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Senator Banks Praises Selection of Indianapolis for USDA Hub
WASHINGTON, D.C, – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a top-down reorganization of USDA operations and a phased plan to relocate much of its agency headquarters and staff out of the Washington, D.C. area to five hub locations across the country. Last month, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) led a group of stakeholders representing all corners of the Indiana agriculture industry to meet with Secretary Rollins and pitch Indiana as the best candidate for a USDA hub location. Today, Secretary Rollins announced Indianapolis was selected as one of the 5 USDA hub locations. Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “This is huge news for Indiana. I am
Senator Banks Marks Legislative Milestone with First Bill to Pass the Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C, – Last night, the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act passed the Senate unanimously and will now advance to President Trump’s desk to be signed into federal law. Rep. Ronny Jackson led the bill in the House. This marks a significant achievement as the first Senate-passed bill led by Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.). The House companion version of the bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 5th, 2025. This bill would provide the transparency that Congress needs to ensure that the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is upholding an effective export control system and preventing
Sen. Banks Introduces Legislation to Rid Wokeness from Smithsonian Museums
WASHINGTON, D.C, – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Act. This bill would codify President Trump’s executive order to remove radical and divisive ideologies from Smithsonian museums. Rep. Self is leading the bill in the House. Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “It’s time to stop letting activists rewrite our past. This bill puts President Trump’s order into law to ensure our national museums celebrate our values, our heroes, and what makes America great.” Key Provisions of the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Act: Full bill text can be found here. Read more about the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Act here. Background: In
Sen. Banks Rebuts Sen. Tillis on Medicaid Cuts in Trump Bill
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., pushed back against the objections of Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., regarding President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, pointing to new provisions designed to safeguard hospitals and rural communities from potential funding shortfalls, Politico reported. On “Fox News Sunday,” Banks defended the GOP’s sweeping spending bill after Tillis announced he would vote against the bill, warning that it “would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities.” Banks said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Trump already alleviated those concerns by carving out a $15 billion stabilization fund for rural hospitals. “Leader Thune
Republicans defend cuts to Medicaid, renewable energy in ‘big beautiful bill’: ‘Out of control’
Key Republican senators pushed back Sunday against criticism of cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill, including Medicaid work restrictions and the elimination of many green energy subsidies. The Senate version of President Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation imposes 80 hours a month work requirements on able-bodied adults, including those with children ages 15 and up. It also reduces the health care provider tax, which helps fund state Medicaid plans. Critics argue that those changes could result in millions of people losing access to Medicaid, which provides health care to over 70 million low-income Americans. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) also touted plans to
GOP, Dem senators remain divided over Medicaid after Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ vote
Senate Republicans and Democrats remain divided on the Medicaid issue hours after President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” passed a key Senate vote Saturday night. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., both appeared on “Fox News Sunday” to discuss Trump’s legislation in the wake of the 51-49 vote. Banks argued that the Medicaid reforms would only affect certain people. “The Medicaid reforms would affect able-bodied Americans, those who are sitting at home who can work, who don’t work, who don’t have a sick kid or a sick mom, they shouldn’t receive Medicaid without working,” he said. “And on top of that, the bill would take