Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation today to better target serious criminals and curb overzealous prosecutions for non-malicious computer and Internet offenses. The legislation, inspired by the late Internet innovator and activist Aaron Swartz, who faced up to 35 years in prison for an act of civil disobedience, would reform the quarter-century old Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) to better reflect computer and internet activities in the digital age. Numerous and recent instances of heavy-handed...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Rand Paul yesterday reintroduced the Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2015 . This legislation will bring common sense back to federal water policy by redefining “navigable waters,” exclude ephemeral or intermittent streams from federal jurisdiction, and restrain the powers that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers hold over American landowners. “Every year, thousands of property owners across America fall victim to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineer’s bullying tactics. I firmly believe it is the landowners’ Constitutional...Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Rand Paul yesterday took his conservative message of criminal justice reform to Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C. The panel discussion titled, “From Protest to Politics: A Bipartisan Approach to Criminal Justice Reform” was moderated by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Panelists participating in the discussion included: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Reps. Raul Labrador (R-ID), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-VI). “The War on Drugs has had a disproportional affect on minorities and our inner cities. Our current system is...Read more

Bill Would Encourage Companies to Bring Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in Foreign Earnings Back to America; Proceeds Would Extend the Highway Trust Fund WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend the Highway Trust Fund and create jobs. The Invest in Transportation Act of 2015 , S. 981, incentivizes companies to bring some of the estimated $2 trillion in foreign earnings that are being held overseas back to the United States. "Our nation’s highways and bridges are in desperate need of repair and demand...Read more

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