▶ 0:18:41>> good morning, everybody. We have 12 nominations and seven bills. We will vote on justin smith, nominated U.S. court of appeals eighth circuit. We will have three nominees, U.S.
▶ 0:19:07District court for the district of kansas, jeffrey kuhlman, anthony mattivi and anthony powell. Also, timothy verhey, U.S. attorney western district of michigan. And three U.S. marshals, james arnott, western district, missouri.
▶ 0:19:37Jack chambers, southern district, west virginia. Jason holt, northern district of oklahoma. Seven bills. Trey's bill, lieutenant osvaldo albarati stopping prison contraband act, fighting posttraumatic stress disorder act of 2025, promoting police leadership act, officers john
▶ 0:20:12Barnes and chief michael ansbro public safety officers benefit program expansion act of 2026, carla walker act and tribal warrant fairness act. The remaining nominations will be held over. Before we turn to today's agenda , I and senator irvin always have a few words.
▶ 0:20:41The democratic colleagues often criticize these judicial nominees for being overly political. They preach about the importance of the independent judiciary and the importance of norms. They are correct, of course, that a robust and independent judiciary at both the state and federal level is a critical safeguard of a republic.
▶ 0:21:08But these admonitions ring hollow when these same colleagues remain silent when democrats actively politicize the judiciary and its decisions or engage in conduct that the means -- undermines the judiciary.
▶ 0:21:35Although georgia's supreme court has historically been nonpartisan, former president obama and other partisans have endorsed two full abortion challenges in the upcoming elections. Out-of-state and progressive groups have funded big money to their campaigns. Including millions of dollars in tax ads from pro-abortion groups.
▶ 0:22:04So, there is a question that is legitimate. Does injecting partisanship and vitriol into nonpartisan, judicial elections, really advance a robust and independent judiciary? Consider me skeptical. Democrats engaged in this same political folly, when courts issued rulings they disagree with.
▶ 0:22:32For years, we heard democratic threats about court packing and we are seeing that now in the state of virginia, because of a recent ruling on redistricting, some democrats want to lower the retirement age for state supreme court's to repack it with loyalists who will issue rulings that these democrats like.
▶ 0:22:59In the meantime, democrats openly defy court orders that they don't like. I will give you an example from new jersey. The supreme court recently ruled that a pregnancy center in that state has a first amendment right to keep its donor list confidential.
▶ 0:23:21But just one day later, the state's attorney general saw the subpoena -- sought a subpoena to compel its records. This is unacceptable. A hunting -- healthy judicial system must remain free of political influence and our government requires compliance with all lawful court orders.
▶ 0:23:45To that end, I am very satisfied that the nominees that we are considering today, justin smith, and the kansas nominees have dedicated their careers to uphold the rule of law without fear of favor. They reflect precisely what a healthy judiciary should be.
▶ 0:24:09Turning to a more bipartisan note, our legislative agenda is a series of seven strongly bipartisan important bills. Today, we will continue our consideration of an important bill that was to late week because too many committee members left before we could vote on it. The trace act law will be the first built up.
▶ 0:24:37-- trey's act law will be the first brought up. It no longer lets perpetrators hide behind in d.a. -- nda's. The thrust of the remainder of our agenda is our annual tradition of advancing police legislation. This has been a tradition in the senate going back to 1962.
▶ 0:25:09Ranking member durbin and I have worked together for years to ensure this committee advances bipartisan legislation during this traditional priest week. Today, we will evoke on seven bills, all of which -- we will vote on seven bills, all of which are bipartisan and led by republicans and democrats. I hear too often from folks back home in iowa at my town meetings that there isn't enough work being done across the aisle.
▶ 0:25:42Somebody in the back of the room at the courthouse will yell out to me, how come you guys can get along? I push back on the statements several times with examples of this committee's meaningful, bipartisan work. There is no better cause to support and backing the blue.
▶ 0:26:07Each of the nation's brave men and women in blue make a daily choice to serve and protect the american people, fully aware of the sacrifices they are making. Every single day, these are men and women joined up in people's worst moments. Hundreds lose their lives in the line of duty.
▶ 0:26:33Our heroes in law enforcement continue to choose to serve despite unhelpful rhetoric and unfair, politicized criticism. We ought to be aware and grateful of that service. This is a small gesture of this committee's appreciation of law enforcement.
▶ 0:26:57Today's legislation addresses dangerous threats to officers, supports their mental health, bolsters access to new technologies and insurers they have the training they need. Every administration, regardless of party, faces the same fundamental responsibility. The number one protection of the federal government and state local governments to protect the public and to reduce violence.
▶ 0:27:25When legislation supports that mission by aligning resources, strengthening partnership and addressing the toll that officers face to their mental health, it creates safer communities. This committee has a shared commitment to law enforcement and keeping the citizens of this country safe.
▶ 0:27:51I look forward to advancing these bills out of committee today. Senator durbin?
▶ 0:27:56Sen. Durbin: Today's meeting falls during police week. Since the john kennedy administration, this week has been dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us and their families. I thanked chairman grassley for continuing the tradition of the advancing consensus bipartisan legislation during police week to support law enforcement as they face the physical, mental and emotional toll of their job. I have more to say about these bills.
▶ 0:28:26Sen. Durbin: But first, I want to bring to the committee's attention two troubling developments that call into our commitment to law enforcement. -- under the partisan fast-track process that the senate republicans put in place in the last year.
▶ 0:28:46Sen. Durbin: This package of nominees includes several clearly unqualified january 6 apologists who reported by this committee's majority despite the fact they have disparaged law enforcement. These are people who won't answer the basic question as to whether or not the mob that took over the U.S. capitol on january 6 was just a group of tourists who got out of hand or were in fact an attack on men and women who were defending this U.S. capitol building.
▶ 0:29:16Sen. Durbin: 140 plus law enforcement agent were harassed and intimidated by this mob and that's a fact. And to ignore that during police week, for gods sake, is impossible to explain. For example, wyoming U.S. attorney nominate darren smith was on the U.S. capitol grounds on january 6. He just happened to be here.
▶ 0:29:38Sen. Durbin: And made the reprehensible claim that police officers who risk their life that day, and you saw the videos, were guilty of "massive incompetence." massive incompetence, and he wants to be a lifetime in pointy -- appointee and we are going to vote for him on police week?
▶ 0:30:00Sen. Durbin: Phil williams called the prosecution's of january 6 rioters who attacked police officers "the salem witch trials on a national' scale." there's no question of what was happening. Police officers beaten within an inch of their lives were trying to defend me and the senators who are here.
▶ 0:30:27Sen. Durbin: And now they are being derided by a group of nominees brought to us by a president who gave full and unconditional pardons to all of the rioters. Every damn one of them. Many of them are back in jail again, which you won't be surprised to hear. Supporting nominees in this process is no way to back the blue. Earlier this week, I convened a meeting to discuss the trump administration's efforts to arrest and deport dreamers.
▶ 0:30:56Sen. Durbin: These are young immigrants, brought to this country as children by their parents, growing up here and going to our schools and churches. Pledging allegiance to our flight, believing they were part of our future. And then they learned that, sorry, we didn't file the papers and you are undocumented. Dreamers are an important part of america today and in the future.
▶ 0:31:22Sen. Durbin: In 2012 at the request of myself and senator richard lugar, president obama established the preferred action for childhood -- deferred action for childhood arrivals program, known as dhaka . -- daca. Every two years, if you are brought here as a dreamer, you got to renew your status as daca . What does that mean?
▶ 0:31:53Sen. Durbin: A $600 fee that has to be paid. A complete criminal background check that you have to clear. Then you are allowed to work in this country and not be deported. Who are these people? They are teachers, nurses, doctors, law enforcement and they are in our military. They are making america a better place. So, what's happening to them now? Unfortunately, the promise we made to stand behind them has been broken.
▶ 0:32:20Sen. Durbin: Those who show up to resubmit their application for renewal for adaca are being arrested on the spot and deported. We promised these people we would stand by them. Unfortunately, that's not the case at all. This administration, they are slow walking daca renewals so that dreamers faced deportation through no fault of their own.
▶ 0:32:51Sen. Durbin: Are these the worst of the worst, the rapists, murderers and terrorists? No way, they go through complete criminal background checks. They won't be renewed if they have serious crimes in their background. This administration is in the process of processing hold on applications because some of these daca people are from the 39 countries the president has declared we will accept no immigrants from.
▶ 0:33:20Sen. Durbin: In something called the board of immigration appeals, issued a decision that daca will no longer protect the dreamers. One of the witnesses in a meeting I convened this week was robert rodriguez. He's chief of police of the senate and a police department in california. Born in tijuana, mexico, chief rodriguez was brought to the united states as an undocumented child. He joined the U.S.
▶ 0:33:47Sen. Durbin: Marine corps, where he deployed numerous times, eventually obtaining his U.S. citizenship. Chief rodriguez testified about the difficulties he's facing in recruiting police officers. It has several daca recipients on his police force who are serving honorably and helping to protect his community. He's already had to lay off one of these officers who lost her status because of the slowdown from the trump administration in renewing daca.
▶ 0:34:19Sen. Durbin: Mr. chairman, this committee has the authority, jurisdiction and responsibility to not just talk about police week but do something about police week. Let's do something about daca. Let's have a hearing and commitment on both sides that these young people should be given a chance. I'd like to say a word about one of the first nominees we are going to consider. His name is justin smith.
▶ 0:34:41Sen. Durbin: He's one of the several personal attorneys who has been reported -- rewarded for his loyalty with a lifetime appointment to the federal court. He's the second attorney president trump nominated to this level, following -- we already know he's not the last because the president has nominated other attorneys. Even today, Mr. smith continues to represent the president as lead counsel in the case against e.
▶ 0:35:10Sen. Durbin: Jean carol, who has been rewarded $90 million in damages after juries found donald trump liable for sexual abuse. Lastly, Mr. smith filed a motion where he challenged the ruling against the president and supported the department of justice's effort to intervene. Mr. smith's record shows he's ideologically extreme.
▶ 0:35:40Sen. Durbin: He joined the baseless effort to challenge the results of the 2020 election. You know what I'm talking about here. The big lie, the one where he asked all of these judicial nominees what happened on january 6 and they say I think it was sunny and the wind was blowing. No, there was a mob that attacked the U.S. capital. If you can't acknowledge that happened, what the hell good are you?
▶ 0:36:08Sen. Durbin: He has extensive right wing affiliations and ties to dark money. His record shows he will continue to prioritize these issues over the cause of justice. I yield.
▶ 0:36:19Chair Grassley: Before I call, I want to talk about dreamers
▶ 0:36:24Before I: You. Put me in line if you would. When I speak on dreamers, I'm not speaking against what you said about the deportation. I do want to remind the colleagues here, and especially on the democrat side of my efforts in this area, first of all, I want to start off by saying 30 four years, the democrats controlled the judiciary committee -- saying
▶ 0:36:58Before I: For four years, the democrats controlled the judiciary committee and they never had a dream act. Congress's approach needs to be measured. My approach in 2018, a bill that got to the senate floor, gave legal protection to daca recipients but was opposed by every senate democrat on the floor.
▶ 0:37:23Before I: I remain willing to work with the white house and the democrats on this issue, in a serious, bipartisan way. Senator, go ahead.
▶ 0:37:38Sen. Smith: I want to point out february 2 is katie britt's birthday and it's groundhog day. I think we should change the date of groundhog day to january 6. Every time I walk in, everything stops and starts with january 6. Anyway, the point that I want to make was justin smith is an extremely qualified candidate.
▶ 0:38:05Sen. Smith: He was my first assistant when I was attorney general. He understands the proper role of the judiciary. He will be an excellent eighth circuit judge. I can't recommend him more highly to my colleagues. He will be great. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:38:20Chair Grassley: I think I will go back and forth between republicans and democrats. >> I will speak briefly because this is a complicated topic that requires more discussion amongst us as a committee.
▶ 0:38:37Chair Grassley: I remember -- I sent a member of this committee a letter yesterday relating to the out-of-control assertions of executive privilege that have become habitual in this committee. I do not see this as a partisan issue. I see this as an executive versus legislative separation of powers issue.
▶ 0:39:03Chair Grassley: And indeed, it is not partisan in this committee because chairman grassley has been an ardent advocate for limiting the scope of assertions of executive privilege. The ways in which assertions of privilege have gotten out of control are numerous. First of all, very often, we get witnesses who have played in privileges that have not been properly asserted. They don't even try.
▶ 0:39:37Chair Grassley: Second, we have an omc that has taken it upon itself to establish more and more executive privileges including ignoring district court orders, because the olc has decided it's like a circuit court of appeals and can ignore what district court saiz -- says. It's pretty astounding.
▶ 0:40:04Chair Grassley: They have worked the rough because they are the ref with respect to executive privilege claims. They have tried to employ folia exceptions into becoming barriers for congressional oversight inc..
▶ 0:40:28Chair Grassley: They have -- over cit they have -- over csighting. As chairman grassley pointed out, those don't belong as limitations to our oversight. Our oversight is constitutional. Lastly, there is the reagan memo which describes how the executive branch is supposed to work with us to work through claims of privilege.
▶ 0:40:56Chair Grassley: And the reagan memo is constantly violated. It is a complete dead letter at this point. And, the basic cook of the reagan memo is that the department of justice can be trusted to be a neutral -- between the executive and legislative branch, settling questions of privilege.
▶ 0:41:19Chair Grassley: In both the democratic administration, the department of justice has proven itself completely incapable or unwilling to perform in that role. So please, take a minute. Read the letter, have the staff to look through the bipartisan report senator kennedy and I did on this question and let's think about a way to come together and try to set ground rules in this committee.
▶ 0:41:46Chair Grassley: That if you want to assert executive privilege, here's what we will accept and here's what we want except. Here are the rules we are going to require if you try to accept it. We can't just have witnesses come in and willy-nilly say privilege and have all of us go poop like dust and never be able to get our questions answered.
▶ 0:42:06Chair Grassley: This is the beginning of what I hope is a long, healthy and bipartisan process that comes to a real result in this committee that reestablishes our legislative authority to do oversight and get answers and require a real process. And actual, genuine, legal basis for assertions of executive privilege. Thanks, chairman and thank you for your support. Thank you to senator kennedy for his work on our joint report.
▶ 0:42:37Chair Grassley: The people I said I would recognize will go to nominations. You can request to be recognized . We have everybody here. We will turn to the nomination of justin smith, eighth circuit court of appeals. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. cruz. >> aye.
▶ 0:43:08Chair Grassley: >> >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. durbin? >> no. >> Ms. klobuchar? >> no. >> Mr. booker? >> no. >> no by proxy. >> chairman grassley? >> aye.
▶ 0:43:42Chair Grassley: The majority report will be reported. The nomination of jeffrey kuhlman, district court, kansas. Call the roll. >> aye. >> Mr. cruz? >> aye. >> blackburn? >> aye. >> aye by proxy. >> aye. >> Mr. durbin?
▶ 0:44:14Chair Grassley: >> no. >> Ms. klobuchar? >> no. >> Mr. coons? >> no. >> Mr. blumenthal? >> no. >> chair grassley? >> aye.
▶ 0:44:41Chair Grassley: The nomination will be favorably reported. Now, the nomination of anthony mattivi. >> Mr. cruz? >> aye. >> Mr. tillis? >> aye. >> Mr. durbin? >> no.
▶ 0:45:12Chair Grassley: >> Ms. klobuchar yucca >> no >> Ms. klobuchar yucca -- Ms. klobuchar? >> no. >> Mr. booker? >> no. >> no by proxy. >> aye.
▶ 0:45:34Chair Grassley: The nomination will be favorably reported. Now, we have anthony powell, district court, kansas. The clerk will call the roll. >> no. -- >> aye. >> aye. >> Mr. tillis? >> aye. >> Mr. kennedy? >> aye. >> aye by proxy.
▶ 0:46:04Chair Grassley: >> Mr. durbin? >> no. >> Mr. whitehouse? >> no. >> Mr. blumenthal? >> no. >> Mr. booker? >> no. >> Mr. welch? >> no. >> no by proxy. Chairman grassley?
▶ 0:46:29Chair Grassley: Aye.
▶ 0:46:34Chair Grassley: The nomination will be favorably reported. Now, we have the nomination of timothy verhey. The clerk will call the roll. >> no -- >> aye. >> Mr. cruz? >> aye. >> Mr. kennedy? Mr. schmitt? >> aye. >> Mr. durbin?
▶ 0:47:05Chair Grassley: >> no. >> Mr. whitehouse? >> no. >> no. >> Mr. blumenthal? >> no. >> Mr. booker? >> no. >> Mr. padilla? >> I'm sorry, yes.
▶ 0:47:40Chair Grassley: >> Mr. schiff? >> no -- >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. chair, I would like to change my vote from no to yes.
▶ 0:47:55Chair Grassley: Did you get that, clerk? The blue slips are in.
▶ 0:48:14Chair Grassley: Did you call my name? >> chairman grassley? >> no. -- >> aye.
▶ 0:48:25Chair Grassley: The nomination will be favorably reported. Now, we have james arnott. Our clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. cornyn? >> aye. >> Mr. cruz. >> aye. >> Mr. kennedy. >> aye. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. durbin? >> no.
▶ 0:48:56Chair Grassley: >> Mr. whitehouse? >> no. >> Ms. klobuchar? >> no. >> Mr. booker? >> no. >> Mr. welch? >> no. >> Mr. schiff? >> no by proxy. >> chair grassley?
▶ 0:49:27Chair Grassley: >> no
▶ 0:49:34Chair Grassley: >> aye. -- >> Mr. kennedy. >> no >> aye. >> Mr. durbin? >> aye. >> Ms. klobuchar? >> no. >> Mr. booker? >> no.
▶ 0:50:04Chair Grassley: >> Mr. padilla? >> no. >> Mr. schiff? >> no. >> chair grassley?
▶ 0:50:18Chair Grassley: Aye. The nomination will be favorably reported. Now we have jason holt. Clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. cruz? >> aye. >> Mr. tillis? >> aye. >> Mr. kennedy echo >> aye >> Mr. kennedy echo -- Mr. keny ? >> aye.
▶ 0:50:48Chair Grassley: >> Mr. whitehouse? >> aye. >> Mr. blumenthal? >> aye. Mr. schiff? >> no by proxy. >> chair grassley? >> aye.
▶ 0:51:18Chair Grassley: The nomination will be favorably reported. Would it be possible for people who want to speak on the police issues speak when the bills come up? >> thank you for scheduling this markup on national police week.
▶ 0:51:48Chair Grassley: I will wait to speak on the individual bills as they come up. I want to say award about trey's law, which is on the agenda. Senator cruz has taken the lead on the effort and I am proud to join that bill is a cosponsor. But I also want to acknowledge the presence of jeff leach, a state representative from texas who was the author of that at the state level, which is improved as a model for other states, obviously taking the good example of the texas legislature, now scaling it up and passing it as entirely
▶ 0:52:21Chair Grassley: Appropriate. Thank you for giving me a chance to do that and thank you for being here.
▶ 0:52:24Chair Grassley: Out of courtesy to people on this committee that are also on the banking committee, he still had plenty of time but we will lose a lot of members have 10:30 for that banking committee. Did you want to speak, senator cruz?
▶ 0:52:46Sen. Cruz: I will speak briefly. I addressed this bill at greater length two weeks ago in the last market we did. Trey's law is an important civil rights law and protection for kids. It is named for trey karloff, as it texan -- as a texan and young boy, he attended a christian summer camp and he was groomed and sexually assaulted by an adult male at that camp.
▶ 0:53:18Sen. Cruz: For a period of years, he lived with the agony of that abuse. Ultimately, litigation ensued and he settled that litigation. As part of that solomon, he signed a nondisclosure agreement. As a result, trey kept the details of that abuse silent his entire life. He agonized under that silence. Ultimately, trey took his own life.
▶ 0:53:48Sen. Cruz: As in the aftermath of what occurred at that camp. Trey's law is a simple commonsense step that says nondisclosure agreement shall not be enforced to influence child victims of sexual assault. I wish I could say what happened to trey was an outlier but it's not.
▶ 0:54:11Sen. Cruz: Child sexual assault has occurred frequently and litigation that ensues results in a nondisclosure agreement that attempts to muzzle the child from telling his story or her story forever. That is wrong. Trey's sister, elizabeth, has been a heroic warrior, telling his story, advocating for this protection for kids. Texas has passed trey's law, as senator cornyn noted.
▶ 0:54:39Sen. Cruz: Jeff leach introduced it and carried it through in the state legislature. Thank you, jeff, for doing so. Congress will be following texas's lead very shortly but this is an important common protection. A number of senators are cosponsors of this bill. And I am grateful for all of you and I urge the committee to pass it.
▶ 0:55:04Chair Grassley: Senator durbin?
▶ 0:55:07Sen. Durbin: I asked to be included as a cosponsor of this bill. >> I asked to be added as cosponsor in the other bills and I will leave my remarks for after we are done voting. >> Mr. chairman, I would like to be added as a cosponsor.
▶ 0:55:27Chair Grassley: Graham wants to be added as a cosponsor. Moody wants to be added as a cosponsor. To list -- thom tillis and kennedy. >> I would like to be added as a cosponsor on all of the bills, starting with trey's law.
▶ 0:55:53Chair Grassley: >> hermano wants to be cosponsor of all of the bills. The same thing for the senator from connecticut and the senator , padilla and booker. And welch. Does that cover everybody? >> if you don't want to be a cosponsor, raise your hand.
▶ 0:56:21Chair Grassley: Can we vote on trey's act by voice vote? All in favor of the trey's act say aye. >> aye. >> all opposed, say no.
▶ 0:56:38Chair Grassley: It's unanimous. Now, we go to peace week -- police week. We have s. 736, led by senator's office off, joined by -- I am leading this with soft, booker, cruz -- ossoff, booker, cruz and
▶ 0:57:15Chair Grassley: Moody. The second bill is led by me, koons, holly, blumenthal and blackburn. Third, -- I see I'm getting ahead of myself. Anybody want to speak on 736? >> I would like to be added as a cosponsor.
▶ 0:57:38Chair Grassley: Durbin will be added as a cosponsor. Any money want to speak on it? Have we made arrangements to vote on this as a total package?
▶ 0:57:52Chair Grassley: I guess I can proceed as I was doing. I have already talked about the bill by senator cornyn. That is s. 4394. We have amendment to 6252.
▶ 0:58:23Chair Grassley: Without objection, it will be adopted. I hear no objection. The fourth bill, led by senators gillibrand and crews and cosponsored by senators koons and graham, I will have a manager's amendment on that bill. The amendment is l ip 26517. Without objection, it will be adopted. I hear no objection. The fifth bill, we have s.
▶ 0:59:03Chair Grassley: 18, led by senators90 -- s. 1890, led by senators cornyn and graham. I hear no objection. The last bill, s. 31, led by cortez. I will also have a manager's amendment there. El l 26367.
▶ 0:59:39Chair Grassley: Without objection, it will be adopted. Now, who wants to speak on these individual bills? I will try to go back and forth between democrats and republicans. Senator coons -- I mean senator cornyn, sorry.
▶ 0:59:55Sen. Cornyn: Thank you, Mr. chair. I want to say something about the karla walker act, which is particularly significant treat all of these bills are important and I will support all of them as we honor our men and women in blue. But the carla walker act is named for carla walker, who was murdered in 1974, whose case was not solved for 46 years.
▶ 1:00:23Sen. Cornyn: Thanks to forensic, genetic genealogy, her murderer was caught, tried and convicted in 2021. This bill creates a pilot program to fund the use of forensic, genetic genealogy which enables law enforcement to investigate and prosecute cold cases and other hard to solve crimes.
▶ 1:00:46Sen. Cornyn: By making this cutting edge technology more widely available to investigative agencies, law enforcement would gain a reliable and effective tool to identify unknown offenders. I am grateful to all of our colleagues for supporting this. As we know, new technology like this is expensive and it's hard for smaller jurisdictions to be able to require it to use -- acquire it to use in these important cases.
▶ 1:01:15Sen. Cornyn: The pilot program will fund the use of this forensic genetic genealogy. And hopefully it will be the proving ground by which we can then expand it more broadly. Thank you very much. I urge its passage.
▶ 1:01:27Chair Grassley: Does anybody want to speak on the democratic side? >> no. >> senator booker.
▶ 1:01:47Chair Grassley: Did you hear that, clark? >> I got it.
▶ 1:01:53Chair Grassley: It looks to me like we are ready -- ready to vote.
▶ 1:02:02Sen. Cruz: I asked to be a consta con -- cosponsor to all of the bills today.
▶ 1:02:17Sen. Booker: I just wanted to briefly appreciate the lead authors work on this. When it comes to -- has not always been the best.
▶ 1:02:34Sen. Booker: This tells me that huge strides that have been made in government relations, including two but not limited to law enforcement. They can investigate and execute arrest warrants at the request of indian tribes. It's not a position or a mandate. It speaks to true partnership and collaboration and appreciates the spirit of the measure. >> Mr. chairman?
▶ 1:03:06Chair Grassley: Senator cruz?
▶ 1:03:10Sen. Cruz: This week, we remember the 201 law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty this year. Including 16 texans. And we honor the fallen by keeping faith in the living. That fate has a name.
▶ 1:03:32Sen. Cruz: The public safety officers benefits program created in 1976 so that when our first response answered the call of sacrifice, their country does not answer with silence. But silence is what too many heroes have received. The program is failing too many first responders and their loved ones. Take the story of officer john barnes.
▶ 1:03:58Sen. Cruz: A hero who saved the lives of dozens of students during the horrific shooting at santa fe high school. Officer barnes has spent more than 20 years with the houston police department.
▶ 1:04:11Sen. Cruz: Warning -- burning awards for his tireless work preventing crimes against children -- burning awards for -- ear ning awards for his tireless work preventing crimes against children. Officer barnes met people in the hallway. There were screens of shots fired, the fire alarm blaring and students pouring past him.
▶ 1:04:41Sen. Cruz: Officer barnes did not delay, he did not hesitate. He ran toward the gunfire in the chaos. Officer barnes placed himself between innocent children and death. And with one blast of the shooter's shotgun, pellets tore through officer barnes's right arm, severing his artery, shattering his elbow and leaving him with a permanent disability.
▶ 1:05:07Sen. Cruz: Evacuated, he flatlined twice and was resuscitated twice. By the grace of god, officer john barnes survived the evil acts of that day. But, his injuries forced him to retire from the police. But, because of that -- because he did not delay, because he did not hesitate, officer john barnes saved the lives of dozens of students that day.
▶ 1:05:35Sen. Cruz: I was at the santa fe school that morning, just an hour after the shooting occurred. And I saw incredible hero is him from officer barnes and -- heroism from officer barnes and students and teachers. Michael ansbro, on september 11, when the twin towers fell, chief ansbro did not hesitate and did not delay.
▶ 1:06:04Sen. Cruz: He reported to the command post at the world trade center and the backup command post at nypd headquarters. In the middle of the chaos, he went into the smoke on the burning embers, the ash and chemicals in the air, to help rescue those that he could from the rubble. He survived the collapse of the north tower and supervised evacuation and rescue efforts out of a nearby subway station when the south tower collapsed and destroyed it.
▶ 1:06:33Sen. Cruz: Chief ansbro passed away from cancer caused by the toxic chemical exposure he suffered during his heroic service in the rubble of ground zero. Yet, neither officer john barnes , nor chief michael ansbro's children have received the treatment these heroes gave to our community.
▶ 1:06:54Sen. Cruz: Today, officer barnes has waited eight years for help from the public safety officers benefits program while chief ansbro's children have suffered years of delay, seeking support after his passing. Officer john barnes and chief michael ansbro are not alone.
▶ 1:07:12Sen. Cruz: A february sixth pso b report revealed 1472 pending claims, some pending as long as almost 13 years. That's why I've teamed up with senator gillibrand to introduce the officer john barnes and chief ansbro public safety expansion act.
▶ 1:07:37Sen. Cruz: The bill forces the program to make final determinations within 270 days of receiving completed claims. It provides temporary relief to first responders left waiting by inexcusable delays. And it creates an expedited system of review for public safety officers who did not hesitate to act during the september 11 attacks.
▶ 1:08:01Sen. Cruz: I want to thank the supporters of this bill, including the national fraternal order of police, the american federation of state county municipal employees, the national association of police organizations, the international association of chiefs of police, the federal law enforcement officers association, the national narcotics officers association coalition. The united states deputy sheriffs association and the voices center for resilience.
▶ 1:08:31Sen. Cruz: I appreciate the senators who have joined me on this and I urge the committee to adopt the bill.
▶ 1:08:36Chair Grassley: Before we vote on these bills, I forgot I was not a cosponsor of trey's law and I would like to be added. Is there any objection? I hear no objection. I understand that we have an agreement to voice vote the following six bills as amended. S. Seven 36, s. A 25 -- s.
▶ 1:08:58Chair Grassley: 736, s. 825, s. 1890, s. 3041 as amended. On favorably reporting the bills I just listed, all in favor say >> aye. >> aye.
▶ 1:09:30Chair Grassley: >> all opposed, say no. >> I just want to make sure I'm added as a cosponsor to bill s. 897. >> is it appropriate for me to memorialize an officer who was killed in the line of duty in hawaii?
▶ 1:10:00Chair Grassley: Yes, please speak. And then klobuchar. >> I want to take a moment to memorialize police officer suzanne uh oh, who was killed by a ghost gun. She was commemorated at the vigil last night and is included in the national police week resolution.
▶ 1:10:29Chair Grassley: Officer oh was a compassionate and dedicated public servant. She earned a merit in 2023 for her work, responding to the 2023 upcountry maui wildfires. She helped recruit asian american, native hawaiian and pacific islander women to careers in law enforcement as she embodied the spirit of aloha. In the words of a fellow officer , her life was a master class in what it means to serve with empathy. Without objection, Mr.
▶ 1:10:59Chair Grassley: Chairman, I would like to submit for the record, statements from her fellow officers at the maui police department. Thank you.
▶ 1:11:12Sen. Klobuchar: Thank you, chairman and thank you to the women and men of law enforcement were here today. I joined law enforcement last night to honor the lives and sacrifice of 363 officers who died in the line of duty. Every single name read last night was a hero.
▶ 1:11:40Sen. Klobuchar: A beloved family member, and friend. Among the names that I read were three from minnesota, officer felicia riley of the st. Paul police department, who sustained long-term brain injuries in 2010 while responding to an incident at a home. She passed away in march of 2025 as a result of those injuries. 30 of her family members were there last night at the vigil.
▶ 1:12:10Sen. Klobuchar: We honored the life of richard legler, who was killed in the line of duty in 1986. He was ambushed in a targeted attack against law enforcement and passed away at the age of 37. And finally home honor the life of officer jesse branch of the red light nation department of public safety in northern minnesota, who was killed, sadly, in a car crash while on duty.
▶ 1:12:35Sen. Klobuchar: The fact is that time and time again, we have seen the courage of the brave men and women of law enforcement who are on the front lines of public safety, doing everything they can to keep ours safe. There heroes have shown through, following the tragic assassination of our former speaker of the house in minnesota, melissa hortman. This was just in the last year, major manhunt and law enforcement was able to apprehend the murderer.
▶ 1:13:05Sen. Klobuchar: Following that, we are so grateful to the officers who responded bravely to the enunciation catholic church shooting in minneapolis, where dozens of people were shot, almost all of them children. Fletcher and harper were killed at the scene. Just little, adorable kids. But, because of law enforcement's quick response, so many lives were saved. The first 91 one call was made at 8:27 a.m.
▶ 1:13:35Sen. Klobuchar: -- 911 call was made at 8:27 a.m. The first officer was there at 8:31 a.m. From the first officer's arrival to the last victim being transported by the inulin's -- ambulance with turning kids. The entire emergency response took just 14 minutes. Everyone was loaded on ambulances.
▶ 1:14:05Sen. Klobuchar: Everyone, beyond the two children that were killed at the scene, survived and the children are all back at school. One of the dance whose daughter was severely injured told me that there is absolutely no way his beautiful daughter, who was in critical condition with four weeks in the hospital, would have survived if police had not been there, secured the scene and acted so quickly.
▶ 1:14:33Sen. Klobuchar: I continue to be inspired by the resilience of the people at that school. At the last markup we passed my bill was senator cramer to make sure police officers and other first responders who died or become totally and permanently disabled as a result of service related cancers get support they earned. I thank everyone for your support on this legislation and it was signed into law in december. There is still so much work to do.
▶ 1:15:04Sen. Klobuchar: I appreciate the bills that are on the agenda today and I hope we will be able to get them done , as well as strengthening our cops program, harbor jagged program, and the haida program. But that, thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:15:19Chair Grassley: [indiscernible] >> thank you for holding this broadly bipartisan markup of a series of bills in honor of national police week. As the cochair of the senate law enforcement caucus with senator cornyn of texas, I'm especially gratified to see this committee today acting in a bipartisan way to advance bills that support the men and women of law enforcement.
▶ 1:15:44Chair Grassley: The markup shows this committee advancing commonsense legislation to help the men and women who so often risk their lives to keep us safe. As county executive I oversaw and was responsible for the second largest law enforcement agency in delaware. I know bills like these matter.
▶ 1:16:02Chair Grassley: I want to express gratitude to you, chairman grassley, for leading along with me the fighting ptsd act to bolster mental health services for first responders, directed department of justice to develop treatment programs for police, fire, emergency medical, 911 personnel who suffer from ptsd.
▶ 1:16:20Chair Grassley: First responders routinely see people at their very worst, help people at their lowest, and the least we could do is consider the lasting impact that often has on their mental health and do something to address it. I want to thank senator cornyn as my cochair of the law enforcement caucus for hosting a constructive event to address ptsd among the law enforcement community.
▶ 1:16:46Chair Grassley: I celebrated and recognized and remembered police week back home on wednesday with all the different law enforcement agencies of our state. This year is particularly hard as we mourn the loss of corporal ty snook, the state police officer killed just before christmas last year on december 23, leaving behind a beautiful daughter and an inspiring widow lauren.
▶ 1:17:13Chair Grassley: Lauren spoke at the police memorial on the green in our state capital in one of the most moving, humble, focused, and inspiring set of remarks have ever heard of a suffering widow. She is determined that evil does not have the last word and has lost a foundation in her late husband's memory. Ty -- corporal snook was a son, coach, hero, and his sacrifices are a reminder of how important these bills are to all of our communities.
▶ 1:17:44Chair Grassley: I know this week ruthanne spicer is also accompanying lauren here to washington. Her son chad, a patrolman in georgetown, delaware, died in 2009, leaving behind another little girl, aubrey. It is my hope that aubrey and lettie grow into wonderful adults who will know and remember if the service and sacrifice of their fathers in the years ahead.
▶ 1:18:10Chair Grassley: I'm proud to support all these bills today and he continued to work in the memory of these two heroes and so many others from across our nation who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you, Mr. chairman. >> last week when we were home I visited the memorial service top other -- officer john bartholomew in chicago.
▶ 1:18:34Chair Grassley: There was an amazing turnout to salute this 38-year-old officer who died in the line of duty and left his wife and three young children. On the day when his body was taken to its final rest they closed down lakeshore drive for hours so all the police cars from all the surrounding jurisdictions could join in the solemn procession. It was a somber week in chicago.
▶ 1:19:01Chair Grassley: We salute him for his bravery and thank his family for giving us his example to guide our own lives. I wanted to add his name to this conversation.
▶ 1:19:16Chair Grassley: Senator booker.
▶ 1:19:20Sen. Booker: I am surprised senator britt is still here. I believe we should have two birthdays. One should deftly not be january 6. Indeed, you are somebody that I value as a friend and admire.
▶ 1:19:37Sen. Booker: The reason why the rank of january 6 on moments like this, police we come is because of the tragedy of having our officers in this building sacrificing, putting their lives on the line to protect us, savagely beaten viciously. Some of them would go on and soon after die. Yet we have a president who pardoned everyone. That is not what I wanted your attention.
▶ 1:20:03Sen. Booker: I wanted to bring up an issue that affects police department in single one of our states, red and blue. It is police week and we are marking up bills to support law enforcement and addressing crime, investing resources and improving wellness. While we are not considering bills to authorize grant funds, several bills due related doj grant programs. The trump administration has turned public safety grants into political weapons.
▶ 1:20:32Sen. Booker: They have imposed sweeping conditions that are not designed to promote the purpose of the grants, to reduce crime or enhance justice. They are using them to band jurisdictions to their ideological agenda and punish those that don't pledge allegiance to the president and policies wholly unrelated to public safety. Many states, cities, agencies and nonprofit partners are not applying for these public safety grants because of the legal uncertainty and confusion around the conditions and compliance purpose.
▶ 1:21:03Sen. Booker: This is tragic that we have grants made available and some people are not applying for because of this condition. We see these groups thinking it is too risky and too high a price. This is harming public safety in our nation. I have heard from law enforcement this week that as we address this problem and said officers have nothing to do with the politics or policy differences between the white house and their state elected leaders.
▶ 1:21:33Sen. Booker: It is truly disheartening that my colleagues across the aisle will not help put an end to this. It is not fair that some states are being -- agencies are being wholly excluded from these grants in illinois, new jersey, new york, california. One cannot purport to support law enforcement on the one hand and agree to allow this administration to withhold and resend public safety funding.
▶ 1:21:59Sen. Booker: I would like to pass legislation that simply restores what has been doj's policies for decades until this administration. Grant applications will be considered only on the merits, only on with the grants will be used for and not for any ideological differences between the governor of one state and the president of the united states.
▶ 1:22:22Sen. Booker: I hear from police officers and groups in my state who do not understand why they no longer can receive grants that we approved in a bipartisan manner. Police officers who vote republican are telling me it's ridiculous that some of these vital grants are being withheld from their agencies because of who their governor is and whether the president agrees with them or not. That is not the intention of this committee.
▶ 1:22:49Sen. Booker: We are committee that works in a bipartisan manner to support law enforcement all over the country. It really, to me, is very disappointing that we as a committee have not put a stop to this. That's why I'm saying simply I cannot be a part of grant programs that exclude my state and other states.
▶ 1:23:11Sen. Booker: It is simply not fair and I appeal chairman to you and your colleagues on the basis of fairness, because should there be a democratic president that would ever say red states -- so-called red states and not have certain grants because they don't agree on some ideological principle that is nothing to do with public safety, I promise you I would be speaking out against that. A democratic president. I don't understand why my colleagues will not do the same now under this president.
▶ 1:23:42Sen. Booker: I know my colleagues to support law enforcement, but did pick and choose and not support law enforcement in some states it is not only a smacking of hypocrisy but it actually hurts public safety and that is something I know we are committed to. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:23:59Chair Grassley: I understand your frustration with this whole process that you have laid out. I hope the appropriators of commerce, justice, and state and the appropriations package would address these concerns.
▶ 1:24:22Chair Grassley: I think you should approach the take out the problems as much as you can. I will advocate for transparency on cancellations and appeals. I want to point out that I hope I have been helpful to some of my colleagues on this committee and off the committee to successfully advocate on behalf of grantees nationwide that have had awards delayed.
▶ 1:24:54Chair Grassley: If they have been denied that gets into the cancellation process. I have -- I was glad to work across the aisle to help them as much as I could.
▶ 1:25:09Sen. Booker: If you have always been a gentleman to me and I know your intentions are earnest . I will say this has been a problem now for over a year. I have held up things on the senate floor that should have passed, bills I signed on to as a cosponsor that should have passed. I know new jersey and my other states will not be successful. That is unfortunate.
▶ 1:25:35Sen. Booker: I am asking -- I have talked to colleagues who have an earnest agreement with me that this is not fair. The problem has not been solved. I ask you who has solved many problems over the 13 years I have been a senator, and your staff, let's just figure out a way.
▶ 1:25:53Sen. Booker: I know you don't agree with this and if a democratic president ever did this, you would be up in arms and I would join with you, with earnestness also and an unequivocal demand to the democratic president that this is unfair, unjust and I would not support any of these grant programs if the situation was reversed. I'm hoping I can get that cooperation from my chairman and for my republican colleagues.
▶ 1:26:22Chair Grassley: Before we adjourn I want to thank all the committee for the bipartisan work we have had on today's legislation, particularly moving it quickly. More importantly, for all the hours of work that goes on between members and staff on this committee to make in a bipartisan way.
▶ 1:26:50Chair Grassley: I should not be surprised because this has been the tradition of this committee for a long, long time and I want to thank everybody for what they've done moving these bills. I adjourn.