NewzIntel.com

Category: Trumpism

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces Legislation to Codify President Trump’s Executive Order on Showerheads

    Source:

    Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces Legislation to Codify President Trump’s Executive Order on Showerheads

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) introduced the Saving Homeowners from Overregulation With Exceptional Rinsing (SHOWER) Act, a bill to codify President Trump’s clear and consistent definition of “showerhead” and put an end to the federal government’s overregulation of household water fixtures.

    Under the 2016 Trump Administration, the Department of Energy (DOE) rightly clarified that each nozzle in a multi-head shower system could be treated as a separate showerhead, each allowed to flow at up to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), consistent with the original intent of the 1992 Energy Policy Act.

    But in 2021, the Biden Administration reversed course, reinstating a burdensome interpretation that limited the combined flow of all nozzles in a system to 2.5 GPM—effectively reducing water pressure and restricting consumer choice. That rule was widely criticized as overreach and emblematic of a broader regulatory agenda targeting everyday household appliances.

    President Trump issued an Executive Order in April of 2025 directing DOE to eliminate the Biden-era rule, and DOE followed through in May by repealing the restrictive definition entirely. The SHOWER Act now ensures this rollback is enshrined in law and cannot be reversed by future administrations.

    Specifically, the bill:

    • Codifies the definition of “showerhead” using the ASME A112.18.1–2018 industry standard.

    • Clarifies that each individual nozzle in a multi-nozzle unit may operate independently at up to 2.5 GPM.

    • Excludes safety showerheads used for emergency purposes.

    • Directs the DOE to revise existing regulations within 180 days to reflect the updated statutory definition.

    • Prevents future reinterpretations that would restrict water flow and limit consumer options.

    “Washington bureaucrats have gone too far in dictating what happens in Americans’ own homes,” said Congressman Fry. “The SHOWER Act is a smart fix that reaffirms each shower nozzle is just that—its own showerhead—and should be treated accordingly under the law. This is about defending consumer choice, pushing back on regulatory overreach, and standing up for commonsense policy.”

    “For far too long federal regulations and red tape have limited consumer choice and forced Americans to live with limited water pressure,” said Chairman Guthrie. “Low pressure showers waste time and increase water usage. By codifying how different nozzles are categorized, the SHOWER Act offers a commonsense fix that will allow households to choose what meets their needs, not what Washington mandates.  Thank you to Representative Fry for leading this legislation and for your work to deliver results for consumers across the country.” 

    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    Congressman Fry serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Kudlow to Highlight President Trump’s Wins in First Six Months in Office

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business Network to highlight some of President Trump’s many wins since taking office six months ago, including historic tax cuts, increased military recruitment, protecting female athletes, securing the southern border, and making our food healthier.

    Excerpts from the interview can be found below and the full interview can be viewed on YouTube or Rumble.

    KUDLOW: “So Senator Tuberville, I think one of the themes here—this is something we’ve talked about. Victor Davis Hanson has been writing about this. The experts were wrong. Trump got this stuff done. In particular, the southern border—which is virtually flat now, virtually empty—no crossings. We didn’t need new legislation, right? Remember that push? We just needed somebody who was tough enough to enforce the laws. Let’s start with that one, okay? Immigration. How about that? Maybe his greatest achievement.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Well, you’re exactly right and one of the repercussions of the immigration stoppage of keeping very few illegals coming to our country—we’re saving $40 billion dollars to this point in this budget. $40 billion dollars. And that’s going to count up. We could not afford for Kamala Harris to win this election because it would have been a disaster, just for the immigration alone, which would [have] just stair-stepped everything to becoming a disaster when it come to the economy.”

    KUDLOW: “And you know Senator, the Democrats have to be crazy and just out of their minds to oppose this, okay? They’re still defend[ing]—and they’re still in the business of defending sanctuary cities and of defending the worst of the worst criminals. And we just had this awful shooting of a border agent in New York City. And DHS secretary Kristi Noem correctly just blasted New York City Democrats. They got a mayor—the Socialist mayor, Communist mayor, whatever he is—Mamdani the Commie. He wants to keep ICE agents out. He wants to keep Netanyahu out. He wants to keep Trump out. I mean, how can the Democrats be so stupid? I call them experts. They’re really just deep state people who arejust on the wrong side of all these issues.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Well, the wrong side, and that’s the only side they can reach to, Larry, for votes. They have to have votes, and they’re looking for somewhere to get votes. This sanctuary city nonsense—it’s unlawful. People are going to get hurt more and more when you hang out in these sanctuary cities. But all they’re doing is pushing socialism, and all socialism is just—it’s communism without a gun, at the end of the day. And so, we need to understand the direction this country’s going if the Democrats have an opportunity to get a leg back into this country in terms of leadership. That’s not going to happen. As you just said, I was at that dinner in the White House Friday night when President Trump was going through all those wins that we’ve had. It’s just amazing to me that it takes so long to go through them, our dinner got cold. But at the end of the day, it was so fun to listen to all that. It’s just amazing what he’s done in six months.”

    KUDLOW: “So the experts were wrong, tariffs are not inflationary, real wages are actually going up, the stock market is now hitting new record highs. I believe today, both the NASDAQ and the SMP hit new record highs. But here’s one for you, which I think is very important: in six months, military recruitment—new military recruitment—Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, Donald Trump, President of the United States and Commander in Chief—new military recruitment has gone sky high, record levels. What do you make of that, Senator?”

    TUBERVILLE: “Well, I’ll tell you why, people—these young men and women—are feeling good about our country again. They’re not being told that they’re woke, and they need to be social justice warriors. They’re doing it for the right thing. They’re doing it to protect our country. But it’s also a great way to get an education. It’s a great job. But it wasn’t sold that way by the Democrats. It was sold by the Democrats as ‘Hey, be part of a basically a clown show,’ and that’s what it was turning into. I’m on Armed Services. I’ve never seen anything like the recruiting that was going on. The books that our generals were telling our troops to read, whether it was on ships or in in some of these camps—it’s just amazing to me the direction where we were going.”

    KUDLOW: “Well, here’s another one then. We obliterated Iran, but the deep state experts said, ‘No. No. No. If we hit Iran, it would cause a massive blow-up and war throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.’ What I don’t see is any of that stuff. In fact, we’re—I guess, we’re at a ceasefire, de facto, if not de jure. But the point is he obliterated the Iran nuclear program. None of them under the Bidens or the Obamas or anybody else had the backbone, I’ll call it, to do such a thing. You know what I mean? Here—tough wins, okay? Tough always wins.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yep. President Trump’s a peacemaker. He understands sometimes you have to take the tough decision. Don’t listen to everybody else around you. Go by your instincts. He understood that, hey, there is no possible way we can allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. And if they’re getting this close as his experts were telling him, we’ve got to do something. And so go in, go out. He set them back probably a year and a half, two years. They can always build back. But who’s to say we won’t go back in there in two years and destroy it again? And it’s cost them a trillion dollars to build this infrastructure up. […]”

    KUDLOW: “Here’s another one: no men in women’s sports. How about that? Commonsense, you wouldn’t have thought. This was like a major battle—a major battle. This was like the Democrats’ last stand, but no men in women’s sports.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah. Of course, I’ve been on this ever since it started. This was my first vote when I got here four years ago. And there’s [been] no Democrats in four years vote on any of my bills about no men and women sports. It’s absolutely insane what they’ve tried to do. And it’s an attack on women. And it doesn’t—I don’t understand this. I must be talking to people from a different planet sometimes when they talk about [how] they need the opportunity to do whatever they want to do. No, they don’t. Men and women have separate identities in terms of physical ability, and they need to be separate in sports and that’s the reason we’ve had it this way for 249 years.”

    KUDLOW: “How about this one? I didn’t put it in my riff, but alright, fancy colleges and universities—no more antisemitism. No more racism. No more affirmative action. And if you don’t play ball, you’re gonna lose your grants, your federal grants. Now that is a tough President doing the right thing. Is he not?”

    TUBERVILLE: “Exactly. Our education is going to hell in a handbasket. And here’s the reason why: it’s become a business, Larry. It’s become a business of making money and doing things to where they can pay their presidents $2 or $3 million dollars each and have their private planes. It’s really gone overboard. But let me give you one: 35-40% of the companies in this country have cut out this poison that we’re putting in our food. And of all the people I talk to, this is one of the major wins that President Trump’s had. We don’t talk about it enough. I’m having dinner with Dr. Oz and some of the people of MAHA tonight, and it’s gonna be a celebration of making a lot of progress in just a short period of time and cleaning up our food.”

    KUDLOW: “Well, I love that. Look, we had Bobby Kennedy on the show. He was absolutely terrific. I gotta stop eating ice cream because they’re always weird dyes. I can’t do that anymore. I’m gonna stick to my—” 

    TUBERVILLE: “Eat vanilla. Eat vanilla, Larry.”

    KUDLOW: “I don’t know. Even vanilla, I can’t be sure anymore. He really shook everybody up. But finally, Senator—and this is a tragedy. Today a Border Patrol agent got shot in New York City. I think people, alright. Kristi Noem—DHS Secretary Noem—is blasting this as part of the New York City problem. This is part of the sanctuary city problem. This is part of the blue city Democratic problem. This is Mamdani the Commie problem. He’s gonna make it worse. I mean, this poor guy got shot for no good reason. Now, this stuff has gotta stop.”

    TUBERVILLE: “It really does have to stop. And again, law enforcement, Customs and Border Patrol, whoever is in authority—protect yourself. President Trump has given them authority to protect themself. It’s unfortunate this young person got shot and shot in the face [is] my understanding. Hope he’s fine. But again, this is not gonna be the end of it, Larry. It’s gonna get worse and worse as we go from here. But they have to protect themselves, give them the right to shoot back if they shoot at them…”

    KUDLOW: “And so, let me ask you. I mean, Democrats defunding the police again. I haven’t heard that this is what Mamdani the Commie wants to do. Defund the police, put social workers in their place. By the way, he’s got a clone who just got the Democratic nomination for mayor out in Minneapolis, unbelievable to me. How can they actually argue that? You got your Mayor Bass. You got your Governor Newsom. You got all these people, okay? They may not come out for defund the police, but they don’t want any law and order when it comes to chasing the worst of the worst of the illegal criminals who should be deported. I mean, honestly, this is the Democratic position. I think I saw poll today. The Democratic Party has an approval rating, Senator, of 19%. How about those apples? 19%.”

    TUBERVILLE: “It’s gonna get worse. Can you imagine [in] Minneapolis, and Chicago, and Detroit, and New York, San Francisco, LA—social workers being the police? What uniform are they gonna wear, first of all? And then are they gonna be armed? It will be a total disaster and it’s a disaster waiting to happen. But [radical Democrats] believe in this. I don’t understand it, but it’ll all get straightened out at the end of the day. They’re not gonna win any of the elections coming up [that] they think they’re gonna win. And President Trump’s gonna keep hammering them every day in terms of making sure we take this social justice nonsense out of everything that we do.”

    KUDLOW: “Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Absolutely. Senator Tommy Tuberville, as always, sir, thank you for your wisdom.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Cruz Introduce Bill Targeting Funders of Violent Interstate Protests

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in introducing the Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (Stop FUNDERs) Act. The legislation would add rioting to the list of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) predicate offenses, giving the U.S. Department of Justice authority to use the full suite of RICO tools against entities who fund or coordinate violent interstate riots, such as the ones recently seen in Los Angeles, California.

    “77 million Americans voted for President Trump and his America First policy agenda – and that includes arresting and deporting illegal aliens,” said Senator Tuberville.“Democrats don’t like that – so they are rioting in the streets and violently attacking law enforcement officers. This cannot stand. My colleagues and I are introducing a bill to make sure the Department of Justice has the tools it needs to go after anti-American terrorist groups and their funders who are protecting illegal rapists, murderers, and criminals. We have to cut these violent riots off at the source. The adults are back in charge, and law and order will prevail.”

    “Every American has the right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest, but not to commit violence,” said Senator Cruz.“Domestic NGOs and foreign adversaries fund and use riots in the United States to undermine the security and prosperity of Americans. My legislation will give the Department of Justice the tools it needs to hold them accountable, and I urge colleagues to pass it expeditiously.”

    U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) also joined the legislation. U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    This bill is supported by Heritage Action and National Right to Work Committee.

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Pentagon Nominees During SASC Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, President Trump’s nominee to be Admiral and Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to be General and Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) during their Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) nomination hearing. They discussed SOCOM’s military operations in Panama and Latin America to combat narco-terrorism and secure our southern border, along with the strategic need for having a military presence in Africa.

    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning.

    Thanks [to] both of you. Thanks for what you’ve done for our country over your careers—you and your family. What a sacrifice it’s been, but you’ve done an outstanding job.

    ON SOCOM EFFORTS TO COMBAT NARCO-TERRORISTS:

    “Admiral, I think [for] far too long, we’ve had our eyes on other things and not on our hemisphere—whether it’s illegal migrants, drugs, or both. So, what is [the] Special Operations community doing to assist the militaries and governments in our hemisphere like Panama to combat narco-terrorists?”

    BRADLEY: “Senator, in my current capacity, I’m not privy to all of the activities that SOCOM is engaged in, in the Southern Hemisphere. But in listening and watching General Fenton and his leadership over these last three years, I know that the partnerships that our teams have been engaging in and developing remain critical to being able to help them build capacity, to be able to defend themselves, but also to provide security locally, which, of course, helps to prevent and secure our Southern border as well.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah, I’m sure you’re up on the point of the Darién Gap and the problems that’s caused over the years, and relationship with our Special Ops, down in that area—training people—that will probably be in your forte going forward. What’s your thoughts about cooperation activities with Latin America as [you’re] going into this job?”

    BRADLEY: “Yes, sir. I think as the counterterrorism fight informs us, it is far better to find the root of the problem well away from our borders than it is to have to defend them internal to the United States. And so, if confirmed, making it a priority to provide assistance to all of our combatant commanders as far forward as possible, and with those partnered forces to help them to be able to secure their own territory.”

    ON AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN AFRICA:

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah, and we and we have problems all over the world. But if we don’t watch our back door, then we’re gonna [really have] problems within our country, which we already have. General, I think we need to be reinforcing our military presence in Africa. Unfortunately, under the previous administration, we seemed like we were doing just the opposite. Niger—you and I talked about this in a meeting in my office—the vacuum that was caused there. China, Russia, Iran, were all too happy to feel the things that we were doing there. What’s your assessment of our withdrawal from Airbase 201? And have we learned from these lessons? And your thoughts about maybe the future there?”

    ANDERSON: “Senator, I appreciate that question and there was a significant investment that went into that airbase. It was in a key area for us to be able to monitor the threat. So, the loss of that is one that we have to find creative ways to continue to get the indicators and warnings of what the terrorists are doing in that area. I think we also have to understand that there is some volatility across the continent. So how do we make smart investments with the partners that we can continue to sustain. I will say that the relationships that we built in Niger with the military over several decades are still there. There is—when the time is right—I believe there will be an opportunity, but that time will have to be determined. And if confirmed, I’ll look at what that is.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah. After your confirmation, I guess, by telling committee and people even watching at home—why do we need to have [a] presence in Africa? What [are] your thoughts?”

    ANDERSON: “So, Africa is key to any strategy. It’s just on strategic terrain. It’s just the waterways that it forms between the Strait of Gibraltar all the way down to the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. It [has] critical minerals and resources that are on the continent that we need for the future economy. Both China and Russia see their strategies going through the continent, and they are going to engage there and so we can cede that ground or we can compete in that ground. And I think we have a very powerful tool to compete with. As Admiral Bradley mentioned, nobody brings more credibility to the counterterrorism fight than the U.S. As a matter of fact, when we rescued that hostage in Niger, the next morning [there was an] influential blogger that posted, ‘The Americans came like the lion in the night. They killed their enemies and rescued their own.’ No other nation on Earth could do that.And that is a powerful symbol across the continent and around the world of what our military and what the United States is capable of. And I do think that some level of engagement in Africa does matter. I’d agree it’s an economy of force, but a small investment goes a long way so that we don’t have a strategic surprise that then distracts the United States from focusing on the rising threats in the Pacific and other areas.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Thanks Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins the Chris Salcedo Show to Discuss Ways to Expose the Deep State and Protect Law Enforcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Newsmax’s Chris Salcedo Show to discuss DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s recent report exposing the FBI’s involvement in covering up then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of classified information. Sen. Tuberville and Salcedo also discussed the Senate’s effort to continue advancing President Trump’s America First policy agenda as well as the Radical Democrat Socialist Party’s violence against law enforcement.

    Excerpts from the interview can be found below and the full interview can be viewed on YouTube or Rumble.

    SALCEDO: “Senator Tommy Tuberville. Senator, it’s always good to see you. DNI Gabbard releases revelations about Obama, Comey, Brennan, and that gang. Now, we learn that James Comey’s FBI rigged the Hillary Clinton investigation so we would never know how badly she damaged our national security when they didn’t probe those crucial thumb drives. Senator, where is your party’s push for accountability?”

    TUBERVILE: “Well, thanks for having me on, Chris. What a colossal cover up this has been. I got here right after Joe Biden took office, and it has been a disaster of […] most Republicans watching this go down. It is a huge cover up.

    They’ve tried to push a narrative that, basically, they wanna change our country [into] something that it’s not. They wanted to take all the ability of us as Republicans, as Americans, to try to keep our country going in the right direction. But the mainstream media, the Democrats, and a few Republicans have pushed this narrative of ‘let’s do it the right way. Let’s make sure we’re doing the right thing.’ It has been something that I’ve been shocked at since I’ve been here. And now we’re finally seeing things start to leak out, the truth of really what happened.

    The American people are going to find out. It is going to be fun up here to watch all this start taking a narrative, a true narrative, of what really happened of the Democrats trying to change this country into a socialist-communist country for the last four years. These people need to lawyer up, and they need to find out what it’s really like to be under the gun. Putting their hand up, testifying in front of people all over this country because it’s gonna be much-watched as we look at all this narrative being brought forward.”

    SALCEDO: “Well, Senator, you know, getting real Americans put into prosecutorial positions would help bring this accountability to these lawless Democrats. There are a number of confirmations for U.S. Attorney backed up in the United States Senate right now. Some have been waiting for months. Has leader Thune committed to you that this backlog will be done away with before the August recess?”

    TUBERVILLE: “Well, we’ve talked about that. We’re trying to catch up. The problem, Chris, is the Democrats are playing four corners of basketball here. Slow play. They don’t get back anytime.

    It’s a lot of fundamental errors that have happened, not just from here in the Senate, but also the White House. We have to have some firepower. We have to be able to fight back. But at the end of the day, we’re gonna get this done, even if we have to stay up here weekends through August. The Democrats don’t think that we’ll stay up here and work. Guess what? We’ll stay up here and work. We’ll have enough people up here to get a quorum to make sure that we push the agenda. And if they don’t wanna take a vacation, we don’t have to take one.”

    SALCEDO: “Wow. I think you’re breaking some news right there. ‘The Senate actually works.’ That’s some big news, Senator. Look, over the weekend, an off-duty CBP officer was shot in the face by an illegal alien suspect. In Wisconsin, an illegal alien was finally arrested by ICE after he allegedly decapitated a woman and stored her body three months after a nut job Illinois judge let him walk free on those gruesome charges. And then there’s Hunter Biden. He’s upset with Americans for trying to stop illegal immigration and the effort to deport illegal aliens.” […]

    TUBERVILLE: “This is coming from somebody that’s never had a job, Joe Biden’s son. He’s lived off his dad for many, many years. And so whatever you get from him, you can take [with] a grain of salt. Again, but he’s coming back even at his Democrat team, the members that have actually pushed everything towards the Republicans. But 800% surge of assault on our law enforcement officers in this country. Our justice system, Chris, is in shambles.

    Judges taking people that are arrested, letting them go in the front door, go out the back door. That is stopping as we speak, but we have to continue to push that. Again, the Democrats pushed a lot of these judges out in the last few years. They’re overwhelmed all over the country of being very lax on crime. But if we don’t take our neighborhoods back and our streets back, we do not have a country […] but we’ve gotta protect our law enforcement people. They get up every day, ICE, Border Patrol. They get up every day, put a badge on, a gun on their side, and not knowing whether they’re gonna come back or not.

    President Trump gave them authority, and they need to take that authority. That [if they’re] shot at, they need to shoot back. We need to take advantage of what’s going on right now and make sure we take our streets back because the Democrats […] could[n’t] care less about that. They want their voters to vote for them, that’s the voters for the Democratic Party. These people are breaking all these laws all over the country.” […]

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN laments US withdrawal from educational and cultural agency

    Source: United Nations 2

    “I deeply regret President Donald Trump’s decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from UNESCO,” Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the Paris-based agency, said in a statement.

    In New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the Secretary-General joins Ms. Azoulay “in deeply regretting the decision by the United States.”

    The US first withdrew from UNESCO in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan and didn’t rejoin for two decades. Fourteen years after re-entry, the first Trump administration withdrew from the organization in 2017, but the decision was reversed under President Joseph Biden in 2023.  

    Ms. Azoulay underscored that “this decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism,” and she highlighted that this decision would affect UNESCO partners in the United States, including communities seeking site inscription.

    A White House press statement on the withdrawal said the decision had been taken to protect American interests from UNESCO’s work to advance “divisive social and cultural causes.”

    The statement also said the organization is focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which it described as “a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.”

    The statement also specifically cited UNESCO’s decision to admit the State of Palestine as a Member State as problematic, contrary to US policy and fuelling the United Nations’ “anti-Israel rhetoric”.

    Ms. Azoulay in her statement denied these claims that UNESCO is “anti-Israel,” highlighting the organization’s work in Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.

    “UNESCO is the only United Nations agency responsible for these issues, and its work has been unanimously acclaimed by major specialized organizations,” she said, including American organizations such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

    Diversifying funding in preparation

    Ms. Azoulay stressed that this announcement was anticipated, and the organization has prepared accordingly, highlighting major structural reforms in recent years, including the diversification of funding sources.  

    “The decreasing trend in the financial contribution of the US has been offset,” she explained. Despite the US now representing eight per cent of the organization’s budget, UNESCO’s budget has steadily increased thanks to donations from member states and private contributors, the latter of which have doubled since 2018.

    “Today, the Organization is better protected in financial terms,” she said.

    Continuing US partnerships

    “UNESCO’s purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and will always be welcome,” Ms. Azoulay emphasised.

    The organization will continue to work with its US partners in the private, academic and non-profit sectors, and it will pursue discussions with the US Government. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Arrest in Northwest D.C.

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Charged as Part of Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative

               WASHINGTON – David Oday Smith, 39, of the District of Columbia, has been charged in an indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court, on a federal firearms charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative. 

               The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

               Smith is charged federally with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.

               According to court documents, on July 14, 2025, members of the MPD’s Fourth District Crime Suppression Team were on patrol on the 5700 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest, when they noticed Smith hiding behind a bus stop with a black satchel.

               As officers approached, Smith immediately fled and eventually discarded his black satchel. Officers searched the satchel and discovered a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol, containing one .40 caliber round loaded in the chamber and 14 additional rounds in the magazine.

               Smith is prohibited from possession of a firearm and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2009 second degree murder conviction in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

               This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

               The case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss is prosecuting the case.

               An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Frost and Cherfilus-McCormick Reintroduce Bill to Prevent Radioactive Materials from Being Used to Build Roads – the “No Radioactive Roads Act”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)

    July 22, 2025

    Frost’s Bill Would Prevent Cancer-Causing Fertilizer Byproduct from Being Used in Road Construction

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) reintroduced the No Radioactive Roads Act, legislation to ensure the current Trump Administration or any future administration cannot allow for deadly, cancer-causing radioactive material, phosphogypsum (PG), to be used in road construction. Florida is the world’s largest PG producing area with 1 billion tons of PG stored in stacks, mainly in the Central Florida region. 

    The Biden-Harris Administration quickly reversed the first Trump Administration’s unscientific decision to allow PG in road construction in 2021. However, with Trump’s return to office, PG’s threat to people’s health is once again imminent. 

    In 2021, a tear at a PG stack facility allowed for millions of gallons of untreated wastewater to be released into Tampa Bay, devastating the clean waters of the bay and causing a red tide outbreak, killing millions of fish. Despite the environmental fallout, in 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law to allow the cancer-causing material to be used in road construction. Most recently, ahead of the Trump Administration taking office, the Environmental Protection Agency authorized Mosaic’s pilot road project to use 1,200 tons of the hazardous material in Polk County, Florida. 

    Frost and Cherfilus-McCormick first introduced the bill in 2024. 

    “As Florida allows for PG to be used in our roads, endangering our workers, drivers, and entire communities, we need immediate federal action that puts public health over corporate profits,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “The science is abundantly clear—PG is a deadly, cancer-causing substance that harms our environment and puts lives at risk, and no administration should be able to permit its use without the highest safety standards. It’s unacceptable that the fertilizer industry is looking to offload toxic waste into our roads in order to boost their profits while leaders like DeSantis and Donald Trump enable it. The No Radioactive Roads Act puts our people, our planet, and our future over the profits of corporate polluters.”

    “Protecting the health and safety of our communities must be our top priority. Using radioactive materials like phosphogypsum in road construction endangers our families, harms our environment, and puts our future at risk,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “The No Radioactive Roads Act is a crucial step in preventing communities from facing the long-term dangers of toxic exposure. I am proud to partner with Congressman Maxwell Frost on this legislation to protect the well-being of every Floridian.”

    “The EPA’s decision to weaken standards for phosphogypsum is both reckless and unfounded. We cannot allow the health and safety of our communities to be sacrificed for the financial interests of the fertilizer industry, which seeks to profit from incorporating this radioactive byproduct into our roads. The science is clear: exposure to phosphogypsum is directly linked to significantly increased cancer risk. We will not tolerate policies that endanger our residents and workers,” said Orange County Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad. “In Orange County, I am also introducing an accompanying resolution to prohibit the use of phosphogypsum in local roadway projects. Our stance is firm, and our message is clear: I fully support Congressman Frost’s bill on behalf of the people of our district, the state of Florida, and communities across the country.”

    The No Radioactive Roads Act has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, Center for Biological Diversity, Food & Water Watch, Surfrider Foundation, and the Save Split Oak Campaign.

    “Representative Frost’s No Radioactive Roads Act will help protect the health and safety of communities as the Trump administration continues to roll back protections from toxic pollutants. Constructing roads with radioactive, cancer-causing phosphogypsum can harm workers, drivers, and nearby families who are already most impacted by environmental injustice and the climate crisis. We will continue to fight alongside our climate champions in Congress like Representative Frost to pass legislation to protect the health of our communities, our air and water, and our future generations,” said Madeleine Foote, Healthy Communities Program Director for League of Conservation Voters.

    “The EPA made it clear decades ago that radioactive phosphogypsum has no place in our roads,” said J.W. Glass, EPA policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “While Rep. Frost shouldn’t have to introduce legislation just to get the EPA to follow its own rules, this bill provides clear direction the agency needs to keep our water, workers and wildlife safe from radiation and other pollutants tied to this toxic waste.”

    “We sincerely thank Representative Frost for championing the No Radioactive Roads Act, which takes decisive action to safeguard our communities from the significant risks posed by phosphogypsum. Florida has experienced firsthand the devastating consequences of mismanaging this hazardous material, including the Piney Point disaster, where over 200 million gallons of contaminated wastewater spilled into Tampa Bay. Using phosphogypsum in road construction would endanger workers, drivers, drinking water supplies, and fragile ecosystems, not just in Florida but across the country. This legislation is a crucial step toward protecting public health and preserving the safety of our water resources. We are committed to working with Congress and communities to ensure this vital bill becomes law and helps prevent future disasters,” said Jim Walsh, Policy Director, Food & Water Watch.

    “Clean water and resilient watersheds are the foundation of healthy coastal communities and strong economies. The use of radioactive waste in roads presents a serious risk that puts public health and the environment in jeopardy for generations to come. The ‘No Radioactive Roads Act’ introduces common-sense safeguards for protecting human health, requiring water quality monitoring, and ensuring transparency,” said Katie Bauman, Florida Policy Manager for Surfrider Foundation.

    “On behalf of the Save Split Oak Forest campaign, we strongly support Congressman Frost’s No Radioactive Roads Act. This legislation is crucial for safeguarding Florida’s ecosystems from the dangers of radioactive road runoff, which can harm our waterways, soil, and wildlife. Protecting conservation lands like Split Oak Forest is essential for preserving biodiversity and ensuring smart, sustainable growth. We urge all members of Congress to back this act to prevent harmful pollution and promote a future where Florida’s natural environment and communities can thrive together,” said Lee Perry, Lead Volunteer of the Save Split Oak Campaign.

    Additional Background:

    For over 30 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prohibited the use of phosphogypsum (PG) for road construction because this fertilizer waste product emits deadly, cancer-causing radon gas and contains toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and sulfur. 

    These toxins can become airborne or seep into the soil and groundwater. One of these elements, radium-226, has a 1,600-year half-life and will poison generations of people working on, living near, or traveling over any future radioactive roads.

    Scientific research makes clear that phosphogypsum (PG) is not safe to use as a road building material, but just months before leaving office, the first Trump Administration green-lit PG to be used in road construction.

    The Biden-Harris Administration quickly reversed the Trump Administration’s decision to allow PG in road construction but this means that PG’s threat to people’s health and safety can reemerge under the new Trump Administration. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement by Rep. Dan Goldman on DOJ’s Announcement That It Would Meet With Ghislaine Maxwell

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    “In a further effort to conceal the Epstein Files to protect President Trump, the Department of Justice is yet again using the criminal justice system for political purposes by belatedly and improperly seeking cooperation from Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence on convictions for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors. 

    “As Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche well knows from his lengthy tenure as a prosecutor and supervisor in the Southern District of New York, this is almost certainly not the first time the DOJ has inquired about cooperation from Ghislaine Maxwell, who, as a matter of course, would have been offered the opportunity to reduce her sentence in return for truthful and forthright information about Epstein and all others involved in the scheme.  

    “DAG Blanche is now doing an end-run around the SDNY and its institutional policies by acting as a political agent of President Trump to forestall the release of the full Epstein files by tacitly floating a pardon for Maxwell in return for information that politically benefits President Trump. 

    “Maxwell’s information is only as credible as any corroboration found in the Epstein files, including recordings, witness interviews, electronic communications, and photographs and videos. Neither the grand jury testimony nor Maxwell’s compromised information will expose the full extent of the conspiracy, including all those who may be included in the files.   

    “Do not be fooled: this latest delay tactic is yet another effort to conceal the Epstein files. Full transparency will only occur when DOJ releases the full and complete Epstein files, as they promised.”     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Moore and Zinke Introduce Legislation to Codify Executive Order on National Parks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore (WV-02) and Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) introduced the PATRIOT Parks Act — which codifies President Trump’s Executive Order “Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks.”

    Currently, the National Parks System faces more than $23 billion in deferred maintenance, including more than $200 million on parklands in West Virginia. This legislation implements increased entrance fees for foreign visitors at National Parks, with the additional funds being reinvested back into parks for maintenance and other basic operating costs. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana and Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

    The bill is supported by the American Conservation Coalition Action (ACC Action) and the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC). Both organizations were instrumental in helping craft the President’s executive order. The Bull Moose Project and American Prairie are also supportive of the legislation.

    Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

    “From the New River Gorge in my home state to Shenandoah, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Everglades, and the Grand Canyon – God blessed our nation with a tremendous natural heritage. We owe it to future generations to ensure these natural marvels are protected.

    “Unfortunately, the National Park System currently faces a backlog of more than $23 billion in deferred maintenance, including more than $200 million on properties across the Mountain State. Our commonsense legislation keeps entry fees static for Americans while charging more for foreigners visiting our National Parks. This will allow us to finally start tackling this extensive maintenance backlog.”

    Here’s what others are saying:

    “National Parks are America’s best idea and maintaining that legacy for future generations means making smart investments in the management of the parks,” said Congressman Zinke. “Americans already pay for parks in our tax dollars as well as at the gates. It’s unfair to American taxpayers to foot the bill for millions of foreign visitors. Almost every other country charges foreign visitors more, it’s common sense. President Trump and Secretary Burgum did the right thing directing the National Park Service implement a foreign visitor fee. This legislation will codify the policy and ensure Americans are put First in our own parks.”

    “Americans already pay for our parks through federal taxes on top of standard admission fees, so it’s fair to ask foreign visitors to chip in more,” said Senator Banks. “This bill codifies President Trump’s executive order and helps protect our national treasures for future generations.”

    “Our national parks drive Montana’s tourism economy by bringing in visitors from all over the world and define our way life by offering an experience you can only find in America,” said Senator Sheehy. “Implementing a foreign visitor fee is an America First, commonsense way to secure affordable access for American families, improve our national parks for all visitors, and better manage our treasured public lands. It’s not too much for Americans to ask that their government puts them first, and that’s why I’m proud to support the PATRIOT Parks Act so more American families can enjoy our national parks for generations to come.”

    “Our national parks are America’s best idea and a crucial part of our natural heritage, but in recent decades, they have fallen into disrepair with a multibillion-dollar maintenance backlog,” said ACC Action President Chris Barnard.  “An increased entry fee for international visitors would raise needed revenue to steward our national treasures and ensure that everyone who enjoys them contributes to protecting them. The American Conservation Coalition Action and our thousands of members are proud to support this effort to bolster the National Park Service.”

    “Visitors from across the globe come to see the wonder of America’s national parks, and this proposal offers them a way to give back,” said PERC CEO Brian Yablonski. “Charging a modest fee to international tourists—something many countries already do—provides a steady source of funding to improve park infrastructure, enhance visitor experiences, and invest in long-overdue restoration. Drawing on years of PERC research, we’re grateful to Sen. Banks and Rep. Moore for championing efforts to conserve these iconic places for future generations.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ‘Why are we here?’ | Ranking Member Pingree Slams Sham Appropriations Process as Republicans Allow Trump to Usurp Power of the Purse

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

    Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, spoke out against Republicans’ funding bill for the 2026 fiscal year during the Appropriations Committee’s markup today. In her opening remarks, Pingree called the entire appropriations process into question as the Trump Administration continues to undermine previous funding bills with cuts and rescissions. 

    “Now, as we Democrats are in the minority, we don’t expect to have a lot of power. But for all of us on this Appropriations Committee, why are we here and what is our role now as appropriators? Last week, the majority passed the Rescissions …and that bill eliminated spending that we had negotiated over the prior years,” Pingree said. “The hard work that we do every day in this committee, the hard work you’re doing right now—that is all gone when we pass the Rescissions bill. And how will it be any different once we pass this bill, or the other bills we intend to pass this week?”

    [embedded content]
    Watch Pingree’s full remarks here; Watch the Appropriations Committee markup here.

    Pingree also called out the reckless cuts this bill makes to the EPA, National Parks, and the arts and humanities, as well as 72 riders that undermine climate policies and add to the deficit.

    A transcript of Pingree’s opening remarks is copied below.

    +++

    Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for yielding me the time. 

    First, I want to thank the Chair, Mr. Simpson, for the great working relationship we have on this committee. And thank you to Chairman Cole as well. Also, Rosa DeLauro, the Ranking Member of the full committee, for her amazing hard work on this committee, and to the staff on both sides of the aisle who work so hard to put together this legislation, and in particular the minority staff of this committee, Rita Culp, Jocelyn Hunn, and Michael Schmeltz. Thank you so much for all the work to get us here today.

    But I guess the first question I’d have to ask of the appropriators on this committee is, why are we actually here today? What is our role now as appropriators? In the last six months, we’ve seen President Trump propose a dramatic diminishment in the power of this committee and of the Congress. 

    Now, as we Democrats are in the minority, we don’t expect to have a lot of power. But for all of us on this Appropriations Committee, why are we here and what is our role now as appropriators? You know, everyone is so fond of saying they’re Republicans and Democrats and appropriators, but really, are there appropriators anymore? Do we actually have a role in this Congress? Do we have any more power? Last week, the majority passed the Rescissions package to the House, the Senate, back to the House again.

    And that bill eliminated spending that we had negotiated over the prior years. The hard work that we do every day in this committee, the hard work you’re doing right now—the snacks that you eat, the candy that’s going into your mouth, the amount of time that we take—that is all gone when we pass the Rescissions bill. And how will it be any different once we pass this bill, or the other bills we intend to pass this week?

    I truly appreciate Chairman Cole’s efforts to have this committee work through these bills and pass these bills. But the question is, what are we doing? And do we have any power left anymore? Now, this bill, like so many others, will continue the damage and the cuts that this President has done over the first six months of his presidency.

    I believe what he has done is illegal. These funding freezes and rescissions—and the compound damage he has done to our agencies and our states and communities—is something we will be dealing with for years. This bill—in particular at the EPA—cuts the funding to the states for water infrastructure by 62%. Cuts grant programs that fund our state environmental programs, and slashes the EPA by 23%.

    Nobody benefits when we make those levels of cuts. Our states still have to do the work—on water infrastructure, on permitting. But the cuts in this bill, coupled with the rescissions in the Big Ugly bill, will debilitate America’s ability to address the climate crisis or to address our infrastructure needs, or to make sure our vital needs in our states of permitting will be enacted.

    This presidency, this administration, is no longer just in denial. It is actively dismissing the government’s climate work and our vital environmental work. And this is work that needs to be done if we want to make sure we have a planet to hand over to our children and grandchildren. 

    Now, at the National Park Service, this bill cuts $213 million. And this is in addition to what happened in the Big Ugly bill, where nearly half a billion was rescinded from our national parks and our public lands. This is money that’s meant to go to conservation projects and habitat restoration, habitat restoration and critical staffing at our national parks. This is our vital season for national parks. And Americans want to be there.

     And it is all compounded because we have not reauthorized the Great American Outdoors Act, which is another $1.3 billion that should be going for the maintenance backlog. This bill also funds the arts, but what a mess this administration has made of that. It was appalling to watch this administration illegally terminate thousands of grants at the NEA and the NEH.

    They fired nearly 80% of the NEH staff, and they revoked funding for our State Humanities Council. This is money that’s meant to go to our communities, to our artists and workers, to kids in rural schools, to local economies that rely on cultural institutions and a don’t have a lot of other sources for funding. They’ve cut the Smithsonian by 12%, the National Gallery by 11%.

    [They’re] gutting these funds, by cutting these funds and sidelining anything that they deem artistically and culturally offensive. They are gutting our arts and cultural institutions. I am relieved—and I’m grateful to the chair of the subcommittee and the full committee—that funding for tribal programs didn’t suffer the same cuts. And I appreciate that bipartisan cooperation and understanding of our treaty and trust obligation.

    This bill also has 72 poison pill riders going after environmental protection, undermining our climate policies, and adding to our deficit. And overall, these cuts will only contribute to our struggling agencies. At the same time, this administration is redirecting funds to tax cuts and increasing our deficit by $3.4 trillion. 

    So I just want to go back to ending as I started this opening, OMB Director Vought has promised to send us more rescission packages. Each time we pass a rescission package, we undo—we wipe out—all the hard work we do negotiating in this committee. He said he’s looking to change the paradigm in appropriations, and that appropriations has to be less bipartisan. 

    When’s the last time one of your constituents came up to you and said, you people should be less bipartisan. You people should fight more, bicker more, and do less of what we ask you to do. How often do you hear that? 

    Now we’re appropriators, and we’re all proud to get to this moment when we actually get to serve on this committee. So let’s do our job. Let’s be appropriators, and let’s fight back for the power that goes to this committee and to our Congress. I encourage you to oppose this bill, unfortunately, and I yield back my time.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Democrats Fight Against Republican Funding Bill that Raises Utility Bills and Energy Prices, Slashes Resources for the Arts and National Parks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

    During today’s House Appropriations Committee markup of the 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill, Democrats shined a light on how Republicans drafted yet another funding bill that makes the cost-of-living crisis worse. Their bill raises energy utility bills while slashing funds for National Parks and the arts.

    House Republicans’ Interior funding bill takes an aggressive anti-environment, pro-pollution stance with crippling cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and policy provisions that endanger public health. 

    The bill:

    • Raises utility bills by shifting costs onto state and local governments and making utilities more expensive through funding cuts and extreme policies that would cripple renewable energy development.
    • Exposes more Americans to contaminated and polluted water by cutting funds for state and local governments to help communities across the country access clean, safe drinking water.
    • Worsens the climate crisis by defunding all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) climate work.
    • Slashes funding for national parks, threatening Americans’ ability to enjoy public lands.
    • Guts resources for museums, arts, and culture, suppressing American’s engagement with the arts and art education.
    • Favors polluters over public health through dozens of harmful policies that undermine EPA’s ability to regulate pollution. 
    • Promotes environmental discrimination against rural and poor communities by defunding environmental justice initiatives, making it more difficult for hardworking people to deal with the rising costs associated with climate change. 
    • Exploits public lands and accelerates ecosystem decline by allowing harmful and dirty mining activities and by removing Endangered Species Act protections for numerous species.

    “Since President Trump took office, his Administration has undertaken a concerted and alarming assault on Congress’s power of the purse, with Republicans willingly ceding their authority to the Executive Branch,” Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) said.“Coupled with the Administration’s illegal funding freezes, reckless cuts and rescissions, and the Republican Majority’s inability to pass full-year funding bills, it’s clear that the FY2026 Interior and Environment funding bill Republicans on the Committee passed today is nothing more than a hollow attempt at governance. This funding bill perpetuates a dangerous pattern of cuts and policy decisions that harm public health, weaken environmental protections, and threaten our treasured national parks. It undermines bipartisan agreements, deepens existing crises, and puts critical programs at risk, including drastic cuts to water infrastructure, EPA programs, and the arts and humanities. Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority and stop enabling this destructive agenda.”

    Congresswoman Chellie Pingree’s full remarks are here.

    “We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. President Trump promised to lower costs on day one, but instead, he and House Republicans are making the cost-of-living crisis even worse,” Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “House Republicans 2026 Interior, Environment funding bill would raise utility bills and energy prices, worsen the climate crisis, put polluters over public health, and abandon stewardship of our National Parks, all to benefit billionaires and big corporations. It doubles-down on President Trump’s pro-pollution, anti-environment, anti-Arts agenda. Instead of working with Democrats to make investments that can help lower their costs, protect our environment, and preserve our public lands and institutions, Republicans have put forward a bill that favors billionaires’ and corporations’ right to pollute and destroy the environment over the health and safety of the American people.”

    Congresswoman DeLauro’s full remarks are here.

    During today’s markup, Democrats fought to:

    • Increase funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to overcome House Republicans more than 60 percent cut to these critical funds that help ensure people in every state have access to clean water.
    • Restore funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
    • Prevent Republicans’ elimination of environmental justice resources. 

    House Republicans rejected these efforts. 

    A summary of the bill is here. A fact sheet is here. 

    The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luttrell, Guest Highlight Cybersecurity Concerns at U.S. Border

    Source:

    WASHINGTON — Congressmen Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and Michael Guest (R-MS) urged the Department of Homeland Security to address potential cybersecurity concerns in systems used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border.

    CBP deploys advanced technology to secure our nation’s borders, including unmanned aerial systems, biometric identification systems, autonomous surveillance towers, land mobile radio communications, and the Border Enforcement Coordination Network. These critical operational systems require robust cybersecurity measures to protect against cyber threats that could compromise border security operations.

    In their letter, the members wrote:

    “We must defend our borders not only from physical threats, but from the growing danger in cyberspace. Our adversaries are getting smarter, faster, and more aggressive. That means our defenses must be sharper, stronger, and always one step ahead.”

    Under President Donald Trump’s second term in office, the southern border has witnessed unprecedented security — including record low illegal crossings and the construction of a border wall. The success of these efforts must not be diminished by vulnerabilities in the United States’ cybersecurity systems.

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Statement on Latest CBO Analysis of Final Republican Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office Predicts Republican Bill Will Add $3.4 Trillion to National Debt

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published analysis that the final version of the Republican Budget Betrayal will add $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years:

    “The latest CBO analysis confirms what we’ve known all along: the Republican budget betrayal will deal a devastating blow to our nation’s fiscal future and harm New Mexico families.

    “This law will rip health care away from millions of Americans, take food off the tables of hungry children, and pile an additional $3.4 trillion to the national debt. To satisfy President Trump’s demands, Congressional Republicans rushed through a reckless plan that cuts critical lifelines for working families, all to hand out massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.

    “The facts are clear: Congressional Republicans turned a blind eye and pushed through legislation that hurts children, families, and seniors, and leaves the American people to foot the bill.”

    Senator Luján backed a series of amendments and motions to the Republican reconciliation bill aimed at protecting access to health care and nutrition programs and lowering costs for New Mexicans. Senate Republicans blocked these common-sense proposals from Senator Luján and Senate Democrats. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: ‘Eat the rich’ — Why horror films are taking aim at the ultra-wealthy

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Heather Roberts, PhD Candidate in Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies, Queen’s University, Ontario

    Samara Weaving in the horror film ‘Ready or Not.’ Weaving plays Grace, a bride who must survive until dawn on her wedding day as her in-laws hunt her down. (Searchlight Pictures)

    This story contains spoilers about ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘The Menu.’

    When Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez held their lavish three-day wedding celebration in Venice recently, it wasn’t just a party — it was a spectacle of wealth, reportedly costing between US$47 million and US$56 million.

    Critics highlighted the environmental toll of such an event on the fragile, flood-prone city, while protesters took to the streets to condemn the wedding as a tone-deaf symbol of oligarchical wealth at a time when many can’t afford to pay rent, let alone rent an island.

    The excessive show of opulence felt like the opening of a horror film, and lately, that’s exactly what horror has been giving us. In films like Ready or Not (2019) and The Menu (2022), the rich aren’t simply out of touch; they’re portrayed as predators, criminals or even monsters.



    Read more:
    Horror comedy ‘The Menu’ delves into foodie snobbery when you’re dying for a cheeseburger

    These “eat-the-rich” films channel widespread anxieties about the current socioeconomic climate and increasing disillusionment with capitalist systems.

    In a world where the wealthy and powerful often seem to act with impunity, these films expose upper-class immorality and entitlement, and offer revenge fantasies where those normally crushed by the system fight back or burn it all down.

    Horror takes aim at the wealthy

    Originally a quote from social theorist Jean-Jacques Rousseau during the French Revolution, “eat the rich” has re-emerged in recent years in public protests and on social media in response to increasing socioeconomic inequality.

    In cinema, eat-the-rich films often use grotesque hyperbole or satire to reveal and critique capitalist systems and the behaviours of the wealthy elite.

    Film scholar Robin Wood argues that horror films enact a return of what is repressed by dominant bourgeois — that is, capitalist — ideology, typically embodied by the figure of the monster.

    He cites The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), a classic example of anti-capitalist sentiment in horror that depicts Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) and his working-class family as monstrous victims of the 1970s industrial collapse. Rather than accept repression, they return as cannibalistic monsters, making visible the brutality of capitalist systems that exploit and degrade people like obsolete commodities.

    But in eat-the-rich horror, it is the wealthy themselves who become the monsters. The locus of repression becomes their privilege, which is often built on exploitation, inequality and invisible or normalized forms of harm.

    These films render these abstract systems tangible by making the elite’s monstrosity visible, literal and grotesque.

    Revenge horror for the 99 per cent

    Recent horror films are increasingly using genre conventions to critique wealth, privilege and the systems that sustain them.

    Ready or Not turns the rich into bloodthirsty monsters who maintain their fortune through satanic rituals and human sacrifice. Grace (Samara Weaving) marries into the Le Domas family, board game magnates who initiate new family members with a deadly game of hide-and-seek. She must survive until dawn while her new in-laws hunt her down to fulfil a demonic pact.

    The film critiques the idea of inherited wealth as something earned or honourable, combining humour and horror to reflect anxieties about class entrenchment and the moral decay of the elite.

    Trailer for the 2019 horror film ‘Ready or Not.’

    The Le Domases are monstrous not only for their violence, but for how casually they justify it. When several maids are accidentally killed in the chaos, they react with self-pity, indifferent to who must be sacrificed to maintain their wealth.

    In The Menu, the rich are portrayed as monstrous not through physical violence, but through their moral failings — like financial crimes and infidelity — and their hollow consumption of culture.

    Celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) lures wealthy foodies to his exclusive island restaurant, using food as a weaponized form of art to expose guests’ hypocrisy and misdeeds. In one scene, guests are served tortillas laser-printed with incriminating images, such as banking records and evidence of fraudulent activity.

    The tortilla scene from the 2022 horror film ‘The Menu.’

    The film criticizes consumption in an industry where food is no longer a source of enjoyment or sustenance, but a status symbol for the elite to display their wealth and taste.

    Why these films are striking a nerve now

    It’s no surprise that audiences are turning to horror to make sense of systems that feel increasingly bleak and inescapable. In Canada, the cost of living continues to outpace wages, housing affordability remains an issue for many, while grocery prices are a source of horror in their own right.

    A university degree, once considered a reliable path to stability, no longer guarantees the financial security of a salaried job. Many Canadians now rely on gig economy jobs as supplementary income.

    Meanwhile, the wealth gap is increasing and obscene displays of wealth — like a multi-million-dollar wedding — can feel disconnected, even offensive, to people experiencing financial precarity.

    Eat-the-rich films tap into this collective sense of injustice, transforming economic and social anxieties into a cathartic spectacle where ultra-wealthy villains are held accountable for their actions.

    Margot, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, and executive chef Julian Slowik, played by Ralph Fiennes, in ‘The Menu.’
    (Eric Zachanowich/Searchlight Pictures)

    At the end of Ready or Not, the members of the Le Domas family explode one by one and their mansion burns down. In The Menu, the guests are dressed up like s’mores and immolated. In both films, fire serves as a symbolic cleansing of the wealthy, their power and the systems that protect them.

    More than that, these films provide someone to root for: working-class protagonists who are targeted by the elite but ultimately survive. Former foster child Grace fights her way through a pack of murderous millionaires, while escort Margot/Erin (Anya Taylor-Joy) is spared when she rejects the pretentiousness of fine dining and orders a humble cheeseburger instead.

    In this way, horror becomes a form of narrative resistance, illustrating class rage through characters who refuse to be consumed by the systems trying to oppress them. While inequality and exploitation persist in reality, eat-the-rich films offer escape, and even justice, on screen.

    Heather Roberts does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. ‘Eat the rich’ — Why horror films are taking aim at the ultra-wealthy – https://theconversation.com/eat-the-rich-why-horror-films-are-taking-aim-at-the-ultra-wealthy-260550

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. House Passes Rep. Lauren Boebert’s Bipartisan Zip Code Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) successfully passed her bipartisan Zip Code bill, H.R. 3095, through the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday evening. The final recorded vote total was 278-121, a significant bipartisan victory for the Congresswoman and the multiple towns and communities in the 4th District included in the legislation. 

    H.R. 3095 directs the United States Postal Service to create unique zip codes for more than 65 cities, towns, and communities across the country. The bill, which includes 15 communities in Colorado and 33 cosponsors, is a reintroduction of the Congresswoman’s similar effort in the 118th Congress which passed through the U.S. House in December 2024.

    Cities and towns like Castle Pines, Lone Tree, and Severance all have their sales tax revenue, insurance rates, mail delivery rates, and response times for first responders negatively impacted by the lack of a unique zip code for their community. This legislation will address these issues and directly improve the quality of life for Coloradans and Americans living in these communities.

    “This is a tremendous, hard-fought victory for the cities, towns, and communities in Colorado’s 4th District and across our country who have called a unique zip code to improve the quality of life for our constituents,” said Congresswoman Boebert. “Zip code reform is not a partisan issue; it’s a unifying, fundamental need for the municipalities that have been denied their own zip code and have dealt with public safety issues, mail delivery problems for seniors and veterans, business permitting challenges, and the loss of revenue that leads to cutting public services. I am proud to have worked with leaders from across the aisle and across the country to get H.R. 3095 through the House; it’s time for the Senators who represent the many communities in this bill to step up and deliver this bill to President Trump’s desk.”

    “The City of Castle Pines is grateful for Congresswoman Boebert’s tireless efforts to secure a unique zip code for Castle Pines and dozens of communities across the nation,”said Castle Pines Mayor Tracy Engerman.“The passage of this bill by the House is a significant step in ensuring that residents in our communities receive their fair share of collected tax revenue and timely responses from emergency services.  The Congresswoman’s ability to work across the aisle on this bipartisan effort has been critical in moving the bill to the Senate. On behalf of the National Zip Code Advocacy Coalition, I want to thank her for her support and work on this important issue.”

    “The successful passage of Rep. Boebert’s Zip Code Bill is crucial and is the key to the success of ‘Small Town America’ in the future,”said Severance Mayor Matt Fries. “Every town in American deserves a unique zip code, especially when sales tax collection is 100% zip code identified, emergency responses is dependent on a correct zip code, and accurate insurance rates for citizens and businesses are tied to zip codes. I can’t understand why any person or organization would disagree with what this bill accomplishes. Congresswoman Boebert has fought like hell for small town America to maintain its own identity.  I call on the Senate to stand with her to get this common-sense legislation across the finish line. The citizens of Severance, Colorado deserve their own, unique zip code.”

    “The Zip Code bill is the solution to an issue that’s impacted communities like Lone Tree for far too long,” said Lone Tree Mayor Marissa Harmon. “This federal legislation is a critical step toward addressing an issue that has created unnecessary challenges for cities like Lone Tree with community identity, emergency management, public safety, business attraction and retention, insurance coverage, and mail delivery. With the passage of this legislation, we can improve service delivery, eliminate confusion, and better reflect the identity of the cities. I urge the U.S. Senate to act swiftly and support Colorado communities in doing what’s best for the people we serve.”

    BACKGROUND:

    The full text of Congresswoman Boebert’s H.R. 3095 can be read HERE. A shortened clip of the Congresswoman’s remarks from the House debate can be viewed HERE.

    The following news stories are a mixture of recent news articles and coverage on Congresswoman Boebert’s previous effort on zip codes in the 118th Congress:

    Washington Examiner: These 76 cities could receive new Zip Codes

    Fox 31: Proposed bill could give these Colorado areas a new zip code

    CBS News Colorado: New zip codes could improve Colorado towns’ income, safety

    9News: Colorado communities could receive new Zip Codes

    The Orange County Register: Could North Tustin get its own zip code? Proposed congressional effort underway to do that

    The Zip Code system was instituted in America in the 1960s. The Postal Service utilizes the zip code system to deliver mail, but it is also heavily used and relied on by economic developers, insurers and emergency personnel. 

    Communities that do not have a unique Zip Code often experience associated problems that include the loss of economic development, loss of sales tax, unjustifiably high insurance rates, tax remittance and commercial licensing issues, diminished public safety and reduced emergency response times, identity issues, and efficiency issues.

    For example, first responders often go to the wrong streets and people needing help experience delays due to Zip Code issues that would be addressed by this legislation.

    Small towns and cities can petition the Postal Service for a new Zip Code but it is rarely approved and if it is denied they cannot appeal this decision for up to 10 years. Congress has intervened on these matters and last passed a law enacting four new Zip Codes through the Post Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. 

    The current list of 33 cosponsors for H.R. 3095 includes Rep. Young Kim [CA-40], Rep. Brittany Pettersen [CO-07], Rep. Jason Crow [CO-06], Rep. Gabe Evans [CO-08], Rep. Joe Courtney [CT-02], Rep. Byron Donalds [FL-19], Rep. Mikie Sherrill [NJ-11], Rep. Nancy Mace [SC-01], Rep. Jared Moskowitz [FL-23], Rep. Keith Self [TX-03], Rep. Brandon Gill [TX-26], Rep. H. Morgan Griffith [VA-09], Rep. Bryan Steil [WI-01], Rep. Gwen Moore [WI-04], Rep. Scott Fitzgerald [WI-05], Rep. Harriet M. Hageman [WY-AL], Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes [OH-13], Rep. Andy Barr [KY-06], Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy [NY-23], Rep. Nick LaLota [NY-01], Rep. Troy E. Nehls [TX-22], Rep. Mark Harris [NC-08], Rep. Pat Fallon [TX-04], Rep. Clay Higgins [LA-03], Rep. Mark E. Amodei [NV-02], Rep. Brad Finstad [MN-01], Rep. Sean Casten [IL-06], Rep. Gilbert Ray Cisneros [CA-31], Rep. Linda T. Sanchez [CA-38], Rep. Julia Letlow [LA-05], Rep. Brad Sherman [CA-32], Rep. William Timmons [SC-04], and Rep. Jeff Hurd [CO-03].

    The full list of communities included can be found below:

    (1) Canyon Lake, California.

    (2) Hidden Hills, California.

    (3) Industry, California.

    (4) North Tustin, California.

    (5) Tehachapi, California.

    (6) Castle Pines, Colorado.

    (7) Centennial, Colorado.

    (8) Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.

    (9) Greenwood Village, Colorado.

    (10) Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

    (11) Keystone, Colorado.

    (12) Lone Tree, Colorado.

    (13) Mountain Village, Colorado.

    (14) Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.

    (15) Severance, Colorado.

    (16) Silver Cliff, Colorado.

    (17) Sterling Ranch, Colorado.

    (18) Superior, Colorado.

    (19) Telluride, Colorado.

    (20) Oakland Park, Florida.

    (21) Lighthouse Point, Florida.

    (22) Coconut Creek, Florida.

    (23) Parkland, Florida.

    (24) Deerfield Beach, Florida.

    (25) Wilton Manors, Florida.

    (26) Burr Ridge, Illinois.

    (27) Carmel, Indiana.

    (28) Noblesville, Indiana.

    (29) Westfield, Indiana.

    (30) Zionsville, Indiana.

    (31) Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

    (32) Montz, Louisiana.

    (33) Springwater Township, Minnesota.

    (34) Grass Valley, Nevada.

    (35) Swanzey, New Hampshire.

    (36) Kinnelon, New Jersey.

    (37) Flanders, New York.

    (38) Glendale, New York.

    (39) Riverside, New York.

    (40) Pendleton, New York.

    (41) Weddington, North Carolina.

    (42) Goose Creek, South Carolina.

    (43) Fairview, Texas.

    (44) Fate, Texas.

    (45) Heath, Texas.

    (46) Murphy, Texas.

    (47) Northlake, Texas.

    (48) Parker, Texas.

    (49) Sargent, Texas.

    (50) Fairlawn, Virginia.

    (51) Caledonia, Wisconsin.

    (52) Franklin, Wisconsin.

    (53) Glendale, Wisconsin.

    (54) Greenfield, Wisconsin.

    (55) Village of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.

    (56) Village of Somers, Wisconsin.

    (57) Village of Harrison, Wisconsin.

    (58) Hochatown, Oklahoma.

    (59) Green, Ohio.

    (60) Rochester, Wisconsin.

    (61) Quartzite Township, Minnesota.

    (62) Frederick, Colorado.

    (63) Camargo, Kentucky.

    (64) Wheatfield, New York.

    (65) Mauldin, South Carolina.

    (66) Josephine, Texas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Central bank independence and credibility matters. Here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Simon, Adjunct Fellow in Economics, Macquarie University

    Olga Kashubin/Shutterstock

    In the United States, President Donald Trump has been pressuring the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, to slash interest rates. This is partly to ease the interest payments on the ballooning US government debt.

    Powell has so far resisted, but Trump has also threatened to replace him with someone who will do what he asks.

    In Australia, after the Reserve Bank’s surprise decision to hold interest rates steady this month, some commentators have wondered if the central bank had “betrayed” Australians. Treasurer Jim Chalmers pointedly remarked:

    It’s not the result millions of Australians were hoping for or what the market was expecting.

    On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank released the minutes of that controversial policy-setting meeting, which said some economic data was slightly stronger than expected. The majority of the board believed:

    lowering the cash rate a third time within the space of four meetings would be unlikely to be consistent with the strategy of easing monetary policy in a cautious and gradual manner.

    Can’t rates just be kept low?

    Wouldn’t we be better off if central banks kept interest rates low, as some politicians and borrowers were hoping for? It would certainly help those of us with mortgages.

    Surprisingly, the answer is no.

    We are better off when central banks set interest rates with a view on the longer run rather than just the short-term demands of politicians and borrowers.

    To see why we can look at history to see what happens when a central bank isn’t independent.

    Why does independence matter?

    In the 1970s the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Arthur Burns, was pressured to cut interest rates in the run-up to the 1972 election. He dutifully did so and, while President Richard Nixon was re-elected, this led to “stagflation” – with inflation, unemployment and even interest rates, higher than before interest rates were cut.

    A more recent example of political pressure can be seen in Turkey where the president pressured the central bank to cut interest rates. He hoped to stimulate the economy and believed higher interest rates caused higher inflation.

    Unfortunately, lower rates were shortly followed by higher inflation and, ultimately, much higher interest rates.

    And today in the US, even though Powell has so far resisted Trump’s pressure, financial markets are shaken and long-term interest rates go up when Trump talks about replacing him.

    Lower interest rates can be like a caffeinated energy drink – they give you a short-term energy boost, but can leave you tired, irritable and with a headache when the effects wear off.

    So, why does this happen? It’s all about expectations.

    Expectations about the future matter

    A central bank influences the economy both through what it does and what people expect it to do. The ability to shape expectations is a powerful tool for central banks, especially during crises such as the COVID pandemic, when official interest rates were close to zero.

    Imagine, for example, you are about to take out a mortgage. In making this decision you will likely think not just about current interest rates and your ability to make repayments, but what is likely to happen to future interest rates, your wages and inflation.

    Credibility is the key to successfully shaping people’s expectations. If a central bank is independent and credible, consumers and businesses will listen to what it says and adjust their expectations accordingly.

    The chart below illustrates this point.

    Macquarie University’s Business Outlook Scenarios Survey asks businesses if they believe the Reserve Bank will meet its inflation goals. Those that do trust the bank (the line labelled “certain”) have lower inflation expectations than those that don’t (the line labelled “uncertain”).

    Importantly, the expectations of those that trust the bank to meet its inflation goals tend to align with the bank’s 2–3% inflation target over the business cycle.

    And these expectations affect what businesses and consumers do today.

    So, how credible is the Reserve Bank today?

    Despite the surprise hold, Australians still trust the RBA

    Data from the Business Outlook Scenarios Survey shows the Reserve Bank has rebuilt its credibility since its 2021 “promise” not to raise interest rates until 2024. It has done this by reforming its board structure and membership, being more open and, most critically, by hitting the inflation target.

    Indeed, the most recent survey data shows that, if anything, the surprise decision increased people’s confidence in the bank’s ability to control inflation.

    In July, the survey was in the field between July 7 and 10. The Reserve Bank made its announcement on July 8. Out of 512 businesses surveyed, 368 completed it before the announcement and 144 completed it after the announcement.

    Overall, more than 40% of businesses surveyed were certain the Reserve Bank will achieve its inflation target. This is up from less than 10% a year ago. And, those who completed the survey after the announcement were more likely to trust the Reserve Bank than those that who completed it before the announcement.

    So next time you hear politicians and commentators calling for immediate interest rate cuts, you should hope the Reserve Bank ignores those calls and focuses on the longer term. Overseas experience shows things do not end well when politicians start determining interest rates.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Central bank independence and credibility matters. Here’s why – https://theconversation.com/central-bank-independence-and-credibility-matters-heres-why-260198

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Health Care in Rural Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), introduced the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize programs to improve access to health care in rural communities.

    “Across Virginia and throughout the U.S., rural communities often face unique challenges that lead to reduced or even nonexistent access to lifesaving medical care,” said Kaine. “Republicans in Congress just passed a bill to pay for tax cuts for the uber-wealthy at the expense of everyday Americans, and our rural health providers are now grappling with severe budget cuts that could force them to close their doors. Now more than ever, I urge my colleagues to join us in lifting up our rural communities by passing this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize key federal grants that support their access to health care.”

    The introduction comes shortly after President Donald Trump signed the Republican budget megabill that will devastate hospitals, health care access, and Medicaid coverage in rural communities. Kaine strongly opposed and voted against the legislation.

    Rural communities face unique challenges in accessing lifesaving medical services, including geographic isolation, workforce shortages, transportation barriers, facility closures, and inadequate insurance coverage. These barriers result in unmet health care needs, which translate into a 43 percent higher mortality rate for rural residents compared to their urban and suburban counterparts.

    To combat these startling gaps, the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act reauthorizes the following three programs under the Public Health Service Act through Fiscal Year 2030 (FY30):

    • Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grants to fund projects that improve the delivery of health care services in rural communities through community engagement and evidence-based models;
    • Rural Health Network Development Grants to support integrated health care networks that collaborate to achieve efficiencies, expand access to, coordinate, and improve quality of health care in rural communities; and
    • Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grants to support the planning and implementation of quality improvement activities for rural primary care providers or providers of health care services, like critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, or a network of providers serving rural communities.

    As a member of the Senate HELP Committee, Kaine has long advocated for improved health care access and health infrastructure in rural communities. In February, Kaine introduced the bipartisan Rural Hospital Support Act, legislation to prevent rural hospital closures by extending and modernizing critical Medicare programs. In 2024, Kaine introduced the Primary Care Team Education Centers Act, legislation to support the education and clinical training of new primary care professionals to address the health workforce shortage across America, including in rural communities.

    Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren to Oppose First Senate Appropriations Bill for Trump Administration

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    July 22, 2025

    “I cannot in good conscience support this funding bill while the Trump administration illegally withholds funding for programs appropriated by Congress for veterans in need.”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), released the following statement ahead of the Senate’s vote on the FY 2026 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill:

    “I care deeply about improving service members’ housing and honoring our nation’s promise to our veterans. All three of my brothers served in the military, and I’m the senior Senate Democrat for military personnel.

    “The Trump administration’s actions are disgraceful – freezing VA grants, cutting funds for veterans’ suicide prevention, stripping support for veteran homelessness, firing VA workers, gutting programs to help veterans avoid foreclosure and get mental health support in times of crisis. Nothing in this bill puts a stop to those actions.

    “I cannot in good conscience support this funding bill while the Trump administration illegally withholds funding for programs appropriated by Congress for veterans in need and Republicans unilaterally claw back bipartisan funding that Donald Trump doesn’t like. Congress is a co-equal branch of government. When we vote to protect our veterans, we need to stand by that vote. We swore an oath to the Constitution, not to a king. If Republicans want support for this bill, they can start by demonstrating they will uphold the law.

    “I will vote no on this funding bill.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Announces Meeting with Social Security Commissioner, Outlines Ten Key Concerns

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    July 22, 2025

    Warren, Bisignano meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 23

    “The nearly 70 million Americans who receive and rely on Social Security benefits deserve answers about the future of the program under your leadership.”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a leader of the Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, announced today that she will meet with Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano tomorrow, on July 23. Ahead of the meeting, Senator Warren sent Bisignano a letter outlining her ten key concerns and asked him to come prepared to provide answers to her specific questions.

    “Under the Trump administration, Americans are being forced to deal with hours-long phone wait times, understaffed field offices, AI doom loops, and website glitches. SSA Commissioner Bisignano is making it harder for Americans to get the Social Security benefits they’ve earned over a lifetime of work. That’s wrong — and I’m looking forward to meeting with him and getting answers for the American people,” said Senator Warren.

    “The nearly 70 million Americans who receive and rely on Social Security benefits deserve answers about the future of the program under your leadership,” wrote Senator Warren.

    Senator Warren’s ten questions for Commissioner Bisignano are:

    1. After dramatically shrinking SSA’s workforce and cutting thousands of jobs, how can you still claim that SSA is adequately staffed when extensive reporting—and your own decision to reassign staff to DOGE-created staffing holes—shows this is not the case?
    2. Will you commit to keeping all SSA field offices open?
    3. How are you ensuring that staffing reductions and reassignments are not degrading services at field offices?
    4. Why did you remove key customer service metrics from the SSA website?
    5. How can you account for the difference in the wait times that you are reporting and the longer wait times revealed by independent investigations?
    6. Are you directing relevant SSA staff to follow the SSA’s own IT modernization plan, last updated in 2024, or have you directed any subordinate to follow a plan created or issued by any individual associated with DOGE?
    7. How is SSA protecting the sensitive personal information stored in its databases? Will you commit to not allow access to individuals’ data beyond what is strictly necessary for the provision of benefits?
    8. Why are you perpetuating lies that SSA is rife with fraud, when in reality, your own fraud checks—which slowed claims by 25 percent—revealed it was nearly nonexistent?
    9. Are you using fraud markers as a way to cut off immigrants from financial services in hopes of “self-deporting”?
    10. Would you consider privatizing any part of SSA? If so, which parts of the agency are under consideration for privatization?

    Senate Dems’ Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Foreign Affairs Committee Advances Measures to Codify Much-Needed Reforms to Foreign Arms Sales Process

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced six bills aimed at improving the foreign arms sales process and strengthening the U.S. defense industrial as part of the panel’s second markup of the 119th Congress.

    The suite of measures, which were spearheaded by the committee’s bipartisan Foreign Arms Sales Task Force, codify much-needed reforms to the foreign arms sales process outlined in President Trump’s executive order in April with tailored legislation to improve transparency, efficiency, and ease cooperation with foreign partners.

    House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast formally established the task force, which is being led by Chairman Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Ranking Member Madeleine Dean (D-PA), in March to ensure the foreign arms sales process meets the demands of the future.

    “As Chairman of the Foreign Military Sales Task Force, I’ve made it my mission to eliminate the bureaucratic delays that prevent America’s top-tier military equipment from reaching our allies and partners,” Chairman Zinke said. “The Foreign Military Sales Task Force was given a job, and we intend to deliver. I appreciate Chairman Mast’s support in these efforts and look forward to voting for this legislation on the House floor.”

    Since being stood up, the task force has heard from foreign partners, defense industry stakeholders, and U.S. government officials from across the interagency about key reforms needed to ensure the foreign arms sales process meets the demands of the future.

    These task force’s efforts, which build upon the House Foreign Affairs Foreign Military Sales TIGER  Task Force co-led by Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) last Congress, will result in more efficient partnerships between the government and private sector stakeholders, a stronger defense industrial base, and foreign partners being better armed more quickly with American systems and hardware which improves interoperability.

    “These actions, at their core, are about deterring aggression and, when needed, defeating our adversaries,” Chairman Mast said. “When we streamline and strengthen the foreign arms sales process, we incentivize innovation, improve our domestic manufacturing capabilities, and create American jobs. This is a no-fail mission, and I appreciate the hard work by the Task Force in getting this legislation before the full committee today.”

    The six task force-led measures advanced in today’s markup include:

    H.R. 3613 – Streamlining Foreign Military Sales Act of 2025

    H.R. 4233 – AUKUS Reform for Military Optimization & Review (ARMOR) Act

    H.R. 4215 – ITAR Licensing Reform Act

    H.R. 4216 – Made-In-America Defense Act

    H.R. 3068 – Missile Technology Control Review Act

    H.R. 4335 – Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act

    Additionally, the committee advanced legislation aimed at strengthening U.S. partnerships and promoting peace and stability around the globe.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Burlison Opens Subcommittee Hearing on Advancing Nuclear Energy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) delivered opening remarks at today’s hearing on “The New Atomic Age: Advancing America’s Energy Future.” In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chairman Burlison highlighted President Trump’s actions to boost American energy production and Congressional action to reinvigorate the nuclear industry. Subcommittee Chairman Burlison also noted the efficiency and cost of nuclear energy emphasized the importance discovering new pathways to solving domestic energy challenges.

    VIDEO: Opening Remarks

    Below are Subcommittee Chairman Burlison’s prepared remarks:

    A new age for nuclear power has started—led by President Trump’s four recent executive orders on nuclear energy and Congressional action to reinvigorate the nuclear industry. 

    President Trump’s orders call for permitting reform and the reduction of overburdensome regulations from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has become a slow-moving, bureaucratic mess, constraining and delaying expansion of U.S. nuclear power deployment for decades.  

    Under President Trump’s orders, the NRC must rule on reactor license applications within 18 months—a dramatic shift from the ambiguous, open-ended timelines of the past. 

    President Trump’s orders also promote expanding domestic mining, enrichment of uranium and other reactor fuels, and nuclear-fuel recycling.  

    These ground-breaking actions will power United States energy independence and provide a secure and reliable U.S. electrical grid—something we must obtain as the AI revolution places surging demands on our. electrical capacity.  

    At the heart of nuclear power’s resurgence are two key innovations: small and micro modular reactors.  

    These new reactors promise the U.S. will have a strong answer to future energy demands.  

    They will be more capital-effective, more efficient, and more scalable for both on and off-grid sites here in the United States.  

    Moreover, they offer enhanced safety features, eliminate the risk of meltdowns, and can use recycled fuel from other reactors.  

    The Department of Energy predicts that 12 percent of electricity consumption in the United States in 2028 will come from data centers, which require constant and consistent electricity.  

    And the Energy Information Agency recently projected that U.S. power consumption will reach all-time highs this year and next, in part due to AI and data-center demand.

    Nuclear power is the answer to data centers’ growing appetite for stable energy.

    I recently toured two prototype micro modular reactors being developed here in the United States.  

    I can confidently say the technology is ready—what is holding nuclear back is the onerous and capital-intensive regulatory permitting burden placed on nuclear energy expansion. 

    Under the Trump Administration, the federal government is waking up to the roadblock that nuclear power has faced for decades.

    The federal government, not technology, has been in the way.  

    Congress should and will be watching for the fruits of the Administration’s actions, eager to cooperate in achieving lasting change.  

    Nuclear power in the age of SMRs and MMRs isn’t just safe—it’s essential.  

    It is our best shot at securing clean, reliable, American energy independence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Colleagues Investigate Skydance’s Role in Potential Secret Trump Payoff Connected to Paramount Deal

    US Senate News:

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

    July 22, 2025

    With Skydance/Paramount merger pending, Skydance reportedly set up secret side deal with Trump worth tens of millions more dollars

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., pressed Skydance Media about reports of a secret deal between Skydance and Donald Trump that may be related to Paramount’s recent multi-million-dollar settlement agreement with the Trump administration, in a letter with Senate colleagues.

    Skydance and Paramount are awaiting approval from the Trump administration on their proposed mega-merger, raising concerns about potential bribery related to the deal. In May, following reports of a potential settlement in Paramount’s legal battle with Trump, the senators wrote to the company with concerns that its attempt to settle Trump’s “meritless” lawsuit for tens of millions of dollars, while approval for its $8 billion merger with Skydance is pending in front of the Trump administration, could be construed as bribery.

    “These reports raise fresh questions about corruption in the Trump administration and President Trump’s willingness to accept payments from entities with significant policy interests before agencies he controls,” the senators wrote in a letter to Skydance Media CEO David Ellison.

    Despite warnings from senators that the deal resembled back-door bribery, Paramount reached a $16 million settlement with Trump, a portion of which will go towards his presidential library. Moving funds to the presidential library offers a discrete way for Trump to collect money under the appearance of ‘contributions’. It was later revealed that the arrangement exceeds the original $16 million. The arrangement may involve public service announcements and other broadcast content promoting conservative causes, potentially worth an additional $15 to $20 million – leading to reports of a back-door deal with Skydance. Consequences could include CBS’ decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert just days after he publicly criticized Paramount’s settlement.

    Along with Wyden, the letter was led by Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

    To understand whether Skydance’s actions complied with federal anti-bribery laws, the senators are requesting answers to the following questions by August 4.

    1. Is there currently any arrangement under which you or Skydance will provide compensation, advertising, or promotional activities that in any way assist Trump, his family, his presidential library, or other Administration officials?
    2. Have you personally discussed with Trump, any of his family members, any Trump administration officials, or presidential library fund personnel any matters related to the Paramount-Skydance transaction? If so, what was the nature of these discussions?
    3. Were you or any other Skydance executives involved in discussions about settling Trump’s lawsuit against CBS? If so, please provide information regarding the timing, nature of, and participants in these discussions, including whether the pending transaction with Paramount was discussed.
    4. Has Skydance agreed or have you personally agreed to make changes to Skydance’s content or Paramount’s or CBS’s content at the request of the Trump administration, to facilitate approval of the transaction? If so, please describe those requests.
    5. Were you or other Skydance executives involved in discussions about canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert? If so, please provide information regarding the timing, nature of, and participants in these discussions, including whether the pending transaction with Paramount was discussed.
    6. Does Skydance have any policies, procedures, or guidance related to compliance with 18 U.S.C. 201 or any other laws governing public corruption? If so, please provide a copy of those policies and procedures.
    7. Does Skydance conduct any training for its staff or executives related to compliance with 18 U.S.C. 201 or any other laws governing public corruption? If so, please provide details regarding these trainings.

    In a move to amass more money under the guise of ‘contributions’, at least part of Paramount’s $16 million settlement will go towards Trump’s presidential library. Wyden joined his colleagues to introduce legislation in the Senate and House that would close loopholes allowing presidential libraries to be used as tools for corruption and bribery, including Trump’s potential back-door deal with Skydance.

    The full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US withdrawal from UNESCO contradicts fundamental principles of multilateralism – head of organization

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    PARIS, July 22 (Xinhua) — The US withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) runs counter to the fundamental principles of multilateralism, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said on Tuesday.

    Expressing deep regret over the decision taken by US President Donald Trump, O. Azoulay warned that the country’s withdrawal from the organization would primarily affect UNESCO’s American partners, in particular communities applying for inclusion of sites on the World Heritage List, obtaining the status of “UNESCO Creative City” and the creation of UNESCO Chairs.

    The United States announced on Tuesday that it would withdraw from UNESCO by the end of December 2026, just two years after rejoining, marking the country’s third exit from the organization.

    According to a statement from the US State Department, the decision was made in connection with UNESCO’s policy, which Washington believes “promotes divisive social and cultural initiatives” against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    Commenting on the statement, the UNESCO Director-General expressed regret over the US decision, rejecting the arguments made. She stressed that the organization remains “a rare forum for consensus building through concrete, action-oriented multilateralism.”

    O. Azoulay assured that the US withdrawal from UNESCO in 2026 and the loss of American funding will not affect the normal activities of the organization, since its financial position has been significantly strengthened.

    “We have undertaken major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources. Thanks to the efforts made by the organization since 2018, the decline in US financial contributions has been effectively offset,” the CEO said. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: The United States and Indonesia Reach Historic Trade Deal

    Source: US Whitehouse

    DELIVERING ON RECIPROCAL TRADE: President Donald J. Trump announced a landmark trade deal with Indonesia that will provide Americans with market access in Indonesia once considered impossible and unlock major breakthroughs for America’s manufacturing, agriculture, and digital sectors.

    • Under this deal, Indonesia will pay the United States a reciprocal tariff rate of 19%.
    • The key terms of the U.S.-Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade will include:
      • Eliminating Tariff Barriers: Indonesia will eliminate tariff barriers, on a preferential basis, on over 99% of U.S. products exported to Indonesia across all sectors, including for all agricultural products, health products, seafood, information and communications technology, automotive products, and chemicals, which will create commercially meaningful market access opportunities for the full range of U.S. exports, supporting high-quality American jobs.
      • Breaking Down Non-Tariff Barriers for U.S. Industrial Exports: Indonesia will address a range of non-tariff barriers, including by: (1) exempting U.S. companies and originating goods from local content requirements; (2) accepting vehicles built to U.S. federal motor vehicle safety and emissions standards; (3) accepting FDA certificates and prior marketing authorizations for medical devices and pharmaceuticals; (4) exempting U.S. exports of cosmetics, medical devices, and other manufactured goods from burdensome certification and labeling requirements; (5) removing import restrictions or licensing requirements on U.S. remanufactured goods and their parts; (6) eliminating pre-shipment inspection or verification requirements on imports of U.S. goods; (7) adopting and implementing good regulatory practices; (8) taking steps to resolve many long-standing intellectual property issues identified in USTR’s Special 301 Report; and (9) addressing U.S. concerns with conformity assessment procedures.
      • Breaking Down Non-Tariff Barriers for U.S. Agriculture Exports: Indonesia will address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Indonesian market, including by: (1) exempting U.S. food and agricultural products from all of Indonesia’s import licensing regimes including its commodity balance policy; (2) ensuring transparency and fairness with respect to geographical indications (GIs) including meats and cheeses; (3) providing permanent Fresh Food of Plant Origin (FFPO) designation for all applicable U.S. plant products; and (4) recognizing U.S. regulatory oversight, including listing of all U.S. meat, poultry, and dairy facilities and accepting certificates issued by U.S. regulatory authorities.
      • Strengthening Rules of Origin: The United States and Indonesia will negotiate facilitative rules of origin that ensure that the benefits from the agreement accrue to the United States and Indonesia, not third-countries.
      • Removing Barriers for Digital Trade: The United States and Indonesia will finalize commitments on digital trade, services, and investment. Indonesia has committed to eliminate existing HTS tariff lines on “intangible products” and suspend related requirements on import declarations; support a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) immediately and without conditions; and take effective actions to implement the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, including submitting its revised Specific Commitments for certification by the WTO. Indonesia will provide certainty regarding the ability to move personal data out of its territory to the United States through recognition of the United States as a country or jurisdiction that provides adequate data protection under Indonesia’s law. American companies have sought these reforms for years.
      • Aligning on Economic Security: Indonesia has committed to join the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity and take effective actions to address global excess capacity in the steel sector and its impacts. The United States and Indonesia are committed to strengthening cooperation to increase supply chain resilience. This includes addressing duty evasion and cooperating on export controls and investment security. Indonesia will remove restrictions on exports to the United States for all industrial commodities, including critical minerals.
      • Improving Labor Standards: Indonesia has committed to adopt and implement a forced labor import ban and remove provisions that restrict workers and unions from exercising freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.
      • Notching Commercial Deals: The United States and Indonesia take note of commercial deals in the areas of agriculture, aerospace, and energy, which will further increase U.S. exports to Indonesia.
    • President Trump has delivered a forward-looking and tough trade deal that will benefit American workers, exporters, farmers, and digital innovators—this deal is what winning looks and will feel like for all Americans.

    A DEFINED PATH FORWARD: In the coming weeks, the United States and Indonesia will memorialize the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade in order to lock in benefits for American businesses and workers.

    • The United States currently runs its fifteenth largest goods trade deficit with Indonesia.
      • The U.S. total goods trade deficit with Indonesia was $17.9 billion in 2024.
      • Before this deal, Indonesia’s simple average applied tariff was 8% while the U.S. average applied tariff was 3.3%. 

    LIBERATING AMERICA FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES: Since Day One, President Trump challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged them for decades and contributed to our historic trade deficit.

    • On April 2, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the large and persistent U.S. goods trade deficit caused by a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers, and U.S. trading partners’ economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption.
    • President Trump continues to advance the economic and national security interests of the American people by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers and expanding market access for American exporters.
    • Today’s announcement shows that America can defend its domestic production and strengthen its defense industrial base while obtaining expansive market access with our trading partners.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump Delivers Again: ICE Arrests Surge Nationwide

    Source: US Whitehouse

    Across the country, arrests of criminal illegal immigrants have soared as President Donald J. Trump makes good on his promise to rid our communities of these threats to public safety — making sure illegal immigrant killers, rapists, gangbangers, and other violent criminals find no safe harbor.

    The Trump Administration’s landmark public safety effort is making local news from coast to coast:

    • In South Carolina, ICE arrests have more than tripled: “Looking at arrests from this year, 47% are on people already facing one charge; 41% are people already convicted.”
    • In Michigan, “ICE arrests have jumped 154%“ since President Trump took office.
    • In Minnesota, ICE arrests “have doubled, and the time it takes to deport someone has been cut in half since President Donald Trump took office.”
    • In Colorado and Wyoming, there have been “almost five times as many“ ICE arrests this year compared to the same period under Biden.
    • “New numbers on ICE arrests in Ohio show a shocking increase,” having more than tripled since President Trump took office.
    • In Nevada, ICE arrests “have jumped nearly 300% compared with the same time period in 2024.”
    • In Tennessee, daily ICE arrests have “more than doubled“ under President Trump — with the vast majority having a criminal conviction or a pending criminal charge.
    • “Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, ICE arrests in Maryland have jumped 290% — and a staggering 470% in Virginia.”
    • In North Carolina, there has been “a 160% increase in the number of daily arrests … compared to the same period last year.”
    • In Alabama, ICE arrests have more than doubled compared to last year.
    • “ICE arrests have surged after President Trump’s immigration crackdown — with numbers tripling in Utah and surrounding states since January.”
    • “Comparing the average daily arrest rate to 2024’s rate … Texas is up 92%, Florida is up 219% and California is up 123%.”
    • “The number of unauthorized immigrants arrested each month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has nearly tripled across eight western states — Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and California — since Trump took office.”
    • “ICE arrests here in southern Arizona … have spiked dramatically since President Trump took office.”
    • In Chicago, ICE arrested three times as many illegal immigrants convicted of crimes during the first 150 days of the Trump Administration compared to Biden’s final 150 days in office.
    • “During the first six months of the second Trump Administration, immigration arrests here in the San Diego region have gone up 400% compared to this time last year.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: En medio del aumento de la actividad del ICE en California, el Fiscal General Bonta emite una alerta: La discriminación en materia de vivienda contra las comunidades inmigrantes es ilegal

    Source: US State of California

    Los californianos pueden enviar quejas o sugerencias relacionadas con la vivienda a housing@doj.ca.gov 

    OAKLAND— El Fiscal General de California, Rob Bonta, emitió hoy una alerta al consumidor recordando a los californianos que es ilegal que los propietarios discriminen a los inquilinos, tomen represalias contra ellos o influyan en los inquilinos para que se muden amenazando con revelar el estatus migratorio de un inquilino a ICE o a las fuerzas del orden. Especialmente mientras la administración federal lleva a cabo su inhumana campaña de deportación masiva y crea una cultura de miedo y desconfianza, es crucial que los propietarios e inquilinos comprendan sus obligaciones y derechos según la ley de California. 

    “Las familias de todo el país están experimentando miedo e incertidumbre como resultado de la agenda de inmigración inhumana del presidente Trump. Hoy, les recuerdo a los propietarios que es ilegal en California discriminar a los inquilinos o acosarlos o tomar represalias contra un inquilino al revelar su estatus migratorio a las autoridades”, dijo el Fiscal General Bonta. “Los inquilinos de California, sin importar su estatus migratorio, tienen derecho a una vivienda segura y a acceder a documentos de vivienda en un idioma que puedan entender. Usaré todo el poder de mi cargo para perseguir a quienes intentan aprovecharse de los inquilinos de California durante un momento ya de por sí difícil”.

    La discriminación en materia de vivienda es ilegal en California. Es ilegal que los propietarios discriminen a los inquilinos por motivos de raza, origen nacional, orientación sexual, religión, identidad o expresión de género, estado de discapacidad, estado familiar, fuente de ingresos (incluida la asistencia para el alquiler, como los vales de la Sección 8), condición de veterano o ciertas otras características protegidas (Código de Gobierno § 12955).

    Los proveedores de vivienda privada no pueden preguntar sobre el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía de un inquilino o solicitante y no pueden discriminar en función del estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o idioma principal. Por ejemplo, los propietarios no pueden negarse a alquilar a un inquilino potencial, decir que un alquiler no está disponible para alquilar cuando sí lo está, cobrarle más alquiler a un inquilino, perseguir a un inquilino para desalojarlo o proporcionarle a un inquilino cláusulas de alquiler menos favorables en función de estas características (Código Civil § 1940.3(b); Código de Gobierno § 12955(d); Código Civil § 51).

    Los propietarios no pueden acosar ni tomar represalias contra un inquilino al revelar su estatus migratorio a las fuerzas de seguridad (Código Civil §§ 1940.3(b), 1942.5). Los propietarios tampoco pueden amenazar con revelar el estatus migratorio de un inquilino para presionarlo a mudarse. (Código Civil § 1940.2).  En la mayoría de los casos, a los propietarios no se les permite preguntar a un inquilino o potencial inquilino su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía.

    Los inquilinos tienen derecho a documentos de vivienda que puedan entender. Según la ley de California, si los inquilinos se comunican principalmente en español, chino, tagalo, vietnamita o coreano con el propietario o administrador de la propiedad al solicitar un apartamento y firmar un contrato de arrendamiento, el propietario debe proporcionar al inquilino una traducción escrita del contrato de arrendamiento en ese idioma antes de que se firme el contrato de arrendamiento, siempre y cuando el contrato de arrendamiento sea por más de un mes. (Código Civil, § 1632(b)). Los documentos posteriores que realicen cambios sustanciales en el contrato de arrendamiento, como avisos de aumentos de alquiler o de tarifas, también deben traducirse. (Código Civil, § 1632(g)(1)).

    Los propietarios que infrinjan estas leyes pueden verse obligados a pagar a los inquilinos por daños y perjuicios, sanciones y honorarios de abogados. Por ejemplo, un propietario que revele el estatus migratorio de un inquilino a cualquier autoridad de inmigración se le puede ordenar a pagar al inquilino una indemnización por daños y perjuicios equivalente a entre 6 y 12 veces el alquiler mensual (Código Civil § 1940.35(b)). Los inquilinos tienen una variedad de otros derechos y protecciones según la ley de California. Algunas ciudades y condados también tienen protecciones adicionales para los inquilinos, incluidas limitaciones a los desalojos y aumentos de alquiler. Para obtener más información, visitehttps://oag.ca.gov/tenants. 

    Propietarios y autoridades de inmigración  

    Si las autoridades de inmigración (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) le exigen a un propietario que proporcione información sobre un inquilino, como la solicitud de alquiler u otros documentos del inquilino, el propietario puede solicitar que le muestren una orden judicial u otro poder. Los propietarios deben buscar asesoramiento legal de inmediato para determinar si deben cumplir con la solicitud y asegurarse de no infringir las leyes contra la discriminación y la privacidad de California. Los diferentes tipos de documentos que ICE puede presentar son los siguientes:

    • Una orden administrativa de ICE o un aviso para comparecer a una audiencia de inmigración no le da a ICE poderes especiales para inspeccionar los registros de un propietario. Los propietarios deben buscar asesoramiento legal sobre cómo responder. Vea un ejemplo de orden administrativa de ICE y aviso de comparecencia aquí (consulte los Anexos B-D).
    • Si ICE presenta una orden emitida por un tribunal federal u otra orden judicial firmada por un juez, los propietarios deben cumplir con prontitud y, cuando sea posible, buscar asesoramiento legal antes de responder. Vea un ejemplo de orden de un tribunal federal aquí (consulte los Anexos E y F).
    • Los propietarios a quienes se les presente una citación para presentar documentos o pruebas deben buscar asesoramiento legal sobre cómo responder. Vea ejemplos de citaciones aquí (consulte los Anexos G y H). Obtenga más información sobre las citaciones y otros documentos utilizados para aplicar las medidas de control de inmigración aquí (véanse las páginas 17 a 19).
    • Los propietarios no deben interferir físicamente con los oficiales de ICE cuando estos desempeñan sus funciones.

    El Fiscal General Bonta se compromete a garantizar que se respeten los derechos de los inquilinos en California. El Fiscal General Bonta ha responsabilizado a los propietarios por violar las leyes de California en Bakersfield, Marysville y en todo California. El mes pasado, el Fiscal General Bonta demandó a un grupo de empresas de administración de propiedades y holdings inmobiliarios propiedad de Mike Nijjar y miembros de su familia. La familia Nijjar y sus empresas relacionadas poseen y administran más de 22,000 unidades de vivienda de alquiler en todo el estado, principalmente en vecindarios de bajos ingresos en los Condados de Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino y Kern, pero también se extienden hasta los Condados de Sacramento y San Joaquin. La demanda alega que las empresas de Nijjar violaron flagrantemente numerosas leyes de California al someter a los inquilinos a unidades inseguras, discriminar a los solicitantes con vales de vivienda de la Sección 8, cobrar de más el alquiler a algunos inquilinos, utilizar contratos de arrendamiento que engañan a los inquilinos sobre sus derechos legales y negarse a proporcionar traducciones al español de estos contratos de arrendamiento a pesar de solicitar de manera intencional inquilinos hispanohablantes. 

    Es posible que los inquilinos conozcan las empresas de Nijjar por los nombres de sus empresas de administración de propiedades actuales y recientes: no solo PAMA Management, sino también I E Rental Homes, Bridge Management, Equity Management, Golden Management, Hightower Management, Legacy Management, Mobile Management, Pro Management y Regency Management. Se alienta a cualquier persona, incluidos inquilinos actuales o anteriores, que tenga información que pueda ser relevante para este caso a que comparta sus historias con nuestra oficina en oag.ca.gov/report. Para obtener más información sobre sus derechos como inquilino, visite aquí.  

    Los californianos que enfrentan un desalojo o creen que su propietario ha violado sus derechos como inquilinos deben buscar ayuda legal de inmediato. Si no puede pagar un abogado, podría calificar para recibir asistencia legal gratuita o de bajo costo. Para encontrar una oficina de asistencia legal cerca de donde vive, visite lawhelpca.org y haga clic en la pestaña “Buscar Ayuda Legal”. Si no califica para recibir asistencia legal y necesita ayuda para encontrar un abogado, visite la página web del Colegio de Abogados de California para encontrar un servicio local de referencia de abogados certificados, o visite la página web de las Cortes de California para inquilinos que se enfrentan a desalojos.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pressley Meets with Mahmoud Khalil in Washington, DC

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

    Pressley First Met Khalil in April During a Visit to ICE Facility Where He Was Unlawfully Detained

    Photos | Video

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) met with Mahmoud Khalil in her office in Washington, DC. This is their second meeting after Congresswoman Pressley visited Mr. Khalil in April while he was unjustly detained at an ICE detention center in Basile, Louisiana. She issued the following statement after their meeting:

    “Mahmoud is a kind, gentle soul who cares deeply about others’ humanity, and his abduction, detention, and ongoing persecution by the Trump Administration is egregious,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “I am deeply relieved that he has been reunited with his wife and his infant son. Our meeting today was fortifying and productive. I look forward to remaining in contact with Mahmoud as we continue work to center the humanity of families in Gaza, address the unjust and unlawful targeting of students exercising their right to free speech, and protect the fundamental, constitutional rights of everyone who calls this country home.”

    In their meeting, Congresswoman Pressley and Mr. Khalil discussed a range of topics, including:

    • how lawmakers can work towards peace in the Middle East;
    • how Congress can address the targeted persecution and doxxing of students by the Trump Administration and right-wing groups;
    • Mr. Khalil’s legal proceedings and the implications of his case for U.S. citizens and others; and
    • how Congress can protect the constitutional rights of everyone in America.

    Congresswoman Pressley also presented Mr. Khalil with a gift for his infant son, Deen.

    Photos from their meeting are available here and a short video clip is available here.

    In April, Congresswoman Pressley visited the ICE detention facilities in Basile and Jena, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained, respectively. Joined by House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02), the Congresswoman’s visit included direct meetings with Ms. Öztürk and Mr. Khalil, two students who have been unlawfully detained by ICE and transported to Louisiana from their homes in retaliation for their protected speech. 

    In Louisiana, the lawmakers held a media availability outside of the Basile facility to speak about their meetings, renew their calls for their release, demand accountability, and conduct oversight over the ICE facilities they are being held in. Full video of that media availability is available here.

    In Boston, Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and Congressman McGovern held a press conference to recount their harrowing visit to Louisiana where they met with Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, who were being unlawfully detained and subjected to inhumane conditions in retaliation for their protected speech. Full video of that press conference is available here.

    Rep. Pressley, along with Sens. Warren and Markey, have pushed for answers and action since Öztürk’s March arrest. Last month, they led over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about Öztürk’s arrest and detention as well as similar incidents across the country.

    Earlier this year, the lawmakers sounded the alarm on Öztürk’s medical neglect in DHS custody and renewed urgent calls for her release. Last week, Pressley, Warren and Markey demanded Secretary of State Rubio released any documents related to her arrest after a recent report indicated that an internal State Department memo concluded that the key premise underlying Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest and detention was false. Last month, Congresswoman Pressley issued a statement condemning reports that ICE arrested and detained Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student with legal status in a graduate program at Tufts University. Earlier in the week, Rep. Pressley issued a statement following reports of ICE activity in Boston and other municipalities in Massachusetts.

    During her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading advocate for a just and humane criminal legal system, and has visited prisons in Texas, California, and Massachusetts to hear from detainees, advocate for them, and conduct oversight on the conditions in which they are being detained. Rep. Pressley’s visit to Louisiana is a continuation of her advocacy for a People’s Justice Guarantee, her comprehensive, decarceration-focused resolution that outlines a framework for a fair, equitable and just legal system.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Grills HHS Nominee on Trump Admin’s Plans to Zero Out Funding for LIHEAP 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget would end LIHEAP program, which provides heating assistance for more than 26,000 Vermonters 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today grilled Dr. Alex Adams, President Trump’s pick to serve as Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), about the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP helps more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans afford heat and air conditioning.   

    “LIHEAP is an incredibly important program—it’s getting zeroed out in the budget. I know that you played a major role in Idaho in administering the LIHEAP program there. It’s really, really important in Vermont in those cold winters,” said Senator Welch. “I’m asking you—as a person who did really good work for the people of Idaho, administering the LIHEAP program—what do you think about zeroing out that program?” 
    Dr. Adams: “Senator, I’ll reiterate what the Secretary said. If Congress funds it, we’ll get the money out the door.” 
    Senator Welch: “But the President is zeroing it out. And you’re not in Congress…you’re working for President Trump, right? So, my question goes back to, what’s your view about zeroing out the LIHEAP program?” 
    Dr. Adams: “So, as a former state budget director, I would say no budget decision is ever made in a vacuum. It has to look at the total picture, and because this is an Administration that’s committed to energy policies, more permits—” 
    Senator Welch: “So you won’t answer, basically.” 

    Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below: 

    Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s exchange with Alex Adams, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary for Family Support at HHS:  

    Senator Welch: “The whole point of LIHEAP is it’s people who don’t have the resources to participate in the market. They have no control over a) the weather and b) the price of home heating fuel, right?” 
    Dr. Adams: “Senator, I think in states like mine we have policies that prohibit shutting off of utilities for certain critical months. I think you’re going to have to take into account the nuances and all the other factors in the market.”  
    Senator Welch: “I’ll just say candidly: I really admire the work you did in Idaho on the LIHEAP program, among other things, and I’m really disappointed in your—from my perspective—lack of candor about what your view is about zeroing out a program that you worked really hard on.” 

    In May, the Vermont Congressional Delegation pushed back against the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate the LIHEAP and terminate employees at HHS who distribute the funding. The Delegation previously called on Secretary of HHS Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to immediately reinstate the staff of the Division of Energy Assistance at HHS and disburse funding to states for LIHEAP. They have yet to receive a reply. 
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Simpson Moves to Name Kennedy Center Opera House After Melania Trump

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Rep. Simpson Moves to Name Kennedy Center Opera House After Melania Trump

    Washington, July 22, 2025

    WASHINGTON—Today, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to advance the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson–Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee–authored language that was adopted as part of an amendment during markup that would name the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts theatres after First Lady Melania Trump.
    “First Lady Melania Trump serves as the Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center,” said Rep. Simpson. “Naming a theater after her is an excellent way to recognize her appreciation for the arts. As Chairman of the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee—which oversees federal funding for capital repairs and operations and maintenance at the Kennedy Center—I am proud to honor her support and commitment in promoting the arts and humanities.”
    Text of Rep. Simpson’s amendment: That the Opera House located in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shall be known and designated as the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House”.
    Read Rep. Simpson’s exclusive in the Washington Reporter here.
    Rep. Simpson’s language is a part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 33 to 28.

    MIL OSI USA News –