NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Initiates Actions to Reverse Biden-Era Mismanagement of Core 7(a) Lending Program

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON — Today, as part of the work to reverse the gross financial mismanagement of the prior Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has restored lender fees to its 7(a) loan program. Waiving lender fees was one of the Biden-era practices that reduced the financial integrity of SBA lending programs at the expense of small businesses and taxpayers. These changes, along with a dramatic reduction in underwriting standards, ultimately drove the SBA’s core 7(a) lending program into negative cash flow for the first time in thirteen years – threatening its zero-subsidy status.

    “Since its inception, the SBA’s 7(a) loan program has launched millions of small businesses, driving economic growth and job creation. But the Biden Administration’s actions to undermine the financial integrity of the program now threaten to leave taxpayers on the hook,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “To safeguard taxpayer-backed capital and small business formation, the SBA is taking immediate action to reverse these policies, starting with the restoration of lender fees to protect the future of the program.”

    As the flagship SBA loan, the 7(a) loan guaranty offered through private lending institutions provides capital to qualified small businesses unable to borrow elsewhere. By statute, it is required to operate at “zero-subsidy,” or zero cost to taxpayers, and is funded through the collection of lender fees. Despite this mandate, the Biden Administration recklessly eliminated lender fees while simultaneously lowering underwriting standards for loans. Over the lifecycle of these loans, the Biden-era changes are projected to cost taxpayers billions.

    After promulgating lax underwriting standards such as “Do What You Do” and approving a host of non-regulated non-bank lenders to originate 7(a) loans, defaults and delinquencies roughly doubled. At the same time, reduced fee revenue left the agency in a shortfall and unable to cover the cost of failed loans. From 2022 to 2024, the SBA projects that the Biden Administration failed to collect on over $460 million in upfront lender fees. As a result, the SBA’s 7(a) loan program saw negative cash flow of about $397M in FY 24 – the first instance of negative cashflow in over a decade.

    Lender fees have gone back into effect starting this week for Fiscal Year 2025. Over the coming weeks, the SBA will announce additional changes to safeguard the future of the 7(a) loan program to restore its zero-subsidy status and ensure it remains a reliable resource for empowering small business growth and formation.

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration
    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov .

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Department of Justice Announces Second Amendment Pattern-or-Practice Investigation into California’s Los Angeles County

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Protecting the Second Amendment rights of ordinary, law-abiding Americans is a high priority for this Administration.

    As part of a broader review of restrictive firearms-related laws in California and other States, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division today announced an investigation into the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to determine whether it is engaging in a pattern or practice of depriving ordinary, law-abiding Californians of their Second Amendment rights. A recent federal court decision found that “the law and facts [we]re clearly in … favor” of two private plaintiffs who challenged the lengthy eighteen-month delays that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department had imposed when processing their concealed handgun license applications. And the Civil Rights Division has reason to believe that those two plaintiffs are not the only residents of Los Angeles County experiencing similarly long delays that are unduly burdening, or effectively denying, the Second Amendment rights of the people of Los Angeles.

    The Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that the Second Amendment is not “a second-class right.” And over the past two decades, the Supreme Court has recognized that the Second Amendment is a fundamental, individual constitutional right and has taken multiple opportunities to strengthen Second Amendment protections for ordinary, law-abiding citizens.

    Some States and localities, however, have resisted this recent pro-Second Amendment caselaw. And California has been a particularly egregious offender. In response to recent Supreme Court caselaw, California enacted new legislation to further restrict the ability of ordinary, law-abiding Californians to keep and bear arms. And many California localities appear to be imposing additional burdens beyond those required by California state law, including by subjecting ordinary, law-abiding Californians to expensive fees and lengthy weight times associated with applications for concealed handgun licenses.

    “This Department of Justice will not stand idly by while States and localities infringe on the Second Amendment rights of ordinary, law-abiding Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Second Amendment is not a second-class right, and under my watch, the Department will actively enforce the Second Amendment just like it actively enforces other fundamental constitutional rights.”

    Attorney General Bondi hopes that states and localities will voluntarily embrace their duty to protect the Second Amendment rights of their citizens. But if necessary, today’s announcement will be the first of many similar investigations, lawsuits, or other actions involving other localities in California, the State of California itself, and any other states or localities that insist on unduly burdening, or effectively denying, the Second Amendment rights of their ordinary, law-abiding citizens.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump is interested in joining the Commonwealth. It’s not up to him – or even the king

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dennis Altman, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow and Professorial Fellow, Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University

    It seems Britain has one key inducement to offer US President Donald Trump: a state visit hosted by King Charles.

    One can only imagine what the king thinks of this, but he will undoubtedly maintain a stiff upper lip and preside over several lavish dinners.

    Following reports of this offer, which would make Trump the only US president to be twice hosted by a British monarch, stories surfaced that the US might become an associate member of the Commonwealth.



    Read more:
    The king has a tricky diplomatic role to play in inviting Trump for a state visit

    There has been no official confirmation of this, but the story has been floated in several British newspapers.

    What is the Commonwealth?

    The Commonwealth came into existence as a means of retaining links with former British colonies, so there is a certain historical justification for the idea.

    Almost all of Britain’s former colonies are now members of the Commonwealth of Nations, with Ireland and the US notable exceptions.

    The Commonwealth is an organisation that ties together 56 countries, including a few in Africa that have been admitted despite not having been British colonies.

    Of the 56, only a minority recognise the British king as their head of state, a point local monarchists are reluctant to acknowledge.

    Indeed, some members of the Commonwealth, such as Malaysia, Brunei and Tonga, have their own hereditary monarchs.

    In theory, all members are democratic, and several, such as Fiji, have at times been suspended from membership for failing on this count.

    Whatever doubts we might have about the state of US democracy, it is hard to argue the US would fail to meet a bar that allows continued membership to states such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

    The Commonwealth is largely seen as less important than other international groupings, and its heads of government meetings are often skipped by leaders of the most significant members.

    Other than turning up to the Commonwealth Games, few recent Australian prime ministers have paid it much attention, compared to our membership of the G20 or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

    Nonetheless, the Commonwealth does include a remarkable range of countries ranging from significant states such as India, Canada and South Africa to the many island states of the Pacific and the Caribbean.

    While its work is largely unreported, it does provide a range of international assistance and linkages that otherwise would be out of reach for its smaller and poorer members.

    Why is Trump interested in joining?

    Trump, it can be assumed, has no interest in the Commonwealth as a means of better working with states such as Namibia and Belize.

    The attraction seems to be linked to his strange reverence for royalty and a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of the British sovereign.

    King Charles is head of the Commonwealth through agreement of its members, probably in recognition of the extraordinary commitment his mother showed as the Commonwealth developed out of the old British Empire. Indeed, she clashed several times with her British ministers because of her loyalty to the Commonwealth.

    But unlike the king’s British – and Australian – crown, this is not a position that belongs automatically to the British monarch.

    So, while inviting Trump to Windsor Castle may be the gift of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, admission to the Commonwealth would require the agreement of all its members.

    Given Trump’s demands to acquire Canada and to punish South Africa for recent land expropriation law, it is hard to imagine unanimous enthusiasm.



    Read more:
    Donald Trump is picking fights with leaders around the world. What exactly is his foreign policy approach?

    Most member states are cautious about being too closely linked to either the US or China, although Australia might end up the last true believer in US alliances. Others, such as Ghana and Pakistan, depend considerably on Chinese aid.

    In a world dominated by increasingly autocratic leaders, a middle power like Australia needs as wide a range of friends as possible. Most of us have only a vague sense of what the Commonwealth entails.

    Like all international institutions, the Commonwealth often seems more concerned with grand statements than actual commitment.

    But there is value in a global organisation whose members claim to be committed to:

    democracy and democratic processes, including free and fair elections and representative legislatures; the rule of law and independence of the judiciary; good governance, including a well-trained public service and transparent public accounts; and protection of human rights, freedom of expression, and equality of opportunity.

    Would Trump’s America meet those demands?

    Dennis Altman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump is interested in joining the Commonwealth. It’s not up to him – or even the king – https://theconversation.com/trump-is-interested-in-joining-the-commonwealth-its-not-up-to-him-or-even-the-king-253217

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Introduces Paul Atkins, Trump’s Nominee to be SEC Commissioner

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today introduced Paul Atkins at his nomination hearing to be Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript:
    Thank you Mr. Chairman, and it’s a great honor for me to be with such a wonderful group of nominees today.
    I have a particular pleasure today, though, to introduce a longtime friend of mine. We were roommates in law school. Actually, when I talked with President Trump about Paul, when he was considering his nomination, I begged him not to hold that against Paul, and he certainly didn’t.
    But as I said, I’ve known him for a very long time. And since before I met Paul, I knew about him, and he has been known forever for his character, for his intellect, and his unrelenting work ethic.
    Today, those qualities are going to serve the American people exceptionally well. Given the many years of private practice and his prior service as SEC Commissioner, Paul has developed an unmatched understanding of financial markets and their regulatory challenges.
    And I’ve known Paul not only as a friend, but as a client, because I’ve called Paul and his team in to help the companies that I’ve invested in navigate some of the great challenges of the financial services’ regulatory environment, and his skill has been unwavering.
    Paul knows better than anyone that our nation’s global competitiveness fundamentally rests on the strength of our capital markets. He’s a true public servant and a great American.
    And if you have the opportunity to meet his three sons—two of them are here today that he and Sarah have raised together—you’ll know that Paul is a man of the highest caliber and character.
    Our nation deserves a man of Paul’s caliber steering the SEC. I urge all my colleagues to support his confirmation. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Colleagues Introduce Honor Farmer Contracts Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, legislation to release illegally withheld funding for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). President Trump’s USDA has refused to make reimbursement payments to fulfill signed contracts, without any indication of when or whether farmers will be paid the money they laid out and are owed. Farmers and the organizations that serve them operate on tight margins and cannot be left waiting for weeks and months without funding they rightfully planned for and need to keep operating. This legislation would require the USDA to pay farmers all past due payments as quickly as possible to prevent them from having to shut down their operations. U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) will introduce companion legislation in the House.
    When farmers successfully apply to USDA programs and then spend their own dollars in reliance upon signed contracts with the agency, they rightfully expect that they will receive reimbursement. Similarly, farmer-serving organizations—which farmers rely upon to connect to local markets and implement practices that make them more productive and less resource intensive—are facing imminent funding crises from not being reimbursed for completed or in-progress contracted work. If not quickly made whole, these organizations will be forced to make agonizing decisions to lay off staff and stop helping farmers, destroying years of progress in advancing local food systems.
    “Farmers across the country have been in limbo ever since the USDA froze previously signed agreements and contracts, with many facing catastrophic consequences if these freezes continue,” said Senator Booker. “USDA’s refusal to pay what is owed to farmers and the organizations that support them is theft, plain and simple. It’s a critical time of year for farmers and ranchers. They should be doing what they love – feeding our communities, not worrying about unpaid contracts. This legislation will fix that by forcing USDA and the Trump Administration to hold up their end of the deal.”
    “Over the last two months, farmers, ranchers, and rural communities have been left in limbo – waiting for the USDA to honor its promises,” said Representative Vasquez. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act is about restoring trust and keeping our word to the hardworking people who feed America. When farmers sign contracts, they expect the government to follow through. It’s that simple. This bill will immediately unfreeze critical funding, ensure farmers are paid for their work, and reopen essential USDA offices that were shuttered without notice. This legislation is standing up for rural America, protecting family farms, and strengthening our food system. Let’s do right by our farmers – because when they thrive, we all do.”
    “Regardless of the size of the farm, the crops grown, or the geographic location, interrupting or terminating farmer contracts undermines our nation’s economic, military, and food security, and as a whole hampers community efforts to support the overall well-being of Americans,” said Devin Cornia, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey. “We are grateful to Senator Booker and his Team for their efforts to resume basic investments in our country’s future.” 
    “We thank Senator Booker and Congressman Vasquez for their leadership in forcing Secretary Rollins to honor USDA obligations. Farm Action Fund was proud to lead more than 300 organizations in support of their efforts,” said Joe Maxwell, president of Farm Action Fund. “When farmers shake hands, it’s a deal. No less should be expected of our government or the Trump administration.” 
    “On Farm Aid’s hotline, we’re hearing from farmers and farmer-serving organizations who have frozen and canceled federal funding, and we know these are only a few of the thousands from around the country,” said Hannah Tremblay, Farm Aid’s policy and advocacy manager. “USDA’s withholding of payments owed under signed, lawful contracts is causing turmoil across our food system–and it couldn’t come at a worse time. As farmers plan their growing season, uncertainty is among the most dangerous elements they have to grapple with. The effects of this funding freeze are likely to compound and severely impact all aspects of our food system – from seed and soil, to farmer and consumer. Farm Aid fully supports the Honor Farmer Contracts Act to end this unlawful freeze now!
    “During the last several months, countless farmers, and the community-based organizations who serve them, have had their livelihoods thrown into doubt as USDA has deliberated whether or not to honor its own legal contracts,” said Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act unequivocally reiterates a bedrock principle – USDA must honor its own word, and swiftly meet its legal obligations to farmers and organizations by immediately releasing funding on all signed contracts. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition thanks Senator Booker and all Members standing alongside farmers in asking USDA to honor its commitments.”
    “Senator Booker’s proposed legislation to unfreeze funding for promises made to the Family Farmers who feed the rest of us is timely and appropriate,” said Michael Kovach, President, Pennsylvania Farmers Union. “It is unfortunate that it has been necessitated by some well-intentioned, but ill-conceived actions that effectively broke these promises. As so few charged with feeding so many, American Farmers need more support, not less.” 
    The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would:
    Require USDA to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts;
    Require USDA to make all past due payments as quickly as possible;
    Prohibit USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers or organizations providing assistance to farmers unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.
    Prohibit USDA from closing any Farm Service Agency county office, Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Rural Development Service Center without providing 60 days prior notice and justification to Congress.
    To see the full list of organizations endorsing the Honors Farmers Contacts, click here.
    The Honors Farmers Contacts is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-Ill), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). 
    To read the full text of the bill, click here

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Questions Defense Nominees at Confirmation Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned Secretary of the Air Force nominee Dr. Troy Meink and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment nominee Michael Duffey at their confirmation hearing.During the hearing, Senator Fischer urged Dr. Meink to utilize all available tools to accelerate the Sentinel program and ensure that the Department of Defense works to improve the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability. She also asked him about his plans to grow and evolve the Space Force.
    Additionally, Senator Fischer questioned Mr. Duffey about his views on the importance of maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent. She emphasized that strengthening our nuclear triad and nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) systems should be the top priority of the Department and the foundation of our strategic planning.Fischer Questions Defense Leadership:
    Senator Fischer: Having a safe, effective, reliable, and credible nuclear deterrent is the cornerstone of our national defense. Currently, each leg of our nuclear triad is undergoing a generational recapitalization to better align with the projected threat. The Department of the Air Force is responsible for two of the three legs: the land-based ICBMs and our bomber fleet. Dr. Meink, in your answers to the committee’s advance policy questions, you stated that, “the ground leg of the nuclear triad – Minuteman III and, over time, Sentinel – are foundational to strategic deterrence and defense of the homeland.” I agree with that. I also believe that we have an opportunity, following the analysis done during the Nunn-McCurdy breach, to incorporate lessons learned and build a stronger, more enduring Sentinel program than was originally proposed. Dr. Meink, if confirmed, will you commit to utilizing all available tools to accelerate Sentinel emplacement and ensure that our nation’s ICBM capability does move forward?
    Dr. Meink: 
    Thank you, Senator. If confirmed, I will do so, and I do appreciate the one-on-one conversation we had on this topic. I am looking forward to diving into the results of the Nunn-McCurdy, and then also obviously working the B-21 and the other activities, from a nuclear perspective, the Department supports.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Thank you. Mr. Duffey, if confirmed as Under Secretary of Acquisition and Sustainment, you will oversee all nuclear modernization efforts and serve as chair of the Nuclear Weapons Council. Can you provide us with a short summary of your views on why we need such a strong nuclear deterrent?
    Mr. Duffey: 
    Madam Chair, thank you for the question, and yes, I look forward, if confirmed, to assisting in leading the department in the oversight of the nuclear modernization program. Nuclear modernization, as you mentioned, is the backbone of our strategic deterrent, and ensuring that we have a modern, capable nuclear enterprise that not only includes the B-21, which is a successful acquisition program by all accounts, but the Columbia-class submarine and the Sentinel nuclear ICBM are critical. As chair of the Nuclear Weapons Council, I look forward to the partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration, working with this committee to ensure that we maintain the highest quality systems that not only deliver the weapons but the nuclear command and control system that would be required for a safe and secure deployment, if necessary. And I think it’s absolutely critical that we ensure that we have accelerated acquisition of those capabilities. Thank you.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Thank you. Would you agree that our triad, along with NC3, the deterrent it provides, truly is the priority of the department, and that it underpins all of our strategic planning?
    Mr. Duffey: 
    I absolutely agree with that. Yes, ma’am.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Thank you. Dr. Meink, I believe we’re finally on a better path when it comes to space programs, and I’m impressed by what our Guardians have achieved over the last several years. But the Space Force is still a young organization, and there are likely still growing pains ahead. I am encouraged that the President nominated someone for this program with deep expertise in space programs. Dr. Meink, what’s your vision for how the Space Force should grow and how it should evolve as a service?
    Dr. Meink: 
    Thank you for the question, Senator. Yes, I’ve been fortunate enough to work space systems, both on the Air Force side, which then became the Space Force side, as well as from the IC side. Space is critical. This is actually one of the areas that we’re most challenged, I believe, from the rapidly evolving threat from China and others, both the direct threat to our systems as well as the threat those systems pose to our operations across the Department in general. I think the key to both acquisition and operations is making sure you have the best talented workforce. These are some of the most complicated systems, and if the U.S. is going to maintain our advantage, which we need to do in space, we need to make sure we have the right workforce. The Space Force is in the process of growing. I will support that activity to make sure we have the right numbers and the right skill set, and then make sure that the acquisitions themselves are delivering and that they’re getting into operation.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Can you give me a quick example of what new capabilities you think Space Force should be focusing on to acquire? Just a quick example?
    Dr. Meink:
     I think some of the space control and counter space systems are critical. Senator, I can’t dive into too many of the details, but that is probably the area that we’re being most stressed from a threat perspective.
    Senator Fischer:
     Okay, thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Welcomes Secretary Hegseth to Mississippi, Showcases State’s Role in National Defense

    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 welcomed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to various national defense installations in Mississippi, highlighting the state’s growing role in the defense industrial base and in support of the American warfighter.
    Specifically, Chairman Wicker and Secretary Hegseth visited the Army Aviation Support Facility in Tupelo, where they met with members of the Mississippi National Guard and participated in flight operations aboard Apache attack aircraft. Wicker and Hegseth also toured the General Atomics facility in Tupelo, where they received a brief on some of the advanced military technologies under production, including hypersonic capabilities. Finally, Hegseth and Wicker were welcomed at “A Southern Salute to the Troops,” an event run by multiple veterans’ advocacy organizations such as Purple Heart Homes and 7 Days for the Troops.
    Separately, Chairman Wicker delivered a keynote address at the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Narrative Intelligence, where he discussed the unique contributions of cognitive warfare capabilities in the broader effort to improve our national defense preparedness against threats like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
    “It was great to host Secretary Hegseth in Mississippi this week as we engaged with some of our state’s best-in-class defense capabilities. I am glad that the Secretary saw firsthand why our state is increasingly becoming a powerhouse in military technology and preparedness,” Chairman Wicker said. “As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will always showcase Mississippi’s leading contributions for the warfighter and work to expand our state’s growing role in the defense industrial base. I also appreciate Secretary Hegseth’s continued partnership as we both work to reform and rebuild to achieve one of President Trump’s most important promises to the American people: the restoration of peace through strength.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on Senior DoD Nominations

    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 several senior nominations for the Department of Defense, including those dealing with the Department of the Air Force, research and engineering, acquisition and sustainment, and health affairs.
    During his opening statement submitted for the record by Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Chairman Wicker covered the waterfront of responsibilities that each nominee would be tasked with if confirmed.
    For the Department of the Air Force, the Chairman emphasized that the service needs to do more to boost space superiority and air dominance through better maintenance cycles, a focus on space control, and support for service personnel. For defense acquisition, Chairman Wicker referenced his “Freedom’s Forge” report and noted that there is much work to do in industrial base analysis and reforming defense procurement.
    In a discussion about engineering and research at the Pentagon, the Chairman emphasized maintaining a technological edge over our adversaries by stewarding the Pentagon’s innovation ecosystem. And for health affairs, Chairman Wicker highlighted the need for the DoD to ensure the military health system is adequately resourced not only to support daily peacetime operations but also to meet the potential demands of large-scale combat operations in the future.
    Dr. Troy E. Meink, nominee for Secretary of the Air Force, Mr. Michael P. Duffey nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Mr. Emil G. Michael, nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and Mr. Keith M. Bass, nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Appear before the committee.
    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as submitted for the record below.
    I welcome all of our witnesses and their families, and I thank them for being here this morning.  Their presence is timely.  We are at a crossroads in American history.  We face the most dangerous environment since World War II, and I am grateful that these individuals have stepped up to serve.
    Dr. Troy Meink has been nominated to be the Secretary of the Air Force. More than ever before, our success as a joint force rests upon our Airmen and Guardians.  We cannot deter or defeat the Chinese Communist Party without space superiority and air dominance.  I was very glad to hear that the administration is moving forward with the Next-Generation Air Dominance program.  With that announcement, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have taken the first step to maintain our mastery of the skies. 
    Today, our Air Force is suffering through a death spiral.  We have billions of dollars of unpaid aircraft maintenance bills, a shrinking combat fleet, and a munitions shortage we need to fix.
    We created the Space Force just five years ago, and it has grown rapidly.  But we have numerous opportunities to accelerate our space control efforts and support the joint force from orbit.  Dr. Meink’s experience at the National Reconnaissance Office renders him uniquely qualified to ensure the Space Force continues its growth. 
    Managing weapons programs is only one aspect of the job for which Dr. Meink has been nominated.  He will need to take care of our Airmen and Guardians.  All the aircraft and satellites in the world are pointless unless we have the right support system for the people who develop, maintain, and operate those weapons systems. 
    I look forward to hearing Dr. Meink’s plan to maintain space superiority and air dominance in the years to come. 
    Mr. Michael Duffey has been nominated to become the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.  If confirmed, he will face three major challenges.
    First, he will encounter our current acquisition system, which is slow, outdated, and ill-suited to meet the urgent demands of modern warfare.  In my Restoring Freedom’s Forge plan, I outlined a game-changing approach to overhaul this system.  We must streamline processes, embrace innovation, and deliver capabilities at the speed of relevance.  It will take bold leadership to shift the culture of the acquisition workforce.  We must encourage that workforce to leverage its authorities effectively and break free from its risk-averse habits.
    Second, the Department of Defense does not possess the capacity and capability to perform serious industrial base analysis at scale.  If confirmed, Mr. Duffey will need to expand and re-focus existing organizations.  They must improve our ability to answer fundamental questions about industrial policy, re-industrialization, and defense mobilization.
    Third, Mr. Duffey would chair the Nuclear Weapons Council.  His leadership will be critical as we modernize and adapt our long-neglected nuclear forces so they can meet the threat of the rapidly growing Chinese, Russian, and North Korean arsenals.
    I look forward to hearing Mr. Duffey’s views on these three challenges.
    Mr. Emil Michael has been nominated to serve as the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.  In other words, he would be the Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Defense.  If confirmed, Mr. Michael must ensure that the bright minds within our innovation ecosystem regain technological superiority against our adversaries, starting with China.  Mr. Michael has worked with Secretary Gates on Iraq and Afghanistan and has been a part of a very small company called Uber.  I believe his diverse experience gives him a unique appreciation for the challenges he will encounter if confirmed to this role.
    We must all ensure that the department has an aggressive vision for innovation.  That vision must resonate throughout the services and result in production at scale.  I look forward to hearing from Mr. Michael about his vision for research and development and innovation.
    Mr. Keith Bass has been tapped to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.  This role oversees all Department of Defense health policies and programs.  If confirmed, Mr. Bass would assume the role at a crucial time.  The military health system faces persistent challenges in its structure, staffing, and the delivery of healthcare services.  Mr. Bass has extensive leadership experience as White House Medical Director, as the Director of Medical Services at the CIA, and as the Medical Center Director at the West Texas Health Care System for the Department of Veterans Affairs.  He is well-equipped to address these challenges within the military health system.
    This system must provide routine, peacetime healthcare and simultaneously maintain a state of preparedness for large-scale combat.  The Pentagon faces considerable challenges in recruiting and retaining both civilian and military medical personnel.  This staffing problem directly affects the quality of care provided to service members and their families.   
    I am eager to learn how Mr. Bass intends to tackle these issues and how he plans to equip the military health system so it can deliver top-notch care in peace-time and in potential future conflict.
    With that, I turn to my colleague, Ranking Member Reed.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Schakowsky, Lawmakers Press Trump on Illegal FTC Firings, Demand Commissioners be Reinstated

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 27, 2025
    “These purported firings threaten the FTC’s existence as an independent enforcement agency and pave the way for you to use the FTC as a tool for partisan retribution.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), along with lawmakers Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.); Cory Booker (D-N.J.); Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); Ron Wyden (D-Ore.); Kathy Castor (D-Fla.); Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.); Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.); Robin Kelly (D-Ill.); Doris Matsui (D-Calif.); Robert Menendez (D-N.J.); Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.); Lori Trahan (D-Mass.); and Marc Veasey (D-Texas), sent a letter to President Donald Trump strongly opposing his illegal attempt to fire Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, two members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These firings could impede the FTC’s ongoing work, including efforts to lower food prices, tackle health care costs, and combat illegal business practices across the economy. 
    “This appears to be yet another decision that you have made to help Elon Musk and other billionaire supporters – and leaves middle-class families stuck with the costs,” wrote the lawmakers.
    Congress created the agency in 1914 as a bipartisan, independent commission, mandating that FTC commissioners could only be removed for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The Supreme Court has upheld this decision for nearly one hundred years. 
    “The illegal attempt to fire Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter is just the latest in your ongoing campaign to hobble independent agencies and watchdogs to shield you and your billionaire donors, including Elon Musk, from accountability to the law,” wrote the lawmakers.
    The lawmakers raised concerns about numerousall of the FTC actions investigations that Trump’s illegal firings could put be at risk based on these decisions, including: by challenging grocery retailer and food manufacturer mergers that raise prices for households struggling to make ends meet; suing to stop agriculture equipment and pesticide monopolists from taking advantage of American farmers; returning moneyover $1.5 billion over four years to Americans ripped off by bad actors ranging from tax preparation companies to corporate landlords; lowering costs for inhalers andfrom $500 to $35 and lowering the cost of insulin; and returning millions in refunds to defrauded servicemembers and veterans, among other actions.
    The lawmakers urge Trump to act quickly to reinstate Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter to ensure that pending FTC actions, particularly those that help American workers and families, will not be impactedcancelled or otherwise affected by the attempted firings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Welch Lead Colleagues in Spotlighting Devastating Trump Cuts Jeopardizing Cures for Alzheimer’s Disease, Cancers 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Witnesses, including Former NIH Director, highlight how deep cuts, staffing layoffs, and delayed funding at NIH hurt life-saving research 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) hosted a forum on Capitol Hill titled “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer’s, & Other Diseases.”
    The forum featured former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., two Alzheimer’s disease researchers, and two patients who have benefitted from NIH clinical trials. The forum was hosted by Sens. Baldwin and Welch and attended by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 15 Democratic Senators.
    Senator Welch and Senator Baldwin lead the Senate’s health care strike team in the Senate, which pushes back against the Trump Administration’s attacks on patients, providers, and medical research across the United States. 
    Watch a livestream of the forum here and view photos from the event below:  
    “The Trump Administration has taken a wrecking ball to the National Institutes of Health without a care about who gets hurt in the process. The first to feel the impact of these cuts will be American patients who rely on NIH’s cutting-edge research to get new therapies and cure diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. DOGE’s mass firing spree has also left our nation’s top scientists on the chopping block, stifling American innovation and weakening our leadership in biomedical science for years to come. These cuts and layoffs mean the difference between life and death for communities in both red and blue states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to join Senator Baldwin and our colleagues today to defend our commitment to science, research, and care across America.” 
    “I truly wish I didn’t need to host this forum but Elon Musk’s Doge and Donald Trump are quite literally on a path to rip away cures to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease – all to make room in their budget for tax breaks for the richest of the rich. Today, we heard from the people who will be paying the price – and I hope my Republican colleagues and the President were listening,” said Senator Baldwin. “Right now, we are wasting precious time that we cannot get back for American families hoping that their loved one has a chance to get better.” 
    “I resigned my post as NIH Director in January of this year. Since then, I have had no insight into how decisions are being made by our current leaders at HHS. I can speak, however, about the downstream effects of their decisions, and some irreparable damage that their policies are producing. To date more than 300 grants terminated; and about $1.5 billion in funding delays and barriers that are preventing NIH’s role of ensuring that funding is delivered to outstanding researchers across the nation,” said Dr. Bertagnolli, former Director of the NIH. “Today, we are just beginning to see progress against devastating diseases which have long been hopeless – Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, even pancreatic cancer – all because of NIH funding. And this has proven to be a great investment for American taxpayers – producing both extraordinary improvements in health, and significant profits for our nation’s economy. How can we afford to see this progress stalled? Overall, the loss to our nation on so many levels will be too great.” 
    “I’m here to emphasize the critical importance of NIH funding in the fight against Alzheimer’s—a disease that is one of our greatest public health and economic challenges. While deaths from heart disease and cancer have leveled off or declined thanks to decades of NIH investment, deaths from Alzheimer’s and related dementias have increased. Over 6.9 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s today—a number projected to double by 2050 without effective solutions,” said Dr. Sterling Johnson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor and Associate Director of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “Our patients who have this progressive disease don’t have the luxury of time to shoulder the unnecessary delays and uncertainty that we are currently experiencing. The clock is ticking for them and their families. Now more than ever we need the continued full resolve and commitment of the federal government to meet their need.”  
    “I am here today as a scientist who has had 2 NIH grants abruptly terminated in the past month. On February 28th my first NIH grant was terminated, which had only 6 months remaining on a 4-year award… While these terminations are devastating for me and my team, particularly junior faculty and students, my primary concern is for the patients, research participants and the families who are already being impacted by the NIH’s recent radical shift in funding priorities,” said Dr. Whitney Wharton, PhD, Emory University Associate Professor and Alzheimer’s Disease researcher. “Termination of my peer reviewed grants, and hundreds of others, which were awarded based on merit, has potentially devastating implications for all Americans. It sets a concerning precedent where scientific inquiry and peer reviewed and awarded projects are turned off and on based on a set of changing priorities. Not only can this cause confusion, but it could also impact the pipeline of new and talented young investigators, and erase entire communities of patients, who are the most impacted by diseases like Alzheimer’s, from research entirely.” 
    “I speak here today not only for myself, but for every patient who has ever held out hope that research would buy them another year — or another decade. Without robust, sustained, and predictable funding from the NIH, those bridges to the next treatment won’t be there when patients need them. The bridge that saved me was built through decades of investment, innovation, and relentless commitment from our nation’s scientific community. But those bridges don’t build themselves,” said Dr. Larry Saltzman, M.D., retired physician living with leukemia and former Executive Research Director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I am living proof of what NIH research can do, and I don’t think I would be here today without the commitment that Congress has shown by prioritizing NIH funding over the past many decades. I ask you to protect this funding — so that more people can outlive their expiration dates.” 
    “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies have been critical in funding groundbreaking research that offers hope to thousands of individuals like me, including by providing access to experimental treatments for ALS. The experimental drug I am taking could not only extend my life but could also lead to a cure. Access to this drug could mean seeing my son and grandson graduate high school and college, something I did not think was possible when I was diagnosed,” said Mr. Jessy Ybarra, veteran living with ALS and Board of Trustees member for the ALS Association. “But now funding cuts and reductions to funding at NIH and other research agencies threaten to derail decades of progress right when we are at the tipping point of finally finding a cure. But to be clear, this isn’t just about me, and everyone else impacted by ALS now and in the future. ALS costs our nation over one-billion dollars a year. Investing in finding a cure is not only fiscally responsible, but very simply, good public policy. I urge Congress to reject these harmful cuts to NIH and support the funding necessary.” 
    Joining Senators Baldwin, Welch, and Schumer at the forum were Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass).  
    Over the last two months, the Trump Administration has attacked, compromised, and gutted research at the NIH for lifesaving cures and treatments, including: 
    Cutting Funding for Research Facilities: NIH announced last month that it was planning to arbitrarily cap indirect cost rates at 15%, which would slash billions of dollars in funding that helps research institutions, like the University of Wisconsin, operate their facilities and labs, pay staff, and buy equipment needed for groundbreaking work to find cures for diseases and treatments for patients. 
    Stopping Funding for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Trump Administration is jeopardizing $65 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at 14 research institutions across the country. 14 of the 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) have had their funding halted because the Trump Administration continues to cancel NIH Advisory Council meetings, which are the final required step in the grant approval process. 
    Terminating Grants for Lifesaving Research: The Trump Administration stopped all grant funding at NIH for ten days in February and is continuing to block funding for lifesaving disease research, like finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. This halt in funding is despite two court orders directing the Trump Administration to end its unlawful efforts to freeze all federal grants. This is in addition to Elon Musk indiscriminately terminating hundreds of active NIH grants every week, in direct defiance of federal court orders to stop NIH funding changes amid ongoing litigation. 
    Gutting Critical Staff: Mass layoffs at HHS under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s direction are impacting everything from research to clinical trials, including scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and experts tracking disease spread. Reports show the NIH is expected to cut between 3,400 and 5,000 positions from its workforce of 20,000.  
    NIH funding contributed to research for roughly 99% of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019, including heart medications, according to the Center for American Progress. The advocacy group United for Medical Research found that in fiscal year 2023, funding from the agency supported more than 410,000 jobs, with 10,000 NIH-supported jobs in some states. In that same year, NIH-funded research fueled nearly $93 billion in economic spending. Overall, the economic benefit of NIH funding is more than twice the investment made through NIH appropriations.  
    For a breakdown of how much funding each state receives from the NIH, click here. A one-pager on President Donald Trump’s actions to gut the NIH and its impacts is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Blasts Radical Leftists for Supporting Domestic Terrorists Over the Safety of Jewish Students: ‘Lying on a visa is not speech’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Thursday, March 27, 2025

    Today in a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on antisemitism, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) blasted radical Democrats for putting domestic terrorists over the safety of Jewish students on college campuses. He reminded the Committee that American law expressly empowers the Trump administration to revoke the visa of any individual that espouses or supports terrorist activity in the United States.
    He made this point to a witness defending the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil. “Lying on a visa application is not speech. Seeking to assault Columbia university employees and Jewish students is not speech,” argued Senator Hawley. “You are defending an individual who has espoused the destruction of this country, the destruction of the state of Israel, the destruction of Jews, and has taken action in furtherance of the same.”
    [embedded content]
    “I want to say for the record, I’m glad [Mahmoud Khalil] is gone, and I hope he never comes back,” said Senator Hawley, after reminding the committee that Khalil has been sued by victims of the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel.
    Senator Hawley has long pushed for the removal of any individual that targets Jewish students on college campuses by actively supporting terrorist groups.
    Watch the full exchange here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Slams Trump’s Dangerous Anti-Voter Executive Order, Calls on Hegseth to Resign Over Mishandling Sensitive National Security Information

    US Senate News:

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

    WATCH: Padilla Slams Trump’s Dangerous Anti-Voter Executive Order, Calls on Hegseth to Resign Over Mishandling Sensitive National Security Information

    “This is an Administration who can’t keep a simple text message chain straightforward…and now they’re going to dictate voter registration and elections in states across the country? I don’t think so.”

    WATCH: Padilla underscores threats of Trump’s executive order to the fundamental right to voteWASHINGTON, D.C. — During an interview today with MSNBC’s José Díaz-Balart, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, blasted President Trump for his illegal executive order attempting to disenfranchise millions of American voters. Padilla also reiterated his calls for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign after he demonstrated a staggering incompetence and lack of judgment by mishandling sensitive and classified information.
    In a statement earlier this week, Senator Padilla condemned Trump’s unlawful attempt at a Presidential power grab over his anti-voter executive order.
    Key Excerpts:
    On President Trump’s reckless anti-voter executive order:
    “I previously served as California’s Secretary of State, and during the first Donald Trump Administration, there were efforts on behalf of Donald Trump to try to go after personal voter information for voters all across the country under the premise of trying to root out voter fraud. The fact of the matter is, it is already unlawful for noncitizens to vote in our elections. The fact of the matter is, a voter fraud of this type is extremely, extremely rare. So the current safeguards, the current laws, are already working.”
    “Any time Democrats have proposed strengthening our democracy by strengthening voting rights, Republicans become unglued saying, ‘no, no, no, the Constitution is clear, states run elections.’ They don’t want the federalization or the federal government dictating how states run elections. But now they’re silent, when all of a sudden it’s Donald Trump trying to impose how he wants voter registration to happen in states and how people can vote in states.”
    “We all learned in high school that our democracy works best when as many eligible people participate. … In some ways, this is a ‘show me your papers’ law to be able to register to vote, and we know who is disproportionately impacted by that.”
    “Our more than sneaking suspicion here is that Donald Trump and his cronies want to make it harder for maybe younger people, maybe the elderly, maybe communities of color or lower-income communities, to either be able to register to vote to begin with, or to actually cast ballots in the election. It’s a form of voter suppression that’s unnecessary.”
    On Secretary Hegseth mishandling sensitive national security information:
    “Accountability should be [Secretary Hegseth] resigning. He’s clearly in over his head. That’s why I was a ‘no’ vote on his confirmation. We knew he wasn’t qualified. We knew he wasn’t prepared. God help us. Who knows what other Keystone Cop mistakes that they’re making with our national security.”
    “So again, to tie the two issues together, José, this is an Administration who can’t keep a simple text message chain straightforward and secure, and now they’re going to dictate voter registration and elections in states across the country? I don’t think so.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses Risks from WilmerHale

    Source: The White House

    SUSPENDING SECURITY CLEARANCES TO PROTECT THE NATIONAL INTEREST: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to suspend security clearances held by individuals at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest.

    • Security clearances held by WilmerHale employees will be immediately suspended, pending a review of whether their access to sensitive information is consistent with the national interest.
      • The Federal Government will halt all material and services, including sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) access provided to WilmerHale and restrict its employees’ access to government buildings.
      • Federal Agencies will also refrain from hiring WilmerHale employees unless specifically authorized.
    • To ensure taxpayer dollars no longer go to contractors whose earnings subsidize activities not aligned with American interests, the Federal Government will terminate contracts that involve WilmerHale.
    • The practices of WilmerHale will be reviewed under Title VII to ensure compliance with civil rights laws against racial bias.

    ADDRESSING ROGUE LAW FIRMS: President Trump believes that lawyers and law firms that engage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests should not be subsidized by American taxpayers or have access to our Nation’s secrets.

    • WilmerHale has abandoned the legal profession’s highest ideals and abused its pro bono practice to engage in activities that undermine justice and the interests of the United States.
    • WilmerHale pursues partisan goals, supports efforts to discriminate on the basis of race, and backs the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our borders.
    • WilmerHale has furthered the degradation of the quality of American elections by supporting efforts designed to enable noncitizens to vote.
    • WilmerHale has been accused of discriminating against its own employees on the basis of race and other categories prohibited by civil rights laws, including through the use of race-based “targets.”
    • WilmerHale rewarded Robert Mueller and two of his colleagues by welcoming them to the firm after they wielded the power of the Federal government to lead a partisan “investigation” against the President and others.   Mueller’s investigation epitomizes the weaponization of government.

    A RETURN TO ACCOUNTABILITY: President Trump is delivering on his promise to end the weaponization of government and protect the nation from partisan and bad faith actors who exploit their influence. 

    • In addition to WilmerHale, President Trump has also taken action to hold other major law firms accountable.
    • This Executive Order aligns with President Trump’s priority on refocusing government operations to serve the citizens of the United States.
    • It builds on President Trump’s previous actions, such as signing an Executive Order on his first day in office to end the weaponization of the Federal government and ensure accountability for past misconduct.
    • It follows his revocation of security clearances held by intelligence officials who falsely claimed Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation during the 2020 election.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Works to Make Our Nation’s Capital Safe and Beautiful

    Source: The White House

    MAKING WASHINGTON THE GREATEST CAPITAL CITY IN THE WORLD: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to make Washington, D.C. what it should be—the pride of every American to whom it belongs.  

    • The Executive Order establishes a task force, officially known as the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, that will be comprised of members of key government agencies.
    • The task force is directed to:
      • Surge law enforcement officers in public areas and strictly enforce quality-of-life laws in public areas like drug use, unpermitted demonstrations, vandalism, and public intoxication.
      • Maximize immigration enforcement to apprehend and deport dangerous illegal aliens, including monitoring D.C.’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
      • Help D.C.’s forensic crime laboratory get accreditation.
      • Provide assistance to the D.C. Police Department in recruiting and retaining officers and boosting capabilities.
      • Keep dangerous criminals off the streets by strengthening pre-trial detention policies.
      • Expedite concealed carry licenses for law-abiding citizens.
      • Crack down on fare evasion and other crimes on the D.C. Metro system.
    • The Executive Order will also create a program to beautify Washington, D.C.:
      • This includes restoring and beautifying Federal buildings, monuments, statues, memorials, parks, and roadways, removing graffiti from commonly visited areas, and ensuring the cleanliness of public spaces and parks.
      • The National Park Service will rapidly clear all homeless encampments and graffiti on federal lands.

    AMERICANS DESERVE A BETTER CAPITAL THAN TODAY’S WASHINGTON: Our nation’s capital, the only city that belongs to all of us, must be a symbol of pride for the American people and a safe location for public servants to do the people’s work. Today, because of failed policies, it’s not.

    • Crime is near historic highs, yet D.C. police force numbers recently reached a half-century low.
      • The left is touting modest decreases in D.C. crime in 2024, but they still represent a massive increase from earlier rates. In 2023, violent crime rose by 39 percent. Property crime rose by 24 percent.
      • This mirrors the spin they tried to put on “decreases” in the rate of inflation in recent years. Inflation is still up—and so is crime. And Americans are smart enough to notice.
      • For example, 2023 saw the highest number of homicides in the District since 1997.
      • The D.C. Metro Police Department needs at least 4,000 officers, yet has fewer than 3,500.
    • D.C.’s failed policies opened the door to disorder—and criminals noticed. Washington, DC:
      • Abandoned traditional pre-trial detention and effectively replaced it with ‘catch-and-release.’
      • Decriminalized marijuana.
      • Lets rioters run loose even if they vandalize property and assault police.
    • In 2022, the Biden U.S. Attorney for D.C. declined to prosecute 67% of arrested people who would have been tried in D.C. Superior Court. 
    • The vacuum in law enforcement has created an environment that facilitates crime and blight, encourages homeless and vagrancy encampments, and jeopardizes public safety.
    • The D.C. crime lab remains partially unaccredited, creating a bottleneck for investigations. Federal authorities will assist with capacity so forensic work can resume and accreditation can be regained.

    PRESIDENT TRUMP KEEPS HIS PROMISES: President Trump is following through on his promise to restore Washington, D.C. to glory by making the nation’s capital safe and beautiful once again.

    • On President Trump’s first return to Washington since leaving office in 2021, he lamented “the filth and the decay” that marred the nation’s capital in his absence.
    • President Trump later promised that his Administration would “take over the horribly run capital of our nation, Washington, D.C., and clean it up, renovate it, and rebuild our capital city so that it is no longer a nightmare of murder and crime, but rather it will become the most beautiful capital anywhere in the world.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores Truth and Sanity to American History

    Source: The White House

    RESTORING TRUTH IN AMERICAN HISTORY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order restoring truth and sanity to American history by revitalizing key cultural institutions and reversing the spread of divisive ideology.

    • President Trump aims to ensure that the Smithsonian is an institution that sparks children’s imagination, celebrates American history and ingenuity, serves as a symbol to the world of American greatness, and makes America proud.
      • The Order directs the Vice President, who is a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, to work to eliminate improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology from the Smithsonian and its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo.
      • The Order directs the Administration to work with Congress to ensure that future Smithsonian appropriations: (1) prohibit funding for exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans by race, or promote ideologies inconsistent with Federal law; and (2) celebrate women’s achievements in the American Women’s History Museum and do not recognize men as women.
      • The Vice President will work with congressional leaders to appoint members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents who are committed to advancing the celebration of America’s extraordinary heritage and progress.
    • The Order also directs the Secretary of the Interior restore Federal parks, monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties that have been improperly removed or changed in the last five years to perpetuate a false revision of history or improperly minimize or disparage certain historical figures or events.
    • In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, the Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete restorations and improvements to Independence Hall by that date.

    COMBATING CORROSIVE IDEOLOGY: In the last decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted effort to rewrite American history and force our nation to adopt a factually baseless ideology aimed at diminishing American achievement. President Trump is fighting back by reestablishing truth in the historical narrative and restoring Federal sites dedicated to American heritage.

    • The prior administration pushed a divisive ideology that reconstrued America’s promotion of liberty as fundamentally flawed, infecting revered institutions like the Smithsonian and national parks with false narratives.
    • At Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, the Biden Administration sponsored training by an organization that advocates for dismantling “Western foundations” and that taught Park Rangers that their racial identity should dictate how they present history to visitors.
    • The Smithsonian Institution—once revered throughout the world as a symbol of American excellence—has recently promoted divisive ideology that American and Western values are harmful.
      • The American Art Museum currently features an exhibit that purports to address how “sculpture has been a powerful tool in promoting scientific racism” and claims that the United States has “used race to establish and maintain systems of power, privilege, and disenfranchisement.”
      • The National Museum of African American History and Culture has proclaimed that “hard work,” “individualism,” and “the nuclear family” are aspects of “White culture.”
      • The American Women’s History Museum plans to celebrate male athletes participating in women’s sports.

    CELEBRATING AMERICAN GREATNESS: President Trump is committed to honoring America’s extraordinary heritage and building a sense of national pride.

    • President Trump signed an Executive Order on his first day in office to establish a task force to prepare for America’s 250th birthday.
      • This Order also protects America’s monuments from vandalism and calls for construction of the National Garden of American Heroes.
    • President Trump signed a memorandum ensuring Federal buildings reflect the timeless grandeur of traditional, classical architecture.
    • By signing this Executive Order, President Trump is ensuring that American history is celebrated accurately, fairly, and with pride—honoring the remarkable progress, liberty, and ingenuity that define our great nation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.  This revisionist movement seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light.  Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.  Rather than fostering unity and a deeper understanding of our shared past, the widespread effort to rewrite history deepens societal divides and fosters a sense of national shame, disregarding the progress America has made and the ideals that continue to inspire millions around the globe.

    The prior administration advanced this corrosive ideology.  At Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — where our Nation declared that all men are created equal — the prior administration sponsored training by an organization that advocates dismantling “Western foundations” and “interrogating institutional racism” and pressured National Historical Park rangers that their racial identity should dictate how they convey history to visiting Americans because America is purportedly racist. 

    Once widely respected as a symbol of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology.  This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.  For example, the Smithsonian American Art Museum today features “The Shape of Power:  Stories of Race and American Sculpture,” an exhibit representing that “[s]ocieties including the United States have used race to establish and maintain systems of power, privilege, and disenfranchisement.”  The exhibit further claims that “sculpture has been a powerful tool in promoting scientific racism” and promotes the view that race is not a biological reality but a social construct, stating “Race is a human invention.”

    The National Museum of African American History and Culture has proclaimed that “hard work,” “individualism,” and “the nuclear family” are aspects of “White culture.”  The forthcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum plans on celebrating the exploits of male athletes participating in women’s sports.  These are just a few examples.

    It is the policy of my Administration to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.  Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.

    To advance this policy, we will restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness –- igniting the imagination of young minds, honoring the richness of American history and innovation, and instilling pride in the hearts of all Americans.

    Sec. 2.  Saving Our Smithsonian.  (a)  The Vice President, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Staff Secretary, Lindsey Halligan, Esq., shall work to effectuate the policies of this order through his role on the Smithsonian Board of Regents with respect to the Smithsonian Institution and its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo, including by seeking to remove improper ideology from such properties, and shall recommend to the President any additional actions necessary to fully effectuate such policies.

    (b)  The Vice President and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall work with the Congress to ensure that future appropriations to the Smithsonian Institution:

    (i)   prohibit expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy; and

    (ii)  celebrate the achievements of women in the American Women’s History Museum and do not recognize men as women in any respect in the Museum.

    (c)  The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of the Interior shall take any other measures within their authority to promote the policy of this order.

    (d)  As appropriate, the Vice President shall, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Staff Secretary, Lindsey Halligan, Esq., work with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader, to seek the appointment of citizen members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents committed to advancing the policy of this order.

    Sec. 3.  Restoring Independence Hall.  The Secretary of the Interior shall provide sufficient funding, as available, to improve the infrastructure of Independence National Historical Park, which shall be complete by July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

    Sec. 4.  Restoring Truth in American History.

    (a)  The Secretary of the Interior shall:

    (i)    determine whether, since January 1, 2020, public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology;

    (ii)   take action to reinstate the pre-existing monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties, as appropriate and consistent with 43 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., 54 U.S.C. 100101 et seq.,and other applicable law; and

    (iii)  take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to ensure that all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape.

    Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 

                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        March 27, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Addressing Risks From WilmerHale

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Background.  My Administration is committed to addressing the significant risks associated with law firms, particularly so-called “Big Law” firms, that engage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests.  Many firms take actions that threaten public safety and national security, limit constitutional freedoms, degrade the quality of American elections, or undermine bedrock American principles.  Moreover, law firms regularly conduct this harmful activity through their powerful pro bono practices, earmarking hundreds of millions of their clients’ dollars for destructive causes, that often directly or indirectly harm their own clients.  Lawyers and law firms that engage in such egregious conduct should not have access to our Nation’s secrets, nor should such conduct be subsidized by Federal taxpayer funds or contracts.
    Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is yet another law firm that has abandoned the profession’s highest ideals and abused its pro bono practice to engage in activities that undermine justice and the interests of the United States.  For example, WilmerHale engages in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends, supports efforts to discriminate on the basis of race, backs the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our borders, and furthers the degradation of the quality of American elections, including by supporting efforts designed to enable noncitizens to vote.  Moreover, WilmerHale itself discriminates against its employees based on race and other categories prohibited by civil rights laws, including through the use of race-based “targets.”
    WilmerHale is also bent on employing lawyers who weaponize the prosecutorial power to upend the democratic process and distort justice.  For example, WilmerHale rewarded Robert Mueller and his colleagues — Aaron Zebley, Mueller’s “top aide” and “closest associate,” and James Quarles — by welcoming them to the firm after they wielded the power of the Federal Government to lead one of the most partisan investigations in American history.  Mueller’s investigation epitomizes the weaponization of government, yet WilmerHale claimed he “embodies the highest value of our firm and profession.”  Mueller’s “investigation” upended the lives of public servants in my Administration who were summoned before “prosecutors” with the effect of interfering in their ability to fulfill the mandates of my first term agenda.  This weaponization of the justice system must not be rewarded, let alone condoned.

    Sec. 2.  Security Clearance Review.  (a)  The Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and all other relevant heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall immediately take steps consistent with applicable law to suspend any active security clearances held by individuals at WilmerHale, pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest.
    (b)  The Office of Management and Budget shall identify all Government goods, property, material, and services, including Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, provided for the benefit of WilmerHale.  The heads of agencies providing such material or services shall, to the extent permitted by law, expeditiously cease such provision.

    Sec. 3.  Contracting.  (a)  To prevent the transfer of taxpayer dollars to Federal contractors whose earnings subsidize, among other things, activities that are not aligned with American interests, including racial discrimination, Government contracting agencies shall, to the extent permissible by law, require Government contractors to disclose any business they do with WilmerHale and whether that business is related to the subject of the Government contract.
    (b)  The heads of agencies shall review all contracts with WilmerHale or with entities that disclose doing business with WilmerHale under subsection (a) of this section.  To the extent permitted by law, the heads of agencies shall:
    (i)   take appropriate steps to terminate any contract, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, for which WilmerHale has been hired to perform any service; and
    (ii)  otherwise align their agency funding decisions with the interests of the citizens of the United States; with the goals and priorities of my Administration as expressed in executive actions, especially Executive Order 14147 of January 20, 2025 (Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government); and as heads of agencies deem appropriate.  Within 30 days of the date of this order, agencies shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an assessment of contracts with WilmerHale or with entities that do business with WilmerHale effective as of the date of this order and any actions taken with respect to those contracts in accordance with this order.

    Sec. 4.  Racial Discrimination.  Nothing in this order shall be construed to limit the action authorized by section 4 of Executive Order 14230 of March 6, 2025 (Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP).  

    Sec. 5.  Personnel.  (a)  The heads of agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide guidance limiting official access from Federal Government buildings to employees of WilmerHale when such access would threaten the national security of or otherwise be inconsistent with the interests of the United States.  In addition, the heads of agencies shall provide guidance limiting Government employees acting in their official capacity from engaging with WilmerHale employees to ensure consistency with the national security and other interests of the United States.
    (b)  Agency officials shall, to the extent permitted by law, refrain from hiring employees of WilmerHale, absent a waiver from the head of the agency, made in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, that such hire will not threaten the national security of the United States.

     Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
     

     
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP
     
      

     
    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        March 27, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Questions Defense Nominees on Modernization, Protecting Innovators, Access to Rural Mental Health Care Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider four nominations for key positions within the U.S. Department of Defense. During the hearing, members heard testimony from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force nominee Troy Meink, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment nominee Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering nominee Emil Michael, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs nominee Keith Bass.

    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer questioned the nominees about the importance of keeping pace with adversaries, protecting innovators, and legislation he championed and was signed into law to increase access to rural mental health care services.

    [embedded content]

    Cramer said he has been told the U.S. Air Force is considering cancelling solicitations for Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Transport satellite layers on Tranches 2 and 3, and instead using Starshield, an existing SpaceX capability.  

    He said one of the specific purposes of SDA in its founding document was to “expand our space warfighting capability and foster growth in the U.S. space industrial base.” However, cutting the bids for these transport layers means eight or more small and mid-sized companies would not be allowed to bid, he said.

    Cramer asked Dr. Meink whether he thinks cutting opportunities like this could hurt innovators in the industrial base and the potential going forward.

    “One of the things that I’ve pushed for, particularly over the last 10 years, is expand competition and expand the industry base,” said Dr. Meink. “That ends up almost always with the best result, both from a capability and cost to the government. I’m not familiar with those discussions going on within the Pentagon. If confirmed, I look forward to diving into that.”

    The founding document for SDA, written in March 2019, warned “we cannot match the pace our adversaries are setting if we remain bound by legacy methods and culture.” Cramer asked Dr. Meink if he thought the statement was needed in 2019, and whether he thinks the statement is relevant today. Dr. Meink replied he believes that sort of thinking is always required. 

    “We always have to look at how we’re operating, how we’re executing as technology changes, as different threats change, we have to be flexible and adaptable enough,” said Dr. Meink. “We have made, I believe, significant improvements in how we are acquiring systems. I would argue that at that point in time, there were probably no programs that were moving faster than the Chinese. That is not the case now, but we still have a long way to go, Senator. And I think you pointed a couple of those out.”

    The conversation then shifted towards legislation tragically inspired by the loss of two airmen at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Cramer championed the legislation in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), ensuring access to crucial mental health services for military members and their dependents in rural areas across the country.

    If access to behavioral health care in a state fails to meet current TRICARE Prime standards for more than 12 consecutive months, the Secretary is tasked with expanding accreditation standards to ensure military members and their dependents receive timely and effective care despite the ongoing shortage of behavioral health providers.

    “I’m going to switch it over to you, Mr. Bass, and talk about something that’s really near and dear to my heart, coming from a rural state, very rural area, with some really important bases in our country, in our world, and certainly to me,” said Cramer. “The reason this became important to me is because I know of two airmen, who sought mental health care at Grand Forks and were denied by TRICARE, who are no longer with us because they ultimately chose to take their own lives. All because of this one accreditation. I don’t know what would’ve happened had they been able to get the care that was available to them.”

    Cramer asked Bass if he would commit to the men and women of the military that he will take this law seriously and watch this yearlong study closely. Cramer said the last thing he wants is to follow up after 12 months to see what the outcome is and then wait another four months for the answer to his question.

    “The mental health access for our service members in our total force has to be a priority, and I will commit to working with you on that,” stated Bass.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBC Advances Pair of Commonsense Bills to Crack Down on Fraudsters, Support Rural Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Published: March 27, 2025

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, led by Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), advanced a pair of bipartisan bills to crack down on fraud and expand rural small businesses’ access to critical resources.
    “The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship continues to enact commonsense solutions to help Main Street,” said Chair Ernst.
    Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Ernst’s Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act prevents criminals convicted of defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) from receiving future assistance from the agency. 
    “After the previous administration failed to pursue pandemic fraud, we are making up for lost time by holding criminals accountable,” said Chair Ernst.
    “Covid-era programs meant to support small businesses were repeatedly taken advantage of by fraudsters, depriving businesses of much-needed relief. I’m leading this effort to ensure that those convicted of defrauding the SBA will no longer be able to access future financial assistance from taxpayers,” said Young. 
    The Coordinated Support for Rural Small Businesses Act led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) increases coordination between the SBA and U.S. Department of Agriculture to support rural small businesses.
    “In towns across Iowa, small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economies. This bipartisan measure will streamline coordination between government agencies and help ensure that these job creators have access to the resources they need to succeed,” Chair Ernst.
    “Louisiana’s small businesses provide good paying jobs to folks throughout our state and support local economic growth. I’m thankful to my colleagues for advancing this bill to improve support for job creators and I look forward to full Senate consideration,” said Kennedy. 
    Background:
    A recent Government Accountability Office report exposed jaw-dropping incompetence by the Biden SBA in pursuing fraudsters that stole more than $200 billion in pandemic relief designated for small businesses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Markey: “SBA Is Putting Big Billionaires Over Small Businesses”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (March 27, 2025) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement after today’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee business meeting.

    “President Trump and Administrator Loeffler are running the Small Business Administration (SBA) into the ground. While proposing to cut 2,700 jobs – nearly half of SBA’s workforce – they are also proposing SBA take on the country’s $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. On top of that, Administrator Loeffler is also threatening to relocate regional offices for political reasons while Musk and DOGE cancel SBA office spaces left and right. Their agenda is clear as day: put big billionaires over small businesses.

    “While the Committee did not hold a vote on William Briggs to be SBA Deputy Administrator and Casey Mulligan to be Chief Counsel of Advocacy at SBA today, it is deeply troubling that the Committee is planning to move forward with the confirmation of these two political appointees while Trump, Loeffler, and DOGE are taking an axe to the livelihoods of small business owners across the country. And we don’t even know what they are trying to chop down until we hear the thud – from fired employees, to closures of offices, to contract and grant cancellations. The survival of our 34 million small businesses, and over 700,000 in Massachusetts, will be severely threatened if this is the way the SBA is going to be led.

    “In today’s meeting, we passed Senator Shaheen’s Coordinated Support for Rural Small Businesses Act, which will give businesses in rural Massachusetts and across the country more focused attention so they can access loans and counseling services more easily. The Committee also advanced Senator Todd Young’s Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act. I expressed concerns with this legislation and hope my Republican colleagues will work with us on needed changes before the bill reaches the Senate floor. For the small business owners who are pursuing the American dream, and for the communities that depend on them, we must prioritize the business of the committee over the business of billionaires.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Gallego Introduce Legislation to Combat Urban Heat Islands

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Bill comes after record-breaking spring temperatures in Phoenix and across the West this week

    Washington (March 28, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) today introduced the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act which would create a competitive grant program to provide funding to combat the causes and consequences of urban heat islands. Heat islands occur when urban areas experience higher temperatures due to factors such as increased population density; a lack of shading; and pavement infrastructure such as parking lots, sidewalks, and roadways. 34 million Americans currently live in areas where manmade factors are pushing up temperatures by 8 degrees Fahrenheit or more.   

    “Extreme heat has become a near universal experience for families across the country, and its effects are particularly dangerous for marginalized communities who often lack proper cooling infrastructure,” said Senator Markey. “The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act would address years of underinvestment in these communities by directing federal resources toward life-saving solutions – such as increased tree canopy, shaded bus stops, and community cooling centers. As record-breaking heat strikes year after year, neighborhoods in every corner of America deserve to stay healthy and cool while commuting, working, and playing outside.” 

    “As summers in Arizona and across the country get longer and hotter, they also get deadlier – especially in cities where a lack of shade and miles of concrete push temperatures even higher,” said Senator Gallego. “I’ve long been a champion of doing more to address extreme heat, and I am proud to continue that effort by introducing this bill in the Senate.”

    The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act would create a $30 million grant program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for entities such as local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, Tribal governments, and nonprofits to implement efforts that prevent and offset the effects of excess urban heat including: cool pavements, cool roofs, tree planting and maintenance, green roofs, bus stop covers, cooling centers, and local heat mitigation education efforts.

    “This week, Phoenix broke our own record when Sky Harbor hit 99 degrees on March 25. The climate crisis is the most pressing issue for our generation,” said Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), the House sponsor of the bill. “I came to Congress to take bold action and secure federal investments because lives are at stake. I’m proud to stand with Senator Ruben Gallego in introducing the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act—Arizonans can’t afford to wait.”

    “With extreme heat driven by the climate crisis a growing threat to the well-being of Oregonians and everybody in our country, it’s a must for federal investment to help local communities respond to this life-and-death risk,” Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. “This bill would provide those resources for locally driven responses that could provide relief for farmworkers, construction workers and everybody working outdoors as well as for people living indoors and lacking affordable cooling options.”

    “In places like East Portland, where a lack of tree canopy already leaves neighborhoods dangerously exposed to extreme heat, the Trump Administration’s illegal funding freeze and grant contract cancellations will only deepen this heat crisis,” said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore). “The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act provides much-needed resources for tree planting, cooling centers, and other solutions to fight climate chaos and keep our communities safe.” 

    “New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the nation, and in Newark where I live, residents experience temperatures that are 8 degrees higher because of the urban heat island effect,” said Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). “I am proud to cosponsor this legislation that will empower our communities to combat the rise in urban heat due to climate change, both by tackling the underlying causes and by enabling communities to adapt.”

    “Extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense in the face of the climate crisis, threatening the health and safety of communities in California and across the country,” said Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). “These health impacts are even more severe in lower-income, urban areas, where residents struggle to find shaded spaces in higher temperatures. Our legislation would help groups on the ground lead urban heat reduction efforts in their communities, while addressing both the long-term causes and consequences of excess urban heat.” 

    “Extreme heat is a growing public health emergency that kills more Americans every year than any other weather-related causes—and breaks down American infrastructure. Senator Ruben Gallego’s Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act offers a smart, scalable response by supporting proven landscape-based strategies like tree planting, bus and transit shelters, green roofs, and park development. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) strongly supports this legislation, which affirms the vital role of landscape architects in building healthier, cooler, and fairer communities through design that works with nature,” said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen.

    “Extreme heat is the deadliest natural disaster, killing more people than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. Trees decrease this threat, reducing street temperatures by up to 20°F compared to neighborhoods without trees,” said Joel Pannell, American Forests Vice President of Urban Forests Policy. “Trees are life-saving infrastructure. This urgently needed legislation will give HUD a prominent role in protecting communities from the increasing threats of extreme heat while empowering local decision-making and creating jobs.”

    The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act is also supported by Climate Mayors, Smart Surfaces Coalition, Federation of American Scientists, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Union of Concerned Scientists, GreenLatinos, Center for Biological Diversity, National Coalition for the Homeless, American Lung Association, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Climate Resolve, and TreePeople.

    The bill text is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey, Congressman McGovern Introduce Legislation to Protect Deerfield River

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Bill Text (PDF)

    Washington (March 27, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (MA-02) today reintroduced the Deerfield River Wild and Scenic River Study Act, legislation to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the Deerfield River to identify portions of the river and its tributaries that could be incorporated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Deerfield River runs from southern Vermont through western Massachusetts to the Connecticut River and historically served as a travel route for native communities alongside the Mohawk Trail. Today, the river continues to serve as an invaluable resource for surrounding neighborhoods and the environment.

    “Deeply rooted in our Commonwealth’s history, the Deerfield River carries invaluable natural, cultural, and recreational value,” said Senator Markey. “From swimming and rafting to canoeing and fly fishing, the Deerfield River continues to serve as an important resource for Massachusetts families and visitors to the region. I am proud to join Congressman McGovern in reintroducing this legislation that will protect and preserve this natural beauty for generations to come.”

    “The Deerfield River is truly one of New England’s greatest natural treasures, with outstanding whitewater boating, scenery and fishing, and the Deerfield River Watershed Association is excited to work with Senator Markey and Ranking Member McGovern to introduce legislation to consider the Deerfield River for potential addition to the National?Wild and Scenic River System. To date, we have garnered the support of 21 watershed communities, including 14 Massachusetts communities and 7 Vermont towns, as well as 12 regional and state organizations, for this initiative, demonstrating the broad-based support for protecting this beautiful river,” said Christopher Curtis, Vice President of the Deerfield River Watershed Association.

    In February 2019, Senator Markey introduced legislation to designate portions of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as scenic rivers under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, which was then signed into law that year under part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Murkowski Propose New Tax Credit to Promote Hydropower Facility Upgrades & Keep Energy Costs Affordable

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    03.27.25

    Cantwell, Murkowski Propose New Tax Credit to Promote Hydropower Facility Upgrades & Keep Energy Costs Affordable

    Bipartisan legislation creates new federal incentive for dam safety and fish passage improvements, as well as help fund removal of obsolete river obstructions

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined Susan Collins (R-ME), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), in re-introducing bipartisan legislation to establish a new 30% federal tax incentive to encourage safety upgrades and improve fish passage at existing hydroelectric facilities, measures that will help ensure clean and affordable hydropower is able to continue power the Pacific Northwest economy. The bill would also create an additional complementary 30% tax credit to remove unused river barriers that do not produce electricity but are harming local ecosystems and outdoor recreation opportunities.

    “Clean and affordable hydropower is the backbone of Washington state’s economy and prosperity,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This measure will help ensure we can meet our urgent emission reduction goals while restoring miles of fish habitat.”

    “Hydropower provides clean, reliable, and affordable baseload energy around Alaska, but we’ve just begun to tap into our potential for this abundant resource,” Senator Murkowski said. “Our common sense legislation incentivizes hydropower along with innovation that will enhance grid resiliency, make our dams safer, and allow our fish habitats to thrive.”

    The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2025;

    • Establishes a 30% federal tax incentive to encourage upgrades to the safety and security of existing dams, investments that expand fish passage infrastructure, and improvements to water quality and recreational use opportunities at hydropower project sites. 
    • Establishes a first ever federal cost-share to encourage the removal of obsolete obstructions that harm river ecosystems and outdoor recreation opportunities.

    Both these tax incentives are available to be accessed by not-for-profit entities.

    The bipartisan Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act is widely supported by a number of key hydropower, utility, and conservation organizations — go HERE for a list of quotes from stakeholders

    Hydropower accounts for 5.7% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2023, including approximately sixty percent of Washington state’s total and is a vital component of state and regional greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Hydropower also has the unique ability to provide black start capabilities, grid voltage support, and integrate and balance increasing amounts of intermittent renewable energy sources.

    Many hydroelectric dams are decades old and face costly upgrades to keep them operational while providing affordable electricity. The current Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that covers hydropower only applies to investments that produce a marginal increase in power generation.

    This bipartisan legislation helps bridge the gap in current law by incentivizing upgrades that don’t result in power increases but are vitally important like adding fish-friendly turbines, fish ladders, and adding or replacing floodgates and spillways. Private, state, local, and non-profit groups can use the 30% federal tax incentive, with a direct pay option, to support efforts to demolish and remove unnecessary barriers with the owner’s consent.

    A joint proposal from the hydropower and river conservation community estimated that increased support for existing dam removal efforts could double the removal rate over the next ten years. That would result in the removal of 2,000 obsolete river obstructions and restore ecosystem functions essential for salmon recovery by opening up 20,000 miles of free-flowing river habitat.

    Sen. Cantwell has long been a consistent champion for hydropower production and pumped storage, including bipartisan legislation to reduce licensing barriers for small hydropower development, improve the FERC relicensing process to incentivize “early action” by utilities to make upgrades to dams that benefit ratepayers and the environment, maximize hydropower generation capacity where appropriate, and streamline pumped storage project approval.

    Last summer, Sen. Cantwell hosted a Pacific Northwest Energy Summit, to bring stakeholders together to discuss technological and policy solutions that will ensure NW ratepayers and our regional economy continue to benefit from abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Decries Trump Auto Tariffs Expected to Spike Vehicle Prices By $5,000 to $15,000

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    03.27.25

    Cantwell Decries Trump Auto Tariffs Expected to Spike Vehicle Prices By $5,000 to $15,000

    Trump declared today that he’ll impose a 25% tax on imported vehicles & some auto parts starting 4/2; Cantwell: “The Constitution gave Congress this power to set duties and to regulate foreign commerce… It’s time for Congress to reassert that authority”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor excoriating President Donald Trump’s announcement that he’ll impose a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles starting on April 2.

    “We’re going to see the price of cars go up, and the fact that the American public can’t afford grocery costs, health care costs, or housing costs – we certainly don’t need to add in auto costs,” Sen. Cantwell said. “I’m pretty sure it’s a good deal for Elon Musk and Tesla. Don’t know that it’s such a good deal for everybody else.”

    “The framers of the Constitution gave Congress this power to set duties and to regulate foreign commerce. Congress. Commerce, Article One, Section Eight, could not be clearer. It’s time for Congress to reassert that authority. We need checks and balances now more than ever. We need to invest in innovation. We need to invest in skilling and training a workforce. We need to invest in modernizing infrastructure and equipment at our factories, and we need to open foreign markets for exports,” she continued. “American business does not need an endless trade war that creates chaos and raises prices on our consumers.” 

    Following Trump’s announcement today, several Wall Street analysts reported that Tesla – the company owned by Elon Musk – stood to benefit the most, with one analyst calling the company the “clear structural winner” of the new tariff. The “Detroit Big Three” – General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) – stand to take the hardest hit.

    The tariffs could also impact West Coast ports who import automobiles, such as the Port of Vancouver, Wash., which is the largest gateway for Subaru imports in the country. In 2023, 98,000 Subarus came through the Port of Vancouver.

    Last week, Sen. Cantwell joined the Washington Council of International Trade for a Q&A session on the whiplash caused by the administration’s chaotic tariff policies – and how they particularly harm the Pacific Northwest, which is among the most trade-dependent regions in the country. Sen. Cantwell said that the current administration’s approach to trade focuses on punitive tariffs, even with America’s largest trading partners and closest allies, as opposed to innovation and alliance-building. That ethos is fundamentally at odds with how the Pacific Northwest has historically built its trade-oriented economy.

    READ MORE:

    CNBC: Wall Street analysts say Elon Musk is the clear auto tariff winner: ‘Tesla wins, Detroit bleeds’

    KOMO Seattle: Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell says Congress should intervene before a trade war expands.

    The Columbian: Record number of Subarus came through Port of Vancouver in 2023

    In Washington state, two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and trade-related industries. More information on how President Trump’s tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China will affect consumers and businesses in the State of Washington can be found HERE. Nationwide:

    • A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would add an estimated $144 billion a year to the cost of manufacturing in the United States.
    • Tariffs on Canada and Mexico could increase U.S. car prices by as much as $15,000.
    • According to the Yale Budget Lab, Trump’s proposed tariffs would result in the highest U.S. effective tariff rate in more than 80 years, and depending on the level of retaliation by other trading partners, will result in increased costs of between $1,600 and $2,000 per household. According to their analysis, food, clothing, cars, and electronics will all see above-average price increases.

    Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of increased trade to grow the economy and keep prices in check in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which was imposed in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum and devastated Washington state’s apple exports. India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted. The impact on Washington apple growers was severe: Apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023.  In September 2023, following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.

    For the past two months, President Trump has been sowing economic chaos across the country with unpredictable and ever-changing tariff announcements. His back-and-forth announcements and actions, which have whipsawed American businesses and consumers, as well as close neighbors and allies, include:

    • On January 31 — citing punishment for failing to crack down on fentanyl trafficking — the Trump administration announced plans to impose a 25% tax on many goods imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on goods imported from China, then abruptly postponed those tariffs.
    • Last month, he doubled down, announcing an additional 25% tax on all steel and aluminum imports.
    • At 12:01 a.m. ET on March 4, President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, causing stock prices in the United States to plummet.
    • Then, on March 5, he announced that automobiles from Canada and Mexico would be exempt from his tariffs for one month.
    • The morning of March 6, he announced that he would suspend the tariffs for some products from Mexico. Then, later that same afternoon, he announced he was suspending most new tariffs on products from both Mexico and Canada until April 2.
    • On March 11, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum – increasing them to 50% – before reversing himself later the same day.
    • On March 13, he threatened 200% tariffs on alcoholic products from the European Union, including all wine and Champagne.
    • Today, he announced plans to impose a 25% tax on all imported sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans, and light trucks, as well as some auto parts, beginning on April 2.

    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s speech is HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Statement on Nomination of West Virginian Karen Evans to Serve in DHS Role

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, released the below statement regarding the nomination of West Virginian, Karen Evans to serve as Under Secretary for Management at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

    “Karen Evans is a dedicated public servant, a policy expert, and a visionary leader in one of the most critical areas our nation faces— cybersecurity. She is also a friend and fellow West Virginian. I congratulate her on her nomination to serve President Trump in the Department of Homeland Security. I look forward to supporting her confirmation and working with her,” Senator Capito said. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy: Republicans Apply a Different Set of Rules for Elon Musk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    March 27, 2025

    [embedded content]

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to object to a Republican request for unanimous consent to pass a resolution that claims to condemn domestic terrorism but instead gives special treatment to Elon Musk. Murphy slammed the hypocrisy of condemning violence against Musk’s businesses while excusing the January 6th rioters who brutally attacked Capitol Police officers.

    “Come on, this resolution is not about violence or domestic terrorism. It just isn’t,” said Murphy. “This is a resolution that says one thing and one thing only: Elon Musk is in charge. He matters more than anybody else. Musk is subject to a different set of rules than everybody else. The Trump administration serves him, not us. The Republican Party serves him, not us. Elon Musk right now is effectively stealing from the American people. He is combing through our government, awarding himself contracts, canceling contracts for his competitors. He is shutting down agencies that stand in the way of his business [and] his growth. He’s giving himself access to secret information about government enforcement actions against his competitors.”

    “He is also, at the same time, currently the largest funder of Republican politics in the nation,” Murphy continued. “He spent a quarter of a billion dollars backing President Trump’s campaign. He recently told the president that he would contribute another $100 million to the president’s political arm, and guess what? At that same time, the president stood on the White House lawn to give a taxpayer-funded commercial for Elon Musk’s cars. That’s corruption at a scale that we have not seen before in this country. The integration of the Trump White House and the Republican Party and the business interests of the richest man in the world. It’s wrong.”

    Murphy highlighted the resolution’s pandering to Elon Musk despite thousands of other domestic terrorism incidents: “This resolution claims to say something about domestic terrorism, but the only terrorism, the only violence it mentions, is violence carried out against – you guessed it – Elon Musk. On an annual basis, there are 11,000 reported incidents of domestic terrorism. 11,000. Only a handful of them impact Tesla dealerships, but they’re the only acts of violence mentioned in this resolution. 52% of the reported attacks were based on racial or ethnic targeting by radicalized attackers, but they aren’t mentioned in this resolution. Only Elon Musk is mentioned in this resolution. Because a different set of rules apply to him. Because he is in charge, and he deserves protection that no one else gets. He deserves a White House TV commercial for his cars. He deserves to give himself contracts and steal from his competitors. He deserves to have his own resolution.”

    Murphy proposed the Senate also agree to a resolution expressing disapproval of the pardons of January 6th rioters: “This resolution just says that the specific set of people who viciously attacked police officers – the ones that hit the police officers over the head with metal poles – that those people shouldn’t have been given a get-out-of-jail-free card. And so why don’t we just be consistent? We don’t we say that violence matters when it’s committed against Elon Musk’s dealerships, and it matters when it’s committed against the people that protect us? And so my offer is to just pass both resolutions right now. Right now, we could just agree by unanimous consent to your resolution, and we could agree as a body that you shouldn’t pardon the people who brutally beat the people who show up every day to protect us. They matter, too. Elon Musk isn’t the only person that matters.”

    A full transcript of his remarks can be found below:

    MURPHY: “Mr. President, thank you. Reserving the right to object. Come on, this resolution is not about violence or domestic terrorism. It just isn’t. This is a resolution that says one thing and one thing only: Elon Musk is in charge. He matters more than anybody else. 

    “Musk is subject to a different set of rules than everybody else. The Trump administration serves him, not us. The Republican Party serves him, not us. Elon Musk right now is effectively stealing from the American people. He is combing through our government, awarding himself contracts, canceling contracts for his competitors. He is shutting down agencies that stand in the way of his business [and] his growth. He’s giving himself access to secret information about government enforcement actions against his competitors. 

    “He is also, at the same time, currently the largest funder of Republican politics in the nation. He spent a quarter of a billion dollars backing President Trump’s campaign. He recently told the president that he would contribute another $100 million to the president’s political arm, and guess what? At that same time, the president stood on the White House lawn to give a taxpayer-funded commercial for Elon Musk’s cars. That’s corruption at a scale that we have not seen before in this country. The integration of the Trump White House and the Republican Party and the business interests of the richest man in the world. It’s wrong. 

    “This resolution claims to say something about domestic terrorism, but the only terrorism, the only violence it mentions, is violence carried out against – you guessed it – Elon Musk. 

    “On an annual basis, there are 11,000 reported incidents of domestic terrorism. 11,000. Only a handful of them impact Tesla dealerships, but they’re the only acts of violence mentioned in this resolution. 52% of the reported attacks were based on racial or ethnic targeting by radicalized attackers, but they aren’t mentioned in this resolution. Only Elon Musk is mentioned in this resolution. Because a different set of rules apply to him. Because he is in charge, and he deserves protection that no one else gets. He deserves a White House TV commercial for his cars. He deserves to give himself contracts and steal from his competitors. He deserves to have his own resolution. 

    “And people are asking why? Why does the richest man in the country get this special treatment? To most people it feels pretty fishy. It definitely feels wrong. Now I hate violence of any kind, whether it’s perpetrated against right, left, or center. I’ve spent my life on this floor fighting violence. But I also hate inconsistency. 

    “So I’m going to make my colleague a pretty reasonable offer here. At the same time that President Trump is saying that he’s going to vigorously pursue people that attack Tesla dealerships, he’s giving pardons to the people who beat the hell out of Capitol Police officers. So I don’t think we should consent to a resolution that says we care about violence but only when it is committed against the business interests of the richest man in the world. 

    “I have a way to solve that problem. Senator Murray has a really simple resolution. A resolution that expresses our disapproval of the pardons that were issued for the very specific set of individuals who on January 6th brutally attacked Capitol Police officers. Now I understand that many of my Republican colleagues think that the people who trespassed here shouldn’t have been prosecuted. Let’s set aside that disagreement. This resolution just says that the specific set of people who viciously attacked police officers – the ones that hit the police officers over the head with metal poles – that those people shouldn’t have been given a get-out-of-jail-free card. And so why don’t we just be consistent? We don’t we say that violence matters when it’s committed against Elon Musk’s dealerships, and it matters when it’s committed against the people that protect us? And so my offer is to just pass both resolutions right now. Right now, we could just agree by unanimous consent to your resolution, and we could agree as a body that you shouldn’t pardon the people who brutally beat the people who show up every day to protect us. They matter, too. Elon Musk isn’t the only person that matters. Capitol Police officers matter, too. 

    “So I’d ask the Senator to modify her request to add the following: that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 42, a resolution condemning the pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police officers, that the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. If we agree to move forward on this unanimous consent, I think we can move forward on the Senator’s request as well.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Mullin, Padilla Reintroduce Bill Strengthening Cybersecurity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    US Senate News:

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

    RELEASE: Mullin, Padilla Reintroduce Bill Strengthening Cybersecurity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) reintroduced the 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act to strengthen the cybersecurity protocols for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, also known as the 988 Lifeline, in response to previous outages that resulted in a day-long outage for those in crisis.

    “Increasing cybersecurity measures for the 988 Lifeline is imperative to suicide prevention,” said Senator Mullin. “Suicide is a heartbreaking tragedy, and every life lost is one too many. It is essential to keep the lifeline secure to ensure that those experiencing a mental health crisis have access to the resources and support they need when they need it most.”

    “People struggling with their mental health shouldn’t be met with disruptions or service outages when they call the 9-8-8 Lifeline. We can’t let cybersecurity vulnerabilities get in the way of providing lifesaving support,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bipartisan bill would better identify and prevent cyberattacks to protect safe and secure access to the Lifeline as soon as people need it.”

    The cyberattack on the 988 Lifeline in December of 2022 exposed vulnerabilities in the system and individuals who tried to call the suicide prevention hotline were instead greeted with a recorded message informing them of the service outage. Since its launch in July of 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has received 10.8 million contacts, with 1.4 million of those being within the Veteran’s Crisis Line. The lifeline’s services are critically important.

    Mullin and Padilla’s legislation requires coordination between the Lifeline and the Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to prevent cybersecurity attacks and eliminate known vulnerabilities. The suicide hotline’s network administrator would also be required to notify the government of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents within 24 hours of discovery. Lastly, the Government Accountability Office would be required to conduct a study evaluating cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in the 988 system.

    Any person in crisis and in need of help can dial 9-8-8 to reach free and confidential professional support 24/7 or can visit 988lifeline.org/chat/ to start a free and confidential conversation. Click HERE to learn more about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

    The 988 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act is supported by the following groups: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychiatric Association, Crisis Text Line, inseparable, Mental Health America, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Jed Foundation, and Vibrant Emotional Health. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Six-Month Helene Anniversary, Governor Stein, Commissioner Troxler Call on USDA to Allocate Funds to North Carolina Farmers

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: On Six-Month Helene Anniversary, Governor Stein, Commissioner Troxler Call on USDA to Allocate Funds to North Carolina Farmers

    On Six-Month Helene Anniversary, Governor Stein, Commissioner Troxler Call on USDA to Allocate Funds to North Carolina Farmers
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    On the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, Governor Josh Stein and Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler sent a letter to US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, requesting that USDA approve a block grant to support the recovery efforts of farmers in Western North Carolina. 

    “Agriculture plays a crucial role in the region’s economy, and the farmers of western North Carolina have always demonstrated resilience,” said Governor Josh Stein. “However, Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact has left them in a difficult position, with staggering losses they will not recoup without external assistance.”

    “The damage to farms from Hurricane Helene is almost unimaginable, and it is going to take a lot to put them back together,” said NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler. “We will need funds to help with that recovery. We hope USDA will come through with block grant funding to do the things we know are going to be needed.”

    Stein and Troxler are requesting a block grant utilizing funds appropriated in the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025. Conversations regarding the allocation of these funds have begun, and timely approval of funds will be critical for ensuring farmers can quickly return to sustainable production levels.

    Last week, Governor Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1 into law, which provides $200 million for North Carolina farmers who have experienced crop losses or infrastructure damage due to Hurricane Helene. Governor Stein continues to advocate for additional funding that supports farmers in repairing their infrastructure and removing debris from their land. 

    Click here to read Governor Stein and Commissioner Troxler’s letter.  

    Mar 27, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Six Months After Hurricane Helene, Governor Stein Honors Lives Lost & Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Western North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Six Months After Hurricane Helene, Governor Stein Honors Lives Lost & Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Western North Carolina

    Six Months After Hurricane Helene, Governor Stein Honors Lives Lost & Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Western North Carolina
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, on the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, Governor Josh Stein visited western North Carolina to honor the 106 lives lost and reaffirm his commitment to supporting the region’s full recovery.  

    “Six months ago today, Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina and forever changed our state,” said Governor Josh Stein. “106 lives were tragically lost in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and their families and communities will forever grieve their absence. Today, we honor their legacies and recommit to supporting our neighbors every step of the way as they work to rebuild western North Carolina.” 

    Governor Stein met families who lost loved ones, including firefighters at the Fairview Fire Department, and celebrated the life of Tony Garrison, a volunteer battalion chief who dedicated his life to serving the Fairview community. Along with his nephew Brandon Ruppe, Garrison tragically died while attempting to rescue 11 individuals from a mudslide. Stein thanked the firefighters and first responders who heroically responded to the devastation of the storm and expressed his commitment to honoring the memory of those lost by continuing to fight for western North Carolina. He also signed a proclamation in commemoration of the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene and in remembrance of the 106 lives lost.

    Six months since Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, Governor Stein continues to advocate for the ongoing relief efforts: 

    • Yesterday, Governor Stein submitted a finalized Action Plan for distributing $1.4 billion awarded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the fastest any state has submitted a plan following a major hurricane in the past decade.
    • Last week, the Governor signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1, which provides $524 million in total aid for western North Carolina. The bill calls for $120 million for a CDBG-DR Home Reconstruction and Repair program, $55 million in local government infrastructure grants to help small businesses, $100 million for private road and bridge repair, and $20 million for debris cleanup among other provisions.
    • Governor Stein continues to advocate for $19 billion in federal funds to restore damaged roads and other infrastructure, support home repair and renovation, and reduce impacts from future natural disasters.
    • FEMA also recently granted Governor Stein’s requests for 30-day extensions for the Public Assistance program and the Individual Assistance Program.

    See progress updates on the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina’s recovery dashboard. 

    Mar 27, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nevada Resident Arrested and Charged in Connection with Violent Tesla Arson in Las Vegas

    Source: US State of California

    A Las Vegas resident made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla collision business.

    Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson. Kim was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers on March 26. He remains in federal custody.

    “The Department of Justice has been clear: anyone who participates in the wave of domestic terrorism targeting Tesla properties will suffer severe legal consequences,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will continue to find, arrest, and prosecute these attackers until the lesson is learned.”

    “As promised, acts of violence and vandalism will not be tolerated, and today law enforcement personnel acted quickly to arrest an individual on charges including arson,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, we will continue to pursue these investigations with the full force of law and will bring to justice anyone responsible for these attacks.”

    “Today’s federal charges demonstrate our strong partnerships and collaboration with law enforcement partners and the joint pursuit to end domestic terrorism,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada. “Thank you to the detectives from the Southern Nevada Counterterrorism Center (SNCTC), FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) ARMOR (All-Hazard Regional Multi-Agency Operations and Response) unit, as well as Clark County Fire Department Arson Investigators, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, and the Justice Department’s National Security Division for their hard work and tireless efforts. We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and remain steadfastly committed to working with our enforcement partners to combat acts of domestic violence.”

    According to allegations in the complaint, on March 18, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department patrol officers responded to an emergency call about a person setting vehicles on fire and hearing gunshots at a Tesla collision business. The Clark County Fire Department arrived to suppress the fires. During the investigation, it was determined that Molotov cocktails and a .30 caliber AR-style firearm were used to damage and destroy five Tesla vehicles, and graffiti was sprayed to write “Resist” on the front of the building.

    On March 26, law enforcement officials executed various state search warrants related to this case, including a search warrant at Kim’s residence. Inside the residence, they found various firearms, including an AR style rifle consistent with the firearm used in the March 18, incident and with a suppressor on it, a black gun belt with a pouch and a small drop of pink paint residue, a black hoodie, face masks, and a handwritten note with what appeared to be an escape plan.

    Attorney General Pamela Bondi for the Department of Justice; Director Kash Patel of the FBI; Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Sheriff Kevin McMahill for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department made the announcement.

    If convicted, Kim faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum of 20 years in prison for the arson charge.

    The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the ATF are investigating the case and with significant assistance from the Clark County Fire Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

    A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –