Keeping Georgians Informed –February 03-09 – Senator Reverend Ralph Warnock (GA)
From February 05, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Today, TIME named U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (GA) to its 2025 list of ‘The Closers,’ recognizing Black leaders working to close racial equity gaps. In an exclusive interview for the annual list, Senator Warnock discussed his focus on centering people in public policy, as well as how that moral perspective informs his work in the Senate to ensure all Georgians can economically thrive. TIME’s ‘The Closers’ list will be included in the magazine’s February edition available on newsstands February 14. Additionally, to recognize the 2025 ‘The Closers’ honorees, TIME will host an invite-only gathering in New York City on February 13, featuring remarks from Senator Warnock and other select members of the 2025 list.
“When we invest in our children—and most poor people are children—we strengthen the future of our country and we help to ensure that the 21st century, like the 20th century, will be the American century,” Senator Warnock said. “For me, it is that moral and spiritual perspective that informs my work, and I try to bring that with me to Washington every single day.”
Senator Warnock has long worked to level the economic playing field for Georgians and enact federal policy that helps working people get ahead, no matter their background. ‘The Closers’ highlights Senator Warnock’s successful efforts to deliver federal relief to farmers who have suffered historic discrimination and cap the costs of insulin for seniors. During his interview Senator Warnock also uplifted his work in the current Congress to further narrow the racial wealth gap and address Georgians’ economic pains, including his on-going efforts to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, revive the expanded Child Tax Credit—the largest tax cut in the nation’s history for low income and working families—and lower the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs for everyone, whether they are insured or not.
WATCH excerpts of Senator Reverend Warnock’s interview HERE.
READ Senator Reverend Warnock’s interview HERE.
SEE the full list HERE or at time.com/closers.
From February 06, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (GA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced legislation to allow spouses of fallen servicemembers to retain certain survivor benefits if they remarry. Under current law, most benefits from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are terminated for surviving spouses who remarry before age 55. The Love Lives On Act of 2025 would allow surviving spouses to retain these benefits upon remarriage regardless of age.
“The men and women in our military serve our country courageously—and their spouses serve our country, too. If one of our heroes loses their life in the line of duty, we should honor our servicemember’s sacrifice by ensuring their spouse can retain survivor benefits if they choose to remarry,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “As long as I have the honor to represent Georgia military families in the Senate, I will fight for them as hard as they have fought for our freedoms. I’m proud to continue leading this bipartisan effort to fulfill our promise to these patriots.”
“No survivor should have to choose between getting married again or keeping the benefits they need to support their family following the loss of their servicemember or veteran spouse,” said Senator Moran. “Military service is family service and, by making certain that surviving spouses can heal from their loss without fear of losing their benefits, the Love Lives On Act helps recognize the great debt our nation owes to Gold Star families.”
The Love Lives On Act is cosponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA.), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
The full text of the legislation can be found here. A letter of support for the bill can be found here.
“TAPS is grateful to Senators Moran, Warnock and our 22 Senate original cosponsors as well as Representatives Hudson, Morrison, Van Orden, Neguse and Khanna for their leadership in reintroducing comprehensive remarriage legislation, the Love Lives On Act of 2025,” said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). “Their leadership in the last Congress led to the passage of many of the provisions of the Love Lives on Act of 2023 and we look forward to passing the remaining provisions of this important legislation to ensure surviving military spouses retain their benefits upon remarriage at any age. Surviving spouses should not have to choose between finding love again and financial security.”
Since April 2023, Senator Warnock has been working to pass his bipartisan Love Lives On Act, comprehensive legislation that would allow spouses of deceased servicemembers to retain survivor benefits upon remarriage. In December 2024, Senator Warnock secured a provision that will allow surviving spouses to maintain eligibility for education benefits upon remarriage. Additionally, the Senator successfully included another provision in the legislation that remove the “holds oneself out” provision that penalized former spouses who did not remarry but appeared to be dating someone else, as well as a provision changing the definition of surviving spouse to include same sex couples. Other provisions from his legislation were previously passed in the defense authorization bill that handles policies and funding levels for our Armed Forces. The provision secured in 2023 restores surviving spouse access to military bases, their commissaries, and their morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail stores for those who lost access due to remarriage, ensuring they can maintain their connection to the communities they have sacrificed so much to be a part of.
From February 07, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) delivered a nearly hour-long speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate highlighting his opposition to Russell Vought’s nomination to be head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
“I rise today in strong opposition to the nomination of Russell Vought to be the head of the Office of Management and Budget. His leadership will only continue the disruption that is hurting Georgians in every corner of my state, even as I speak,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
During his floor speech, which was the longest of his tenure in the Senate, Senator Warnock addressed the continued efforts by the Trump Administration to gut the federal government from within. He also addressed the impacts of the Trump Administration’s federal funding freeze which has affected federal programs across Georgia and threatened services that support our veterans, law enforcement, seniors, schools, and our health system. The careless freeze is the brainchild of Russell Vought, the nominee to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“If you want to get a sense of who President Trump is looking out for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. On that stage when he was inaugurated, you saw them, some of the richest people in the world. They were the ones who had proximity. Well, proximity matters. You can tell a whole lot about the character of a person’s public service based on the people who can get close to them. The folks who get to speak into their ear. If you want to know who Donald Trump is working for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. The likes of Elon Musk, the billionaire, the richest man in the world who is now telling the rest of us that we need to tighten our belts. How quaint,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
“Look, I will work with anyone who is able to have a serious bipartisan conversation about how to best utilize government resources and taxpayer dollars. Working across the aisle to get good things done for Georgia has been a cornerstone of my service in the Senate over the past four years. I’m listed as one of the most bipartisan senators in the Senate. I have worked with Republicans many, many times. But right now, the playbook is obvious. Cut programs that you rely on and give the richest of the rich the money. Robin Hood in reverse. Steal from the poor, give to the rich,” Senator Reverend Warnock added.
Watch Senator Warnock’s full speech HERE.
Below are key excerpts from Senator Warnock’s speech:
“Mr. President,
“I rise today in strong opposition to the nomination of Russell Vought to be the head of the Office of Management and Budget. His leadership will only continue the disruption that is hurting Georgians in every corner of my state, even as I speak.
“Over the past two and a half weeks, my state has been plagued by chaos, by confusion that has harmed Georgia families and Georgia workers and organizations serving their communities. We are witnessing right now a careless and heartless assault on federal investments and a freeze of government funding that has already been appropriated by Congress. To help Georgia seniors, veterans, students, and so many more.”
“I dare say that the people of Georgia who elected me, and the people of Georgia who elected Donald Trump, did not vote for this. But just as we warned, his dangerous plans are playing out in real-time. This is exactly what they said they were going to do. Some didn’t believe them. Even after they attempted to gaslight the American people into thinking otherwise, here we are in no time flat.”
“This stunt that was pulled a few days ago is a disaster for communities who want well-funded law enforcement, thriving businesses, safe roads and bridges, and as they attack federal workers, attack the government, they’re trying to convince you that the government is some third entity outside of us — some third entity outside of us? No, this is by the people, for the people, of the people.
“This is the highest of our aspirations, what we’re trying to achieve together. As we witness this assault, it is hitting Democrats and Republicans. Blue states and red states. As the people’s voices are being squeezed out of their democracy.
“Just last week, without even being confirmed, Vought orchestrated the effort to freeze federal spending, as if this money is his money rather than our money, the people’s money, throwing programs from infrastructure upgrades, to Medicaid, to free school lunches, to support for homeless veterans into chaos. How dare you take funds that are needed by the veterans of Georgia and all across this state? Those who fight for us should not have to fight with us to get what they deserve.”
“My constituents were deeply shaken by last week’s federal funding freeze. I received thousands of calls and e-mails from folks afraid of the freeze’s unknown harm to their community. So, let’s peel back the curtain even more on what happened over the last few days. The Trump Administration froze trillions of dollars of government spending to enact massive and disruptive funding cuts. These cuts are being orchestrated in part by Russell Vought and in partnership with the world’s richest man, Elon Musk — Elon Musk, the co-president.
“This unelected, unvetted bureaucrat who by my best guess appears to think that the livelihood of Georgians and Americans is some kind of start-up he can tear apart. So, if you want to get a sense of who President Trump is looking out for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. On that stage when he was inaugurated, you saw them, some of the richest people in the world. They were the ones who had proximity. Well, proximity matters. You can tell a whole lot about the character of a person’s public service based on the people who can get close to them. The folks who get to speak into their ear.
“If you want to know who Donald Trump is working for, look at who he’s surrounding himself with. The likes of Elon Musk, the billionaire, the richest man in the world who is now telling the rest of us that we need to tighten our belts. How quaint.
“President Trump isn’t serving you, he’s serving them. He’s serving those in our country who are well off and who don’t play by the rules and putting at risk basic programs that help folks send their kids to school, keep food affordable, and lower their energy bills.”
“So when Elon Musk and his billionaire buddies go looking for spending cuts and they’re focused on cutting government waste, they start by targeting the working class. He said he couldn’t cut taxes for billionaires because they are the job creators. What about the folks who work on the job day to day? What about the folks who clean hospitals? Who mop floors? Who pick up our garbage? Why is it that those at the top deserve so much more than those working at the bottom? Those in the middle? Hardworking Americans who play by the rules?”
“Look, I will work with anyone who is able to have a serious bipartisan conversation about how to best utilize government resources and taxpayer dollars. Working across the aisle to get good things done for Georgia has been a cornerstone of my service in the Senate over the past four years. I’m listed as one of the most bipartisan senators in the Senate. I have worked with Republicans many, many times. But right now, the playbook is obvious. Cut programs that you rely on and give the richest of the rich the money. Robin Hood in reverse. Steal from the poor, give to the rich.”
“This is not how the most powerful government in the world ought to serve its people. The reality is, this new level of Washington’s dysfunction has real-world consequences that extend beyond Washington politicians. Georgia’s economy does not stop just because Washington is exercising a kind of chaos.”
“While we’re trying to get our act together up here, guess what? Farmers still need crop insurance, childcare workers in community health centers still need to make payroll, our roads and our bridges, and pipes still need repairs. When federal investments are put in limbo, the stability of our states and local communities are also put in jeopardy. And let me be clear, the trump administration has demonstrated that it will try this again and again and again, and when they do, the business community will suffer and Georgians will be out of their jobs, unless we stand up and say no.
“If this federal funding freeze continues, as Russell Vought hopes, the impact will be felt hardest by those who can least afford it. It’s easy in all the blusters of the beltway who is actually bearing the brunt of Donald Trump’s actions. Delays and freezing are not just inconvenient, they create instability, and they cost the jobs of our friends, our families, and our neighbors.
“So, it’s up to us in this moment to stand up. I am listening to the people who sent me to represent them. I’m thinking about those who do the work every single day. It is our job to respond to the call and the urgency of this moment. History will not treat us kindly if we are silent at a time like this.”
