NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Opposes Resolving Disputes Through Force — Chinese Foreign Minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China opposes the use of force to resolve disputes and always stands for peace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

    Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

    As the Chinese diplomat noted, Israel and the United States used force against Iran, citing “potential future threats,” thereby seriously violating international law and encroaching on the sovereignty of the Iranian state.

    Dialogue and negotiations are the only way out of the situation, Wang Yi said, stressing that all parties should resume dialogue on an equal basis and promote the return of the Iranian nuclear issue to the path of political settlement.

    The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry also drew attention to the fact that the Palestinian issue remains the core of the Middle East problems and in this regard it is necessary to facilitate the implementation of the two-state solution.

    H. Fidan, for his part, said that if Israel wants to protect its security, it should agree to a two-state solution and stop the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

    He added that Türkiye expects to strengthen communication and coordination with China in order to jointly achieve peace and stability in the Middle East region. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 1860, Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Bill Summary

    H.R. 1860 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate care coordinators for veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer. The bill also would extend a temporary limitation on certain pension payments through September 2032.

    Estimated Federal Cost

    The estimated budgetary effects of H.R. 1860 are shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget functions 550 (health) and 700 (veterans benefits and services).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1860
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035
     

    Increases or Decreases (-) in Direct Spending

    		    

    Estimated Budget Authority

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30
     

    Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation

    		    

    Estimated Authorization

    *

    2

    2

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    13

    28

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    2

    2

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    3

    13

    28

    Basis of Estimate

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 1860 will be enacted in fiscal year 2025 and that outlays will follow historical spending patterns for similar VA programs.

    Provisions that Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending

    Section 2 would require VA to designate or hire a care coordinator for breast and gynecologic cancer in each of the department’s 18 Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) within one year of enactment. The coordinators would monitor and integrate care for those cancers that veterans receive from the department directly and through the VA-funded Community Care program. The coordinators also would collect and report information on the outcomes of veterans’ cancer treatment.

    Under section 2, VA would need one full-time employee in each VISN. CBO estimates that annual compensation and operating expenses would amount to $215,000 per person, on average. Implementing section 2 would therefore cost $38 million over the 2025-2035 period.

    CBO expects that some of the costs of implementing the bill would be paid from the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) established by Public Law 117-168, the Honoring our PACT Act. The TEF is a mandatory appropriation that VA uses to pay for health care, disability claims processing, medical research, and IT modernization that benefit veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards.

    Additional spending from the TEF would occur if legislation increases the costs of similar activities that benefit veterans with such exposure. Thus, in addition to increasing spending subject to appropriation, enacting section 2 would increase amounts paid from the TEF, which are classified as direct spending. CBO projects that the proportion of costs paid by the TEF will grow over time based on the amount of formerly discretionary appropriations that CBO expects will be provided through the mandatory appropriation as specified in the Honoring our PACT Act.

    CBO estimates that over the 2025-2035 period, implementing section 2 would increase spending subject to appropriation by $28 million and direct spending by $10 million.

    Direct Spending

    In addition to expanding benefits that would partly be covered by the TEF, enacting H.R. 1860 would affect direct spending by extending a statutory limitation on VA pension payments. In total, enacting the bill would decrease net direct spending by $30 million over the 2025-2035 period (see Table 2).

    Under current law, VA reduces pension payments to veterans and survivors who reside in Medicaid nursing homes to $90 per month. That required reduction expires November 30, 2031. Section 3 would extend that reduction for 10 months, through September 30, 2032. CBO estimates that extending that requirement would reduce VA benefits by $10 million per month. (Those benefits are paid from mandatory appropriations and are therefore considered direct spending.) As a result of that reduction in beneficiaries’ income, Medicaid would pay more of the cost of their care, increasing spending for that program by $6 million per month. Thus, enacting section 3 would reduce net direct spending by $40 million over the 2025-2035 period.

    Table 2.

    Estimated Changes in Direct Spending Under H.R. 1860
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		    
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035

    Cancer Care Coordinators

    		                      

    Estimated Budget Authority

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    5

    10

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    5

    10

    Pensions

    		                      

    Estimated Budget Authority

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    0

    0

    0

    0

    -40

    Total Changes

    		                        

    Estimated Budget Authority

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30

    Estimated Outlays

    *

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    -39

    1

    1

    1

    5

    -30

    Spending Subject to Appropriation

    The discussion above in “Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending” describes the costs of implementing the care coordination program for veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer. CBO estimates that establishing the program would increase spending subject to appropriation by $28 million over the 2025‑2035 period.

    Section 2 also would require VA to submit a report comparing health outcomes of veterans who receive care for breast and gynecologic cancer through VA facilities and community care providers. Based on the costs of similar reporting requirements, CBO estimates that preparing the report would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025‑2035 period. Any such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    Pay-As-You-Go Considerations

    The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 1.

    Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1860 would not increase net direct spending by more than $2.5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1860 would not increase on‑budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    Mandates

    The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

    Mandates: Grace Watson

    Estimate Reviewed By

    David Newman
    Chief, Defense, International Affairs, and Veterans’ Affairs Cost Estimates Unit

    Kathleen FitzGerald 
    Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

    Christina Hawley Anthony
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Information Concerning Medicaid-Related Provisions in Title IV of H.R. 1

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    CBO responds to a request for information from the Honorable Jodey Arrington and the Honorable Brett Guthrie concerning Medicaid-related provisions in title IV, Energy and Commerce, of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as passed by the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: About one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    June 24, 2025

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, World Bank, and Global Energy Monitor, Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker
    Note: LNG=liquefied natural gas, FSRU=floating storage regasification unit

    • In 2024, about 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade transited the Strait of Hormuz, primarily from Qatar. The strait is a critical route for oil and petroleum products as well.
    • Qatar exported about 9.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of LNG through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) exported about 0.7 Bcf/d, accounting for nearly all LNG flows from the Persian Gulf through Hormuz.
    • We estimate that 83% of the LNG that moved through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024 went from Persian Gulf countries to Asian markets. China, India, and South Korea were the top destinations for LNG moving through the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for 52% of all Hormuz LNG flows in 2024. In 2024, disruptions to LNG flows through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea, and more U.S. LNG exports to Europe pushed LNG exports from Qatar away from Europe to Asia.
    • Kuwait and the UAE imported LNG that originated outside of the Persian Gulf, including from the United States and West Africa. Bahrain began operating an LNG import terminal in April 2025 and also received cargoes that transited Hormuz from outside of the Persian Gulf, including recent cargoes in April and June that originated from the United States.
    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration analysis based on Vortexa tanker tracking data
    Note: 1Q25=first quarter of 2025. figure data

    Principal contributors: Candace Dunn, Justine Barden

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jun 24, 2025 ATU International and ATU Local 689 Endorse Senator Stella Pekarsky for Special Election for Congress in Virginia’s 11th District

    Source: US Amalgamated Transit Union

    Centreville, VA – – Calling her a strong advocate for public transit, working families, and the state of the Virginia, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International and ATU Local 689, which represents transit workers and riders across the DC region, announced their endorsement of Stella Pekarsky’s campaign for Congress in VA-11.

    “Stella is a true friend for labor and working families across Northern Virginia,” said ATU Local 689 President/Business Agent Raymond Jackson. “In Congress she will be a staunch advocate for transit workers and riders and a bulwark against MAGA extremism. Transit workers are proud to stand in support of Stella.”

    The ATU is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in North America. In the DC area, it represents transit workers with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, DC Circulator, and more. 

    “The ATU is proud to endorse Stella Pekarsky in the Special Election for Congress in Virginia,” said ATU International President John Costa. “As a Virginia State Senator, Pekarsky has demonstrated an extraordinary track record of advocacy and public service. As a proven leader, Pekarsky has consistently fought for the rights of workers and their families and a more robust public. We look forward to helping send her Congress to represent our members and the people of Virgina.” 

    “ATU Local 689 is the backbone of our transit workforce in Fairfax County and the greater DC area. The fierce advocacy of ATU keeps our workers protected and keeps our region moving. The rights of our union workers have always been at the center of my work, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the local and national ATU in Congress” Stella said.

    Stella Pekarsky is proud to stand with union transit workers and honored to have their endorsement for Congress.

    For more information about Stella Pekarsky and her campaign, visit www.stellapekarsky.com.

     

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Software Company BuildOps Will Create 291 Jobs in Raleigh

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces Software Company BuildOps Will Create 291 Jobs in Raleigh

    Governor Stein Announces Software Company BuildOps Will Create 291 Jobs in Raleigh
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Josh Stein announced today that BuildOps, Inc., a company offering a software platform for commercial trade contractors will create 291 jobs in Raleigh. The company will invest $771,200 to establish an operations hub in Wake County. 

    “North Carolina offers companies like BuildOps a deep pool of tech talent,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolina’s education and workforce training programs deliver the skilled people companies rely on to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace. We welcome this veteran-owned business to North Carolina.”  

    Founded in 2018 with headquarters in Los Angeles, BuildOps has developed a software-as-a-service platform built specifically to serve commercial trade contractors, providing project management, service, dispatching, and invoicing solutions. The company’s customers include HVAC, plumbing, mechanical and electrical contractors, among others. The company’s project in Raleigh will establish the company’s third operations hub, joining hubs in Los Angeles and Toronto that serve the company’s rapidly growing customer base. 

    “We’re thrilled to establish our newest operations hub in Raleigh, a city known for its exceptional talent pool, innovation-driven ecosystem, and strong commitment to business growth,” said Alok Chanani, Co-Founder and CEO for BuildOps. “This expansion is an important step in our ongoing mission to revolutionize the commercial trade industry, and we look forward to becoming an integral part of the thriving Raleigh community.”   

    “North Carolina’s tech sector has grown by 25% since 2018, outpacing the national average,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “The state’s strong concentration of IT professionals has fostered an environment that attracts companies like BuildOps seeking the specialized, talented workforce North Carolina provides.”  

    Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new positions will be $110,997, compared with an average wage in Wake County of $76,643. The new positions will bring an annual payroll impact to the community of more than $30 million per year. 

    The company’s project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by more than $701.7 million. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,839,000, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation targets. 

    The project’s projected return on investment of public dollars is 78 percent, meaning for every dollar of potential cost, the state receives $1.78 in state revenue. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.  

    Because BuildOps chose a location in Wake County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 3, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving $613,000 into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Even when new jobs are created in a Tier 3 county such as Wake, the new tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps more economically challenged communities elsewhere in the state. 
    “I’m pleased to see a fast-growing company like BuildOps plant their flag in Raleigh,” said Senator Jay Chaudhuri. “We know what it takes to help IT companies grow and our community will help them be successful in our region.”  

    “Congratulations to the many economic development organizations and allies that demonstrated great teamwork to win this project for Raleigh and the greater Research Triangle region,” said Representative Cynthia Ball. “We look forward to seeing BuildOps reach the next phase of their growth here in North Carolina, serving their customers and bringing well-paying new jobs to the area.”  

    Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, N.C. Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, N.C. State University, Capital Area Workforce Development Board, Wake Technical Community College, the City of Raleigh, and Raleigh Economic Development and Wake County Economic Development, programs of the Greater Raleigh Chamber.  

    Jun 24, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Top Trump Officials over Illegal Termination of Tens of Billions in Grant Funding

    Source: US State of California

    Since January, the Trump Administration has baselessly relied on a single subclause buried deep in federal regulations to slash tens of billions in previously awarded grant funding

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today sued the Trump Administration over its improper use of a single subclause buried in federal regulations promulgated by the Office of Management of Budget (OMB) to terminate tens of billions of dollars in grant funding to the states. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has engaged in a nationwide slash-and-burn campaign, unlawfully invoking 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(a)(4) (“the Clause”) to justify the termination of tens of billions of dollars in critical federal funding appropriated by Congress and awarded to the states. The Trump Administration has claimed that five words in the Clause — “no longer effectuates . . . agency priorities” — provide federal agencies with virtually unfettered authority to withhold funding any time they no longer wish to support the programs for which Congress has appropriated funding. In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and a multistate coalition argue that the Administration is misconstruing the Clause and that the Clause, properly read, does not allow for grant terminations based on agency priorities that were set or changed only after a grant was originally awarded. 

    “The Trump Administration has recklessly and chaotically slashed federal grant funding that is intended to prevent crime, rebuild our roads, develop technology for the future, and everything in between,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This hack job has been done under the flimsy premise of ‘changed agency priorities’ — even when this funding has been previously appropriated by Congress and awarded to the states. For federal funding to work, the states that receive that funding need to be able to plan ahead, make investments, and be confident that this funding will not be terminated on a whim. We’re asking the court to block the Trump Administration’s unlawful invocation of this clause as a sweeping justification for the termination of grant funding.”

    With the stroke of a pen, federal agencies ranging from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Labor have deprived California and other states of essential funding they rely on to combat violent crime, prevent terrorist attacks, educate students with special needs, respond to natural disasters, protect clean drinking water, conduct life-saving medical and scientific research, upgrade crumbling transportation infrastructure, and much more. Federal agencies have done all of this without advance notice, without explanation to the state recipients, and in direct contravention of the will of Congress.    

    In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that federal agencies’ invocation of the Clause to terminate grant funding runs counter to OMB’s own interpretation of its own regulations. When OMB first promulgated the Clause in 2020, it made clear that the language granted federal agencies only limited authority to terminate grants. Indeed, the coalition is not aware of a single instance prior to January 2025 in which a federal agency relied on the Clause to terminate a grant on the grounds that agency priorities had changed after the award of the grant. Since January 2025, however, federal agencies across the Trump Administration have asserted that the Clause provides them with a blank check to terminate grants already awarded to states based on newly identified agency priorities — even when those priorities conflict with the priorities identified by Congress or by the agency at the time of the grant award. Attorney General Bonta and the coalition today ask the District Court to declare that the Clause and the Trump Administration’s regulations implementing the Clause do not on their own provide sufficient grounds to terminate awards; vacate the Trump Administration’s decision to invoke the Clause as grounds for terminating grants based on a change in agency priorities; and permanently bar the Trump Administration from invoking the Clause in the future.   

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, as well as the state of Pennsylvania, in filing the lawsuit. 

    A copy of the lawsuit is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Business Working Groups of the United States-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership Deepen Commercial Cooperation and Expand Opportunities for Mutual Prosperity


    Download logo

    Senior representatives of the United States and Nigerian governments, along with business leaders from both countries’ private sectors, convened in Abuja to officially launch the working group meetings of the United States–Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP). This landmark Partnership, established under a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed  in July 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, aims to deepen bilateral commercial cooperation and expand economic opportunities in both nations.

    Four senior U.S. and Nigerian officials led the dialogue: Ambassador Richard Mills, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, U.S. Department of State; Julie LeBlanc, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honorable Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment; and Ambassador Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

    U.S. Ambassador Richard M. Mills, Jr., remarked during the inaugural session, “The Commercial and Investment Partnership, or CIP, is one of the top priorities of my tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, so it gives me immense pleasure to see the launch of the working groups come to fruition.  The CIP underscores the United States’ strong commitment to further enhancing our bilateral commercial and investment ties, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities that benefit people across both our great nations.”

    The inaugural discussions focused on three working groups: agriculture, the digital economy, and infrastructure.  The working groups – comprised of U.S. and Nigerian private sector participants – began their work by nominating group leads and identifying non-tariff barriers to trade and investment.  Their goal is to foster job creation, encourage private sector engagement, and recommend solutions to policymakers to address key challenges in these critical sectors.

    U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa, Thomas Bruns stated that, “The U.S.-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership reflects our shared commitment to deepening economic ties, fostering innovation, and expanding opportunities for businesses in both nations. The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration is proud of its work to foster international commerce and, as the U.S. Government’s voice for the U.S. private sector, we are thrilled to launch these working groups with our Nigerian counterparts. By strengthening collaboration in sectors that are engines of growth for both our nations—including infrastructure, agriculture, and the digital economy—we can advance prosperity, create jobs, and build a foundation for sustainable economic growth that benefits our people and lasts for the long-term.”

    The four senior U.S. and Nigerian principals agreed to review progress on a biannual basis and to identify future areas of cooperation.  The next formal meeting of the CIP will take place in Fall 2025.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Prior Authorization Reform Leads Applaud New HHS & CMS Announcement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), and Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS) and Mark Warner (VA), co-leads of the bipartisan Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, released the following joint statement after an announcement Monday from U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz that pledges to ease the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process.

    The pledge, which includes several provisions contained in their legislation, follows years of legislative progress led by Kelly and Congressional colleagues.

    “We applaud these commitments, which aims to improve health care access for millions of Americans by easing the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process,” the Members said. “We encourage our House and Senate colleagues to carry this momentum forward and to pass our life-changing legislation, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, to ensure this progress becomes law.”

    Under the commitment, participating health plans would:

    • Standardize electronic prior authorization submissions using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®)-based application programming interfaces.
    • Reduce the volume of medical services subject to prior authorization by January 1, 2026.
    • Honor existing authorizations during insurance transitions to ensure continuity of care.
    • Enhance transparency and communication around authorization decisions and appeals.
    • Expand real-time responses to minimize delays in care with real-time approvals for most requests by 2027.
    • Ensure medical professionals review all clinical denials.
       

    BACKGROUND

    In May 2025, Representative Mike Kelly (PA-16) reintroduced H.R. 3514, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Actalong with Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), and Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), and Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS) and Mark Warner (VA).

    Prior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. But it’s not without fault. The current system often results in unconfirmed faxes of a patient’s medical information or phone calls by clinicians which takes precious time away from delivering quality and timely care. Prior authorization continues to be the #1 administrative burden identified by health care providers, and three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to prior authorization. In recent years, the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied. More recently, HHS OIG released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries’ access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules.

    Health plans, health care providers, and patients agree that the prior authorization process must be improved to better serve patients and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens for clinicians. In fact, leading health care organizations released a consensus statement to address some of the most pressing concerns associated with prior authorization.

    Specifically, the bill would:

    • Establish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
    • Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use.
    • Clarify HHS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-prior authorization requests including   expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.
    • Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
    • Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.
    • Previously, Rep. Kelly led similar legislation in the 118th Congress. The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act unanimously passed the House in the 117th Congress and was cosponsored by a majority of members in the Senate and House of Representatives. 

    The bill text can be found here and a section-by-section can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Beyer Statement On Fifth Straight Increase In Virginia’s Unemployment Rate

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

    Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves as the top House Democrat on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, today expressed rising concern over Virginia’s economy, after monthly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that the Commonwealth’s unemployment rate had risen for the fifth consecutive month. The increase brought Virginia’s unemployment rate to 3.4 percent, its highest level since August 2021. Today’s data marks the first time that Virginia’s unemployment rate has risen for five consecutive months since the sustained job losses of the Great Recession in 2008-09.

    Beyer said:

    “The sustained increase in Virginia’s unemployment rate is a growing concern, especially amid the uncertainty created by President Trump and Elon Musk’s indiscriminate and ill-conceived mass firings of federal workers and contractors.

    “Governor Youngkin inherited a strong economy that was rebounding from the pandemic downturn with strong growth and job gains, and a 2.7 percent unemployment rate that was the envy of much of the nation. To be clear, our Commonwealth is still a great place to do business, with job gains still coming and unemployment below the national average. But today’s data shows we are now clearly moving in the wrong direction: under current leadership, the unemployment rate has risen for five straight months for the first time since the Great Recession, and reached its highest level since Governor Youngkin took office.

    “These gathering economic storm clouds are unfortunate but not surprising for anyone who reads the news. Sustained damage to Virginia’s economy – including this Administration’s mass firings of workers, terminations of key contracts, freezes of medical research funding, and attacks on our educational and research institutions – is bound to have an impact. Unless courts intervene, some of the largest firings and cuts will take effect in months to come, which would worsen the damage for Virginians. Unfortunately, our Governor and his allies have not only failed to defend our Commonwealth from these hits to our economy, they have cheered them on. Putting politics and party loyalty over Virginians and our economic security is a failure of leadership.”

    Historical economic data, including unemployment rates for states including Virginia, is tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED).

    Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) is the Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, and serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over major economic levers include tax policy, trade, and Social Security. He previously served as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor from 1990-1998.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US attack on Iran lacks legal justification and could lead to more nuclear proliferation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Hastings Dunn, Professor of International Politics in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham

    After a stern warning from Donald Trump, Israel and Iran appear finally to be observing a US-brokered ceasefire announced by Donald Trump overnight on June 23. But just as it remains unclear what the state of the conflict is, many other uncertainties remain when it comes to the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    We still don’t know the extent to which Iran’s stock of enriched uranium and the capability to use it have been destroyed. But leaving aside such practical considerations, the US bombing raid also constituted an attack on the prevailing international legal order.

    In some ways, the US actions echo the 1981 Israeli strike on Osirak when the Israeli Air Force attacked and partially destroyed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor, killing ten Iraqi soldiers and one French technician.

    However, the US attack can be seen as more serious because it has been launched in a far more fragile and geopolitical environment. Moreover, the state violating the legal rules is the erstwhile guardian of the legal order –– the USA.

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

    The attacks appear to be the logical follow through of Trump’s withdrawal from the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA) in 2018. This was the Obama-era agreement that significantly limited Iran’s enrichment of nuclear material. For Trump, that negotiated deal was imperfect, as it relied on ongoing Iranian restraint. His decision to unleash US bombers was designed to end the nascent Iranian nuclear threat once and for all.

    But such unilateral actions rarely result in such black and white results. And this situation shows every indication of being no different. It is for this reason that negotiated solutions and agreed legal frameworks are generally regarded as better long-term solutions than military force.

    A significant inhibition on the use of force to remove nuclear threats has been its lack of justification under international law. When the administration of George W Bush decided to launch its invasion of Iraq in 2003, the US, UK and Australian governments that spearheaded the invasion relied on the express legal justification that Iraq was already in breach of existing UN security council resolutions that required it to be disarmed of all weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

    For his part, Trump relied on the argument that Iran’s nuclear facilities already posed an imminent threat to US security. This argument had been undermined by none other than Trump’s director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, just weeks previously.

    Gabbard testified before Congress in March that the US “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme he suspended in 2003”.

    Tulsi Gabbard delivers the annual threat assessment in March 2025.

    Trump, who has a habit of ignoring his intelligence community, dismissed Gabbard’s assessment saying, “I don’t care what she said. I think they’re very close to having it”.

    No legal justification

    One thing that is striking about the June 22 US bombing campaign is the cursory attention given to any substantive legal justification. It’s a distinct contrast to Bush’s attempts – however much this strained the law to breaking point – to justify his 2003 use of force.

    The US ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Camille Shea, made only the most limited of references to the legality of the action in her speech to the UN security council a day after the US strikes.

    George W Bush’s ‘Mission accomplished’ speech.

    In our book Drones, Force, and Law we demonstrate how the defining mark of an international society is that states recognise the need to give an account of their behaviour in terms of the accepted legal rules.

    Even when policymakers know that they are breaking established interpretations of the law, they rarely admit this publicly. They seek to offer a legal justification – however strained and implausible – that is in conformity with the rules.

    If a state openly admitted that it was violating the law, giving a justification for its conduct only in terms of that state’s values and beliefs, then it would be treating others with contempt. It would, to quote the respected Australian international relations theorist, Hedley Bull, “place in jeopardy all the settled expectations that states have about one another’s behaviour”.

    This is exactly what Trump is doing by not seeking to expressly justify the US’ use of force in legal terms. This invites others to mount a broader assault on international law itself as something that is both fragile and hypocritical in the hands of the powerful.

    Unintended consequences

    The US has justified its attack as aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. But a perverse consequence of the attack is that it is likely to further erode the norm against proliferation. There are two key arguments here.

    The first is that all three Iranian facilities attacked were, before Israel initially attacked Iran on June 12, under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. So, by attacking these installations, the US – like Israel four decades ago with its attack against Osirak – was signalling that it had no confidence in the multilateral mechanisms of non-proliferation. It was essentially saying that it has to rely on unilateral action.

    The second consequence is that a strike aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons may instead push it – and others – to accelerate weaponisation efforts. These US attacks may confirm for many the earlier lessons from Iraq, as well as subsequently in Libya and Ukraine. States without nuclear weapons are vulnerable to regime change or military action.

    If this is the lesson that is drawn by those who live in dangerous neighbourhoods and who are increasingly worried about their security, then the US action could serve as a further spur to nuclear proliferation.

    Trump has shown a worrying propensity to ignore legal constraints on his power both domestically and internationally. This action, less than six months into his administration, is an alarming harbinger of his contempt for the internationally agreed legal rules restricting the use of force.

    David Hastings Dunn has previously received funding from the ESRC, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Open Democracy Foundation and has previously been both a NATO and a Fulbright Fellow.

    Nicholas Wheeler has formally received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Open Society Foundations.

    – ref. US attack on Iran lacks legal justification and could lead to more nuclear proliferation – https://theconversation.com/us-attack-on-iran-lacks-legal-justification-and-could-lead-to-more-nuclear-proliferation-259638

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Garcia Statement On Election to Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Garcia California (42nd District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) released the following statement after House Democrats selected him to serve as Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee. He was elected by a vote of 150-63.

    “I am honored to have been chosen by my colleagues to serve as Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee. We will hold Donald Trump and his Administration accountable for their corruption and abuses of power, and will work to make our government more efficient and effective for the American people. I look forward to working with the incredible members of the committee. Now let’s get to work.” said Congressman Robert Garcia.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: In Delaware Bar Journal, Senator Coons urges First State lawyers to uphold rule of law in the face of administration attacks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, The Journal of the Delaware State Bar Association published a piece from U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) where he thanked Delaware lawyers for upholding their commitment to the rule of law and urged them to continue fighting for their clients and our judicial system. Senator Coons is a member of the Delaware Bar and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

    As Senator Coons noted, the Trump administration has launched a series of attacks on the rule of law since returning to the White House in January. President Trump has signed executive orders against law firms who have taken cases and hired lawyers he opposes. He has launched broadsides against judges who have ruled against him. His Justice Department has fired lawyers for adhering to their duty of candor to the court. 

    Senator Coons outlined steps he’s taking in Washington to push back on this assault by ensuring judicial nominees will uphold the law and demanding answers from the administration when they overstep their legal authority. He also reminded lawyers in Delaware and across the country, however, that they too have a part to play: “When a client comes to you, think about the merits of their case, not their political opinions,” he wrote. “If your client is targeted because of their political beliefs, stand with them.”

    From The Delaware Bar Journal: In response to “The Rally for the Rule of Law” article

    As members of the Delaware Bar, we swore an oath to “support the Constitution of the United States” and to behave with “all good fidelity” to the courts and our clients. Today, the Constitution, the courts, and the rule of law on which our clients depend are under attack. Upholding our oath means doing whatever we can to come to their defense.

    …

    There are people reading this right now, members of the Delaware Bar, colleagues, who are part of those firms or work at companies they represent. Maybe it will be a Wilmington judge who next issues an order with which the president disagrees. Maybe it will be a Newark company who hopes to fight against a new Executive Order or enters into a contract the government won’t enforce.

    I ask that you think about your own practices.

    My job in Washington is to advocate for you and try to protect you in the face of these challenges. It’s to confirm judges who will look to the law to make their decisions rather than the president, to reassure lawyers and non-lawyers alike that they can have confidence in our system of ordered liberty.

    …

    I ask that you join in whatever ways you can.

    When a client comes to you, think about the merits of their case, not their political opinions. If your client is targeted because of their political beliefs, stand with them. If your company or firm finds itself on the wrong side of the next executive order, don’t give in to the threats.

    The arc of history does not bend itself. It bends through the work of our hands.

    READ MORE HERE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Senate Republicans’ Legislation Delivers for American Workers, Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–The Senate Finance Committee’s legislation prevents a more-than $4 trillion tax hike and makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, giving American families and businesses the certainty they need to invest and plan for the future.

    Individuals and organizations committed to promoting economic opportunity and prosperity for all Americans are speaking out in support of the Finance Committee tax legislation.

    U.S. Chamber of Commerce

    “The Senate has taken the House-passed bill and strengthened the policies that do the most to increase domestic investment, job creation, and wage growth.  In particular, the Senate prioritizes the permanent reinstatement of three crucial tax policies.

    “These reforms are not only foundational to a competitive tax code, but they also provide the certainty and stability businesses and workers need to foster the type of major, long-term capital investments that fuel economic growth and opportunity for all Americans.” – Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President, U.S Chamber of Commerce

    National Association of Manufacturers

    “We commend Chairman Crapo for his leadership and steadfast commitment to pro-manufacturing tax policy. By preserving the full suite of pro-growth policies from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this bill marks a major step forward for manufacturing in America.” – Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers

    National Restaurant Association

    “The Senate has included in their tax bill the top priorities restaurant operators need to be the engines of their local economies. The inclusion of a permanent 199A qualified business income deduction, full expensing of capital investments, and the return of depreciation and amortization in the calculation of business interest expense have been our highest tax priorities for more than two years. We are also pleased to see many other policies like No Tax on Tips and Overtime are also included. We appreciate the work that has gone into getting the bill to this point and urge the Senate to pass this legislation to support the restaurant industry.” – Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President, National Restaurant Association

    U.S. Department of the Treasury 

    “We applaud the Senate’s action to progress this critical legislation and expand upon President Trump’s tax relief for hardworking Americans.  The passage of this bill will deliver the permanence and certainty both individual taxpayers and businesses alike are looking for, driving growth and unleashing the American economy.” – Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary

    Americans for Tax Reform

    “The Senate tax package delivers on President Trump’s campaign pledge to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent, providing across the board, pro-growth tax relief for American households and businesses.

    “The Senate’s tax package improves upon the House-passed bill by making the most pro-growth tax cuts permanent, greatly increasing economic growth and boosting take-home pay for American households.” – Mike Palicz, Director, Americans for Tax Reform

    National Taxpayers’ Union

    “The Senate plan encourages long-term business investment in the U.S. by making growth-boosting provisions permanent.  The House’s bill provides those deductions on a temporary basis.  But making it permanent could double the bill’s projected economic growth effect.” – Brandon Arnold, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers’ Union

    Advancing American Freedom

    “The Senate has built on the House’s strong start to renew the Trump tax cuts.  Now Congress must continue to refine this package and send it to President Trump’s desk.  Otherwise, American families will see a devastating $2,000 increase on their taxes next year.  Let’s get this done and prevent the largest tax hike in American history.” – Tim Chapman, President, Advancing American Freedom

    Coalition for 1099-K Fairness

    “The Coalition for 1099-K Fairness strongly supports the Senate Finance package’s inclusion of language to raise the 1099-K reporting threshold.  This commonsense provision would increase the threshold to over $20,000 in total payments and more than 200 transactions per calendar year—effectively stopping the implementation of a burdensome $600 threshold, regardless of transaction count, scheduled to take effect in 2026 under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP).”

    Business Roundtable

    “Business Roundtable commends Chairman Crapo and the Senate Finance Committee for delivering strong legislation that builds on President Trump’s historic tax reform.  The Committee’s tax title marks the latest critical step toward protecting and boosting the economic benefits that tax reform delivered for American businesses, workers and families.” – Kristen Silverberg, President and COO, Business Roundtable

    Invest in Education Coalition

    “Access to opportunity for children across the country is one step closer to becoming a reality.  This bill will empower parents and provide students with opportunities regardless of their ZIP code and fulfill President Trump’s pledge of universal school choice.  We urge the U.S. Senate to pass this critically important bill to help America’s K-12 parents and students.” – Anthony J. de Nicola, Board Chairman, Invest in Education Coalition

    American Petroleum Institute

    “We applaud Chairman Crapo and the Senate Finance Committee for presenting a tax plan that fortifies America’s energy advantage. This proposal strengthens key investment provisions and encourages oil and natural gas development to meet growing demand for affordable, reliable energy. We look forward to working with Congress to get the One Big Beautiful Bill across the finish line and ensure a final tax package that advances global competitiveness.” – Mike Sommers, President and CEO, American Petroleum Institute

    Click HERE to view bill text.

    Click HERE for a section-by-section.

    Click HERE for a bill overview.

    Click HERE to view the 2025 Tax Reform landing page.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Veterans Services Program Continues to Deliver Life-Changing Earned Benefits to Members and Families

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The IAM Veterans Services Program continues to demonstrate its powerful impact in 2025, helping scores of IAM military veterans receive the benefits they have earned through their service and sacrifice.

    The program has already helped 57 veterans this year achieve increases in their overall disability ratings, resulting in a remarkable total increase of 1,590%. These victories translate into $70,989.69 in monthly compensation to IAM veterans, supporting not only the veterans but also 21 spouses and 41 children.

    Just as importantly, those veterans received more than $760,000 in backpay—a reflection of months or even years of unpaid benefits now finally in the hands of the people who served their country.

    Since the inception of the program, the IAM Veterans Services Program has assisted 316 veterans in increasing their disability ratings, achieving a staggering total increase of 9,610%. 

    In total, this amounts to more than $406,000 in monthly benefit increases, providing ongoing support to veterans and their 155 spouses and 259 children. The cumulative total of backpay recovered since the start of the program now stands at nearly $3.6 million.

    Among those who received assistance, 90 veterans have been deemed 100% permanent and total, a designation that provides the highest level of disability benefits. Additionally, the program has successfully navigated the complex VA appeals process, winning 97 Higher-Level Review appeals and representing members in three Board of Veterans Appeals hearings.

    “These numbers represent more than just a record of what the program has done on paper—they represent families who can breathe a little easier, veterans who are finally receiving just compensation and care for their service to our country, and a union that will never leave veterans behind,” said Evans.

    The IAM Veterans Services Program continues to offer hands-on, personalized assistance to IAM members who served in the military. Veterans needing help with disability claims, appeals, or navigating the VA system are encouraged to contact the program directly.

    For more information, or to request assistance, members can reach out to IAM Veterans Services.

    The post IAM Veterans Services Program Continues to Deliver Life-Changing Earned Benefits to Members and Families appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union & Allies Advocate for American-Made Ship Production

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    On Tuesday, IAM Union leaders, a congressional delegation and local shipbuilders gathered at Boston Ship Repair, an IAM-represented repair yard in downtown Boston, to call attention to the need to reinvigorate America’s domestic shipbuilding and repair industry. In recent years, global shipping companies have overwhelmingly chosen to use cheap labor and materials to source vessels primarily from China. As a result, this strategically vital domestic industry along with its highly skilled workforce have suffered greatly. These leaders met in a call to action to reinvigorate domestic shipbuilding for the sake of U.S. economic and national security.

    The post IAM Union & Allies Advocate for American-Made Ship Production appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $13.7 Million Investment in Hudson Valley Highways

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that work has begun on a pair of infrastructure projects that will improve travel along two vital highways in the Hudson Valley. The two projects represent a $13.7 million investment that will resurface key stretches of State Route 17 in Orange County and State Route 52 in Putnam County, enhancing the resiliency of both roadways and creating a more comfortable experience for travelers. Both projects are expected to be completed this fall and are part of Governor Hochul’s unwavering commitment to build back New York State’s infrastructure to connect communities, grow our economy and improve quality of life.

    “We are putting the pedal to the metal in our drive to give New Yorkers the modern and dependable transportation network they deserve,” Governor Hochul said. “Hudson Valley travelers know all too well the difference that quality roads can make in their daily lives and these two projects will help restore two of the region’s key roadways, providing smoother commutes and fewer hassles.”

    The work includes a $9.7 million project that will resurface a five-mile stretch of State Route 17 between State Route 302 and the Sullivan County line in the Town of Wallkill, Orange County. State Route 17 provides a critical connection between the lower Hudson Valley and the many commercial and recreational destinations in the Southern Tier and the Catskills.

    Additionally, a $4 million project will resurface a three-mile stretch of State Route 52, between State Route 311 and the Dutchess County line in the Town of Kent, Putnam County. The roadway provides an important connection to Interstate 84 for local residents and businesses.

    Both projects feature milling and resurfacing of the existing pavement with a warm-mix fiber-reinforced asphalt overlay that’s longer-lasting, more durable and minimizes cracking. Grooved inlaid striping with reflective epoxy paint will also be added to increase the visibility of pavement markings during storms. Additionally, traffic signals will be upgraded, drainage improvements will be included, and curb ramps, where present, will be made compliant with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidance.

    In order to minimize impacts to the traveling public, most work will be conducted during nighttime hours with single lane closures during paving operations.

    New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “In projects big and small, from Buffalo to Montauk, New York State is making unprecedented progress toward building a 21st century transportation network that brings people together and provides new opportunities for economic growth and prosperity. These two projects in the Hudson Valley will improve travel on two of the region’s most important highways, making it easier for people and goods to get where they need to go safely and efficiently.”

    State Senator Peter Harckham said, “This important repair and updating of Route 52 from Route 311 to the Dutchess County line, a well-traveled stretch of roadway, will significantly improve safety, reduce vehicle wear and tear, and support local economic activity. By enhancing a key transportation corridor in our region with a newly conditioned and paved surface, we will ensure the viability of this vital economic lifeline through Putnam County.”

    Assemblymember Paula Kay said, “This stretch of highway has long been in need of transformative change. This project will not only save local commuters time and money but also improve safety for everyone on the road. We’ll undoubtedly see more travelers experiencing the beauty of our upstate communities and supporting our parks and local businesses. I’m thrilled that Governor Hochul shares my vision for strengthening upstate infrastructure, and I look forward to the lasting benefits this investment will bring for years to come.”

    Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne said, “This investment will ensure safer and more resilient roadways for our residents and visitors. I personally presented before the Legislature’s Joint Budget Hearing on Transportation the past two years, where we highlighted numerous needs, including Route 52 as it is one of the county’s most traversed roadways. I thank all our partners in the State government for following through to get this done. I know it means a lot to our residents. This project will help us to build stronger communities and foster economic growth.”

    About the Department of Transportation
    It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable, and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment, and supports the economic well-being of New York State.

    Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers!

    For more information, find them on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit their website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: El Salvadoran Man Convicted of Fentanyl Trafficking, Firearms Offenses, and Illegal Entry

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An El Salvadoran national has been found guilty in federal court of trafficking fentanyl, illegally possessing firearms, and unlawful entry to the United States.

    Jose Navarrete-Hernandez, 42, was found guilty of one count each of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and illegal entry into the United States. United States District Judge M. Douglas Harpool issued a verdict Monday, June 23, 2025, following a one-day bench trial on May 12, 2025.

    On May 11, 2023, officers with the Carthage, Mo., Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a gray Ford F-250 with an expired Texas license plate driven by Navarrete-Hernandez. After confirming that Navarrete-Hernandez did not have a valid driver’s license, the officers searched Navarrete-Hernandez and the F-250.

    Officers found in the truck a black backpack containing two drug scales, two glass pipes with white powdery residue, approximately 145 fentanyl pills, a Heritage Rough Rider revolver, ammunition, and a forged social security card. Officers also found a Raven P-25 pistol with an obliterated serial number in the truck.  At the time, Navarrete-Hernandez was not a citizen or national of the United States and had entered the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry.

    Under federal statutes, Navarrete-Hernandez is subject to a sentence of up to Life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; and the Carthage, Mo., Police Department.

    Operation Take Back America

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Second Sentencing in the Burglary of Dozens of Firearms from a Maryland Pawn Shop

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

                WASHINGTON – Niquan Odumn, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 48 months in federal prison for his role in the December 2023 burglary of a Maryland pawn shop that netted dozens of firearms.

                The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department

                Odumn, aka “Stickz,” pleaded guilty on March 6 to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms. In addition to the sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered three years of supervised release.

                According to the court documents, on Dec. 13, 2023, Odumn and at least four co-conspirators drove in two vehicles from the District to the A&D Pawn Shop, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

                At the pawn shop, Odumn used a portable saw to cut the locks on a pull-down security gate. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door. Once inside, the quintet grabbed an array of rifles, shotguns, and pistols from the shelves and display racks. They fled with at least 34 firearms.

                Odumn was arrested on March 25, 2024, and has been detained since.

                Juwon Markel Anderson, 22, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced June 20 to 84 months in prison for his role in the burglary and for his subsequent attempt to sell several of the stolen guns.

                Co-defendant Tyjuan McNeal, 27, is scheduled to be sentenced July 1 for conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. Co-defendant Vincent Lee Alston, 23, pleaded guilty March 6, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking. And co-defendant Cy’juan Hemsley, who pleaded guilty on May 7, 2025, to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to possession of stolen firearms.

                This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar with valuable assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes.     

    23cr452 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southern Ute Tribal Member Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with Children

    Source: US FBI

    DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Kalin Burton Goodtracks, age 36, of Ignacio, Colorado, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a Justice of Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) assessment of $10,000, after pleading guilty to two charges of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian Country.

    According to the plea agreement, on separate incidents in 2019, Goodtracks sexually abused two minors under the age of 12 who were under his supervision. He committed the offenses at his home on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Both children were related to Goodtracks.

    “Mr. Goodtracks deserves to spend a long time in federal prison because he preyed upon children he was supposed to protect,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Pursuing justice for the most vulnerable in Colorado—and especially our children—remains one of our top priorities.”

    “This case is a clear reminder that those who exploit children — including those on tribal lands—will find no safe haven from justice, no matter where they are,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “These predators pose a serious threat to the safety of our communities and the FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who targets children.”

    United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher sentenced the defendant on June 16, 2025.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southern Ute Investigations Division within the Southern Ute Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey K. Graves and Lisa Franceware handled the prosecution of the case.

    Case Number: 1:23-cr-00491-GPG-JMC

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Men Who Robbed Postal Employee Sentenced to Prison

    Source: US FBI

    TOLEDO, Ohio – Three Lima, Ohio, men who robbed a federal worker while serving on official duty as a postal carrier have been sentenced to prison by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Knepp.

    According to the indictment, the robbery occurred on Nov. 30, 2023, while a United States Postal Service letter carrier was on a routine delivery route in Lima. Specially suited keys which unlock postal service bags, drawers, and other authorized receptacles for the deposit of mail were stolen under threat of force and violence to the postal carrier. As a result of this robbery, U.S. mail was stolen on several occasions.

    The following sentences were imposed June 20, 2025:

    • Ahmir Curtis, 24, was sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States, stealing keys adopted by the post office, and theft of mail. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, and pay $650 in restitution for damage to federal property.
    • Zenesto Martin, Jr., 26,  was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States, stealing keys adopted by the post office, and theft of mail. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
    • Christian Proby, 26, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison after pleading guilty to robbery of mail, money, or other property of the United States and stealing keys adopted by the post office. He was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release.

    The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force, and the Lima Police Department.

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank H. Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio.

    The USPIS is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating crimes against postal carriers and crimes involving the U.S. Mail. Anyone having information about blue collection box thefts, or thefts or attempted thefts of mail carriers or mail, should contact USPIS at 1-877-876-2455. All information will be kept confidential.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three New York Residents Charged with Conspiring to Defraud Bank Customers, Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: US FBI

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Fanchao Zeng, 33, Zhongzhou Lin, 26, and Yanping Li, 32, all of Queens, New York, were arrested and charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, two counts each of aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting, arising from a scheme to impersonate and defraud numerous bank customers.

    The indictment alleges that the three defendants and their co-conspirators repeatedly used stolen bank account information and fraudulently obtained driver’s licenses to access the home equity line of credit (“HELOC”) of a bank customer, transfer funds from the HELOC to an account that the conspirators controlled, and then withdraw those funds.

    As detailed in the indictment, Zeng and Lin, with their co-conspirators, identified bank customers who had HELOCs. Zeng, Lin, and Li then submitted fraudulent change of address requests in the HELOC account holders’ names to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, usually via the department’s website. They proceeded to use the department’s website to request a replacement driver’s license for each HELOC account holder, which was mailed to the new address to which the conspirators had access.

    Next, Zeng, Lin, Li, and their co-conspirators took steps to prepare the funds available from the HELOCs for theft. Sometimes, they made an online transfer of HELOC funds to an account linked to the legitimate HELOC account holder. Other times, they created a fake business account in the HELOC account holder’s name and transferred HELOC funds to this business account. On other occasions, the defendants and their conspirators caused the transfer of HELOC funds to linked accounts via phone-initiated transfer requests or in-person visits to bank branches.

    After these steps, the indictment alleges, the defendants and their co-conspirators traveled to branches of the defrauded banks to steal the HELOC funds. They had individuals of the same ethnicity as the HELOC account holders (“runners”) enter these banks, and, using the fraudulently obtained replacement driver’s licenses, withdraw funds belonging to the HELOC account holders. The runners, who included Li on multiple occasions, did so either by making large cash withdrawals or by purchasing official checks in large amounts.

    The defendants and their co-conspirators often cashed these official checks at casinos and gambled with the proceeds, in order to hide their fraud.

    If convicted, Zeng faces a maximum possible sentence of 131 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine. If Lin is convicted, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 159 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $5,750,000 fine. If Li is convicted, she faces a maximum possible sentence of 101 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $4,250,000 fine.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric D. Gill.

    The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Grassley Introduce Legislation to Increase Support for Identifying and Returning Kidnapped Ukrainian Children

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)

    Russia has kidnapped nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children – erasing their cultural identity and heritage 

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced their bipartisan Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act.

    This legislation would increase support for Ukraine’s efforts to investigate and track the nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been abducted during Putin’s brutal invasion, assist with the rehabilitation and reintegration of children who are returned, and provide justice and accountability for perpetrators of these abductions.

    “The mass kidnapping of Ukrainian children by Russia is an atrocity. We cannot accept a world where children are abducted during wartime and used as a form of hostage-taking for negotiations. Our bipartisan legislation will provide the necessary resources to bring them home and hold the perpetrators accountable,” said Klobuchar.

    “After he started the largest war in Europe since World War II, Putin kidnapped thousands of Ukrainian children to brainwash and Russify them, trying to destroy their cultural identity and heritage. These children should be returned home as soon as possible. Our bipartisan legislation supports critical tools to identify and track the location of these children and reintegrate them into their homeland. We’re also helping hold perpetrators accountable for their atrocities to ensure justice is served,” Grassley said.

    This legislation follows a bipartisan resolution that Klobuchar and Grassley led in May condemning Russia’s abduction and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children and demanding their return before reaching a final peace agreement. Additional cosponsors of that resolution include Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Rick Scott (R-FL). You can find the full text of the resolution here.

    In March, Klobuchar and Grassley were joined by Senator Durbin in leading a bipartisan letter calling for the State Department to continue supporting efforts to investigate Russia’s abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children.

    To date, Ukrainian authorities have received at least 19,546 confirmed reports of unlawful deportations and forced transfers of Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. The abductions aim to erase the children’s Ukrainian names, language and identity. As of April 16, Ukraine and its partners have only managed to return 1,274 abducted children. 

    The State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report found Russia recruits or uses child soldiers, has a state-sponsored policy or pattern of human trafficking and is among the worst hubs for human trafficking in the world. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California awards over $15 million to apprenticeship programs connecting youth to high-paying jobs

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 24, 2025

    What you need to know: California is providing $15 million in new apprenticeship funding for youth for new high-paying opportunities that do not require a traditional education or four-year degree.

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that 29 youth apprenticeship programs will receive $15.4 million in California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) grants. The grant awards will connect opportunity youth with pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that can lead to employment in high-demand fields, creating a pathway to upward mobility and higher earning power.

    “Success shouldn’t always require a college degree. Our investments in apprenticeships are building real, hands-on pathways into high-wage, high-growth career opportunities, especially for young people who have been left out or left behind. California is reimagining the future of work in a way that is aligned with the needs of our community and economy.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “Apprenticeship funding is about scaling real, on-the-ground solutions. These grants are helping community organizations, labor unions, and employers launch new opportunities, provide stipends during training, and offer direct support to young people who need a foot in the door. The Governor’s focus on practical, targeted investment is opening career opportunities where they’re needed most.” Stewart Knox, Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development

    Opportunity youth are those aged 16 to 24, who may be young parents, former foster youth, people with disabilities, young people who face educational achievement gaps, attend schools in communities struggling with high poverty, or are fully disconnected from the education system.
     

    Paid training in high-demand jobs

    California has expanded apprenticeship opportunities for young people and continues to boost training programs for firefighters, paramedics and other health and safety careers, as well as new opportunities that do not require a traditional education or a four-year degree.

    California began offering COYA grants in 2024. During the first round, $31 million in funding supported 51 projects across various in-demand sectors. COYA second round recipients will help pair youth in strong employment sectors including:

    🎥 Behind-the-scenes union jobs in the entertainment industry through Hollywood Cinema Production Resources with a focus on populations historically excluded from these opportunities, and jobs including lighting, set dressing, editing, stagehand and more.

    🚒 Entry-level firefighter positions through San Diego Miramar College Pre-Apprenticeship Fire Academy in partnership with the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee will prepare opportunity youth with the skills and competencies needed for entry-level positions and placement on the Statewide Eligibility List for over 170 fire departments in California, with hands-on training to 100 participants in simulated lab experiences meeting all State Fire Training Fire Fighter 1 Fire Academy requirements.

    👨🏽‍🍳 Hospitality industry professionals through the Hospitality Training Academy (HTA) is a registered apprenticeship program in California that aims to place opportunity youth in Los Angeles County on a strong career path within the thriving local hospitality industry. The program will provide participants with  comprehensive training and placement with UNITE HERE Local 11 employer partners in positions covered by collective bargaining agreements that include family-sustaining wages, benefits, and pensions.

    🏫 Education paraprofessionals through the Tulare County Office of Education, creating a pipeline for careers in education with a COYA planning grant using an approach that combines shorter, related apprenticeships to create a clear career pathway to becoming K-12 teachers.

     Click here to see a full list of recipients.   

    “Watching community organizations unite to support opportunity youth through apprenticeships has been truly inspiring,” said DAS Chief Adele Burnes. “DAS remains committed to expanding access and guiding these participants toward long-term, meaningful careers.”  

    The funding will help organizations build and develop apprenticeship programs, including curriculum design and program launch. The grants will also provide youth with stipends, allowing them to earn and learn, and offer supportive services to help them succeed and move forward to high-paying jobs.

    How we got here

    Since 2019, California has served 215,393 registered apprentices, solidifying its position as the nation’s leader in apprenticeship programs. Part of Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Career Education is devoted to expanding youth apprenticeships by enhancing career pathways in high school, strengthening workforce training for young people, and bolstering regional partnerships in communities. It also addresses removing barriers for opportunity youth seeking ways to gain skills before having obtained a college degree. The Governor has a goal to serve 500,000 apprentices by 2029.

    Recent news

    Jun 24, 2025

    News What you need to know: Three years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom warn that Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” would defund Planned Parenthood and strip millions of Americans — especially low-income women —…

    Jun 24, 2025

    News What you need to know: Despite the Newsom Administration’s efforts to increase groundwater and develop stronger partnerships with water agencies, California’s water system remains unprepared for the hotter and drier future. Without the successful completion of…

    Jun 24, 2025

    News What you need to know: President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles continues to hamstring crucial firefighting resources in California at the height of peak fire season. SACRAMENTO – With fires popping up across the state, the California National…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to deal with racism in an intimate relationship

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Maya A. Yampolsky, Associate Professor, School of Psychology, Université Laval

    Intimate racism can take many forms, ranging from hostile insults and racial slurs to more subtle, pervasive everyday microaggressions. (Shutterstock)

    Relationships between people of different ethnic or racial backgrounds have become increasingly common. Research indicates that more adolescents and young adults are entering into inter-ethnic relationships, and survey data from the United States shows that an increasing number of people have a favourable view of these relationships.

    Inter-ethnic relationships are often seen as an act of love that conquers racism since people from different backgrounds overcome marginalization to create inter-ethnic families.

    While these bonds can potentially decrease prejudice against members of racialized groups, cross-cultural connections are also vulnerable to the far-reaching influence of racism.

    No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

    Read more from Quarter Life:

    Intimate racism

    Racism is a system of domination and oppression that is deeply rooted in colonization and slavery, where whiteness was idealized and every other ethnic group was dehumanized. Racialized people who are not white are also susceptible to endorsing this false hierarchy, leading to racism between racialized minority groups.

    We use the term “intimate racism” (inspired by the term intimate partner violence) to highlight that racism exists in close relationships, and that it requires special attention.

    Intimate racism can take many forms, ranging from hostile insults and racial slurs to more subtle, pervasive everyday microaggressions (for example, a parent stereotyping their child as less smart because of their racialized identity).

    Intimate racism can also touch on prejudices against racialized people that are particular to physical and emotional intimacy, which show up differently in our familial and romantic relationships.

    Racism in family

    From childhood, we depend on our parents and family to support and guide us, helping us form secure attachments as well as stable and loving bonds within our families and with others as we grow and expand our social connections.

    These days, multiracial families are more common. However, parents of multiracial children may not always understand their children’s realities with racism, they may not be able to support their racialized children against racism and they may discriminate against their racialized children, shaking the very foundations of the family bonds.

    These days, multiracial families are more common. However, parents of multiracial children may not always understand their children’s realities with racism.
    (Shutterstock)

    Mixed-race children have reported favouritism for lighter skin colour and isolation within their families, as well as having their racial identities denied and stereotyped by family members.

    In a study on microaggressions in families, one mixed-race research participant told researchers:

    “Even though my skin was darker, I had straight hair, I had the white features and I behaved the way a white girl should behave, and so my grandmother always favoured me and was much nicer to me and horrible to my sister.”

    In addition, transracial adoption has a long history of racialized children being forced into white families and institutions in order to erase their heritage and cultural identity.

    This legacy has endured, with many white adoptive families thinking they need to “save” racialized children from their minority families by erasing their backgrounds and cutting them off from their community.

    Racialized adoptees in white families have shared that they experience identity erasure, denial of racism’s existence and microaggressions and insults from the very people who are supposed to protect them. Such experiences expose them to racial isolation and violence.

    Racism in romantic relationships

    Our close relationships are supposed to be safe from racism; our meaningful connections with people who we know accept us, love us and see us for who we are can act as a protection from the harms of oppression.

    So when we experience racism from our loved ones, it is a violation of the shared trust, safety and intimacy that we need from those who are supposed to be closest to us.

    When it comes to romantic partners, our attractions can sometimes be coloured by exposure to media and messages that frame racialized people as “exotic” or inferior.

    People in inter-ethnic romantic relationships have shared experiences where their partner sought them out to fulfil fantasies based on degrading racist sexual stereotypes. Racialized people can also be stereotyped by their partners.

    When people experience intimate racism, they also experience greater distress and trauma and negative impacts on their well-being.
    (Shutterstock)

    These stereotypes can also be echoed by family and friends, who may view an inter-ethnic relationship as unserious and hold negative views of a partner based on racial stereotypes.

    In a study of intimate racism conducted by one of us (Maya A. Yampolsky) and colleagues, a Black participant said: “My former partner accused all Jamaican males of being cheaters and liars.”

    When people experience intimate racism, they also experience greater distress, trauma and negative impacts on their well-being. The impact extends beyond individual hurt to the relationship dynamic, rupturing trust and affection for our loved ones, and leading to strained or even dissolved relationships.

    Groups that are subject to more than one source of marginalization (because of race, gender, class, ability and so on) face multiple oppressions with intimate racism. Racialized women face sexist expectations of submissiveness, and queer racialized people often experience both racism in LGBTQ2S+ spaces and homophobia or transphobia in their racial communities.

    What can you do to address intimate racism?

    There isn’t enough research that looks at resolving intimate racism yet, but we can draw on findings from couples conflict, anti-racism repairs and social therapy for inspiration.

    Interracial couples who value the importance of ethnic identities and multiculturalism are more likely to recognize racism at large, and how it can influence their relationship, which may help prevent intimate racism from showing up in these relationships.

    We know that repairing harm from racism involves acknowledging the impact rather than the intent of our actions, recognizing our own biases and how they appear in our life, apologizing sincerely and committing to changing our behaviour in the future.

    Social therapy can also provide tools to address racial tensions and change harmful relationship dynamics by encouraging open conversations about race, and allowing partners and families to explore how history has shaped their ways of loving, accepting or rejecting one another.

    Ultimately, tackling intimate racism is part of our work to dismantle racism at the roots of all our social institutions so that racism doesn’t creep into our cherished connections.

    Maya A. Yampolsky has received funding from both the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Fonds de recherche du Québec.

    Iman Sta-Ali, Libera Amadiwakama Mochihashi, and Renaud Dion-Pons do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How to deal with racism in an intimate relationship – https://theconversation.com/how-to-deal-with-racism-in-an-intimate-relationship-247870

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Mann, Schmidt, Sens. Marshall, Moran, Mullin Introduce Landmark Legislation to Reform Haskell University

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    Legislation would transfer governance from Bureau of Indian Education to Haskell Board of Regents

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Derek Schmidt (KS-02), alongside U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), introduced legislation that would federally charter Haskell Indian Nations University, transferring governance from the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to the Haskell Board of Regents, while maintaining federal funding and assistance for the university.

    In December, Rep. Mann and Sen. Moran released an initial draft of the legislation. Throughout the last five months, the Members solicited and reviewed feedback from the Native American, Lawrence, and higher education communities to make certain the legislation would effectively address issues at Haskell and best serve Native students and staff.

    “As a one-of-a-kind, historic institution established to meet the educational needs of students of federally recognized tribes, Haskell Indian Nations University should be a crown jewel for both Native Americans and Kansas,” said Rep. Mann. “For far too long, the U.S. Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Education have mismanaged the university, turned a blind eye to misconduct to the detriment of its students, and failed to comply with federal oversight. Our legislation offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect Haskell’s rich heritage and culture by transferring its governance to a Board of Regents nominated by Tribal communities and removing BIE from its governing structure. I am grateful for the tribal members, Haskell students, staff, and alumni, and the Haskell Board of Regents who weighed in to help us get this bill right. Today begins a new chapter that empowers Haskell to thrive and serve tribal communities in the way it was always meant to serve.”

    “Haskell University once provided Native American students the opportunity to receive a high-quality, tuition-free education in an environment that understood and prioritized indigenous heritage and culture,” said Sen. Moran. “Over the last few years, the university has been neglected and mismanaged by the Bureau of Indian Education. The bureau has failed to protect students, respond to my congressional inquiries or meet the basic infrastructure needs of the university. It is clear that the best path forward is for the university to be led by an independent Board of Regents nominated by the Tribal community and no longer obstructed by the BIE. I am grateful for the input I have received from the Haskell Board of Regents, tribal members and Haskell University students and staff to make certain Haskell, as the sole Tribal Nations University in the country, receives the reforms necessary to best serve the Native American community in Kansas and across the country.”

    “For over 140 years, Haskell University has provided Native American students with an educational setting rooted in Tribal heritage,” said Sen. Marshall. “However, for too long, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Education have failed Haskell students through chronic mismanagement, lack of oversight, and ignoring instances of serious misconduct. To protect and preserve Haskell’s mission and future, governance of the university should shift to an independent Board of Regents nominated by the Tribal community.”

    “Haskell Indian Nations University is a Kansas gem that has yet to reach its full potential,” said Rep. Schmidt. “By transferring control of the university to the Haskell Board of Regents, our legislation would strengthen accountability by entrusting management of the university to those closest to it. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this critical effort.”

    “The BIE has failed the students of Haskell University and improvements are long overdue,” said Sen. Mullin. “With Oklahomans leading the way in highest attendance for first-time and first-year students, and as a Cherokee myself, I am proud to join my colleagues on this critical legislation.”

    “I am thankful that Sen. Moran and Rep. Mann have introduced this legislation to strengthen Haskell as a federally chartered university to further the federal government’s treaty and trust responsibility to Indian people,” said Joseph Rupnick, Chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. “I look forward to discussions in the new year with Tribal leaders and Haskell alums, faculty and students so that this bill can safeguard Haskell’s future and its funding.”

    “For decades, Haskell Indian Nations University has served as a unique institution dedicated to advancing Native students and strengthening Tribal nations,” said Dalton Henry, President of the National Haskell Board of Regents. “Yet, persistent challenges under federal oversight have limited its potential. Shifting oversight from the Bureau of Indian Education to a Native-led Board of Trustees affirms that Tribal Nations are best positioned to guide Haskell’s future. This is how we secure Haskell’s legacy, not just for today’s students, but for the next seven generations. We thank Senator Moran and Congressman Mann who have taken on this effort.”

    “NIEA’s top priority is always Education Sovereignty. When Tribes, students, and communities say that something needs to change, and that the leaders and the community are ready to take charge, we will always support that initiative,” said Jason Dropik, NIEA Executive Director. “We applaud Senator Moran and Congressman Mann for undertaking this effort in support of Native students across the country.”

    “We support the efforts to establish Haskell Indian Nations University as a federally chartered education institution independent of federal agencies,” said Bonnie S. Lowe, President & CEO of The Chamber of Lawrence, Kansas. “The students, faculty and staff deserve the opportunity to study, live and work in a university that is supported to meet its astounding potential. These efforts are important steps toward ensuring the University’s success for generations of students to come.”

    “NCAI supports the independence of the HINU Board of Trustees in governing HINU, we feel this legislation aligns with the broader goals of Tribal self-determination by empowering Tribal representatives to have a direct role in the success of HINU,” said National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “We are committed to working with Congress to unlock educational opportunities and career pathways that will empower the next generation to thrive.”

    “The American Indian Higher Education Consortium is proud to support the Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act because this legislation honors the priorities of the Haskell Board of Regents and respects Tribal self-determination,” said Moriah O’Brien, Vice President of Congressional & Federal Relations of American Indian Higher Education Consortium. “Specifically, the legislation reaffirms the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibility for post-secondary education; reaffirms that high quality, culturally relevant education is essential for the survival and strengthening of Tribal Nations; provides a charter to the University; and rightfully empowers the Haskell Board of Regents with decision-making authority in lieu of their current advisory-only capacity. Thank you to Senator Moran and Representative Mann for their leadership on this important issue.”

    “I am proud to support the Haskell Indian Nation University Improvement Act,” said Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, Mississippi Band of Choctaw of Indians. “Haskell holds a special place in the hearts of many of our Tribal students—past, present, and future—who attend with deep pride and commitment. This Act will strengthen the University by establishing a federally charted corporation with an independent Board of Trustees. These changes will provide Haskell with the stability, autonomy, and leadership it needs to thrive. Thank you, Senator Moran and Congressman Mann for introducing this much needed legislation.”  

    “As a proud Haskell alumna, I’ve witnessed the strength of our students and the chronic neglect Haskell has faced for far too long. This bill is a vital step toward restoring dignity and sovereignty,” said Brittany Kathleen Hall, Former President, Haskell Board of Regents. “By placing leadership with an independent, Tribal-nominated board, we honor our ancestors’ vision for Indigenous education. Our students deserve more than broken promises—they deserve action and let’s work together to create that and build a stronger community for Indian Country and Lawrence, KS.”

    Haskell University is the only four-year, postsecondary institution under the governance of the BIE and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Over the last several years, the agencies have failed to respond to congressional inquiries and address concerns raised by the Tribal community—including delays and redactions in a report on a sexual harassment investigation. Additionally, Haskell University’s infrastructure is outdated, non-ADA compliant, and contains obsolete technology. Haskell University faces high dropout rates and a lack of resources for essential programs.

    Text for the legislation can be found here, and a section-by-section summary of the legislation can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Mann, Schmidt, Sens. Marshall, Moran, Mullin Introduce Landmark Legislation to Reform Haskell University

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    Legislation would transfer governance from Bureau of Indian Education to Haskell Board of Regents

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Derek Schmidt (KS-02), alongside U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), introduced legislation that would federally charter Haskell Indian Nations University, transferring governance from the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to the Haskell Board of Regents, while maintaining federal funding and assistance for the university.

    In December, Rep. Mann and Sen. Moran released an initial draft of the legislation. Throughout the last five months, the Members solicited and reviewed feedback from the Native American, Lawrence, and higher education communities to make certain the legislation would effectively address issues at Haskell and best serve Native students and staff.

    “As a one-of-a-kind, historic institution established to meet the educational needs of students of federally recognized tribes, Haskell Indian Nations University should be a crown jewel for both Native Americans and Kansas,” said Rep. Mann. “For far too long, the U.S. Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Education have mismanaged the university, turned a blind eye to misconduct to the detriment of its students, and failed to comply with federal oversight. Our legislation offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect Haskell’s rich heritage and culture by transferring its governance to a Board of Regents nominated by Tribal communities and removing BIE from its governing structure. I am grateful for the tribal members, Haskell students, staff, and alumni, and the Haskell Board of Regents who weighed in to help us get this bill right. Today begins a new chapter that empowers Haskell to thrive and serve tribal communities in the way it was always meant to serve.”

    “Haskell University once provided Native American students the opportunity to receive a high-quality, tuition-free education in an environment that understood and prioritized indigenous heritage and culture,” said Sen. Moran. “Over the last few years, the university has been neglected and mismanaged by the Bureau of Indian Education. The bureau has failed to protect students, respond to my congressional inquiries or meet the basic infrastructure needs of the university. It is clear that the best path forward is for the university to be led by an independent Board of Regents nominated by the Tribal community and no longer obstructed by the BIE. I am grateful for the input I have received from the Haskell Board of Regents, tribal members and Haskell University students and staff to make certain Haskell, as the sole Tribal Nations University in the country, receives the reforms necessary to best serve the Native American community in Kansas and across the country.”

    “For over 140 years, Haskell University has provided Native American students with an educational setting rooted in Tribal heritage,” said Sen. Marshall. “However, for too long, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Education have failed Haskell students through chronic mismanagement, lack of oversight, and ignoring instances of serious misconduct. To protect and preserve Haskell’s mission and future, governance of the university should shift to an independent Board of Regents nominated by the Tribal community.”

    “Haskell Indian Nations University is a Kansas gem that has yet to reach its full potential,” said Rep. Schmidt. “By transferring control of the university to the Haskell Board of Regents, our legislation would strengthen accountability by entrusting management of the university to those closest to it. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this critical effort.”

    “The BIE has failed the students of Haskell University and improvements are long overdue,” said Sen. Mullin. “With Oklahomans leading the way in highest attendance for first-time and first-year students, and as a Cherokee myself, I am proud to join my colleagues on this critical legislation.”

    “I am thankful that Sen. Moran and Rep. Mann have introduced this legislation to strengthen Haskell as a federally chartered university to further the federal government’s treaty and trust responsibility to Indian people,” said Joseph Rupnick, Chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. “I look forward to discussions in the new year with Tribal leaders and Haskell alums, faculty and students so that this bill can safeguard Haskell’s future and its funding.”

    “For decades, Haskell Indian Nations University has served as a unique institution dedicated to advancing Native students and strengthening Tribal nations,” said Dalton Henry, President of the National Haskell Board of Regents. “Yet, persistent challenges under federal oversight have limited its potential. Shifting oversight from the Bureau of Indian Education to a Native-led Board of Trustees affirms that Tribal Nations are best positioned to guide Haskell’s future. This is how we secure Haskell’s legacy, not just for today’s students, but for the next seven generations. We thank Senator Moran and Congressman Mann who have taken on this effort.”

    “NIEA’s top priority is always Education Sovereignty. When Tribes, students, and communities say that something needs to change, and that the leaders and the community are ready to take charge, we will always support that initiative,” said Jason Dropik, NIEA Executive Director. “We applaud Senator Moran and Congressman Mann for undertaking this effort in support of Native students across the country.”

    “We support the efforts to establish Haskell Indian Nations University as a federally chartered education institution independent of federal agencies,” said Bonnie S. Lowe, President & CEO of The Chamber of Lawrence, Kansas. “The students, faculty and staff deserve the opportunity to study, live and work in a university that is supported to meet its astounding potential. These efforts are important steps toward ensuring the University’s success for generations of students to come.”

    “NCAI supports the independence of the HINU Board of Trustees in governing HINU, we feel this legislation aligns with the broader goals of Tribal self-determination by empowering Tribal representatives to have a direct role in the success of HINU,” said National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “We are committed to working with Congress to unlock educational opportunities and career pathways that will empower the next generation to thrive.”

    “The American Indian Higher Education Consortium is proud to support the Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act because this legislation honors the priorities of the Haskell Board of Regents and respects Tribal self-determination,” said Moriah O’Brien, Vice President of Congressional & Federal Relations of American Indian Higher Education Consortium. “Specifically, the legislation reaffirms the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibility for post-secondary education; reaffirms that high quality, culturally relevant education is essential for the survival and strengthening of Tribal Nations; provides a charter to the University; and rightfully empowers the Haskell Board of Regents with decision-making authority in lieu of their current advisory-only capacity. Thank you to Senator Moran and Representative Mann for their leadership on this important issue.”

    “I am proud to support the Haskell Indian Nation University Improvement Act,” said Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, Mississippi Band of Choctaw of Indians. “Haskell holds a special place in the hearts of many of our Tribal students—past, present, and future—who attend with deep pride and commitment. This Act will strengthen the University by establishing a federally charted corporation with an independent Board of Trustees. These changes will provide Haskell with the stability, autonomy, and leadership it needs to thrive. Thank you, Senator Moran and Congressman Mann for introducing this much needed legislation.”  

    “As a proud Haskell alumna, I’ve witnessed the strength of our students and the chronic neglect Haskell has faced for far too long. This bill is a vital step toward restoring dignity and sovereignty,” said Brittany Kathleen Hall, Former President, Haskell Board of Regents. “By placing leadership with an independent, Tribal-nominated board, we honor our ancestors’ vision for Indigenous education. Our students deserve more than broken promises—they deserve action and let’s work together to create that and build a stronger community for Indian Country and Lawrence, KS.”

    Haskell University is the only four-year, postsecondary institution under the governance of the BIE and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Over the last several years, the agencies have failed to respond to congressional inquiries and address concerns raised by the Tribal community—including delays and redactions in a report on a sexual harassment investigation. Additionally, Haskell University’s infrastructure is outdated, non-ADA compliant, and contains obsolete technology. Haskell University faces high dropout rates and a lack of resources for essential programs.

    Text for the legislation can be found here, and a section-by-section summary of the legislation can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Holds Skilled Nursing Facility Chain Accountable for Misrepresenting its Quality of Care and Putting Patients at Risk

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Sweetwater Care (Sweetwater), a San Diego-based operator of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The lawsuit, which pertains to Sweetwater’s 19 California skilled nursing facilities, alleges that Sweetwater violated California law, specifically the Unfair Competition Law, due to their failure to meet statutory minimum staffing levels and to protect California residents under its care. This failure led to delayed care and critical oversights, resulting in severe harm to patients who depended on timely medical attention. The lawsuit also highlights that while Sweetwater received significant payments from Medi-Cal, the chain engaged in a pattern of violations of California law and regulations related to minimum skilled nursing facility staffing.  

    “Sweetwater and its skilled nursing facilities violated the law and betrayed the trust of communities by failing to safeguard the health and safety of its residents. This is simply unacceptable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The California Department of Justice will step in whenever the well-being of patients is at stake. With today’s lawsuit, we are holding Sweetwater accountable for breaking the law by understaffing its facilities and leaving residents vulnerable to serious neglect and injuries. No one is above the law, and our vulnerable patients deserve nothing less than dignity, safety, and high-quality care.” 

    The California Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA)’s investigation found that Sweetwater was engaging in a pattern of unlawful conduct leading to associated patient harm, preventable neglect, abuse, and injuries. From 2020 through 2024, Sweetwater SNFs were staffed below California minimum staffing levels in over 14,126 instances. This unlawful level of understaffing led to patients at Sweetwater’s SNFs being exposed to preventable neglect, abuse, and injuries including fractured bones that went days without assessment or medical care, patients with head trauma leaving the facility unbeknownst to staff, unwitnessed falls, pressure injuries so severe that a patient’s hip bone was visible, medical emergencies that were not timely assessed or responded to, and patients being left for hours and overnight in soiled diapers because staff were too few or unwilling to provide care. The investigation also revealed that Sweetwater extracted over $31 million as “profit” or “management fees” instead of using those dollars to provide the legally required staffing to meet minimum nursing staff levels.

    The California Department of Justice is alleging Sweetwater violated California’s Unfair Competition Law in its lawsuit. The DOJ is also seeking remedies including civil monetary penalties, injunctive relief to prevent violations of California laws and regulations, the installation of a receiver or compliance monitor, and costs of suit.  

    Pursuant to California’s Unfair Competition Law, Defendants are potentially liable for a civil penalty of up to $2,500 for each violation. That penalty may be doubled for each violation perpetrated against a senior citizen or disabled person. 

    DMFEA works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in the state, and those who perpetrate fraud on the Medi-Cal program.

    The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $69,244,976 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. The remaining 25 percent is funded by the State of California. FY 2025 is from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. 

    A link to a copy of the complaint as filed with the court will be provided once available.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Defense Employee Charged with Unlawful Retention of Classified Documents

    Source: US State of California

    A civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) was arrested and made her initial court appearance yesterday to face charges of unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents.

    Ewa Maria Ciszak, 64, of Huntsville, Alabama, is charged with knowingly removing and retaining classified documents and materials.

    According to court documents unsealed today in the Northern District of Alabama, Ciszak has been employed at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) since January 2023. As part of her duties, she held a security clearance and had access to classified materials related to the national defense of the United States. Beginning in approximately February 2025, and continuing through June 18, 2025, Ciszak allegedly removed classified documents from MDA facilities without authorization and transported them to her personal residence and vehicle, which were not authorized for classified material storage.

    On June 18, 2025, pursuant to a search warrant authorized by the U.S. District Court, federal agents executed a search of Ciszak’s home, person, and vehicle. Agents recovered multiple documents bearing classification markings up to the SECRET level. Some of the documents had been placed in her personal backpack that day and transported directly from MDA to her home.

    Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.

    The FBI’s Birmingham Field Office and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating the case. Valuable assistant was provided by the FBI Atlanta Field Office’s Savannah Resident Agency and the Missile Defense Agency.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Cornelius for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Chantelle Dial and Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: Nobody Wants Republican Tax Bill That Will Hurt Millions Of Americans, Still Time To Stop It

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor today to warn Senate Republicans against passing a tax plan that would kick more than 16 million Americans off of health insurance, raise monthly health care and energy costs across the country, and slash nutritional assistance for those in need – all in order to cut taxes for billionaires. He highlighted the voices of Americans in red states imploring their representatives to preserve Medicaid which is a lifeline for tens of millions of people across the country.
    “The stakes are clear. It’s people’s health. It’s people’s hard-earned money. It is people’s lives,” said Senator Schatz. “And whether you’re in a red or a blue state, you will absolutely feel the weight of this terrible piece of legislation. More than a quarter of nursing homes may close. Hundreds of rural hospitals will shutter. And for what? To pay down the debt? Because we’re a nation at war? Because we want to invest in infrastructure or schools or health care? No. The reason they are making these cuts to food assistance. The reason they are making these cuts to rural hospitals. The reason they are making these cuts so that people are going to have to pay several hundred dollars more per month for their own health care, is to create enough revenue for the biggest tax cut – the biggest wealth transfer from working people to wealthy people in the history of the United States of America.”
    Senator Schatz continued, “Now, the good news is this: we actually don’t have to do this. There is no rush to do this. There is no clamoring among constituents in red or blue states to do this. But it’s going to require four Republicans saying enough is enough.”
    The full text of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.
    More than 16 million people are going to lose their health care, and tens of millions of Americans are going to pay more for health care every month. Hundreds of rural hospitals are going to be forced to close, and we are going to plunge the country into trillions of dollars of new debt.
    Now, what is this all for? Is it to improve our schools and roads? Is it to make housing and child care more affordable? Is it because we’re in the middle of a crisis that just has to be paid for, or we’re going to pay down the national debt? No, it’s none of those things. It’s because they want to cut taxes for the richest people to ever exist. And if that means that you can’t see your doctor, or you have to pay hundreds of dollars more every month to pay for your health care. Tough luck.
    Now, here’s the thing. Republicans actually know what they are walking into because people in their own states are telling them what’s about to happen.
    “We can’t sustain serving our community the way we are with these cuts,” one hospital leader in Kansas said.
    A health executive in Texas wrote, “Cutting billions of dollars from Medicaid would have widespread and devastating consequences for Texans. Beyond the obvious impacts to people enrolled in the program, the collateral damage to the program will be felt across the board. Hospitals will do everything they can to weather the storm, but some may not survive. Others will have to increase their reliance on state or local support or reduced services. Access to care will decrease, especially for high cost service lines like maternal health care and behavioral health. Jobs will be lost. The impact on communities which rely on their hospitals for employment and for growth will be profound.”
    A Utah father who credited Medicaid with saving his own son’s life said, “Without Medicaid, these lifesaving treatments would have been financially impossible. There is absolutely no way we would have covered the costs on our own. And in this way, our story is not unique. So many families insured by Medicaid could have to make difficult, life altering decisions if Congress slashes funding.”
    And a former Republican elected official in Georgia warned, “Cuts to Medicaid are not only fiscally irresponsible, but they could threaten the livelihoods of our fellow Georgians and the economic opportunities that consistently make our great state a top state for business.”
    So the stakes are clear. It’s people’s health. It’s people’s hard-earned money. It is people’s lives. And whether you’re in a red or a blue state, you will absolutely feel the weight of this terrible piece of legislation. More than a quarter of nursing homes may close. Hundreds of rural hospitals will shutter. And for what? To pay down the debt? Because we’re a nation at war? Because we want to invest in infrastructure or schools or health care? No. The reason they are making these cuts to food assistance, the reason they are making these cuts to rural hospitals, the reason they are making these cuts so that people are going to have to pay several hundred dollars more per month for their own health care, is to create enough revenue for the biggest tax cut, the biggest wealth transfer from working people to wealthy people in the history of the United States of America.
    Even if you’re not on Medicaid yourself, you likely know someone who is – a friend, a neighbor, a relative, a coworker. And more than that, kicking tons of people in your community off of health care will drive up costs for everybody else and make high quality care hard to find. You are going to pay more for less care – all for the biggest tax cut in American history for the people who need it the least.
    And I have no problem with the people who need it the least. But the truth is they need it the least. If you are financially successful and you make $4 million a year, God bless. It’s the American dream. It does not mean you need a tax cut. And it does not mean you need a tax cut paid for by reducing services, especially in rural communities.
    Now, the good news is this: we actually don’t have to do this. There is no rush to do this. There is no clamoring among constituents in red or blue states to do this. This is an add on. What they wanted to do is extend the original Trump tax cuts. Now, I oppose those tax cuts, but I can understand Republicans, as a sort of article of faith, want to extend the tax cuts that their president enacted two terms ago. Fair enough. Good, solid old-fashioned policy disagreements. But then they just larded it up with stuff giveaways to special interests and cuts and cuts and cuts to things that people care about left, right and center. And so we don’t actually have to do it this way.
    You’re going to pay more for less care, all so that billionaires just have a little more money sitting in their accounts. It’s going to require four Republicans saying enough is enough. And I’ve heard a number of my Republican colleagues talk about how essential Medicaid is to their rural communities. And it’s not just the people who are on Medicaid, obviously, those are the people you got to be primarily concerned with. But a lot of us go home and visit both urban and rural hospitals, and they all say the same thing, which is that if you blow out like 30 percent of your revenue, you can’t function as an institution. So it’s not just a question of whether you personally are on Medicaid or you personally care about Medicaid. It’s about does your rural hospital even survive after this bill is enacted?
    Nobody wants this. And there is still time to kill this bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –