NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI China: China expresses grave concern over US ‘reckless’ tariffs at WTO

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China on Wednesday expressed grave concern and firm opposition to the United States’ “reckless” tariffs at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    On the first day of a two-day meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods, China proposed a discussion on the U.S. “reciprocal tariffs,” urging the United States to uphold the WTO rules, so as to avoid negative impact on global economy and the multilateral trading system.

    In its speaking, China slammed the U.S. tariff policy, saying it violates WTO rules and undermines the multilateral trading system.

    The rules of multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, serve as the indispensable foundation for global trade, and the most favored nation (MFN)-based tariff commitments ensure trade is conducted transparently, predictably and without discrimination, said China.

    The U.S. trade measures violate the MFN principle and contravene its own tariff binding commitments under WTO rules, said China, noting the measures are “a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying.”

    In addition, China said the United States is a key beneficiary of the multilateral trading system, and described assessing its gains solely through trade deficits or surpluses in goods as a narrow and misleading approach.

    The “reciprocal tariffs” will never be a cure for trade imbalances. Instead, they will backfire, harming the United States itself, China said.

    Emphasizing its belief that all trade disputes should be resolved through the WTO’s established mechanisms, China called on all WTO members to stand together in safeguarding the rules-based multilateral trading system.

    China’s statement was echoed by dozens of WTO members, including the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Canada, Kazakhstan, Britain and Brazil, which took the floor to voice their disapproval of the U.S. measures.

    The EU said U.S. tariffs constitute “a major blow to the world economy and the multilateral trading system,” noting such tariffs will not fix the global trade imbalances.

    Some members said the tariff actions could lead to increased trade tensions and instability, stressing the importance of resolving trade disputes through dialogue and cooperation within the WTO framework. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ban Bump Stocks, Protect Nevada Communities from Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce common-sense, bipartisan legislation to ban bump stocks and protect Nevada communities from gun violence. The Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act would prohibit the sale of bump stocks and other devices or modifications that allow semi-automatic firearms to increase their rate of fire and effectively operate as fully automatic weapons. Bump stocks were used in the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas. After the Supreme Court reversed President Trump’s federal ban on bump stocks, Senator Rosen issued a statement calling for passage of federal legislation to ban these deadly modifications. 
    “Las Vegas was devastated on 1 October when a shooter used bump stocks to carry out the deadliest mass shooting in American history,” said Senator Rosen. “The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Trump-era bump stock ban was a brazen reversal of a common-sense measure to help prevent another similar tragedy. I’m helping to introduce this bipartisan bill to reinstate this ban and help keep communities safe.” 
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight against gun violence. Last Congress, she helped introduce the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act to provide all victims of gun violence and their loved ones with the resources to help meet medical, legal, financial, and other needs. Senator Rosen also helped introduce the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all commercial gun sales, including those made online and at gun shows. She helped pass the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to enhance background checks on firearm purchases for individuals under 21, fund the implementation of red flag laws, combat firearms trafficking, and invest in school safety and mental health programs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Reintroduces Legislation to Expand Child Care in Community Colleges and Minority-Serving Institutions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the Preparing and Resourcing Our Student Parents and Early Childhood Teachers (PROSPECT) Act to expand access to high-quality early childhood care at community colleges and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). U.S. Representatives Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) reintroduced companion legislation in the House.
    Student parents face significant hurdles in pursuing higher education, and the lack of accessible child care is a major contributor to their struggle. This challenge disproportionately affects students of color, particularly Black, Native American, and Latina women, who make up a significant portion of student parents. The declining availability of on-campus child care exacerbates these difficulties, especially at community colleges. The consequences are stark: student parents often face financial hardship, higher student loan debt, and a greater likelihood of leaving college without a degree.
    “Parents across our country who are attending college or dream of enrolling often struggle to find affordable, consistent child care while trying to pursue their education,” said Senator Booker. “The PROSPECT Act is critical legislation that invests in child care preparation programs at community colleges and MSIs while also expanding child care at college campuses so students and their kids have the resources they need to succeed.”
    As a former student parent juggling coursework, multiple jobs, and the demands of raising a child, I know firsthand the struggles many working parents face today,” said Congresswoman Hayes. The PROSPECT Act addresses this reality by making infant and toddler childcare more affordable and accessible on college campuses. This not only removes barriers to higher education but also invests in the well-being of families and the future of our workforce. By funding high-quality childcare programs and supporting early childhood educators, this bill empowers student parents to achieve their educational goals, secure better opportunities, and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.”
    “As someone who worked in construction as a single dad, I know access to childcare is critical to expanding opportunities, growing the middle class, and strengthening our economy,” said Congressman Norcross. “Childcare affordability for students who have children is good for the parent, their family, and our community. I’m honored to join Congresswoman Hayes and Senator Booker in introducing the PROSPECT Act to give working families a fair shot.”
    “Generation Hope proudly supports the PROSPECT Act, a critical step toward ensuring student parents have access to the affordable, high-quality child care they need to succeed in higher education. By investing in both early childhood educators and the families they serve, this bill strengthens our communities and creates a brighter future for generations to come,” said Nicole Lynn Lewis, Founder & CEO, Generation Hope.  
    The PROSPECT Act would establish competitive Federal grants that will empower community colleges and Minority Serving Institutions to become incubators for infant and toddler child care talent, training, and access on their campuses and in their communities. Specifically the legislation would:
    Invest in planning and implementation grants, including:
    Impact grants, which would expand the supply and quality of infant and toddler child care in the community by providing training, mentorship, technical support, and expansion funding to new and existing area infant and toddler child care providers.
    Access grants, which would provide free high-quality child care for up to 500,000 children under age three who have a parent attending a community college or Minority Serving Institution, thereby minimizing barriers to higher education completion, and reducing their post-graduation debt.
    Pipeline grants, which would fund community colleges and Minority Serving Institutions to launch and expand academic programs in early childhood education, and to form strategic partnerships with regional institutions to expand, diversify, and strengthen the workforce pipeline for infant and toddler child care providers.
    This bill would also amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 1990 by:
    Providing increased federal matching payments for child care to 90% for infant and toddler care, to incentivize states to raise their own investments in this area.
    The PROSPECT Act is endorsed by Generation Hope, Public Advocacy for Kids, UnidosUS, ZERO TO THREE, First Five Years Fund, Early Edge California, First Focus Campaign for Children, Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children, National Association for the Education of Young Children, American Federation of Teachers, and Institute for Child Success. 
    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Wyden, Cortez Masto, Padilla Seek Watchdog Investigation of Potential Trump Admin. Violations of Taxpayer Privacy Laws

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) wrote to the acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration seeking an investigation into reports that the Trump administration is providing highly-sensitive and legally-protected taxpayer data to the Department of Homeland Security and DOGE personnel potentially violating federal privacy laws.
    For years, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has encouraged immigrants to pay taxes with assurances that this information would remain confidential. In return, immigrants have paid billions of dollars in taxes each year. The senators’ request comes after Treasury Secretary Bessent signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Homeland Security to provide an unprecedented level of access to taxpayer data for open-ended investigations. Several high-ranking IRS officials, including the acting commissioner and chief privacy officer, then announced their imminent departures from the agency. The IRS already has the tools to share sensitive information with law enforcement. Instead enhancing public safety, it will put millions of immigrants in danger of deportation merely because they followed the guidance of previous Democratic and Republican administrations and paid their taxes.
    “Taxpayer data held by the IRS is, by design, subject to some of the strongest privacy protections under federal law, the violation of which can trigger civil and criminal sanctions, including up to five years in prison. Congress passed these protections in the 1970s after President Nixon weaponized the IRS against his political enemies. These legal protections for taxpayer data apply to all taxpayers and are an essential foundation for our tax system, which requires the voluntary submission of information to the government. Voluntary tax compliance depends on taxpayers having faith that their confidential information will not be used for anything other than tax administration…
    “Immediately following Bessent’s execution of the [agreement with DHS], several IRS leaders announced their resignations, including Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause and Chief Privacy Officer Kathleen Walters, raising further questions about whether they resigned to avoid being a party to a criminal conspiracy to violate tax privacy law… 
    “The risks created by these activities cannot be overstated… [IRS] data can be inaccurate because of identity theft, keypunch errors, obsolete address information, and a wide range of other reasons. If DHS relies on the same data to deport millions of people without validating its accuracy, it is likely to end up making grave errors that impact American citizens and immigrants with valid legal status.”
    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, (D-MA) Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).
    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Statement on Latest Safety Incident at DCA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    Published: April 10 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement regarding an incident at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) where two airplanes bumped into each other on the tarmac:
    “Thank God no one was hurt this time. We need a full investigation into this incident as soon as possible. We have said this over and over and hate having to say it again: when planes are taking off and landing every minute of the day, FAA funding is cut, air traffic controllers are fired, and current staff is spread thinner to cover more—that is when mistakes happen. The traveling public deserves action.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on INDOPACOM, U.S. Forces Korea, and Budget Requests

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing on force posture and budget requirements in the Indo-Pacific region and U.S. Forces Korea. Throughout the full committee hearing, the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Admiral Paparo, and the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, General Xavier Brunson, testified on force requirements, budget necessities and our capabilities in the region.
    During his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker addressed the growing threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party in the region with respect to Taiwan, along with security issues linked to Russian and North Korean cooperation. Specifically, Chairman Wicker made clear that our underinvestment in INDOPACOM has allowed the Chinese People’s Liberation Army to contest our ability to gain air superiority in a conflict in East Asia. Chairman Wicker also stressed that a reduction of our military presence in South Korea would undermine deterrence of both North Korea and China. Chairman Wicker concluded by noting the centrality of the role played by nuclear weapons in deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.
    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.
    At this point, we hold a hearing on U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Force Korea.  At the outset, I would like to thank Admiral Paparo and General Brunson for their distinguished service to our country.
    Last year at this hearing, I stated that the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific was shifting in China’s favor.  Since then, the Chinese Communist Party has significantly increased its coercive activity toward Taiwan and the Philippines.  Last week, the Chinese conducted an exercise called Strait Thunder 2025A.  This exercise demonstrated the extent to which the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could execute a maritime blockade of Taiwan and pummel it with missile strikes.   As China conducts more exercises with Taiwan in mind, it also escalates the rhetoric against the island.  Last week, a Chinese military officials called Taiwan’s democratically elected president a “parasite.”
    The Chinese have also substantially increased their harassment of our Filipino allies.  China’s vast Maritime Militia, backed by the PLA Navy and Chinese Coast Guard, is using increasingly aggressive tactics to advance its expansive claims in the South China Sea.  The Second Thomas Shoal remains a major flashpoint. Chinese maritime militias have tried to keep the grounded Filipino Navy ship, the Sierra Madre, from being resupplied.  Secretary Hegseth recently visited the region.  I was pleased to see that he reaffirmed our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines, reminding the world that the treaty applies to attacks on the Filipino armed forces anywhere in the South China Sea.  Even so, it is clear that the Chinese have been emboldened by four years of weakness during the past administration.
    There is another reason China has become so confident in its malign schemes.  Xi Jinping has steadily modernized his military, and that hardware has made him more brazen.  China boasts the world’s largest navy.  It also has an air force that is capable of denying the U.S. air superiority in the First Island Chain- we’ll certainly want to ask about that, gentlemen.  Its missile force can saturate our theater defenses.  China has been expanding its nuclear arsenal at a pace that far outstrips our own.  Multiple STRATCOM commanders have called China’s growth ‘breathtaking.’  In just a few short years, Beijing has built more intercontinental ballistic missile launchers than the United States.  Meanwhile, our own modernization programs languish from past neglect.
    But China is not the only urgent threat in the Indo-Pacific.  The Biden administration chose to ignore North Korea.  It allowed Kim Jong Un to increase his nuclear arsenal and project his military into the European theater to aid Vladimir Putin in Russia’s war against Ukraine.   Kim Jong Un has abandoned the goal of unification of the Korean Peninsula – and again, we’ll want to talk about that – and has declared South Korea to be the principal enemy.  The North Korean nuclear and missile arsenal continues to grow and diversify.  With the rogue nation adopting a strategic doctrine that embraces nuclear first use.
    Kim will surely seek remuneration for his support to Moscow.  The Russian technology transfers and military assistance Kim receives will help him to further strengthen his strategic missile forces.  The continued demonstrations of Russia, China, and North Korea aligning and cooperating should be of great concern to all in the West.  This concern should then lead to action.  If we are to maintain global peace and stability, we must continue taking steps now to rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence.
    As I noted in my Peace Through Strength report last May, it is time to make a generational investment in our national security- and I do believe that view is bipartisan.  We must be able not only to deter and defeat the People’s Liberation Army, but also to maintain deterrence in other theaters.  Our adversaries, led by Bejing, are playing a global game.  We must be smarter and more agile than they are across the board.
    Last year, INDOPACOM’s unfunded requirements list totaled $3.5 billion dollars.  This year’s unfunded requirement list was $11 billion, and virtually none of that was funded under the full-year CR.  This is unacceptable – and also, I hope we’re going to get from everyone an accurate and full assessment of the various unfunded requirements. We need real growth in the FY26 budget request, in addition to a historic defense reconciliation package.
    We need more survivable long-range munitions, more assured U.S. command and control systems, and an improved ability to counter China’s increasingly capable cyber and space systems.  We need a wholesale overhaul of our logistics infrastructure and a rapid deployment of unmanned systems.  We need a renaissance in our camouflage and deception programs, and we need a drastic improvement in our shipbuilding.  The risk is simply too high for us to avoid making these changes.
    So, I look forward to hearing our distinguished, and well-informed witnesses and having a candid conversation about what this committee and this Senate and this Congress can do – this year – to begin address these challenges.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Military Leaders Agree with Warren: Effectively Delivering Child Care, Education Benefits to Service Members Is Vital for National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 09, 2025
    Round 1 Exchanges (YouTube) | Round 2 Exchanges (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Warren, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, asked military leaders about their work to improve wages for staff at military child care centers and protect education programs for servicemembers. 
    A 2023 DoD task force found that the best way to improve the shortage of child care workers at military Child Development Centers (CDCs) was to raise the workers’ wages. As a result, Congress tasked DoD with redesigning the compensation model. Senator Warren pressed personnel leaders of the branches about when they plan to release and implement the reworked model. All leaders said they would follow up later. 
    “We don’t say to our military families, ‘Here’s this really hard job,’ and then not give them the support that they need to be able to carry it out…My job is to keep turning up the heat until we actually get this done and pay them better,” said Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren also highlighted how recent cuts to the civilian workforce at DoD make life harder for military families and pointed to the recent closure of a CDC in Utah due to workforce reductions. All of the leaders agreed that cuts that affect child care affect military readiness. 
    In her second round of questioning, Senator Warren brought up the government’s shortcomings on delivering education benefits to servicemembers, specifically its failure to deliver on statutorily-promised student debt relief and leaving servicemembers vulnerable to predatory actors.
    All of the witnesses agreed that leaving servicemembers vulnerable to predatory schools and lenders hurts the military’s recruitment and retention efforts. All of the military leaders also agreed that DOD must do everything possible to deliver debt cancellation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, as is statutorily required by Congress. 
    Senator Warren has submitted proposals for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act to address these issues. Her proposals require DOD to provide quarterly updates on its work to implement a statutorily required data match to make it easier for servicemembers to get access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program; require the Government Accountability Office to analyze the challenges servicemembers face with student loan debt repayment; and to require the Pentagon to use the same procedures as the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to more diligently monitor fraud, waste, and abuse at schools that receive more than $600 million in servicemember tuition assistance each year. 
    Transcript: Opening Statement at Hearing to receive testimony on Department of Defense personnel policies and programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense ProgramSenate Armed Services CommitteeApril 9, 2025 
    Round 1: Child Care
    Senator Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, every parent in this country understands how hard it is to find high quality, affordable, available child care. And for our military families, the task can be just whole orders of magnitude harder. Often they have to navigate finding child care while they’re on long deployments, abrupt relocations, and nonstandard work hours. And if military families can’t find child care, they just may not be able to serve. 
    I appreciate that at least two of you specifically mention child care when we talk about our servicemembers and our force readiness. DOD knows how important child care is—and that is why it runs the nation’s largest employer-based child care system. It’s high quality and affordable, but right now, it is facing a huge shortage of child care workers, which means fewer child care slots and literally thousands of families on waitlists.
    In 2023, a DOD task force investigated the staffing shortages and confirmed that, in order to fix this problem, we need to increase child care workers’ wages. So in last year’s NDAA, we tasked DOD with redesigning the compensation model, and starting to implement it by April 1st. But here we are a year later, and you haven’t even finalized the redesign—much less begun implementation that was supposed to have started – what was it, 8 days ago? 
    So for each witness, I want to ask: When can we expect to see the updated compensation model and when can we expect to see implementation begin? 
    Lieutenant General Eifler, let’s start with you. And I’ll be writing these down. So what’s the date? 
    Lieutenant General Brian S. Eifler, U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel: Thanks, Ranking Member. Yeah, so I am not clear on that date because I know – I believe all the services are working with the Department of Defense on finalizing that. I do believe the CR has some impacts because of funding for it – 
    Senator Warren: No, I’m sorry. The CR has impacts on your implementation. It does not have an impact on your obligation to update your compensation model. You’re supposed to do the modeling with the money you got. So when can I expect to see your updated model? 
    Lieutenant General Eifler: I would have to follow up with you, Senator, because I am not clear on when that’s going to be in place. 
    Senator Warren: Okay, well I hope you’re clear that you’re already way past due. 
    Lieutenant General Eifler: Yes, yes, Senator. 
    Senator Warren: Alright. Vice Admiral Cheeseman, what about you? What’s the date? 
    Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Personnel: Senator, similar answer. We’re working with our OSD partners on when that date would be. And when I have a more informed answer, I’ll get back with you, ma’am. 
    Senator Warren: Yeah, well, I’d like to have an answer that suggests that you guys are paying attention to this. We didn’t put this in the law just for the fun of it. It wasn’t advisory. It was for you to actually perform by a date certain. 
    Lieutenant General Borgschulte? 
    Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte, U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs: Senator Warren, thank you very much for bringing this up. This is personal to me. I’ve got kids. I’ve got a spouse that has a career, and we have used our world class child care at every duty station. 
    Senator Warren: Good for you. So when? 
    Lieutenant General Borgschulte: And so, I’ll get back – we have increased the wages. I’ll get back to you with a specific date, but we have over 40,000 kids in our child and youth programs. I mean think about that. That’s a retention effort and that allows them to be free to go fight. I just appreciate you bringing that up. 
    Senator Warren: Okay, so you said many nice things and the fact that you’ve actually moved toward increasing wages puts you a step ahead of the other two people to your right. 
    Lieutenant General Borgschulte: We’ll take that, Senator. I’ll get you back an exact answer on that.
    Senator Warren: I’ve got to have this done. Okay? Gotta have this done. 
    Lieutenant General Miller? 
    Lieutenant General Caroline M. Miller, U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower: Yes, ma’am. We’ve actually increased our wages 18 – 
    Senator Warren: Also good. How about your plan? 
    Lieutenant General Miller: We have a plan. I can get it over to you, ma’am. 
    Senator Warren: Oh great. You actually have it? We weren’t able to find it, so I am delighted. 
    Lieutenant General Miller: I will send over what we have done over the last year, which has been quite significant – 
    Senator Warren: Okay, it’s an updated compensation model, is what you’re required to do under the law. Okay? And then start implementing that model. So thank you, I hope that’s right, Lieutenant General Miller. 
    Ms. Kelley? 
    Ms. Katharine Kelley, U.S. Space Force Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital: Senator, we leverage the Air Force for our CDCs so the model that General Miller is referencing would be applicable for Guardians as well. 
    Senator Warren: So you’re sending it back in the other direction. Yours will be ready when his is ready? 
    Ms. Kelley: No, ma’am. General Miller. 
    Senator Warren: Oh, I’m sorry. I was taking you to the other end, I apologize.   
    Ms. Kelley: The Air Force runs the Child Development Centers that the Space Force Guardians leverage, so the adjusted salaries that the Air Force has to include the fee assistance programs that are unbelievably helpful for our CDC workers. We’ve seen significant improvement. 
    Senator Warren: You know, I just want to say on this: I understand that I am unpleasant about this and then tend to be even more unpleasant if this doesn’t get done. You all fully understand why this is so important. And so important anytime. We don’t say to our military families, “Here’s this really hard job,” and then not give them the support that they need to be able to carry it out.    
    So I appreciate that you all seem to understand that. My job is to keep turning up the heat until we actually get this done and pay them better. 
    Let me bring out just one more, of course. This is all about making sure we have the staff needed to bring down military child care waitlists. But of course, that’s not going to happen if we’re slashing the civilian workforce. Two weeks ago, a Child Development Center in Utah closed because of cuts to its civilian staff.  
    So let me just ask: do you agree that cutting child care by laying off civilian child care workers makes life harder for military families? 
    Ms. Kelley, we’ll start at your end this time. 
    Ms. Kelley: Senator, I absolutely agree that lack of child care is a readiness issue for all the services and certainly for the Space Force.
    Senator Warren: Good. General Miller? 
    Lieutenant General Miller: Yes, ma’am. It is a readiness issue. 
    Senator Warren: Thank you. General Borgschulte? 
    Lieutenant General Borgschulte: Senator Warren, I agree 100%. We have not shut any down and don’t plan to. 
    Senator Warren: I hope that’s right, but it really is the reminder that these civilian cuts can have profound effects for our active duty servicemembers. 
    Vice Admiral Cheeseman? 
    Vice Admiral Cheeseman: Senator, thanks for the question. For our child care employees, they are funded out of non-appropriated funds. We have not let anybody go. In fact, our staffing levels have increased by 10% over the last year and we’ve decreased the waitlist by about 1,000 spots. 
    Senator Warren: That is really terrific to hear. Thank you very much and I appreciate your getting that on the record. 
    General Eifler? 
    Lieutenant General Eifler: Yes, Ranking Member, totally concur. We have not shut down any and we do believe it’s a readiness issue because of that. 
    Senator Warren: Good. I appreciate that. And now, in the name of the Chair, I call on Ms. Hirono. 
    Round 2: Education
    Senator Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, when Congress passed the G.I. Bill in 1944, a grateful nation promised to help servicemembers with the cost of their education. This was a thank you for the sacrifices to our country. The promise is not charity; it is an ironclad commitment and it is key to how we recruit and maintain a fighting force. Survey after survey has demonstrated how important this promise is, both for recruitment and to retention. And I see you are nodding along with this. 
    Too often, the federal government has failed to live up to our promise. Not delivering on the student debt relief that servicemembers were entitled to, or leaving them vulnerable to predatory lenders. For example, after student loan repayments restarted after the pandemic, the CFPB found servicemember complaints about student loan servicers went up, thanks to hours-long hold times and other customer service failures with the companies that were managing their loans. Meanwhile, the V.A. has warned about the rise of scams where predatory schools will promise “immediate student debt cancellation” that doesn’t really exist in order to lure veterans into enrolling. 
    Again, I would like to go down the line, if we can, with our witnesses for this question. Just yes or no. Does it undermine our ability to recruit and retain personnel when we let bad actors scam our servicemembers out of the educational benefits that they have earned and been promised by the United States government? 
    Lieutenant General Eifler, if I can start with you. 
    Lieutenant General Eifler: Yes, Ranking Member. 
    Senator Warren: Vice Admiral Cheeseman? 
    Vice Admiral Cheeseman: Senator, yes ma’am. Absolutely. 
    Senator Warren: Lieutenant General Borgschulte? 
    Lieutenant General Borgschulte: Yes ma’am, absolutely. Our Marines should not be scammed. 
    Senator Warren: Lieutenant General Miller? 
    Lieutenant General Miller: Yes ma’am. 
    Senator Warren: And Ms. Kelley? 
    Ms. Kelley: Yes ma’am, absolutely. 
    Senator Warren: That is the reason that I have proposed language in this year’s NDAA to protect servicemembers from predatory actors. This committee has worked in a bipartisan fashion before to ensure that servicemembers get the educational benefits that they have earned under a bipartisan law signed by President George W. Bush back in 2007. The federal government will cancel the student loans of people who work in the public service and faithfully pay their loans for at least a decade as a way to honor their public service. Last year, Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Moran led a successful effort to require DOD and the Education Department to perform a data match so all eligible servicemembers automatically receive the public service loan forgiveness that the law says that they have earned. 
    So, once again, I want to go down the line with our witnesses. Is it important that DOD do everything it can to deliver debt cancellation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to all eligible servicemembers as statutorily required by Congress? 
    Lieutenant General Eifler? 
    Lieutenant General Eifler: Yes, Ranking Member. 
    Senator Warren: Vice Admiral Cheeseman? 
    Vice Admiral Cheeseman: Yes ma’am.
    Senator Warren: Lieutenant General Borgschulte? 
    Lieutenant General Borgschulte: Yes ma’am. 
    Senator Warren: Lieutenant General Miller? 
    Lieutenant General Miller: Yes, Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren: And Ms. Kelley? 
    Ms. Kelley: Yes ma’am, absolutely. 
    Senator Warren: Okay, good, we are in a good place. Once again, though, this is work that remains unfinished. I have submitted an NDAA proposal requiring DOD to provide quarterly updates until the Public Service Loan Forgiveness data match is implemented, and also requiring the GAO to analyze the challenges servicemembers face with student loan debt repayment. I have also submitted a proposal to require DOD implement the same risk-based surveys the VA is already statutorily required to use to monitor fraud, and waste, and abuse at schools that receive more than $600 million in servicemember tuition assistance each year. 
    These are programs that matter to our servicemembers. And I appreciate having all of you as allies to make sure our servicemembers get what the American people promised them. So thank you very much and thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for letting me do this. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Response to Warren Request, Education Department Watchdog Will Investigate Trump and DOGE’s Attempts to Gut Agency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 10, 2025
    Response from Education Department Inspector General (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – Following a request led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Department of Education’s Acting Inspector General (IG) agreed to open an investigation into the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). The investigation will cover how recent mass firings and buyouts for ED’s workforce affect the Department’s efficiency and effectiveness in serving students, teachers, and families across the country. 
    “This investigation will help reveal what’s at stake for those families. While Donald Trump and Elon Musk side with the billionaires, I will never stop fighting for our kids,” said Senator Warren in response to the investigation announcement.
    In early March, ED fired nearly 50 percent of the Department’s staff. Just one week later, President Trump signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take “all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” Soon after, the President also announced that he would move management of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and shift programs for students with disabilities to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
    “We will be conducting reviews…in order to identify the cumulative effect of staffing reductions…along with any actions that the Department should consider to help ensure productive and efficient operations following its workforce changes,” wrote the Acting Inspector General, René Roque. “We hope to begin issuing these reports in the summer of 2025, and we may identify additional work to be performed based on the results of our initial reviews.”
    On March 27, 2025, Senator Warren led the call for this independent investigation into the Trump administration’s actions. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) also joined the letter.
    Last week, Senator Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle ED and highlight the consequences for every student and public school in America. 
    As part of the campaign, Senator Warren will amplify the real-life impacts of cuts to ED; lead investigations to hold the Trump administration accountable, including ED Secretary Linda McMahon and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE); and bring students, teachers, parents, and unions into the fight to protect access to public education.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Communities from Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced bipartisan legislation to combat gun violence. The Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act would prohibit the sale of bump stocks and other devices or modifications that allow semi-automatic firearms to increase their rate of fire and effectively operate as fully automatic weapons. Senator Rosen (D-Nev.) is a cosponsor of the BUMP Act, and companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).
    “It’s been nearly eight years since the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival massacre changed my hometown forever,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Bump stocks like the one used by the shooter have no place in our communities. I will never forget the events of October 1, 2017, and will never stop fighting to permanently ban these dangerous devices.”
    “Nearly eight years after the Harvest Festival massacre we still do not have a federal law banning these deadly devices,” said Representative Titus. “Bump stocks continue to pose a threat to innocent lives and Congress must act. Without a federal law firmly banning them, federal regulations and court rulings could allow bump stocks on our streets and in our neighborhoods, raising the risk of more mass shootings.”
    A full list of endorsements, a one page summary, and the full text of the BUMP Act can be found at the preceding links.
    Senator Cortez Masto has pushed to reduce gun violence, including through expanding background checks and other commonsense gun violence prevention measures. She voted to pass the bipartisan Safer Communities Act to close the so-called “boyfriend loophole.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BREAKING: Republicans Block Cortez Masto’s Efforts to Exempt Our Allies Israel and Ukraine from Harmful Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    FTPs for TV stations is available here.
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) called out Republican politicians for blocking efforts to exempt American allies under attack, Israel and Ukraine, from the Trump Administration’s harmful tariffs. On the Senate floor, Cortez Masto sought unanimous consent to pass her legislation which would exempt Israel and Ukraine from blanket tariffs that President Trump has slapped on these wartime economies.
    “We all know that targeted tariffs can be a useful tool to protect critical American manufacturing and combat our enemies, but that isn’t what President Trump is doing. Instead, he’s punishing our allies Israel and Ukraine,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Both these countries are currently under attack. They need the United States to be standing with them, not hitting them with nonsensical tariffs that could cause them even more harm. It is outrageous that my Republican colleagues blocked an opportunity to fix this and come together to protect our allies.”
    America’s ally Israel originally got hit with a 17% tariff – even though we maintain a Free Trade Agreement with them – their adversary Iran got tariffed at 10%. The Trump Administration put no tariffs on Russia, but charged Ukraine with a 10% tariff. As Senator Cortez Masto was speaking on the floor, President Trump announced via tweet that over 75 countries, including Israel and Ukraine, will be tariffed at 10% for the next 90 days.
    Senator Cortez Masto has consistently stood with Israel. She has repeatedly voted to deliver critical funding to support Israel’s national Security, and has urged the Administration to crack down on the finances of international terrorist organizations, including Iran’s state sponsorship of terrorism. She has also been a strong advocate for the U.S. to stand up to Russian aggression and support Ukrainian sovereignty. Cortez Masto has voted to pass bipartisan legislation to support Ukraine and helped pass bipartisan economic sanctions that were signed into law to hold Russia accountable for its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Thune Introduce Bill to Alleviate Burdensome Tax Requirements for Individuals Working in Multiple States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation that would simplify and standardize state income tax collection for employees who travel outside of their home state for temporary work.
    While some states require state income tax filing for as little as one day of work in the state, this legislation would establish a common-sense 30-day threshold to help ensure that an equitable tax is paid to the state and local jurisdiction where the work is being performed, while alleviating burdensome tax requirements for employees and employers. Both Nevada and South Dakota have no income tax which limits the ability for residents to offset taxes paid in other states. This legislation would ensure that Nevada workers who temporarily travel outside of the state for work aren’t unfairly punished. 
    “Mobile workers who temporarily work outside of their home state should not find a surprise tax bill come April,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to introduce this common-sense bill alongside Senator Thune to cut red tape and protect workers across the United States.”
    “It is complicated and unfair for an individual who lives in a state like South Dakota, with no state income tax, to have to file income taxes in multiple states for simply temporarily working in those states – in some cases, for as little as 24 hours – and not be able to recover any income tax payments he or she has to make,” said Senator Thune. “The current framework is overly burdensome, and our legislation would provide much-needed relief by creating a common-sense, across-the-board standard for mobile employees who spend a short period of time during the year working across state lines.”
    Senator Cortez Masto has consistently supported efforts to cut taxes and lower costs for hardworking Nevadans. Earlier this week, the Senator introduced the Tax Cut for Workers Act to give millions of working Americans a much-needed tax break, as well as American Families Act to permanently expand the Child Tax Credit. She helped pass critical expansions to the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue plan, and has been fighting to permanently increase this vital relief for working families. Cortez Masto also helped introduce the No Tax on Tips Act to exempt tipped wages from federal income tax. Additionally, Senator Cortez Masto supports raising the federal minimum wage and eliminating the minimum wage gap for tipped workers nationally.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Aid Law Enforcement Who Have Suffered from Brain Injuries

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced their Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Health Act, which would increase awareness of concussions and brain injuries among public safety officers. This legislation is being led in the House of Representatives by Congressmembers Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and Kim Schrier (D-Wash.).
    Traumatic brain injuries can lead to serious issues, including difficulties with memory, concentration, and communication. Concussions are considered a mild traumatic brain injury, which is usually temporary but can take months to heal.
    “When law enforcement officers get a concussion or traumatic brain injury on the job, it is our responsibility to come together and care for them,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These public servants put themselves in harm’s way every single day. I’m working to ensure the men and women who keep our communities safe get the treatment and support they deserve.”
    “Law enforcement officers do not shy away from danger and risk their own health and safety to protect our communities,” said Senator Cornyn. “We need to do everything we can to support these heroes when they sustain a traumatic brain injury in the line of duty, and this legislation would help them identify signs of a concussion and seek swift treatment before it leads to more serious complications.”
    The Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Health Act would require the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to collect and make publicly available information on traumatic brain injuries specifically for public safety officers and provide recommendations and protocols for identifying, diagnosing, and treating concussions. It would also have the CDC share information with mental health professionals on the connection between concussions and traumatic brain injuries with acute stress disorders and suicidal inclinations.   
    As the former top law enforcement official in Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has been a leading advocate in the Senate for our police officers and is part of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus. The Senator recently reintroduced the Invest to Protect Act to set aside $250 million to help local police invest in training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention, as well as the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act to ensure the families of retired law enforcement officers who were killed as a result of their service are not unjustly denied benefits. She has repeatedly secured historic funding for the Byrne JAG grant program, the leading source of criminal justice funding in the country. Her bipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide and provide mental health resources to police officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Joins Bipartisan Effort to Help More American Households Save Energy and Money Through Weatherization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Chris Coons (D-DE) in introducing the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act. The bipartisan legislation seeks to improve public health and lower household energy costs by bolstering the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which covers home weatherization, window replacement, sealing air leaks, ventilation improvements and other key energy-saving measures.
    “Weatherizing homes is one of the most effective tools we have to help Granite State families save money on their monthly utility bills while also reducing emissions,” said Senator Shaheen. “By expanding access to the Weatherization Assistance Program, this commonsense bipartisan legislation would allow more households to implement cost-saving energy efficiency measures that create new jobs and boost New Hampshire’s economy.”
    “This bipartisan, cost-effective bill is about saving families and taxpayers money, cutting air pollution, and generating good-paying clean-energy jobs.  Passing the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act will help save families in need real money on their energy bills while also benefitting the U.S. economy, environment, and public health.  It would help reduce demand on energy grids nationwide which helps keep utility rates lower and frees up financial resources for family essentials, like groceries and medicine.  By expanding the program to include critical home repairs, we can alleviate economic hardship, address healthy housing disparities, and improve energy efficiency for those households who need it most,” said Senator Reed.
    “The Weatherization Assistance Program is a proven, cost-effective way to permanently decrease energy usage while reducing low-income Americans’ energy bills,” said Senator Collins.  “This bipartisan bill would help build on the significant investments we have secured for the Weatherization Assistance Program so that more Americans are able to make improvements that will allow them to affordably heat their homes.”
    “During the baking heat of summer and the freezing winds of winter, too many families across this country struggle to pay their heating and cooling bills,” said Senator Coons. “The Weatherization Assistance Program has already helped thousands of Delawareans trying to make ends meet, and this legislation lowers rising energy bills for thousands more by giving low-income families support to make their homes more energy efficient while creating new clean energy jobs and reducing the impact of climate change. 
    Specifically, the bill would serve more low-income households that are currently unable to receive weatherization services because their homes are in need of significant repairs. The bill would authorize a Weatherization Readiness Fund, providing $30 million a year for five years to help those in need repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance, increasing the number of homes the program is able to serve. It also seeks to raise the amount of funding allowed to be spent on each home to keep up with current labor and material costs and would raise the cap on the amount of funding allowed to be spent on renewable energy upgrades in each home. These provisions are essential updates to a program that has helped so many families over the past few decades.
    The Weatherization Assistance Program helps homes become more energy efficient through measures like installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems and updating electrical appliances. For every dollar invested by WAP, $4.50 is generated in combined energy savings and non-energy benefits such as improved health and job creation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than seven million low-income families reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The U.S Department of Energy estimates that these upgrades help each household save $283 in energy bills annually. In addition to saving families money, energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
    As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, including $18 million for New Hampshire. Shaheen has long-championed the Weatherization Assistance Program to lower energy costs for low-income families in New Hampshire, as well as the State Energy Program, which assists states with the development of energy efficiency renewable projects. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, Shaheen helped defend key efficiency programs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from cuts, including securing $366 million for weatherization efforts and $66 million for the State Energy Program, which work to bring down energy bills for families and communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Hassan Highlights Bipartisan Ways to Cut Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at First Joint Economic Committee Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, helped lead a hearing yesterday focused on ways to use artificial intelligence and data to improve government efficiency and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse. In her first remarks as Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, Senator Hassan emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration and highlighted the potential of new technologies to save taxpayer dollars.
    “We need to keep working together across the aisle to save taxpayer dollars by reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. As we will discuss in today’s hearing, there are many ways to do so by embracing new technologies and better data analytics. These types of tools can help an investigator identify potential fraud, or a caseworker streamline an application process,” Senator Hassan began. 
    She also said that actions from the Trump Administration and Elon Musk are not improving government efficiency: “Whether the government is providing health care for veterans, Social Security checks for seniors, or loans for small businesses, we should continually strive to improve the taxpayer experience – but Mr. Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics are doing the opposite,” Senator Hassan emphasized. “In addition, I want to bring the Committee’s attention to the fact that the Administration’s decision to fire 17 Inspectors General who investigate fraud – that’s what they do – is completely counterproductive to the goal of improving government efficiency.”
    You can watch Senator Hassan’s opening statement here or see below, and you can watch the full hearing here:
    I just really want to thank you for calling today’s hearing on a really important topic and, to your point, a topic that has a lot of bipartisan interest and a lot of bipartisan potential. As this is the first JEC hearing this Congress, I also want to say how much I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chairman, in your new role as Chair of the Committee and my new role as Ranking Member. I really look forward to working together and I’ve appreciated our conversations so far. And I’m glad we’re starting out with a topic that we can find some real common ground on – cutting waste, fraud, and abuse through the use of innovation. I also want to thank the four witnesses for testifying before the Committee and sharing your expertise on this topic. We need to keep working together across the aisle to save taxpayer dollars by reducing waste, fraud, and abuse.
    As we will discuss in today’s hearing, there are many ways to do so by embracing new technologies and better data analytics. These types of tools can help an investigator identify potential fraud or a caseworker streamline an application process. I know that all four of our witnesses today will outline ways that the government can better deploy technology. I really look forward to building off these ideas moving forward.
    Before we get to the introduction of our witness, though, I do want to just note my serious concerns with the reckless actions so far of Elon Musk and DOGE. Whether the government is providing health care for veterans, Social Security checks for seniors, or loans for small businesses, we should continually strive to improve the taxpayer experience – but Mr. Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics are doing the opposite. In addition, I want to bring the Committee’s attention to the fact that the Administration’s decision to fire 17 Inspectors General who investigate fraud – that’s what they do – is completely counterproductive to the goal of improving government efficiency.
    I firmly believe that we should be cutting waste, fraud, and abuse and that we can do so without making life harder for children, families, and seniors all across our country. I hope the conversations, including the one that we will have this afternoon, can help us chart a better path forward. So again, I thank you Mr. Chair and to our witnesses for agreeing to testify today. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan, Paul, Hickenlooper, Lee Reintroduce Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices by Streamlining Generic Drug Approval Process

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rand Paul (R-KY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Mike Lee (R-UT) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to streamline the approval process for generic drugs, which will help generics enter the market more quickly and lower prescription drug prices for patients. Last Congress, this legislation advanced from Committee with a bipartisan 19-2 vote.
    “Skyrocketing prescription drug prices are forcing too many Granite Staters to choose between their health and their financial security,” said Senator Hassan. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will help address a critical obstacle in the generic drug approval process that keeps affordable alternatives off of pharmacy shelves. By requiring more transparency from the FDA and streamlining the drug approval process, this bill will help deliver lower-cost medications to Americans faster.” 
    “No one should have to play a complicated guessing game with the FDA simply to bring a safe, effective, and affordable drug to market. The Increasing Transparency in Generic Drug Applications Act will help low-cost generics get to American consumers faster,” said Dr. Paul.
    “More generic drugs means lower health care costs for Americans. Unnecessary and unclear FDA approval processes delay them from reaching the shelves,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Our bill speeds up the process to help Americans save more.”
    “Generic drugs have made the prescription drug market much more competitive, offering cheaper alternatives to their brand name counterparts. Streamlining the generic drug approval process by eliminating the pointless guessing game manufacturers are forced to play would eliminate red tape and bring down costs for American families,” said Senator Lee.
    “S. 1302 expedites generic submission by creating process efficiencies for FDA and Industry. These efficiencies will enhance patient access to lower-cost medicine. When generic medicines become available, they bring immediately lower prices for lifesaving and lifechanging medications. We are thankful for the work done thus far by Senators Hassan, Paul, Hickenlooper, and Lee,” said John Murphy, III, President & CEO for the Association for Accessible Medicines.
    Currently, the FDA requires certain generic drug manufacturers to demonstrate that they have the same active and inactive ingredients in the same concentration as the reference brand name drug. However, when a generic drug contains the wrong amount of inactive ingredients, the FDA cannot disclose the exact error, forcing manufacturers to engage in an often lengthy guessing game to reach the right balance. This legislation would require the FDA to more clearly identify the specific differences between the generic and brand name drug, thereby streamlining the approval process, helping more generics reach the market more quickly, and lowering prescription drug prices overall. 
    This measure is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to lower health care costs for Americans. Senator Hassan previously led successful bipartisan efforts to help eliminate surprise medical billing, which has prevented millions of surprise bills. Senator Hassan also helped pass into law three bipartisan measures to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications. Additionally, Senator Hassan successfully pushed to cap insulin costs for those on Medicare as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which became law in 2022. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 04/10/2025 Blackburn, Cantwell, Heinrich Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency, Combat AI Deepfakes & Put Journalists, Artists & Songwriters Back in Control of Their Content

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act (COPIED ACT) to combat harmful deepfakes. The bill would set new federal transparency guidelines for marking, authenticating and detecting AI-generated content, protect journalists, actors and artists against AI-driven theft, and hold violators accountable for abuses.  

    “Artificial intelligence has given bad actors the ability to create deepfakes of every individual, including those in the creative community, to imitate their likeness without their consent and profit off of counterfeit content,” said Senator Blackburn. “The COPIED Act takes an important step to better defend common targets like artists and performers against deepfakes and other inauthentic content.” 

    “The bipartisan COPIED Act I introduced with Senator Blackburn will provide much-needed transparency around AI-generated content,” said Senator Cantwell. “The COPIED Act will also put creators, including local journalists, artists and musicians, back in control of their content with a provenance and watermark process that is very much needed.”

    “Deepfakes are a real threat to our democracy and to Americans’ safety and well-being,” said Senator Heinrich. “I’m proud to support Senator Cantwell’s COPIED Act that will provide the technical tools needed to help crack down on harmful and deceptive AI-generated content and better protect professional journalists and artists from having their content used by AI systems without their consent. Congress needs to step up and pass this legislation to protect the American people.”

    The COPIED Act (S. 1396):

    Bill Text and Summary

    • Creates Transparency Standards: Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop guidelines and standards for content provenance information, watermarking and synthetic content detection. These standards will promote transparency to identify if content has been generated or manipulated by AI, as well as where AI content originated. The bill also directs NIST to develop cybersecurity measures to prevent tampering with provenance and watermarking on AI content.
    • Puts Journalists, Artists and Musicians in Control of Their Content: Requires providers of AI tools used to generate creative or journalistic content to allow owners of that content to attach provenance information to it and prohibits its removal. The bill prohibits the unauthorized use of content with provenance information to train AI models or generate AI content. These measures give content owners—journalists, newspapers, artists, songwriters, and others—the ability to protect their work and set the terms of use for their content, including compensation.
    • Gives Individuals a Right to Sue Violators: Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce the bill’s requirements.  It also gives newspapers, broadcasters, artists, and other content owners the right to bring suit in court against platforms or others who use their content without permission.
    • Prohibits Tampering with or Disabling AI Provenance Information: Currently, there is no law that prohibits removing, disabling, or tampering with content provenance information. The bill prohibits anyone, including internet platforms, search engines and social media companies, from interfering with content provenance information in these ways.  

    Major Endorsements

    SAG-AFTRA

    “For SAG-AFTRA, protecting the ability of our members to control their images, likenesses, and voices is paramount. The capacity of AI to produce stunningly accurate digital representations of performers poses a real and present threat to the economic and reputational well-being and self-determination of our members.  Senator Cantwell’s legislation would ensure that the tools necessary to make the use of AI technology transparent and traceable to the point of origin will make it possible for victims of the misuse of the technology to identify malicious parties and go after them. We need a fully transparent and accountable supply chain for generative Artificial Intelligence and the content it creates in order to protect everyone’s basic right to control the use of their face, voice, and persona. We applaud Senator Cantwell for her leadership on the issue and support this legislation as part of a comprehensive approach to preventing unauthorized abuse of this transformative technology.” – Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator

    Nashville Songwriters Association International

    “The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the world’s largest songwriter advocacy trade association, applauds Senators Maria Cantwell, Blackburn and Heinrich for introducing legislation to help put transparency guardrails around Generative Artificial Intelligence for human creators. Specifically, we note her including artists in the Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act and recognizing it is more financially feasible for songwriters and other human creators to adjudicate these matters in a local civil court when possible. NSAI will work with her office toward adoption of this important legislation.” – Barton Herbison, Executive Director NSAI

    Recording Academy

    “The Recording Academy applauds Chair Cantwell and Senators Blackburn and Heinrich for their commitment to the ethical use of AI and their recognition of the need for guardrails that provide transparency and protection for creators. We look forward to continuing to work with them as this process moves forward.”  – Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy and Public Policy Officer

    National Music Publishers’ Association

    “We greatly appreciate Senator Cantwell’s leadership on preventing the unauthorized use and dissemination of deepfakes. The Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act of 2025 ensures that AI-generated content is clearly identified and that there is recourse when those labels are tampered with. As AI-generated music continues to disrupt the legitimate market, it is essential that listeners know where their music is coming from. Artists and songwriters deserve protection against unauthorized imitations and this legislation is an important step towards that goal.” – David Israelite, President and CEO

    Recording Industry Association of America

    “Protecting the life’s work and legacy of artists has never been more important as AI platforms copy and use recordings scraped off the internet at industrial scale and AI-generated deepfakes keep multiplying at rapid pace. RIAA strongly supports provenance requirements as a fundamental building block for accountability and enforcement of creators’ rights. Leading tech companies refuse to share basic data about the creation and training of their models as they profit from copying and using unlicensed copyrighted material to generate synthetic recordings that unfairly compete with original works. We appreciate Senators Cantwell, Blackburn and Heinrich’s leadership with the Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act of 2025 that would grant much needed visibility into AI development and pave the way for more ethical innovation and fair and transparent competition in the digital marketplace.” – Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO

    The Television Academy

    “The Television Academy, representing nearly 30,000 members across all disciplines of the television industry, applauds Senator Cantwell for reintroducing the COPIED Act. As artificial intelligence and digital replication technologies evolve, the need for transparency is tantamount. This bill will set necessary federal transparency guidelines for marking, authenticating, and detecting AI-generated content. Further, it gives the broad membership of the Television Academy the ability to control their voice, likeness, and creative expressions, and give content owners the ability to pursue recourse if their content is used without permission. The Television Academy looks forward to helping get the COPIED Act adopted.” – Maury McIntyre, President and CEO

    NewsGuild-CWA

    “Journalists are essential to a free and fair democracy. Too many media companies are attempting to replace journalists with AI, resulting in false, misleading clickbait and the decimation of our news ecosystems. It is essential that journalists are not replaced by misguided media companies looking to maximize profits at the expense of human-driven journalism that informs the public and holds our institutions accountable. We thank Senator Cantwell for her leadership on ensuring fair and equitable use of Artificial Intelligence that puts the worker and their rights at the center of the deployment of this new technology.” – Jon Schleuss, President  

    News/Media Alliance

    “The News/Media Alliance, representing over 2200 news, magazine, and digital media publishers worldwide, applauds the leadership of Senators Cantwell, Blackburn and Heinrich to address the need for AI regulation. We look forward to working with them to refine and advance this critical legislation to ensure news publishers and creators of quality content are adequately protected. Legislation should balance the innovation around these emerging technologies with preserving quality, accuracy, and a thriving free press, and Senators Cantwell, Blackburn and Heinrich have taken a major step forward to accomplish that by introducing this bill.” – Danielle Coffey, President and CEO

    National Newspaper Association
    “We appreciate Senator Cantwell for taking on this difficult and disturbing issue. Deepfakes fly in the face of the true intent of the First Amendment. It’s important that citizens continue to trust local news sources to bring them quality journalism that has been vetted and verified.” – John Galer, Chair, National Newspaper Association Board of Directors; Publisher of The Journal-News in Hillsboro, IL

    America’s Newspapers

    “America’s Newspapers, the trade association representing more than 1,500 local community newspapers, commends Senator Maria Cantwell for introducing legislation that addresses the emerging problem of deepfakes. It is critical to our democracy that news organizations provide their communities with trusted information and news. The issue of deepfakes must be addressed to maintain consumer confidence in news providers. We look forward to working with Sen. Cantwell on this important legislation.” – Dean Ridings, CEO

    Rebuild Local News
    “The proliferation of deepfakes is an enormous problem that’s going to get much worse if lawmakers and regulators don’t act. This will be particularly dangerous when it comes to residents getting information about their local communities because the collapse of local news has left us with fewer journalistic watchdogs. We commend Senator Cantwell for shining a spotlight on this issue and we look forward to working with her to devise appropriate policies in this complex area.” – Steven Waldman, President

    National Association of Broadcasters

    “Deepfakes pose a significant threat to the integrity of broadcasters’ trusted journalism,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “We are grateful to Ranking Member Cantwell and Sens. Blackburn and Heinrich for reintroducing this bill to protect the authenticity of the vital local and national news that radio and television stations provide our communities. We also applaud efforts to prohibit the use of broadcasters’ news content to train generative AI systems without express consent and compensation to the news creator. We look forward to working with the committee to help advance this bill and these fundamental principles critical to our ability to continue serving communities with trusted news.” – Curtis LeGeyt, President and CEO

    Artist Rights Alliance

    “The Artist Rights Alliance (ARA) applauds Senator Cantwell for introducing legislation to combat deception and confusion in the AI marketplace and protect artists from the unauthorized and unethical use of AI. As AI technology continues to evolve at breakneck speed, we must ensure that creators do not fall victim to deepfakes and other abuses of their very personhood. ARA is grateful for Senator Cantwell’s commitment to building a framework for responsible AI that is grounded in the fundamental principles of transparency and choice.” – Jen Jacobsen, Executive Director

    Human Artistry Campaign
    “Deepfakes pose an existential threat to our culture and society, making it hard to believe what we see and hear and leaving individual creators vulnerable as tech companies use our art without consent while AI-generated content leads to confusion about what is real. Requiring transparency is a meaningful step that will help protect us all – ensuring that nonconsensual, harmful content can be removed quickly and providing a clear origin when our life’s work has been used.” – Dr. Moiya McTier, Senior Advisor

    Public Citizen

    “Public Citizen strongly believes that every person has a right to know when they are seeing, hearing or engaging with AI-generated content.  This is critical for the purposes of maintaining social trust in our society. A poll found that 79 percent of people polled worry the information they are seeing online is fake or meant to confuse. Senator Cantwell’s Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act of 2025 is an important step towards safeguarding truth and trust in the AI age. This legislation addresses key issues surrounding deepfakes and AI-generated media by directing NIST to develop robust standards for detecting and labeling synthetic content and promotes provenance protections for AI generated content. If passed, this bill would promote online transparency and ethical AI use, which is desperately needed in today’s online ecosystem.” – Richard Anthony, Emerging Technologies Policy Advocate

    The Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL), the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA), and Music Creators North America (MCNA)

    “The Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL), the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA), and Music Creators North America (MCNA) applaud Senator Cantwell for initiating a crucial, beginning step towards addressing the myriad of existential threats to the American songwriter and composer community posed by unregulated generative artificial intelligence.  As the leading organizational representatives for America’s music creators, our independent groups represent many thousands of composers and songwriters, solely. We formulate our policy positions without undue outside influence from third parties, and we extend our enthusiastic support for introduction of the proposed bill.  The urgent need to require all generative AI users to deal transparently and fairly with the creative community cannot be overstated, and we look forward to working with Senator Cantwell’s office in addressing these and the many other challenges and opportunities provided by GenAI technologies in the immediate future.” – Ashley Irwin, SCL President & MCNA co-chair

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 04/10/2025 Blackburn, Klobuchar Introduce Bill to Help Rescue More Victims of Human Trafficking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the Combating Trafficking in Transportation Act, which would give states flexibility with federal funding to post human trafficking awareness signage at rest stops and welcome centers along the Interstate System, helping to educate the public and better support survivors of human trafficking:

    “As human traffickers move their victims across the country, they travel on the same highways and visit the same rest stops and gas stations as everyone else, which creates multiple opportunities to identify these victims,” said Senator Blackburn. “This bipartisan legislation would give all states the flexibility to take advantage of signage campaigns that have been proven effective to rescue more men, women, and children from this heinous crime.”

    “We must do everything in our power to stop human trafficking, and public awareness campaigns are a proven, effective tool to combat this issue,” said Senator Klobuchar. “That is why we are introducing bipartisan legislation to provide more information about signs of trafficking and how to help victims. This bill will give law enforcement crucial information to take on criminals and get more victims to safety.”

    BACKGROUND

    • Human trafficking is a multibillion-dollar industry, generating over $250 billion in profits each year. Individuals trafficked in the United States, whether through labor or sex trafficking, are transported on our nation’s interstate system. 
    • Victim identification is essential to disrupting transnational trafficking rings, and public awareness is key to these efforts. Signage campaigns detailing ways to recognize and report human trafficking have been extremely successful. 
    • One public awareness signage campaign in Texas led to a 30 percent increase in calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, ultimately resulting in over 1,000 survivors being identified.

    COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN TRANSPORTATION ACT

    Specifically, the Combating Trafficking in Transportation Act would: 

    • Amend the list of eligible projects under the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program and the RAISE Discretionary Grant Program to include the procurement and installation of human trafficking awareness signage at rest stops and welcome centers along the Interstate System; and
    • Add a 16th seat to the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking specifically for a representative from state departments of transportation.

    Click here to read the bill text.

    ENDORSEMENTS

    This legislation is supported by Truckers Against Trafficking, Engage Together, Street Grace, A21, 3Strands Global Foundation, Raven, Polaris Project, Pearl at the Mailbox, Lynn’s Warriors, Empowered Network, Love Never Fails, Compassion First, Survivor Led Solutions, SK Sultana, Bridge 2 Future, There is Hope for Me, Mentari, Resiliency Foundation, World Without Exploitation, Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, Wealth Management Ministries-Prevention Works Joint Task Force and Coalition, Chains Interrupted, One More Child, Campaign Against Human Trafficking, and Hope for Justice.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs Laws to Improve Public Safety

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis signed new laws to improve public safety in Colorado and strengthen the state’s workforce. The Governor signed SB25-003 – Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices, sponsored by Senators Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzales, and Representatives Andrew Boesnecker and Meg Froelich, to improve public safety by enhancing gun safety education. The Governor also wrote a signing statement. 

    “I am focused on improving public safety and making Colorado one of the top ten safest states in the country. This bill ensures that our Second Amendment rights are protected and that Coloradans can continue to purchase the gun of their choice for sport, hunting, self-defense, or home defense. I am confident that this bill contributes to improving public safety in our state by helping to ensure an educated and trained gun owner community, including gun safety and safe storage,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This law is not a ban, and I have been clear that I oppose banning types of firearms. Proper gun safety education and training, however, are key components of public safety and responsible gun ownership.” 

    The Governor and his office worked with the sponsors, advocates, and Coloradans to improve the bill throughout the legislative session. As passed, this bill provides for lawful purchasers to undertake a gun safety education course prior to continuing to be able to purchase the gun of their choice starting in August 2026. 

    Governor Polis signed bills into law to strengthen the state’s resources for public safety, support Colorado youth, and enhance workforce development opportunities. 

    • SB25-059 – Supports for State Response to Mass Shootings, sponsored by Senators Tom Sullivan and Steven Woodrow, and Representative Michael Carter
    • SB25-151 – Measures to Prevent Youth from Running Away, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Meg Froelich, and Representative Lindsay Gilchrist

     “These laws will ensure the state is prepared to support victims of crimes, and help Colorado youth in care sites get needed services to stay safe and healthy. Each of these new laws will improve public safety for communities across the state,” said Governor Polis. 

    These new laws add to a long line of laws signed by Governor Polis to improve public safety. This includes cracking down on auto theft and illegal guns, increasing funding for local law enforcement, community-led crime prevention efforts, safe storage, emergency risk protection order and more. 

    The Governor also signed HB25-1221 – Emily Griffith Associate of Applied Science Degree, sponsored by Representatives Eliza Hamrick and Lori Garcia Sander, and Senators Jeff Bridges and Paul Lundeen. 

    “This new credential can help connect more Coloradans to needed skills that lead to good-paying jobs. I appreciate the work of the sponsors on this legislation and look forward to seeing Coloradans take advantage of it,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    Governor Polis also signed the following bipartisan bills administratively: 

    • SB25-015 – Wildfire Information & Resource Center Website, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Janice Marchman, and Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Tisha Mauro. This bill is bipartisan.
    • SB25-033 – Prohibit New Liquor-Licensed Drug Stores, sponsored by Senators Judy Amabile and Dylan Roberts, and Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Ron Weinberg. This bill is bipartisan. SIGNING STATEMENT
    • HB25-1027 – Update Disease Control Statutes, sponsored by Representatives Lindsay Gilchrist and Kyle Brown, and Senators Lindsey Daugherty and Kyle Mullica. This bill is bipartisan.
    • HB25-1173 – Advisory Board Serving Office of School Safety, sponsored by Representatives Meghan Lukens and Dusty Johnson, and Senator Chris Kolker. This bill is bipartisan.
    • HB25-1110 – Railroad Crossing Maintenance Costs, sponsored by Representatives Ty Winter and Monica Duran, and Senators Byron Pelton and Robert Rodriguez. This bill is bipartisan. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Larsen, Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell and Rep. Randall Reintroduce Legislation to Permanently Reauthorize Northwest Straits Commission

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025, legislation to permanently reauthorize the Northwest Straits Commission in the Puget Sound, and fund it at $10 million each fiscal year for the next six years, through Fiscal Year 2031. Joining Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, and Rep. Larsen in introducing the legislation today was U.S. Representative Emily Randall (D, WA-06).

    The Northwest Straits Commission is a community-led effort to restore marine habitats in the Northwest Straits region and address local threats to marine environments with projects such as restoring shellfish populations, protecting vulnerable ecosystems, and promoting growth for native water and shore-based plants. The Northwest Straits Commission provides funding, training, and support to seven county-based Marine Resources Committees (MRCs) and 15 Tribes. The Commission advises local officials on how to best carry out environmental projects and provides expertise to community organizations to help them be partners in their work by, for example, training volunteers to identify forage fish spawning sites.

    “The Northwest Straits Commission has an impressive track record of community-led, well-executed projects that protect Washington state’s environment,” said Rep. Larsen, the lead Democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “I am proud to support the Commission as it brings together a diverse group of local, state, tribal and federal stakeholders to restore marine habitats and create good jobs in Northwest Washington. I look forward to working with Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell and Rep. Randall to pass this bill to reauthorize the Commission so it can continue its important work for decades to come.”

    “Ensuring our rich marine resources in the Northwest Straits stay healthy is critical not only for local communities and Tribes, but also for our economy in Washington state. That’s why I first established the Northwest Straits Commission in a bipartisan way back in 1998, and fight to secure funding for it every single year,” said Senator Murray. “The Commission remains a model for how successful investments in community-led restoration projects can be, and how vital they are for restoration work that help our marine habitats recover and thrive. I am excited to continue leading the charge to permanently authorize the Northwest Straits Commission with this legislation, which would also provide a strong and consistent funding stream for the Commission over the next decade—making sure partners on the ground can expand their efforts to protect our marine species and habitats and support our outdoor recreation economy. I’ll continue fighting every way I can to secure the federal funding necessary to protect our natural resources for generations to come.”

    “The Northwest Straits bill is critical to supporting our robust coastal economy and fishing jobs, while preserving Washington’s coastal environment for generations to come,” Senator Cantwell said. “This legislation ensures we continue to support the health and sustainability of our diverse marine resources.”

    “From abalone beds and oysters, to the rugged coastline that stretches for hundreds of miles, folks from Washington’s 6th District know there’s no place quite like home. The Northwest Straits Commission has been a lifeline for our communities, providing critical resources like the Marine Resources Committees in Jefferson and Clallam counties, and working alongside Tribes all across the state,” said Rep. Randall. “Their collaborative efforts to restore and protect our marine habitats are a testament to what makes this place so special. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation to reauthorize and continue the Commission’s important work so we can continue working together to safeguard the precious marine resources that make our community and our state one-of-a-kind.”

    The Northwest Straits Commission is supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, elected leaders, and Tribal partners throughout the Puget Sound Region. More information about this bill is available here. The text of the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025 is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. LaMalfa Statement on the Passage of the SAVE Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a bill that ensures only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. 

    “The right to vote was always intended to be reserved for United States citizens. Allowing non-citizens that right would undermine the very principles upon which our nation was founded and diminish the value of votes cast by actual American citizens,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “For years, blue states have exploited weak laws, creating loopholes that put our elections at risk. The SAVE Act is a commonsense solution that closes these gaps and ensures that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, restoring trust and integrity to the process. I am pleased to see the House take this important step towards protecting the sanctity of our elections and the will of the American people.” 

    The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act reinforces election security by:

    • Requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, whether at the DMV, a government office, or by mail.
    • Ensuring voter rolls are accurate by mandating that states remove non-citizens from their databases.
    • Holding election officials accountable by allowing private citizens to sue if officials register voters without proper proof of citizenship.
    • Providing states access to federal databases at no cost to verify citizenship status.
    • Creating a process for legitimate voters who lack standard documentation, ensuring no eligible citizen is wrongly turned away.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. LaMalfa Statement on House Passage of Senate Budget Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed the Senate Amendment to the budget resolution. Passage of this amendment is a critical step in the reconciliation process and moves us one step closer to a balanced budget.

    “Runaway spending has driven inflation and pushed costs higher across the board. This budget resolution takes an important step toward reversing that damage, bringing down energy costs, stopping a devastating tax increase, and putting us back on the path to a balanced budget without cuts to Medicare or Social Security,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “Hardworking Americans deserve policies that lower prices and strengthen our economy, not more reckless government spending. I look forward to the next steps in this process to build on this progress and deliver real relief.”

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Arturo Contreras Soto, 37, of Tucson, was sentenced on Tuesday by Chief United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 60 months in prison. Soto was convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon following a bench trial on January 28, 2025.

    On April 3, 2024, Tucson Police Department officers arrested Soto while he was riding an electric bicycle and carrying an open container of alcohol near downtown Tucson. The officers searched the satchel that Soto was wearing across his chest and found a 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine. Soto also had approximately 500 fentanyl pills and approximately $250 in cash in his pockets. Further investigation revealed that Soto had numerous prior felony convictions, including a conviction for motor vehicle theft, two separate convictions for drug-related felonies, and two separate convictions for aggravated robbery. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) then assumed responsibility for the case in collaboration with the Tucson Police Department as part of the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP).

    The National PSP was established by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide an innovative framework to enhance federal support of state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution authorities in enhancing public safety. PSP began as a pilot program, the Violence Reduction Network, in 2014 and is designed to promote interagency coordination by leveraging specialized law enforcement expertise with dedicated prosecutorial resources to promote public and community safety. PSP serves as a DOJ-wide program that enables participating sites to consult with and receive expedited, coordinated training and technical assistance, and an array of resources from DOJ to enhance local public safety strategies. This model enables DOJ to provide jurisdictions of different sizes and diverse needs with data-driven, evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique local needs of participating cities to build their capacities to address violent crime challenges. PSP has engaged with more than 60 sites since the program’s inception.

    The ATF and Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer H. Berman and Alessandra Bermudez, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-24-02929-TUC-JGZ
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-054_Soto

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tucson Woman Indicted for Attempting to Smuggle Rifle Ammunition from the United States Into Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a one-count indictment against Andrea Villalva, 32, of Tucson, Arizona, for Smuggling Goods from the United States.

    The complaint filed in this case alleges that, on March 7, 2024, Villalva attempted to exit the United States through the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a physical inspection of Villalva’s vehicle, Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered 8 sealed cases of 5.56 XP193 rifle ammunition hidden behind the rear wall of the trunk. In total, 8,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Villalva admitted being paid $150 per box of ammunition that she successfully smuggled into Mexico. She also admitted to having smuggled ammunition into Mexico on three previous occasions.

    A conviction for Smuggling Goods from the United States carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Sottosanti, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:            25-CR-01724-TUC-AMM
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-053_Villalva

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Applauds SBA Cracking Down on Fraud

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: April 10, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) applauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) for implementing strong, new protections to its loan application process to protect against fraudsters.
    The changes come after an Ernst-requested investigation exposed that $5.4 billion in loans were given to individuals without Social Security numbers, including $312 million to individuals claiming to be children under the age of 11, as part of the more than $200 billion in fraud that plagued pandemic-era loan programs. 
    “Criminals have stolen hundreds of billions from taxpayers over the last few years because the SBA lacked basic safeguards,” said Ernst. “I am glad to see Administrator Loeffler continue to refocus the agency on its core mission of serving Main Street by ensuring that tax dollars designed to help small businesses actually do so, instead of getting stolen by criminals. I will keep working to hold con artists who stole from the SBA accountable and recoup every cent.” 
    Some of the commonsense measures taken by the SBA include citizenship verification, date of birth verification, and automatic fraud alerts for any applicant claiming to be younger than 18 years old or older than 115 years of age. 
    Background:
    Ernst has relentlessly pursued COVID fraud to ensure criminals are held accountable.
    After a shocking report revealed that the Biden SBA failed to pursue nearly two million individuals suspected of stealing pandemic aid, Ernst introduced the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act to extend the statute of limitations to 10 years for key pandemic aid programs to ensure every bad actor who stole from taxpayers is caught.
    In a comprehensive 2023 report, Ernst outlined the Biden SBA’s effort to discount the full extent of fraud and cast doubt on the legitimate estimates made by expert investigators.
    Ernst’s tireless advocacy forced the Biden administration to eventually take action to recover billions in COVID aid in January 2024.
    Last month, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship advanced Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Ernst’s Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act which prevents criminals convicted of defrauding the SBA from receiving future assistance from the agency.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban Retail Storefronts Owned by Foreign Adversaries from U.S. Military Bases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
     
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353April 10, 2025
    Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban Retail Storefronts Owned by Foreign Adversaries from U.S. Military Bases
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), and Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) today introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act to prohibit the Department of Defense (DoD) from authorizing, renewing, or extending long-term retail agreements with companies owned or controlled by adversarial nations on U.S. military bases. The legislation also requires the review of all retail stores on military bases nationwide to determine if there are foreign ties to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. 
    Congressman Pat Harrigan (North Carolina-10) introduced companion legislation in the House.
    “We shouldn’t be allowing Chinese-affiliated companies in the United States, let alone on our military bases. This bill will ensure our adversaries can’t exploit our military,” said Senator Cotton.
    “Our military readiness depends upon security and surveillance. Adversarial nations have no place owning and operating businesses on U.S. military bases, all the while gaining personal identification information of American citizens, just to turn a profit. That is why I am proud to introduce the Military Installation Retail Security Act, to close this loophole by taking targeted action to prevent malign actors from embedding themselves within our military communities where they can threaten our national security and exploit personal data,” said Senator Budd.
    “Allowing companies controlled by our biggest foreign adversaries – like Communist China, Russia, and North Korea – to operate on U.S. military bases is a completely unacceptable threat to our national security that risks an enemy gaining sensitive personal and military data. The Military Installation Retail Security Act will close the loopholes that allow these bad actors to gain footholds within our military communities, ensuring that our military bases remain secure, and that foreign enemies aren’t profiting off our service members and their families. This should be common sense, and I urge my colleagues to support its quick passage,” said Senator Scott.
    “My team uncovered that GNC is fully owned by the Chinese Communist Party and operating more than 80 stores on U.S. military bases. That’s not just a problem; it’s a direct threat to our national security. We moved quickly to get a solution on the table and introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act in the House. I’m glad to have Senator Budd step in to help drive this forward and make sure CCP-owned companies have zero place inside America’s military infrastructure,” said Congressman Harrigan.
    Full text of the bill may be found here.
    Background:
    Retail stores on U.S. military bases gain direct and prolonged access to our nation’s servicemembers and their families while operating in a sensitive base environment, which creates serious risks for surveillance. This gives companies, owned by foreign adversaries, unprecedented access to personally identifiable information such as names, payment methods, and purchase history.
    GNC—which started as a small, family-owned health-food store in Pittsburgh in 1935—was bought by the Chinese state-owned Harbin Pharmaceutical Group after the supplement retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2020. Currently, this Chinese-owned company operates over 80 locations on U.S. military bases. 
    On base at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, GNC operates four storefronts serving 53,700 troops, who make up nearly 10% of the U.S. Army alone. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Lee Introduces Bill to Stop Secret Meetings of DC Council

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    Legislation to reverse DC city council’s action exempting themselves from Open Meeting Act to avoid public scrutiny
    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a bill to repeal a recent action by the city council of the District of Columbia which established secret planning meetings away from the oversight of Congress and the American people. The DC Council took this action with the expressed purpose of working around President Trump’s recent executive order to stop crime in Washington and clean up the city.
    “Our nation’s capital should be safe and beautiful, but after President Trump created a task force to achieve exactly that, DC City Councilmembers used an emergency process to exempt themselves from a sunshine law mandating open meetings” said Sen. Lee. “Council Chairman Phil Mendelson explicitly said that he was “tired of having to defend against the challenges from the press.” The DC Council should be enthusiastically cooperating with the President of the United States in cleaning up Washington and fighting crime, not ducking accountability to make plans in secret. My bill reverses their wrongheaded policy.”    
    Failures of governance in the District of Columbia include:
     
    You can read the bill text HERE. 
    You can read President Trump’s Executive Order HERE.  
    You can read the Washington Post’s exclusive coverage HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: Speaking With Domestic Violence Survivors

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul met in her Albany office with domestic violence survivors to discuss New York’s discovery laws.

    B-ROLL of the Governor during the event can be found on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

    VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    PHOTOS: The Governor’s Flickr page has photos of the event here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Governor Hochul: Hello, everyone. I just had a really powerful, impactful conversation with our sisters in purple. These are women who’ve risen above their circumstances. Women who’ve been traumatized by domestic violence. But they’re not victims, they’re survivors. And because they were willing to come up here and tell their stories of how so many cases, brought by women who have the courage to step out of their home and go to a police precinct or a DA’s office and tell their stories and to bear their hearts and relive the trauma over and over — they’re willing to do that to stop the abusers from hurting them or their children. And then too many times, those cases end in dismissal because the rigid discovery laws that we have in place right now denied them justice.

    They’re here to use their voices to lift up, not just themselves, but to thousands of women and some men across the state whose voices have been silent until now. I told them, I will be their voice. I will be their champion, I will be their advocate, but also their stories themselves are just extraordinary.

    And I want to ask Angelina just to share what you described to me as some of the barriers that you have when it comes to cases like the one you endured. So Angelina?

    Angelina Rosado, Domestic Violence Survivor: Yes, absolutely. Thank you, Governor. I think our message that we want to get across is that we’re not against the other side, right?

    The facts are we are all on the same team. But we want to make sure that the demographics of victims are not left out of the conversation. For too often, survivors have not been invited to the table to have our voices be heard. Survivors are no longer staying silent. We will not cowardly walk away from this.

    And we appreciate the Governor putting her foot down and saying, “We have to make a stance right now, because too often, survivors of domestic violence, victims, are now turning into homicide victims.” And all because an order of protection may or may not get dropped due to the fact that a piece of evidence that may not even be relevant to what’s happening, wasn’t present at the time.

    And we all know that getting a survivor to even admit out of their mouths that they are survivors of domestic violence. I know for myself personally, it took me over six months to say I was a victim of domestic violence. It felt like lava coming out of my mouth because I couldn’t believe that I was a victim of anything. And this is something that we experience every single day.

    Survivors of domestic violence have to go to police precincts. We have to go to the courthouse, get an order of protection, and what does that look like? In court, we don’t argue feelings. We argue language. So I’m here to put that feeling to you in person, right?

    Because the feeling of going into a precinct and not being believed is something that runs in our heads because mental and emotional abuse is serious, right? And when you are in a home with someone who has convinced you that no one cares about you, and they are the Alpha and the Omega, that becomes a problem when we’re now seeking for justice. Because survivors, not only do they have to take all these steps and there’s so many different systems that get involved the minute they decide to take this step. And then could you imagine being told, “Well, we didn’t have your Uber receipt, so your case was dismissed and now your order of protection is dropped.”

    Could you imagine the feeling? We are here to show we are the faces of things in that nature that can happen to you. And we want the other side to understand we’re all on the same team. We want to figure out, how do we balance this out? How do we make sure that while we are still protecting the people who are wrongfully convicted, we also protect the people who are trying to get protection from that same system? Thank you.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you. I know that’s hard. Well, you heard from one individual and she represents so many thousands. And listening to their stories a little while ago here in my office, I was also reminded of my mother’s story. My mother became a champion for victims of domestic violence because of what she saw and endured in her own home as a child.

    And instead of living the life of a victim, she led it as a proud survivor. The survivor of what she saw happened to her own mother, and she channeled that into advocacy. And back in the 1970s when no one talked about spousal abuse — wife beaters, but people took their sides more often than not.

    My mother, inexperienced in the whole world of advocacy, just like these women were at one time, came to this capitol and raised up her voice when I was just a college student. And she told what happened to her mother, and she became a voice for so many and helped open a transitional home for survivors of domestic violence. So their stories really touch a nerve with me. And I’m told I have the empathy of my mother.

    Angelina Rosado, Domestic Violence Survivor: Yes.

    Governor Hochul: When you said that, you said, “I see the empathy that you must have gotten from your mother, because I understand them.” And I know how hard it is today to even come up here, travel up on a train, disrupt their lives and have to walk the halls in search of someone who understands what we’re fighting for. And I’m really proud to be fighting on their behalf, and people all over this state who are denied the justice because of some technicality in the discovery laws that are written out. And they put their heart and soul into trying to get justice and it’s thrown out because something minor, irrelevant, is missing — I’m going to keep fighting until we fix this. I’m going to keep fighting to put this in the Budget.

    This is my path to getting this done and I’ll always remember the faces and the voices of these brave women, and thank them for what they’ve done. We are going to continue this fight. We’re going to continue fighting, not just for public safety, but also affordability, to make sure that we can put more money back in people’s pockets at this time when people are just — their heads are spinning. They don’t know if these tariffs are going to make the next time they go to the store — the kids’ sneakers made in China are going to be 10 times more than they expected.

    So families are struggling, and shame on us if we can’t put this budget to bed and focus on the needs of the people of the state who put us in these jobs.

    So thank you so much. Thank you again for being here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: HSI ARRESTS PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED, VIOLENT FELON FUGITIVE WANTED FOR HOMICIDE IN MEXICO

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested on Illegal Re-Entry charges on Tuesday during a Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) operation led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. Renteria-Cruz was charged by Criminal Complaint for violation of Title 8, U.S.C. 1326(a) and (b)(1).

    On October 11, 2006, Renteria-Cruz, a Mexican citizen illegally present in the United States, was convicted of Aggravated Assault, a class 3 felony, in the Maricopa County Superior Court and sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in prison. Renteria-Cruz was deported to Mexico on April 8, 2008.

    After his deportation, Mexican authorities charged Renteria-Cruz with homicide for events that occurred on July 20, 2009, in Mexico. Since that time, he has been a fugitive.

    Pursuant to a tip in January 2025, HSI learned that Renteria-Cruz had illegally returned to the United States. Agents were able to locate and identify Renteria-Cruz, and on April 8, 2025, Renteria-Cruz was arrested during an Immigration Operation.

    This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix, Arizona conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Addison Owen, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           25-3128MJ
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-052_Renteria-Cruz

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 10th, 2025 VIDEO: Heinrich Delivers Opening Remarks During Nomination Hearing to Consider Dr. Dario Gil for Under Secretary of Science at DOE & Preston Wells Griffith III for Under Secretary of Energy at DOE

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    VIDEO: Heinrich Delivers Opening Remarks in Hearing to Consider DOE Nominations, April 10, 2025.

    WASHINGTON — In his opening remarks during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s nomination hearing to consider Dr. Dario Gil for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Under Secretary of Science and Preston Wells Griffith III for DOE’s Under Secretary of Energy, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, sought assurances from the nominees to follow the law as enacted by Congress.

    In addition to noting the importance of the Under Secretaries’ roles in delivering for the Department and the American people, Heinrich highlighted how the hearing comes on the heels of significant reductions in the Department’s workforce, grant and loan funding freezes, contract uncertainties and the so-called “hit list” of programs targeted for termination, all of which threaten the important work of the Department.

    Heinrich’s remarks as delivered are below:

    Thank you, Chairman Lee, and welcome Mr. Griffith and Dr. Gil.

    The Committee meets this morning to consider the nominations of Mr. Griffith to be Under Secretary of Energy and Dr. Gil to be Under Secretary of Science. I understand that Ms. Sgamma will not be appearing before this Committee today.

    The Office of Under Secretary of Energy was established in 1977 to perform functions and duties assigned by the Secretary.

    The Office of Under Secretary for Science was added in 2005 to serve as the Secretary of Science and Technology Advisor to oversee the Department’s research and development programs and to carry out additional duties assigned by the Secretary.

    The flexibility built into these two offices has enabled different Secretaries to shift functions and programs between the two Under Secretaries. Most recently, Secretary Granholm combined both science and energy offices under the Under Secretary for Science, and she consolidated the Department’s loan and infrastructure programs under the Under Secretary of Energy, renaming the office the Under Secretary for Infrastructure.

    I am told that Secretary Wright has kept Secretary Granholm’s organizational structure, at least for now. But I’m most interested to hear from Dr. Gil and Mr. Griffith, what issues they believe will be in their portfolios, whether there are any plans or if there have been discussions about reorganizing these offices.

    Overhanging our hearing this morning are, of course, the reductions in the Department’s workforce, the grant and loan funding freezes, the contract uncertainties and the so-called “hit list” of programs targeted for termination, all of which threaten the important work of the Department.

    I will be particularly interested to hear from the two Under Secretary nominees how they will balance their competing obligations to the President who has nominated them, and the statutory requirements enacted by Congress, governing the department’s programs.

    Thank you, Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 10th, 2025 Heinrich, Stansbury Lead Reintroduction of Buffalo Tract Protection Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, reintroduced their Buffalo Tract Protection Act to permanently withdraw minerals from development on four parcels of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in southern Sandoval County, including the Buffalo Tract and the Crest of Montezuma. U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are original cosponsors.

    “As New Mexicans have been saying for over a decade: the Buffalo Tract is the wrong place for a gravel mine. It would decrease home values, diminish quality of life, and degrade a vital wildlife corridor linking the Sandia and Jemez Mountains. It would also disregard the cultural significance of Buffalo Tract to the Pueblos of Santa Ana and San Felipe as well as the San Antonio de las Huertas Land Grant heirs,” said Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  “We need to pass this bill to make the protections that local communities fought for permanent.”

    “The protection of New Mexico’s lands and waters is integral to our cultures, ways of life, and our natural resources. We must fight to protect these resources now more than ever,” said Stansbury. “Working collaboratively with our Pueblo and Tribal nations, Sandoval County, and local stakeholders, I am proud to re-introduce the Buffalo Tract Protection Act. This bill will help permanently protect these sacred and ancestral lands of San Felipe and Santa Ana Pueblos, safeguard the health of our communities, and preserve our ecosystems for generations to come.”

    “New Mexico’s public lands are sacred to our communities and heritage. I am proud to join Senator Heinrich and Representative Stansbury in introducing this crucial legislation to help protect our public lands for years to come,” said Luján. “This legislation responds to the significant concerns of rural, Tribal, and traditional communities about the harmful impacts of gravel mining and safeguards our landscapes and wildlife for future generations.”

    “I’m proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Buffalo Tract Protection Act,” said Leger Fernández. “The Buffalo Tract contains sacred landscapes that hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning for the Pueblos of Santa Ana and San Felipe and generations of New Mexicans. This bill protects those lands from mining and honors the voices of the communities who have spoken clearly for over a decade. We’re making sure these lands remain a place where people can experience their beauty for generations to come — not a site for gravel pits that threaten their beauty, wildlife, and history.”

    For years, local communities, Tribes, and homeowners have advocated for the protection of the Buffalo Tract and Crest of Montezuma. These lands hold ancestral and spiritual significance for the Pueblos of San Felipe and Santa Ana, and also provide accessible outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, sightseeing, and hunting.

    In 2023, the BLM initiated a public engagement process to consider management changes for four public land parcels in the Placitas area. In response to overwhelming support, the BLM withdrew mineral rights on approximately 4,200 acres for the next 50 years. When passed, the Buffalo Tract Protection Act would make these protections permanent under federal law.

    Heinrich first introduced the legislation with then-U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) in 2016 after working with local stakeholders and the community to find a solution that would protect public health and the many traditional uses of these public lands. Stansbury began leading the House bill when she joined Congress in 2021.

    A map of proposed boundaries is here.

    The text of the bill is here.

    The Buffalo Tract Protection Act is endorsed by Santa Ana Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, Land Use Protection Trust, New Mexico Wild, Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association, Sundance Mesa Homeowners Association, La Mesa Homeowners Association, Anasazi Homeowners Association, Pathways: Wildlife Corridors of NM, and Sandoval County Commission.

    A list of endorsements and statements of support are here.

    Heinrich Background:

    • May 2024: Heinrich convenes a celebration with local community members, land grants and Pueblos to commemorate their successful decades long work to protect the Buffalo Tract from mining for 50 years with BLM’s finalized proposal announced in April 2024.
    • April 2024: Heinrich issues statement celebrating the BLM’s decision to protect the Buffalo Tract from mining for 50 years.
    • September 2023: Heinrich issues statement welcoming the Biden administration’s proposal to protect Buffalo Tract that comes after his efforts with Pueblos and local community efforts to protect the Buffalo Tract.
    • March 2023: Heinrich, Stansbury call on Interior Department to withdraw Buffalo Tract from mineral development during community event.
    • May 2022: Heinrich, Stansbury lead a letter requesting that the U.S. Department of Interior administratively withdraw over 4,200 acres of BLM land near Placitas, New Mexico from mineral development.
    • November 2021: Heinrich’s Buffalo Tract Protection Act passes out of committee.
    • October 2021: Heinrich’s Buffalo Tract Protection Act gains support of BLM in key hearing. 
    • February 2021: Heinrich and Luján reintroduce the Buffalo Tract Protection Act.
    • February 2019: Heinrich and Udall reintroduce the Buffalo Tract Protection Act.
    • July 2016: Heinrich and Udall introduce the Buffalo Tract Protection Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –