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Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER SECURES $54 MILLION AUTHORIZATION IN SENATE NATIONAL DEFENSE BILL FOR NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION TO BUILD NEW COMBINED OPERATIONS ALERT FACILITY; SENATOR LAUNCHES PUSH TO DELIVER $$$ IN…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Is Critical Base For Air Force In Western NY, But Current Operations Are Spread Across Multiple Facilities, Wasting Energy & Degrading Command & Control & NFARS Has Lacked Funding To Build New Combined Facility

    After Months Of Work, Schumer Just Secured New $54M Authorization For Project In The FY 2026 Senate NDAA; Senator Says Now House Needs To Back Funding, Too; Schumer Is Pushing To Deliver $$ For New Centralized Facility In The Next Defense Appropriations Bill

    Schumer: We Are A Major Step Closer To A New Combined Operations Alert Facility For The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station!

    Following months of advocacy, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced he has secured a $54 million authorization in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 in a major step forward to building a new Combined Operations Alert Facility (COAF) at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS).

    The senator has been advocating for a new COAF to provide the station with more effective command and control, improved cohesion between squadrons, improved mission response times, and streamlined communications. Currently, support functions for the 914th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) are distributed across multiple stovepiped and outdated facilities at NFARS, adding unnecessary burden and mission load. Schumer underscored that centralizing operations has been a major priority for NFARS.

    “Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the 914th Air Refueling Wing has continuously delivered for New York and America’s strategic deterrence over the last 50 years, but to best fulfill its mission going forward it needs a new facility to centralize its command & control operations and improve communication across squadrons. Today, we take a major step towards bringing a new Combined Operations Alert Facility to life. I am proud to announce I just secured the long desired federal funding authorization of $54 million to build a new NFARS Combined Operations Alert Facility in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act,” said Senator Schumer. “NFARS is one of Niagara County’s top employers and it needs continued federal investment to keep this facility in top notch shape. This is a major step forward to improving efficiency and upgrading operations at NFARS, which is why we need the House to follow suit as we continue efforts to deliver this funding. I will continue to fight tooth and nail to secure funding in appropriations to get dollars through the door and shovels in the ground for this new facility for the Niagara Falls Reserve Station and all the hardworking men and women in Niagara County.”

    Schumer explained, “With 914th ARW command and control operations and support functions currently spread across multiple facilities, wasting energy and degrading communications, securing this $54 million authorization in the Senate is a massive step forward in the push to build a new facility to consolidate alert operations across key units and support functions.”

    The senator said the House needs to follow suit backing this authorization as the he fights to deliver funding in the next defense appropriations bill. Schumer previously secured $2.8 million in federal funding for the design and planning of the COAF in FY 2023.

    Schumer has long fought for greater federal investment into NFARS. Schumer has visited NFARS many times, including in 2017, when he worked with Air Force and National Guard officials to secure funding for a new training facility, building on the structures already in place at NFARS. Also in 2017, Schumer announced after his advocacy that the base would receive eight KC-135 aircraft, which brought nearly $25 million in investment, jobs and increased flight hours.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement on Senate-Passed Rescissions Package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the $9 billion rescissions package:

    “I cast my vote in support of rescinding funds for wasteful foreign aid programs that have deviated from their original intent or that do not promote American interests.  By reducing waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending, we can better ensure the long-term viability of the programs most critical for our national security and for global health programs that protect Americans from the spread of fatal diseases.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley Slams Trump DOJ for Seeking One-Day Sentence for Officer Convicted in Breonna Taylor Case

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement slamming the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for seeking a one-day jail sentence for the officer convicted in the 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor.

    “Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Instead, she was shot and killed while sleeping when officers fired into her home.

    “By seeking a one-day sentence, in the rare instance where a police officer is actually convicted for murdering a Black woman, Trump’s DOJ is sending a cruel and disrespectful message: that they do not value Breonna’s life, nor the pain and loss endured by her loved ones.

    “This is an affront to justice, to accountability, and to every person who calls this country home. We should all be outraged.”

    Congresswoman Pressley has introduced over a dozen pieces of precise legislation to improve police accountability and fundamentally redefine what justice looks like in America, including the People’s Justice Guarantee, Ending Qualified Immunity Act and Andrew Kearse Accountability for the Denial of Medical Care Act.

    • In June 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)unveiled the Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Reentry and Stable Tenancy (Housing FIRST) Act, bold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley reintroduced her Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act to improve maternal health care and support for pregnant individuals who are incarcerated. It was originally introduced in March 2020 and reintroduced in February 2021 as part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Package—a suite of 12 bills aimed at addressing the Black maternal health crisis.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus, requested the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to research post-traumatic prison disorder and share findings related to prevention and treatment for people returning from behind the wall.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) re-introduced their Ending Qualified Immunity Act, legislation that would eliminate the unjust and court-invented doctrine of qualified immunity and restore the ability for people to obtain relief when state and local officials, including police officers, violate their legal and constitutionally secured rights. Rep. Pressley originally introduced the bill in June 2020 with Rep. Justin Amash (L-MI) and reintroduced it with Sen. Markey in March 2021.
    • On April 6, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Hank Johnson led 25 of their colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in calling on Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to address racial disparities in traffic enforcement.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley, in partnership with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), re-introduced the Ending PUSHOUT Act, their legislation to end the punitive pushout of girls of color from schools. It was originally introduced in December 2019 and reintroduced in March 2021.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) and 27 Members of Congress, alongside more than 300 advocacy organizations and community leaders, reintroduced the New Way Forward Act, a landmark piece of legislation that addresses some of the most harmful provisions of immigration law that drive racist enforcement practices, expanded incarceration in immigration detention centers, and unjust deportations. It was originally introduced in December 2019 Reps. Chuy Garcia (IL-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Karen Bass (CA-37) and was reintroduced in January 2021.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues re-introduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act to stop federal entities’ use of facial recognition tools and prohibit federal support for state and local law enforcement entities that use biometric technology. They reintroduced the bill in June 2021.
    • In December 2022, the House passed Congresswoman Pressley’s amendment to strengthen maternal health care for people who are incarcerated.
    • In December 2021, Rep. Pressley unveiled the Fair and Independent Experts in Clemency (FIX Clemency) Act, historic legislation to transform our nation’s clemency system and address the mass incarceration crisis.
    • In March 2021, Rep. Pressley sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to consider H. Res. 266, the People’s Justice Guarantee, as a framework for embedding justice in our criminal legal system and building integrity in the Department of Justice (DOJ). 
    • In February 2021, October 2020, Congresswoman Pressley reintroduced the Mental Health Justice Act with Reps. Katie Porter (CA-45), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), to support the creation of mental health first responder units that would be deployed in lieu of law enforcement when 911 is called due to a mental health crisis. The lawmakers originally introduced the legislation in October 2020.
    • In January 2021, she reintroduced the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021 with Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level, and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. The lawmakers originally introduced the bill in July 2019.
    • In August 2020, she introduced the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and others, requires federal, state, and local prisons and jails to collect and publicly report COVID-19 data. The legislation was reintroduced last month.
    • In July 2020, she introduced the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act with Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), to prohibit federal funds to support the increased presence of police in K-12 schools and supports school districts that invests in counselors.
    • In June 2020, she introduced the Dismantle Mass Incarceration for Public Health Act with Reps. Tlaib (MI-13) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) to require decarceration to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and jails.
    • In June 2020, she introduced the Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ed Markey (D-MA), to hold police officers criminally liable for denying care to those in medical distress.
    • In May 2020, she introduced a resolution with Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Karen Bass (CA-37) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) to condemn any and all acts of police brutality, racial profiling, and militarization and over-policing of Black and brown communities.  
    • In July 2019, she introduced the No Biometric Barriers Housing Act with Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) that would prohibit the use of biometric recognition technology in most public and assisted housing units funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology. 
    • In June 2019, in conjunction with Gun Violence Awareness Month and the 5th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day, she introduced a resolution to honor survivors of homicide victims by establishing National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Peng Liyuan attends Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event

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

    Peng Liyuan attends Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event

    Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, attends the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event and delivers a speech at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, on July 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, July 17 — Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday attended the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event and delivered a speech at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

    Peng also watched a video about the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival. Elyn MacInnis, founder of Friends of Kuliang, and Luca Berrone, Xi’s friend from Iowa, shared their stories of Kuliang, as well as their experiences of China-U.S. people-to-people exchange and local cooperation. They expressed their deep affection for China and their gratitude to President Xi for his concern for the youth of both countries. They also said that they will continue contributing to promoting the U.S.-China friendship.

    U.S. youth representatives shared their experiences of visiting China, and said they are willing to become new-generation friendship ambassadors, carrying forward great stories of friendship between the two countries.

    In her speech, Peng said that the century-old story of Kuliang and President Xi’s deep friendship with his old friends in Iowa spanning over 40 years epitomize the China-U.S. friendship.

    Though the two countries have different histories, cultures and languages, the Chinese and American peoples love their families and are kind, friendly, hardworking and practical, meaning they are perfectly capable of becoming good friends and partners, she said.

    Over the year since President Xi proposed China’s initiative to welcome 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over a five-year period, many young people from the United States have been invited to visit China. While gaining first-hand experience of the real China, they have made new friends and written new chapters in the China-U.S. friendship, Peng said.

    Noting that youth is the future of the country, as well as the future of friendship, Peng called on young people to be the inheritors of the China-U.S. friendship, and promoters of peace and amity. She also called on them to build a bridge of friendship between the two countries, and to contribute their youthful strength to a better future for both nations.

    Before the event, Peng met with MacInnis and Berrone, expressing appreciation for their longtime dedication to the cause of China-U.S. friendship. She encouraged them to continue making active efforts to enhance exchange and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

    Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, attends the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event and delivers a speech at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, on July 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, meets with Elyn MacInnis, founder of Friends of Kuliang, and Luca Berrone, Xi’s friend from Iowa, before the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event on July 17, 2025. Peng on Thursday attended the event and delivered a speech at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, attends the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event and delivers a speech at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, on July 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, poses for a group photo during the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event on July 17, 2025. Peng on Thursday attended the event and delivered a speech at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees robust IP progress, fueling high-quality development

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

    BEIJING, July 17 — China has made significant strides in intellectual property (IP) protection during its 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), providing impetus for innovation and high-quality development, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) said on Thursday.

    CNIPA head Shen Changyu, speaking at a press conference on reviewing China’s IP progress, outlined the administration’s comprehensive strategy to establish a world-class IP governance system, institutional framework, cultural environment and professional talent pool. “Our clear objective is to establish China as a global IP powerhouse by 2035.”

    He emphasized four strategic focus areas: advancing the modernization of the IP governance system and its capabilities, supporting China’s high-level self-reliance in science and technology, cultivating new quality productive forces and modern industrial systems, and promoting high-standard opening-up and market system development.

    Through a quality-oriented approach, the CNIPA has refined key performance metrics such as high-value invention patents per 10,000 people, the value-added of patent-intensive industries as a percentage of GDP, the total import and export volume of IP royalties, and IP examination quality and efficiency standards.

    “These indicators reflect a more scientific approach to measuring China’s IP progress,” Shen said, adding that the administration will actively engage stakeholders in shaping the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) to ensure practical, innovation-friendly policies that boost industries and benefit public welfare.

    As the 14th Five-Year Plan period nears its conclusion, China is clocking up a series of achievements in the transformation and industrialization of patents, IP in green and low-carbon technologies, geographical indication (GI) products and international IP cooperation.

    China has effectively promoted the transformation and industrialization of a large number of patents, with the industrialization rate of enterprise invention patents up from 44.9 percent in 2020 to 53.3 percent in 2024.

    As of June 2025, China’s number of valid domestic invention patents has reached 5.01 million, which is an increase of 13.2 percent year on year, according to Shen, while ownership of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people has reached 15.3.

    Additionally, the dominant position of enterprises in technological innovation continues to be enhanced in China, Shen said.

    There were 524,000 domestic enterprises that held valid invention patents in June 2025, by which time the total number of valid invention patents held by those enterprises had reached 3.7 million, accounting for 74.4 percent of the total number in China — an increase of 6.1 percentage points compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

    China has seen increasingly vibrant innovation in green and low-carbon technologies, with 53,000 invention patents granted in the sector in 2024 alone, said Liang Xinxin, an official of the CNIPA. The 2024 figure, which doubled 2020’s, reflects an average annual growth rate of 19.2 percent.

    The clean energy and energy storage sectors showed robust growth, with respective invention patent authorizations rising 34.9 percent and 32.8 percent year on year — the highest increases among all green technology categories, Liang noted.

    China has cumulatively recognized 2,861 GI products, according to Shen. The annual output value of China’s GI products increased from 639.8 billion yuan (about 89.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020 to 969 billion yuan in 2024, he noted.

    A total of 7,424 GIs have been registered as collective or certification trademarks, and over 37,000 business entities have been authorized to use the special GI symbol.

    China has established IP cooperation partnerships with over 80 countries and regions. The China-EU agreement on GIs has come into force, realizing the mutual recognition and protection of the first group of listed products, Shen said, adding that China has successfully acceded to the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.

    CNIPA Deputy Commissioner Hu Wenhui noted that the administration treats domestic and foreign enterprises equally in terms of IP protection. In the first half of the year, foreign applicants filed 94,000 trademark applications in China — a year-on-year increase of 7.4 percent, with significant growth of over 20 percent in applications from Germany, Italy and the United States, Hu said.

    By the end of 2024, the CNIPA had provided a total of 2,393 guidance services and 6,885 advisory consultations to domestic enterprises engaging in global expansion, helping them reduce litigation costs by 1.32 billion yuan and recover economic losses amounting to 38.04 billion yuan, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Nabs at Least 11 Illegal Aliens Including Serial Criminal with 67 Arrests in Sacramento Operation

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    CBP nabs career criminal, drug dealer and ten other illegal aliens in targeted operation

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested numerous illegal aliens, including a dangerous serial drug abuser and dealer with 67 charges, during a July 17 operation in Sacramento, California.  

    CBP’s targeted operation resulted in the heroic arrest of Javier Dimas-Alcantara, a serial criminal with convictions and charges spanning decades, including the following: 

    • Multiple instances of transport and sale of a narcotic or controlled substance
    • Felony burglary
    • Illegal entry
    • Carrying a loaded firearm in public
    • Multiple instances of providing false identification to a law enforcement officer
    • Multiple instances of felony possession of marijuana for sale
    • Revocation of probation due to re-offense of possession of marijuana for sale
    • Being under the influence of a controlled substance
    • Multiple instances of possession of a narcotic or controlled substance
    • Possession of a controlled narcotic with intent to sell 

    “On July 17, CBP conducted an operation in Sacramento, California, resulting in the arrest of at least 11 criminal illegal aliens. Among the illegal aliens captured in this heroic effort was Javier Dimas-Alcantara, a serial criminal illegal alien who has been booked into jail 67 times,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Dimas has been CONVICTED of a myriad of offenses—you would not want this man to be your neighbor. And yet, politicians like Gavin Newsom defend criminals who terrorize American communities and demonize law enforcement who defend those same communities. He and every other sanctuary politician should be thanking CBP for getting this scum out of American communities instead of obstructing federal law enforcement at every possible turn.” 

    President Trump and Secretary Noem have been given a clear mandate from the American people: get violent illegal aliens OFF our streets and OUT of our country.  

    Illegal aliens can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right, legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return. 

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Axes Wasteful, Misdirected Grants, Saves Taxpayers $18.5M

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    The Department of Homeland Security is gutting dozens of partisan and wasteful grants that failed to counter terrorism threats, saving taxpayers $18.5 Million.

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is slashing waste at the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), cutting $18.5 million in misappropriated spending that do not meet the stated goal of CP3 to prevent terrorism or targeted violence. CP3, a minor DHS Policy sub-office, with no operational role in monitoring or preventing terrorist attacks, had become a cash cow for radical activists under the Biden Administration—funneling taxpayer dollars to push woke, partisan agendas and silencing dissent. After a strategic review, DHS is discontinuing the funding of grants that have no legitimate nexus to protecting the homeland from the threat of terrorism.

    Terminated Grants Include:

    • $209,406.70 to the “Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders” group, which promoted radical gender ideology in K–12 schools, targeting students as young as kindergartners and flagging parental concerns as risks.
    • $288,760.66 to CenterLink, a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ issues, not terrorism prevention.
    • $851,836.13 to the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, a DEI organization focused on silencing ideological opposition.
    • $206,260.00 to the United States Esports Association, which targeted gamers with “woke” content under the pretext of violence prevention.
    • $479,816.00 to the One World Strong program, which labeled traditional male behaviors as extremist and stigmatizing young males.
    • $651,311.81 to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and Strong Cities Network, which promoted biased anti-extremism initiatives, LGBTQ+ propaganda, and prioritized radical groups over broader community concerns.

    “These cancellations reflect DHS’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and national security,” said a Senior DHS official. “By eliminating wasteful and ideologically driven programs, we are redirecting resources to initiatives that uphold American values, respect the rule of law, and effectively combat terrorism and violence.”

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Joins Effort to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) introduced bicameral legislation to implement federal workplace heat stress protections. This introduction comes on the heels of an announcement that there have already been 29 heat-related deaths in Southern Nevada this year.
    The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act would protect the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat. The bill would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish enforceable federal standards to protect workers in high-heat environments with commonsense measures like paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response protocols for workers with heat-related illness. The bill also directs employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on how to respond to symptoms.
    “From farmhands to construction workers, America’s essential workforce is doing important work while under extreme heat conditions,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Temperatures continue to reach record highs in Nevada and across the United States. We must act now to protect our communities’ vital workers.”
    From 2011-2020, heat exposure killed at least 400 American workers and caused nearly 34,000 injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work. Nevada is home to the two fastest-warming cities in the country: Reno and Las Vegas. While farm and construction workers suffer the highest incidence of heat illness, workers in factories, commercial kitchens, and other workplaces can face dangerously high heat conditions all year round. In 2021, Cortez Masto successfully pushed the Biden administration to begin developing federal heat standards to help protect workers and communities from the extreme heat, and this bill is an important step to strengthen and codify those protections into law.
    The bill is named in honor of Asunción Valdivia, who died in 2004 after picking grapes for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. Mr. Valdivia fell unconscious, but instead of calling an ambulance, his employer told Mr. Valdivia’s son to drive his father home. On his way home, he died of heat stroke at the age of 53.
    The proud daughter of a Teamster, Senator Cortez Masto grew up in organized labor and has always fought for Nevada’s working families. In March, she joined legislation to protect workers’ right to collectively bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Last year, she joined the Culinary Union in their strike to secure a fair contract with Virgin Hotels. She has also been a strong supporter of increased funding for the National Labor Relations Board to help fight for workers’ rights to collectively bargain.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Speaks Out on Rescission Package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    07.17.25

    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement following the passage of the rescissions package late Wednesday evening:

    “I voted against approving this rescissions package for three key reasons.

    “First, it is still unclear how specific accounts within the areas targeted for rescission will be impacted. Neither the administration nor others involved in this process have provided sufficient explanation and transparency about the programs and priorities that would be cut as a result of this measure.

    “Second, while some changes have been made to protect global health programs, we still lack necessary details, including which ones will be zeroed out. There is no way to determine the implications for lifesaving care and vital resources for women and children abroad. I also strongly oppose the rescission of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. My colleagues are targeting NPR but will wind up hurting – and, over time, closing down – local radio stations that provide essential news, alerts, and educational programming in Alaska and across the country. During the vote last night, I advanced an amendment to protect funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that disappointingly failed. This was just hours after we saw the value of public broadcasting in my state as Alaskans anxiously awaited updates following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami warning. Fortunately, there was no damage reported from the earthquake, and the tsunami warning was quickly canceled. But as we see life threatening natural disasters occur more frequently around the country, that will not always be the case.

    “Finally, and most importantly, approving this package in this manner further shifts the balance of power over the federal budget to the executive branch. Congress, not OMB, holds the power of the purse under the Constitution. To the extent that certain appropriations are not necessary to comply with the laws passed by Congress, we can best address that through the annual budgeting process, where we routinely rescind funds every year.

    “Nothing in our floor debate or vote-a-rama alleviated my objections to this mystery box of a rescissions package, so I voted against it.”

    Ahead of a procedural vote Tuesday evening, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate Floor expressing her objections to this process. Her full remarks can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Advocate for Passage of Child Care Affordability Bill to Expand High-Quality Child Care Options

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Child care is essential to families, communities, and our economy.  But instead of making federal investments to help bring down the cost of child care, the Trump Administration is raising costs for working families in order to provide a bigger tax windfall for billionaires and special interests.  The Republican tax law also slashed Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provide critical support to children, families, child care centers and the child care workforce.  And the Trump Administration has made deep cuts within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families.

    To help working families afford the rising cost of child care, expand the range of high-quality child care options, and strengthen America’s child care infrastructure and workforce, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to reintroduce the Child Care for Working Families Act (S.2295).

    This comprehensive legislation seeks to alleviate the high cost of child care for working families; provide families with more flexible options for high-quality, affordable child care; and boost wages for early childhood workers.  The bill would cap child care expenses at 7 percent of working families’ incomes, making it affordable for all parents and providing historic investments in the child care workforce, including higher pay, better benefits and improved training opportunities. It would also help increase access to pre-K education while supporting full-day Head Start programs.

    “Right now, the cost of child care and other essentials is weighing millions of families down, but instead of tackling the affordability crisis, President Trump and Republicans have chosen to shower their billionaire donors with trillions of dollars in new tax breaks and kick 17 million Americans off their health care,” said Senator Murray.

    “Working parents need access to high-quality, affordable child care that meets their needs.  But too many parents simply can’t afford it.  This bill would help lower the cost of child care and allow working parents to keep more of their paychecks so they can afford to raise a family.  Making child care more accessible and affordable is critical to families, communities, businesses, and future economic growth.  Studies show that investing in quality child care and early childhood education saves money in the long run and is linked to better graduation rates and lower use of public benefits later in life,” said Senator Reed.  “This is a chance to help lift children out of poverty, save working parents real money, and strengthen our workforce.  We’ve got to prioritize investing in what’s important to us – for Democrats that is expanding access to affordable and high-quality child care.”

    “Making child care more affordable will lower one of the biggest costs in many families’ budgets, and give parents more flexibility to participate in the workforce,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “As President Trump fuels the affordability crisis with his chaotic tariffs and his Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill, our legislation will lower the cost of child care for working Rhode Island families, set kids up for success, and ensure early childhood educators are paid fairly for their hard work.”

    Last month, Ruth J. Friedman, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, testified before Congress on the state of America’s child care crisis, noting: “An approach like the Child Care for Working Families Act takes the necessary steps to adequately build child care supply and reduce parent costs. It would be transformative for American families, eliminating child care as a barrier to the workforce and child care bills as a barrier to economic security and wellbeing.  Ultimately, it would give parents much more freedom to raise their families and be productive members of society.”

    According to the Economic Policy Institute, Rhode Island is ranked as the 18th most expensive state for infant care, with the average annual cost exceeding $16,750 per year, or $1,397 per month.  And according to a WalletHub Child Care Costs by State report released this month, Rhode Island ranked 7th-highest in the nation for child care costs for married couples, with data showing 10.42 percent of married couples’ income was spent on family-based child care and 11.45 percent was spent on center-based child care.

    The cost of child care nationwide continues to rise—and far from helping tackle it, President Trump is exacerbating the affordability crisis. The average cost of child care is now $13,128—a 29% increase since 2020 that outpaces inflation. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, the average annual costs of child care for two children exceeds median rent—and in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the cost of care for one infant exceeds in-state university tuition. The crisis costs the U.S. economy over $100 billion each year. Nonetheless, President Trump has gutted oversight of and support for the federal child care office, held up child care funding to states, held up Head Start funding, and now created massive holes in states budgets with the “Big Beautiful Bill’s” cuts to Medicaid and SNAP—which may well force states to pare back on their own investments in child care. While two-thirds of Americans oppose Republicans’ Big Beautiful Betrayal that President Trump signed into law earlier this month, over three-quarters of Americans support increased investment to help families afford child care.

    The Child Care for Working Families Act would tackle the child care crisis head-on: ensuring families can afford the child care they need, expanding access to more high-quality options, stabilizing the child care sector, and helping ensure child care workers taking care of our nation’s kids are paid livable wages.

    The legislation would also dramatically expand access to pre-K, and support full-day, full-year Head Start programs and increased wages for Head Start workers.  Under the legislation, which Murray, Reed and Whitehouse have been pushing since 2017, the typical family in America will pay no more than $10 a day for child care—with many families paying nothing at all—and no eligible family would pay more than 7 percent of their income on child care.

    The Child Care for Working Families Act will:

    • Make child care affordable for working families. 
      • The typical family earning the state median income will pay less than $15 a day for child care.
      • No working family will pay more than seven percent of their income on child care.
      • Families earning below 85% of state median income will pay nothing at all for child care.
      •  If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
    • Improve the quality and supply of child care for all children and expand families’ child care options by:
      • Addressing child care deserts by providing grants to help open new child care providers in underserved communities.
      • Providing grants to cover start-up and licensing costs to help establish new providers.
      • Increasing child care options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours.
      • Supporting child care for children who are dual-language learners, children who are experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
    • Support higher wages for child care workers.
      • Child care workers would be paid a living wage and achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience.
      • Child care subsidies would cover the cost of providing high-quality care. 
    • Dramatically expand access to high-quality pre-K.
      • States would receive funding to establish and expand a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
      • States must prioritize establishing and expanding universal local preschool programs within and across high-need communities.
      • If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
    • Better support Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increasing wages for Head Start workers.         

    The Child Care for Working Families Act is endorsed by: AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, All Our Kin, The Center for American Progress, The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Child Care Aware of America, Community Change Action, Council for Professional Recognition, Family Value @ Work, MomsRising, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), National Education Association (NEA), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Oxfam, Save the Children, Save the Children Action Network, SEIU, YWCA, Zero to Three.

    In addition to Murray, Reed, and Whitehouse, the Senate bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-NM), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tammy Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    In the House, the bill is being introduced by U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Advocate for Passage of Child Care Affordability Bill to Expand High-Quality Child Care Options

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Child care is essential to families, communities, and our economy.  But instead of making federal investments to help bring down the cost of child care, the Trump Administration is raising costs for working families in order to provide a bigger tax windfall for billionaires and special interests.  The Republican tax law also slashed Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provide critical support to children, families, child care centers and the child care workforce.  And the Trump Administration has made deep cuts within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families.
    To help working families afford the rising cost of child care, expand the range of high-quality child care options, and strengthen America’s child care infrastructure and workforce, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to reintroduce the Child Care for Working Families Act (S.2295).
    This comprehensive legislation seeks to alleviate the high cost of child care for working families; provide families with more flexible options for high-quality, affordable child care; and boost wages for early childhood workers.  The bill would cap child care expenses at 7 percent of working families’ incomes, making it affordable for all parents and providing historic investments in the child care workforce, including higher pay, better benefits and improved training opportunities. It would also help increase access to pre-K education while supporting full-day Head Start programs.
    “Right now, the cost of child care and other essentials is weighing millions of families down, but instead of tackling the affordability crisis, President Trump and Republicans have chosen to shower their billionaire donors with trillions of dollars in new tax breaks and kick 17 million Americans off their health care,” said Senator Murray.
    “Working parents need access to high-quality, affordable child care that meets their needs.  But too many parents simply can’t afford it.  This bill would help lower the cost of child care and allow working parents to keep more of their paychecks so they can afford to raise a family.  Making child care more accessible and affordable is critical to families, communities, businesses, and future economic growth.  Studies show that investing in quality child care and early childhood education saves money in the long run and is linked to better graduation rates and lower use of public benefits later in life,” said Senator Reed.  “This is a chance to help lift children out of poverty, save working parents real money, and strengthen our workforce.  We’ve got to prioritize investing in what’s important to us – for Democrats that is expanding access to affordable and high-quality child care.”
    “Making child care more affordable will lower one of the biggest costs in many families’ budgets, and give parents more flexibility to participate in the workforce,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “As President Trump fuels the affordability crisis with his chaotic tariffs and his Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill, our legislation will lower the cost of child care for working Rhode Island families, set kids up for success, and ensure early childhood educators are paid fairly for their hard work.”
    Last month, Ruth J. Friedman, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, testified before Congress on the state of America’s child care crisis, noting: “An approach like the Child Care for Working Families Act takes the necessary steps to adequately build child care supply and reduce parent costs. It would be transformative for American families, eliminating child care as a barrier to the workforce and child care bills as a barrier to economic security and wellbeing.  Ultimately, it would give parents much more freedom to raise their families and be productive members of society.”
    According to the Economic Policy Institute, Rhode Island is ranked as the 18th most expensive state for infant care, with the average annual cost exceeding $16,750 per year, or $1,397 per month.  And according to a WalletHub Child Care Costs by State report released this month, Rhode Island ranked 7th-highest in the nation for child care costs for married couples, with data showing 10.42 percent of married couples’ income was spent on family-based child care and 11.45 percent was spent on center-based child care.
    The cost of child care nationwide continues to rise—and far from helping tackle it, President Trump is exacerbating the affordability crisis. The average cost of child care is now $13,128—a 29% increase since 2020 that outpaces inflation. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, the average annual costs of child care for two children exceeds median rent—and in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the cost of care for one infant exceeds in-state university tuition. The crisis costs the U.S. economy over $100 billion each year. Nonetheless, President Trump has gutted oversight of and support for the federal child care office, held up child care funding to states, held up Head Start funding, and now created massive holes in states budgets with the “Big Beautiful Bill’s” cuts to Medicaid and SNAP—which may well force states to pare back on their own investments in child care. While two-thirds of Americans oppose Republicans’ Big Beautiful Betrayal that President Trump signed into law earlier this month, over three-quarters of Americans support increased investment to help families afford child care.
    The Child Care for Working Families Act would tackle the child care crisis head-on: ensuring families can afford the child care they need, expanding access to more high-quality options, stabilizing the child care sector, and helping ensure child care workers taking care of our nation’s kids are paid livable wages.
    The legislation would also dramatically expand access to pre-K, and support full-day, full-year Head Start programs and increased wages for Head Start workers.  Under the legislation, which Murray, Reed and Whitehouse have been pushing since 2017, the typical family in America will pay no more than $10 a day for child care—with many families paying nothing at all—and no eligible family would pay more than 7 percent of their income on child care.
    The Child Care for Working Families Act will:
    Make child care affordable for working families. 
    The typical family earning the state median income will pay less than $15 a day for child care.
    No working family will pay more than seven percent of their income on child care.
    Families earning below 85% of state median income will pay nothing at all for child care.
     If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.

    Improve the quality and supply of child care for all children and expand families’ child care options by:
    Addressing child care deserts by providing grants to help open new child care providers in underserved communities.
    Providing grants to cover start-up and licensing costs to help establish new providers.
    Increasing child care options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours.
    Supporting child care for children who are dual-language learners, children who are experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.

    Support higher wages for child care workers.
    Child care workers would be paid a living wage and achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience.
    Child care subsidies would cover the cost of providing high-quality care. 

    Dramatically expand access to high-quality pre-K.
    States would receive funding to establish and expand a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
    States must prioritize establishing and expanding universal local preschool programs within and across high-need communities.
    If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.

    Better support Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increasing wages for Head Start workers.         
    The Child Care for Working Families Act is endorsed by: AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, All Our Kin, The Center for American Progress, The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Child Care Aware of America, Community Change Action, Council for Professional Recognition, Family Value @ Work, MomsRising, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), National Education Association (NEA), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Oxfam, Save the Children, Save the Children Action Network, SEIU, YWCA, Zero to Three.
    In addition to Murray, Reed, and Whitehouse, the Senate bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-NM), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tammy Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    In the House, the bill is being introduced by U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Advocate for Passage of Child Care Affordability Bill to Expand High-Quality Child Care Options

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Child care is essential to families, communities, and our economy.  But instead of making federal investments to help bring down the cost of child care, the Trump Administration is raising costs for working families in order to provide a bigger tax windfall for billionaires and special interests.  The Republican tax law also slashed Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provide critical support to children, families, child care centers and the child care workforce.  And the Trump Administration has made deep cuts within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families.

    To help working families afford the rising cost of child care, expand the range of high-quality child care options, and strengthen America’s child care infrastructure and workforce, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to reintroduce the Child Care for Working Families Act (S.2295).

    This comprehensive legislation seeks to alleviate the high cost of child care for working families; provide families with more flexible options for high-quality, affordable child care; and boost wages for early childhood workers.  The bill would cap child care expenses at 7 percent of working families’ incomes, making it affordable for all parents and providing historic investments in the child care workforce, including higher pay, better benefits and improved training opportunities. It would also help increase access to pre-K education while supporting full-day Head Start programs.

    “Right now, the cost of child care and other essentials is weighing millions of families down, but instead of tackling the affordability crisis, President Trump and Republicans have chosen to shower their billionaire donors with trillions of dollars in new tax breaks and kick 17 million Americans off their health care,” said Senator Murray.

    “Working parents need access to high-quality, affordable child care that meets their needs.  But too many parents simply can’t afford it.  This bill would help lower the cost of child care and allow working parents to keep more of their paychecks so they can afford to raise a family.  Making child care more accessible and affordable is critical to families, communities, businesses, and future economic growth.  Studies show that investing in quality child care and early childhood education saves money in the long run and is linked to better graduation rates and lower use of public benefits later in life,” said Senator Reed.  “This is a chance to help lift children out of poverty, save working parents real money, and strengthen our workforce.  We’ve got to prioritize investing in what’s important to us – for Democrats that is expanding access to affordable and high-quality child care.”

    “Making child care more affordable will lower one of the biggest costs in many families’ budgets, and give parents more flexibility to participate in the workforce,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “As President Trump fuels the affordability crisis with his chaotic tariffs and his Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill, our legislation will lower the cost of child care for working Rhode Island families, set kids up for success, and ensure early childhood educators are paid fairly for their hard work.”

    Last month, Ruth J. Friedman, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, testified before Congress on the state of America’s child care crisis, noting: “An approach like the Child Care for Working Families Act takes the necessary steps to adequately build child care supply and reduce parent costs. It would be transformative for American families, eliminating child care as a barrier to the workforce and child care bills as a barrier to economic security and wellbeing.  Ultimately, it would give parents much more freedom to raise their families and be productive members of society.”

    According to the Economic Policy Institute, Rhode Island is ranked as the 18th most expensive state for infant care, with the average annual cost exceeding $16,750 per year, or $1,397 per month.  And according to a WalletHub Child Care Costs by State report released this month, Rhode Island ranked 7th-highest in the nation for child care costs for married couples, with data showing 10.42 percent of married couples’ income was spent on family-based child care and 11.45 percent was spent on center-based child care.

    The cost of child care nationwide continues to rise—and far from helping tackle it, President Trump is exacerbating the affordability crisis. The average cost of child care is now $13,128—a 29% increase since 2020 that outpaces inflation. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, the average annual costs of child care for two children exceeds median rent—and in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the cost of care for one infant exceeds in-state university tuition. The crisis costs the U.S. economy over $100 billion each year. Nonetheless, President Trump has gutted oversight of and support for the federal child care office, held up child care funding to states, held up Head Start funding, and now created massive holes in states budgets with the “Big Beautiful Bill’s” cuts to Medicaid and SNAP—which may well force states to pare back on their own investments in child care. While two-thirds of Americans oppose Republicans’ Big Beautiful Betrayal that President Trump signed into law earlier this month, over three-quarters of Americans support increased investment to help families afford child care.

    The Child Care for Working Families Act would tackle the child care crisis head-on: ensuring families can afford the child care they need, expanding access to more high-quality options, stabilizing the child care sector, and helping ensure child care workers taking care of our nation’s kids are paid livable wages.

    The legislation would also dramatically expand access to pre-K, and support full-day, full-year Head Start programs and increased wages for Head Start workers.  Under the legislation, which Murray, Reed and Whitehouse have been pushing since 2017, the typical family in America will pay no more than $10 a day for child care—with many families paying nothing at all—and no eligible family would pay more than 7 percent of their income on child care.

    The Child Care for Working Families Act will:

    • Make child care affordable for working families. 
      • The typical family earning the state median income will pay less than $15 a day for child care.
      • No working family will pay more than seven percent of their income on child care.
      • Families earning below 85% of state median income will pay nothing at all for child care.
      •  If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
    • Improve the quality and supply of child care for all children and expand families’ child care options by:
      • Addressing child care deserts by providing grants to help open new child care providers in underserved communities.
      • Providing grants to cover start-up and licensing costs to help establish new providers.
      • Increasing child care options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours.
      • Supporting child care for children who are dual-language learners, children who are experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
    • Support higher wages for child care workers.
      • Child care workers would be paid a living wage and achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience.
      • Child care subsidies would cover the cost of providing high-quality care. 
    • Dramatically expand access to high-quality pre-K.
      • States would receive funding to establish and expand a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
      • States must prioritize establishing and expanding universal local preschool programs within and across high-need communities.
      • If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
    • Better support Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increasing wages for Head Start workers.         

    The Child Care for Working Families Act is endorsed by: AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, All Our Kin, The Center for American Progress, The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Child Care Aware of America, Community Change Action, Council for Professional Recognition, Family Value @ Work, MomsRising, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), National Education Association (NEA), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Oxfam, Save the Children, Save the Children Action Network, SEIU, YWCA, Zero to Three.

    In addition to Murray, Reed, and Whitehouse, the Senate bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-NM), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tammy Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    In the House, the bill is being introduced by U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: Association Health Plans are a Great Resource for Kansans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Senator Marshall Questions Experts About Benefits Access for Independent Workers
    Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas),questioned Patrice Onwuka, Director at the Center for Economic Opportunity at the Independent Women’s Forum, Kev Coleman, Research Fellow at the Paragon Health Institute, and Karen Friedman, Executive Director at the Pension Rights Center, during a recent Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee focused on benefits for independent workers.
    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    Highlights from the hearing include: 
    On what protections would exist if a portable benefits provider went under:
    Senator Marshall: “Let’s start with Mrs. Onwuka. Welcome everybody. We appreciate you being here. Under a portable benefit model, what protections do workers have if a benefit provider were to go under or misuse funds?”
    Mrs. Onwuka: “Under a portable benefits plan, I think that there are protections in place to ensure that, you know, whatever investments have been made, whatever has been paid into it, that that would still be there and protected. There’s some great companies that have those accounts and set those up to ensure that, and they’re regulated to ensure that that happens.”Senator Marshall: “Have many of them failed? Or has that happened very often?”
    Mrs. Onwuka: “I have not seen anything any of them fail, sir.”
    On what’s preventing wider adoption of association health care plans:
    Senator Marshall: “Mr. Coleman, let’s go to you next. I’m a big fan of association health care plans. It’s something I fought for to help become a possibility. I’ve seen some acceptance of it, I’m surprised it’s not more, so to be honest. What’s keeping that from exploding in a good way, and what do we need to do to put wind beneath those sails?”
    Mr. Coleman: “Senator, thank you very much for that question. A primary obstacle to association health plans, underneath legacy regulation, deals with the obstacles to be able to form a coalition of our association of businesses whose aggregate employee body can be seen as a single health plan. There’s something known as ‘lookthrough doctrine,’ which says, if you don’t have the right affiliations among businesses, we’re going to treat each individual business within an association as its own entity with respect to health insurance. And hence, if they have three people, they’re in the small group health insurance.”
    Senator Marshall: “Got it – so, is this that we need to change the law, or is it a regulatory issue?”
    Mr. Coleman: “Ultimately, changing the law is best, because not only do you have the benefit of, you know, a very clear statutory precedent, but you also have a situation where technologists like myself, or my former self, are going to make investments in that market to build platforms facilitating technology, et cetera. If it’s a regulatory solution, there’s more hesitation, because there’s the fear that the next administration may change regulation.”
    Senator Marshall: “Okay, thanks. And I would just ask the committee staff, I’m sure you’re looking at that, but would love to kind of understand what we can do to improve that situation as well. We’ve seen some great success in Kansas with some of these plans, and again, I’m surprised there’s not more people utilizing it.”
    On how portable benefits could be on par with benefits offered to W2 employees:
    Senator Marshall: “I’ll go to Ms. Friedman next. And if you just briefly explain…how under portable benefits can we be sure that employers are still providing benefits on par with many of the W2 employees?”
    Ms. Friedman “…I mean, look, portability has been an intractable problem in the retirement space. There are lots of proposals that will address this. Senator Sanders, pensions for all would be portable. The state-facilitated auto-Iris has some portability. I think we have to ensure that we’re looking at solutions. I mean, what we’re trying to do is address a concern, which is portability. People changing jobs a lot, and benefits going with them. We need to be exploring those options and make sure that they’re options that both protect employees and also are being workable.”
    Senator Marshall: “So I understand the problem, now I’m looking for the solution. Mrs. Onwuka, can you take a shot at that? How, under portable benefits, can we be sure that employers are still providing benefits on par with W2 employees?”
    Mrs. Onwuka: “Well, that can be negotiated between the independent contractor and their client, really, who’s able to pay in you know, just as they in their contracts, they can define how much the employer is willing to pay this independent contractor on top of their negotiated rate, how much they’re going to pay into that benefits plan. And they can match with whatever they’re paying their W2 employees in terms of the benefits that they’re providing there. But let’s not forget, these plans can be paid into by multiple different clients and different entities, so an independent contractor can really do well in terms of being negotiating the kind of, you know, benefits package that works for them.”
    Senator Marshall: “Typically, if you were new to that negotiation and you have seven or ten clients or people you’re working for, are you asking them to match like 10% or 20%? Is there a kind of a range that you’re looking for?”
    Mrs. Onwuka: “It would be up to that independent contractor to decide, sir.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall & Hickenlooper Introduce Legislation Requiring Price Transparency in Healthcare

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), led the introduction of the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act along with Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado). This legislation will improve the transparency of healthcare costs so patients understand the true price of procedures, medications, and services before receiving them.
    Specifically, the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act will require public reporting of negotiated rates, costs, and cash prices for services provided at hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and clinical labs. The bill also ensures group health plans have access to claims data and prevents third-party administrators from restricting data access. Providers or facilities will also be required to include a detailed itemized bill of each distinct item or service, or an all-in total price for bundled items if offered to the patient as an option.
    “Customers don’t walk into a restaurant only to find out how much the food costs when they get the bill. Patients should know the price of the service they need before they make any decisions,” said Senator Marshall. “Making America Healthy Again requires empowering Americans with the best information possible to inform their life and healthcare choices: the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act will ensure prices are available to patients to support a more competitive, innovative, affordable, and high-quality healthcare system.”
    “You wouldn’t book a flight if you couldn’t find out the ticket price until you land — or check into a hotel without knowing if you’re paying for the Ritz or a dump. But that’s the absurd guessing game Americans play every time they need medical care,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “We deserve to know exactly what we are paying for whether it’s a lab test, a colonoscopy, or an MRI. Our bill gives Americans that peace of mind.”
    “We applaud Senators Roger Marshall and John Hickenlooper for their strong, bipartisan leadership on the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. With actual, upfront, and accountable prices, patients will be able to shop for the best care with protection from rampant overcharges hiding in the shadows. We urge all senators to support this bill and pass it without delay to protect America’s patients,” said Cynthia Fisher, Founder and Chairman of Patients Rights Advocate.
    “We applaud Senators Marshall and Hickenlooper for their ongoing commitment to enhancing health care price transparency requirements that will ensure employers have access to information necessary when making decisions on benefit design for the millions of Americans who receive coverage through their employer,” said ERIC President and CEO James Gelfand. “Moreover, strong transparency requirements of providers, including hospitals, and plans will empower workers and their families to select high quality, affordable health care, drugs, and services, helping ease the ever-growing pressures health care costs have on employers and workers alike.”   
    “Patients Deserve Price Tags Act is a critical step toward delivering high-quality care at lower costs for patients. Price transparency starts with clear, accessible information and this bill will empower patients to compare prices before they seek care. Real transparency and accountability are essential in helping unions make informed negotiations on behalf of workers and will ultimately help drive down costs. The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act moves us closer to that goal,” said Kevin Lyons, Member Benefits Director for the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association.
    “At a time when health care costs are ballooning out of control and Americans continue to make clear that affordability is a top priority, we applaud Senators Marshall and Hickenlooper for introducing the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. This robust, pro-consumer, bipartisan legislation will ensure that every family in America knows exactly how much a big hospital will charge them before they receive medical care and services,” said Sophia Tripoli, senior director for health policy at Families USA. “As long as big hospital corporations and health care systems are able to keep their prices hidden, they will continue to jack up prices year over year with no transparency or accountability from the public or lawmakers. The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act would bring much needed transparency to hospital pricing and help us hold the health care sector accountable for the unfair price gouging practices that are hurting patients and families.”
    Click here to read the full bill text.
    Background:
    During the first Trump Administration, in June 2019, President Trump issued an executive order titled Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First. Senator Marshall was a big supporter and partner of this work in 2019.
    In February 2025, President Trump signed a similar executive order requiring price transparency in healthcare. This legislation echoes the actions of the Trump Administration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Advances $54.3 Million for Offutt Air Force Base

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Advances additional provisions to support veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she advanced $54.3 million in funding for Nebraska military construction projects at Offutt Air Force Base.

    The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.

    “As the proud home of the Air Force’s ‘doomsday’ planes—used by the president and top military leaders to command our forces during extreme crisis—Offutt Air Force Base is essential to our nation’s survival. I was proud to advocate for this funding to ensure that Offutt and the brave men and women who serve there are equipped with the resources they need to continue to defend America against the threats we face,”     Fischer said.

    Fischer advanced funding to support next generation of ‘doomsday’ planes, critical investments at Offutt Air Force Base:

    • $19 million to plan and design a 1-Bay Hangar to support the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC)
    • $16 million to plan and design a 2-Bay Hangar to support the new SAOC
    • $7.3 million to plan and design a Supply Storage Facility to support the new SAOC
    • $6 million to plan and design a Consolidated Training Complex/Professional Development Center
    • $6 million to plan and design a new dormitory

    Fischer advanced key provisions to support our veterans:

    • Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to purchase essential medical devices, such as needles, syringes, and blood collection products from U.S. manufacturers or allied trading partners. Also, directs the VA to submit a report on ways to reduce dependency on Chinese medical devices while safeguarding against shortages.
    • Directs the VA to report on the success of the External Provider Scheduling (EPS) program while identifying barriers to increased implementation, and creating recommendations on how to increase community provider participation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Huffman Blasts Sec. Burgum, AG Bondi Alcatraz Visit Amid Trump Plan to Reopen Island Prison

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    July 17, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s visit to Alcatraz Island as part of the Trump administration’s bizarre and troubling proposal to reopen the former federal penitentiary – now a treasured national park and historic site – as an active prison for detained immigrants:

    “Today I almost felt sorry for Secretary Doug Burgum. He’s a smart guy, a serious guy, and he knows reopening Alcatraz is batshit crazy. But he has to pretend otherwise to stay in Trump’s good graces, so everyone pretends to love the Emperor’s beautiful new clothes while giggling behind his back,” Huffman said.

    “As for the merits of this proposal, if you thought “Alligator Alcatraz” was dumb, cruel, and wasteful, you’ll run out of adjectives for this idiotic political stunt,” Huffman continued. “I told Secretary Burgum last month that not a single serious person at the National Park Service – from superintendents to janitors – thinks this is a good idea. It would also be a financial boondoggle – not just the massive amount it would cost to reopen Alcatraz as a prison, but all the money and goodwill the Park Service would lose from closing one of America’s most popular tourist destinations.”

    “The bottom line: this is deeply idiotic, transparently political, and ultimately unlikely to happen. The only possible rational explanation for why Pam Bondi was touring Alcatraz today is that she thinks it might be a good place to hide the Epstein files,” Huffman concluded.

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    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Europe urged to diversify trade markets over US tariff coercion, supply chains disruption

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

    As Washington presses ahead with additional tariffs on products from the European Union (EU) and beyond, European officials and experts are urging the diversification of trade markets to mitigate the damage that such coercive financial statecraft is inflicting on global supply chains.

    TARIFF GAME SETTING OFF CHAIN REACTION

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that his administration would impose 30 percent tariffs on EU and Mexican exports, arguing that bilateral trade had long been unbalanced and lacked reciprocity.

    Trucks wait to enter the Container Terminal Tollerort in Hamburg, Germany, May 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

    The Irish Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald described the tariff threat as “volatile” and “not helpful at all.” “That poses a challenge for Ireland, for Europe, for the world,” she told Xinhua at a press conference in London.

    Countries across Europe have been warning about the impact of the seemingly unrelenting tariff assaults on their economies.

    The Bank of Slovenia estimated that U.S. tariffs could indirectly disrupt the broader European value chain and impact about 15,000 jobs in Slovenia, a significant number in a country of just 2.1 million people.

    The Bank of England also said in its latest Financial Stability Report that the global economy faces rising downside risks, citing U.S. tariffs, and despite a new trade agreement between Britain and the United States in May, a further escalation in trade disputes globally could amplify financial stress and drag on economic growth in Britain.

    Companies of all sizes, from those exporting to the U.S. to manufacturers heavily reliant on global supply chains, are feeling the strain that the tariffs are placing on their operations.

    Neb Chupin, founder of Croatia’s Hermes International, a successful fig jam producer in the U.S. market, said, “With 10 percent tariffs, we are losing about 20,000 U.S. dollars a week. What would happen with 30 or even 50 percent tariffs? I cannot even sleep at night as the situation is very unstable.”

    With 40 percent of exports going to the U.S., Finland’s pharmaceutical industry could also be severely affected by potential U.S. tariffs. Johanna Sipola, deputy CEO of Keskuskauppakamari, or the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, called the tariffs “unrealistic” and warned that the greater risk is the uncertainty they create.

    “If the tariffs were implemented, the repercussions for international pharmaceutical production would be significant. The industry’s delivery chains are unusually global, and even minor disruptions can trigger substantial changes in medicine prices and demand,” Sipola said.

    Beyond the immediate effects, the high-stakes tariff game is setting off a chain reaction across global supply chains and geopolitical dynamics.

    Gavran Igor, an economic analyst from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that the longer-term impact of the tariffs could prove even more damaging for Balkan manufacturers that are integrated into EU-based industries, particularly automotive supply chains.

    Czech Republic’s Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura said that exports to the United States account for less than 3 percent of the country’s total exports. However, the country would also be indirectly affected through its European partners who purchase Czech goods and components.

    STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH MULTI-PARTNERS URGED

    Inevitably, even countries with modest trade ties to the world’s largest economy can still feel the ripple effects of Washington’s unpredictability. In response, experts recommend that European nations broaden their trade partnerships, especially with China, Southeast Asia and other regions.

    “Europe must, in the long term, become more independent from the American market. A joint free trade zone with the ASEAN countries and the rapid ratification of the agreement with Mercosur are urgently needed,” Dirk Jandura, president of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, said in a statement after Trump’s new tariff announcement.

    Mario Boselli, chairman of the Italy China Council Foundation, said that the shifting dynamics might prompt Europe to reconsider its external economic strategy. In his view, strengthening cooperation with China is a “highly strategic choice.”

    “If economies, like the EU, China, the United Kingdom, Brazil and India, keep global trade open, the U.S. tariffs’ impact on global supply chains will be lower. That’s the opportunity,” said Carlo Altomonte, associate professor of the Department of Social and Political Sciences of Bocconi University in Milan.

    Martin Geissler, Partner at the management consultancy Advyce & Company, echoed the suggestions by sharing Germany’s auto industry as an example. “German automakers have often not yet recognized the growth prospects that exist in Africa and many emerging countries,” Geissler said, contrasting this with China’s strategic engagement with multi-partners.

    Bernardo Mendia, Secretary General of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is leading a Portuguese delegation to the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing.

    A key factor driving Portugal’s participation this year, in his words, is the rise of protectionism, logistical disruptions and geopolitical shifts. In the face of these challenges, China offers a distinctive platform to develop innovative solutions, business models, and collaborative partnerships, he said.

    Looking ahead, experts believe that Washington’s trade policies could ultimately backfire on the U.S. economy itself.

    “The U.S. needs many of our industrial products, which cannot be easily replaced in the short term. This allows German manufacturers of these goods to largely pass on the tariffs in their prices to the detriment of the U.S. economy,” said Juergen Matthes, head of International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets Research Unit at the German Economic Institute. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to sunken vessel near Santa Cruz, Calif.

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/17/2025 07:30 PM EDT

     

    07/17/2025 07:09 PM EDT

    PHOTOS AVAILABLE: The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a sunken vessel following a boat fire approximately one mile offshore Santa Cruz, California, Wednesday morning. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Drug Activity on Social Media

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the bipartisan Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, which would require social media companies and other communication service providers to take on a more active role in working with federal agencies to combat the illegal sale and distribution of drugs on their platforms. This critical data will also empower state and local law enforcement to combat fake fentanyl-laced pills and prosecute those who prey on America’s youth. 
    “For too long social media companies have turned a blind eye to drug dealers who use their platforms to sell deadly drugs like fentanyl,” said Sen. Klobuchar.  “The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act cracks down on the sale of fentanyl through social media platforms by requiring these companies to report to the DEA when they know drugs are being sold on their platforms.” 
    The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act is named after two young men who both tragically lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning after purchasing a pill from social media. 
    Devin Norring was a 19-year-old from Hastings, MN, who tragically died from fentanyl poisoning in 2020 after purchasing a pill on Snapchat he believed was Percocet to help relieve his migraines. In his honor, his family started the Devin J. Norring Foundation to raise awareness about the dangers of dealers selling fake pills and other illicit substances online.
    Cooper Davis from Johnson County, KS, tragically lost his life to fentanyl poisoning in the summer of 2021. Cooper died after taking half a fake pill that contained a lethal dose of fentanyl, which was believed to be purchased from a Missouri drug dealer through the social media platform Snapchat. Following his passing, Cooper’s family launched the non-profit ‘Keepin’ Clean for Coop’ to keep his memory alive to save lives, raise awareness, and educate students and families.
    The bill is cosponsored by Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Todd Young (R-IN). The bill is led in the House by Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA).
    The legislation is supported by the families of Cooper Davis and Devin Norring, as well as National HIDTA Directors Association, Snapchat, Partnership for Safe Medicine, the U.S. Deputy Sheriff’s Association, The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse, the Community Anti-Drug Coalition Association, the Alexander Neville Foundation, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Kansas Sheriffs Association.
    “Our family & the Devin J. Norring Foundation wholeheartedly support the Cooper Davis & Devin Norring Act – legislation that serves as a critical step toward protecting families from the deadly threat of fentanyl sold through social media,” said The Family of Devin J. Norring & the Devin J. Norring Foundation. “This bill honors the lives of Cooper and Devin by holding tech companies accountable and giving law enforcement the tools they need to respond to this crisis. No parent should have to search for answers in a system that shields predators. It’s time for truth, transparency, and action.”
    “Our family continues to be extremely grateful for Senator Marshall and his colleagues’ dedication to this legislation. We are both honored and saddened to have another name, Devin Norring, added to this bill,” said Libby Davis, Mother of Cooper Davis. “However, the harsh reality is that there are thousands of other teenagers’ names that could be added to this bill because they too lost their lives in this same tragic way. Each with a story demonstrating that this can happen to ANY FAMILY. We, as parents and grandparents, do so many things to keep our kids safe, from baby gates, car seats, and seatbelts, to bike helmets, sunscreen, and vaccinations. This is no different. We need our legislators to come together and get this bipartisan bill across the finish line so that countless children can be saved, theirs being no exception.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Intel Chairs Cotton and Crawford to Gabbard: Review Intelligence Sharing with Spain

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353July 17, 2025
    Intel Chairs Cotton and Crawford to Gabbard: Review Intelligence Sharing with Spain
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Congressman Rick Crawford (Arkansas-01), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today sent a letter to Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence requesting a review on all intelligence sharing with Spain’s intelligence, defense, and law enforcement services. This letter comes after Spain’s Ministry of the Interior reportedly awarded €12.3 million in contracts for Huawei, which has deep ties to the CCP, to provide servers and consulting services for Spain’s wiretap systems.
    In part, Senator Cotton and Congressman Crawford wrote:
    “Since the first Trump administration, the United States has waged a whole of government effort to remove the threat Huawei equipment poses to American networks, infrastructure, and privacy. Until Spain follows suit, the U.S. Government should ensure that any information shared with the Spanish government is redacted of details that should not be shared with the CCP.”
    Full text of the letter may be found here and below.
    The Honorable Tulsi GabbardDirector of National IntelligenceOffice of the Director of National Intelligence1500 Tysons McLean DriveMcLean, VA 22102
    Dear Director Gabbard:
    We write to urge you to review intelligence sharing arrangements with the government of Spain to ensure that any information shared with Spanish intelligence, defense, and law enforcement services does not reveal U.S. national security secrets to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  
    As you are likely aware, Spain’s Ministry of the Interior reportedly awarded €12.3 million in contracts for Huawei to provide servers and consulting services for Spain’s wiretap systems.   Huawei has deep ties to the CCP and is subject to China’s National Intelligence and Data Security laws, which compel Huawei to provide the CCP access to any Huawei information that the CCP deems necessary.  In essence, Huawei and the CCP could have backdoor access to the lawful intercept system of a NATO ally—enabling them to monitor Spanish investigations of CCP spies and innumerable other intelligence activities. 
    Since the first Trump administration, the United States has waged a whole of government effort to remove the threat Huawei equipment poses to American networks, infrastructure, and privacy. Until Spain follows suit, the U.S. Government should ensure that any information shared with the Spanish government is redacted of details that should not be shared with the CCP.  Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. 
    Sincerely,
    Tom Cotton Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
    Rick CrawfordChairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Slams Smithsonian for Playing Politics

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
     WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called out the Smithsonian Institution Museums for playing political games and pandering to the Left rather than objectively displaying and celebrating great Americans’ contributions that make up the history of the United States. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
    “The 21 museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution have been a treasure for a long time, but unfortunately in recent years, they have strayed from their true mission.”
    “The Smithsonian has lost its way.”
    “Instead of celebrating the contributions of remarkable Americans or educating our children about the animals that once roamed the planet, the Smithsonian Institution museums are telling children they should feel guilty for contributing to climate change and introducing them to topics which are clearly not age appropriate.”
    “But sometimes it’s not what the Smithsonian includes in their exhibits – which is troubling – it’s what they choose to exclude.”
    “Who can forget the snub to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture?”
    “I introduced a resolution at the time asking them to recognize the historical importance of Justice Thomas and his service to the court.”
    “After a groundswell of opposition in the months that followed, the museum finally did include him in an exhibit, but the previous exhibit featuring Anita Hill and not the Justice is a stain on the Smithsonian that I’ll never forget.”
    “Some have argued that the Smithsonian is subject to oversight by Congress and the Executive Branch. Others have said no, it’s purely a private, independent entity.”
    “It’s pretty hard to make the case that an institution that gets the majority of its funding from Congress and is governed by a board of government officials is anything but a government entity.”
    “The Smithsonian Institution itself has argued time and time again in court that they are in fact a government entity.”
     “In a case called Raven v. Sajet, a federal court agreed, ruling that the ‘Smithsonian is a government institution through and through.’’ 
    “As we prepare for the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, I would encourage, strongly encourage, the Smithsonian Institution to reconsider its purpose and to return to the principles and ideals laid out in the founding documents they so proudly display for the benefit of all Americans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Jacobs, Dean, Castro, Keating Introduce Bill to Prevent U.S. Weapons From Harming Civilians and Committing War Crimes

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)

    July 17, 2025

    Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Bill Keating (MA-09), members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Bipartisan Arms Sales Task Force, introduced legislation to improve end-use monitoring and prevent the use of U.S. weapons to commit war crimes or harm civilians. Existing end-use-monitoring programs like Blue Lantern and Golden Sentry only determine whether U.S. weapons or relevant technology have been diverted to third parties, but do not evaluate how U.S. weapons are used. The Silver Shield Operational End Use Monitoring Act of 2025 would address this critical gap by creating a new end-use monitoring program (“Silver Shield”) to monitor whether U.S.-origin defense materials are used to violate international humanitarian and human rights law or harm civilians. 

    Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “It’s our responsibility to guarantee that U.S. weapons get into the right hands and aren’t used to harm civilians, violate human rights, or commit war crimes; but unfortunately, we don’t currently have the mechanisms in place to do that. Any misuse of U.S. weapons erodes our moral standing in the world, impedes our ability to build and maintain coalitions, and furthers instability and anti-American resentment. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Silver Shield Operational End Use Monitoring Act of 2025 so we can know where U.S. weapons go and how they are used.”

    “It is critical that the United States can be assured that American-produced arms are not used in human rights abuses and atrocities —yet we do not have a mechanism for such monitoring,” Rep. Dean said. “The Silver Shield Act would fill this gap. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am committed to supporting our allies abroad while upholding global humanitarian rights. I thank Congresswoman Jacobs for her leadership on this bill.”

    The Silver Shield Operational End Use Monitoring Act of 2025 would:

    • Establish the “Silver Shield Operational End-Use Monitoring Program” within one year of enactment to monitor for the use of U.S. defense articles and determine whether articles were used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) or international human rights law (IHRL).
    • Amend the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to clarify arms transfers compliance frameworks, including ensuring serious IHL/IHRL violations are considered a violation of written agreements.
    • Authorize funding to carry out the program, including by designating the Silver Shield program as a valid administrative and operational expense for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF), which enables the FMS Administrative Fund and the FMF Administrative Fund to be used to carry out the requirements of the program.
    • Require an initial report on any additional resources needed to implement the program and an annual report on the implementation of the program.

    The bill text can be found here.

    The Silver Shield Operational End Use Monitoring Act of 2025 is endorsed by Amnesty International USA, Arms Control Association, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for International Policy Advocacy, Demand Progress, Friends Committee on National Legislation, MADRE, MedGlobal, Middle East Democracy Center, Oxfam America, Peace Action, Transparency International U.S., Win Without War, and Women for Weapons Trade Transparency.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville OP-ED: It’s Time For Republicans To Put Up Or Shut Up When It Comes To Rescissions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) penned an op-ed on X touting the Senate’s passage of President Trump’s $9 billion rescissions package early this morning. In the piece, Sen. Tuberville urges Republicans to adhere to the America First mandate 77 million Americans voted for in 2024 by continuing to cut wasteful government spending on programs that don’t benefit the lives of hardworking American families. With $37 trillion in debt, it’s far past time to return to fiscal sanity before it’s too late. 
    Read excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s op-ed below or the full piece here.
    “When you’re coaching football, one of the first things you teach your team is discipline. A team without discipline blows assignments, misses tackles, and lets games slip away. Well, Washington has been blowing assignments and missing tackles for decades, especially when it comes to spending your hard-earned tax dollars. This week, we’ve got a chance to start calling the right plays. The Senate voted on a $9 billion rescissions package—a straightforward, no-nonsense plan to cut wasteful government spending and get our fiscal house back in order. Now it is up to the House to follow through. This isn’t a trick play. It’s not a Hail Mary. This is blocking and tackling—the fundamentals of fiscal responsibility. Frankly, this should be low-hanging fruit for Republicans. We talk a big game on the campaign trail about cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. But now that it’s time to walk the walk, some of my Republican colleagues seem to have forgotten how they got here in the first place.
    Over the past 4 years, Joe Biden treated the American taxpayers like his own personal piggy bank for bad ideas. Now, we’re $37 trillion in debt and have very little to show for it. The American people sent us here to clean house. 77 million Americans voted for President Trump and the America First agenda—an agenda that includes cutting woke foreign aid, left-wing propaganda, and out of control bureaucracy. That’s exactly what this bill does. We are cementing DOGE cuts into law and finally delivering on the President’s mandate to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. First, we’re cutting $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).This woke organization funds NPR and PBS, two outlets that have gone out of their way to push the Democrat Communist Socialist Party’s radical agenda.
    It’s no secret that NPR is the PR arm of the left. Their CEO openly called President Trump a “fascist” and a “deranged racist.” But don’t taking my word for it—just ask Uri Berliner, who was a senior business editor at NPR for more than two decades. In April 2024, he wrote an op-ed called “I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust.” In the piece, he wrote that NPR has an “absence of viewpoint diversity.” He acknowledged that NPR has “always had a liberal bent” but now an “open-minded spirit no longer exists at NPR.” To prove his point, he noted that registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 87 to 0 in the newsroom. Not surprisingly, NPR suspended Berliner for having the nerve to call it like it is. I guess NPR only protects freedom of speech as long as it aligns with their progressive ideology. Go figure.
    […]
    Americans are starving on the streets, and yet we’re sending money to educate kids in Uganda on LGBTQI+. It would almost be funny if it wasn’t so sad. This is global social engineering paid for by the American taxpayer. What the hell are we doing?
    It’s time for Republicans to put up or shut up. You can’t campaign on cutting spending and then flake out when someone hands you the scissors. If Republicans can’t make this play, we don’t deserve to be on the field. Let’s pass this rescissions package, tighten our belts, and start governing with some good old-fashioned common sense. President Trump campaigned on reining in spending, and it is incumbent on us to deliver. Let’s get it done.”
    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 OP-ED: The Fed Has Gone Rogue—Fire Jerome Powell

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) penned a scathing op-ed in the Daily Caller calling for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to be fired. In the piece, Sen. Tuberville addresses his concern with Powell’s refusal to lower interest rates during a time of economic growth in the Golden Age of America. Chair Powell’s decision to play politics is hurting hardworking American families.

    Read excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s op-ed below or the full piece here.

    “President Donald J. Trump and his America First policies are back, and the American people can feel the momentum. After four years of disastrous open-border policies, skyrocketing inflation, and woke bureaucrats running wild, the tide is finally turning. Thanks to the President’s tariffs and tax cuts, the Trump economic engine is revving back up. Prices are low. The stock market is up. Employment numbers are on the rise. America is returning to energy dominance. Families are finally starting to feel like they’re keeping more of their paycheck. But there’s still one major obstacle standing in the way of unleashing America’s full economic potential — and that’s Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

    Let’s cut the bull, Jerome Powell has gone rogue. He’s acting like a coach whose team is down by 2 at the end of the 4th quarter – but instead of kicking a field goal to win the game, they punt the ball. Inflation is at the lowest point in four years under President Trump – but Jerome Powell is still using the old Biden Democrat Socialist playbook. As a result, interest rates are through the roof, borrowing costs are squeezing families, and small businesses are getting crushed. Americans are ready to build, buy, hire, and grow — but the Fed is playing games instead of cutting rates and letting the economy breathe. That’s not just bad policy. That’s sabotage.

    This isn’t his first offense either. Powell’s track record is a mess. Back in 2021, as Biden and the Radical Left were pumping the economy with trillions of dollars in reckless spending, Powell stood in front of the American people and told them inflation was “transitory.” He basically told American consumers to not believe their own lying eyes. But the American people aren’t stupid. They saw prices rising at the pump, at the grocery store, and on every utility bill. What Powell called “transitory” turned out to be full-blown, historic inflation that was here to stay as long as Biden and Powell were the ones calling the shots.

    […]

    Let’s not pretend this wasn’t political. Powell has aligned himself with the D.C. Swamp, the same corrupt system that’s tried everything to stop Donald Trump from putting America First. The Fed is supposed to be independent, but under Powell, it’s acting like the economic arm of the Democrat Socialist Communist Party. Powell isn’t just a bad economist. He’s a symbol of the woke elites that look down on farmers, truckers, teachers, and welders — the backbone of this nation — and thinks they should just sit down and be quiet while the “experts” in D.C. run things.

    In the United States of America, we believe in freedom, faith, hard work, and putting the American taxpayer first. We don’t take orders from the World Economic Forum. We don’t answer to Davos. And we sure don’t let Ivy League elites in glass towers decide whether families in Alabama can afford to buy a house or start a business.

    If your quarterback is fumbling the ball, missing reads, and throwing picks, you bench him. You don’t give him another season; you send him packing. President Trump knows how to win. We need a Federal Reserve that supports that mission, not one that tries to undermine it. This isn’t just about monetary policy, it’s about our future. 

    It’s time to fire Jerome Powell and bring in a Fed Chair who understands the America First vision — someone who will fight inflation by empowering American workers, not punishing them. Someone who understands that prosperity starts with cutting taxes, slashing regulation, and letting a free people create, build, and thrive. Jerome Powell had his shot. He blew it. It’s time for a new leader at the Fed.”

    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 News: Creating Schedule G in the Excepted Service

    Source: US Whitehouse

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 3301, 3302, and 7511 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Purpose.  The Congress has recognized that effective Government administration requires excepting some positions from the competitive service based on their confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.  Existing excepted service schedules make partial use of this authority.  Schedule C of the excepted service authorizes appointments to noncareer excepted service positions of a confidential or policy-determining character.  Schedule Policy/Career of the excepted service authorizes appointments to career positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.  

    There is, however, no excepted service schedule for noncareer positions of a policy-making or policy-advocating character.  Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3302(1), conditions of good administration, including eliminating this gap in excepted service schedules and improving the operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs, make necessary creating a new Schedule G in the excepted service for noncareer positions of a policy-making or policy-advocating character.

    Sec. 2.  Definition.  The phrase “normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition” refers to positions whose occupants are, as a matter of practice, expected to resign upon a Presidential transition and includes all positions whose appointment requires the assent of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.

    Sec. 3.  Excepted Service.  Appointments of individuals to positions of a policy-making or policy-advocating character normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition shall be made under Schedule G of the excepted service, as established by section 4 of this order.

    Sec. 4.  Schedule G.  Civil Service Rule VI is amended as follows:

    (a)  5 CFR 6.2 is amended to read:

    “OPM shall list positions that it excepts from the competitive service in Schedules A, B, C, D, E, Policy/Career, and G, which schedules shall constitute parts of this rule, as follows:

    Schedule A.  Positions other than those of a confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not practicable to examine shall be listed in Schedule A.

    Schedule B.  Positions other than those of a confidential or policy-determining character for which it is not practicable to hold a competitive examination shall be listed in Schedule B.  Appointments to these positions shall be subject to such noncompetitive examination as may be prescribed by OPM.

    Schedule C.  Positions of a confidential or policy-determining character normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition shall be listed in Schedule C.

    Schedule D.  Positions other than those of a confidential or policy-determining character for which the competitive service requirements make impracticable the adequate recruitment of sufficient numbers of students attending qualifying educational institutions or individuals who have recently completed qualifying educational programs.  These positions, which are temporarily placed in the excepted service to enable more effective recruitment from all segments of society by using means of recruiting and assessing candidates that diverge from the rules generally applicable to the competitive service, shall be listed in Schedule D.

    Schedule E.  Positions of administrative law judge appointed under 5 U.S.C. 3105 shall be listed in Schedule E.  Conditions of good administration warrant that the position of administrative law judge be placed in the excepted service and that appointment to this position not be subject to the requirements of 5 CFR, part 302, including examination and rating requirements, though each agency shall follow the principle of veteran preference as far as administratively feasible.

    Schedule Policy/Career.  Career positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition shall be listed in Schedule Policy/Career.  In appointing an individual to a position in Schedule Policy/Career, each agency shall follow the principle of veteran preference as far as administratively feasible.

    Schedule G.  Positions of a policy-making or policy-advocating character normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition shall be listed in Schedule G.”

    (b)  5 CFR 6.4 is amended to read:

    “Except as required by statute, the Civil Service Rules and Regulations shall not apply to removals from positions listed in Schedules A, C, D, E, Policy/Career, or G, or from positions excepted from the competitive service by statute.  The Civil Service Rules and Regulations shall apply to removals from positions listed in Schedule B of persons who have competitive status.”

    Sec. 5.  Implementation.  (a)  The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall adopt such regulations as the Director determines may be necessary to implement this order, giving particular attention to appropriate amendments to 5 CFR, part 213.

    (b)  In making appointments to positions in Schedule G of the excepted service, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

    (i)   shall consider whether prospective appointees would be suitable exponents of the President’s policies; and

    (ii)  shall not take into account prospective appointees’ political affiliation or political activity.

    Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

         (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Office of Personnel Management.

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        July 17, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Iron Ore Processing Security

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    A PROCLAMATION

         1.  Taconite iron ore processing is fundamental to the United States’ steel production and manufacturing sectors.  The facilities involved in the process supply essential raw materials used to make steel, which is used in national defense systems, critical infrastructure, and a broad range of industrial applications.  Preserving and enhancing domestic taconite processing capabilities is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources and ensuring resilience of American industrial supply chains.
         2.  On March 6, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule, pursuant to section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412, titled National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Taconite Iron Ore Processing, 89 FR 16408 (Taconite Rule).  The Taconite Rule imposes new emissions-control requirements on taconite iron ore processing facilities.
         3.  The Taconite Rule places significant burdens on a sector critical to the Nation’s industrial foundation.  The Taconite Rule mandates compliance with standards that rely on emissions-control technologies that have not been demonstrated to work in the taconite industry, are untested at commercial scale, or are not reasonably achievable under current operational conditions.  If enforced under the current timeline as set forth at 89 FR 16408, the Taconite Rule risks forcing shutdowns, reducing domestic production, and undermining the Nation’s ability to supply steel for defense, energy, and critical manufacturing.  The United States must not allow inflexible regulatory deadlines to jeopardize a material critical to our industrial base.  Maintaining this capacity is essential to our national security and economic resilience.
         NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), do hereby proclaim that certain stationary sources subject to the Taconite Rule, as identified in Annex I of this proclamation, are exempt from compliance with the Taconite Rule for a period of 2 years beyond the Taconite Rule’s relevant compliance dates (Exemption).The technology to implement the Taconite Rule is not currently available, and it is necessary to issue this Exemption now because long design, permitting, and construction lead times mean that regulated entities will not be able to meet the relevant compliance deadlines absent compliance relief.This Exemption applies to all compliance deadlines established under the Taconite Rule, with each such deadline extended by 2 years from the date originally required for such deadline.The effect of this Exemption is that, during each such 2-year period, these stationary sources are subject to the emissions and compliance obligations that they are currently subject to under the applicable standard as that standard existed prior to the Taconite Rule.In support of this Exemption, I hereby make the following determinations:
         a.  The technology to implement the Taconite Rule is not available.  Such technology does not exist in a commercially viable form sufficient to allow implementation of and compliance with the Taconite Rule by the compliance dates in the Taconite Rule.
         b.  It is in the national security interests of the United States to issue this Exemption for the reasons stated in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this proclamation.
        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

                            DONALD J. TRUMP
     

    ANNEX I    

     1.    United States Steel Corporation 
             i.    Affected Facility/Source:
             i.    Keetac Plant, Keewatin, Minnesota
             ii.   Minntac Plant, Mountain Iron, Minnesota

         2.    Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
             i.    Affected Facility/Source:
             i.    United Taconite, Minnesota
             ii.   Northshore Mining, Minnesota
             iii.  Hibbing Taconite, Minnesota
             iv.   Minorca Mine, Minnesota
             v.    Tilden Mine, Michigan
             vi.   Empire Mine, Michigan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Chemical Manufacturing Security

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    1. The United States relies on a strong chemical manufacturing sector to support industries like energy, national defense, agriculture, and health care. These facilities produce essential inputs for critical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, medical sterilization, semiconductors, and national defense systems. Maintaining a robust domestic chemical industry is vital to safeguarding the supply chains that underpin our economy and to reducing the Nation’s dependence on foreign control over materials critical to national resilience. As adversaries expand influence over key inputs, continued domestic production is essential not only to economic resilience but also to military readiness, public health, and national preparedness.

    2. On May 16, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule titled New Source Performance Standards for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Group I & II Polymers and Resins Industry, 89 FR 42932 (HON Rule). The HON Rule imposes new emissions-control requirements on certain chemical manufacturing facilities, some of which were promulgated pursuant to section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412.

    3. The HON Rule imposes substantial burdens on chemical manufacturers already operating under stringent regulations. Many of the testing and monitoring requirements outlined in the HON Rule rely on technologies that are not practically available, not demonstrated at the necessary scale, or cannot be implemented safely or consistently under real-world conditions. For many facilities, the timeline for compliance as set forth at 89 FR 42953-42955 would require shutdowns or massive capital investments before any proven pathway to compliance exists. The HON Rule imposes requirements that assume uniform technological availability across facilities, despite significant variation in site conditions, permitting realities, and equipment configurations. A disruption of this capacity would weaken key supply chains, increase dependence on foreign producers, and impair our ability to respond effectively in a time of crisis. These consequences would ripple across sectors vital to America’s growing industrial strength and emergency readiness.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), do hereby proclaim that certain stationary sources subject to the HON Rule, as identified in Annex I of this proclamation, are exempt from compliance with those aspects of the HON Rule that were promulgated under section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412 for a period of 2 years beyond the HON Rule’s relevant compliance dates (Exemption). This Exemption applies to all compliance deadlines established under the HON Rule applicable to the stationary sources listed in Annex I, with each such deadline extended by 2 years from the date originally required for such deadline. The effect of this Exemption is that, during each such 2-year period, these stationary sources will be subject to the emissions and compliance obligations that they are currently subject to under the applicable standard as that standard existed prior to the HON Rule. In support of this Exemption, I hereby make the following determinations:

    a. The technology to implement the HON Rule is not available. Such technology does not exist in a commercially viable form sufficient to allow implementation of and compliance with the HON Rule by the compliance dates in the HON Rule.

    b. It is in the national security interests of the United States to issue this Exemption for the reasons stated in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this proclamation.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

    DONALD J. TRUMP  

    ANNEX I

    1. Shell Chemical LP
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Geismar Plant, Louisiana

    2. SABIC Innovative Plastics Mt. Vernon, LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Manufacturing Plant, Indiana

    3. Bakelite Synthetics
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Riegelwood, North Carolina;
    b. Conway, North Carolina;
    c. Crossett, Arkansas;
    d. Louisville, Kentucky;
    e. Lufkin, Texas;
    f. Taylorsville, Mississippi

    4. The Dow Chemical Company
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Glycol II Plant, Louisiana

    5. Trinseo LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Trinseo Facility, Georgia
    b. Trinseo Facility, Michigan

    6. Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Formosa Plastics Corporation, Louisiana
    b. Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas

    7. Union Carbide Corporation/The Dow Chemical Company
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Seadrift Operations, Texas
    b. Hahnville, St. Charles Parish Facility, Louisiana

    8. Westlake Vinyl’s LLC/Westlake Corporation
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Petrochemical Complex, Louisiana
    b. Styrene Monomer Production Facility, Louisiana
    c. Styrene Marine Terminal, Louisiana
    d. Lake Charles South Facility, Louisiana
    e. Lake Charles North Facility, Louisiana

    9. BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Port Arthur Facility, Texas

    10. BASF Corporation
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Geismar Facility, Louisiana;
    b. North Geismar Facility, Louisiana;
    c. Freeport Facility, Texas

    11. Rubicon LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Geismar Facility, Louisiana

    12. CITGO Petroleum Corporation
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Lake Charles Refinery, Louisiana
    b. Corpus Christi Refinery, Texas
    c. Lemont Refinery, Illinois

    13. INEOS Americas LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Bayport EO Plant, Texas

    14. Celanese Corporation
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Narrows Facility, Virginia
    b. Clear Lake Facility, Texas
    c. Bishop Facility, Texas
    d. Bay City Facility, Texas

    15. Huntsman Petrochemical LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Huntsman Pensacola, Florida
    b. Huntsman Conroe, Texas

    16. TotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc.
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. TotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc., Alabama
    b. Cos-Mar StyreneMonomer Plant, Alabama
    c. TotalEnergies Polystrene Plant, Louisiana
    d. Port Arthur Refinery, Texas

    17. Indorama Ventures Xylenes and PTA
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Decatur Facility, Alabama

    18. Denka Performance Elastomer LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: LaPlace Neoprene Production Facility, Louisiana

    19. Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Lake Charles Chemical Complex, Louisiana

    20. Philips 66 Company
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Sweeny Refinery, Texas
    b. WRB Refining LP Calvert Refinery, Illinois
    c. WRB Refining LP Borger Refinery, Texas

    21. Indorama Ventures Oxides, LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Port Neches Facility, Texas

    22. Eastman Chemical Company
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Longview Facility, Texas

    23. DuPont Specialty Products USA, LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Pontchartrain Site, Louisiana

    24. Stepan Company
    i. Affected Facility/Source: Millsdale Facility, Illinois

    25. Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC
    i. Affected Facility/Source:
    a. Ascend Decatur, Alabama;
    b. Ascend Alvin, Texas;
    c. Ascend Pensacola, Florida

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Further Promote American Energy

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    1.  Coal-fired electricity generation is essential to ensuring that our Nation’s grid is reliable and that electricity is affordable to the American people, and to promoting our Nation’s energy security.  The Federal Government plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the Nation’s power supply remains secure and reliable.  Forcing energy producers to comply with unattainable emissions controls jeopardizes this mission.
    2.  On May 7, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule, pursuant to section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412, titled National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:  Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review, 89 FR 38508 (Rule), which amended the preexisting Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule to make it more stringent.  The Rule’s effective date was July 8, 2024.  Id.  Its compliance date is July 8, 2027, 3 years after its effective date.  See 89 FR 38519.
    3.  The Rule places severe burdens on coal-fired power plants and, through its indirect effects, on the viability of our Nation’s coal sector.  Specifically, the Rule requires compliance with standards premised on the application of emissions-control technologies that do not yet exist in a commercially viable form.  The current compliance timeline of the Rule therefore raises the unacceptable risk of the shutdown of many coal-fired power plants, eliminating thousands of jobs, placing our electrical grid at risk, and threatening broader, harmful economic and energy security effects.  This in turn would undermine our national security, as these effects would leave America vulnerable to electricity demand shortages, increased dependence on foreign energy sources, and potential disruptions of our electricity and energy supplies, particularly in times of crisis.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), do hereby proclaim that certain stationary sources subject to the Rule, as identified in Annex I of this proclamation, are exempt from compliance with the Rule for a period of 2 years beyond the Rule’s compliance date — i.e., for the period beginning July 8, 2027, and concluding July 8, 2029 (Exemption).  The effect of this Exemption is that, during this 2-year period, these stationary sources are subject to the compliance obligations that they are currently subject to under the MATS as the MATS existed prior to the Rule.  In support of this Exemption, I hereby make the following determinations:
    a.  The technology to implement the Rule is not available.  Such technology does not exist in a commercially viable form sufficient to allow implementation of and compliance with the Rule by its compliance date of July 8, 2027.
    b.  It is in the national security interests of the United States to issue this Exemption for the reasons stated in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this proclamation.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    ANNEX I

    Affected Facility/Source: Cardinal Unit 1, Unit 2, and Unit 3, Ohio

    Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association

    Affected Facility/Source: Craig Generating Station Unit 2 and Unit 3, Colorado

    City Water, Light and Power

    Affected Facility/Source: Dallman Unit 4, Illinois

    Cardinal Operating Company

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao’s Bill to Expand Telehealth Opportunities Passes Out of House Committee on Energy and Commerce

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced H.R. 3419, the Telehealth Network and Telehealth Resource Centers Grant Program Reauthorization Act, out of full committee markup. This bipartisan bill was introduced by Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) and would provide investment in rural healthcare by reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs through Fiscal Year 2030.

    “Central Valley families shouldn’t have to wait weeks just to see a doctor,” said Congressman Valadao. “Expanding access to telehealth gives patients more flexibility, helps address workforce shortages that are straining our healthcare system, and gives families the tools needed to better connect with providers. I’m grateful to Chairman Brett Guthrie and the Energy and Commerce Committee for prioritizing this issue and look forward to advancing this bill.”

    Background:

    Originally enacted in 1944, the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) provides the foundation for the nation’s public health programs and workforce. Over the years, it has been a critical tool in addressing America’s evolving health care needs—particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to quality care remains a challenge.

    Through key provisions supporting community health centers, workforce development programs, and telehealth expansion, the PHSA has helped bring vital services to millions of Americans living in rural areas. Reauthorizing the telehealth network and telehealth resource grant programs ensures continued investment in initiatives that recruit and retain health professionals in rural communities, strengthens rural hospitals and clinics, and closes the geographic gaps in receiving quality care.

    Read the full bill here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Stands Up for American Financial Privacy and Innovation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement after voting for the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. These bills help regulate digital assets to provide consumers with long-overdue protections while prioritizing the essential right to financial privacy and safeguarding the ability for digital asset developers to innovate within the cryptocurrency space.

    “Americans deserve financial privacy, and it’s long past time we put real guardrails in place to protect that right,” said Congressman Valadao. “As more people invest in digital assets, we need a framework in place that encourages innovation, puts consumers first, and keeps the federal government from overreaching into Americans’ personal finances. These bipartisan bills reaffirm our commitment to free markets and individual freedom, and I was proud to support them.”

    The CLARITY Act helps create a safer, more predictable environment for companies and consumers who use digital assets like cryptocurrency by:

    • Making it easier for businesses that work with digital assets to grow and innovate.
    • Giving clear rules to companies that offer cryptocurrency services to everyday customers.
    • Protecting consumers by requiring more transparency and responsibility from cryptocurrency firms.
    • Defining the roles of crypto regulation for the two major financial regulators—the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)—so they don’t overlap or conflict.
    • Setting up a legal process for cryptocurrency companies to register and operate properly in the U.S. 

    The GENIUS Act prioritizes consumer protection, fosters innovation, and protects U.S. currency interests by:

    • Creating a nationwide system for regulating stablecoins.
    • Requiring stablecoins to be backed by safe, reliable assets—mainly U.S. Treasury bonds and U.S. bills—to protect consumers.
    • Strengthening the U.S. dollar’s role as the world’s leading currency by increasing demand for U.S. Treasury assets.

    The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act stops the federal government from creating a digital version of the dollar that could be used to track or control Americans’ personal finances by:

    • Blocking the Federal Reserve (Fed) from launching a government-controlled digital currency for everyday Americans.
    • Ensuring the Fed can’t act like a big government-run bank that collects your financial data.
    • Preventing the government from sneaking around this rule by using third parties.
    • Stopping the government from using digital currency to influence interest rates or spending behavior.
    • Making clear that Congress—not federal agencies—have the final say on whether a digital dollar is created.

    Read the full CLARITY Act bill here.

    Read the full GENIUS Act bill here.

    Read the full Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –