WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced that the agreement to reopen the federal government includes his measure protecting veterans’ Second Amendment rights. The deal involves three appropriation packages and funds other government agencies at previously agreed-upon levels through January 30, 2026.
The U.S. Senate passed the agreement by a 60-40 vote on Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved it on Wednesday afternoon, and President Donald Trump signed it late Wednesday. Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), blocked 14 earlier attempts to fund the government.
“I’m thrilled my colleagues finally came to their senses, got on the side of common sense and voted to end the national embarrassment that was the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history. I’m especially proud that our agreement extends my provision to protect veterans from losing their Second Amendment rights just because they need help managing their VA benefits. Still, we must do more to ensure multiple-vehicle pileups like this shutdown never happen again. That includes passing my bills to stop paying lawmakers when they fail to keep the government open and resuming our regular order appropriations process. Congress ought to work for the American people, not use them as ‘leverage,’” said Kennedy.
In a Monday interview with Fox News’ Will Cain, Kennedy reaffirmed his push to pass his No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act and Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act. These bills, in addition to Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) Shutdown Fairness Act, would have ensured that federal workers received pay during shutdowns rather than Members of Congress, but were blocked by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Senate Democrats.
In reopening the government, Kennedy also secured a major win for veterans’ Second Amendment rights. The newly passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Veterans and Military Construction Appropriations bill extends a provision Kennedy first passed in 2024, preventing veterans from losing their right to bear arms when they receive help managing their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
Before Kennedy’s measure became law in 2024, the VA sent veterans’ names to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) whenever a fiduciary was appointed to help them manage their VA benefits. Placement on the NICS blocks veterans from purchasing or owning firearms.
The extension of Kennedy’s legislation ensures that unelected VA bureaucrats cannot deprive a veteran of their Second Amendment rights without a court ruling.
Background:
- In the 116th Congress, Kennedy introduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act.
- In the 118th Congress, Kennedy and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) reintroduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act with six co-sponsors.
- In October 2023, the Senate passed an amendment based on the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. The same language was passed into law as part of a larger package in March 2024.
Full text of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026 is available here.
Full text of Kennedy’s No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act is available here.
Full text of Kennedy’s Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is available here.
Read more about Kennedy’s bills to withhold pay for Members of Congress in Fox News Digital here.
Watch Kennedy’s attempts to unanimously pass his and Johnson’s shutdown bills here.
Watch Kennedy’s remarks on the Senate floor from Nov. 5, 2025, regarding shutdown pay here.
Kennedy releases FDIC report outlining steps to confront workplace misconduct and restore accountability
Nov 11 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today released a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) report outlining long-overdue plans to address pervasive workplace misconduct, harassment, and cultural failings within the agency.
The FDIC—an independent agency responsible for safeguarding the stability of America’s financial system by insuring deposits, supervising institutions and protecting consumers—has faced credible reports of toxic workplace behavior and systemic management failures.
During an October 30, 2025, Senate Banking Committee nominations hearing, Kennedy made clear that he would withhold his support for Acting FDIC Chair Travis Hill, President Trump’s nominee to lead the agency, until the FDIC took concrete action to confront its toxic workplace culture and internal misconduct. Kennedy’s firm stance on accountability and transparency prompted the FDIC to produce this report update for him, detailing the steps the agency is now taking to root out harassment, discrimination and systemic management failures.
“Attached is the FDIC report I requested about sexual harassment and workplace misconduct at the agency. I am satisfied with the progress the agency is making. I intend to vote to confirm Mr. Travis Hill as FDIC Chairman. This is no country for creepy old men,” said Kennedy.
The FDIC’s Report on Culture Transformation outlines concrete steps the agency is taking to confront its toxic workplace culture, enforce accountability and build a professional environment rooted in respect, integrity and transparency.
“The Cleary Report found that, for far too many employees and for far too long, the FDIC failed to provide a workplace safe from sexual harassment, discrimination and other interpersonal misconduct. For the past two years, it has been a priority of mine to reverse these problems and reestablish a strong workplace culture at the FDIC,” said Acting FDIC Chair Travis Hill in the report.
The report confirms that accountability measures are taking hold. Twenty-six employees linked to verified misconduct are no longer with the FDIC, and the agency has undertaken a major workforce realignment that reduced its headcount by more than 1,300 positions. The data suggests that some bad actors likely chose to leave the agency rather than face tougher investigations and consequences under new oversight reforms—an early sign that cultural change is beginning to take root.
Kennedy has been a steadfast advocate for stronger FDIC oversight, demanding greater transparency, accountability and reform within the agency. He has consistently called for decisive action to confront and eliminate the toxic workplace culture, harassment and systemic issues that have persisted for far too long.
- On July 11, 2024, Kennedy questioned FDIC Chair nominee Christy Goldsmith Romero about Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton LLP’s report on the hundreds of claims of harassment at the FDIC.
- On May 20, 2024, in a Senate Floor speech, Kennedy urged then-President Joe Biden to fire then-FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg. Kennedy argued that Gruenberg’s eventual resignation would not protect the employees who have endured persistent harassment at the agency during his tenure.
- On May 16, 2024, in a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Kennedy asked Gruenberg if he would like to apologize to his employees for the well documented harassment and bullying that they endured under his leadership.
Full text of the FDIC’s Report on Culture Transformation is here.
Kennedy, Kelly introduce bill to improve Department of Veterans Affairs phone service system
Nov 10 2025
WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) today introduced the Stuck on Hold Act, a bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to inform callers of their estimated hold time, and if the projected wait exceeds ten minutes, offer callers the option to receive a callback instead of remaining on hold.
“The American people expect the VA to provide our nation’s heroes with the very best care this country has to offer—but shockingly often, it’s difficult for veterans to even get an operator on the line when they need help. Our men and women in uniform cannot afford to be stuck with the same long wait times when there are commonsense reforms that worked for other agencies at Congress’s disposal. The Stuck on Hold Act is a proven fix that would quickly give our veterans the assistance they’ve earned,” said Kennedy.
“When veterans reach out to the VA for their health care, benefits, education, or other services, the last thing they need is to spend hours of their day waiting on the phone. Our commonsense bill will have the VA call back veterans, just like so many private sector companies do, saving veterans time and allowing our government to better serve them,” said Kelly.
Kennedy and Kelly’s bill is a companion to Rep. Ken Calvert’s (R-Calif.) legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Our veterans answered the call for our country so it’s only right to make sure the VA answers the call when our veterans are looking for help. The Stuck on Hold Act is commonsense legislation that will ensure our veterans aren’t stuck waiting endlessly on hold hoping someone answers when they need assistance with the benefits they have earned. I appreciate Senators Kennedy and Kelly working with me on this important bill for our veterans,” said Calvert.
Background:
- There is currently no government-wide customer service standard for federal agencies to use when receiving calls from the public, with service often varying widely by location and department. Veterans often wait on hold for long periods of time before reaching an operator at the VA.
- Beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) carried out a successful phone service reform program that resulted in high customer satisfaction.
- In 2023, an Inspector General for the Tax Administration report found that the IRS callback program saved callers 3.6 million hours of hold time in FY 2022. Kennedy and Kelly’s bill seeks to replicate these reforms at the VA.
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and The American Legion support the Stuck on Hold Act.
"The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) supports the Stuck on Hold Act, and thanks Senator John Kennedy and Senator Mark Kelly for introducing this significant legislation. Reducing wait times by allowing for callbacks on the Department of Veterans Affairs hotline will reduce barriers to benefits and care for Veterans, Families, Caregivers and Survivors,” said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of TAPS.
“The American Legion is proud to support the Stuck on Hold Act. This legislation modernizes customer service across the Department of Veterans Affairs by requiring VA medical call centers to provide estimated wait times and offer automatic callback options to veterans facing delays of more than ten minutes. These tools—already standard in the private sector—ensure that veterans are not forced to wait on hold for extended periods simply to access the care or assistance they need. By implementing automated queuing, transparent wait-time information, and clear guidance to reduce average wait times, the Stuck on Hold Act strengthens VA’s ability to meet veterans where they are, whether managing increased demand under the PACT Act or serving those who rely on timely communication for their care. The American Legion thanks Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Kelly for introducing this commonsense, customer-focused legislation to improve VA responsiveness and ensure veterans receive the prompt support they have earned,” said Cole Lyle, National Director of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation at The American Legion.
Full text of the Stuck on Hold Act is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and six colleagues in introducing the Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act, legislation that would close loopholes allowing foreign nationals to quietly spend millions to influence American elections.
“Only Americans should get to participate in American elections—duh. The Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act would safeguard our electoral system from Chinese Communist Party-linked actors and anti-American foreign billionaires trying to game our democratic process,” said Kennedy.
“After years of hysteria over Russiagate and alleged foreign influence in American elections, it turns out Democrats have recently benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in election-related contributions from a shadowy foreign billionaire, sidestepping the federal ban on foreign-national contributions in U.S. elections. This type of influence undermines democracy and self-government here in America, and its staggering scope should be alarming. I’m pleased to reintroduce this commonsense and critical legislation that will put an end to covert foreign influence on our elections and protect Americans’ voice in electing their leaders,” said Hagerty.
In recent years, investigations have revealed that a foreign billionaire, Hansjorg Wyss, funneled hundreds of millions of dollars through nonprofit networks to influence American elections and ballot initiatives—activity that underscores the urgent need to strengthen the federal ban on foreign-national participation in U.S. elections.
The Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act would:
- Prevent foreign nationals from skirting existing laws by funneling money through U.S.-based nonprofits or intermediaries to influence elections.
- Prohibit foreign funding for ballot harvesting, get-out-the-vote campaigns, and state ballot initiatives.
- Block foreign contributions to election administration activities and political advertising that promotes a U.S. party or candidate.
- Protect Americans’ free-speech rights by barring the government from improperly collecting or disclosing nonprofit donor information.
Hagerty’s bill strengthens the federal ban on foreign involvement in U.S. elections and reinforces Congress’s commitment to keeping America’s democratic process free from outside interference.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) co-sponsored the bill.
“Americans deserve to participate in elections that are free from foreign influence. We must ensure that foreign entities or adversaries are not able to interfere in American elections by funneling money and ballot harvesting through shadow networks. Foreign interference in the country’s elections process threatens the democracy at the heart of our nation,” said Blackburn.
“Foreign nationals should not meddle in American elections. I am proud to stand with Senator Hagerty in introducing commonsense legislation to ensure free and fair elections by eliminating foreign influences that seek to undermine our electoral process,” said Budd.
“Combating foreign interference in our elections is essential to preserving the integrity of our electoral process and upholding free and fair elections. American citizens should be choosing their representatives without undue influence. I’m proud to join Senator Hagerty in introducing this legislation and look forward to it advancing,” said Cruz.
“America’s elections should be influenced only by Americans. Foreign elites are pouring money into political campaigns to meddle with our election results and buy Americans off at the ballot box. I’m proud to cosponsor the Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act to close these loopholes and secure our elections,” said Lee.
“American voters should determine election outcomes, not foreign adversaries who want to put their finger on the scale. This legislation prevents foreign nationals from influencing our democratic process through financial contributions or organized ballot collection schemes. I'm pleased to support this straightforward measure that protects electoral integrity and ensures Americans remain in control of their own elections,” said Lummis.
“American elections are only for American citizens. Neither foreign countries nor their billionaires should be involved in or influencing our elections. The Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act will help protect the integrity of and confidence in our elections by stamping out foreign influence. This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring that the outcomes of our elections are decided solely by the voices of the American people, and I am proud to stand alongside Senator Hagerty in introducing this bill,” said Marshall.
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“There is no place for foreign influence in American elections. By eliminating the potential for foreign nationals to fund elections operations we are one step closer to securing our democratic process. I am grateful to be working with Senator Hagerty on this issue and look forward to introducing the companion legislation in the House,” said Steil.
Full text of the bill is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) sent a letter to the United States’ largest grocery stores advocating for the sale of shrimp from the Gulf of America rather than frequently-recalled foreign shrimp.
“In 2024, the United States imported approximately $213 billion in agriculture products. As a result of greater imports, Americans spent over $550 billion in food and beverage products that were imported or contained imported ingredients. Despite increased consumer spending on imported food, we have seen the potential safety risks from an overreliance on foreign manufacturers,” the senators wrote.
“We have experienced a serious increase in food safety incidents as a result of imported food products . . . [The] FDA has issued eight safety alerts since August on imported shrimp from a single shrimp processor due to potential Cesium-137 contamination. Cesium-137 is a radioactive substance that can cause substantial health harms,” they continued.
“Despite these numerous concerns, [you] continue to sell imported shrimp at your stores, rather than support domestic fisheries that offer a safer product while supporting small American businesses,” the Louisiana senators emphasized.
Background:
- In December 2023, Kennedy introduced a bill to bolster the Seafood Import Monitoring Program’s ability to audit foreign seafood imports that its producers misrepresent. Senate Democrats blocked Kennedy’s bill.
- In May 2024, Kennedy questioned then-Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on safety risks associated with imported shrimp and crawfish, drawing attention to foreign countries that subsidize their seafood industries and engage in misleading advertising.
- In September 2025, Kennedy delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor urging better shrimp inspection in the wake of a recall of raw frozen shrimp associated with radioactive contamination imported from Indonesia.
Read the senators’ full letters to the grocery chains below:
Read more about Kennedy and Cassidy’s letter in WDSU.
Paul, Democrats block Kennedy effort to pay federal workers during shutdown, not Members of Congress
Nov 06 2025
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today attempted to pass three bills via unanimous consent that would have blocked pay to Members of Congress and restored pay to federal workers during the government shutdown on its 37th day. Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) objected and blocked the bills from passing unanimously.
Key excerpts of Kennedy’s speech are below.
“Now, as everyone knows, folks aren’t being paid while we’re in a shutdown. Our air traffic controllers are not being paid. In fact, starting tomorrow, the airlines are going to be canceling flights. Our staff are not being paid. Federal employees are not being paid. . . . Our military is only being partially paid. . . . The only people that I can ascertain who are being paid are members of Congress.”
“Now, I’m not being paid. I said I wasn’t going to take a salary during the shutdown. Some of my colleagues are, and I’m not judging anybody. The purpose of this is not to judge anybody. I’m just saying that it’s time that Congress set an example.”
. . .
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, and I’m going to offer up these two bills for the members’ consideration. So, starting with my first bill, which would say, members of Congress can’t be paid and don’t get back pay even after we end the shutdown. That’s called the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of my bill.”
After Paul objected to Kennedy’s first bill, the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act, Kennedy also attempted to pass his Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act. Paul objected, arguing that all federal employees who have worked through the shutdown should get paid.
In response, Kennedy attempted to pass Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) bill, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to pay all essential federal employees who have worked throughout the shutdown.
“I tried to pass my bill, preventing members of Congress from being paid. You can pretty it up all you want to, but Rand objected. . . . Now, having said that, I said I agreed with what Sen. Paul said. . . . If you’re deemed an essential employee right now, you’re working, but you’re not being paid, Sen. Johnson’s bill says we’re going to pay you. I voted for that. It also says if you’re furloughed, if you need to be deemed nonessential, you’re not working, but you will get paid once we come out of this shutdown. Does that make sense? That’s what Sen. Ron Johnson has proposed,” Kennedy explained. “And as I told my good friend Sen. Paul, I agree with it."
Murray then blocked Kennedy’s request, killing the effort to ensure federal employees would be paid during the shutdown.
“I don’t know what else to do,” Kennedy said in response to Murray’s objection. “I voted 14 times to open up the government. I can’t change the election. President Trump was duly elected president of the United States. . . . Some of my colleagues are upset about that. In fact, they hate the president so much that they’ve shut down the government. They hate him so much that if President Trump came out in favor of breathing to live, they would hold their breath.”
“It’s not rational, and I don’t know what else to do. All I can tell my Democratic friends is: Look, reasonable people disagree, and I get it, but you’re just being too emotional. You need to go drink a big old cold tall glass of ‘get over it’ and realize that President Trump is the president of the United States. Don’t shut the government down because of it,” Kennedy concluded.
Watch Kennedy’s full exchange with Paul and Murray here.
Watch Kennedy’s remarks from Nov. 5, 2025, regarding shutdown pay here.
Full text of Kennedy’s No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act is available here.
Full text of Kennedy’s Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is available here.
Full text of Johnson’s Shutdown Fairness Act is available here.
Read more about Kennedy’s member pay shutdown bills in Fox News Digital here.
Read Kennedy’s op-ed on shutdown pay here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Ideologically Motivated Violence Accountability Act, a bill allowing courts to consider whether a criminal committed their offense to punish others because of their ideological or religious affiliations when deciding whether to impose a capital sentence.
“Political violence has no place in America – period, full stop. But over the past few years, politically motivated violence has shaken our country to its core. Until our justice system sends a clear message to evil people who want to push their agenda through violence, these disgusting acts of hate will continue. My Ideologically Motivated Violence Accountability Act would give prosecutors and courts the tools they need to fight this dangerous and growing epidemic and protect innocent Americans’ ability to exercise their constitutional rights,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy’s bill would add ideological motivation as an aggravating factor during sentencing, allowing prosecutors and courts to more forcefully address the threat that violence targeting victims because of their political or religious affiliations poses to democratic society.
The legislation would define ideologically motivated violence to include crimes that target a victim “wholly or in part because of the victim’s actual or perceived political or religious beliefs, affiliation, expression, or activity” or to “make a public statement concerning any political or religious belief, practice, institution, group, ideology, event or public figure.”
Kennedy introduced his Ideologically Motivated Violence Accountability Act in the wake of the September 2025 assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA Founder and President, Charlie Kirk.
His bill also follows the assassination of former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman and assassination attempts against President Donald Trump, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Full text of the Ideologically Motivated Violence Accountability Act is available here.
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor:
“Tomorrow, I will be bringing two bills before the Senate. They both have to do with the shutdown and congressional pay.
“The first bill is the No Shutdown Paychecks [to Politicians] Act. The second bill is the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act.
“The first bill would provide that, as long as we’re shut down—and I’ll explain why in a moment—as long as we’re shut down, no member of Congress can be paid. And the money will not be reimbursed at a later date or repaid at a later date.
“The second bill, to address any 27th Amendment concerns, will say, ‘During a shutdown, members of Congress will not receive their pay, but their pay will be escrowed, and they will receive it after the government is opened back up.’
“Look, we’re on day 36. Like you, Mr. President, I’ve heard a lot of rumors about, ‘We’re that close to reaching an agreement.’ We’ve been that close for a week. Frankly, I hope I’m wrong in saying this, but I don’t think we’re really that close. I wish we were, and I hope we are, but I think we’re going to be in the shutdown for a while longer. It doesn’t give me any joy to say that.
“In the meantime, none of our staff are being paid. No federal employees are being paid. I got some numbers in this morning that federal workers have had to borrow $365 million so far during this 36-day shutdown in order to just pay their rent. Our military is only being paid partially. Our air traffic controllers are not being paid. People who receive SNAP payments are only being partially paid. I don’t think anybody wants to see anybody go hungry in America. And that’s not a partisan statement; I think that’s a bipartisan statement.
“There’s precedent for this, Mr. President. Some may say, ‘Well, this violates the 27th Amendment.’ I don’t think it does. That’s why I’m offering two different flavors of bills. But in 2013, President Obama did the same thing that I’m doing now. They were in a shutdown, and President Obama supported legislation that said, ‘If you don’t open the government by this certain date, then you’re going to lose your paychecks.’
“And guess what? Members of Congress had an epiphany, and they found religion. They had a Damascene moment, and they opened up the government. And that’s all this bill will do.
“I’m not trying to grandstand. I wasn’t going to bring this bill. When I got back here Monday, I heard all the rumors, like everybody else, that we were close. And I hope we are close, but we’re not close enough. So, I’ll offer these bills tomorrow, and people can vote yea, or they can vote nay, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
Full text of the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act is available here.
Full text of the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is available here.
Read more about the bills in Fox News Digital here.
Watch Kennedy’s speech here.
Kennedy supports Ernst, Markey resolution recognizing National Veterans Small Business Week
Nov 05 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined a bipartisan U.S. Senate resolution led by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognizing November 3 through November 7, 2025, as National Veterans Small Business Week. This bill passed unanimously through the Senate on November 4, 2025.
“Louisiana’s veterans don’t stop serving when they take off the uniform—they keep leading by building businesses that power our communities and employ their neighbors. These men and women know what hard work and responsibility look like, and Washington should do everything it can to help them succeed,” said Kennedy.
“Ensuring veterans have every opportunity to pursue the American Dream is personal to me. They fiercely protected our freedoms during their service and, now as civilians, exemplify the American entrepreneurial spirit. During National Veterans Small Business Week, join me in celebrating these men and women who have served their country and now their communities,” said Ernst.
“In Massachusetts, over 24,000 veteran-owned small businesses make our Main Streets thrive. Through their tenacity, their discipline, and the leadership skills they learned through military service, veterans are uniquely capable of entrepreneurial and small business success. As Ranking Member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to support veteran small business owners and ensure our veterans have every tool and resource they need to grow their businesses, create jobs, and enrich our communities,” said Markey.
The bipartisan resolution would:
- Recognize the week of November 3 through November 7, 2025, as National Veterans Small Business Week.
- Emphasize the importance of reducing red tape and unnecessary regulations for small business owners.
- Express appreciation for veterans who continue serving the nation through entrepreneurship.
Each year, the Small Business Administration celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week to highlight the contributions of veteran-owned small businesses across America.
Full text of the resolution is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, last week introduced two critical pieces of legislation that ensure Members of Congress do not receive a paycheck until the federal government reopens following a shutdown or lapse in appropriations.
The No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act ensures that Members of Congress do not receive a paycheck during a government shutdown. Members will also not receive back pay.
The Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act (S.3057) mandates that payroll administrators for each House of Congress keep Members of Congress' paychecks in escrow accounts during a government shutdown. The funds are only disbursed at the start of the next Congress.
“I don’t see missing paychecks or empty dinner plates as leverage or bargaining chips. My bills ensure Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay – our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers. If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck – plain and simple,” said Kennedy.
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI-1), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on House Administration, introduced the companion bill of the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“There is no reason our government should be shut down. Senate Democrats must do the right thing and vote to reopen the government. If service members, men and women of federal law enforcement, and other essential employees are working without pay during the Schumer shutdown, members of Congress should not be paid either,” said Steil.
Full text of the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act is available here.
Full text of the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is available here.
Read more about the bills in Fox News Digital here.
