NewzIntel.com

Category: Trumpism

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The head of the European Commission condemned D. Trump’s tariff threats and promised to introduce retaliatory measures if necessary

    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

    BRUSSELS, July 12 (Xinhua) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday warned that Washington’s decision to impose 30 percent tariffs on EU exports risks seriously disrupting key transatlantic supply chains, and vowed that the EU would retaliate if necessary.

    “The introduction of 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt key transatlantic supply chains to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic,” von der Leyen said in a statement.

    The head of the European Commission made the corresponding statement following the statement by US President Donald Trump, who announced that his administration would impose tariffs of 30 percent on EU exports, citing a long-term imbalance in bilateral trade and a lack of reciprocity.

    U. von der Leyen responded that the EU remains committed to a negotiated settlement, but stressed that the European Union will take measures to protect its economic interests if negotiations fail.

    “We remain committed to continuing to work towards reaching an agreement by 1 August,” she added. “At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard the EU’s interests, including taking proportionate countermeasures if necessary.” –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump announced the introduction of 30 percent tariffs on goods from the EU and Mexico from August 1

    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

    NEW YORK, July 12 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday morning that a 30 percent tariff will be imposed on goods from the European Union and Mexico starting August 1.

    The new duties were announced in letters addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The messages were published on Trump’s Truth Social page.

    D. Trump criticized Mexico for “failing to stop drug cartels” from smuggling drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States and accused the country of not cooperating enough with Washington to curb illegal immigration.

    As for the European Union, the US President criticised it for its tariff and non-tariff barriers, accusing them of creating “long-term, large and persistent trade deficits”.

    “Our relations, unfortunately, are far from reciprocal,” the president wrote in his letter.

    Trump used much of the same language in his letter as he did in messages sent earlier this week to other leaders, warning them against retaliation, urging them to move companies to the United States and hinting at the possibility of adjusting tariffs if they cooperate.

    Over the past week, the US president has sent more than 20 similar letters to other US trading partners, including Canada, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Brazil, imposing uniform tariff rates on goods from these countries, ranging from 20 to 50 percent. –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN migration agency helping migrants in the US return home voluntarily

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    In a statement on Monday, the UN agency said it is supporting Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) – not deportation – for those who decide to leave the US.

    At the request of the US Government, IOM is helping people who register to go back to their countries of origin voluntarily.

    “AVR is a well-established, rights-based approach that helps migrants navigate complex global migration systems, regain control over their lives, and make informed choices,” the agency said.

    Safe, dignified returns

    “Our role is to ensure that those who lack the means to return on their own can do so in a safe, dignified, and informed way,” IOM added.

    The agency made it clear that the US determines its own policies on migration. “IOM does not facilitate or implement deportations. Our involvement begins only after an individual gives informed consent to receive assistance.”

    In these instances, “IOM ensures that people have access to accurate information and essential services, in line with international standards.”

    The announcement comes as the US seeks to expand deportation of undocumented migrants in continuation of a policy President Donald Trump began nearly 10 years ago under his first administration.

    He returned to office in January for a second term and has been cracking down on illegal immigration through raids, detentions and deportations. 

    In a video posted to social media on Friday, President Trump said that he had signed an Executive Order “to launch the first-ever self-deportation programme for illegal aliens,” offering free flights from the US and payment of an “exit bonus.”

    Support for a life-changing decision

    IOM was established in 1951 and promotes humane and orderly migration.

    For decades the agency has supported AVR programmes in more than 100 countries, “helping people without resources, legal options, or support return to their countries of origin safely and with dignity,” it said.

    IOM noted that in the US, “many migrants face a challenging reality – navigating complex systems with limited options and resources,” and “this initiative provides support to those who choose to return, helping them make a life-changing decision with care and clarity.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Pushes CMS to Crack Down on Obamacare Fraud

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is renewing calls for accountability after receiving information that builds on independent reports of widespread Obamacare fraud. In 2024, taxpayers reportedly footed the bill for approximately $20 billion in improper Obamacare subsidies.  This number could exceed $27 billion in 2025. Based on information provided to Grassley’s office, insurance agents are also using targeted internet advertisements to fraudulently enroll consumers with false income verification extension requests. 
    Last year, Grassley pushed for answers from top leaders in the Biden administration regarding their efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the ACA marketplace. The Biden administration failed to respond to Grassley’s request. 
    “The Biden administration’s failure to adequately oversee these subsidies has had expensive consequences … The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2024 five million consumers may have inappropriately received health insurance coverage through subsidized Affordable Care Act (ACA) federal marketplace plans based on falsified income information, which may have cost the taxpayer an estimated $20 billion,” Grassley wrote. 
    Background:
    In 2021, the Biden administration increased premium tax credits (PTCs) for higher-income earners and reduced cost sharing through 2025. As a result, individuals whose income is within 100 and 150 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) are eligible for fully subsidized health insurance plans. This policy change has compromised program integrity, particularly in states that have not expanded Medicaid. 
    According to CMS and other reporting, fraudulent enrollments occurred because insurance agents and brokers exploited vulnerabilities in the ACA’s design. 
    In his letter, Grassley cites the Trump Department of Justice’s (DOJ) February 19th indictment of Cory Lloyd and Steven Strong for engaging in a $161 million ACA enrollment fraud scheme.  
    Grassley applauds the Trump administration’s program integrity measures through the marketplace integrity and affordability rule. The One Big Beautiful Bill also established some additional premium tax credit program integrity measures.
    Text of the letter can be found HERE or below. 
    July 7, 2025
    VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
    The Honorable Mehmet OzAdministratorCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
    On June 20, 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2024 five million consumers may have inappropriately received health insurance coverage through subsidized Affordable Care Act (ACA) federal marketplace plans based on falsified income information, which may have cost the taxpayer an estimated $20 billion.[1]  According to CMS, as well as other reporting, these fraudulent enrollments occurred because insurance agents and brokers exploited vulnerabilities in the program’s design.[2]  On July 8, 2024, I wrote to CMS with concerns regarding fraudulent enrollments and requested information on how the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS had taken steps to combat fraud, waste, and abuse related to these enrollments and associated subsidies.[3]  Unfortunately, the previous administration failed to provide a response. 
    The Biden administration’s failure to adequately oversee these subsidies has had expensive consequences.  For instance, on February 19, 2025, the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Cory Lloyd and Steven Strong for engaging in a $161 million ACA enrollment fraud scheme.[4]  According to the DOJ, “Lloyd and Strong targeted vulnerable, low-income individuals experiencing homelessness, unemployment, and mental health and substance abuse disorders, and, through ‘street marketers’ working on their behalf, sometimes offered bribes to induce those individuals to enroll in subsidized ACA plans.”[5]  Further, the two individuals used “misleading sales scripts and other deceptive sales techniques to convince consumers to state that they would attempt to earn the minimum income necessary to qualify for a subsidized ACA plan, even when the consumer initially projected having no income.”[6]
    Based on information provided to my office, I’ve been made aware of a similar type of fraud scheme used within the ACA marketplace.[7]  This scheme involved targeted internet advertisements for free health insurance.  These advertisements were used to entice consumers to fill out a webform with personal information which was then used by insurance agents to sign consumers up for healthcare in targeted zip codes.  Those zip codes were in states that use the federally-facilitated marketplace (FFM), rather than state-based exchanges, and where preferred insurance companies had $0 premium plans.[8]  Using information from the webforms, agents used HealthSherpa, one of the ten federally-approved private sector ACA federal marketplace enrollment websites, to sign consumers up.  During open enrollment periods, agents entered hundreds of applications per day and if the consumer noted on the webform that their income wasn’t between 100-150% of the federal poverty level (FPL), agents would fraudulently swap it out for a number to obtain maximum ACA federal marketplace plan premium subsidies and special enrollment period (SEP) eligibility.  To keep fraudulent enrollments on the books for as long as possible, agents allegedly submitted false income verification extension requests and prepopulated income explanation forms rather than submitting actual proof of income.
    So that Congress may conduct independent oversight of the ACA federal marketplace program, please provide the following information no later than July 21, 2025:
    Explain in detail the steps CMS has taken to detect, combat and deter the fraud scheme described above.
    What is CMS’s estimate of:
    the number of fraudulent enrollments in subsidized ACA federal marketplace plans occurring from 2019-2025; 
    the number of months fraudulently enrolled customers spent in subsidized ACA federal marketplace plans; and 
    the cost of these fraudulent enrollments.  Provide this information at the insurance agent, insurance agency, and health insurance company level.
    What efforts has CMS taken in coordination with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to recoup excess advanced premium tax credit payments?  How much money has been recovered annually from 2019 to 2025?
    What steps does CMS take after it terminates an agent’s ACA federal marketplace registration?  Who does CMS communicate termination information to and does CMS provide those entities with any guidance in relation to managing the termination?  Provide all records.
    Do insurance agencies face any consequences from CMS when their affiliated agents are terminated for improper activities or when they have disproportionately high rates of potentially fraudulent ACA federal marketplace plan enrollments?  If yes, describe the consequences and any associated investigative processes.
    How many agents did CMS terminate for improper enrollment behaviors from 2019 to 2025?  How many of those terminations has CMS rescinded?  List the data by year and state.  
    Thank you for your prompt review and response.  If you have any questions, please contact Tucker Akin with Committee staff at (202) 224-5225.
    Sincerely,
    Charles E. Grassley
    Chairman
    Committee on the Judiciary
    -30-

    [1] Brian Blase, The $20 Billion ObamaCare Subsidy Fraud, WSJ (June 19, 2024), https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-20-billion-obamacare-subsidy-fraud-abd89b0d; Brian Blase and Drew Gonshorowski, The Great Obamacare Enrollment Fraud, Paragon Health Inst. (June 2024), https://paragoninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Great-Obamacare-Enrollment-Fraud_FOR_RELEASE_V2.pdf.
    [2] Id.; 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule (CMS-9884-P), Cntrs. for Medicare & Medicaid Srvcs. (Mar. 10, 2025), at 4 & 86, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/MarketplacePIRule2025.pdf, (183,553 complaints were related to enrollments without consent and 90,863 were related to switches without consent); Julie Appleby, ACA Plans Are Being Switched Without Enrollees’ OK, KFF Health News (Apr. 2, 2024), https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/aca-obamacare-plans-switched-without-enrollee-permission-investigation/; Julie Appleby, Rising Complaints of Unauthorized Obamacare Plan-Switching and Sign-Ups Trigger Concern, KFF Health News (Apr. 8, 2024),  https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/aca-unauthorized-obamacare-plan-switching-concern/; Julie Appleby, After Public Push, CMS Curbs Health Insurance Agents’ Access to Consumer SSNs, KFF Health News (Apr. 9, 2024), https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/aca-marketplace-ssn-social-security-numbers-agents/; Julie Appleby, When Rogue Brokers Switch People’s ACA Policies, Tax Surprises Can Follow, KFF Health News (April 15, 2024), https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/aca-obamacare-plans-unauthorized-enrollment-tax-problems/.
    [3] Letter from Senator Charles E. Grassley to Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Servs., and Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Cntrs. for Medicare & Medicaid Servs. (July 8, 2024), https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/grassley_to_hhs_and_cms_-_aca.pdf. 
    [4] Press Release, Department of Justice, President of Insurance Brokerage Firm and CEO of Marketing Company Charged in $161M Affordable Care Act Enrollment Fraud Scheme (Feb. 19, 2025), https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/president-insurance-brokerage-firm-and-ceo-marketing-company-charged-161m-affordable-care.
    [5] Id.
    [6] Id.
    [7] Documents on file with Committee Staff.
    [8] Notes and Documents on file with Committee Staff.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Wind and Solar Advocates Laud Grassley Efforts to Advance Iowa’s Clean Energy Future

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Clean energy advocates are applauding Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) leadership to support the wind and solar energy industries in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
    Grassley successfully got the wind energy industry off the ground by instituting America’s first-ever federal wind energy tax credit in 1993, earning him recognition as the “father” of wind energy production.
    In the One Big Beautiful Bill, Grassley fought hard to improve the transition period for planned wind and solar projects by providing a 12-month runway after the bill’s enactment for projects to begin construction, allowing them to qualify for years-worth of tax credits by meeting this one requirement within a calendar year. This will supercharge near-term growth for the industry and protect workable standards for projects.
    Grassley secured another significant victory for the wind and solar industries by striking a punitive new tax on wind and solar from the final version of the bill. Renewable energy is critical to Iowa, which generates 60 percent of its energy from wind power alone.  
    Here’s what they’re saying:
    Alliant Energy:
    “Senator Grassley’s leadership in advancing the legislation reflects a strong, principled commitment to securing America’s energy future by securing a financially viable phase out for the clean energy tax credits over the next few years. The provisions secured by Senator Grassley demonstrates his commitment to supporting customer affordability and [are] critical in preventing electric rate increases. His leadership also provides energy companies with electric generation resource planning certainty – a critical requirement to meet the growing energy demands of Iowa, and the nation.
    “As the law moves toward its implementation’s phase, we look forward to working with Senator Grassley and the Administration on the customer benefits of this law. His focus on practical, pro-growth energy solutions honors the intent of President Trump’s executive actions—prioritizing energy independence, reliability, and affordability for American families and businesses. We applaud Senator Grassley for championing policies that strengthen our energy infrastructure while supporting job creation and long-term investment in the heartland and across the country.”
    MidAmerican Energy:
    “Improvements made to the final budget reconciliation bill will give MidAmerican a pathway to execute on clean energy projects in our development pipeline for the benefit of our customers – and those improvements simply would not have happened without the leadership of Senator Grassley working in strong partnership with Senator Ernst. Planning certainty is critical for a business like ours, and their collective efforts will help us maintain safe, reliable and affordable service in Iowa and across our entire service area.”
    American Clean Power:
    “Senator Grassley has once again shown leadership protecting jobs and ensuring a cost-effective, reliable, and diverse power mix for Iowa. His leadership remains more important than ever to ensure that the administration implements the legislation fairly, and in a manner consistent with congressional intent.”
    The Business Council for Sustainable Energy:
    “The Business Council for Sustainable Energy thanks Senator Chuck Grassley for his leadership and support of the energy tax credits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Thanks to his actions, the law adopts a more workable transition for many energy tax credits, enabling businesses to plan, invest and create jobs.”
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Biodiesel Advocates Applaud Grassley Efforts to Strengthen Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Industry in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Biodiesel producers, farmers and renewable fuel stakeholders say the One Big Beautiful Bill will revitalize and strengthen Iowa’s renewable fuels industry and deliver for Iowa farmers. 
    On July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. It improves and extends the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit through 2029, including the small agri-biodiesel tax credit – which provides transition relief to small biodiesel producers. After the Biden administration failed to release functional guidance to implement the credit, many small producers, including four in Iowa, shut down operations.  
    The legislation also protects Iowa farmers by eliminating tax subsidies for renewable fuels produced from imported feedstocks, such as used cooking oil from China or tallow and sugar cane from Brazil. Without this change, the tax code would subsidize foreign farmers at the expense of corn and soybean farmers in Iowa. ? 
    Here’s what they’re saying:
    Iowa Biodiesel Board/Iowa Soybean Association 
    “Senator Grassley’s leadership on ensuring the incorporation of biomass-based diesel in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reinforces his decades-long commitment to Iowa agriculture and renewable fuels. In particular, by extending and enhancing the Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit led by the senator, this bill provides much-needed certainty for Iowa’s small biodiesel producers—many of which are farmer-owned. That stability directly supports rural jobs, strengthens soybean oil demand and keeps biodiesel production thriving across our state.” 
    Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
    “Led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the final bill includes a restoration of the small biodiesel producer tax credit for 2025 and 2026. We are hopeful this provision, along with the robust RFS blending levels proposed by President Trump’s EPA, will be enough to get our biodiesel plants running again.” 
    Clean Fuels Alliance America
    “Clean Fuels thanks Congress for working overtime to provide certainty for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers – especially small companies – so they can resume production and industry growth. Clean Fuels especially thanks Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for securing an enhancement to the Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit to help small producers as they make the transition to the §45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.” 
    National Oilseed Processors Association
    “We applaud Senator Grassley for his tireless efforts to improve 45Z to ensure it is effective for U.S. farmers, oilseed processors, and biofuel producers. This is a meaningful win for Iowa’s farmers and the broader ag economy. Coupled with strong RVOs, this new tax policy positions the industry for continued growth by prioritizing feedstocks grown and produced here in the U.S.” 
    American Soybean Association
    “ASA is pleased that the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit has been extended and strengthened in the budget reconciliation legislation. The improvements to 45Z will provide critical support to U.S. soybean farmers and bolster the biofuel industry by supporting domestic energy production using domestic resources. The addition of the North American feedstock ringfence and removal of indirect land use change penalties on farmers ensure that the credit will support American agriculture rather than foreign countries. We commend the lawmakers who prioritized this important policy and look forward to its successful enactment.” 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Report Concludes Secret Service Failure to Share Threat Information Allowed for Preventable Tragedy in Butler, Identifies Path Forward for Agency Improvements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report compiled at his request in the wake of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.
    The Grassley-requested report states senior-level U.S. Secret Service (USSS) officials received classified intelligence regarding a threat to President Trump’s life ten days before the rally in Butler, but failed to relay the information to federal and local law enforcement personnel responsible for securing and staffing the event.
    Per the GAO, “the Secret Service had no process to share classified threat information with partners when the information was not considered an imminent threat to life.” GAO offered eight recommendations to improve USSS functionality; chief among them is a recommendation for USSS to proactively share threat information among USSS personnel and its law enforcement partners.
    The report further exposes a litany of USSS procedural and planning errors, including misallocation of resources, lack of training and pervasive communication failures, all of which contributed to an unsecure environment and ultimately allowed for Thomas Matthew Crooks to fire a near-fatal shot at President Trump and take the life of a spectator.
    The GAO is the U.S. government’s primary auditor and is a nonpartisan, wholly independent legislative branch agency. GAO’s audit, conducted over the course of nearly a year – from August 2024 to July 2025 – is the longest review of the attempted assassination in Butler that has been completed to date.
    Grassley said the following regarding the report’s release:
    “One year ago, a series of bad decisions and bureaucratic handicaps led to one of the most shocking moments in political history. The Secret Service’s failure on July 13th was the culmination of years of mismanagement and came after the Biden administration denied requests for enhanced security to protect President Trump. Americans should be grateful that President Trump survived that day and was ultimately reelected to restore common sense to our country.
    “Naturally, the American people wanted answers and accountability in the aftermath of this tragedy, and so I worked hard to provide that. The information I’m releasing today is a comprehensive overview of the failures that occurred prior to and on July 13th. More importantly, this report offers a clear path forward for the Secret Service to improve, so it can prevent another Butler from ever happening again. This information would not have been possible without congressional oversight, and my work will continue.
    “As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdictional oversight over the Secret Service, I’m committed to working closely with the agency to ensure they’re properly equipped to repair what’s broken. As an important step, I allocated $1.17 billion in the One Big Beautiful Bill to provide the Secret Service with additional funding. I’m hopeful this significant injection of resources will go a long way in bringing the agency up to speed.”
    Grassley is additionally making public a letter from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph Cuffari to then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas discussing credible whistleblower accounts that USSS personnel frequently rely on their personal cell phones for official communication, which creates serious security and legal risks. According to these allegations, USSS in 2021 instituted “functional limitations on government phones” that prevent USSS personnel from participating in groups texts or sending or receiving photos via text.
    Read the DHS IG letter HERE.Read the GAO report HERE.
    KEY FINDINGS OF THE GAO REPORT
    Threat Information Sharing On July 3, 2024, one day after the USSS Pittsburgh field office was notified of the scheduled Butler rally, high-level USSS officials were briefed on a classified threat to President Trump. Per GAO, “once those officials reviewed the intelligence, they could have then requested that personnel within their chain of command be briefed on the specific information.” USSS had multiple opportunities to share this information over the course of the following ten days, but repeatedly failed to do so.
    As a result of USSS’s siloed information-sharing, federal and local law enforcement entities planning and staffing the event were unaware of the active threat, including members of the Donald Trump Protective Division. Local law enforcement interviewed by GAO attested that, if they had received threat information, they “would have requested additional assets” for the Butler rally.
    Timeline of when Secret Service Personnel Obtained but did not Appropriately Share Threat Information

    Roles and Responsibilities The USSS’s Office of Protective Operations (OPO), which is responsible for issuing documents outlining USSS personnel’s respective roles, prescribed overly-broad policies that failed to clearly communicate USSS personnel’s responsibilities. As a result, five of the 14 USSS agents GAO interviewed, who “performed key roles on July 13th,” stated they relied on their own varying-levels of protective experience in executing this event.  
    At the time of the Butler rally, OPO did not require the USSS advance team to review local law enforcement partners’ operational plans or participate in USSS’s central command center at the event.
    Further, the assigned site agent on July 13th, who was responsible for “identif[ying] site vulnerabilities,” was new to her role. The Butler event was “her first time planning and securing a large outdoor event as the site agent.”
    On-Site Decision-MakingAt the time of the Butler event, USSS also lacked a formal policy for communicating protectee staff’s requested changes to on-site security plans.
    Ahead of July 13th, a Trump campaign staffer asked the USSS advance team, who was unaware of the active threat to Trump, “not to use large farm equipment to address line-of-sight concerns near one of the buildings – the AGR building” so as not to interfere with campaign press photos. In response to the request and without consulting senior-level USSS officials who could have changed the decision, the USSS advance team independently made the decision to use a “jumbotron and a large flag to address the line-of-sight vulnerability,” rather than the large farm equipment.
    Per the GAO, “not using the farm equipment possibly created an opportunity for the gunman to use the AGR’s elevated rooftop to fire several shots at then former President Trump and kill and injure other rally participants.”
    AssetsThe USSS’s “War Room” is responsible for allocating resources for protectees and protectees’ events. The War Room makes these decisions “primarily based on availability and efficiency assessments” without knowledge or input of current risk assessments.
    Due to limited resources, the War Room denied the Donald Trump Protective Division’s request for enhanced counter Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (cUAS) equipment at the Butler event, as “these resources had already been allocated for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.”
    However, senior OPO officials with knowledge of the threat against Trump stepped in to approve counter sniper assets for the Butler rally, a decision which was described as “inconsistent with and separate from War Room practices for making resource decisions.” Per GAO, “[a]bsent OPO senior executives’” action, President Trump “would likely not have received the counter sniper assets that ultimately took out [Crooks].”
    TechnologyThe USSS’s limited cUAS technology used on July 13th malfunctioned, and while repairs were being made, Crooks flew a drone – undetected – over over the event site hours before the rally. The USSS agent assigned to operate the cUAS was severely inexperienced; this agent reported receiving just one hour of training on cUAS capabilities and noted, “in retrospect, [he] did not have enough training to confidently operate the equipment.”
    Additionally, many USSS agents and local law enforcement who relied on cell phones to communicate the day of the event encountered limited service, hampering their ability to share information in real-time. Despite knowing the event would garner significant attendance, the USSS had no policy in place to proactively troubleshoot “potential audio and data communication challenges.” The agency has yet to require agents to perform such an assessment.
    Background: Grassley’s oversight provided the “most detailed picture” of USSS security failures in the immediate aftermath of the Butler assassination attempt. Grassley contacted the USSS, DHS, DHS IG, Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation within days of the rally to begin investigating. He was the first to release bodycam footage and text messages from local law enforcement who responded to Crooks at the event.
    As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee this Congress, Grassley allocated $1.17 billion in funding for USSS as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Sec. 100057).
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Wins for Rural America Signed into Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Q: How did you leverage your leadership for alternative energy?
    A: More than three decades ago, I helped launch Iowa’s rise to dominance in alternative energy with the first-ever federal wind energy tax credit. Wind energy supports more than 9,000 jobs in Iowa and generates more than 60% of our state’s electricity, making it the largest source of electricity in Iowa. During negotiations on the One Big Beautiful Bill, I fought tooth and nail to secure a 12-month runway that allows planned wind and solar projects to begin construction after the law’s enactment. This victory prevented a devastating blow to alternative energy that would have stunted investment, innovation and production when there’s growing demand for clean, affordable electricity. My efforts will help accelerate near-term growth in these projects to get them from the drawing board to installation and production while also providing the industry a sensible pathway to self-sustainability. It puts wind and solar on a level playing field with other technologies with respect to imported materials and components. Specifically, I led efforts to strike a punitive new tax on wind and solar projects that would have sunk domestic production and investment, as well as job creation here at home.
    Q: What new measures will boost Iowa’s renewable fuels industry?
    A: Iowa’s farm economy drives the state economy, employing nearly one in five Iowans in agriculture or ag-related industries. Family farmers across the state take pride in growing crops that feed and fuel the world. As a lifelong family farmer and tireless champion for the livelihoods and way of life for farm families, I brought the concerns of Iowa farmers to the policymaking tables during negotiations on the One Big Beautiful Bill. That includes expanding domestic markets for feedstock. The renewable fuels industry adds value to homegrown corn and soybean crops. I successfully fought to eliminate tax subsidies for renewable fuels produced from imported feedstocks, such as used cooking oil from China or tallow and sugar cane from Brazil. In 2023, the U.S. imported three billion pounds of used cooking oil that exploited tax incentives and clean fuel policies. The U.S. taxpayer should not foot the bill for subsidies that benefit foreign farmers at the expense of corn and soybean farmers from Iowa. Ensuring our nation’s renewable fuel policies benefit American farmers was my top priority as I fought to improve and extend the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit through 2029.  I also successfully secured transition relief for small biodiesel producers who shut down operations during the previous administration due to a lack of workable guidance implementing this credit. Taken together, this is a victory for Iowa farmers and Iowa renewable fuel producers.
    Q: What’s in the new law for Iowa farmers?
    A: Iowa farmers waited two years for Congress to update the five-year Farm Bill. High input costs for seed, fertilizer, fuel, machinery and rent were cutting into the bottom line, making it difficult for farming operations to make ends meet, let alone turn a profit. The farm safety net needed to reflect the double-digit increase to farm production costs. With President Trump’s signature on July 4, the new law increases reference prices and boosts the effective reference price escalator for the 2025 through 2031 crop years. That raises the benchmark for farm payments, such as the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) programs, to help ensure the farm safety net reflects higher input costs. The law also improves crop insurance for beginning farmers for the first decade of their operations, increasing the coverage level and affordability of certain crop insurance policies. Iowa’s agrarian heritage is not only the backbone of our state’s economy, it’s a way of life. Iowans should not be punished for wanting to keep a family farm in the family. For nearly two centuries, Iowa families have handed the reins of their farming operation to their kids and grandkids. An unfair, punitive death tax would force sons and daughters to sell the family land to pay the federal estate tax liability. I’ve long championed efforts to repeal the death tax and was glad to support provisions in the new law that permanently boost the death tax exemption, raising it to $15 million for individuals and $30 million for couples. In addition, the new law provides critical investments in conservation, ag research, trade promotion and animal health to help fight disease outbreaks, such as New World screwworm (NWS), Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF), to support livestock producers and protect the food supply.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Headline: Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE

    Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE
    aunica.brockel

    U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gives remarks and hosts a press conference in Tampa, Florida exposing the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens arrested by the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership.

    Watch on YouTube

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Headline: Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE

    Secretary Noem to Expose “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Aliens Arrested by ICE
    aunica.brockel

    U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gives remarks and hosts a press conference in Tampa, Florida exposing the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens arrested by the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership.

    Watch on YouTube

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Canada FinFra Astra Fintech Invests $10M in Dexlab to Accelerate Solana‘s Asia Expansion and PayFi Adoption

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canada-based and Solana-focused FinFra leader Astra Fintech today reinforced its commitment to the Solana ecosystem by announcing a $10M strategic acquisition of Dexlab, a pioneering Solana-native token launching and tooling platform. Backed by Astra’s recently launched $100 million Solana ecosystem fund, this deal marks a bold step in the company’s mission to accelerate PayFi adoption across Asia and beyond.

    Why Dexlab? The Investment Thesis
    From an investment standpoint, Astra Fintech understands that Solana’s technical advantages – its industry-leading scalability and cost efficiency – ultimately derive their value from the quality of Dapps and infrastructures developed on its blockchain. Dexlab stands out as a cornerstone asset for three key reasons:

    • Proven Track Record

    Launched in 2020 as Solana’s first meme coin creation platform, Dexlab enables anyone to create and list a token without writing code. This no-code, permissionless model kickstarted a wave of on-chain experimentation, making Dexlab a cultural and technical foundation of the Solana ecosystem.

    95% of Solana’s iconic meme coins — including Bonk, Slerf, Ponke, and numerous Trump and Biden-themed tokens — were originally created on Dexlab. With 189K tokens minted, DexLab generates $532M in trading volume.

    • Full Token Lifecycle Solutions

    Over time, Dexlab evolved into a full-stack token management platform — providing everything from token minting to liquidity pool generation, staking, and decentralized trading. “Dexlab isn’t just a DEX; it’s the Shopify for token economies,” noted Astra Head of Partnership Jamie, “It lowers the barrier to launch and scale tokens — from memes to serious fintech.”

    • Asia-First Synergy

    With Astra’s Asia HQ now operational and DexLab’s recent launch of its APAC subsidiary Calab, the strategic alignment between both entities has created unprecedented momentum for regional blockchain adoption. DexLab will combine its established global infrastructure with Calab’s localized expertise to deliver tailored fintech solutions across Asian markets. This synergistic approach enables Hyper-localized product deployment and PayFi Acceleration across Asia.

    Strategic Synergy behind the Acquisitions
    This acquisition exemplifies Astra’s comprehensive investment thesis – combining financial resources with deep technical expertise to drive ecosystem development. The integration delivers immediate value to Dexlab through:

    • Access to Astra’s $100M Solana fund, multicoin-backed resources, and cross-border PayFi integrations.
    • Strategic talent infusion with Astra deploying seasoned North American executives across product, marketing, and operations roles.
    • Token rebranding to $XLAB to signify a new chapter under Astra’s leadership
    • Enterprise-level upgrades to support next-gen token management tools for institutions and creators alike.

    “This isn’t just an acquisition, it’s more like a catalyst for Solana’s next ecosystem growth wave,” Jamie added, “Dexlab will be our foundation for onboarding the next 100 million users to Web3, starting in Asia.”

    The Bigger Picture: Solana as the Foundation
    The Dexlab deal underscores Astra’s conviction in Solana’s role as the backbone of next-gen fintech. With Korea as its hub, Astra plans to:

    • Deploy capital from its $100M fund to Solana-based Finfra, PayFi, and AI projects.
    • Integrate Dexlab’s token rails with Banana Pay, Astra’s blockchain payment solution, to merge decentralized and traditional finance.
    • Host hackathons and developer grants, building on its Seoulana success to nurture grassroots innovation.

    “Crypto’s future hinges on usable infrastructure,” said Jamie. “By investing in Dexlab, we’re betting on Solana and on builders who share our vision for a borderless financial stack.”

    About Astra Fintech
    Astra Fintech is a Canada-based blockchain finance leader revolutionizing FinFra by bridging traditional and decentralized payments. As a strategic Solana ecosystem partner backed by Multicoin LPs, we deliver secure, borderless PayFi solutions while driving innovation through investments in next-gen financial infrastructure.

    About DexLab
    As Solana’s pioneering meme launchpad behind iconic tokens including Bonk, Slerf, and Ponke – along with Trump&Biden-themed assets – DexLab originally facilitated 95% of the network’s early token launches, generating $532M in trading volume. Today, DexLab has matured into a complete institutional-grade token management solution, offering end-to-end lifecycle tools built natively on Solana.

    Contact:
    Jamie
    contact@astra.holdings

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Astra Fintech. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c810ba3-ac3f-42aa-a3d4-73d7db3050d4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: White House official denies plan to abolish FEMA

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

    It is not on the agenda of the White House to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) outright, The Washington Post on Friday cited an official source, as U.S. President Donald Trump travels to Texas to view the impact of last week’s deadly floods.

    For months, Trump and his homeland security secretary have said that FEMA, the agency initially created to coordinate the response to disasters that occur in the United States and that overwhelm the resources of local and state authorities, could be eliminated.

    The newspaper quoted a White House official as saying that no official action is being taken to wind down FEMA, and that changes in the agency will probably amount to a “rebranding” that will emphasize state leaders’ roles in disaster response.

    Trump will make the ultimate decision, but at this point FEMA is not set to be abolished, it added.

    On Friday, Trump is scheduled to meet with first responders and family members of the victims in Texas, receive a briefing from local elected officials and take part in a roundtable discussion.

    Authorities have confirmed at least 120 deaths across six counties in Texas, including 60 adults and 36 children in Kerr County, since the floods erupted about a week ago. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Al Green Issues Statement for the Record in Opposition to H.R. 1 During Debate on the Rule

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

    (Houston, TX)—On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Congressman Al Green issued the following statement for the record on the rule for H.R. 1: 

    RE: Statement for the Record in Opposition to H.R. 1 During Debate on the Rule

    Mr. Speaker, and still I rise now, as I did during the Joint Address to Congress when I told the President and the nation that there is no mandate to cut Medicaid. The waste, fraud, and abuse argument is a façade, because no empirical evidence has been presented to justify cutting more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. These deep cuts will allow the richest Americans to receive, on average, an additional $30,000 annually, while the poorest Americans will lose approximately $700 annually. 

    This legislation is a complete betrayal of the American people, extending additional tax breaks to the wealthiest individuals in this country while cutting lifesaving, urgent services for the most vulnerable among us. The cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) alone will take health care and food assistance away from millions of veterans, seniors, and families across the country. 

    Congressional Democrats offered many amendments to ensure that critical services would not be cut. I submitted an amendment to ensure that individuals who have had their SNAP benefits stolen are able to receive a reimbursement. I also submitted an amendment which would help raise awareness of the risk of renal medullary carcinoma, an aggressive form of kidney cancer found in young individuals with the sickle cell trait. These common-sense amendments would not substantially add to the deficit, yet they were still rejected by Congressional Republicans, alongside all other amendments submitted to make this bill less cruel. 

    With H.R. 1, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have shown that they want a billionaire bailout at the expense of working families. 

                                                                                                                                                                                               Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                Al Green

                                                                                                                                                                                                Member of Congress

                                                                                                                                                                                                Scion of the Enslaved Africans – 

                                                                                                                                                                                                Sacrificed to Make America Great

                                                                                                                                                                                                Progenitor of August and August 20th 

                                                                                                                                                                                                as Slavery Remembrance Month and Day

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Al Green to Address President Trump and Governor Abbott’s Unjust Mid-Decade Congressional Redistricting

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

    (Houston, TX)—On Friday, July 11, 2025, Congressman Al Green will host a press conference in response to President Donald Trump’s mandate requiring Governor Greg Abbott to call for a special session aimed at targeting Democratic Texas congressional members through mid-decade redistricting. 

    Congressman Al Green stated, “Due to many press inquiries about the President’s desire to do mid-decade redistricting, I will respond to inquiries during tomorrow’s press conference. I will also have a special message for President Trump.”

    Click here to watch the Facebook live stream of the event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump visits Texas flood zone, rejects criticism over lack of early warnings

    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

    HOUSTON, July 11 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump visited central Texas on Friday, responding to criticism of his policies and the federal government’s response to the massive July 4 flooding that left at least 121 people dead and more than 150 missing.

    The search continues, but officials in the hardest-hit Kerr County in central Texas say no survivors have been found since July 5.

    More than 2,100 rescuers from local authorities, 20 U.S. states and several federal agencies joined the search and rescue efforts.

    Local, state and federal governments have done an “incredible job” of flood relief, rescue and recovery, Trump said in Texas after surveying the damage.

    “We just took a quick tour of the area. It’s hard to believe the extent of the destruction. Trees that are 100 years old, just ripped out of the ground. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Trump said.

    “This is truly an incredible job that you have all done,” the president said at the roundtable. “I have been in some very bad places, but I have never seen anything like this.”

    Asked by a reporter about his reaction to questions about why there were no early warnings about the flooding, Trump replied: “I don’t know who you are, but only a very angry person would ask a question like that.”

    The US president later lashed out at Democrats who criticised his administration’s response and called for an investigation. “All they want to do is criticise,” he said. “The public is understanding.”

    Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who accompanied D. Trump, praised the federal response to the flooding in Texas, calling it “quick and effective.” –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: Krishnamoorthi to Partner With Stevens, Carbajal to Introduce Bill Blocking Unilateral Military Deployments Against Peaceful Protesters

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

    Legislation comes after Trump deployed National Guard to LA, threatened to ramp up ICE enforcement in Chicago

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) announced he would co-lead the Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act with Representatives Haley Stevens (MI-11) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) to amend the Insurrection Act and limit the President’s ability to deploy active-duty military forces against peaceful protests without the request of a state’s elected leadership. The bill comes in direct response to former President Donald Trump’s recent deployment of U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in the absence of such a request, raising grave concerns about presidential overreach and the misuse of the armed forces for domestic suppression. In recent weeks, Trump and his administration have called to ramp up ICE deportation efforts in Chicago, going so far as to suggest that the city is “next” for a militarized crackdown. 

    “No American President should be able to unilaterally deploy active-duty troops against citizens who are exercising their right to peaceful protest. After watching President Trump send United States Marines into Los Angeles, it’s clear we need to strengthen the guardrails of our democracy to hold this administration accountable. I’m proud to join Representatives Stevens and Carbajal in introducing this legislation to reaffirm the foundational principle that the U.S. military serves to defend our freedoms, not suppress them.”

    The legislation would prohibit the President from unilaterally ordering active-duty military personnel into any U.S. state or territory to respond to peaceful protests or demonstrations unless explicitly requested by that state or territory’s governor or chief executive. The Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act reinforces constitutional checks on executive authority and protects the right to peaceful assembly by ensuring that domestic military deployments are not used to intimidate or silence political dissent.

    The text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Tours Planned Parenthood of Illinois Center, Calls Out Dangerous Republican Budget Cuts, President Trump, and Recent Supreme Court Decision Following Three-Year Anniversary of Dobbs Ruling

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

    CHICAGO – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) visited a Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) facility in downtown Chicago to discuss the potentially drastic impacts of President Donald Trump’s proposed spending bill and the Supreme Court’s decision last week that allows states to cut off government funding for Planned Parenthood. Following a tour of the center, Congressman Krishnamoorthi joined a press conference with PPIL Interim President and CEO Tonya Tucker, providers, and community advocates to denounce both the budget proposal and the Supreme Court decision, calling them both dangerous for Illinoisans and Americans across the country, no matter where they live. The congressman’s visit to the PPIL center came a week after the three-year anniversary of the Dobbs ruling that has allowed nearly 20 states, including several neighboring Illinois, to pass near or total abortion bans.

    “Targeting Planned Parenthood isn’t just about reproductive rights, it’s a direct attack on basic health care for thousands of Illinoisans,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “From the Trump administration’s illegal withholding of Title X funding to the Supreme Court’s Medina ruling allowing states to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid to the GOP’s push to slash $1 trillion from the program, the message is clear: women’s health is on the chopping block. I’ll fight tooth and nail to stop these cruel cuts and protect reproductive health care for all.”

    During the press conference, Senate Republicans began voting on their massive reconciliation budget package. This legislation calls for billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, which could result in more than 700,000 Illinoisans losing access to their health care, including more than 30,000 Planned Parenthood patients. Congressman Krishnamoorthi remains committed to fighting back against any cuts to Medicaid and other critical social safety net programs and will vote against the Republican budget bill if it reaches the House floor this week.

    Both Congressman Krishnamoorthi and PPIL’s Tonya Tucker also called attention to the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to gut Planned Parenthood, even in states such as Illinois that have become sanctuary states for reproductive health care in the years following the Dobbs decision. Under the current Republican budget proposal, one-third of Planned Parenthood health clinics could close nationwide. President Trump has also attempted to withhold federal funding for Title X, which provides resources for family planning and preventative health services, and block coverage for reproductive health care under the Affordable Care Act.

    The Supreme Court’s decision last Thursday to allow states to completely cut off government funding for Planned Parenthood will also have wide-ranging negative consequences, not just for abortion care but also for non-abortion health care such as screenings for cancer, tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and other reproductive care. Illinois already serves as a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of Americans who live in neighboring states that have enacted near or total abortion bans or have forced the closure of most or all of their Planned Parenthood clinics.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Danny K. Davis Condemns Unilateral Military Threats, Urges Diplomacy Over War in U.S.–Iran Relations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    Congressman Danny K. Davis Condemns Unilateral Military Threats, Urges Diplomacy Over War in U.S.–Iran Relations

    Go ahead once again, President Trump has overstepped his bounds and is acting like a king, dictator, or something worse. Without any interaction or discussion with Congress, he has attacked congressional intelligence. Anything else. Yeah, like the song said, WAR, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing but to kill. Mean, mainly, disrupt and destroy.

    The American people are demonstrating each and every day that we believe Peace and diplomacy are better ways of settling disputes. There’s uncertainty as to what Iran may have or may be developing in the way of nuclear weapons. Let’s rely on intelligence, not the thinking of one man and a few advisors who think whatever they think; let’s negotiate, not bomb.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RANKING MEMBER HANK JOHNSON’S STATEMENT ON SCOTUS’ NATIONWIDE INJUNCTION RULING

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

    “Today’s draconian Supreme Court decision effectively ending nationwide injunctions makes it much more difficult for federal courts to protect our constitutional rights from Trump’s authoritarian overreach. This decision replaces the concept of Justice For All with a ‘pay to play’ system that works only for those who can afford to pay a lawyer to fight for their rights in court. I am more committed than ever to working to secure the constitutional rights of every American in this country – not just those who have curried the President’s favor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Johnson Votes Against Big, Ugly Bill

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) voted against Trump MAGA Republican Big, Ugly Bill.

    “What has been called big and beautiful is as cruel and ugly a piece of legislation as I have ever seen in my 19 years in Congress,” said Rep. Johnson. “This Big Ugly Bill cuts access to healthcare for 17 million Americans, so thousands each year will die premature and preventable deaths because big shots in government want to give their multimillionaire and billionaire donors — like Jeff Bezos and those who attended his $50 million wedding in Venice — another huge tax cut. This cruel legislation also cuts funding for food to feed the needy. All who vote yes on this Big, Ugly Bill should be ashamed of themselves.”

    To see more of Rep. Johnson’s views on the bill, visit his Twitter account.

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Johnson Offers Six Amendments to Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, Seeks Exemption To Worst Effects in Georgia

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

    Congressman Seeks Deal to Exempt Georgia, While Also Focusing on Reversing Cuts to Healthcare Access for Children, Providing Counsel for Unaccompanied Minors, and Strengthening Environmental Protections

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) offered six amendments to Donald Trump’s One Big, Ugly Bill, including an effort to exempt Georgia from the worst impacts of the bill, a rule to protect families’ access to Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provide funding for attorneys for unaccompanied immigrant children, and protect critical funds for innovation and Georgia projects.

    To watch his speech, click HERE.

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez demands accountability after ICE agents trespass, urinate on school property

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

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today demanded accountability from the Trump administration after ICE agents were videotaped trespassing and urinating on the grounds of Ruben Salazar High School in broad daylight, near a preschool playground in Pico Rivera, Calif.

    “As a member of Congress, my constituents elected me to conduct oversight duties and ensure that these federal agents – whose salaries are paid by the American people – follow the law and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner expected of law enforcement agents,” the congresswoman wrote.

    Full text of the congresswoman’s letter is available HERE and follows:

    July 3, 2025

    The Honorable Kristi Noem
    Secretary
    Department of Homeland Security
    Washington, D.C. 20528

    Mr. Todd M. Lyons
    Acting Director
    Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    Washington, D.C. 20024

    Mr. Joseph V. Cuffari
    Inspector General
    Office of Inspector General
    Department of Homeland Security
    Washington, D.C. 20530

    I write today expressing grave concern over the conduct of a group of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at Ruben Salazar High School in Pico Rivera, California on June 17, 2025. 

    According to El Rancho Unified School District (ERUSD), located in my district, ICE agents in 8 to 10 unmarked vehicles attempted to conduct immigration enforcement at the high school. The agents did not provide a judicial warrant, nor did they raise a legitimate reason for their presence on school grounds. ERUSD staff informed the agents that they could not enter or remain on school grounds. The ICE agents subsequently left the school. 

    ERUSD staff then reviewed security footage, which showed approximately 10 agents publicly urinating on school property at approximately 8:54 a.m., within mere feet of a preschool playground. This playground is part of ERUSD’s Early Learning Program. Two other schools are also immediately next to where the agents urinated. 

    ICE agents have routinely disregarded the rule of law in my district. On June 18, ICE unlawfully asserted civil immigration enforcement by arresting and detaining a U.S. citizen in Pico Rivera. And now, it appears that ICE agents could be exposing themselves to minors. 

    Given the potential violation of Cal. Penal Code §§ 314, 290 and 18 U.S. Code § 1752, I demand an investigation from the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). I additionally request that ICE and DHS provide answers to the following questions in the interim.

    1. Upon what basis did these ICE agents choose Ruben Salazar High school to conduct immigration enforcement?
       
    2. Please provide the identification of the 10 ICE agents who exposed themselves on school grounds.
       
    3. Are these agents still employed by ICE? And if so, in what capacity and what disciplinary actions have been taken against them?
       
    4. Will the results of the internal investigation that DHS is conducting be available to the public?
       
    5. What steps are DHS and ICE going to take to ensure that this sort of conduct does not occur again?

    As a member of Congress, my constituents elected me to conduct oversight duties and ensure that these federal agents – whose salaries are paid by the American people – follow the law and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner expected of law enforcement agents. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to a timely response.

    Sincerely,

    Linda T. Sánchez
    Member of Congress

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trade Subcommittee Democrats: Trump failed to deliver 90 trade deals in 90 days

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

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Democrats released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s failure to deliver 90 trade deals in the 90 days since he initially paused his reciprocal tariffs:

    “President Trump has failed to deliver a single trade deal for Congress to consider, let alone the 90 trade deals his administration bragged about three months ago. Trade Subcommittee Democrats remain united against his ongoing trade chaos, which includes the secretive negotiations kept hidden from the public.

    “These backdoor negotiations have produced nothing more than a handful of loose frameworks, vague handshake agreements and concepts of trade plans. President Trump’s trade agenda has failed to improve the economy, while betraying the workers he promised to defend.

    “Americans are bearing the brunt of his erratic trade agenda. Families are facing higher prices at the grocery store, small businesses need relief, and farmers and workers are left with fear and uncertainty. All while the president desperately posts letters on social media begging countries to negotiate with him.

    “There is clearly no strategic or coherent plan in place. It’s time to put an end to this madness. We call on our Republican colleagues to join Democrats and reassert Congress’ role in setting trade policies that support – rather than harm – our economy.”

    Trade Subcommittee Democrats

    Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Ranking Member
    Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.)
    Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.)
    Don Beyer (D-Va.)
    Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)
    Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)
    Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)
    John Larson (D-Conn.)
    Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.)
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trade Subcommittee Democrats: Trump failed to deliver 90 trade deals in 90 days

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

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Democrats released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s failure to deliver 90 trade deals in the 90 days since he initially paused his reciprocal tariffs:

    “President Trump has failed to deliver a single trade deal for Congress to consider, let alone the 90 trade deals his administration bragged about three months ago. Trade Subcommittee Democrats remain united against his ongoing trade chaos, which includes the secretive negotiations kept hidden from the public.

    “These backdoor negotiations have produced nothing more than a handful of loose frameworks, vague handshake agreements and concepts of trade plans. President Trump’s trade agenda has failed to improve the economy, while betraying the workers he promised to defend.

    “Americans are bearing the brunt of his erratic trade agenda. Families are facing higher prices at the grocery store, small businesses need relief, and farmers and workers are left with fear and uncertainty. All while the president desperately posts letters on social media begging countries to negotiate with him.

    “There is clearly no strategic or coherent plan in place. It’s time to put an end to this madness. We call on our Republican colleagues to join Democrats and reassert Congress’ role in setting trade policies that support – rather than harm – our economy.”

    Trade Subcommittee Democrats

    Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Ranking Member
    Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.)
    Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.)
    Don Beyer (D-Va.)
    Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)
    Brad Schneider (D-Ill.)
    Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)
    John Larson (D-Conn.)
    Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.)
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez: Trump’s Brazil tariff threat is clear abuse of power

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

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez released the following statement in response to President Trump announcing a 50 percent tariff on Brazil over the prosecution of former-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro:

    “President Trump’s threat to impose a 50 percent tariff on Brazil is a clear abuse of power and the latest example of how he’s weaponizing our country’s trade policies to serve his own interests.

    “It’s clear that he isn’t using tariffs to address unfair trade practices, he’s abusing them to settle political scores and reward those who support or benefit him. In this case, he’s waging a trade war to protect his political ally, Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. This is not only antidemocratic but also corrupt.

    “It’s time for Congress to put an end to the president’s abuse of tariffs and reclaim our constitutional authority over trade. If we don’t, the president will continue to manipulate the system to benefit himself and his allies at the expense of American workers and interests.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Chu, Sen. Coons lead Bicameral Letter Demanding Accountability for President Trump’s Discriminatory Travel Ban

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    Members blast President Trump’s travel ban: “We write to express our strong opposition to President Trump’s recent decision to issue a sweeping travel ban that will deny entry to thousands of individuals from 19 different countries.”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Leading 68 of their Democratic colleagues, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Senator Chris Coons (DE) sent a letter today to the Trump administration urging President Trump to rescind his discriminatory travel ban that will keep families apart and devastate the U.S. economy. The Members are demanding transparency into President Trump’s decision-making process and answers about how the travel ban will impact communities across the U.S.  

    In a letter addressed to President Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Noem, Secretary of State Rubio, and Attorney General Bondi, the Members outlined the disastrous consequences that President Trump’s travel ban will have on both families and the American economy: “The effects of President Trump’s discriminatory travel ban will be devastating. In the last year alone over 126,000 visas have been issued to nationals from just the twelve countries on the fully restricted list.  These are individuals who are looking to come to the United States to reunite with family, support our economy, or otherwise enrich our country in innumerable ways.”

    During his first term, President Trump enacted extreme ravel bans that disrupted thousands of lives and weakened our nation’s economy and global standing. On his first day in office President Biden rescinded these bans, but on June 4, 2025, President Trump enacted another sweeping, discriminatory travel ban and allowed fear and prejudice to guide our nation’s immigration policy.

    President Trump’s ban will prevent nationals from twelve countries (Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen) from entering the United States, with seven other countries (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela) facing partial restrictions, meaning individuals from these countries cannot come to the U.S. permanently or apply for certain visas. President Trump is also reportedly considering imposing travel restrictions on an additional 36 countries.

    “President Trump’s actions once again disgrace the founding principles of our nation and enshrine cruelty into our immigration system,” the Members continue. “Additionally, this travel ban will harm our economy by depriving the United States of workers in key fields experiencing labor shortages like medicine and agriculture and further devastating our domestic tourism industry which is already expected to decline by $12.5 billion in 2025.”

    As a result, the Members demand accountability and answers from the Trump administration: “Given these severe impacts, we condemn this proclamation and urge President Trump to rescind it immediately. We also seek transparency into President Trump’s decision-making process and, accordingly, request answers to the following questions by July 3rd, 2025.”

    Earlier this year, Rep. Chu, along with Reps. Nadler (NY-12), Beyer (VA-08), Omar (MN-05), Carson (IN-07), and Tlaib (MI-12), and Senator Coons (DE) reintroduced the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act, which would prevent any president from implementing a discriminatory travel ban by strengthening the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion. The bill would also require that any suspension of entry into the United States be narrowly tailored, backed by credible evidence, and subject to appropriate consultation with Congress.

    Click here to access the full letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Chu Votes Against Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Big Ugly Bill, President Trump and Republicans’ budget reconciliation package, by a vote of 218-214. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) voted no and released the following statement: 

    “Today’s vote left no doubt about President Trump’s legacy. He is now responsible for the largest cut to health care in U.S. history that will kick 17 million Americans off their health care. He is responsible for taking food off the tables of children and Veterans, and for rigging our tax code so severely that the poorest families will see their tax bills go up while the top 0.1% get a $300,000 tax handout in one year alone. He will always be the President who, despite claiming to be “the best” for American women, defunded Planned Parenthood -a backdoor version of a nationwide abortion ban. He will be remembered as the President who sold off our country’s future by passing tax cuts for the rich that are so enormous they will explode our national debt by $4 trillion and severely inhibit our country’s ability to respond to a crisis, like a recession sparked by the President’s senseless trade war. Every single Republican who voted yes on this monstrous bill will share this legacy. 

    “When rural hospitals and nursing homes shut their doors, when health insurance premiums skyrocket, and when sick people die because they were kicked off of Medicaid, Americans will know that President Trump and Republicans chose to inflict this pain. When prices go up and their bank accounts shrink while billionaires get richer and richer, they will know whose fault it is. President Trump and Republicans in Congress knew the consequences, but believed it was an acceptable cost to give the ultra-wealthy, like President Trump himself and Elon Musk, trillions of dollars in tax giveaways.”   

    “Trump’s one big, ugly bill is a nightmare for American families, there is no excuse.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Six Months After the Eaton Fire, Rep. Judy Chu Continues to Advocate for Recovery Efforts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    PASADENA, CA – Six months after the devastating Los Angeles fires, including the Eaton Fire, which claimed 18 lives, scorched over 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 9,500 structures including homes, businesses, churches, and nonprofit centers, and displaced 20,000 residents—Rep. Judy Chu released the following statement: 

    “Six months ago, our community was forever changed by the Los Angeles wildfires. Today, we remember the lives lost, the homes destroyed, and the bravery of those who stood in the face of unimaginable devastation, said Rep. Judy Chu.” “While we’ve made tremendous progress in delivering critical aid and coordinating relief on the ground, our work is far from over. We still face urgent challenges like securing affordable, long-term housing for those displaced. That’s why I’m working tirelessly in Congress to pass a supplemental assistance package that will fulfill Governor Newsom’s request for $40 billion in additional disaster aid to ensure that every survivor has the resources they need to recover and rebuild. As climate change fuels more frequent and devastating natural disasters across the country, we must remember that natural disasters have no political affiliations. And neither should our response. Every American deserves swift and fair federal aid no matter where they live or who they voted for.”

    From the moment the fires began, Rep. Judy Chu has worked to secure every possible resource for Altadena and Pasadena. 

    On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire ignited. Rep. Chu immediately returned from Washington, D.C., to ensure residents receive urgent assistance and support the first responders working around the clock.

    On January 8, Governor Gavin Newsom, with support from Rep. Chu and the California Congressional Delegation, formally requested a federal emergency declaration. President Biden swiftly approved the request, unlocking 100% reimbursement of firefighting costs and deploying federal agencies like FEMA and the SBA to provide immediate support.

    By January 10, after joining FEMA’s Administrator for a site tour and briefing, Rep. Chu released a comprehensive resource guide to help survivors access aid.

    On January 17, Rep. Chu hosted a telephone town hall with representatives from local, state, and federal agencies to address community concerns around recovery and rebuilding.

    On January 22, Rep. Chu demanded an independent investigation into deadly evacuation order delays issued in western Altadena during the start of the Eaton Fire.

    On January 25, during President Trump’s visit to California, Rep. Chu personally urged him not to forget the people of Altadena and Pasadena and to deliver additional disaster aid without conditions.

    Throughout January and February, Rep. Chu led several Congressional delegations, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican colleagues, to witness the devastation and build bipartisan support for relief efforts.

    On February 4, ahead of his meeting with President Trump, Governor Newsom met with Rep. Chu, Rep. Sherman, and Rep. Whitesides to align disaster relief efforts on behalf of Los Angeles fire survivors.

    On February 20, Rep. Chu hosted a community town hall at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena with FEMA, the EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to answer questions and address concerns regarding the federal debris removal program.

    On March 4, Rep. Chu welcomed Eaton Fire survivor and lifelong educator Dianne Lewis to attend President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress as her guest.

    On March 6, Rep. Chu and a bipartisan coalition of Members introduced H.R. 1914, the HIRE CREDIT Act to help victims of federally-declared disasters return to the workforce.

    On April 3, the House unanimously passed Rep. Chu’s and Rep. David Kustoff’s legislation – H.R. 517, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act! This bill allows the IRS to immediately extend federal tax filing deadlines for victims of natural disasters, even those that are not federally-declared disasters. 

    On April 17, Rep. Chu introduced H.R. 2928, the Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act, to provide mortgage forbearance for homeowners impacted by the Eaton Fire and other natural disasters.

    On May 20, alongside Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Chu hosted a roundtable with California Members of Congress and Los Angeles County officials to assess ongoing recovery efforts from the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

    On May 27, Rep. Chu convened a wildfire recovery housing roundtable in Altadena focused on addressing the urgent need for stable, long-term housing. Nonprofits, advocates, and government leaders came together to find solutions for displaced families.

    On June 3, Rep. Chu led a letter with California Delegation Members to FEMA urging them to provide comprehensive soil testing and a remediation plan for fire-affected properties in Los Angeles County.

    On June 16, Rep. Chu led California lawmakers in a letter calling on FEMA to expand housing assistance for fire survivors. 

    As of July 2025, FEMA has delivered $141 million in federal disaster assistance to eligible LA County residents affected by the wildfires, including $45 million in housing assistance. 

    Today, Rep. Chu continues to fight for critical disaster aid by urging President Trump and House Republicans to fulfill Governor Newsom’s request and pass much-needed relief legislation. 

    “This fight is far from over, and I remain committed to ensuring that every survivor receives the resources they need to recover and rebuild, said Rep. Chu.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier Announces Virtual Town Hall on Protecting Democracy

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

    Walnut Creek, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced today that he will host a virtual town hall on protecting democracy amidst attacks on constitutional rights and democratic norms from the Trump Administration on Tuesday, June 24that 4:00 p.m. PT. 

    To discuss the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans’ attempts to undermine the separation of powers and curb the rights of Americans, and to highlight the legal victories that have put a stop to some of the Administration’s actions, Congressman DeSaulnier will be joined by special guests from Democracy Forward, a legal nonprofit working to defend democracy in the courts. The Congressman and panelists will also take questions live.

    Virtual Town Hall on Protecting Democracy 
    Tuesday, May 24th
    4:00 p.m. PT
    Hosted on Zoom 
    Streamed to YouTube

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

    This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 234th town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier to Visit County Hospital and Hold Press Conference on Republican Attempts to Cut Funding for Hospitals and Health Care Services

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

    Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced he will visit Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) and then hold a press conferenceon Friday, June 20that 3:00 p.m. as part of House Democrats’ Save Our Hospitals Week of Action to highlight how the Trump Administration’s One Big, Ugly Bill will devastate hospitals like CCRMC and gut health care services for millions of Americans across the country and in California’s 10th Congressional District. 

    Prior to the press conference, Congressman DeSaulnier will hold a roundtable with County health leaders to hear from them directly about how the Trump cuts will harm CCRMC’s operations and patient care.

    CCRMC is the County’s 166-bed full-service hospital and is the central hub of Contra Costa Health’s nine outpatient health centers. Contra Costa Health serves an estimated 515,000 patients annually.
     

    WHO: Congressman Mark DeSaulnier

                Dr. Sergio Urcuyo, Chief Medical Officer for Contra Costa Regional Medical Center

    WHEN: Friday, June 20th from 3:00 to 3:30p.m. PT

    WHERE: Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (2500 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA)

                      Parking available curbside along the circle.

    RSVP: Please RSVP to Mairead Glowacki at (202) 760-1365 or mairead.glowacki@mail.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –