NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Stauber Introduces Lifesaving Gear for Police Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) along with Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced the Lifesaving Gear for Police Act to protect the Department of Defense (DoD) 1033 Program, which allows the DoD to transfer equipment to local law enforcement. 

    Of this legislation, Congressman Stauber stated, “As a former law enforcement officer, I will do everything in my power to ensure my brothers and sisters in the blue and brown receive the equipment they need to keep themselves and communities they serve safe. During my time as a police officer, I personally benefited from the 1033 program. I’m proud to introduce legislation to ensure our law enforcement officers can continue to benefit from a program that helped me for so many years on the job.” 

    Congressman Bacon stated, “We must equip our law enforcement officers with the best tools available to protect our communities. I’m pleased to co-lead the Lifesaving Gear for Police Act, which removes unnecessary restrictions for our officers, allowing them to take advantage of already paid-for equipment that would otherwise go to waste. Supporting our communities takes people who are equipped to do the job, and this legislation will give our officers the means to protect the people we love.”

    The Lifesaving Gear for Police Act has gained support from law enforcement across Minnesota: Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs Association, Fraternal Order of Police, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden, Fitzpatrick introduce bipartisan bill to repeal President Trump’s order restricting collective bargaining for federal workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today introduced the Protect America’s Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation to nullify President Trump’s March 27 executive order seeking to end collective bargaining rights for unionized federal employees across several agencies.

    “In his order, President Trump said that federal workers’ rights are incompatible with national security. He is wrong. Union workers make America stronger every single day, including the more than 6,000 federal workers in Maine,” Rep. Golden said. “Throughout our history, unions have ensured workers got a fair shake in the workplace. Unions built our middle class and are key to strengthening its future. We cannot have a government that undermines workers’ rights.”

    “Improving government efficiency is essential — but sweeping exclusions from collective bargaining are a blunt instrument that risk weakening the very stability and performance we aim to strengthen,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “The Protect America’s Workforce Actrestores a balanced, targeted approach — protecting bargaining rights where they pose no threat to national security and reinforcing their proven role in supporting morale, accountability and effective governance. We can defend our national security without silencing those who serve it. Efficiency and fairness are not mutually exclusive — and this legislation ensures we uphold both.”

    In addition to Golden, a Democrat, and Fitzpatrick, a Republican, the bill was sponsored by Democratic Reps. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Republican Reps. Nick LaLota (NY-01), Mike Turner (OH-10) and Mike Lawler (NY-17).

    “Donald Trump is trying to end collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, silencing their voices and ripping up their contracts. This order would strike a blow to every American’s fundamental right of freedom of speech and association,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “More than 70 percent of Americans and nearly 9 in 10 young people support unions — no one voted to attack the freedom to organize with our co-workers for a better life. We commend the leadership of Reps. Jared Golden and Brian Fitzpatrick for using Congress’ power to reverse this executive order. The labor movement is 100 percent behind this bill, and we call on every member of Congress, Democrat and Republican, to take a stand in support of our fundamental rights by backing this critical legislation.”

    In addition to the AFL-CIO, the bill has the support of unions representing federal employees, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 

    The bill nullifies President Trump’s March 27 executive order, “Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,” which sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The employees covered by the order account for 67 percent of the federal workforce, according to independent news reports. 

    Federal workers’ bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.

    Full text of the bill is available here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden decries Trump order restricting collective bargaining, will introduce legislation to reverse it

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement today regarding President Trump’s executive order seeking to end collective bargaining rights for unionized federal employees across several agencies:  

    “The right for workers to collectively bargain is sacrosanct and any claim that it is incompatible with national security is bogus,” Golden said. “I oppose the president’s order and stand in solidarity with the workers affected — including a state workforce of likely more than 6,000 hardworking Mainers at places like VA Togus Medical Center, Bath Iron Works, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and other worksites across our state. This order cannot stand, and I will introduce legislation to repeal it.”

    President Trump’s order seeks to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The employees covered by the order account for 67 percent of the federal workforce, according to independent news reports. 

    Federal workers’ bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.

    Golden is a longtime proponent of unions and their role in creating a strong middle class. He has been vocal in opposing President Trump’s anti-worker actions, such as the firing earlier this year of NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, who was later reinstated by a court order.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden speaks out against shuttering of agency supporting Maine libraries, museums

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today joined more than 100 lawmakers urging President Donald Trump to restore the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the support for Maine museums and libraries that it provides. 

    “From early literacy programs and STEM education initiatives to high-speed internet access and job training resources, funding for the IMLS enables libraries and museums to provide critical services to millions of Americans,” Golden and the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the President. “The loss of this funding would be particularly devastating for rural, tribal, and other underserved communities that rely heavily on these institutions for access to learning resources, workforce development, and technological infrastructure.”

    President Trump named IMLS as one of seven agencies slated to be dismantled in a March 14 executive order. On Monday, the president put the agency’s entire staff on administrative leave.According to the American Federation of Government Employees union, “without staff to administer the programs, it is likely that most [IMLS] grants will be terminated.”

    The IMLS provides more than $1.8 million in discretionary and nondiscretionary funding to Maine organizations focused on education and workforce development, including the Maine State Library, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, and Maine Maritime Academy. It is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting library and museum services.

    “IMLS grants are an integral part of our services to rural Mainers. Specifically, they help smaller communities have access to information and resources that they otherwise would not have access to. I support Congressman Golden’s efforts to fight for these resources,” said Maine State Librarian Lori Fisher.

    Congress established the IMLS in 1996 to consolidate the operations of multiple government agencies into a single, streamlined office. Its most recent reauthorization came in 2018 during the first Trump administration.

    The letter can be found here, and is included below in full:

    +++

    April 2, 2025

    The Honorable Donald J. Trump
    President
    The White House
    1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
    Washington, D.C. 20500

    Dear President Trump,

    We write to express our deep concern over the proposed elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the devastating impact such cuts would have on communities throughout the country. 

    The IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting America’s museums and libraries. Operating in all 50 states and U.S. territories, it plays a vital role in strengthening these institutions which serve as essential educational, cultural, and economic pillars in our communities. From early literacy programs and STEM education initiatives to high-speed internet access and job training resources, funding for the IMLS enables libraries and museums to provide critical services to millions of Americans. The loss of this funding would be particularly devastating for rural, tribal, and other underserved communities that rely heavily on these institutions for access to learning resources, workforce development, and technological infrastructure.

    Beyond their valuable contributions to education and social development, museums and libraries also serve as significant economic drivers. The American Alliance of Museums reports that museums alone contribute more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year and support over 726,000 jobs. Museums have immense power to draw tourism and foot traffic to other local businesses and revitalize communities. For every $1 that museums and other nonprofit cultural organizations receive in government funding, they return more than $5 in tax revenue. They also have broad public support, with 96% of Americans wanting to maintain or increase federal funding for museums. Libraries similarly generate economic returns through workforce training

    programs, small business support, and research services. Nearly all of the approximately 17,000 public libraries across the nation offer Wi-Fi access at no charge, and in 2019, Americans accessed the Internet using library computers close to 224 million times. This includes millions of students who lack adequate broadband access at home and rely on libraries to complete their homework. Despite this, IMLS funding accounts for a mere 0.0046% of the federal budget, an incredibly modest investment relative to the immense benefits these institutions provide.

    Eliminating the IMLS would not only jeopardize these essential services but also dismiss the everyday needs of millions of Americans who rely on libraries and museums for learning, job opportunities, and community engagement. We urge the Administration to reconsider this decision and recognize the far-reaching impact of IMLS funding. Maintaining and strengthening federal support for museums and libraries is not just an investment in cultural preservation, it is an investment in education, innovation, and economic growth.

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure that America’s libraries and museums continue to thrive and serve the public.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden statement on President Trump’s tariffs announcements

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement today after President Donald Trump’s announcement of a series of new tariff policies during a news conference in the White House Rose Garden:

    “President Trump has introduced a number of new tariff policies, and I and my team are already digging into the details. I’ll have more to say on the specifics in the next few days.

    “What I can say now is I’m pleased the president is building his tariff agenda on the foundation of a universal 10 percent tariff like the one I proposed in the BUILT USA Act. This ring fence around the American economy is a good start to erasing our unsustainable trade deficits.

    “I’m eager to work with the president to fix the broken ‘free trade’ system that made multinational corporations rich but ruined manufacturing communities across the country. But tariffs must be paired with policies that prioritize American families’ prosperity. We need to make sure that the new approach benefits working people — that means supporting unions, the trades and apprenticeship programs, cutting regulations that hold back production, unleashing American energy and using tariff revenue to support domestic manufacturers that create good-paying jobs for Americans.

    “It’s also time to renegotiate trade deals like the USMCA to support the Americans who are ready to ramp up production and support the rebuilding of our middle class — like the sawmills, processing plants, fishermen and farmers in the communities I represent.

    “Tariffs are a first step in rewriting a rigged trade system, but they cannot be the last one.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Summer Travel Approaches, Davids Acts to Lower Gas Prices in Kansas

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action to lower gas prices, requesting an emergency waiver to allow the sale of E15 – fuel blended with 10.5 to 15 percent ethanol – during the 2025 summer season in Kansas.

    Ethanol, made from locally grown crops, is a more affordable alternative to unblended gasoline. This waiver, which has been granted multiple times in recent years, would help lower gas prices for Kansans, support local farmers, and strengthen domestic supply chains.

      

    “Kansas farmers and producers work hard to supply homegrown energy that lowers costs for families at the gas pump,” said Davids. “By allowing the sale of E15 this summer, the EPA can ensure Kansans benefit from lower gas prices while strengthening our economy and reducing reliance on foreign oil.”

    For multiple years, Davids has urged the EPA to guarantee the sale of E15 not only during the summer but also year-round. This would reduce our reliance on foreign oil, build U.S. energy security, and support Kansas agriculture and manufacturing. Davids previously visited East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE), a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, as part of her Farm Bill listening tour. EKAE has around 40 full-time employees and relies heavily on Kansas corn producers to supply the crops needed to make the biofuel.

    “We sincerely thank Representative Sharice Davids for her leadership in urging the EPA to once again allow the sale of E15 this summer,” said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association. “Ensuring continued access to E15 nationwide is critical for lowering fuel costs, supporting farmers, and providing consumers with a cleaner, more affordable fuel choice. Most importantly, we thank Rep. Davids for her continued support for a permanent solution to secure year-round E15 nationwide.”

      

    Previously, Davids has taken multiple actions to lower gas prices for Kansans by:

    • Voting for the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act, which allow retailers the ability to sell higher ethanol-blended fuels year-round,
    • Leading the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that expands access to lower-cost, homegrown fuel,
    • Helping to pass legislation that promotes sustainable aviation fuel, a liquid fuel that achieves significant emissions reduction compared to fossil-based jet fuel,
    • Supporting legislation that expands biofuels infrastructure, opening up new market opportunities for sustainable fuel sources and lowering energy costs for Kansas families,
    • Pushing the President to suspend the federal gas tax, providing immediate relief to Kansans at the gas pump.

    A full copy of Davids’ letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Works to Cut Waste Through Improper Medicaid Payments for Deceased Beneficiaries

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced her support for bipartisan legislation to stop improper Medicaid payments for deceased individuals that had gone unnoticed. A recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report of just 14 states found more than $249 million in improper payments. Davids continues to support strengthening and expanding Medicaid, but also prioritizes the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. 

    According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Medicaid improper payment rate was just 5 percent in 2023, marking an 3.5 percent decrease from the previous year. Of those improper payments, 79 percent were due to insufficient documentation, which typically involved situations where a state or provider missed an administrative step.

    “Kansans work hard and deserve to see their tax dollars used wisely,” said Davids. “While I strongly support expanding Medicaid to ensure more people have access to affordable health care, it’s also important to eliminate wasteful spending where possible — and do so responsibly. It’s unacceptable for these funds to be improperly paid out instead of going to those who truly need them. This bipartisan bill is a common-sense solution to improve oversight, reduce waste, and ensure accountability in government spending — without the extreme and reckless cuts that undermine critical programs.”

    The Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for (LIVE) Beneficiaries Act, which Davids voted to pass last year, would require states to check the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File database on a quarterly basis and verify that Medicaid patients are not deceased and still properly enrolled in the program. Should there be discrepancies, state Medicaid programs would be required to disenroll deceased beneficiaries to prevent Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) from improperly billing for those who are no longer living. 

    The federal audit found that over $249 million in Medicaid payments were improperly made to MCOs on behalf of deceased individuals in 14 states — the cause cited as “various reasons.” In this audit, OIG recommends that CMS improve its oversight by developing a system to match Medicaid enrollment data with the Social Security Administration’s death records to identify states that may be making improper payments.

    Last month, Davids held a press conference to push back against President Trump and U.S. House Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts to fund tax giveaways for billionaires and big corporations. These cuts would have severe consequences for Kansans, threatening the well-being of children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families. Davids firmly believes that the bill announced today offers a responsible approach to eliminating fraud — without resorting to reckless, politically-driven actions that harm hardworking Kansans.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Davids, Sens. Moran, Marshall Urge USPS Postmaster General to Construct a New Facility in Olathe

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) and U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) today called on United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to continue to prioritize joint efforts between the City of Olathe and the USPS to relocate the downtown postal facility and construct a new, efficient and modern facility. 

    In an effort to revitalize the downtown area, the City of Olathe is partnering with the USPS to relocate and modernize the current post office in Olathe. 

    “We appreciate the progress to date, and we understand the uncertainties USPS may be currently facing,” wrote Sens. Moran, Marshall and Rep. Davids. “However, we wish to again express our strongest support for the project and remind you that each of us remains committed to following the process closely.”

    The full letter can be found here and below.

    Dear Postmaster DeJoy:

    We write regarding the proposed partnership between the USPS and Olathe, Kansas concerning the relocation of the downtown postal facility and construction of a new, efficient and modern facility in its place.  

    We appreciate the progress to date, and we understand the uncertainties USPS may be currently facing. However, we wish to again express our strongest support for the project and remind you that each of us remains committed to following the process closely.

    As we have stated before, we believe this type of project can be a model for innovative partnerships benefiting both the USPS and local communities.  We believe it will be achievable in quick order, and it will send a strong message to those legislatively engaged in USPS related issues.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Statement on Trump’s Reckless Tariffs that Will Raise Prices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s newly enacted tariffs, which impact a range of industries and foreign markets:

    “I agree that America must stay competitive globally, but Kansans are already feeling the squeeze — and now they’ll have to foot the bill for President Trump’s reckless tariffs. His trade policies are driving up grocery costs, forcing Kansas businesses to close, and cutting off markets for our farmers. Instead of supporting hardworking folks, he continues to push policies — including cuts to Social Security and Medicare — that benefit big corporations and his billionaire friends. That’s unacceptable. I’m focused on pursuing smart trade agreements that strengthen American industries without putting jobs and small businesses at risk.”

    Background:

    Today, President Donald Trump announced tariffs of at least 10 percent on practically all goods coming into the United States, plus higher rates on certain countries. Experts say President Trump’s tariff policy could raise prices for an array of products ranging from groceries to gas, the latter rising by as much as 70 cents per gallon. Overall, it’s estimated these tariffs could cost families between $2,000 and $3,400 per year and impact seven percent of Kansas’ workforce. The right-leaning Tax Foundation found previous tariffs enacted during President Trump’s first term were paid for by U.S. consumers and businesses.

    Davids previously wrote an essay in Newsweek criticizing President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders, arguing that they will hurt hardworking Kansans and favor corporations. She reinforced these concerns during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing, where she highlighted the trade disruptions Kansas agricultural producers could face due to these tariffs — a concern echoed by Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland.

    Beyond tariffs, Davids has been pushing back against the President’s harmful policies — fighting against the firing of federal workers, cuts to Social Security and Medicaid, rising egg prices, the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, and rollbacks to tax credits that help Kansans lower their utility bills. At the same time, she has worked across the aisle to get things done. Partnering with her Republican colleagues, Davids is helping to cut wasteful spending in federal programs, modernize USPS delivery in Olathe, and lower child care costs. She has also already passed two bipartisan bills to support small businesses — a rare achievement for a Democrat in Washington right now.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Kansan Highlights Trump’s Threat to KanCare in New KC Star Essay

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, in a Kansas City Star essay, a health care policy expert and Prairie Village mother shines a light on the dangerous cuts to Medicaid, known as KanCare in Kansas, being pushed by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress — and the work Representative Sharice Davids is doing to stop them.

    Today’s piece highlights that, despite President Trump’s promises to protect Medicaid, nonpartisan experts confirm his and U.S. House Republicans’ budget would make cuts to the program. Their plan risks the health care of over 350,000 Kansans — including children, seniors, and people with disabilities — all while funding tax giveaways for billionaires and large corporations.

    Davids is a strong advocate for protecting and expanding Medicaid, fighting against recent extreme budget cuts to the program. She is working to expand Medicaid to cover 150,000 more Kansans, strengthen rural hospitals, and boost the state’s economy. She also supports extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months to improve maternal health and is pushing for bipartisan solutions that lower costs without jeopardizing care.

    Read the full essay here or below:

    “As a parent, lifelong Kansan, and longtime health care policy analyst, I’ve seen firsthand how essential Medicaid is to families across our state. Medicaid — known as KanCare in Kansas — provides health care to more than 350,000 of our neighbors, from children to older adults. But now, KanCare is under direct threat from President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, and the consequences for Kansas families could be devastating.

    “Despite repeated promises that they wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Trump and Republicans are pushing forward with plans to do just that. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that their budget proposal can’t be achieved without slashing Medicaid and Medicare benefits. This is heartbreaking and terrifying.

    “Cuts to Medicaid would directly harm children, who represent the vast majority of Medicaid recipients in our state. They would also directly impact older Kansas and our friends and neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and severe mental illness. These are people who depend on Medicaid for health care services and support to help them live independently.

    “Worse, our KanCare benefits would be cut in order to fund Trump’s tax giveaways for billionaires and large corporations. Republicans need these cuts to meet their budget goals, but cutting Medicaid would put thousands of Kansans at risk of losing their health insurance.

    “This isn’t just a Washington issue — it’s a Kansas problem. In communities where I’ve lived here, I’ve seen firsthand how vital KanCare is to families. Children like those I worked with at Children’s Mercy Hospital need KanCare for everything from well-child visits to allergy tests. I heard directly from families about their struggles with food insecurity, housing instability and chronic health conditions. Without KanCare, they would face the impossible decision of choosing between food and necessary medical care. 

    “KanCare isn’t just vital for health — it’s a smart financial investment. During President George W. Bush’s administration, I had the opportunity to work with the federal Office of Inspector General’s Kansas City office. Through that experience and later working as a health policy analyst in Topeka, I saw how KanCare reduces costs and produces better outcomes by providing home and community-based services instead of forcing people to pay more for care at a hospital or nursing home.

    “Slashing KanCare would also lead to hospital closures, particularly for small rural hospitals, such as the one in which my husband was born. The closing of rural hospitals and safety net clinics across our state would further strain our health care system, forcing many Kansans to travel farther for essential care. The real waste would be the health and well-being of our community.

    “That’s why we need leaders like Rep. Sharice Davids, who is fighting to protect KanCare and ensure Kansas families aren’t left behind as Trump and Republicans push extreme cuts. But Davids can’t do this alone.

    “I’ve been calling our U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and demanding they stand with us — not with Trump’s plan that puts tax breaks for the ultrawealthy over the health of our friends, family and communities. I invite you to do the same. It’s time for all congressional Republicans to stop siding with special interests and start listening to Kansans who rely on KanCare for their health and well-being.

    “We can’t afford to let reckless decisions in Washington harm Kansas families. I’m committed to fighting to ensure KanCare remains a program that supports every Kansan. The stakes are too high, and the time to act is now.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Reintroduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Improve Access to Diagnostic Services at Home

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, was joined by
    Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24), Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01) in reintroducing the Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity (PURE) Act, a bill that aims to provide Medicare beneficiaries with more flexibility for care through an update to Medicare reimbursement for portable diagnostic services to include ultrasound procedures. The lawmakers were joined by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing the bicameral legislation. 
    “When patients need lifesaving ultrasound services but can’t reach a hospital, they’re often left without other options. The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act closes that gap by enabling portable ultrasounds to reach patients directly at their bedsides, allowing for rapid diagnosis of serious conditions like blood clots, heart failure, and abdominal disease,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation leverages cutting-edge portable ultrasound technology to make health care more accessible and affordable for those in our communities who need it most.”
    The legislation aims to recognize portable ultrasound procedures and provide the same transportation reimbursement that Medicare currently allows for portable x-ray services. Advances in technology have made portable ultrasound machines more compact and lightweight with improved imaging capabilities. This has led to an increased demand for these high-quality imaging services to be administered at the bedside enabling the rapid diagnosis of patients for a range of acute and chronic conditions, including blood clots, heart failure, or abdominal disease. Yet, outdated Medicare policy has not kept pace to allow providers of portable diagnostic services to receive reimbursement for ultrasound procedures.
     “Our bill offers an important step to modernize our health care system and ensure seniors receive the high-quality care they deserve,” said Congresswoman Van Duyne. “The Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act (PURE Act) will expand access to lifesaving portable ultrasound services and remove the burdensome red tape facing North Texas medical providers, allowing them to provide better, more flexible care. By recognizing portable ultrasounds under Medicare’s reimbursement structure, we will improve care for vulnerable populations and prevent unnecessary hospital visits, lowering costs for patients and taxpayers.”
    “Our seniors need access to timely and medically appropriate services, regardless of where they reside,” said Congressman Schneider. “I am proud to help introduce the PURE Act to promote greater access to diagnostic services for individuals who require an ultrasound at home and help reduce unnecessary, avoidable hospitalizations.”
    “I am proud to support the Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2024, which ensures that seniors, especially those in rural areas, have access to critical healthcare services like ultrasound technology,” said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. “This bill levels the playing field for Medicare patients and increases access to x-ray, ultrasound, and EKG screenings to make sure beneficiaries get the at-home care they need, no matter where they live. I thank Rep. Van Duyne for her leadership.”
    “Portable ultrasounds play a critical role in diagnosing potentially life-threatening conditions,” said Senator Cornyn. “By ensuring providers can be reimbursed for the transportation and set up of these exams, our legislation will help Medicare beneficiaries receive more efficient and effective care.”
    “APDA applauds Sen. Cornyn, Sen. Hassan, Rep. Van Duyne, Rep. Schneider, Rep. Miller-Meeks and Rep. Trahan for their bipartisan leadership to improve and expand access to portable ultrasound exams while lowering the cost of care for patients. The PURE Act will help ensure our members can continue to meet the growing demand across the country for portable diagnostic services to allow seniors and our most vulnerable to receive the treatment they need in the comfort of their own homes.” said Tamara Schwartz, President of the American Portable Diagnostics Association (APDA). 
    Since joining the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2021, Trahan has consistently championed legislation that expands access to health care for working families. In February, she reintroduced the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, bipartisan legislation that will break down barriers for children with complex medical conditions to make it easier for families to access out-of-state care. In 2024, she introduced the Bolstering Research and Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen research and treatment development for brain tumors and to improve the accessibility of brain tumor health care. Also in 2024, Trahan introduced the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act, legislation that would establish an “essential health system” designation in federal law, creating opportunity for more federal funding and support to flow to safety net hospitals that traditionally support more uninsured and low-income patients.
    Click HERE for a copy of the legislation.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Rips Republican Bill to Disenfranchise 69 Million Women

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of House Democratic Leadership, spoke on the House floor in opposition to H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation that requires voters to provide a birth certificate, naturalization papers, or passport matching their current name to vote in a federal election. The legislation provides no alternative pathway for women who changed their name after marriage to prove their citizenship so they can cast their ballot.
    “House Republicans are forcing a vote this week on the so-called SAVE Act – a bill that does nothing to stop inflation from driving up grocery prices, nothing to end Donald Trump’s trade war that is pummeling the stock market, and nothing to protect Americans’ retirements,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “Instead, this is a messaging bill, sloppily written and dangerously flawed, designed to create confusion and chaos in our electoral system rather than strengthen it.”
    CLICK HERE or the image below to view Trahan’s speech. A transcript is embedded below.

    H.R. 22 requires that all Americans prove their citizenship status by providing an original copy of their birth certificate, naturalization papers, or passport matching their current name in person to register to vote or update their voter registration information. There are as many as 69 million American women who have taken their spouse’s name after marriage and do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name. Additionally, half of all Americans do not possess a passport.
    H.R. 22 provides no alternative option for these women to register to vote or amend their voter registration.
    “This isn’t just bureaucratic nonsense. It is an outrageous attack on the rights of women across our country,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “And the worst part, Madam Speaker, is that Republicans have known that this was an issue with this bill for years, and they’ve done nothing to fix it. They either don’t care that millions of American women will be stripped of their right to vote, or that has been their goal all along.”
    ——————————————–

    Congresswoman Lori Trahan
    Remarks As Delivered
    Floor Speech on H.R. 22, The SAVE Act
    April 1, 2025
    Madam Speaker, we are witnessing yet another shameful attack on the fundamental rights of millions of Americans. House Republicans are forcing a vote this week on the so-called SAVE Act – a bill that does nothing to stop inflation from driving up grocery prices, nothing to end Donald Trump’s trade war that is pummeling the stock market, and nothing to protect Americans’ retirements.
    Instead, this is a messaging bill, sloppily written and dangerously flawed, designed to create confusion and chaos in our electoral system rather than strengthen it. The SAVE Act claims to prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections. And at first glance, that may seem logical if not for the fact that it is already illegal and has been for decades. Non-citizens caught voting in federal elections already face deportation and even jail time.
    Time and again, when pressed for evidence of widespread non-citizen voting, Republicans have failed to produce a single credible example. The reason? Because the problem they claim to be solving simply doesn’t exist.
    So why are we here today? Why are we debating a bill that addresses a non-existent problem while hardworking American families are struggling with rising costs and economic insecurity?
    Because Republicans in Congress, they don’t have real solutions. Rather than addressing the issues that matter – like lowering grocery costs and helping families get ahead – they are prioritizing a bill that disenfranchises millions of American women. Roughly 69 million women – about 25% of eligible voters in our country – have IDs that do not match their birth certificates, usually because they changed their name once they got married. Under this bill, if they don’t have a passport – and half of Americans don’t – they wouldn’t be able to register to vote.
    Think about that. Tens of millions of women, the backbone of our families and our communities, stripped of their right to vote simply because they got married.
    Imagine a woman who has voted in every election since she turned 18, who pays her taxes, who contributes to her community. One day, she learns that because her name changed when she got married, she is suddenly unable to register to vote in her state. No amount of documentation – no social security card, no marriage license, no previous voter registration – will satisfy the requirements of this bill unless she possesses an updated passport or a birth certificate that matches her current name.
    This isn’t just bureaucratic nonsense. It is an outrageous attack on the rights of women across our country. And the worst part, Madam Speaker, is that Republicans have known that this was an issue with this bill for years, and they’ve done nothing to fix it. They either don’t care that millions of American women will be stripped of their right to vote, or that has been their goal all along.
    Either way, this is going to create chaos in every state in America, and it’s going to make it harder for Americans to participate in their democracy. And it appears to be the latest in a long series of tactics – like polling place closures and gerrymandering – designed to silence voters that Republican politicians don’t think they can win.
    That’s not how democracy works. You don’t get to silence millions of Americans just because they might not like your policies. You represent them too.
    So, I urge my colleagues to reject this dangerous legislation and protect the rights of every eligible voter in the country. Because our democracy is strongest when every voice is heard and every vote is counted. Thank you, I yield back.
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  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan, Brown, DelBene Demand Independent Investigation into DOGE Privacy Violations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), Shontel Brown (OH-11), and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) wrote to the Deputy Inspectors General of the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Government Services Administration (GSA) requesting an independent investigation into a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer’s mishandling of Americans’ personally identifiable information.
    “We write to request that you immediately open an investigation into the unauthorized and harmful actions of a former Treasury employee affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who shared a spreadsheet containing personally identifiable information (PII) with officials at the General Services Administration (GSA). Such an investigation is especially imperative as we determine the extent to which federal privacy laws were violated and how individual Americans were adversely affected,” the lawmakers wrote.
    In late January, DOGE staffers were granted access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, which processes approximately $200 billion in payments each day to Americans. Payments include Social Security benefits, tax refunds, payments to government contractors, and more. One DOGE staffer, who was granted access to the payment system before his background check was complete, sent an email with an attached spreadsheet containing an unknown amount of Americans’ personally identifiable information to two GSA officials, likely in violation of the Privacy Act. The staffer did not gain approval or encrypt the spreadsheet to protect the privacy of the GSA employees, despite receiving a briefing on cybersecurity and privacy rules just days before.
    “Under the Privacy Act, which was passed in the wake of the Watergate scandal to protect Americans’ privacy, federal agencies may not disclose records contained within a system of records to third parties without an individual’s prior written consent, subject to certain exceptions. Moreover, case law supports the proposition that information taken from a record maintained in a system of records—say, a few data points pulled from a larger record—are subject to this disclosure requirement, even if this information is incorporated into a new document that is not itself maintained in the system,” the lawmakers continued. “With this understanding, Elez’s compilation of names, transaction types, and payment amounts into a spreadsheet, even if not entire records from Treasury systems, and subsequent disclosure to GSA officials constitutes a likely violation of the Privacy Act.”
    Congresswoman Trahan, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, recently announced an effort to rewrite the Privacy Act for the first time since its passage in 1974. Congresswoman Brown is the Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation. Congresswoman DelBene is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has direct jurisdiction over the Treasury Department.
    A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.
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  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Condemns Trump Administration Cutting $8.5 Million for Fitchburg, Lawrence & Dracut Schools

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) condemned the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Stabilization Fund, cutting $106 million in federal funding for Massachusetts school districts.
    “The Trump administration’s unnecessary cuts to federal education funding for Fitchburg, Lawrence, and Dracut are irresponsible and shortsighted,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Our kids deserve better, and I’ll continue fighting to make sure our school districts get the federal investments they need to provide the best education possible.”
    School districts in Massachusetts’ Third Congressional District impacted by the Trump administration’s cuts include:

    Fitchburg: $6,578,468 to purchase and install new HVAC systems for Memorial Middle School and the South Street Early Learning Center
    Lawrence: $1,307,307 to complete HVAC projects in school buildings across the city.
    Dracut: $648,702 to install a new HVAC unit for Richardson Middle School, a project the town has already started and invested $240,000 in.

    “This sudden federal decision to terminate already-approved education funding is deeply concerning—especially for communities like Fitchburg that have been responsibly planning and executing long-term projects with these dollars. Here in Fitchburg, we’ve been working for over three years to use these funds to improve air quality and ventilation in our schools, with projects targeted at Memorial Middle School and South Street Early Childhood Learning Center—two schools identified during the pandemic as having the most urgent need. We’ve completed the studies, awarded the contracts, ordered the unit ventilators, and scheduled the work for this summer, when it can be done safely while students are out of the building. To pull the rug out from under us at this stage jeopardizes not just HVAC installations, but the health and wellbeing of our youngest learners. Fitchburg’s students, families, and educators deserve stability—not sudden policy reversals. We will be working closely with DESE and the  State to push back on this and ensure that the resources promised to our schools are protected,” said Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia.
    “The loss of $1.3 million in ESSER funding presents a significant challenge for the students of Lawrence. These funds are vital for their recovery and overall success. It is imperative that we continue to invest in their future,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña.
    According to the Healey-Driscoll administration, the U.S. Department of Education informed the Commonwealth in February 2025 that they had until next March to spend the funds. The Trump administration’s reversal was announced at 5:03pm on Friday, March 28th and effective as of three minutes prior at 5pm.
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  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan, Cassidy, Ossoff Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Restore Americans’ Control Over Their Own Data

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, partnered with Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Ossoff (D-GA) to reintroduce the Data Elimination and Limiting Extensive Tracking and Exchange (DELETE) Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would establish a system through which individuals could request that all data brokers delete any personal data collected by the company and a prohibition on future collection.
    “Americans should be the ones in control of our own personal data – not shady online middlemen who harvest our most sensitive information and auction it off to the highest bidder,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The DELETE Act puts power back where it belongs: in the hands of consumers. By giving individuals a simple, effective way to wipe their data from data brokers’ databases and block future collection, this bill takes a critical step toward protecting our privacy and reining in an industry that monetizes our data without our consent.”
    “Privacy should be expected and protected online,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This bill gives Americans a solution to ensure their personal data is not tracked, collected, bought or sold by data brokers.”
    “Data brokers are buying, collecting, and reselling vast amounts of personal information about all of us without our consent. This bipartisan bill is about returning control of our personal data to us, the American people,” said Senator Ossoff.
    The DELETE Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create an online dashboard for Americans to submit a one-time data deletion request that would be sent to all data brokers registered. Under current law, individuals must request removal from each individual data broker to ensure their privacy is protected. This legislation would also create a ‘do not track list’ to protect taxpayers from future data collection. The DELETE Act is supported by Public Knowledge.
    Since her appointment to the Energy and Commerce Committee, Trahan has spearheaded efforts to protect Americans’ most sensitive data, strengthen privacy rights, and protect consumers from corporate abuses. This March, she announced an effort to reform the Privacy Act of 1974, a 51-year-old law regulating how the federal government collects, maintains, utilizes, and disseminates Americans’ personally identifiable information. Also in March, she reintroduced the bipartisan Terms-of-service Labeling, Design and Readability (TLDR) Act, legislation requiring that online companies make their terms-of-service contracts more accessible, transparent, and understandable for consumers. In Energy and Commerce committee meetings and hearings, Trahan has consistently exposed and condemned exploitative business practices that violate Americans’ online privacy. 
    Supported by a strong track record, Trahan has earned a reputation of challenging the practices of data brokers. In 2022, she first introduced the DELETE Act to rein in data brokers’ shady behaviors. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, she wrote to top data brokers questioning their handling of women’s health and reproductive data in light of the decision. Trahan blasted the companies after their responses failed to adequately address concerns about how this data could be used to target women seeking reproductive care, including issues raised by Massachusetts leaders.
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  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, Chu, Repro. Caucus, Dem. Women’s Caucus Press RFK Jr. to Unfreeze Title X Funding, Restore Access to Critical Reproductive Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Members express outrage at Trump administration claims that Title X is frozen because it is DEI, stating “A federal program’s ability to provide care to people from historically marginalized and underserved communities does not make it wrong or illegal”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Diana DeGette, Co-Chairs of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, along with Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Reproductive Health Care Task Force Chair & Liaison Judy Chu (CA-28), DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Reproductive Freedom Caucus Vice Chair & Whip Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), author of the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03), and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chief Whip Nikema Williams (GA-05), sent a letter signed by 162 Members urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore all appropriated funding for Title X providers and coordinate an urgent meeting on the matter. The Trump administration’s attack on Title X is yet another attack on women and reproductive health care. 

    Title X, the nation’s only federal program dedicated to family planning, allows low-income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals to receive critical health care from a diverse network of providers. Title X health centers served 2.8 million people in FY 2023, administering high-quality family planning and sexual health care, including cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive services and supplies, pregnancy testing, and other essential health care services. In the letter, the Members ask Sec. Kennedy to immediately unfreeze funds for federal programs: 

    “We urge you to restore all appropriated funding for Title X providers and instead invest fully in the program which has helped people access essential health care for almost 50 years. On behalf of our 2.8 million constituents and women across the country who depend on Title X’s services, we also request a prompt reply to coordinate a meeting on this matter. We look forward to introducing you to the providers, community leaders, and patients from our districts who understand better than anyone else the importance of this program. We hope your agency will not be so reckless as to upend nearly half a century of bipartisan achievement and place Title X on the DOGE chopping block without hearing firsthand the consequences of that action.”

    The Members also expressed their outrage at reports that the funding is frozen due to claims that it might support “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The Members explained:

    “This is another way of saying that this program is used to help people of color access care. Nearly half of the people served each year by Title X are people of color, the vast majority are people with low-incomes and most Title X users are women. A federal program’s ability to provide care to people from historically marginalized and underserved communities does not make it wrong or illegal. To suggest otherwise implies that HHS would determine who is worthy of taxpayer dollars based on the color of their skin. Congress created Title X to address the needs of underserved populations across our country, regardless of background, and it has demonstrated success in doing so for 50 years.”

    The full letter can be accessed here.

    In addition to letter leads Judy Chu, Diana DeGette, Ayanna Pressley, Teresa Leger Fernández, Lizzie Fletcher, Sharice Davids, and Nikema Williams, the letter was signed by: Gwen S. Moore, Chrissy Houlahan, Delia C. Ramirez, Frederica S. Wilson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Gerald E. Connolly, Dwight Evans, LaMonica McIver, Lori Trahan, Danny K. Davis, Eugene Simon Vindman, Nydia M. Velázquez, Brad Sherman, Rashida Tlaib, Darren Soto, Joyce Beatty, Seth Moulton, Marc A. Veasey, Jerrold Nadler, Madeleine Dean, Laura Friedman, John B. Larson, Juan Vargas, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Becca Balint, Stephen F. Lynch, Betty McCollum, Lloyd Doggett, Jennifer L. McClellan, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mikie Sherrill, Rick Larsen, Derek T. Tran, Greg Stanton, Jimmy Panetta, Paul D. Tonko, Jill Tokuda, Dave Min, Terri A. Sewell, Jake Auchincloss, Jared Huffman, James P. McGovern, Mary Gay Scanlon, Mark DeSaulnier, Dina Titus, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Scott H. Peters, Doris Matsui, Emanuel Cleaver, Suzanne Bonamici, Grace Meng, Lucy McBath, Emilia Strong Sykes, Jim Himes, Joseph D. Morelle, Chellie Pingree, Josh Gottheimer, Veronica Escobar, Jasmine Crockett, Kathy Castor, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky, Kevin Mullin, Greg Landsman, Marilyn Strickland, Pramila Jayapal, Ted W. Lieu, Robert J. Menendez, Jim Costa, Ilhan Omar, Timothy M. Kennedy, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Robin L. Kelly, Sara Jacobs, Ritchie Torres, Bennie G. Thompson, Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Adriano Espaillat, Sarah McBride, Luz M. Rivas, Ami Bera, Seth Magaziner, Andrea Salinas, Lois Frankel, Melanie Stansbury, Mike Thompson, Julia Brownley, Summer L. Lee, Deborah K. Ross, Nikki Budzinski, Lateefah Simon, Julie Johnson, Kelly Morrison, Lauren Underwood, Yassamin Ansari, Mark Takano, Chris Pappas, Shri Thanedar, Mark Pocan, Maxine Dexter, Donald Norcross, Hillary J. Scholten, Ro Khanna, Sarah Elfreth, Jahana Hayes, André Carson, Jimmy Gomez, Raul Ruiz, Angie Craig, Norma J. Torres, Gregory W. Meeks, Val Hoyle, Maggie Goodlander, Salud Carbajal, Sylvia R. Garcia, George Latimer, Gabe Amo, Kristen McDonald Rivet, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Shontel M. Brown, Suhas Subramanyam, Katherine M. Clark, Nancy Pelosi, Johnny Olszewski, Alma S. Adams, William R. Keating, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Ed Case, Glenn Ivey, Suzan K. DelBene, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Dan Goldman, Joaquin Castro, Sean Casten, Brittany Pettersen, Debbie Dingell, Chris Deluzio, Wesley Bell, Mike Levin, Bill Foster, Pete Aguilar, Bradley Scott Schneider, Greg Casar, Valerie P. Foushee, Al Green, Kim Schrier, Maxwell Alejandro Frost, John Garamendi, Joe Courtney, Steve Cohen, Troy A. Carter, and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott.

    Yesterday, Congresswoman Pressley rallied with Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), colleagues, and advocates outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which could allow states to block Medicaid patients from accessing routine care at Planned Parenthood health centers.

    Rep. Pressley has also spoken out against Republican attempts to gut Medicaid and delivered an impassioned speech slamming Republicans’ cruel and callous budget resolution that would slash Medicaid and other critical government services to pay for trillions of dollars in tax giveaways for Donald Trump’s billionaire donors.

    In her personal capacity throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has fought persistently to protect fundamental reproductive and sexual healthcare rights. 

    • On the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Rep. Pressley introduced the Abortion Justice Act, sweeping, intersectional legislation to address access to abortion care and put forth a comprehensive vision of a just America where abortion care is readily available—without stigma, shame or systemic barriers—for all who seek it, regardless of zip code, immigration status, income, or background.
    • Rep. Pressley is a lead co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), bicameral federal legislation to guarantee equal access to abortion care, everywhere. 
    • Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of the EACH Act, bold legislation to repeal the Hyde Amendment and help guarantee abortion coverage—regardless of how a patient gets their health insurance.
    • Shortly before the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Rep. Pressley led a group of her Black women colleagues in writing to President Biden urging him to declare a public health emergency amid the unprecedented threats to abortion rights nationwide. 
    • Rep. Pressley condemned the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade., and implored the Senate to protect abortion rights and slammed the white supremacist roots of anti-abortion efforts.
    • In October 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on Josseli Barnica, who died on Sept. 3, 2021 after being denied emergency abortion care in Texas as she suffered a miscarriage.
    • In September 2024, in a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Hearing, Rep. Pressley highlighted the harmful and deadly impact of abortion bans in America to date, and outlined in detail the shameful circumstances under which Amber Nicole Thurman died after being denied necessary abortion care in Georgia.
    • In June 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Idaho v. United States; Moyle v. United States – the case about whether emergency abortion care is included under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). 
    • In May 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on a Louisiana bill that would classify medication abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances. 
    • In April 2024, at a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley played “Fact or Fiction” with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf to emphasize the safety and efficacy of medication abortion drug mifepristone.
    • In August 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Fifth Circuit Court decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA.
    • In July 2023, Rep. Pressley, alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help people with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to reproductive healthcare and the informed care they need to control their own reproductive lives.
    • In July 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of over-the-counter birth control.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the FDA Advisory Committee’s unanimous, 17-0 vote to recommend the approval of the first-ever application for over-the-counter birth control. She and Senator Murray also held a press conference applauding the decision and urging the FDA to approval over-the-counter birth control without delay.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Ami Bera, MD (CA-06) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), reintroduced their bicameral Affordability is Access Act to ensure that once the FDA determines an over-the-counter birth control option to be safe, insurers fully cover over-the-counter birth control without any fees or out-of-pocket costs.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Texas court ruling on mifepristone, and discussed the Texas case in a recent floor speech in which she affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care and access to mifepristone as essential. She later joined Governor Maura Healey, Senator Elizabth Warren (D-MA), and local leaders in announcing action to protect Mifepristone in Massachusetts.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Reps. Schakowsky, Lee, DeGette, Torres and Strickland, reintroduced the Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act harmful and discriminatory Helms Amendment and expand abortion access globally.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Hirono led their colleagues in reintroducing a bicameral congressional resolution honoring abortion providers and clinic staff. 
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley delivered a speech in which she discussed the pending court case in Texas, which aims to restrict access to medication abortion across the entire nation. In her remarks, Rep. Pressley affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care, and accessibility to the abortion pill mifepristone as essential.
    • In September 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court’s inaction on SB-8, Texas’ restrictive abortion law. Later that month, she participated in a House Oversight Committee hearing to examine the threat posed by abortion bans and underscored the urgency of the Senate passing the Women’s Health Protection Act. 
    • In April 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Congresswomen Barbara Lee (CA-13), Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), led a group of 131 Democratic members in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act or the EACH Act, which would repeal the Hyde Amendment and ensure that all people, regardless of income, insurance or zip code, can make personal reproductive healthcare decisions without interference from politicians. She re-Introduced the legislation In January 2023.
    • Rep. Pressley has led calls in Congress for the FDA to remove medically unnecessary restrictions on the medication abortion drug mifepristone, and applauded the FDA’s action in January 2023 to allow retail pharmacies to dispense abortion medication pills.
    • As Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus’s Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, Congresswoman Pressley has led the fight to repeal the Hyde Amendments from annual Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bills and in July 2020 published a Medium post on the importance of doing so. She applauded the removal of the Hyde Amendment in President Biden’s FY2022 budget.
    • In May 2020, she led more than 155 Members of Congress in calling on House Democratic leadership to ensure that any future COVID-19 relief packages rejected Republican efforts to use the public health crisis to diminish abortion access.
    • In August 2021, Rep. Pressley, Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, and Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Diana DeGette and Barbara Lee led more than 70 of their House Democratic colleagues in introducing a resolution in support of equitable, science-based policies governing access to medication abortion care. 
    • In January 2023, Rep. Pressley introduced a resolution to condemn all forms of political violence in the U.S., regardless of its target or intent. That same day, she delivered a powerful speech on the House floor slamming Republicans’ harmful, misleading anti-abortion resolution.
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley hosted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester for a convening on their work to address the Black maternal health crisis and the criminalization of abortion care in states across the nation following the harmful U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. 
    • In May 2019, she led more than 100 colleagues in introducing H.Con.Res.40, a resolution reaffirming the House of Representative’s support for Roe v. Wade.
    • In June 2019, Rep. Pressley introduced H.R. 3296, the Affordability is Access Act, to make oral contraception available without a prescription. 
    • In September 2016, as a member of the Boston City Council, Pressley championed a resolution calling on Congress and President Obama to repeal the Hyde Amendment and reinstate insurance coverage for abortion services.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) Introduced Bill to Stop Government from Penalizing Fraud Victims 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

    Washington, D.C. – Last Friday, U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) introduced the No Penalties for Victims of Fraud Act to make sure that victims of retirement account fraud are not charged an early withdrawal tax penalty. 

    “We’ve seen a significant uptick in scams targeting Americans’ hard-saved retirement funds,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). “And for victims of fraud not yet at retirement age, it’s a double whammy of lost savings and then being hit with an early withdrawal penalty. No fraud victim should be punished for being targeted, and this critical legislation will make the burden just a little bit lighter for those who have already lost so much.”

    “Fraud victims are harmed enough when criminals steal their life savings,” said the National Consumers League Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “The last thing victims should worry about after being scammed is a bill from the IRS. NCL is thankful for Representative Stevens’ efforts to reduce the burdens fraud victims face after a crime has occurred.”

    “Saving for retirement takes hard work and sacrifice by our residents and they should be protected from the rising instances of fraud,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “We already worry about the security and solvency of our retirement system. We shouldn’t also have to agonize about federal penalties levied after fraudulent withdrawals from our financial safety net. I appreciate U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens’ interest in solving this problem and providing some peace of mind for people as they prepare to retire.”

    “We support this commonsense bill that will protect victims of fraud,” said Adam Rust, director of financial services for the Consumer Federation of America. “In 2023 alone, consumers reported losing almost $5 billion of their investments to scammers. The No Penalties for Victims of Fraud Act will shield innocent people from further harm by exempting them from having to pay taxes for losing their life savings. The scale of fraud is growing, making it all the more urgent that lawmakers act now to address this oversight in our tax laws. “

    The No Penalties for Victims of Fraud Act is designed to ease the financial impact on fraud victims by waiving early withdrawal penalties for those affected. Key provisions include:

    • Allowing fraud victims to avoid withdrawal penalties from eligible retirement accounts if they can document fraud losses through law enforcement or court verification.
    • Letting victims choose to repay the withdrawn amount without penalties, following guidelines similar to existing retirement account repayment options.
    • Addressing a crucial gap, providing essential financial protections for fraud victims and promoting awareness to help prevent further exploitation.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Stevens and Khanna Hold Press Conference to Hold China Accountable and Reduce our Debt

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) along with U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), hosted a press conference to call on the Trump Administration to sue the Chinese Communist Party for Covid damages.

    Last week, a federal judge in Missouri held that the Chinese Communist Party is liable for $24 billion to the state for covering up the severity of COVID in early 2020 and hoarding pandemic related supplies in violation of antitrust law. Now, the Representatives are calling on the Trump Administration to follow suit and pursue similar legal action against the CCP to hold them accountable for damages across the United States. Rather than putting tariffs on Canada and gutting the federal government, the Representatives are calling on the Administration to hold China accountable and then use the damages to rebalance our financial relationship with China, reduce our federal debt, and fund the services Americans rely on. 

    “The COVID pandemic cost the United States trillions of dollars and 1 million American lives,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). ”And it’s time to hold the CCP accountable. I’m calling on the Trump Administration to pursue legal action against the CCP for lying and misleading about Covid and hoarding resources. Rather than putting tariffs on our friend Canada, firing veterans, and slashing food and housing assistance, let’s go after our competitor, China, for their role in letting COVID get out of hand and use the damages to reduce our debt and pay for the services Americans rely on.”

    “During the COVID-19 pandemic, China was not transparent with the U.S. or the world,” said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). “The CCP prevented Americans from getting the PPE they urgently needed by restricting exports. We must hold the CCP accountable and strengthen our domestic industrial base so we are never in that position again. This should be supported by both parties. I am grateful for Congresswoman Stevens’ leadership on this issue.”

    “After a federal judge found Communist China liable for billions in damages to the people of Missouri for its misconduct around the COVID pandemic, we need the Trump Administration to toughen up and hold the Chinese government accountable on behalf of all Americans,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA). “Attorney General Bondi and the Justice Department should pursue every legal option to bring the Chinese Communist Party to justice. Making China pay what it’s liable for under U.S. law is about justice and fiscal responsibility.” 

    Full video of the press conference can be found here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) Statement on Continuing Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

    “Today, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle wrote a blank check to Elon Musk to further defund Congressional priorities, while cutting housing assistance, failing to fully fund nutrition programs for seniors, and reneging on additional money for American veterans exposed to toxic fumes while serving our country.

    I could not in good conscience vote for a one-year funding proposal that leaves communities out and does not fulfill the funding promises from last year’s bipartisan deal.

    Michigan cannot afford Elon Musk’s shutdown and a funding proposal without the guardrails to keep him from taking his chainsaw to the agencies delivering the services Americans rely on, like SNAP and Medicaid.

    I would happily vote for bipartisan appropriations legislation that expands access to housing, provides veterans exposed to burn pits care, and fully funds the CHIPS and Science Act.

    My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, however, refused to reach across, so I will leave this mess to them.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Help NIST Lead in the Race for the Future

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness (EPIC) Act. This legislation would establish the Foundation for Standards and Metrology, a non-profit foundation to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology, making the path to commercialization easier for NIST-developed technology. Passing this legislation would make it easier for NIST to utilize public-private partnerships in advancing measurement science foundational to the race for the AI future. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Todd Young (R-IN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. 

    “Now more than ever, our federal science agencies need every tool to drive U.S. technology leadership,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). “The reintroduction of the EPIC Act ensures that NIST—a vital agency in emerging technology, standards, and manufacturing—has the resources to secure American leadership in the mid-21st century. By establishing the Foundation for Standards and Metrology, this bill will accelerate technology commercialization, strengthen international collaborations, and support NIST’s world-class workforce. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bipartisan, bicameral bill and unleash American innovation.”

    “It is vital that America maintains its position as the world leader in science and technology,” said Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA). “The creation of the Foundation for Standards and Metrology will assist in ensuring industry, non-profits, and academia receive the resources that they need to establish cutting-edge standards that enhances the economic security and prosperity of the U.S., which is why I’m proud to be a Republican co-lead on this critical legislation.”

    “America’s economic strength depends on technological leadership, and NIST has long been an engine of innovation for our country,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). “The EPIC Act reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a nonprofit foundation that will mobilize resources to support U.S. leadership on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotech, and quantum computing. With strong bipartisan support across both chambers, this legislation represents a critical investment in America’s technological future.”

    “Maintaining and encouraging research and development in the U.S. is critical to winning the technological race against China and other adversaries,” said Sen. Todd Young (R-IN). “Our bipartisan legislation will support these efforts by establishing an independent foundation to identify and foster innovative public-private partnerships across the country and strengthen the American economy.”

    “Whether it’s AI or quantum computing, the United States is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation on all fronts,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO). “There are no second chances with technologies this powerful; NIST needs every tool at its disposal to ensure responsible R&D from the start.”

    “Our nation’s technological innovation is what keeps us globally competitive,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE). “To stay ahead of our rapidly advancing adversaries, we must invest in emerging technologies and the metrics that underpin them. The EPIC Act is an effective, bipartisan way to help us generate more resources to do so without additional taxpayer costs.”

    More than 50 visionaries, science organizations, and technology companies have endorsed this legislation, including four former directors of NIST. 

    Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) Passes 2 Bipartisan Bills Through the U.S. House Investing in and Protecting U.S. Innovation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) led floor debate to pass eight pieces of bipartisan legislation to secure America’s leadership in science, STEM, and innovation in the mid-21st century, including 2 bills she authored or co-authored, the DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act and theU.S. Research Protection Act. 

    “The House passage of the bipartisan DOE & NSF Interagency Research Act and the U.S. Research Protection Act, alongside six other pieces of legislation to invest in our critical federal scientific enterprise is exactly what we should be doing in the Congress,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). “By enhancing collaboration between the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, my DOE & NSF Interagency Research Act will drive the development of next-generation technologies, secure supply chains, and train the future STEM workforce to ensure the United States wins the mid-21st century. The U.S. Research Protection Act strengthens the CHIPS Act, which I helped write, by providing much-needed clarity to ensure our agencies, institutions, and researchers can effectively protect our nation against adversarial threats. Each of these bills have now passed the House twice, and I encourage the Senate to take them up for speedy passage.”

    Rep. Stevens is a leading voice for innovation, manufacturing, and outcompeting the Chinese Communist Party. Since being sworn in in 2019, she has had 5 science bills signed into law across two Administrations. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Craig Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fully Fund Special Education Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) co-introduced the bipartisan IDEA Full Funding Act, which would finally ensure Congress fulfills its commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  

    The bill was co-introduced by Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Glenn Thompson (R-PA) Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Don Bacon (R-NE), Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Mike Bost (R-IL).  

    Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. 

    In 1975, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has access to a quality education that meets their needs. This law was a historic step forward, but since its passage, Congress has failed to provide the funding it promised. 

    The IDEA Full Funding Act would ensure the federal government funds special education at the full 40% per student required under the law. Currently, special education programs are funded at less than 13% per student nationwide. 

    “As the mother of a child who benefited from special education, I know firsthand just how lifechanging these programs can be for Minnesota students and their families,” said Rep. Craig. “I’m proud to be co-leading this bipartisan legislation to fully fund special education programs and ensure our special educators and paraprofessionals have the resources they need to keep up this critical work.”   

    Since she came to Congress, Rep. Craig has been a strong advocate for Minnesota’s special education programs – consistently leading legislation to fully fund IDEA.  

    This year, Rep. Craig brought together special educators, paraprofessionals and parents from Minnesota’s Congressional District to form her inaugural Special Education Advisory Council.  

    In a show of support for Minnesota’s educators and in opposition to the Administration’s proposed cuts to education funding, Rep. Craig invited Education Minnesota President Denise Specht as her guest to this year’s State of the Union. And in 2023, she brought Heather Mathews, a special education teacher from Apple Valley.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Craig Named 2025 James Beard Foundation Impact Honoree for Her Efforts to Support Farmers, Lower Costs for Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Angie Craig was recently named a 2025 James Beard Foundation Impact Honoree for her efforts to harness the power of family farmers to lower food and fuel costs for everyday Americans. 

    “It is an honor to be named as a 2025 James Beard Impact Awards Honoree,” Rep. Craig said. “From the farmers who grow the food to the chefs who bring their products to life, it takes a village to feed the world. As the granddaughter of a farm foreman and now the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, I am committed to supporting the farmers, producers and small business owners who power the food economy and will continue working to ensure that every American can put food on the table.”   

    As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Craig has been a champion for America’s family farmers, producers and rural communities. 

    She was particularly recognized for her efforts to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act – legislation that would invest in the agricultural economy in order to lower costs for Americans. This legislation included two of her bills: the Strengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act, which would create a task force dedicated to shoring up the agriculture and food supply chains, and the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act, which would allow for the year-round sale of E15 – a cheaper biofuel alternative.

    You can see the full list of honorees here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Over 300,000 Treaty Principles Submissions, and not a glove laid on Equal Rights

    Source: ACT Party

    “The Treaty Principles Bill Select Committee report confirms what ACT has long said. There are no good arguments against people being equal, and more people making bad arguments does not improve them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

    “They came in their thousands to oppose the Bill, but only succeeded in showing why Parliament should pass it into law. The confused and often self-contradictory arguments against the bill (analysed below) show why it is necessary to clarify a simple truth by Parliament passing this law: All Kiwis are Equal, forever.

    “The alternative version of New Zealand supported by many submitters, where Parliament is not sovereign and people shouldn’t have their rights upheld equally, is unworkable. The idea that two babies born in New Zealand should have a different place in New Zealand thanks to events occurring nearly two centuries before their birth is abhorrent.

    “High profile bills often draw out Select Committee submissions that don’t reflect public opinion. Opponents will make much of the balance of submissions, but if they believed the public opposed the bill they could call for a referendum where everyone votes. You can’t say the majority decides the matter unless you’re ready for the majority to decide the matter.

    “We have seen wide contrasts between submissions and public opinion before. In the case of the End of Life Choice Act, analysis of that showed 90 per cent were opposed. When that law was put to referendum, it passed by 65 per cent to 34 per cent (with a small number of ‘informal’ votes).

    “When people are asked about the Bill’s principles, they come out strongly in favour. For example when a scientific poll asked about the specific wording of the proposed principles, it found:

    1. The Executive Government of New Zealand has full power to govern, and the
      Parliament of New Zealand has full power to make laws in the best interests of
      everyone; and in accordance with the rule of law and the maintenance of a free and democratic society.
      Support: 45%
      Oppose: 24%
    2. The Crown recognises, and will respect and protect, the rights that hapū and iwi Māori had under the Treaty of Waitangi/te Tiriti o Waitangi at the time they signed it. However, if those rights differ from the rights of everyone, this applies only if those rights are agreed in the settlement of a historical treaty claim under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975.
      Support: 42%
      Oppose: 25%
    3. Everyone is equal before the law. Everyone is entitled, without discrimination, to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law; and the equal enjoyment of the same fundamental human rights.
      Support: 62%
      Oppose: 14%

    “The principles in the bill are strongly supported by an average margin of two votes to one. However, even if the principle of equal rights for all was wildly unpopular (as it has been on many issues throughout our history), it would still be the right policy. The reason is that people truly are equal, and the law of the land should treat them as being alike in dignity.

    “The submissions and the opposition parties’ summaries of them show why the bill is needed.

    Here are the key arguments:

    Māori never ceded sovereignty

    “Various submitters claim that Māori never ceded sovereignty in the Treaty of Waitangi, and it’s implausible that they would have. It has always been inconsistent to argue that the Chiefs were all powerful when they signed, but only years later the British superpower was able to trample rights Māori with overwhelming force in the land wars.

    “The truth is that Britain was the superpower of its day, and there were good reasons to seek its protection. A combination of the musket wars, unruly settlers, and concern about possible French intrusion made it very plausible that Māori would want British protection, including from other iwi.

    “Furthermore, Rangatira raised the concern that sovereignty would be lost as a reason not to sign. They were fully aware of what they were signing up to, that people now say they were not an afront to their mana.

    “More importantly, those submitting to Parliament failed to give any workable solution to a country without a sovereign Parliament. Without clearly understood and respected laws it would be much harder for people to build their lives, homes, families and businesses, as is the case in many countries around the world that lack strong democratic traditions.

    “Widespread claims that Parliament does not have the right to make laws show why the first proposed principle is needed. The basic idea that the Government and Parliament have the full right to make laws is essential to a coherent country where people have certainty to plan their lives. Te Pati Māori have shown a hint of the anarchist alternative with their theatrics around the bill and subsequent Privileges hearing.

    Parliament cannot interpret the Treaty

    “One submission claimed ‘Parliamentarians come from all walks of life and have a vast array of skills, however very few have a coherent understanding of the historical context in which Te Tiriti was signed, nor proficiency in Te Reo Māori to understand the true context of the original text, nor the experience applying the principles in a judicial context. (Green Minority View)’

    “Various submitters argued that the Courts, Waitangi Tribunal and various experts can interpret what Parliament meant when it legislated that there are Treaty Principles, but a Parliament of the people cannot. What they are really saying is that the destiny of the country cannot be decided by the people who must live in it. That is a recipe for disenfranchisement and growing discontent. Parliament can and must remain the highest court in the land.

    Other countries have special indigenous rights

    “One Party’s Minority View claims that ‘Canada, Denmark, Bolivia, Sweden, Finland, Ecuador, and the Philippines are a few countries that have enabled constitutional recognition of Indigenous rights.’  This is only partially true, none of these countries have a constitution that effectively splits Governance equally between two ethnic groups regardless of numbers, as many suggest New Zealand should be co-governed.

    “More importantly, there are many examples of bad policies around the world that we should not want to emulate. Canadian indigenous policy, for example, is a very poor comparator to New Zealand, it is certainly not an example we should want to follow.

    Māori don’t have special rights

    “Various submitters were summarized as saying the Māori do not in fact have special rights. This contradicts the argument that Māori have separate sovereignty from the rest of New Zealand. It also brings into question why anyone would oppose a bill that says All New Zealanders have the same rights, notwithstanding Treaty Settlements.

    “The contradiction emerged in one passage from the report:

    One often repeated statement was that Māori were given special privileges under the Resource Management Act. There was no substantive evidence provided for this, and the Auckland City Council in its oral submission rejected that this was the case. It is true that where there is an application for a resource consent for a use outside of the District Plan the interests of Māori, including local iwi and hapu, are relevant to decision making. However it is hard to understand how consultation with the mana whenua is in any way a special privilege.

    Māori do have special rights

    “The above paragraph perhaps brought out the best contrast between those objectors who believe Māori do have special rights, and those who believe they do not. They began by claiming there are not special rights, then concluded Māori are so special they should expect to have special rights!

    “Clearly many people do believe Māori should have special rights, while also claiming to support equal rights. That is why it is necessary to pass the Treaty Principles Bill.

    Māori have a group right to language and culture

    “One of the most interesting themes of the submissions was that the Māori have group rights to language and culture that must be protected by the Treaty. This reflects a genuine anxiety that opponents of the bill have created, that gains in te reo Māori, Kapa haka, and the application of Tikanga might be lost. I take that anxiety seriously.

    “There is no need for specific Treaty protection for Māori language and culture for flourish. Choice programs and health and education, arts funding, and tikanga practices in everyday life can all flourish without a specific constitutional protection, none of them rely on it. All of them are part of a commitment to allowing all citizens an opportunity to flourish and succeed on their own terms.

    “Furthermore, if Māori language and culture require constitutional protection, what about the many other groups who make up New Zealand. Are they somehow not entitled to their language and culture? If they are not, then how can we say we are a society committed to equal rights?

    The bureaucracy criticised it

    Some made much of the Public Service criticizing the Bill. Public servants were the most predictable critics of the bill. The whole point of the Bill is that the bureaucrats got it wrong. If their view of the Treaty was consistent with equal rights and democracy, it would not be necessary for parliament to intervene in the first place.

    The Bill is divisive

    “Others claimed that the Bill has been divisive. The Bill propose that the Treaty be interpreted in such a way that All Kiwis are Equal. What the Bill has done is reveal that New Zealand is divided. Many believe Parliament should not be sovereign, and the rights of two New Zealanders born on the same day might not be equal, depending on their ancestry.

    “The Bill has revealed a drift towards division in this country. That drift to division further shows why the Bill is necessary.

    In conclusion

    “In conclusion, there are no compelling arguments that Parliament is not sovereign, and citizens of this country do not have equal rights. There are worrying arguments that New Zealand cannot function as a liberal democratic state if the Treaty gives different New Zealanders different rights. The Select Committee process has strengthened the case for the Treaty Principles Bill.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Van Hollen Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Fully Fund Special Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in reintroducing bicameral legislation to ensure Congress fulfills its commitment to fund the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). IDEA was passed 50 years ago, but it has never received the funding it is owed, so the IDEA Full Funding Act would put Congress on a fiscally responsible path to fully fund the program. While fully funding IDEA has been a decades-long fight, it is all the more important now that President Trump has vowed to dismantle the Department of Education, putting special education across the country at risk.
    “Across Nevada, I have heard from the parents of children with disabilities, and all they want is for their children to have the same opportunities as any other child,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The government has already committed to fund the IDEA program, yet it has consistently failed to do so. This legislation fulfills the government’s promise and provides essential funding for schools across the Silver State.”
    Under IDEA, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education; however, that pledge has never been met. According to the Congressional Research Service, current funding is at less than 12 percent, and the IDEA shortfall in the 2024-2025 school year nationwide was $38.66 billion. The IDEA Full Funding Act would require regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to finally meet our obligation to America’s children and schools.
    This legislation is supported by a broad and diverse group of over 50 national organizations, including The School Superintendent Association (AASA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Occupational Therapy Association, Assistive Technology Industry Association, Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Autism Society of America, Center for Learner Equity, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Down Syndrome Congress, National Education Association, and The Arc of the United States.
    The full text of the legislation can be found here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has delivered critical support to students and schools across Nevada. Cortez Masto’s legislation to increase the number of mental health professionals in schools was included in the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law. In addition, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included three of Cortez Masto’s bipartisan bills to boost transportation safety for students, expand internet access for both rural and urban schools, and update old school infrastructure. The Senator has also championed bipartisan Reaching English Learners Act to create a competitive grant program to fund partnerships between institutions of higher education and high-need school districts to provide training for new English-language teachers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Bolster Commercial Fishing Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    04.03.25
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), introduced legislation vital to the fishing industry, the economy, and the food supply chain. The Save Our Seafood (SOS) Act would exempt fish processors from the H-2B visa caps in order to help the seafood industry meet workforce demands.
    “Alaska’s seafood industry is a delicate chain – and when processors don’t have the workforce to meet demand, the whole industry can fall apart,” said Senator Murkowski. “Coastal communities, family-owned fishing boats, and Alaskans who work in the industry need to know that they have fully-functioning operations where they can deliver their catch. Through this legislation, I’m working to ensure that the industry has a dependable workforce that can process and deliver the highest-quality seafood in the world.”
    “The seafood industry is a critical part of Virginia’s economy, especially in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore,” said Senator Kaine. “I often hear from Virginia’s seafood processors about how hard it is to find seasonal workers, so I’m glad to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to make it easier for these businesses to hire the workers they need.” 
    “Virginia’s seafood industry relies on seasonal, H2-B workers to help meet demand during peak season,” said Senator Warner. “Without this workforce, many of Virginia’s seafood processors would simply have to close up shop. I’m glad to introduce this legislation that will help Virginia’s businesses by ensuring they have the labor needed to keep their operations up and running.”
    “When you think Louisiana, you think seafood,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Creating jobs in this industry is good for our economy and state.”
    “Maryland’s seafood businesses – most of which are small and family-owned – not only process the iconic blue crabs that our state is known for, they are also a key economic driver for our state and the region. While I push every year to ensure the Administration makes the maximum number of H-2B visas available for the seafood industry, the uncertainty our small businesses face threatens their success and ultimately their ability to keep running. This legislation provides a permanent, tailored fix for the H-2B program to better position Maryland’s seafood businesses to consistently meet their seasonal workforce needs while also supporting American jobs. This long-term legislative solution – along with our ongoing fight to protect the workers in this industry – are critical to the enduring success of Maryland’s cherished seafood businesses,” said Senator Van Hollen.
    “There’s nothing more Maryland than crabs,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “Making sure we have the workforce we need so everyone can continue enjoying this Maryland staple is what this bipartisan bill is all about.”
    “PSPA strongly supports this legislation and appreciates the leadership of Senator Murkowski on this issue,” said Julie Decker, President of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association. “Alaska produces nearly 60 percent of all U.S. seafood. In order to do this, Alaska seafood processors need a workforce in our highly remote coastal communities, enabling fishermen to keep doing what they do best – providing nutritious food for Americans and the world. This legislation would help ensure enough workers will be available to support Alaska’s seafood sector.”
    “We sincerely thank Senator Murkowski for her tireless leadership in addressing the critical workforce challenges facing the Alaska seafood industry,” said Kasey Simon, President of United Work and Travel. “By securing cap-exempt status for seafood workers in the H2B program, this legislation not only provides much-needed stability for America’s wild-harvest seafood industry but also strengthens the entire H2B ecosystem – ensuring that seasonal employers across multiple sectors have access to the labor they need. This is a commonsense solution that benefits businesses, workers, and coastal communities alike.”
    “I proudly support Senator Murkowski’s efforts to secure cap-exempt status for seafood production workers in the H2B program,” said Brian Gannon, Vice President of Government Relations and Global Partnerships at LaborMex. “LaborMex consistently supports legislation that strengthens America’s growers, harvesters, and fishers – those who are essential to US food production and food security. The men and women who fish our seas play a critical role ensuring that high-quality seafood reaches American tables. By addressing the workforce needs of this industry, this legislation bolsters economic resilience, safeguards US fisheries, and reinforces the long-term stability of America’s food supply.”
    “The ongoing uncertainty surrounding H-2B visa caps is one of the most significant challenges we face,” said Ben Bale, Chief Financial Officer of Ocean Companies. “Making the H-2B program cap-exempt would eliminate this uncertainty, enabling us to plan production more effectively, support the local fishing industry, and enhance economic stability for our business, our employees, the community, and the guest workers who depend on these opportunities.”
    “The Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association applauds the reintroduction of the Save Our Seafood Act. Since 1989 Maryland Seafood Processors have used and depended on the H-2B non-agricultural seasonal visa work program to staff these traditional seasonal jobs. These hardworking people who come to Maryland every season under this very important program support thousands of jobs of American citizens and small seafood businesses around Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay that also support seafood processors. Due to the scarcity of H-2B visas, Maryland has lost more than 40 of its seafood processing companies, located mostly in rural areas around the Bay, since the 90s – and now we have less than a dozen left. Maryland Watermen continue to demonstrate year after year the need, no matter the economic climate, for these seasonal workers. All of Maryland Seafood is extremely grateful that Senators Murkowski, Van Hollen, and their colleagues are reintroducing this bill to provide a permanent solution that will enable our seafood processors to meet their staffing needs every year and save our vital seafood industry,” said Jack Brooks, President of the Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association.
    Background
    H-2B visas allow domestic employers to temporarily hire nonimmigrants to perform nonagricultural labor or services if they cannot fill these jobs with American workers. Employers must first obtain certification from the Department of Labor and then complete an application process through the Department of Homeland Security to obtain these visas.
    The program is crucial to the survival of the seafood industry, particularly now when it has been under attack by Russian over harvesting and price gouging. When fish are harvested, processors are at the back of the line for visas and rely on “supplemental” visas being issued, which are discretionary. If there is not sufficient processing capacity, fishermen have nowhere to deliver their catch, and do not get paid, which is devastating to small, family-owned fishing operations, and the communities they live in.  The supply chain also suffers when this healthy food source is prevented from hitting the market.
    This legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Mark Warner (D-VA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Introduces Bill to Combat Illicit International Trade in Foreign Free Trade Zones

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Containing and Limiting the Extensive Abuse Noticed in Free Trade Zones Act (CLEAN FTZ) to create a trade rating system based on U.S. and international standards to combat trade-based money laundering and other criminal activities in foreign free trade zones. Currently, no formal rating system for free trade zones exists making it challenging for federal enforcement authorities to address illegal trafficking of illicit narcotics, persons, weapons, tobacco, counterfeits, commodities, wildlife, and more.
    “Why are we trading with countries that don’t fight corruption?” said Dr. Cassidy. “We are combating the flow of illegal drugs, weapons, and more. Seems important.”
    The CLEAN FTZ Act:
    Creates a formal rating system with four tier classifications of countries based on compliance to U.S. and international standards.
    Gives countries an overall rating based on the performance of all free trade zones under their national jurisdiction. 
    Makes the ratings publicly available and is updated annually.
    Allows the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to make recommendation to improve efforts to combat illicit trade to countries rated tier II, III, and IV.
    Creates a hotline for reporting of instances of illicit trading and money laundering activity.
    Provides financial penalty options for foreign persons involved in illicit international trade.
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in introducing this legislation.
    The CLEAN FTZ Act is supported by the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE), Advocacy for Transparency International U.S., and the Global Financial Integrity (GFI). 
    “We applaud Senators Cassidy and Whitehouse for their leadership in protecting our national security, American competitiveness, and the health and safety of our citizens by countering illicit trade, organized crime, and money laundering across some of today’s risky free trade zones around the world,” said David M. Luna, Executive Director for ICAIE. “Disrupting the increasing cross-border flows of illicit goods, contraband, and dirty monies and dismantling transnational illicit networks and their enablers from financing other criminalities and threats helps all communities to secure greater peace and security.”
    “The CLEAN FTZ Act takes a crucial step in the fight against corruption by targeting how foreign corrupt officials rely on trade-based money laundering to move and conceal the proceeds of their crimes,” said Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy for Transparency International U.S. “By enhancing oversight of free trade zones, ensuring that they comply with globally recognized anticorruption and trade transparency frameworks, and holding bad actors accountable, this legislation would help disrupt the financial networks that enable bribery, fraud, and the abuse of public trust, and will help safeguard global markets and protect economies from the destabilizing effects of financial crime.”
    “Global Financial Integrity (GFI) endorses the CLEAN FTZ Act of 2025 and commends Senators Cassidy and Whitehouse for their collaboration on this important piece of legislation. Once in force this legislation will shed light on the operations of free trade zones around the globe, many of which have long been known to facilitate all manner of illegal activity including trafficking, illicit trade, and money laundering. Further, the proposed sanctions against perpetrators of illegal activity through these zones will protect U.S. ports and American consumers from goods that may be harmful. It is also important to note that under this legislation the U.S. government can provide recommendations for improvement to countries where low-performing zones are located,” said Tom Cardamone, President and CEO for GFI.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Reintroduces Bill to Protect Americans’ Online Privacy, Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Data Elimination and Limiting Extensive Tracking and Exchange (DELETE) Act to protect Americans’ private online data. The DELETE Act would create a system for individuals to request all data brokers—companies that collect personal data for commercial use—delete any personal data the broker may have collected and to not collect it in the future.
    “American should have privacy online,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Let’s give Americans a solution to ensure their personal data is not tracked, collected, bought or sold by data brokers.” 
    The DELETE Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create an online dashboard for Americans to submit a one-time data deletion request that would be sent to all data brokers registered. Under current law, individuals must request removal from each individual data broker to ensure their privacy is protected. This legislation would also create a ‘do not track list’ to protect taxpayers from future data collection.
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and U.S. Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) in introducing this legislation.  
    Background
    Cassidy has been a consistent champion of online privacy and protecting user data. Earlier this year, he reintroduced the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act 2.0 to protect our children’s privacy.
    In 2023, he also reintroduced the Protecting Military Service Members’ Data Act of 2023 to protect the data of U.S. service members by preventing data brokers from selling lists of military personnel to adversarial nations including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. In 2021, Cassidy demanded transparency from Amazon on their biometric data collection practices. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorneys general secure order restoring $11 billion in critical public health funding

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island today granted a temporary restraining order that immediately restores $11 billion in critical public health funding to state and local public health agencies across the country, including Washington state.

    The temporary restraining order comes in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a coalition of 23 states, including Washington, and the District of Columbia against the Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over the unlawful termination of public health funding.

    “This administration’s attacks on public health are not over, but today’s order should give Washingtonians confidence that programs that prevent the spread of infectious diseases, support mental health and get people out of substance abuse will continue to be funded for now,” Attorney General Nick Brown said.

    Beginning on March 24, HHS abruptly, with no advance notice or warning, issued termination notices to state and local public health agencies across the country, purporting to end federal funding for grants that provide essential support for a wide range of urgent public health needs, including identifying, tracking, and addressing infectious diseases; ensuring access to immunizations; and modernizing critical public health infrastructure.

    The federal funding was appropriated by Congress to ensure the United States is better prepared for future public health threats.

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    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Career Criminal Sentenced To 21+ Years For Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Dequan Tyrie Paton, 33, of Asheville, was sentenced to 262 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release today for methamphetamine trafficking, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

    Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

    According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between September and November 2023, Payton distributed approximately 156 grams of methamphetamine and 3.5 grams of fentanyl in the Asheville area. During the investigation, Payton sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine at least three times to a confidential informant working with the ATF and almost 4 grams of fentanyl to that same informant. On April 9, 2024, Asheville Police Department located and attempted to arrest Payton on federal charges. Payton took off running. While running from the officers, Payton tossed a bag from his pocket containing approximately 11 grams of cocaine.

    On August 19, 2024, Payton pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine. Court records indicate Payton has multiple state convictions in North Carolina for drug distribution. Because of these prior criminal convictions, Payton qualified for an increased sentence as a career offender.

    In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the ATF, the DEA, and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annabelle M. Chambers with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. Ms. Chambers is a state prosecutor with the office of the 43rd Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Ashley Welch to serve as SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville.  Ms. Chambers is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the office of the 43rd Prosecutorial District and the United States Attorney’s Office. The SAUSA position helps ensure the effective and vigorous prosecution of federal court cases that impact the counties within the 43rd Prosecutorial District.

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