NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Hyde-Smith, Gillibrand, and Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Costs of Childbirth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, bipartisan legislation to eliminate the out-of-pocket costs associated with childbirth. Specifically, the legislation would prevent cost-sharing for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum health care for Americans with private health insurance and ensure pregnancy and childbirth services are covered without copays, coinsurance, or deductibles. While Medicaid generally covers childbirth and other pregnancy-related health care for many Americans at zero-cost, this legislation would provide similar benefits to the majority of Americans who are covered under private insurance.
    “In recent years, we’ve made tremendous progress to lower health care costs and expand access to care,” said Kaine. “But we have more work to do—especially as Americans grapple with more and more economic uncertainty. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to reduce costs related to maternal care and childbirth for millions of expectant and new mothers, and will keep doing all that I can to ensure that high-quality care is within reach for mothers and their newborns throughout their lives.”
    The average out-of-pocket cost of maternal care and childbirth for mothers with commercial insurance is approximately $3,000, with 1 in 6 mothers paying over $5,000 out-of-pocket. Some families also receive bills and bill amendments months after a hospital stay, creating confusion about what they must pay and challenges figuring out how they will afford these unpredictable expenses. Nearly half of Americans say they cannot afford to pay a $1,000 emergency expense. The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would ensure health care is affordable to American moms.
    Full text of the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Johnson Joins Sen. Scott, Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Celebrating National Charter Schools Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and 20 of their colleagues in introducing a resolution to celebrate National Charter Schools Week and recognize charter schools’ success in the academic landscape. Charter schools continue to expand across the nation. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, approximately 250,000 teachers educate more than 3.7 million students at over 8,000 charter schools nationwide. 
    “National Charter Schools Week is a time to celebrate the benefit that families have in the ability to choose the best type of education for their children. The increase in demand nationwide for charter schools demonstrates how important choice in education is for families. I will continue to advocate and fight for school choice in Wisconsin and across the nation,” said Sen. Johnson.
    Sens. Johnson and Scott were joined by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Jon Husted (R-Ohio).
    Full text of the resolution can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PSI Chairman Johnson Releases Report; Will Hold Hearing on Federal Health Agencies’ Failure to Warn About the Risk of Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (“PSI” or “Subcommittee”), will hold a hearing entitled, “The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies: How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccines.” In conjunction with the hearing, the chairman released an interim Majority Staff Report, along with more than 2,400 pages of records, detailing the failure of federal health agencies to properly warn the public of the risks of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The report, which follows Chairman Johnson’s Jan. 28, 2025 subpoena to the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), reveals how federal health officials who were aware of reports of heart inflammation conditions associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines delayed notifying the public while downplaying the risks.
    Records produced pursuant to the subpoena reveal the following: in the first half of 2021, federal health officials had ample evidence of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions occurring in young adults who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Although a number of these records were previously made available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), the Biden administration’s heavy redactions prevented a full understanding of what federal health officials knew and what actions they took.
    As detailed in the report and records Chairman Johnson released, beginning in February 2021, federal health officials were put on notice by counterparts in Israel of individuals experiencing myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions after receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Over the next three months, federal health officials continued to receive information on cases of heart inflammation following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. By mid-May 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) officials were drafting a formal notification for health care providers and other officials.
    Records indicate that while health officials were drafting the notification, a key vaccine safety monitoring system, VAERS, began showing a safety signal for a heart inflammation condition in young adults who had received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Within days of the safety signal, the top ranking official at the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), then-Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, pushed back on the CDC’s plan to formally notify healthcare providers, ultimately resulting in the formal notification being rejected in favor of a posting on CDC’s website.
    The report builds on the work of many individuals who fought tirelessly to obtain records through the FOIA process under the Biden administration. The chairman credits Brenda Baletti, Ed Berkovich, Brian Hooker, Amy Kelly, Zachary Stieber, Naomi Wolf, and many others who worked persistently to expose the truth about the association of myocarditis with the COVID-19 vaccines.
    With the release of the interim report and the corresponding subpoenaed documents produced by the Trump administration, the public will be able to access a more complete record of the Biden administration’s failure to warn the public about the health risks of COVID-19 vaccines without heavy FOIA redactions. 
    Key findings from the report include:
    Despite their awareness of the risks, U.S. health officials downplayed the risks of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    U.S. health officials delayed for months alerting the public, and ultimately rejected a formal notification to health care providers about the risks to young people of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    U.S. health officials were made aware by at least early 2021 that some of their vaccine safety monitoring systems may not have been capturing all cases of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    The hearing will be live streamed beginning at 2:00pm EST here.
    The interim PSI Majority Staff report can be found here.
    The records, which at the request of HHS contain minimal redactions for Personally Identifiable Information, are linked below: 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: POTUS Receives a Jersey from the UF Men’s Basketball Team🐊🇺🇸

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_WhSOeFbiE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Delivering a U.S. Foreign Policy Rooted in our National Interest

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    “We have to have a State Department that can deliver on a foreign policy that is rooted in the national interest of the United States” — Secretary Rubio in testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 21, 2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C4Ead8q8LQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Mental Health in AANHPI Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) in introducing the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act to increase awareness and access to mental health care throughout the AANHPI community.
    “Accessing mental health care continues to be a challenge for Nevadans from all backgrounds,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m focused on improving access critical health care for AAPI Nevadans. Together, we can reduce the stigma around mental illness and keep our kids and families safe.”
    According to data collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), members of the AANHPI community have the lowest rates of mental health service utilization of any racial/ethnic group, with only 35 percent of Asian adults with a mental health problem receiving treatment in 2023. In 2023, an estimated 65 percent of the AANHPI community, who met criteria for a mental health problem, did not receive necessary treatment. And, even though suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States, it is the leading cause of death for AANHPI youth ages 10 to 24, and they are the only racial or ethnic group in this age category whose leading cause of death is suicide. 
    Specifically, the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act would instruct SAMHSA to:
    Establish a national outreach and education mental health and substance misuse strategy for the AANHPI community by partnering with advocacy and behavioral health organizations that have an established record of serving AANHPI communities; and
    Conduct research and collect disaggregated data on the state of behavioral health among AANHPI youth and on the shortage of AANHPIs in the behavioral health workforce.
    Senator Cortez Masto has been a leader in the Senate on mental health issues. She helped fund and implement the 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline, and passed bipartisan legislation to expand behavioral health crisis support services. She successfully fought to include $1 billion to support mental health services in schools in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Klobuchar, Welch Push to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act. This legislation would expand Medicare negotiation of drug prices to lower drug costs for Americans across the country and reduce federal spending. 
    “Hard-working Nevadans often struggle to afford the high prices of the medications that they rely on,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This commonsense fix builds on the legislation, passed and signed into law by Democrats, that caps insulin at $35 a month and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices. We will continue to deliver real solutions that lower costs for American families and end Big Pharma’s price gouging.”
    This legislation builds on the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed into law in 2022,  that empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time. The SMART Prices Act would extend this progress by more than doubling the number of prescription drugs Medicare must negotiate to a minimum of 50 per year, allowing the costliest prescription drugs and biologics to have negotiated prices five years after approval by the Food and Drug Administration, and by increasing the discount that Medicare is allowed to negotiate. This could save seniors thousands of dollars each year and would allow Medicare to begin negotiations earlier and bring down the price of more expensive drugs. 
    Senator Cortez Masto has been a champion of affordable, quality health care, including mental and behavioral care. Cortez Masto has pushed pharmacy benefit managers to help lower prescription drug costs. To lower health care costs for all Nevadans, Cortez Masto worked to expand health care subsidies for individuals and families getting health care through the exchange. She recently introduced bipartisan legislation to provide patients with transparent and timely access to prescription medications and treatments.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Intel Vice Chairman on Trump Administration Attempt to Politicize Intelligence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:
    “The recent revelations that Joe Kent, DNI Gabbard’s chief of staff and the nominee to lead the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), sought to alter an intelligence assessment to align with false political narratives pushed by Donald Trump are deeply disturbing, disqualifying, and frankly, dangerous. This was a blatant attempt to politicize national security to appease a president who has repeatedly shown contempt for facts and for the intelligence professionals sworn to defend this country.
    “For years, the Director of National Intelligence has railed against so-called ‘deep state’ manipulation of intelligence. Now we learn that her closest aide, and Trump’s hand-picked nominee to one of the most sensitive roles in government, was actively pushing to distort intelligence because it contradicted a preferred political narrative.
    “This is unacceptable. The Senate should immediately halt consideration of Mr. Kent’s nomination to lead NCTC, and the Senate Intelligence Committee has an obligation to conduct rigorous oversight to determine whether Kent or other Trump officials have attempted to politically interfere with other assessments.
    “When intelligence is manipulated to fit a political agenda, our security is at risk. Our ability to prevent terrorist attacks, counter adversaries, and make sound decisions is only as good as the accuracy and integrity of the intelligence that informs it. Our intelligence agencies must be permitted to speak truth to power, not twist the truth to serve power.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Tuskegee President to Senate HELP Committee, Discusses Cost versus Benefits of Higher Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Dr. Andrew Gillen, Dr. Michael Lindsay, Dr. Mark Brown, Mr. Mike Pierce, and Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on the state of higher education. During the hearing, Sen. Tuberville discussed the reasons for the skyrocket of prices in higher education institutions during recent years. 
    Sen. Tuberville also introduced Dr. Mark Brown, President of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, to the Committee.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble. 
    Sen. Tuberville’s introduction of Dr. Brown can be found below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    INTRODUCTION OF DR. MARK BROWN:
    TUBERVILLE: “It’s my pleasure to introduce our second witness, Dr. Mark A. Brown. As a matter of fact, he’s about 20 miles from where I live, as we speak, in Auburn, Alabama. Dr. Brown is the president of Tuskegee University, home of the Tuskegee Airmen, who we’re very proud of. It’s a Historically Black College in Alabama. He is the first alumnus in Tuskegee’s 143-year-history to lead the university. A retired Air Force Major General, Dr. Brown brings unmatched experience in education leadership, federal student aid policy, and HBCU advancement. We are thankful to have you here today to hear your perspective, Dr. Brown. “
    ON THE COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION:
    TUBERVILLE: “Gentlemen, thanks for being here. I’m passionate about this. I spent [40] years in education—more than anybody in this room probably, maybe other than Dr. Graham, although you spent a little time in the military. I’ve been in high schools all across this country, almost in all 50 states. We’ve gone backwards. [We’re here] today to talk about higher education. I spent 30 years in that and have done a lot of great things for a lot of kids, men and women, rich and poor. It’s got to be merit based, folks. If we don’t merit base this thing, we will not survive as an educational system. This country gives you an opportunity.
    I was in a situation where athletics was merit-based. I didn’t care who you were. I had to win games. I recruited kids that had good grades, would go to class, and could play football. And if they couldn’t do those three things and work at it, I didn’t recruit them. It’s got to be the same thing in college in terms of getting a good education. I know of a school that has a happiness degree. That [isn’t] gonna get it. I’m for paying everybody’s way through college, but not for a degree where when they get out, they can’t get a job at Walmart. We need degrees that kids can prosper [with], raise a family, and have a great life in this country. So, I’d like to ask each one of you just one question, starting over with Dr. Gillen.
    Dr. Gillen, what factors do you see that have caused massive skyrocketing costs at our universities across the country?”
    GILLEN: “So, I would argue that the main driver of higher college cost is what’s called the Bowen Revenue Theory of Cost. When you look at higher education, […] the idea here is not that, you know, higher faculty salaries or increases in institutional aid are driving higher spending. It’s that when more revenue is available, colleges will spend as much as they can. And it makes sense, these are all mission driven institutions, right? If you give each of these schools a million more dollars, they’ll find a good way to spend it. The problem is if you keep doing that, eventually those good ways to spend it aren’t so convincing anymore. But when we have these mission driven institutions, the more money they have, the more money they’re going to spend.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Dr. Lindsay?”
    LINDSAY: “I think the opportunity that is before is, as you say, to bring accountability and outcomes. And I think we have to be very intentional about the kind of formation that’s occurring on our campuses. I’m really proud of the fact that we have something called the Good Work Initiative, which is basically trying to transform on campus employment opportunities where students are paid a little bit more than minimum wage to give them a little bit more spending money, but we also pair it with professional development and vocational discernment exercises to help them. So, that when they graduate, they actually have that kind of professional experience. It’s a pilot [program]. We’ve had good success with it. We’re allowing the opportunity for more students to take on more leadership roles, giving them good things for their resumes, but also buttressing their opportunities when they graduate.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Dr. Brown?”
    BROWN: “Senator, I’ll use a real example. I went to my Board of Trustees for this upcoming year and said that I would like to freeze tuition for two years at our school. They approved the freezing of the tuition, but when I looked at the cost of insurance—which is a subcomponent of that tuition—we had to go up. So, the real cost to the customer—the family—was more.
    The same is true of the cost of dining, the cost of food that goes into a dining hall contract, and the cost of the utilities it takes to run the campus. My campus is much like any other business. Those costs, we would not be able to absorb, and so our cost went up because costs in the economy went up. It was not that we would spend more because we had more. Those costs were real, and we had to realize those as a school [that] operates just like a business in that sense.”
    LOWERY-HART: “Thank you for the question. I would say in the community college sector, there hasn’t been a massive skyrocket rising in prices. At Austin Community College, we haven’t raised tuition in 12 years. I think we’ve raised it once in 15 [years]. We’re the sector of higher education that lives within our means, because our students are so price-sensitive. And I think there could be a lot to learn from how community colleges effectively manage their budgets.”
    TUBERVILLE: “I agree with you on that. I’ve been in a lot of community colleges. You do a good job, by the way. And I think more kids need to go to community colleges.
    Mr. Pierce?”
    PIERCE: “I think it’s my turn to talk about for-profit colleges, which seems to be missing from my colleague’s responses to your question. We have watched the proprietary sector raise costs far in excess of other sectors of the higher education system. And we’ve also watched some of the largest participants in the for-profit college market turn into private non-profit colleges or enter into deals with public colleges. I think we’re not at a place where we were a decade ago talking about the proprietary sector. We should be looking at the backroom deals that some of the largest colleges in the country are cutting with these private companies and how these deals are driving the increase in costs that are being pushed on our most vulnerable students.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Good. Thank you.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Moran, Booker, Mullin Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Increase Funding for Down Syndrome Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Jerry Moran, Cory Booker, and Markwayne Mullin introduced the bipartisan, bicameral DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act to boost funding for Down syndrome research. Specifically, the legislation would authorize the INCLUDE (Investigation of Co-Occurring Conditions Across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome) Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and increase funding for Down syndrome research for the next five years. 
    “Hundreds of thousands of Americans live with Down syndrome, and yet its research has been underfunded for decades,” said Hickenlooper. “This bill is named for my friend DeOndra Dixon, who lived a full, vibrant life and wanted the same for all people living with Down syndrome. We are determined to get this bill across the finish line for her, and for every American who will benefit from research on many different health conditions.”  
    “Research, supported by the NIH, has helped improve and extend the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, but there is still more to learn,” said Moran. “This legislation will invest in scientific studies on Down syndrome to help members of the Down syndrome community and their families find answers and solutions for the health challenges they face.”
    “Every year, around 6,000 babies are born in the United States with Down syndrome, and while the life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased drastically over the years, many are still at an increased risk for certain medical conditions,” said Booker. “This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize critical funding for research, increase the number of clinical trials for individuals with Down syndrome, and ultimately help improve the quality of life for people with Down syndrome and their families.”
    “People with Down syndrome are a gift from God, and I’m glad to be working in a bipartisan way to support federal Down syndrome research,”said Mullin. “We know that people with Down syndrome are at an increased risk of developing certain medical conditions, like heart defects and Alzheimer’s disease, so it’s critical we do everything we can to better health care outcomes and improve quality of life.”
    The INCLUDE Project was launched in June 2018 to further research on health and quality-of-life needs for individuals with Down syndrome. The project investigates conditions that affect individuals with Down syndrome and the general population, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, autism, cataracts, celiac disease, congenital heart disease, and diabetes. 
    The legislation is named after DeOndra Dixon, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Ambassador and Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee,  who died at the age of 36 in 2020. 
    The House version of the bill is led by representative Diana DeGette and cosponsored by representatives Richard Hudson, Rosa DeLauro, Tom Cole, Pete Stauber, and Eleanor Holmes Norton.
    “GLOBAL, our self-advocates and families, and our researchers and medical professionals, celebrate Senate reintroduction of the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act which is a necessary next step to ensuring continued and growing federal investments at the NIH to advance Down syndrome research that will elongate life and improve health outcomes for our children and adults with Down syndrome” said Michelle Sie Whitten, President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. “I am deeply grateful for the efforts of our dear friends and champions Senators Hickenlooper and Moran along with Senators Booker and Mullin who have reintroduced this important legislation today.  Our hearts are full knowing this legislation will be an enduring legacy celebrating the life and advocacy of our beloved Ambassador DeOndra Dixon.”
    Full text of the legislation available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Construction begins on student housing at SFU, more child care on the way

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Students, staff and the surrounding community are one step closer to more on-campus supports at Simon Fraser University (SFU) – Burnaby as construction starts on a new student residence and will begin later this year on a new child care facility.  

    “A safe and secure place to live and conveniently located child care can be transformative for students and parents working or studying on campus,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “These new facilities will provide shorter commute times, allow students to focus on their studies and help ease pressure on the local rental market.  Projects like this are one way we are investing in infrastructure that supports people in B.C.”

    The new eight-storey residence will provide an additional 445 beds for students at the Burnaby campus. It will include a mix of studio and four-bedroom apartments, as well as two- and four-bedroom townhouses. Construction is expected to start in fall 2025 on a stand-alone child care centre, which will add 160 new child care spaces to more than 410 existing spaces in the Burnaby campus and at SFU’s Sapperton location. With these new spaces, more than 570 child care spaces will provide support to the SFU community.

    Once complete, the residence will bring the total number of student beds on the SFU Burnaby campus to more than 3,000.  

    “I have met with many students at post-secondary campuses in B.C., and access to housing and child care are big factors when deciding if they can afford to build a better life for themselves,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “Since 2018, our government has made historic investments in student housing, making it easier for thousands of students across the province to gain the skills they need to fill the in-demand jobs our economy needs.”

    Construction is expected to be completed on the student-housing residence and child care facility in fall 2027. The total capital cost of the project is $196.6 million, shared between the Province and SFU.

    This project is Phase 3 of SFU’s ongoing student-housing expansion. Phases 1 and 2 added a combined 856 new beds for students, with funding for Phase 2 provided by the Province.

    “Watching the Phase 3 site come to life has reinforced how vital new student housing is for our community,” said Ali Asgar Abdul Udaipurwala, a fourth-year undergraduate student at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, who lives in residence at the Burnaby campus. “As a community adviser and area co-ordinator, I have loved planning late-night events, movie nights and study breaks in our halls. I am excited for Phase 3 to become our next home away from home.”

    Since 2018, the government has committed $2 billion to expand on-campus student housing at public post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. To date, 6,100 beds for students are open, with another 4,600 underway.

    Since 2018, ChildCareBC’s space-creation programs have helped fund the creation of more than 40,900 new licensed child care spaces in B.C., with more than 24,900 of those operational. This child care project received $16 million through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, which is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding provided under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

    Quotes:

    Joy Johnson, president, Simon Fraser University –

    “We are grateful for the Province’s continued investment in student housing and child care across the province. I look forward to continued growth of SFU’s resident student community on Burnaby Mountain and to continued partnership with the provincial government as we move forward. The post-secondary sector is united in our efforts to support British Columbians in tackling shared challenges, from housing to health care and beyond, as we make a difference for students and for communities across B.C.”

    Rohini Arora, parliamentary secretary for child care, and MLA for Burnaby East –

    “Creating 160 new child care spaces on SFU campus, where hard-working students, families and single parents can easily access the care they need, is one of the ways we are helping Burnaby get ahead. By ensuring parents, especially mothers, can access high-quality child care in Burnaby while attending higher education or working, we are setting both this generation and the next up for success.”

    Learn More:

    For more information about Simon Fraser University, visit: https://www.sfu.ca/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Urges Congress to Preserve Access to Health Care for 9/11 Responders and Survivors

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general in urging Congress to take immediate action to address the looming budget shortfall for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). Established by Congress in 2010, WTCHP provides free medical care and monitoring for first responders, survivors, and families impacted by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Without further congressional intervention, WTCHP is projected to experience a significant funding shortfall as early as Fiscal Year 2026.

    “For nearly 15 years, the World Trade Center Health Program has been a lifeline for first responders and survivors impacted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a nation, we cannot turn our backs on them — ever,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I’m proud to be joining a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in urging Congress to fully fund this critical program.”

    WTCHP has been an essential resource for more than 135,000 Americans exposed to toxic dust and debris following the collapse of the Twin Towers. These include firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, construction workers, volunteers, and community members who were present in the aftermath. Many of them are now suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses, cancers, mental health conditions, and other serious ailments directly linked to their exposure. They live in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico.

    In the letter, the attorneys general argue that despite being reauthorized in 2015 and 2019 with overwhelming bipartisan support, the program now faces a severe funding shortfall that could result in the denial of care to thousands of current and future enrollees. The program is authorized to run until 2090, but the attorneys general contend that the far-off date is essentially meaningless if the program is not funded during that period.

    In sending today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of American Samoa, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Clyde Leads Letter Requesting Risk Assessment of Chatuge Dam & Economic Impact Analysis for Spillway Safety Modifications

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA)

    GAINESVILLE, GA — Today, Reps. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) and Chuck Edwards (NC-11) sent a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) President and CEO Don Moul advocating for a sensible approach to address Chatuge Dam spillway safety concerns. Additionally, the lawmakers requested critical information central to the modifications, including the TVA’s completed risk assessment and a comprehensive economic impact analysis of each proposal. 

    Reps. Clyde and Edwards highlight the potential economic impacts that TVA’s current proposals would have on their communities:

    “We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the proposed Chatuge Dam Spillway Safety Modifications at Lake Chatuge, which is located in both of our districts. While we recognize the critical importance of ensuring the safe operation of Chatuge Dam – and safeguarding the many residents living in the valleys below – we urge you to carefully consider the potential economic impacts that any lake drawdowns would have on the residents and small business owners of the mountain communities of Hiawassee, Georgia, and Hayesville, North Carolina. These towns and surrounding mountain communities rely heavily on Lake Chatuge’s recreational tourism during the summer months to sustain their rural economies.”

    The lawmakers detail how devastating a potential lake drawdown would be for North Georgia and Western North Carolina:

    “…the proposals outlined by the TVA for potential repairs include lake drawdowns to an elevation as low as 1,908 feet – 10 feet below the normal winter pool – for the entire duration of the construction project, with some proposals expected to last as long as eight years. Such drawdowns would devastate the rural, mountain economies of surrounding towns, including Hiawassee, Georgia and Hayesville, North Carolina – leading to the shuttering of small businesses, the displacement of rural workers, and the upending of these communities for decades to come. For example, a 2021 assessment by the University of Georgia found that Towns County’s tourism-related output was $117.4 million, supporting 1,362 jobs or approximately 24% of county employment, and generated $30.8 million in wages.”

    Additionally, the lawmakers share their constituents’ serious concerns about the TVA’s proposals: 

    “Residents across Towns County, Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina have contacted our offices to express serious concerns about the potential economic impacts of the TVA’s proposed lake drawdowns on their small businesses and financial futures.

    “One constituent shared how the proposed drawdown would diminish the time they cherish with friends and family on the lake. A local business owner, whose livelihood depends on Lake Chatuge’s seasonal tourism, wrote about the devastating economic consequences an eight-year drawdown would have for Towns County: ‘Implementing a drawdown of this magnitude and duration threatens to eliminate thousands of jobs… bankrupt numerous businesses… [and] erode the tax base.’”

    In closing, Reps. Clyde and Edwards request critical information central to the TVA’s spillway modification proposals:

    “Specifically, we request that the Tennessee Valley Authority:

    • Publish the TVA’s completed risk assessment of the Chatuge Dam;
    •  Commission a comprehensive economic impact analysis for each proposal outlined in the April 2025 Notice of Intent (NOI);
    •   Explore mitigation measures that would minimize economic harm, such as restricting drawdowns to recreation off-seasons.


    “We further ask that the TVA maintain full transparency in its communications with our offices and with the residents of surrounding communities throughout the Lake Chatuge dam modification process. We look forward to working with local officials, stakeholders, and TVA to reach the best solution that effectively balances the safety of spillway operations and the continued economic prosperity of our mountain communities.”

    Read the full letter HERE.

    Background

    A recent TVA study identified a key vulnerability in the spillway of Chatuge Dam. While the conditions of the current spillway are not an emergency, the TVA is aiming to improve the safety of the spillway to reduce the risk of the dam’s long-term operations. The TVA study has judged the spillway at Chatuge Dam exhibits some of the vulnerabilities that led to the damage and failure of the Oroville Dam spillway in California. To address the issue, the agency announced four potential alternatives for a long-term solution.

    Last month, Rep. Clyde visited the Chatuge Dam with Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, Towns County EMA Director Marty Roberts, and members of Rep. Chuck Edwards’ staff to meet with Tennessee Valley Authority officials and discuss the TVA’s proposed plans to address spillway safety concerns.

    Additional information on the Tennessee Valley Authority receiving public input on Chatuge Dam safety modifications can be found HERE.

    Details on the TVA’s notice of intent, including proposed plans, is available in the Federal Register HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Clyde Leads Letter Requesting Risk Assessment of Chatuge Dam & Economic Impact Analysis for Spillway Safety Modifications

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA)

    GAINESVILLE, GA — Today, Reps. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) and Chuck Edwards (NC-11) sent a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) President and CEO Don Moul advocating for a sensible approach to address Chatuge Dam spillway safety concerns. Additionally, the lawmakers requested critical information central to the modifications, including the TVA’s completed risk assessment and a comprehensive economic impact analysis of each proposal. 

    Reps. Clyde and Edwards highlight the potential economic impacts that TVA’s current proposals would have on their communities:

    “We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the proposed Chatuge Dam Spillway Safety Modifications at Lake Chatuge, which is located in both of our districts. While we recognize the critical importance of ensuring the safe operation of Chatuge Dam – and safeguarding the many residents living in the valleys below – we urge you to carefully consider the potential economic impacts that any lake drawdowns would have on the residents and small business owners of the mountain communities of Hiawassee, Georgia, and Hayesville, North Carolina. These towns and surrounding mountain communities rely heavily on Lake Chatuge’s recreational tourism during the summer months to sustain their rural economies.”

    The lawmakers detail how devastating a potential lake drawdown would be for North Georgia and Western North Carolina:

    “…the proposals outlined by the TVA for potential repairs include lake drawdowns to an elevation as low as 1,908 feet – 10 feet below the normal winter pool – for the entire duration of the construction project, with some proposals expected to last as long as eight years. Such drawdowns would devastate the rural, mountain economies of surrounding towns, including Hiawassee, Georgia and Hayesville, North Carolina – leading to the shuttering of small businesses, the displacement of rural workers, and the upending of these communities for decades to come. For example, a 2021 assessment by the University of Georgia found that Towns County’s tourism-related output was $117.4 million, supporting 1,362 jobs or approximately 24% of county employment, and generated $30.8 million in wages.”

    Additionally, the lawmakers share their constituents’ serious concerns about the TVA’s proposals: 

    “Residents across Towns County, Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina have contacted our offices to express serious concerns about the potential economic impacts of the TVA’s proposed lake drawdowns on their small businesses and financial futures.

    “One constituent shared how the proposed drawdown would diminish the time they cherish with friends and family on the lake. A local business owner, whose livelihood depends on Lake Chatuge’s seasonal tourism, wrote about the devastating economic consequences an eight-year drawdown would have for Towns County: ‘Implementing a drawdown of this magnitude and duration threatens to eliminate thousands of jobs… bankrupt numerous businesses… [and] erode the tax base.’”

    In closing, Reps. Clyde and Edwards request critical information central to the TVA’s spillway modification proposals:

    “Specifically, we request that the Tennessee Valley Authority:

    • Publish the TVA’s completed risk assessment of the Chatuge Dam;
    •  Commission a comprehensive economic impact analysis for each proposal outlined in the April 2025 Notice of Intent (NOI);
    •   Explore mitigation measures that would minimize economic harm, such as restricting drawdowns to recreation off-seasons.


    “We further ask that the TVA maintain full transparency in its communications with our offices and with the residents of surrounding communities throughout the Lake Chatuge dam modification process. We look forward to working with local officials, stakeholders, and TVA to reach the best solution that effectively balances the safety of spillway operations and the continued economic prosperity of our mountain communities.”

    Read the full letter HERE.

    Background

    A recent TVA study identified a key vulnerability in the spillway of Chatuge Dam. While the conditions of the current spillway are not an emergency, the TVA is aiming to improve the safety of the spillway to reduce the risk of the dam’s long-term operations. The TVA study has judged the spillway at Chatuge Dam exhibits some of the vulnerabilities that led to the damage and failure of the Oroville Dam spillway in California. To address the issue, the agency announced four potential alternatives for a long-term solution.

    Last month, Rep. Clyde visited the Chatuge Dam with Towns County Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw, Towns County EMA Director Marty Roberts, and members of Rep. Chuck Edwards’ staff to meet with Tennessee Valley Authority officials and discuss the TVA’s proposed plans to address spillway safety concerns.

    Additional information on the Tennessee Valley Authority receiving public input on Chatuge Dam safety modifications can be found HERE.

    Details on the TVA’s notice of intent, including proposed plans, is available in the Federal Register HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford Re-Launches Long-Range Strike Caucus

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) announced the launch of the Long-Range Strike Caucus for the 119th Congress. The Caucus provides an informal, bipartisan opportunity to educate Members of Congress on current and future U.S. bomber capabilities, advocate for this essential instrument of national security, and facilitate engagement between Congress, industry, and the Department of Defense. The Caucus is co-chaired by Rep. Don Davis (NC-01).

    “We’re proud to re-launch the Long-Range Strike Caucus for this Congress,” said Congressman Alford. “As the Congressman for Whiteman Air Force Base—the home of the B-2 Spirit, and soon the B-21 Raider—I have witnessed first-hand the strategic necessity of our long-range strike capabilities. Last October, I was in the Middle East when our heroic airmen showed the world what they can do, striking terrorist lairs in Yemen with pinpoint precision. That’s not just power. It’s a promise that America can reach out and touch anyone, anywhere, at any time when freedom is at stake. I look forward to bipartisan collaboration on how we can ensure America maintains its superior long-range strike capabilities well into the future.”

    “As our nation confronts emerging global threats to national security, the Long Range Strike Caucus can play a significant role in our defense and in safeguarding the American people,” said Congressman Don Davis. “Modernizing our long-range strike aircraft, particularly our bombers, is essential to ensuring that the U.S. military continues to be the world’s premier fighting force.”

    Background:

    The Long-Range Strike Caucus advocates for our nation’s bomber force and the many missions that support our bombers in conducting long-range strikes. This includes active duty, guard, and reserve units that provide fighter escort, suppression of enemy air defenses, air refueling, testing, acquisition, and depot maintenance.

    The Air Force bomber fleet provides a unique ability for the U.S. to rapidly strike any target in the world, an essential capability for deterring our enemies and reassuring our allies and partners.

    Despite its active use and global presence, our bomber fleet is the smallest and oldest it has ever been. With an average age of more than 40 years old, almost half of our current long-range strike aircraft pre-date the Cuban Missile Crisis. The failure to adequately modernize has impacted our ability operate, especially in potentially contested environments. Therefore, efforts to develop and procure a new generation of Air Force bombers, including the B-21 Raider and refitted B-52J, are critical to the conventional and nuclear national security apparatus.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Becca Balint and Dave Min Lead Colleagues in Calling Out RFK Jr. Dangerous Autism Comments

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) is joined by Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) and 24 colleagues to condemn recent comments from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy where he suggested individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cannot lead fulfilling lives and oppose HHS proposals to track autistic individuals via private health data.

    The Members point out serious concerns about cutting funding, dismantling education programs, and the sidelining of expert advisory committees like the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Members write to the HHS Secretary as they promote the “Make America Healthy Again,” (MAHA) slogan but recent cuts to programs across federal agencies will have the opposite effect.

    In a letter to the Secretary the members urge him to retract his statements and call for a renewed commitment to evidence-based ASD research, support for caregivers, funding for IDEA programs, and full implementation of the Autism CARES Act of 2024.

    “We are deeply concerned and outraged about your recent comments and proposed actions related to autism spectrum disorder,”wrote the Members in the letter. “We write today as Members of Congress, but also as parents, family members, and Representatives of loved ones with ASD to demand that you retract your comments and make clear to the nation that individuals with autism play a constructive and valuable role in American society.” 

    “Instead of vilifying and tracking Americans with ASD, MAHA should help the ASD community by implementing key programs, including: evidence-based research that focuses on improving quality of life, support for caregivers of individuals with ASD, increased access to early childhood screening and interventions, care for adults with ASD and co-occurring psychiatric conditions, and continued access to public health information relating to ASD. It is essential to develop the workforce of the next generation of behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists, special educators, and other related health professions,” continued the Members. 

    “This should go without saying but Americans with autism are valuable and constructive members of our communities who lead meaningful and joyful lives,” said Rep. Balint. “I was appalled but not surprised to hear the Secretary continue to spread baseless lies about autism spectrum disorder under the guise of making Americans healthier. I’m standing with colleagues to implore the Secretary to listen and learn more from people with autism and immediately retract these harmful comments. Misinformation coming from someone who should be fighting for the health and safety of our country is not only disgusting but poses real risks to public health.” 

    “Secretary Kennedy is peddling lies that are devastating to individuals with autism spectrum disorder,” said Rep. Min. “Conspiracy theories like those that Secretary Kennedy has pushed forward cause major harm to public health and should have no place in the Health and Human Services Department. He must take back and apologize for these hateful comments.”

    “The Autism Society of America is deeply concerned by ongoing threats to critical services and the misalignment in research priorities under the current Administration. The proposed cuts to Medicaid, and disruption of Autism-related programs, risk dismantling the essential infrastructure that millions of Autistic individuals and their families depend on,” said Tracey Staley, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of America. “We appreciate the vital role that Congress plays in overseeing these matters and ensuring accountability and transparency in policies that impact the disability community.”

    “As a non-partisan organization, the Autism Society of America remains committed to working with HHS to ensure that policy and research reflect the diverse needs of the Autism community and uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals on the spectrum,”Staley continued. 

    The letter was signed by Reps. Bonamici, Cleaver, Correa, Craig, Elfreth, Garcia (CA), Goodlander, Huffman, Johnson (GA), Kaptur, Krishnamoorthi, McCollum, Norton, Quigley, Ramirez, Raskin, Sherman, Takano, Tlaib, Tonko, Torres (NY), Velázquez, Vindman, and Watson Coleman. 

    Find the full text of the letter here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: De La Cruz Introduces Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez Congressional Gold Medal Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)

    Ahead of Memorial Day, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the Sergeant Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez Congressional Gold Medal Act to posthumously recognize Edinburg-native Sgt. Gonzalez’s service during the Vietnam War.

    “Every Memorial Day, we are reminded that our freedoms are not free. Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez is a South Texas hero who sacrificed his life to protect the soldiers in his platoon. Though we can never repay his sacrifice, the Congressional Gold Medal shows our nation’s appreciation for his heroism and will carry on his legacy for years to come.” – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

    Background: 

    The Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez Congressional Gold Medal Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a gold medal dedicated to Sgt. Gonzalez to recognize his service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War.

    Sgt. Gonzalez displayed extraordinary bravery and leadership as a platoon commander. While under heavy enemy fire, he maneuvered his unit and saved a wounded comrade despite being injured himself. He continued to lead his men and refused medical attention even after being seriously wounded. He continued to lead his platoon up until his death.

    His actions led to accolades, including the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, the Military Merit Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the namesake of the USS Gonzalez.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Durbin’s Bipartisan Resolution Honoring The Four American Service Members Who Died In Lithuania

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 21, 2025
    The resolution recognizes the soldiers’ service and sacrifice to our nation and NATO allies
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today commended the unanimous Senate passage of his bipartisan resolution honoring the four American soldiers—including one Illinoisan—who were stationed in Lithuania and tragically died in March while on a mission to recover a vehicle immobilized during a training exercise. The soldiers include Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. from Joliet, Illinois; Staff Sergeant Edvin F. Franco; Staff Sergeant Troy S. Knutson-Collins; and Private First-Class Dante D. Taitano—all part of the 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
    “Last night, the Senate honored the brave American service members, including Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. from Joliet, Illinois, who tragically died during a mission in Lithuania earlier this year.  It was a mission fraught with extreme danger and challenges, and this resolution reminds us of the daily service and sacrifice of our military members,” Durbin said.  “The resolution also expresses our gratitude to our Lithuanian ally—who dropped everything and faced great odds to help us recover their bodies and bring these fallen soldiers home—a reminder of the common defense underlying our alliance.”
    On April 3, thousands of Lithuanians took to the streets in Vilnius—including the Lithuanian President—to pay their respects to our fallen American soldiers. The resolution also reaffirms the importance of the NATO alliance and the need to support our Baltic allies.
    Durbin spoke about the four American soldiers and his resolution on the Senate floor last month.
    Text of the resolution can be found here.
    Joining Durbin in sponsoring the resolution are U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Leads Bipartisan Letter to Secretary Rubio Outlining Steps to Address the Visa Backlog Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup, LA28 Olympics

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    WASHINGTON, DC — In anticipation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) led 55 lawmakers in a bipartisan letter to Secretary Rubio inquiring about the State Department’s plans to ensure quick and secure visa processing for the expected influx of visitors coming to the U.S. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Olympic Games, and other major international sporting competitions. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA),  Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Nikema Williams (D-GA) joined as co-leads. 

    Currently, six countries–Canada, Colombia, Honduras, India, Turkey, and UAE—have at least one U.S. diplomatic post with visa appointment wait times that extend beyond the start of the first FIFA26 game in the United States. 

    “The Olympics have the potential to bring up to 15 million visitors to the U.S. and produce an estimated $18 billion in economic impact. Over 5 billion viewers are projected to watch the FIFA World Cup, which could bring millions of visitors to the United States across 11 cities and generate an estimated $3.75 billion in economic revenue,” the lawmakers wrote.

    They continued, “However, the success of these games hinges on the State Department’s ability to efficiently process the visa applications of spectators, athletes, and media, including providing adequate visa appointment availability and strategically offering visa interview waiver services where appropriate.

    “To meet the moment, the State Department must not take a business-as-usual approach. Accommodating the anticipated surge in international visitation will require innovative solutions in the visa adjudication process that will allow us to maintain security safeguards while reducing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. It is critical to begin preparations now to demonstrate our nation’s ability to welcome the world,” the lawmakers concluded.

    The letter also encouraged the Administration to update its current visa process to address visa processing challenges, including strategies to:

    • Develop a visa issuance process that maintains necessary security protocols while expediting processing for accredited individuals and entities participating in the games;
    • Ensure Consular Affairs is sufficiently resourced to support visa processing offices at overseas posts, disseminate information to Consular Affairs officers regarding games-related visa appointments, and handle the increased demand for visas well ahead of the games;
    • Establish protocols for visa issuance and entry from countries that are sanctioned or do not have U.S. consular offices, ensuring that all eligible athletes and support staff can participate in the games; and
    • Consider regulatory adjustments or other measures to reduce visa appointment wait times.

     
    The full letter is HERE.

    Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Young Kim, Darin LaHood, and Nikema Williams were joined by Reps. David Valadao, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jonathan L. Jackson, Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr., Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Aumua Amata Coleman, María Elvira Salazar, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr., Pramila Jayapal, Jasmine Crockett, Kweisi Mfume, Ken Calvert, Josh Gottheimer, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Ted W. Lieu, Raja Krishnamoorthi, LaMonica McIver, Eric Swalwell, Frederica S. Wilson, Stephen F. Lynch, Nydia M. Velázquez, Emanuel Cleaver, Don Bacon, William R. Keating, Luz M. Rivas, Kevin Mullin, Dina Titus, Greg Stanton, Rick Larsen, Brendan F. Boyle, Tom Cole, Julia Brownley, Suzan K. DelBene, Michael T. McCaul, Michael V. Lawler, Robert Garcia, Mikie Sherrill, Emily Randall, Gabe Amo, Zoe Lofgren, Ami Bera, Suhas Subramanyam, Pete Aguilar, Dan Goldman, Sylvia R. Garcia, Julie Johnson, Nellie Pou, Derrick Van Orden, Kevin Kiley, Laura Friedman, and Jay Obernolte. 
     

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing On Four Executive. Branch Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 21, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Joseph Edlow, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Elliot Gaiser, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC); John Squires, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); and Stanley Woodward, to be Associate Attorney General. Durbin’s opening statement focused on whether the nominees’ allegiance is to the President or to the rule of law.
    Key Quotes:
    “Earlier this year, I asked Justice Department nominees a simple question: may a public official defy a court order? Shockingly, the nominees, including the future Solicitor General John Sauer, refused to give an unequivocal answer. Just days ago, Mr. Sauer repeated this egregious error before the Supreme Court. During arguments in the case challenging the President’s illegal birthright citizenship executive order, Justice Barrett, …a Trump nominee, asked Mr. Sauer if the Administration would follow circuit court rulings. Mr. Sauer responded that the federal government’s policy is to ‘generally respect circuit precedent but not necessarily in every case.’ As our colleague Senator Kennedy said earlier this year, ‘don’t ever, ever, take the position that you’re not going to follow the order of a federal court. Ever.’”
    “Mr. Gaiser has been nominated to lead the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides legal advice to the President and all executive branch agencies. I want to hear whether he believes that the policy of the federal government [should be] to ignore court rulings that don’t suit the President’s whims.”
    “Beyond unlawfully attempting to end birthright citizenship, which is enshrined in the Constitution, the Administration has made it harder for legal immigrants to apply for citizenship and naturalize. This Administration has made it harder for Dreamers, who want to do the right thing. Now these were kids who were brought to the United States by their parents… They want to apply for programs like DACA so that they can receive work permits and continue to contribute to the American economy. I am disappointed to hear that Mr. Edlow, nominated to lead USCIS, opposes DACA, when even President Trump claims that he doesn’t want to deport Dreamers. Despite his personal opinions, I want to hear how Mr. Edlow will ensure that USCIS will promptly process DACA applications of eligible Dreamers.”
    “In the name of carrying out Trump’s mass deportation agenda, Attorney General Bondi has made DOJ a shell of itself. Thousands of federal law enforcement agents have been diverted from preventing drug trafficking and violent crime to deporting immigrants who pose no threat to our safety. Mr. Woodward, nominated to be the number three official at the Justice Department, would oversee Justice Department grantmaking, the Civil Rights Division, and many other components that are now under attack.”
    “The Justice Department, at the direction of DOGE, took their chainsaw to hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants to support public safety and our police. Programs supporting violence reduction, victims’ services, child protection, and substance use and mental health treatment have been gutted… For nearly 70 years, under Republican and Democratic Administrations alike, the Civil Rights Division protected the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans. Once known as the ‘crown jewel’ of the Justice Department, it has now been reduced to litigating a narrow set of cases aligned with the MAGA agenda. This is anathema to how this Division has operated historically.”
    “I want to hear from Mr. Woodward whether the Justice Department will continue to capitulate or if he will help restore the Justice Department to its intended function—to protect the safety and rights of all Americans.”
    Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins Newsmax to Discuss the President’s ‘One, Big Beautiful Bill,’ The SALT Deduction, and the Golden Dome Defense System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Shaun Kraisman and Emma Rechenberg on Newsmax this morning to discuss the status of President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ what’s next for the reconciliation process regarding State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction, and the ‘Golden Dome’ defense system announced by the President and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth yesterday.

    You may click HERE or above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview on Newsmax
    Highlights from the interview include:
    On President Trump helping close out the negotiations: 
    Senator Marshall: “I thought about this this weekend during a baseball game. If the House, if this was a baseball game, the House is going into the seventh inning, and we’re going to have to bring our closer in sooner than expected. So, we’re going to bring in Donald Trump. And you think of all the great closers in the history of baseball, you’ve got Goose Gossage who had a fastball. So, we’ll bring him in the eighth inning, and then the ninth inning President Trump will be like Mario Rivera, who has his cutter.
    “So, look, if it wasn’t for President Trump, this doesn’t happen, but I do believe in Speaker Johnson, President Trump, they’ll get it across the finish line. Send it over here and we’ll make the bill even better.”
    On the SALT Deduction negotiations:
    Senator Marshall: “If you think about where the big divisions are on this bill, it’s the SALT tax… You have some Republicans from districts that are blue, and they want this SALT tax to go up. And by the way, it’s going to cost $1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years, and you have conservative Republicans like myself who say the biggest issue in the country right now is our national debt. And there’s so many other things we could do with that trillion dollars rather than spending it, you know, giving these people from blue states a big tax break as well.
    “So, President Trump is trying to find that sweet spot. This bill is not perfect. This is not the bill that a conservative Republican like myself would write, but we’re getting there. This is the first step towards a balanced budget. We need to deliver on the President’s promises.”
    On the Golden Dome Defense System:
    Senator Marshall: “Well, obviously this would give us a big advantage. If we could shoot down all the Chinese nuclear warheads and their warp speed missiles that they have as well, this would just put our military at a big, big advantage. But to me this is a defensive weapon, as far as United States has been concerned.
    “Look, we don’t want to rule the world. We just want to make sure our families are safe and secure. I think this will be a great investment. $175 billion is what the President’s going to spend on this probably. Think about this, we spent $200 billion in Ukraine and I don’t know what that did for the safety of American citizens.
    “I think that you know, this takes me back to my boyhood when they announced… going to the moon. And this is something that Americans can rally around together, that we can cheer for together. We don’t have the technology to complete this yet. It looks next to impossible. I would put this way ahead of any purpose of going to Mars for America right now. So, I think this is a good investment. It’s going to make Americans safer – that’s what President Trump promised us. He said he’s going to make our family safer and more secure. So, I’m behind it, I’m excited about the technology, and there will be so many other benefits from this technology going forward as we develop this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Announces Bipartisan Legislation That Would Make Childbirth Free For Families With Private Insurance

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to discuss her Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, bipartisan legislation that would require insurance companies to fully cover the costs associated with childbirth, including labor and delivery and prenatal, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care. Even with insurance, childbirth can cost families thousands of dollars, and expenses are even greater for women who have additional health complications during pregnancy, a high-deductible health plan, or gaps in their coverage. As a result, new mothers are twice as likely as other young women to have medical debt. 

    The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would require that costs associated with birth be categorized as essential health benefits (EHB) and would remove the relevant services from insurance cost-sharing.

    Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) cosponsor this legislation. 

    “The costs associated with having a baby can be astronomical, and we should be doing everything we can to lower them,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The fear of an enormous bill leads some women to delay seeking prenatal or postpartum care, or to avoid it entirely, which creates worse outcomes for both women and their babies. That is unacceptable. I am proud to be introducing this bipartisan legislation to require insurance companies to fully cover care throughout pregnancy and a year postpartum. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to get this bill passed.” 

    The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would eliminate cost-sharing for a variety of services, including:

    • Ultrasounds
    • Delivery services, including anesthesiology, fetal monitoring, consultations with specialists, and services relating to postpartum health
    • Comprehensive postpartum care for physical and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by pregnancy, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and postpartum depression and anxiety
    • Mental health care and treatment for substance use disorder related to new parenthood for adoptive parents
    • Care for miscarriages

    The bill is expected to cause only a minor increase of $30 annually per enrollee in average premiums. Any rise in premiums due to covering out-of-pocket pregnancy costs will be likely less than annual inflation in premiums.

    The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is supported by medical providers and pro-family advocates, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Catholic Health Association, March of Dimes, American Principles Project, Concerned Women for America, and the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology.

    The full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Helium Evolution Announces Voting Results From Annual General & Special Meeting of Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helium Evolution Incorporated (TSXV:HEVI) (“HEVI” or the “Company“), a Canadian-based helium exploration company focused on developing assets in southern Saskatchewan, is pleased to report that all matters presented for approval at its annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on May 21, 2025 (the “Meeting“) were approved. A total of 47,824,360 common shares representing 42.59% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares were voted in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

    The shareholders voted in favour of all matters set out in the Company’s Management Information Circular dated April 7, 2025 (the “Circular”), including creating a new control person in ENEOS Xplora USA Limited, with greater than 98% of votes in favour. Additionally, the shareholders voted in favour of the election of all seven director nominees of HEVI for the ensuing year or until his or her successor is elected or appointed. Each nominee received greater than 99% of votes in favour.  

    At the Meeting, shareholders also approved: (1) fixing the number of directors of the Company for the ensuing year at seven; (2) appointing KPMG LLP as the auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors; and (3) approving and confirming the rolling 10% stock option plan of the Company, as more particularly described in the Company’s Circular.

    Stay Connected to Helium Evolution

    Shareholders and other parties interested in learning more about the Helium Evolution opportunity are encouraged to visit the Company’s website, which includes an updated corporate presentation, and are invited to follow the Company on LinkedIn and X for ongoing corporate updates and helium industry information. Helium Evolution also provides an extensive, commissioned ‘deep-dive’ research report prepared by a third party whose background includes serving as a research analyst for several bank-owned and independent investment dealers.

    About Helium Evolution Incorporated

    Helium Evolution is a Canadian-based helium exploration company holding the largest helium land rights position in North America among publicly-traded companies, focused on developing assets in southern Saskatchewan. The Company has over five million acres of land under permit near proven discoveries of economic helium concentrations which will support scaling the exploration and development efforts across its land base. HEVI’s management and board are executing a differentiated strategy to become a leading supplier of sustainably-produced helium for the growing global helium market.

    For further information, please contact:

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Schmitt Urge Trump to Approve Missouri Emergency Declaration & Unlock Disaster Funding Immediately

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
    Earlier this morning, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) penned a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to swiftly approve Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s May 19 emergency disaster declaration in light of recent devastating storms.
    “If approved, this declaration would immediately unlock critical funding to support state and local efforts to remove debris and take emergency protective measures,” the Senators wrote.
    “After touring the devastated neighborhoods, we can personally attest to the scale of the damage and the clear need for the governor’s request to unlock this first step of federal assistance to support first responder efforts,” they explained.
    This emergency designation would unlock resources for immediate needs such as debris removal while the damage is assessed for a more widespread disaster declaration. Senator Hawley spent Monday on the ground in St. Louis, Missouri, meeting with victims and surveying the damage inflicted by Friday’s tornadoes, and has set up a portal on his website to help constituents with insurance claims. 
    Read the full letter here or below.
    May 21, 2025
    The Honorable Donald J. TrumpPresident of the United StatesThe White House1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, DC 20500
    Dear President Trump,
    We write to support Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s May 19 request for an emergency disaster declaration, pursuant to the Stafford Act, following devastating tornadoes and storms in the St. Louis region. If approved, this declaration would immediately unlock critical funding to support state and local efforts to remove debris and take emergency protective measures.
    As you may know, on May 16, 2025, severe storms and tornadoes struck the St. Louis region and areas of southeast Missouri, claiming at least seven lives and causing widespread damage and destruction. Preliminary damage assessments are slated to begin tomorrow in preparation for the Governor’s request for a major disaster declaration. Importantly, Governor Kehoe’s emergency declaration request would expedite funding to the State of Missouri in the interim and provide important reinforcement for recovery efforts currently underway.
    After touring the devastated neighborhoods, we can personally attest to the scale of the damage and the clear need for the governor’s request to unlock this first step of federal assistance to support first responder efforts. We respectfully urge your immediate consideration and approval of this emergency declaration request.
    Sincerely,
    Josh Hawley                                                                                                     United States Senator
    Eric S. Schmitt                                                        United States Senator

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Durbin Reintroduce Bill Combatting Online Child Sexual Abuse Material 

    US Senate News:

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

    Wednesday, May 21, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) reintroduced the STOP CSAM Act. The legislation will crack down on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online by allowing victims to sue companies that host it. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) have cosponsored the bill.
    The Senators announced the legislation’s reintroduction in February ahead of their joint hearing highlighting witnesses impacted by CSAM, including survivors, advocates, and law enforcement experts. They originally introduced the legislation last Congress and garnered the votes to unanimously advance it through the Senate Judiciary Committee. 
    “Every day that Congress fails to protect kids online is another day that online predators can victimize children and steal their innocence—and social media companies are totally complicit,” said Senator Hawley. “To stop them, Congress must give parents and victims the right to sue these companies, and my bipartisan legislation would empower them to do just that.”
    “In the real world, child safety is a top priority. But in the virtual world, criminals and bullies don’t need to pick a lock or wait outside the playground to cause harm. They can harass, intimidate, addict, or sexually exploit our kids without leaving home,” said Senator Durbin. “Big Tech has woefully failed to police itself, and the American people are demanding that Congress intervene. We made significant headway last year to address Big Tech’s failure to protect our kids online and it’s time to build on that progress. I’m glad to partner with Senator Hawley to reintroduce our bill supporting victims of child sexual exploitation and increasing accountability for tech companies.”
    Senator Hawley has been a leading proponent of holding Big Tech accountable and protecting kids online. Last year, he questioned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the rampant child exploitation on his social media platforms, prompting him to stand up and apologize to the families of victims in the room.
    Senator Hawley also introduced legislation to allow any private citizen to sue Big Tech platforms for hosting CSAM. After striking a deal with Senator Durbin to advance the CSAM legislation, the bipartisan bill was eventually blocked on the Senate floor.
    Read the full bill text here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Hosts Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus Roundtable With Professional Athletes

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Hosts Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus Roundtable With Professional Athletes

    WATCH: Padilla joins athletes to share stories and reduce stigma surrounding mental healthWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Members of the Senate and Congressional bipartisan mental health caucuses commemorated Mental Health Awareness Month by hosting a roundtable in the Capitol with professional athletes focusing on the growing mental health crisis and overcoming the harmful associated stigma. U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, also joined the roundtable.
    According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 1 in 5 American adults experience a mental illness each year. However, less than half of individuals in crisis actually receive mental health services. While many challenges prevent people from seeking help, one of the biggest hurdles is the historic stigma associated with mental health, tragically causing many individuals to be ashamed or embarrassed to get the help they need for themselves or their loved ones. The roundtable aimed to tear down this stigma and reinforce the message that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Reducing stigma and talking about mental health are the most important ways to open doors to lifesaving care for those who need it most.
    The roundtable featured remarks from Senate and House mental health caucus co-chairs and NFL, NBA, MLS, and NWSL players.
    “It’s one thing to build the strength to deal with a mental illness — particularly in high-pressure environments like professional sports — and it’s another to use that strength to help others by publicly sharing your story,” said Senator Padilla. “By bringing voices to the table from outside the political realm this Mental Health Awareness Month, I hope more people suffering in silence can see these stories and the athletes they look up to, and we can start to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. Regardless of political affiliation, we can all agree that we need more investments in mental health care — not less — and I will keep advocating for the services and resources that we know can save lives.”
    “I know from personal experience what it’s like to watch someone struggle with their mental health and feel helpless. That is why discussions like these are so important, and I’m grateful to the athletes who shared their stories and perspectives on how to connect more people with care,” said Representative Salinas. “It takes a lot of courage to open up about your personal mental health journey. My hope is that by having honest conversations like this one, we will finally break the stigma and encourage more Americans to seek help if they need it.”
    Senator Padilla is a leading advocate for expanding mental health care access, especially for underserved communities. In 2023, Padilla launched the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus to serve as a forum for Senators to collaborate on and promote bipartisan legislation and solutions, hold events to raise awareness of critical mental health issues, and destigmatize mental health. Earlier this month, Padilla condemned the Trump Administration’s proposed dissolution of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) restructuring plan and the White House Office of Management and Budget’s HHS budget proposal. Earlier this year, Padilla led 12 Democratic Senators in warning HHS Secretary Kennedy that additional staffing cuts at SAMHSA would have disastrous ramifications for millions of Americans struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges. Padilla applauded the Federal Communications Commission for making critical improvements to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by adopting the main provisions of his Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023. 
    Additionally, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation earlier this year to combat the growing youth mental health crisis in America through early intervention and prevention services. Last year, Padilla passed a Senate resolution to raise the alarm about the mental health care crisis American children face and highlight the urgent need to increase our investment in mental health care for children and adolescents. Padilla previously introduced a trio of bills to address the unique mental health needs of military children, Latinos, and farm workers.
    Video of Senator Padilla’s opening remarks at today’s roundtable is available here, and his closing remarks are available here. Footage of his remarks can be downloaded here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff Condemn Trump Administration’s Student Visa Revocations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) blasted the Trump Administration’s recent harmful revocations of international student visas, including on ideological grounds, underscoring the lack of due process regarding these revocations and the chilling effect of these actions in suppressing freedom of thought and expression. In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, the Senators condemn the revocation of hundreds of California student visas and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) termination of several hundred California students’ Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records.
    The Senators called on the State Department to immediately stop their “Catch and Revoke” AI-powered initiative, an effort to monitor millions of social media accounts of student visa holders and green card holders to gather evidence of alleged terrorist sympathies. The technology is reportedly being used to monitor international students’ speech through SEVIS and other publicly available resources, leading to the revocation of student visas or green cards for students exercising peaceful expression, without due process. This step to surveil international students’ activity is an unprecedented leap toward stifling students’ First Amendment rights and their freedom of speech. The Senators pushed for restoring revoked visas and full transparency.
    While the Department of Justice has reversed the termination of students’ SEVIS records, the student visa revocations under Catch and Revoke remain ongoing and are instilling fear and uncertainty among international students at colleges and universities in California and across the country.
    “These visa revocations and record terminations constitute unprecedented and unconstitutional attacks on freedom of thought and expression that impact international and U.S. citizen students alike at our nation’s colleges and universities,” wrote the Senators. “While we welcome the news that the Administration has taken steps to rectify the SEVIS record terminations, these actions taken all together still call into question our nation’s bedrock commitment to freedom of expression. We urge the State Department and DHS to suspend the ‘Catch and Revoke’ initiative, which continues to cause uncertainty, erode due process, and chill free speech and expression among students.”
    “The actions taken as part of the ‘Catch and Revoke’ initiative suggest a troubling pattern of misusing immigration enforcement to suppress dissent, intimidate politically active students, and chill Constitutionally protected expression,” continued the Senators. “Without transparency or independent oversight, the risk of abuse continues to grow. In fact, USCIS is now openly targeting speech by noncitizens with other immigration statuses, not just students.”
    The Senators detailed a series of other alarming incidents targeting international students, as ICE has detained students on university campuses, at ports of entry, and in their own homes, often without notice or time to contact an attorney. Many of these cruel arrests were based on limited information within these students’ visa applications and violate the right to due process.
    “Reports indicate that ICE has arrested students based on vague or previously disclosed information in their visa applications — such as social media posts, protest participation, or lawful political associations — as justification for their detention,” added the Senators. “If true, these practices represent not just an overreach of immigration authority but a violation of students’ First Amendment rights. These processes do not appear to be conducted with consideration for students’ due process and require immediate remediation.”
    Padilla and Schiff highlighted the immense contributions international students make to colleges and universities in California and nationwide. California’s more than 140,000 international students contribute roughly $6.4 billion to the U.S. economy and support about 55,114 jobs. These students also strengthen and help the United States secure its global leadership in science, technology, and research; protect U.S. national security interests; and promote innovation.
    The Senators emphasized the critical role California’s higher education system plays in powering the U.S. economy and warned that the attacks on the state’s international students jeopardize the country’s economic future.
    “California’s higher education system is the largest in the nation and considered one of the best in the world, driving global economic mobility—and fueling California’s growth into the fourth largest economy in the world,” wrote the Senators. “These institutions serve as beacons of opportunity and economic potential that transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of students in providing a better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. However, this Administration’s attacks on institutions of higher education and international students, who add immense value to our universities, puts our nation’s economic future at risk.”
    Last month, Senators Padilla and Schiff joined 34 Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration to reconsider recent decisions to revoke student visas. In 2021, Padilla led a group of 23 Senators in calling on the State Department to address the backlog of visas for international students. Padilla also chaired a hearing entitled “Strengthening our Workforce and Economy through Higher Education and Immigration” in 2022, highlighting the challenges undocumented students and international students face in seeking higher education and obtaining jobs in the United States.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem:
    We write to express our increasing concern about actions targeting international students by the State Department and by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Starting earlier this year, the State Department began revoking hundreds of student visas including on apparent ideological grounds, revoking roughly a hundred visas in California alone. These revocations have been conducted by the State Department through its AI-enabled “Catch and Revoke” initiative, instructing affected students to leave the country voluntarily or risk facing deportation proceedings. At the same time, ICE began terminating Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records for thousands of students—leaving them uncertain about their ability to continue their studies. This includes at least two hundred students in California.
    These visa revocations and record terminations constitute unprecedented and unconstitutional attacks on freedom of thought and expression that impact international and U.S. citizen students alike at our nation’s colleges and universities. While we welcome the news that the Administration has taken steps to rectify the SEVIS record terminations, these actions taken all together still call into question our nation’s bedrock commitment to freedom of expression. We urge the State Department and DHS to suspend the “Catch and Revoke” initiative, which continues to cause uncertainty, erode due process, and chill free speech and expression among students.
    Colleges and universities across the U.S. have long benefitted from the enrollment and participation of international students, who contribute immensely to academic, scientific, and cultural life at schools all around the country. This should not be a partisan issue—there are over 1.1 million international students all over the country, across many states, and the District of Columbia. California enrolls more than 140,850 international students who contribute approximately $6.4 billion to our economy, supporting around 55,114 jobs. Nationally, over 1.12 million international students contribute roughly $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and support over 370,000 jobs. They also strengthen our national security by fostering global partnerships, cross-cultural understanding, and long-term diplomatic ties with future world leaders educated in the U.S. By attracting top talent from around the globe, we bolster our workforce, drive innovation, and better position ourselves to maintain our competitive edge in science, technology, and research.
    In addition to the State Department visa revocations, multiple alarming incidents have surfaced in recent months involving international students detained by immigration enforcement at university campuses, ports of entry, and even in their homes. In a significant departure from normal practice, these students were, in many cases, not provided prior notice and given no time to contact an attorney, leaving many with few options to defend their nonimmigrant status and their ability to continue studying in the United States. Reports indicate that ICE has arrested students based on vague or previously disclosed information in their visa applications—such as social media posts, protest participation, or lawful political associations—as justification for their detention. If true, these practices represent not just an overreach of immigration authority but a violation of students’ First Amendment rights. These processes do not appear to be conducted with consideration for students’ due process and require immediate remediation.
    The actions taken as part of the “Catch and Revoke” initiative suggest a troubling pattern of misusing immigration enforcement to suppress dissent, intimidate politically active students, and chill Constitutionally protected expression. Without transparency or independent oversight, the risk of abuse continues to grow. In fact, USCIS is now openly targeting speech by noncitizens with other immigration statuses, not just students.
    California’s higher education system is the largest in the nation and considered one of the best in the world, driving global economic mobility—and fueling California’s growth into the fourth largest economy in the world. These institutions serve as beacons of opportunity and economic potential that transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of students in providing a better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. However, this Administration’s attacks on institutions of higher education and international students, who add immense value to our universities, puts our nation’s economic future at risk.
    We urge your agencies to take immediate corrective action by suspending the Catch and Revoke initiative, restoring revoked visas, and providing full transparency to ensure that our immigration system is not misused to police speech at our colleges and universities and maintain beneficial international exchange at universities. We look forward to your prompt response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Welcomes the 2025 Men’s NCAA Basketball Champions, The University of Florida Gators

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    The White House

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IIH9WTHHz8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The Best Foreign Aid Ends Because it has Achieved Its Purpose

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    “The best foreign aid is foreign aid where at some point that country doesn’t need it anymore because now they’re self-sufficient.” — Secretary of State Marco Rubio

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVYFoiFqKc0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on FY26 State Department Posture

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled, “FY26 State Department Posture: Protecting American Interests.”

    Watch Here

    -Remarks-

    Since day one, President Trump and yourself, you’ve taken bold action to clean house, to restore accountability, to slash waste, and to put America—and Americans—first. I would say that this was desperately needed.

    In the past two decades alone, the State Department’s budget grew from about $9.5 billion to over $55 billion. And I think we could all easily say: for what? In any way, shape, or form did our foreign policy feel like it was five times more effective under Joe Biden? I think everybody would say no.

    Instead, we had a State Department that was literally a slush fund for many far-left bureaucrats, grifting non-government organizations, and foreign adversaries like the Taliban. We had our tax dollars went to things like vouchers for migrants at our southern border, mobilizing elderly lesbians to vote in Costa Rica, as well as drag shows, LGBT comic books, musicals, plays, and operas.

    That stuff was not PEPFAR, to say the least. It didn’t make America safer. It didn’t make America stronger. It didn’t bring other countries closer to us, and it didn’t save lives.

    Now, many of my colleagues might think that canceling these programs creates an inroad for China. I would say we could only hope that China is stupid enough to spend money in that way.

    I want to thank this administration for bringing charges against those who, it appears, were stealing from the State Department and USAID—and, in turn, the American people.

    And I want to thank you, Secretary Rubio, for reorganizing the State Department into a lean and effective diplomatic operation.

    Let’s give proof of that.

    Just this past week alone, President Trump secured more than $2 trillion of investment from the Middle East. That is more than ten times what Joe Biden secured from the Middle East during his entire four years in the White House—which is not entirely surprising, considering under the Biden State Department, millions were spent on programs like trans inclusion in Tunisia. That was the focus in the Middle East.

    Now, as you know, Secretary Rubio, the job is not done. Up until now, over 80% of the State Department has been unauthorized. We have bureaus and offices that have grown from thousands of dollars to billions of dollars, and that changes in law when we pass the first comprehensive and stand-alone State Department reauthorization that has occured since 2002.

    I look forward to working with the members of this committee. I look forward to working with you, Secretary Rubio, and I look forward to working with Senator Risch, moving forward, to make sure that one thing—and one thing alone—takes place: Every single dollar and diplomat that we authorize and send into the field puts America first.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –