NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rush Transcript: Congressman Dan Goldman Cross Examines Newt Gingrich, Pushes Him to Agree Trump Admin Must Resolve Cases of Wrongfully Deported Migrants

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Goldman: “I think even you, Mr. Gingrich, would agree with me that when you mistakenly accuse someone of being a gang member and you deport them, that it is incumbent upon you to fix that mistake. Do you agree?” 

     

    Gingrich: “I agree.” 

     

    View Full Video Here 

    Washington, D.C – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today cross-examined former Speaker of the House and Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich in the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, where Republican members of Congress repeatedly attacked district judges’ who have ruled against Donald Trump’s lawless executive orders. 

    The exchange ended with Gingrich agreeing that the Trump administration must resolve the cases of multiple migrants who were wrongfully deported to El Salvador without due process, the opposite of what the Trump administration has argued in court. 
     

    The following is a rush transcript of Congressman Goldman’s committee remarks. View the full video here. 

    Rep. Goldman: Mr. Gingrich, I want to focus on some of your testimony today. You say that a judicial coup d’etat is being implemented by judges of the same political ideology. In another statement you said that Judge Boasberg has a clear bias against President Trump. Do you know who appointed Judge Boasberg? 

    Gingrich: I think his first appointment was by George Bush.  

    Rep. Goldman: Correct. And we’ve been talking about nationwide injunctions. There’s been a lot of discussion about the injunction on the president’s birthright citizenship executive order that was enjoined by Judge Coughenour. Do you know who appointed Judge Coughenour?” 

    Gingrich: No, I don’t.  

    Rep. Goldman: Ronald Reagan. So, let’s just focus on these two Republican appointed judges so we can just remove all the allegations of partisan bias. So, let’s focus first on Judge Boasberg’s case, which is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 law that very specifically applies during war time or if the country is subject to an invasion. 

    Now, you would agree, I assume, as a former Speaker of the House, that it is Congress’s duty to declare war. 

    Gingrich: I think there’s also a provision of that act which says, which does say for invasion. And I think the average American will tell you they feel that we’ve been invaded. 

    Rep. Goldman: Okay, good. So are we now supposed to say that the average, your assessment of the average American’s view determines whether or not we are under invasion by Venezuela? So that’s what we’re supposed to do. 

    Now, is it, if not the average American, what your testimony is here today is that Donald Trump, because he was elected president, alone, should determine whether or not that law applies without any due process? Is that your testimony? 

    Gingrich: My position is that the Supreme Court should have the opportunity on a nationwide issue to render, but remember– 

    Rep. Goldman: Okay, so let me reclaim my time. So basically what you’re saying 

    then is, the problem here is that Judge Boasberg pre-certified a class. Because of course, it is the exact same legal question for every single person who was removed to El Salvador. And what really should happen is that every single one of those people should have to file their own lawsuits and each district judge should rule on it because that’s the difference, the opposite of a nationwide injunction, right? 

    Gingrich: Actually, as I said several times in the last three hours, there can be a provision by which the Supreme Court takes up that injunction. 

    Rep. Goldman: So which is it? Do you oppose nationwide injunctions as a judicial coup d’etat? Or do you think nationwide injunctions are appropriate in certain circumstances 

    but should have expedited appeal? 

    Gingrich: I believe that nationwide injunctions by an individual judge is far too much power and that they’re– 

    Rep. Goldman: But so, let’s keep on with, with Judge Boasberg’s case. So, he issued, and by the way, he did not issue an order on the underlying issue. He temporarily enjoined the president from whisking off people to another country without due process, so that the legal issue could be resolved. Now, you say expedited appeal, that opinion, that case was already appealed to the district court, the US, the Court of Appeals for the District Court, they’ve already ruled and by 2 to 1, they kept the temporary injunction in. And it was a Republican appointee. Judge Henderson, who was on, was one of the two. 

    So the I guess I’m confused as to what the problem is with a temporary nationwide injunction, so that the issue can be resolved, and if necessary, ultimately by the Supreme Court.  

    It sounds like you agree with me that that is the appropriate, process.  

    Gingrich: The difference is whether or not you believe, one, that time matters. 

    Rep. Goldman: Well, this was within a matter of weeks. It’s now up before the Supreme Court. That’s expedited. And I will say I wholly agree with you. And to my colleague, Mr. Kiley, I would happily work to expedite appeals for nationwide injunctions. I hope my Republican colleagues would work with us to expedite enforcement of congressional subpoenas. The courts take far too long. I agree with you.  

    But the notion that we do not have due process, and that someone should be removed without due process based on false pretenses, which the administration now admits under a petition for habeas corpus. I would add, Mr. Larkin, and that there’s no recourse because their mistake is now out of their control.  

    I think even you, Mr. Gingrich, would agree with me that when you mistakenly accuse someone of being a gang member and you deport them, that it is incumbent upon you to fix that mistake. Do you agree?  

    Gingrich: I agree. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Congressman Dan Goldman on Trump Administration’s Termination of All Staff in the Office of Head Start for New York

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    “The Trump Administration’s decision to terminate staff at the Administration for Children and Families, including all staff within the regional Office of Head Start in New York, is a cruel assault not only on millions of children’s health, safety, and education but also on parents’ ability to successfully continue productive careers. 

    “This is not about reducing the deficit or rooting out waste, fraud and abuse—all of which I strongly support. This is simply an outright attack on the well-being of our nation’s children and families so the Republicans can cut taxes for Elon Musk and his billionaire buddies. 

    “Make no mistake: this Administration is coming after every essential program that everyday Americans rely on to chase the American Dream.“ 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Unlawful Attempt to Terminate TPS Designation for Venezuela

    Source: US State of California

    Tuesday, April 1, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a motion to postpone in National TPS Alliance v. Noem, blocking the Trump Administration from unlawfully terminating the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Venezuela while litigation continues. TPS is a critical humanitarian program that allows nationals of designated countries to remain in the United States due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions in their home countries. Last month, Attorney General Bonta co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in this case, challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unprecedented efforts to terminate TPS for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan nationals, many of whom have been in the United States for several years and live with family members who are U.S. citizens.

    “The court rightfully blocked the Trump Administration’s unlawful early termination of the Venezuela TPS designation as litigation continues. This order helps protect vulnerable individuals who are fleeing a humanitarian crisis, in search of safety and a better life for their families,” said Attorney General Bonta. “California recognizes that TPS holders are integral parts of our communities and important contributors to our economy: They are our neighbors, co-workers, caregivers, and job-creators. California is home to more than 72,000 TPS beneficiaries, the fourth most of any state. Our Venezuelan TPS holders are a resounding benefit to our state. In California alone, TPS households earned $2.1 billion in income, paid $291.2 million in federal taxes, and paid $226.5 million in state and local taxes. This court decision is an important win in our fight to protect those with TPS status from the Trump Administration’s heartless and unjustified attacks.”

    A copy of the order is available here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Joins Resolution Celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (March 31, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and a group of 19 Senators in introducing a resolution to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility and recognize the achievements and courage of the transgender community around the world.

    “Trans Day of Visibility is a call to recommit to the fight for trans and nonbinary people’s right to exist. In the face of a systemic campaign to dehumanize, silence, and suppress trans and nonbinary people, I will continue fighting not just for a future free from discrimination and harassment but for joy, equity, and opportunity. Trans rights are human rights,” said Senator Markey.

    The resolution is cosponsored by Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

    The resolution is supported by Advocates for Trans Equality, Advocates for Human Rights, American Federation of Teachers, AIDS United, Amnesty International USA, CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, Equality California, GLSEN, Human Rights Campaign, Interfaith Alliance, Just Detention International, Kentucky Youth Law Project, Inc., LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin, Maryland Communities United, Movement Advancement Project, National LGBTQI+ Bar Association, National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, National Black Justice Coalition, North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ+ Youth, PFLAG National, People Power United, Point of Pride, Popular Connection Action Fund, Popular Democracy, Positive Women’s Network-USA, Pride at Work – Hawai‘i, Silver State Equality, Transathlete, and Trevor Project.

    A similar resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and co-led by U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

    The full text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Markey, Cruz Secure 60 Cosponsors for Bipartisan Legislation to Protect AM Radio

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (April 1, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today celebrated their AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act securing a filibuster-proof 60 cosponsors in the Senate. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would direct federal regulators to require automakers to include AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.

    “With the addition of a 60th cosponsor, our AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act hit a key milestone, demonstrating the broad, bipartisan support for this commonsense bill. From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is a lifeline for tens of millions of Americans. We are proud to fight for this legislation and ensure that AM radio can continue to play an important role in our constituents’ lives.”

    Senate cosponsors of the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act include Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.),  Jim Justice (R-W.V.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dave McCormick (R-Penn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

    In May 2023, Senators Markey and Cruz led their colleagues in introducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and reintroduced the legislation in January 2025. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act passed through the Senate Commerce Committee in February 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leaders of the House, Senate VA Committee & VA Appropriations Request Cost Estimate for VA Electronic Health Record

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – led a bipartisan, bicameral group of leaders from the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs and Appropriations Committees in requesting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) submit an updated schedule and cost estimate to Congress for the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program.

    Sen. Moran was joined by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman and Ranking Member – Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) – House and Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee leadership – Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.).

    VA recently announced an accelerated deployment schedule of the EHRM program that includes nine additional VA medical centers in 2026 as part of its effort to restart the stalled modernization program. The members’ request follows a Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendation to produce an updated cost estimate for EHRM before moving forward with the accelerated deployment schedule.

    “The need for a cost estimate is further underscored by practical necessity,” wrote the members. “Without a reliable cost estimate, VA risks budget overruns, schedule delays, and diminished congressional trust. Compliance with these laws, directives, and GAO recommendations is a critical step to ensuring EHRM’s success and accountability.”

    In 2019, the program was initially estimated to cost $16.1 billion over a decade. An independent cost estimate conducted by the Institute for Defense Analysis in October 2021 estimated the project to cost up to $50 billion. After lifting a pause that was put in place on the program in April 2023, VA has not yet provided Congress with an updated cost estimate for EHRM as anticipated by a framework of federal laws and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directives governing major acquisition programs.

    The full letter can be found HERE and below.

    Dear Secretary Collins,

    I write to follow up on the recent news regarding the accelerated fielding plan for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program and request an updated schedule and cost estimate for EHRM by September 30, 2025, before fielding resumes.

    VA is legally and administratively required to provide a cost estimate for EHRM due to a framework of federal laws and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directives governing major acquisition programs. The Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-106) requires that executive agencies, including VA, adhere to OMB processes to evaluate the risks and results of all major capital investments for information systems, to include the projected and actual costs, benefits, and risks associated with the investments. OMB Circular A-11 explicitly requires life cycle cost estimates for major systems like EHRM to support planning, budgeting, oversight, and transparency. Additional OMB directives, such as Circular A-130 and Memorandum M-15-14 under the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (P.L. 113-291), reinforce that major IT programs must have validated cost estimates to secure budget approval and Chief Information Officer oversight. The Federal Acquisition Regulation operationalizes these mandates by requiring cost analysis for acquisition planning. These requirements ensure that the VA can manage taxpayer funds responsibly and that EHRM is aligned with its mission to improve veteran health care.

    The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has repeatedly recommended that VA develop and update cost estimates for EHRM before proceeding further, highlighting deficiencies in the Department’s financial planning related to this program. In a March 2025 GAO report entitled, Electronic Health Records: VA Making Incremental Improvements in New System but Needs Updated Cost Estimate and Schedule, GAO explicitly recommended that VA “update the EHRM’s modernization life cycle cost estimate to reflect the pause and subsequent changes,” citing a 20-month deployment halt that rendered prior estimates obsolete. Additionally, numerous VA Inspector General reports have implicitly criticized the lack of dependable cost data for EHRM, urging better oversight that presupposes updated estimates. These recommendations collectively emphasize that, without a current cost estimate, VA cannot justify – and Congress cannot have confidence in – continued EHRM investment or viability.

    The need for a cost estimate is further underscored by practical necessity. Without a reliable cost estimate, VA risks budget overruns, schedule delays, and diminished congressional trust. Compliance with these laws, directives, and GAO recommendations is a critical step to ensuring EHRM’s success and accountability.

    To that end, please provide a detailed schedule and a cost estimate for EHRM before September 30th, 2025. GAO’s Cost Estimating Guide provides a best-practice benchmark. This request aligns with persistent calls for transparency and accountability, ensuring that Congress can fully assess EHRM’s financial and operational readiness to safeguard veterans’ and taxpayers’ interests before further rollouts begin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The consumer carbon tax is gone: Minister Nally

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A novel method for estimating pathogen presence, prevalence, load, and dynamics at multiple scales

    Source: US Geological Survey

    A novel method for estimating pathogen presence, prevalence, load, and dynamics at multiple scales

    FORT staff with the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) co-authored a publication in Scientific Reports on a new modeling framework for pathogen monitoring that can help practitioners identify and manage wildlife populations during the early infectious stages of disease spread.

    The fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome in bats often spreads when bats are hibernating in large groups inside caves and other hibernacula like this one. The ability to detect fungal load and prevalence early within hibernacula may allow for earlier conservation interventions.

    When pathogens invade a new wildlife population, measures of pathogen abundance may be so low that monitoring methods inconsistently detect pathogen presence. Scientists often exclude such detections from predictions of disease prevalence and spread. However, monitoring frameworks that can include and account for inconsistent detections could be more accurate in predicting pathogen arrival, early pathogen load, and early pathogen prevalence, allowing conservation practitioners to better manage pathogen spread.

    In this study, researchers developed a probabilistic modeling framework for analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys of Pd (Pseudogymnoascus destructans; the fungal vector of white nose-syndrome) and used it to understand the spread of this pathogen among bat hibernacula — caves, mines, tunnels or other places where bats overwinter — from 2012–2017. 

    The modeling framework accommodates early and imperfect detections to provide invasion histories for each monitored hibernacula with uncertainty. It is applicable to other monitoring programs focused on the spread of disease or invasive species. 

    Related

    North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

    North American bats face unprecedented threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, white-nose syndrome, wind energy development, and climate change. However, it is difficult to evaluate the impacts of these threats due to a lack of basic information about the distribution and abundance of bats across the continent. Although bat monitoring has long been conducted in individual areas and for…

    link

    North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)

    North American bats face unprecedented threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, white-nose syndrome, wind energy development, and climate change. However, it is difficult to evaluate the impacts of these threats due to a lack of basic information about the distribution and abundance of bats across the continent. Although bat monitoring has long been conducted in individual areas and for…

    Learn More

    What is White-nose Syndrome?

    White-nose syndrome is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern to the central United States at an alarming rate. Since the winter of 2007-2008, millions of insect-eating bats in at least 40 states and eight Canadian provinces have died from this devastating disease. The disease is named for the white fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, that infects skin of…

    link

    What is White-nose Syndrome?

    White-nose syndrome is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern to the central United States at an alarming rate. Since the winter of 2007-2008, millions of insect-eating bats in at least 40 states and eight Canadian provinces have died from this devastating disease. The disease is named for the white fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, that infects skin of…

    Learn More

    What species of bats are affected by White-nose Syndrome?

    White-nose Syndrome mostly affects hibernating bats. More than half of the 47 bat species living in the United States and Canada hibernate to survive the winter. Twelve bat species, including two endangered species and one threatened species, have been confirmed with white-nose syndrome in North America. The causative fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans ( Pd), has been found on an additional six…

    link

    What species of bats are affected by White-nose Syndrome?

    White-nose Syndrome mostly affects hibernating bats. More than half of the 47 bat species living in the United States and Canada hibernate to survive the winter. Twelve bat species, including two endangered species and one threatened species, have been confirmed with white-nose syndrome in North America. The causative fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans ( Pd), has been found on an additional six…

    Learn More

    Why are bats important?

    By eating insects, bats save U.S. agriculture billions of dollars per year in pest control. Some studies have estimated that service to be worth over 3.7 billion dollars per year, and possibly as much as 53 billion dollars per year. This value does not, however, take into account the volume of insects eaten by bats in forest ecosystems and the degree to which that benefits industries like lumber…

    link

    Why are bats important?

    By eating insects, bats save U.S. agriculture billions of dollars per year in pest control. Some studies have estimated that service to be worth over 3.7 billion dollars per year, and possibly as much as 53 billion dollars per year. This value does not, however, take into account the volume of insects eaten by bats in forest ecosystems and the degree to which that benefits industries like lumber…

    Learn More

    Where do bats live?

    Bats can be found in almost all parts of the world and in most regions of the United States. In general, bats seek out a variety of daytime retreats such as caves, rock crevices, old buildings, bridges, mines, and trees. Different species require different roost sites. Some species, such as the Mexican free-tailed and gray bats live in large colonies in caves. A few solitary species, such as the…

    link

    Where do bats live?

    Bats can be found in almost all parts of the world and in most regions of the United States. In general, bats seek out a variety of daytime retreats such as caves, rock crevices, old buildings, bridges, mines, and trees. Different species require different roost sites. Some species, such as the Mexican free-tailed and gray bats live in large colonies in caves. A few solitary species, such as the…

    Learn More

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee Testifies Before Senate Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider the nomination of Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to be the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
    Lt. Gen. Caine has played a key role in overseeing classified military programs. He served as Director of Special Programs in the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Special Access Program Central Office, where he advised the Secretary of Defense on highly sensitive projects. Lt. Gen. Caine also served as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency, acting as the principal military advisor to the agency.
    If confirmed, Lt. Gen. Caine would serve as the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces.  
    “Thank you, Lieutenant General, for your service and your willingness to step back into the gap,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “While I agree the dismissal of your predecessor was unfortunate, it’s behind us, and I cannot think of a better person to replace General Brown than you. […] I look forward to supporting you strongly.”
    [embedded content]
    Cramer said Lt. Gen. Caine’s opening statement mentioned many things members of SASC commonly hear from witnesses, particularly his remarks in support of SASC Chairman Roger Wicker’s (R-MS) defense acquisition reform legislation. However, Cramer explained, people’s opinions often change once the status quo is disrupted by the very thing they claim to support. Cramer acknowledged Lt. Gen. Caine’s unconventional background creates an opportunity for him to be a disruptor.
    “We’re dealing with the situation right now with perhaps the most disruptive innovator becoming the first director of the most disruptive innovative agency, the Space Development Agency,” said Cramer. “He has been on leave for three months during a witch hunt. This began on the last day of the last administration. All the while, satellites don’t go up. All the while, China goes at the speed of China.” 
    Cramer said he believes there is a cultural challenge in the Pentagon, and there’s work to be done by Congress and the administration. He asked Lt. Gen. Caine to elaborate on how he can truly make a difference to protect the innovators and disruptors in the defense ecosystem.
    “You’re hitting on an area that is a point of passion for me,” responded Lt. Gen. Caine. “We have to stop admiring the problem, and we have to start executing. I do think your point about culture is where it all starts. I think we have to take an ownership and an entrepreneurial mindset to all of these reforms that are in front of us, and we can’t do this alone. We have to do it with you here in the Congress in order to actually make these changes.”
    “I’m encouraged by the leaders who are coming into the department, who have deep, substantive business background that are not known as people who admire problems,” continued Lt. Gen. Caine. “And so, if confirmed, I look forward to working with the various leaders in order to actually move the ball, and of course, working with the Congress to execute these things without continuing to admire these challenges in front of us.”
    Cramer said almost every Combatant Commander he speaks with tells him they do not have access to enough intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and the “Air Force specifically has been on a mission to eliminate ISR as one of its key missions.” Cramer asked Lt. Gen. Caine to expound on ISR and where he sees it advancing.
    “ISR and the ability to have indications and warnings to make decisions for commanders who hold risk is a key and essential part of our overall ability to execute the missions that we must do,” said Lt. Gen. Caine.
    “And I think the Air Force should keep it as a mission,” concluded Cramer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senator Mullin Addresses Concerns Related to Military Readiness and the Withdrawal from Afghanistan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    RELEASE: Senator Mullin Addresses Concerns Related to Military Readiness and the Withdrawal from Afghanistan

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) addressed concerns related to military readiness and the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan with Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine (Retired), President Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Highlights of the Senator’s remarks from Lt. Gen. Caine’s Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing are available below.

    Sen. Mullin’s full remarks can be found here.
    On Lt. Gen. Dan Caine’s (Retired) return to service:
    “Your retirement didn’t last too long and the idea that you’re willing to jump back and serve just speaks volume to the true inner spirit that you have. And I want to thank for doing that. You have made a tremendous amount of sacrifice already. And you know eyes wide open what this job is going to entail. You have some real challenges ahead of you.”
    On the current state of the defense industry:
    “I know you’re familiar with the so-called Last Supper in 1994 to where we basically encouraged our defense industry to consolidate. I’m a firm believer in looking back and looking at things, where they went wrong, because since then, our defense industry really hasn’t been able to deliver on time and on budget, on some of the most critical needs we have. We’ve seen from our planes in the air, to our ships in the shipyards, to the equipment… is constantly behind what we’re needing.”
    On the need for more advanced technology in the military:
    “Today when we ask for technology that’s being used against us, or that our adversaries have already achieved, when we ask our defense industry to deliver, it’s five to seven years. If we’re lucky, it’s three, and yet it’s never on time… I feel like that this is one of the biggest threats that we have. We have a technology need today, and it’s being delivered five years from now. We are five years behind… I do feel like this is the biggest threat to our military today.” 
    On the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan:
    “It’s deeply personal to me, and I know it is to you, and anyone else that’s had the privilege of serving the nation in Afghanistan. But because of our disastrous withdrawal, I feel like there’s a hesitation in our military and our military families to actually step forward and make that sacrifice again. I think there’s a lot of doubt that the United States is able to stand behind what our first mission is, and then to be able to bring pride to those that sacrificed.”
    “With that [Afghanistan withdrawal], brings a morale issue to those that are still serving, those with sometimes the most experience in there. And I feel like we may be having a drain in knowledge of those that have sacrificed so much.” 
    Additional photos from today’s hearing can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Tenaris Files 2024 Annual Report / Annual Report on Form 20-F, and Convenes the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUXEMBOURG, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tenaris S.A. (NYSE and Mexico: TS and EXM Italy: TEN) filed today its 2024 Annual Report / Annual Report on Form 20-F, with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and with the other securities regulators of the markets where its securities are listed. The 2024 Annual Report (which includes the consolidated management report containing the financial and non-financial information (or sustainability statement) required by applicable law; the related management certifications on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended 31st December 2024, and on the annual accounts as at 31st December 2024; and the external auditors’ reports on such consolidated financial statements, annual accounts and sustainability statement) may be downloaded from the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s website at www.bourse.lu/regulated-information-oam, and the Annual Report on Form 20-F may be downloaded from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov; and are available on Tenaris’s website at ir.tenaris.com.

    Holders of Tenaris’s shares and ADSs, and any other interested parties, may request a hard copy of any of these reports, free of charge, through our website at ir.tenaris.com/tools/printed-materials.  

    In addition, on April 4, 2025, Tenaris will convene its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 6, 2025, at 10:00 (Central European time), and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The convening notice (which includes the agendas for the meetings and the procedures for attending and/or voting at the meetings) will be published in such newspapers and filed with the regulators, as required by applicable law, and will be available on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s website at www.bourse.lu/regulated-information-oam, the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and Tenaris’s website at ir.tenaris.com.

    The following documents will also be available on Tenaris’s website at ir.tenaris.com upon publication of the convening notice:

    • information on Tenaris’s total number of shares and voting rights as of the date of the convening notice;
    • the Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement (which contains procedures for attending and/or voting at the meetings, and reports on each item of the meeting agendas and draft resolutions proposed to be adopted at the meetings);
    • the 2024 Annual Report;
    • the 2024 Compensation Report;
    • the board of directors report in connection with the proposed waiver of, suppression of, and authorization to suppress or limit, pre-emptive subscription rights by the existing shareholders;
    • the proposed amendments to the articles of association, and
    • the forms required for purposes of attending and/or voting at the meetings.

    Copies of these documents will also be available, free of charge, at Tenaris’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 and 17:00 (Central European time). In addition, shareholders registered in the share register may request electronic copies of such documents, free of charge, to investors@tenaris.com.

    Tenaris is a leading global supplier of steel tubes and related services for the world’s energy industry and certain other industrial applications.

    Giovanni Sardagna
    Tenaris
    1-888-300-5432
    www.tenaris.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 16 Hours Into Long Speech, Booker Discusses Trump Administration’s Failure to Address National Housing Crisis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during his long speech, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) delivered floor remarks detailing the state of the housing affordability crisis in the United States and the Trump administration’s complete failure to address rising rent and home prices facing everyday Americans in communities across the country.

    Booker took to the Senate floor beginning at 7pm ET last night with the intention of speaking as long as he is physically able to uplift the stories of Americans who are being harmed by the Trump Administration’s reckless actions, attempts to undermine our institutions, and disregard for the rule of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: 18 Hours into Long Speech, Booker Highlights Harm to Farmers Brought On By Trump, Musk Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – 18 hours into his long Senate floor speech, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) highlighted the chaos and uncertainty President Trump and Elon Musk are creating in rural America. Senator Booker detailed the destabilizing, devastating effects of Trump’s failure to honor existing USDA contracts and his cutting of programs that provided locally grown, nutritious food to schools and food banks. Senator Booker is also using his speech to uplift the stories of farmers who have been hurt by these policies.

    Booker took to the Senate floor beginning at 7pm ET last night with the intention of speaking as long as he is physically able to uplift the stories of Americans who are being harmed by the Trump Administration’s reckless actions, attempts to undermine our institutions, and disregard for the rule of law.

    WATCH HERE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 17 Hours Into Long Speech, Booker Outlines Threat Trump Administration Poses to Environmental Policy, Energy Prices, Clean Energy Jobs, and Climate Action

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during his long speech, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke on the Senate floor about the existential threat President Trump and his administration pose to crucial efforts to address environmental pollution and climate change, including rolling back regulations that ensure Americans have access to clean air and clean water, reversing policies that would lower energy costs for Americans, cancelling projects that would create good-paying jobs for working families, and ceding U.S. leadership in the global effort to tackle the climate crisis.

    Booker took to the Senate floor beginning at 7pm ET last night with the intention of speaking as long as he is physically able to uplift the stories of Americans who are being harmed by the Trump Administration’s reckless actions, attempts to undermine our institutions, and disregard for the rule of law.

    WATCH HERE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 04.01.2025 Sen. Cruz Files Amicus Brief in Support of Overturning Obama-Era DHS Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights, filed an amicus brief in the case Save Jobs USA v. Department of Homeland Security.
    Sen. Cruz filed the amicus brief in support of a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari, seeking Supreme Court review of an Obama-era program that granted work permits to the spouses of certain foreign nationals. The programs were implemented by the Obama and Biden administrations, and allowed career bureaucrats to circumvent Congress’s authority to define who can enter the United States on nonimmigrant visas, how long they can stay, and whether they can lawfully work while here.
    About the amicus brief, Sen. Cruz said, “For far too long, career agency bureaucrats have sought to bypass Congress’s authority to prescribe laws regarding visas. We hope the Supreme Court will grant review in this case, end immigration visa abuse, and clarify the legal process to obtain lawful immigration status in the United States.”
    Joining Sen. Cruz in filing this amicus brief were Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah).
    Read the text for the amicus brief here.
    BACKGROUND
    In 2023, Sen. Cruz filed an amicus brief requesting the Supreme Court to review a similar case, Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v Department of Homeland Security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today chaired a hearing examining the nomination of Lieutenant General (ret.) John D. Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

    In his opening statement, Chairman Wicker underscored the tremendous responsibility that Lt. Gen. Caine would have if confirmed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. As the Chinese Communist Party continues an expansive military buildup and the other three members of the Axis of Aggressors – Russia, Iran, and North Korea – continue to band together in opposition to the United States, Chairman Wicker noted that Lt. Gen. Caine will work to give strong and decisive military advice to President Trump.

    Chairman Wicker also praised Caine’s diverse background as a former intelligence community liaison, defense technology innovator, as well as his experience both in the active-duty and national guard components of the Air Force. This track record would serve him exceptionally well as the President’s principal military advisor in a complex threat environment, Chairman Wicker argued.

    As for the proper role of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs within the national defense decision-making complex ecosystem, Chairman Wicker noted that he had utmost confidence in Caine’s ability to remain nonpartisan and retain the trust of President Trump.

    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered below.

    This morning, the committee meets to consider the nomination of retired Lieutenant General Dan Caine for the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

     

    General Caine has a tremendous responsibility before him. I believe President Trump has made an excellent choice in selecting him to meet the challenges, so I thank General Caine for his willingness to serve our country, especially in this hour of need.

     

    We live in the most dangerous national security moment since World War II. An Axis of Aggressors, led by the Chinese Communist Party and Vladimir Putin’s Russia, means us harm. This axis does not want this century to be an American-led century or a freedom-led century. Our adversaries have started two wars against Ukraine and Israel. They threaten to open a third front against Taiwan.

     

    We must restore peace, and we can do that only through strength. Since his nomination was announced, some people have written that General Caine is unqualified. They point out that he has not served as a combatant commander, as a service chief, or as a vice chairman – roles which are contemplated in 10 USC 152.

     

    I would suggest these same people read or reread the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. Those who read that law and then read General Caine’s resume will see that the architects of that legislation would conclude that their reforms were successful.

     

    The driving force behind Goldwater-Nichols was to inspire and, in some cases, require jointness. So, let’s talk about jointness with regard to Lieutenant General Caine. They believe that when our military services work together, those services are greater than the sum of their parts. General Caine agrees, and his record reflects that.

     

    He began his career as an Air Force fighter pilot in 1992. By the time he was done, General Caine had operated in every domain, and he had developed relationships with every service. That would not have been true 40 years ago. General Caine flew and commanded aircraft, but he’s also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, having helped in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the midst of a bird flu outbreak. At the White House, General Caine wrote early homeland security strategies. He deployed and commanded repeatedly to Iraq and Syria, serving within various special operations forces units. He ran our most secretive programs for all military services. General Caine worked extensively as the CIA’s senior military officer, again collaborating with every military service and combatant command.

     

    It’s difficult to imagine a better joint and interagency background for a nominee of this position. Our threat environment is complex, and General Caine understands how the services can work together to meet today’s dangers. We have much work to do, as this committee knows. We need to grow our defense budget. We need to reform the Pentagon’s processes drastically.

     

    If confirmed, General Kaine would play a significant role in providing military advice to the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States on both of those topics. In particular, the Chairman plays a significant role in the requirements process. I hope he will make a priority to modernize this critical aspect.

     

    The statutory role of the chairman may be limited, but the position is explicitly the voice of the combatant commanders. That voice matters because the commanders are largely absent from our requirements and budgeting processes.

     

    The Chairman can and should also be an advocate for a more agile planning process – one that considers the problems. And I’m going to use two big words here: the problems of simultaneity and protracted warfare – I guess that’s three big words and two big terms. These are technical terms for fairly straightforward facts. First, that our adversaries are likely to act against us in a coordinated fashion – simultaneity.  And secondly, that once that war breaks out it tends to take on a life of its own – protracted warfare.

     

    Lastly, a Chairman is responsible to deliver a serious, honest Chairman’s risk assessment to this committee as soon as possible. I look forward to General Caine’s thoughts on each of these points.

     

    Based on my conversations with the nominee, and based on his actions in uniform, I’m confident that General Caine will give President Trump his best military advice. He will do so without bias, as he’s required to do. He would not consider whether the president may like or dislike that advice that’s exactly what a United States president deserves.

     

    I’m convinced that General Caine sees this role as absolutely nonpartisan. We can argue politics up here on this dais, but I expect General Caine to stay out of it, no matter the subject.

     

    I thank the nominee for his service and for appearing today, and I turn now to my friend and colleague Ranking Member Reed for his opening remarks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Dr. Oz’s Confirmation, Senators Urge Crackdown on Private Medicare Insurers that Scam Patients, Price Gouge Taxpayers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 01, 2025

    Senators call for ending contracts, limiting enrollment for Medicare Advantage insurers that defraud seniors and taxpayers

    “The most effective step the Administration can take in cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health care programs is by reining in the wasteful practices of corporate health insurers in the MA program.” 

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a group of Senate Democrats in writing to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Stephanie Carlton, Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), urging them to crackdown on abuses by private insurers in Medicare Advantage (MA) that overcharge taxpayers, raise costs for patients, and create barriers to access care. 

    Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined in signing the letter. 

    While the MA program was founded on the premise that private insurers could administer Medicare more cost-efficiently than the federal government, the program has failed to deliver savings in any year since its inception. In fact, in 2024 alone, private insurers in the program overcharged taxpayers by $83 billion relative to Traditional Medicare, while overpayments to private insurers in MA are expected to total $1.2 trillion dollars over the next decade.

    Despite these massive taxpayer overpayments, private insurers in MA routinely slow down and deny medically necessary care for patients that otherwise would be approved under Traditional Medicare. MA patients are also more likely to be given inadequate care due to profit-padding insurance tactics, including early hospital discharges and shorter lengths of stay in care settings like nursing homes. 

    “At a time when Americans are paying nearly $26,000 per family in premiums per year, while the largest US insurer made $23 billion in annual profits, reining in profiteering could not be more important,” wrote the senators. 

    Ahead of CMS finalizing the 2026 Medicare Advantage Rate Notice (2026 Rate Notice), which sets payment rates for insurers in the program, the senators asked CMS to make four key reforms to the Medicare Advantage rules:  

    1. Eliminate waste and abuse from overpayments: CMS should finalize and adopt new rules for how risk adjustment is calculated, which will limit insurers’ misuse of diagnosis codes and save taxpayers $3.4 billion. Additionally, CMS should take the necessary enforcement actions, including restricting future enrollment in plans that engage in fraud and terminating MA plan contracts, to ensure MA organizations report and return overpayments in a timely manner.
    2. Strengthen enforcement against MA insurers that illegally deny care: CMS should conduct strong oversight and enforcement when reviewing and approving MA benefits to ensure they adequately cover patients and do not subject enrollees to inappropriate and unnecessary barriers to care, like incorrect prior authorization determinations. About 50 million prior authorization requests were required by MA insurers in 2023, most commonly for higher cost, urgent services such as chemotherapy, inpatient hospital stays, and skilled nursing facility stays. 
    3. Address additional barriers to care: CMS should develop new regulations to crack down on MA insurer’s use of artificial intelligence programs, which have been used to incorrectly deny life-saving care and dangerously discharge patients early. The senators also pressed CMS to hold MA insurers accountable for using “ghost” networks to restrict care for seniors and people with disabilities. 
    4. Enact reforms to reduce disparities in care: The lawmakers urged lawmakers to take steps to improve disparities in care across race, ethnicity, and ability.

    “These actions are crucial to improve health outcomes and ensure Medicare’s sustainability for future generations,” concluded the senators.

    Senator Warren is a leading voice on reining in abuses in Medicare Advantage and protecting patients:

    • In March 2025, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed Dr. Oz on taxpayer fraud committed by private, for-profit insurers in the Medicare Advantage program. Dr. Oz agreed with Senator Warren that cracking down on private health insurers in Medicare Advantage will “improve the health care of the American people.”
    • In March 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s nominee for Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), pressing him on his serious conflicts of interest. Dr. Oz has long been tied to Medicare Advantage insurers, which would benefit if he successfully privatizes Medicare, and which have paid him to encourage his show’s viewers to enroll in private Medicare plans. 
    • In January 2025, in a Fox News Digital op-ed, Senator Elizabeth Warren outlined her recommendations for cutting government waste to make government more efficient and save taxpayers money, including by rooting out corruption by Medicare Advantage insurers. 
    • In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent Elon Musk, Chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a letter detailing over 30 proposals that would cut at least $2 trillion of wasteful government spending over the next decade, including by curbing abuse by Medicare Advantage insurers that overcharge taxpayers.
    • In December, 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) urged the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize rules to curb overpayments to private insurers in Medicare Advantage.
    • In December 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren led a group of Congressional Democrats in a letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, raising stark concerns about his advocacy to eliminate Traditional Medicare and his deep financial ties to the private health insurers that would benefit from that move.
    • In June 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Trade Commission, calling out high health care costs due to vertically-integrated insurers, private equity companies, and pharmaceutical companies that are driving health care consolidation. The letter came in response to the three agencies’ March 2024 cross-government inquiry into the impacts of corporate greed in health care, and highlights examples of abusive and anticompetitive behavior by companies in the health care industry.
    • In May 2024, at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Warren called out private insurers in Medicare Advantage for accelerating the rural hospital crisis.
    • In March 2024, Senators Warren and Brown led their colleagues in a letter to HHS and CMS that urged the agencies to protect seniors by holding insurance companies accountable for abuses in Medicare Advantage.
    • In January 2024, Senator Warren and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) sent a letter to CMS, urging the agency to take administrative action to curb billions in overpayments to MA insurers.
    • In December 2023, Senators Warren, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to the CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, raising concerns about shortfalls in CMS’s data collection and reporting practices for MA plans, and urging CMS to close data gaps to strengthen oversight of MA plans and improve care for Medicare beneficiaries. 
    • In November 2023, Senators Warren, Cortez Masto, Cassidy, and Blackburn introduced bipartisan legislation to improve transparency of MA plans and ensure these plans are best serving the health care needs of America’s seniors. The Encounter Data Enhancement Act would require Medicare Advantage plans to report important information about how much they are actually paying for patient services and how much patients are responsible for paying out-of-pocket. 
    • In November 2023, at a Senate Finance Committee markup of the Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act, Senator Warren highlighted the need to do more to prioritize hearing health for seniors and strengthen transparency in Medicare Advantage, and secured commitments from Senate Finance Committee leadership to prioritize these proposals in future packages. 
    • In October 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warren called out giant MA insurers for using deceptive marketing tactics to lure seniors into the wrong plans and drown out competition from smaller insurers that may offer better coverage. Senator Warren called on CMS to act within the fullest extent of its authority to crack down on MA insurers that game the system to overcharge the government and to ensure insurers publish accurate data on patient care and out-of-pocket costs. 
    • In May 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warren highlighted the prevalence of ghost networks in Medicare Advantage plans and called for stronger oversight of the program.
    • In March 2023, Senator Warren sounded the alarm on a new analysis by policy experts showing that all Medicare beneficiaries – including those enrolled in Traditional Medicare – are paying higher premiums due to overpayments in MA. She sent a letter to CMS and called on the agency to finalize its proposed rule to ensure payments to MA plans accurately reflect the cost of care. 
    • In March 2023, U.S. Senators Warren and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) sent letters to the top seven MA insurers – Humana, Centene, UnitedHealthcare, CVS/Aetna, Molina, Elevance Health, and Cigna – regarding their questionable claims that CMS’s 2024 proposed Medicare Advantage payment rules would hurt beneficiaries.
    • In March 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warren defended CMS’s proposed adjustments to the Calendar Year 2024 MA payment rates, pushing back against giant insurance companies and their lobbyists who are peddling misinformation to protect their billions in profits and scare beneficiaries into opposing the rule. 
    • In April 2022, Senator Warren and Representatives Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) led their colleagues in sending a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure highlighting concerns about overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans that line the pockets of big insurance companies.
    • In February 2022, chairing a hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, Senator Warren delivered remarks about strengthening Medicare and cracking down on pharmaceutical and insurance companies’ corporate greed to pay for expanded coverage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: At Hearing, Warren Secures Ethics Commitment from Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 01, 2025

    Lieutenant General Caine tells Senator Warren he has “no intent” to work for major defense contractors or companies impacted by his official actions. 

    Video of Exchange (YouTube)

    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) secured an ethics commitment from Lieutenant General John D. Caine, President Trump’s nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

    On February 21, President Trump fired General Charles “C.Q.” Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and named Lieutenant General as his choice to be the new chairman. When asked if he would work for any major defense contractors or companies that are affected by his official actions after he resigns, Lieutenant General Caine stated, “I’ve got no intent to do so.”

    Senator Warren previously secured a commitment from General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., President Biden’s nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that he would agree not to become a defense industry lobbyist or receive compensation from a defense contractor for four years.

    In February, Defense Secretary Hegseth fired the top legal advisors for the military services and indicated their replacements would be of a lower rank. Lieutenant General Caine said that he agreed that military commanders need legal advisors with both enough expertise and a high enough rank that they will be listened to during this process. 

    Transcript: Hearing to examine the nomination of Lieutenant General John D. Caine (Retired), to be general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense
    Senate Armed Services Committee
    April 1, 2025

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations. 

    So, if confirmed, you would serve as the principal military advisor to the President and swear an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. President Trump once described your predecessor, General C.Q. Brown, as “an outstanding leader,” and it’s true. C.Q. Brown served for 40 years in seven assignments across four combatant commands. The president’s removal of the only Black officer and removal of the only female officer from the Joint Chiefs of Staff has sent a chilling message about who is and who is not welcome in our military. 

    This worries me deeply about the future of our military and the defense of our nation. I am also concerned that President Trump wants to turn the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs into just another political position. Last year, President Trump claimed that you once said you would kill for him, and then you slapped a MAGA hat on. I know that others have disputed that story, but it raises questions about whether you were selected because Donald Trump thinks that you would be loyal to him rather than to the Constitution of the United States. Secretary Hegseth has now removed the top legal advisors for military services and recommended replacements at a lower rank. 

    So, Lieutenant General Caine, if confirmed, your job will be to present your best military advice. Do you agree that in order to be able to comply with the law and make sure that your advice complies with the law, military commanders need legal advisors with both enough expertise and a high enough rank that they will be listened to during this process?

    Lieutenant General John D. Caine: I do, Senator. I know I’ve always had great legal advice regardless of what rank they were, but I do agree.

    Senator Warren: So, you think that they need—you need—people who have good advice. But do you think it helps in making sure that others—I’m glad that you listen to good advice no matter where it comes from—but that others are more willing to listen if the people offering legal advice have high enough rank to carry some weight in the room when those decisions are taking place?

    Lieutenant General Caine: I do, senator, although I’ve, as I mentioned, I’ve sincerely had great legal advice from 05 to 07, and I think it’s the human, the officer, and their professionalism and intellect versus what rank they have. I do appreciate the efforts to ask the question about what rank they should be but would defer to the Secretary on what rank he would want them to be.

    Senator Warren: I have to say that that gives me some real concern, because the whole point of elevating the rank was the concern that not enough people were listening to good legal advice. And while I appreciate that you say you listen, we need people to listen who are making decisions up and down the line. 

    I understand, Lieutenant General Caine, that the circumstances of your nomination are beyond your control, but they also place a significant burden on you to show leadership, to restore public confidence in the military and to show that you work for the American people. 

    I’ve long been concerned by senior Pentagon leaders who trade on their time in public service to cash out afterwards to work for defense contractors. And that is why, during his confirmation hearing, General Brown agreed that he would not become a lobbyist or join the board of a defense contractor after he resigned. 

    Lieutenant General Caine, are you willing to demonstrate that you’re taking this job to serve the American people and commit that after you leave this job, you will not work for any major defense contractors or companies that are affected by your official actions?

    Lieutenant General Caine: Senator for myself, I’ve got no intent to do so. 

    Senator Warren: Okay, so you can commit to that? 

    Lieutenant General Caine: Yes, Senator, it’s not my intent. 

    Senator Warren: President Trump’s removal of highly qualified and talented military leaders is a permanent stain on this nation’s history, as well as a blow to our ability to recruit the force that we need to compete with China. If confirmed, you will have an important responsibility to show the American people that you will defend our nation with integrity, that you will follow the law, and that you will lead our men and women in uniform with integrity. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Democratic Senators to Bondi: Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Chat National Security Breach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Democratic Senators to Bondi: Appoint Special Counsel to Investigate Signal Chat National Security Breach

    Senators to Attorney General: “These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined 30 Senate Democrats in urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate whether government officials violated federal criminal laws in connection with a reported security breach involving the commercial messaging app Signal. On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had inadvertently included him in a group Signal chat with several high-ranking national security officials. The group reportedly shared and discussed highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information via the unsecure Signal group chat.

    “In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations,” wrote the Senators. “Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.”

    The Signal group chat, started by Mr. Waltz, included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and at least 18 other government officials. The group reportedly discussed not only the foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but also real-time operational details, including the timing of planned attacks, types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and strike outcomes. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude, involving some of the highest-ranking officials in the federal government, constitutes the type of extraordinary circumstance the Special Counsel regulations were designed to address.

    “These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike,” continued the Senators.

    The Senators warned that the use of Signal for such communications may violate federal law. For example, grossly negligent handling national of national defense information can violate the Espionage Act. Additionally, the Federal Records Act requires preservation of certain government communications, and the destruction of such records may constitute a separate criminal offense. Statements made by the officials involved — in testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees — raise further concerns about possible violations of laws prohibiting false statements, perjury, inducement to perjury, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.

    “During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to ‘an equal, fair system of justice’ if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that ‘no one is above the law.’ As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately,” concluded the Senators.

    The letter was led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). In addition to Senator Padilla, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.

    Senator Padilla has been outspoken about the Trump Administration’s dangerous mishandling of sensitive and classified information. Last week, he called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign, citing his staggering incompetence and lack of judgment, carelessly exposing troops to greater danger.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Attorney General Bondi:

    On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group message chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app. In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations. Given the extraordinary circumstances of this shocking incident and the significant public interests at stake, it is imperative that you immediately appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved violated federal criminal law.

    Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.

    The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officials presents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.

    These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike.

    These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws pertaining to the proper safeguarding and preservation of such information. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Signal allows users to schedule messages for deletion after certain time periods and Mr. Waltz appears to have set the chat messages to delete initially after one week and then later in the chat changed the setting to delete messages after four weeks. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees by several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.

    Even prior to his first Administration, President Trump campaigned for the need to prosecute and “lock up” individuals who allegedly “bypass government security” or “sent and received classified information on an insecure server.” Further, as an avowedly loyal and zealous advocate for the President, you echoed these same sentiments prior to your confirmation. Given the extraordinary nature of this security breach by senior Trump Administration officials, the likelihood that these actions needlessly endangered American lives and our nation’s security, the importance of putting our nation’s security before partisan political interests, and the range of federal criminal laws that may have been violated, it is imperative that the Department of Justice conduct a thorough investigation to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether any criminal charges are warranted against any of the government officials involved.

    During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to “an equal, fair system of justice” if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that “no one is above the law.” As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Lawler Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Iran

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chairman Michael Lawler delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled, “A Return to Maximum Pressure: Comprehensively Countering the Iranian Regime’s Malign Activities.”

    Watch Here

    -Remarks- 

    Good afternoon, and again, thank you, Chairman Mass, for putting on this hearing and to Ranking Member Meeks for presiding today. I also want to thank our witnesses for their expertise and their attention to this pressing matter. When President Trump left office over 4 years ago, the Iranian regime and its terror proxies were on their heels. The Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy had devastated Iran’s economy and denied the regime access to critical resources. Mathematically, Iran was cornered and isolated like never before. The Abraham Accord saw Israel normalize relations with three Arab nations. It was a direct blow to Iran’s influence and put the Middle East on a path towards unity against Tehran’s aggression. Militarily, the message was unmistakable. The United States would not flinch. The decisive strike that took out Soleimani, Iran’s mastermind of its terror proxies, crushed Iran’s confidence and deterred provocations. By 2021, the Middle East stood on the brink of a new era of peace and stability. Iran was contained, its proxies weakened, and the region almost freed from the looming threat of Iranian terror.

    Enter Joe Biden. President Biden desperately tried to revive a dead nuclear deal with Iran, even as the regime continued to expand its nuclear program in violation of its Nonproliferation Treaty-related obligations. The Biden administration pursued deals that would have provided the regime with sanctions relief while also allowing it to continue to expand its enrichment capabilities, including with support from Russia. And when the Biden administration came up short on a nuclear deal, it pursued a misguided $6 billion giveaway to Iran, and less than 2 months later, Hamas, with support from Iran, launched the heinous October 7th terrorist attack on Israel. Under the last administration, we occasionally heard tough language, but that was rarely backed up with concrete action. This lack of resolve emboldened Iran and its proxies, offering them a free hand to escalate attacks against the US and its partners and allies with few, if any, consequences. Under the Biden administration, Iran, China, and Russia joined forces to form an unholy alliance aimed at destabilizing the free world. Yet even as Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel, fueled Putin’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, and were used to threaten US service members, the Biden administration did little to prevent the lapse of the UN’s missile embargo on Iran in October 2023. As a result, Iran now has a free hand to proliferate its missiles and long-range drones unchecked. Joe Biden’s foreign policy decisions in the Middle East were ill conceived, disorganized, and at times fatal, including for US service members as we tragically saw at Tower 22 in Jordan. And in the end, he left the world more volatile and less safe than he found it.

    It’s clear that the Biden administration’s blatant refusal to enforce sanctions against Iran contributed to instability across the region and the globe. Under his administration, we witnessed an unprecedented trade in illicit oil between Iran and China, opening a lifeline for the IRGC to fund its malign activities, and it didn’t work. Appeasing terrorists does not work. And that is why I’m pleased that President Trump has since put US policy towards Iran back on track, restoring the much-needed and most effective maximum pressure campaign. Since taking office just over 2 months ago, the Trump administration has made great strides to implement an aggressive and comprehensive Iran policy that restores much-needed deterrents. This is a welcome change from the days of hand-wringing we saw under President Biden, whose policy towards Iran was all carrots and no sticks. The strategy now is to execute the maximum pressure campaign and deny the regime every ounce of grace given to them by the Biden administration.

    As part of this strategy, we must clamp down on the Iranian oil trade. Last year, Iran made over $50 billion from its illicit oil trade, much of which is controlled by its Revolutionary Guard Corps. As part of the maximum pressure, we must fully enforce existing sanctions to stop this illicit oil trade, specifically cutting off Iran’s oil trade with China, which accounts for roughly 90% of oil exports. We must also take all available steps to stop Iran ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. A nuclear Iran is not an option, and the safety of the American people and everything we love is dependent on our success here. One way or another, Iran’s nuclear ambitions are finished. And once Iran loses hope for nuclear capacity and we’ve decimated their bank accounts with the halt to the oil trade, they won’t be able to fund terror proxies any longer. President Trump’s support for Israel in the war against Iran-backed terror is absolute, and I hope to see other partners in the region step up their commitment to working with the US and Israel to address this shared threat to ensure Iran no longer threatens our security or that of the free world. As this hearing will demonstrate, there are a number of measures that can and should be taken, and I look forward to exploring that with our witnesses today and seeing the path forward.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Issues Warning to Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast delivered a message to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran to kick off a full a full committee hearing on countering the Iranian regime’s malign activities.

    Watch Here

    -Remarks-

    President Trump will work with you to peacefully end your nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, or President Trump will destroy your nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. You get to choose the remedy, Ayatollah.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New research highlights opportunities for enhacing amphibian occupancy in Rocky Mountain National Park

    Source: US Geological Survey

    For species with boom-and-bust life cycles, such as amphibians, perspective across time contributes to our understanding of long-term trends in occupancy on the landscape, and mechanisms affecting those trends. This is particularly pertinent to protected areas, where changes may occur more slowly than in more highly impacted landscapes. 

    Researchers used over 30 years of amphibian survey data from Rocky Mountain National Park to estimate changes in occupancy, colonization, and persistence probabilities of three amphibians: boreal chorus frogs, wood frogs, and tiger salamanders. They also explored the potential for landscape change and visitor use to act as drivers behind observed changes.  

    Results indicate that colonization and persistence are low and/or declining for the three studied species. They also found that occupied catchments are increasingly isolated, and that visitor use had a consistently negative effect on occupancy and persistence of amphibians in the park. Additionally, habitats that have become less complex (that is, grassier habitats instead of more complex willow-dominated habitats) are less likely to support persistence or colonization. While these results are sobering, they also provide a way forward where mitigation efforts can target identified drivers of change. For example, by identifying potential drivers, the study provides managers with an opportunity to develop proactive strategies that halt or reverse some of these observations.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Houchin Introduces Four Bills to Protect Students, Support Families, and Uphold American Values

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (Indiana 09)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) introduced four major legislative proposals aimed at strengthening education, defending American institutions from foreign influence, supporting families in crisis, and improving outcomes for children in foster care. Each bill reflects Houchin’s commitment to promoting transparency, protecting vulnerable populations, and putting American families first.

    “These bills are focused on doing what’s right for the American people—protecting students, supporting families, and strengthening systems we rely on,” said Rep. Houchin. “Whether it’s ensuring taxpayer dollars aren’t funding institutions that break immigration laws or expanding access to end-of-life care for families, these bills are about accountability and common sense.”

    The four bills introduced include:

    • College Employment Accountability Act: Prohibits colleges and universities that hire illegal immigrants from receiving federal student aid or institutional funding. The bill also mandates participation in the E-Verify program and strengthens coordination between federal departments to enforce immigration laws.
    • Safeguarding American Education From Foreign Control Act: Protects American educational institutions by increasing transparency and restrictions on foreign funding. The bill prevents adversarial nations from using financial influence to shape curriculum or policy at U.S. schools and universities.
    • End-of-life Access to Supportive and Essential Care (E.A.S.E.) Act: Improves access to care for patients with terminal illnesses, ensuring families have options and support during end-of-life care.
    • Foster Care Tax Credit: Provides a federal tax credit to families who open their homes to foster children, helping reduce the financial burden and encouraging more Americans to consider becoming foster parents. 

    “These are practical, targeted bills that can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” Houchin added. “I’m proud to lead on these issues and will keep fighting to make Washington work for families in Indiana and across the country.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez Sounds Alarm on USPS Privatization Threatening Rural New Mexico

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) warned that the Trump Administration’s push to dismantle the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a direct attack on rural New Mexico. In a letter, he expressed growing concern that President Trump’s proposal to fire the USPS Board of Governors and remove USPS’ status as an independent agency is widely seen as the first step toward privatization. Privatization of the USPS would result in slashed essential services and dramatically increased costs for families and small businesses across the state.

    “If this plan moves forward, rural New Mexicans will be the first to suffer,” said Vasquez. “This is a blatant effort to gut the Postal Service, leaving seniors without their medications, small businesses without affordable shipping, and working families without reliable mail service. We cannot allow this administration to sell off a public service that millions depend on.”

    The USPS operates a majority (57%) of its post offices in rural areas, covering nearly all (90%) of the country’s landmass. These locations are often the only reliable way for residents in small towns to receive mail, medications, and government checks. Privatization would almost certainly lead to post office closures, increased delivery costs, and slower service—hitting New Mexico’s rural communities the hardest.

    “Families in Columbus, Truth or Consequences, and so many other towns rely on the Postal Service to deliver life-saving medications and critical mail. What happens when their post office closes because it’s not ‘profitable’ enough?” Vasquez continued. “The Trump administration is putting corporate profits ahead of the basic needs of working families.”

    Privatizing the USPS would also devastate New Mexico’s small businesses and postal workers:

    • More than 7.3 million jobs nationwide are tied to the Postal Service, and massive layoffs could follow if operations are slashed.
    • The USPS processes 425 million pieces of mail daily—everything from Social Security checks to election ballots to prescription drugs.
    • The mailing industry supports $1.58 trillion in economic activity—crippling it would devastate small businesses, farmers, and local economies reliant on affordable shipping.

    “This isn’t just about mail—it’s about people’s livelihoods,” said Vasquez. “Slashing the Postal Service means hurting rural communities, killing jobs, crippling small businesses, and disrupting the flow of essential goods to families who have no other options.”

    “On behalf of the New Mexico Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, I want to thank Gabe Vasquez for opposing postal service privatization,” said Debbie Encinias, President of the New Mexico Rural Letter Carriers Association. “Rural New Mexicans rely on the work that we do to receive Social Security checks, medications, and mail from loved ones. The Postal Service has done this critical work for 250 years, and we must continue to let this American institution serve the American people free from political interference or privatization.”

    Vasquez is calling for immediate congressional action to block the administration’s efforts and protect rural communities from devastating mail service cuts. He is working with community leaders  and postal worker unions to stop privatization efforts before they take hold.

    You can read the full letter HERE. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez Appointed to U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    Vasquez to help shape the next generation of Air Force leaders, strengthening national security and New Mexico’s military communities

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, where he will play a key role in advising and overseeing the Academy’s operations, curriculum, and policies. Vasquez was recommended for the position by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith.

    “I am honored to serve on the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors,” said Vasquez. “New Mexico is home to critical Air Force installations like Holloman Air Force Base, where we train the next generation of pilots and military leaders. I look forward to ensuring that the Academy provides the best education and training to our future Air Force officers so they are ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

    In his role on the Board, Vasquez will provide oversight on matters related to morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, facilities, and financial affairs at the Academy. His appointment comes at a critical time as the U.S. Air Force continues to adapt to evolving security challenges and new technological advancements in defense.

    New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base, Kirtland Air Force Base, and Cannon Air Force Base play vital roles in national security and the state’s economy. Vasquez’s appointment to the Board reinforces his commitment to supporting military families, expanding career opportunities for service members, and ensuring that bases like Holloman continue to thrive.

    “Our military installations are home to thousands of service members and their families,” said Vasquez. “I will make sure that their needs are prioritized and that we continue to invest in the infrastructure, education, and training that make our Air Force the best in the world.”

    The U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors is composed of bipartisan members from Congress, presidential appointees, and military leaders who oversee and advise the Academy’s leadership on key institutional matters.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Reintroduces Legislation to Stop the Spread of Ranked Choice Voting

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, alongside Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) reintroduced the One Vote One Choice Act to prevent the practice of ranked choice voting, a misguided policy that dilutes the voice of voters in elections across the country.

    This legislation ensures that federal elections maintain a clear and straightforward process that protects voter confidence and preserves the integrity of our elections.

    “Not only does rank choice voting cause chaos and confusion, but it leads to distorted outcomes and results that do not demonstrate the will of the voters. By banning rank-choice voting, we will ensure that Americans can have confidence in the outcome of our elections. As chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, I will continue to support legislation like the One Vote, One Choice Act, which increases transparency, accessibility, and confidence in our electoral process,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

    “For centuries, citizens of the United States have been able to cast their votes with one vote and one voice. But in recent years, there has been an effort to enact ranked choice voting, a method which distorts election outcomes. In 2021’s mayoral primary in New York City, voters had to wait weeks to discover who won, which, in turn, undermined voter confidence in the result. Outcomes like that are problematic for everyone and are exactly why we need to ban the practice of ranked choice voting at the federal level. Ensuring confidence in our elections is a critical function of a democratic republic, and I’m proud to introduce this bill to accomplish that goal,” said Congressman Lawler.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 335

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 335

    Mesoscale Discussion 0335
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0300 PM CDT Tue Apr 01 2025

    Areas affected…Southern Nebraska into central Kansas

    Concerning…Severe potential…Watch possible

    Valid 012000Z – 012230Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…60 percent

    SUMMARY…Initial thunderstorm development is anticipated across
    northwest Kansas in the next 1-2 hours. The severe threat associated
    with these storms will increase as they move into central Kansas and
    south-central Nebraska. Watch issuance is probable by early evening
    for parts of the area.

    DISCUSSION…GOES visible imagery shows building, high-based cumulus
    developing along/just behind the dryline in northwest Kansas. Based
    on current temperature/dewpoint observations and recent forecast
    soundings, this convection will likely remain somewhat shallow with
    limited buoyancy (around 250 MUCAPE). However, very dry
    boundary-layer conditions may promote sporadic strong downburst
    winds with this initial convection. With time, this activity is
    expected to spread east and impinge on a theta-e axis building
    downstream across north-central KS into south-central NE. This will
    promote intensification with an attendant increase in severe wind
    and large hail potential as the deepening convection begins to be
    influenced by strong mid/upper-level flow. A supercell or two may
    emerge from this activity later this evening and could pose a
    large/very-large hail threat. The tornado threat associated with any
    established supercells is expected to remain limited until later
    this evening when richer moisture returns into the region. Watch
    issuance is probable by early evening to address these concerns.

    ..Moore/Smith.. 04/01/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…TOP…ICT…GID…LBF…DDC…GLD…

    LAT…LON 40580004 40639915 40509858 40229806 39849765 39369751
    38969757 38499783 38359832 38339885 38429937 38569976
    38669985 39049999 39580053 39780087 40180102 40470075
    40580004

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…65-80 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE…1.50-2.50 IN

    Top/All Mesoscale Discussions/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC MD 336

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Mesoscale Discussion 336

    Mesoscale Discussion 0336
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0317 PM CDT Tue Apr 01 2025

    Areas affected…Western into central Oklahoma and western North
    Texas

    Concerning…Severe potential…Watch possible

    Valid 012017Z – 012215Z

    Probability of Watch Issuance…60 percent

    SUMMARY…Cumulus activity is increasing on the dryline in western
    Oklahoma. This area is being monitored for storm initiation.
    Supercells capable of large/very-large hail, tornadoes (possibly
    strong), and severe gusts are possible.

    DISCUSSION…Moisture return continues in the southern Plains this
    afternoon. Low 60s F dewpoints have reached the Red River/southern
    Oklahoma. Mid 60s F dewpoints lag farther south in the DFW
    Metroplex. Cumulus have become more numerous in southwest Oklahoma
    and recent Day Cloud Phase satellite imagery shows a few towers
    occasionally deepening. While this activity is currently developing
    within upper 50s F dewpoints, greater moisture resides to the east.

    Storm initiation timing is a bit uncertain, especially given the
    filtered insolation through a cirrus canopy. However, most guidance
    has shown initiation after 22-23Z. Storm coverage remains a
    question. These uncertainties are primarily driven by the
    late-arriving moisture return. Mid-level ascent will remain quite
    modest until after dark. However, the wind profile strongly supports
    discrete supercells with an attendant risk for large/very-large hail
    and tornadoes. A strong tornado is certainly possible in this
    environment and would become more likely if a mature storm moves
    into increasing low-level moisture to the east. Low-level theta-e
    advection should slow/offset the increase in nocturnal CIN.

    Once there is more clarity on initiation timing and storm coverage,
    a watch will be needed later this afternoon/early evening.

    ..Wendt/Smith.. 04/01/2025

    …Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product…

    ATTN…WFO…FWD…OUN…

    LAT…LON 35289729 33809795 33509873 33569950 33669990 34099982
    34569970 35389946 36799922 36939853 36939788 36489750
    35289729

    MOST PROBABLE PEAK TORNADO INTENSITY…120-150 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST…65-80 MPH
    MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE…2.00-3.50 IN

    Top/All Mesoscale Discussions/Forecast Products/Home

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 91 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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    Watch 91 Status Reports

    Watch 91 Status Message has not been issued yet.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 91

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL1

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 91
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    500 PM CDT Tue Apr 1 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    South-Central Kansas
    Western, Central, and Northeast Oklahoma
    Northwest Texas

    * Effective this Tuesday afternoon from 500 PM until Midnight
    CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
    inches in diameter likely
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 80 mph possible

    SUMMARY…Discrete supercell development appears possible as the
    dryline impinges on a moderately moist airmass in place from
    northwest TX into western and central OK. Overall environmental
    conditions will support the potential for large to very large hail
    (i.e. greater than 2″ in diameter) and tornadoes with any storms
    that do form. Strong wind gusts are possible as well.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 50 miles north northwest of
    Bartlesville OK to 20 miles southeast of Wichita Falls TX. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 24035.

    …Mosier

    SEL1

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 91
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    500 PM CDT Tue Apr 1 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    South-Central Kansas
    Western, Central, and Northeast Oklahoma
    Northwest Texas

    * Effective this Tuesday afternoon from 500 PM until Midnight
    CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
    inches in diameter likely
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 80 mph possible

    SUMMARY…Discrete supercell development appears possible as the
    dryline impinges on a moderately moist airmass in place from
    northwest TX into western and central OK. Overall environmental
    conditions will support the potential for large to very large hail
    (i.e. greater than 2″ in diameter) and tornadoes with any storms
    that do form. Strong wind gusts are possible as well.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 50 miles north northwest of
    Bartlesville OK to 20 miles southeast of Wichita Falls TX. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 24035.

    …Mosier

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW1
    WW 91 TORNADO KS OK TX 012200Z – 020500Z
    AXIS..65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    50NNW BVO/BARTLESVILLE OK/ – 20SE SPS/WICHITA FALLS TX/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 55NM E/W /58WNW OSW – 22SE SPS/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.

    LAT…LON 37439518 33759712 33759939 37439755

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU1.

    Watch 91 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (50%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Mod (30%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Mod (30%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (60%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (>95%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –