Press Release: 4/24/2026

Senator Markey's Amendment to Lower Electricity Prices Rejected by Republicans as they Vote to Give $140 Billion Blank Chekc to ICE, Border Protection

 

Washington (April 23, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, offered an amendment on the Senate floor that would require action to lower electricity costs for working people, but was blocked by Republicans as they voted to give a $140 billion blank check through the budget reconciliation process to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Instead of lowering energy bills for American families, Senate Republicans voted to direct taxpayer dollars to fund further lawlessness at ICE and CBP, which have already received $140 billion from Trump’s Big Ugly Bill.

Below is an excerpt from Senator Markey’s remarks on the floor at 1:13AM this morning.

“Since Donald Trump took office, electricity prices have risen by as much as 13%—three times faster than inflation. Families are already falling into debt, and it is only getting worse. Utilities requested a record $31 billion dollars in rate increases in 2025—that's twice as high as the year before. Republican cuts to American energy programs stoked this fire of a crisis. The Republican Big Ugly Bill is expected to kill 790,000 megawatts of new, clean electricity over the next decade. It has already canceled or stalled 28,000 megawatts from 365 energy projects. 

“As we produce less and less new electricity, the remaining electricity becomes more and more expensive for families across this country. Instead of providing a blank check for ICE, we should be providing relief on electricity bills for American families.”