NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Denounces Republican Budget Plan That Will Gut Medicaid to Fund Tax Breaks for Billionaires

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    SCHAUMBURG – Yesterday, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined WGN Chicago and Fox32 Chicago to discuss the passage of a House Republican budget plan that calls for drastic spending cuts to offset tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) have called for total spending cuts up to $1.5 trillion, the majority of which would come from essential programs including Medicaid and SNAP that millions of Illinoisans depend on for access to health care and food.

    “The House Republicans’ budget plan is a direct assault on Illinois families. Slashing Medicaid to fund tax breaks for billionaires would strip health care from over 850,000 Illinois residents, including two out of every five infants and two-thirds of nursing home residents who rely on this vital program. This reckless plan endangers lives and threatens the stability of our health care providers — harming the health and well-being of every single Illinoisan. Furthermore, this horrendous plan protects Trump’s irresponsible blanket tariffs that are already driving up costs and pushing our country toward recession. I will continue to fight this draconian GOP plan and do anything I can to protect Illinoisans from Donald Trump’s havoc.” 

    What They’re Watching:

    WGN Chicago:

    “It would end up as a tax cut of almost 7 trillion dollars financed by trillions of dollars of cuts to our social safety net, including to Medicaid, including to SNAP, once known as food stamps, and it’s going to hurt millions of families.”

    Fox32 Chicago:

    “We estimate that it will basically slash $880 billion from Medicaid, $230 billion from food stamps, now known as SNAP, and then a host of other cuts that are unspecified that total $1.5 trillion in cuts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Norton Vows to Fight Senator Mike Lee’s Anti-Home Rule Bill Addressing D.C. Council Meetings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – After Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) told the Washington Post that he would introduce an anti-home rule bill to repeal recently passed local emergency legislation that amends D.C.’s Open Meetings Act, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) vowed to fight the bill’s advancement in Congress. The D.C. Council last week passed a measure to amend the Open Meetings Act. Emergency legislation in D.C. remains in effect for 90 days and is not subject to a congressional disapproval resolution. Lee threatened to introduce a disapproval resolution if the D.C. emergency legislation becomes permanent.

    “There are more than 700,000 D.C. residents who live in D.C., and they include neither Senator Lee nor the people of Utah, who he represents in Congress,” Norton said. “D.C. has a local legislature whose members are elected by D.C. residents. If D.C. residents do not approve of how the members vote, they can vote them out of office. That is called democracy.

    “The people of D.C. are worthy and capable of self-government without interference from members of Congress who are not accountable to D.C. I urge Senator Lee to turn his attention to his own constituents, and I will use all the tools at my disposal to fight his anti-home rule legislation’s advancement in Congress.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ways and Means Democrats introduce bill to end tariff chaos, reclaim Congress’s trade authority

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

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.), along with all Ways and Means Committee Democrats, today introduced the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act, a bill to end the constant chaos created by President Trump’s trade wars and reclaim Congress’s authority over tariffs.

    Video of today’s bill introduction press conference is available HERE.

    “President Trump’s reckless abuse of tariffs has sparked nothing but chaos,” said Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Sánchez. “American families have been anxiously bracing for rising costs and small businesses are worried they won’t survive the economic strain – all while the president flip-flops on tariffs at a whim, doing backroom deals and keeping negotiations out of the public eye. It’s time to end this madness. Congress must step in and take the trade keys away from our rogue president and protect the American people.”

    “Over the years, Congress has entrusted more and more authority over trade to the Executive Branch, and recent events have made it clear we must reclaim that authority,” said Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.). “This president is willing to call anything an emergency to justify his every chaotic whim. The American people deserve better—they deserve stability and forethought. That’s why I’m proud to support Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Sánchez’s legislation that will deliver just that.”

    The Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act would:

    • Turn off the global tariffs imposed on April 2: The bill would permanently turn off the new baseline tariffs of 10 percent for all countries as well as the massive increases in tariffs for 60 trading partners, such as Europe, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Kenya. This would return most rates to the levels they were before the president’s tariff spree.
       
    • Turn off the tariffs imposed by executive order for Mexico and Canada: The president should not be able to use congressional trade authorities to extort our closest allies. If there are trade issues with those two countries, then there is a process in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that President Trump negotiated and Congress authorized.
       
    • Require congressional approval for all new tariffs: The Constitution gives Congress the authority over trade. Getting a vote on tariff actions should not be held hostage to political whim; votes would be treated as privileged measures that ensures that the American people get to have their say. Apolitical tariff actions – like trade remedies, safeguards and trade agreement dispute settlement – are already insulated from partisan abuse and would not require a congressional vote under the bill.

    The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Adam Gray (D-Calif.).

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Republican Middle Class Betrayal in San Francisco

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    From the Speaker Emerita’s Press Office:

    Today, House Republicans passed a budget that betrays the middle class with the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in American history.  

    Republicans are taking away health care, increasing the cost of essentials like food and housing, and decimating services working families count on – all to pay for $7 trillion giveaways to Donald Trump’s billionaire donors, big corporations and the ultra-rich.

    Below is a fact sheet prepared by the Office of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) and the Democratic Staff of the House Committee on the Budget:

    This is what Republican budget plans would mean for San Francisco:

    • $7 trillion in giveaways to billionaires and big corporations
    • $314,266 in average annual tax cuts for the richest 0.1 percent

    Meanwhile, middle class families would be left holding the bag.

    Ripping Away Health Care

    The Affordable Care Act

    Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, tens of millions of Americans can afford high-quality health care. House Democrats built on the Affordable Care Act, delivering lower prices and expanding coverage.

    Under the Republican budget plan, the 32,000 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act in San Francisco would see their average premium go up by $3,070 per year — a 112% increase.

    Many families would face even steeper consequences. A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 in San Francisco would see their health insurance costs increase by $22,193 per year — a 307% increase in premiums.

    Medicaid

    Nearly 80 million Americans receive health care through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provide critical care throughout all stages of life. Medicaid covers everything from childbirth to nursing home care and everything in between.

    In San Francisco, the 162,583 people on Medicaid (also known in California as Medi-Cal) are at risk of losing their health care under Republican budget plans.

    This includes 33,336 children under the age of 19 and 44,000 seniors over 65 in San Francisco.

    Raising the Cost of Living

    Food Assistance

    With many American families struggling to put food on the table, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides critical support for over 40 million Americans including children, seniors, veterans, and working parents.

    Extreme Republican budget plans threaten the 211,000 people in San Francisco who count on SNAP to put food on the table.

    School Lunches

    Every year, more than 23 million children receive healthy school meals thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision.

    Across California, the Republican budget threatens 2,452,931 children who rely on free school lunches.

    If Republicans are successful, their extreme budget will make it even harder for these children to get the meals they need to grow and learn.

    Pell Grants

    About one in three undergraduate students receive Pell grants, which have helped millions of students afford the cost of a college education. These investments in future generations help grow our economy and our middle class.

    The Republican budget would jeopardize the futures of 19,382 students in San Francisco who use Pell grants to help afford their education.

    And that’s only the beginning. Republicans are targeting even more critical services to fund their tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.

    The Trump Administration is already undermining our nation’s economy by threatening essential public servants with reckless layoffs. In San Francisco alone, the federal government employs 7,602 people.

    Learn more about how the Republican budget betrays the middle class here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi, Congressional Democrats Fight Back Against Trump’s Attacks on Independent Worker Protection Agencies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. — This week, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined House and Senate Democratic Leadership in filing an amicus brief opposing President Donald Trump’s unlawful attempts to fire members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The individuals cited in this matter were duly appointed, congressionally confirmed board members at independent federal agencies. Illegal attempts to terminate them threaten the integrity of these institutions and their ability to protect American workers and uphold workplace democracy.
     
    The NLRB and MSPB play a critical role in protecting workers, both in public service and the private sector, in their right to seek better working conditions and in safeguarding a non-political, merit-based federal workforce.
     
    The brief was led by House Ranking Members Jamie Raskin, Gerry Connolly, and Bobby Scott, alongside House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Assistant Leader Joe Neguse, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker – and was joined by 253 Congressional Democrats. 
     
    The amici curiae file their argument in the cases involving the attempted unlawful firings of Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the NLRB and Cathy Harris, a member of the MSPB. 

     
    The full brief is available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Joins House Democrats in Introducing Bill to Raise the Minimum Wage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. — This week, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined House Democrats in introducing the Raise the Wage Act of 2025.  The Raise the Wage Act, led by House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott, would gradually raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2030 and give roughly 22 million Americans a long-overdue raise.

    After more than fifteen years with no increase in the federal minimum wage—the longest period in U.S. history—millions of our nation’s workers are working full-time jobs but are still struggling to make ends meet.  The Raise the Wage Act is good for workers, good for business and good for the economy.  When we put money in the pockets of workers, they will spend that money at local businesses.

    “With the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act, Democrats honor the bedrock promise that, in America, hard work deserves fair pay,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said.  “Raising the federal minimum wage would make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of Americans — bringing us one step closer to ensuring every worker’s dignity and contributions are honored with a fair paycheck.”

    San Francisco proudly leads the nation with a higher local minimum wage — proof that raising wages strengthens communities without slowing economic growth.

    “The last time a minimum wage increase was passed by both chambers and signed into law was under my initial tenure as Speaker of the House,” Speaker Emerita Pelosi said. “We’ve fought for this before, and we’ll keep fighting until fair pay is the law of the land.”

    As Speaker, Pelosi led House Democrats in passing legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour in the 116th and 117th Congresses but Senate Republicans blocked the bill both times.

    The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 would:

    • Gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $17 by 2030.
    • Index future increases in the federal minimum wage to median wage growth to ensure the value of minimum wage does not once again erode over time.
    • Guarantee tipped workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by phasing out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which will ensure decent, consistent pay without eliminating tips.
    • Guarantee teen workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by phasing out the rarely used subminimum wage for youth workers.
    • End subminimum wage certificates for workers with disabilities to provide opportunities for workers with disabilities to be competitively employed and participate more fully in their communities.

    To read the bill text for the Raise the Wage Act of 2025, click here. 

    To read the fact sheet on the Raise the Wage Act of 2025, click here.

    To read the section-by-section Raise the Wage Act of 2025, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Biggs Issues Statement Following House Passage of Senate Budget Instruction

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

    Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 14, the U.S. Senate’s instructions for budget reconciliation, by a vote of 216-214. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:

    “Today, I voted to approve the budget instruction bill from the Senate. Though the Senate’s instructions called for spending reductions of only $4 billion over 10 years—while the House’s resolution called for reductions of $2 trillion—circumstances changed over the last 36 hours.

    1. The White House committed to spending reductions of $1.5 trillion, including the Inflation Reduction Act, fraud and waste in federal programs like Medicaid, illegal student loan forgiveness, and numerous other programs.
    2. Senate Majority Leader Thune also committed to accept the framework of the House’s budget instruction bill.
    3. Speaker Johnson has reiterated that he will not bring a bill to the Floor that does not conform to the House’s framework—this means any proposed budget must contain spending cuts of at least $1.5 trillion, must pay for new tax relief programs, and must not increase the deficit or our national debt.

    These firm commitments from House and Senate Leadership and the White House will provide the chance for an historic reduction in federal spending and the size of the federal government.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Evans, House & Senate Colleagues Reintroduce ‘Poverty-Busting’ Bills to Expand Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

    WASHINGTON (April 11, 2025) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) and House and Senate colleagues have reintroduced what Evans calls “poverty-busting” legislation to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

    Evans is sponsoring the House bill to expand the EITC, the Tax Cut for Workers Act (H.R. 2764). 

    Evans said, “I’m proud to join with Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) and our Senate colleagues to introduce this bill to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. The EITC is one of the most effective poverty-busting tools that we have, and expanding it is something that members of Congress from both parties should support!”

    Evans’ bill would benefit an estimated 14 million Americans. It would:

    • Virtually triple the maximum value of the EITC for so-called “childless workers” from about $540 to about $1,500. These are workers not raising children in their home who are currently taxed into or further into poverty.
    • Extend the credit to both younger and older workers who are currently ineligible for the credit because of their age – delivering the credit to people ages 19 to 24 as well as 65 and older.
    • Make the credit more accessible for adults aging out of the foster youth system.

    A more detailed one-page fact sheet about the bill is available here.

    In addition to co-lead sponsor Khanna, House co-sponsors of Evans’ bill include Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Shri Thanedar, (D-MI), Dina Titus (D-NV) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). 

    Organizations endorsing the bill include: Americans for Tax Fairness, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Coalition on Human Needs, Economic Security Project Action, Golden State Opportunity, National Council of Jewish Women, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, RESULTS, UnidosUS, and Young Invincibles.

    Evans is also co-sponsoring the American Family Act in the House. That bill would make permanent the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit that was passed in 2021. 

    “We know from recent experience that this can lift millions of children out of poverty. I’m going to keep pushing for this too!” Evans said.

    The Child Tax Credit bill would:

    • Increase the value of the CTC from the current level of $2,000 per child to $6,360 for newborns, $4,320 for children ages 1 through 6, and $3,600 for children age 6 through 17;
    • End the longstanding, discriminatory policy that reduces the value of the Child Tax Credit for low-income families, ensuring that the families of 17 million low-income children left out of the CTC under current law would receive the same credit as families in the middle class;
    • Provide for monthly delivery of the credit so families would have access to it as bills arrive; and
    • Index the CTC for inflation to preserve the value of the credit moving forward.

    Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He recently announced that his office returned to or saved $4.5 million for constituents in 2024 in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2024 figure brings Evans’ office’s total to more than $45.5 million returned to or saved for constituents during his first eight years in Congress.

    Evans serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. In addition to taxes, the committee also oversees trade, Social Security and Medicare. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Appeals Age-Appropriate Design Code Act Decision

    Source: US State of California

    Friday, April 11, 2025

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

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today appealed the Northern District of California’s decision to block enforcement of the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, in response to a lawsuit brought by an online trade association representing companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and Twitter.

    “We are deeply concerned about further delay in implementing protections for children online. That is why, today, my office has appealed the Northern District of California’s decision blocking enforcement of the Age-Appropriate Design Code,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I am committed to making social media safer for children by defending California’s commonsense statutes — our kids’ safety cannot wait.”

    “Every parent knows that our children are exposed to too much harm online, and they are demanding that tech companies take more responsibility for their actions,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). “The court’s ruling was a gut punch to families across California, but I’m incredibly grateful to Attorney General Bonta for stepping up and fighting back. His decision to appeal sends a clear message: we won’t let tech giants put profits over the safety of our children. I’m more committed than ever to this fight — and I won’t back down until real protections are in place.”

    The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act is a first-in-the-nation law aimed at safeguarding children online. The act requires that businesses that trade in consumers’ personal information and offer products, services, and features likely to be accessed by children proactively protect their young users’ information and prohibits certain actions that involve the collection and use of that information.

    Authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 15, 2022. The Legislature unanimously passed the law, finding that more needs to be done to create a safer online space for children to learn, explore, and play. Despite businesses’ awareness that children use their services, businesses currently design their online services to include features that may be harmful to children, including manipulative techniques to prod them to spend hours on end online or provide personal information beyond what is expected or necessary. 

    A copy of the notice of appeal can be found here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for March Storms

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for March Storms

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has sent a request to President Donald J. Trump asking for a major disaster declaration resulting from the winter storm that hit the state March 18 and 19. Twenty-seven counties have met damage assessments making them eligible for a federal declaration request. So far, damage estimates have exceeded $64.8 million. The bulk of those costs are due to utility repairs.

    Counties requested to be covered in the declaration include Boone, Burt, Butler, Cass, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nuckolls, Otoe, Platte, Polk, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Thurston, Washington, Webster and York. 

    The storm, which produced thunderstorms, sleet, high winds and blizzard conditions resulted in the closure of major roadways, including 160 miles of Interstate 80 and 70 miles of Interstate 29. The most significant damage was to power poles and electrical lines. More than 1700 poles were downed or destroyed. At the height of the storm, an estimated 200,000 customers were without power. To assist those who were without electricity for a prolonged period, some communities – including York and Fremont – established emergency shelters. Additional damage reports have included downed trees and structures. 

    In his letter to the President, Gov. Pillen called the mid-March storm “one of the most destructive winter weather events to impact Nebraska in recent history…”

    Federal funding approval would help cover costs in the above-named counties to repair damaged infrastructure and assist with debris clean up.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Pillen Joins Republican Governors Advocating EPA Increase the Renewable Volume Obligation for Biofuels

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    .S. EPA to bump up the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO), to help meet the nation’s energy goals and promote growth in the agriculture and biofuels industries.

     

    “Because of renewable fuels policy, we now have 24 ethanol plants. We have the infrastructure that allows Nebraska to be the epicenter of the new bioeconomy. Increasing RVO levels will benefit our state’s biofuels producers and is key to rural economic revitalization.”

     

    The joint letter, addressed to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, says in part:

     

    “Over the past several years, the biofuels industry has made significant investments to expand domestic production capacity and strengthen feedstock supply. Unfortunately, the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels set by the previous Administration failed to reflect this growth. As a result, an increasing number of biofuel producers, including ethanol and biodiesel facilities, have been forced to slow or cease operations, costing rural communities jobs and weakening key markets for American farmers.”

     

    The Governors are asking the EPA to establish a 2016 RVO of no less than 15 billion gallons for conventional ethanol and 5.25 billion gallons for biomass-based diesel.

     

    Including Gov. Pillen, other governors who signed the letter include: Gov. Kim Reynolds (IA), Gov. Gov. Mike Kehoe (MO), and Gov. Larry Rhoden (SD).

     

    A copy of the letter is included with this release.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Pillen’s Efforts to Protect Kids Online Advance Through the Legislature

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Three pieces of legislation – LB140, LB383, and LB504 – all moved to the next stages of floor debate.

     

    “This was a good week in the Legislature as we continue to prioritize Nebraska’s kids,” said Gov. Pillen. “Senators Sanders, Bosn, Storer, and Hardin – and many others – have been leading and working hard to advance these important pieces of legislation. We can help our kids by keeping phones out of schools and doing our best to limit the damage of social media. We will keep working to ensure that this legislation makes it to my desk to become law in the state of Nebraska.”

     

    LB140 – Phones in Schools Ban from Senator Sanders was advanced from Select File to Final Reading.

    LB383 – Parental Rights in Social Media Act from Senator Storer, was amended with LB172, which includes computer and AI generated images to our Child Sexual Abuse Material Prevention Act, was moved from General to Select File.

    LB504 – Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act from Senator Bosn was advanced from Select File to Final Reading

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 12, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 12, 2025.

    Pacific climate activists join 180+ groups calling on COP30 hosts Brazil to end fossil fuel dependence
    RNZ Pacific Pacific climate activists this week handed a letter from civil society to this year’s United Nations climate conference hosts, Brazil, emphasising their demands for the end of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. More than 180 indigenous, youth, and environmental organisations from across the world have signed the letter, coordinated by the

    Election Diary: Labor breaks practice of preferencing Greens to protect Jewish MP Josh Burns
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It takes a bit for Labor not to preference the Greens but on Friday it was announced that in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara, where Jewish MP Josh Burns is embattled, the ALP will run an open ticket. Macnamara, which

    ‘Delusional’ Treaty Principles Bill scrapped but fight for Te Tiriti just beginning, say lawyers and advocates
    By Layla Bailey-McDowell, RNZ Māori news journalist Legal experts and Māori advocates say the fight to protect Te Tiriti is only just beginning — as the controversial Treaty Principles Bill is officially killed in Parliament. The bill — which seeks to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi — sparked a nationwide hīkoi and

    Coalition plan to dump fuel efficiency penalties would make Australia a global outlier
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Mortimore, Lecturer, Griffith Business School, Griffith University The Coalition has announced it would, if elected to government, weaken a scheme aimed at cutting car emissions. The scheme, known as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), was introduced by the Albanese government and was due to take

    Peter Dutton’s climate policy backslide threatens Australia’s clout in the Pacific – right when we need it most
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Australia’s relationship with its regional neighbours could be in doubt under a Coalition government after two Pacific leaders challenged Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his weak climate stance. This week, Palau’s president Surangel Whipps Jr

    Could changing your diet improve endometriosis pain? A recent study suggests it’s possible
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia ovchinnikova_ksenya/Shutterstock Endometriosis affects around 10% of women of reproductive age. It’s a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the

    Kids cheering ‘chicken jockey!’ at A Minecraft Movie isn’t antisocial – it creates a chance for us to connect
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophia Staite, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Social media is ablaze with reports of kids going wild at screenings of A Minecraft Movie. Some cinemas are cracking down. There are reports of cinemas calling in police to deal with rowdy theatregoers

    Traded like assets, expected to be loyal: the unique double standard of being an Australian footy player
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Fujak, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University Few issues in Australian sport generate as much media noise or emotional fan reactions as player movement, especially in our major winter codes the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL). Contract negotiations, trade whispers and

    We study ‘planktivores’ – and found an amazing diversity of shapes among plankton-feeding fishes
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isabelle Ng, PhD candidate, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University A couple of whip coral goby (_Bryaninops yongei_). randi_ang/Shutterstock Swim along the edge of a coral reef and you’ll often see schools of sleek, torpedo-shaped fishes gliding through the currents, feeding on tiny plankton from

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Kweisi Mfume Pays Tribute to Dr. Michael Zollicoffer with Congressional Record Statement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    BALTIMORE – This week, Congressman Kweisi Mfume honored Baltimore Doctor, Michael L. Zollicoffer, M.D., and his selfless work, at the national level by inserting into the Congressional Record a written statement detailing his impact on the community. When a Member of Congress pays tribute to a constituent in this manner, it becomes part of the official, permanent record of the United States Congress, and part of history.    

    For decades, Dr. Z, as he’s known to most of his patients, has cared for patients at his urgent care facility, Life Care Plus, in an area of Baltimore City that struggles with poor health outcomes and poverty. Beyond his willingness to practice in an underserved area, Dr. Z is admired by many for never turning away a patient due to their insurance status or because they don’t have enough money.   

    However, in October of 2024, it was Dr. Z who was diagnosed with renal and colorectal cancer, and, due to paperwork issues with Medicare, he was facing the possibility of being unable to pay for his needed medical treatment.  

    Upon learning of Dr. Z’s health status, the Baltimore community quickly came together and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help. As of 12:00 p.m., on April 10, 2025, the campaign had raised $271,260 to support Dr. Z’s medical expenses. 

    Months removed from his diagnosis, Dr. Zollicoffer finished a month of treatment and his Medicare issue has been resolved.  

    “Mister Speaker, you would be hard-pressed to find another individual with as much passion for healing and love for his community as Dr. Michael Zollicoffer. For his kindness, his selflessness, and his God-given abilities, Dr. Z has been a pillar of the Baltimore community for decades. His cancer prognoses are positive and, God willing, he’ll be practicing in our City for years to come,” wrote Congressman Mfume.  

    After each day that Congress is in session, the proceedings are printed in the Congressional Record. Full text of Congressman Mfume’s Congressional Record Statement can be viewed below.  

    HONORING A HERO FOCUSED ON GIVING BACK: DR. MICHAEL L. ZOLLICOFFER, M.D.
    ______

    HON. KWEISI MFUME

    of Maryland

    in the House of Representatives

    Monday, April 7, 2025 

    Mister Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a beloved native son of Baltimore, Dr. Michael L. Zollicoffer, M.D.. Dr. Z, as he’s known to most of his patients, is a physician of boundless compassion and enthusiasm, and he has spent more than 35 years breaking down barriers to healthcare for all Baltimoreans, regardless of their ability to pay. His clinic has been a ray of hope for the under and uninsured, and his selfless commitment to healing has had major impacts on the wellbeing of his community. 

    Dr. Michael Zollicoffer is the son of trailblazing pediatrician Dr. Lawrence Zollicoffer, co-founder of Garwyn Medical Center, one of Baltimore’s first Black-owned multi-specialty medical centers. Dr. Z followed in his father’s footsteps by attending the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine located in Chapel Hill; the school that his father helped integrate. While at UNC, Dr. Z was honored with the MacNider Award, a prize given to sophomores with humility, good character, and impeccable personal integrity.

    Dr. Z earned his Doctor of Medicine from UNC in 1985 and returned to his hometown to finish his medical training. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1988 and remained in Baltimore to begin his own practice. He opened his urgent care facility, Life Care Plus, in an area of our City that struggles with poor health outcomes and poverty. 

    In the decades since he opened Life Care Plus, Dr. Z has been a guardian angel to the people of the 21215 ZIP Code. Beyond his willingness to practice in an underserved area, what is so remarkable about Dr. Z is that he will never turn away a patient because they don’t have enough money. A pediatrician by trade, he encourages patients to bring in their grandparents for free check-ups, and he’ll happily give patients his personal cell phone number to call him any time, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

    Dr. Z’s spirit of generosity has turned his clinic into a family home, and many of the people he treated as children now bring their own kids to the clinic. His incredible value to his community has been repeatedly recognized, with Dr. Z receiving awards like the UNC Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Community Leadership Award. 

    The love that the people of Baltimore hold for Dr. Z was most clearly shown in recent months, as Dr. Z is now dealing with health struggles of his own. He was recently diagnosed with renal and colorectal cancer, and due to insurance issues, he was facing the possibility of being unable to pay his medical bills. When his patients heard, they leapt into action to create a GoFundMe which has raised more than $250,000 from over 3,000 individual donors. As further proof of his virtue, Dr. Z made clear that every penny that he doesn’t need for his treatment, will go directly into his clinic. 

    Mister Speaker, you would be hard-pressed to find another individual with as much passion for healing and love for his community as Dr. Michael Zollicoffer. For his kindness, his selflessness, and his God-given abilities, Dr. Z has been a pillar of the Baltimore community for decades. His cancer prognoses are positive and, God willing, he’ll be practicing in our City for years to come. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Supreme Court Ruling, Mfume, Colleagues Demand Trump White House Immediately Return Maryland Man Deported in ‘Error’

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06) and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Trump Administration must facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland immigrant the administration deported in ‘error’ to a Salvadoran mega-prison where he remains:

    “The Trump Administration admitted that the deportation of Mr. Abrego Garcia, which had no legal basis, was done in ‘administrative error,’ and a federal district judge ordered them to return him to the United States by midnight this Monday. Rather than bring back the man they admitted they wrongfully deported without Due Process, the Trump Administration amazingly placed on leave the Justice Department attorney who argued the case simply for telling the truth about the Administration’s ‘administrative error.’ 

    “In a big victory for the rule of law and Due Process, the Supreme Court has just ruled that the Administration must facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States. The Supreme Court is effectively on the side of the vast majority of Americans and the civilized world who reject this lapse into lawlessness and insist that Mr. Abrego Garcia be returned to his family in the U.S. immediately. 

    “The Administration must now act swiftly to ensure that Mr. Abrego Garcia, who was grabbed off the streets of Maryland, shackled, and flown to a Salvadoran mega-prison, is brought back home safely to his loved ones and without any further delay.

    “During the first Trump Administration in 2019, Kilmar won withholding of removal, a legal status that specifically prohibits his removal to El Salvador. He was granted this status after the administration accused him, without any evidence, of gang membership and tried to deport him. A judge found instead that he had credibly proven his fear of persecution by a gang in El Salvador and that he posed no threat to public safety.

    “The Trump Administration admits it made an ‘error’ deporting Mr. Abrego Garcia. Contrary to what administration officials say, President Trump has both the duty and the power to bring this man back to Maryland to his American wife and child. 

    “We say to the president that, if you have the means to sweep someone off the street in America and deport him to a torturer’s prison in El Salvador, where we are paying their government as our junior partner for this dubious service, then you certainly have or you can find the means to bring him back. This should be easy since the El Salvadoran government is acting as our agent in the affair as part of this shocking agreement with the Trump Administration.”

    “If Trump is allowed to get away with this thorough destruction of Due Process in Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case, he will believe that his administration can sweep anyone—citizen or noncitizen—off the street and ship them to a prison in an authoritarian state and escape judicial review. A whole lot rests on the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Cornyn Factchecks Democrat Hysteria Over Deporting Criminals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) fact-checked the media and liberal Democrats’ hysteria over the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the homeland by reversing the Biden administration’s reckless border policies and deporting criminal migrants here illegally. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

    “There’s been a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth in the mainstream media about President Trump’s commonsense immigration enforcement agenda.” 

    “This isn’t rocket science. This isn’t partisan warfare.”

    “In order to keep the American people safe, we need to keep criminals and gangs off our streets, and that’s exactly what the Trump administration is doing.”

    “Of these arrests that have been made under Secretary Noem, nearly half of them have been convicted criminals… one third of them have pending criminal charges.”

    “I can’t imagine anyone would be anything except relieved that the Trump administration has prioritized removing these gang members from our country.”

    “Refusing to arrest and lock up criminals who never should have been in the country in the first place will go down in history as one of the biggest mistakes the Biden administration and Democrats have ever made.”

    “The Trump administration by contrast… is part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Water Treaty, Cornyn Praises President Trump, Endorses ‘Maximum Pain’ for Mexico

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today released the following statement commending President Donald Trump for pressuring Mexico to deliver the water it owes to South Texas after years of continued delays under the Biden-Harris administration and endorsed the use of all diplomatic and economic options to force Mexico to supply timely and consistent water deliveries to Texas pursuant to the 1944 Water Treaty:

    “South Texas farmers and ranchers have been snubbed by Mexico for years and denied the water they’re rightfully owed, but no more.”

    “I commend President Trump for his show of force and commitment to taking back the water Mexico has essentially stolen from our agriculture community after four years of the Biden administration standing idly by as Texas farmers and ranchers struggled and Mexico took advantage of our country.”

    “I will continue working with the President and Secretaries Rubio and Rollins on this effort to inflict maximum pain and force Mexico to make good on their end of the bargain. President Trump and I will fight for what Texas farmers and ranchers need to put food on the table for millions of Americans.”

    Background:

    Under the Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, Mexico is obligated to deliver an average of 350,000-acre feet of water annually over a five-year cycle as its contribution to the Rio Grande’s water supply. However, Mexico has consistently delayed fulfilling its water obligation until the end of the five-year cycle, which hinders South Texas farmers’ ability to plan for and grow crops as well as ranchers’ ability to provide water to livestock. The current cycle ends in October and so far, Mexico has paid less than 500,000 acre-feet of water—about a quarter of what it owes, according to IBWC data.

    Sen. Cornyn has led the charge in Congress to boost Texas’ water supply and ensure Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water to South Texas farmers and ranchers. He partnered with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to successfully secure more than $280 million in emergency assistance for Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers affected by the water shortage and led a request earlier this year to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for renewed efforts to push Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty while also securing Secretary Rubio’s commitment to hold Mexico accountable for delays.

    Last year, Sens. Cornyn and Cruz raised alarms after a Rio Grande sugarcane mill closed due to acute water shortages, cosponsored a resolution supporting diplomacy, and sent a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of State Blinken urging the Department to engage on Mexico’s violation of the intent of the treaty. Senator Cornyn also led a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on State and Foreign Operations urging them to withhold designated funds from Mexico until they enter into an agreement with the U.S. to balance the deficit of the water deliveries, which the House Appropriations Committee included in their funding bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Cruz Resolution Honoring Texan George Foreman Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – The Senate resolution introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) honoring the life and legacy of Houston native and professional boxer George Foreman, who passed away on March 21, 2025, passed the Senate unanimously. Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.

    “Whereas George Foreman was born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas;

    Whereas George Foreman was raised in Houston, Texas;

    Whereas George Foreman earned his general education degree and gained vocational skills through the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps;

    Whereas George Foreman began his boxing career in 1966 after meeting Doc Broaddus, a boxing instructor, who worked for Job Corps;

    Whereas George Foreman won his first amateur fight on January 26, 1967, in the Parks Diamond Bell Tournament;

    Whereas George Foreman won the National Boxing Championship heavyweight title in Toledo, Ohio, in 1968;

    Whereas George Foreman won a gold medal in boxing in the heavyweight division during the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games

    Whereas George Foreman began his professional boxing career in 1969;

    Whereas George Foreman won 37 consecutive fights, of which 35 were by knockout;

    Whereas, on January 22, 1973, George Foreman won the World Heavyweight Championship title by defeating Joe Frazier;

    Whereas George Foreman maintained the title of World Heavyweight Champion until October 30, 1974, in a fierce matchup, known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, with Muhammad Ali;

    Whereas George Foreman stepped back from his boxing career to become an ordained minister in 1978 and served the congregation at Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which he founded in 1980, in Houston, Texas;

    Whereas, in 1984, George Foreman opened the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston, Texas, to provide opportunities to youth across Harris County;

    Whereas George Foreman announced his return to boxing in 1987 and won his first fight back against Steve Zouski;

    Whereas George Foreman earned the title of World Heavyweight Champion again on November 5, 1994, against Michael Moorer, breaking multiple records, including the oldest fighter to win a world heavyweight championship, the most time between world heavyweight championships, and the largest age gap between competitors in a heavyweight boxing championship fight;

    Whereas George Foreman fought for the final time in 1997 against Shannon Briggs;

    Whereas George Foreman had a final career record of 76 to 5;

    Whereas George Foreman became a successful businessman, most notably with the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine, of which more than 100,000,000 units have been sold globally;

    Whereas George Foreman was recognized by the American Legion in 2013 with the James V. Day ‘Good Guy’ Award for his patriotism and service to his community;

    Whereas George Foreman remained a beloved public figure and boxing legend until his death;

    Whereas George Foreman died in Houston, Texas, on March 21, 2025;

    Whereas George Foreman was preceded in death by his daughter, Freeda; and

    Whereas George Foreman is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Joan, and 11 of his children and their families: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate—

    (1) honors the life and legacy of George Foreman for—

    (A) his accomplishments as a boxing legend;

    (B) the example he provides to future generations of community leaders; and

    (C) his dedication to Houston and his support of vulnerable youth in the community; and

    (2) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate—

    (A) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and

    (B) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of George Foreman.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Pasco Drug Trafficker

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Pierre Marquis Fowler (36, Tarpon Springs), a/k/a “Durk,” guilty of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine; possessing with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 500 grams or more of cocaine; possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; and two counts of illegal monetary transactions. Fowler faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. 

    According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Pierre Marquis Fowler and his brother, Marcus Jamar Fowler, a/k/a “Drastic,” conspired with each other and others to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The Fowlers used a stash location in Tarpon Springs as a place to distribute narcotics. Between 2020 and 2022 one witness estimated that Pierre Fowler had provided them with at least 75 kilograms of fentanyl, hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and multiple kilograms of cocaine.

    Firearms recovered from safe at stash location

    Evidence from search warrants included eight firearms, including two machineguns, 989.1 grams of fentanyl, 715 grams of methamphetamine, and 781 grams of cocaine at the stash location. In addition, seven parcels had been shipped from California to the Middle District of Florida, in the span of one week, which contained 3,981 grams of fentanyl and 4,458 grams of methamphetamine.

    Contents of two boxes bound for a residence in Pasco County

    Evidence also showed that Pierre Fowler had used proceeds of drug trafficking to make purchases of more than $10,000, including a piece of real property in Holiday. Certain assets being forfeited by the government include property located in Holiday and $10,409 in cash seized from Pierre Fowler during a search warrant on February 8, 2023.

    Marcus Jamar Fowler previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2025.         

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Tarpon Springs Police Department, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman. The forfeiture is being handled by AUSA James Muench.

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Unveils Plan to Reform Federal Home Loan Bank System, Increase the Supply of Homes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) unveiled the Federal Home Loan Banks’ Mission Activities Act, her plan to reform the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks). This legislation would help ensure the FHLBanks are re-focused on their mission “to support housing finance and community development.”
    “When Congress created the Federal Home Loan Banks in 1932, the mission was simple: help families across the United States afford a home,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “However, in the more than ninety years since, the Federal Home Loan Banks have strayed from their mission. I’ve spent years pushing them to do more to support affordable housing in our communities, and I’m proud to present this next step to make them work for every American.”
    The 11 regional FHLBanks provide financing for more than 6,000 credit unions, banks, community development financial institutions, insurance companies and state housing finance agencies. These funds are meant to allow these organizations to invest more to meet the needs of their communities.
    The Federal Home Loan Banks’ Mission Activities Act would re-focus the FHLBanks on their mission requirements by:
    Requiring the FHLBank system to contribute 30 percent or a minimum of $200 million of its net earnings to its Affordable Home Program and other voluntary programs that meet community needs.
    Enabling small credit unions and community development financial institutions to pledge non-housing loans as collateral and join a Federal Home Loan Bank if they only provide small business, agricultural or community economic development loans.
    Tying FHLBanks Presidents’ compensation to how well the Banks are meeting their mission of supporting affordable housing and community development.
    Read the full bill text here.
    Throughout her time representing Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has made reforming the Federal Home Loan Banks a cornerstone of her work. In 2021, Cortez Masto introduced the Federal Home Loan Banks’ Mission Implementation Act, which included elements of this proposal. In Congress, Senator Cortez Masto has also highlighted the fact that Nevada has been treated unfairly by the system, and she has sought additional investment in Nevada by the FHLBank of San Francisco resulting in the first-in-the nation targeted Affordable Housing Program for the state.
    Following a 2022 letter Senator Cortez Masto sent to FHFA Director Sandra Thompson, the FHFA announced a review of the Federal Home Loan Bank system. In her letter, the Senator called for a review of the FHLBanks and requested that that review consult stakeholders and outside experts to ensure the FHLBanks responsibly used their federal funding. She also asked that the review consider how FHLBanks can better support affordable housing, rural and tribal communities, income inequality, infrastructure investments, and climate resilience. In late 2023, the FHFA released a comprehensive report calling for mission-focused reform of the FHLBanks.
    Last year, Cortez Masto – alongside Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Wyden (D-Ore.), Smith (D-Minn.), Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sanders (I-Vt.) and Fetterman (D-Pa.) – sent letters to each of the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) urging them to contribute at least 20% of their net income to affordable housing and other critical community grant programs. Earlier this year, the Senator secured a $10 million investment from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco into the Nevada Housing Division’s (NHD) single-family bond program.
    Senator Cortez Masto is the Ranking Member of the Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, Shaheen Addresses Advocates and Educators at Building Safe Communities Conference

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Plymouth, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered remarks at the Building Safe Communities: The Importance of Multidisciplinary Partnerships in Addressing Domestic Violence and Empowering Survivors colloquium, sponsored by the Plymouth State University Social Work program. The visit follows the unanimous Senate passage of Shaheen’s bipartisan resolution recognizing April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month earlier this week. You can view photos from the event here.

    “While the Trump administration continues to freeze funding and propose plans that would eliminate the Office of Violence Against Women, the stark reality is that one in three women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime,” said Shaheen. “At the end of the day, it’s Granite Staters who will suffer if state offices and organizations who provide services don’t have the funding and support they depend on to provide help, counsel or comfort to domestic violence survivors. It’s inexcusable and I’ll continue fighting to protect these services.”

    Shaheen has long championed efforts in the Senate to boost services and programs for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee Appropriations bill, Shaheen secured and helped advance $739.5 million, the highest funding level ever, for grants authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), including $10 million for continued implementation of her Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights grant program.

    In 2016, Shaheen led the effort to pass the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act, which was signed into law by President Obama. The historic legislation guaranteed rights for survivors of sexual assault in federal cases and led to 21 states adopting similar legislation, including New Hampshire. Shaheen and Grassley’s bipartisan Survivors’ Bill of Rights in the States Act was signed into law as part of the FY 2023 national defense authorization legislation, and builds on the legacy of Shaheen’s initial legislation by ensuring that all survivors, not just those in federal cases, are protected.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley to Hold Town Meeting in Lee County

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will hold a town meeting on Tuesday, April 15, in Lee County as part of his annual 99 county meetings.

    “You can’t have representative government without dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent,” Grassley said.“I appreciate the opportunity to hold town meetings, answer questions and take comments. My annual 99 county meetings are one way I regularly keep in touch with Iowans to better represent them at the policymaking tables in Washington.”

    This is Grassley’s 45th year of holding question and answer sessions in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. Grassley has held at least one meeting in every county, every year since he was first elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. He answers questions on any subject. Iowans set the agenda.

    Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters. The town meeting is open to the public and media. Seating is first come, first served until the room is at capacity. Members of the media who wish to attend the meeting or media availability must RSVP. Please RSVP directly to Georgie_Hilby@grassley.senate.gov. Details for the upcoming meeting follow.

    Tuesday, April 15

    Lee County Town Meeting

    11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

    Council Chambers

    811 Avenue E

    Fort Madison

    *Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: First 100 Days

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Q: What was on the front burner during the first 100 days of the 119th Congress?

    A:  Congress hit the ground running on January 3 when it opened for business. After committee assignments were adopted, I resumed the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee and leadership position as Senate President pro tempore. The to-do list on the Senate agenda was shaped by the mandate of the November presidential election. Americans voted for border security, safer streets, lower cost of living and a stronger economy. Processing the nominees to serve on the president’s cabinet was among the top priorities of the first 100 days in Congress. The Senate has the constitutional authority of “advise and consent” in our system of checks and balances. Nominees for the federal judiciary and senior-level positions throughout the executive branch undergo a rigorous background check and vetting process to examine their credentials and qualifications to uphold the public trust. I chaired confirmation hearings for Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, as well as other top leaders for the Department of Justice. During the previous administration, I exposed the weaponization of our government  that created a two-tiered system of justice. I’m committed to help restore public trust in our institutions of government and that includes robust oversight to hold government and wrongdoers accountable.

    The pace by which the Senate processed cabinet nominations underscores the commitment to get the election mandate in motion. In 18 days, the Senate confirmed 13 cabinet officials, reflecting support to get the president’s team in place to implement his agenda. At the top of the list was border security. Since day one of the 47th president’s second term in office, the Trump administration has kept its promise to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and restore U.S. sovereignty at our borders. Compared to the Biden administration, nationwide border encounters dropped drastically. As the president said at his joint address to Congress in March, “all we really needed was a new president.” What’s more, the first piece of legislation Congress sent to the president’s desk was the Laken Riley Act, a bipartisan bill that included Sarah’s Law, named after an Iowan killed by an illegal immigrant driving drunk. I’m also pleased the Senate approved my bipartisan bill called the HALT Fentanyl Act that would permanently schedule deadly fentanyl-related substances created by the cartels to skirt U.S. law. This bill would give law enforcement the tools it needs to keep deadly fentanyl off our streets. Republicans have swiftly delivered on our promise to restore law and order and make America’s streets safer.

    Q: What else does Congress have to show for its work in the first 100 days?

    A:  For starters, I’m glad the Senate has resumed a five-day work schedule, after a long hiatus in recent years, and continued in legislative session for 10 consecutive weeks starting in January. That’s what Iowans expect elected representatives to be doing. That’s how the schedule operated when I first came to the Senate. Many times, I urged then-Senate Majority Leader Schumer to keep the Senate in session five days a week, instead of the sleepy schedule he led during the Biden administration. That light work schedule was a disservice to the American people and contributed to year-end, massive spending packages. Congress must return to regular order and legislate 12 annual appropriations bills in their respective committees. This allows members of Congress to more closely scrutinize every line of spending and offer amendments. Americans deserve better than crisis-to-crisis legislating. As a taxpayer watchdog, I’ve continued to lead efforts to root out Pentagon mismanagement and wasteful spending across the federal government, such as tackling improper Supplemental Security Income payments, continuing my oversight of the EPA, and demanding answers about alleged fraudulent Medicare billing practices.  I also published a committee report of my investigative findings shining light on the full scope of the Obama-Biden State Department’s pervasive obstruction of FBI law enforcement efforts before, during and after the Iran Nuclear Deal negotiations. 

    In addition, the Senate Judiciary Committee has convened 15 hearings in the first 100 days. Among the policies we’ve examined include the Freedom of Information Act; children’s safety in the digital era; legislative solutions to fix universal injunctions; and, the rise in antisemitism in America. I also steered six bipartisan bills through the committee to rein in anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry to help lower drug prices. When the Senate’s not in session, I return home to Iowa every chance I get to keep in touch with my constituents. In March, I kicked off my 45th annual 99 county meetings, holding a dozen question-and-answer sessions with Iowans. Looking ahead, Congress has a full plate of unfinished business to digest in the coming months, including passing a five-year farm bill,  extending rural hospital support programs and telehealth, preventing the largest tax hike in U.S. history and funding the government through a timely and transparent process. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Announces Town Halls in Wasco, Umatilla, Grant, Harney, Lake, Klamath and Douglas Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    April 11, 2025

    Upcoming seven open-to-all town halls in the Columbia Gorge, Eastern and Southern Oregon will be April 23-26

    Portland – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold town halls later this month in Wasco, Umatilla, Grant, Harney, Lake, Klamath and Douglas counties.

    Heading into these seven open-to-all town halls between April 23-26, Wyden has held 1,110 open-to-all town halls in keeping his promise to have at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. 

    “I promised Oregonians in every nook and cranny of our state that I would always make myself available to answer questions and hear their concerns and opinions,” Wyden said. “That in-person connection has always been essential, and it’s more crucial than ever now during these unprecedented challenges to continue those direct conversations so all parts of Oregon are heard.”

     The schedule for the town halls is as follows:

    • Wasco County, 1 pm, Wednesday, April 23, The Dalles High School, 220 E 10th St, The Dalles
    • Umatilla County, 6 pm, Wednesday, April 23, Pendleton High School, 1800 NW Carden Ave., Pendleton
    • Grant County, 12:30 pm, Thursday, April 24, Humbolt Elementary School, 329 N. Humbolt Street, Canyon City (Parking at the elementary school is limited so overflow parking will be available at Grant Union High School — 911 S. Canyon Blvd, John Day — with shuttle buses provided to the town hall starting at 11:45 am)
    • Harney County, 6 pm, Thursday, April 24, Harney County Chamber of Commerce community room, 484 N Broadway, Burns
    • Lake County, 11 am, Friday, April 25, Lakeview High School cafeteria, 906 S 3rd St, Lakeview
    • Klamath County, 4 pm, Friday, April 25, Oregon Institute of Technology, Danny Miles Gym, 3201 Campus Dr., Klamath Falls
    • Douglas County, 3 pm, Saturday, April 26,Umpqua Community College, Jacoby Auditorium, 1140 Umpqua College Rd Roseburg

    Although these were the largest venues available for these town halls on these dates, space may still be limited. Doors will open one hour before the town hall start times for attendees. For everyone’s security, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town hall.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Kim Urge Trump Administration to Investigate Fatal Shooting of New Jersey Teen in the West Bank

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) sent a letter to President Trump urging his administration to seek answers and conduct a U.S.-led investigation into the fatal shooting of Amer Rabee, a 14-year-old New Jerseyan. Two other American citizens were also injured in the incident, including 14-year-old Ayoub Ijbara and 15-year-old Abdulrahman Shihada. Ayoub Ijbara was born in New Jersey and is reported to be in critical condition.

    “As New Jersey’s Senators, we are calling for a thorough and transparent accounting of the facts and circumstances around Amer Rabee’s death and the actions of Israeli security forces. We appreciate the difficult and dynamic nature of the situation, but also underscore our expectation that such an inquiry is possible and should be pursued when an American has died. As a result, we urge your administration to conduct a timely, independent and transparent investigation into Amer Rabee’s death as well as Ayoub Ijbara and Abdulrahman Shihada’s injuries,” the Senators wrote.

    The lawmakers expressed that many of their constituents in New Jersey have connections to Turmus Ayya, a town in the West Bank with a large Palestinian American community, and have been personally impacted by this devastating event and the rise in violence in the West Bank that has occurred in recent years.   

    “We urge your administration to raise this case at the highest levels during meetings with counterparts in the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority and press for full cooperation with a U.S.-led investigation. Furthermore, we urge the State Department to quickly dispatch embassy officials to visit the Rabee and Ijbara families and ensure that they have all support they need during this difficult time, including urgent medical support for Ayoub,” the Senators continued.

    “As we continue the work of keeping Americans safe, here at home and around the world, the U.S. must do all it can to seek answers and accountability when Americans are injured or killed,” the Senators concluded.

    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Pacific climate activists join 180+ groups calling on COP30 hosts Brazil to end fossil fuel dependence

    RNZ Pacific

    Pacific climate activists this week handed a letter from civil society to this year’s United Nations climate conference hosts, Brazil, emphasising their demands for the end of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy.

    More than 180 indigenous, youth, and environmental organisations from across the world have signed the letter, coordinated by the campaign organisation, 350.org.

    A declaration of alliance between Indigenous peoples from the Amazon, the Pacific, and Australia ahead of COP30 has also been announced.

    The “strongly worded letter” was handed to COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago and Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Marina Silva who attended the Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL), or Free Land Camp, in Brasília.

    “We, climate and social justice organisations from around the world, urgently demand that COP30 renews the global commitment and supports implementation for the just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy,” the letter states.

    “This must ensure that solutions progressively meet the needs of Indigenous, Black, marginalised and vulnerable populations and accelerate the expansion of renewables in a way that ensures the world’s wealthiest and most polluting nations pay their fair share, does not harm nature, increase deforestation by burning biomass, while upholding economic, social, and gender justice.”

    ‘No room for new coal mines’
    It adds: “The science is unequivocal: there is no room for new coal mines or oil and gas fields if the world is to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius — especially in critical ecosystems like the Amazon, where COP30 will be hosted.

    “Tripling renewables by 2030 is essential, but without a managed and rapid phaseout of fossil fuels, it won’t be enough.”

    350.org’s Fiji community organiser, George Nacewa, said it was now up to the Brazil COP Presidency if they would act “or lock us into climate catastrophe”.

    “This is a critical time for our people — the age of deliberation is long past,” Nacewa said on behalf of the group that call themselves “Pacific Climate Warriors”.

    “We need this COP to be the one that spearheads the Just Energy Transition from words to action.”

    COP30 will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Colleagues Call on Small Business Administration to Mitigate Damage from Trump Tariffs to Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, joined colleagues in a letter demanding that U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler take immediate action to address the impacts of Trump’s reckless tariff policies on small businesses. In Nevada, 99 percent of all businesses are small businesses, and tariffs are threatening their ability to stay afloat.
    “The situation is dire. From mom-and-pop restaurants unable to afford basic supplies like cooking oil to small manufacturers and high-tech startups struggling to afford the raw materials needed for innovation, small businesses across all sectors are facing the same crippling reality,” wrote the Senators. “As these costs rise, consumer confidence continues to plummet, and the economy stagnates. A survey by Small Business for America’s Future found that 71 percent of small businesses will need to increase prices to survive, but with consumer confidence at its lowest since the pandemic, many owners know their customers cannot afford higher prices. The tariffs, therefore, are not only increasing costs, but also are undermining the very demand from customers that small businesses rely on.”
    “Failure to act will not only jeopardize the livelihoods of small business owners but may also lead to long-term financial hardship for the 60 million workers employed by small business – especially those working paycheck to paycheck who cannot afford to be laid off or have jobs delayed or denied,” the Senators’ letter continued. “We urge you to take swift action to ameliorate the damage being inflicted on small businesses by the President’s tariff policies, combined with the chaos of cuts to federal services and investments that small businesses rely on. As a representative of millions of entrepreneurs who are on the brink of disaster and the voice of small businesses in the administration, you have an obligation to fight for their survival… America’s small businesses—and the workers they employ—are counting on you to take action before it is too late.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been fighting back against President Trump’s reckless tariffs and the destructive impacts they’re having on Nevada’s economy. Earlier this week, Rosen led a letter demanding that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and President Donald Trump immediately reverse course on the sweeping tariffs that are devastating small businesses in Nevada and across the nation. Senator Rosen also recently took to the Senate floor to oppose President Trump’s tariffs and highlight a letter she received from a small business owner in Reno outlining the devastating impact these tariffs will have on his business. Senator Rosen also helped pass a Congressional resolution to reverse President Trump’s devastating tariffs on virtually all Canadian goods that have raised prices for families and hurt Nevada’s businesses and economy. Senator Rosen also sent a letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse course on imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico to prevent housing prices from rising even further.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, and Fetterman Statement on Department of Labor Announcement Pushing Back Enforcement of Silica Rule that Protects Coal Miners from Breathing in Toxic Chemicals on the Job

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and John Fetterman (D-PA) released the following statement on the decision by the Department of Labor (DOL) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to pause enforcement of its final rule to better protect America’s miners from health hazards related to exposure to respirable crystalline silica, or silica dust:

    “Coal miners deserve to go to work every day and come back healthy, and the recent decision by the Mine Safety and Health Administration delaying enforcement of their landmark rule to better protect miners from silica dust is an alarming abdication of responsibility. Silica dust has caused severe black lung disease in young coal miners, and as the Trump administration continues to cause chaos through their indiscriminate funding cuts and firings, it’s our miners who are being left behind. We expect the Mine Safety and Health Administration to begin enforcement of this rule no later than their August 18, 2025 deadline.”

    Last year, the senators applauded the DOL’s decision to amend current federal silica standards after spending years advocating for the updated rule to better protect miners from inhaling toxic chemicals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Establish Chesapeake National Recreation Area

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), alongside their Maryland colleagues Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD), renewed their efforts to create a unified Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The CNRA Act proposes to unite a series of voluntarily contributed park areas and iconic Bay properties under the operation of the National Park Service (NPS) in order to spur more federal resources for environmental conservation, celebrate the Chesapeake’s diverse cultural and economic history, foster sustainable and equitable access to the Bay, and support responsible economic growth in the region.

    The legislation was first introduced in July 2023. An amended version of this legislation was approved in a bipartisan, unanimous vote by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in November 2024, followed the next month by its unanimous passage on the Senate Floor. As there was insufficient time to advance the legislation in the House of Representatives before the end of the previous Congress, the senators have reintroduced the legislation to establish the CNRA in the 119th Congress.

    “The Chesapeake Bay is at the cultural heart of so many Virginia communities, and serves as an economic driver for the Commonwealth as a whole. The creation of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area will not only help to preserve the rich history of the bay, but will ensure that it can be restored and protected for years to come,” said Warner.

    “The Chesapeake Bay is deeply embedded in the history, ecology, and economy of Virginia and the entire region,” said Kaine. “Creating the Chesapeake National Recreation Area will help ensure that people can cherish the beauty of the Bay for generations to come.”

    “The Chesapeake Bay is a natural and national treasure. Creating a unified CNRA will unlock more resources for its restoration, generate more prosperity for those whose livelihoods depend on it, and spotlight its unique story – encouraging greater public access to and enjoyment of everything the Bay has to offer. We built great momentum for the CNRA over the past two years, securing unanimous bipartisan approval by a key Committee and passing it on the Floor of the U.S. Senate. We will continue to build on this progress toward our goal of making our vision for the CNRA a reality, and bringing greater national recognition to the Bay we all cherish,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “It is past time that we officially establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area. We know the Chesapeake Bay is the heart of Maryland but it is so much more — rich with history and wildlife, an economic driver for our state, and the home to our beloved blue crab. We must ensure the Chesapeake Bay receives the recognition and resources it needs so that we can enjoy this national treasure for years to come. Passing this legislation is a step forward,” said Senator Alsobrooks.

    The CNRA will increase responsible public access to the Chesapeake Bay and strengthen the culture of stewardship across the region. Additionally, the CNRA will highlight the stories that often go untold – those of Indigenous peoples; free and enslaved Blacks; the role the Bay played in the earliest days of the Virginia and Maryland Colonies; its importance to the region’s economy; and the story of watermen and -women who are essential to the economic success and health of the Bay region.

    The first historic sites of regional importance proposed to be in the CNRA network include the North Beach of Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia and the Burtis House, Whitehall, and Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Annapolis, Maryland. The CNRA will also utilize a collection of partnerships with states, localities, nonprofit organizations, and private entities to support public access to and restoration of nationally significant historic, cultural, or recreational Bay resources.

    This designation will not impose any additional regulations on recreation, fishing, or other business activities in Chesapeake Bay waters, and the National Park Service’s authority will not supersede state authority on these matters.

    Text of the legislation can be viewed here.

    More details about this initiative can be viewed here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Announces Penobscot Nation DOI Funding Restored

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – Following a meeting last month with Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation and further consultation with the Administration, today, Senator Collins announced that her office has received notice from the Department of the Interior (DOI) that $4 million in previously paused federal funding for the Nation has resumed.

    “This funding was awarded to support the acquisition of lands in the Penobscot River watershed, returning it to the Penobscot Nation,” said Senator Collins. “Restoring access to these lands is an important step in preserving the Penobscot Nation’s cultural and environmental heritage. I am pleased the Department has reversed course and is honoring its previous commitment to the Nation.”

    The Penobscot Nation was awarded $4 million through the DOI Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Climate Resilience Program in Fiscal Year 2024 to acquire 30,000 acres of critical habitat in the Penobscot River watershed, creating an important ecological corridor and protecting culturally significant lands. This investment will help safeguard vital wetlands, streams, and habitats for species of high conservation need while promoting the Nation’s long-term role of ecological stewardship in the region.

    MIL OSI USA News –