War powers, Iran dominate as Senate volume runs 82% below Tuesday average

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., used a cable-news appearance to preview a forced Senate floor vote on his War Powers Resolution targeting the Iran conflict, framing the administration's endgame as strategically incoherent. "It seems like the administration is hoping just to get back to the status quo ante before this war," Schiff said. "That is: Iran not able to charge tolls. But considering all of the expense, all of the loss of tragic loss of servicemembers, to have a result, to strive for a result, that is basically what it was before the war just shows you how little thought went into this war to begin with."

Schiff added a broader caution about the regional aftermath: "There's a very real risk here that Iran emerges empowered from this war. And yes, it's lost a lot of its military infrastructure that can be rebuilt, but nevertheless, they feel they've survived."

On Cuba, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., disclosed she had cosponsored S.J. Res. 124 and voted against the Republican point of order that blocked it from reaching the floor. "Whether President Trump and Republicans like it or not, the Constitution is clear: only Congress has the authority to declare war," Alsobrooks said. "While he has already taken our country into an unauthorized war with Iran, with no clear objectives, no results, and no exit strategy, he has irresponsibly threatened regime change in Cuba."

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, approached the Iran conflict from an energy-security angle during an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, arguing that global oil price volatility caused by the war underscores the case for renewables. "What's going on now, because of the illegal war in Iran, is drastically affecting our national security and will continue to do so in affecting the people of America," King said.

Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., joined 35 colleagues Tuesday in introducing the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act, which the release describes as aimed at nullifying a March 31 executive order requiring USPS and DHS to screen mail-ballot eligibility. The bill follows Senate Democrats blocking a separate administration voting bill.

"President Trump's desperate attempt to undermine U.S. elections through an unconstitutional executive order targeting mail and absentee ballots is an insult to anyone who believes in the rule of law," said Bennet. "Colorado has a gold-standard election system and consistently ranks among the states with the highest voter participation in the country."

Hickenlooper characterized the administration's action in direct terms: "The president's attempts to rig the election and attack our right to vote are illegal. We will stop them." Padilla argued the push fits a pattern: "Instead of focusing on lowering costs, ending the illegal war in Iran and bringing our troops home, and improving the lives of Americans across the country, too many Republicans in Congress are shamefully focused on making it more difficult for Americans to cast their ballots in November."

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., joined Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., in introducing the No Passes for Polluters Act, legislation that would strike the presidential exemption authority under section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act and require two-thirds congressional approval before similar carve-outs could be used.

The release notes President Trump has exempted more than 180 facilities — including nearly one-third of coal-fired power plants and almost half of all commercial medical sterilizers — from toxic pollution standards covering mercury, ethylene oxide, benzene, and acid gas. No prior president had used the exemption.

"President Trump's EPA is allowing industrial polluters to apply for exemptions to the Clean Air Act's limits on toxic emissions. Trump is the first president to implement such a giveaway to the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our health," said Schiff. Whitehouse described the administration's approach as systemic: "The Trump administration's corrupt polluter industry bosses will abuse every loophole available to pollute for free, damn the health consequences for Americans." The Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, and Earthjustice all endorsed the bill.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., joined 11 colleagues in reintroducing the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act, which targets FEMA guidelines that can block survivors from housing aid if they cannot prove property ownership.

"While the Trump Administration weakens our country's disaster preparedness and response infrastructure, we're taking action to make the federal government a partner in helping families rebuild their lives instead of a roadblock," Warren said. Bennet framed the bill in terms of Colorado's wildfire experience: "Disasters are disasters, regardless of partisan politics. Coloradans know all too well how difficult it is to recover after catastrophic wildfires."

Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., who is quoted in the release, added a climate framing: "The climate crisis isn't a problem for a distant future — it's knocking down our doors now. We need to make it easier for people to get housing and disaster relief immediately following a natural disaster."

The day before the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the Trump administration's effort to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haiti, Venezuela, Syria, and other nations, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., held a press conference with care-industry advocates demanding the Court uphold TPS.

"TPS recipients are integral parts of our community. They are our neighbors, our friends, caretakers, business owners, and so much more," said Blunt Rochester. "No one — even the President — can take that identity away from us."

Markey connected TPS directly to the care economy: "TPS holders are nurses, nursing assistants, home health aides, childcare workers, and more. They form an invaluable part of the infrastructure of support that holds our communities together. Our care economy does not run on apps or algorithms — it runs on people."

Four Democratic senators sent a letter Tuesday to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding the White House withdraw the pending promotion of Coast Guard Commander Jesse Millard to Captain. An independent DHS Office of Inspector General investigation found Millard had retaliated against a subordinate for filing a protected whistleblower complaint — one of only 11 such findings validated out of more than 3,100 complaints over six years.

"We appreciate your commitment to uphold federal whistleblower protection laws during your nomination hearing to become the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security," wrote Sens. Blunt Rochester, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. "An independent investigation by the DHS Office of Inspector General confirmed Commander Millard committed whistleblower retaliation in violation of the Military Whistleblower Protection Act."

The senators tied the promotion request to the fallout from Operation Fouled Anchor, the investigation that revealed systematic Coast Guard leadership failures. "We urge you to chart a different course than your predecessor at DHS when it comes to protecting whistleblowers and upholding the law," the letter concluded. "Ensuring Commander Millard's promotion is withdrawn would be a crucial step in that direction."

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., introduced the Literacy in Future Technologies (LIFT) Artificial Intelligence Act, which would incorporate AI literacy into K-12 education. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Reps. Tom Kean Jr. and Gabe Amo.

"With the growing adoption of artificial intelligence across industries, it's crucial that our young people and workforce are equipped to succeed in this evolving landscape," said Schiff. Rounds anchored his support in the administration's stated priorities: "President Trump's National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence made it clear that we must support American education and the development of an AI-ready workforce."

The bill drew endorsements from the American Federation of Teachers, the Information Technology Industry Council, and the Software & Information Industry Association.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., introduced the Energy Security Pacts Act, which would establish a State Department office to coordinate 10-year bilateral agreements with partner countries on energy and mineral infrastructure — explicitly framed as a counter to Chinese influence.

"Countries around the world need reliable energy and electricity to grow their economies, and the United States should be the partner they turn to, not China," said Coons. "The Energy Security Pacts Act would help us coordinate American investment, technical expertise, and diplomacy to support energy and mineral infrastructure in partner countries."

Ricketts cast the bill in national security terms: "Energy security is national security and critical mineral supply chains are the backbone of economic strength. Foreign adversaries like Communist China have already begun to weaponize these vulnerabilities against us." The legislation is a Senate companion to the House DOMINANCE Act.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., introduced the Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act, which would require the VA to produce a long-term staffing strategy aligned with local demand projections and industry best practices. The bill also mandates advance congressional notification before significant staffing reductions.

"The current workforce shortage at the VA is an unforced error that we must now expeditiously work to mitigate," said King. "The bipartisan Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act would require the VA to produce a long-term workforce strategy that would improve outcomes for our veterans — going down to the most local level, matching industry best practices, and taking into account the current and future demand for services."

Moran framed the bill as a structural fix: "By creating a mandatory workforce strategy focused on improved outcomes, this legislation will help the department more effectively recruit, retain and manage its workforce." The release cites DOGE workforce cuts to the VA as the immediate backdrop for the bill.

Several senators used Tuesday to announce federal grant awards. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., announced $22 million in Port Infrastructure Development Program grants — $11.25 million for the Port of Hueneme and $11.2 million for the Port of Richmond. "As vital economic drivers for California and the nation, it is crucial that we support the infrastructure upgrades needed at our ports," Schiff said.

Schiff also announced that USDA would make up to $9 million available for a clingstone peach tree removal program following the closure of a Del Monte processing facility in Modesto. "Following our urging to the Trump administration to deliver relief to peach farmers, I am pleased that USDA is unlocking this federal funding," Schiff said.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., announced $20.9 million in FAA Airport Improvement Program grants across 21 North Dakota airports. "These grants are an important investment in the safety, efficiency and long-term viability of airports across North Dakota," Hoeven said. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., announced $695,000 in NeighborWorks America funding for two Nevada nonprofits focused on affordable housing: Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada and Nevada HAND. "I'm proud to have helped deliver this federal funding to address the housing crisis head-on," Rosen said.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., sent a letter to Geoffrey Gradler — the CFPB's new Student Loan Ombudsman — pressing him on his plan to protect borrowers. The senators cited his past suppression of a CFPB student loan report and his background as a lender lobbyist, and asked him to recuse himself from matters involving former clients.

"We are concerned that you will follow the Trump administration's consistent playbook on private student loans: implementing policy after policy that benefits private lenders and their servicers at the expense of borrowers," wrote the senators.

Signals

• volumeTuesday's 18 releases ran 82 percent below the Tuesday average of 105.8 — one of the lightest single-day totals on record in this dataset.
• coordinatedThree senators — Schiff (CA), Alsobrooks (MD), and King (ME) — each issued releases touching the Iran or Cuba military conflicts within a six-hour window, with Schiff announcing a forced floor vote this week on his War Powers Resolution.
• recessThe early May state work period begins in six days; no floor votes are currently scheduled for today.
• silent breaksSen. Alan Armstrong, R-OK, has not issued a release since taking office (999 days logged); Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, is at 57 days quiet — the longest active streak among senators with prior release history.
• volumeRepublican output today was limited to Sen. Hoeven's airport funding announcement and a blank-body floor statement from Sen. Grassley (content unavailable); Democratic and independent offices accounted for all substantive releases.

Quiet desks

Senators with no release in two weeks or more.

• Sen. Alan Armstrong, R-OK—
• Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY57d
• Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC41d
• Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WI35d
• Sen. Tina Smith, D-MN22d
• Sen. Roger F. Wicker, R-MS21d
• Sen. Jim Banks, R-IN16d
• Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY16d