Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) last week introduced the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2015. This legislation will remove Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) impediments to market competition and innovation in America's transportation fuel market. "The EPA's onerous regulation of fuels is artificially limiting options for consumers and producers and preventing the adoption of new fuel options that could benefit our environment, our economy, and our energy security. Through competition and consumer choice, my bill will free fuel producers...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C - Sen. Rand Paul today introduced Amendment 992 to S.Con.Res.11, the Budget Resolution. This amendment would pay for the $96 billion of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding in the budget. That funding is exempted from budget caps and slated to cover ongoing war costs and increased defense spending in the regular defense budget contrary to the 2011 Budget Control Act. "First and foremost, a strong national defense should always be the federal government's main responsibility. I believe Congress can and should pay for our top priorities and not use budgeting gimmicks to...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced legislation today to help rural communities harmed by Obama Administration policies that restrict access to rural lending opportunities. Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Rand Paul (R-KY) are original cosponsors of the Helping Expand Lending Practices in (HELP) Rural Communities Act , which would provide rural communities with better access to credit opportunities that can help grow their local economies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) - created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street...Read more

Police CAMERA Act Would Create A Grant Program To Help Local Law Enforcement Agencies Develop Body-Worn Camera Programs Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), U.S. Representatives Corrine Brown (FL-05) and Keith Ellison (MN-05) introduced the Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available (Police CAMERA) Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation would create a pilot grant program to assist state and local law enforcement agencies with purchasing or leasing body-worn cameras. "Body cameras will benefit the brave men and...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today reintroduced the Endangered Species Management Self-Determination Act. This legislation provides state governors with the power to regulate intrastate endangered species and intrastate threatened species. "This bill will better protect endangered species by allowing a more tailored response as implemented by the states. The Endangered Species Management Self-Determination Act ensures that local needs will be considered in the regulation process and places the decision-making into the hands of the states by allowing them to choose whether regulation...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today reintroduced the Harbor Equity Act. This legislation modifies the existing criteria used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge small harbors. Currently, the Corps' prioritizes dredging solely for larger harbors that see 1 million or more tons in traffic per year - often forcing small community harbors to fund their own dredging or be forced to shut down operations. The Harbor Equity Act will drop the minimum tonnage requirements and prioritize smaller harbors for dredging rather than just larger, commercial harbors. "The interconnectedness of...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today introduced S.813, the Military Sequester Flexibility Act. This legislation will provide the Secretary of Defense the authority to transfer funds within the Department of Defense (DOD) in order to mitigate the damaging effects of a sequestration of funds, if a sequestration were to transpire in 2016. "As a member of Congress, I believe protecting and defending our military men and women should always be our top priority. With a potential sequestration in 2016, my bill will allow the Secretary of Defense the ability to prioritize and target reductions...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today reintroduced the Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015. This legislation will establish free market enterprise zones and dramatically reduce taxes in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhance and renew educational opportunities and increase community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas. These zones will apply to any zip code with unemployment greater than one and a half times the national average. "There are many communities in our country still waiting and praying for economic recovery...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today introduced S.Res. 100, a resolution to change Senate rules to provide sufficient time for legislation to be read before being considered by the U.S. Senate. The waiting period point of order-except during a time of urgent national security-would require all bills, amendments, and conference reports to be filed for one day for every 20 pages before it can be considered. Bill text can be found below. "I will continue to stand by my pledge to increase transparency and accessibility in the U.S. Senate," Sen. Paul said. "Too often in Congress, legislation is...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Rand Paul today attended the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to question Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the Obama Administration's proposed authorization for use of military force (AUMF) against the Islamic State, known as ISIS. During the hearing, Sen. Paul emphasized the need for the Executive Branch to abide by the U.S. Constitution and seek approval from the Legislative Branch on matters of war, and reiterated that Congress must carefully consider the long-term ramifications of passing an overly broad AUMF. A video and transcript of the exchange...Read more