NewzIntel.com

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Talks One Big Beautiful Bill Passage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) spoke following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill – a key piece of legislation to unlock President Trump’s agenda. Leader Scalise discussed how President Trump and House Republicans delivered on their promises to provide American families with tax relief, more jobs, energy independence, and border security. Leader Scalise praised President Trump and Speaker Johnson for their leadership in unifying House Republicans around this once-in-a-generation bill.

    Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
    On delivering relief for American families:“What a beautiful day here in America. It is the golden age of America again. America is coming back. And I tell you, a lot of people wrote this bill off for dead. Nobody said it would be easy. But you know what? We didn’t come here to do easy things. We came here to do big things. We came here to make history. We came here to deliver on the promises we made to the American people to fight for them and to take power out of Washington and give it back to those families who have been struggling for way too long.”On Democrat scare tactics:“Now, we had a little bit of debate on the floor today. You got to see a difference between the two parties in Washington, maybe more crystallized than we’ve ever seen before. And I think that’s a good thing. I hope America watched all of it. Watched Democrats falling asleep behind their leader as he went on and on, trying to scare the American people with lies, with scare tactics, with depressing stories about things that will never happen unless Democrats keep running this country. But the American people said, ‘We will not live in fear.’ We are not a country of fear. We’re a country of hope. We’re a country of optimism. We’re a country that believes our brightest days are ahead, and they elected Republicans to deliver on those brighter days. And I think maybe their leader wanted to speak for hours and hours and break records because they wanted to stand in the way of history. But history is not going to be denied. We were elected with a purpose.”On passing President Trump’s agenda:“Donald Trump ran all around this country. He went to swing states that they said Republicans could never win. And he didn’t give different messages to different places. A lot of us traveled with the President. And the one thing you can say about Donald Trump is it doesn’t matter where he went. When you listen to his speech, it’s probably going to be a little bit longer than the paper that was written – might have been about a 15-minute-long speech because President Trump speaks from the heart. President Trump expanded our base. Wasn’t just the typical Republican voters. It was people of all walks of life, people who had given up on Washington because Washington gave up on them, and they finally saw a leader who was willing to fight for the hardworking people of this country.“That’s who Donald Trump has always been. And all the people that knocked Donald Trump ignore one important fact: There is no better, more passionate fighter for America and its hope and promise than Donald J. Trump.”On promises made, promises kept:“President Trump said at every stop, ‘If you elect me, if you give me a Republican House and a Republican Senate,’ these are the things I will do. It was historic in a lot of ways. It should be commonplace that a presidential candidate runs on specific things and then delivers on every single thing he ran on. He said, ‘I’m going to secure America’s border.’ His opponent said they were going to keep the border open. He said, ‘I’m going to actually make our country energy independent again.’ And then the war, the attack on American energy that we’ve seen for four years, crushed jobs, crushed the economy, forced families to pay too much for gasoline, and emboldened the enemies of our nation, like Russia, Iran, and others. And those days are over with this One Big Beautiful Bill. And President Trump said a lot of other things.“What the American people knew about not only electing Donald Trump, but about keeping this House majority and about electing a Republican Senate is that they said, ‘We’re going to entrust this group of people to go and be different and to deliver on those promises.’ And when you look through all the historic things in this One Big Beautiful Bill, the wins for hard-working families, win after win after win. It’s delivering on those promises. We are going to see economic growth. When Donald Trump signs this bill tomorrow on America’s birthday, the independence of our nation, you will start seeing historic growth like we’ve never seen before.”On House Republicans rallying around the OBBB:“I’ve been proud to work on a lot of important pieces of legislation. There is not one group of people, and there is not one bigger piece of legislation that will deliver more great benefits for the hard-working families who have been struggling in this country than this One Big Beautiful Bill. There’s a reason it was hard. There’s a reason that it wasn’t two committees like Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It was 11 committees involved – historic. We made great historic reforms in education policy. First-ever repeal of a Second Amendment tax in the history of our country. A constitutional right being taxed, gone in this bill. You’ve heard about a lot of the other provisions. One of the things you didn’t hear about is school choice, federal school choice for the first time ever, so low-income families will have an opportunity to get their kids out of failing school rules. “Every Democrat voted against all of those things, and they’re going to have to explain that. Once the lies and the hot air and the long-winded speeches are over, people are going to go, ‘I’m better off today now that this bill signed into the law and all the things you said didn’t happen. But the great things that Donald Trump and this Republican majority promised did.’ And that’s the testament to the non-ending hard work of this group of people. And I will tell you, I’ve worked alongside a lot of leaders, and I’ve been blessed to be a part of leadership and majorities, mostly, minorities, too – it’s a lot more fun to be in the majority. But you get in the majority to do the big things, to do the hard work. And believe me, this was hard work. You all know it. You all know how many times this bill could have died if we just said, you know what? It’s probably not going to get there. There’s a lot of reasons why you could say it’s just going to fail. But this group always said from the beginning, and we told you this, and we meant it, failure is not an option because the American people are counting on us. There’s too much at stake. There was too much at stake from the very beginning, and we knew the power of what this bill will do for those families who are counting on us. And so every time it would have been easy to give up, we just thought about those families who entrusted us with their vote, and we had to deliver for them.”On the strong leadership of the Republican Party:“We figured out a way to come together, people you never would have thought showing up voting ‘yes.’ And I will tell you, all the leaders I’ve served with, I don’t think there’s one that held this group together – complicated majority, narrow majority, narrowest we’ve ever had. We had a two-vote majority at the beginning of this process. And Speaker Mike Johnson never one day wavered on his commitment. Donald Trump absolutely was our closer, and Donald Trump never stopped. Every day was there in the fight. Who do I need to call? What do I need to do? No President more directly engaged.“And believe me, tomorrow at the White House, you’re going to see a proud President who’s ready to deliver on his promise to the American people. But this bill wouldn’t be heading over to the White House tonight without the incredible Yeoman’s unwavering support of Speaker of the House, my dear friend, Mike Johnson, our leader.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster Statement on Military Action in Iran and Escalating Nuclear Threat

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), Congress’ only PhD physicist, issued the following statement:

    “Make no mistake: We are in this situation because of President Trump’s careless decision to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal during his first term. Under that agreement, we maintained adequate oversight over Iran’s nuclear program such that if they backed out, the U.S. and our allies would have at least a full year to respond militarily before Iran had enriched uranium for their first nuclear weapon. Because Trump pulled out of that agreement, Iran now has the ability to produce a weapon within weeks.

    “In the period since Iran has stopped full cooperation with nuclear inspectors, there was more than enough time for the Trump Administration to brief Congress on the situation and seek the permission Constitutionally required for military action. It is also inexcusable that Trump did not inform Congressional leadership before military action was taken.

    “Now is the time for diplomacy that must include an agreement to return all of Iran’s enriched uranium inventory to IAEA inspection. All parties must return to the negotiating table to ensure a safer future for the United States and the world.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi on House Floor: “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi spoke again on the House Floor to condemn Republicans’ “One Big, Ugly Bill” which adds $4 trillion to the national debt to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
     
    Pelosi underscored the moral failure of prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires over critical investments in education, health care and food assistance for children and families. Pelosi called out Republican hypocrisy for criticizing essential public investments while pushing the largest spending item in the bill: massive tax breaks for billionaires. 
     
    Watch her full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below: 

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his exceptional leadership, recognizing that our budget should be the statement of values of our country and how we allocate our resources reflecting those values.
     
    I asked to speak because I hear Members on the other side talking about spending on the part of the Democrats. Spending for education and health care and all the needs—of food for our children.

    I just want to remind all of them, speaking to you, Mr. Speaker, that tax cuts are expenditures.
     
    They’re the biggest spending in this bill to the tune of $5 trillion—$[4] trillion added to the national debt to give tax cuts to the wealthiest people in the country at the expense of feeding our children, health care for our people and the education of our children.

    Nothing brings more money to the Treasury than the education of the American people, from early childhood, lifetime learning and every phase of it in between.
     
    So you should be ashamed of yourselves to mock spending on education.
     
    The best dollars we spend is on educating the American people and the investments in scientific research, the biblical power to cure that science provides for us—cut in this bill—to spend $5 trillion for the wealthiest people in America.
     
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi on House Floor: “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi spoke again on the House Floor to condemn Republicans’ “One Big, Ugly Bill” which adds $4 trillion to the national debt to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
     
    Pelosi underscored the moral failure of prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires over critical investments in education, health care and food assistance for children and families. Pelosi called out Republican hypocrisy for criticizing essential public investments while pushing the largest spending item in the bill: massive tax breaks for billionaires. 
     
    Watch her full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below: 

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his exceptional leadership, recognizing that our budget should be the statement of values of our country and how we allocate our resources reflecting those values.
     
    I asked to speak because I hear Members on the other side talking about spending on the part of the Democrats. Spending for education and health care and all the needs—of food for our children.

    I just want to remind all of them, speaking to you, Mr. Speaker, that tax cuts are expenditures.
     
    They’re the biggest spending in this bill to the tune of $5 trillion—$[4] trillion added to the national debt to give tax cuts to the wealthiest people in the country at the expense of feeding our children, health care for our people and the education of our children.

    Nothing brings more money to the Treasury than the education of the American people, from early childhood, lifetime learning and every phase of it in between.
     
    So you should be ashamed of yourselves to mock spending on education.
     
    The best dollars we spend is on educating the American people and the investments in scientific research, the biblical power to cure that science provides for us—cut in this bill—to spend $5 trillion for the wealthiest people in America.
     
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi on House Floor: “Let us not turn the American dream into a nightmare.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – This morning, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House Floor against Republicans’ “One Big, Ugly Bill,” legislation that makes deep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP while handing massive tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.

    Pelosi denounced the bill’s extreme policies and joined House Democrats in urging a ‘no’ vote in defense of America’s seniors, children and working families. Her remarks underscored the broad opposition to the Republican bill and reaffirmed Democrats’ commitment to fighting for the American people against its harmful effects.

    Later, Pelosi stood on the Floor with more than 100 House Democrats to ask Unanimous Consent that an amendment be made in order which would protect against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the legislation. The effort was rejected by the Republican Majority.

    Watch her full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below: 

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you for your leadership, Mr. McGovern. The gentleman just ended by saying, ‘to vote for this “Big, Beautiful Bill.”‘ This ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’?

    Well, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then you, GOP, you have a very blurred vision of what America is about.

    Is it beautiful to cut off food from seniors and children?

    Is it beautiful to cut off 17 million people from health care?

    Is it beautiful to do this? To give tax cuts to billionaires in our country?

    Is it beautiful to take money from education and the rest? The list goes on and on.

    Dr. King, nearly 60 years ago, said: ‘Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.’

    We come to this Floor with the moral force of Dr. King’s words in our heart.

    Let us not with this bill turn the American dream he talked about into a nightmare for America, seniors, the disabled. Our children. Our children. Our children.

    Let us vote ‘no’ on this shameful bill — and throw a punch, For The Children.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi on House Floor: “Let us not turn the American dream into a nightmare.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – This morning, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House Floor against Republicans’ “One Big, Ugly Bill,” legislation that makes deep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP while handing massive tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.

    Pelosi denounced the bill’s extreme policies and joined House Democrats in urging a ‘no’ vote in defense of America’s seniors, children and working families. Her remarks underscored the broad opposition to the Republican bill and reaffirmed Democrats’ commitment to fighting for the American people against its harmful effects.

    Later, Pelosi stood on the Floor with more than 100 House Democrats to ask Unanimous Consent that an amendment be made in order which would protect against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the legislation. The effort was rejected by the Republican Majority.

    Watch her full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below: 

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you for your leadership, Mr. McGovern. The gentleman just ended by saying, ‘to vote for this “Big, Beautiful Bill.”‘ This ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’?

    Well, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then you, GOP, you have a very blurred vision of what America is about.

    Is it beautiful to cut off food from seniors and children?

    Is it beautiful to cut off 17 million people from health care?

    Is it beautiful to do this? To give tax cuts to billionaires in our country?

    Is it beautiful to take money from education and the rest? The list goes on and on.

    Dr. King, nearly 60 years ago, said: ‘Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.’

    We come to this Floor with the moral force of Dr. King’s words in our heart.

    Let us not with this bill turn the American dream he talked about into a nightmare for America, seniors, the disabled. Our children. Our children. Our children.

    Let us vote ‘no’ on this shameful bill — and throw a punch, For The Children.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Joins House Democrats in Challenging Trump’s Unlawful, Chaotic Imposition of IEEPA Tariffs in Appeals Court

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined 161 Members of Congress and 29 Senators in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit challenging President Donald Trump’s sweeping and chaotic tariffs that were unlawfully imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The lawmakers’ brief stands up for Congress’s Article I executive legislative powers and argues that the IEEPA is not a tariff statute and that Congress did not intend or provide for the IEEPA to be used as a tariff statute. 

    The amicus brief was led by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Task Force Chair Joe Neguse, House Judiciary Ranking Member and Task Force Co-Chair Jamie Raskin, House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, and Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard E. Neal, as well as Senate Foreign Relations Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen and Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden. It was filed in the matter of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al., which was brought forth by 12 States’ Attorneys General. 

    In May, the Task Force successfully filed a brief in the same matter before the Court of International Trade (CIT). The CIT decision referenced our brief and struck down the President’s illegal tariffs under IEEPA. The Administration has now appealed the lower court’s ruling, and the matter is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 

    The Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the authority to impose tariffs, and the President can only raise tariffs if Congress has clearly delegated its authority to him. Although IEEPA (enacted in 1977) grants the president authority to impose sanctions, block foreign assets, and regulate economic transactions in response to “unusual and extraordinary threats” originating abroad, it is not a tariff statute and has never been used that way. Congress knows how to delegate tariff authority and has clearly done so on a number of occasions. When Congress does delegate such authority, it imposes substantive, procedural, and temporal limits on the president’s power in order to avoid economic chaos and protect the American people. 

    The full brief is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Warns of Big, Ugly Bill’s Catastrophic Impacts on San Francisco Community Health Centers: “People are paying the price for their stupidity and unkindness.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    San Francisco – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC) hosted a virtual press conference on the devastating impacts of the Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill on community health centers in San Francisco and the patients they serve.

    Pelosi was joined by SFCCC President and CEO Dr. Johanna Liu, SF Community Health Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan O’Neill, and Native American Health Center Community Health Care Coordinator Ellen McInnes who outlined how the legislation’s sweeping cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act will jeopardize access to essential care for tens of thousands of San Franciscans—particularly low-income families, seniors and underserved communities.

    Pelosi underscored that Democrats will keep fighting to reverse the bill’s damage in the Congress, in the courts and in the community with legislation, litigation and mobilization.

    Watch the Speaker Emerita’s full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you very much, Johanna, for your leadership, for your kind words, for your understanding of what is at stake and what has happened here. I’m honored to join you and Dan O’Neill and Ellen McInnes—so proud of our Native American population in San Francisco.

    Now, here’s the thing. I appreciate what you said about the Affordable Care Act.

    I want to thank the San Francisco Clinic Consortium, because over the years, I’ve learned so much from you, and the legislation that is reflected in the Affordable Care Act is a reflection of what you have been doing over the years. I’ve worked with so many of your predecessors in this regard.

    People say to me: ‘If you had a new country and you had no health care at all, what would you have?’

    I said, ‘I would blanket the country with community health centers. I would do that and have a few hospitals as necessary.’

    But by and large, just blanket the country with the community health centers, because you are close to people—culturally, linguistically, in every way—it’s the best draw for them to even come in for care because they know they will be understood. So I thank you for that, and we want it to reflect that in the Affordable Care Act.

    Now, this monstrosity of a bill—how dare they call it beautiful. They’re always projecting. They know it’s not beautiful.

    So it’s not only ugly, it’s grotesque. But let’s just say for a moment, because I know we’re going to hear more, as you have, and from our guests on the panel. I’ll just say what we’re trying to do about it.

    It’s not only wrong, it is stupid—and whatever is worse than that. It’s not only not compassionate, it is sinful. It is sinful for what they are doing. And they’ve all just bought into it like, you know, some Kool Aid thing. Now, here’s the thing.

    I listened this morning to the policy briefing from the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium that was presented, and I took very extensive notes, which I can show you there, but all confirmed what we knew we were fighting against.

    But I’m not even sure the Republicans understood what they were voting for. But consistent with what I heard there, what we are doing is in three channels.

    One is litigation, and we’re winning many of those cases—litigation for a lot of things that what’s-his-name is doing. But in this case, to continue, intensify the litigation on this, A.

    B: Legislation. To keep putting up legislation that corrects all of this, to just push these people into a corner, to say you’re either for this or not. Don’t say you don’t know what was in the bill. This is an attempt to correct it. So you can’t get away with saying that anymore.

    The third is mobilization, which is part of communication. People say, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize.’

    Well, we want to make sure you know. President Lincoln said, ‘Public sentiment is everything.’

    Johanna, have you heard me say this a million times? ‘Public sentiment is everything. With it, you can accomplish almost anything. Without it, practically nothing.’

    But for public sentiment to prevail, people have to know. So we want to remove all doubt in anybody’s mind about how affected they are by all of this.

    This is a horrible thing that they’ve done to our country. And in your fight against it, thank you for that—for every individual person who would benefit, but also the fight for the culture and the character of what America is. This isn’t who we are.

    America is great because America is good, they say. Not with this bill. Stupid, mean-spirited, sinful. They go to church on Sunday and pray and then they prey on people the rest of the week by taking away their food, by taking away their health care. It’s awful.

    And just back to your point, the money standpoint, as you said so eloquently, Johanna.

    It costs a lot of money and opportunity cost to prove that eight percent or ten percent perhaps of the people who are receiving this benefit should be working harder or more, whatever it is.

    So one hundred percent of the people have to comply with whatever that is. And that applies to everything. I mean, I say that about free lunch for children in school. Any subject you can name, they increase the administrative cost at the expense of doing the right thing for people and not stigmatizing whatever their status might be.

    So I thank you for that. But litigation—and I know you’re all engaged in litigation—legislation, mobilization/communication to make sure.

    Now, I don’t want to talk politics, but in the next three months, we have to own August to make sure the public knows how they are affected because this is a brutal thing.

    While some of his supporters may think this is okay, they don’t believe in government. Our people are paying the price for their stupidity—stupidity and unkindness.

    I’ll just close by saying how we all started this. When we started the Affordable Care Act, it all began with Dr. King.

    Dr. King said, ‘Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman,’ he said. ‘Because it often results in physical death.’

    So every initiative, whatever we initiate, we begin after the election and ready and prepared for his birthday to go forward. John Lewis—his birthday is coming up in July, another week or so. And we carry forth that initiative with John to make sure that we make some good trouble just turning this thing around.

    Some of it doesn’t go into effect, as you know, until January 2027. But we want to make sure that when we win this next election—I’m talking civics here, not politics—when we win this next election, that they know that we’re ready to purge ourselves of this sinful, filthy, dirty, rotten, hateful, lousy, ugly legislation.

    In that spirit, I yield back my time.Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you very much, Johanna, for your leadership, for your kind words, for your understanding of what is at stake and what has happened here. I’m honored to join you and Dan O’Neill and Ellen McInnes—so proud of our Native American population in San Francisco.

    Now, here’s the thing. I appreciate what you said about the Affordable Care Act.

    I want to thank the San Francisco Clinic Consortium, because over the years, I’ve learned so much from you, and the legislation that is reflected in the Affordable Care Act is a reflection of what you have been doing over the years. I’ve worked with so many of your predecessors in this regard.

    People say to me: ‘If you had a new country and you had no health care at all, what would you have?’

    I said, ‘I would blanket the country with community health centers. I would do that and have a few hospitals as necessary.’

    But by and large, just blanket the country with the community health centers, because you are close to people—culturally, linguistically, in every way—it’s the best draw for them to even come in for care because they know they will be understood. So I thank you for that, and we want it to reflect that in the Affordable Care Act.

    Now, this monstrosity of a bill—how dare they call it beautiful. They’re always projecting. They know it’s not beautiful.

    So it’s not only ugly, it’s grotesque. But let’s just say for a moment, because I know we’re going to hear more, as you have, and from our guests on the panel. I’ll just say what we’re trying to do about it.

    It’s not only wrong, it is stupid—and whatever is worse than that. It’s not only not compassionate, it is sinful. It is sinful for what they are doing. And they’ve all just bought into it like, you know, some Kool Aid thing. Now, here’s the thing.

    I listened this morning to the policy briefing from the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium that was presented, and I took very extensive notes, which I can show you there, but all confirmed what we knew we were fighting against.

    But I’m not even sure the Republicans understood what they were voting for. But consistent with what I heard there, what we are doing is in three channels.

    One is litigation, and we’re winning many of those cases—litigation for a lot of things that what’s-his-name is doing. But in this case, to continue, intensify the litigation on this, A.

    B: Legislation. To keep putting up legislation that corrects all of this, to just push these people into a corner, to say you’re either for this or not. Don’t say you don’t know what was in the bill. This is an attempt to correct it. So you can’t get away with saying that anymore.

    The third is mobilization, which is part of communication. People say, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize.’

    Well, we want to make sure you know. President Lincoln said, ‘Public sentiment is everything.’

    Johanna, have you heard me say this a million times? ‘Public sentiment is everything. With it, you can accomplish almost anything. Without it, practically nothing.’

    But for public sentiment to prevail, people have to know. So we want to remove all doubt in anybody’s mind about how affected they are by all of this.

    This is a horrible thing that they’ve done to our country. And in your fight against it, thank you for that—for every individual person who would benefit, but also the fight for the culture and the character of what America is. This isn’t who we are.

    America is great because America is good, they say. Not with this bill. Stupid, mean-spirited, sinful. They go to church on Sunday and pray and then they prey on people the rest of the week by taking away their food, by taking away their health care. It’s awful.

    And just back to your point, the money standpoint, as you said so eloquently, Johanna.

    It costs a lot of money and opportunity cost to prove that eight percent or ten percent perhaps of the people who are receiving this benefit should be working harder or more, whatever it is.

    So one hundred percent of the people have to comply with whatever that is. And that applies to everything. I mean, I say that about free lunch for children in school. Any subject you can name, they increase the administrative cost at the expense of doing the right thing for people and not stigmatizing whatever their status might be.

    So I thank you for that. But litigation—and I know you’re all engaged in litigation—legislation, mobilization/communication to make sure.

    Now, I don’t want to talk politics, but in the next three months, we have to own August to make sure the public knows how they are affected because this is a brutal thing.

    While some of his supporters may think this is okay, they don’t believe in government. Our people are paying the price for their stupidity—stupidity and unkindness.

    I’ll just close by saying how we all started this. When we started the Affordable Care Act, it all began with Dr. King.

    Dr. King said, ‘Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman,’ he said. ‘Because it often results in physical death.’

    So every initiative, whatever we initiate, we begin after the election and ready and prepared for his birthday to go forward. John Lewis—his birthday is coming up in July, another week or so. And we carry forth that initiative with John to make sure that we make some good trouble just turning this thing around.

    Some of it doesn’t go into effect, as you know, until January 2027. But we want to make sure that when we win this next election—I’m talking civics here, not politics—when we win this next election, that they know that we’re ready to purge ourselves of this sinful, filthy, dirty, rotten, hateful, lousy, ugly legislation.

    In that spirit, I yield back my time.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Warns of Big, Ugly Bill’s Catastrophic Impacts on San Francisco Community Health Centers: “People are paying the price for their stupidity and unkindness.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    San Francisco – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC) hosted a virtual press conference on the devastating impacts of the Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill on community health centers in San Francisco and the patients they serve.

    Pelosi was joined by SFCCC President and CEO Dr. Johanna Liu, SF Community Health Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan O’Neill, and Native American Health Center Community Health Care Coordinator Ellen McInnes who outlined how the legislation’s sweeping cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act will jeopardize access to essential care for tens of thousands of San Franciscans—particularly low-income families, seniors and underserved communities.

    Pelosi underscored that Democrats will keep fighting to reverse the bill’s damage in the Congress, in the courts and in the community with legislation, litigation and mobilization.

    Watch the Speaker Emerita’s full remarks here.

    Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you very much, Johanna, for your leadership, for your kind words, for your understanding of what is at stake and what has happened here. I’m honored to join you and Dan O’Neill and Ellen McInnes—so proud of our Native American population in San Francisco.

    Now, here’s the thing. I appreciate what you said about the Affordable Care Act.

    I want to thank the San Francisco Clinic Consortium, because over the years, I’ve learned so much from you, and the legislation that is reflected in the Affordable Care Act is a reflection of what you have been doing over the years. I’ve worked with so many of your predecessors in this regard.

    People say to me: ‘If you had a new country and you had no health care at all, what would you have?’

    I said, ‘I would blanket the country with community health centers. I would do that and have a few hospitals as necessary.’

    But by and large, just blanket the country with the community health centers, because you are close to people—culturally, linguistically, in every way—it’s the best draw for them to even come in for care because they know they will be understood. So I thank you for that, and we want it to reflect that in the Affordable Care Act.

    Now, this monstrosity of a bill—how dare they call it beautiful. They’re always projecting. They know it’s not beautiful.

    So it’s not only ugly, it’s grotesque. But let’s just say for a moment, because I know we’re going to hear more, as you have, and from our guests on the panel. I’ll just say what we’re trying to do about it.

    It’s not only wrong, it is stupid—and whatever is worse than that. It’s not only not compassionate, it is sinful. It is sinful for what they are doing. And they’ve all just bought into it like, you know, some Kool Aid thing. Now, here’s the thing.

    I listened this morning to the policy briefing from the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium that was presented, and I took very extensive notes, which I can show you there, but all confirmed what we knew we were fighting against.

    But I’m not even sure the Republicans understood what they were voting for. But consistent with what I heard there, what we are doing is in three channels.

    One is litigation, and we’re winning many of those cases—litigation for a lot of things that what’s-his-name is doing. But in this case, to continue, intensify the litigation on this, A.

    B: Legislation. To keep putting up legislation that corrects all of this, to just push these people into a corner, to say you’re either for this or not. Don’t say you don’t know what was in the bill. This is an attempt to correct it. So you can’t get away with saying that anymore.

    The third is mobilization, which is part of communication. People say, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize.’

    Well, we want to make sure you know. President Lincoln said, ‘Public sentiment is everything.’

    Johanna, have you heard me say this a million times? ‘Public sentiment is everything. With it, you can accomplish almost anything. Without it, practically nothing.’

    But for public sentiment to prevail, people have to know. So we want to remove all doubt in anybody’s mind about how affected they are by all of this.

    This is a horrible thing that they’ve done to our country. And in your fight against it, thank you for that—for every individual person who would benefit, but also the fight for the culture and the character of what America is. This isn’t who we are.

    America is great because America is good, they say. Not with this bill. Stupid, mean-spirited, sinful. They go to church on Sunday and pray and then they prey on people the rest of the week by taking away their food, by taking away their health care. It’s awful.

    And just back to your point, the money standpoint, as you said so eloquently, Johanna.

    It costs a lot of money and opportunity cost to prove that eight percent or ten percent perhaps of the people who are receiving this benefit should be working harder or more, whatever it is.

    So one hundred percent of the people have to comply with whatever that is. And that applies to everything. I mean, I say that about free lunch for children in school. Any subject you can name, they increase the administrative cost at the expense of doing the right thing for people and not stigmatizing whatever their status might be.

    So I thank you for that. But litigation—and I know you’re all engaged in litigation—legislation, mobilization/communication to make sure.

    Now, I don’t want to talk politics, but in the next three months, we have to own August to make sure the public knows how they are affected because this is a brutal thing.

    While some of his supporters may think this is okay, they don’t believe in government. Our people are paying the price for their stupidity—stupidity and unkindness.

    I’ll just close by saying how we all started this. When we started the Affordable Care Act, it all began with Dr. King.

    Dr. King said, ‘Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman,’ he said. ‘Because it often results in physical death.’

    So every initiative, whatever we initiate, we begin after the election and ready and prepared for his birthday to go forward. John Lewis—his birthday is coming up in July, another week or so. And we carry forth that initiative with John to make sure that we make some good trouble just turning this thing around.

    Some of it doesn’t go into effect, as you know, until January 2027. But we want to make sure that when we win this next election—I’m talking civics here, not politics—when we win this next election, that they know that we’re ready to purge ourselves of this sinful, filthy, dirty, rotten, hateful, lousy, ugly legislation.

    In that spirit, I yield back my time.Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you very much, Johanna, for your leadership, for your kind words, for your understanding of what is at stake and what has happened here. I’m honored to join you and Dan O’Neill and Ellen McInnes—so proud of our Native American population in San Francisco.

    Now, here’s the thing. I appreciate what you said about the Affordable Care Act.

    I want to thank the San Francisco Clinic Consortium, because over the years, I’ve learned so much from you, and the legislation that is reflected in the Affordable Care Act is a reflection of what you have been doing over the years. I’ve worked with so many of your predecessors in this regard.

    People say to me: ‘If you had a new country and you had no health care at all, what would you have?’

    I said, ‘I would blanket the country with community health centers. I would do that and have a few hospitals as necessary.’

    But by and large, just blanket the country with the community health centers, because you are close to people—culturally, linguistically, in every way—it’s the best draw for them to even come in for care because they know they will be understood. So I thank you for that, and we want it to reflect that in the Affordable Care Act.

    Now, this monstrosity of a bill—how dare they call it beautiful. They’re always projecting. They know it’s not beautiful.

    So it’s not only ugly, it’s grotesque. But let’s just say for a moment, because I know we’re going to hear more, as you have, and from our guests on the panel. I’ll just say what we’re trying to do about it.

    It’s not only wrong, it is stupid—and whatever is worse than that. It’s not only not compassionate, it is sinful. It is sinful for what they are doing. And they’ve all just bought into it like, you know, some Kool Aid thing. Now, here’s the thing.

    I listened this morning to the policy briefing from the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium that was presented, and I took very extensive notes, which I can show you there, but all confirmed what we knew we were fighting against.

    But I’m not even sure the Republicans understood what they were voting for. But consistent with what I heard there, what we are doing is in three channels.

    One is litigation, and we’re winning many of those cases—litigation for a lot of things that what’s-his-name is doing. But in this case, to continue, intensify the litigation on this, A.

    B: Legislation. To keep putting up legislation that corrects all of this, to just push these people into a corner, to say you’re either for this or not. Don’t say you don’t know what was in the bill. This is an attempt to correct it. So you can’t get away with saying that anymore.

    The third is mobilization, which is part of communication. People say, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize.’

    Well, we want to make sure you know. President Lincoln said, ‘Public sentiment is everything.’

    Johanna, have you heard me say this a million times? ‘Public sentiment is everything. With it, you can accomplish almost anything. Without it, practically nothing.’

    But for public sentiment to prevail, people have to know. So we want to remove all doubt in anybody’s mind about how affected they are by all of this.

    This is a horrible thing that they’ve done to our country. And in your fight against it, thank you for that—for every individual person who would benefit, but also the fight for the culture and the character of what America is. This isn’t who we are.

    America is great because America is good, they say. Not with this bill. Stupid, mean-spirited, sinful. They go to church on Sunday and pray and then they prey on people the rest of the week by taking away their food, by taking away their health care. It’s awful.

    And just back to your point, the money standpoint, as you said so eloquently, Johanna.

    It costs a lot of money and opportunity cost to prove that eight percent or ten percent perhaps of the people who are receiving this benefit should be working harder or more, whatever it is.

    So one hundred percent of the people have to comply with whatever that is. And that applies to everything. I mean, I say that about free lunch for children in school. Any subject you can name, they increase the administrative cost at the expense of doing the right thing for people and not stigmatizing whatever their status might be.

    So I thank you for that. But litigation—and I know you’re all engaged in litigation—legislation, mobilization/communication to make sure.

    Now, I don’t want to talk politics, but in the next three months, we have to own August to make sure the public knows how they are affected because this is a brutal thing.

    While some of his supporters may think this is okay, they don’t believe in government. Our people are paying the price for their stupidity—stupidity and unkindness.

    I’ll just close by saying how we all started this. When we started the Affordable Care Act, it all began with Dr. King.

    Dr. King said, ‘Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman,’ he said. ‘Because it often results in physical death.’

    So every initiative, whatever we initiate, we begin after the election and ready and prepared for his birthday to go forward. John Lewis—his birthday is coming up in July, another week or so. And we carry forth that initiative with John to make sure that we make some good trouble just turning this thing around.

    Some of it doesn’t go into effect, as you know, until January 2027. But we want to make sure that when we win this next election—I’m talking civics here, not politics—when we win this next election, that they know that we’re ready to purge ourselves of this sinful, filthy, dirty, rotten, hateful, lousy, ugly legislation.

    In that spirit, I yield back my time.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Statement on Final Passage of the One Big, Ugly Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the final House passage of the One Big, Ugly Bill:
     
    “Today is a dark and harrowing time for America’s children, seniors, Veterans, working families and the most vulnerable in our nation. The Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill is the biggest transfer of money in history to the wealthy and well-connected — paid for on the backs of everyday Americans. It is an immoral Robin Hood in reverse of bad economics. 

    “The Big, Ugly Bill is a dangerous checklist of extreme Republican priorities: slashing funding for public schools, defunding Planned Parenthood, and making the largest cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP in history. This bill is a betrayal that abandons the needs of hardworking Americans and balloons the national debt by over $4 trillion — not to invest in the future, but to reward the wealthiest in our country at the expense of everyone else.

    “The President calls this bill ‘beautiful’ — but if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then his vision for America is seriously blurred. Republicans may think the American people will just ‘get over’ the devastating impacts of this ugly bill — but Democrats are united For The Children in opposing this legislation and we will fight to reverse its damage.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaMalfa Statement on House Passage of Budget Reconciliation Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed the budget reconciliation package, sending it to President Trump’s desk for final approval:

    “This package delivers a lot of what we’ve been pushing for years. It means more jobs and a stronger economy. It makes Social Security checks tax-free for most seniors, protects Medicare, makes sure tips and overtime pay aren’t taxed, and extends tax relief so families can hold on to more of what they earn. It also opens up more of our country for energy and timber production and takes care of the West’s water needs by fixing canals and building more storage. It funds actually securing the border so we can finally finish the wall, remove criminal illegal aliens and get this crisis under control. Importantly, it gets us back to the principle that if you’re a healthy able-bodied adult, you should be employed. I’m glad to see the House pass it and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

    The budget reconciliation package is expected to be signed into law by the President in the coming days.

    Background:

    • Tax Relief for Working Americans: Extends significant tax cuts, including about a 15% cut for those earning $30,000–$80,000. Expands the Child Tax Credit and adds a senior tax deduction of $6,000 to offset taxes on Social Security. Also exempts tips and overtime from being taxed. The median family in California’s 1st District will save around $3,500 under this bill.
    • Helping Families Afford New Cars: Makes it easier for working Americans to purchase new vehicles by making interest on new purchases of American made cars deductible.
    • Strengthens Timber & Farming: Expands timber harvesting and strengthens crop insurance and conservation tools, without adding red tape.
    • Public Lands: No sale of federally managed public lands.
    • Water Storage Expansion: Invests $1 billion to upgrade and expand water storage and fix canals, helping the West store and deliver more water in wet years.
    • Rural Healthcare: Includes a new $50 billion fund to keep rural hospitals afloat as states change Medicaid formulas.
    • Medicaid & SNAP Reform: Requires able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) to work, volunteer, or pursue education for at least 80 hours per month. Ends benefits for 1.4 million illegal immigrants.
    • Protects Seniors: Does not touch Social Security or Medicare while adding additional tax deductions to help seniors.
    • Energy & Resource Development: Repeals Green New Deal-style handouts, expands American oil, gas, and mineral production.
    • Border Security & Immigration Enforcement: Fully funds Trump’s border wall, ramps up deportations, adds thousands of new ICE and Border Patrol agents.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Speaks with Frontline Health Care Providers on Impact of Extreme Republican Medicaid Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    KANSAS CITY, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined nearly 200 health care workers at Vibrant Health to discuss the harmful impact of recently enacted Republican Medicaid cuts. Davids heard directly from providers about how these cuts, which she voted against, will threaten all Kansas families’ access to affordable care — and reaffirmed her commitment to protecting the health and well-being of every Kansan, over billionaire tax giveaways.

    “Kansans shouldn’t have to pay more or travel farther for health care just so billionaires can get another tax break,” said Davids. “These Medicaid cuts will strip coverage from hardworking families, force rural hospitals to close, raise premiums, and reduce access to essential care for all children, seniors, and veterans. I voted against these cuts — and yes, I’m angry. But I’m also determined to keep pushing back against these extreme policies, lowering costs for Kansans, and protecting the care our communities count on.”

    “At Vibrant Health, our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to high-quality healthcare,” said Patrick Sallee, President & CEO, Vibrant Health. “Many of the people we see in our clinics rely on Medicaid, many of them children, whose parents simply want them to grow up healthy and thrive. When families worry about the cost of care, they often delay or avoid essential preventive services. Cuts to Medicaid don’t just reduce coverage — they increase the barriers our patients face in staying healthy.”

    The law, signed last week by President Trump, includes the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. According to the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee, the new law will strip coverage from 92,937 Kansans, put six rural hospitals across Kansas at risk of closure, restrict reproductive health care, and increase Affordable Care Act premiums by $780 per year for Third District families.

    President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Medicaid cuts will hit Kansas hard, with hospitals across the state projected to lose more than $78 million annually. The University of Kansas Hospital, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, and AdventHealth Shawnee Mission are among those facing the steepest losses. Medicaid covers one-fifth of hospital spending, so eliminating coverage for nearly 12 million Americans will significantly increase uncompensated care, including at Community Health Centers. Hospitals already operating in the red may not survive the added financial pressures of treating more uninsured patients without reimbursement.

    “Health Partnership Clinic is evaluating the impact that the recently passed bill will have on our organization and patients that we serve,” said Amy Falk, Chief Executive Officer, Health Partnership Clinic. “Any time there are potential cuts that may affect our funding, we do a thorough analysis and make the necessary adjustments that are needed, and sometimes these are not easy decisions. HPC remains committed to being here for the patients we serve in Johnson, Miami, and Franklin counties.”

    These harmful provisions in the law go far beyond health care. In the Kansas Third District alone, 15,000 households could lose access to emergency nutrition assistance, and local grocery stores — especially in rural communities — may be forced to close. Cuts to clean energy incentives could eliminate up to 10,000 good-paying jobs and increase utility bills by $670 per household. Meanwhile, the law adds $3.3 trillion to the national debt and gives massive tax breaks to billionaires, even as it raises taxes on hardworking families.

    Throughout her time in Congress, Davids has championed policies to make health care more affordable and accessible. She voted to cap insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare recipients, extend tax credits that help families afford insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. She also supported giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices — saving 74,000 Kansans up to 79 percent — and led efforts to ban surprise medical billing and increase transparency from insurers to help patients avoid costly out-of-network care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Opposes Partisan Bill That Slashes Health Care, Food to Benefit Billionaires

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement after voting against President Trump and U.S. House Republicans’ extreme budget that cuts health care and raises grocery prices for hardworking families to pay for tax giveaways for billionaires and ultrawealthy corporations. 

    “Simply put, President Trump’s extreme budget hurts everyone who isn’t already a billionaire,” said Davids. “It hands out tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy while gutting Medicaid, raising grocery prices, and putting rural hospitals and reproductive health care at risk — all while adding trillions to the national debt. I was raised by a single mom in the Army, so I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. This proposal would only make it harder for families like the one I grew up in. Kansans deserve responsible leadership, not reckless cuts and partisan gimmicks — that’s why I’m focused on a commonsense, bipartisan path forward that actually lowers costs, supports small businesses, and grows our economy responsibly.”

    Background:

    President Trump and U.S. House Republicans pushed a budget that would make the largest cuts to Medicaid and emergency food assistance in American history — all to fund tax giveaways for billionaires. These extreme cuts would gut programs that help Kansans afford food and stay healthy. In contrast, Davids supports a commonsense tax framework to lower costs for Kansas’ hardworking families, support small businesses, and strengthen our long-term economy.

    How This Bill Hurts Kansans: Raising costs on the middle class so billionaires pay less

    • HIGHER Health Care Costs: The Joint Economic Committee estimates 92,937 Kansans will lose health care coverage under this reckless bill, including those on Medicaid. These cuts put six rural hospitals across Kansas at risk of closing and would increase Affordable Care Act premiums by $780 for people in Kansas’ Third District.
    • HIGHER Grocery Costs:In Kansas’ Third District alone, 15,000 households could lose access to the emergency food assistance they rely on through this bill. Also, local grocery stores nationwide may be forced to close due to lost revenue, worsening food deserts, especially in rural communities. These cuts would reduce farm income by more than $25 billion and threaten good-paying jobs.
    • HIGHER Utility Bills: Davids previously supported tax credits that are helping Kansans save on their energy bills, supporting farmers, and creating thousands of good-paying jobs across the state. But now, this budget proposal would gut those cost-saving policies — including some that even Republicans have backed. It’s projected to eliminate 10,000 manufacturing and energy jobs in Kansas and raise annual energy costs by $670 per household.
    • LOWER Reproductive Health Care Access: This bill would gut access to reproductive health care by putting nearly 200 Planned Parenthood health centers in 24 states at risk of closure — making it harder for 1.1 million patients to get lifesaving care like cancer screenings, birth control, abortion services, and more. 90 percent of those closures would happen in states where abortion is legal and protected, including Kansas.

    • HIGHER Deficit: The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reported that this Trump-backed bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national deficit through 2034. Such high levels of borrowing could substantially boost interest rates, slow economic growth, and spark a debt spiral.

    • LOWER Taxes for Billionaires: The Republican budget actually raises taxes on the lowest-income families in the country, all while billionaires who already pay next to nothing in taxes get more breaks. The top 0.1 percent stands to gain $309,000, or $847 every day, in 2027 alone. This bill shows exactly where U.S. House Republicans’ loyalties lie: not with the hardworking Americans who sent them to Congress, but to Trump and their billionaire donors.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Discusses Fentanyl Epidemic with Local Health Care Workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    OVERLAND PARK, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined local health care workers and law enforcement officials for another summit regarding the growing threat of fentanyl, the number one cause of overdose deaths in the United States. The group discussed the challenges health care workers face when caring for fentanyl-related overdose patients and how Davids can better support their work in Congress.

    “The fentanyl crisis is a public health emergency — both here in Kansas and across the country — and our health care workers and first responders are on the front lines every day saving lives,” said Davids. “Thanks in part to their tireless efforts, we’re finally starting to see a decline in overdose deaths. But even one life lost is one too many. Today’s conversation was eye-opening and reaffirmed my commitment to listening, learning, and fighting for the tools Kansans need to stay safe.”

    Rep. Sharice Davids speaking on the fentanyl crisis at St. Luke’s Hospital

    Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than morphine, is increasingly found in fake prescription pills such as Vicodin, OxyContin, or Adderall. Overdose deaths dropped by 24 percent from September 2023 to September 2024. Davids is working to build on this momentum and remains committed to protecting Kansans’ health through continued action in Congress.

    Davids, a member of the bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus, has collaborated with Midwest HIDTA, a regional office working to reduce illicit drug availability, on multiple fentanyl summits with health care workers, education professionals, and law enforcement officers. She has also taken several legislative actions based on the specific needs of the Kansas Third District, including:

    • Joining a bipartisan group of lawmakers to request funding for new handheld mass spectrometry trace-level chemical detection devices at domestic ports.
    • Urging the FDA to take up expert recommendations and make Narcan, a common naloxone nasal spray, available without a prescription — which they did earlier this year.
    • Securing a nearly $16 million grant to help law enforcement seize illicit drugs like fentanyl, reduce violent crime associated with drug trafficking, and improve data collection.
    • Voting to permanently place all fentanyl-related substances into a Schedule I class, labeling the drug with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical value.
    • Helping pass a bipartisan bill to create a public awareness campaign about synthetic opioids. This came after meeting with Libby Davis, a Johnson County resident whose son passed away after taking a counterfeit pill that was unknowingly laced with fentanyl.
    • Pushing for expanded federal grant opportunities, so law enforcement and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) can easily acquire life-saving naloxone kits.
    • Visiting the Port of Long Beach to see how the port uses state-of-the-art technologies to prevent harmful substances — like fentanyl — from entering the country illegally.

    Summit attendees included health care and public health representatives from AdventHealth, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Elizabeth Layton Center, Franklin County Public Health, Johnson County Emergency Medical Services (MED-ACT), Johnson County Mental Health, Kansas City Kansas Fire Department, Kansas City Kansas Police Department, Miami County Health Department, Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA), Saint Luke’s Health System, The University of Kansas Health System, and Wyandotte County Health Department.

    Community members looking to learn more about how to keep their families safe can visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Kansas City-focused website. Resources and prevention services for individuals, families, schools, and others are available.

    What they’re saying:

    “In Miami County, we are working closely with local partners through our mental health initiative to address substance use and overdose prevention in a comprehensive, community-driven way,” said Christena Beer, Public Health Director, Miami County. “We are utilizing opioid settlement funds to support allowable abatement strategies focused on coordinated care, early intervention, and public health education. These efforts are critical in reducing the harms of fentanyl and supporting long-term recovery across the communities we serve.”

    “From distributing naloxone to raising awareness through the You Never Know campaign, the Johnson County Prevention and Recovery Coalition has played a critical role in our community’s fight against the fentanyl crisis,” said Tim DeWeese, Director, Johnson County Mental Health Center. “Their work is a powerful example of the impact a coordinated response can have on efforts to save lives. We look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Davids and all our partners to reduce overdose and poisoning deaths in Johnson County and Kansas.”

    “As caregivers, our fundamental responsibility is the wellbeing of our patients and the larger community,” said Dr. Jennifer Elliott, chair of Saint Luke’s Opioid Stewardship Program and medical director of Saint Luke’s Pain Management Clinic. “Through Saint Luke’s Opioid Stewardship Program, we provide needed resources and education and have implemented measures to ensure we are good stewards of these prescriptions. We are committed to continue raising awareness on this important issue and working together on a solution with Rep. Davids and others in our community.”

    “Emergency Medical Services witnesses firsthand the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on our communities,” said Adiel Garcia, Division Chief – Education & Integrated Healthcare, Johnson County Department of Emergency Services. “Johnson County MED-ACT is responding with evidence-based care, including expanded use of naloxone, proactive community outreach, and partnerships with treatment providers. We are committed not just to saving lives in the moment, but to being part of a long-term solution that connects patients to the help they need through follow-ups, referrals, and wrap around services.”

    “Representative Davids’ commitment to combating the fentanyl crisis and protecting our communities is deeply appreciated by the entire law enforcement community,” said Daniel W. Neill, Executive Director, Midwest HIDTA. “Her strong support for the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in Kansas ensures that state, local, tribal, and federal agencies can continue working together to save lives, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and disrupt the flow of fentanyl into our region. Her advocacy for sustained HIDTA funding reflects a clear understanding that collaboration — not fragmentation — is the key to turning the tide against this epidemic.”

    “The Kansas City Kansas Fire Department is very pleased that Representative Sharice Davids is keeping all public safety agencies focused on continuing the fight against the illegal distribution and use of fentanyl,” said Dennis L. Rubin, Fire Chief, Kansas City Kansas Fire Department. “The misuse of fentanyl usually comes with a heavy price tag. The KCKFD Fire Department responds to emergency calls for help involving this powerful drug almost daily. More often than not, the person or people in trouble are the youth of this community. The KCKFD is proud to work alongside of the Congress Member Davids to work toward eradicating this emerging community crisis.”

    “I’m always saying anything is everything,” said Keatherann Sharp, Community Health Outreach Director, Wyandotte County Health Department. “When you are helping a person, they remember the smallest thing and when it comes to a person in active use, they remember everything. So, a simple smile can be the turning point for them.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Unveils Comprehensive Tax Reform Framework to Lower Costs, Expand Economic Opportunity, Promote Fiscal Responsibility

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Rejecting the GOP Tax Scam, Rep. Davids is charting a new path forward

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined the New Democrat Coalition in unveiling a new Tax Framework aimed at advancing commonsense reforms that deliver better outcomes for Kansas’ hardworking families, support small businesses, and strengthen our long-term economy.

    The Framework stands in clear contrast to President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ extreme tax plan, which slashes health care and nutrition support for working families to pay for tax breaks for billionaires — adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt.

    “We should be focused on finding commonsense solutions that lower costs for hardworking families — not on extreme proposals that only benefit billionaires and the wealthiest corporations,” said Davids. “This new framework puts Kansas families and small businesses first by lowering costs, supporting job creation, and ensuring we grow the economy without adding to the national debt.”

    The Framework lays out a policy roadmap capable of amassing support on both sides of the aisle, including more than 20 pragmatic solutions that fall into one of three principles: lowering costs for middle class families and hardworking Americans; expanding economic opportunity and growing American jobs and businesses; and promoting fiscal responsibility and long-term economic security. 

    Framework Goals (read more here):

    1. Lower Costs for Working Families:
      • Support American Families and Children
        • Ex: Extend the expanded, refundable Child Tax Credit
      • Reward Work and Support Economic Mobility
        • Ex: Simplify and expand access to work-related tax benefits, including commuting and caregiving expenses
      • Make Higher Education and Training More Affordable
        • Ex: Update the tax code to recognize modern training and credentialing programs to support lifelong learning and upskilling
    2. Sustained Economic Growth and Grow American Jobs and Businesses:
      • Strengthen Innovation and Investment
        • Ex: Support tax incentives for domestic research and development and manufacturing
      • Support Small Business and Entrepreneurs
        • Ex: Modernize and simplify small business tax provisions to reduce compliance burdens and help startups and small businesses scale and compete
      • Promote Long-Term, Broad-Based Growth
        • Ex: Ensure international tax rules encourage U.S. investment and onshoring, keep IP in the U.S., and American companies are globally competitive
    3. Fiscal Responsibility and Long-Term Economic Security:
      • Lower annual deficits
        • Ex: Reject irresponsible tax policies that primarily benefit the wealthiest individuals at the expense of working families and the deficit
      • Stabilize and then reduce debt-to-GDP ratio
        • Ex: The more the U.S. spends on interest on the debt, the less it can spend on children, Social Security, Medicare, and defense

    This week, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are pushing a budget plan that gives tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and large corporations while raising costs and cutting services for everyone else. Davids previously voted against a version of this bill because it would:

    • Gut Medicaid and force rural hospitals to close;
    • Increase grocery prices and put smaller grocery stores at risk of closing;
    • Cut clean energy tax credits that are saving Kansans money on energy bills and supporting domestic manufacturing;
    • Add $3-5 trillion to the national deficit through 2034;
    • Raise taxes on hardworking families to fund tax giveaways for billionaires.

    The New Democrat Coalition is a group of more than 100 forward-thinking, solutions-focused House Democrats committed to growing the economy, strengthening communities, and protecting our democracy. Representing more than half the Democratic Caucus, they work across the aisle to deliver real results on issues like health care, housing, and national security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ojo Amarillo Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Assault Resulting in Serious Injuries

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Ojo Amarillo man pleaded guilty to a violent assault that left the victim with lasting disfigurement.

    According to court records, on May 6, 2025, Kyle Kee, 44, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, intentionally struck the victim with his fists. As a result, the victim suffered an orbital floor fracture, nasal bone fractures, and facial disfigurement.

    Kee pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Kee faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Kee will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ojo Amarillo Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Assault Resulting in Serious Injuries

    Source: US FBI

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Ojo Amarillo man pleaded guilty to a violent assault that left the victim with lasting disfigurement.

    According to court records, on May 6, 2025, Kyle Kee, 44, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, intentionally struck the victim with his fists. As a result, the victim suffered an orbital floor fracture, nasal bone fractures, and facial disfigurement.

    Kee pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Kee faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Kee will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mount Vernon Police Sergeant Sentenced for Use of Excessive Force

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that MARIO STEWART, a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department (“MVPD”), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to six months in prison.  While working as a Sergeant for the MVPD in 2019, STEWART used excessive force against an individual experiencing a mental health crisis (the “Victim”), tasing him seven times over the course of several minutes, in violation of the Victim’s rights under the U.S. Constitution.

    “New Yorkers depend daily on the women and men of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “We trust them to keep us safe, to act in line with their training, and to respect our individual rights.  This trust, earned over decades, is essential to our way of life.  When a law enforcement officer breaches that trust, we are all affected.  Yesterday’s sentencing was about protecting the trust between our communities and our police departments.”

    According to the Indictment, court filings and statements made in court:

    On or about March 26, 2019, STEWART was employed as a Sergeant with the MVPD.  STEWART was assigned to the MVPD’s Emergency Services Unit, which is responsible for, among other things, responding to individuals who are experiencing mental health crises.  On that day, STEWART and six other MVPD officers received a call to assist the Victim in Mount Vernon, New York, as the Victim was experiencing a mental health crisis.

    At the scene, STEWART and the other MVPD officers restrained the Victim, handcuffing his hands behind his back and securing his legs in a restraint bag in preparation to transport the Victim for medical assistance.  When the MVPD officers were unable to pull the restraint bag over the Victim’s chest because the Victim was holding onto one of the bag’s straps, STEWART directed the Victim to release the strap.  STEWART then deployed his taser seven times on the Victim. During each of STEWART’s taser deployments, the Victim remained laying on the ground, handcuffed with his hands behind his back and his legs secured in the restraint bag.  STEWART’s actions caused bodily injury to the Victim, including extreme pain.   

    In pronouncing STEWART’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas stated that a prison sentence was necessary “to send a clear message” to law enforcement that “even though your job is really hard, and even though you protect us every day and you have to make really tough decisions, there are still times where you have to yield to authority, and where the line is clear, you cannot cross it. . . . The people of Mount Vernon have to know that they will not be themselves victims of their law enforcement officers.”

    *               *                *

    In addition to the prison term, STEWART, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, was also sentenced to six months of home confinement.

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the MVPD for their assistance with the investigation.

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Jared Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mount Vernon Police Sergeant Sentenced for Use of Excessive Force

    Source: US FBI

    United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that MARIO STEWART, a Sergeant with the Mount Vernon Police Department (“MVPD”), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to six months in prison.  While working as a Sergeant for the MVPD in 2019, STEWART used excessive force against an individual experiencing a mental health crisis (the “Victim”), tasing him seven times over the course of several minutes, in violation of the Victim’s rights under the U.S. Constitution.

    “New Yorkers depend daily on the women and men of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “We trust them to keep us safe, to act in line with their training, and to respect our individual rights.  This trust, earned over decades, is essential to our way of life.  When a law enforcement officer breaches that trust, we are all affected.  Yesterday’s sentencing was about protecting the trust between our communities and our police departments.”

    According to the Indictment, court filings and statements made in court:

    On or about March 26, 2019, STEWART was employed as a Sergeant with the MVPD.  STEWART was assigned to the MVPD’s Emergency Services Unit, which is responsible for, among other things, responding to individuals who are experiencing mental health crises.  On that day, STEWART and six other MVPD officers received a call to assist the Victim in Mount Vernon, New York, as the Victim was experiencing a mental health crisis.

    At the scene, STEWART and the other MVPD officers restrained the Victim, handcuffing his hands behind his back and securing his legs in a restraint bag in preparation to transport the Victim for medical assistance.  When the MVPD officers were unable to pull the restraint bag over the Victim’s chest because the Victim was holding onto one of the bag’s straps, STEWART directed the Victim to release the strap.  STEWART then deployed his taser seven times on the Victim. During each of STEWART’s taser deployments, the Victim remained laying on the ground, handcuffed with his hands behind his back and his legs secured in the restraint bag.  STEWART’s actions caused bodily injury to the Victim, including extreme pain.   

    In pronouncing STEWART’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas stated that a prison sentence was necessary “to send a clear message” to law enforcement that “even though your job is really hard, and even though you protect us every day and you have to make really tough decisions, there are still times where you have to yield to authority, and where the line is clear, you cannot cross it. . . . The people of Mount Vernon have to know that they will not be themselves victims of their law enforcement officers.”

    *               *                *

    In addition to the prison term, STEWART, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, was also sentenced to six months of home confinement.

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the MVPD for their assistance with the investigation.

    The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Jared Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ohio Doctor Pleads Guilty to Role in Telemedicine Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    CLEVELAND – Mohammed Ahmad, 38, of Avon, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to submitting orders for patients in connection with a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme that caused Medicare to be unnecessarily billed for thousands of dollars. Medicare is a federal health care benefit program that provides items and services mainly to people who are age 65 and older.

    According to court documents, Ahmad has been a licensed physician in Ohio since 2014 and worked as a contractor for Florida-based Lifeline Recruiting Inc. to provide telemedicine services. Lifeline Recruiting purchased “leads” of Medicare beneficiaries and used call center services to find and target individuals who were eligible to receive orthotic braces and other DME. Lifeline provided pre-completed orders for Ahmad to review and sign to authorize treatment with DME as medically necessary, even though he did not personally examine patients or conduct the tests that his orders indicated he had performed.

    From November 2018 to May 2019, medical orders that Ahmad signed caused approximately $267,402 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare, of which approximately $126,643 was paid.

    On July 9, 2025, Ahmad pleaded guilty after being charged by information for making false statements related to health care matters in connection with the DME telemedicine scheme. He faces a maximum of up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled.

    This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea S. Rice and Erica D. Barnhill prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

    This case is part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The Takedown is part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that brought criminal charges against 324 defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the United States, for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving over $14.6 billion in intended loss. The Takedown involved federal and state law enforcement agencies across the country and represents an unprecedented effort to combat health care fraud schemes that exploit patients and taxpayers. For more information, visit: justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/2025-national-health-care-fraud-takedown.

    The owner of Lifeline Recruiting, Alicia Hiller, pleaded guilty in March to charges related to the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 5, 2025, in the Southern District of Florida.

    To report health care fraud and abuse, call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (8477).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA:  Amo Led Discussion with Rhode Island Manufacturers Struggling because of Trump’s Erratic Trade Policy

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    85% of Rhode Island manufacturers say Trump’s tariffs are hurting their businesses in a new survey.

    PAWTUCKET, RI –  Monday, June 30th, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) led a roundtable discussion with six small, local manufacturers from across Rhode Island’s First Congressional District about the impacts of Trump’s chaotic tariff policy. Business leaders from LNA Laser Technology (Pawtucket, RI), Katrinkles (Providence, RI), Beehive Handmade (Warren, RI), Ward’s Manufacturing (Warren, RI), and S.K. Grimes (Woonsocket, RI) voiced fears that Trump’s sweeping, chaotic tariffs would irreparably harm their companies. The leaders shared they were less likely to hire Rhode Island workers or invest in research and development due to these policies.

    “Rhode Island manufacturers, workers and consumers are paying the price for Trump’s tariff chaos,” said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). “Thank you to the small businesses from across the First Congressional District who shared their stories at last week’s roundtable in Pawtucket. They made crystal clear Trump’s all-encompassing, volatile tariffs are having disastrous consequences on their companies – they can’t hire, invest, or plan for the future. Small businesses and their employees need clear, consistent policy to thrive. Republicans talk a big game about reshoring American manufacturing, but their extreme policies are undermining American job creators. I took these stories back to Washington to keep fighting for a commonsense trade policy that empowers Rhode Island workers and businesses.” 

    “It was an honor to meet with Congressman Amo at last week’s roundtable event, and to experience firsthand how hard he is working on behalf of Rhode Island’s manufacturers,” said Katy Westcott, owner of Katrinkles in Warren, RI. “At Katrinkles, we’re seeing customers now purchasing elsewhere to avoid extra fees, or avoiding ordering from the United States altogether. It was heartening to discuss the impact of tariffs on the industry at large, as well as effective strategies for response, with so many insightful fellow manufacturers.”

    “LNA Laser Technology supplies high quality lasers and systems for part identification and traceability to manufacturing industries across the country,” said Dan Gold, President and CEO of LNA Laser Technology in Pawtucket, RI. “Many components of our systems are sourced from abroad because they are not available domestically. The new tariff policies are driving the costs up significantly of critical components that ultimately gets passed on to the manufacturing end users. This not only impacts our ability to be competitive, it also punishes the US companies who are trying to invest in technology to improve and grow. My goal in talking with Congressman Amo was to share these real consequences and impacts so that he can hopefully work with his colleagues in Congress towards common sense exceptions in tariff policy that will promote investment in domestic manufacturing. If the goal is to help bring back manufacturing industries and jobs to the US, the current administration sweeping tariff policy is having the complete opposite effect.”

    “I’m grateful to Congressman Amo for taking the time to gather us, listen to our concerns, and genuinely engage on the challenges we face,” said Adam Dau, President of S.K. Grimes in Woonsocket, RI. “What struck me during the roundtable was that, despite the wide range of products, materials, and clientele we served, every business at the table was feeling the weight of a tariff system that is inconsistently applied—or in some cases, applied without clear rationale. That uncertainty makes it incredibly difficult to plan for the future or invest in growth. The current system stands in the way of continuing to strengthen Rhode Island’s already strong manufacturing base, and we’re encouraged by the Congressman’s efforts to change that.”

    “The tariffs are hurting American manufacturers at every level of the supply chain. Our material costs are increasing while our manufacturing customers are buying less,” said Kelly Ward, President of Ward’s Manufacturing in Warren, RI. “Businesses cannot make decisions when policies change every day and without warning. Many manufacturers are pausing projects until the federal government comes up with a definitive plan. The uncertainty is hurting the U.S. economy. My metal fabrication company, Ward’s Manufacturing LLC, has experienced a cost increase of up to 4x as a result of the tariffs. We have only two choices – either my company pays the tariff or the consumer pays the tariff. Either way, it’s Americans who pay.”

    “Rhode Island’s small manufacturing ecosystem is strong and vibrant,” said Matt Watson, Center Director of Polaris MEP, Rhode Island’s Manufacturing Extension Program. “We’re grateful to Congressman Amo for highlighting the real impacts these companies are facing and for exploring potential solutions to help ease future headwinds.”
     

    Background

    As Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Amo, worked to force a voteto end the ‘so-called’ national emergency Trump is using to justify tariffs. If passed it would end reciprocal tariffs.

    In May 2025, Amo led 30 colleagues, alongside Congressman Greg Casar (D-TX) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), in calling on the Acting Inspector General of the State Department to review potential corruptionin trade negotiations with countries facing tariffs benefiting Elon Musk and Starlink.

    In April 2025, Amo signed an amicus brief in Oregon v. Trump supporting the argument that the Trump Administration abused emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unlawfully impose reckless, across-the-board tariffs.

    He also joined Congressman Steve Horsford (D-NV) in April 2025 to express alarm that Trump may be using trade policy to enrich insiders with advanced knowledge of pending trade actions or inactions.

    Amo signed a letter led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) in a April 2025 addressed to Secretary Lutnick, Secretary Bessent, and USTR Ambassador Greer expressing concern about the Trump Administration’s tariffs opening the door to corruption.

    In February 2025, Amo joined Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) in urging Trump to reconsider the proposed 25% tariffson imported building materials from Canada and Mexico. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amo and Lofgren Demand Commerce Secretary Lutnick Appear Before Committee to Answer for NWS Staff Shortages

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    The demand for testimony comes as search and rescue efforts continue in Central Texas after horrifying flooding devastated the area. 

    Washington, DC –  Yesterday, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Environment Subcommittee and Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Lutnick demanding he testify before the Committee to explain his plan to address staff shortages at the National Weather Service (NWS). The letter comes after the devastating flooding in Central Texas that has since called into question whether the Trump Administration’s mass firing and intimidation of federal employees may have impaired the ability of the NWS to carry out its mission.

    “We write to you to demand your testimony before the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology regarding staff shortages at the National Weather Service (NWS) and your plan to address them,” said the Members in the letter. “The NWS is a critical public safety agency. In addition to its role as the source of everyday weather data for the country, the NWS is charged with forecasting extreme weather events and communicating those forecasts promptly to the public in order to save lives and livelihoods. Americans rely on the NWS every single day to keep us safe. But the NWS is only as strong as its people. And under your leadership, the Department of Commerce (DOC) has overseen an indiscriminate wave of firings, deferred resignations, and early retirements that has thrown the NWS into crisis. The dangers arising from that crisis have been laid bare in the wake of the horrifying, tragic flooding that struck parts of Central Texas on July 4th. While it is too soon to draw definitive conclusions about what happened, it is already clear that this is precisely the type of situation in which the existence of a short-staffed, depleted NWS heightens the risk of tragedy. There will be more such extreme weather events – there always are. You must appear before the Committee immediately and explain to us how you intend to restore the NWS to full strength as quickly as possible so that the agency will be fully prepared to carry out its lifesaving mission when the next disaster strikes.”

    “It will take time to fully understand whether any part of this past weekend’s tragedy in Texas could have been avoided,” the Members continued. “We cannot rush to judgment based on the limited information available to us now. But it is apparent to us, Secretary Lutnick, that your actions to drastically slash staffing at the National Weather Service have increased the broader risks to Americans of extreme weather events by impairing the ability of the NWS to do its job. Simply put, you cut too deep. You refused to listen to the warnings from experts, from Congress, and from the NWS itself. And the flooding in Central Texas illustrates, in the most terrible fashion, the disastrous risks you invite by taking the lifesaving role of the NWS for granted.”

    Access the letter here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The One Big Beautiful Bill Secures Major Wins for the American People

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed the House of Representatives in a vote of 218-214 with unanimous support from the Freedom Caucus. The passage of the OBBBA marks a major victory for the American people, President Donald Trump, and the House Freedom Caucus. From day one, HFC Members worked closely with the President, his team, congressional leadership, and conservative colleagues to strengthen this reconciliation package—making it more fiscally responsible and more conservative at every step. We have delivered Republican priorities with Republican votes and ensured Democrats cannot derail the America First agenda.

    Historic Border Wins: HFC was an early proponent of providing full border security and immigration enforcement funding in reconciliation. These priorities are now central to the OBBBA. The bill delivers historic investments to finish the border wall, ramp up deportations of illegal aliens, and support critical DHS personnel.

    Fiscal Wins: Republicans—led by HFC and fiscal conservatives—achieved over $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, five times more than originally proposed at the start of this process. This is an historically unprecedented level of spending cuts, and we look forward to working with the White House to continue to cut waste, fraud, and abuse – reining in the Democrats’ out of control spending that fuels inflation. We remain determined to restore pre-pandemic federal spending levels, and there will be more developments on restoring fiscal sanity in the weeks to come.

    Ending the Green New Scam: The OBBBA will unleash American energy dominance by ending key “Green New Scam” subsidies for harmful wind and solar projects in President Trump’s term and opening up reliable energy production by reinstating oil and gas lease sales from Alaska to the Gulf of America. In fact, we believe our provisions will stop more than 90 percent of new “green” projects from getting taxpayer subsidies.

    Welfare Reform & Work Requirements: Republicans secured major mandatory spending cuts and reforms that conservatives have long sought, such as work requirements in entitlement programs like food stamps and in Medicaid – requirements of which were significantly tightened in negotiations prior to the original House passage of the OBBBA in June. The OBBBA cuts waste, fraud, and abuse in these programs, and takes meaningful steps to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving benefits funded by federal tax dollars. 

    Medicaid: Critically, the OBBBA targets the “money laundering” by states through Medicaid provider taxes, a gimmick states can use to double or even triple their federal reimbursement funding. Many states take advantage of this scam to backfill their own unbalanced budgets and in some cases (e.g., California) use it to provide free healthcare to illegal aliens. The OBBBA phases down the provider tax safe harbor from 6% to 3.5% in Medicaid expansion states to halt this racket. Not only will this save hundreds of billions of dollars, but it will also discourage further growth of Obamacare’s ruinous Medicaid expansion that prioritizes the able-bodied over the most vulnerable Americans.

    Tax Cuts: The OBBBA delivers on and expands President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, one of the President’s key campaign promises. This avoids the largest tax hike in history, provides new tax relief for hard-working Americans, and incentivizes economic growth and investment in America. HFC Members also secured key tax wins like ending the taxation of suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and establishing a remittance tax on illegal aliens sending cash abroad. 

    Bottom Line: The House Freedom Caucus fought to make this bill better at every stage—and we succeeded. We secured transformational wins for fiscal responsibility, border security, energy independence, welfare reform, and tax relief. We secured significant commitments on continuing to move the ball forward on the American First agenda, and thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the work to dismantle the Swamp’s agenda isn’t finished—it’s just getting started.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly condemns Big, Ugly Bill: ‘Shame on House Republicans’

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) condemned U.S. House Republicans for jamming through the Big, Ugly Bill to meet an arbitrary deadline. Due to the $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid, 17 million Americans will lose their healthcare, including nearly half a million in Illinois and almost 40,000 in the Second District.

    “House Republicans did the unconscionable: they passed the Big, Ugly Bill that would steal people’s healthcare, rob food out of children’s mouths, cut clean energy jobs, and flood our streets with dangerous weapons like gun silencers. After one call from President Trump, so-called hardline conservatives folded like cowards, voting to raise the deficit by $3.4 trillion. While House Republicans bent the knee to President Trump, every House Democrat stood up for the American people to vote no in one resounding voice.

    “If people do not have healthcare, they will die. That’s not hyperbolic – that’s fact. The Big, Ugly Bill rips healthcare away from 17 million people and closes hospitals, all the while exacerbating public health crises like maternal mortality and gun violence. President Trump promised not to touch Medicaid – but he lied, and House Republicans were complicit in his scam. Shame on House Republicans, and shame on President Trump for betraying the American people.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP OPPOSES BILL THAT MAKES THE BIGGEST CUT TO MEDICAID IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THREATENS HOSPITALS, GUTS SNAP, KILLS JOBS, UNDERMINES ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, & INCREASES THE DEFICIT

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted against H.R. 1, a budget reconciliation bill authored by United States House and Senate Republicans that will gut billions of dollars from healthcare, food, and other programs as well as add trillions of dollars to the federal budget deficit to pay for tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefit billionaires.

    “I opposed this bill in May when it was first debated by the U.S. House of Representatives and now it comes back to us from the U.S. Senate in even worse shape. The bill explodes the federal budget deficit and will lead to more uninsured Americans as well as the closure of hospitals, especially in rural and underserved areas in Middle and Southwest Georgia and across the country,” said Congressman Bishop. “The bill attacks Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. It makes it harder for the most vulnerable to put food on the table. We need to fight fraud, waste, and abuse – not use those words as political cover for billionaire tax giveaways and ballooning the country’s budget deficit.”

    H.R. 1 was initially considered in the U.S. House of Representatives and approved on May 22, despite bipartisan opposition to the bill. Congressman Bishop voted against the bill at that time. It was then sent to the U.S. Senate where many of the House bill’s provisions were found to violate Senate rules.

    The Senate-amended version of the bill kicks 17 million people off their health care and causes premiums, deductibles, and copays to soar for millions more. Among the health care provisions in H.R. 1:

    • It cuts more than $1 trillion from health care, including the largest Medicaid cut ever.
    • It will cause a $500 billion cut to Medicare.
    • It will make healthcare more expensive and less affordable for people not on Medicare and Medicaid due to greater distances and increased strain on the healthcare system due to hospital closures, staff reductions, loss of services, and increased reliance on emergency rooms for basic healthcare.

    H.R. 1 also cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 20 percent. It forces states to cover more of SNAP’s cost, which likely will lead to dozens of states eliminating SNAP entirely. New red tape requirements will cause 5 million people to lose food assistance and put tens of millions of kids at risk of losing school breakfast and lunch. This bill also provides unnecessary exceptions for Alaska, which places additional, disproportionate burdens on states like Georgia.

    H.R. 1 makes devastating cuts to energy programs that will reduce American energy independence and innovation, cause families to pay an average of $400 more per year nationwide, and puts seniors and low-income people at risk of losing assistance to pay their energy bills.

    Additionally, these cuts threaten more than 840,000 energy sector jobs in just the next five years and an additional 790,000 jobs over the next 10 years, including jobs lost in the electric vehicle industry which Georgia Democrats and Republicans have fought to create and make the state an industry leader.

    Finally, H.R. 1 adds $4 trillion to the national debt to support tax breaks for the wealthiest 1%. The poorest 20% of American families, however, will see their taxes increase over the lifespan of the bill while their healthcare, food, and energy costs rise.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, SEEC LANDS, WATERS, AND NATURE TASK FORCE BLASTS DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR MOVE TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    Washington, D.C. – The Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force Reps. Doris Matsui (CA), Don Beyer (VA), and Maxine Dexter (OR) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum in response to DOI’s Regulatory Reform Request for Information (RFI) published on May 20, which aims to undermine public land management on behalf of polluting industries.

    “In carrying out its duties, the Department is guided by multiple statutes and a well-developed suite of regulations promulgated over many decades. While we can appreciate the goal of establishing a more efficient regulatory program at DOI and agree wholeheartedly with the importance of effective stewardship of our public lands and resources, it appears the true intent of the RFI is the ‘deconstruction of the overbearing and burdensome administrative state.’ This goal is contrary to existing law, Congressional intent, and the continued exercise of the DOI’s many responsibilities,” the Task Force wrote.

    “Existing regulations protect human health and the environment from harmful practices and polluting from bad actors. Eliminating them means that companies could fail to clean up oil spills in waterways that are sources of drinking water, neglect to install equipment that prevents air pollution, and destroy the scenic landscapes where we hike, fish, and play. Our children deserve to inherit a safe and habitable planet where they can breathe clean air and drink clean water.”

    Read the full letter here.

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Five arrested after South Brighton disturbance

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Five young males were arrested yesterday by SAPOL’s Youth and Street Gangs Task Force after a disturbance at South Brighton.

    Just before 4pm on Friday 11 July, police were called to Brighton Road, South Brighton after two males were seen walking along Brighton Road, one carrying a machete.

    Witnesses also reported that a male in a grey or silver car appeared to point a firearm out the vehicle towards the other males.

    There were no reported injuries.

    As a result of the subsequent investigation, Youth and Street Gangs Task Force investigators, with the assistance of Western District patrols, located and stopped a silver Mitsubishi in Fulham Gardens.

    Officers searched the vehicle and allegedly located an imitation firearm and machetes.

    All five occupants of the vehicle, aged 16, 17, 18, 24 and 29, were arrested and charged with carry offensive weapon and possess firearm.

    The 17-year-old boy from Edwardstown was also charged with aggravated robbery allegedly committed on 3 July at Croydon Park where a machete was produced.

    All five were refused police bail and will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates and Adelaide Youth Courts on Monday, 14 July.

    The Mitsubishi was seized for further forensic examination.

    Anyone who witnessed this incident who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI CONDEMNS PASSAGE OF REPUBLICANS’ BIG UGLY BILL

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) released the following statement after House Republicans voted to pass H.R. 1, the Big Ugly Bill. The bill will cut nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid and take health care away from 17 million Americans. 

    “Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is a staggering betrayal of the American people. It cruelly rips away health care from 17 million Americans. It takes food off the table of children and our most vulnerable. It’s a disaster for American workers and American families struggling to pay the bills. Bottom line – it’s the biggest transfer of wealth from the working class to the rich in American history,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet – every dollar slashed represents real human suffering. Republicans are forcing Americans with the fewest options to make impossible choices – all to give tax breaks to billionaires.”

    “The bill includes nearly a trillion dollars of cuts to Medicaid – leaving children with disabilities, cancer patients, seniors in nursing homes, and working families without the care they depend on. These cuts will shutter rural hospitals and pull ambulances off the streets,” Matsui continued. “And while the Big Ugly Bill is slashing health care and nutrition assistance, it will also drive up energy costs by more than 400 dollars a year per household, kill clean energy jobs, and sabotage clean energy projects across the country. This isn’t just bad policy – it’s an all-out assault on American families. It is cruel. It is reckless. And that’s why I emphatically voted NO.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI AND CRENSHAW INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO PREVENT DRUG SHORTAGES BY ADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLY CHAIN

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced the Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply (MAPS) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen the federal government’s ability to prepare for and mitigate future drug shortages by identifying vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

    The MAPS Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update its Essential Medicines List and create a map of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The map would include the country of origin, quantity manufactured, and other key information about critical drug products to identify supply chain weaknesses that could lead to shortages or other challenges in a future public health emergency. With this insight, HHS will be better equipped to predict disruptions, identify bottlenecks, and build resilience into the system—ultimately helping to prevent future public health emergencies. 

    The bill would also require the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of these supply chains.  The assessment would examine the key ingredients needed to manufacture essential medicines, overreliance on high-risk foreign sources, sole-sourced products, current domestic manufacturing capabilities, cybersecurity threats, and any other gaps that may reduce the federal government’s ability to identify health and national security risks related to our essential medicine supply chains.

    “Recent drug shortages have exposed serious gaps in our pharmaceutical supply chain — gaps that put lives at risk,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Right now, we lack full visibility into where and how our essential medicines are made. We don’t know the extent of our reliance on foreign agents for key drug ingredients, or how a natural disaster would impact the drug supply. The MAPS Act is a crucial step to provide us with a comprehensive roadmap. By increasing transparency, we can bolster the weaknesses in our supply chain, better prepare for future public health emergencies and protect the well-being of all Americans.”  

    “Too often, we fail to recognize domestic drug manufacturing for what it truly is—a national security issue,” said Congressman Crenshaw. “Every time we rely on foreign nations, especially our adversaries, for essential medicines or their ingredients, we hand them dangerous leverage over us. This bill is a critical step forward: it gives us the tools to map our pharmaceutical supply chains, identify vulnerabilities, and better prepare for threats before they arise.”

    According to the Association of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), ongoing and active drug shortages continue to be dangerously high, with 270 drugs currently in shortage. Despite progress from the FDA in preventing and mitigating drug shortages, these efforts are largely reactive. Shortage prevention efforts could be more effective if they were proactive and targeted to the most vulnerable and essential drugs.  

    Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) – the key ingredients that give a drug their intended effect – are largely manufactured overseas in China or India. The MAPS Act would establish a supply chain map including the origin of each drug, the location of the facilities used to manufacture them, and associated inspections and risks, such as recalls and import alerts.

    Endorsing organizations include: California Hospital Association, Texas Hospital Association, Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Angels for Change, CivicaRx, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), Phlow and Vizient.

    “ASHP strongly supports the MAPS Act. By requiring the Department of Health and Human services to coordinate with other agencies and the private sector to map the pharmaceutical supply chain, threats to the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain can be identified and addressed before they place patients at risk,” saidTom Kraus, Vice President of ASHP Government Relations.  

    “ASCO applauds the introduction of the MAPS Act, in the House of Representatives. This legislation aims to improve stakeholder visibility into the supply of critical prescription drugs in this country and ultimately used to mitigate the harms patients face amid drug shortages,” saidLynn M. Schuchter, MD, FASCO, Board Chair of the Association for Clinical Oncology. “We applaud Representatives Matsui and Crenshaw for their bipartisan dedication to improving access to cancer drug treatments and other critical medications.”

    “Prolonged and persistent drug shortages over the past two decades are jeopardizing Americans’ access to critical treatments and increasing our vulnerability to disruptions from natural disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical instability,” said Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Pharmacopeia. “Building meaningful and lasting resilience across this complex supply chain requires comprehensive reform. The MAPS Act will improve our ability to leverage tools, like USP’s Medicine Supply Map, to detect risks, anticipate shortages, and safeguard national security. As we seek further insight on the sourcing of key starting materials and API for producing our most vulnerable medicines, these collaborations are critical for understanding our vulnerabilities, as well as unlocking innovative solutions, like advanced manufacturing and scalable synthesis technologies.”  

    “Angels for Change proudly supports the MAPS Act—a vital step toward ending drug shortages and protecting patients,” saidLaura Bray, Founder and Chief Change Maker of Angels for Change. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen transparency and coordination across the entire drug supply chain, helping to detect and prevent disruptions before they impact care. Building the reliable supply chain patients deserve will require collaboration across government and industry. We applaud Representatives Matsui and Crenshaw for their leadership in prioritizing the safeguarding of Essential Medicines that will benefit all US patients.”  

    Full text of the bill is available HERE. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, MULLIN, WHITEHOUSE, PADILLA REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REDUCE OCEAN SHIPPING POLLUTION, MODERNIZE MARITIME INDUSTRY

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Congressman Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), and U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)and Alex Padilla (D-CA), reintroduced legislation aimed at reducing harmful pollution from the global shipping industry. Maritime shipping is a significant source of greenhouse gas pollution around the world and a major contributor to local air pollution in port communities.

     

    The bicameral International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would address pollution from large cargo ships and oil tankers by charging a fee for greenhouse gases and other hazardous air pollutants emitted by these ships. The revenue from collected fees would be used to fund cleaner ships and port equipment, protecting our port communities and fighting climate change, while also revitalizing the U.S. shipping industry.  

    “The climate crisis isn’t a distant threat. It’s here, it’s accelerating, and it’s devastating communities across our state and our country,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “We must act quickly to reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollution across our economy. The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act takes decisive action to slash pollution from cargo ships and provide urgently needed investment in clean maritime technology and infrastructure. While the International Maritime Organization made history this spring by approving a global net-zero shipping framework, President Trump tried to derail negotiations and continues to block any action to fight climate change. This bill would ensure the U.S. is leading—not lagging—on climate action. As Trump and his allies double down on climate denial and fossil fuel handouts, we’re fighting back with real solutions that protect public health and the planet.”

     

    “Communities near our ports—like those in the San Francisco Bay Area—bear the brunt of pollution from ships that fuel global trade,” said Congressman Mullin. “The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act ensures that the global shipping industry does its part to reduce emissions. The revenue from these pollution fees will help speed the shift to cleaner ships and healthier ports. I’m proud to partner with Congresswoman Matsui to advance this policy that meets the urgency of the climate crisis while protecting the people and places most impacted by maritime emissions.” 

     

    “As climate change destroys lives and drives up costs for families, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to avoid the worst consequences for communities, businesses, and the environment,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Encouragingly, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has put forward a global carbon price on shipping emissions. This legislation reinforces that work, further cutting harmful emissions while supporting the maritime innovators that are pioneering clean technologies to protect public health and can help put us on course to climate safety.”

     

    “California’s ports are the powerhouse of our country’s economy, moving critical freight and providing good-paying jobs, all while leading the nation’s decarbonizing efforts. But neighboring communities have been forced to shoulder the brunt of global shipping pollution for too long,” said Senator Padilla. “Our legislation would strengthen the sustainability of our shipping industry by reducing emissions in maritime transportation while simultaneously protecting coastal communities. The health of our communities and our planet requires us to be forward-looking and ambitious — we owe future generations nothing less than bold, transformative action.”

    The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would:

    • Impose a $150 per ton fee on greenhouse gas pollution emitted by ships carrying cargo destined for the U.S., as well as fees for nitrogen oxides ($6.30/lb.), sulfur dioxide ($18/lb.), and soot (PM2.5) ($38.90/lb.) that ships emit in U.S. waters. The fees would only apply to large foreign-flagged ships with 5,000 gross tonnage or more.
    • Provide critical funding to modernize the Jones Act fleet with low-carbon vessels, revitalizing and electrifying U.S. shipbuilding, and addressing and reducing pollutants in America’s port communities, along our coasts, and in our oceans.

       

    The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act has been endorsed by EV Maritime, Friends of the Earth, GreenLatinos, Ocean Conservancy, Pacific Environment, San Pedro & Peninsula Homeowners Coalition, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, and 350 Brooklyn.

    “We applaud Senator Whitehouse and Representative Matsui for reintroducing the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act of 2025,” said Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment. “This bill will ensure that the shipping industry pays its fair share in the fight against climate change. It will raise billions of dollars over the next decade, funds that would be reinvested into cleaner ships and port infrastructure, as well as maritime workforce training and development. The bill will curb the shipping industry’s massive pollution problem and help protect port communities that are disproportionately exposed to harmful emissions. Now is the time for the U.S. to show global leadership in the transition to a zero-emission shipping industry, and we call on Congress to pass this important legislation.”

    “Global shipping is responsible for 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year, equal to the emissions from 112 billion gallons of gasoline,” said Caroline Bonfield, Ocean Conservancy’s Shipping Emissions U.S. Policy Manager. “This pollution heats our ocean, drives climate change and chokes portside communities with toxic fumes. But the U.S. can chart a new course. The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would charge a fee to large ships offloading cargo at U.S. ports for their emissions, and use the funds to make critical upgrades here in the U.S., like electrifying ports, modernizing vessels and switching to cleaner fuel. Passing this bill would protect the ocean, reduce climate impacts and create cleaner air for millions of Americans living near ports. It would also make the entire U.S. maritime sector including American ships more efficient and competitive. Ocean Conservancy is grateful for the leadership of Representative Matsui and Senator Whitehouse on this critical issue. For the health of our ocean and our communities, we urge Congress to pass this common sense legislation.” 

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