NewzIntel.com

Category: United States House of Representatives

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unleashing American Energy: Rep. Pfluger Hosts EPA Regional Administrator and Rep. Fedorchak in Midland

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Unleashing American Energy: Rep. Pfluger Hosts EPA Regional Administrator and Rep. Fedorchak in Midland

    Midland, April 16, 2025

    MIDLAND, TX—Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) hosted U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Scott Mason, and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (ND-At-large), a fellow member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in the Permian Basin for an oil and gas site visit and roundtable with producers, local leaders, stakeholders, and EPA officials.

    Following the site visit and producer roundtable, Rep. Pfluger also hosted a press conference to update the media on the efforts of the Trump Administration, Congress, and the EPA to cut the burdensome red tape the Biden Administration had previously imposed on the Permian Basin.

    Photos from the day are available for broadcast and distribution HERE.

    “Everything we do depends on energy dominance and the ability to produce affordable, reliable energy, and with President Trump back in office, the future of American energy has never been brighter,” said Rep. Pfluger. “It was an honor to bring everyone together today in Midland—the city that anchors the most important region, equipped and ready to solve many of the critical issues facing our nation. American energy dominance must be at the center of our national security strategy. This is why Congress will continue to work alongside the Trump administration and the EPA to ensure an energy future that embraces all forms of domestic production and recognizes the strategic importance of the Permian Basin.”

    “During my visit to the Permian Basin today, I heard over and over from energy companies of all sizes that they want common-sense regulations for emissions and wastewater,” said EPA Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “I look forward to working toward that goal, and appreciate Representative Pfluger’s leadership on these issues.”

    “The Permian Basin is key to America’s energy security, and visiting the region with Rep. Pfluger offered a valuable up-close perspective on the shared challenges our energy producers face. Much like in North Dakota, innovation and growth are being held back by one-size-fits-all federal regulations that lack common sense,” said Rep. Fedorchak. “It was encouraging to hear from EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason, who assured us that the Trump administration’s EPA is committed to providing the certainty and clarity needed to unleash American energy. I appreciated the West Texas hospitality and look forward to showing him North Dakota’s energy leadership soon.”


    Check out these stories highlighting the day:

     

    Congressman August Pfluger brought together Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the challenges and opportunities oil and gas producers are facing today.

    Federal energy and environmental policy leaders visited the Permian Basin to see oil and gas operations up close and hear directly from the people shaping the region’s energy future.

    Read the full story and watch coverage of the press conference here.

    Several government officials met with local groups and organizations at the Petroleum Club of Midland on Tuesday to discuss federal oil and gas regulations.

    Headed by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, the group also consisted of Mayor Lori Blong, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Scott Mason, U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota and key members of several Permian Basin trade organizations.

    Read the full story here.

    Congressman August Pfluger returned to the energy capital of West Texas on Tuesday to lead a roundtable discussion on oil and gas policy.

    Pfluger was joined by EPA Regional Administrator Scott Mason and North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak for a site visit and stakeholder meeting in Midland.

    Read the full story and watch coverage of the press conference here.

    Joined by a congresswoman from North Dakota and the regional director of the U.S. Environmental Agency, Congressman August Pfluger said Tuesday that the Permian Basin has reached “a new era” of working with the federal regulatory agencies that beleaguered them during the Biden administration.

    Read the full story here.

    Representative August Pfluger visited the Permian Basin this afternoon alongside U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Scott Mason, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (ND-At-large), as well as local oil and gas companies, and Midland Mayor Lori Blong.

    During the visit, all parties toured a Diamondback Energy oil rig, where they were shown the latest technology being used in its production. Following the tour, the leaders spoke about options to keep regulations at a minimum while also looking to keep oil operations as safe and clean as possible.

    Read the full story and watch coverage of the press conference here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Becca Balint Leads 67 House Colleagues in Demanding Answers on Mohsen Mahdawi’s Arrest

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) wrote to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State secretaries to demand answers on the illegal abduction and arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi. On Monday, April 14th, masked, hooded men in plain clothes removed Mr. Mahdawi, who was then handcuffed and taken into an unmarked van from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester, Vermont. Rep. Balint is joined by 67 colleagues in demanding answers on Mr. Mahdawi’s arrest and for his immediate release. 

    Mr. Mahdawi is the latest student the Trump administration has targeted involved in pro-Palestinian organizing on U.S. college campuses. Mr. Mahdawi has not been accused of a crime. According to his lawyers, the Trump administration appears to be seeking his removal from the country under the same legal provision that it is using to detain Mr. Mahmoud Khalil, who was removed from his apartment building for his participation in pro-Palestinian groups at Columbia University, earlier this year. 

    Members are demanding answers from Secretary Rubio if this arrest was made under his own personal determination that Mr. Mahdawi’s speech compromises a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest and on what grounds. If that is the case, Members demand to know if the secretary intends to provide certification to the relevant Congressional committees. Members and many constituents are deeply disturbed that DHS could be hijacking citizenship interviews to engage in immigration enforcement activity. 

    “Americans may disagree on immigration policy, but we have always agreed that the Constitution guarantees people within our borders the most basic of rights including due process and free speech. This administration has ignored those fundamental rights in its horrific imprisonment of Mohsen K. Mahdawi,” members wrote to DHS and the State Department. “If Mr. Mahdawi can be tricked into coming to a government office and then arrested for simply making statements that the Trump Administration does not agree with, every American is at risk. We write to express our profound outrage with this Administration’s continued disappearance of lawful residents of the United States and to demand questions about Mr. Mahdawi’s case.” 

    “It is Mr. Mahdawi’s right as a legal resident of the United States to argue for what he believes in. This most fundamental of American rights is crucial to the fabric of our country, and one that America was built upon. In fact, President Trump stated at his joint address to Congress in March, ‘I’ve stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America.’ If the President was serious about protecting free speech in the United States, he would protect it for everyone, including those with whom he disagrees. Mr. Mahdawi’s arrest is immoral, inhumane, and illegal. With Mr. Mahdawi’s abduction, the Trump Administration continues to degrade America’s image on the global stage and descend the country further and further into authoritarianism. We profoundly oppose unlawful abductions and expect a prompt response to our questions,” continued the members. 

    “Without due process and the right to free speech, this is not the America we thought we lived in. And it should terrify us all. It’s critical we stand up loudly for the US Constitution in the face of the authoritarian rule from the White House. I’m proud to lead over 60 Democrats in the fight for Mr. Mahdawi’s rights and the basic liberties enshrined into our constitution. Vermonters and Americans everywhere are horrified to learn of these growing illegal arrests and we will not stand by idly,” said Rep. Balint.  

    67 House Democrats signed the letter including Reps. Amo, Ansari, Barragán, Beyer, Bonamici, Carson, Carter, Casar, Casten, Castro, Chu, Cleaver, Cohen, Correa, Davis (IL), Dean, DeGette, DeSaulnier, Dexter, Doggett, Escobar, Evans, Frost, García (IL), Garcia (CA), Garcia (TX) Goodlander, Green (TX), Hoyle,  Huffman, Jackson (IL), Jayapal, Johnson (GA), Kamlager-Dove, Keating, Larson, Lee (PA), McBride, McClellan, McCollum, McGovern, McIver, Moore, Moulton, Mullin, Nadler, Norton, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pingree, Pocan, Pressley, Quigley, Ramirez, Sánchez, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Simon, Thompson (MS), Tlaib, Tokuda, Tonko, Trahan, Velázquez, Waters, Watson Coleman, Williams (GA)

    View the text of the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Clyde Visits, Receives Briefing on Big Ridge Fire in Rabun County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA)

    Rep. Clyde Visits, Receives Briefing on Big Ridge Fire in Rabun County

    Gainesville, April 16, 2025

     

    GAINESVILLE, GA — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) traveled to Rabun County to receive a briefing from the U.S. Forest Service on the Big Ridge Fire in the Chattooga River Ranger District, survey successful containment efforts, and discuss wildfire response, recovery, and future mitigation planning.

     

    The Big Ridge Fire is the largest fire in the region since 2016, and only one of three wildfires in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest of significant size over the past 25 years. To date, the wildfire has burned more than 3,400 acres in the Warwoman Wildlife Management Area. Currently, all burn bans and road closures put in place in response to the Big Ridge Fire have been lifted.

     

    “I commend the interagency coordination and cooperation in response to the Big Ridge Fire in North Georgia,” said Clyde. “Due to the incredible work and partnership among local, state, and federal personnel, this wildfire resulted in no private property damage or loss of life. At its peak, more than 280 U.S. Forest Service firefighters and support personnel were assigned to manage the Big Ridge Fire, and I deeply appreciate all the remarkable folks here on the ground who have helped battle the blaze. Our Northeast Georgia community is blessed with resilient emergency, fire, and forest management crews who have worked tirelessly for weeks to contain the spread of the fire, protect lives and property, and plan for wildfire mitigation. My office and I remain engaged with our regional and federal partners to ensure our local communities have the support needed to ultimately extinguish the Big Ridge Fire, as well as the resources to assist in future fire prevention.”

     

     

    Rep. Clyde Learns More About Successful Efforts to Contain Big Ridge Fire

     

     

    Rep. Clyde Prays for the Safety of Crews Responding to Big Ridge Fire

     

     

    Rep. Clyde Receives Informative Briefing on Big Ridge Fire

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pharmacy Benefit Managers Put On Notice

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

    WASHINGTON — Yesterday, President Trump took decisive action to rein in Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and lower prescription drug prices. Congresswoman Harshbarger has led and supported numerous bills during her tenure in Congress to achieve similar goals in statute, including the following:

    Congresswoman Harshbarger issued the following statement.

    “I’m extremely grateful to President Trump for taking this important step to rein in PBMs — the shadowy middlemen cartels of the pharmaceutical world that are driving up prescription drug costs and limiting patient choices.

    “I’m proud to have led and supported a number of bills over the past four years to achieve similar goals — we need to build on President Trump’s leadership and get PBM reform done!”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Lawler Reflects on the First 100 Days of the 119th Congress

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Pearl River, N.Y. – 4/15/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement to reflect on his first 100 days in office during the 119th Congress, highlighting key legislative successes, community engagement, and ongoing work to deliver results for the people of the Hudson Valley.

    In his first 100 days, Congressman Lawler introduced 21 pieces of legislation and cosponsored 232 bills. Some of his most significant legislative achievements include the Laken Riley Act, which was signed into law, and the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act and Remote Access Security Act, which passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) with unanimous support. Additionally, he was appointed Vice Chair of Communications for the Financial Services Committee and Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee of HFAC, chairing his first full HFAC hearing on the return to ‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran.

    Congressman Lawler’s efforts extend beyond legislative work. He played a pivotal role in working with the White House to fight to end congestion pricing in New York City and is actively leading efforts to lift the SALT Cap, directly involved in the House negotiations on the tax bill.

    In addition to his legislative work, Congressman Lawler has been active in the community, making dozens of visits to events throughout the district. He also hosted a record-breaking teletown hall where over 4,000 participants joined in live to ask hundreds of questions. He has also helped close over 800 constituent cases, bringing $2.5 million back to constituents in the district. He also announced four in-person, countywide town halls, which will bring him to a total of 12 through his first two and a half years in Congress.

    “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in these first 100 days,” said Congressman Lawler. “From introducing key legislation to advancing bills through committee, I am delivering on my commitments to the people of NY-17.”

    “I won’t stop fighting for the Hudson Valley, and I look forward to more bipartisan wins for my constituents in the coming weeks and months,” concluded Lawler.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Calls For Action to Protect LIHEAP Amid Staff Layoffs Threatening New York Families

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 4/15/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing concern about the reported layoffs of staff responsible for administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is a service that plays a vital role in assisting Hudson Valley families with their energy costs, particularly during the winter and summer months. 

    The letter primarily sought to address concerns about any potential disruption of funding distribution to states, territories, and tribal organizations, with an emphasis on the impact any disruptions could have on New York’s most vulnerable populations.

    “Although the approximately 20 to 24 LIHEAP staff members represent only a small portion of the broader HHS layoffs, their departure raises serious concerns about the program’s capacity to operate effectively,” wrote Congressman Lawler (NY-17). 

    “In FY2023, LIHEAP staff within the Office of Community Services helped to administer $600 Million in vital funds to New Yorkers  — providing energy assistance to approximately 1.1 million households, including 492,572 households with seniors, 391,776 households with individuals with disabilities, and 182,696 households that included a young child,” continued Lawler.

    “I respectfully urge you to ensure that the necessary personnel and resources remain in place to support LIHEAP’s continued success,” the lawmaker concluded. 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    The full letter can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Lawler Urges Trump Administration to Redline Iranian Nuclear Enrichment

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 4/16/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, sent a letter to U.S. Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, urging him to reject any nuclear agreement with Iran that allows the regime to retain enrichment capabilities or reverts to the failed policies of the past.

    The letter was sent in response to Witkoff’s recent appearance on Fox News, where he appeared to entertain the idea of allowing Iran to enrich uranium up to 3.67% under a future agreement, with verification mechanisms in place. In his letter, Lawler condemned such a framework as dangerously reminiscent of the failed Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

    “‘Peace through strength’ and ‘maximum pressure’ require the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as the full implementation of sanctions on Iran and Iran’s enablers. Anything less would be appeasement and a betrayal of U.S. national security interests and the security of our partners in the region, including Israel and Saudi Arabia,” wrote Chairman Lawler.

    “A return to the JCPOA or a similar arrangement will hurt our long-term goals in the Middle East and enable the Iranian regime to further develop and fund its malign activities. The stakes could not be higher,” Chairman Lawler concluded in his letter.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    The full letter can be found HERE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Issues Statement on Vehicle Accident Near Santa Teresa, New Mexico

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued the following statement in response to reports that two service members were killed and one seriously injured in a vehicle accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. 

    “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two service members today near Santa Teresa. My thoughts are with their families, loved ones, and fellow service members during this difficult time. With the recent deployments to and the new mission at the Southern border, we must fully review the circumstances surrounding this incident. We owe it to them—and all who serve—to ensure their safety is never compromised.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Maria Salazar Hosts Secretary Chavez-DeRemer in Miami on 2nd Stop of the America at Work tour, Meets with PortMiami Leadership and Longshoremen

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)

    strong>MIAMI – Rep. Maria Salazar (FL-27) hosted U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, alongside local business owners, developers, longshoremen, and community leaders, for the second leg of the Secretary’s America at Work listening tour across the country.

    During stops in downtown Miami and PortMiami, Rep. Salazar and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer engaged in discussions to explore ways the federal government can support building a skilled labor force, enhance infrastructure to boost business and investment, champion American workers, and create more pathways for workers to fulfill the American Dream.

    “It was great welcoming Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to Miami. The world is changing, and we need to re-tool our policies to put our workers and our families first,” Rep. Salazar said. “From the port workers to the union members to the people we met throughout the city, there is no better place to learn about the renewal of the American Dream than Miami.”

    “Miami is among our nation’s busiest ports and has one of the fastest-growing metro areas. It was great to see that business is booming thanks to President Trump’s efforts to put American Workers First and create a new Golden Age of economic opportunity,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said. “I enjoyed visiting with the workers who keep Miami running alongside Congresswoman Salazar, and I look forward to hearing directly from more of our nation’s workforce as I continue telling the story of America at Work.”

    As part of her ongoing America at Work listening tour, the Secretary will keep connecting with workers, union members, contractors, employers, and local leaders to ensure firsthand perspectives guide and update federal labor policies, bringing the dialogue straight to America’s workforce.

     BACKGROUND ON AMERICA AT WORK:

    • The America at Work initiative focuses on sharing the experiences of workers and gathering insights to inform federal labor policies, with Miami as the second stop on Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s nationwide tour.

    • The tour aims to engage with diverse communities, including Hispanic workers, to better understand their needs and priorities.

    • The Secretary and her team are committed to fostering economic opportunity and supporting the workforce through policies that promote growth and stability.

    • Recent economic data reflects progress, with 228,000 jobs added last week in key industries such as construction, transportation, and warehousing, contributing to broader economic development.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Comer, Burlison Investigate Biden-Era Abuses of Endangered Species Act and Impact on Energy Costs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) are examining the Biden Administration’s abuse of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its impact on energy costs. In a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) Acting Assistant Administrator Emily Menashes, the lawmakers request a briefing on the agency’s compliance with President Trump’s National Energy Emergency declaration as part of the Committee’s larger investigation into the Biden Administration’s detrimental energy policies.

    “The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires NOAA Fisheries to consult the Secretary of Commerce on whether a species should be listed as endangered or otherwise. Environmentalist groups abused the ESA and regulations promulgated under its authority by filing a litany of lawsuits to create regulatory delays on infrastructure projects they oppose and to influence NOAA Fisheries’ decisions,” wrote the lawmakers. “Under the Biden Administration, NOAA Fisheries tailored ESA policies to conform with these groups’ demands.”

    The Biden Administration raised the bar for delisting a species from endangered status and sought to designate more habitats as critical habitats, even when endangered species living in those habitats are no longer found in those locations. By doing so, the Biden Administration prioritized the interests of environmental groups over the needs of local communities. The environmental groups exploited the ESA to stifle development and delay necessary energy infrastructure projects. In some cases, the actions of a few radical environmentalists have resulted in tens of millions of dollars in costs that must be borne by local communities. In other cases, environmental groups have used the ESA to delay oil leases in the Gulf of America, drastically curtail the amount of water available to farmers in Agriculture, and trample on the rights of ranchers across the west. To end this abuse, President Trump is prioritizing American energy independence and demanding reform of the ESA.  

    “President Trump’s National Energy Emergency declaration mandates the ESA Committee convene and identify ‘obstacles to domestic energy infrastructure specifically when deriving from implementation of the ESA’ or other relevant laws. ESA Committee members will propose regulatory reforms, consider species listings, and improve the interagency consultation process,” continued the lawmakers. “Importantly, this process is intended to give impacted states and local communities a voice in deciding whether a federal action is in the interest of the public and its national or regional significance. To help inform the Committee’s understanding of NOAA Fisheries role in addressing energy costs, we request a staff-level briefing regarding efforts to comply with President Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency as soon as possible.”

    Read the letter to NOAA Fisheries here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota to House GOP Leadership: Be Responsible and Compassionate When Reforming Medicaid

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), joined fellow House Republicans in sending a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie, reaffirming their strong support for Medicaid, urging Republican leadership to protect coverage for vulnerable Americans and reiterating a vote of opposition to any GOP bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations. 

    The letter, signed by Republican lawmakers from districts with high Medicaid reliance, underscores the importance of maintaining care for children, seniors, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities while calling for responsible reforms that improve transparency and efficiency and warning that any cuts to Medicaid could have devastating impacts on hospitals and safety-net providers, particularly in rural and underserved areas where many facilities rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements.

    “Medicaid is a vital safety net that provides health care to millions of low-income Americans, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. I’m committed to responsible, compassionate reforms that protect the program for those who truly need it,” said LaLota. “That’s why I joined my colleagues in calling on House GOP leadership to protect Medicaid coverage while pursuing common-sense reforms. These include work requirements for able-bodied adults, limiting benefits to legal residents, and increasing eligibility checks from every 12 months to every 6 months to help prevent fraud and abuse.”

    To read the full text of the letter, click HERE.

    Background: 

    Rep. LaLota has a strong track record in voting to defend and support Medicaid. 

    In February 2025, LaLota voted for a budget reconciliation which is a foundational measure laying the groundwork for stronger Medicaid and protection of vital programs. 

    In August 2024, Lalota led a bipartisan bill to prevent Medicaid cuts to New York Hospitals. The bill was supported by America’s Essential Hospitals, the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), the Suburban Hospital Alliance of NYS, the Alliance of Safety-Net Hospitals, Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, and the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Hoyle to Host Senior-Focused Town Hall on Social Security and Medicare at Lane County Community College

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    April 16, 2025

    For Immediate Release: April 16, 2025

    EUGENE, O.R. – Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) announced she will host a Senior-focused town hall focused on issues impacting Social Security and Medicare at Lane County Community College on Wednesday, April 23 at 3:30pm.

    Representative Hoyle will be joined by special guests former U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio and Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Representative Hoyle and her guests will be discussing the current administration’s proposals for Social Security and Medicare and will be taking questions on senior-related issues.

    Details on the town hall can be found below.

    SENIOR-FOCUSED TOWN HALL

    Date: Wednesday, April 23rd

    Location:        Lane Community College Gymnasium (Building 5)

                            4000 E 30th Ave, Eugene, OR  97405

    Doors Open:  2:30 PM

    Event Time:   3:30 PM

    All upcoming town halls Rep. Hoyle will be hosting or participating in can be found on her website.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Alsobrooks Leads Maryland Democratic Delegation in Pushing Sec. Kennedy for Answers on Disastrous Mass Layoffs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)

    CONTACT 

    Connor Lounsbury 

    connor_lounsbury@alsobrooks.senate.gov

    WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks led the Maryland Democratic Delegation – U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) in expressing outrage and demanding answers regarding the mass terminations of civil servants at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senator Alsobrooks and her colleagues questioned the extent of the devastation and consequential impacts these mass layoffs will have on the state and country. 

    “This reckless reduction in force and Department reorganization comes at a time when measles is spreading in communities across the country, avian flu is proliferating throughout our livestock populations, families are experiencing a childcare availability and affordability crisis, and cities across the country are still reeling from opioid and fentanyl overdoses. Instead of showing leadership on these concurrent emergencies and fulfilling the Department’s mission, this Administration has crippled the very teams and entire divisions that combat public health challenges, prevent disparities, and ensure that our families and children are safe,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “Maryland has already been hard hit by attacks to NIH research…This medical research funds new life-saving cures for Maryland patients – from our newborns to our seniors, from children battling rare cancers to our servicemembers injured in battle. It funds thousands of Maryland jobs, and to arbitrarily cut it threatens Maryland’s health, safety, and economy. Slashing research funding will ultimately harm patients and even cost lives,” continued the lawmakers. 

    The lawmakers are requesting Secretary Kennedy meet with them to answer these questions by May 1, 2025.

    You can read the full letter to Secretary Kennedy here or below: 

     

    Dear Secretary Kennedy: 

    We write with shared concerns regarding the plan you announced on March 27, 2025, to begin yet another extensive round of mass terminations of civil servants at the Department of Health and Human Services (Department or HHS), along with an irrational and dangerous reorganization of the staff and operating divisions of the Department. In the weeks since that announcement, thousands of HHS employees have been summarily fired, wreaking havoc and chaos on our public health system. These actions are having a devastating and disproportionate impact on our state of Maryland. We demand a full and comprehensive analysis on what these cuts will mean for access to care, critical services, and lifesaving research in the state. We also demand an in-person meeting with you to discuss these concerns and the impact of the Department’s actions on our constituents. According to the announcement, cuts would include at least 3,500 full-time employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2,400 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,200 employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 300 employees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

    According to the Maryland Department of Labor, preliminary data shows at least 2,755 jobs were cut in 11 federal offices located across the state, with an impact rippling across multiple counties.

    This reckless reduction in force and Department reorganization comes at a time when measles is spreading in communities across the country, avian flu is proliferating throughout our livestock populations, families are experiencing a childcare availability and affordability crisis, and cities across the country are still reeling from opioid and fentanyl overdoses. Instead of showing leadership on these concurrent emergencies and fulfilling the Department’s mission, this Administration has crippled the very teams and entire divisions that combat public health challenges, prevent disparities, and ensure that our families and children are safe. 

    The latest reductions are part of a multipronged attack on our state, as the Department has abruptly terminated billions in critical public health grants, including $200 million to Maryland that would go towards vaccination programs, disease surveillance, and alleviating health disparities. The critical services the Department is responsible for were already threatened from the Administration’s initial haphazard firings of probationary employees by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk’s Fork in the Road policy, which forced thousands of Department staff to resign or retire early. Now, the Administration is further decimating the teams of civil servants that work to make Americans healthy and safe every day. 

    As you well know, the FDA, NIH, CMS, and multiple other HHS agencies are headquartered in Maryland, and these cuts pose a direct threat to our constituents, Maryland’s economy, and all Americans. 

    At the FDA, headquartered in White Oak, the Administration has annihilated the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research – which the Maryland medical device and pharmaceutical industries rely on for the safe and timely approval of their products or therapeutics for patients. The Administration has also attacked the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products – which plays a critical role in prevention and harm reduction for Maryland youth. The FDA communications team that writes alerts about contaminated drugs and warnings to emergency room doctors about emerging threats was also terminated — which will have dire consequences for patient care. Across the FDA, thousands of Maryland based staffers that help to keep our food and health systems safe have been summarily dismissed, by an Administration only purporting to want to “Make America Healthy Again.” 

    At the NIH, based in Bethesda, this Administration has compounded its efforts to undermine the excellence of our crown jewel of scientific and medical research, with yet another round of terminations. This Administration has decimated NIH Institutes by firing leadership and critical staff to the point of non-functionality, including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 

    Maryland has already been hard hit by attacks to NIH research. In February, the NIH unveiled a new indirect cost rate guidance that would cap indirect cost rates that Maryland researchers rely on to sustain their groundbreaking, life-saving research, studies, and patient clinical trials. It also arbitrarily froze or terminated research grants in the state and has delayed the review of NIH grant applications. This medical research funds new life-saving cures for Maryland patients – from our newborns to our seniors, from children battling rare cancers to our servicemembers injured in battle. It funds thousands of Maryland jobs, and to arbitrarily cut it threatens Maryland’s health, safety, and economy. Slashing research funding will ultimately harm patients and even cost lives. 

    Attacks to the NIH are only the beginning of cuts to our health research infrastructure. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), based in Rockville, is critical for tracking data on healthcare outcomes and conducting research to improve the safety of patient care has been taken apart by DOGE. The Administration plans to merge AHRQ with another operating division at the Department and gut its budget, all while firing half of its employees. 

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), based in Rockville, has already faced hundreds of layoffs. The Department dismissed 10 percent of SAMHSA’s workforce during the first rounds of firings, and the Administration plans to further reduce the agency by up to 50 percent. While Maryland has made significant progress in preventing and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths, Baltimore City still has a death rate nearly double that of any other large city in the country. Now, the Administration is pulling the rug from underneath our state and the dozens of community-based organizations on the ground that rely on SAMHSA for training, resources, and technical assistance that helps with opioid use disorder prevention and treatment services. 

    CMS, based in Woodlawn, faced hundreds of cuts to staff, including the elimination of the Office for Minority Health and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, which respectively helps address health disparities across the country and resolves discrimination complaints. Employees at CMS’ Innovation Center (CMMI) were fired and a third of the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination office, which helps serve the over 160,000 Marylanders that are dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid were let go. CMS is responsible for overseeing coverage for over 160 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. This includes 1.6 million Marylanders who rely on Medicaid and CHIP for lifesaving health coverage. Any attack on CMS represents a threat to Marylanders’ and the nation’s access to care. 

    At the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), headquartered in Rockville, 500- 600 civil servants were fired, compromising HRSA’s mission to improve care for vulnerable and low-income communities. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau was wiped out by staffing cuts, crippling efforts to combat the maternal mortality crisis. Maryland women’s health disparities, including maternal morbidity, remain higher than national averages, and will only be exacerbated by this action. DOGE has also reportedly fired 40 percent of the Bureau of Primary Health Care, which oversees the Health Center Program that provides high quality, accessible primary and preventive medical, behavioral and dental services to all people, regardless of income or insurance status. Maryland’s sixteen Federally Qualified Health Centers deliver comprehensive primary healthcare to more than 360,000 patients across Maryland. That access to care in our state are at risk without civil servants to effectively run the program. 

    The Indian Health Service (IHS), which is also headquartered in Rockville, was not mentioned in initial reporting regarding the HHS reorganization or reduction in force. In fact, longtime civil servants in the Senior Executive Service (SES) have reported that their duty stations have been reassigned to remote IHS locations ranging from Alaska to South Dakota. While these locations suffer from high vacancy rates, the Department is pushing staff that do not have the qualifications or background for available IHS roles into an ultimatum: relocate your family across the country for a job that does not actually exist, or leave the Department. 

    Additionally, the Department fired approximately 500 staffers at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the April 1 wave of terminations, paralyzing the Department’s ability to effectively operate its human services programs. As you know, most program and support staff were eliminated in five regional offices around the country. While ACF’s Region 3 Office – which serves Maryland – remains open for now, staff in Region 3 will likely have to absorb the work and caseload of now shuttered Regions 1, 2,5, 9 and 10. This will put an untenable strain on their ability to support states like Maryland in operating child support, family assistance and child welfare programs, and providers operating Head Start and child care programs. 

    This is in addition to the nearly two hundred probationary ACF employees who have been on administrative leave since mid-February, and because of this Administration, are still unable to 3 provide states like Maryland with the technical assistance needed to operate critical programs, increasing the financial burden on already-struggling households. Head Start serves seven thousand children in Maryland. Thousands more families rely on the availability of affordable, quality childcare in the state – availability which is endangered when the civil servants that help providers adapt to workforce challenges or monitor for abuse and neglect in our state’s facilities are shamefully fired or prevented from doing their jobs. 

    Also at ACF, the Department terminated the entire Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) staff, threatening the timely disbursement of millions of dollars to states like Maryland, to help thousands of our constituents stay safe in the coming summer months. More than 18% of Maryland households are energy burdened; the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs received a record number of energy assistance applications last year. Likewise, the Department eliminated the Office of Family Assistance – undermining the ability for the nearly 28,000 Maryland families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to receive critical support without interruption. 

    Both the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living and the slashing of reportedly half of the staff that work on federal aging and disability programs at the Department will cause real harm to programs in Maryland that support some of our state’s most vulnerable communities – seniors and individuals with disabilities. This includes programs that prevent elder abuse, connect seniors with nutritious meals, and provide supports to caregivers – like the Maryland Caregiver Navigation Grant. 

    Perhaps most galling, is that you have admitted that many of these firings at the Department are in error, telling reporters “We’re going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstated, because we’ll make mistakes.” Further reporting found that HHS has no intention of actually reinstating a significant number of the staffers that have been fired or rectifying the mistakes it has made – calling into question your control of the situation and understanding of the Department’s reorganization. As the Secretary, you are ultimately responsible for answering for both these “mistakes” and any harm that comes from your destruction of our public health workforce and infrastructure. 

    As such, we request an in-person meeting with you no later than May 1, 2025, to discuss these concerns. We also request comprehensive answers to the following questions, including details on the reductions at the Department to date, and your plans for additional workforce reductions and reorganization. 

     

    1. For each of the below agencies, please specify since January 20, how many Maryland residents: received a RIF notice or were terminated on the basis of their probationary status? Please also specify how many more Maryland residents the agency intends to respectively terminate:  

    • SAMHSA 
    • FDA  
    • NIH 
    • CDC 
    • CMS 
    • IHS
    • HRSA  ‘
    • ACF 
    • ACL 
    • AHRQ 

    2. For each of the below agencies, please specify since January 20, how many Maryland residents are currently on administrative leave pending termination:  

    • SAMHSA 
    • FDA
    • NIH 
    • CDC 
    • CMS 
    • IHS
    • HRSA 
    • ACF 
    • ACL 
    • AHRQ 

    3. For each of the below agencies, please specify the number of Maryland residents who participated in the Deferred Resignation Program:  

    • SAMHSA 
    • FDA 
    • NIH
    • CDC 
    • CMS 
    • IHS 
    • HRSA 
    • ACF 
    • ACL 
    • AHRQ

     

    4. Please describe the reduction in force plans at the IHS headquarters and at IHS locations across the country.

    5. Please provide a detailed description of impact analysis performed to determine the impact on cancer research as a result of NIH Reductions in Force. 

    6. Please provide a detailed description of impact analysis performed to determine the impact on vaccine development and research as a result of FDA Reductions in Force. 

    7. Please provide a detailed description of the impact analysis performed regarding reductions in staffing to ACF services and programs, including technical assistance to states and childcare providers, childcare costs and child safety, supports for survivors of violence, and the effectiveness of the TANF and LIHEAP programs. 

    a. Please provide a detailed description of the analysis performed by the Department describing how LIHEAP staffing reductions will not lead to higher energy costs for Marylanders. 

    b. Please provide a detailed plan for how the Department plans to ensure that there is no delay due to case backlogs experienced by the state of Maryland or Maryland human services providers due to staff reductions at ACF? 

    8. Please provide a detailed description of the analysis performed by the Department describing how the staffing reductions to HRSA will not impact Maryland FQHCs, or access to affordable care in Maryland communities. 

    9. Please provide a detailed description of the analysis performed by the Department describing how the staffing reductions to CMS will not impede Marylander’s access to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and the ACA Marketplace. 

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Highlights Accomplishments from the First 100 Days of the 119th Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani is marking the first 100 days of the 119th Congress by celebrating the key wins that benefit Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. 

    “I hit the ground running in January, continuing on our success during my first term, serving our district and prioritizing the needs of our community,” said Ciscomani. “From working with President Trump to secure the border, to passing legislation for our nearly 80,000 veterans, to working with my colleagues to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government while protecting vital services for the most vulnerable among us, to returning nearly $3 million directly back to constituents, to appointing more than 20 students to our military academies, and more, I am fully committed to continue delivering real results – which earned me the honor of being named the most effective member of the Arizona congressional delegation. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far and we’re just getting started!” 

    Ciscomani participates in a mining lunch in Casa Grande (left), attends Vail Unified School District Pride Day (middle), and talks to students (right) 

    Ciscomani’s 100 Days of the 119th Congress: 

    • Ranked as the most effective member of Congress from Arizona during the 118th Congress, the 3rd most effective freshman, and the 15th most effective member of the House of Representatives by the Center for Effective Lawmaking  

    • Returned $2.8 million in savings to constituents in the 119th Congress, including $1.25 million for veterans, and over $1 million in savings in one week. 

    • Co-led or co-sponsored 107 pieces of legislation 

    • Had two bills pass the House of Representatives with bipartisan approval: 

      • The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35) to impose federal penalties on individuals who engage in high-speed car chases with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents or law enforcement officers assisting CBP within 100 miles of the border.  
      • The Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act (H.R. 1228) to ensure that surviving families of veterans receive the benefits and support they deserve, even after their loved one has passed away.  
    • Sent a letter to Speaker Johnson urging him to protect Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and Pell Grants, which Ciscomani is a recipient of. 
    • Named as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.  
    • Led a letter to the Secretary of the Army to review regulations and provide greater flexibility to ensure veterans and servicemembers are able to receive their Purple Heart award. 
    • Named as Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus. 
    • Hosted the third annual Service Academy Day for students planning to attend a prestigious military academy. 

    • Attended a roundtable with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins 

    • Published the following op-eds: 

    • Met with constituents and attended events across all five counties in Arizona’s 6th District. 

    • Attended a fireside chat with the U.S. Hispanic Business Council.  

    By the numbers: 

    • Returned $2.8 million in casework for constituents in the 119th Congress.  

    • Attended 74 meetings with constituents, stakeholders, elected leaders, and more both in the district and Washington D.C. 

    • Appointed 24 students to Military Service Academies. 

    • Took 20 flights between Tucson and Washington D.C. 

    • Introduced 13 pieces of legislation  

    • Passed 2 bills through the House 

    • Gave 15 speeches from the floor of the House of Representatives. 

    • #1 – Most effective member of Arizona’s congressional delegation in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate 

    In the News  

    You can find a list of pictures from the 119th Congress here! 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Mfume Joins Maryland Democratic Delegation in Pushing Sec. Kennedy for Answers on Disastrous Mass Layoffs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kweisi Mfume joined the Maryland Democratic Delegation – U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Angela Alsobrooks and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) – in expressing outrage and demanding answers regarding the mass terminations of civil servants at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Senator Alsobrooks led this letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., where the lawmakers questioned the extent of the devastation and consequential impacts these mass layoffs will have on the state and country. 

    “This reckless reduction in force and Department reorganization comes at a time when measles is spreading in communities across the country, avian flu is proliferating throughout our livestock populations, families are experiencing a childcare availability and affordability crisis, and cities across the country are still reeling from opioid and fentanyl overdoses. Instead of showing leadership on these concurrent emergencies and fulfilling the Department’s mission, this Administration has crippled the very teams and entire divisions that combat public health challenges, prevent disparities, and ensure that our families and children are safe,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “Maryland has already been hard hit by attacks to NIH research…This medical research funds new life-saving cures for Maryland patients – from our newborns to our seniors, from children battling rare cancers to our servicemembers injured in battle. It funds thousands of Maryland jobs, and to arbitrarily cut it threatens Maryland’s health, safety, and economy. Slashing research funding will ultimately harm patients and even cost lives,” continued the lawmakers. 

    The lawmakers are requesting Secretary Kennedy meet with them to answer these questions by May 1, 2025.

    You can read the full letter to Secretary Kennedy here or below: 

    Dear Secretary Kennedy: 

    We write with shared concerns regarding the plan you announced on March 27, 2025, to begin yet another extensive round of mass terminations of civil servants at the Department of Health and Human Services (Department or HHS), along with an irrational and dangerous reorganization of the staff and operating divisions of the Department. In the weeks since that announcement, thousands of HHS employees have been summarily fired, wreaking havoc and chaos on our public health system. These actions are having a devastating and disproportionate impact on our state of Maryland. We demand a full and comprehensive analysis on what these cuts will mean for access to care, critical services, and lifesaving research in the state. We also demand an in-person meeting with you to discuss these concerns and the impact of the Department’s actions on our constituents. According to the announcement, cuts would include at least 3,500 full-time employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2,400 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,200 employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 300 employees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

    According to the Maryland Department of Labor, preliminary data shows at least 2,755 jobs were cut in 11 federal offices located across the state, with an impact rippling across multiple counties.

    This reckless reduction in force and Department reorganization comes at a time when measles is spreading in communities across the country, avian flu is proliferating throughout our livestock populations, families are experiencing a childcare availability and affordability crisis, and cities across the country are still reeling from opioid and fentanyl overdoses. Instead of showing leadership on these concurrent emergencies and fulfilling the Department’s mission, this Administration has crippled the very teams and entire divisions that combat public health challenges, prevent disparities, and ensure that our families and children are safe. 

    The latest reductions are part of a multipronged attack on our state, as the Department has abruptly terminated billions in critical public health grants, including $200 million to Maryland that would go towards vaccination programs, disease surveillance, and alleviating health disparities. The critical services the Department is responsible for were already threatened from the Administration’s initial haphazard firings of probationary employees by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk’s Fork in the Road policy, which forced thousands of Department staff to resign or retire early. Now, the Administration is further decimating the teams of civil servants that work to make Americans healthy and safe every day. 

    As you well know, the FDA, NIH, CMS, and multiple other HHS agencies are headquartered in Maryland, and these cuts pose a direct threat to our constituents, Maryland’s economy, and all Americans. 

    At the FDA, headquartered in White Oak, the Administration has annihilated the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research – which the Maryland medical device and pharmaceutical industries rely on for the safe and timely approval of their products or therapeutics for patients. The Administration has also attacked the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products – which plays a critical role in prevention and harm reduction for Maryland youth. The FDA communications team that writes alerts about contaminated drugs and warnings to emergency room doctors about emerging threats was also terminated — which will have dire consequences for patient care. Across the FDA, thousands of Maryland based staffers that help to keep our food and health systems safe have been summarily dismissed, by an Administration only purporting to want to “Make America Healthy Again.” 

    At the NIH, based in Bethesda, this Administration has compounded its efforts to undermine the excellence of our crown jewel of scientific and medical research, with yet another round of terminations. This Administration has decimated NIH Institutes by firing leadership and critical staff to the point of non-functionality, including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 

    Maryland has already been hard hit by attacks to NIH research. In February, the NIH unveiled a new indirect cost rate guidance that would cap indirect cost rates that Maryland researchers rely on to sustain their groundbreaking, life-saving research, studies, and patient clinical trials. It also arbitrarily froze or terminated research grants in the state and has delayed the review of NIH grant applications. This medical research funds new life-saving cures for Maryland patients – from our newborns to our seniors, from children battling rare cancers to our servicemembers injured in battle. It funds thousands of Maryland jobs, and to arbitrarily cut it threatens Maryland’s health, safety, and economy. Slashing research funding will ultimately harm patients and even cost lives. 

    Attacks to the NIH are only the beginning of cuts to our health research infrastructure. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), based in Rockville, is critical for tracking data on healthcare outcomes and conducting research to improve the safety of patient care has been taken apart by DOGE. The Administration plans to merge AHRQ with another operating division at the Department and gut its budget, all while firing half of its employees. 

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), based in Rockville, has already faced hundreds of layoffs. The Department dismissed 10 percent of SAMHSA’s workforce during the first rounds of firings, and the Administration plans to further reduce the agency by up to 50 percent. While Maryland has made significant progress in preventing and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths, Baltimore City still has a death rate nearly double that of any other large city in the country. Now, the Administration is pulling the rug from underneath our state and the dozens of community-based organizations on the ground that rely on SAMHSA for training, resources, and technical assistance that helps with opioid use disorder prevention and treatment services. 

    CMS, based in Woodlawn, faced hundreds of cuts to staff, including the elimination of the Office for Minority Health and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, which respectively helps address health disparities across the country and resolves discrimination complaints. Employees at CMS’ Innovation Center (CMMI) were fired and a third of the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination office, which helps serve the over 160,000 Marylanders that are dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid were let go. CMS is responsible for overseeing coverage for over 160 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. This includes 1.6 million Marylanders who rely on Medicaid and CHIP for lifesaving health coverage. Any attack on CMS represents a threat to Marylanders’ and the nation’s access to care. 

    At the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), headquartered in Rockville, 500- 600 civil servants were fired, compromising HRSA’s mission to improve care for vulnerable and low-income communities. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau was wiped out by staffing cuts, crippling efforts to combat the maternal mortality crisis. Maryland women’s health disparities, including maternal morbidity, remain higher than national averages, and will only be exacerbated by this action. DOGE has also reportedly fired 40 percent of the Bureau of Primary Health Care, which oversees the Health Center Program that provides high quality, accessible primary and preventive medical, behavioral and dental services to all people, regardless of income or insurance status. Maryland’s sixteen Federally Qualified Health Centers deliver comprehensive primary healthcare to more than 360,000 patients across Maryland. That access to care in our state are at risk without civil servants to effectively run the program. 

    The Indian Health Service (IHS), which is also headquartered in Rockville, was not mentioned in initial reporting regarding the HHS reorganization or reduction in force. In fact, longtime civil servants in the Senior Executive Service (SES) have reported that their duty stations have been reassigned to remote IHS locations ranging from Alaska to South Dakota. While these locations suffer from high vacancy rates, the Department is pushing staff that do not have the qualifications or background for available IHS roles into an ultimatum: relocate your family across the country for a job that does not actually exist, or leave the Department. 

    Additionally, the Department fired approximately 500 staffers at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the April 1 wave of terminations, paralyzing the Department’s ability to effectively operate its human services programs. As you know, most program and support staff were eliminated in five regional offices around the country. While ACF’s Region 3 Office – which serves Maryland – remains open for now, staff in Region 3 will likely have to absorb the work and caseload of now shuttered Regions 1, 2,5, 9 and 10. This will put an untenable strain on their ability to support states like Maryland in operating child support, family assistance and child welfare programs, and providers operating Head Start and child care programs. 

    This is in addition to the nearly two hundred probationary ACF employees who have been on administrative leave since mid-February, and because of this Administration, are still unable to 3 provide states like Maryland with the technical assistance needed to operate critical programs, increasing the financial burden on already-struggling households. Head Start serves seven thousand children in Maryland. Thousands more families rely on the availability of affordable, quality childcare in the state – availability which is endangered when the civil servants that help providers adapt to workforce challenges or monitor for abuse and neglect in our state’s facilities are shamefully fired or prevented from doing their jobs. 

    Also at ACF, the Department terminated the entire Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) staff, threatening the timely disbursement of millions of dollars to states like Maryland, to help thousands of our constituents stay safe in the coming summer months. More than 18% of Maryland households are energy burdened; the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs received a record number of energy assistance applications last year. Likewise, the Department eliminated the Office of Family Assistance – undermining the ability for the nearly 28,000 Maryland families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to receive critical support without interruption. 

    Both the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living and the slashing of reportedly half of the staff that work on federal aging and disability programs at the Department will cause real harm to programs in Maryland that support some of our state’s most vulnerable communities – seniors and individuals with disabilities. This includes programs that prevent elder abuse, connect seniors with nutritious meals, and provide supports to caregivers – like the Maryland Caregiver Navigation Grant. 

    Perhaps most galling, is that you have admitted that many of these firings at the Department are in error, telling reporters “We’re going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstated, because we’ll make mistakes.” Further reporting found that HHS has no intention of actually reinstating a significant number of the staffers that have been fired or rectifying the mistakes it has made – calling into question your control of the situation and understanding of the Department’s reorganization. As the Secretary, you are ultimately responsible for answering for both these “mistakes” and any harm that comes from your destruction of our public health workforce and infrastructure. 

    As such, we request an in-person meeting with you no later than May 1, 2025, to discuss these concerns. We also request comprehensive answers to the following questions, including details on the reductions at the Department to date, and your plans for additional workforce reductions and reorganization. 

    1. For each of the below agencies, please specify since January 20, how many Maryland residents: received a RIF notice or were terminated on the basis of their probationary status? Please also specify how many more Maryland residents the agency intends to respectively terminate:  

    • SAMHSA 
    • FDA  
    • NIH 
    • CDC 
    • CMS 
    • IHS
    • HRSA  ‘
    • ACF 
    • ACL 
    • AHRQ 

    2. For each of the below agencies, please specify since January 20, how many Maryland residents are currently on administrative leave pending termination:  

    • SAMHSA 
    • FDA
    • NIH 
    • CDC 
    • CMS 
    • IHS
    • HRSA 
    • ACF 
    • ACL 
    • AHRQ 

    3. For each of the below agencies, please specify the number of Maryland residents who participated in the Deferred Resignation Program:  

    • SAMHSA 
    • FDA 
    • NIH
    • CDC 
    • CMS 
    • IHS 
    • HRSA 
    • ACF 
    • ACL 
    • AHRQ

    4. Please describe the reduction in force plans at the IHS headquarters and at IHS locations across the country.

    5. Please provide a detailed description of impact analysis performed to determine the impact on cancer research as a result of NIH Reductions in Force. 

    6. Please provide a detailed description of impact analysis performed to determine the impact on vaccine development and research as a result of FDA Reductions in Force. 

    7. Please provide a detailed description of the impact analysis performed regarding reductions in staffing to ACF services and programs, including technical assistance to states and childcare providers, childcare costs and child safety, supports for survivors of violence, and the effectiveness of the TANF and LIHEAP programs. 

                    a. Please provide a detailed description of the analysis performed by the Department describing how LIHEAP staffing reductions will not lead to higher energy costs for Marylanders. 
     

                    b. Please provide a detailed plan for how the Department plans to ensure that there is no delay due to case backlogs experienced by the state of Maryland or Maryland human services providers due to staff reductions at ACF? 

    8. Please provide a detailed description of the analysis performed by the Department describing how the staffing reductions to HRSA will not impact Maryland FQHCs, or access to affordable care in Maryland communities. 

    9. Please provide a detailed description of the analysis performed by the Department describing how the staffing reductions to CMS will not impede Marylander’s access to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and the ACA Marketplace. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Reintroduces Legislation to Counteract the Anti-Semitic BDS Movement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today, alongside Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), reintroduced the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act to ban the federal government from entering into contracts with entities that support the radical, anti-Semitic BDS movement targeting Israel.

    Additional cosponsors include Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17), Ben Cline (VA-6), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21).

    Across the United States, thirty-eight states have implemented laws blocking boycotts against Israel, demonstrating their commitment to opposing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This legislation would bring the federal procurement process in line with the majority of states that have already enacted policies to reiterate America’s vital alliance with Israel.

    “The BDS movement promotes and normalizes anti-Semitism by singling out the world’s only Jewish state and targeting Israel’s economy. The United States should not support any entity that engages in or endorses such actions. With over two-thirds of states enacting laws to counter the BDS movement, the federal procurement process must follow these states’ lead by implementing legislation at the national level to ban procurement from entities that engage in this form of anti-Semitism. The Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act sends a clear message that the United States stands firmly against anti-Semitism and remains committed to supporting our greatest ally,” said Congresswoman Tenney. 

    “Taxpayer dollars should not be going towards groups that engage in antisemitic boycotts targeting Israel. When I was in the Florida Legislature, I helped lead the charge against the BDS movement to make clear it has no place in Florida. Now, Congress ought to do the same and make clear it has no place in federal contracts. The BDS movement is antisemitism, plain and simple, and this bill will ensure we’re using taxpayer dollars responsibly to stand up against hate and stand up for our ally Israel,” said Congressman Moskowitz.

    “BDS is nothing more than economic antisemitism and its goal is to destroy the world’s one and only Jewish state. More than 2/3 of U.S states have adopted measures to thwart BDS and it is well past time for the federal government to join the rest of the country with this clear directive: if you choose to boycott Israel, you will not receive a single dollar from U.S. taxpayers. While companies have a constitutional right to engage in BDS, they do not have a right to use American tax dollars to subsidize their antisemitism. This is both a moral and strategic imperative and we are deeply grateful to Reps Tenney and Moskowitz for leading this bipartisan effort,” said CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra, Iowa Congressional Delegation Urge President Trump to Approve Disaster Relief Request Following Damaging March Storms

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    HULL, IOWA – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) joined U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and the entire Iowa congressional delegation in urging President Donald J. Trump to promptly grant Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ request for federal disaster assistance in the state of Iowa. 

    The request follows severe weather on March 19th that produced high winds and blizzard conditions across much of west, central, and northwest Iowa, causing significant damage to public infrastructure and private property. 

    “The Governor has determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and supplementary federal assistance is necessary. Thank you for your prompt consideration of this important request,” the lawmakers wrote. 

    Governor Reynolds has requested Hazard Mitigation statewide and activation of Public Assistance programs for Crawford, Harrison, Monona, and Woodbury Counties.   

    The full letter can be read HERE or below.

    Dear Mr. President:

    We respectfully ask that you promptly grant the request made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for a major disaster declaration for the State of Iowa as a result of severe weather on March 19, 2025, that produced high winds and blizzard conditions across much of west central and northwest Iowa. This severe weather caused significant damage to public infrastructure and private property. 

    Governor Reynolds has requested Hazard Mitigation statewide and activation of the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance was requested for Crawford, Harrison, Monona, and Woodbury Counties. 

    The Governor has determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and supplementary federal assistance is necessary. 

    Thank you for your prompt consideration of this important request.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dan Goldman Demands AG Bondi Reinstate DOJ Lawyer Fired for Telling the Truth About Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Unlawful Deportation

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Firing Makes Clear Admin Expects DOJ Employees to Lie to Judges, a Violation of State Law Governing Courtroom Candor 

     

    Goldman Argues Lawyers Should Not be Forced to Choose Between Their Jobs and Following the Law 

    Members Urge Bondi to Facilitate the Return of Garcia Back to America 

    Read the Letter Here 

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today led a letter with 5 of his colleagues urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to reinstate Erez Reuveni, Acting Deputy Chief of the Office of Immigration Litigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer who first represented the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Abrego Garcia v. Noem, the federal case concerning the Trump administration’s unlawful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.  

    While representing DHS in court, Mr. Reuveni acknowledged that DHS’s deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was an “administrative error.” One day later, Deputy Attorney General Blanche placed Mr. Reuveni on indefinite leave and later fired him, citing his failure to “follow a directive from [his] superiors.” Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Mr. Reuveni was suspended for failing to vigorously advocate on behalf of his client. 

    “While an attorney must balance their obligation to persuasively present their client’s case within their duty of candor to the tribunal, under no circumstances may the attorney “allow the tribunal to be misled by false statements of law or fact or evidence that the attorney knows to be false.” Here, Mr. Reuveni had no choice but to abide by his duty of candor to the court,” the Members wrote.

    Under Maryland’s Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers cannot lie in a court of law or present statements that they know to be untrue or misleading. None of the statements Mr. Reuveni made during the April 4th hearing on the Abrego Garcia v. Noem were false, yet he was fired anyway, making clear Attorney General Bondi has prioritized the administration’s talking points over every attorney’s duty to present the facts as they understand them. 

    “That Mr. Reuveni was fired because he had the human decency to recognize that there was no defense for the Administration’s position underscores the danger that your firing of Mr. Reuveni presents to attorneys throughout the Department, who are now put in a position where they may have to choose between their jobs and their bar license,” the Members wrote. 

    The members also argue that there is no legitimate justification for the administration’s failure to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return from the El Salvador prison he was unlawfully and erroneously deported to, as the Supreme Court ruled in a 9-0 unanimous decision. 

    “In order to correct your improper employment action, and to set an appropriate message for other attorneys representing the Department, we request that you immediately reinstate Mr. Reuveni. As the legal advisor for the Executive Branch, we further encourage you to advise the President that he must follow the Supreme Court’s unanimous order to “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safe return from El Salvador, including, if necessary, by stopping payments to El Salvador for Mr. Abrego Garcia’s detention,” the Members concluded.  

     Read the Letter Here or below. 

    Dear Attorney General Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Blanche,  

    We write with grave concern about your removal and firing of Acting Deputy Chief Erez Reuveni of the Office of Immigration Litigation on unethical and improper grounds. Further, we are deeply troubled by the Hobbesian choice you have created for the attorneys in the Department of Justice (DOJ), who may be forced to choose between their jobs and their oath of candor to the courts. We therefore request that you reinstate Mr. Reuveni and clarify that Department attorneys must always be honest and forthright with the court, even if that undermines the Department’s position.

    This specific incident stems from Abrego Garcia v. Noem, a case before Judge Paula Xinis in the Maryland District Court, in which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DOJ’s client, admitted to the court that it improperly and unlawfully deported Mr. Abrego Garcia, a resident of the State of Maryland and husband to an American citizen, to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador – a prison whose conditions would violate an inmate’s constitutional rights if it were in the United States.

    At a hearing on April 4, Mr. Reuveni admitted error on behalf of DHS, which failed to follow an order prohibiting Mr. Abrego Garcia’s removal to El Salvador. Specifically, Mr. Reuveni made the following statements during the April 4 hearing:

    • “We have nothing to say on the merits. We concede he should not have been removed to El Salvador.” See Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 25: 13-14. 

    • “There’s no dispute that the order could not be used to send Mr. Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.” See Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 25:6–7. 

    • When asked by Judge Xinis why Abrego Garcia was held in CECOT, Mr. Reuveni replied “I don’t know. That information has not been given to me. I don’t know.” See Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 34:25-35:5 

    • “This person should – the plaintiff, Abrego Garcia, should not have been removed. That is not in dispute.” Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, 19:11–13 

    • When asked by Judge Xinis why Mr. Abrego Garcia cannot be returned, Mr. Reuveni replied “Your Honor, I will say, for the Court’s awareness, that when this case landed on my desk, the first thing I did was ask my clients that very question. I’ve not received, to date, an answer that I find satisfactory.” Hr’g Tr., Apr. 4, 2025, at 35–36.

    • “I am also frustrated that I have no answer for you on a lot of these questions. The government made a choice here to produce no evidence.”

    None of these statements were incorrect. In fact, on March 31, Robert L. Cerna, Acting Field Office Director at DHS, submitted a declaration to the court which stated: “Through administrative error, Abrego-Garcia was removed from the United States to El Salvador. This was an oversight.”  Even until today, after the case has gone up to the United States Supreme Court and back to Judge Xinis, the Department has not provided the courts with any legitimate reason why Mr. Abrego Garcia cannot be returned to the United States in light of the government’s error and the fact that the United States is paying El Salvador to keep him in CECOT. 

    Yet the day following the court conference, on April 5, Deputy Attorney General Blanche placed Mr. Reuveni on indefinite leave, citing his failure to “follow a directive from [his] superiors.” The following day, Attorney General Bondi appeared on Fox News Sunday and claimed that Mr. Reuveni’s suspension was justified because he had not vigorously advocated on behalf of his client, stating that “[h]e did not argue. He shouldn’t have taken the case. He shouldn’t have argued it if that’s what he was going to do.”

    Yesterday, public reports revealed that you outright fired Mr. Reuveni, who has spent 15 years dedicating his life to government service and was recently elevated to a supervisory position and commended for his work. 

    Under Rule 19-303.3 (a)(1) of Maryland’s Rules of Professional Conduct regarding candor toward the court, an attorney shall not knowingly “make a false statement of fact or law to a tribunal.” While an attorney must balance their obligation to persuasively present their client’s case within their duty of candor to the tribunal, under no circumstances may the attorney “allow the tribunal to be misled by false statements of law or fact or evidence that the attorney knows to be false.” Here, Mr. Reuveni had no choice but to abide by his duty of candor to the court, which conflicted with a “directive from his superiors.” 

    Further, Maryland’s Rule 19-303.3 (a)(4) prohibits an attorney from offering evidence known by that attorney to be false. The Rules also allow an attorney to refuse to offer evidence that the attorney “reasonably believes” is false under (3.3) (c). In response to the court’s questions, Mr. Reuveni either stated that he did not have answers or that the information provided to him by the Department was not “satisfactory.” In either case, the Rules require Mr. Reuveni to adhere to his obligation of candor to the court.  

    Attorney General Bondi further clarified that “every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States,” and “[a]ny attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences.”  While Ms. Bondi is correct that DOJ attorneys have a duty to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States, that directive must yield to every attorney’s independent obligation to be candid and honest with the court, as required by the rules authorizing that attorney to practice law. In other words, if the Department takes a position that is either unlawful or unsupported by the facts and circumstances of a case, the attorney is prohibited from zealously arguing for that position.

    In this case, however, Mr. Reuveni was improperly suspended, and eventually fired, for doing just that.

    Having admitted error in this case, there is simply no legitimate justification for refusing to request that El Salvador return Mr. Abrego Garcia to his family in Maryland where he can receive due process and proceed through the immigration system according to the law.  That Mr. Reuveni was fired because he had the human decency to recognize that there was no defense for the Administration’s position underscores the danger that your firing of Mr. Reuveni presents to attorneys throughout the Department, who are now put in a position where they may have to choose between their jobs and their bar license. This is unacceptable.

    In order to correct your improper employment action, and to set an appropriate message for other attorneys representing the Department, we request that you immediately reinstate Mr. Reuveni. As the legal advisor for the Executive Branch, we further encourage you to advise the President that he must follow the Supreme Court’s unanimous order to “facilitate” Mr. Abrego Garcia’s safe return from El Salvador, including, if necessary, by stopping payments to El Salvador for Mr. Abrego Garcia’s detention.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Vasquez Demands Oversight Following DHS Office Closures and Reports of Abuse in Detention Centers

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the abrupt closure of key internal oversight offices and disturbing reports of abuse of migrants in DHS detention facilities.

    Vasquez wrote a letter this week with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), calling on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to immediately reinstate the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the USCIS Ombudsman, and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO)—all of which were quietly shut down in recent weeks. These closures eliminate essential channels of accountability and transparency, just as new reports of human rights violations are surfacing.

    “We’re witnessing one of the most dangerous uses of unchecked power under DHS in modern history,” said Vasquez. “Shutting down oversight offices, violating due process, and detaining migrants in unsanitary conditions, military bases and  foreign prisons is inhumane and un-American.”

    The letter comes amid growing concerns about the expansion of immigration detention, including proposals to detain migrants at U.S. military installations like Fort Bliss and Kirtland Air Force Base, both of which are located in or near communities Vasquez represents.

    During a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, Vasquez pressed senior military officials on the reported use of DOD facilities for civil immigration enforcement. He raised sharp concerns about diverting defense resources away from critical missions, like stopping the flow of fentanyl across the southern border.

    “The Department of Defense should be focused on responding to global threats and military readiness, not detaining civilians,” Vasquez said. “This shift in posture by DHS and DoD not only raises legal questions—it’s bad strategy and bad stewardship of public resources.”

    As the representative for a district that spans 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, Vasquez has consistently advocated for immigration policy that is smart, lawful, and humane—including pushing back on efforts to militarize border communities or bypass oversight.

    You can read the full letter HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dan Goldman Hosts Community Leaders and Constituents to Condemn Trump’s Attacks on Social Security Staff and Services

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    GOP Attacks on Social Security Administration Severely Harm Recipients’ Ability to Receive Benefits 

     

    Over 4 Million New Yorkers Rely on Social Security Benefits to Make Ends Meet 

     

    See Pictures and Video from Press Conference Here 

    New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today joined Disability Advocate Michael Schweinsburg, senior services providers, and Social Security recipients to observe Save Social Security Day of Action and condemn Trump and the Republican Party’s attempts to dismantle the Social Security Administration and slash benefits that New Yorkers have worked their whole lives for.

    “Social Security is a hard-earned benefit that millions of New Yorkers rely on to retire with dignity – Donald Trump and the Republican Party are trying to rip it away,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “From closing Social Security field offices to gutting administration staff and forcing seniors to travel long distances to do routine paperwork in person, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their DOGE hatchet men are putting insurmountable obstacles between New York seniors and the benefits they’re entitled to. As this president wages war on the programs their constituents depend on, I call on my New York Republican colleagues to grow a spine and demand these cuts be reversed immediately.”

    New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera said, “It’s shameful that DOGE is threatening seniors, veterans, retirees and the disability community through its attacks on the Social Security Administration. New Yorkers and Americans across the country are afraid that Trump’s threats will result in drastic cuts to a system they have spent their whole lives paying into. This important agency is already seeing delays in service and technology outages and we cannot accept any more disruptions to a program that is a lifeline for so many. I’m thankful to Congressman Goldman and all of the advocates who keep fighting to ensure that all people continue receiving the benefits they’ve earned.”

    Following the press conference, Congressman Goldman entered the Social Security field office in his district and spoke to the Social Security office manager about the new administration’s policies and how they are impacting the operations of the field office. 

    Since taking office, the Trump administration has severely weakened the Social Security Administration’s ability to efficiently administer benefits to the 73 million Americans who receive Social Security. In February, the Trump administration announced plans to slash Social Security staff by over 12 percent, with even deeper cuts proposed for departments responsible for protecting sensitive data, maintaining benefit claims processing systems, and managing the agency’s website and online portal. These cuts will likely lead to further website and benefit disruptions, as well as longer in-person lines and phone wait times, preventing tens of millions of Americans from accessing their benefits.

    Congressman Goldman has worked tirelessly to protect Social Security from the Trump administration’s attacks and ensure every retiree receives the benefits they deserve.  

    Last month, Goldman urged the Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner to oppose the Trump-Musk plan to consolidate ten regional offices down to four and cut 7,000 workers for the Social Security Administration. 

    In February, Goldman cosponsored the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, which would prevent Musk and DOGE from accessing the payment systems at the Treasury Department. This system is responsible for delivering trillions in Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax refunds, and payments to government contractors. 

    Last Congress, Congressman Goldman cosponsored and voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act. The now-enacted legislation restores full Social Security benefits for more than 3 million public service employees who receive other forms of retirement benefits. SSA is in the process of implementing the law. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: De La Cruz Introduces Selena Commemorative Coin Act in Honor of Selena Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)

    Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the Selena Commemorative Coin Act in celebration of “Selena Day” and the life of South Texas icon, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

    “Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is remembered as “The Queen of Tejano” for her passion, talent, and music that changed the industry forever. Selena inspired millions by elevating Tejano music to the mainstream and shattering glass ceilings. Honoring her with a coin is more than symbolic, it’s a step forward in recognizing her contributions to American history and keeping her memory alive for generations.” – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

    Background:
    The Selena Commemorative Coin Act will instruct the United States Mint to issue a commemorative coin in honor of Selena Quintanilla’s enduring legacy as the “Queen of Tejano” music and an icon in the Latino community.

    Selena Quintanilla, who would have been 54 on April 16th, rose to fame in the 1990s. Her album “Amor Prohibido” and the post-humous release “Dreaming of You” broke records and lifted Tejano music into the mainstream.

    Though her life was tragically cut short at the age of 23, her legacy continues to thrive through generations of fans, a Grammy Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and countless tributes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 15, 2025 Rep. Mullin’s Statement on President Trump Failing to Return Abrego Garcia to United States This is a dangerous example of Trump’s sinister approach to immigration and his willingness to defy court orders. Not only is he refusing to return a Maryland man who the DOJ mistakenly sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador,… Read More

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Kevin Mullin California (15th District)

    This is a dangerous example of Trump’s sinister approach to immigration and his willingness to defy court orders. Not only is he refusing to return a Maryland man who the DOJ mistakenly sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador, dictator Trump is now threatening to send our own US citizens overseas. He forgets that in America we have fundamental rights and a rule of law.

    Actions like this are why I recently introduced a House resolution affirming the judicial branch as a co-equal branch of government and making clear the Administration must adhere to all court orders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barry Moore issues statement on Inspector General Report on U.S. Space Command Headquarters Decision

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Barry Moore

    Washington D.C. – U.S. Representative Barry Moore (AL-01) released the following statement today after the release of an Inspector General report concerning the location of U.S. Space Command.

    “An objective and rigorous process ranked Huntsville as the top choice for Space Command Headquarters. The Biden Administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command to Colorado Springs was purely political and not based in merit,” said Moore. “The report from the Inspector General confirms this and proves what we have known all along – that Space Command belongs in Alabama. I will continue working with the other members of the Alabama delegation to ensure that decisions involving our national security will be made based on what is truly best for the nation instead.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barry Moore introduces Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Barry Moore

    Washington D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Barry Moore (AL-01) introduced the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has clearly been weaponized against the American people and their latest abuse is the use of taxpayer dollars to purchase firearms for agents. This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Mary Miller (R-IL), and Clay Higgins (R-LA).

    Since the start of 2020, the IRS has spent $10 million on weapons, ammo, and combat gear.

    This legislation:

    • Prohibits the IRS from purchasing, receiving, or storing firearms and ammo.
    • Requires the IRS to transfer to the General Services Administration (GSA) any firearms or ammunition under IRS control.
    • Compels GSA to initiate the sell and auction of the firearms to licensed dealers and the ammunition to the general public.
    • Transfers the IRS Criminal Investigations Division to be folded into the Department of Justice’s jurisdiction.

    “The IRS has consistently been weaponized against American citizens, targeted religious organizations, journalists, gun owners, and everyday Americans,” said Moore. “Arming these agents does not make the American public safer. My legislation, the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act, would disarm these agents, auction off their guns to Federal Firearms License Owners, and sell their ammunition to the public. The only thing IRS agents should be armed with are calculators.”

    “It is a shocking fact that the Biden administration spent over $10 million on firearms and ammunitions for IRS employees. This is especially troubling in light of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government’s investigation into the IRS which exposed patterns of political targeting and harassment by agents. I am proud to support Congressman Moore’s bill which rightly strips the IRS of its arsenal and transfers the Criminal Investigations Division to the Department of Justice. The Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act will ensure the agency sticks to its mission of collecting revenue rather than moonlighting as a paramilitary law enforcement agency susceptible to politicization.” said Congresswoman Hageman.

    “There is absolutely zero justification for wasting taxpayer dollars to arm a federal agency that was never meant to act as an enforcement arm of the government,” said Congresswoman Mary Miller. “The IRS doesn’t need a stockpile of guns and ammunition — it needs proper transparency, oversight, and accountability. I fully support Rep. Moore’s bill to disarm the IRS and end this dangerous power grab once and for all.”

    “The weaponization of the IRS against working Americans is a threat to our Constitutional freedoms,” said Congressman Higgins. “IRS agents should not hit homes and businesses like SWAT teams, and they should not terrorize American families. This legislation disarms the IRS. I thank my colleague Congressman Moore for introducing this important legislation.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Congressman Dan Goldman on the Trump Administration’s Unconstitutional Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    “The spectacle in the Oval Office yesterday with Presidents Trump and Bukele was disgraceful: two self-proclaimed “strongmen” acting powerless to return an illegally deported man from an El Salvadorian torture prison — despite a unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court — and even threatening to send American citizens to those same prisons. 

    “The rule of law, including due process, lies at the very heart of our constitutional republic. And this case demonstrates why: Mr. Abrego Garcia received no due process, which would have prevented his unlawful deportation. 

    “Having failed to provide due process and admitting that Mr. Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported, President Trump is now flouting the Supreme Court’s directive to “facilitate” his return.  

    “Donald Trump is either too impotent to return an innocent man from a country he is paying to hold him, or he is declaring war on the judiciary. Both are unacceptable. 

    “Make no mistake: President Trump is at a fork in the road. He either chooses democracy or dictatorship. The American people are watching closely.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Garcia and Congressman Maxwell Frost Demand Oversight CODEL Travel to El Salvadorian Prison Holding Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia

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

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer requesting authorization for a Congressional Member Delegation (CODEL) to visit Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT). The maximum-security prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, is illegally holding Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national and resident of Maryland who held legal status. The letter can be found here. 

    “In a unanimous decision in Noem v. Abrego Garcia, the United States Supreme Court ordered “the government to ‘facilitate’ Mr. Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been, had he not been wrongfully deported.” A Congressional delegation would allow Committee Members to conduct a welfare check on Mr. Abrego Garcia, as well as others held at CECOT, such as Andry José Hernandez—a 30-year-old LGBTQ makeup artist who passed a ‘credible fear’ interview during his legal asylum process before being deported,” wrote the lawmakers.

    Congressman Garcia remains committed to reforming our immigration system, creating fair pathways to citizenship, and treating immigrants with respect and dignity. In July 2024, Congressman Garcia introduced the SHIELD Act, which allocated grants through the Attorney General and the Department of Justice to local and state governments to support the recruitment of staff and attorneys to ensure that immigrants receive quality, affordable representation in immigration court. Last Congress, Congressman Garcia led investigations into fundamental integrity and credibility issues within the DHS, including identifying what actions have been taken to address the threat of domestic violent extremism within the DHS. Congressman Garcia has also defended humane immigration procedures and condemned extreme rhetoric on immigration and border security that dehumanizes migrants legally seeking asylum. Congressman Garcia has also investigated the use of inappropriate language and behavior among Border Patrol agents within ICE toward immigrants following reports from the Huffington Post. Congressman Garcia also continues to champion legislation that increases resources and efficiencies for vital government departments and agencies.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Feenstra Letter, National Institute of Standards & Technology Confirms Full Funding for Center for Industrial Research and Service for Remainder of Fiscal Year 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, mere hours after U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Acting Director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Craig Burkhart requesting renewal of the Center for Industrial Research and Service’s (CIRAS) cooperative agreement with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NIST confirmed that CIRAS would receive continued federal funding for Fiscal Year 2025. 

    Feenstra led U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), and Zach Nunn (IA-03) in sending this letter.

    “I’m glad that the National Institute of Standards & Technology decided to renew full funding for the Center for Industrial Research and Service within hours of receiving our letter. This initiative supports manufacturing in Iowa, makes important contributions to our economy, and strengthens our strategic position against countries like China,” said Rep. Feenstra. “Growing our domestic manufacturing sector and bringing jobs back to the United States is a vital mission, and CIRAS helps achieve these critical goals. By restoring full funding for CIRAS, we can continue to invest in our manufacturing might, sustain good-paying jobs in Iowa, and remain at the cusp of innovation and ingenuity, including in AI and other emerging technologies.”

    In their letter, the lawmakers note, in part, that “As Iowa’s federal delegation [Iowan Senators and Members of Congress], we have seen the crucial role CIRAS has played in aiding and growing our state’s manufacturing sector and how critical the Center has been to our state’s economic success. As you will read in the letter from concerned organizations that have firsthand knowledge of the importance of CIRAS to the manufacturing industry, the Center has helped Iowa’s small-to-medium-sized manufacturers for over six decades. Though the total impact of CIRAS since the Kennedy Administration is truly incalculable and indispensable, in the last five years alone, they have served 1,500 Iowa manufacturers that have reported $1.4 billion in financial results.”

    The full letter can be read HERE or below.

    Secretary Lutnick and Acting Director Burkhart, 

    We write with concern over the recent National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) decision regarding the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). We are enclosing a letter we received from Iowa manufacturing businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and Iowa State University concerning the non-renewal and federal funding stoppage of the Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) cooperative agreement. 

    As Iowa’s federal delegation [Iowan Senators and Members of Congress], we have seen the crucial role CIRAS has played in aiding and growing our state’s manufacturing sector and how critical the Center has been to our state’s economic success. As you will read in the letter from concerned organizations that have firsthand knowledge of the importance of CIRAS to the manufacturing industry, the Center has helped Iowa’s small-to-medium-sized manufacturers for over six decades. Though the total impact of CIRAS since the Kennedy Administration is truly incalculable and indispensable, in the last five years alone, they have served 1,500 Iowa manufacturers that have reported $1.4 billion in financial results. 

    Additionally, in the non-renewal notice from NIST, it mentioned that the U.S. Department of Commerce is reprioritizing to ensure United States leadership in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). The work of CIRAS in just the past 12 months has included 16 AI-focused events with almost 400 attendees and 38 AI-focused projects. These AI projects included 9 projects using sensors and data to collect data for AI use, 27 projects leveraging AI tools for business marketing, and 3 projects to develop and implement new AI tools for manufacturers. Additionally, CIRAS has worked with manufacturing enterprises in almost every industry over the last 62 years since its founding. The manufacturing jobs being supported by CIRAS programs in Iowa are supporting emerging technologies and future-ready industries.

    As we work together to support President Trump’s prodigious goal of growing domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign industry, we believe that CIRAS should continue to be a key pillar of the MEP. We ask that all due consideration is given to resume or begin anew the cooperative agreement between CIRAS and the MEP.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack Celebrates Grand Opening of New Ocala District Office Location

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    OCALA, FL — Yesterday, Rep. Cammack and hundreds of constituents celebrated the grand opening of the new Ocala District Office located in the McPherson Government Complex at 2630 SE 3rd Street in Ocala. 

    Joined by special guests Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken, members of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, and leaders from the Ocala Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP), Congresswoman Cammack and her district staff cut the ribbon for the new facility, which opened earlier in March following the completion of needed renovations. 

    Congresswoman Cammack, members of her staff, and constituents celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the new office.

    “I’m thrilled to have relocated our Ocala District Office back to its original location in the McPherson Government Complex,” said Rep. Cammack. “Centrally located with other useful local and state offices for constituents in Marion County, our office is a one-stop shop for folks seeking assistance with federal agencies, including the VA, Social Security Administration, and IRS, along with economic development opportunities, internships for local students, and more. Our team continues to deliver the same excellent service we always have in this new location. We hope constituents will visit us soon in-person or contact us via phone at (352) 421-9052.”

    The Ocala District Office is located at 2630 SE 3rd Street, Ocala, FL 34471 and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. No appointments are necessary to visit with staff.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Pettersen, Bonamici Lead 58 Members in Calling on FEMA to Address Harmful Impact of Halting Critical Disaster Preparedness Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), led 58 of their colleagues in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Senior Official Performing the Duties of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Cameron Hamilton expressing deep concern over the reckless attempt to terminate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the risk that halting approved BRIC projects poses to vulnerable communities. 

    The BRIC program plays a critical role in supporting pre-disaster mitigation and strengthening community resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. In Colorado, where wildfires have burned over 1.5 million acres in the last 25 years, BRIC funding has been used to upgrade infrastructure, modernize water systems, and reduce wildfire risks in high-threat areas. BRIC saves lives, protects homes and schools, and reduces the devastating costs of recovery.

    In a letter, the Members shared: “Across our districts, natural disasters are no longer confined to a ‘season’; instead, the risks persist throughout the year, and it’s critical to prepare our communities as we learn to live with worsening natural disasters. Building resilient communities is an undeniable role of the federal government, and the unlawful termination of BRIC abandons our commitment to the communities that we serve.”

    The Members continued: “The urgent and timely need for action on natural disaster preparedness and mitigation cannot be overstated. Any delay in funding and implementation of critical programs threatens the safety and resilience of our communities. 

    The Members are demanding the following:

    • A list of approved BRIC projects that will not receive funding after April 4, 2025, including key project details.
    • Guidance for project sponsors on how to draw down remaining funds and finalize contracts.
    • FEMA’s current strategy for addressing wildfire readiness and community preparedness goals.
    • A timeline for resuming the implementation and disbursement of BRIC funding.

    Full text of the letter can be found HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack Leads The Charge & Secures Department of Commerce’s Withdrawal From 2019 Suspension Agreement On Fresh Tomatoes From Mexico

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    GAINESVILLE, FL — This morning, Congresswoman Kat Cammack issued the following statement about the U.S. Department of Commerce’s announcement of its intent to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, with termination effective in 90 days. 

    “This has been a priority of ours for years in Florida,” said Rep. Kat Cammack. “For half a decade now, our producers have been subject to an unfair marketplace. In the past five years alone, Mexican tomato producers have violated the suspension agreement over 100 times. The economic impact of these violations has been catastrophic on our domestic tomato producers.”

    “I’ve long been a champion of free but fair trade. Since the beginning of 2000 we have dropped from 250 producers to just 25. I’m grateful the Trump administration is working so hard to enforce international U.S. trade laws, and I know our tomato producers in Florida will be relieved to once more have a level playing field. As the only Florida Member on the House Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to work on behalf of our farmers, ranchers, and producers to deliver the support they deserve and keep their industry alive. Food security is national security which is why ensuring our producers are protected from unfair trade practices is critical,” Rep. Cammack added.

    The Department of Commerce currently maintains 734 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade. These duty orders provide American workers with a mechanism to seek relief from harmful unfair pricing of imports.

    “A great injustice to our Florida tomato producers has finally been addressed,” said Jeb Smith, President of the Florida Farm Bureau. “Thank you to Congresswoman Cammack for heeding the pleas of our growers and leading the charge. Many thanks to Secretary Lutnick, Secretary Rollins, and others in this administration for acting. For decades our farmers have simply sought strict enforcement of U.S. trade law, including the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement. At last, we are witnessing such. With the institution of the antidumping duty order resulting in duties of 20.91 percent on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico, fair trade could be attainable. It is an exciting day for tomato growers in the Sunshine State and the broader produce industry!” 

    “For decades, unfair foreign trade practices have taken their toll on U.S. growers of fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. “The termination of the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement is a positive step toward helping tomato growers compete on a level playing field and ensure American consumers are not forced to rely on foreign sources for fresh fruits and vegetables. We sincerely appreciate the support and efforts of this administration and Congresswoman Cammack for effectively implementing U.S. trade laws and protecting domestic tomato growers.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –