethics officials at the Office of Government Ethics to make that.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Hearings to examine the nomination of Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor. · Jul 16, 2026
Patty Murray
“You rescinded the overtime rule in May, slamming the door on time and a half pay for more than 4 million workers who already aren't making much to begin with. At the same time, you're working to rescind the independent contractor rule. You want to let giant corporations classify workers as contractors so they don't have to pay them minimum wage and overtime.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Hearings to examine the nomination of Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor. · Jul 16, 2026
Keith Sonderling
“I do not. That's a Department of Education program. But I would, to the extent we have the administration duties to administer that to the states, it will let me rely on the career education staff.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Hearings to examine the nomination of Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor. · Jul 16, 2026
Patty Murray
“right now you are working with Secretary McMahon to take over the Department of Education programs to help Trump abolish that department. It makes zero sense that DOL, an agency whose expertise is in supporting wage earners and job seekers, that it's being tasked now with taking over complex education programs from the Department of Education to help kindergartners and elementary school students.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Hearings to examine the nomination of Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor. · Jul 16, 2026
Patty Murray
“this Department of Labor stood by while this administration stripped collective bargaining rights from more than 1 million federal workers. And you actually helped this administration pressure the federal agency that helps protect our civil servants.”Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Murkowski): Hearings to examine the nomination of Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor. · Jul 16, 2026