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Category: Trump

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Pressley, Color Of Change, Colleagues Condemn Medicaid Cuts for Trump’s Billionaire Handouts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    “Donald, there is nothing beautiful about making people sicker, poorer, and more vulnerable. And that’s exactly what this bill would do.”

    Republican Reconciliation Bill Would Rip Away Healthcare and Food Assistance from Millions, Harm Everyone Especially Black and Brown Communities

    Video (YouTube)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) co-hosted a press conference with Color of Change to oppose the Republicans’ cruel and harmful budget reconciliation package, which would gut critical programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to fund billions of dollars in new tax giveaways straight into the pockets of Trump’s billionaire friends. The bill is estimated to cause 14 million people to lose their healthcare and raise costs for millions more. It would also make the largest cuts to food assistance in American history, taking food away from millions of children, seniors, veterans, and folks with disabilities.

    Across Massachusetts, over 955,000 Medicaid enrollees are at risk of losing healthcare coverage under MassHealth, the Commonwealth’s Medicaid program, due to the bill’s work reporting requirements for Medicaid. In the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, approximately 135,000 enrollees would lose coverage.

    Republicans’ extreme budget plan also threatens the approximately 1,216,000 people in the Commonwealth who depend on SNAP to put food on the table, including 187,000 people in the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District.

    Congresswoman Pressley was joined by Representatives Summer Lee (PA-12), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Alma Adams (NC-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), and Rashida Tlaib (MA-12), as well as Color of Change’s Interim Executive Director Portia Allen-Kyle, Families over Billionaires’ Campaign Director Michael Linden, and advocates from Color of Change.

    A transcript of the Congresswoman’s opening remarks, as delivered, is available below, and the full video is available here.

    Transcript: Pressley, Color Of Change Host Presser Opposing Medicaid Cuts for Trump’s Billionaire Handouts
    U.S. Capitol
    May 20, 2025

    Good afternoon everyone!

    Thank you for joining us. It is so good always to be surrounded by what I consider to be movement family. I am immensely proud to be partnering with Color of Change as we demand that Republicans take their hands off our healthcare, hands off our food assistance, and hands off other essential, life-saving programs.

    Thank you to Portia, for standing in the gap in such a time as this. Thank you for the indefatigable efforts of the entire team at Color of Change, to the folks here today who are opening their hearts to share their stories with us all. 

    And thank you my colleagues, Representatives Lee, Brown, Adams, Amo and Tlaib for their partnership and to our friends at Families over Billionaires for the work you do each and every day.

    We stand here today because Republicans are trying to gut Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential, life-saving programs so they can line the pockets of billionaires including Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

    Donald Trump is stealing from the poor, the elderly, the vulnerable and everyday working families to line his own damn pockets.

    This is the great Republican ripoff.

    These attacks are precise, intentional, targeted. 

    They mean harm to everyone who calls this country home, beginning with our most vulnerable.

    They’re coming for our veterans, our elders, and folks with disabilities. 

    They’re coming for those in need of life-saving medications for chronic diseases like asthma, high blood pressure, and dementia.

    They’re coming for babies who need formula, parents who are just trying to put food on the dinner table.

    And of course, they mean to harm our Black and brown communities who stand to be the most impacted by these devastating cuts.

    Medicaid is essential healthcare. About 1 in 5 Medicaid enrollees are Black.  

    SNAP is essential food for families. 20% of Black households have faced food insecurity in recent years, compared to 7% of white households.

    As the saying goes, when the rest of America gets a cold, Black folks get pneumonia – and this bill is certainly a testament to that. 

    I represent the Massachusetts 7th, a district that is vibrant, diverse, dynamic, one of the most unequal in this country, and was one of the hardest-hit Congressional districts by the first Trump occupancy.

    And we have every reason to believe that this will be the case again in the second occupancy of the Trump White House.

    Donald Trump was up here today threatening his caucus to fall in line behind his “one big, beautiful bill.” 

    Donald, there is nothing beautiful about making people sicker, making people poorer, making people more vulnerable. And that’s exactly what this bill would do. 

    Nearly 14 million people kicked off their healthcare. Food ripped out of the mouths of millions of children, seniors, veterans, and folks with disabilities. 

    I mean seriously, the only people who’d benefit from this bill are toy spaceship billionaires like Elon Musk and Donald Trump himself.

    The cruelty is the point. 

    Republicans know exactly how cruel and unpopular this bill is. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be trying to move it forward under the cover of night at 11 o’clock on a Sunday or 1am on a Wednesday, like they’re doing this week. 

    You know, Donald Trump and Republicans would love for us to stop fighting back.

    Donald Trump’s a dictator. A dictator wants a citizenry that is uninformed, that is indifferent to the suffering of its neighbor, and that is inactive. 

    They would love for us to cede this dark, dystopian vision that Donald Trump has for America as an inevitability.

    But it is not. And the only way to beat a dictator is with defiance.

    Our colleagues in the House across the aisle, you know, I’m asked all the time if there are opportunities for bipartisanship, to which I respond, “where is the party for bipartisanship?”

    This is just a cult of cowards who have been complicit in wholesale harm. Just a cult of cowards. 

    And the only way to beat a dictator is with defiance. 

    So that’s what brings us here today. We won’t back down, not for a second. 

    And Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start and the VA – these programs aren’t just line items in a budget. 

    They are lifelines. They are lifelines. Policies determine who lives, who dies, who survives, who thrives.  

    So together, we say: 

    Hands off healthcare.

    Hands off our food.

    Hands off our bodies.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Protect Children’s Innocence Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA, 14)

    Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has reintroduced her landmark legislation, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, a bold step to end the barbaric practice of so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors. This legislation, now designated as H.R. 3492, criminalizes genital mutilation, chemical castration, and all sex-change procedures performed on children.

    The Protect Children’s Innocence Act strengthens and codifies President Donald J. Trump’s executive order banning gender transition procedures for minors. Together, this legislation and the President’s action send a clear message: the federal government will no longer tolerate the abuse and exploitation of children by the radical gender ideology of the Left.

    “Left-wing activists and medical institutions are targeting America’s children with dangerous drugs, disfiguring surgeries, and permanent sterilization,” said Congresswoman Greene. “My bill stops the mutilation of kids and holds those responsible for performing or facilitating these barbaric procedures accountable.”

    The bill is scheduled to be marked up in the House Judiciary Committee at 10 AM tomorrow, a critical step toward bringing it to the House floor for a vote.

    When Congresswoman Greene first introduced this bill in 2022, she was joined by Chloe Cole, a courageous young woman who began “gender-affirming care” at age 13 and underwent a double mastectomy at 15. Chloe detransitioned at 16 and is now a vocal advocate for protecting vulnerable youth from irreversible harm. Watch Chloe’s powerful testimony here.

    What the Protect Children’s Innocence Act Does:

    • Criminalizes any attempt to perform or facilitate genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on a minor, with up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a significant fine.
    • Bans all puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone treatments for children.
    • Provides no exemption for mental health disorders as justification for these procedures.
    • Defines “chemical castration” and “genital or bodily mutilation” with detailed legal clarity.
    • Exempts children born with certain rare genetic conditions, or who are experiencing medical emergencies as certified by a physician.

    Cosponsors in the 119th Congress include: Crane, Finstad, Luna, Bice, Mary Miller, Crenshaw, McGuire, Kustoff, Biggs, Burlison, Tenney, Higgins, Brecheen, Nehls, Weber, Harris, Grothman, Hern, Collins, Ogles, Babin, Clyde, De La Cruz, Hageman, Owens, Palmer, Timmons, Norman, Max Miller, Steube, Jackson, Riley Moore, Comer, Gill, Baird, McDowell, Harshbarger, and Gooden.

    Supporting organizations include the American Principles Project, Citizens for Renewing America, CPAC, Gays Against Groomers, Independent Women, and Moms for Liberty.

    Read the full bill text here.

    Watch Chloe Cole’s testimony here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Grills Trump’s Nominee for IRS Commissioner about his Involvement in a Fraudulent Tax Scheme

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) grilled Billy Long, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), about his involvement in a tax fraud scheme in which he encouraged people to claim a fake Tribal tax credit. Long repeatedly failed to provide her with clear answers.
    Long has close ties to Capital Edge and the White River Energy Corporation, which promoted Tribal tax credits that the IRS later confirmed do not exist. Long reported earning $65,000 for his work related to the scheme. Cortez Masto has repeatedly sounded the alarm about Long’s alleged participation in tax fraud. Last month, she called for a criminal investigation into this scheme, and last week, she demanded answers from the White River Energy Corporation. Long suddenly received thousands of dollars campaign donations from individuals employed by these companies shortly after he was nominated to serve as IRS Commissioner, which he used to pay off a personal loan to his campaign.
    Cortez Masto pressed Long on his admission that he was involved in the scam, saying “In response to the question ‘How many Tribal tax credit referrals did you work on for Capital Edge and White River?’ […] you responded, ‘Less than ten close friends and acquaintances to Capital Edge.’ So, you did refer Tribal tax credits to individuals, correct?”
    “I referred them to Capital Edge Strategies, yes,” Long replied.
    “Knowing that they are illegal, and the IRS has said they are illegal, how do you stand here before this committee and tell the Chairman just a few minutes ago that you have no conflict of interest?” Cortez Masto asked.
    Mr. Long did not provide a clear answer.
    “We have asked the IRS to investigate these Tribal tax credits and the scam, and the companies that were involved, and some of the companies allegedly that were involved were [White River Energy Corporation], a company that you received compensation from,” Cortez Masto said. “How can you sit here today and say there’s no conflict knowing now that there is an investigation underway with the IRS and we’re asking them to look at this scam and it may involve a company that you are affiliated with?”
    As the former top law enforcement official in Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has been a leading voice fight fraud throughout her career. She sounded the alarm on increasing check fraud scams, which cost consumers millions of dollars each year. She introduced legislation to protect and support whistleblowers reporting wrongdoing to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and her bipartisan legislation to deter disruptive and potentially harmful phone calls and texts was signed into law in 2020.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In An Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing, Durbin Presses Secretary Rubio On The U.S.’s Response To The Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 20, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State.” During the hearing, Durbin questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza and whether the response from the State Department has been adequate. According to UN estimates, 14,000 babies in Gaza could die in the next 48 hours if aid does not reach Gaza.
    “Three countries—France, United Kingdom, and Canada—made a statement, which I would like to summarize. You probably know it already. They said the resumption of aid into Gaza by Israel [is] ‘wholly inadequate.’ The United Kingdom paused free-trade talks with Israel and sanctioned Israeli settlers. And in the joint message by these three countries, allies of the United States, [they said] ‘If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further, concrete action in response.’ Are we on the wrong side of history in watching this unfold and not responding as these three countries have?” Durbin asked.
    Secretary Rubio responded, “We are not prepared to respond the way these countries have.” He also continued to state that there is “an immediate, acute challenge of food and aid not reaching people and existing distribution systems that could get them there. So, we continue to work.” Secretary Rubio also continued to say that there should be a shared goal of defeating Hamas and ensuring the Palestinian people receive the aid they desperately need.
    “I agree with you. I think what you just said should be our policy. But I do not think we should use these people—these Palestinians, particularly these children—as just a casualty of war. This is a designed attack by Israel into Gaza. This is a designed decision by Israel not to provide humanitarian aid, food, medicine, [and] water. We provide quite a bit of money to Israel for its own defense and other purposes. Shouldn’t we be more forthcoming to speak out about this humanitarian crisis?” Durbin asked.
    Durbin concluded, “What are we waiting for? The children are dying.”
    Today, Durbin joined Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) in cosponsoring a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. In the resolution, Senators express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the imminent starvation of tens of thousands of children.
    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s question in Committee is available here for TV stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy champions bill to block taxpayer funding of medical schools that indoctrinate students with DEI ideology

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today reintroduced the Embracing anti-Discrimination, Unbiased Curricula and Advancing Truth in Education (EDUCATE) Act, which would block federal funding for medical schools and accrediting institutions that force students to affirm ideological beliefs and prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 
    “Medical schools should be in the business of training our future doctors to save lives—not indoctrinating students with anti-American DEI ideology. The EDUCATE Act would make sure the government isn’t wasting your money on woke struggle sessions and blatant discrimination in medical schools,” said Kennedy.
    Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) joined Kennedy in reintroducing the bill in the Senate.
    “For too long the radical Left has used our education system to advance their woke DEI agenda rather than advancing scientific achievement. This has now injected itself into medical schools across the nation putting the lives of countless Americans in danger all to appease the woke mob. I am proud to be leading this legislation to once again put merit above social justice quotas,” said Schmitt.
    Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) reintroduced the bill in the House of Representatives.
    “American medical schools are the best in the world and should remain free from discrimination, politicization, and acceptance of anything other than excellence. The EDUCATE Act bans race-based mandates at medical schools, protects the First Amendment and civil rights of students, and promotes objective, science-based medicine. Excluding individuals based on appearance or beliefs in the name of diversity is wrong and debases the integrity of the profession. Doctors must be taught to treat patients with the highest quality of care regardless of who they are. This includes dealing with other medical professionals who may not look like they do. I have dedicated my life to serving others as a physician and will not stand for discrimination in our nation’s institutions of medicine,” said Murphy. 
    Kennedy and Murphy also authored this op-ed in the Washington Examiner urging Congress to pass their EDUCATE Act.
    The EDUCATE Act would block federal funding from medical schools that:
    Direct, compel or incentivize students, faculty or staff to affirm or adopt certain ideological tenets.
    Take any action that would deprive a student of educational opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his or her status as a student on the basis of race or ethnicity.
    Require a course of instruction that directs or compels students, faculty or staff to state, pledge, recite, affirm or adopt certain ideological tenets. 
    Maintain a DEI or equivalent office within the medical school.
    Require or incentivize an individual to complete a diversity statement that affirms or capitulates to DEI as a condition of the person’s being admitted to or employed by a school.
    Do No Harm, America First Policy Institute, Eagle Forum, Heritage Action and CPAC support the EDUCATE Act.
    “Do No Harm applauds Congressman Murphy and Senator Kennedy for their relentless work to end harmful DEI practices and to restore integrity to American medical schools. For too long, accrediting bodies and medical colleges have prioritized identity politics over merit and expertise—putting patients’ health at serious risk. President Trump’s Administration has taken critical steps to dismantle these political activists’ grip on medical education, even causing some accreditors and schools to suspend their discriminatory practices. But the EDUCATE Act could enshrine the President’s actions into law, thereby eradicating DEI programs from medical education permanently,” said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, founder and Board Chairman of Do No Harm. 
    “Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are an offshoot of Critical Race Theory—designed to promote race-stereotyping, race-exclusion, and indoctrination into divisive far-left ideologies. When publicly funded universities and medical schools teach students to make snap judgments about each other and our broader society based on skin color, they are conditioning them to reject foundational American commitments, including equal treatment and opportunity for all, administrative impartiality, and due process. Congressman Murphy’s bill is an essential first step toward restoring academic excellence and truth-seeking as the focal points of medical education so that tomorrow’s health professionals are prepared to provide exceptional care to every patient, regardless of their race or sex,” said Dr. Michael Shires, Ph.D., Vice Chair of Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute. 
    “DEI has invaded US medical schools like a virus in recent years—harming these institutions and the public as well. Senator Kennedy’s EDUCATE Act is the cure. We urge the Senate to move this bill forward,” said Kris Ullman, President of the Eagle Forum.
    Full text of the EDUCATE Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House passes Kennedy resolution to undo cumbersome Biden-era bank merger rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) joint resolution of disapproval under Congressional Review Act (CRA) procedures to block an Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) rule that delays the bank merger approval process by adding more red tape that could lead to consumer uncertainty. It now moves to the president’s desk for signing.
    “When the Biden administration decided to tinker with bank merger rules for no good reason, they threw a gut punch to small community banks just trying to offer their customers a good service. I’m grateful to the U.S. House of Representatives for doing the right thing, and I look forward to President Trump signing my resolution to undo this cumbersome regulation,” said Kennedy.
    Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), chairman of the Financial Institutions Subcommittee on the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the companion resolution in the House of Representatives.
    “Bank mergers create competition and efficiency in the banking system. By eliminating this rule, we will remove unnecessary guardrails on the bank merger process that make smaller and medium-sized banks less competitive. This is another win for President Trump, who is making our economy stronger by cutting government red-tape and unleashing the free market,” said Barr.
    The Biden administration’s rule, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, amended the Bank Merger Act of 1960 to make it harder for the OCC to approve healthy bank mergers quickly. Kennedy’s resolution would reverse the Biden administration’s misguided rule so that banks can stay in business and serve hardworking Americans.
    Background:
    Historically, the OCC assumed that a potential merger passed muster if the agency took no action on a merger application within 15 days. The burden of showing that a merger would harm business and consumers fell on the OCC and bank regulators.
    The Biden administration’s rule shifted the burden of proof to individual banks, making it harder for banks—particularly community banks—to fulfill their obligations by making smart, strategic mergers. 
    In Feb. 2025, Kennedy introduced his resolution to undo the Biden administration’s rule.
    On May 8, 2025, the Senate passed Kennedy’s resolution of disapproval. Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) were cosponsors.
    The American Bankers Association (ABA) supports Kennedy’s resolution.
    “We applaud today’s House passage of the Congressional Review Act resolution nullifying the OCC’s flawed bank merger rule, and we thank Rep. Andy Barr for leading this effort. This action, along with the companion resolution led by Sen. John Kennedy and passed by the Senate, will provide regulators with the opportunity to reenvision the framework governing bank mergers so that it more effectively promotes competition while allowing banks to better serve their customers. We look forward to President Trump signing this important resolution into law,” said Rob Nichols, President and CEO of the ABA.
    Text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cuellar Celebrates Signing of Bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act into Law

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

    Washington, D.C. – In a major milestone for online safety and the protection of minors, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), today celebrated the signing of the bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act, landmark legislation to crack down on non-consensual and sexually exploitative imagery, including dangerous AI-generated deepfakes.

    “Let me be clear: no child, from Texas or anywhere in the world, should fall victim to AI-generated abuse,” said Dr. Cuellar. “Thanks to this law, families and individuals will finally have a way to demand action and accountability online. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Cruz, who co-led the bill in the Senate, and Congresswoman Salazar, who co-led it in the House, and I thank the president for swiftly signing it into law.”

    The new law strengthens enforcement tools for law enforcement, speeds up the removal of abusive content, and protects lawful speech. For victims of AI-generated abuse, this law is more than legislation. It’s long-overdue justice and an important step forward in addressing the fast-evolving risks posed by artificial intelligence and online exploitation.

    The TAKE IT DOWN Act passed both chambers with bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Trump on May 19, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Rosen Blasts Secretary Rubio for Complicity in Trump Administration’s Disastrous Foreign Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Watch the full exchange HERE.
    WASHINGTON, DC – During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) blasted Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his complicity in the Trump Administration’s disastrous approach to U.S. foreign policy. Under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the Administration has slashed development and humanitarian programs critical to our national security, including programs that then-Senator Rubio supported. In her line of questioning, Senator Rosen pressed Secretary Rubio about plans to eliminate the State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, the Office of the Security Coordinator in Israel, and international vaccines through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
    Below is an excerpt from Senator Rosen’s introduction:
    Senator Rosen: Secretary Rubio, I’m going to embrace my Jewish mother instincts for a moment.
    As a mother, a senator, and a fellow human being, I can tell you that I’m not even mad anymore about your complicity in this Administration’s destruction of U.S. global leadership. I’m simply disappointed. 
    And I wonder if you’re proud of yourself in this moment when you go home to your family because I have always found you, Senator Rubio, to be a bipartisan pragmatic partner, a true believer that the U.S. is stronger when we lead with diplomacy and development. You have a strong record on this. 
    But I don’t recognize Secretary Rubio. A stalwart supporter of Israel, you have watched this Administration abandon Saudi normalization with Israel in order to pursue business deals. You were once a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin but you sat idly by as the President berated the elected leader of Ukraine for not capitulating to Russia. And worst of all, you’ve kneecapped foreign assistance, including programs that you previously championed and made America less safe, less strong, less prosperous in doing so. 
    I know you know this in your heart and I can’t make this point any better than you did yourself in 2019 when you said “Anybody who tells you that we can slash foreign aid and that will bring us to balance is lying to you.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BREAKING: In Senate, Rosen Passes Her Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Taxes on Tips, Helping Deliver Tax Breaks for Nevada Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Senator Rosen Asked For And Received Unanimous Consent To Pass Her Bill To Eliminate Federal Income Tax On Tips
    Watch Senator Rosen’s remarks on the Senate floor HERE.
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) took to the Senate floor to ask for unanimous consent to pass her bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act, which would exempt American workers’ tipped wages from federal income tax. Senator Rosen successfully passed the bipartisan legislation after receiving no objections on the Senate floor. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives to be considered.
    Nevada has the highest concentration of tipped workers in the nation, and the bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act would allow workers to keep their tips without paying federal income tax on them. This legislation also includes guardrails to ensure that it benefits Nevadans who need it most, and not CEOs and wealthy individuals. 
    Below are excerpts from Senator Rosen’s remarks:
    “No tax on tips” was one of President Trump’s key promises to the American people, which he unveiled in my state of Nevada. 
    And, I am not afraid to embrace a good idea, wherever it comes from.
    So I agreed we need to get this done. It’s not a time for politics, it’s a time for progress for hard-working Americans.
    This bipartisan bill is a good idea. It has support from Democrats and Republicans, so we should pass it, well, as soon as possible, without any poison pills.
    The problem is that House Republicans have included a version of the No Tax on Tips Act in their bigger budget bill, a bill that cuts Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs families rely on to give more tax breaks for billionaires and the ultra-wealthy. 
    We shouldn’t be forcing working families to choose between keeping their health care or keeping their tips, which is why we want this bipartisan bill on its own – on its own – not part of a harmful, extreme budget bill.
    If we are serious about providing service employees with financial relief, let’s do it now, let’s do it today!
    The American people, they get sick and tired of Washington games.
    Let’s pass this bill without playing politics or taking away health care and food assistance from families who need it most.
    Let’s pass it by itself.
    And so that’s why I’m calling on the Senate to pass the bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act right here, right now, as a standalone bill.
    We’re going to cut taxes for real hard-working Americans, for Nevadans, for everyone – not just for billionaires. 
    We’re going to cut taxes on service workers’ tips without cutting Medicaid or SNAP. 
    And let’s get this done with strong guardrails so CEOs and the ultra-wealthy don’t exploit loopholes meant to help working people. And let’s pass it today.
    Nevadans sent me here to fight for them – and I’m going to keep working to lower costs, raise wages, and make sure the people who power our economy, our working families, can keep more of what they earn.
    And through this bipartisan bill, it shows that I am not going to allow Washington gridlock and partisanship to block a bill without a fight. That’s why we’re going to pass it today.
    I’m taking matters into my own hands with the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass our bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act by unanimous consent.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Baldwin Hits RFK, Jr. on Devastating Cuts to Clinical Trials, Cancer and Alzheimer’s Research at Senate Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) questioned Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at a Senate hearing on why his agency has dramatically stopped research for lifesaving cures and clinical trials for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and more. Last week, a report found the Trump Administration has effectively cut nearly $3 billion in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the first three months of 2025, which Mr. Kennedy oversees.
    The hearing was in front of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, where Senator Baldwin serves as Ranking Member. A recent report found that Trump officials effectively cut $2.7 billion in NIH funding in the first three months of 2025 – including a 31 percent cut to cancer research through March, compared to the same timeframe last year. Those cuts have resulted in 3,288 fewer disease studies and research projects being funded compared to last year. Senator Baldwin led a forum earlier this year to spotlight how cuts are impacting researchers and Americans in clinical trials.
    Last week, Senator Baldwin pressed Secretary Kennedy on how staffing cuts at HHS has slowed Milwaukee’s response to a lead crisis in schools and how frozen funding for Wisconsin Head Starts threatened critical care for families.
    A recording of Senator Baldwin’s questions is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Hosts Two-Day Forum to Spotlight Human Harm Caused by Trump’s Mass Firings at HHS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Tuesday’s forum featured former agency officials from FDA, ACF, CMS, and HRSA
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) today led their colleagues in kicking off a two-day spotlight forum, entitled “Trump’s Destruction of HHS: Mass Firings, Reorganization, and the Human Harm Caused.” The forum is examining the human harm caused by the Trump Administration’s sweeping reorganization and mass terminations at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  
    “The whole point of what we’re doing is to try to bring to the attention of the American people what the reality is of the Trump Administration’s attack on the federal workforce and many federal programs. These are programs that are not abstract in what they do—they really affect the lives of young people and the wellbeing, the health of our country. And these things have to built overtime—to get the expertise, the have the infrastructure, to have an established set of procedures where you can actually deliver services that make a difference…” said Senator Welch. “It’s a real threat because when you erode that foundation that has been established over time at an institution, it’s not as though a year later, two years later, you can come in and flip a switch and you’re back to where we were. Damage is done.” 
    Watch the livestream here:  
    Senator Welch also thanked fired federal workers, many of whom have traveled to the Capitol every week to meet with lawmakers and raise awareness of the harm caused by Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce. 
    The first day of the two-day forum featured testimony from Dr. Robert Califf, the former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Dr. Meg Sullivan, the former Acting Secretary for Administration for Children and Families (ACF); Ms. Chiquita Brooks La-Sure, the former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); and Ms. Carole Johnson, the former Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 
    Tomorrow’s forum will feature Dr. Anne Schuchat, the former Principal Deputy Director, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Ms. Trina Dutta, the former Chief of Staff, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Dr. Sean Bruna, the former Senior Advisor, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); Professor Alison Barkoff, the former Administrator for Administration for Community Living (ACL); and Dr. Jeremy Berg – former Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at NIH. 
    Senator Welch was joined today by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). 
    Watch the livestream here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Grills Trump’s Pick to Lead IRS 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch on Trump using the IRS for political goals: “The president is not restrained by what’s legal or not.” 
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a Senate Finance Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) grilled President Trump’s nominee to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Senator Welch asked former Congressman Billy Long about how cuts to IRS staff will affect the ability of the IRS to hold billionaire tax cheats accountable, and how gutting IRS funding and staff will hurt services and help for U.S. taxpayers. Senator Welch also questioned Mr. Long on President Trump’s actions to undercut institutes of higher education. 
    Welch: The Administration, President Trump, has specifically gone after higher education. There have been significant cuts in research funding to Columbia, to Harvard, and to other universities. The president, who will be your boss, has explicitly stated that he wants to eliminate the tax-exempt status for Harvard. What’s your opinion about the recommendation by the president that Harvard loses its tax-exempt status?  
    Long: I’m not over there. I haven’t seen why they would think that. But it’s something I want to get into and figure out once I’m over there. I’ve never been around it, so I don’t know. 
    Welch: One of the concerns here is that if a president is using the IRS as a tool to achieve his goals— 
    Long: That should not be done by anybody. 
    Welch: Alright, so you will tell Trump to pound sand if he comes to you as Commissioner— 
    Long: That’s my understanding. Like I said, if it is fair, not fair, legal, or not legal. If what you are saying is not legal, it should not be done and nobody should by able to do that.  
    Welch: You know, the President is not restrained by what’s legal or not…The president is explicitly stating he wants to go after Harvard—or [another] higher education institution is next—you will be in the line of fire on that. And what I’m looking for from you is not something you are able to give me right now, and that’s assurances that you will tell the president ‘no’ when he is using the IRS for a political objective. 
    Long: I said earlier the IRS will not and should not be politicized on my, or any, watch. 
    Watch the full exchange here: 
    ■■■ 
      
    Senator Welch’s Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress include:  
    Senate Committee on Finance   
    Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry 
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit   
    Senate Committee on the Judiciary 
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on the Constitution   
    Senate Committee on Rules & Administration 
    Learn more about his work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters Supports Resolution Condemning Trump’s Acceptance of Qatari Jet “Gift”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) signed onto Rep. Jamie Raskin’s (MD-8), resolution to condemn President Donald Trump’s effort to accept a $400 million luxury private jet from the royal family of Qatar without obtaining Congress’s approval, in violation of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause.

    “President Trump continues to flout the Constitution and the rule of law,” said Rep. Peters. “It is so plainly obvious that this ‘gift’ is a means to curry favor and improperly influence U.S. foreign policy. Just because this corrupt act is taking place out in the open does not mean we should not call it out. Rather, it is more important than ever to hold the President accountable so that such unconstitutional behavior does not become normalized.”

    On May 11, an ABC News report revealed that President Trump planned to accept a $400 million private jet from the Qatari royal family—a lavish and unconstitutional gift that would become the property of his personal presidential library foundation at the conclusion of his term. In a news conference on May 12, when asked about this reported gift, Trump stated, “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer… I could be a stupid person and say, ‘no, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’” In 2016, then-candidate Trump criticized Hillary Clinton for donations the Clinton Foundation accepted from Qatar.

    While Trump claimed that this extravagant gift from a foreign government would result in “big savings [that] will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT,” it in fact would require potentially billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to retrofit and debug the plane.

    Click here to read the resolution.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: TEN JIHADIS ELIMINATED

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

    We haven’t forgotten the threat posed by Jihadis. 10 more were permanently removed from the battlefield in Somalia yesterday.

    That brings the total to over 100 bloodthirsty terrorists killed since President Trump was sworn in.

    WWFY/WWKY: We will find you, and we will kill you.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lE_58JrF-Q

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: SHOCKING NEW DISTRICT-BY-DISTRICT REPORT SHOWS THE GOP PLAN TO GUT MEDICAID COULD KICK 1.5 MILLION NEW YORKERS OFF HEALTH INSURANCE & AND RIP AWAY $13.5 BILLION FROM LOCAL HOSPITALS & NY…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    SENATOR SAYS THIS WEEK IS PIVOTAL AS HOUSE RUSHES TO PASS DEVASTATING CUTS; DEMANDS NY HOUSE REPUBLICANS WITHHOLD VOTES & REJECT CUTS TO TAKE AWAY HEALTHCARE FROM THOUSANDS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS
    This Week House Republicans Are Planning Vote To Pass The Largest Cut To Medicaid In American History To Fund Trump’s Tax Breaks For Corporations & Billionaires; Terminating Health Insurance For 1.5 Million NY-ers, Decimating Local Hospitals, Nursing Homes, & Rural Health Clinics From Long Island To The North Country
    Schumer Says $13.5 Billion Would Crater NY Healthcare, Leading To Layoffs & Closures – With Margins So Tight In House, Senator Says NY GOP Reps Can Stop This – And Should Because Thousands Of Their Constituents Will Be First To Suffer
    Schumer: This Is THE Week. We Are In The Fight Of Our Lives To Save Healthcare For 1.5 Million New Yorkers
    With the House planning to vote this week to pass the largest Medicaid cut in American history and gut the healthcare system – all to fund Trump’s tax breaks for billionaires and wealthy corporations – U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer broke down shocking new district-by-district data revealing this cruel GOP plan could rip away health insurance for 1.5 million New Yorkers and lead to a $13.5 billion funding crater that could cripple NY’s hospitals and healthcare economy.
    “This is as cruel and heartless as it gets. Trump and House Republicans want to kick 1.5 million New Yorkers off their health insurance and rip away $13.5 billion from NY’s hospitals and healthcare economy so they can have bigger tax breaks for billionaires & corporations. NY House Republicans promised for months they would protect Medicaid, but now New Yorkers know the truth: they never intended to keep that promise, and this confirms it,” said Senator Schumer. “We cannot let this plan go under the radar. From Long Island to the North Country, people will lose their healthcare, hospitals and nursing homes will shutter, premiums will go up, and health care workers will lose their jobs. This week is when House Republicans plan to vote on these cuts and NY House Republicans have the votes to stop it. We need everyone to make their voices heard and tell NY’s House Republicans to stand up to Trump, and stop the largest cut to healthcare in American history, because thousands of their constituents will be the first to suffer.”
    Schumer said the proposed $900+ billion cut from Medicaid and the ACA would directly impact healthcare for nearly 14 million Americans. The bill would shift billions of dollars in Medicaid costs to New York State, while simultaneously changing rules that would result in thousands of New Yorkers losing health coverage.
    A new report from NY State shows just how devastating the GOP healthcare cuts would be for local hospitals in NY and the thousands of New Yorkers in every Congressional District, which can be found below:

    NY Congressional District

    Projected Losses For Local Hospitals

    People At Risk Of Losing Health Insurance Coverage

    NY-1

    $29,066,244

    47,515

    NY-2

    $35,322,184

    47,935

    NY-3

    $49,612,361

    37,435

    NY-4

    $39,079,356

    44,065

    NY-5

    $22,378,442

    79,316

    NY-6

    $161,956,005

    89,975

    NY-7

    $26,071,884

    81,082

    NY-8

    $22,474,403

    79,672

    NY-9

    $120,606,309

    88,530

    NY-10

    $82,240,122

    64,165

    NY-11

    $19,435,181

    51,984

    NY-12

    $311,229,420

    28,520

    NY-13

    $16,583,715

    96,741

    NY-14

    $24,655,008

    92,929

    NY-15

    $108,472,912

    106,903

    NY-16

    $30,239,334

    54,798

    NY-17

    $32,088,650

    31,189

    NY-18

    $21,668,362

    38,392

    NY-19

    $24,813,186

    37,453

    NY-20

    $30,149,640

    32,224

    NY-21

    $25,343,510

    44,082

    NY-22

    $34,359,346

    38,000

    NY-23

    $13,483,095

    34,672

    NY-24

    $11,949,091

    31,388

    NY-25

    $45,044,227

    40,542

    NY-26

    $32,225,707

    45,232

    NY Total

    $1,370,547,694

    1,464,739

    Overall, New York State estimates that the state will lose $13.5 billion if House Republicans’ proposed cuts go through. That includes:
    More than $7.5 billion due to cuts to Essential Plan funding.
    Nearly $3 billion due to the federal government shifting costs to the state.
    Over $3 billion due to new administrative burdens for running the Medicaid program, including burdensome work reporting requirements.
     Schumer warned that Medicaid serves as a lifeline for more than 7 million New Yorkers and provides care to seniors, children, people with disabilities, and veterans across the state. Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term care in the United States, including at nursing homes and for people living at home. Medicaid pays for services for 2 in 3 nursing home residents. Almost half of all kids in the country rely on Medicaid, and 1 in 3 people with disabilities look to Medicaid for their insurance coverage. Cutting this program will leave families with nowhere to turn when they need care.
    Schumer said while some Congressional Republicans claim this plan won’t cut Medicaid, this new data proves otherwise and there is no way to protect Medicaid benefits if Republicans pass these cuts. These cuts will not only hurt people who get their health insurance through Medicaid, but create new challenges for the state’s entire healthcare system. Costs will go up for everyone, with higher premiums a result of the new strain on providers like hospitals and community health centers. This bill creates burdensome red tape requirements not only for people with Medicaid, but also for people who buy insurance themselves in the marketplace.
    Schumer added, “This isn’t targeting waste and fraud, this is a rushed plan to bankroll Trump’s tax breaks for the ultra-rich paid for by ripping away healthcare for New Yorkers.”
    GOP cuts include hundreds of billions from the Affordable Care Act, terminating coverage for Americans who purchase their own health insurance like small business owners and family caregivers, as well as taking away tax credits that help them afford this coverage.
    GOP healthcare cuts will hit rural hospitals in the North Country and Southern Tier particularly hard. The bill will end provider taxes, which allows New York to directly fund providers like rural emergency departments, and limits state-directed payments which allow hospitals to provide maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care, which is especially helpful in rural areas where these services can be more difficult to find.
    Schumer said the GOP healthcare cuts would inevitably shift the costs of care to local governments, resulting in agonizing decisions with county executives and state legislators forced to decide where to make up for the huge budget hole caused by the staggering loss in federal funding. Counties could be forced to shoulder the burden of increased costs in Medicaid, using more local dollars to manage people’s coverage with less federal funding will be coming in. This will squeeze budgets across the state, meaning the possibility of higher taxes or cuts to other programs that communities rely on, like education or public safety.
    Schumer concluded, “This is as backwards as it gets. Stealing from Medicaid, taking resources away from our hospitals to pay for Trump’s tax cuts for wealthy corporations and billionaires. It is just plain wrong. NY Republicans are tying themselves in knots to try to justify these cuts, but the data shows this will hurt our seniors, kids, families, and healthcare providers who rely on Medicaid.”
    An overview of the various healthcare cuts included in the current GOP bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Signs Executive Order 25-24 Allowing Missourians Affected by Tornadoes and Severe Storms to Continue Receiving Prescribed Medications

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MAY 20, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 25-24 to further assist affected individuals whose prescriptions were lost or destroyed, whose records are not available, or whose original prescribing physician is unavailable, to be able to continue to receive prescribed medications.

    “To ensure the health and safety of those impacted by these recent devastating storms, we must ensure that Missourians are able to continue receiving prescribed medications in a timely manner,” Governor Kehoe said. “This executive order grants the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the State Board of Pharmacy discretionary authority to temporarily waive or suspend rules and regulations which will allow medical professionals to better assist those affected by storms. We thank the medical professionals across our state who are playing a critical role in helping Missouri communities recover.”

    Governor Kehoe first declared a State of Emergency on March 14, 2025, through Executive Order 25-19 in preparation for severe weather. The State of Emergency declaration in Executive Order 25-19 was subsequently extended by Executive Order 25-22 and Executive Order 25-23.

    Executive Order 25-24 will expire on June 30, 2025, unless otherwise terminated or extended. To view the Order, please click here.

    Additional May 16 Severe Storm Response Updates:

    Yesterday, Governor Mike Kehoe also requested President Trump issue a federal Emergency Declaration to expedite FEMA assistance and requested that FEMA participate in joint Preliminary Damage Assessmentsfor City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, and 6 Southeast Missouri Counties.

    A federal Emergency Declaration provides federal resources to support state response operations to protect lives, safeguard public health and provide for public safety. It does not delay or affect the process of pursuing a federal Major Disaster Declaration, which would provide Individual Assistance to help homeowners and renters, and Public Assistance, which would reimburse local governments for emergency response costs, debris removal, and repair and replacement of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure. Individual Assistance and Public Assistance require joint preliminary damage assessments by teams made up of representatives from FEMA, SEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and local emergency management officials, extensive documentation, and a federal review process that can take weeks to complete.

    Beginning Wednesday, May 21, six teams will survey and verify documented damage in Cape Girardeau, Iron, New Madrid, St. Louis, Scott, Stoddard, and Wayne counties and the City of St. Louis to determine if Individual Assistance can be requested through FEMA. Individual Assistance allows eligible residents to seek federal assistance for temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles, and other qualifying expenses. Initial damage assessments for roads, bridges and other public infrastructure are ongoing, potentially resulting in a request for PDAs for Public Assistance in the future.

    Yesterday, Governor Kehoe also directed the Missouri National Guard provide a Liaison Officer (LNO) to assist the City of St. Louis with evaluating and advising local officials on potential appropriate missions for the Guard. This LNO reported to the St. Louis Emergency Operations Center this morning.

    The State of Missouri will continue to provide resources and personnel to St. Louis based on resource requests from the city and identified missions to meet the city’s needs. The Missouri National Guard maintains coordination with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to respond if critical capability gaps occur in the local agencies’ response efforts.

    State assistance so far has included the Missouri State Highway Patrol assisting with law enforcement, search and rescue efforts and traffic control; an 84-person Type 1 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team from Missouri Task Force 1 assisting with highly technical search and rescue efforts; SEMA sending regional coordinators and specialized personnel to assist with mass care, feeding and housing, donations management, and volunteer management. SEMA has also sent tarps and other supplies to assist with immediate needs.

    SEMA continues to coordinate with local officials and volunteer and faith-based partners to identify needs and assist impacted families and individuals. Missourians with unmet needs are encouraged to contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1 or www.211helps.org or the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

    For additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri, including general clean-up information, housing assistance, and mental health services, visit recovery.mo.gov.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor on Trump’s Cruel Move to Strip Protections & Work Permits from 350,000 Venezuelans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s rescission of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, including many living and working in Florida, that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court late yesterday:

    “Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who fled political and economic oppression are now condemned to an uncertain and unstable future due to President Trump’s decision to revoke TPS. Venezuela is still a dangerous country where many are persecuted for their commitment to democratic ideals. The cruel and costly Trump policy will uproot families, destabilize communities and endanger the lives of people who fled a brutal dictatorship and sought refuge in the United States. These are hardworking men and women who came to the U.S. legally to contribute to our economy, raise families and worship alongside us. They are part of the fabric of our state.

    “Instead of cruelly targeting them for deportation, we should provide stability and a tough but fair pathway to citizenship. That’s why I am cosponsoring legislation to provide our Venezuelan neighbors with a pathway to work and residency—so they can build a future in the country they have contributed so much to.

    “I call on my colleagues in Congress to support this pathway and reject President Trump’s cruel and shortsighted agenda, and join me in standing up for our Venezuelan neighbors. America’s strength lies in our compassion and our commitment to freedom, not in tearing families apart to score political points.”

    Rep. Castor has consistently championed TPS protections for Venezuelans and others fleeing violence and oppression, and she continues to advocate for permanent solutions that uphold American values of dignity, safety and opportunity.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Starvation of Gaza – a distressing continuation of a decades-old plan

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Jeremy Rose

    Reading an NBC News report a couple of days ago about a Trump administration plan to relocate 1 million Gazans to Libya reminded me of a conversation between the legendary Warsaw Ghetto leader Marek Edelman and fellow fighter and survivor Simcha Rotem that took place more than quarter of a century ago.

    In the conversation, first reported in Haaretz in 2023, Rotem said the Jews who walked into the gas chambers without a fight did so only because they were hungry.

    Edelman disagreed, but Rotem insisted. “Listen, man. Marek, I’m surprised by your attitude. They only went because they were hungry. Even if they’d known what awaited them they would have walked into the gas chambers. You and I would have done the same.”

    Edelman cut him off. “You would never have gone” [to the gas chamber.] Rotem replied, “I’m not so sure. I was never that hungry.”

    Edelman agreed, saying: “I also wasn’t that hungry,” to which Rotem said, “That’s why you didn’t go.”

    The NBC report claims that Israeli officials are aware of the plan and talks have been held with the Libyan leadership about taking in 1 million ethnically cleansed Palestinians.. The carrot being offered is the unfreezing of billions of dollars of Libya’s own money seized by the US more than a decade ago.

    The Arabic word Sumud — or steadfastness — is synonymous with the Palestinian people. The idea that 1 million Gazans would agree to walk off the 1.4 percent of historic Palestine that is Gaza is inconceivable.

    Equally incomprehensible
    But then the idea that my great grandmother and other relatives walked into the gas chambers is equally incomprehensible. But we’ve never been that hungry.

    The people of Gaza are. No food has entered Gaza for 76 days. Half a million Gazans are facing starvation and the rest of the population (more than 1.5 million people) are suffering from high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the UN.

    Last year, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was widely condemned when he suggested starving Gaza might be “justified and moral”.

    The lack of outrage and urgency being expressed by world leaders — particularly Western leaders — after nearly 11 weeks of Israel actually starving the inhabitants of what retired IDF general Giora Eiland has called a giant concentration camp — is an outrage.

    As far as I’m aware there’s been no talk of cutting off diplomatic relations, trade embargos or even cultural boycotts.

    Israel — which last time I looked wasn’t in Europe — just placed second in Eurovision. “I’m happy,” an Israeli friend messaged me, “that my old genocidal homeland (Austria) won and not my current genocidal nation.”

    A third generation Israeli, she’s one of a tiny minority protesting the war crimes being committed less than 100km from her apartment.

    Honourable exceptions
    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Irish President Michael Higgins are honourable exceptions to the muted criticism being expressed by Western leaders, although this criticism has finally been stepped up with the threatened “concrete actions” by the UK, France and Canada, and the condemnation of Israel by 22 other countries — including New Zealand.

    Sanchez had declared Israel a genocidal state and said Spain won’t do business with such a nation.

    And peaking at a national famine commemoration held over the weekend Higgens said the UN Security Council had failed again and again by not dealing with famines and the current “forced starvation of the people of Gaza”.

    He cited UN Secretary-General António Guterres saying “as aid dries up, the floodgates of horror have re-opened. Gaza is a killing field — and civilians are in an endless death loop.”

    Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen argued in his 1981 book Poverty and Famines that famines are man-made and not natural disasters.

    Unlike Gaza, the famines he wrote about were caused by either callous disregard by the ruling elites for the populations left to starve or the disastrous results of following the whims of an all-powerful leader like Chairman Mao.

    He argued that a famine had never occurred in a functioning democracy.

    A horrifying fact
    It’s a horrifying fact that a self-described democracy, funded and abetted by the world’s most powerful democracy, has been allowed by the international community to starve two million people with no let-up in its bombing of barely functioning hospitals and killing of more than 2000 Gazans since the ban on food entering the strip was put in place. (Many more will have died due to a lack of medicine, food, and access to clean water.)

    After more than two months of denying any food or medicine to enter Gaza Israel is now saying it will allow limited amounts of food in to avoid a full-scale famine.

    “Due to the need to expand the fighting, we will introduce a basic amount of food to the residents of Gaza to ensure no famine occurs,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained.

    “A famine might jeopardise the continuation of Operation Gideon’s Chariots aimed at eliminating Hamas.”

    If 19-months of indiscriminate bombardment, the razing to the ground of whole cities, the displacement of virtually the entire population, and more than 50,000 recorded deaths (the Lancet estimated the true figure is likely to be four times that) hasn’t destroyed Hamas to Israel’s satisfaction it’s hard to conceive of what will.

    But accepting that that is the real aim of the ongoing genocide would be naïve.

    Shamefully indifferent Western world
    In the first cabinet meeting following the Six Day War, long before Hamas came into existence, ridding Gaza of its Palestinian inhabitants was top of the agenda.

    “If we can evict 300,000 refugees from Gaza to other places . . .  we can annex Gaza without a problem,” Defence Minister Moshe Dayan said.

    The population of Gaza was 400,000 at the time.

    “We should take them to the East Bank [Jordan] by the scruff of their necks and throw them there,” Minister Yosef Sapir said.

    Fifty-eight years later the possible destinations may have changed but the aim remains the same. And a shamefully indifferent Western world combined with a malnourished and desperate population may be paving the way to a mass expulsion.

    If the US, Europe and their allies demanded that Israel stop, the killing would end tomorrow.

    Jeremy Rose is a Wellington-based journalist and his Towards Democracy blog is at Substack.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ICE Arrests Man Charged with Vehicular Homicide in the Death of Minnesota Mom, Victoria Eileen Harwell

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Minnesota refused to honor this criminal illegal alien’s ICE detainers twice 

    WASHINGTON – German Llangari Inga, an illegal alien from Ecuador, was charged with vehicular homicide that resulted in the death of Minnesota mom, Victoria Eileen Harwell in August of 2024.

    Pictured: Victoria Eileen Harwell

    According to court documents, Llangari Inga’spreliminary breathalyzer revealed his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit for driving in Minnesota. A test of a blood sample collected by police about 2½ hours later found his blood alcohol content was 0.141%, still well above the legal limit. 

    Immediately following the crime, ICE placed a detainer for Llangari upon his arrest for criminal vehicular homicide on Aug. 4, 2024. The Hennepin County Jail refused to honor the detainer, and he was released without notification to ICE on August 6, 2024. Llangari was arrested again on May 10, 2025, on an outstanding warrant for vehicular homicide by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and ICE placed a detainer the same day. He was released May 13 without notification to ICE. ICE arrested Llangari Inga on May 16, 2025.

    Pictured: German Llangari Inga

    “Despite a lack of cooperation from local Minnesota authorities, ICE arrested criminal illegal alien German Llangari Inga. This criminal illegal alien has been evading prosecution for vehicular homicide that resulted in the death of Minnesota mom, Victoria Eileen Harwell,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Despite Hennepin County refusing to honor this criminal illegal alien’s detainer TWICE, ICE officers tracked him down and removed this criminal from Minnesota’s streets. Tim Walz should be thanking ICE not using despicable rhetoric. Remember sanctuary politicians are fighting for criminal illegal aliens. President Trump and Secretary Noem are fighting for the victims of illegal alien crime, like Eileen Harwell.” 

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Khanna, Luna, And Biggs Introduce Bill To Codify Trump’s Executive Order To Lower Prescription Drug Costs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Washington, DC — Representatives Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), and Andy Biggs (AZ-05) introduced the bipartisan Global Fairness in Drug Pricing Act to codify the core provisions of President Trump’s Executive Order into law — ensuring lasting, enforceable reform that permanently delivers lower prices to Americans. 

    Americans pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world — in some cases, up to ten times more than patients in other comparably developed nations for the same exact medications. President Trump’s executive order, while a step forward, could be tied up in the courts and delayed indefinitely without action from Congress. 

    “It’s time to stand up to drug companies who are more worried about bolstering profits for their Wall Street investors, than making sure people can afford life-saving medication. The predatory pricing practices of giant, largely faceless, pharmaceutical corporations causes undue burden on Americans just trying their best just to get by,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “There is no reason my constituents should pay more for their medicine than our Canadian neighbors 59 miles away across our northern border. Our effort to guarantee lowest possible pricing will benefit the well-being of tens of millions of Americans. I’m grateful to Congressman Khanna, Congresswoman Luna, and Congressman Biggs for helping lead this bipartisan effort for the American people who need all the help they can get in lowering their prescription drug costs.”

    “Americans are getting ripped off. It’s deeply unfair that we’re paying significantly more for the same prescription drugs than people in other countries,” said Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17). “Pharmaceutical companies are raking in Billions while patients are rationing their medications or going into crushing debt to get the prescriptions they need. There is bipartisan outrage, and Congress must come together to act. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Reps. Luna, Kaptur, and Biggs to lower prices for Americans.” 

    “For decades, Big Pharma has lined its pockets by ripping off American consumers. Their extraordinarily profitable racket overcharged desperate Americans for life-saving medicine, while charging foreign consumers more reasonable prices,” said Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna FL-13). “I’m proud to reach across the aisle to codify President Trump’s executive order, which put an end to this disgusting practice. Congress must make sure that pharmaceutical companies are never allowed to extort the sick and needy again.”

    The Global Fairness in Drug Pricing Act legislation would:

    1. Direct HHS to propose rulemaking that imposes most-favored-nation price targets, aligning U.S. drug prices with those in peer countries;
    2. Authorize the FDA to consistently grant importation waivers for prescription drugs from countries with strong safety records and lower costs;
    3. Empower the FTC and DOJ to investigate and act on anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry using existing antitrust laws;
    4. Facilitate direct-to-consumer access to low-cost drugs at international benchmark prices;

    5. Require the Department of Commerce and USTR to assess policies that force Americans to subsidize global R&D or suppress fair pricing abroad.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: BREAKING: President Trump announces the ‘Golden Dome’

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

    BREAKING: President Trump announces the ‘Golden Dome,’ a cutting-edge missile defense shield to protect the homeland.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo8u5V08z_k

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republican Governors Stand United in Support of President Trump and the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

    Source: US Republican Governors Association

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Republican governors sent a joint letter to President Trump supporting the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to permanently secure the border, unleash American energy, and give working class families tax cuts worth thousands of dollars each.

    In part, the governors wrote:

    “As Republican Governors, we stand UNITED in strong support of your One, Big, Beautiful Bill. This landmark piece of legislation embodies your powerful vision to bring about the next great American revival. It truly delivers on the bold promises all Republicans made to the American people to restore the security, prosperity, and fiscal sanity for our nation.

    “After four long years of tremendous hardship under President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the American people cannot wait any longer for Congress to enact the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. The American people have witnessed the tireless work undertaken by you and your administration to reverse the disastrous consequences of President Biden’s failed and often illegal policies. You have demonstrated a commitment to using every ounce of Executive authority available to reinstitute fiscal sanity, fight the deep state, secure our borders, and achieve energy dominance.”

    Read the full letter here.

    Signatories to the letter include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Mike Braun (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Mike Kehoe (MO), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Kelly Armstrong (ND), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Patrick Morrisey (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: After another call with Putin, it looks like Trump has abandoned efforts to mediate peace in Ukraine

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    After a two-hour phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on May 19, US president Donald Trump took to social media to declare that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately start negotiations” towards a ceasefire and an end to the war. He did, however, add that the conditions for peace “will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be”.

    With the Vatican, according to Trump, “very interested in hosting the negotiations” and European leaders duly informed, it seems clear that the US has effectively abandoned its stalled mediation efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

    It was always a possibility that Trump could walk away from the war, despite previous claims he could end it in 24 hours. This only became more likely on May 16, when the first face-to-face negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for more than three years predictably ended without a ceasefire agreement.

    When Trump announced shortly afterwards that he would be speaking to his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts by phone a few days later, he effectively mounted the beginning of a rearguard action. This was further underlined when, shortly before the Trump-Putin call, Vice-President J.D. Vance, explicitly told reporters that the US could end its shuttle diplomacy.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The meagre outcomes of the talks between Russia and Ukraine – as well as between Trump and Putin – are not surprising. Russia is clearly not ready for any concessions yet. It keeps insisting that Ukraine accept its maximalist demands of territorial concessions and future neutrality.

    Putin also continues to slow-walk any negotiations. After his call with Trump, he reportedly said that “Russia will offer and is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum on a possible future peace agreement”, including “a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time, should relevant agreements be reached.”

    The lack of urgency on Russia’s part to end the fighting and, in fact, the Kremlin’s ability and willingness to continue the war was emphasised the day before the Trump-Putin call. Russia carried out its largest drone attack against Ukraine so far in the war, targeting several regions including Kyiv.

    There has been no let-up in the fighting since. And the fact that Putin spoke to Trump while visiting a music school in the southern Russian city of Sochi does not suggest that a ceasefire in Ukraine is high on the Russian leader’s priority list.

    A large part of the Kremlin’s calculation seems to be its desire to strike a grand bargain with the White House on a broader reset of relations between the US and Russia. It is signalling clearly that this is more important than the war in Ukraine and might even happen without the fighting there ending.

    This also appears to be driving thinking in Washington. Trump foreshadowed an improvement in bilateral relations by describing the “tone and spirit” of his conversation with Putin as “excellent”. He also seemed pleased about the prospects of “large-scale trade” with Russia.

    Abandoning European allies

    Trump is on record as saying that there would be no progress towards peace in Ukraine until he and Putin get together. But it is worth bearing mind that very little movement towards a ceasefire in Ukraine – let alone a peace agreement – occurred after the last phone call between the two presidents in February.

    Part of this lack of progress has been Trump’s reluctance to put any real pressure on Putin. And despite agreement in Brussels and preparations in Washington for an escalation in sanctions against Russia, it is unlikely that Trump will change his approach.

    In this context, the sequence in which the calls occurred is telling. Trump and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, had a short call before the former spoke with Putin. Zelensky said he told Trump not to make decisions about Ukraine “without us”.

    But rather than presenting Putin with a clear ultimatum to accept a ceasefire, Trump apparently discussed future relations with Putin at great length before informing Zelensky and key European allies that the war in Ukraine is now solely their problem to solve.

    This has certainly raised justifiable fears in Kyiv and European capitals that, for the sake of a reset with Russia, the US might yet completely abandon its allies across the Atlantic.

    However, if a reset with Russia at any cost really is Trump’s strategy, it is bound to fail. As much as Putin seems willing to continue with his aggression against Ukraine, Zelensky is as unwilling to surrender. Putin can rely on China’s continued backing while Zelensky can count on support from Europe.

    Supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine is essential for China to keep Moscow on side in its rivalry with the US. And for Europe, supporting Ukraine has become an existential question of deterring and containing a revisionist Russia hell-bent on restoring a Soviet-style sphere of influence in central and eastern Europe.

    In a world that has been in flux since Trump’s return to the White House, these are some of the emerging constants. And they make a US-Russia reset highly improbable.

    Even if it were to happen, it would not strengthen Washington’s position with Beijing. Walking away from Ukraine and Europe now will deprive the US of the very allies it will need in the long term to prevail in its rivalry with China.

    By abandoning his mediation between Moscow and Kyiv, Trump may have broken the deadlock in his efforts to achieve a reset with Russia. But getting this deal over the line will be a pyrrhic victory.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. After another call with Putin, it looks like Trump has abandoned efforts to mediate peace in Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/after-another-call-with-putin-it-looks-like-trump-has-abandoned-efforts-to-mediate-peace-in-ukraine-257021

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni’s telephone conversation with Pope Leo XIV on Ukraine

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    20 Maggio 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, had a telephone conversation today with the Holy Father on the next steps in order to build a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

    The conversation followed yesterday’s call with President Trump and other European leaders, during which President Meloni was asked to verify the readiness of the Holy See to host negotiations. President Meloni, having received confirmation from the Holy Father of the readiness to welcome the next round of talks between the parties in the Vatican, expressed her deep gratitude for Pope Leo XIV’s openness and for his tireless commitment to peace.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Reintroduces the Protect Children’s Innocence Act in the 119th Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA, 14)

    Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has reintroduced her landmark legislation, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, a bold step to end the barbaric practice of so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors. This legislation, now designated as H.R. 3492, criminalizes genital mutilation, chemical castration, and all sex-change procedures performed on children.

    The Protect Children’s Innocence Act strengthens and codifies President Donald J. Trump’s executive order banning gender transition procedures for minors. Together, this legislation and the President’s action send a clear message: the federal government will no longer tolerate the abuse and exploitation of children by the radical gender ideology of the Left.

    “Left-wing activists and medical institutions are targeting America’s children with dangerous drugs, disfiguring surgeries, and permanent sterilization,” said Congresswoman Greene. “My bill stops the mutilation of kids and holds those responsible for performing or facilitating these barbaric procedures accountable.”

    The bill is scheduled to be marked up in the House Judiciary Committee at 10 AM tomorrow, a critical step toward bringing it to the House floor for a vote.

    When Congresswoman Greene first introduced this bill in 2022, she was joined by Chloe Cole, a courageous young woman who began “gender-affirming care” at age 13 and underwent a double mastectomy at 15. Chloe detransitioned at 16 and is now a vocal advocate for protecting vulnerable youth from irreversible harm. Watch Chloe’s powerful testimony here.

    What the Protect Children’s Innocence Act Does:

    • Criminalizes any attempt to perform or facilitate genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on a minor, with up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a significant fine.
    • Bans all puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone treatments for children.
    • Provides no exemption for mental health disorders as justification for these procedures.
    • Defines “chemical castration” and “genital or bodily mutilation” with detailed legal clarity.
    • Exempts children born with certain rare genetic conditions, or who are experiencing medical emergencies as certified by a physician.

    Cosponsors in the 119th Congress include: Crane, Finstad, Luna, Bice, Mary Miller, Crenshaw, McGuire, Kustoff, Biggs, Burlison, Tenney, Higgins, Brecheen, Nehls, Weber, Harris, Grothman, Hern, Collins, Ogles, Babin, Clyde, De La Cruz, Hageman, Owens, Palmer, Timmons, Norman, Max Miller, Steube, Jackson, Riley Moore, Comer, Gill, Baird, McDowell, Harshbarger, and Gooden.

    Supporting organizations include the American Principles Project, Citizens for Renewing America, CPAC, Gays Against Groomers, Independent Women, and Moms for Liberty.

    Read the full bill text here.

    Watch Chloe Cole’s testimony here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Questions VA Secretary Doug Collins about the Need to Strengthen Veteran Suicide Prevention Efforts and Prioritize Survivor’s Assistance within the VA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani, who represents nearly 80,000 veterans in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, questioned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins during an oversight hearing about the VA’s preliminary requested budget. 

    During the hearing, Ciscomani urged Secretary Collins to provide greater clarity about the status of Arizona’s Be Connected Program which aims to address suicide rates among Arizona’s veteran population.  

    Created in 2017, the Be Connected program finds ways for the VA to better partner with local stakeholders to prevent veteran suicide by providing resources, care, career navigation advice, connection coaching, financial assistance and more. This public-private partnership has been nationally recognized for its exceptional cross-sector collaboration and partnership to address the complex issue of suicide prevention.  

    The need for Be Connected arose after a troubling spike in veteran suicide rates between 2015-2016 following a scandal at the Phoenix VA, which was 3-4 times higher than the general population and nearly double the national rate for veterans. In his time in Congress, Ciscomani has repeatedly met with local stakeholders, his Veteran Advisory Council, the veteran community at large, and VA Secretaries from both the Biden and Trump administrations to find ways to reduce suicide rates and support our veterans. In January 2025, Ciscomani sent a letter to the VA advocating for the continued support of this critical program. 
    The congressman also praised Secretary Collins for moving the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) back within the Office of the VA Secretary, which is exactly what Ciscomani’s legislation, the Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act (H.R. 1228), did. This ensures that surviving families of veterans receive the benefits and support they were promised and provide them a direct line to the Secretary, so their needs and concerns are prioritized program-wide at the very top of the VA. This legislation previously passed the House of Representatives on April 9, 2025 with unanimous support. 
    You can find the congressman’s entire line of questioning here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at IRS Commissioner Nomination Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of Billy Long to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner.
    As prepared for delivery:
    “Today, we will hear from Congressman Billy Long, who is nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 
    “Congressman Long, congratulations on your nomination, and thank you for your willingness to serve in government again.
    “The IRS is responsible for helping American taxpayers understand and meet their tax responsibilities, and to enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all. 
    “As outlined in the Internal Revenue Code, the Commissioner’s job is to oversee tax administration for the federal government, enforce tax laws and ensure compliance while balancing taxpayer service, fairness and efficiency.
    “In recent years, these needs have not been sufficiently balanced, and the IRS has suffered from many problems and missteps.  Perhaps that is why Americans consistently rate it as one of the least favorable federal agencies, notwithstanding the fact that nearly all Americans must interact with it.
    “We hear time and time again about IRS efforts to improve taxpayer services, boost employee morale and modernize outdated systems.  The last Administration dedicated billions of dollars of extra funding to this end, but actual improvement at the IRS ran short. 
    “This is in no small part due to the outsized emphasis on increased funding for enforcement, which dwarfed funding for IT modernization and customer service improvements.
    “Further, the IRS diverted resources and attention to duplicative and unnecessary side projects, such as when the IRS circumvented Congress to create the unauthorized Direct File program.  The Trump Administration is rightly calling for a reexamination of this program as part of its broader goal to eliminate wasteful spending at the IRS. 
    “While critics argue that fiscal prudence at the IRS harms tax collection, in fact, the opposite has proven to be true.  For example, concerns that tax receipts would be down this year.
    “Individual income and payroll tax receipts are $120 billion higher this year than last year and statistically in line with projections made by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in January 2025.
    “Agency improvements do not require tens of billions of dollars in additional funding, but better prioritization and execution.  Modernization could also enable the IRS to become more efficient, reducing its annual funding needs. 
    “With the IRS on a healthier spending glide path, and a renewed focus toward efficiently serving taxpayers, it is now time for the next IRS Commissioner to prioritize taxpayers. 
    “My conversations with Congressman Long assured me that, once confirmed, he will focus on improving taxpayer services, enforcing our tax laws with fairness for all and ensuring resources are optimally allocated.
    “President Trump called Congressman Long the ‘consummate people person.’  Congressman Long is very clear that he will make himself available to all IRS employees, no matter their seniority.  Moreover, he wants to implement a top-down culture change at the agency.  This sea change will benefit American taxpayers, who too often view the IRS as foe, rather than friend.
    “Congressman Long knows, from years of experience in the House, that to be a successful Commissioner, he must be a valuable partner in Congress’ efforts to ensure that new tax legislation is implemented and administered as Congress intends it to be.  I am also confident that he will be fully transparent and responsive to Congress and the American people.
    “Before concluding, I would be remiss if I did not thank Mr. Faulkender for his time spent as Acting Commissioner.  We want him to return to the job he was confirmed to do, as we now turn to hear from Congressman Long.
    “American taxpayers want a change agent to helm the IRS.  Congressman Billy Long fits this description and is well-suited to lead the IRS at this moment in time.
    “Congressman Long, thank you again for your willingness to return to government, and I look forward to working with you, if confirmed.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Brad Sherman & Judy Chu Host Congressional Roundtable on Fire Recovery with Los Angeles County Leaders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) hosted a roundtable with California Members of Congress and Los Angeles County officials to discuss ongoing recovery efforts following January’s devastating Palisades and Eaton Fires. Together, these fires scorched more than 37,000 acres, destroyed over 13,000 homes, displaced tens of thousands of residents, and claimed 30 lives.                   

    The discussion offered an opportunity for the Members to hear directly from Los Angeles County leaders, including Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Board and Supervisor for Altadena and Pasadena, about the ongoing challenges facing fire-impacted communities and the work being done to ensure communities can rebuild swiftly and safely. 

    During the roundtable, Members and LA County officials discussed the status of ongoing debris removal and mitigation, soil testing and remediation, utility restoration, social and medical services, and housing solutions for disaster victims.

    After the roundtable, Representatives Sherman and Chu released the following joint statement: “In response to the many challenges our communities face following the Los Angeles fires, we were grateful to host today’s roundtable to discuss solutions with LA County officials leading recovery efforts on the ground and advocate for the urgent support our communities need to rebuild.”

    The Members also emphasized the need to protect the federal agencies carrying out disaster recovery operations for their communities from the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and AmeriCorps. 

    Lastly, the Members emphasized their commitment to securing additional federal disaster funding in Congress so that California disaster victims have the resources they need to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities — just as Congress has done after every other major disaster across the country.

    Representatives Sherman and Chu concluded: “We have both consistently voted for disaster aid to Republican-led states regardless of whether we strongly disagreed with their policies, because disasters have no political affiliation. Our constituents have demonstrated so much strength and resolve throughout the course of this catastrophe, and they urgently need and deserve additional federal resources to rebuild their lives. Disaster relief is not and should never be a partisan issue, and we will continue to work with Congressional leadership and President Trump to deliver relief to our communities. Far too many families are still living in uncertainty as we work to rebuild after the fires. We are committed to working alongside our local partners to deliver every possible resource to help our communities recover.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Syria: New urgency to end unlawful detention system holding tens of thousands of people following Islamic State defeat

    Source: Amnesty International –

    • Ongoing chaos caused by US humanitarian funding cuts creates dangerous uncertainty
    • New Syrian government and autonomous authorities must address inhumane detention system
    • UN and US-led coalition must support efforts to reduce numbers in camps and facilities

    The mayhem created by recent haphazard US funding cuts must prompt the rapid reduction in the number of people arbitrarily and indefinitely detained in north-east Syria for their perceived affiliation to the Islamic State (IS) armed group, Amnesty International said.

    More than six years after the territorial defeat of IS, the Autonomous Authorities of the North and East Syria Region (autonomous authorities), with the support of the US-led coalition to defeat IS, continue to unlawfully detain tens of thousands of men, women, and children with perceived affiliation to IS in over two dozen detention facilities and in Al-Hol and Roj detention camps. Some of these individuals are survivors of crimes under international law, and trafficking in persons committed by IS. Most people have not been charged or given the opportunity to challenge their detention, and some detainees have been subjected to torture and other ill treatment.

    The Trump administration’s sudden and unprepared funding cuts have created what can only be described as a chaotic situation, characterized by weakened basic services in the camps. As stop-gap resources run out and further cuts loom, camp residents face increased turmoil. Amnesty International’s report last year documented how people in the camps already faced grossly inhumane and life-threatening conditions, with inadequate access to sustenance and healthcare. They have been forced to endure an unstable and often unsafe existence, rife with violence and other criminality. As one 28-year-old woman told Amnesty International: “We are living in terror.”

    It is unconscionable that the Trump administration would further weaken one of the world’s most volatile camps by abruptly terminating funding 

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

    “The chaos created by the Trump administration’s funding cuts could have catastrophic effects on the tens of thousands of children, women and men detained in north-east Syria,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

    “It is unconscionable that the Trump administration would further weaken one of the world’s most volatile camps by abruptly terminating funding for essential services, leaving an extreme burden on the autonomous authorities and humanitarian actors.”

    In March 2025, Amnesty International spoke with 27 individuals – including humanitarian and non-governmental organizations, representatives of the autonomous authorities, and residents of Al-Hol and Roj camps – regarding the future of the detention system.

    US funding cuts

    On 20 January, the Trump administration announced a pause in foreign assistance. The arbitrary, abrupt, and unpredictable issuing of stop-work orders by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led to chaos in Al-Hol.

    The camp is coordinated by Blumont, a US-based NGO which receives US foreign assistance. On the morning of 25 January, Jihan Hanan, a representative of the autonomous authorities and the camp’s manager, discovered that none of the approximately 300 US-funded Blumont staff had arrived to work, including security staff who guarded offices and warehouses.

    A repatriation trip for about 600 Iraqis in Al-Hol had been scheduled with the Iraqi authorities that day. As Blumont manages a database on camp residents, Hanan was forced to break in to the Blumont offices to facilitate the repatriations. Warehouses containing items such as gas for cooking and bread were reportedly looted.

    In order to continue delivery of food and water, the autonomous authorities relied on help from other NGOs, and hired an estimated 40 security guards to protect offices in the camp. Blumont was granted a waiver by the US government a few days after the freeze, restoring some of its funding. In April, however, the US also cut funding for 24 hours to an NGO delivering food to the camp, an action the Trump administration later called a mistake.

    As of 4 March, the latest figures available, the US government had cut at least $117 million worth of humanitarian assistance allocated to projects in north-east Syria, although some funding has since been reinstated.  Interviewees told Amnesty International they were concerned about decreasing health services in Al-Hol, including the closure of health centres and fewer ambulances for emergency services; and the loss of programming in so-called rehabilitation facilities for boys forcibly separated from their families in the camps.

    Programmes supporting people leaving Al-Hol, including within Syria, were also affected. Before the funding cuts, the autonomous authorities and humanitarian groups already struggled to meet the needs of camp residents.

    Five projects in Roj were also terminated in early March after funding cuts. One camp resident said they had received double their food rations from the World Food Programme and were told it had to last a while, in case of further cuts.

    Some interviewed by Amnesty International expressed significant concerns that IS could recruit within the camps. One humanitarian representative explained: “As services go down in these two camps and people are increasingly hungry, increasingly unable to access basic services, the cry coming from… the inhabitants from Al-Hol and Roj is [to IS], ‘Come and get us’.” Highlighting the threat, in mid-April the autonomous authorities carried out a security campaign in Al-Hol camp because of what they described as an “increase in attempts to smuggle Daesh [IS] families [and] continued [IS] recruitment operations”.

    Even as some funding for Al-Hol is reinstated, the uncertainty created by the cuts has caused irreparable harm to various projects. One humanitarian representative explained that once staff contracts are terminated, the process of re-hiring and bringing programmes back is challenging. US funding cuts have also precipitated the loss of key staff from the NES Forum, the region’s humanitarian coordinating structure, resulting in some fundamental coordination gaps.

    The UN is gradually taking over some coordination activities, which may raise the visibility of ongoing human rights issues and concerns in the detention system. However, the UN is also facing very large funding challenges, and many NGOs are still unable to access UN funds because they are required to register with the Syrian government in Damascus through a process some groups oppose due to onerous registration requirements.

    Accelerating repatriation and returns from camps

    After years of failing to find a durable solution to the crisis in north-east Syria, the turmoil created by the funding cuts must finally spur urgent action. Recent events – including the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government, growing UN presence in north-east Syria, and increasing diplomatic ties between the Syrian government and states with nationals still detained – could help accelerate an end to the unlawful system of detention.

    Recognizing this change in environment, the autonomous authorities have started work on a plan, in coordination with the UN, to empty the camps of Iraqis and Syrians in 2025. These groups comprise about 80% of the 36,000 people in Al-Hol, with the remainder from an estimated 60 other countries.

    In January 2025, the autonomous authorities announced that they would facilitate the voluntary return of Syrians detained in Al-Hol to their hometowns. Most of the remaining 16,000 Syrians in the camp are from areas that previously were under control of the Assad government or armed opposition groups.

    In the last year Iraq’s government has significantly increased the pace of repatriations, and, as of March 2025, returned over 5,600 individuals from Al-Hol camp – close to half the people Iraq has repatriated from Al-Hol since 2021.

    The departure of camp residents from Al-Hol is welcome. However, people should not simply be transferred from one detention centre to another, such as to the Al-Jed’ah Centre in Iraq, where Amnesty International last year documented torture and enforced disappearance.

    Recommendations

    The new Syrian government, autonomous authorities, US-led coalition, and the UN must identify long-overdue solutions to the crisis.

    Among the most urgent priorities is the need to downsize the camps. Before families can leave the camps, children and young adults separated from their families should be reunited. There should be investment in programmes in Iraq and Syria to support the voluntary return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of Iraqis and Syrians, who are not suspected perpetrators of crimes under international law, in their areas of origin. 

    It’s time to finally put an end to this unlawful system of detention

    Agnès Callamard

    “It’s time to finally put an end to this unlawful system of detention. As the US prepares to downsize its military presence in Syria, the people still living in these camps must not be abandoned,” said Agnès Callamard.

    “States with nationals in north-east Syria should immediately charter flights to finally bring home child citizens, their carers, and potential victims of trafficking.

    Any remaining adults should be screened to identify which individuals should be investigated and prosecuted for crimes committed under international law or serious crimes under domestic law. Everyone else should be released, and the Syrian government and other countries should help resettle those unable to return home.”

    Victims of crimes committed by IS deserve justice. Even if individuals are repatriated for trials, a residual group of Syrians and foreigners who cannot return home will remain. The new Syrian government, with the support of the autonomous authorities and international community, must initiate a plan for trials that meet international standards.

    Background

    About 46,500 Syrians, Iraqis, and other foreign nationals remain in the detention camps and facilities. The majority are women and children. Among the men held in the detention facilities, between 2,000 to 3,100 foreigners and about 2,000 Syrians have yet to be tried.

    Following the fall of al-Assad and the establishment of an interim government in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces, one of the groups that make up the autonomous authorities, signed an agreement on 10 March 2025 that “all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria” should be merged “into the administration of the Syrian state”. This merger may include administration of the detention camps and facilities in the north-east.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch to Demand Senate Pass his Resolution Decrying Two-Month Blockade on Food and Medicine in Gaza

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today at 3:45PM, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will demand the Senate pass his resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. In the resolution, Senators express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the imminent starvation of tens of thousands of children.
    This morning, Senator Welch joined NPR to discuss the humanitarian catastrophe, and said, “I want aid to flow. It’s really very, very simple…The United States has a role to play here, and Congress has a role to play. The idea that we’re accepting this, we’re turning our head the other way as if this is not happening, is wrong.”
    S.Res.224 is now cosponsored by 44 Democrats and two Independents.
    The United Nations warned today that 14,000 babies in Gaza are at risk of death within the next 48 hours if humanitarian aid and care is not delivered. After an 11-week blockade, five trucks entered Gaza yesterday and around 100 are expected to enter today—which is not nearly enough to help starving children and families.
    Watch a livestream of the Senate floor via C-SPAN.

    MIL OSI USA News –