Kelly Armstrong

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced the Community Water Project Acceleration Act to help local communities speed up delivery of locally-led water infrastructure projects. The bill would streamline federal review requirements for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works projects with limited federal funding, building on a model already used for federal highway projects. Kelly has helped secure resources for over twenty small-scale water projects across Arizona as a key negotiator of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in both 2022 and 2024. But many projects’ local sponsors have raised concerns that even straightforward projects face delays of months, if not years, before funding can be accessed due to lengthy assessments and red tape. “In Arizona and across the West, communities need reliable water infrastructure and shouldn’t have to wait months or even years to put federal funds to use because of unnecessary red tape,” said Kelly. “This is a commonsense fix that makes it easier, not harder, for local projects to move forward faster while protecting the environment.” “Washington’s permitting delays have real consequences for western communities that depend on reliable water infrastructure. There is no reason local water projects should face years of federal review when the funding and local support are already in place, and every month of unnecessary delay is a month rural communities across the west go without the water system it needs to thrive. Our legislation cuts through that bureaucracy by applying a model already proven in federal highway projects and is exactly the kind of practical, results-driven legislation western states deserve,” said Lummis. See what Arizona leaders are saying in support of the legislation: “Buckeye applauds Senator Kelly’s leadership in advancing this commonsense change to streamline the environmental review process for water infrastructure projects funded through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Arizona Environmental Infrastructure Program. This improvement will help move critical water projects forward more efficiently, including Buckeye’s project to replace equipment at our Central Water Reclamation Facility. By reducing unnecessary delays, this change will save valuable time and resources as we work to strengthen Buckeye’s water infrastructure,” said Buckeye Mayor Orsborn. “Superior was fortunate to receive funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore Queen Creek. However, four years later, we still await the completion of the environmental review for this important project. With costs increasing year after year, this delay has limited the reach of the federal funds we received. Superior appreciates Senator Kelly’s work to cut the red tape in the Arizona environmental infrastructure program and clear the way for this project and so many others across the state to proceed more quickly to construction,” said Superior Mayor Beisch. “This legislation is a welcome improvement to the Arizona environmental infrastructure program under the Army Corps of Engineers. Due to the lengthy environmental review process, Flagstaff has had to reallocate funds it has received under this program to other projects because we simply could not wait. These changes will go a long way to expediting critical water projects in Flagstaff and across Arizona, and we thank Senator Kelly for championing this important effort,” said Flagstaff Mayor Daggett. “The Buckskin Sanitary District appreciates this important change to the Arizona environmental infrastructure program to help expedite the environmental review of these small, but important water projects across Arizona. With limited resources, the District is always looking to stretch the federal funds it receives further, and this legislation will help do just that by making sure project funds go to construction versus lengthy and cumbersome environmental reviews. This small, but needed change, will level the playing field for projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, bringing it on par with other federal agencies that already have this authority. Senator Kelly’s leadership is addressing this challenge is deeply appreciated,” said Board Chairman Jeff Daniel of the Buckskin Sanitary District. Background: The Community Water Project Acceleration Act would create a categorical exclusion from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review requirements for certain Army Corps Civil Works projects when: The bill would apply only to projects where the work is being conducted by a non-federal sponsor. Click here to read the full text of the bill.

Read more on NBC News here Today, U.S. Navy combat veteran and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) demanded clarification from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after he publicly said that “no quarter” would be given to enemies of the United States, a phrase with clear meaning under the Law of Armed Conflict, referring to denying enemy combatants the opportunity to surrender and instead killing them. Kelly said that it “is expressly prohibited under international law, including the Geneva and Hague Conventions and would be a war crime punishable under the War Crimes Act of 1996 (18 U.S.C. 2441).” Kelly wrote, “Your statement that ‘[w]e will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies’ has called that commitment into question. Because members of the United States Armed Forces are legally obligated to comply with the law of armed conflict—and equally obligated not to follow unlawful orders—public statements by senior civilian leaders carry significant weight and can create confusion if they appear inconsistent with those legal obligations.” “Although you have publicly tried to censure me for restating the legal duty of members of the military not to follow illegal orders, that is not only U.S. military law, but it is also a longstanding legal principle on which every service member is trained during their service. Every member of our Armed Forces swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and they are taught to understand that unlawful orders must not be carried out,” Kelly continued. “Our troops deserve certainty that their leadership gives the utmost respect to the laws that govern armed conflict and has a clear understanding of the importance of the reciprocal rules of engagement that protect their lives. I look forward to your prompt response; I’m sure the over two million service members currently under your command do so as well,” Kelly concluded. Click here to read the full letter.

Kelly also reconnected with Kelly Yu after her long-awaited release from ICE detention Kelly later met with West Valley Mayors to discuss pressing issues such as rising costs and reliable water access In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly toured Cavco Homes, a manufactured housing facility in Phoenix, to see firsthand how their homes are built and discuss how expanding housing supply can bring down costs for Arizona families. Sen. Kelly tours Cavco Homes. As housing prices continue to rise across Arizona and the country, boosting the supply of affordable homes helps working families afford rent or a down payment. During the visit, Kelly heard from workers about the construction process and discussed ways to support policies that make housing more accessible and affordable. Yesterday, Kelly voted to pass the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes Kelly-backed provisions to support manufactured housing by eliminating the costly permanent chassis requirement, cut red tape that slows construction by simplifying National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) reviews for small and infill housing projects, and crack down on large institutional investors buying up single-family homes and pricing working families out of the housing market. Sen. Kelly speaks to Kelly Yu at her restaurant in Peoria. Kelly also got the chance to reconnect with Peoria small-business owner Kelly Yu at her restaurant, Kawaii Sushi, after her recent release from ICE custody following nearly a year at the Eloy Detention Center, where Kelly visited her last August. During the visit, Kelly heard from Yu about how she and her family are doing since her return home. Kelly pushed the administration last year to prevent her deportation, stressing that Yu is a longtime Arizona business owner, mother, and valued part of the Peoria community with no criminal record who should not be in ICE detention. Yu is now rightfully back with her family and able to return to her life in Peoria. Sen. Kelly sits down with West Valley mayors and local leaders. Kelly also got the chance to sit down with West Valley mayors and local leaders over lunch in Avondale to hear directly about the challenges and opportunities facing one of the fastest-growing regions in Arizona. Kelly discussed his work to lower costs for Arizona families, including the tax cut plan for working families he introduced this week and his bill to suspend the federal gas tax through October. He also highlighted his push for fair Colorado River drought planning that protects Arizona communities, along with his efforts to strengthen Arizona’s long-term water future with the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement.

Bill eliminates federal income taxes for Americans making under $46,000; is fully paid for by ensuring Americans making over a million dollars pay their fair share Today, U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) introduced the Working Americans’ Tax Cut Act, new legislation to provide much-needed tax relief for millions of working Americans who are struggling to afford the cost of living as wages stay the same and prices keep going up. This bill provides broad, permanent tax cuts to nearly 130 million working Americans. It eliminates federal income taxes for Americans who make under the median cost of living, about $46,000, and provides a significant tax break to individuals making between $46,000 to $80,500 with proportionally higher rates for heads of households and married couples. The legislation is fully paid for and avoids raising the national debt by having the wealthiest pay their fair share through a surtax on income above a million dollars. This proposal stands in stark contrast to the tax law that Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress passed last year—which provided the biggest tax giveaways to billionaires and exploded the deficit, while offering only temporary relief for some working families. Senators Kelly and Van Hollen and Representative Byer unveiled the legislation at a press conference on Capitol Hill today. Watch and download Kelly’s remarks here. Sen. Kelly speaks on Capitol Hill. “Families across Arizona are working hard and doing everything right but still falling behind. Instead of helping them get ahead, Trump gave more huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans while hiking up prices on everyone else,” said Senator Kelly. “Our plan is to put more money in the pockets of middle-class Americans —from nurses and teachers to firefighters and electricians —and restore the basic promise that in this country, hard work pays off.” “Far too many Americans are working hard for their paychecks but still having trouble making ends meet. These Americans who are earning just enough to get by – to meet their basic living expense – should not have to pay a federal income tax. Our bill would ensure just that – and it would provide a significant tax break to millions of other working Americans, so folks can keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Families are struggling amidst higher costs in Trump’s America,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m proud to cosponsor the Working Americans’ Tax Cut Act to support working families, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality. While the Trump administration turns its back on hardworking Americans, I will keep fighting to lower costs and make sure Americans can take home more of their hard-earned pay.” “It’s unacceptable that while so many are struggling to afford everyday expenses in our country, those at the top still aren’t paying their fair share. While Trump continues to protect a system that only works for his billionaire buddies, this tax proposal delivers real relief to working Americans – and it can’t come soon enough,” said Senator Kim. “For decades, our tax code has been tilted to benefit the wealthiest Americans – especially those making millions of dollars each year from investments and capital gains. Our bill would restore balance and fairness to our tax code by asking the wealthiest Americans to contribute more through a tiered surtax on income above one million dollars. That revenue will deliver meaningful tax relief for working Americans trying to afford basic necessities like groceries, rent, child care, and gas,” said Representative Beyer. In addition to Senators Kelly, Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Booker, and Kim, this legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). Background: The Working Americans’ Tax Cut Act provides needed tax relief for working Americans – whether they are a single adult, a head of household, or a married couple filing jointly – by reducing their federal income taxes based on their income to help ensure they can afford their cost of living expenses. According to an analysis by the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, nearly 130 million people, including over 25 million children, would receive a tax cut through this legislation. Additionally, it is fully paid for through a tiered surtax on millionaires. The bill applies an additional 5 percent tax to the first dollar an individual makes over $1 million and the first dollar a married couple earns over $1.5 million annually; an additional 10 percent tax to the first dollar an individual makes over $2 million and a married couple makes over $3 million annually; and an additional 12 percent tax to the first dollar an individual makes over $5 million and a married couple makes over $7.5 million annually. This surtax would apply equally to wages and salaries as well as to capital gains and other investment income. The Yale Budget Lab has estimated that this surtax would impact 615,000 tax filers and raise $1.46 trillion over ten years. See what leaders are saying in support of the legislation: “Working people are one medical bill, one car repair, one bad break from not making rent,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “They are working longer hours than ever and still struggling to put food on the table, while paying more in taxes than the billionaires. As we continue to fight for universal affordable health care, universal child care, and livable wages, the Working Americans’ Tax Cut Act is an important step toward getting working people some real relief.” “The Working Americans’ Tax Act is one of the most important concrete actions Congress can take to ease the squeeze on working families. Right now, workers can’t pay the bills. Their wallets are being drained by a severe affordability crisis caused by the current administration and aggravated by the ‘Big, Ugly Bill’, which doubled down on tax cuts for billionaires, while stripping healthcare and nutrition assistance away from everyone else. This long-overdue legislation puts cash back in the pockets of millions of Americans who are being forced to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table. It is a meaningful down payment on a solution that actually works for workers and the AFT is proud to be leading on it,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. In addition to AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers, this legislation has been endorsed by a broad range of organizations: Community Change Action, Demos, Get Out the Vote PAC, Indivisible, Institute for Policy Studies, MoveOn, National Education Association (NEA), NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Oxfam US, Patriotic Millionaires, People’s Action, Public Citizen, Social Security Works, Strong Economy for All Coalition, SURJ, Take on Wall Street, and United for a Fair Economy. Click here to read the bill text and click here for a backgrounder.

Today, during a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on his Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement (NAIWRSA), Arizona Senator Mark Kelly delivered remarks and introduced Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Hopi Tribe Chairman Lamar Keevama, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Vice President Johnny Lehi Jr. Kelly underscored the need to expand reliable water access in Arizona and how this legislation would secure Tribes’ water future: “Access to clean, reliable water shouldn’t be a question in the United States, but it still is for far too many families in Northeastern Arizona. On the Navajo Nation alone, roughly one in three homes does not have running water. The Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute communities face similar challenges. This settlement is a major step forward, securing the Tribe’s water future while providing long needed certainty for Arizona and the entire Colorado River Basin. Without it, uncertainty over tribal water claims will persist, affecting not only the tribes but also the communities across the region that depend on clean, clear, and reliable water management.” Kelly also thanked the Tribal leaders for their work to strengthen the agreement and urged his colleagues to support the legislation, noting that the updated settlement reflects years of negotiation and is backed by a broad coalition across northeastern Arizona. Sen. Kelly introduces tribal leaders at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing. Click here to download a video of Kelly’s remarks. See the transcript below: Sen. Kelly: Thank you, Chair Murkowski, Vice Chairman Schatz. Thank you for holding today’s hearing on the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. It’s my honor to introduce Navajo President Buu Nygren, Hopi Chairman Lamar Keevama, and San Juan’s Southern Paiute Vice President Johnny Lehi. President Nygren was elected to serve as the 10th Navajo Nation president in November 2022. President Nygren has a doctorate from the University of Southern California. He has been leading the Navajo Nation through the negotiation of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement. Chairman Keevama was elected to lead the Hopi Tribal Council in 2025. A former multi-term councilmember, he has worked extensively on water rights, energy policy, and economic development. He previously served as the manager of the Hopi Cultural Center and as a director of the Hopi Tribe Economic Development Corporation, reflecting a long record of leadership and service to the Hopi people. Vice President Lehi currently serves as the Vice President of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. He was first elected to the council in May of 2022 and served as President prior to his current role. Vice President Lehi is serving, as did his father, Johnny Lehi Sr., who was on the Tribal Council when the Tribe was originally recognized in December of 1989, and who was the Tribe’s president when he negotiated and signed the land treaty in 2000. Access to clean, reliable water shouldn’t be a question in the United States, but it still is for far too many families in Northeastern Arizona. On the Navajo Nation alone, roughly one in three homes does not have running water. The Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute communities face similar challenges. This settlement is a major step forward, securing the Tribe’s water future while providing long needed certainty for Arizona and the entire Colorado River Basin. Without it, uncertainty over tribal water claims will persist, affecting not only the tribes but also the communities across the region that depend on clean, clear, and reliable water management. I also want to thank this committee for the hearing that you held on a previous version of this legislation in 2024. That hearing helps surface important questions from members and stakeholders. Since then, the Tribes, the state of Arizona and other partners have continued working to strengthen the agreement. The result is the updated legislation before us today. It’s built on years of negotiation and supported by more than 30 parties across the region. Finally, President Nygren, Chairman Keevama, and Vice President Lehi, I want to thank you for your commitment to your communities. This is a large and complex agreement, and you and your teams deserve recognition for the decades of persistence, collaboration, and dedication it took to reach this point. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill as it moves through the committee process. I will also be submitting dozens of letters of support from stakeholders across Northeastern Arizona that underscore the critical importance of this legislation and the broad coalition that supports this settlement. Again, Chair Murkowski and Vice Chairman Schatz, thank you for holding the hearing today on this important and historic legislation. Thank you.

Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) reintroduced the Highway Formula Fairness Act to modernize the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) distribution formula to ensure states receive a fair share of federal surface transportation funding based on the amount they contribute to the HTF. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21). “Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, but we’ve been shortchanged for decades when it comes to federal funding for the highways, roads, and bridges we rely on every day,” said Senator Kelly. “Arizona drivers send their tax dollars to Washington, and we should be getting our fair share back to build safer roads and keep our economy moving.” “Texas is the second-largest contributor to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), yet it has received a smaller share relative to its contributions than any other state over the life of the fund. This disparity is particularly untenable because Texas is growing rapidly, with a population that has increased by more than 4 million in a decade. This legislation will ensure we have a highway funding formula that guarantees every state receives its fair share of infrastructure investment. It is bipartisan, common sense, and should be advanced by Congress and sent to the President,” said Senator Cruz. “The Lone Star State should not be forced to pay disproportionately more than other states to maintain federal highways, putting an undue burden on Texas taxpayers. By guaranteeing all states receive at least 95% of what they contribute to the Highway Trust Fund, this legislation would ensure fairness, transparency, and predictability for the distribution of federal highway resources and critical infrastructure projects in Texas, and I’m proud to support it,” said Senator Cornyn. “Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, but since the formula used to allocate federal highway funding hasn’t been updated in over twenty years, Arizonans don’t get their fair share of assistance. Arizonans pay into the system, and they deserve to see that investment come back home. This bill would finally update those outdated formulas so fast-growing states like ours have the resources we need to maintain our roads, repair our bridges, and keep our communities moving,” said Senator Gallego. “For too long, Texas has been shortchanged by the Highway Trust Fund, receiving less than our fair share of the dollars we send to Washington. Senator Cruz and I reintroduced this bill to fix that and ensure at least a 95 percent return on every dollar Texans contribute,” said Representative Roy. Read the bill text here.

In light of skyrocketing gas prices due to war in Iran, bill would temporarily suspend the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax and provide families economic relief from high gas prices Read: “US Senator Kelly proposes suspending federal gas tax through October 1” Today, U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act to lower gas prices by temporarily suspending the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax through October 1, 2026, providing much-needed relief for families in Arizona and across the country who rely on their cars to get to work, school, and run everyday errands. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) will introduce companion legislation in the House. According to the American Automobile Association, gas prices in Arizona have risen an average of 54 cents in the past week, bringing the statewide average to $3.85 per gallon. This increase outpaces the national average, which rose 48 cents to $3.48 over the same period. Arizona is now among the ten most expensive gasoline markets in the country, according to AAA, reflecting broader increases in crude oil prices linked to instability in global energy markets because of the war in Iran. “Families across Arizona are dealing with high costs on almost everything, and now gas prices are skyrocketing because Donald Trump started a war with Iran,” said Senator Kelly. “Arizona families shouldn’t pay the price for Donald Trump’s bad decisions. Suspending the federal gas tax would help bring prices down and give families some much needed relief.” “This legislation temporarily suspends the federal gas tax, lowering high gas prices squeezing consumers and bringing much needed financial relief to American families. Trump’s war of choice with Iran is driving up gas prices across the country—and Americans shouldn’t have to bear the additional economic burden of Trump’s reckless decision making. With the Gas Prices Relief Act, we address rising costs plaguing Americans and ensure they are not footing the bill for Trump’s war with Iran,” said Senator Blumenthal. “As Granite Staters continue to grapple with high costs on groceries, housing, and health care thanks to this administration, the last thing they need is to pay even higher prices at the gas pump as a result of Donald Trump’s war in Iran,” said Congressman Pappas. “That is why I’m introducing legislation in the House to suspend the gas tax through October 1, 2026, and provide Americans with badly-needed relief from the historic increase in gas prices we have seen in just the last few days. The legislation would also hold oil companies accountable if they refuse to pass these savings along to consumers. I am grateful to Senator Kelly for leading this critical effort in the Senate, and I remain committed to using every resource available to bring down costs and ensure that families and small businesses are not paying the price for this administration’s reckless actions.” The Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026 would lower gas prices and deliver economic relief to Americans across the country by: Read the text of the Gas Prices Relief Act here.

Read more here Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and a bipartisan group of their colleagues urged the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and Census Bureau to expand data collection and public reporting on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the U.S. workforce. As AI technologies are rapidly developed, deployed, and integrated across industries, the senators warned that policymakers and researchers will increasingly need reliable federal data to understand how these changes are reshaping the labor market—and how lawmakers, workers and businesses should respond. “We write to strongly urge the federal government’s statistical agencies to prioritize the collection, analysis, and dissemination of high-quality, timely data regarding artificial intelligence’s (AI) impact on the labor market,” the senators wrote. The senators continued, “Over the last several years, the enhanced capabilities of artificial intelligence have resulted in its increased application and adoption across many and varied industries and occupations. Predictive machine learning systems and generative AI have already created evolutions within the labor market due to those tools’ ability to perform tasks and functions that ordinarily require human intelligence. The emergence of autonomous technologies, including agentic AI and robotics integrating AI, present opportunities for a dramatic shift in the nature of work.” “However, reporting from across the private sector, academia, and media depict an uncertain picture of artificial intelligence’s current and potential impact on the workforce, with some use cases demonstrating a high probability of job disruption and others making the case for employment growth. Recent reporting has generated an increased focus on artificial intelligence’s effect on new labor entrants. As such, it is imperative that the federal government serves as an agile, objective, and reliable source of information regarding the significant labor market changes that this technological advancement presents,” the senators stressed. Currently, the federal government’s data, research, and measurement on AI lags behind non-governmental labor market data. In their letter, the senators outlined several opportunities where surveys can be expanded to better understand the impact of artificial intelligence, including supplemental surveys focused on AI in the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS); the addition of questions on the occupations and wages of both new hires and workers who separate from employers and how many hires, job postings, and layoffs are directly related to the business’ use of AI in the monthly and annual Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS); and the addition of questions related to AI in the National Longitudinal Survey. This effort is part of Kelly’s broader AI for America roadmap to ensure AI works for all Americans, not just a few large companies. In that framework, Kelly has emphasized the opportunity AI presents to grow the economy, alongside the need to support workers and communities. Click here to read the full letter.

Today, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly asked Pentagon officials about whether AI is being used in targeting decisions in Iran, and what level of human involvement exists before a strike is carried out. His questioning comes as Kelly is raising concerns about the Trump administration’s move to cut off federal work with Anthropic after the company objected to the removal of safeguards preventing its models from being used for autonomous weapons and surveillance. Sen. Kelly questions Major General Steven M. Marks at a SASC hearing. Click here to download a video of Kelly’s questioning. See the transcript below: Sen. Kelly: So, General Marks, I want to ask you something I think that is going to define warfare, now for the rest of our lives, for generations, and that’s the role of artificial intelligence in what we’ve seen play out here over the last several days. But certainly, into the future, it’s going to be a new feature of combat operations in many different ways. But specifically, the LUCAS, the low-cost unmanned combat aircraft system, attack system, those drones deployed in Operation Epic Fury have documented autonomous anti-jamming and I believe also some swarming capability. So, my question is about what’s underneath all of that. Are AI systems being used to assist in targeting decisions during this operation? Major General Steven M. Marks: So, Senator, thank you for the question. I am familiar with the LUCAS system. At this level, open hearing, I’m not able to go into great depth on what is inside of the LUCAS system, but I would be willing to get on your calendar, on the Committee’s calendar, and provide you a classified briefing. Kelly: Okay, so my next question is kind of irrelevant there, because I was going to ask about who validated the systems, who safeguarded them, and what human oversight exists at the moment a drone selects or confirms a target. So, let’s do that in a closed session as well. But I also want to just state for the record here that companies like Anthropic and others in the AI industry have published their own safety frameworks of how advanced AI systems should be deployed. But Congress has not yet set any kind of clear statutory framework for how AI can be used in lethal military operations. There’s a DoD directive, directive 3000.09, which requires what is called, and I’m quoting from the directive, “appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force.” But that language doesn’t necessarily mean a human is involved at the moment a target is selected or engaged. So, before we rapidly scale up production and field more of these systems that have AI incorporated into their capability, we need a clear answer on this. At the moment, a drone identifies and confirms a target, whether or not a human has to make the final decision to strike the target, or can a system execute the engagement autonomously once it’s been activated? These are questions we haven’t yet dealt with here in Congress, and we need to. So, General, I just want to get your thoughts on that, independent of what LUCAS or any other system can do. Marks: Thank you, Senator, for the question. Any system, any capability that the department procures has to comply and be compliant with the Law of Armed Conflict. I would say that any commander that deploys these systems, just like any weapon system, it has to comply with the Law of Armed Conflict. Kelly: I am not sure that the Law of Armed Conflict has dealt with this issue, so LOAC might not be exactly clear, and that’s why I think it’s up to us, Mister Chairman, that we take this issue of humans in the loop seriously and create the framework that DoD will apply to these systems with regards to their autonomous nature and the ability for a system to make a decision on targeting the enemy. Thank you.

“When you don’t have a goal and you don’t have a timeline, that’s when you wind up putting more Americans at risk.” In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly joined CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront and MS NOW’s Morning Joe to warn about the administration’s shifting explanations for the conflict with Iran, the lack of a clear strategy or end goal, and the risks facing American servicemembers in the region. Sen. Kelly speaks on Erin Burnett OutFront. Watch the full Erin Burnett OutFront interview here and the full Morning Joe interview here. See key excepts below: From Erin Burnett OutFront on the administration’s shifting explanations for the conflict… “I have more questions coming out than I had going in. That’s typical of these briefs. They share a lot of the public information. They get into very few details about the ‘why’ and how does this help Americans, which is one of my biggest concerns here at Erin. How does this help the American people pay for stuff that they can’t afford right now? Groceries, rent, health care. What is in it for us? And they don’t really go into the why of this. They try to, right, they talk about nuclear weapons. They talk about an ‘imminent threat,’ the Navy, ballistic missile capability, regime change. And it’s still a constantly changing story on why we’re doing this.” From Morning Joe, on the consequences of a president who doesn’t take advice… “I think this is a perfect example of what happens when you have a leader of a country who doesn’t take input, doesn’t take advice, puts a lot of ‘yes’ people around him, and makes these decisions without the right input and without the right data. So, I think this is not going well for them. And what that means is it’s not going well for our country, and it’s not going to go well for servicemembers. I don’t want to see a repeat of what happened in 2003, in Iraq, when we wind up with a long and bloody conflict.” Sen. Kelly speaks on Morning Joe. From Erin Burnett OutFront on the risk to American servicemembers without a clear mission… “I don’t think we thought about the math problem that we’re going to have here very quickly. The Iranians have a lot of ballistic missiles and drones. We have interceptors in the region. We have air defense systems. We have Patriots. We have SM-6s on ships, SM-3s. We can deal with some of this, but if they have more offensive assets and we have defensive, we get into trouble here possibly really quickly. If our magazine depth goes to zero and they can then shoot these things freely around the region. And when you don’t have a goal and you don’t have a timeline, that’s when you wind up putting more Americans at risk. We already have six Americans that have paid the ultimate price. We don’t want to see any more.”

Today, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly pressed Defense Department leadership on the administration’s justification for the ongoing military operation against Iran, demanding straight answers about whether the White House is overselling a threat to the American people to justify another war in the Middle East. Kelly challenged Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on the administration’s claim that Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S., pointing to the inconsistency with the administration’s own National Defense Strategy (NDS). Kelly underscored the apparent contradiction between the administration’s public claims and NDS 2026: “I’m trying to understand whether you believe Iran can be primarily contained by our regional partners, which is what you wrote a few weeks ago, or is it an imminent threat to the United States as President Trump, Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio have told the American people over the last few days? Can’t be both.” Kelly also pressed Colby on the shifting explanations and the real-world cost already being paid by U.S. service members: “The last thing we heard from the president on the nuclear weapon before this war, as he calls it, was the Iranian nuclear program was obliterated. That means completely eliminated. Gone for good. That’s what obliterated means. “And then on Saturday, this administration started a war on that basis, inconsistent with a document that I think you’re responsible for. And now, at least six U.S. service members have paid the ultimate price based on this notion that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, to the homeland, and to our military. And many more are risking their lives right now to eliminate a threat that six weeks ago, when you published that document, you didn’t really believe existed.” Kelly also warned against repeating past mistakes where shifting intelligence claims were used to justify military action: “I think it’s important to say that we’ve seen this playbook before. It’s what dragged us into a war decades ago. A bloody war in Iraq. And, Secretary Colby, I think if you intend to avoid this mistake again, I think we got to rethink, about how we need to be really straight with the American people about what’s going on.” Sen. Kelly questions Under Secretary Elbridge A. Colby at a SASC hearing. Click here to download a video of Kelly’s questioning. See the transcript below: Sen. Kelly: Secretary Colby, is it correct that the administration is justifying the ongoing military operation against Iran, in part, because of the urgent threat posed by Iran to U.S. forces in the region and the perceived future threat of Iranian ballistic missiles to the U.S. homeland? Yes or no? Secretary Elbridge A. Colby: From a general perspective, I wouldn’t comment on the legal rationale but certainly from a general strategic point of view, absolutely. Kelly: Absolutely. So, your 2026 National Defense Strategy downgraded the Middle East and didn’t label it as a core strategic theater on the same level as the Indo-Pacific and the Western Hemisphere. Is that correct? Colby: I think what we said that we were very clear-eyed and specific about the threat posed by Iran and by its missile program and the potential for resumption of its nuclear program after Operation Midnight Hammer, and the need to give the president options working with— Kelly: But on the core strategic theater question, it was the Indo-Pacific and the Western Hemisphere that should be the focus? Colby: The overarching focus of the American military, obviously, is the homeland hemisphere and the first island chain and— Kelly: Thank you. That’s how I read it. So, when that was drafted, did the administration believe, as it claims now, that Iran was close to having a ballistic missile capability that could threaten the homeland? Colby: I defer to my intelligence community colleagues on the specifics of that kind of question. But obviously, the administration, I think I can speak for the administration as a whole, thinks that the Iranian missile program is a very serious threat to be dealt with. Kelly: How about you? Colby: Yeah, I think the Iranian missile threat is a serious threat. Kelly: So you believed that Iran was close to having a ballistic missile capability that could range the United States? Colby: I think I’m talking about the general threat of Iranian ballistic cruise missiles, one-way attack drones that we’re seeing right now. Exactly this— Kelly: Yeah, but those are different. Colby: Yeah. No, I would just defer to, Senator, you’re asking— Kelly: I’m talking about something else. I’m talking about a missile that could—that exoatmospheric, that could get to the United States. Colby: Yeah. Sorry, I’m not trying to be evasive. I’m saying I think on that question, I would defer to intelligence community colleagues. The threat posed by Iran is not limited to any, whatever the status of that is, which I think would be the classified problem. Kelly: Yeah, so it sounds like you didn’t know of anything that could range the United States or close to it. So, here’s the thing. I’m trying to understand whether you believe Iran can be primarily contained by our regional partners, which is what you wrote a few weeks ago, or is it an imminent threat to the United States as President Trump, Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio have told the American people over the last few days? Can’t be both. Colby: Well, the strategy I had in mind the Operation Midnight Hammer, obviously, in the past, it was written before Operation Epic Fury, but we fully anticipated providing the president with credible military options to deal with the Iranian threat. Kelly: But here’s the thing. Mr. Secretary, none of us here heard about Iran having missile technology that was that advanced, being able to range the United States, or being close to obtaining a nuclear weapon. I mean, the last thing we heard from the president on the nuclear weapon before this war, as he calls it, was the Iranian nuclear program was obliterated. That means completely eliminated. Gone for good. That’s what obliterated means. And then on Saturday, this administration started a war on that basis, inconsistent with a document that I think you’reresponsible for. And now, at least six U.S. service members have paid the ultimate price based on this notion that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, to the homeland, and to our military. And many more are risking their lives right now to eliminate a threat that six weeks ago, when you published that document, you didn’t really believe existed. Colby: Senator, I think it’s demonstrably untrue that the strategy didn’t countenance the potential for the president to use military force against Iran. In fact, it’s appeared several times. Kelly: Can you speak into the microphone? Colby: Oh. I’m sorry. Senator, I think it’s demonstrably untrue that the document didn’t countenance the provision of credible military options for the president to use force again. In fact, it specifically refers to that in a number of occasions. So, obviously, I think the military campaign that’sunderway, Operation Epic Fury— Kelly: But would you think that that would be a primary theater that we would be focused on in the document, if that threat, that imminent threat to the homeland, existed? Colby: I think the document countenances the employment by the president of military force in globally as part of the strategy. Kelly: Well, I’m about out of time, but I think it’s important to say that we’ve seen this playbook before. It’s what dragged us into a war decades ago. A bloody war in Iraq. And, Secretary Colby, I think if you intend to avoid this mistake again, I think we got to rethink about how we need to be really straight with the American people about what’s going on. Thank you.

Today, Arizona Senator and Navy Combat Veteran Mark Kelly released the following statement on the U.S. military operation against Iran: “After promising to keep America out of war and instead focus on lowering costs for families, Donald Trump has launched a large-scale military operation against Iran. “We’ve seen this playbook before. Weeks of inflated claims, selective facts, and talk of imminent threats that led the American people into a war that cost thousands of American lives and trillions of taxpayer dollars. “The United States has the most capable military in the world. I have complete confidence in our service members, and I’m praying for their safety. The question is never whether they can do the mission. It’s whether the mission makes sense and makes us safer—and what it’s going to cost. “The Iranian people deserve freedom. They deserve the right to choose their own leaders. So, what’s the plan for what comes next? I don’t think Donald Trump knows the answer, and that’s dangerous when American lives are on the line. “When I launched on my first combat mission during Operation Desert Storm 35 years ago, I understood the mission and the end goal. So did Congress. So did the American people. That’s the minimum level of leadership this country deserves. And Donald Trump has failed again at that. “The Senate needs to come back to Washington immediately and do its Constitutional duty.”

“Some of our most advanced weapon systems are relying on chips that are old, sometimes outdated and sometimes decades behind the state-of-the-art technology.” This week, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on our nation’s supply chains of critical minerals and semiconductor chips, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly questioned Department of Defense officials about the continued use of outdated semiconductor technology in major U.S. weapons systems. Kelly raised concerns that the slow transition to newer, more secure fabrication facilities is preventing the military from accessing the most advanced chips available, potentially undermining national security. Kelly emphasized that the government is falling behind as semiconductor chip technology moves faster than the Pentagon can keep up: “The DoD’s procurement programs do not operate at the same kind of speed. The end result is some of our most advanced weapon systems are relying on chips that are old, sometimes outdated and sometimes decades behind the state-of-the-art technology. Historically, DoD has relied on a small number of trusted foundries.” Kelly also highlighted that while he has led Congress in funding programs to provide secure, cutting-edge chip production, many weapons programs continue to rely on older foundries: “We’ve worked on this committee for years to try to solve this issue by placing production lines that meet DoD’s security requirements in commercial fab facilities so DoD can get those leading chips without compromising in any security in these programs. There’s a couple of them. One is the Secure Enclave. The other is the Microelectronics Commons. And these programs, they’ve been stood up and they’re fully funded and they’re getting ready to produce some chips. There’s just one problem here: major DoD programs are still choosing to have the old, outdated foundries produce the chips, not the new ones.” Kelly secured a commitment from Assistant Secretary Michael P. Cadenazzi to work with the Committee on policy changes to help accelerate the transition of legacy systems to the newer, more secure semiconductor infrastructure Congress has already funded. Sen. Kelly questions Assistant Secretary Michael P. Cadenazzi during a SASC hearing. Click here to download a video of Kelly’s remarks. See the transcript below: Sen. Kelly: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Cadenazzi, did I get that right? Assistant Secretary Michael P. Cadenazzi: Yes, senator. Sen. Kelly: And Mr. Frankston. Thank you both for being here. I want to ask you about how we supply semiconductors to the defense industrial base. As you both know, semiconductors go in a lot of stuff used by our military and semiconductor technology advances rapidly. Moore’s law says processing power doubles every 18 months. The DoD’s procurement programs do not operate at the same kind of speed. The end result is some of our most advanced weapon systems are relying on chips that are old, sometimes outdated and sometimes decades behind the state-of-the-art technology. Historically, DoD has relied on a small number of trusted foundries, which are fabs that not only serve, they serve government customers. So, would you both agree that this approach has not succeeded at protecting DoD’s access to the best chips in the world for its most important programs? Assistant Secretary Michael P. Cadenazzi: Senator, we’ve perennially underinvested in the technology and the engineering necessary to migrate our systems to go ahead and leverage the most current state of the art chips. And as a result, we do have a legacy infrastructure which produces a large number of the chips that meet our needs, which are essentially based upon older technology. So, concur entirely. Sen. Kelly: So it sounds like an area where we could put some focus on and try to fix. Cadenazzi: Absolutely, Senator, it is a challenge. Sen. Kelly: So, we’ve worked on this committee for years to try to solve this issue by, placing production lines that meet DoD’s security requirements in commercial fab facilities so DoD can get those leading chips without compromising in any security in these programs. There’s a couple of them. One is the Secure Enclave. The other is the Microelectronics Commons. And these programs, they’ve been stood up and they’re fully funded and they’re getting ready to produce some chips.There’s just one problem here: major DoD programs are still choosing to have the old, outdated foundries produce the chips, not the new ones. So, would you both agree that there are meaningful strategic advantages to sourcing leading edge chips for our major programs? Cadenazzi: Senator, I concur in the need for us to go out and continuously improve the security of our chip infrastructure and the chips themselves, and that the tools that are in place under a secure enclave, etc., provide us new alternatives to deliver upon that. Sen. Kelly: Why haven’t we use those alternatives? Cadenazzi: So, there’s price considerations and engineering considerations with migrating from the current chip infrastructure to new chips and new security models. And I think inherently it’s a cost issue that programs have been incentivized to sort ofgo short shrift on this and not pay the bill, and that we need to incentivize them to pivot to actually investing in the infrastructure changes necessary to take full advantage of this for the future. Sen. Kelly: Could you give it a can you give an example of how much how much more does a chip coming out of the Secure Enclave cost for like a weapon system, percentage wise? Cadenazzi: Senator, I’m not sure I can comment thoughtfully on the cost so we can get back to you on that. I think there’s a bigger issue of the certification cost for these new systems. When you change the chips, you often have to requalify systems in their performance. It becomes a cost driver for tests, for engineering. There’s a whole bunch of ancillary pieces that go into it. And the bill gets pretty large, millions of dollars into the tens of millions of dollars, to go ahead and make these changes, unfortunately. Sen. Kelly: How about for new weapon systems, something that’s brand new? Cadenazzi: The challenge you had is that often the firms that deliver these weapons systems are incentivized for ease of access and approval to leverage infrastructure that’s already approved and tools that are already approved. So therefore, to go ahead and launch a new weapons platform with a brand-new security or, or I.T infrastructure, whatever that might be, or microelectronics infrastructure, is often cost prohibitive and not incentivized by the programs themselves. Sen, Kelly: But we but we funded the Secure Enclave and the Microelectronics Commons. Are they not approved? Cadenazzi: Senator, I believe that they are, and that we’re in the process of migrating to that those requirements over the next five years or so. However, I do think there’s going to be a bit of a tail and a lag and particularly a bill associated with how we make that migration work. Sen. Kelly: What we could what could we do to make that migration happen more quickly? Cadenazzi: Senator, I think we’d be keen to work with you in the Committee on, authorities and changes to policy that would help us drive those changes and an understanding of the costs associated with that, to make it work going forward. Sen. Kelly: All right. Thank you.

Today, Arizona Senator and 25-year Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly released the following statement following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address: “Tonight, Arizonans didn’t hear a real plan to lower costs or make their lives better. Instead, they heard more excuses from a president who promised to lower prices on ‘day one’ but has only made Americans poorer and less safe. “One year into his presidency, families are paying more at the grocery store. Seniors are struggling to afford their prescription drugs. Small business owners are having trouble keeping their doors open, and President Trump’s illegal tariffs are making it worse. “While costs go up for working families, his biggest accomplishment last year was handing a giant tax cut to rich people and big corporations, paid for by kicking people off Medicaid, cutting food assistance, and driving up health care costs. “Donald Trump mentioned a few things I agreed with, like banning stock trading in Congress and stopping hedge funds from buying single-family homes. America would be better off if he focused on working with us to get those done, instead of giving tax breaks to billionaires and enriching himself and his family.”

In response to a letter the Senators sent in September, DHS confirmed that 261 DACA recipients have been arrested and 86 have been removed from the country since the start of Trump’s second term Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) released the following statement after U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested 261 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and 86 have been removed from the country between January 1, 2025 and November 19, 2025. This information from DHS came in response to a letter the Senators sent in September where they pressed Secretary Noem on the Trump Administration’s wrongful targeting of DACA recipients in its mass deportation scheme. “News of DACA recipients being arrested and deported is deeply troubling. These arrests disrupt families, harm communities, and inflict unnecessary social, emotional, and economic costs. And it is a waste of taxpayer dollars,” the Senators said. “Secretary Noem’s response to our letter claims that 241 of the 261 DACA recipients arrested had ‘criminal histories,’ without providing any further details. DACA recipients go through strict background checks every time they renew this protection, and the Trump Administration has not hesitated to arrest immigrants with no serious criminal convictions and falsely label them the ‘worst of the worst.’ In the face of this Administration’s actions, it is important for Congress to protect young people who know no other home than the United States and continue the critical work to find a pathway to citizenship for them. We won’t accept partial information, and we demand that Secretary Noem provide more information on their basis for arresting and deporting DACA holders immediately.”

Today, Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly will attend the State of the Union address with former Navy Commander and fellow Desert Storm veteran Martin Sepulveda. A seventh-generation Arizonan, Sepulveda has dedicated his life to public service, serving in combat overseas and continuing that mission at home as a former Chandler City Councilman, president of the Chandler Historical Society, and founder of Sepulveda Group, Inc., an Arizona-based veteran-owned small business. “Two weeks ago, Donald Trump tried to have me arrested for something I said that he didn’t like, so I’m going to be in that room because he can’t intimidate me or stop me from doing my job—standing up for Arizona and the Constitution,” said Kelly. “Martin has served our country in uniform, created jobs for Arizonans, and stepped up for his community. He has led a life of service. I’m honored to have him as my guest as we keep standing up for the values and freedoms we served to protect.”

Senators blast DOJ for baseless legal reasoning behind determination to deem MSIs unconstitutional and cut off federal funding Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and 22 of their Senate colleagues in urging Education Secretary Linda McMahon to immediately reverse the harmful decision to unilaterally halt federal funding for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The senators warned that the administration’s flawed reliance on a DOJ determination threatens discretionary and mandatory funding and puts the education of millions of students at risk. There are currently 21 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in Arizona and six emerging HSIs, which serve nearly 90,000 Hispanic students, almost half of all Hispanic undergraduates in the state. These institutions rely on MSI federal funding to provide vital supports and services for students to help them complete their degrees. Historically, these programs have been authorized on a bipartisan basis in law. The Trump Administration’s decision to end funding for MSIs threatens the institutions’ ability to adequately serve the students they enroll of all backgrounds. “This decision is yet another example of this Administration attempting to circumvent Congress and its obligations to follow the law,” wrote the senators. “Unilaterally deciding that long-standing programs are unconstitutional, absent a ruling from the judiciary, sets a dangerous precedent and disrupts needed support that colleges and students rely on.” “We urge you to allocate Title III and V discretionary and mandatory funds as Congress intended so that these institutions, which educate millions of working-class Americans, can continue to successfully serve every student they enroll and continue to be economic engines for the communities they serve across this nation,” continued the senators. The Senators blasted DOJ’s legal justification for declaring that both discretionary and mandatory MSI grant funding is unconstitutional, citing DOJ’s reliance on a Supreme Court decision that discusses race-based admissions policies, not race-based funding allocations: “Those factors are unrelated to the determination of whether a school should be considered an MSI, and relying on that precedent—when there has been no specific court determination that MSIs are unconstitutional—is an inappropriate subversion of duly-enacted federal law. MSIs are not directed nor required to employ race-conscious admissions policies for their enrollment; they are evaluated based on the population of students they already serve at the time they are applying for funding.” There are over 800 federally recognized MSIs, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs). MSIs enroll over 5 million students, many of whom are first-generation college students. Read the full letter here.

In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly joined ITV News’ Talking Politics podcast and The News Agents podcast with a simple message to anyone being attacked by President Donald Trump: don’t back down. Kelly warned the Trump administration is trying to intimidate critics and chill free speech and said it is his constitutional responsibility to speak out because America is strongest when we defend the rule of law and stand with our allies. Sen. Kelly speaks on Talking Politics. Watch the full Talking Politics interview here and the full The News Agents interview here. See key excepts below: From Talking Politics, on his message to anyone Trump targets… “My suggestion to people is do not back away. That’s what they want. “So, whether you’re an individual, a retired service member like myself, a U.S. senator, or a country that feels like this guy has stepped over the line, my suggestion is to stand up for yourself and don’t back down.” From The News Agents, on his responsibility to speak out… “I serve on the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. My job, I view it, my constitutional responsibility is to point out when I think this president is doing the wrong thing. […] I think we we’ll get a better outcome if we continue to stand up to this guy.” From Talking Politics, on the importance of working with our allies… “I think being a strong leader is important. I think sticking up for our national interests is important, but we can do it in a way that doesn’t alienate our allies, and we don’t try to punish our allies. I think we’re stronger together and we can mutually benefit by a strong relationship.” Sen. Kelly speaks on The News Agents. From Talking Politics, on why this fight is bigger than him… “I am not losing any sleep over this guy. I’ve been through a lot worse than this. I mean, I’ve nearly been shot down multiple times. I’ve had a missile blow up next to my airplane, an SA6 in the first Gulf War. A Triple A. I’ve almost flown into the ground a bunch of times. I flew on a spaceship built by the lowest bidder that could nearly blow up on me. So, I’ve been through a lot in my life. I am not going to let this guy intimidate me. “I feel like I’m sticking up not only for 2 million retired service members and their right to say what they believe, but another 350 million Americans who, if they watch what’s going on with me and I don’t stick up for them, they’re going to be they’re going to back away from saying anything that is negative about this administration. “I’ve got to tell this administration and this president and the Secretary of Defense that they cannot violate my constitutional rights because that matters and should matter to all Americans.” From The News Agents, on refusing to back down… “He threw Don Lemon, a journalist, he threw somebody like you guys in jail for doing their jobs. He has attacked law firms–got them to back down. Media companies—got them to back down. Universities—got them to back down. He’s not getting me to back down because this is too important. It’s not just about me. “Donald Trump, he’s got a couple options here. He can continue to put the full force of the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice up against me, or he can go—I don’t want to use the wrong word here. What do you guys say? Bugger off. He can do that.”

In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spoke with BBC Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire last night about President Donald Trump’s record of going after institutions, journalists, members of Congress, and anyone that doesn’t agree with him. Kelly made clear he will not be intimidated by Trump’s attacks after fighting in combat to defend the Constitution and the rights of retired servicemembers and all Americans. Following his attendance at the Munich Security Conference, Kelly said Trump is weakening America’s alliances and damaging the foundations of American democracy at home and abroad. Watch the full interview here. See key excerpts below: On Trump’s record of going after those that don’t agree with him… “He’s gone after members of the press, trying to get them fired from their jobs. He sues media companies. He’s suing the New York Times. I think he’s probably suing the BBC. He has sued law firms. He gets people to capitulate. He’s gone after universities, and he’s tried to go after me. But I think, in me, he picked the wrong person because this is not going to end by me going away. I’m going to continue to fight this thing, even if it’s all the way to the Supreme Court.” On Trump damaging democratic norms and weakening America’s global standing… “The First Amendment is so foundational in our democracy, and he has now damaged it. And he’s damaged these relationships that we have had for 80 years that have brought economic security and safety to the world with our allies and partners. My sense from being in Munich with the leaders of our allied nations is that relationship is now significantly weaker, and people don’t trust us.”

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly released the following statement on the Maritime Action Plan published today and directed under President Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance,” signed on April 9, 2025: “As an author of the SHIPS for America Act, I’ve believed for a long time that revitalizing our shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries is something we can and must do together. Today’s release of the Administration’s Maritime Action Plan reinforces the urgency of this moment and shows there’s broad agreement on the need to act,” said Kelly. “Strengthening America’s maritime capacity will secure our supply chains, support our national security, rebuild our industrial base, and create good-paying jobs across the country. Now Congress needs to build on that momentum and pass the SHIPS for America Act.” Kelly, alongside Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Trent Kelly (R-MS-01), reintroduced the SHIPS for America Actin April last year.

Today, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly released the following statement on a federal judge granting a preliminary injunction in his case against Pete Hegseth: “Today, a federal court made clear that Pete Hegseth violated the constitution when he tried to punish me for something I said. But this case was never just about me. This administration was sending a message to millions of retired veterans that they too can be censured or demoted just for speaking out. That’s why I couldn’t let it stand. “This is a critical moment to show this administration that they can’t keep undermining the freedoms that generations of Americans like me went to war to defend. The First Amendment is a foundation of our democracy. It’s how we demand better of presidents like Donald Trump – whether they are jacking up the cost of groceries with tariffs or sending masked immigration agents to intimidate American communities. “But Donald Trump and his administration don’t like accountability. They don’t like when journalists report on the consequences of their policies. They don’t like when retired veterans question them. And they don’t like when millions of everyday Americans peacefully protest. That’s why they are cracking down on our rights and trying to make examples out of anyone they can. That’s not how we do things in America. “I didn’t ask for this fight, but I have been defending the Constitution since I was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. After decades of public service, I can’t think of anything more important I can do for my country than defending the free speech rights of millions of retired veterans and all Americans. “I appreciate the judge’s careful consideration of this case, and the clarity of his ruling. But I also know that this might not be over yet, because this President and this administration do not know how to admit when they’re wrong. One thing is for sure: however hard the Trump administration may fight to punish me and silence others, I will fight ten times harder. This is too important.”

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) held a press conference on Capitol Hill to discuss reports that President Trump’s Department of Justice tried and failed to secure a federal grand jury indictment against the two of them. Sen. Kelly speaks on Capitol Hill. Watch and download the full press conference here. See key excerpts below: Kelly warned that Trump is abusing power to intimidate critics and send a chilling message to anyone who speaks out: “Yesterday, we saw the great lengths that Donald Trump and his administration will go to abuse power in order to silence and intimidate anyone who disagrees with them. We learned, through the media, that federal prosecutors tried and failed to get an indictment against us from a grand jury. This is outrageous. “I want to be clear about something: This is not a ‘good-news’ story. This is a story about how hard Donald Trump and his cronies are trying to break our system in order to silence anyone who lawfully speaks out against them. And to send a signal to every American that they better think twice before they speak out, or else they might be next.” Kelly described the push to criminally charge senators for speech as an authoritarian move: “Federal prosecutors went to a grand jury to seek criminal charges against members of the United States Senate for something we said. They tried to have us charged and thrown in jail because we said something they didn’t like. Because we repeated what the law actually is. “This happened here. This is straight from the authoritarian playbook, but it didn’t happen in Russia or China. In Russia and China, we see these things. This didn’t happen decades ago. It happened less than a mile from this building. in the United States or America, yesterday.” Kelly cautioned that Trump’s retaliation campaign is a direct threat to the Constitution: “This is the master alarm flashing for our democracy. It is threatening the very foundations of our system. That we have the right to free speech. To lawfully speak out about and protest our government, without fear of retaliation. That we have a Congress whose responsibility and obligation is to oversee and criticize, when necessary, the executive branch. That we have a Department of Justice that is independent and loyal to the Constitution, not to one man. “Donald Trump and his lackeys are putting all of that at risk for their own power. They don’t care about everyday Americans. They don’t care about the struggles people are facing with rising costs and a crappy economy. They don’t care about using the justice system to go after real criminals. They care about themselves, their own power, and their own wealth.” Kelly urged Republicans to speak out: “Where are they? Where are the free speech absolutist Republicans now, who were so concerned about the weaponization of government? What happened to them? Where are they as Donald Trump tries to throw Senators and Representatives in jail for what they say? “The best moment for them to stand up would have been in November, when Donald Trump said we should be hanged for this video. But the next best moment is right now. Because our democracy has been around for 250 years, but it isn’t guaranteed.” Kelly underscored that he and Slotkin won’t back down from this fight: “Senator Slotkin and I didn’t ask for this. We’re just the first through the breach. But you’ll be damn sure we aren’t going to back down. We’ve been in war zones for this country. We’ve fought our countries’ enemies. This doesn’t intimidate us. And we know that this is much bigger than the two of us. The most patriotic thing any American can do is to continue exercising our rights, continue speaking truth to power, and not backing down.”

“Cities like Surprise, and the American public at large, are being left in the dark about the major impacts these facilities will inevitably have on their communities.” Read news coverage here Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons for immediate answers about DHS’s acquisition of a commercial warehouse facility in Surprise, Arizona, that is reportedly going to be converted into an ICE processing facility. In the letter, Kelly and Gallego noted that the Department is carrying out this project “without so much as notifying the City of Surprise or Maricopa County officials” and DHS and ICE have not answered requests for details from their offices. The senators underscored that DHS moved forward without meaningful coordination with local leaders, writing: “Given the scale of this project, the total lack of community involvement, the concerns we have heard from local leaders, and the potential implications for the community and region, we urge the Department to immediately provide answers about this project before it moves forward.” The senators further highlighted potential community issues, noting that: “Surprise is one of the fastest-growing cities in Arizona, with a population that has increased by more than 17 percent since 2020. The pace of this growth has placed ongoing pressure on local infrastructure, water resources, public safety, and economic development planning. Given the potential for significant impacts related to the Department’s acquisition and conversion of a warehouse into a detention facility, an environmental assessment is appropriate to ensure the City of Surprise has a full understanding of these impacts, particularly with regard to the city’s water usage, utilities, and traffic.” The senators also warned the acquisition appears to be part of a broader effort by DHS to rapidly expand detention capacity through the purchase and conversion of large commercial warehouses, raising concerns about transparency, planning, and environmental review. “Given the sheer size of the planned facilities, the aggressive schedule for opening them, and the complete lack of transparency associated with the planning process, the Department’s approach raises serious concerns about whether these projects have had sufficient planning and environmental review to proceed. As a result, cities like Surprise, and the American public at large, are being left in the dark about the major impacts these facilities will inevitably have on their communities,” the senators concluded. To better understand DHS’s plans and address concerns raised by constituents, the senators requested detailed responses to a series of questions, including the intended use of the warehouse, anticipated impacts on local systems and emergency services, NEPA compliance, applicable detention standards, total and annual operating costs and funding sources, and how DHS will engage with local officials moving forward. Read the full letter here.

Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons about the reported measles outbreak affecting individuals detained at the Florence Detention Center and Florence Correctional Center. “Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread rapidly in congregate settings. It is critical that your agencies act swiftly, transparently, and in coordination with state and local public health authorities to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread,” the lawmakers wrote. At least three individuals in federal custody in Arizona have tested positive for measles, and Arizona’s Department of Health Services reports at least 31 additional cases statewide in 2026 alone. This is not the first time measles has spread at an ICE detention center in the state. In 2016, an outbreak at an ICE detention center in Pinal County saw more than 30 cases among detainees and nine staff members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The lawmakers’ letter requests detailed information, including: Click here to read the full letter.

“Arizona families cannot continue to bear the cost of rising food prices.” Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly pressed President Trump on how his administration’s actions are driving up already high food costs for families across Arizona and the country, despite the President’s repeated claims that grocery prices are “all down” and promise to lower costs for working families. In his letter, Kelly details how tariffs, weak enforcement against corporate price-fixing, and cuts to food assistance and agricultural programs are keeping food prices high and putting added pressure on families, farmers, workers, and small businesses across the food supply chain. “Despite your repeated claims that when ‘you look at groceries, it’s all down,’ a year into your second term grocery prices remain high. In fact, December 2025 saw the biggest month-to-month jump in food prices since October 2022. You campaigned on a promise to lower costs for Americans, but little progress has been made—hardworking families in Arizona and across the nation still face high prices at the checkout line,” said Kelly in his letter. Kelly warned that the administration’s blanket tariff policies are directly increasing food prices and harming domestic producers: “They impact nearly every product entering the United States, including produce, meat, dairy, and canned goods. When used in a smart way, tariffs can be an important tool that create American jobs and strengthen American manufacturing, which reduces costs by creating reliable domestic supply chains. However, your Administration’s reckless approach is creating chaos—making it impossible for companies to plan long-term domestic investments and instead are solely serving as a tax on working families and business, increasing costs when people are already struggling. In addition to raising costs, your polices have led to retaliatory tariffs that hurt local agricultural producers, like the Arizona dairymen I met with in Tempe last year, putting American jobs at risk. Kelly also urged the administration to immediately reinstate the Tomato Suspension Agreement, warning that its termination is raising prices and threatening jobs: “Terminating the TSA will not address the core factors impacting domestic tomato growers; rather, this decision just increases U.S. retail prices for tomatoes and threatens nearly 50,000 jobs in Arizona alone. I urge you to immediately reinstate the Tomato Suspension Agreement and rescind your universal tariffs on agricultural items in order to protect consumers and lower food prices. We need strategic trade policies that lower costs, strengthen our economy, and support American jobs-not ones that make life more expensive.” Kelly further raised concerns about corporate price-fixing in the food industry, calling for stronger enforcement and accountability: “In the last 25 years, the most dominant food and agribusiness companies have been fined over $2 billion for price-fixing and other anti-competitive practices. Large food companies are not being held accountable. […] To ensure wealthy corporations are not artificially hiking prices and causing undue harm on buyers, we must strengthen antitrust enforcement and the penalties corporations face when they engage in these practices. I encourage you to direct the Department of Justice and the FTC to aggressively investigate and prosecute corporations that engage in price-fixing, market manipulation, or other anti-competitive behavior.” Kelly also warned that proposed cuts on food assistance programs will worsen food insecurity and hurt small grocery stores, farmers, and food suppliers across Arizona: “SNAP allows hardworking Americans who would otherwise struggle to put food on the table. While American families are already struggling to afford their grocery bills, your One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes steep cuts to the food assistance programs that help them stay afloat. […] Nearly 80 percent of SNAP dollars are spent at traditional grocery stores. SNAP cuts reduce sales and negatively impact small, independent grocery stores and stores in low-income and rural areas, leading to a domino effect of job losses across the food supply chain.” Kelly urged the administration to reverse these policies and work with Congress to lower food prices: “Arizona families cannot continue to bear the cost of rising food prices. I encourage you to take swift action and work with us to lower the price of food for American families. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.” Click here to read the full letter.