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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly on Rep. Schakowsky’s Retirement, Decades of Public Service

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

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement thanking U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowksy (IL-09) on her years of public service:

    “For over 25 years, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky has been a powerful advocate for her constituents and the people of Illinois. I’m incredibly grateful for her partnership in the Illinois Delegation and the Energy and Commerce Committee as we’ve fought together for access to high-quality healthcare.

    “Congresswoman Schakowsky’s legacy, including her leadership in passing the Affordable Care Act, will continue to improve American lives. I wish her and her family all the best in a well-earned retirement.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly condemns Trump Administration for flooding streets with dangerous rapid-fire devices

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

    CHICAGO – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) condemned the Trump Administration for permitting the sale of forced reset triggers, which enable semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns.

    The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) settled a lawsuit with the National Association for Gun Rights, which challenged a rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to ban forced reset triggers. 

    “President Donald Trump just put people’s lives at risk in exchange for the gun lobby’s support. This is not about the Second Amendment – this is about a dangerous device that can do irreparable harm to communities. Anyone can buy or 3D print a forced reset trigger without a background check and without question as to why someone needs a gun with the same firing capacity as a machine gun. Machine guns have been illegal since 1934, and it’s time our laws catch up to the 21st Century to ban devices that cause the same damage, pain and grief.”

    Rep. Kelly has dedicated her career in public service to ending gun violence. Most recently, she led a letter to President Trump demanding he reinstate funds to community violence intervention organizations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In marathon committee markup, Rep. Kelly protects Medicaid from Republican $880 billion cut

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

    Rep. Kelly offered amendments to codify Medicaid postpartum coverage, remove red tape

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) offered two amendments to protect Medicaid in a marathon committee that has lasted for over 22 hours.

    “Republicans continue to play political games and scheduled their $880 billion cut to Medicaid overnight, because they know it’s unpopular and harmful. I, and my Democratic colleagues, however, are awake and fighting on behalf of the American people.

    “I offered two amendments that would strengthen Medicaid and actually reduce waste, fraud, and abuse. To no one’s surprise, Republicans voted them down. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle would rather force families to regularly report their employment status just to keep their health coverage – creating bureaucratic hurdles that lead to people losing Medicaid.

    “Cuts to Medicaid, which covers almost half of all births nationwide, threaten mothers and babies. My amendment would have codified the lifesaving policy that expanded postpartum coverage from 60 days to a full year. We cannot expect someone to recover from childbirth, return to work, care for a newborn and also scramble to reapply for coverage. That’s not healthcare – it’s chaos.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly: ‘Cuts to Medicaid aren’t about saving taxpayer money’

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

    House Republicans push $880 billion cut to Medicaid through Energy and Commerce Committee

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, is committed to protecting Medicaid. Today, Republicans on the committee will try to pass $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid as part of President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

    “Let’s be clear about what today’s markup is and isn’t about. This isn’t about reducing ‘fraud, waste, and abuse.’ This is about ripping healthcare away from working families, children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and pregnant women. 

    “Yet my Republican colleagues dismiss our concerns over $880 billion in Medicaid cuts as a ‘misunderstanding.’ But you don’t gut the largest insurer of low-income Americans without real harm. Call it what it is: abandonment, disinvestment, disregard for human life.

    “Cuts to Medicaid aren’t about saving taxpayer money. It’s about who we think is worth the investment of living a long, independent and healthy life.  In Illinois, 3.4 million people are covered by Medicaid. When Illinois implemented Medicaid expansion, the uninsured rate dropped by 44% between 2013 and 2015. These statistics demonstrate the significance of Medicaid for Illinoisans.

    “This committee is tasked with protecting public health, not dismantling it. We need to strengthen our health care system, not use budget gimmicks and add unnecessary requirements to make it harder for people to see a doctor. We owe it to the American people to stop playing games. They deserve affordable health care.”

    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a new analysis determining 13.7 million Americans would lose healthcare under President Trump’s and Republicans’s budget cuts.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S EFFORT TO ROLL BACK DIGITAL EQUITY FUNDING

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that he would immediately end Digital Equity Act grant funding. 

    “President Trump is once again launching an illegal, unilateral attack on the most underserved Americans — this time by trying to block Congressionally directed funding meant to invest in communities and build a better future,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Broadband access and digital literacy are far from luxuries. They decide who gets to participate and succeed in today’s economy. Digital Equity Act grants are a crucial tool to make sure that once Americans have access to the internet, they are able to make full use of it. From our children’s performance in school to our ability to find work, the digital divide has far reaching consequences for American families. Especially in our rural areas, millions of Americans continue to lack access to the resources and skills they need to capitalize on an increasingly digital world. That’s why I have worked my entire career to make sure equity is a central pillar of our long-term solutions. President Trump may be willing to jeopardize Americans’ future — but I will continue to fight back against his reckless attacks.”

    The Digital Equity Act, included as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. In October of last year, California was awarded $70 million from the program to implement its Digital Equity Plan.

                                                   

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  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI BLASTS REPUBLICANS’ EFFORTS TO GUT MEDICAID DURING OPENING REMARKS AT ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE RECONCILIATION MARKUP

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), delivered the following opening remarks at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup of Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and take health care away from millions of Americans. 

    A video of her remarks is available HERE. 

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  

      

    This committee wields immense power when it comes to reconciliation – and in the past we’ve used that power to deliver real results.   

      

    We expanded health care through the Affordable Care Act. We rescued the economy during COVID. We lowered drug costs. We made bold investments in clean energy and climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act. 

      

    Tangible. Positive. Impact.  

      

    But that’s not what we’re doing today.  

      

    Today, my Republican colleagues are trying to ram through a bill that would slash hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid.  

      

    Let’s be honest about what is happening. No matter what Republicans say, there is no if about it – benefits will be cut.  

      

    And I’ve seen this playbook before.  

      

    Fifteen years ago – in this room – we debated and passed the Affordable Care Act.  

      

    I’ll never forget the passionate advocates who filled this room then – and how Republicans looked them in the eyes and voted against a bill that would provide them lifesaving health care.  

      

    Then I watched as Republicans tried again and again to repeal the ACA. And I fought back every time. And I will fight back just as hard today. 

      

    Because Republicans can choose to callously ignore the facts – but the impact in each of our communities is real and plain to see.  

      

    Cuts to Medicaid mean denying care to the most vulnerable among us: seniors in nursing homes, cancer patients, people with disabilities, and kids. 

      

    Kids like Sam. 

      

    Sam is 13 years old. He has Down syndrome, autism, and a severe speech disorder. And thanks to Medicaid—Sam is living a safe, supported, and dignified life. 

      

    Medicaid covers his in-home supportive services so Sam can live at home with his family—not in an institution. It provides Sam with services to help him build toward greater independence.  

      

    Sam’s mom said it best: “Disability rights are human rights. Medicaid is what allows Sam to live a life of dignity, with his rights intact.” 

      

    If this bill passes, those rights will be rolled back. The support that helps millions of families like Sam’s will be ripped away. 

     

    Today, we will hear Republicans try to defend their bill. They’ll tell us their cruel policies exempt kids like Sam, and pretend that they’re reinvesting in services to support him. 

    But that’s simply not true. 

    This bill cuts around $800 billion dollars from our health care safety net. It rips massive holes in states’ budgets – that are near impossible to fill. It sets devious paperwork traps to force families like Sam’s to jump through hoops to keep coverage.

    The math is clear. $800 billion dollars gouged out of our health system means $800 billion dollars less care to go around. 

    With this bill Republicans are choosing to rip away health care and abandon the American people. All to pay for temporary tax cuts for the wealthy, and to keep fueling corporate greed that’s making life harder for everyday Americans. 

     

    I’m here to fight for those Americans. And I’ll be here as long as it takes.  

    I yield back.  

                                                   

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aderholt Applauds Inclusion of Adoption Tax Credit Refundability in Budget Reconciliation Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Co-Chair of the Congressional Adoption Caucus and Chairman of the House VAT (Values Action Team), today announced a key milestone in ongoing efforts to support adoptive families: the inclusion of Adoption Tax Credit refundability in the House Ways and Means Committee’s reconciliation framework, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

    “One of our top priorities in reconciliation this year was providing families with a refundable Adoption Tax Credit,” said Congressman Aderholt. “I’m pleased to report that the Committee has included this much-needed provision in the draft package—a refundable amount of up to $5,000 for adoption expenses, indexed for inflation.”

    In March of 2025, the Congressman led the letter to House and Ways & Means Committee leadership urging inclusion of a refundable adoption credit in reconciliation.

    “For too long, the nonrefundable nature of the credit has limited its reach, particularly for working- and middle-class families who may not owe enough in taxes to use the full amount,” Aderholt continued. “Refundability means more children can be welcomed into permanent homes, and more families can say yes to adoption without being held back by financial constraints. I’m proud to see Republicans put families first in this year’s Budget Reconciliation.”

    As an original co-sponsor of H.R.2833 – Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025, Congressman Aderholt has consistently led bipartisan efforts to make adoption more accessible.

    “As Adoption Caucus Chairman and a longtime advocate for children and families, this is personal,” Aderholt said. “Making adoption more affordable is both morally right and fiscally responsible. Every child who moves from foster care into a forever home saves taxpayer dollars and gains a stable, loving environment.”

    Group Support: National Right to Life; Concerned Women for America; Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; March for Life Action; Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America; Students for Life Action; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; Americans United for Life; Lifeline Children’s Services

    Though the bill has not yet passed, Congressman Aderholt remains committed to ensuring the refundability language remains intact as the reconciliation process moves forward.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aderholt Underscores Strengthening American Health and Well-Being During Hearing with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, underscored the critical need to strengthen public health systems and enhance the well-being of Americans. The hearing featured testimony from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who discussed the Department’s FY26 priorities.

    “Despite spending nearly $2 trillion annually on health care, America continues to face unacceptable health outcomes,” said Chairman Aderholt. “We need bold, innovative approaches—not simply more spending—to truly improve the health of our citizens. I’m encouraged by Secretary Kennedy’s willingness to bring fresh perspectives and reforms to HHS.”

    During his opening remarks, Chairman Aderholt welcomed Secretary Kennedy, noting his recent confirmation and swift engagement in the Administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. Aderholt expressed his hope that Kennedy’s leadership will catalyze needed reforms and restore public trust in health agencies.

    Chairman Aderholt specifically highlighted key challenges facing rural communities like those in Alabama—including disproportionately high rates of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, coupled with mounting pressures on rural hospitals and persistent shortages in the health care workforce.

    “The health care challenges in rural America are urgent and deeply personal for the communities we serve,” Aderholt noted. “I’m committed to working with Secretary Kennedy to find practical, life-affirming solutions to protect access to care and support our rural hospitals and providers.”

    Aderholt also praised the Secretary’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of life and the conscience rights of medical professionals, stating, “As a strong supporter of the right to life, I appreciate Secretary Kennedy’s pledge to uphold these fundamental values.”

    During the hearing, Chairman Aderholt raised concerns about previous actions taken under the Biden administration that undermined pro-life protections. He cited reports that the CDC funded abortion-related activities overseas in violation of the Helms Amendment, and that Title X funding had been denied to states for not providing abortion counseling, contrary to their laws.

    Additionally, the Congressman acknowledged the public health impact of President Trump’s success in curbing illegal border crossings, including the 54% reduction in fentanyl inflow and a sharp decline in the trafficking of unaccompanied minors. “The President’s actions at the border are not only a national security issue but a public health victory as well,” he said.

    The hearing also focused on proposed structural reforms at HHS, including the creation of a new Administration for a Healthy America and efforts to overhaul the National Institutes of Health. Aderholt expressed optimism about these initiatives and reiterated his commitment to a collaborative legislative process.

    “Reforming Washington is never easy,” Aderholt concluded, “but we in Congress stand ready to work with the Secretary and the Administration to deliver lasting, meaningful improvements to our health care system.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National With Three Prior Deportations Sentenced To Prison For Illegally Reentering The United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced this week to a total of 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States, while on federal supervised release, after being removed from the country on three prior occasions. On Thursday, Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Geraldo Maya-Gonzalez to 18 months in prison. On Friday, he was sentenced to an additional, consecutive six months by United States District Judge James C. Mahan for violating the terms of his supervised release imposed after his 2018 conviction for the same offense.

    According to court documents, Maya-Gonzalez was found by immigration officials on January 27, 2021, after he was previously deported on or about March 3, 2011, June 5, 2012, and July 26, 2019. Maya-Gonzalez came into ICE custody in 2024, after serving a state sentence for drug trafficking.

    Maya-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. This was his third such conviction.

    United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke made the announcement.

    The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Convicts Nampa Man of Attempting to Produce Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOISE – After a three-day trial, a federal jury sitting in Boise found William Walls, 52, of Nampa, guilty of three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill presided over the trial, which began on May 12, and concluded with guilty verdicts on May 14.

    According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Walls used his cellphone to surreptitiously record three female children in the bathroom of his apartment. Walls was babysitting the victims at the time. The video captured one of the children showering and the other two children changing their clothes.

    The charge of attempted sexual exploitation of a child carries a minimum of fifteen years and up to life in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years and up to lifetime of supervised release. Walls will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.

    Sentencing is set for July 31, 2025, before Judge Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the Nampa Police Department for a thorough and professional investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Kassandra McGrady and Erin Blackadar prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: ‘King’ of Violent Haitian Gang Found Guilty on All Charges for Hostage Taking of 16 American Christian Missionaries

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Joly Germine, 32, of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, was found guilty today by a federal jury in the District of Columbia for his role in orchestrating the 2021 hostage taking of 16 American citizens, including five children, and holding them hostage for 62 days.

               The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan James of the Miami Field Office.

               “This office will fight aggressively to protect Americans who are taken hostage and abused, and to uphold the religious freedoms of our people, including Christians.  As the evidence demonstrated, Joly Germine orchestrated a plot that leveraged American Christian missionaries as bargaining chips to try to secure his own release from a Haitian prison,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When you commit crimes against Americans in other countries, it makes no difference where you are — we are coming for you. Justice may not always be swift but it is certain.”

               “This conviction demonstrates the FBI’s determination to follow the evidence wherever it leads and to work our way up to the leaders of criminal plots wherever they are. Haitian gang leader and convicted kidnapper Joly Germine found out he was not beyond the reach of the FBI,” said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge James. “Neither time nor distance will weaken our resolve. We will use all tools available and go to farthest reaches of the globe to bring to justice those who kidnap Americans.”

               Following a 10-day trial in U.S. District Court, the jury found Germine guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and 16 counts of hostage taking of a U.S. national for ransom. 

               The former leader and self-described “king” of the notoriously violent Haitian gang known as 400 Mawozo, Germine previously pleaded guilty to his role in a gun trafficking conspiracy that smuggled firearms to Haiti in violation of U.S. export laws and the laundering of the gang’s funds derived from ransoms paid for other U.S. hostage victims. For those crimes, he was sentenced in June 2024 to 35 years in federal prison. 

               Germine’s gang, 400 Mawozo, operated in the Croix-des-Bouquets area to the east of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Germine directed the gang’s operations from prison using unmonitored cell phones and was constantly in touch with other 400 Mawazo leaders, most of whom were his relatives. Germine controlled the gang’s finances, supplied the gang’s weapons, and otherwise directed operations. 

               On October 16, 2021, 17 Mennonite missionaries from Christian Aid Ministries, an Ohio-based missionary aid organization, were returning from visiting an orphanage when they were stopped by 400 Mawozo’s armed and masked soldiers. Many of the gang’s soldiers were brandishing firearms supplied by Germine.  The group included 12 adults and 5 children, including a 6-year-old, 3-year-old, and an 8-month-old. Sixteen of the victims were U.S. citizens and one was a Canadian citizen.  

               The gang drove the missionaries to a field and robbed them, while consulting by phone with Germine, their leader. The gang took the missionaries to a building in a rural area, held them at gunpoint, and demanded ransom of $1 million each for their return. In postings on social media, the gang threatened to kill all the hostages if the ransom was not paid. Early on in the negotiations, senior gang leadership said that, in lieu of the ransom monies, 400 Mawozo would accept Germine’s release from prison in exchange for the hostages. 

               On November 20, 2021, two hostages were released after one was suffering from life-threatening health conditions. On December 5, 2021, 400 Mawozo released three of the hostages, two adults who had significant medical issues and the six-year old child, after receiving a $350,000 ransom payment. Though the gang had stated they would release all the hostages for the ransom paid, at Germine’s direction, the gang thereafter refused to release any more hostages. On December 16, 2021, the remaining hostages escaped under cover of darkness while their captors were distracted, walking for five hours through the Haitian bush until they were out of the gang’s territory. They were received by the FBI, which had deployed to Haiti and arranged to immediately transport them from Haiti before the gang could respond to their escape. In total, most of the missionaries were held for 62 days. 

              The evidence at trial showed that Germine had directed the initial kidnapping, had arranged for the locations where hostages were held, and set the $17 million ransom demand, knowing it was too high to be paid and would result in the Haitian government negotiating his release from prison in exchange for the missionaries.  The evidence also showed that Germine was involved in or consulted on the decisions to release victims.

               The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. During the law enforcement response to the kidnapping, extraordinary assistance was provided in a whole of government response by various agencies, including Customs and Border Protection Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Defense, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Valuable assistance was provided by the government of Haiti, the government of the Dominican Republic, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Department of State and the Embassy in Port-au-Prince, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida’s Special Prosecutions Section.

               The case was  prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Tom Saunders and Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas for the District of Columbia, with invaluable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Victim Advocate Yvonne Bryant, and Victim Witness Coordinators Tonya Jones and Guisela Castillo. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: District of Arizona Charges 310 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 10, 2025, through May 16, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 310 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 125 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 170 aliens for illegally entering the United States.  In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States charged 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

    Recent matters of interest include:

    United States v. Angelica Ramos-Lopez: On May 10, 2025, Angelica Ramos-Lopez, a United States citizen, was charged with Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien, Birth Certificate Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. On May 9, 2025, Ramos-Lopez approached the State Route 85 immigration checkpoint near Gila Bend in a vehicle with a child lying down in the backseat, covered by a blanket from head to toe. Ramos-Lopez presented a birth certificate and United States passport for the child with a birth year of 2017 that listed Ramos -Lopez as the mother. However, the child who was in the vehicle provided a different name than the one found on the birth certificate and stated that the driver was his stepmother. In a post-Miranda interview, Ramos-Lopez admitted that she did not know who the child was, but that she knew the child was undocumented. Ramos-Lopez told officers that she was getting paid to transport the child from Mexico to Phoenix, Arizona. Ramos-Lopez stated that the birth certificate was real, but it belonged to her biological son, not the child passenger. [Case Number: MJ-25-6234]

    United States v. Yolanda Mendivil-Diaz: On May 13, 2025, Yolanda Mendivil-Diaz was charged with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mendivil-Diaz was previously removed from the United States in 2014 after being convicted for Conspiracy to Sell or Transfer Narcotic Drugs, a felony offense, in the Superior Court of Arizona. [Case Number: MJ-25-3192]

    United States v. Jose Herrera Daniel: On May 14, 2025, Jose Herrera Daniel was charged by criminal complaint for attempting to illegally export ammunition from the United States into Mexico. The complaint alleges that United States Customs and Border Protection officers searched Daniel’s car at the Douglas Port of Entry and found 6,399 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden in the vehicle. [Case Number: MJ-25-9008]

    A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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

    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-078_May 16 Immigration Enforcement

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    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon Sentenced To 49 Years In Prison For Multiple Armed Robberies

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who has prior felony convictions was sentenced today by United States District Judge Miranda M. Du to 49 years in prison for committing multiple armed robberies of businesses in Las Vegas.

    According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, from January 19, 2022, to January 25, 2022, George Perez committed seven store robberies. At all seven robberies, Perez approached the cashiers with store merchandise, pretending he was going to purchase it. At six of the seven robberies, he pointed a Taurus G2 9mm firearm at the cashiers and demanded money. Perez stole money by threatened force, physical violence, and fear of injury.

    Perez has prior convictions including attempt possession of controlled substance with intent to sell; two burglaries; and possession of credit or debit card without cardholder’s consent, all in Clark County, Nevada, and he is prohibited by law to possess a firearm.

    In February 2025, following a five-day trial, a jury convicted Perez of seven counts of interference with commerce by robbery, seven counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

    United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division made the announcement.

    This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys David Kiebler and Lauren Ibanez prosecuted the case.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Sentenced to 88 Months in Prison for Role in Drug Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TUCSON, Ariz. – German Montano-Peralta, 33, of Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on May 12, 2025, by United States District Judge Angela Martinez to 88 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Montano-Peralta previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.

    On April 30, 2024, in Tucson, Arizona, Montano-Peralta and others possessed approximately 40 kilograms of powder and pills containing fentanyl and more than 55 pounds of methamphetamine, which they intended to deliver to others later that day.

    This investigation was a collaborative effort between federal law enforcement agencies and is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative in Southern Arizona that is being led by the Arizona Strike Force located in Tucson. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney, David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:            CR-24-2710-AMM-4
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-079_Montano-Peralta

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    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Tyler Hull, age 42, of Fulton, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possession with intent to distribute over 300 grams of a schedule I synthetic cathinone. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.

    As part of his guilty plea, Hull admitted that during a traffic stop, police found approximately 316 grams of a synthetic cathinone he intended to distribute to others in Oswego County. During questioning, Hull also admitted that he had distributed a similar quantity of the same substance on two prior occasions. The synthetic cathinone Hull intended to distribute is a schedule I controlled substance and has pharmacological effects on the central nervous system similar to other schedule I or II substances such as methylone, pentylone, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA.  At the time, Hull was serving a term of supervised release imposed after a 2022 federal drug trafficking conviction.

    Hull also admitted to violating the terms of his supervised release by committing the new offense and by possessing a controlled substance.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on the new offense and his supervised release violations by United States District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on September 24, 2025, in Syracuse, New York.

    U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is deeply committed to working closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to root out those who seek to profit by peddling poison in our communities through the distribution of controlled substances.”

    “Yesterday’s guilty plea underscores the successful and unwavering collaboration between state, local, and federal partners, who continuously place the public’s safety above all else,” said Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Buffalo. “I commend the law enforcement community for ensuring no stone is left unturned as we strive to protect our New York communities.”

    For his new criminal offense, Hull faces up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000,000, and a term of post-release supervision of at least 6 years and up to life.  Hull also faces up to two years in prison on his violations of supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

    The case was investigated by HSI and the other members of the Oswego County Drug Task Force, which is comprised of members of HSI, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Fulton Police Department, the City of Oswego Police Department, the Oswego County District Attorney’s Office, and United States Border Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adrian LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Strengthens Legal Protections for Elderly

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Seven Chinese government agencies, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Supreme People’s Court, have issued guidelines to improve legal services and protect the elderly.

    As China’s population ages, with more than 310 million people aged 60 and above, the move aims to address controversies surrounding the elderly and create a favourable social environment for the group.

    One of the key elements of the document is the improvement of infrastructure for unimpeded access of elderly people to judicial bodies and the improvement of the quality of services provided by them. In addition, the document provides for the provision of specialized services, such as preliminary court proceedings and the provision of these services at home.

    The recommendations also call for tougher penalties for crimes targeting older people, including fraud, theft and extortion, as well as attacks on their property rights under the guise of providing care services. They also focus on early risk prevention in areas such as inheritance disputes, elderly care, financial management and health-related products.

    To better protect vulnerable groups, the document proposes to remove income restrictions for older people seeking legal aid in cases of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.

    It also expands the reach of legal aid to include older people living alone, those with disabilities and those suffering from dementia. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing authorities to issue 20,000 license plates to carless families

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — The Beijing Municipal People’s Government has decided to provide 20,000 additional license plates for new energy vehicles (NEVs), on top of the 40,000 license plates it allocated in January this year, aiming to further meet the transportation needs of car-less families, local authorities announced Friday.

    In 2025, the total quota for passenger car license plates in Beijing will be 160,000 units. This figure includes 100,000 units under the annual quota system and another 60,000 new license plates for NIE. According to the Beijing Transportation Bureau, the additional license plates are exclusively for NIE.

    The measure will bring the number of electric vehicle license plates provided to car-free families this year to 118,400, the department said.

    Starting from May 26, households that applied for a license plate can enter the city’s special points-based lottery system to check their ranking. Once verified, households will receive a certificate of confirmation of receipt of a license plate quota, which will be valid for 12 months.

    Beijing authorities have taken various measures to combat traffic congestion and air pollution, including introducing a lottery system for license plates for internal combustion engine vehicles in 2011 and allocating quotas for license plates for electric vehicles a few years later. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Thirty-Two Republican Members, Led by Smucker, Renew Call for a Fiscally Responsible Budget Reconciliation Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)

    WASHINGTON—Thirty-one Members of the House Republican Conference, led by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) Vice Chair of the Budget Committee, are calling for Congress to pass reconciliation legislation that is “genuinely fiscally responsible.” Failure to achieve the spending reduction targets outlined in the budget resolution will mean “the Ways and Means Committee’s instruction must be lowered dollar-for-dollar to keep the reconciliation bill within the agreed limits.”

    The Members write: “We are fully committed to passing a reconciliation bill that achieves the objectives we all support, which include extending President Trump’s tax cuts, growing our economy, securing our borders, unleashing American energy, and ensuring peace through strength.”

    The lawmakers continue, “We remain firmly committed to ensuring the bill is genuinely fiscally responsible. We reaffirm that our support depends, at minimum, on the bill’s strict adherence to the House framework for instructions contained in the concurrent budget resolution (Section 4001 of H.Con.Res.14).”

    The group expresses its appreciation for the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Leader Scalie’s commitments that no measure will be brought to the floor unless it fully meets the standards of the House framework for instructions contained in the concurrent budget resolution. 

    Signatories to the letter include Representatives: Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Lauren Boebert (CO-04), Josh Brecheen (OK-02), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Eric Burlison (MO-07), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Elijiah Crane (AZ-02), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Andy Harris (MD-01), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Richard McCormick (GA-07), Mary Miller (IL-15), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Andrew Ogles (TN-05), Robert Onder (MO-03), Scott Perry (PA-10), Chip Roy (TX-21), David Schweikert (AZ-01), Keith Self (TX-03), Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Victoria Spartz (IN-05), Greg Steube (FL-17), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), and Ryan Zinke (MT-01).

    The full letter is available here. 

    Full text follows below: 

    May 7, 2025
     

    The Honorable Mike Johnson

    Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives

    Washington, D.C. 20515

    The Honorable Steve Scalise

    Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives

    Washington, DC 20515

    Subject: Commitment to House Framework in Reconciliation

    Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Scalise,

    We are fully committed to passing a reconciliation bill that achieves the objectives we all support, which include extending President Trump’s tax cuts, growing our economy, securing our borders, unleashing American energy, and ensuring peace through strength.

    Additionally, we remain firmly committed to ensuring the bill is genuinely fiscally responsible. We reaffirm that our support depends, at minimum, on the bill’s strict adherence to the House framework for instructions contained in the concurrent budget resolution (Section 4001 of H.Con.Res.14). We also appreciate your assurance that no measure will be brought to the floor unless it fully meets this standard.

    The Big Picture

    America’s fiscal path is unsustainable and worsening. The national debt has exceeded $36 trillion and is growing by nearly $2 trillion each year. Annual interest costs are on track to surpass $1 trillion, overtaking what we spend on Medicare or national defense. Federal outlays remain at record highs, and the recent strain in Treasury markets makes it clear that we can no longer count on historically low interest rates. We must move decisively to restore market confidence and put the budget on a sustainable path.
     

    Minmum Criteria for Our Support

    Under the House’s framework, the reconciliation bill must not add to the deficit. The House budget resolution assumes that enacting President Trump’s agenda, including extending the 2017 tax cuts, will generate $2.5 trillion in additional revenue through economic growth. This means that all additional tax cuts or increases in spending above this level must be offset. To fully extend and build upon the 2017 tax cuts, this means that the reconciliation bill must include at least $2 trillion in verifiable savings either through spending reductions or scaling back the size of the tax package. If savings fall short, the Ways and Means Committee’s instruction

    must be lowered dollar-for-dollar to keep the reconciliation bill within the agreed limits.

    In practice, the Ways and Means Committee’s instruction may not exceed $2.5 trillion more than the debt reduction achieved by all other committees.

    Deficit Reduction in Other Committees                 Maximum Ways and Means Instruction

    $2.0 trillion                                                                 $4.5 trillion

    $1.5 trillion                                                                 $4.0 trillion

    $1.0 trillion                                                                 $3.5 trillion

    Critically, the deficit reduction target must be met with real, enforceable spending cuts – not budget gimmicks. The final bill must deliver structural reforms that strengthen long-term growth and produce long-term savings.

    Bottom Line

    A $2 trillion reduction in spending may sound substantial. However, it equals only 2.3 percent of projected federal outlays over the next decade and only reduces the rate of growth in spending. Even with those savings, annual spending is expected to grow from $7 trillion to $10 trillion over the next 10 years, and debt will exceed $50 trillion by 2035.

    The House reconciliation instructions are binding. They set a floor for savings, not a ceiling. We must hold that line on fiscal discipline to put the country back on a sustainable path.

    We are more committed than ever to making that happen.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Smucker Champions Key Tax Relief Measures Included in “One Big, Beautiful Bill”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lloyd Smucker (PA-16)

    WASHINGTON—Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, voted to advance the committee’s legislative proposals in compliance with the instructions of H. Con. Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the budget for Fiscal Year 2025. 

    “Today’s vote is a great step forward to enacting the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” to provide hardworking families, small businesses, seniors, and farmers with additional tax relief. This legislation will put more money back into Americans’ pockets and unleash greater business investment by providing them with much-needed certainty in our tax code. We must get this done for the American people,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11). “As Congress continues to move forward throughout this process, we must ensure that it is done in a fiscally responsible manner and complies with the outlines of the House’s budget resolution.”

    The committee reported legislative language to permanently extend many expiring provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including the individual tax rates, the small business tax deduction, and relief for family-farmers from the death tax. 

    The Ways and Means Committee proposal contains legislative provisions authored by Rep. Smucker, including: 

    • Permanent Tax Relief and Certainty for Small Businesses: Permanently increasing and enhancing the small business tax deduction, known as Section 199A of the tax code. Smucker’s Main Street Tax Certainty Act has the support of 187 Members of the House and the legislation has broad support among stakeholders in PA-11 and across the nation.  
       
    • Expanded Support for Individuals with Disabilities Using ABLE Accounts: Smucker’s bipartisan ENABLE Act to allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save and invest in tax-advantaged accounts without jeopardizing their eligibility for essential federal support programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income, is included making these tax provisions permanent. 
       
    • Improved Access to Primary Care: The Ways and Means Committee’s proposals include Smucker’s Primary Care Enhancement Act, which would clarify provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to remove barriers for individuals with Health Savings Accounts from using those funds to access Direct Primary Care, a health care delivery model which provides high-quality care at lower cost for individuals of all ages and incomes across America.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kansas City Lawmakers Support National Historic Landmark Designation of Quindaro Townsite

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) have called on the National Park Service to designate the Quindaro Townsite in Wyandotte County as a National Historic Landmark. The Kansas City, Kansas site served as a critical entry point for anti-slavery settlers and a sanctuary for those escaping bondage via the Underground Railroad prior to and during the U.S. Civil War.

    “The Quindaro Townsite is a vital piece of U.S. history that demonstrates our national commitment to liberty and self-determination, which ought to be celebrated and shared with future generations,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Just as I was proud to introduce the bipartisan Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act with Reps. Schmidt and Davids, I’m once again honored to advocate for the designation of Quindaro as a National Historic Landmark, preserving this important chapter in America’s story until the end of time.”

    “Quindaro is a meaningful part of our region, state, and country’s history,” Congressman Schmidt said. “Recognizing the site as a National Historic Landmark will provide the designation necessary to properly preserve the legacy of this important historical site. I’m proud to lead my fellow Kansas City area lawmakers in this effort.”

    “Quindaro is a powerful part of Kansas’ history in the fight for freedom and equality, but for too long, local preservation efforts of this important site have lacked much-needed resources,” Representative Davids said. “I’m proud to work with Representatives Schmidt and Cleaver to ensure this site receives the recognition and protection it deserves through a National Historic Landmark designation.”

    Founded in 1857, Quindaro emerged as a beacon for Free-State advocates during the turbulent “Bleeding Kansas” era. Strategically located along the Missouri River, it served as a critical entry point for anti-slavery settlers and a sanctuary for those escaping bondage via the Underground Railroad. The town’s establishment was a collaborative effort among the Wyandot Nation, New England abolitionists, and African American settlers, exemplifying a unique and harmonious multicultural alliance during a period marked by division and conflict.

    Beyond its pivotal role in the anti-slavery movement, Quindaro became a nucleus for post-Civil War African American advancement. The establishment of the Quindaro Freedman’s School, later known as Western University, marked a significant milestone as the first Black school west of the Mississippi River. Institutions like Douglass Hospital further underscored the town’s commitment to education and healthcare within the African American community.

    Archaeological excavations have unveiled a wealth of artifacts, offering invaluable insights into the daily lives of Quindaro’s diverse inhabitants. The site’s preserved foundations and structures provide a tangible connection to this rich history. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 2002, Quindaro’s significance has been further acknowledged through its designation as a National Commemorative Site in 2019.

    In 2023, the lawmakers introduced the Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act to designate the Quindaro Townsite as a National Historic Landmark.

    The official letter from lawmakers is available here.

     

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on the Passing of Former Missouri Governor and Senator Christopher S. “Kit” Bond

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the passing of former Missouri Governor and Senator Christopher S. “Kit” Bond.

    “Kit Bond was a superb statesman, an exemplary public servant, and a dear friend to myself and Missourians across the Show Me State. From his time as State Auditor to his stewardship of Missouri as Governor, and eventually as Missouri’s Senator in Washington, Kit was the kind of elected official that every Missourian could be proud to call their representative; I know I was.  

    “Having come from the small town of Mexico, Missouri, Kit would go on to graduate top of his class in law school and use his brilliant legal mind to clerk for the Chief Judge on the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He was the epitome of the American Dream and what is possible through hard work and perseverance. While he could have stayed in Washington, D.C. to pursue a lucrative career in law, his love for Missouri and passion for public service were a magnetic force that brought him back home. 

    “As a City Councilman and then Mayor, I had the privilege of working with Governor-turned-Senator Bond on numerous projects to the benefit of Kansas City and those who reside in our community. From the Charles E. Whittaker Federal Courthouse to the National World War I Museum and Memorial, as well as the redevelopment of 18th & Vine and the construction of the Christopher S. Bond Bridge, one cannot walk around our community without experiencing the important work of Kit Bond – and every Kansas Citian should be grateful for his willingness to seek common ground and work across the aisle to make each of them possible.”

    “With time, our professional relationship grew into a profound friendship that I will cherish forever. It is with deep sadness that I say farewell to a true friend, and I extend my deepest condolences to the entire Bond family as they grieve this colossal loss. May every Missourian take a moment to give thanks to this Missouri hero, and may his memory be a blessing to all.”

    ###

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott: Republican Budget is a Big, Bad Bill

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Scott: Republican Budget is a Big, Bad Bill

    WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) delivered the following statement at the House Budget Committee’s failed markup of Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, H. Con. Res. 14, President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”:  
     

     

    “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s hard to take my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seriously when they come here and give speech after speech after speech, complaining about the deficit and then support this reconciliation plan that INCREASES the deficit. But this should not come as a surprise because every single Democratic president and presidential administration since Kennedy has left for their Republican successors a better deficit situation than the one they inherited. And every single Republican presidential administration since Nixon has left a WORSE deficit situation for the Democrats than the one they inherited. All without exception. 

    “So here we go again. A Republican president following a Democratic president. The Republicans are here to make speeches about deficits and debts, and then again set to increase the deficit and national debt just like clockwork. So, the reason we have all this debt is because Democrats have not been able to clean up the Republican messes as quickly as they make them.

    “This bill not only increases the deficit, it makes working families pay a price. As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, I am particularly outraged Republicans want to fund tax cuts for corporations and billionaires by making cuts in educational and nutritional programs. This bill uses taxpayers’ money to take resources from public schools, which serve 90% of students, and divert them to private schools. The bill also harms children’s access to school meal programs and makes it harder for students to afford a college education. 

    “So, there’s nothing fiscally responsible about this budget and working families and middle-class families will pay the price.

    “Programs that keep kids, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities from going hungry and ensure that students receive a quality education should not be on the chopping block. And after weeks of statements from Republican members that the budget they voted for twice does not cut Medicaid, this bill will rip away health care away from millions of Americans using Medicaid and makes health care more expensive for everyone else.

    “This Big, Bad Bill is a collection of bad policies. It kicks millions of people off their health care, threatens food security for millions of families, makes it harder for students to afford education, and diverts taxpayer resources from public schools. It does all of this to give corporations and wealthy billionaires a tax cut and then it makes our debt worse. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this legislation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul Praises Trump Admin’s Border Security Efforts at Hearing with Secretary Noem

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus and current vice chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee — delivered remarks on the Trump administration’s swift success in securing the border and questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the importance of passing House Republicans’ reconciliation bill.

    Click to watch

    Transcript of Vice Chair McCaul’s Interaction with Secretary Noem:

    Vice Chair McCaul: Madam Secretary, it was great to serve with you in Congress. It was an honor, and it’s an honor to see you as secretary of this important department. Let me say on behalf of my state of Texas, thank you for what you’ve done in a very short period of time.

    I’ve worked on this issue — as a federal prosecutor [and] as chairman of this committee — for over 25 years. I never saw the border more broken, more chaotic, than I did under the prior administration. Yet within months, you have restored order to the border, and the stats speak for themselves. And I want to commend you and President Trump for that.

    You know, on day one, [the Biden administration] rescinded the Remain in Mexico policy, which led to the chaos. It said, we’re open for business, come on in. And they did. Over 10 million encounters, 2 million gotaways. Yet within months of your administration, that number [of encounters] has gone down 93%.

    Catch and release. I’ve been fighting that one for years [through solutions like Remain in Mexico]. The Biden administration did away with it. Now we’re decreased to 99.99%. Almost zero catch and release. A very dangerous policy. Remain in Mexico’s [underlying statute] has been on the books for 30 years. Yet I marked it up on the Foreign Affairs Committee last year as part of the Secure the Border Act.

    Most offensively, and the reason I was an impeachment manager against Mayorkas, was his dereliction of duty to basically prioritize allowing aggravated felons into the country, even though Congress, by federal law, said “shall detain” aggravated felons. Yet, what did he do? He told his agents, that’s discretionary. You can release these dangerous criminals into our society.

    What have you done within months? [In the first] 50 days, you have 14,000 criminal aliens arrested, some of the most brutal gang members like MS-13 and TDA, and it’s making this country safer.

    Fentanyl, each year more Americans die from fentanyl than the number of Americans who died in the Vietnam War over 20 years. You recently had the largest massive seizure of these deadly drugs just this last couple weeks [that were being trafficked] by the Sinaloa cartel. And again, my state thanks you for that.

    Terrorism. You said 250 known or suspected terrorists have been deported. We saw after Afghanistan, the debacle of the collapse of Afghanistan, when Bagram was shut down, the prisons were unleashed, ISIS-K went to the Khorasan region, crossed into the United States, and eight were found plotting in this country.

    You are making this country safer by your actions. The Biden administration made it dangerous, and it didn’t take a bunch of new laws. It [took] new leadership, which you have provided and the president has provided as well.

    My question to you is, as you know, you need resources. And nobody knows that better than I do. We marked up a bill — about $70 billion — that can be put into your department to [enforce] these laws already passed by the Congress. The Foreign Terrorist Organization designation [for cartels] was huge.

    Let me just ask you this. How will this bill, the reconciliation bill, assist you in your efforts to continue and promote safety in the United States?

    Secretary Noem: Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate all of your leadership on our national security issues in the past and still continue in the future to focus on that.

    The reconciliation bill is imperative to our future in securing our nation. For years previous, the Department of Homeland Security has been neglected. It’s one of the larger agencies in the federal government with one of the smallest budgets. And certainly under the previous administration, the Coast Guard was hollowed out. Border Patrol and ICE were not allowed to do their jobs. They were not allowed to invest in new technologies that they could utilize for interdiction. Also, our borders need surveillance and technology to make sure that we know who’s coming into this country and why. Our ports of entry need new scanners so that we’re truly scanning our shipping containers and much of our air freight. We don’t know what’s coming in by air either.

    Those kinds of adjustments and technology and software upgrades are needed to compete, but also to secure our country with the threats that we face. And we don’t just face threats from gangs and cartels. It’s from China and the PRC and Iran and hackers that come into our system. Salt and Volt Typhoon have taught us that we’re extremely vulnerable to these kinds of attempts in the future.

    In fact, one of the most alarming things I heard as soon as I was nominated for this position, I was in a briefing from CISA that told me that they knew with salt typhoon that we had been hacked, but they also said they didn’t know how it happened or how to stop it in the future. Now the main goal of CISA is to hunt and to harden our systems. Hunt bad actors and harden our systems for our small and medium sized critical infrastructure. Department of Homeland Security has 10 of the 16 components of critical infrastructure, and that’s what we need to focus our resources on.

    Vice Chair McCaul: Thank you.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Veasey Slams Republicans For Gutting Medicaid, Silencing Cancer Survivor

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

    Headline: Rep. Veasey Slams Republicans For Gutting Medicaid, Silencing Cancer Survivor

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee shamefully voted to gut $800 billion from Medicaid—stripping health coverage from 14 million Americans. After a 27-hour markup, during which they attempted to hide from the public and silence the truth, Republicans unanimously voted to sign the death warrants of millions of children, mothers, seniors, and people with disabilities.

    “When I called Carla—a cancer survivor and the daughter of a WWII veteran—to share her story, Republicans didn’t just look the other way—they literally moved to silence her,” said Congressman Marc Veasey. “Make no mistake: Republicans are lying. Stripping away health care to hand billionaires a tax cut isn’t policy—it’s arson.”

    When Rep. Veasey phoned Carla to give voice to her experience, Republicans cut her mic—choosing silence and lies over humanity.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Veasey Introduces Resolution Recognizing May 2025 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

    Headline: Rep. Veasey Introduces Resolution Recognizing May 2025 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Youth Sports Caucus, introduced a resolution recognizing May 2025 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month to encourage Americans of all ages to engage in physical activity and promote healthier lifestyles across the country.

    “As Co-Chair of the Youth Sports Caucus, I know firsthand how critical physical activity is to the long-term health and wellbeing of our communities,” said Rep. Veasey. “From lowering rates of chronic disease to improving academic performance and mental health, movement is medicine—and every American, regardless of income or zip code, should have access to safe spaces and opportunities to get active. With this resolution, we reaffirm our national commitment to healthier lives through fitness and sports.”

    The bipartisan resolution is co-sponsored by Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Don Bacon (NE-02), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL)—reflecting a strong, cross-party commitment to the health and development of communities nationwide.

    Research continues to show the wide-ranging benefits of physical activity. In adults, just 150 minutes of activity per week can improve sleep, reduce anxiety, and lower the risk of chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. For children, 60 minutes of daily physical activity has been linked to better memory, emotional regulation, academic performance, and reduced risk of depression.

    Through his leadership of the Youth Sports Caucus, Rep. Veasey is championing legislative initiatives to expand access to youth sports, improve community infrastructure, and support educators and coaches who mentor students both in and out of the classroom. This resolution builds on those efforts and encourages families, schools, and communities to embrace movement as a foundational part of daily life.

    “As we celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, I invite Americans to get moving—and to join the broader push for policies that make sports and physical activity accessible to all,” Rep. Veasey added. “Healthy habits should never be a luxury—they should be a right.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Hoyer, Rep. Lynch Mobilize to Combat Attacks on Federal Workers Included in Republicans’ Extreme Budget Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), and Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) hosted a roundtable yesterday with major federal employee groups and civil service organizations to coordinate action against the Republican Budget’s House Oversight Reconciliation provisions that steal earned wages, benefits, and retirement security from federal workers to subsidize tax giveaways to billionaires. Republicans’ budget includes provisions to steal earned retirement benefits, decrease the take home pay of existing and new federal employees, claw back already-promised retirement payments, and force new federal employees to choose between being subject to President Trump’s political purges of the federal workforce or receiving a smaller paycheck for their entire career.

    The roundtable follows a full Committee markup of the Reconciliation bill in which Oversight Committee Democrats offered twenty-five amendments that would add commonsense safeguards to the bill.  All Democratic amendments were rejected by Committee Republicans.

    “Republicans’ House Oversight Reconciliation provisions are the latest salvo in Donald Trump’s effort to demean, vilify, and traumatize our federal workers,” said Ranking Member Hoyer. “These are patriotic professionals who serve the American people every single day. Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Russell Vought, and DOGE’s illegal purge of our federal workers was never about improving efficiency and reducing waste – something every American supports. Their assault on the civil service is about consolidating their own power and dismantling vital services for Americans across the country. Whether it’s on Capitol Hill, in the courts, or on the picket line, I will keep working with Democrats to fight against the actions of this administration and fight for our federal workers.” 

    “The Trump Administration’s unprecedented assault on our civil service is creating a breakdown across federal agencies that Americans will feel for years to come.  Unfortunately, the Republicans’ reconciliation print is an effective greenlight for the Administration to continue to attack the federal workforce—it will reduce the pay of federal workers; it will break promises on entitled retirement benefits; it will deter current and federal employees from seeking justice against wrongful employment actions; and it will provide a back-door Schedule P/C, formerly known as Schedule F, to purge the federal workforce in Trump’s favor,” said Rep. Lynch. “Oversight Democrats are ready to solve the nation’s greatest crises, but we cannot in good conscience do that by sacrificing the well-being of federal employees and the quality of the federal civilian workforce. That’s why we must continue to stand up against Oversight Republicans’ reconciliation proposals.”

    Participants in the roundtable included representatives from:  AFL-CIO; American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Postal Workers Union (APWU); Democracy Forward; FAA Managers Association (FAAMA); International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE); National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM); National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU); National Association of Letter Carrier (NALC); National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU); National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA); Senior Executives Association, Professional Managers Association, and National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); and Federal Managers Association (FMA).

    “Today’s hearing made it unmistakably clear that punitive cuts to federal employee benefits aren’t about saving money. They are about making life miserable for Americans serving in the federal government and driving experienced and dedicated employees away from federal service — harming every state, district, community, family, business, and individual who depend on the services these workers provide.  AFGE urges Members on both sides of the aisle to take notice of today’s discussion and reject the package of proposed changes to FERS that will reduce the take home pay of most federal workers and sharply reduce their expected retirement benefit,” said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

    “The physical demands of firefighting add up over the years, leaving many fire fighters sick or injured as a result of their service to the community. These dedicated public servants shouldn’t have to worry about quality healthcare and making ends meet if they’re forced to retire early. Benefits like the Special Retirement Supplement are key to ensuring fire fighters a dignified retirement until their Social Security benefits begin. Congress must preserve this annuity for federal fire fighters and reject this portion of the proposed reconciliation bill,” said International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward A. Kelly.

    “Members of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union dedicated their lives to serving the United States Postal Service and its customers, but our hard work is being met with threats against our earned federal retirement benefits. Make no mistake, these proposed changes do nothing but harm the middle-class workers we represent. This is not how Congress makes America great again,” said National Postal Mail Handlers Union National President Paul V. Hogrogian.

    “The federal employee pay and benefit cuts included in the Republican budget constitute a complete abandonment of the commitment Congress has made to AUSAs and other federal civil servants. If these cuts are approved, the resulting increased workforce turnover, staff attrition with loss of expertise, and decreased morale in U.S. Attorney’s Offices will have real costs for taxpayers and undermine the capacity of those offices to accomplish their important public safety mission. NAAUSA calls on Congress to reject these cuts,” said Steve Wasserman, President of the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA). “The notion that we need to propose cuts elsewhere so that the Republicans can balance the budget on the backs of underpaid and underfunded federal prosecutors and Medicaid recipients to fund a tax cut for the super wealthy is grossly offensive. It is a false choice.”

    “Federal employees are not the cause of the government’s debt nor deficit. Career federal employees who reach the Senior Executive Service (SES) ranks in government have forgone significant income opportunities while serving their nation. In addition to being dedicated to serving the mission of their agencies, career executives have signed on to Federal service with the promise of a pension and stable retirement — key parts of the government’s employment value proposition. Many dedicated senior executives made professional and family financial decisions based on these commitments.  Congress should keep the promises made to executives who have faithfully served the nation, often for decades,” said Marcus Hill, President of the Senior Executives Association (SEA). “SEA believes it is short-sighted to impose pay cuts that will only make the government less competitive and attractive as an employer for the talent needed to serve America, now and into the future. The association is open to discussing changes that can improve the system for future employees, but Congress should not disadvantage current federal employees who have devoted their lives and careers to public service.”

    “The $50 billion in cuts to federal employee pay and benefits are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—they represent broken promises and disrupted lives,” said Kelly Reyes, Executive Director of the Professional Managers Association (PMA). “Our members have spent 25–30 years building a stable future based on longstanding agreements with the government, and now they’re questioning whether they can afford to retire. One manager described it as ‘changing the terms of the mortgage the day before closing.’ These proposals don’t just impact today’s workforce—they send a chilling message to the next generation, making it nearly impossible for government to recruit top talent in critical fields like accounting, cybersecurity, and data science, where private-sector competition is fierce. PMA members aren’t just thinking about themselves—they’re thinking about the teams they lead, the services they deliver, and the future of federal service itself. We are not opposed to hard conversations about sustainability, but changes of this magnitude must be prospective, not retroactive. Congress must honor the social contract made with current federal employees.”

    “The reconciliation provisions that the Republican majority on the House Oversight Committee advanced are a part of the Trump Administration’s effort to dismantle the government, eliminate federal employee unions, and inject political corruption into the civil service,” said International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President Matt Biggs.  “The reconciliation provisions that cut federal retirement benefits break a commitment to federal workers who’ve dedicated their careers to public service and, if enacted, will be the last straw for so many highly qualified and knowledgeable workers at federal agencies who are being bullied, disrespected, and unlawfully fired and denied workforce protections by the Trump Administration. Our union will continue building bipartisan opposition to these provisions, and we applaud Oversight Committee Democrats for their strong defense of the merit-based, nonpartisan civil service.”

    “These proposals are a disgusting attack on every letter carrier, postal employee and federal employee,” said National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) President Brian L. Renfroe.  “Letter carriers earn their retirement benefits through hard work and already pay their fair share. If enacted, this would amount to a nearly 11 percent pay cut for some letter carriers, which is especially egregious since the Postal Service is an independent, off-budget agency. Taxpayers don’t fund USPS or our retirement benefits. NALC’s 295,000 active and retired letter carriers will continue fighting until these unfair attacks are off the table.”

    “The APWU is vehemently opposed to the proposed pension cuts,” said American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard.  “No worker should have the benefits they were promised placed in jeopardy to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. We must also fight to keep these benefits intact since they encourage people to apply for jobs at the United States Postal Service.”

    “The Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s reconciliation plan, which aims to cut $51 billion off the backs of federal and postal employees over the next decade, is simply wrong,” said Don Maston, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) President.  “Federal and postal employees don’t enter public service to get rich—they do it to serve their country and to be the backbone of the essential services that keep this nation running. They do it for stable, secure jobs with decent benefits.  To change pension and retirement benefits mid-career is not just unfair, it’s a broken promise to the workers who have dedicated their lives to serving the public. Federal workers cannot continue to be the easy target for budget savings.  The proposals put forth by the Oversight Committee are, in effect, substantial pay cuts for hardworking postal and federal employees, and must be removed from the final bill.  The NRLCA thanks Congressman Lynch and Congressman Hoyer for organizing this Roundtable discussion and ensuring our voices are heard.”

    “Federal and postal employees paid into and earned their accrued retirement benefits – they are not gifts,” said National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) Vice President John Hatton.  “No matter the degree of change, clawing back the full amount of those accrued benefit is theft, plain and simple.  What if a private-sector company took back a portion of vested contributions into a defined contribution plan?  Would that even be legal? Would that really be any different than cutting back the vested portion of a defined benefit plan?  Yet not only does this provision apply to vested federal employees, it applies to individuals who are currently eligible for retirement, or who become eligible in the next few years, taking away hard-earned benefits that they have relied upon in planning for retirement.”
     

    Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Stephen F. Lynch’s roundtable with
    major federal employee groups and civil service organizations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Team Maryland Statement on Patel’s Comments About FBI Vacating J. Edgar Hoover Building

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Governor Wes Moore, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) issued the following statement on Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel’s recent comments about the FBI headquarters:

    “Today, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel recognized what everyone, including his predecessors, have known for decades: the J. Edgar Hoover Building is unsafe, unworthy, and unaccommodating of the FBI’s vital national security and law enforcement mission. We agree with his statement that ‘if you’re going to come work at the premier law enforcement agency in the world, we’re going to give you a building that is commensurate with that.’ 

    “The solution is clear, and the decision to move the headquarters to the site in Greenbelt, Maryland, was final. This site was selected based on a thorough, objective process examining cost, construction timeline, transportation access, community impact, and the FBI’s mission requirements.

    “Team Maryland remains committed to providing the world’s premier law enforcement agency with the world’s premier law enforcement facility. If the ​Trump Administration truly shares that goal, it will work with us to proceed on this project.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Hoyer Remarks at the FSGG Hearing on the Federal Trade Commission

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks at the FSGG hearing on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:
     

    Click  here to watch a full video of his remarks.

    “I thank the chairman very much. Welcome, Chairman Ferguson, to the committee. I want to thank you for the work that you have done and you’re doing. You had a very extensive statement. Footnoted more than any other statement I think I’ve read for an opening statement. I thought I was reading a law brief, but having said that, it was very comprehensive.

    “But one of the things I noticed in it, and I say this at the outset, well, I’m going to ask questions later. I’m going to be going in and out. It has nothing to do with your testimony. It has to do with we have two hearings going on at the same time.

    “One of my top priorities, Mr. Chairman as you know, throughout my time in Congress has been making our workers, our businesses, and our entire economy more competitive.

    “That is why I, as Majority Leader, started the agenda that I call Make It In America. Which obviously is a double entendre. People came to America to make it, to succeed. But also, the way we’re going to succeed better, is to make it—whatever it may be—in America. We’re moving towards that effort. But as you point out in your statement, it can be a self-defeating effort. The larger one enterprise gets other enterprises are left by the wayside. Many of the historic bills we passed in the 117th Congress – including the Chips and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act – were designed to promote competition and to grow manufacturing and our science research in America. That’s the objective we all ought to share.

    “If you support innovation, if you support growth, if you support development, then you have to support competition. I tell my Democrats, if you want to be pro-worker, you need to be pro-employer. Both need to be in equilibrium. Both have a role to play. And both need a referee. [turns to colleague on the dais] You talked about cop on the beat. Referee.

    “If you recognize the importance of the free market, as I do, then you have to recognize how crucial it is to keep it free and keep it a market. The FTC is essential to that mission to promote fair competition and protect American consumers. It breaks up monopolies that inflate the price of everything from groceries to gas to health care. It protects Americans from scam calls, fraud, and unfair business practices. It stands up for Americans’ privacy rights, going after businesses that misuse or fail to secure their personal data. One thing I may just [pulls out smart phone] it ticks me when I get advertisements that I don’t ask for on this device which I own. I don’t know whether there is a solution to that, because obviously they have to ‘pay for the product they give me.’ That is a particular concern that I have that you may pay attention to.  

    “The FTC needs to maintain public trust and credibility to do this vital, nonpartisan work. Now I mention nonpartisan work, but what I started to say, let me say, I noticed at least three times in the opening sort-of synopsis of your statement that you use the term ‘the Trump-Vance FTC.’ I was caught by that, because I don’t see that very often in statements that are made. Actually, it’s America’s FTC. Now, you’re appointed, you’re a Republican, I’m a Democrat, so we have different points of view. But we need to make sure the agenda of the administration really needs to be in this case from your perspective, the agenda of what the FTC is intended to do. Now we may have differences on that, but I would urge you to do it in as non-partisan a way, and, frankly, I urged your predecessor to do the same thing. There would be different views as to whether that was accomplished. The FTC needs to maintain public trust and credibility as I said, and that will help I think. That’s why the agency has always been independent.

    “I am deeply concerned by this administration’s efforts frankly to undermine—not only the independence that that naming it the Trump-Vance FTC would imply—but it also seems to be creeping into almost everything we do. Where so-called ‘non-loyalists’ are being fired. They need to be loyal to the country and the oath that we all take to the Constitution and the laws thereof. Not to any individual or group of individuals. In March, Donald Trump violated 90 years of supreme court precedent when he fired two Democratic FTC commissioners without any legal cause, which under the law is required.

    “Those two commissioners are challenging that action in court, I hope they win. And if it’s anything like the dozens of other cases we’ve seen in the past four months, I believe the courts will likely rule against the administration. [Turns to Rep. Joyce] One more minute? Nevertheless, Trump’s attempt to politicize the FTC ought to concern us all. So should the reports that Elon Musk and his DOGE agents may be able to access sensitive financial data the FTC compiles on American businesses, including Musk’s competitors. That is the opposite of the FTC’s purpose, and we must not let it happen. Democrats and Republicans need to come together to protect this vital institution and ensure it has the resources it needs to keep serving the American people. I thank FTC’s Chair Ferguson for joining us today, and I hope he can address some of these concerns and speak to the importance of this funding. The American people are counting on the FTC, and the FTC is counting on this committee. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Davids Announces $1.8 Million Investment in Airport Safety for New Century AirCenter in Olathe

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

    Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to improve air safety at Johnson County’s New Century AirCenter in Olathe, KS. The $2 million award will be used to reconstruct 7,330 feet of existing runway and 16 existing points of signage — all of which are currently at the end of their useful lives. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which made this critical investment in air safety possible. 

    “I’m thrilled to see this investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law coming to the Third District,” said Davids. “By improving New Century AirCenter, we’re not only boosting economic growth and supporting good-paying jobs — we’re also strengthening Kansas’ role as a leader in shipping and logistics, which improves domestic supply chains and lowers costs for Kansas families and businesses”

    “We’re grateful for the federal support for the pavement seal coat project at New Century AirCenter,” said Bryan Johnson, Executive Director, Johnson County Airport Commission. “This investment will help extend the life of our runways and taxiways, enhance safety, and support ongoing operations at a key transportation hub in our region. We appreciate Representative Davids’ continued advocacy for infrastructure improvements that strengthen our local economy and aviation capabilities.”

    With more than 60,000 operations each year, roughly 120 aircraft, and a 7,339-foot main runway — the second longest in the region — New Century AirCenter ranks among the busiest towered airports in Kansas.

    Davids has long supported investments in improving local infrastructure and prioritizing aviation safety. Last month, she visited the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe to discuss the urgent need for investments in aviation safety amidst the Trump Administration’s firings of air safety workers. She also pressed former FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, who served under former President Biden, on the slow pace of modernizing critical landing systems in Kansas. 

    The bipartisan infrastructure law, which is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings, has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In all, more than $3.2 billion in federal bipartisan infrastructure law funding has been announced for Kansas, with more than 311 specific projects identified — from lead pipe replacement in Olathe to safety initiatives in KCK to long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Davids Slams Extreme GOP Budget That Slashes Health Care and Food to Fund Billionaire Tax Breaks

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

    Davids Backs Cutting Waste — Not Cutting Off Kansas Families.

    Last night, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee markup, Representative Sharice Davids spoke out against President Trump and U.S. House Republicans’ extreme budget proposal, which would slash Medicaid and take food off Kansans’ tables — all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. Davids noted the reckless proposal comes as families are struggling with higher costs caused by Trump’s reckless tariffs.

    House Republicans are pushing a budget that would make the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history — all to fund over $1 trillion in tax giveaways for billionaires. These extreme cuts would gut programs that help Kansans afford food and stay healthy. 

    Cuts to Health Care: A nonpartisan analysis estimates that 13.7 million Americans would lose health coverage with this bill. In total, more than 61,000 Kansans in Kansas’ Third District — including more than 41,000 children and 11,000 seniors — are at risk of losing coverage. Finally, Medicaid cuts would lead to more hospital closures, reduced services, and worse care for all Kansas families, especially in rural communities where 82 percent of hospitals operate at a loss.

    Cuts to Food Access: In Kansas’ Third District alone, 8,000 households could lose access to the emergency food assistance they rely on through this bill. Also, up to 27,000 grocery stores nationwide may be forced to close due to lost revenue, worsening food deserts, especially in rural communities. Finally, cutting SNAP at these levels would reduce farm income by more than $30 billion and threaten good-paying jobs.

    Read a full transcript of Davids’ remarks below:

    “Thank you, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Craig.

    “Right now, families in Kansas and across the country are feeling the pinch of rising costs – in large part due to the administration’s reckless policies.

    “Prices are up, retirement savings are down, tariffs are impacting farmers, and for many, one unexpected bill could push them into crisis. This is not the time to pull the rug out from under folks who are doing their best to make ends meet.

    “Yet that’s exactly what this partisan Republican budget proposes: deep, harmful cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance — programs that help people stay afloat when times are tough.

    “Republicans have said their goal is to secure $1 trillion in federal cuts. But nonpartisan experts have said they can’t reach that goal without taking health care and food away from millions of parents, kids, seniors, pregnant women, veterans, and people with disabilities.

    “Look, I’m all for improving government efficiency and fiscal responsibility. But this budget proposal pushed by the Trump Administration has real consequences. 

    “It includes cuts that could force rural hospitals to close. Cuts that would mean empty dinner plates for families already struggling. But don’t take it from me — take it from Robert in Louisburg, Kansas, who wrote to my office. 

    “He said, and I quote: ‘To pay for massive tax giveaways to billionaires and wealthy corporations, these budget proposals would slash programs that help everyday families afford food, health care, child care, housing, education, and more.’

    “He continued by saying: ‘Families shouldn’t have to take hit after hit while billionaires get even more tax breaks. Enough is enough.’

    “I couldn’t agree more, Robert.

    “This budget doesn’t rein in waste. It doesn’t close corporate loopholes. It doesn’t go after fraud. What it does is protect tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations — and asks struggling families to foot the bill. And on top of that, it would likely add hundreds of billions to the deficit.

    “I was raised by a single mom who served in the Army. My brothers and I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. I know what these programs mean for families like mine. We should be working to make them stronger and fairer — not slashing them to reward the wealthiest among us.

    “Kansans deserve smart policies that protect our economy, support hardworking people, and actually reduce fraud and waste — not rushed cuts that leave our communities hungrier, sicker, and further behind.

    “I would urge my colleagues, and in this instance, actually plead with my colleagues to please reject these reckless cuts. This body can do better than what we’ve been seeing.

    “Thank you, and I yield back.”

    MIL OSI USA News –