NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Hoyer, Rep. Lynch Mobilize to Combat Attacks on Federal Workers Included in Republicans’ Extreme Budget Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), and Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) hosted a roundtable yesterday with major federal employee groups and civil service organizations to coordinate action against the Republican Budget’s House Oversight Reconciliation provisions that steal earned wages, benefits, and retirement security from federal workers to subsidize tax giveaways to billionaires. Republicans’ budget includes provisions to steal earned retirement benefits, decrease the take home pay of existing and new federal employees, claw back already-promised retirement payments, and force new federal employees to choose between being subject to President Trump’s political purges of the federal workforce or receiving a smaller paycheck for their entire career.

    The roundtable follows a full Committee markup of the Reconciliation bill in which Oversight Committee Democrats offered twenty-five amendments that would add commonsense safeguards to the bill.  All Democratic amendments were rejected by Committee Republicans.

    “Republicans’ House Oversight Reconciliation provisions are the latest salvo in Donald Trump’s effort to demean, vilify, and traumatize our federal workers,” said Ranking Member Hoyer. “These are patriotic professionals who serve the American people every single day. Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Russell Vought, and DOGE’s illegal purge of our federal workers was never about improving efficiency and reducing waste – something every American supports. Their assault on the civil service is about consolidating their own power and dismantling vital services for Americans across the country. Whether it’s on Capitol Hill, in the courts, or on the picket line, I will keep working with Democrats to fight against the actions of this administration and fight for our federal workers.” 

    “The Trump Administration’s unprecedented assault on our civil service is creating a breakdown across federal agencies that Americans will feel for years to come.  Unfortunately, the Republicans’ reconciliation print is an effective greenlight for the Administration to continue to attack the federal workforce—it will reduce the pay of federal workers; it will break promises on entitled retirement benefits; it will deter current and federal employees from seeking justice against wrongful employment actions; and it will provide a back-door Schedule P/C, formerly known as Schedule F, to purge the federal workforce in Trump’s favor,” said Rep. Lynch. “Oversight Democrats are ready to solve the nation’s greatest crises, but we cannot in good conscience do that by sacrificing the well-being of federal employees and the quality of the federal civilian workforce. That’s why we must continue to stand up against Oversight Republicans’ reconciliation proposals.”

    Participants in the roundtable included representatives from:  AFL-CIO; American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Postal Workers Union (APWU); Democracy Forward; FAA Managers Association (FAAMA); International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE); National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM); National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU); National Association of Letter Carrier (NALC); National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU); National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA); Senior Executives Association, Professional Managers Association, and National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); and Federal Managers Association (FMA).

    “Today’s hearing made it unmistakably clear that punitive cuts to federal employee benefits aren’t about saving money. They are about making life miserable for Americans serving in the federal government and driving experienced and dedicated employees away from federal service — harming every state, district, community, family, business, and individual who depend on the services these workers provide.  AFGE urges Members on both sides of the aisle to take notice of today’s discussion and reject the package of proposed changes to FERS that will reduce the take home pay of most federal workers and sharply reduce their expected retirement benefit,” said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

    “The physical demands of firefighting add up over the years, leaving many fire fighters sick or injured as a result of their service to the community. These dedicated public servants shouldn’t have to worry about quality healthcare and making ends meet if they’re forced to retire early. Benefits like the Special Retirement Supplement are key to ensuring fire fighters a dignified retirement until their Social Security benefits begin. Congress must preserve this annuity for federal fire fighters and reject this portion of the proposed reconciliation bill,” said International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward A. Kelly.

    “Members of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union dedicated their lives to serving the United States Postal Service and its customers, but our hard work is being met with threats against our earned federal retirement benefits. Make no mistake, these proposed changes do nothing but harm the middle-class workers we represent. This is not how Congress makes America great again,” said National Postal Mail Handlers Union National President Paul V. Hogrogian.

    “The federal employee pay and benefit cuts included in the Republican budget constitute a complete abandonment of the commitment Congress has made to AUSAs and other federal civil servants. If these cuts are approved, the resulting increased workforce turnover, staff attrition with loss of expertise, and decreased morale in U.S. Attorney’s Offices will have real costs for taxpayers and undermine the capacity of those offices to accomplish their important public safety mission. NAAUSA calls on Congress to reject these cuts,” said Steve Wasserman, President of the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA). “The notion that we need to propose cuts elsewhere so that the Republicans can balance the budget on the backs of underpaid and underfunded federal prosecutors and Medicaid recipients to fund a tax cut for the super wealthy is grossly offensive. It is a false choice.”

    “Federal employees are not the cause of the government’s debt nor deficit. Career federal employees who reach the Senior Executive Service (SES) ranks in government have forgone significant income opportunities while serving their nation. In addition to being dedicated to serving the mission of their agencies, career executives have signed on to Federal service with the promise of a pension and stable retirement — key parts of the government’s employment value proposition. Many dedicated senior executives made professional and family financial decisions based on these commitments.  Congress should keep the promises made to executives who have faithfully served the nation, often for decades,” said Marcus Hill, President of the Senior Executives Association (SEA). “SEA believes it is short-sighted to impose pay cuts that will only make the government less competitive and attractive as an employer for the talent needed to serve America, now and into the future. The association is open to discussing changes that can improve the system for future employees, but Congress should not disadvantage current federal employees who have devoted their lives and careers to public service.”

    “The $50 billion in cuts to federal employee pay and benefits are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—they represent broken promises and disrupted lives,” said Kelly Reyes, Executive Director of the Professional Managers Association (PMA). “Our members have spent 25–30 years building a stable future based on longstanding agreements with the government, and now they’re questioning whether they can afford to retire. One manager described it as ‘changing the terms of the mortgage the day before closing.’ These proposals don’t just impact today’s workforce—they send a chilling message to the next generation, making it nearly impossible for government to recruit top talent in critical fields like accounting, cybersecurity, and data science, where private-sector competition is fierce. PMA members aren’t just thinking about themselves—they’re thinking about the teams they lead, the services they deliver, and the future of federal service itself. We are not opposed to hard conversations about sustainability, but changes of this magnitude must be prospective, not retroactive. Congress must honor the social contract made with current federal employees.”

    “The reconciliation provisions that the Republican majority on the House Oversight Committee advanced are a part of the Trump Administration’s effort to dismantle the government, eliminate federal employee unions, and inject political corruption into the civil service,” said International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President Matt Biggs.  “The reconciliation provisions that cut federal retirement benefits break a commitment to federal workers who’ve dedicated their careers to public service and, if enacted, will be the last straw for so many highly qualified and knowledgeable workers at federal agencies who are being bullied, disrespected, and unlawfully fired and denied workforce protections by the Trump Administration. Our union will continue building bipartisan opposition to these provisions, and we applaud Oversight Committee Democrats for their strong defense of the merit-based, nonpartisan civil service.”

    “These proposals are a disgusting attack on every letter carrier, postal employee and federal employee,” said National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) President Brian L. Renfroe.  “Letter carriers earn their retirement benefits through hard work and already pay their fair share. If enacted, this would amount to a nearly 11 percent pay cut for some letter carriers, which is especially egregious since the Postal Service is an independent, off-budget agency. Taxpayers don’t fund USPS or our retirement benefits. NALC’s 295,000 active and retired letter carriers will continue fighting until these unfair attacks are off the table.”

    “The APWU is vehemently opposed to the proposed pension cuts,” said American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard.  “No worker should have the benefits they were promised placed in jeopardy to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. We must also fight to keep these benefits intact since they encourage people to apply for jobs at the United States Postal Service.”

    “The Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s reconciliation plan, which aims to cut $51 billion off the backs of federal and postal employees over the next decade, is simply wrong,” said Don Maston, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) President.  “Federal and postal employees don’t enter public service to get rich—they do it to serve their country and to be the backbone of the essential services that keep this nation running. They do it for stable, secure jobs with decent benefits.  To change pension and retirement benefits mid-career is not just unfair, it’s a broken promise to the workers who have dedicated their lives to serving the public. Federal workers cannot continue to be the easy target for budget savings.  The proposals put forth by the Oversight Committee are, in effect, substantial pay cuts for hardworking postal and federal employees, and must be removed from the final bill.  The NRLCA thanks Congressman Lynch and Congressman Hoyer for organizing this Roundtable discussion and ensuring our voices are heard.”

    “Federal and postal employees paid into and earned their accrued retirement benefits – they are not gifts,” said National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) Vice President John Hatton.  “No matter the degree of change, clawing back the full amount of those accrued benefit is theft, plain and simple.  What if a private-sector company took back a portion of vested contributions into a defined contribution plan?  Would that even be legal? Would that really be any different than cutting back the vested portion of a defined benefit plan?  Yet not only does this provision apply to vested federal employees, it applies to individuals who are currently eligible for retirement, or who become eligible in the next few years, taking away hard-earned benefits that they have relied upon in planning for retirement.”
     

    Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Stephen F. Lynch’s roundtable with
    major federal employee groups and civil service organizations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Team Maryland Statement on Patel’s Comments About FBI Vacating J. Edgar Hoover Building

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Governor Wes Moore, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) issued the following statement on Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel’s recent comments about the FBI headquarters:

    “Today, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel recognized what everyone, including his predecessors, have known for decades: the J. Edgar Hoover Building is unsafe, unworthy, and unaccommodating of the FBI’s vital national security and law enforcement mission. We agree with his statement that ‘if you’re going to come work at the premier law enforcement agency in the world, we’re going to give you a building that is commensurate with that.’ 

    “The solution is clear, and the decision to move the headquarters to the site in Greenbelt, Maryland, was final. This site was selected based on a thorough, objective process examining cost, construction timeline, transportation access, community impact, and the FBI’s mission requirements.

    “Team Maryland remains committed to providing the world’s premier law enforcement agency with the world’s premier law enforcement facility. If the ​Trump Administration truly shares that goal, it will work with us to proceed on this project.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Joins Sessions to Introduce the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) to introduce H.R. 3417, the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025, aimed at ensuring that websites, applications, and online services are accessible to all Americans, including individuals with disabilities.

    The bill affirms that entities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must not operate or maintain websites and software applications that are inaccessible to people with disabilities. It establishes a clear, enforceable standard for digital accessibility, reflecting today’s digital-first world and closing longstanding gaps in online access.

    “I helped draft and enact the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure that Americans with disabilities have equal access to all spaces. That ought to include digital spaces,” said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, original Co-sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The internet is no longer a luxury; it is essential to economic opportunity and everyday communication in the twenty-first century. This bill establishes clear standards to guarantee that all Americans – no matter their disability status – can access apps, websites, and other services online. I am proud to partner with Rep. Sessions on this bill. Together, we will ensure disability rights remains a bipartisan issue.”

    “The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025 is about fairness, ensuring that Americans with disabilities are given a level playing field as technology continues to evolve. This bipartisan effort is essential for millions of Americans that face discrimination by digital barriers,” said Congressman Sessions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Hoyer Remarks at the FSGG Hearing on the Federal Trade Commission

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks at the FSGG hearing on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:
     

    Click  here to watch a full video of his remarks.

    “I thank the chairman very much. Welcome, Chairman Ferguson, to the committee. I want to thank you for the work that you have done and you’re doing. You had a very extensive statement. Footnoted more than any other statement I think I’ve read for an opening statement. I thought I was reading a law brief, but having said that, it was very comprehensive.

    “But one of the things I noticed in it, and I say this at the outset, well, I’m going to ask questions later. I’m going to be going in and out. It has nothing to do with your testimony. It has to do with we have two hearings going on at the same time.

    “One of my top priorities, Mr. Chairman as you know, throughout my time in Congress has been making our workers, our businesses, and our entire economy more competitive.

    “That is why I, as Majority Leader, started the agenda that I call Make It In America. Which obviously is a double entendre. People came to America to make it, to succeed. But also, the way we’re going to succeed better, is to make it—whatever it may be—in America. We’re moving towards that effort. But as you point out in your statement, it can be a self-defeating effort. The larger one enterprise gets other enterprises are left by the wayside. Many of the historic bills we passed in the 117th Congress – including the Chips and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act – were designed to promote competition and to grow manufacturing and our science research in America. That’s the objective we all ought to share.

    “If you support innovation, if you support growth, if you support development, then you have to support competition. I tell my Democrats, if you want to be pro-worker, you need to be pro-employer. Both need to be in equilibrium. Both have a role to play. And both need a referee. [turns to colleague on the dais] You talked about cop on the beat. Referee.

    “If you recognize the importance of the free market, as I do, then you have to recognize how crucial it is to keep it free and keep it a market. The FTC is essential to that mission to promote fair competition and protect American consumers. It breaks up monopolies that inflate the price of everything from groceries to gas to health care. It protects Americans from scam calls, fraud, and unfair business practices. It stands up for Americans’ privacy rights, going after businesses that misuse or fail to secure their personal data. One thing I may just [pulls out smart phone] it ticks me when I get advertisements that I don’t ask for on this device which I own. I don’t know whether there is a solution to that, because obviously they have to ‘pay for the product they give me.’ That is a particular concern that I have that you may pay attention to.  

    “The FTC needs to maintain public trust and credibility to do this vital, nonpartisan work. Now I mention nonpartisan work, but what I started to say, let me say, I noticed at least three times in the opening sort-of synopsis of your statement that you use the term ‘the Trump-Vance FTC.’ I was caught by that, because I don’t see that very often in statements that are made. Actually, it’s America’s FTC. Now, you’re appointed, you’re a Republican, I’m a Democrat, so we have different points of view. But we need to make sure the agenda of the administration really needs to be in this case from your perspective, the agenda of what the FTC is intended to do. Now we may have differences on that, but I would urge you to do it in as non-partisan a way, and, frankly, I urged your predecessor to do the same thing. There would be different views as to whether that was accomplished. The FTC needs to maintain public trust and credibility as I said, and that will help I think. That’s why the agency has always been independent.

    “I am deeply concerned by this administration’s efforts frankly to undermine—not only the independence that that naming it the Trump-Vance FTC would imply—but it also seems to be creeping into almost everything we do. Where so-called ‘non-loyalists’ are being fired. They need to be loyal to the country and the oath that we all take to the Constitution and the laws thereof. Not to any individual or group of individuals. In March, Donald Trump violated 90 years of supreme court precedent when he fired two Democratic FTC commissioners without any legal cause, which under the law is required.

    “Those two commissioners are challenging that action in court, I hope they win. And if it’s anything like the dozens of other cases we’ve seen in the past four months, I believe the courts will likely rule against the administration. [Turns to Rep. Joyce] One more minute? Nevertheless, Trump’s attempt to politicize the FTC ought to concern us all. So should the reports that Elon Musk and his DOGE agents may be able to access sensitive financial data the FTC compiles on American businesses, including Musk’s competitors. That is the opposite of the FTC’s purpose, and we must not let it happen. Democrats and Republicans need to come together to protect this vital institution and ensure it has the resources it needs to keep serving the American people. I thank FTC’s Chair Ferguson for joining us today, and I hope he can address some of these concerns and speak to the importance of this funding. The American people are counting on the FTC, and the FTC is counting on this committee. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Announces $1.8 Million Investment in Airport Safety for New Century AirCenter in Olathe

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

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to improve air safety at Johnson County’s New Century AirCenter in Olathe, KS. The $2 million award will be used to reconstruct 7,330 feet of existing runway and 16 existing points of signage — all of which are currently at the end of their useful lives. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which made this critical investment in air safety possible. 

    “I’m thrilled to see this investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law coming to the Third District,” said Davids. “By improving New Century AirCenter, we’re not only boosting economic growth and supporting good-paying jobs — we’re also strengthening Kansas’ role as a leader in shipping and logistics, which improves domestic supply chains and lowers costs for Kansas families and businesses”

    “We’re grateful for the federal support for the pavement seal coat project at New Century AirCenter,” said Bryan Johnson, Executive Director, Johnson County Airport Commission. “This investment will help extend the life of our runways and taxiways, enhance safety, and support ongoing operations at a key transportation hub in our region. We appreciate Representative Davids’ continued advocacy for infrastructure improvements that strengthen our local economy and aviation capabilities.”

    With more than 60,000 operations each year, roughly 120 aircraft, and a 7,339-foot main runway — the second longest in the region — New Century AirCenter ranks among the busiest towered airports in Kansas.

    Davids has long supported investments in improving local infrastructure and prioritizing aviation safety. Last month, she visited the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe to discuss the urgent need for investments in aviation safety amidst the Trump Administration’s firings of air safety workers. She also pressed former FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, who served under former President Biden, on the slow pace of modernizing critical landing systems in Kansas. 

    The bipartisan infrastructure law, which is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings, has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In all, more than $3.2 billion in federal bipartisan infrastructure law funding has been announced for Kansas, with more than 311 specific projects identified — from lead pipe replacement in Olathe to safety initiatives in KCK to long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Davids Slams Extreme GOP Budget That Slashes Health Care and Food to Fund Billionaire Tax Breaks

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

    Davids Backs Cutting Waste — Not Cutting Off Kansas Families.

    Last night, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee markup, Representative Sharice Davids spoke out against President Trump and U.S. House Republicans’ extreme budget proposal, which would slash Medicaid and take food off Kansans’ tables — all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. Davids noted the reckless proposal comes as families are struggling with higher costs caused by Trump’s reckless tariffs.

    House Republicans are pushing a budget that would make the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history — all to fund over $1 trillion in tax giveaways for billionaires. These extreme cuts would gut programs that help Kansans afford food and stay healthy. 

    Cuts to Health Care: A nonpartisan analysis estimates that 13.7 million Americans would lose health coverage with this bill. In total, more than 61,000 Kansans in Kansas’ Third District — including more than 41,000 children and 11,000 seniors — are at risk of losing coverage. Finally, Medicaid cuts would lead to more hospital closures, reduced services, and worse care for all Kansas families, especially in rural communities where 82 percent of hospitals operate at a loss.

    Cuts to Food Access: In Kansas’ Third District alone, 8,000 households could lose access to the emergency food assistance they rely on through this bill. Also, up to 27,000 grocery stores nationwide may be forced to close due to lost revenue, worsening food deserts, especially in rural communities. Finally, cutting SNAP at these levels would reduce farm income by more than $30 billion and threaten good-paying jobs.

    Read a full transcript of Davids’ remarks below:

    “Thank you, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Craig.

    “Right now, families in Kansas and across the country are feeling the pinch of rising costs – in large part due to the administration’s reckless policies.

    “Prices are up, retirement savings are down, tariffs are impacting farmers, and for many, one unexpected bill could push them into crisis. This is not the time to pull the rug out from under folks who are doing their best to make ends meet.

    “Yet that’s exactly what this partisan Republican budget proposes: deep, harmful cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance — programs that help people stay afloat when times are tough.

    “Republicans have said their goal is to secure $1 trillion in federal cuts. But nonpartisan experts have said they can’t reach that goal without taking health care and food away from millions of parents, kids, seniors, pregnant women, veterans, and people with disabilities.

    “Look, I’m all for improving government efficiency and fiscal responsibility. But this budget proposal pushed by the Trump Administration has real consequences. 

    “It includes cuts that could force rural hospitals to close. Cuts that would mean empty dinner plates for families already struggling. But don’t take it from me — take it from Robert in Louisburg, Kansas, who wrote to my office. 

    “He said, and I quote: ‘To pay for massive tax giveaways to billionaires and wealthy corporations, these budget proposals would slash programs that help everyday families afford food, health care, child care, housing, education, and more.’

    “He continued by saying: ‘Families shouldn’t have to take hit after hit while billionaires get even more tax breaks. Enough is enough.’

    “I couldn’t agree more, Robert.

    “This budget doesn’t rein in waste. It doesn’t close corporate loopholes. It doesn’t go after fraud. What it does is protect tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations — and asks struggling families to foot the bill. And on top of that, it would likely add hundreds of billions to the deficit.

    “I was raised by a single mom who served in the Army. My brothers and I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. I know what these programs mean for families like mine. We should be working to make them stronger and fairer — not slashing them to reward the wealthiest among us.

    “Kansans deserve smart policies that protect our economy, support hardworking people, and actually reduce fraud and waste — not rushed cuts that leave our communities hungrier, sicker, and further behind.

    “I would urge my colleagues, and in this instance, actually plead with my colleagues to please reject these reckless cuts. This body can do better than what we’ve been seeing.

    “Thank you, and I yield back.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Neeraj Chopra breaks 90m barrier, finishes second

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s Olympic gold medalist and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra delivered a historic performance at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, becoming the first Indian to cross the 90-metre mark in the sport. Despite the achievement, he finished second in the event following a remarkable final throw by Germany’s Julian Weber.
     
    Chopra began his season on a high note, launching his first throw to a distance of 88.44 metres. Grenada’s Anderson Peters followed with 85.64m, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott stood third with 84.65m. Chopra’s second throw was a foul, but he retained the lead. Germany’s Julian Weber was close behind with a best of 85.57m.
     
    In his third attempt, Chopra made history with a throw of 90.23 metres, breaking his own national record of 89.94m set during the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League. The throw extended his lead and marked a landmark moment in Indian athletics. Weber, meanwhile, threw 89.06m, staying within reach.
     
    Chopra’s fourth throw measured 80.56m, and his fifth was a foul. Still, he held the lead heading into the final round, with Weber in second and Peters in third.
     
    However, the competition took a dramatic turn in the final set of throws. Weber unleashed a massive effort of 91.06 metres, overtaking Chopra and clinching the top podium spot. Chopra’s final throw was 88.20 metres, which secured him the second position.
     
    Anderson Peters remained third with his earlier best of 85.64 metres.
     
    While Neeraj Chopra narrowly missed out on a win, his historic 90.23m throw marks a new chapter in Indian athletics and sets a strong tone for the upcoming season.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Johnson Joins Sen. Cotton in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Protect Military Installations from Unauthorized Drones

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing the Comprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization and Threat Elimination Response (COUNTER) Act. The bipartisan legislation will help enhance airspace security at military installations.

    Sens. Johnson and Cotton were joined by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W. Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

    U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) and August Pfluger (R-Texas) are introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Slams Trump Administration for Ripping $48 Million Tech Hub Grant from Spokane

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI FROM JAN 14, 2025: Spokane Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center Tech Hub Launches With $48 Million Federal Grant – MORE HERE

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration effectively rescinding a $48 million grant from the Tech Hubs Program for the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center (AAMMC) in Spokane.

    “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump and his know-nothing Commerce Secretary are wrongfully ripping away federal dollars owed to Spokane—what is happening is unprecedented and nothing short of an outrage. This would have never happened under nearly any other administration—yet now we are all faced with a pointless and costly setback for Spokane’s economy and future.

    “Our constituents are losing $48 million for no other reason than Donald Trump’s absurd political games. Every single one of us should speak out—and the Trump administration should immediately reverse course. As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will certainly do everything within my power to fight for Spokane and I do not plan to give this administration any cover for this outrageous decision.” 

    Senator Murray helped secure the funding for the Tech Hubs grant and celebrated the award at the start of this year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wagner Introduces Capital Formation Bills to Support Families and Small Businesses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she introduced three pieces of bipartisan legislation to promote capital formation and support Main Street Investors:

    “Families need greater access to investment opportunities, and small businesses deserve to grow without fighting reckless overregulation by the government.  These three pieces of legislation will expand options for Main Street investors to save for their future, ensure local businesses can create even more jobs in our communities, and prevent overregulation from stifling the innovation that makes the United States the best place to build your business.  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support and look forward to the Financial Services Committee taking up my legislation so we can make sure we accomplish our most important goal in Congress, making life better for families in Missouri and the nation.”

    Background

    Encouraging Public Offerings Act

    This bipartisan bill codifies Rule 163B under the Securities Act by allowing an issuer to communicate with potential investors to determine interest in a securities offering, either before or after the filing of a registration statement (i.e. test the waters).

    Increasing Investor Opportunities Act
    This bipartisan bill would give retail investors greater access to private fund investment opportunities while retaining the protections of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

    Small Entity Update Act

    The bipartisan bill would direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct a study, followed by a rulemaking consistent with the results of such study, including defining the term “small entity” under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fleischmann Leads Bipartisan Letter to House Leadership Inviting Pope Leo XIV to Address Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

    Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) sent a letter today to Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries asking the bipartisan leaders to invite His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope in history, to address a Joint Session of Congress.

    “The election of Pope Leo XIV to the papacy is a historic and momentous occasion not just for Catholics across the United States but for all Americans regardless of faith or denomination. An address to Congress and the American People by Pope Leo XIV would serve as a powerful reminder to our shared commitments to peace, service to others, and moral leadership and also reaffirm the deep and longstanding ties between the United States of America and The Holy See,” said Congressman Fleischmann. “I thank my bipartisan colleagues and Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries for joining me in this united effort to honor and celebrate the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s historic papacy.”

    A copy of Rep. Fleischmann’s letter can be found HERE.

    Full text of the Congressman’s letter is below.

    Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. Minority Leader. 

    As you know, the recent election of the first American Pope is a moment of profound historic significance for the Catholic Church and our nation. As members of Congress, we are honored to witness this remarkable milestone, and we respectfully urge you to extend a formal invitation to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to address a Joint Session of Congress. 

    Pope Leo XIV’s life and ministry, shaped in part by his experiences in our own nation, equip him with a voice that speaks not only to Catholics, but to people of all faiths and backgrounds. 

    During a time when our nation needs unifying and the world faces severe humanitarian crises, an address by his Holiness would serve as a powerful reminder of our shared commitments to peace, service to others, and moral leadership. It would also affirm the deep and longstanding ties between the United States, The Holy See, and the global Catholic community.

    Thank you for your continued leadership and your consideration of this request, which would not only honor the historic nature of His Holiness’ papacy but the ideals that bind us as a nation. 

    Sincerely, 

     

     

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar Receives Commitment From Agriculture Secretary Rollins to Solve Farm Labor Issue

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar Receives Commitment From Agriculture Secretary Rollins to Solve Farm Labor Issue

    Today, Congressman John Moolenaar, the only member of the House Appropriations Committee from Michigan, questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins in a budget hearing. In his questioning, Moolenaar secured a commitment from Rollins to address a long term solution on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which hurts Michigan farmers in it’s current formulation by requiring them to pay high wages for H-2A migrant farm workers. 

    “Michigan farmers utilize H-2A employees to grow and harvest the food we rely on every day. Unfortunately federal regulations require family farmers who take advantage of the program to take on unsustainable labor costs, making it difficult to make ends meet. I am grateful Secretary Rollins recognizes this and committed today to working with Congress and the Department of Labor to find a long-term solution to the AEWR calculation which will allow Michigan farmers to thrive,” said Moolenaar. 

    In February, Moolenaar introduced the Supporting Farm Operations Act, bipartisan legislation which sets the AEWR back to 2023 levels and freezes the wage rate until the end of 2026. Michigan farmers who utilize the program are currently required to pay H-2A employees $18.15 per hour, in addition to housing and transportation costs. 

    Moolenaar’s questioning of Secretary Rollins can be viewed here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar’s NO GOTION Policy Advances in House Budget

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar’s NO GOTION Policy Advances in House Budget

    Today, Congressman John Moolenaar made the following statement after the House Ways and Means Committee advanced legislation which included his NO GOTION policy as part of the budget reconciliation package.

    “Gotion and its parent company have well-documented ties to the Chinese Communist Party and under no circumstance should American taxpayers fund companies beholden to our adversaries. I am grateful the House Ways and Means Committee has passed my NO GOTION policy in its budget reconciliation package. This policy will ensure that the federal tax dollars of hard-working Michigan families never go to Gotion and other companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. This is common sense, and I will continue my work in Congress to ensure this becomes law.”

    Moolenaar’s NO GOTION policy would prohibit foreign entities of concern from claiming green energy production tax credits implemented by the Biden administration in the “Inflation Reduction Act.”

    Moolenaar’s policy came as a response to Gotion, a CCP-affiliated company, claiming it was reviewing and assessing how it can utilize the tax credits. Gotion is currently planning to build factories in Green Charter Township, and Kankakee, Illinois.

    Gotion is a “wholly owned and controlled” subsidiary of Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese-based battery company. According to Gotion High-Tech’s by-laws it is required to “carry out Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the [Chinese Communist Party].” A 2024 investigation into the company by the House Select Committee on the CCP found the company is reliant on the CCP’s use of forced labor in its supply chain. In an amended Foreign Agents Registration Act filing, Gotion admitted it is subsidized by the Chinese government.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Schakowsky Condemns Committee Passage of Republican Reconciliation Bill Stripping Health Coverage from Over 13 Million Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement condemning the passage of the Republican Reconciliation Package through the Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill will come before the full House for a vote as soon as next week.

    “House Republicans jamming this bill to gut Medicaid through this committee today is one of the most shameful moments in my over two decades of Congressional service. Republicans are clearing the deck to give massive tax breaks to billionaires by slashing Medicaid funding and forcing millions of Americans off their health care. Rather than fight for their constituents, Republicans have chosen to rip life-saving care away from more than 13 million working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid as a lifeline, and then turn around and lie to the American people about its true impacts.

    “This bill takes direct aim at women’s health by intentionally defunding Planned Parenthood, cutting off millions from access to cancer screenings, birth control, and reproductive health services. Let’s be clear: this is an ideological attack on women and their right to control their own health care decisions. It also attacks transgender youth by prohibiting them from utilizing federal Medicaid funding for medically necessary healthcare interventions.

    “I have visited with hundreds of constituents in Illinois’s 9th District over the past few months and have seen firsthand the vital role Medicaid plays in our communities. Nearly 150,000 people in my district alone rely on Medicaid. It supports low-income families, funds rural hospitals, and provides essential care for children with complex medical needs. Slashing Medicaid is not just heartless—it’s dangerous. It puts lives at risk and undermines our entire health care system.”

    “Instead of working to strengthen access to care, Republicans are pushing a reckless, partisan agenda that punishes the most vulnerable. This bill will cause rural hospitals to close, cause health care workers to lose jobs, and cause families to fall through the cracks—all in the name of tax cuts for the wealthy.”

    “This fight is not over: I will never stop fighting to protect the health and dignity of every American. I and my Democratic colleagues will continue to hold the line for the millions of Americans set to lose their health coverage under this cruel and dangerous bill.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Padilla, Merkley Introduce Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Nursing Staff Standards, Improve Patient Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Full Text of Bill (PDF)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on International Nurses Day, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act to improve hospital patient care and nurse retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. 

    There are no federal mandates regulating the number of patients a registered nurse (RN) can care for at one time in U.S. hospitals. As a result, RNs are consistently required to care for more patients than is safe, negatively impacting patient outcomes. Studies show that when RNs are forced to care for too many patients at one time, patients are at higher risk of preventable medical errors, avoidable complications, falls and injuries, pressure sores, increased length of hospital stay, higher numbers of hospital readmissions, and death. For each additional surgical patient in a registered nurse’s workload above the baseline nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:4, the likelihood of patient death within 30 days increases by seven percent.

    “I am proud to reintroduce the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act with Senators Padilla and Merkley that will establish registered nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, provide whistleblower protection for nurses who advocate on behalf of their patients, and invest in training and career development to retain hardworking nurses in the workforce,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “For years, I’ve talked to exhausted nurses who have said they go home at night, wondering if they forgot to turn a patient because they were stretched far too thin. Study after study shows that safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios result in higher quality care for patients, lower health care costs, and a better workplace for nurses. It is past time that we act on the evidence, give nurses the support they deserve, and put patients over profits. Let’s get it done!”

    “Every patient deserves access to quality care, but the registered nursing staffing crisis across the country is putting patients at risk and leading to preventable health complications, especially in communities of color,” said Senator Padilla. “The numbers are clear: California’s mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient ratio is saving lives. Extending safe staffing at hospitals across the country is long overdue and is essential to retaining our nursing workforce and improving health outcomes.”

    “As the husband of a nurse, I’ve seen how our health care heroes give so much to keep communities in Oregon healthy every day,” said Senator Merkley, Co-Chair of the Senate Nursing Caucus. “As we celebrate National Nurses Week, I am committed to fighting for safe staffing levels for both nurses and patients, to enhance the quality of patient care, reduce medical errors, and increase nurse retention. Nurses make the world so much better, one bedside at a time, and Congress must do all it can to tackle the challenges these life-saving professionals face.”
     
    “Nurses are constantly forced by our employers to care for too many patients than is safe. Yet, during National Nurses Week, those same employers hang banners or give out a free cookie to show their appreciation of us. It’s a slap in the face,” said Nancy Hagans, RN and NNU president. “Our patients deserve high-quality care, and nurses have always stood up to protect our patients. It’s time hospital managers are mandated to staff our units safely for our patients’ sake and to actually give nurses the resources and respect we deserve.”

    “Nurses know from caring for patients at the bedside, that safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios save lives. CNA fought for and won legislation in California ensuring safe staffing ratios, and unfortunately two decades later, we are still the only state in the country with a law of its kind,” said Sandy Reding, RN and CNA/NNOC President. “Nurses come to California from all over because of our ratios, and we are proud to continue the fight on the national level until every nurse is guaranteed safe staffing ratios, and our patients and our profession are protected.”

    “The understaffing crisis at hospitals and health care facilities puts 60 million older Americans at risk every year,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “This legislation will improve patient safety and health outcomes by requiring all healthcare facilities to maintain adequate nurse staffing ratios. Nurses, patients, and family members deserve nothing less.”

    “As some in Congress try to cut healthcare to hand tax breaks to billionaires, others are trying to invest in the safe staffing levels needed for high-quality patient care. All too often, patients face interminable delays, overcrowded waiting rooms, and understaffing that puts them in danger. It does not have to be this way. In many cases, we have enough qualified nurses, but they’ve been driven from the bedside by a healthcare system that puts profits over patients. With this bill, Rep. Schakowsky and Sens. Padilla and Merkley give us a path forward that holds hospitals accountable for staffing levels. These standards will improve outcomes for patients, make healthcare careers more sustainable and, in a medical emergency, reassure families that their local hospital is a safe place to get the care they need,” said Randi Weingarten, President, AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services.

    “Hospitals across the U.S. are faced with an intensifying staffing crisis, leaving dedicated nurses with no choice but to turn to jobs with better working conditions, regrettably leaving the patients they love and care for,” said Martha Baker, RN, Chairperson of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare. “Congress needs to pass safe staffing ratios to allow all nurses—regardless of where we live or where we work—to provide the high-quality care that our patients need and deserve.

    “One nurse can be responsible for the care of an entire hospital floor — keeping multiple patients alive and on the path to recovery,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “They are truly the front-line heroes of our health care system, but they’re also human. Too often, they’re stretched thin, working exhausting hours that put patient care and their own health at risk. The Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act gives nurses the backup they need to keep themselves and their patients safe and healthy. On behalf of the over 60,000 nurses in our AFSCME family, we thank Senator Padilla and Representative Schakowsky for championing real solutions for care and safety.”

    Studies have also found that registered nurse staffing levels in hospitals that serve communities of color are often lower, exacerbating health care disparities. Setting a single standard of nursing care across hospitals would improve outcomes for patients, including patients of color, through reduced readmission rates, increased satisfaction, and better obstetrical outcomes.

    Specifically, the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act would:

    • Require hospitals to annually develop safe staffing plans that meet the bill’s mandated minimum RN staffing ratios and provide for additional staffing based on individual patient care needs;
    • Mandate that hospitals post notices on minimum ratios and maintain records on RN and other staffing;
    • Provide whistleblower protections, including administrative complaint process and cause of action, for nurses who speak out against assignments that are unsafe for the patient or nurse;
    • Authorize the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to enforce the minimum RN staffing ratios through administrative complaints and civil penalties.

    The bill is endorsed by organizations including National Nurses United, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), SEIU Healthcare, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Johnson Introduces Bipartisan Transformational Public Transit Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    On the final day of Infrastructure Week, Rep. Hank Johnson introduces legislation to invest $80B in public transit across large cities, small towns, and rural communities to better serve constituents and working families

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the final day of Infrastructure Week, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, re-introduced the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, which would provide $20 billion annually for four years ($80 billion total) to transit systems for their operating budgets.

    The bill would provide targeted federal funding to help transit agencies increase bus and rail service, especially in places with existing poor service, disadvantaged communities, and areas of persistent poverty. The funding will be in addition to existing state, local and farebox revenue and will support additional services above and beyond what is currently being provided. Agencies could use funding under this bill to make “substantial improvements to transit service.”

    “Transit in our communities is as essential as food on our tables, clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads,” said Rep. Johnson. “This kind of funding is a game-changer for Atlanta and communities across the nation. Simply put, people could get to more places in less time using transit. Jobs, schools, and other daily destinations that previously took too long to reach would become more accessible. People would feel less strain on household budgets as their transportation costs shrink. They would have more time to spend with their families as time spent commuting falls.”

    The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act builds on the momentum of Infrastructure Week by supporting efforts to create a more equitable, efficient, and connected transportation system for all Americans.

    The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act would:

    •    Authorize $20 billion annually for FY2025-FY2028
    •    Create a new formula grant program to support the operating costs of public transportation and certain associated capital costs
    •    Require funds must be used for projects that make “substantial improvements to transit service” –  that directly boosts frequency of buses, trains and increases routes
    •    Clearly define funding for “areas of persistent poverty” and “underserved communities;”

    According to the Transit Center, a foundation that works to improve public transit in cities across the U.S., in Atlanta alone, $20 billion in annual transit funding could mean a 40 percent gain in service that could vastly improve access to transit that arrives at least every 15 minutes, all day, seven days a week.

    In some parts of the city, that would increase the number of jobs reachable within 30 minutes on transit by a factor of eight, it said.

    In cities and communities across the country, a federal program to support transit services could yield similar benefits by helping families lower transportation costs, drive economic opportunity and racial equity and reduce greenhouse gases.

    Cosponsors include: Reps. Cohen, McClellan, Tlaib,  Frost, Cleaver, Dean, Boyle, Doggett, Wilson (FL), Ramirez, Kennedy (NY), McIver, Norton, Smith (WA), Sykes, Gomez, Simon, D. Davis (IL), Schakowsky, Carbajal, Garcia (CA), Sanchez, Mullin, DelBene, McGarvey,  Raskin, R. Kelly, Garamendi, Veasey, Horsford, McBath, Meng, Ruiz, Carter (LA), Titus, Lynch, Fields, Morelle, Scanlon, Omar, Foushee, Tonko, Moore (WI), Adams, Magaziner, Pocan, Moulton, Evans (PA), Landsman, Thompson, Jayapal, Watson Coleman, DeGette, Mfume, Deluzio, Hayes, Thanedar, Barragán, Beatty, Brown, Fitzpatrick, Ocasio-Cortez, Garcia (IL), Lee (PA), Khanna, Neal, Pingree, Clarke (NY), Krishnamoorthi, Sherman, Budzinski, Ansari, Nadler, Cherfilus-McCormick, Ryan, Gottheimer, Casten, Jackson, Garcia (TX), Velazquez, Houlahan, Sorensen, Huffman, Foster, Chu, Ross, Vargas, Stansbury, Goldman, Amo, Moskowitz, Sewell, Dingell, Harder, Quigley, Salinas, Takano, Bishop, Ivey.

    The bill is supported by: Transport Workers Union of America, Amalgamated Transit Union, MARTA, T4America, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Campaign for Transit Justice, Sierra Club, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Union of Concerned Scientists

    What stakeholders are saying:

    “The federal government inexplicably funds transit capital investments without providing the operations funding to ensure that buses and trains can run safely, on time, and frequently enough to benefit working families,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “This bill would end a transit funding practice that doesn’t make sense and ensure that federal dollars can go toward transit operating expenses that improve service and ridership.”

    “Transportation labor has long supported strong federal action that facilitates sustainable and reliable public transit service,” Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO President Greg Regan said. “By providing $20 billion per year over the next four years, transit agencies would have the opportunity to increase service frequency, expand service areas, extend operating hours and overall improve the passenger experience. We applaud Rep. Johnson for understanding the importance of this public service and introducing this legislation.”

    To read the bill, click HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Johnson Meets With Local Head Start, SNAP, Medicaid Stakeholders To Discuss Drastic Trump-Republican Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    Congressman Held Roundtable With Local Stakeholders

    STONECREST, GA – On Friday, May 9, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) gathered local nonprofits, parents and experts in the field of providing critical services to children in need, including the YMCA, Head Start, Easter Seals, Sheltering Arms and others to discuss the impact of drastic cuts to programs that keep children safe and healthy. 

    “I’m seeing firsthand what Republican program cuts could jeopardize – it’s a very serious dilemma our country now faces,” said Rep. Johnson. “Are we going to invest in people, or are we going to give tax cuts to those at the top? I’m also struck by how many medical and service providers’ livelihoods are at stake – there are so many people whose job it is to deliver these services. I, for one, am going to keep fighting for these critical programs.”

    The Republican budget bill moving through Congress cuts Medicaid and food assistance by $1 trillion, ripping away basic needs programs that help tens of millions of everyday Americans. The Republican budget will cause nearly 14 million Americans to lose their health care and raise health care costs for millions more. Hospitals across America will close, critical services will be cut, and as one of the roundtable participants said, people will die. The Republican budget takes food assistance away from millions of kids, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.

    Federal dollars underpin the services upon which all Georgians — including babies and toddlers — rely. Without these dollars, hospitals will continue to close, more children will be food insecure, and parents will be unable to work due to lack of childcare. These funding reductions will harm all Georgians and the state’s economy; however, the effects will be felt most severely by those most vulnerable, including children.

    The Congressman was joined by a parent whose Medicaid grants helped his 10-month-old with leukemia and a mother whose twins’ access to Head Start lets her earn a living during the day. Also in attendance Hanah Goldberg, Director of Research and Policy, GEEARS; Alejandra Martinez, Director of Family Services, Sheltering Arms; Andria McMichael, Vice President of Early Learning, YMCA of Metro Atlanta Head Start; Donna Davidson, President & CEO of Easter Seals of North Georgia (ESNG); Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director, Voices for Georgia’s Children; Chad Jones, Vice President for Business Development, View Point Health; Matt Pieper, Chief Executive Officer, Open Hand Atlanta.

    “We are worried about any cuts,” said Donna Davidson, President & CEO of Easter Seals of North Georgia. “All of the children in our program, whether its federal funding for Head Start, Medicaid or SNAP – any cuts to those programs would be devastating to so many families that are already dealing with challenges.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Hank Johnson’s Statement on Sudden Firing of Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, issued the following statement after Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter, was fired over the weekend by President Trump – days after he fired now-former Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden:

    “President Trump’s firing of the Register of Copyrights, Shira Perlmutter, is yet another power grab from an administration that has repeatedly violated the Constitution and our country’s rule of law. Register Perlmutter is an accomplished and respected expert who led the Copyright Office with distinction.

    We should also recognize the clear benefit to Elon Musk and other artificial intelligence CEOs, who are in litigation over their use of copyrighted material to train their generative AI systems. It’s no mistake that just hours before she was fired, the Copyright Office issued a report assessing the nature of the fair use doctrine as applied to its use in training large language models.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Subcommittee Ranking Member Johnson’s Opening Statement at Hearing on Fostering AI Innovation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    WATCH

    Subcommittee Ranking Member Johnson’s opening statement.

    Ranking Member Hank Johnson

    Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet

    Hearing on “Protecting Our Edge: Trade Secrets and the Global AI Arms Race”
    May 7, 2025

    One hundred and seventeen days ago, Chinese company DeepSeek launched its flagship model, DeepSeek R-1. In the following days and weeks, American experts wrung their hands and shook their heads, many considering for the first time the possibility that we may be losing the so-called “AI Arms Race.” DeepSeek claims R-1 was developed faster and cheaper than comparable U.S. models. Others argue DeepSeek at a minimum violated Open AI’s terms of service to obtain proprietary training data. 

    Where everyone seems to agree is that AI startups should be innovating faster. I’ve heard colleagues suggest we should forget regulations, ignore IP laws, and just focus on clearing the way for AI companies. I agree everyone wins when we foster American AI startups. But I think it’s a false choice to say we can succeed, but only if we do so irresponsibly. 

    If you walk around Capitol Hill today, you can see plants sprouting out of the soil, beginning to grow. What you’ll notice if you look closely, is some of those shoots growing in the shade look like they’re growing faster than the others. As they race for just a little bit of sunlight, yes, they grow quickly, but ultimately, they grow less hardy, more brittle, and prone to disease.

    AI innovation works the same way. As we seek ways to promote American AI startups, we should also work to ensure that businesses meet minimum standards for system cybersecurity; we should ask what types of transparency are necessary to protect other IP rights and consider how to set standards while still protecting trade secrets. By encouraging companies to meet best practices and respect intellectual property rights, we will foster hardy competition that protects U.S. innovation from those who seek to undermine our success.

    The government of China has made no secret of its intent to steal American intellectual property. And there is bipartisan agreement that the United States should protect its innovations from those who seek to benefit from American ingenuity. 

    There is also a right way and a wrong way to compete with our adversaries. While we don’t always agree on this Committee, we have had meaningful discussions on the right way to protect American IP from the government of China, cybersecurity standards to keep our people and our institutions safe, and the threat landscape to AI innovation.  

    Donald Trump on the other hand, has acted in ways that hurt American businesses. His ideologically inconsistent and unpredictable tariffs have hurt American consumers, American businesses, and our allies. Innovation in America suffers when the path forward is uncertain.

    For generations, American companies have benefited from attracting the best and the brightest from other nations. Yet seemingly without reason, Trump again and again hurts American businesses by attempting to revoke already granted student visas and threating the H1-B visa program for highly skilled immigrants.

    The deleterious impact of these policies on AI innovation should not be ignored. According to a recent study, immigrants have founded or cofounded 28 of the top 43 AI companies in the United States, and 70 percent of full-time graduate students in fields related to artificial intelligence are international students.

    So instead of focusing on policies that stand to derail American innovation, we should focus on upholding our treaties and respecting our allies. We should encourage our research institutions to engage with universities around the world. The breakneck speed of innovation has made it easier than ever to reach out to people around the world. Now is not a time for isolationism because history has shown us that true innovation thrives on openness. Afterall, groundbreaking inventions rarely emerge when knowledge is walled off. 

    I thank the witnesses for being here today and I yield back. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez offers amendment to help workers displaced by Trump’s chaotic trade policies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – During the markup of the Republican tax bill, Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) introduced an amendment to provide Trade Adjustment Assistance to workers and small businesses displaced by trade. The Republican-led committee blocked the amendment in a 19–24 party-line vote

    Video of her statement introducing the amendment is available HERE and the text follows:

    “This tax bill is a desperate attempt from Republicans to kowtow to corporations, while they turn their backs on millions of hardworking Americans.

    Prices on everyday goods are rising, retirees are watching their savings evaporate as markets swing wildly, farmers are losing access to key export markets, many small businesses are on the verge of closing their doors forever, and jobs are being lost.

    It’s time to put an end to the economic damage. A tax bill that creates massive deficits and gives handouts to billionaires will not do that. We must use this opportunity to restore stability in our trade and economic policy before the damage is too far to reverse.

    That’s why I am offering an amendment to renew Trade Adjustment Assistance and modernize the program, including by streamlining the eligibility criteria for farmers, workers, and businesses. This language comes from the COMPETES Act, which Congress passed on a bipartisan basis in 2022.

    Under my amendment, displaced workers would be eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance through 2031. My amendment would also ensure port workers and workers in the trucking industry will be eligible to apply for TAA if they unfairly lost their jobs due to tariffs imposed by President Trump since January 20th of this year.

    Since its inception, TAA has helped millions of trade-displaced workers attain the necessary skills, credentials, resources, and support they need in order to return to work. At least 192,000 workers have pending TAA petitions with the Department of Labor. That includes 17,240 new applicants since President Trump took office to March — a nearly 10 percent increase in less than two months.

    Despite the fact that this data was updated monthly, no new data has been available since March 3rd, just after the Trump administration began to wreak havoc on our economy with the Canada and Mexico tariffs and the April 2nd global tariffs.

    Wow. I wonder why? Could it be that the Trump administration is scared of Americans finding out the real cost of his chaotic trade policies?

    Not only are prices going up, but Americans working in trade-related industries literally have their jobs on the line, including the thousands of port workers from Los Angeles and Long Beach that live in my district.

    Every one container that arrives in the port supports four jobs in the Los Angeles economy. Yet, imports at the Port of Los Angeles are currently down by 35% from the same time last year. If this trend continues, empty shelves and layoffs will follow.

    We also cannot forget the truck drivers who help transport essential goods across the country. These truck drivers will lose from declining truck volumes and higher operational costs.

    We cannot abandon our workers. They need relief now.

    Over 8,000 workers with pending TAA applications are in my Republican Ways and Means colleagues’ districts:

    • Chairman Smith currently has 1,272 workers with pending TAA applications.
    • Representative Adrian Smith – 295 workers
    • Representative Mike Kelly – 60 workers
    • Representative Schweikert – 250 workers
    • Representative LaHood – 1,097 workers
    • Representative Estes – 528 workers
    • Representative Miller – 35 workers
    • Representative Murphy – 120 workers
    • Representative Van Duyne – 1,382 workers
    • Representative Feenstra – 197 workers
    • Representative Carey – 387 workers
    • Representative Miller – 125 workers
    • Representative Yakym – 2,442 workers

    All with pending trade adjustment claims. They cannot afford to be left in limbo any longer, waiting for Congress to renew Trade Adjustment Assistance.

    I call on my Republican colleagues to support my amendment to renew TAA and offer some relief to their constituents who have unfairly lost their jobs due to this administration’s stupid and irresponsible trade policies.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier Hosts Virtual Education Town Hall

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

    Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, announced he will host a virtual Education Town Hall on Wednesday, May 28that 4:00 p.m. This town hall comes in the wake of President Trump’s Executive Order attempting to dismantle the Department of Education, which administers the federal student loan program and funds resources for students with disabilities, among other important priorities. 

    To discuss how the Trump Administration’s recent actions will impact students around the country and in CA-10, Congressman DeSaulnier will be joined by Lynn Mackey, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, and Allegra Fischer, Senior Policy Attorney at Disability Rights California. The Congressman and panelists will also take questions live.
     

    Virtual Education Town Hall
    Wednesday, May 28th
    4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT
    Hosted on Zoom 
    Streamed on Facebook and YouTube

    To reserve your spot and receive a Zoom link or to request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660. 

    This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 232nd town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three Nominees Forwarded for District Court Judge in the Fifth Judicial District

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Doele, Norfolk; Julie L. Reiter, David City; and Breanna D. Flaherty of Columbus.

    The Fifth Judicial District consists of Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward, and York counties. The vacancy is due to the appointment of Justice Jason M. Bergevin to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 16, 2025 Brampton Transit Workers Ratify Strong, Hard-Fought Contract

    Source: US Amalgamated Transit Union

    ATU Local 1573 Members Win Pay Increases and Other Improvements

    Brampton, ON – After months of contract talks and a strike threat, the more than 1,400 Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1573–Brampton, ON, members working for Brampton Transit voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached in negotiations. Over three quarters of the members voted in favour of the contract.

    The Union gains were the result of steadfast solidarity, the power of collective bargaining, and a determined negotiating team that stood firm on delivering a fair and respectful agreement for frontline transit professionals who keep the City of Brampton moving.

    “This is a victory built on unity and resilience,” said ATU International Vice President Ken Wilson. “Our members stood strong through the tough negotiations, and their solidarity sent a clear message: we will not settle for less than we deserve. This contract reflects our members’ unwavering commitment to improving conditions for themselves and future transit workers.”

    The new contract includes improvements to wages, benefits, and working conditions—bringing Local 1573 members in line with comparable transit systems across the Greater Toronto Area. The deal was reached only weeks after Union members threatened to strike after overwhelmingly rejecting a previous contract offer from Brampton Transit that had significantly reduced wages from their previous offer, while also adding new concessions

    ATU International President John Costa applauded the members and the Local for their tenacity. “This win didn’t come easy, and it didn’t come fast—but it came because Local 1573 never gave up. It’s not only a win for our members, but for our riders to ensure the safe and reliable transportation they depend on each day,” said Costa. “This victory is the result of months of hard work and the unity of our Brampton members. They demanded better —and they got it. I’m proud of the strength they showed every step of the way.”

    The ratification ends a period of uncertainty and reaffirms the essential role Brampton Transit workers play in
    keeping the community moving.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Smith Visit Command Center in Northeastern Minnesota and Survey Wildfire Damage ?

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    TWO HARBORS, MINN. – Governor Tim Walz, and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) visited the Incident Command Center in Two Harbors, Minnesota to receive a briefing from officials battling the wildfires and to survey fire damage.
    “We heard directly about the incredible emergency response effort that is underway to contain these wildfires that spread so quickly.  I’m grateful to the firefighters, National Guard, Forest Service and local officials who are working tirelessly to fight these fires and keep people safe, ” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “I stand ready to support all efforts to make sure emergency responders  receive the resources they need to do their work so affected areas can start to rebuild.”
    “My heart is with the Minnesotans who have been forced to evacuate their homes and the communities facing these devastating wildfires. I’m grateful to the firefighters, emergency personnel, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. Forest Service, DNR, and local volunteers who are putting themselves on the line to protect lives and land,” said Sen. Tina Smith. “Being here today allowed us to speak directly with those coordinating the response so we can ensure they have the support and resources they need. In the face of loss and uncertainty, Minnesotans always show up for one another, and I know we’ll get through this together.”
    Walz, Klobuchar, and Smith were briefed on the Brimson Complex (made up of the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires) and the Munger Shaw fires by Incident Commander Brian Jenkins with the Eastern Area Incident Management Team and other emergency response leaders and local officials. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty, Gillibrand Statement on GENIUS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    NASHVILLE, TN—Today, Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statements on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, a historic piece of legislation that establishes a clear regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.
    “Next week, the Senate will make history when we debate and pass the GENIUS Act that establishes the first ever pro-growth regulatory framework for payment stablecoins,” said Senator Hagerty. “This bill will cement US dollar dominance, protect customers, increase demand for US treasuries, and ensure that innovation in the digital asset space is in the hands of the United States of America, not our adversaries.”
    “Stablecoins are already playing an important role in the global economy, and it is essential that the U.S. enact legislation that protects consumers, while also enabling responsible innovations,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The bipartisan GENIUS Act will provide regulatory clarity to this important industry, keep innovation on shore, add robust consumer protection, and reaffirm the dominance of the U.S. dollar. The crafting of this bill has been a true bipartisan effort and I’m optimistic we can pass it in the coming days.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS: Amid Federal Funding Cuts & Uncertainty, Senator Peters Visits MSU Biomedical Research Institute to Highlight Importance of Federal Support for Solving Today’s Pressing Healthcare Challenges

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    EAST LANSING, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) visited Michigan State University (MSU) to tour the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) and highlight the importance of federal funding for solving the most pressing challenges in healthcare. During the tour, MSU faculty and students demonstrated the innovative research and technologies made possible by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF), including cancer-sniffing insects, cardiac organoid models and wearable monitoring systems.  
    Peters was joined by Dr. Christopher Contag, Director of the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, and Dr. Jinxing Li, Assistant Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. During a press conference following the tour, Peters underscored the challenges that research institutions like MSU currently face amid federal funding cuts and uncertainty, which are impacting IQ’s ability to continue developing cutting-edge research that keeps Michiganders safe and healthy.  
    “As we saw firsthand today, the students and faculty at Michigan State University are developing cutting-edge health care solutions that will transform the way we can care for our patients and keep Michiganders healthy. However, recent executive orders made by the current administration have either stalled or completely terminated the federal funding that research institutions like MSU rely on to carry out this important work,” said Senator Peters. “These cuts are a big mistake. That’s why I made it a priority to come to MSU today to highlight how federal investments in research and innovation are effective and invaluable to our society.” 
    “At IQ, our biomedical research drives bold innovation — from “first-ever discovery” to “first-in-human” application. We’re not just focused on uncovering new biology, technologies, and therapeutic approaches; we’re committed to translating these breakthroughs into real-world impact,” said Dr. Christopher Contag. “I’d like to thank Senator Peters for coming here today to learn more about our mission, which is to lead at the frontier of discovery and be the first to bring those innovations to patients. With vital support from federal funding, we turn transformative ideas into solutions that can improve and save lives.”  
    “Earlier this year, I was thrilled to learn from a representative of Senator Peters’ office that my research project was set to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health,” said Dr. Jinxing Li. “However, the project has been delayed and is awaiting final funding authorization. Without a reliable funding timeline, we were unable to begin planning or recruiting the talented scientists needed to carry out this critical work. This experience underscores how timely and consistent federal support is essential to sustaining innovation, and we are grateful to Senator Peters for his continued advocacy for science, innovation, and the future of healthcare.”
    To download photos from Peters’ event at MSU, click here.
    MSU’s Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) integrates a variety of researchers across scientistic disciplines to solves some of today’s most pressing issues in healthcare including cancer research, studying heart defects, and delivering therapies to treat muscular disfunction, all of which are supported by NIH and NSF grant funding. Peters, a graduate of MSU, has remained committed to the continued renewal of these grants and ensuring researchers at MSU and across Michigan have access to this funding. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters secured over $50 billion in the government funding bill that was signed into law last year for the NIH to support biomedical research and support institutions like the IQ Lab.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER – WITH HUDSON VALLEY RELIGIOUS LEADERS, FARMERS AND FOOD BANKS- SAYS GOP JUST VOTED TO RIP AWAY NEARLY $300 BILLION FROM AMERICA’S LARGEST ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM, AND THAT COULD LEAD TO THOUSANDS…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Serves 170,000 In Hudson Valley Every Month And Already Nearly 1 Million Pounds Of Food Has Been Canceled Due To Trump’s Cruel USDA Cuts – And This Week The GOP Voted To Take ~$300 Billion From SNAP To Fund Trump’s Tax Breaks For Corporations & Billionaires, Which Will Lead To Families With Kids As Young As 7 Getting Kicked Off The Program
    Schumer, With Church Leaders & Advocates, Say Double Whammy Will Hurtle Hudson Valley To A Hunger Crisis, Impacting 200,000+ In Orange, Rockland, Westchester And Across Region, Millions Nationwide; Senator With Those On Frontline Of Getting Food To The Needy Demands GOP Block Cruel Cut To SNAP And Protect Anti-Hunger Programs
    Schumer: No Child Should Go To Bed Hungry. This Is Not A Partisan Issue; This Is A Moral Issue
    After House Republicans voted for the largest cut to the anti-hunger program SNAP in American history, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer stood with Hudson Valley religious leaders, food banks, and farmers to demand action against the devastating $300 billion SNAP to fund Trump’s tax cuts for corporations & billionaires, that would leave thousands of seniors, families, and children hungry. The senator joined with church leaders and hunger advocates to emphasize how this is a moral issue that we should all unite to stop, and demanded that NY House Republicans stand against stealing from SNAP, which over 200,000 in the Hudson Valley rely on for food.
    “No child should ever go to bed hungry. But Trump’s slashing of anti-hunger programs at the USDA has already cancelled nearly a million pounds of food for the Hudson Valley Food Bank in Montgomery and Feeding Westchester. Now, House Republicans are trying to make the largest cut to SNAP in history which could hurtle Hudson Valley families to a hunger crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “Stealing from SNAP to pay for Trump’s tax breaks for corporations & billionaires is as backwards as it gets, and will result in thousands of kids, seniors, and families going hungry. Instead of feeding the hungry, they are feeding corporate greed.”
    Schumer added, “This is not a partisan issue, it is a moral issue. That is why I am here to show what these cuts mean for our local churches and food banks on the frontlines of fighting against hunger. It only takes a few NY House Republicans to join us to stop this cruel cut to SNAP. We need NY Republicans to protect these programs and block this bill, otherwise it will be families here in the Hudson Valley that go hungry.”
    Schumer explained how Trump’s USDA has already cruelly canceled $1 billion in food assistance, hurting the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, and if these SNAP cuts move forward it would be a double whammy, hurtling us to a hunger crisis. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline for nearly 3 million NY seniors, veterans and families who rely on the critical funding to purchase groceries. Schumer said that we should be investing more not less in anti-hunger programs, but under the Republican proposal, the average family would be reduced to just $5.00 per day per person. A breakdown of SNAP recipients in the Hudson Valley from the Center for American Progress can be found below:

    County

    SNAP Recipients

    % of County on SNAP

    SNAP Retailers

    Dutchess

    4,559

    6%

    168

    Orange

    40,035

    9.8%

    273

    Putnam

    3,487

    2.5%

    33

    Rockland

    43,843

    12.9%

    159

    Sullivan

    13,347

    16.7%

    121

    Ulster

    18,039

    9.9%

    154

    Westchester

    77,237

    7.8%

    567

    TOTAL

    200,547

     

    1,475

    Earlier this week, House Republicans advanced a bill that would rip $300 billion away from SNAP. This proposal would impact Hudson Valley residents in many ways, including the addition of a work requirement which would raise the age to access SNAP benefits from age 55 to age 64 and only exempt SNAP recipients from work requirements if they have someone younger than 7 years old in their household, down from the current exemption for all families with children under 18 years old.
    Schumer said, “I’m all for reducing any waste or fraud to make the program more efficient, but rushing to pass these massive damaging cuts with no plan while they slash our food banks is a recipe for disaster. Republicans a tying themselves in knots trying to justify these massive cuts. I ask my Republican friends this: which category does a hungry 7 year old fall under: are they waste? Are they fraud? Or are they abuse?”
    Schumer explained the Republican proposal to cut $300 billion from SNAP would inevitably mean costs of feeding families shift to states, who simply do not have the capacity to absorb this massive increase in expenses, risking families going hungry. Under this Republican proposal, states would be required to pay 5 – 25% of their state’s SNAP benefits based on the state’s error rate. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), mandating New York State to cover even a modest share of SNAP benefits would shift astronomical costs to the state, with even just 5% increasing New York State’s costs by nearly $3.5 billion from FY2026 to FY2034. The senator said it is impossible to cut this much from federal SNAP funding without ripping food away from hungry children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more.
    These agonizing decisions would be amplified even further at the local level, with non-profits, many of whom have already had their funding cut, unable to fill in the gap. Counties could even be forced to shoulder the burden of increased costs in SNAP, using more local dollars to provide coverage because less federal funding will be coming in. During recessions or economic downturns, these impacts will be even more acute, as more people apply for benefits and state revenue declines, more children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more will be turned away from this vital program due to insufficient federal funding.
    According to CBPP, 13,000 people in NY-18 reside in households with adults ages 18-64 with school-age children and are at risk of losing some SNAP benefits under this Republican proposal. 8,000 people in NY-17 reside in households with adults ages 18-64 with school-age children and are at risk of losing some SNAP benefits if the current proposal becomes law, according to CBPP.
    The proposed SNAP cuts would be a blow to Hudson Valley food banks which have already been hit hard by Trump’s funding freezes and canceled payments. Earlier this year, the USDA canceled $1 billion in food assistance for organizations to purchase locally grown food. USDA programs provide food banks, schools, and other organizations with federal support to purchase local food products from NY farms.
    Trump’s USDA cuts have already hit the Hudson Valley hard. According to the Albany Times Union, the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley said it will deliver 2 million fewer meals to people in need. The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which covers 23 counties including the Hudson Valley, has already had 27 tractor-trailers of food canceled, which is nearly 1 million pounds meant to feed Capital Region families. That’s nearly 800,000 meals, and the food bank expects to lose over 200 tractor-trailers over the next year. According to the Journal News, the food bank’s Hudson Valley branch in Montgomery serves approximately 170,000 people every month across the Hudson Valley counties it serves. Due to a predicted drop in food through USDA programs, the food bank expects to distribute 2 million fewer meals. In addition, this past week, it was reported by News12 that Feeding Westchester has had a million pounds of food shipments canceled due to existing federal cuts. These cuts are exacerbating food insecurity and forcing food banks to rely on donations instead of a steady supply of resources from area producers.
    Schumer said these proposed cuts will limit food banks’ ability to keep shelves stocked as more people have been forced to rely on food banks to feed their families. Food bank workers and religious leaders across Upstate New York are concerned about the impact of potential cuts to SNAP on the people they serve, and farmers are worried there will be nowhere to sell their food if SNAP funding levels drop.
    “No matter which way you slice it, this Congressional Republican plan will screw Hudson Valley families, food banks and farmers from farm to table. We need everyone to stand up to these cuts that would take away food from our neighbors in need,” added Schumer.
    “My thanks to Senator Schumer for highlighting this critical issue. Cutting funding to food assistance programs as New York–and many other states–face an affordability crisis is truly odious public policy. These cuts would be particularly painful after funding for schools and food banks has already been brutally slashed. Those funding shortfalls affect not only school children and families in need, but the New York farmers and producers who supply food through federal programs. These cuts–and those pending–threaten the livelihood and safety of many New Yorkers, and I’m horrified that this administration has deemed funding corporate giveaways more important than feeding hungry Americans,” said New York State Senator James Skoufis.
    “To date, we’ve lost 1 million pounds due to USDA cuts – the equivalent of 750,000 meals – with an expected 6 million more slated to be cut by the end of 2025,” said Felicia Kalan, the Regional Food Bank’s Executive Vice President, Hudson Valley. “With neighbors already facing difficult decisions between paying for housing, medical care, or food, further cuts could devastate families, children, and seniors served by the Regional Food Bank’s network of partner agencies and programs. The meal gap is growing across the country, and all across New York, and the Regional Food Bank is fully committed to addressing this challenge.”
    “SNAP is our nation’s most powerful tool in the fight against hunger,” said Karen C. Erren, President & CEO of Feeding Westchester. “For every meal the Feeding America network of 200 food banks provides, SNAP delivers nine. With grocery prices already out of reach for too many of our neighbors and the rising cost of food and health care, now is not the time to scale back essential programs. Cuts to SNAP would be devastating for the millions of families, seniors, veterans, and children who rely on this vital support to make ends meet. Neighbors in our community are doing everything in their power to put food on the table – but they need a strong foundation to succeed. Access to food and health care is that foundation. Now is the time to come together to preserve and strengthen SNAP.”
    “As Mayor of the City of Newburgh, I cannot stand by while Republicans in Washington play politics with fundamental human needs. The House’s proposal to slash $300 billion in SNAP benefits – and President Trump’s relentless assault on the social safety net – are not just policy choices; they are moral failures. These devastating cuts to SNAP would rip food from the mouths of children, seniors, and working families in Newburgh, all to bankroll tax breaks for the wealthy. These unconscionable cuts will deepen inequality when we should be building a nation where no one is forced to choose between rent and their next meal,” said Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey.
    Proposed rollbacks to the country’s most widely utilized nutrition assistance program would strain budgets for Hudson Valley families. Schumer said decimating funding for SNAP right as costs at grocery stores across the country are skyrocketing will hit the Hudson Valley hard. According to the New York State Community Action Association, 12% of people in Orange County live in poverty, including more than 18% of children. According to No Kid Hungry, over half of New Yorkers reported going into debt in the past year due to rising food costs, with over 60% of families with children. Tariffs
    SNAP not only supplements families’ food budgets, it has also generated great economic benefits for New York State and NY-18 specifically. According to the National Grocers Association, grocery stores across New York State sold over $2.1 billion in groceries to people using SNAP benefits, including $99.7 million in NY-18. This created more than 18,500 New York jobs in the grocery industry, including 890 in NY-18, and generated more than $820.8 million in grocery industry wages, including $39.4 million in NY-18.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Leads Colleagues in Demanding Trump Lifts Hold on High-Speed Internet Funding for Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led 11 of her colleagues in a letter demanding that the Trump Administration release funding for states under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This program connects families in the hardest-to-serve communities to high-speed internet and works to close the digital divide. Senator Rosen helped create the BEAD program, as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and she secured $416 million for Nevada. The state has been approved to receive the funding since January 2025, but the Trump Administration’s pause on this critical program is indefinitely delaying Nevada’s ability to connect Nevadans to high-speed internet.
    The letter was signed by Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Angus King (I-ME).
    “We write with concern regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) recent announcement that it is delaying the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program,” wrote the Senators. “This unprecedented move by the NTIA will further delay our communities from having the connectivity they need to grow and thrive. To unlock the full strength of the U.S. economy, every community must have access to the vast opportunities enabled by broadband, and this can be achieved by your Administration following the law as outlined in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58).”
    “Currently, there are multiple states ready for broadband providers to put shovels in the ground tomorrow,” they continued. “NTIA must act swiftly to release BEAD funding to states that have already been approved and expeditiously work to approve the remaining eligible applications. Time is of the essence, and our rural and tribal communities cannot afford more delays.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for expanding high-speed internet access in Nevada. Through her efforts, she has secured $550 million in federal funding through various programs and legislation for the High Speed Nevada Initiative, including the Middle Mile Infrastructure Grant Program she created. Senator Rosen helped write the broadband section of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, securing $65 billion in overall investments to make high-speed internet affordable for Americans. She also successfully pushed the Federal Communications Commission to update its deeply flawed National Broadband Map and ensure Nevada receives its fair share of BEAD funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Blumenthal Demand Transparency From Avelo Airlines About Deportation Flights

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Blumenthal Demand Transparency From Avelo Airlines About Deportation Flights

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) raised serious concerns to Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy about the airline’s contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to fly domestic and international deportation flights, even as the Trump Administration is unlawfully removing immigrants without due process.

    “Given the Trump Administration’s mission to indiscriminately deport our nation’s immigrants — without due process, in violation of the Constitution and federal immigration law, and, in some cases, in defiance of court orders — it is deeply disturbing that Avelo has determined that its partnership with ICE is ‘too valuable not to pursue,’” wrote the Senators.

    “The Trump Administration has used airline contractors to carry out hasty deportations without judicial review,” continued the Senators. “President Trump has even suggested deporting U.S. citizens convicted of certain unspecified crimes to be imprisoned abroad — a suggestion that is blatantly unconstitutional. By partnering with ICE, Avelo risks being complicit with the Administration’s illegal actions.”

    Avelo Airlines entered into a long-term contract with ICE on April 7 and flew its first deportation flight for ICE on May 12, despite the Trump Administration’s reckless deportations and repeated ignoring of due process. The Senators specifically criticized the Administration’s deportations of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, refusing to return people to the United States despite a federal judge’s orders. They cited the erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a father who was living legally in Maryland with his family until the Trump Administration wrongfully deported him without due process to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

    Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress opposing President Trump’s mass deportation agenda and anti-immigrant actions and rhetoric. Earlier this week, he joined immigration advocates and his House colleagues to speak out against the extreme anti-immigrant provisions in Republicans’ reconciliation bill and to call on Congressional Republicans to reject harmful policies targeting immigrant communities. Last month, Padilla, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) issued a joint statement condemning the Supreme Court’s decision to lift a hold on removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, and he joined 14 lawmakers in condemning President Trump’s unlawful invocation of the antiquated law.

    Senator Padilla has strongly pushed back against wrongful deportations to El Salvador. Last month, he joined 24 Senators in urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE leadership to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Padilla also joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) to meet with Abrego Garcia’s family and wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, to discuss the ongoing effort to secure his immediate release. Padilla promised to keep fighting for Abrego Garcia so he can be reunited with his family. Last year, Padilla emphasized the dangers and immense economic costs of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Mr. Levy,

    On April 7, 2025, it was reported that Avelo Airlines entered into a long-term contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to fly domestic and international deportation flights and had begun recruiting flight attendants to serve on those flights. On May 12, 2025, Avelo reportedly flew its first deportation flight for ICE. Given the Trump Administration’s mission to indiscriminately deport our nation’s immigrants—without due process, in violation of the Constitution and federal immigration law, and, in some cases, in defiance of court orders—it is deeply disturbing that Avelo has determined that its partnership with ICE is “too valuable not to pursue.”

    The Trump Administration has used airline contractors to carry out hasty deportations without judicial review. The Administration used an ICE contractor to fly Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, persisting with the flights even though a federal judge ordered the planes returned to the United States. That judge has found probable cause to hold the government in contempt for violating his order, noting that the planes touched down in Honduras after the judge issued his order for their return and remained in Honduras for several hours before proceeding to El Salvador. The Administration’s hastiness has caused further error and harm. The Administration deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, despite a court order that prohibited his removal to El Salvador. The Supreme Court unanimously held that the government must facilitate Mr. Garcia’s “release from custody in El Salvador;” yet, the Trump Administration refuses to do so. President Trump has even suggested deporting U.S. citizens convicted of certain unspecified crimes to be imprisoned abroad—a suggestion that is blatantly unconstitutional. By partnering with ICE, Avelo risks being complicit with the Administration’s illegal actions.

    Avelo is also reportedly closing its base at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport and ending certain West Coast routes to accommodate its new contract with ICE. The growth of Avelo’s commercial flight service has been subsidized by the State of Connecticut, which has granted Avelo an exemption from aviation fuel taxes and a guarantee against losses of up to $2 million. Avelo’s apparent decision to shrink its commercial service to accommodate its ICE contract is a betrayal of Connecticut’s support and of Avelo’s customers.

    On April 8, 2025, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong sent you a letter asking for more information on your agreement with ICE. You refused to provide a copy of your contract with ICE, and your response, in which you state that Avelo is committed to “the rule of law,” indicates that you fail to grasp the scope of the Trump Administration’s illegal actions. As Senators from Connecticut and California—states in which Avelo is based—and in furtherance of our oversight responsibilities as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as your stated value of “being open, honest, and transparent,” we write to seek information on your partnership with ICE. Please provide your responses to the following questions by May 30, 2025:

    1. Do you have policies and procedures in place to confirm the immigration status of individuals you are deporting?

    2. If you become aware that an individual aboard your deportation flight cannot or should not be removed from the country, do you have policies and procedures in place for addressing this situation?

    a. If so, please provide copies of those policies and procedures.

    3. If you become aware that an individual aboard your deportation flight is protected by a court order preventing their removal or that they have other lawful status (such as asylum, cancellation of removal, and withholding of removal), will you refuse to fly the individual out of the country?

    a. If the government nevertheless directs you to fly the individual out of the country, will you comply with the government’s instruction or the court’s order?

    b. If you become aware that an individual aboard your deportation flight is protected by a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction preventing their removal, and the government nevertheless directs you to fly the individual out of the country, will you inform the judge that issued the order of the government’s actions?

    4. If you become aware that an individual aboard your deportation flight is a U.S. citizen, will you refuse to fly the individual out of the country?

    a. If the government nevertheless instructs you to fly the individual out of the country, will you comply with the government’s instruction?

    5. What changes have been made or will be made to existing or planned commercial service as a result of this contract?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 271

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 271
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    835 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Middle and Eastern Tennessee
    Far Southwest Virginia

    * Effective this Friday night and Saturday morning from 835 PM
    until 300 AM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
    inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…Both supercells and a line of thunderstorms should pose a
    threat for a few tornadoes this evening and overnight as they spread
    east-southeastward. A strong tornado remains possible, especially
    with any supercell that can be maintained ahead of the line.
    Scattered severe/damaging winds appear likely, with peak gusts
    potentially reaching up to 60-75 mph. Occasional large hail may also
    occur.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 40 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 80 miles west southwest of Nashville
    TN to 45 miles east northeast of Knoxville TN. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 265…WW 267…WW
    268…WW 269…WW 270…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 28035.

    …Gleason

    SEL1

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 271
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    835 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Middle and Eastern Tennessee
    Far Southwest Virginia

    * Effective this Friday night and Saturday morning from 835 PM
    until 300 AM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible
    Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
    inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…Both supercells and a line of thunderstorms should pose a
    threat for a few tornadoes this evening and overnight as they spread
    east-southeastward. A strong tornado remains possible, especially
    with any supercell that can be maintained ahead of the line.
    Scattered severe/damaging winds appear likely, with peak gusts
    potentially reaching up to 60-75 mph. Occasional large hail may also
    occur.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 40 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 80 miles west southwest of Nashville
    TN to 45 miles east northeast of Knoxville TN. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 265…WW 267…WW
    268…WW 269…WW 270…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 28035.

    …Gleason

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW1
    WW 271 TORNADO TN VA 170135Z – 170800Z
    AXIS..40 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    80WSW BNA/NASHVILLE TN/ – 45ENE TYS/KNOXVILLE TN/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 35NM N/S /64NNW MSL – 32ENE VXV/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..65 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 28035.

    LAT…LON 36258800 36658326 35498326 35098800

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

    Watch 271 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Mod (60%)

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

    Mod (40%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Mod (40%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (30%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (90%)

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

    MIL OSI USA News –