Statements and posts
83 press releases and posts, newest first.
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Introduced bill increasing student loan forgiveness for teachers of English learners to address teacher shortage.
“Educating students learning English requires specialized instruction and unique teacher strategies.”
Teacher RecruitmentAI-read
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Senate unanimously passed bill to transfer over 500 acres of federal land to Pit River Tribe.
“Senseless conflict and bureaucratic barriers have kept California Tribes from managing their ancestral lands, and it’s past time we take action to help Tribes protect their communities and local environment.”
Native AmericansAI-read
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Demanded Trump administration withdraw rule stripping tax credits from 700,000 DACA and TPS recipients.
“The proposed rule is clear regulatory overreach that would have disastrous impacts for lawfully present immigrants and their families who are legally eligible for refundable tax credits.”
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Senate Committee Advances Bipartisan Padilla Bill to Support Desalination and Safe Drinking Water
Advanced bipartisan bill to reauthorize desalination projects and safe drinking water research.
“Access to safe and clean drinking water is a human right, and investments in desalination projects provide promising pathways to meet our water needs.”
Water InfrastructureAI-read
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Introduced bill requiring congressional approval before closing regional National Archives facilities.
“Our National Archives are home to the immigration journeys, military service, and family histories of people across the West and the Pacific.”
National Archives Protection ActGovernment Operations and PoliticsAI-read
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Padilla Leads Final Pre-Midterm Effort to Defeat Anti-Voter SAVE Act, Condemns Trump Corruption
Opposed Republican bill with voter ID requirement and congressional stock trading provisions.
“Here we are, 34 days before Election Day, or, as I like to suggest, 34 days before the final day to vote because we’re encouraging people to cast their ballot early if they can, or vote by mail if and where they can.”
Voting AccessAI-read
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Senate unanimously passed Padilla's bill to increase prescribed fire use and prevent catastrophic wildfires.
“California is no stranger to devastating wildfires — and we cannot afford to wait until the next fire starts to take action. We must ensure that communities across the state and country have the necessary resources to proactively prevent and mitigate these disasters.”
Wildfire Emissions Prevention ActEnvironmental ProtectionAI-read
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Padilla, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bridge Gap in Veteran Services
Padilla and Scott introduced bipartisan bill to support military families transitioning to civilian life.
“For too long, the servicemembers and their families have had to navigate the transition from military to civilian life without the resources needed to thrive.”
Military ReadinessAI-read
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Padilla Joins Duckworth in Renewed Push to Prevent Police-Involved Deaths
Padilla reintroduced bill to prevent police-involved deaths and improve law enforcement accountability.
“Communities across California cannot feel safe if they cannot trust that law enforcement officers will be held accountable when they use deadly force.”
Crime and Law EnforcementAI-read
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Padilla Statement on Protect College Sports Act
Voted to pass Protect College Sports Act with provisions supporting student-athletes.
“These reforms will help keep the focus where it belongs: on the students and the education that college sports are meant to serve.”
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Led 38 California lawmakers opposing Trump administration's Roadless Rule rescission.
“At the time of its adoption, the Rule received over 600 public hearings and over 1.6 million comments—more comments than any other rule in the nation’s history. Despite the significant amount of public consultation that went into the 2001 Roadless Rule, this Administration only gave our constituents 21 days to comment…”
Roadless Rule Rescission OppositionPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesAI-read
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Led Senate Democrats demanding DHS halt alleged 2026 election interference efforts.
“The 2026 midterm elections are already underway. Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be…”
2026 Midterm Election Interference ConcernsElection SecurityAI-read
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WATCH: Padilla Breaks Down New Whistleblower Allegations of DHS Lawbreaking Ahead of Midterms
Criticized Trump administration's alleged voter intimidation through DHS whistleblower disclosure.
2026 Midterm Election Interference ConcernsElection SecurityAI-read
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Padilla Statement on Trump Administration’s Last Minute Election Security Plan
Criticized Trump administration's election security plan as inadequate and politically motivated.
“While CISA claims to be changing course and offering to help state and local governments with election security, this report does not do that. The Administration must restore the Election Infrastructure ISAC funding as Congress has directed – and then support legislation like my State and Local Election Security Act of…”
2026 Midterm Election Interference ConcernsElection SecurityAI-read
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Padilla Joins Van Hollen, Senate Democrats to Push Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with Xi
Joined letter urging Trump to negotiate AI guardrails agreement with China.
“What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with…”
CybersecurityAI-read
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Padilla, Durbin Introduce Bill to Prevent Unlawful Immigration Arrests and Detentions
Introduced bill to prevent unlawful immigration arrests and detentions.
“Republicans continued to write blank checks to ICE and CBP while serious concerns remain about officer and agent training, accountability, and the treatment of U.S. citizens.”
Immigration EnforcementAI-read
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Padilla, Warren, Torres Introduce Bill to Address Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education
Introduced bill establishing $1 billion grant program for college student basic needs assistance.
“Higher costs fueled by the Trump Administration’s policies are making it harder for millions of students to afford basic needs like housing, healthcare, and nutritious food.”
EducationAI-read
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Padilla, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Install Suicide Prevention Infrastructure
Introduced bipartisan bill creating grants for suicide prevention barriers on bridges and infrastructure.
“Too many Americans die by suicide – and we know physical barriers can help save lives during times of crisis.”
HealthAI-read
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Pressed DHS Secretary on Trump administration's restrictive refugee admission policy.
“Welcoming a thoughtful number of refugees every year is part of our nation’s legacy and an important international obligation. Yet the Trump Administration has all but closed the door on people fleeing persecution, even leaving behind Afghan allies who fought alongside U.S. service members and have now spent years in…”
Afghan Refugee PolicyAI-read
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Padilla Demands Answers from Governor Abbott on Texas Voter Registration Errors
Demanded Texas governor explain hundreds of thousands of unprocessed voter registration applications.
“[t]he NVRA requires states to offer voter registration at the state’s motor vehicle registration agency, and these issues raise questions about the state’s compliance with the law. Understanding both the scope of this error, how it occurred, and how the state will remedy it to ensure that eligible voters are not…”
Voting AccessAI-read
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Introduced bill prohibiting firearms at polling places to protect voters and election workers.
“No voter should have to walk past a gauntlet of firearms to exercise their right to vote, and no election worker should have to risk armed threats just to do their job.”
Election SecurityAI-read
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WATCH: Padilla Once Again Defeats Republican Efforts to Advance SAVE Act, Condemns Trump’s Tariffs
Defeated Republican efforts to advance voter ID provisions of SAVE Act during midterm election.
“The 2026 midterm election has already begun — it’s in full swing.”
Voting AccessAI-read
Mentions S. 5271 · voted Nay Aug 8, 2026, roll 890
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WATCH: Padilla Hears Damning Testimony on Flock Surveillance Camera Misuse
Questioned Flock surveillance camera misuse for immigration enforcement at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Flock Surveillance Camera MisusePrivacy and SurveillanceAI-read
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Introduced bill to ban corporal punishment in federally funded schools and establish school safety grants.
“Every student deserves a safe, supportive learning environment that fosters positive relationships and protects their physical and emotional well-being.”
Campus Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor SupportAI-read
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Requested California AG investigate DHS whistleblower allegations of voter impersonation.
“Especially as agency leaders dismissed concerns raised by the Whistleblower and other officers about the legality of this conduct, instructing them to move forward with the searches anyway, we want to ensure that you have all available information necessary to investigate these allegations to the extent your office…”
Election SecurityAI-read
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Led 18 senators demanding investigation into DHS officers illegally accessing voter data.
“The Trump Administration needs to come clean about the apparently rampant violations of the law by DHS and USCIS in their quest for Americans’ sensitive personal voter information, and I welcome outside watchdogs standing up to fight for the public’s right to know about this so-called ‘Unlawful Voter Initiative,’”
Election SecurityAI-read
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Padilla Joins Schatz, Pocan in Introducing Legislation to Make College More Affordable
Introduced Debt-Free College Act to reduce college costs and provide states matching grants for affordable higher education.
“Rising costs and overwhelming student debt shouldn’t keep students from pursuing life changing higher education opportunities.”
EducationAI-read
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Announced bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act to address health and safety gaps for federal wildland firefighters.
“Every day, wildland firefighters face tremendous health risks at work, where they protect our communities, defend the environment, and save lives.”
Emergency ManagementAI-read
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Advanced bipartisan bill to prevent wildfires and increase prescribed fire use.
“Year after year, increasingly devastating wildfires ravage our public lands and communities, so it’s critical we act with urgency.”
Wildfire Emissions Prevention ActEnvironmental ProtectionAI-read
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Pressed FBI Director on election interference and secured commitment not to seize ballots before 2026 midterms.
“no plans to use such personnel to seize ballots, voting machines, or other election related material.”
2026 Midterm Election Interference ConcernsElection SecurityAI-read
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Led bipartisan group of 153 lawmakers urging Interior Department to block Yosemite land transfer to Trump donor.
“Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life.”
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Introduced resolution to block Trump administration rule restricting international students, exchange visitors, and foreign journalists.
“International students deserve fair opportunities to receive an education in the United States. Students, exchange visitors, and foreign members of the media should never have to live in fear of the Administration’s unprecedented attacks on legal immigration.”
ImmigrationAI-read
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New report reveals federal officers told to impersonate voters to access state voter websites, use unreliable “magic” data in effort to justify Trump Administration’s baseless voter fraud claims and undermine elections WASHINGTON, D.C. —…
“USCIS also admit that their data is unreliable, complex, and will have multiple ID numbers for various individuals, but nevertheless, officers are told to generate federal law enforcement records against them, even if they suspect that they’re relying on inaccurate or incomplete information. It’s already clear that…”
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Whistleblower reveals DHS officers were directed to illegally access sensitive voter data and create law enforcement records based on faulty data; Senators demand DHS immediately halt illegal initiative Known U.S. citizens are being swept…
“Donald Trump and his Administration are obsessed with election conspiracy theories and operate under the wrong assumption that they are above the law – they are not.”
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Padilla Statement on 25th Anniversary of September 11 Attacks
We recognize the heroism and sacrifice of the many firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and other first responders who put their lives on the line.
“As we commemorate the lives lost and the sacrifices made twenty-five years later, we must remember that sense of unity and recommit ourselves to our shared values – compassion, courage, service, and the belief that together we can build a better world and a brighter future for all.”
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U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), Michael Bennet, John Hickenlooper (both D-Colo.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), expressed serious concerns about the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Department of…
“We are concerned that the agencies simply do not have enough highly qualified personnel, Incident Management Teams, and supervisory staff to sustain operations. Our offices have received reports that teams have worked more fires than is safe, using temporary supervisory structures because fully qualified personnel are…”
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Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along…
“Californians have been clear: we don’t want oil infrastructure off our coast.”
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Padilla Statement on Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch’s Decision to Retire
Since 2019, he has protected the Smithsonian’s long-standing mission of telling the full story of America, and not shying away from the challenges and injustices many have faced throughout our history.
“While Trump continues to try to re-write history, I will continue to fight to defend the Smithsonian’s independence from Trump’s pressure campaign and political agenda. And I fully expect the Regents and my colleagues in Congress to do the same.”
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261 Members and former Members file bicameral, bipartisan brief as court order barring Postal Service rule limiting mail voting is being challenged by Trump’s DOJ WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking…
“The law is clear: states and Congress have authority over our elections — not the President and certainly not the Postal Service. Protecting the right to vote-by-mail is critical to ensure every eligible voter can make their voices heard in the November midterm elections and in future elections.”
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Padilla, Welch Condemn DOJ’s Failure to Vigorously Defend Fundamental Gun Violence Prevention Law
Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led eleven colleagues in condemning the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s refusal to seek immediate appellate relief from a recent…
“We urge the Department to resume its vigorous defense of the NFA and fulfill the promises you made to defend the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress and keep Americans safe.”