Democrats press RFK Jr. on ethics gap; Fed meeting frequency draws Senate pushback

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and three Democratic colleagues escalated their investigation into HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s financial entanglements Tuesday, sending a second letter demanding clarification after Kennedy's public statements diverged from his filed ethics documents.

Kennedy's original ethics agreement allowed him to retain a 10% contingency fee in cases he had referred to Wisner Baum. After pressure from Warren, he agreed to amend the agreement to divest that interest by assigning it to his adult son — and signed a compliance certification stating he had "completed all of the divestitures indicated in [his] ethics agreement." His subsequent X post, however, said he had relinquished the interest back to Wisner Baum instead.

"Your response raises questions about the disclosures you made to Congress and in federal ethics documents, and your statements require further clarification," the senators wrote. The letter notes that staff found no record of any amendment or modification to Kennedy's public financial disclosures. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined Warren on the letter.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., led six Senate Democrats Tuesday in calling on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh to preserve the Federal Open Market Committee's schedule of at least eight meetings per year, responding to New York Times reporting that Warsh is weighing a reduction.

"Since 1981, the FOMC has held a minimum of eight regularly scheduled meetings per year," the senators wrote. "This cadence has provided a predictable framework for the conduct of monetary policy for 45 years. Fewer rate-setting meetings would represent the largest scheduled cutback in the modern history of the Federal Reserve."

The letter closed with a pointed warning: "The Federal Reserve's job is to stay engaged with the economy in real time, not to check in less and hope for the best. If the Federal Reserve continues down this increasingly opaque path, you will be putting the broader economy at risk." Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., signed the letter. Gallego introduced the bipartisan Fed Forward Act last year to codify the eight-meeting schedule.

The Senate passed a bipartisan resolution Tuesday designating the week of Aug. 22–30 as National Park Week, timed to the National Park Service's 110th birthday — which falls on Tuesday, also a fee-free day at parks nationwide.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, led the resolution. "America's national parks are true national treasures worth protecting. I'm thrilled to commemorate this week as National Park Week with Senator King. These parks are America's crown jewels, and we will cherish them for generations to come," said Daines.

King struck a note of concern alongside the celebration. "As our parks continue to face serious staffing and funding challenges, National Park Week is an important reminder of our responsibility to protect these special places and support the dedicated employees who care for them," he said. More than 60 senators joined as co-sponsors, making the resolution one of the broadest bipartisan efforts in today's release set.

The Senate passed the bipartisan Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act on Tuesday, a bill by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., that raises the minimum dollar amount required for certain state-law disputes between out-of-state parties to be heard in federal court.

The threshold has sat at $75,000 since 1996. The bill would raise it to $150,000 and index it to inflation every decade — in line with a 2021 recommendation from the Judicial Conference. "Federal courts and judges are already stretched too thin without having to handle low-dollar civil suits that Congress has long intended should be argued in front of state courts," said Coons. "Fixing outdated thresholds and indexing them for inflation ensure more cases will end up in front of the judges who are best positioned to hear them, streamlining court caseloads and helping justice move faster for every American."

Kennedy called it "a common-sense fix," adding: "Federal judges already have plenty on their plate, and Congress ought to respect their limited time and resources. Our bipartisan bill updates a 30-year-old threshold, preserves the role of state courts and makes our federal judiciary more efficient." The bill passed unanimously. Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., co-sponsored the legislation.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., held a press conference Tuesday to announce his co-sponsorship of the Protect College Sports Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

The bill targets what Hoeven described as an uneven competitive landscape created by the 2025 House v. NCAA settlement, which allows schools to pay student-athletes directly. Hoeven was joined at the event by the presidents and athletics directors of North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota. "The current situation facing college sports is unsustainable and unfair," said Hoeven. The legislation would limit direct school payments to athletes, curb transfers, keep professional athletes out of college competition, and protect Name, Image, and Likeness rights.

Hoeven said he will work to bring the bill to a full Senate vote in September.

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, announced Tuesday that he secured a $20 million BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the City of Toledo's Connecting Toledo Neighborhoods to Opportunity project.

"Strong infrastructure is essential to keeping Ohioans safe and growing the economy. This grant will help ensure Toledo has reliable access to water, modern sanitary systems, safe roads and improved pedestrian access," said Husted. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said the project "will transform how our residents move through their neighborhoods and connect them to the jobs and opportunity being created right here at home."

The FY23 grant covers new water and sanitary lines, road reconstruction, and pedestrian safety improvements. Husted also announced 2026 service academy nomination applications Tuesday, with an Ohio application deadline of Sept. 18.

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., announced Tuesday from a VFW Post in Orlando that she is co-sponsoring the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, which would create a $10 million annual grant program through the Department of Veterans Affairs to help states expand outdoor recreation opportunities for veterans.

Each approved state would receive at least $200,000. Eligible activities include hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, archery, and target shooting, with adaptive options for veterans with disabilities. The bill would allow states to partner with local outfitters, guides, and nonprofits, and cover equipment and program fees. "Our veterans risked their lives to defend this nation in some of the most dangerous places on earth. When they return home, they deserve every opportunity to build healthy, connected and fulfilling lives," said Moody. She cited Florida's Operation Outdoor Freedom, which has served more than 6,800 Florida veterans since 2009, as a model.

Signals

• volumeToday's release count of 8 is 91.1% below the Tuesday average of 89.6, consistent with the August state work period recess.
• recessThe Senate remains in its August state work period recess; all eight releases reflect field activity, co-sponsorship announcements, or letter campaigns rather than floor action.
• coordinatedSeven Democratic senators — led by Gallego — coordinated on the Fed meeting-frequency letter the same day Warren's office also issued a separate four-senator letter on RFK Jr. ethics, with Alsobrooks and Warren appearing on both.
• silent breaksSen. John Kennedy, R-La., appears in the Coons bill release as a named co-sponsor and is quoted directly, ending a 17-day quiet stretch in the release record.
• silent breaksSen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, has issued no releases in 42 days — the longest documented quiet stretch in today's silent list — with no Graham output in today's set.

Quiet desks

Senators with no release in two weeks or more.

• Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC42d
• Sen. Alan Armstrong, R-OK40d
• Sen. Roger F. Wicker, R-MS34d
• Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-MT20d
• Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY19d