1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I’m writing to demand that you strip all non-budgetary policy riders from the budget reconciliation bill currently under consideration in the Senate. These provisions violate the Byrd Rule, which prohibits unrelated legislative changes in a reconciliation bill, and they represent a dangerous abuse of process. Specifically, I oppose the inclusion of the following sections: 🔒 Section 70302 – This blocks federal courts from enforcing contempt citations unless a security bond was posted, effectively shielding government officials from court orders. This has zero budget impact and is a direct assault on the judiciary’s constitutional role. 🧠 AI Regulation Preemption – The bill bans all state and local AI laws for 10 years, even those protecting against deepfakes and hiring discrimination. This has nothing to do with federal spending — it’s a corporate giveaway with no place in a budget bill. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Legalized Indefinite Family Detention – The bill overrides child protection rules, allowing migrant families, including children, to be jailed indefinitely without licensed facilities. This is cruel, has significant humanitarian implications, and increases costs — it is not a budgetary measure. 🚫 Shutdown of Humanitarian Parole – It eliminates lawful pathways for those fleeing war, disaster, or persecution. This is a major policy change that undermines executive discretion and humanitarian values — not a fiscal correction. 🪙 Asylum Barriers – New $1,000 fees and strict work permit restrictions target asylum seekers with hardship, not savings. The primary goal is deterrence, not budgeting. 🌲 Environmental Deregulation – The bill removes judicial review of certain mining and drilling projects on public lands. This is a deregulatory wish list, not a deficit-reducing provision. Every one of these provisions fails the Byrd Rule test. They should be stripped immediately. Letting them remain in a budget bill sets a dangerous precedent for legislative abuse. Please defend the integrity of the legislative process and the Constitution. Strip these extraneous riders. Protect judicial independence. Defend due process. Stop the abuse of reconciliation. Silence is compliance — and we are watching.