NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI: Solar Alliance announces major stride towards profitability and files audited financial results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO and KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (‘Solar Alliance’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX-V: SOLR, OTC: SAENF), a leading solar energy solutions provider focused on the commercial and utility solar sectors, has filed its audited financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Financial Statements”) and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”). The Financial Statements and related MD&A are available under the Company’s profile.at  www.sedarplus.ca

    While Revenues in 2024 fell, from the record level of 2023, gross profits improved, and losses fell substantially as the Company approached breakeven.

    “Solar Alliance continues to see strong interest in renewable energy and strong demand for commercial solar projects. In recent years, the Company has honed its skill and laid down a track record in delivering C&I (commercial and industrial) and smaller utility projects. In the course of 2024, Solar Alliance completed 3MW from multiple smaller 100kW to 500kW projects. The Company has now moved toward a business development strategy targeting larger commercial projects in the 1MW to 5MW range, which the board believes we can deliver profitably, to support robust future growth. In recent years, overhead was decreased as we pursued a more focussed strategy. We now have the platform in place to target larger projects and we will selectively add resources to build on that and exploit the opportunities we have identified,”. said Solar Alliance CEO, Brian Timmons.

    We are well down the path to build a stable, growing company that is well positioned to take advantage of the broader shift to renewable energy. In this context, we closely monitor developments as they relate to the energy industry. We are encouraged to see an appreciation that the availability of competitively priced energy is a key factor underpinning future US economic growth. In the face of burgeoning energy demand over the next two decades the key market drivers that affect our business remain in place.

    Key financial highlights for 2024

    • Revenue decreased year-over-year to $5,446,757 (2023, $7,473,937) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as the Company focused on completion of a number of projects begun in 2023.
    • Cost of sales of $3,873,917 (2023, $6,399,169) resulting in a gross profit of $1,572,840 (2023, $1,074,768).
    • Net cash used in operating activities $1,830,685 (2023 – Net cash used by operating activities, $51,500)
    • Net Cash provided (absorbed) by financing activities $845,000 (2023 – ($127,500))
    • Net loss of $684,134 (2023 loss $1,811,861).
    • Total expenses of $2,869,308 (2023 – $3,037,881), reduction of 5.5%.
    • Salaries and benefits of $1,367,439 (2023 – $1,343,363), a 2% increase.
    • Short-term loans and notes payable of $227,621 in 2024 (2023 – $137,500).

    Key business highlights and outlook

    Large project focus momentum. The Company continues to benefit from repeat customers while focusing on new customers’ opportunities for solar system sales and installations. Recent policy developments in our area of operations, and growing interest in community solar is increasing the number of opportunities in our target market.

    Small and medium-sized project growth continues. This remains a target niche as a base flow of business. An important component for small and rural businesses wanting to reduce utility costs are the Rural Energy for America Program (“REAP”) grants and loans disbursed by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”).  This market segment would be impinged upon by changes in the USDA REAP scheme, although recently the administration did provide guidance enabling our customers’ grant applications to move forward. These projects are in addition to the sales funnel of larger projects the Company continues to pursue.

    Regional focus and Building on our expertise. Solar Alliance’s strategy is to design, engineer and install, operate and manage, and in due course, participate in ownership of commercial solar systems ranging in size from one to five megawatts. Demonstrated success in the region and improved processes create opportunities for further sales and development opportunities.

    Restatement of Comparative Period as at December 31, 2023

    The Company announces that certain items in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been restated to correct certain classification errors in such financial statements. Please refer to Note 22 of the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 for a fulsome description of adjustments and restatements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    Brian Timmons, CEO

    About Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (www.solaralliance.com)

    Solar Alliance is an energy solutions provider focused on the commercial, utility and community solar sectors. Our experienced team of solar professionals reduces or eliminates customers’ vulnerability to rising energy costs, offers an environmentally friendly source of electricity generation, and provides affordable, turnkey clean energy solutions. Solar Alliance’s strategy is to ultimately build, own and operate our own solar assets while also generating stable revenue through the sale and installation of solar projects to commercial and utility community customers.

    Statements in this news release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company’s future plans and objectives or expected results, constitute Forward-looking statements.

    The words “would”, “will”, “expected” and “estimated” or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company’s business development strategy, that the Company will be targeting larger commercial projects and the belief that the Company may deliver larger commercial projects profitably. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different than those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: the ability to complete the Company’s projects on schedule or at all, uncertainties related to the ability to raise sufficient capital; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; litigation, legislative or other judicial, regulatory, legislative and political competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties; the ability to maintain revenue growth; the ability to execute on the Company’s strategies; the ability to complete the Company’s current and backlog of solar projects; the ability to grow the Company’s market share; the high growth rate of the US solar industry; the ability to convert the backlog of projects into revenue; the expected timing of the construction and completion of the 1500 kW Kentucky solar projects; the targeting of larger customers; the ability to predict and counteract the effects, should they re-emerge, of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19, on the construction sector, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; potential corporate growth opportunities and the ability to execute on the key objectives in 2025. Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

    “Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: $HAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Urges Stockholders of RDUS, SSBK, LNSR, iCAD to Act Now

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:

    Radius Recycling, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDUS), relating to the proposed merger with Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Toyota Tsusho will acquire all shares of Radius, with Radius shareholders receiving $30.00 per share in cash.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for June 5, 2025.
            
    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/radius-recycling-inc-rdus/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • Southern States Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSBK), relating to the proposed merger with FB Financial Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, Southern States’ shareholders will receive 0.800 shares of FB Financial common stock for each share of Southern States stock.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for June 26, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/southern-states-bancshares-inc-ssbk/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • LENSAR, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNSR), relating to the proposed merger with Alcon. Under the terms of the agreement, LENSAR shareholders will receive $14.00 per share, with an additional non-tradeable contingent value right offering up to $2.75 per share in cash conditioned on the achievement of certain milestones.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for July 2, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/lensar-inc-lnsr/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    • iCAD, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICAD), relating to the proposed merger with RadNet, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, iCAD stockholders will receive 0.0677 shares of RadNet common stock for each share of iCAD common stock held at the closing of the merger.

    ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for July 14, 2025.

    Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/icad-inc-icad/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

    NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

    1. Do you file class actions and go to Court?
    2. When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
    3. What cases did you recover money in and how much?

    About Monteverde & Associates PC

    Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

    Contact:
    Juan Monteverde, Esq.
    MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
    The Empire State Building
    350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
    New York, NY 10118
    United States of America
    jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
    Tel: (212) 971-1341

    Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com).  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Rubio testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio testifies before the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs on the FY26 Department of State Budget Request on Capitol Hill, on May 21, 2025.

    Transcript: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/05/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-before-the-house-committee-on-appropriations-subcommittee-on-state-foreign-operations-and-related-programs-on-the-fy26-department-of-state-budget-request/
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
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    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/
    Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/StateDept
    Substack: https://statedept.substack.com

    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSTATEBPA/signup/32562

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
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    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWDlO6EnyC0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, King Introduce Resolution Reaffirming U.S.-Canada Partnership

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States and Canada share three oceans and the world’s longest border. About 400,000 people and more than $2.5 billion worth of goods and services move across the U.S.-Canada border each day. The relationship between the two countries fosters one of the most significant bilateral trading relationships in the world.
    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME), co-chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral American Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus, introduced a resolution today to recognize the U.S.-Canada partnership and its shared interests in economic, energy and critical minerals, and national security.
    In 2023, North Dakota’s largest market was Canada. The state exported $5.9 billion in goods to Canada in 2023, representing 79% of North Dakota’s total goods exports. Top North Dakota goods exported to Canada include crude petroleum, cereals, natural gas, agricultural machinery, and more.  
    “Representing a Northern border state, I recognize the importance of the unique partnership between the United States and Canada,” said Cramer. “Not only are our neighbors to the north crucial economic and national security partners, but they are literally our closest ally. This resolution celebrates our closeness and is a testament to the enduring strength, friendship, and importance of the U.S.-Canada alliance across the country and the globe.”
    “The United States and Canada have always been closely tied; we share our economies, cultures, military interests and more. In fact, in Maine, even our next door neighbor lives right across the border,” said King. “I continue to be proud of the work we have achieved under the American-Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus alongside my Senate Co-Chair Kevin Cramer, but know that the current situation presents many unfortunate challenges. While I am excited to reintroduce this resolution to reaffirm our two nations’ commitment to one another, we must acknowledge the close ties between our countries to resolve and mitigate any potential disruptions to our intertwined interests. As close trade partners and allies, I look forward to strengthening this close alliance to tackle these shared challenges and seize new opportunities.”  
    Among other provisions, the resolution recognizes the relationship between the United States and Canada is critical to promoting peace, expanding global economic opportunity, and being prepared to respond to unforeseen events. It also reaffirms the bilateral and international alliance between the two countries, which allows both countries to face common threats together and uphold common values, including democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. 
    Additionally, the resolution emphasizes the shared defense and security commitments between the two nations, including the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), joint border security initiatives, and cooperation in combating transnational threats such as illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking.
    The resolution is supported by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Peter Welch (D-VT). A similar resolution was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Mark Amodei (R-NV-02).
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Markey Introduce Legislation to Support Students Walking or Biking to School

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, established nearly two decades ago, was created to make it safer and easier for students who walk or bike to school. In addition to providing safety education to children and caregivers, it also funds infrastructure improvements including sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes. All 50 states and Washington, D.C., have SRTS programs which serve millions of students across the nation.
    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Safe Routes Improvement Act to enhance program accessibility for communities in North Dakota and nationwide. Specifically, the bill requires state departments of transportation (DOT) to designate an SRTS program coordinator, which will serve as a point of contact for local governments, school districts, and others looking to navigate the SRTS Program and receive funds for projects in their communities.
    This builds on Cramer’s bipartisan efforts to expand program eligibility from elementary and middle school students to also include high school students, a policy change he secured in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Under the BIL, a dozen projects across North Dakota received over $3 million in SRTS funding. Communities including Minot, Bismarck, Horace, Milnor, Linton, Carson, Fargo, Bowman, and Belfield have used these funds for various pedestrian improvements such as installing speed limit signs, constructing sidewalks and shared use paths, and building ADA-compliant ramps.
    “As someone who walks to work every morning when I’m in Washington, I know how essential safe routes are for the kids who walk or bike to school,” said Cramer. “Over the last 20 years, the Safe Routes to School program has been instrumental in helping support infrastructure improvements to keep our kids safe. This legislation is a smart solution to make it easier for school districts and rural communities to access Safe Routes funding.”
    “Every child deserves a safe journey to and from school, whether they’re walking, biking, or riding the bus,” said Markey. “By ensuring every state has a Safe Routes to School coordinator, we’re helping communities design safer streets and healthier futures. I’m proud to partner with Senator Cramer to introduce this legislation and put children’s safety first.”
    “Senator Cramer’s leadership on this legislation shows he’s really looking out for North Dakota—and for communities across the country. Requiring every state to have a Safe Routes to School Coordinator isn’t just helpful, it’s essential,” said Blue Weber, Community Outreach Liaison at Bolton & Menk, and former CEO of the Downtown Development Association in Grand Forks. “These coordinators are key to making sure the projects we work on actually reflect what communities need and have the support to move forward. At Bolton & Menk, we believe great design starts with listening and this bill will support community voices to be heard.”
    “Every child should be able to bike, walk, or roll to school safely,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists. “We applaud this legislation from Senators Cramer and Markey which would direct state departments of transportation to designate a Safe Routes to School Coordinator. By helping school districts and local governments navigate the grants process, share best practices, and track successes, Safe Routes to School Coordinators are a crucial resource in our shared goal to improve traffic safety for kids.”
    “As the national leader of the Safe Routes to School movement, Safe Routes Partnership applauds Senator Cramer for his continued leadership in strengthening a program that helps students get to and from school safely and reliably,” said Marisa Jones, Managing Director of the Safe Routes Partnership. “Safe Routes to School is an evidence-based, cost-effective, bipartisan initiative that supports rural, suburban, and urban communities in meeting the daily transportation needs of families. By ensuring every state has a dedicated Safe Routes to School coordinator, this legislation will expand the program’s reach and ensure more communities can benefit from safer, more connected school travel options.”  
    “Safe Kids Grand Forks has done a considerable amount of pedestrian and bike safety work with the Safe Routes to School Program,” said Carma Hanson, Coordinator of Safe Kids Grand Forks at Altru Health System. “We have done this in an effort to assure that all kids get to and from school safely. Our work in both North Dakota and Minnesota demonstrates the importance of partnerships that are led by a collaborative and engaging entity, assuring cost effective and credible programming and interventions. We are thrilled that Senator Cramer is helping lead the charge on the national level for this type of collaboration and partnership as we strive to assure students get to and from school safely.”
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Enhance Reentry Programs, Promote Public Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Carol Miller (R-W.Va.-1) and Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.-7) introduced the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025.
    The legislation would reauthorize critical reentry grant programs from the Second Chance Act of 2008, which was most recently reauthorized during the first Trump administration as part of the First Step Act in 2018, including services and supports for housing, career training, and treatment for substance use disorders and/or mental illness. The legislation would also reauthorize critical programs to reduce recidivism, invest in communities, and promote public safety. 
    “Over 95% of incarcerated people will be released at some point,” Senator Capito said. “The Second Chance Reauthorization Act will help people reentering society get the resources they need to become productive and successful members of their communities. Whether it’s helping them find a job, providing therapy and rehabilitation services for those struggling with addiction, providing faith-based programming to help people turn over a new leaf, or many other services, this legislation will help provide resources to a wide range of programs across the country that have been proven to reduce recidivism rates.”
    “Since 2008, the Second Chance Act has supported programs across the country that provide opportunities to those rebuilding their lives after incarceration. This is why this there has always been bipartisan support for funding for second chance programs – we have seen that these programs work in communities everywhere. In fact, they have helped reduce the three-year rate of recidivism in our country by almost a quarter since its passage,” Senator Booker said. “This bipartisan legislation provides the necessary tools and reentry services that formerly incarcerated individuals need to be successful when they leave prison. Empowering these individuals is not just the right thing to do, it makes our communities safer for us all. And Congress should ensure that every community, red or blue, rural or urban, is able to access these critical grant funds.”
    “Since the Second Chance Act passed in 2008, formerly incarcerated West Virginians reentering our communities have received the vital services and support they needed to return home successfully,” Congresswoman Miller said. “We have seen the benefits of the Second Chance Act in West Virginia and across the country. When we put in place strong reentry programming, we are creating safer communities where individuals feel supported and empowered to break the cycle of recidivism.”
    “Second Chance reentry programs and services have reached hundreds of thousands of individuals and families across the country, creating healthier families and safer communities,” Congressman Davis said. “Continuing to invest in these evidenced-based interventions is a commonsense approach to strengthen individuals, re-build families, and grow our economy.”
    The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 would: 
    Reauthorize key grant programs that provide vital services, supports, and resources for people reentering their communities after incarceration;
    Expand allowable uses for supportive and transitional housing services for individuals reentering the community from prison and jail; and
    Enhance addiction treatment services for individuals with substance use disorders, including peer recovery services, case management, and overdose prevention.
    Since its passage 16 years ago, Second Chance has supported states, local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to reduce recidivism. To date, Second Chance grants have reached more than 442,000 justice-involved individuals who participated in reentry services or parole and probation programs. West Virginia has received more than $5 million in funding through Second Chance grants.
    From 2009 to 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded over 1,300 Second Chance Act grants to states, local, and tribal governments, as well as reentry-focused community organizations. Second Chance grants have been administered to 871 agencies across 49 U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
    The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024 is endorsed by the following organizations: American Correctional Association, American Jail Association, American Parole and Probation Association, Catholic Charities USA, Correctional Leaders Association, Council of State Governments Justice Center, CPAC, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Counties, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National District Attorneys Association, National League of Cities, Prison Fellowship, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
    To read the full text of the bill, click here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing on EPA’s Proposed FY26 Budget with Administrator Zeldin

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
     
    [embedded content]
    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
    In her opening remarks, Chairman Capito applauded Administrator Zeldin for his leadership in returning EPA to its core mission, reversing the federal overreach of the previous administration, and focusing the agency on issues important to West Virginia and the country. Additionally, Chairman Capito highlighted ways EPA’s proposed budget benefits hardworking Americans and areas it can be improved. 
    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.
    “Welcome to Administrator Zeldin, it is good to see you again. I understand you’ve had several hearings over the past few days, so I know you’ve been busy. I believe you are doing an excellent job in implementing your vision to return the EPA to its core mission of protecting our country’s air, our land, and water, while eliminating wasteful spending.
    “To start, I applaud your aggressive efforts to undo the previous administration’s regulatory overreach. Your leadership will put us on the path to energy dominance with sound environmental procedures.
    “Your efforts, like rescinding the Biden Clean Power Plan 2.0 rule…that was part of a comprehensive strategy intended to shut down all fossil-fuel electric generation, will unleash our economy and help onshore American jobs.
    “President Trump and his team are also putting West Virginia first, by announcing an agency-wide PFAS strategy and providing West Virginia with the authority to permit wells to sequester carbon dioxide. I appreciate the structural changes that you, Administrator Zeldin, are bringing to the EPA.
    “Several weeks ago, the EPA announced that it would move more than 130 experts to assist with reviews of new chemicals and pesticides. In 2016, the Congress told the EPA to accelerate the new chemical approval process, but the Agency has done little to comply with that direction. Reviews currently take months, if not years, stifling innovation and leaving companies reliant on outdated chemicals.
    “Addressing the pace of this process is crucial to maintaining our competitiveness in a global market, expanding our key industries, and onshoring critical supply chains. I appreciate that you, Administrator Zeldin, are taking into account my previous calls to provide more resources to address this issue.
    “This leads us to why we are here today, the EPA’s budget. I first want to thank the Administrator for acting on his pledge to prioritize being a good steward of tax-payer dollars.
    “EPA has restored accountability to grant programs enacted through the partisan Inflation Reduction Act. For example, in February, the EPA canceled a $50 million grant made to the Climate Justice Alliance under the IRA’s environmental justice grant program.
    “The Climate Justice Alliance is a non-profit organization that I investigated and found explicitly engaged in pro-Hamas, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, anti-police, and anti-military activities. Some of these activities occurred while they were under consideration for an EPA grant awarded by the last administration.
    “The EPA has taken immediate action to investigate and reclaim the $20 billion dollars awarded under the so-called ‘Green Bank’ program in the IRA. This money was rushed out the door before the end of the last administration under unprecedented, and I would say, suspicious terms.
    “The EPA’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget shows deep reductions for the agency. Some of these cuts reflect the best interests of hardworking Americans.
    “For example, the budget proposes to cut $100 million from environmental justice programs that were added under the Biden Administration and have unnecessarily imposed requirements that are burdensome for small, regulated entities or grant awardees. This is a welcome start and it will reduce regulatory compliance burdens and allow tax dollars to beneficially impact more entities.
    “However, there are bipartisan programs that would be impacted if the proposed budget is enacted, programs that have done much to help continuously clean up the air, water, and lands, as well as provide safe drinking water.
    “For example, the proposed budget would reduce funding for the Brownfields program and includes an 89% cut to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
    “I and many of my colleagues have long been vocal about the importance of federal assistance for water infrastructure through the State Revolving Funds. In 2021, Congress made the largest bipartisan investment in the State Revolving Funds and water infrastructure in our nation’s history, delivering more than $50 billion for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater programs.
    “State revolving funds have helped many West Virginians, and many around the country, get connected with the water access and resources that they need. I hope that we can work together through the Appropriations process, as well as through the committee’s reauthorizations efforts, to make sure that adequate resources remain available to support our water systems.
    “I look forward to building to that future with you, Mr. Administrator, over the next several years.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Fitzgerald’s Halting Uncertain Methods and Practices in Supervision (HUMPS) Act Passes Financial Services Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) introduced the Halting Uncertain Methods and Practices in Supervision (HUMPS) Act, which strengthens transparency in how banks are evaluated. The bill passed the House Financial Services Committee today by voice vote. Specifically, it directs the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) to revise the CAMELS rating system by establishing clear, objective standards for each component and updating the formula used to calculate a bank’s overall rating. It also calls for eliminating or reforming the subjective “Management” component, focusing instead on measurable risk governance and internal controls.

    “The HUMPS Act brings much-needed transparency and accountability to the bank rating process,” said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald. “The CAMELS rating system has a real impact on how banks operate—but right now, it gives regulators too much room to apply double standards. This bill ensures that supervisory ratings are based on transparent, quantifiable metrics, not political bias or personal opinion. It’s a necessary step to prevent debanking by removing subjectivity from banking oversight.”

    BACKGROUND: The CAMELS rating system—Capital adequacy, Asset quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity, and Sensitivity to market risk—is a supervisory tool used by federal regulators to assess the health and safety of financial institutions. These confidential ratings significantly affect decisions around mergers and acquisitions, deposit insurance premiums, and whether a bank is considered “well managed” for regulatory purposes. 

    However, the current framework gives regulators broad discretion, particularly in the “Management” component, which is often based on subjective judgments rather than objective metrics. This discretion has raised concerns about politicized supervision and “debanking.” When a bank’s supervisory rating can be downgraded due to undefined or opaque criteria, institutions may choose to “de-risk” by avoiding lawful but politically disfavored customers. This creates a chilling effect on financial access and weakens trust in the neutrality of bank oversight.

    SUPPORTERS: American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions, Bank Policy Institute, Financial Services Forum, and Wisconsin Bankers Association.

    Read the bill text here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Charges Two Bay Area Caregivers with Elder Abuse and Fraud

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    Wednesday, May 21, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    SAN JOSE – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the filing of felony charges against two caregivers for fraud and elder abuse. The California Department of Justice received a complaint referral from the California Department of Social Services alleging abuse and neglect of residents at an unlicensed care home located in San Jose. It was alleged that the residents were living in biohazardous conditions and were left with untreated medical issues, all the while the defendants were receiving in-home support service payments from Medi-Cal.

    “Those who care for our elders have a profound responsibility to treat those in their care with the highest level of compassion and dignity,” said Attorney General Bonta. “They support individuals during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to fighting against all types of elder abuse and neglect. We will take prompt action to ensure that anyone who exploits or harms these vulnerable members of our community is held accountable.”

    A felony complaint has been filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court, charging the defendants with two felony counts of elder abuse, one felony count of dependent adult abuse, and one felony count of filing a false claim.

    The California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (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 copy of the complaint can be found here.  

    It is important to note that criminal charges must be proven in a court of law. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Libby Richards, Professor of Nursing, Purdue University

    Older adults will continue to receive yearly COVID-19 shots, but lower-risk groups will not, says the FDA. dusanpetkovic via iStock / Getty Images Plus

    On May 20, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new stance on who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

    The agency said it would approve new versions of the vaccine only for adults 65 years of age and older as well as for people with one or more risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. These risk factors include medical conditions such as asthma, cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes.

    However, healthy younger adults and children who fall outside of these groups may not be eligible to receive the COVID-19 shot this fall. Vaccine manufacturers will have to conduct clinical trials to demonstrate that the vaccine benefits low-risk groups.

    FDA Commissioner Martin Makary and the agency’s head of vaccines, Vinay Prasad, described the new framework in an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine and in a public webcast.

    The Conversation U.S. asked Libby Richards, a nursing professor involved in public health promotion, to explain why the changes were made and what they mean for the general public.

    Why did the FDA diverge from past practice?

    Until the May 20 announcement, getting a yearly COVID-19 vaccine was recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older, regardless of their health risk.

    According to Makary and Prasad, the Food and Drug Administration is moving away from these universal recommendations and instead taking a risk-based approach based on its interpretation of public health trends – specifically, the declining COVID-19 booster uptake, a lack of strong evidence that repeated boosters improve health outcomes for healthy people and the fact that natural immunity from past COVID-19 infections is widespread.

    The FDA states it wants to ensure the vaccine is backed by solid clinical trial data, especially for low-risk groups.

    Was this a controversial decision or a clear consensus?

    The FDA’s decision to adopt a risk-based framework for the COVID-19 vaccine aligns with the expected recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an advisory group of vaccine experts offering expert guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy, which is scheduled to meet in June 2025. But while this advisory committee was also expected to recommend allowing low-risk people to get annual COVID-19 vaccines if they want to, the FDA’s policy will likely make that difficult.

    Although the FDA states that its new policy aims to promote greater transparency and evidenced-based decision-making, the change is controversial – in part because it circumvents the usual process for evaluating vaccine recommendations. The FDA is enacting this policy change by limiting its approval of the vaccine to high-risk groups, and it is doing so without any new data supporting its decision. Usually, however, the FDA broadly approves a vaccine based on whether it is safe and effective, and decisions on who should be eligible to receive it are left to the CDC, which receives research-based guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

    Change is coming to COVID-19 vaccine policy.
    Rock Obst, CC BY-SA

    Additionally, FDA officials point to Canada, Australia and some European countries that limit vaccine recommendations to older adults and other high-risk people as a model for its revised framework. But vaccine strategies vary widely, and this more conservative approach has not necessarily proven superior. Also, those countries have universal health care systems and have a track record of more equitable access to COVID-19 care and better COVID-19 outcomes.

    Another question is how health officials’ positions on COVID-19 vaccines affect public perception. Makary and Prasad noted that COVID-19 vaccination campaigns may have actually eroded public trust in vaccination. But some vaccine experts have expressed concerns that limiting COVID-19 vaccine access might further fuel vaccine hesitancy because any barrier to vaccine access can reduce uptake and hinder efforts to achieve widespread immunity.

    What conditions count as risk factors?

    The New England Journal of Medicine article includes a lengthy list of conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and notes that about 100 million to 200 million people will fall into this category and will thus be eligible to get the vaccine.

    Pregnancy is included. Some items on the list, however, are unclear. For example, the list includes asthma, but the data that asthma is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 is scant.

    Also on the list is physical inactivity, which likely applies to a vast swath of Americans and is difficult to define. Studies have found links between regular physical activity and reduced risk of severe COVID-19 infection, but it’s unclear how health care providers will define and measure physical inactivity when assessing a patient’s eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines.

    Most importantly, the list leaves out an important group – caregivers and household members of people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection. This omission leaves high-risk people more vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 from healthy people they regularly interact with. Multiple countries the new framework refers to do include this group.

    Why is the FDA requiring new clinical trials?

    According to the FDA, the benefits of multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines for healthy adults are currently unproven. It’s true that studies beyond the fourth vaccine dose are scarce. However, multiple studies have demonstrated that the vaccine is effective at preventing the risk of severe COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death in low-risk adults and children. Receiving multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines has also been shown to reduce the risk of long COVID.

    The FDA is moving to risk-based access for COVID-19 vaccines.

    The FDA is requiring vaccine manufactures to conduct additional large randomized clinical trials to further evaluate the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 boosters for healthy adults and children. These trials will primarily test whether the vaccines prevent symptomatic infections, and secondarily whether they prevent hospitalization and death. Such trials are more complex, costly and time-consuming than the more common approach of testing for immunological response.

    This requirement will likely delay both the timeliness and the availability of COVID-19 vaccine boosters and slow public health decision-making.

    Will low-risk people be able to get a COVID-19 shot?

    Not automatically. Under the new FDA framework, healthy adults who wish to receive the fall COVID-19 vaccine will face obstacles. Health care providers can administer vaccines “off-label”, but insurance coverage is widely based on FDA recommendations. The new, narrower FDA approval will likely reduce both access to COVID-19 vaccines for the general public and insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines.

    The FDA’s focus on individual risks and benefits may overlook broader public health benefits. Communities with higher vaccination rates have fewer opportunities to spread the virus.

    What about vaccines for children?

    High-risk children age 6 months and older who have conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 are still eligible for the vaccine under the new framework. As of now, healthy children age 6 months and older without underlying medical conditions will not have routine access to COVID-19 vaccines until further clinical trial data is available.

    Existing vaccines already on the market will remain available, but it is unclear how long they will stay authorized and how the change will affect childhood vaccination overall.

    Libby Richards has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Nurses Foundation, and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute

    – ref. FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules – https://theconversation.com/fda-limits-access-to-covid-19-vaccine-to-older-adults-and-other-high-risk-groups-a-public-health-expert-explains-the-new-rules-257226

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 21st, 2025 Heinrich Opening Statement on Hearing to Advance Nominations for Department of Energy and the Interior

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers opening remarks at a business meeting to consider nominees before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, May 21, 2025.

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted to support two of four nominations during a business meeting before the Committee.

    Heinrich voted to advance the nominations of Mr. Conner Prochaska to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy; and Ms. Tina Pierce to be the Chief Financial Officer, Department of Energy.

    Heinrich voted no on the nominations of Mr. Jonathan Brightbill to be General Counsel, Department of Energy; and Dr. Ned Mamula to be Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior.

    A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks is here.

    A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

    With considerable reservation, I am going to vote for Mr. Prochaska and Ms. Pierce.

    I will be voting no, however, on the other two nominations that we are considering today, Mr. Mamula and Mr. Brightbill.

    I am troubled by Mr. Mamula’s track record of spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories, and I do not believe he is the correct choice to lead the USGS, an agency that prides itself on delivering unbiased, impartial, and objective scientific information.

    Last week’s nomination hearing, I asked Mr. Brightbill to square the Secretary’s recent decision to roll back energy efficiency standards with prior court orders requiring the Department to update efficiency standards.

    Mr. Brightbill’s response failed to provide me with comfort.

    I am also troubled by Mr. Brightbill’s past record of defending the Administration’s terrible environmental policies while at the DOJ during President Trump’s first term.

    As Republicans work to cut programs that save Americans millions of dollars in utility and energy costs, it is imperative that DOE’s General Counsel advocate for the rule of law as passed by Congress and signed by the president.

    I am not convinced Mr. Brightbill will do so.

    For this reason, I cannot support his nomination.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 21st, 2025 Heinrich, Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution Denouncing Two-Month Blockade on Food and Medicine in Gaza

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) to introduce a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and life-saving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. In their resolution, the senators express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the imminent starvation of tens of thousands of children. 
    On March 2, 2025, the Israeli Government began blocking all food and emergency aid —including food, medicine, infant formula, fuel, and other lifesaving humanitarian supplies — from reaching Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In the same month, all 25 World Food Program (WFP)-supported bakeries in Gaza closed, wheat flour and cooking fuel ran out, and food parcels distributed to families — with two weeks of food rations — were depleted. According to the United Nations, about 10,000 children have been identified as suffering from acute malnutrition since January 2025. 
    “We must deliver critically needed food and medicine to innocent civilians in Gaza facing extreme hunger, death, disease and widespread destruction. While Israel has the right to defend itself, it must follow U.S. and international humanitarian law. Unfortunately, Israel has been and continues to act in direct violation of the requirements mandated under the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act,” said Heinrich.
    “As we continue to pursue pathways to achieve a two-state solution, which remains crucial both for Palestinians’ sovereignty and self-determination and for Israel’s security in the region, we must work toward a long-term, post-war plan that can achieve lasting peace in the region,” Heinrich continued.
    The resolution is led by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Alongside Heinrich, the resolution is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    The senators’ resolution is supported by Anera, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, J Street, and Oxfam America.
    The full text of the resolution is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 21st, 2025 Heinrich, Murray, Klobuchar, Merkley Slam USDA for Evasive Response on Wildfire Mitigation Projects, Workforce Cuts, and Funding Freezes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, along with U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, is once again pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for answers after receiving a deeply inadequate response to a February oversight letter regarding the Department’s unlawful halt of federal funds needed to mitigate and fight wildfires.

    In a follow-up letter sent to USDA Deputy Under Secretary Kristin Sleeper, the lawmakers criticized the USDA’s April response for failing to answer the majority of their questions and  demanded a comprehensive and transparent accounting of the agency’s actions under the Trump Administration.

    “We write to address your recent response to the letter we sent on February 11, 2025, regarding the disbursement of funds for forest management and restoration projects and the universal hiring freeze under the Department of Agriculture. Our letter outlined ten specific questions, of which only two were addressed in your April 10 response,” the senators wrote.

    “Your incomplete response left significant questions unanswered concerning which projects, grants, agreements, and staff have been affected by the Trump Administration’s recent actions. Although the Forest Service has lost approximately 5,000 employees through resignation and early retirement since February, we understand that additional reduction-in-force actions are still planned. Questions remain about the Department’s plan to carry out Congressional directives and, most importantly, protect American communities in danger as they face a daunting fire season,” the senators continued.

    “Despite our clear and detailed inquiry, the Forest Service has only answered two of our ten questions,” the senators wrote. “This lack of transparency is unacceptable in the face of ongoing threats to public safety, wildfire resilience, and rural economies across the country.”

    The senators requested a response to the questions they originally sent to the USDA, which went unanswered by the Department in their correspondence:

    1. Please provide a full list of Forest Service programs for which disbursements were or currently are paused, including any paused under Executive Order 14154 or the now rescinded memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget.
    1. Please provide a full list of individual projects, including the location and total award amount, for which funds were obligated but disbursements are now paused. Please include projects carried out by Departmental personnel as well as those carried out through grants, contracts, or agreements. If obligated funds have been paused, what is the legal basis for pausing the disbursement of already obligated funds?
    1. Did the agency inform non-federal partners affected by the pause before halting their payments? Has the agency communicated with those same partners concerning the status of the affected projects since the pause was initiated? If so, please provide examples of any communications notifying applicants or current participants of the affected programs.
    1. 4. What is the status of agency personnel that were hired under funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)? Are those personnel still being paid their salaries? How many of these personnel, if any, have been terminated, furloughed, put on administrative leave, or otherwise notified of future administrative leave?
    1. How many Forest Service employees have been terminated, furloughed, put on administrative leave, or otherwise notified of future administrative leave since January 20, 2025? Please provide the job titles and duty stations for each category described above.
    1. How many Forest Service employees accepted the deferred resignation offer being offered to federal employees by the Office of Personnel Management? Please provide data broken down by position, grade, and duty station.
    1. Does the Department plan to reimburse contractors whose payments are paused but are continuing to act under the terms of their contract with the Department? What is the status of Departmental reviews of these paused projects?
    1. Please provide the minimum amount of time the pause on funding could last.

    The senators requested additional answers to the following new questions:

    1. The spending plan provided by the Forest Service for Fiscal Year 2025 contains no information on agency activity beyond what Congress provided to each mission area. Please provide a thorough spending plan that details the expected changes to each program area for this fiscal year, at least at the level of detail provided in the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Justification’s “Detail Tables.”
    1. Please provide the years-to-date number of acres treated nationwide for hazardous fuels using funds provided through annual appropriations, IIJA, or IRA compared with the 10-year average.
    1. Pursuant to existing law, a reduction-in-force plan must avoid undue interruption to the agency’s work. What is the Forest Service’s statutory authority for pursuing a reduction-in-force despite the loss of more than 15 percent of its total employees that has already resulted a significant decrease in the agency’s work?
    1. The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget recommends moving Wildland Fire Management programs out of the Forest Service. Has the Administration conducted an analysis of how this proposal would impact the Forest Service’s management of National Forest System (NFS) lands, particularly the Forest Service’s efforts to reduce wildfire risk on NFS lands? For this proposal, did the Administration consult States, Tribes, private sector, and the Forest Service employees’ union?
    1. If the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which proposes to cut NFS management funding, were enacted, how many Forest Service recreation sites, ranger stations, facilities, or services would be closed or limited in availability? Has the Forest Service analyzed how the current and additional proposed workforce reductions will impact its ability to maintain safe, sanitary recreation sites?
    1. How many Forest Service employees who have left the Forest Service since January 20, 2025 were certified to respond to wildfires? How many Forest Service employees being considered in workforce reduction plans are certified to respond to wildfires?

    The senators concluded their letter by underscoring how USDA is required by law to carry out its work as Congress intended, “The Forest Service provides a critical support function for communities across the country, from supporting the nation’s wood products sector to mitigating the threat of catastrophic wildfire. Continuing to carry out this work as Congress prescribed is not only required under the law but essential for our nation’s security.”

    Full text of the letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch and Baldwin Conclude Two-Day Forum on Harm Caused by Trump and Musk’s HHS Cuts Wednesday’s forum featured former agency officials from NIH, CDC, SAMHSA, AHRQ, and ACL 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) today concluded their two-day spotlight forum, entitled  “Trump’s Destruction of HHS: Mass Firings, Reorganization, and the Human Harm Caused.”  The forum examined the human harm caused by the Trump Administration’s sweeping reorganization and mass terminations at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  
    Senators Welch and Baldwin were joined by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). 
    “The Trump Administration’s dismantling of critical programs and agencies at HHS is hurting Americans of every age—in every zip code. From Meals on Wheels, to mental and physical care, to lifesaving research, President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are destroying the systems that deliver quality health, wellbeing and prevention to millions of patients,” said Senator Welch. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to hear directly from America’s leading health experts, who gave detailed—and frankly disheartening—accounts of what’s at risk and what’s already been lost. Senator Baldwin and I are committed to standing up for our health workers and standing against this administration’s reckless attacks on health care.” 
    “President Trump and RFK, Jr.’s reckless cuts are putting cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s that plague our families further out of reach. Their reckless cuts are putting mental health support further out of reach. Their reckless cuts are putting affordable caregiving further out of reach. This list goes on and on, and the impacts on the health and well-being of our constituents only get worse. I was proud to team up with Senator Welch to shine a light on this administration’s work to put Wisconsin families in harm’s way and make health care more expensive,” said Senator Baldwin. 
    Wednesday’s forum featured Dr. Anne Schuchat, the former Principal Deputy Director, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Ms. Trina Dutta, the former Chief of Staff, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Dr. Sean Bruna, the former Senior Advisor, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); Professor Alison Barkoff, the former Administrator for Administration for Community Living (ACL); and Dr. Jeremy Berg – former Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at NIH.  
    The former heads of HHS agencies shared about how layoffs and forced retirements are threatening evidence-based care and care outcomes, medical research, mental health research for Americans of all age, support for seniors, nutrition assistance through Meals on Wheels, and more. 
    Watch the livestream here:   
    Tuesday’s forum featured testimony from Dr. Robert Califf, the former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Dr. Meg Sullivan, the former Acting Secretary for Administration for Children and Families (ACF); Ms. Chiquita Brooks La-Sure, the former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); and Ms. Carole Johnson, the former Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch and Britt’s Bill to Boost Flood Resiliency and Hydrology Research Advances Bill would make permanent the hydrology research center at UVM  

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today celebrated the advancement of the bipartisan Water Research Optimization Act of 2025, legislation to streamline hydrological forecast modeling within the National Weather Service. The Senators’ legislation advanced out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation this morning.
    “Investing in hydrology modeling and prediction is crucial to boosting flood resilience across the country, from Vermont to Alabama. That includes supporting important hydrology research and programs at the University of Vermont that improve hydrologic forecasting, such as the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will strengthen and align current hydrology research at the National Weather Service with vital research at UVM to foster flood resilience and help communities rebuild better after natural disasters. I am thankful for the support of the Commerce Committee and urge my colleagues to support the bill as it comes to the Senate floor.”  
    “I continue to be grateful to Commerce Committee Chair Cruz for his work to advance critical legislation out of committee. I’m also thankful for Senator Welch’s partnership on this important bipartisan bill. The National Water Center has been instrumental to NOAA’s efforts to strengthen America’s water forecasting capabilities, improve weather-preparedness, and modernize water research technologies. The Center’s world-class capabilities truly benefit communities across our entire nation. I’m proud to champion this effort to further enhance this renowned research and applied science, and I’m committed to getting this signed into law,” said Senator Britt. 
    CIROH has evolved into a revolutionary, collaborative hub between the public and private sector for research and development. The Water Research Optimization Act of 2025 would make CIROH’s research center at the University of Vermont (UVM) permanent and align UVM’s hydrology work with the National Weather Service to boost flood resiliency research. 
    “We are grateful to Senators Welch and Britt for their leadership in introducing pivotal legislation to support CIROH. Funding for these efforts allows the University of Vermont to continue vital research on water that impacts the quality of life of Vermonters and communities across the country. We are proud to be able to contribute to this work,” said Kirk Dombrowski, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Vermont. 
    CIROH’s national coalition of academic, industry, and non-profit partners includes the University of Vermont, which functions closely alongside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Water Center to support stakeholders with hydrological data and important weather-related forecasts and warnings. This legislation would place CIROH Centers under the supervision and oversight of the National Weather Service’s Office of Water Protection and codify the National Water Center’s authority to lead the transition of water resources research.  
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Discusses Biofuels and Year-Round Nationwide E15 with Secretary Zeldin

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing with Administrator of the EPA Lee Zeldin, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed the importance of biofuels to Nebraskan farmers and reaffirmed the use of sound science and risk-based analysis in regulatory action. Ricketts underscored the value nationwide, year-round E15 offers for consumers, farmers, and the environment.

    “I know that everybody here knows that I love this committee because we get to talk about biofuels, so that’s what we’re going to do for a little bit here,” said Ricketts. “Supporting biofuels is consistent with President Trump’s mandate to unleash American energy. Year-round, nationwide E15 sales are a no-brainer in my humble opinion. It’s affordable, drives farm profits, and lessens energy reliance on adversaries.”

    Watch the hearing HERE.

    Ricketts’ comments were made in a hearing of the Committee on Environment and Public Works entitled: “The U.S. Environmental protection Agency’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.” The witness was Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

    BACKGROUND:

    Ricketts is co-leading bipartisan Congressional Review Act legislation to block the Biden EV mandate. He recently introduced the bipartisan Renewable Fuels for Ocean-Going Vessels Act to expand the use of biofuels on ships and has led bipartisan resolutions designating May as Renewable Fuels Montheach of the last two years. Senator Ricketts is also supporting Senator Deb Fischer’s bill to make the year-round sale of E15 permanent across the country. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES RESPONSE TO TRUMP’S STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Know Your Immigration Rights

    If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.

    Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.

    Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.

    Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.

    The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.

    Learn more here: KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS  – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Loudermilk’s TAILOR Act Passes Key House Committee – U.S. Representative Barry Loudermilk

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

    Washington, D.C. (May 21, 2025) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Financial Services passed his TAILOR Act (H.R. 3380):

    “In 1776 Thomas Paine wrote, ‘…government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one…’ For many small businesses, trying to comply with droves of complex government regulations has become an intolerable evil, especially for our small community banks. Georgia has lost more banks than any other state, due to the overwhelming cost of government compliance.

    “While big banks have an abundance of lawyers and compliance specialists to comply with the myriad of federal regulations, small firms struggle to meet these complex and often conflicting regulations. Small banks tell me that trying to comply with one-size-fits-all regulations is like a slow and painful death by a thousand cuts.

    “This is why I introduced the TAILOR Act, which will require federal regulators to tailor their regulations in accordance with the size, business model, and risk of each type of firm that they regulate. This will allow these smaller banks and financial institutions to operate more efficiently, without fear of succumbing to the pressures of overly burdensome government regulations that were designed for big banks and larger financial institutions.”

    Background
    • This bill would require federal financial regulators to tailor the scope of their regulations to fit the risk profiles of individual business models.
    • Currently, most regulatory tailoring is done by asset value. This has the unintended consequence of deterring banks from passing key milestones due to the new regulatory requirements that would kick in on the other side, thus slowing healthy growth.
    • Risk-based tailoring is a much more customized approach, allowing banks to take healthy risks and truly innovate. Because the financial services industry can’t ‘innovate’ in the same way that a factory might innovate, by inventing a new and faster machine or process, much of the innovation depends on adopting new business models.

    Click here to read full bill text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Aguilar Introduces the Housing Stability for Dreamers Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

    Last week, Reps. Pete Aguilar (D-CA-33), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52) and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) introduced the Housing Stability for Dreamers Act. This bill would clarify that DACA recipients can access mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
    During the first Trump Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) upended years of settled policy and began quietly denying DACA recipients federally-backed loans. This led a bicameral group of lawmakers, including Reps. Aguilar, Vargas and Garcia, to request an investigation into whether the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act and asked the Biden Administration to clarify that DACA recipients can qualify for federally-backed mortgages. In March, the Trump Administration announced that DACA recipients would again no longer be eligible for government-backed mortgages.
    According to estimates, thirty percent of DACA recipients are homeowners. DACA recipients have made over $760 million in mortgage payments and made significant economic contributions that are felt in their communities and nationwide. Yet, without congressional action, DACA recipients will no longer have access to some of the most important government programs to support wealth building and stability. 
    “We need to make homeownership more accessible for everyone. Dreamers and their families contribute to our economy and communities in countless ways and should not face even more barriers to owning a home and living the American dream,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I am proud to partner with Reps. Vargas and Garcia to introduce legislation that would give Dreamers the same shot at owning a home as everyone else.” 
    “Dreamers and their families deserve an equal opportunity to the American Dream. That starts by ensuring they can permanently benefit from the same federal homeownership opportunities offered to all Americans,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “This legislation is critical as the Trump Administration continues to target and discriminate against Dreamers and all immigrants.”
    “Dreamers are our neighbors, our coworkers, and an essential part of our communities. They work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our economy. For many, homeownership is the key to building stability and achieving the American dream. No one should be denied that opportunity simply because of where they were born,” said Rep. Sylvia Garcia. “As the Trump administration once again tries to strip away protections and limit access to basic programs like federally-backed home loans, this bill is about standing up for their humanity, their rights, and their future. I am proud to co-lead this bill alongside Rep. Vargas and Rep. Aguilar to eliminate systemic barriers in lending and make sure that Dreamers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
    In addition to Reps. Aguilar, Vargas and Garcia, the Housing Stability for Dreamers Act is cosponsored by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL-04), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At-Large), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) and Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07).Rep. Aguilar serves as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs to Host 2025 Veteran Benefit Expo and 80th Anniversary Celebration in Salem

    Source: US State of Oregon

    he Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) is proud to announce the return of its annual Veteran Benefit Expo, the state’s largest veteran resource event, on June 16th at the Salem Armory Auditorium, 2310 17th St. NE.

    This marks the first in-person Expo since 2019 and will also feature a special 80th Anniversary Celebration of ODVA beginning at 10 a.m.

    Organized by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs and presented in partnership with the Oregon Lottery and the Oregon Military Department, the Veteran Benefit Expo is a one-of-a-kind event and a one-stop shop for Oregon veterans of all eras and walks of life to learn about and access the full range of their earned benefits and local resources.

    More than 65 participating agencies, nonprofits and service providers will be on hand to provide in-depth information and direct services across a wide range of benefit areas, including health care, disability claims assistance, housing, emergency assistance, long-term care, mental health, education, business, recreation and more.

    “We are celebrating the 80th anniversary of ODVA by doing what we’ve always done: showing up for Oregon veterans and their families,” said ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels. “The Veteran Benefit Expo is more than an event — it is the heart of our mission brought to life: bringing vital resources and earned benefits into the communities where veterans live and work, and making sure they know they’re seen, valued, and supported.”

    This year’s Expo will also celebrate ODVA’s eight decades of service to Oregon’s veteran community, kicking off with the 80th Anniversary Ceremony at 10 a.m. on the Armory Auditorium stage, which will be immediately followed by a cake cutting and the opening of the Expo. The public is invited to attend.

    Space is limited, but there are still openings for state or local organizations who provide direct benefits to veterans and who are interested in being an exhibitor at this year’s Expo. Registration is free but is subject to approval by ODVA based on space and other considerations. To register, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/orvetexpo25vendors.

    The Veteran Benefit Expo was first held in 2015 at the Salem Convention Center in honor of ODVA’s 70th anniversary and has grown to become the agency’s signature outreach event, drawing an estimated 500 to 600 veterans each year. Since its inception, the Expo has traveled to different regions of the state, with plans to continue rotating in future years to ensure broad access to benefits by the state’s diverse veteran population.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced to Prison for Fraud

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ronnie Lamar Strawberry, Jr., 39, of Los Angeles, California was sentenced on May 19, 2025, by Senior United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay $528,426 in restitution. Strawberry pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. His sister, Raychelle Strawberry, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, was sentenced on the same day to 60 months of probation for her role in the offense. 

    According to the court documents and statements made in court, Ronnie Strawberry conspired with his sister and others to file false and fraudulent unemployment insurance claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Strawberry filed fraudulent claims in both California and Arizona using stolen identities. The scheme was sophisticated and used personal identifiable information — such as name, date of birth, and social security number — from more than 25 individuals to file online unemployment applications in Arizona and California.

    “The defendant exploited a national crisis for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “He stole nearly $500,000 in pandemic relief funds that were meant to support struggling families and small businesses. This office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who stole from state and federal governments during the pandemic and intentionally depleted the public fisc for personal profit.”

    “An important part of the mission of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving unemployment insurance (UI) programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the nation’s Unemployment Insurance system,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

    U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (OIG), Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) OIG, and Homeland Security, OIG conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-24-00390- PHX-GMS
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-080_Strawberry

    # # #
    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Watertown Man Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Federal Prison for Unlawful Firearm Possession

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

    SIOUX FALLS—United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Watertown, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 19, 2025. 

    Anthony Thomas Lee Baker, 43, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of the firearm was also ordered.  

    Baker was indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024.

    The charges arose from an incident when Baker, driving a vehicle, was stopped by law enforcement in Watertown, South Dakota. He was found to be in possession of a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Baker is prohibited from possessing any firearm based on a prior felony conviction. More specifically, Baker has at least three prior violent felony convictions, including one for possession of another firearm following his conviction for a crime of violence in Ramsey County, Minnesota, in 2017.

    This case was investigated by the ATF and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. 

    Baker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham: Moral Clarity Will Conquer Evil Regimes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today spoke on the Senate floor about peace through strength and moral clarity during dangerous times.
    On moral clarity during dangerous times:
    GRAHAM: “Russia is the aggressor. Russia must end this bloodbath. That is my view of [the Russia-Ukraine war]. Let’s look in history and see what happens when you have moral clarity and see what happens when you lose it.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=V0-X6tkjJE_8De10&t=566
    GRAHAM: “Hitler told [the world] what he was going to do, he wrote a book. But [former UK Prime Minister] Chamberlain obviously didn’t read the book and he didn’t have the moral clarity to confront the Nazi regime, and a lot of people died. September 30, 1938 [Chamberlain said] ‘I believe it is peace for our time.’ … Less than a year later, the world was on fire.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=9GJNnus0en6x_S6R&t=643
    GRAHAM: “‘When all are free, then we can look forward to that day when this city will be joined as one and this country and this great continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe.’ [President John F. Kennedy] was talking about Berlin. Moral clarity to the Soviet Union.  He stood up for freedom and stood against the Soviet empire.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=V0-X6tkjJE_8De10&t=718
    GRAHAM: “Ronald Reagan: ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’ How clear could you be? On the other side of this wall is an evil empire. That moral clarity, over time, brought the Soviet Union down to its knees.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=V0-X6tkjJE_8De10&t=749
    On President Trump’s leadership:
    GRAHAM: “When [President Trump] got in office, one of his top priorities was to fix a broken border. Look what’s happened…He’s turned it all off because he was firm and resolved with Mexico and others. His border policies have worked.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=BaLGLKsqVGj9HRCd&t=363
    GRAHAM: “What has [President Trump] said about Iran? ‘You know it’s not a complicated formula. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That’s all there is.’ That’s moral clarity. You can understand that no matter where you’re at on the planet.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=sOxbu_x3XKBdCBOm&t=436
    GRAHAM: “I appreciate President Trump’s earnest effort to bring the parties together to find a solution we can all live with, to keep an independent sovereign Ukraine, and end this war sooner rather than later. It is clear to me that after all these months, the earnest efforts by President Trump are not being equally met. I think Zelensky is ready to make concessions to end this war. Putin seems to be [doing] more talking and less acting.”  https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=uQ3IQiEdRV2rPWwG&t=948
    On the Graham-Blumenthal Russia sanctions bill reaching over 80 cosponsors:
    GRAHAM: “It is now time to increase the cost of this war to Putin. The sanctions package we have put together has [over] 80 cosponsors. Do you know how hard it is to get 80 Senators to agree on anything? Eighty of us – and the number is climbing – are ready to impose sanctions on Russia if Putin does not come to the table and earnestly seek peace.” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=kWOZu-UhJqd0ru3M&t=1009
    GRAHAM: “These sanctions are geared toward China. There are tariffs in these sanctions on any nation that buys Russian oil and gas from the shadow fleet. Putin’s war machine is propped up by China and India buying Russian oil at a massive discount…” https://youtu.be/7QdErvIuatE?si=QJy_NDKD5DdPFoUY&t=1036
    Click here to watch Graham’s entire speech

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine & Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Help Workers Better Prepare for Retirement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), the HELP Committee Chair, introduced the Auto Reenroll Act, legislation to help American workers take advantage of their available employer-sponsored retirement plans and full employer match offers by permitting more frequent opportunities for employees to opt in.
    “For many Americans, employer-sponsored retirement plans become a crucial part of their long-term financial security,” said Kaine. “That’s why it’s important that we make it easier for more workers to take full advantage of these opportunities. I’m glad to team up with Senator Cassidy to introduce our bipartisan bill to help make that happen so more Americans can get enrolled and improve their financial footing.”
    “Americans should have every opportunity to invest for a secure retirement,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Auto-reenrollment enables workers to be in better control of their finances so they can be ready for retirement.”
    Currently, one in four American workers are not enrolled in their employer-sponsored retirement plans, and one-third are not taking advantage of their full employer matching contribution. Proactively encouraging these workers to enroll is critical because many choose not to participate in these programs when they are first hired or making entry level wages, but then may never be promoted to reconsider that decision or increase their contribution as their income increases. That can lead to significant confusion—59 percent of workers who are not participating in their workplace plans thought they were participating when surveyed.
    Specifically, the Auto Reenroll Act would address this issue by amending safe harbors in the Employee Retirement Income Security (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Code to permit plan sponsors to reenroll non-participants at least once every three years, unless the individual affirmatively opts out again.
    The legislation is endorsed by AARP, the American Benefits Council, American Retirement Association, BPC Action, Edward Jones, Empower, LPL Financial, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Transamerica, and TIAA.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Warner, Kaine, Bennet Secure DOD Fixes to Broken Military Moving System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) issued the statement below after the Department of Defense (DoD) announced immediate modifications to the military’s broken moving system, which handles servicemember relocations. These modifications follow close advocacy by the senators, who have pushed for months to address the delays, poor communication, and repeated issues under the Global Household Goods Contract.
    “Military members and their families sacrifice so much in service to our country, including every time they relocate and integrate into a new community. After pushing for months, we’re pleased to see the Department of Defense move to address ongoing challenges with the contract tasked with moving household goods for military members and families in the process of relocating.
    “As these policy changes are implemented, we will continue to work with the Department of Defense and TRANSCOM to ensure that servicemembers and military families who are already well into the relocation process are not left in the lurch. Additionally, as these shifts put more pressure on federal employees to adapt to this change, we will continue to push for adequate federal staffing levels and against Trump’s senseless hiring freeze, which continues to prevent critical positions from being filled across government.”
    In February, Warner requested a briefing from USTRANSCOM and sounded the alarm about missed household goods pickups, delivery issues, and communication difficulties with HomeSafe Alliance, the contractor responsible for the moves. Earlier this month, the lawmakers raised their concerns, reiterating the ongoing delays and confusion being faced by military families, and requesting additional information from TRANSCOM on its plan to address these issues.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Hyde-Smith, Gillibrand, and Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Costs of Childbirth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, bipartisan legislation to eliminate the out-of-pocket costs associated with childbirth. Specifically, the legislation would prevent cost-sharing for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum health care for Americans with private health insurance and ensure pregnancy and childbirth services are covered without copays, coinsurance, or deductibles. While Medicaid generally covers childbirth and other pregnancy-related health care for many Americans at zero-cost, this legislation would provide similar benefits to the majority of Americans who are covered under private insurance.
    “In recent years, we’ve made tremendous progress to lower health care costs and expand access to care,” said Kaine. “But we have more work to do—especially as Americans grapple with more and more economic uncertainty. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to reduce costs related to maternal care and childbirth for millions of expectant and new mothers, and will keep doing all that I can to ensure that high-quality care is within reach for mothers and their newborns throughout their lives.”
    The average out-of-pocket cost of maternal care and childbirth for mothers with commercial insurance is approximately $3,000, with 1 in 6 mothers paying over $5,000 out-of-pocket. Some families also receive bills and bill amendments months after a hospital stay, creating confusion about what they must pay and challenges figuring out how they will afford these unpredictable expenses. Nearly half of Americans say they cannot afford to pay a $1,000 emergency expense. The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would ensure health care is affordable to American moms.
    Full text of the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Johnson Joins Sen. Scott, Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Celebrating National Charter Schools Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and 20 of their colleagues in introducing a resolution to celebrate National Charter Schools Week and recognize charter schools’ success in the academic landscape. Charter schools continue to expand across the nation. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, approximately 250,000 teachers educate more than 3.7 million students at over 8,000 charter schools nationwide. 
    “National Charter Schools Week is a time to celebrate the benefit that families have in the ability to choose the best type of education for their children. The increase in demand nationwide for charter schools demonstrates how important choice in education is for families. I will continue to advocate and fight for school choice in Wisconsin and across the nation,” said Sen. Johnson.
    Sens. Johnson and Scott were joined by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Jon Husted (R-Ohio).
    Full text of the resolution can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PSI Chairman Johnson Releases Report; Will Hold Hearing on Federal Health Agencies’ Failure to Warn About the Risk of Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (“PSI” or “Subcommittee”), will hold a hearing entitled, “The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies: How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccines.” In conjunction with the hearing, the chairman released an interim Majority Staff Report, along with more than 2,400 pages of records, detailing the failure of federal health agencies to properly warn the public of the risks of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The report, which follows Chairman Johnson’s Jan. 28, 2025 subpoena to the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), reveals how federal health officials who were aware of reports of heart inflammation conditions associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines delayed notifying the public while downplaying the risks.
    Records produced pursuant to the subpoena reveal the following: in the first half of 2021, federal health officials had ample evidence of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions occurring in young adults who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Although a number of these records were previously made available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), the Biden administration’s heavy redactions prevented a full understanding of what federal health officials knew and what actions they took.
    As detailed in the report and records Chairman Johnson released, beginning in February 2021, federal health officials were put on notice by counterparts in Israel of individuals experiencing myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions after receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Over the next three months, federal health officials continued to receive information on cases of heart inflammation following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. By mid-May 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) officials were drafting a formal notification for health care providers and other officials.
    Records indicate that while health officials were drafting the notification, a key vaccine safety monitoring system, VAERS, began showing a safety signal for a heart inflammation condition in young adults who had received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Within days of the safety signal, the top ranking official at the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), then-Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, pushed back on the CDC’s plan to formally notify healthcare providers, ultimately resulting in the formal notification being rejected in favor of a posting on CDC’s website.
    The report builds on the work of many individuals who fought tirelessly to obtain records through the FOIA process under the Biden administration. The chairman credits Brenda Baletti, Ed Berkovich, Brian Hooker, Amy Kelly, Zachary Stieber, Naomi Wolf, and many others who worked persistently to expose the truth about the association of myocarditis with the COVID-19 vaccines.
    With the release of the interim report and the corresponding subpoenaed documents produced by the Trump administration, the public will be able to access a more complete record of the Biden administration’s failure to warn the public about the health risks of COVID-19 vaccines without heavy FOIA redactions. 
    Key findings from the report include:
    Despite their awareness of the risks, U.S. health officials downplayed the risks of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    U.S. health officials delayed for months alerting the public, and ultimately rejected a formal notification to health care providers about the risks to young people of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation conditions following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    U.S. health officials were made aware by at least early 2021 that some of their vaccine safety monitoring systems may not have been capturing all cases of myocarditis and associated heart inflammation following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
    The hearing will be live streamed beginning at 2:00pm EST here.
    The interim PSI Majority Staff report can be found here.
    The records, which at the request of HHS contain minimal redactions for Personally Identifiable Information, are linked below: 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: POTUS Receives a Jersey from the UF Men’s Basketball Team🐊🇺🇸

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

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Delivering a U.S. Foreign Policy Rooted in our National Interest

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    “We have to have a State Department that can deliver on a foreign policy that is rooted in the national interest of the United States” — Secretary Rubio in testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 21, 2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C4Ead8q8LQ

    MIL OSI Video –