NewzIntel.com

Category: United States House of Representatives

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Lauren Boebert Introduces Legislation to Promote Private Sector Competition in Microtransit Services

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) released the following statement after introduction of H.R. 9756, legislation that ensures private sector competition in microtransit services: 

    The “Private Sector Competition in Microtransit Act” would require any state or local government that receives federal funds to operate microtransit services enter into a contract with a private entity for the operation of such services.

    “Microtransit is a critical service, especially for our elderly and disabled citizens who often face barriers to accessing traditional public transportation. These small-scale, on-demand services provide a vital lifeline to individuals who need to get to medical appointments, grocery stores, or simply visit loved ones. Unfortunately, government-run microtransit services are putting private-sector businesses at a disadvantage, often driving them out of the market. This results in higher costs for taxpayers—2 to 3 times more than what the private sector can offer—and less innovation and efficiency. My legislation will level the playing field by encouraging private-sector participation and reducing government interference. This will not only lead to better services for those who depend on microtransit, but it will also ensure that our taxpayers’ dollars are used more effectively,” said Congresswoman Boebert.

    “We are grateful for Rep. Lauren Boebert’s introduction of H.R. 9756, which creates opportunities for private sector small businesses through microtransit initiatives. Promoting microtransit will empower local small businesses to thrive, improve transportation access, and strengthen our economy. This legislation makes sense for local communities in Douglas County and across Colorado, and we look forward to working on its passage with Congresswoman Boebert.” –Joint Statement by Douglas County Commissioners Abe Laydon, George Teal, and Lora Thomas

    “I have been deeply encouraged by Representative Boebert’s willingness to take meaningful action on issues of importance to Douglas County,” said Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon.

    “Rep. Boebert’s understanding of our industry’s challenges is evident in this important legislation. Small businesses, especially in the transportation sector, were devastated by the COVID-19 lockdowns, where they lost 90% of their business. Many were forced to dip into their retirement savings just to stay afloat. The biggest competitors to small businesses should not be the federal government. This bill ensures that the private sector continues to thrive and provide these essential services,” said Bill Yuhnke, President of The Transportation Alliance, in a press release.

    Full text of Rep. Boebert’s Private Sector Competition in Microtransit Act of 2024 can be found HERE.

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    For updates, subscribe to Congresswoman Boebert’s newsletter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Rosendale Fights for More Efficient Veteran Care Appointment Scheduling

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Matt Rosendale (Montana)

    Chairman Rosendale Fights for More Efficient Veteran Care Appointment Scheduling

    Washington, September 26, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Technology Modernization led a hearing titled: “Ensuring Timely Access: Challenges in VA Scheduling.”

    Chairman Rosendale focused on how the current leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs are seemingly intentionally hindering the implementation of scheduling software that makes it easier for veterans to get timely appointments with community care providers.


    “I have serious concerns that the current leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs might be intentionally undermining WellHive—and making veterans’ health care slower and more difficult—out of a political hostility to community care,”     said Rep. Rosendale. “Today we are going to dig into these decisions and the thought process behind them. Because veterans’ appointment scheduling is too important, and the status quo is too broken, to let any of the projects we are discussing today slip into failure or neglect.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RI Delegation Announces $11.36 Million in State Opioid Response Grants

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to save lives and better connect Rhode Islanders struggling with opioid use disorder to treatment, recovery, and prevention services, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced $11,363,011 for Rhode Island through the federal State Opioid Response (SOR) grant, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

    SOR funding supports evidence-based practices to help states strengthen prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction programs in their communities.  Rhode Island may use the federal grant to fund a wide range of action, including expanding access to the opioid overdose-reversal drug naxolone — better known by its brand-name Narcan — along with recovery support for those struggling with addiction.

    The three–year grant aims to connect more people to services and help prevent opioid addiction statewide; reduce the number of prescription drug/opioid overdoses; and increase access and reduce unmet needs through prevention, treatment, and by gathering data on addiction treatment and recovery resources.  The state has also used federal funding to improve data collection and tracking mechanisms to gauge the effectiveness and reach of its initiatives, creating a public dashboard at PreventOverdoseRI.org (PORI). 

    PORI provides the public with up-to-date resources for overdose prevention supplies, access to treatment, and public events.  According to PORI, using data collected from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), accidental overdose deaths in Rhode Island have been trending downward in recent years, from 436 in 2022 to 164 so far in 2024.

    “Too many families have lost loved ones to overdoses and opioid addiction has shattered too many lives.  This federal funding will strengthen the state’s coordinated response to combat addiction, reduce overdose rates, and put recovery within reach for more Rhode Islanders.  It will better connect people in need to services across the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.  This is a needed investment in saving lives, healthier communities, and helping residents affected by opioid addiction get the care and treatment they need,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-Health and Human Services (L-HHS), who helped include $1.575 billion for State Opioid Response Grants in the 2024 appropriations law, as well as $2 billion for the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant.

    “The opioid crisis has taken a heartbreaking toll on families from all walks of life in every corner of our state.  We need to ensure treatment, prevention, and recovery services are reaching the Rhode Islanders who need them,” said Senator Whitehouse, author of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, the federal law guiding the federal response to the opioid epidemic.  “This federal funding will help ensure that support is available to anyone seeking out the long, noble road of recovery.”

    “Opioid addiction has impacted far too many Rhode Islanders, and we need to ensure treatment and support is readily available to those struggling with substance use,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding will save lives by expanding access to services for people in recovery and overdose prevention medication like naloxone.” 

    “Opioid use disorder has impacted countless Rhode Island families,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Today, I’m proud to stand with my delegation colleagues as we announce more than $11 million dollars in federal funding to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery programs in our state. Let’s keep going.”

    America’s overdose crisis has been fueled by the presence of fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid that has been linked to a number of overdose fatalities in Rhode Island and nationwide.  Fentanyl, which is mixed with other substances like cocaine or heroin, is dangerously potent.  Last year, 85 percent of overdoses involved any opioid, including fentanyl, while 78 percent involved fentanyl, according to RIDOH. 

    Deaths from accidental overdoses decreased by 7.3 percent last year in Rhode Island (from 436 in 2022 to 404 in 2023), the first time in four years that the number has gone down, according to the Governor’s Overdose Task Force.  Rhode Island’s decrease in overdoses was over twice the national average, with America experiencing a 3 percent decrease in accidental overdose deaths in 2023.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC) credits Rhode Island for taking steps to streamlined naloxone distribution: “Based on an assessment of community need, Rhode Island increased the availability of naloxone kits and launched a new central online ordering system to better coordinate the distribution and tracking process. This multi-agency effort streamlined naloxone procurement and distribution across the state. 

    Since 2018, Rhode Island has received over $63.2 million in SOR funding to combat opioids. 
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Many Inconsistencies, Tiffany Demands a Third-Party Investigation into Madison’s Duplicate Absentee Ballots

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) sent a follow-up letter to the City of Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl highlighting her office’s repeated pattern of shifting explanations regarding the ongoing duplicate absentee ballot scandal. Additionally, Rep. Tiffany requested an independent, third-party investigation into the matter to ensure public transparency and accountability for those responsible. 

    In the letter, Tiffany cited numerous examples of the Clerk’s Office saying one thing, only to subsequently revise those statements or scrub the information from their website later. Those revisions included claims about the number of wards impacted, how many duplicate ballots were distributed, the location of barcodes, and efforts to inform voters of the mistakes. 

    “I am also skeptical of your office’s claim regarding the retention of emails, text messages, handwritten notes, and other records related to this incident given that the Clerk’s office has repeatedly revised its website to scrub or edit its initial statements after those initial statements were shown to be demonstrably false. These after-the-fact changes indicate an intent to attempt to sanitize the record, not preserve it,” Tiffany said in the letter.

    Tiffany added, “If you are truly committed to transparency, I hope you will reconsider your opposition to an independent inquiry, make all related records public, and move quickly to hold those responsible to account, and to do so before – not after – the election.”

    You can read a full copy of the letter here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Casar & Colleagues Introduce Migration Stability Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), co-founder of the Global Migration Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52) introduced a new resolution calling for comprehensive legislation to address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while affirming the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the United States.

    “Democrats can build an orderly, humane, and stable immigration system. We should create more legal pathways for migration and citizenship, while also changing the failed U.S. policies that cause displacement abroad and force people to flee their home countries,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Let’s tackle the climate crisis. Let’s remove broad-based sanctions that increase poverty. Let’s prioritize policies to support stability abroad while creating a welcoming and predictable immigration process at home.” 

    “Too many people around the world face violence, poverty, and persecution and see the United States as a beacon of hope,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). “We must make the immigration system more humane, more orderly, and more effective to welcome immigrants who come to this country rather than turn them away and to recognize not only the contributions they make to this country, but also the moral duty we have to protect people who come here fleeing horrible conditions. We can and must do better for immigrants.”

    “Over the past decades, millions of people have been forced to migrate from their homes—and more people are displaced now than ever before. This is the result of converging crises, including climate change, political instability, and violence, some of which are impacted by U.S. policy,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.). “Yet, our immigration and asylum policies have become more restrictive and punitive, disregarding the role our government has played in creating this crisis. It’s time we acknowledge the ways in which U.S. policy has contributed to forced migration and displacement, and advance reforms that address the root causes of migration.”

    “Republicans’ dangerous rhetoric about immigration endangers our immigrant communities and completely ignores the root causes of migration,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Migration is not just a border issue but a foreign policy issue. With migration on the rise worldwide and conflict, food insecurity, climate change, and political violence driving immigration to the U.S., it’s imperative that we reshape our immigration policy to address these global crises. This resolution calls upon Congress to do just that.”

    “Climate instability, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, sanctions, and human rights violations are just some of the conditions driving unprecedented levels of global displacement and migration,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Stricter border enforcement, harsh asylum laws, and the vilification of immigrants have consistently failed us and our neighbors. Instead, we need to address how our own policies contribute to the crises and adopt a coordinated regional and global strategy to tackle the root causes of displacement.”

    “It’s past time for comprehensive immigration reform. And a critical piece to this is addressing the factors that force families to flee their home countries in the first place,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.). “From combating climate change to humanitarian assistance, we need to implement productive policies that address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while also working to restore faith in our legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship.”

    Specifically, this resolution calls for comprehensive legislation that: 

    • addresses U.S. policies contributing to forced migration and displacement;
    • ensures a humane and sustainable immigration system that appropriately addresses the root causes driving migration; and
    • affirms the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.

    Over the last few weeks, MAGA Republicans have fabricated xenophobic and racist stories about Haitian immigrant families, adding to a long track record of perpetuating false narratives, conspiracy theories, and racist tropes. This MAGA rhetoric has incited physical violence against many migrant families. Now more than ever, it is important to emphasize the value migrants bring to our communities and to call for policies that will make our immigration system more stable and humane.  

    The resolution is co-led by U.S. Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), and co-sponsored by Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07). 

    It is endorsed by ActionAid USA, Ayudemos por una vida mas digna, Border Vigil of Eagle Pass, CASA, Center for Economic Policy and Research, Center for International Policy, Climate Refugees, Eagle Pass Border Coalition, Global Exchange, Justice is Global, Mira Feminisms and Democracies, Movimiento de los pueblos por la paz y la justicia y México negro ac, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Project, OXFAM America, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Transnational Villages Network/Red de Pueblos, United We Dream, and Win Without War. 

    “This resolution is the step forward Congress desperately needs to reframe the issue of immigration towards more productive and effective solutions that will ensure migrants’ lives take precedence over politics,” saidJuliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy at United We Dream. “The vast majority of Americans want to see a humane, efficient and fair policies that honor everyone’s freedoms to live safely in their homes without being forcibly displaced, whether here or abroad, and provides the opportunity to become citizens in the U.S. Congress has a clear roadmap in front of them with this resolution that proves that safety, humanity, fairness and justice in our foreign policy and immigration system are not contradictory values but instead deeply interconnected.”

    “We need to dig in our heels and end the racism and xenophobia that’s rampant in our immigration and asylum debates in the U.S.,” said Eric Eikenberry, government relations director for Win Without War. “This new resolution lays the groundwork to do just that: welcome people who want to build their lives here, while ensuring that — from arms sales to climate policy and beyond — our government doesn’t create the conditions that force them from their homes and communities.” 

    “For too long, the U.S. approach to migration has focused on barricading our borders rather than addressing the realities compelling people to leave their homes — including crises exacerbated by U.S. policies. We applaud Congressman Casar and his colleagues for taking this critical step to review and move toward better U.S. policies to address the conditions giving rise to increased migration and displacement,” said Dylan Williams, Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs.

    “There’s been a lot of talk over the years about ‘root causes’ of migration, but this is the first legislation of its kind to home in on the elephant in the room: U.S. policy and its role in fueling the involuntary migration and displacement of millions of people in the region and the world,” said Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “This groundbreaking resolution helps us all better understand how vulnerable communities in the Global South have been devastated by U.S. broad-based sanctions, U.S.-backed trade agreements that put corporate greed over people, U.S. security assistance that props up repressive governments, and lax gun laws that provide criminals with easy access to U.S. weapons. Most importantly, this legislation proposes bold strategies to undo harmful policies and help truly mitigate ‘root causes’ including through far-reaching reforms to US sanctions policy and foreign assistance, the removal of harmful ISDS provisions from US-backed trade agreements, and the provision of robust support to developing countries fighting inequality and climate change, including through new issuances of debt-free IMF Special Drawing Rights. This resolution is long overdue, and we’re proud and delighted to be supporting it today.” 

    “Rather than ‘blaming the victims’—immigrants, it is important to acknowledge how failed U.S. foreign (or economic and military) policies have contributed to the spiraling poverty and violence from which people have been fleeing for their lives,” Jean Stokan, Justice Coordinator for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. “Forced migration is often the result of U.S. foreign policies that prioritize the interests of foreign investors over those of impoverished populations. Thus, this resolution importantly names U.S. responsibility to address those root causes and the need for justice-based pathways to citizenship.”

    “To design a just and humane policy response to immigration, we have to ask the question – why are people moving? As an international development organization, ActionAid USA strongly supports this resolution for acknowledging the root causes of migration, including and especially those for which the United States is directly responsible,” said Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA. “A human rights-based approach to immigration policy should start with fixing harmful foreign policies, ongoing climate inaction, and unjust international economic systems that all contribute to force people to leave their homes.”

    Background: 

    The resolution text can be found here.

    ###

    Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio.  A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Casar & Colleagues Introduce Migration Stability Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), co-founder of the Global Migration Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52) introduced a new resolution calling for comprehensive legislation to address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while affirming the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the United States.

    “Democrats can build an orderly, humane, and stable immigration system. We should create more legal pathways for migration and citizenship, while also changing the failed U.S. policies that cause displacement abroad and force people to flee their home countries,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Let’s tackle the climate crisis. Let’s remove broad-based sanctions that increase poverty. Let’s prioritize policies to support stability abroad while creating a welcoming and predictable immigration process at home.” 

    “Too many people around the world face violence, poverty, and persecution and see the United States as a beacon of hope,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). “We must make the immigration system more humane, more orderly, and more effective to welcome immigrants who come to this country rather than turn them away and to recognize not only the contributions they make to this country, but also the moral duty we have to protect people who come here fleeing horrible conditions. We can and must do better for immigrants.”

    “Over the past decades, millions of people have been forced to migrate from their homes—and more people are displaced now than ever before. This is the result of converging crises, including climate change, political instability, and violence, some of which are impacted by U.S. policy,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.). “Yet, our immigration and asylum policies have become more restrictive and punitive, disregarding the role our government has played in creating this crisis. It’s time we acknowledge the ways in which U.S. policy has contributed to forced migration and displacement, and advance reforms that address the root causes of migration.”

    “Republicans’ dangerous rhetoric about immigration endangers our immigrant communities and completely ignores the root causes of migration,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Migration is not just a border issue but a foreign policy issue. With migration on the rise worldwide and conflict, food insecurity, climate change, and political violence driving immigration to the U.S., it’s imperative that we reshape our immigration policy to address these global crises. This resolution calls upon Congress to do just that.”

    “Climate instability, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, sanctions, and human rights violations are just some of the conditions driving unprecedented levels of global displacement and migration,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Stricter border enforcement, harsh asylum laws, and the vilification of immigrants have consistently failed us and our neighbors. Instead, we need to address how our own policies contribute to the crises and adopt a coordinated regional and global strategy to tackle the root causes of displacement.”

    “It’s past time for comprehensive immigration reform. And a critical piece to this is addressing the factors that force families to flee their home countries in the first place,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.). “From combating climate change to humanitarian assistance, we need to implement productive policies that address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while also working to restore faith in our legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship.”

    Specifically, this resolution calls for comprehensive legislation that: 

    • addresses U.S. policies contributing to forced migration and displacement;
    • ensures a humane and sustainable immigration system that appropriately addresses the root causes driving migration; and
    • affirms the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.

    Over the last few weeks, MAGA Republicans have fabricated xenophobic and racist stories about Haitian immigrant families, adding to a long track record of perpetuating false narratives, conspiracy theories, and racist tropes. This MAGA rhetoric has incited physical violence against many migrant families. Now more than ever, it is important to emphasize the value migrants bring to our communities and to call for policies that will make our immigration system more stable and humane.  

    The resolution is co-led by U.S. Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), and co-sponsored by Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07). 

    It is endorsed by ActionAid USA, Ayudemos por una vida mas digna, Border Vigil of Eagle Pass, CASA, Center for Economic Policy and Research, Center for International Policy, Climate Refugees, Eagle Pass Border Coalition, Global Exchange, Justice is Global, Mira Feminisms and Democracies, Movimiento de los pueblos por la paz y la justicia y México negro ac, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Project, OXFAM America, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Transnational Villages Network/Red de Pueblos, United We Dream, and Win Without War. 

    “This resolution is the step forward Congress desperately needs to reframe the issue of immigration towards more productive and effective solutions that will ensure migrants’ lives take precedence over politics,” saidJuliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy at United We Dream. “The vast majority of Americans want to see a humane, efficient and fair policies that honor everyone’s freedoms to live safely in their homes without being forcibly displaced, whether here or abroad, and provides the opportunity to become citizens in the U.S. Congress has a clear roadmap in front of them with this resolution that proves that safety, humanity, fairness and justice in our foreign policy and immigration system are not contradictory values but instead deeply interconnected.”

    “We need to dig in our heels and end the racism and xenophobia that’s rampant in our immigration and asylum debates in the U.S.,” said Eric Eikenberry, government relations director for Win Without War. “This new resolution lays the groundwork to do just that: welcome people who want to build their lives here, while ensuring that — from arms sales to climate policy and beyond — our government doesn’t create the conditions that force them from their homes and communities.” 

    “For too long, the U.S. approach to migration has focused on barricading our borders rather than addressing the realities compelling people to leave their homes — including crises exacerbated by U.S. policies. We applaud Congressman Casar and his colleagues for taking this critical step to review and move toward better U.S. policies to address the conditions giving rise to increased migration and displacement,” said Dylan Williams, Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs.

    “There’s been a lot of talk over the years about ‘root causes’ of migration, but this is the first legislation of its kind to home in on the elephant in the room: U.S. policy and its role in fueling the involuntary migration and displacement of millions of people in the region and the world,” said Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “This groundbreaking resolution helps us all better understand how vulnerable communities in the Global South have been devastated by U.S. broad-based sanctions, U.S.-backed trade agreements that put corporate greed over people, U.S. security assistance that props up repressive governments, and lax gun laws that provide criminals with easy access to U.S. weapons. Most importantly, this legislation proposes bold strategies to undo harmful policies and help truly mitigate ‘root causes’ including through far-reaching reforms to US sanctions policy and foreign assistance, the removal of harmful ISDS provisions from US-backed trade agreements, and the provision of robust support to developing countries fighting inequality and climate change, including through new issuances of debt-free IMF Special Drawing Rights. This resolution is long overdue, and we’re proud and delighted to be supporting it today.” 

    “Rather than ‘blaming the victims’—immigrants, it is important to acknowledge how failed U.S. foreign (or economic and military) policies have contributed to the spiraling poverty and violence from which people have been fleeing for their lives,” Jean Stokan, Justice Coordinator for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. “Forced migration is often the result of U.S. foreign policies that prioritize the interests of foreign investors over those of impoverished populations. Thus, this resolution importantly names U.S. responsibility to address those root causes and the need for justice-based pathways to citizenship.”

    “To design a just and humane policy response to immigration, we have to ask the question – why are people moving? As an international development organization, ActionAid USA strongly supports this resolution for acknowledging the root causes of migration, including and especially those for which the United States is directly responsible,” said Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA. “A human rights-based approach to immigration policy should start with fixing harmful foreign policies, ongoing climate inaction, and unjust international economic systems that all contribute to force people to leave their homes.”

    Background: 

    The resolution text can be found here.

    ###

    Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio.  A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. McGarvey Introduces Bill to Invest in Entrepreneurship, Reduce Recidivism

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)

    September 26, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 26, 2024) – This week, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03) and Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) introduced H.R. 9841, the Prison to Proprietorship for the Formerly Incarcerated Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide in-depth entrepreneurship training to formerly- incarcerated individuals looking to start a business or enter the workforce. 

    “Nearly all incarcerated people will complete their sentence and return to their community—we have to make sure that we’re laying a strong foundation for success post-incarceration,” said Rep. McGarvey. “By providing a path to entrepreneurship for formerly-incarcerated Americans, my bill not only works to reduce recidivism, but also gives returning citizens the tools they need to start a business and achieve their American dream.”

    The Prison to Proprietorship for the Formerly Incarcerated Act would direct SCORE—a program within the Small Business Administration that offers free or low-cost mentorship and training to entrepreneurs—to provide formerly incarcerated individuals with one-on-one mentoring, workshops, and online instruction specifically tailored to their unique needs.

    “Around 95% of incarcerated people get released and end up back on the streets,” said Rep. Burchett. “We need to make sure they’re prepared to rejoin their communities, and teaching them entrepreneurial skills helps them get a fresh start.”

    BACKGROUND:

    Despite steps to reform and improve our criminal justice system, returning citizens face significant barriers to reentering the workforce, and studies have shown that recidivism rates tend to be higher for those individuals who lack employment. As reported by the Council for State Governments, states spent an estimated $8 billion on reincarceration costs for people who exited prison in 2022, and The Department of Justice estimates that 82 percent of individuals released from state prisons were rearrested at least once during the 10 years following release. 

    Programs that teach formerly incarcerated individuals leadership skills, financial literacy, networking, and how to develop a business plan reduce recidivism and create more opportunities for returning citizens. As the flagship agency tasked with supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, the Small Business Administration has the expertise and experience to teach those skills.

    View text of the bill here.

    A one pager for the bill is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Responds to the Indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (NEW YORK, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican representing New York City, issued the following statement regarding the unsealed federal indictments against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

    “Mayor Adams has failed our city, has broken the public trust and should resign or be removed by Governor Hochul. Our city is suffering greatly, taxpayers deserve better and we need to restore a functioning city government as soon as possible.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford, Hinson, Miller, Kiggans Lead Republican Conference in Letter Urging House Leadership to Prioritize Farm Bill This Year

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    WASHINGTON – Today, as first reported by Punchbowl News, U.S. Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Mary Miller (IL-15), and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) led a majority of the House Republican Conference in a letter to House GOP Leadership reaffirming their commitment to advancing a farm bill that meets the needs of production agriculture and rural America.

    The letter, which was signed by 140 Members, emphasized the importance of the Farm Bill and noted that farmers, ranchers, and producers are still living under outdated policies from the 2018 Farm Bill.

    “Farmes and ranchers do not have the luxury of waiting until next Congress for the enactment of an effective farm bill,” said the Members. “Inflation has driven production costs to the highest on record. Meanwhile, commodity prices across the board have fallen precipitously, creating a severe margin squeeze on farm and ranch families … Farm debt, $540 billion, is the highest ever, both nominally and wen adjusted for inflation. These factors show no signs of abating for all major commodities.”

    “The 118th Congress has an opportunity to do right by producers, other agriculture stakeholders, rural communities, and taxpayers by putting more ‘farm’ back in the farm bill and by making responsible reforms and investments across all 12 titles, and the bipartisan H.R. 8467—The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which was advanced by the House Committee on Agriculture on May 24th of this year, does just that,” the Members continued.

    The Members highlighted the negative impacts of failing to act, noting that the consequences will extend beyond the farm gate — hitting Main Street businesses, rural communities, and the national economy. 

    “We respectfully urge that the enactment of H.R. 8467, or similar legislation that makes meaningful investments in farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, is among the top priorities of the Republican Conference and that this be considered a ‘must-pass’ item in the lame duck session of the 118th Congress,” the Members concluded.

    “We are honored to stand alongside 139 of my colleagues to lead a letter that shows House leadership that Republicans are committed to passing a Farm Bill that supports our nation’s constituents, farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,” said Congressman Alford. “We passed H.R. 8467 out of committee, and now it is time to give it to America. The stakes are high; production costs are up, and farm income is declining. We don’t need an extension, and we don’t need this next year–we need this Farm Bill now. Our producers are worthy of certainty and support for their tireless work in feeding, fueling, and clothing the world.”

    “I led 139 of my colleagues – the majority of the House Republican Conference – in calling for Republican House leadership to bring the Farm Bill up for a vote as soon as possible. This bill passed out of committee with bipartisan support, and I believe would receive bipartisan support on the House Floor from Members who understand that food security is national security. Our farmers don’t have time for games, they need Congress to do the work and come through for them, just like they come through for us each day. I will continue advocating for passage of a strong Farm Bill to ensure Iowa farmers can continue feeding and fueling the world,” said Congresswoman Hinson.

    Click here to read text of the letter.

    In addition to Representatives Alford, Hinson, Miller, and Kiggans, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt, Rick Allen, Mark Amodei, Kelly Armstrong, Jodey Arrington, Brian Babin, Don Bacon, James Baird, Troy Balderson, Jim Banks, Andy Barr, Cliff Bentz, Jack Bergman, Stephanie Bice, Gus Bilirakis, Dan Bishop, Lauren Boebert, Mike Bost, Larry Bucshon, Ken Calvert, Kat Cammack, Mike Carey, Jerry Carl, Earl Carter, John Carter, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Juan Ciscomani, Ben Cline, Tom Cole, Mike Collins, James Comer, Eric Crawford, Dan Crenshaw, Monica De la Cruz, Scott DesJarlais, John Duarte, Neal Dunn, Chuck Edwards, Jake Ellzey, Ron Estes, Mike Ezell, Pat Fallon, Randy Feenstra, A. Ferguson, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Fleischmann, Mike Flood, Vince Fong, Scott Franklin, Carlos Gimenez, Tony Gonzales, Lance Gooden, Kay Granger, Garret Graves, Sam Graves, Michael Guest, Clay Higgins, J. Hill, Erin Houchin, Bill Huizenga, Ronny Jackson, Dusty Johnson, David Joyce, John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Trent Kelly, Young Kim, David Kustoff, Darin LaHood, Nick LaLota, Doug LaMalfa, Doug Lamborn, Nicholas Langworthy, Robert Latta, Jake LaTurner, Michael Lawler, Julia Letlow, Greg Lopez, Barry Loudermilk, Frank Lucas, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Morgan Luttrell, Nicole Malliotakis, Tracey Mann, Michael McCaul, Richard McCormick, Daniel Meuser, Carol Miller, Max Miller, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Marcus Molinaro, John Moolenaar, Barry Moore, Nathaniel Moran, James Moylan, Gregory Murphy, Dan Newhouse, Zachary Nunn, Greg Pence, August Pfluger, Harold Rogers, Mike Rogers, John Rose, David Rouzer, Michael Rulli, John Rutherford, Maria Salazar, Austin Scott, Keith Self, Pete Sessions, Michael Simpson, Adrian Smith, Lloyd Smucker, Pete Stauber, Bryan Steil, Dale Strong, Claudia Tenney, Glenn Thompson, Michael Turner, David Valadao, Jefferson Van Drew, Derrick Van Orden, Ann Wagner, Tim Walberg, Michael Waltz, Randy Weber, Brad Wenstrup, Bruce Westerman, Brandon Williams, Joe Wilson, Robert Wittman, Steve Womack, Rudy Yakym, and Ryan Zinke.

    Background:

    The Farm Bill is omnibus legislation that establishes policies affecting all sectors of the agriculture industry for a five-year period. The most recent legislation, which was passed in 2018 and extended in 2023, expires this year.

    On May 24, 2024, the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 to reauthorize the Farm Bill. The legislation supports producers and puts more “farm” back in the farm bill and makes responsible reforms and investments across all 12 titles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mrvan Announces Department of Education Grant for Calumet College of St. Joseph

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)

    Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan announced a federal grant award for Calumet College of St. Joseph under the Department of Education’s Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program.  

    Calumet College of St. Joseph will receive $3 million over five years to implement Camino al Éxito: A GPS for Hispanic Student Success, a program that aims to expand opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students in graduate programs and connect students to postgraduate opportunities by coordinating preparation, enrollment, and support initiatives.  According to the Department of Education, the PPOHA program provides grants to expand educational opportunities for and improve the academic attainment of Hispanic students. 

    Congressman Mrvan stated, “Congratulations to all the leaders of Calumet College of St. Joseph for successfully securing this vital federal funding to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students in our region.  I look forward to building on this initiative to continue to ensure that everyone in Northwest Indiana has the opportunity to obtain the education that they seek in order to thrive in our regional economy.” 

    Dr. Amy McCormack, President of Calumet College of St. Joseph, stated, “Calumet College of St. Joseph has offered graduate programs for more than two decades, so it is with great enthusiasm that we are able to take our post-baccalaureate programs and services to the next level.  With support from the Department of Education, we can offer additional services to ensure our graduate students get individualized support to succeed.  We are also very excited to launch new programs and to pursue the feasibility of our first doctorate program.  Expanding the reach of CCSJ and serving the region has never been more important.”

    For more information on the PPOHA grant program, click here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Earns Position on Dean’s List of the National Shooting Sports Foundation Report Card

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

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced that she was added to the National Shooting Sports Foundation Dean’s List for her dedication to defending the Second Amendment in the 118th Congress. 

    The NSSF Congressional Report Card evaluates how elected officials defend Second Amendment rights and support law-abiding firearm owners in the 118th Congress. Grades are determined by key factors such as voting records, co-sponsorships, committee involvement, floor speeches, and other official actions. Tenney has earned a spot on the Dean’s List, reflecting her 100% voting alignment with NSSF priorities and full co-sponsorship of all scored bills.

    “As a Constitutional Conservative, safeguarding the Second Amendment has always been one of my top priorities in Congress,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I remain steadfast in opposing any efforts to strip law-abiding Americans of their constitutional freedoms. I am honored to receive this prestigious ranking from the NSSF, and I am committed to continuing my work to defend the Second Amendment for all law-abiding Americans.”

    “The 2024 NSSF Congressional Report Card is a comprehensive analysis of our elected representatives’ positions on firearm and ammunition industry priorities in the 118th Congress. The Report Card’s grades are based on key votes, co-sponsorships, committee activity, floor speeches, and other official actions by Senators and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Members of our industry are grateful to have so many strong allies in the Halls of Congress,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President for Government & Public Affairs and General Counsel. “NSSF is proud to especially recognize Representative Tenney as a member of the new NSSF Congressional Dean’s List for her exemplary leadership in supporting the firearm and ammunition industry and the nearly 400,000 hard working Americans employed in the industry. Making the Dean’s List is special recognition that Rep. Tenney has gone above and beyond to protect and preserve the Second Amendment rights of her constituents and the industry that makes the exercise of those rights possible. We applaud Rep. Tenney for her exemplary level of support.”

    Earlier this year, Tenney released her Second Amendment plan, highlighting her legislative accomplishments and how she plans to build upon these existing wins to safeguard our Second Amendment rights. View Tenney’s Second Amendment Plan Here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scholten Celebrates Muskegon Heights’ Assistance to Firefighters Grant Totaling Over $65K

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

     WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03) is proud to announce Muskegon Heights will receive over $65K in an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant will help equip the department with the necessary tools, training, and personnel to maintain emergency preparedness.

    “When West Michiganders are in crisis, our fire departments are often the first to respond,”  said Scholten. “We are so fortunate to have our brave firefighters supporting our community through natural disasters and other emergencies. These investments will ensure the Muskegon Heights Fire Department is at peak preparedness and equipped with the most up-to-date, lifesaving technologies.”

    “We express our deepest gratitude for Congresswoman Scholten’s continued support of the City of Muskegon Heights and for her assistance with securing the AFG Grant for the Muskegon Heights Fire Department,” said Muskegon Heights Fire Chief Shawn Roberson.  “Her dedication to improving our community and ensuring the safety of its residents is truly commendable. We are grateful for her unwavering support.”

    “I want to commend our Muskegon Heights Firefighters who took the initiative to research, prepare, and submit this grant,” said Muskegon Heights Mayor, Bonnie McGlothin. “The new exhaust system is needed and will contribute to the overall health and safety of our firefighters. In the past 18 months, the City has purchased several new fighting apparatuses and increased the staffing of its full-time professional firefighters.  This is another step in our commitment to provide our firefighters with the equipment and training they need to keep our community safe.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Keeps Gov’t Open, Touts Bipartisan Wins

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 9747 to keep the federal government open and working for the American people.

    “Despite partisan fear-mongering, House Republicans have kept the government funded, open, and working for the American people. While others bicker and play politics, I stay focused on delivering real results for Suffolk County, including securing over $150 million in federal funding for our communities,” said LaLota. “Since taking office, I’ve been proud to rank among the most productive freshman members, passing more bills than 97% of my peers—eight bipartisan bills and 20 amendments through the House. These efforts include protecting the Long Island Sound, addressing the fentanyl and sanctuary city crises, and supporting our small businesses and veterans. My commitment is to put the American people first and improve the quality of life for everyone in Suffolk County.”

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

    Background:

    LaLota has consistently and successfully voted to keep the government open, funded, and working for the American people.

    Since being sworn into office, LaLota has passed eight of his bills through the House, each of which has earned bipartisan support:

    • H.R. 3511 – Service Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act
    • H.R. 4424 – Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act
    • H.R. 4669 – DOE & SBA Research Act
    • H.R. 5441 – Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Reauthorization Act
    • H.R. 5717 – No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act
    • H.R. 7105 – Women-Owned Small Business Certification & Opportunity Expansion Act
    • H.R. 7987 – Plain Language in Contracting Act
    • H.R. 8663 – DETECT Fentanyl & Xylazine Act

    Through the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, LaLota secured over $150 million in federal funding that will directly benefit Suffolk County, including millions in Community Project Funding for infrastructure projects, water quality improvements, and wastewater treatment in each of the First Congressional District’s Towns.

    H.R. 9747 would extend current government funding through December 20th, 2024, extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, ensure working families have access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, guarantee Veteran, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits continue, provide an additional $231 million for the Secret Service for protective operations for Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees in the 2024 Campaign and activities related to National Special Security Events and provide the agency with flexibility to quickly obligate funds for protective operations, and allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flexibility to quickly obligate funds provided by the CR for the Disaster Relief Fund to respond to disasters.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Team Maryland Looks to the Future of the Chesapeake Bay After Current Multi-State Agreements Expire in 2025

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

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, and Glenn Ivey met Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol with senior representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of the Interior and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to discuss planning for the next stage of the Chesapeake Bay program and restoration efforts. This is a critical time for the Bay and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which was signed in 2014. Many of the goals and outcomes for the Bay had a target of 2025. As this date approaches, the Chesapeake Bay Program is determining how best to meet these goals and outcomes, incorporate new science and strategies, and strengthen the multi-state partnership.

    At the meeting, members of the Maryland delegation heard from key federal agency and state leaders working towards the next stage of the agreement. Leading the discussion was Adam Ortiz, who serves as the Administrator for EPA Region 3, which governs the Mid-Atlantic Region. In this role Administrator Ortiz is deeply involved in EPA’s role in the Chesapeake Bay Program. The delegation also heard from Department of Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Matt Strickler, who serves at the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principal’s Staff Committee Chair. In 2022, the Chesapeake Executive Council tasked its Principal’s Staff Committee with making recommendations for the future of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program’s work. Representing senior state leadership was Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, who directs Maryland’s role in the multi-state partnership and has deep expertise in the stakeholder community.

    The planning effort marked a milestone this summer when the Chesapeake Bay Program Beyond 2025 Steering Committee released its Beyond 2025 Draft Report and invited public feedback.

      

    “Team Maryland will always fight for the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and its restoration is a model for regional, multi-jurisdictional landscape stewardship. It is a model for other regions and other environmental protection efforts at many scales – and it is not simple,” said Senator Cardin. “As the Chesapeake Bay program is recalibrated for the next phase of action, we are committed to securing additional federal resources. We have high expectations for future results.”

    “We have a responsibility to protect the Chesapeake Bay – our people, our economy, and our environment depend on it. That’s why we’ve fought to deliver major federal investments to improve the Bay’s health – and while we know they’re making a real difference, the watershed states have more work to do to reach our restoration goals. As we near the Bay Agreement’s 2025 benchmark, we must take stock of the challenges faced in meeting its goals and work together to drive further progress toward a healthier Chesapeake Bay,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “I’ve been proud to work with our delegation to support the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries throughout my career – especially in the past decade since we secured the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement,” Congressman Hoyer said. “I was pleased our delegation could meet with our partners in federal and state government to discuss the progress we’ve made toward fulfilling the various goals we laid out in that agreement and to assess the important work that remains. The Chesapeake Bay is the beating heart of Maryland and a true national treasure, and we will continue working to preserve it for generations to come.”

    “Ten years ago, we set aggressive but necessary goals to restore and protect our treasured Chesapeake Bay, which has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach from every level of government,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “As we approach our deadline, we must ensure we are leveraging new technologies and sciences and collaborating with our other watershed states as effectively as possible. I appreciated this opportunity to come together and discuss our long and short-term strategies, especially as my own time in office draws to a close.”

    “Today’s discussions provided an opportunity to reaffirm our collective vision for the future of the Chesapeake Bay. It is imperative that the next phase of watershed restoration is centered around achieving goals and outcomes that reflect the current, best available science to ensure the health of our communities, the vitality of our region and a sustainable future for Bay ecosystems and natural resources. We look forward to sustained collaboration with federal, state and local government partners as we continue to support Beyond 2025 planning,” said Congressman Sarbanes.

    “Marylanders across our state depend on a healthy Chesapeake Bay — the largest estuary in the United States — for food, recreation, and to make a living,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “Continued collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels is vital to ensure this national treasure flourishes and effective restoration and conservation projects are enacted throughout the Bay and its ecosystem,” he concluded.

    “Team Maryland is united in our efforts to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, a treasured natural resource and cornerstone of our local ecosystem,” said Congressman Raskin. “I’m grateful to our EPA and Maryland state government partners for their continued collaboration with the Maryland Congressional delegation to preserve the Bay for generations to come.”

    “Protecting the Chesapeake Bay is everyone’s responsibility.  We are grateful for our longtime Maryland advocates now on the federal and state level, Adam Ortiz, and Josh Kurtz, respectively.  Local, state, and federal partnerships can help keep our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, available for all to appreciate and partake in.  Crabbing, fishing, sailing and otherwise being active in and around its shores are activities we want to cherish well into the future and our actions today will make sure that our kids and grandkids can benefit from the Bay in their tomorrow’s,” said Congressman Ivey.

    EPA Region 3 Administrator, Adam Ortiz

    “The Moore-Miller administration thanks the Maryland congressional delegation for their continued strong leadership on the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Their efforts have resulted in improvements in water quality and the health of the ecosystem,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “It was an honor today to discuss our plans to focus our work post-2025 on rebuilding habitat, creating resiliency in the face of climate change, and charting a new future for the Chesapeake Bay.”

          

    The Chesapeake Executive Council consists of the governors of the six watershed states, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It establishes the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.

    The Principals Staff Committee (PSC) acts as the policy advisors to the Executive Council, accepting items for Council consideration and approval, and setting agendas for Council meetings. Individual members of the PSC arrange and provide briefings to their principals, the Agreement signatories. The PSC also provides policy and program direction to the Management Board.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Edwards announces National Park Service grant to make Deaverview Mountain accessible to public

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)

    U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) today announced that the National Park Service has awarded a competitive grant of nearly $4.5 million dollars toward land acquisition on Deaverview Mountain in Buncombe County for a future public park. Out of 54 projects in 24 states, this was the only one funded in North Carolina.

    Deaverview Mountain is currently privately owned and this federal funding, along with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s state grant secured last year, will provide recreational opportunities in this beautiful area for decades to come.

    The grant is a part of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Grant program, which supports the purchase of parks and renovation of recreation facilities in economically distressed areas of the United States.

    Edwards said, “As a result of this award, the breathtaking views and recreational opportunities on Deaverview Mountain will be available for Western North Carolinians and the traveling public to enjoy. I applaud the hard work it took by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Buncombe County to succeed in this extremely competitive process. As a member of the Interior & Environment Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over this funding, I will always support bringing more federal investment into Western North Carolina in a fiscally responsible manner.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steel, Foxx Call for Federal Investigation into Santa Ana Unified School District’s Alarming Pattern of Antisemitism, Foxx Call for Federal Investigation into Santa Ana Unified School District’s Alarming Pattern of Antisemitism

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    WASHINGTON – Representative Michelle Steel (R-CA) and Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) today sent a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona asking for an investigation into the alarming pattern of antisemitism among senior officials of the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD).
     
    The letter builds upon the Committee’s work to fight against antisemitism and for Jewish students at all levels of education.
     
    In the letter, Foxx and Steel write: “[W]e request that the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) open an investigation into these incidents to determine whether violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (Title VI) have occurred. At multiple meetings spanning the spring of 2023, the SAUSD Ethnic Studies Steering Committee (Committee) took collective action that deliberately excluded members of the school district’s Jewish community from involvement in constructing an ethnic studies curriculum. This likely violated California state law.”
     
    The letter continues: “Senior officials of the Committee also discussed using Jewish holidays to approve courses so Jewish community members would not be able to attend. Specifically, two senior SAUSD officials discussed this matter over text. One stated, ‘We may need to use Passover to get all new courses approved,’ to which the other replied, ‘[T]hat’s actually a good strategy.’  Additionally, while discussing a potential meeting with the Jewish Federation of Orange County, a leader of the Committee stated that ‘someone has to guide [Committee members] or they will cave in to the racist Zionists.’ This alarming display of prejudice has no place in our communities, especially from the very educators entrusted with leading our public schools.”
     
    The letter concludes: “Ongoing litigation has already revealed an alarming pattern of antisemitism at the highest levels of the SAUSD. It is also clear that certain individuals made a concerted effort to hide their prejudiced motives. For this reason, we are requesting that OCR open a formal investigation into this matter to ensure all wrongdoing is brought to light and that those responsible for perpetrating this discrimination are held fully accountable under federal law. We hope that we can work together on this issue to ensure that the protections afforded under the Civil Rights Act are vigorously enforced so that all students feel welcome.”

    To read the full letter, click here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Carter Statement on Government Funding Extension

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) released the following statement on the continuing resolution passed in the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the government funding deadline:

    “Funding the government is a fundamental responsibility of elected officials. This extension safeguards important programs that people rely on, refills the Disaster Relief Fund, and renews the National Flood Insurance Program. This continuing resolution is now consistent with the spending levels agreed upon in the Bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act. I will continue fighting to put people over politics and solve problems for hardworking Louisianians.

    “While I am encouraged that the DRF has been replenished in a way that allows long-term recovery projects to restart, I am concerned that we may be right back here in December with projects throughout Louisiana paused. Congress must come back with a comprehensive disaster relief bill to ensure important recovery projects don’t continue being delayed.

    “We must find a bipartisan compromise to keep the government open at the end of the year. This short-term solution gives us time to find it.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Steel Resolution Proclaims September Boat People Awareness Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Michelle Steel introduced House Resolution 1477 to designate September as “Boat People Awareness Month” in recognition of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled Vietnam with the fall of Saigon in 1978.

    Rep. Steel gave a speech on the House floor in honor of those who risked their lives at sea to escape the Communist regime.

    Following the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon to an oppressive Communist regime, nearly 800,000 Vietnamese people fled by boat in the hopes of escaping to another country, becoming known as boat people.

    Many of these refugees perished on the journey, succumbing to pirates, overcrowded boats, storms, and countless other dangers.

    Those who survived the journey settled all over the world, including in Rep. Steel’s congressional district of California-45, where they have formed a vibrant and patriotic community.

    “‘Boat People Awareness Month’ will honor refugees who fled Communist Vietnam to find freedom and community in places like Little Saigon, California,” said Rep. Steel. “This recognition will honor the courage of all those who fled Vietnam by boat in search for a better life, including the lives that were tragically lost.”

    Following the war, about 725,000 Vietnamese refugees settled in the United States, including more than 50,000 who settled in Southern California.

    Rep. Steel represents parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County, including the Little Saigon community, which has the largest population of Vietnamese anywhere outside of Vietnam.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ramirez Slams Republican Efforts to Benefit the Predatory For-Profit Bail Industry at the Expense of Low-Income People, People of Color, Individuals Seeking Reproductive Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    Rep Ramirez pointed out the irony of advancing a bill that strengthens the position of the predatory for-profit bond industry one year after Illinois successfully eliminated cash bail

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, voted “NO” on the Republican H.R. 8205, Detaining the Disadvantaged Act. Ramirez’s decisions came after carefully analyzing that the legislation fails to address public safety or economic inequity, instead benefiting insurers and the corporate for-profit bail industry. 

    “Today marks one year and one week since Illinois eliminated cash bail. The passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act made Illinois the first state to end the practice of holding people in jail simply because they could not buy their freedom. A year later, the preliminary research on Illinois shows that the failure-to-appear rate has not increased, there is no documented increase in crime as a result of defendants being released without posting bond, and approximately $140 million that was posted in bond now remains in the community,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “Today’s bill is a conservative attack on grassroots efforts to resist and disrupt the predatory for-profit cash bail industry and remove the influence of money on our criminal legal system. That’s why I voted NO on H.R. 8205. Until all states end the unjust practice of pretrial bond, we must protect and defend community bond funds.”

    BACKGROUND:

    According to data by the Center for American Progress, the for-profit bail industry has long profited from the criminal justice system’s targeting of low-income people, people of color, and now individuals seeking reproductive care. In Illinois, the law to end cash bail, the Pretrial Fairness Act, passed the General Assembly in January 2021 with Congresswoman Ramirez’s advocacy and vote. It was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on Feb. 22. The bill was part of the SAFE-T Act, a broader criminal justice reform package. According to reports of the data analyzed by the Center for Criminal Justice at Loyola University in Chicago, the state has not seen dramatic changes in the security and justice process.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution to Keep Government Open

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement:

    “During this Congress, just in two years, the House has considered at least six different Continuing Resolutions all because extreme Republicans have hijacked the government funding process to advance Trump’s Project 2025 agenda.

    Today, once again, my Democratic colleagues and I showed up to keep the government open and ensure families receive their services: government services for the people, funded by the people. But make no mistake, what we passed is only a temporary fix until December 20. The government is still not funded, and extreme Republicans have NO intention of funding it on former President Trump’s orders. The fringe of the Republican party will come back after the election and keep hijacking the appropriations process to push extreme, unpopular, vile policies: a national abortion ban, cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and the erosion of our democratic institutions. For the families in IL-03 and around our nation, I challenge my Republican colleagues to put the American people first, abandon Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, and come to the table to fund our government when session resumes.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Legislation Co-Led by Rep. Tokuda to Combat Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Passes the U.S. House of Representatives 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jill Tokuda (Hawaii – 2nd District)

    Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement on the Continued Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Act of 2023 after the legislation unanimously passed the House of Representatives this week. 

    “Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death presents an existential threat to Hawai‘i’s native forests that are a critical habitat for our endangered birds and other species. If we don’t act now, our native forests will not survive,” said Rep. Tokuda. “This bill would help in the fight against Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death by leveraging federal resources to support statewide efforts in mitigating Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death’s impact on Hawaiʻi’s delicate ecosystems.” 

    The Continued Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Act of 2023 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawai‘i on combating Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death. This bill would increase support for continued detection, prevention, and restoration efforts to Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, including funding and staff for necessary research. 

    This legislation, which she introduced with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, is Rep. Tokuda’s first bill to pass the House of Representatives. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for further action.  

    The full text of the bill is available here. 

    Rep. Tokuda’s remarks on the House Floor are available here.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Lawler, Ruppersberger, and Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Secure SNAP Theft Reimbursement in Stop-Gap Funding Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Victims of food stamp theft will continue to be reimbursed thanks to a provision in a stop-gap funding bill secured by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-02), and others. H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives today in a 341-82 vote, keeping the government funded – and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits flowing – through December 20, 2024. It is expected to be taken up in the U.S. Senate quickly.

    Last month, Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-02), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Anthony D’Esposito (R-Y-04), Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07) and Grace Meng (D-NY-06) sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to allow victims of SNAP theft to continue to be reimbursed from federal and state coffers. 

    Reports of SNAP theft – in which perpetrators use skimming devices to steal SNAP benefits distributed on electronic debit cards (EBT) – are skyrocketing across the nation. States are currently required to replace stolen benefits under a measure included in the 2023 omnibus funding bill passed by Congress at the end of 2022. But that provision was set to expire on September 30.

    “Ensuring that SNAP recipients who have their benefits stolen are made whole is a top priority and is deeply important to New York families,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17). “That’s why I joined colleagues in both parties and chambers to introduce the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act to protect these programs from fraud, and it’s why I have been adamant about the need to include SNAP protections in FY25’s appropriations. I was pleased to see these provisions in the CR we passed this week. We must complete our appropriations work while protecting the most vulnerable in our society.”

    “I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who recognize the dire straits that SNAP theft leaves its victims, which often include veterans, families, low-income workers, children, the elderly and the disabled,” said Congressman Ruppersberger (D-MD-02). “While Congress continues to work toward its long-term and strategic spending bills, I am relieved to know these innocent constituents will not lose their primary source of healthy food.”

    “I was proud to join this bipartisan group of my colleagues in urging congressional leaders to prevent critical SNAP theft reimbursements from ending,” said Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05). “I’m glad our message was heard and an extension was included in this stopgap funding bill. I’ll keep working to ensure victims of SNAP theft are protected.”

    “I am proud to have helped secure an extension that will allow states to use existing federal funding to reimburse vulnerable victims of SNAP theft so that families in need can put food on the table,” Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) said. “SNAP theft can be devastating for working families and these reimbursements are a critical lifeline that allows working families to make ends meet. I will continue fighting alongside my colleagues to ensure that states retain this authority when Congress passes its final budget at the end of the year.”

    “Families that rely on SNAP to put food on the table each day should never go hungry, especially as a result of their benefits being stolen,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY-06), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “That’s why I fought to help over 36,000 New Yorkers recover more than $17.5 million in stolen SNAP benefits. I’m glad to see that this provision was included and extended in this critical government funding bill. I’ve also been fighting to make EBT benefit cards more secure to deter scams, and I’m excited that this bill includes language that will hopefully lead to more secure EBT cards. Many beneficiaries in Queens and across the country continue to be targeted by these scams, and we must continue fighting for the families in our communities experiencing the greatest needs.”

    “It is appalling that Americans are being targeted at record rates in major SNAP benefit theft. These sickening crimes are carried out against veterans, families, low-income workers, children, the elderly, and the disabled – all of whom are just trying to put food on their table,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07). “Our letter represented a unified effort, across the political aisle, to bring justice to victims in all our respective Congressional Districts. Today’s triumph was a culmination of fierce collaboration between both Democrats and Republicans and boldly fighting for justice on behalf of all households that rely on SNAP,” he concluded. 

    “Because of our bipartisan push, victims of SNAP theft will continue to be protected through the SNAP Reimbursement Extension,” said Congressman Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19). “I’m proud to have helped lead the effort to ensure Upstate New York families who rely on SNAP benefits always have access to the meals they deserve.”

    “Thousands of Bucks and Montgomery County residents depend on SNAP to put food on their tables, which is why I was proud to join my colleagues in the critical fight to prevent SNAP theft reimbursements from ending. This common-sense reimbursement provision is essential to safeguarding the integrity of the SNAP program and ensuring families in my community and nationwide who have fallen victim to SNAP theft can quickly recover their benefits. Today’s victory is a powerful reminder that when we unite across party lines, we can achieve meaningful change and stand firm in our commitment to uplift our communities and safeguard the well-being of those who need it most,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01).

    “SNAP recipients who had their food benefits stolen—through no fault of their own, I would add—should not be kicked while they’re down by an indifferent government that tells them ‘too bad’ and leaves them to fend for themselves,” said Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA-02). “Especially when the average SNAP benefit is barely over $2 per person, per meal. We’re talking about people who rely on these benefits to feed themselves and their families. When they are stolen, people go hungry. I’m glad that because of our continued advocacy, Congress is making sure that food insecure families are protected through the end of the year.”

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th 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.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Fitzgerald’s Bail Reform Bill Passes in House

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) issued the following statement after his bill, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, was passed on the House floor 255-161.

    “The radical left-wing approach to prosecution and bail have had deadly consequences throughout our country, which is why I introduced the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act,” said Rep. Fitzgerald (WI-05). “This bill will protect our communities by defining bail bonds as insurance products and by bringing charitable bail funds under state insurance regulation. These changes will add a much-needed layer of transparency and accountability to bail funds, that up until now, have been operating in the shadows without oversight. I was grateful to see my bill pass this week—and I look forward to seeing it make its way through the Senate next.”

    Background: Groups like the Bail Project and Minnesota Freedom Fund aggressively solicit funds to pay bail with little regard to the criminal histories of those they’re putting back on the streets. The Minnesota Freedom Fund paid the bail for notable offenders including George Howard, a man charged with domestic abuse who two weeks after having his bail paid, was charged with second-degree murder in a road rage incident.

    A 2023 analysis by CNN found that at least 65 defendants who were bailed out by the Minnesota Freedom Fund “were awaiting trial on felony charges involving violence, physical threats, or sex crimes. All were convicted.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan Votes to Fund the Government, Avoid Shutdown at Hands of House Republicans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after she voted in support of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025: 

    “After months of Republican inaction and hyper-partisan messaging bills, we were brought to the brink of another government shutdown at the hands of Speaker Johnson and the Republican conference. From day one, House Democrats stood ready to pass a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through the end of the calendar year to give Congress the time needed to finish the twelve year-long appropriations bills. 

    “Republicans tried repeatedly to advance their restrictive voting bill, the SAVE Act, through this funding legislation, because they knew it could not become law on its own merits. House Democrats defeated their efforts and successfully negotiated a clean CR that funds our federal agencies at current levels through December 20th, provides increased funding for the Secret Service, and ensures critical federal services remain functional and available to the American people. 

    “While we avoided a catastrophic government shutdown, this CR is not cause for celebration. The federal government should not have to operate on these temporary stopgap measures, and the American people should not have to worry about whether or not they will have access to critical services should a shutdown occur. The entire process is emblematic of Republicans’ inability to govern and put the American people above their own party’s politics. Today, House Democrats were the adults in the room, carrying the legislation over the finish line and providing more votes in support of the bill than Republicans. 

    “When we return to Washington after the District Work Period, Republicans need to abandon their extreme agenda and work with House Democrats to expeditiously pass the appropriations bills to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025. It is our duty as Members of Congress and what the American people deserve.” 

    H.R. 9747 passed on a vote of 341 Yays to 82 Nays. Read H.R. 9747 bill text here. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack Requests POTUS Grant Category B Disaster Assistance To 3 FL-03 Counties

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

    GAINESVILLE, FL — Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack sent a letter to President Biden requesting the full scope of Public Assistance Category B for Alachua, Columbia, and Marion Counties prior to Hurricane Helene’s landfall on Thursday, September 26. 

    View the letter below.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Langworthy Honors the Life of Chautauqua County Undersheriff Richard Telford on the House Floor

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy (NY-23) honored the life of Chautauqua County Undersheriff Richard Telford during a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Undersheriff Telford, a respected public servant, passed away following a battle with cancer after more than 30 years of service in law enforcement.

     

    Watch the full speech here.

     

    Transcript:

    “Mr. Speaker,

    I rise today to honor the life and service of Chautauqua County Undersheriff Richard Telford, a dedicated public servant who spent over three decades protecting and serving the people of our county.

    Rich’s passing is a profound loss for Chautauqua County. Those who had the honor of knowing him, say they knew they could always count on Rich. In remembering him Sheriff Quattrone said, “Rich was a man of integrity, he could always be counted on to do the right thing.”

    Throughout his service, his sense of duty and commitment to the community he grew up in ran very deep.

    After graduating from Jamestown High School and studying criminal justice at Jamestown Community College, Rich began his law enforcement career in 1991 with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office. He quickly rose through the ranks, serving as a deputy, a sergeant overseeing the county’s 911 center, a lieutenant, and later a supervisor for court security. His hard work and leadership were undeniable, and in 2021, he was appointed undersheriff of Chautauqua County—a role in which he continued to lead by example.

    Rich’s dedication to the community wasn’t limited to his badge. He is remembered as a family man, a loving family man, devoted to his wife Amanda and their three children, Katelynn, Andrew, and Alex.

    Throughout his career, Rich embodied the qualities we look for in our public servants—integrity, courage, and respect. His actions over 33 years spoke louder than any words. Whether it was investigating fires with the department’s fire investigation team or attending the prestigious FBI National Academy, Rich never stopped pushing himself to be better for his community.

    Mr. Speaker, our hearts are heavy today, but we are filled with gratitude for the life and legacy of Rich Telford. His dedication and service to Chautauqua County will not be forgotten.

    Your family is in our prayers, Rich. You will be missed, but your contributions will live on through the many lives you’ve touched.

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.”

     

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Moran Votes No on Continuing Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01)

    Congressman Moran Votes No on Continuing Resolution

    Washington, D.C., September 25, 2024

    Washington, D.C. ­– Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) released the following statement after voting against the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025:

    “I voted no on today’s ‘clean’ continuing resolution (CR) because it neither reduced spending, nor resulted in substantial policy wins that we would not have otherwise gotten through regular order. And, it only provided funding through December 20th. Congress must take fiscal responsibility seriously and return to a full-year appropriations process that results in 12 bills that are crafted, evaluated, and debated with thoughtful input from Members both in committee and on the House floor.

    “Last week, Speaker Johnson proposed a compromise plan I supported that would have funded our government while also providing leverage to pass critical election integrity reform through the Democrat-run Senate. Unfortunately, that measure fell short, leading to today’s ‘clean’ CR. I commend Speaker Johnson’s work crafting legislation narrow enough to prevent Senate Democrats from packing it full of wasteful spending and pet projects, but I do not believe a vote for today’s spending bill would have accurately represented the values of East Texas. As such, I could not support it.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Pettersen Introduces Bills to Expand Access to Quality Child Care, Bolster Education Workforce

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

    WASHINGTON  – Today, at a press conference, Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) joined Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Jennifer McClellan (VA-03), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) to reintroduce the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act. Pettersen also introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act with Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19).

    These pieces of legislation would address critical aspects of the affordable child care crisis by increasing access to quality care. Additionally, these bills would strengthen the workforce by providing incentives to recruit and retain skilled educators, while ensuring high-quality, age-appropriate instruction for young children.

    “As a working mom of a four-year-old son with another child on the way, I know firsthand how difficult it is to find affordable child care and the struggles families in my district are facing, especially in more rural communities,” said Pettersen. “That’s why I’m proud to help reintroduce these two pieces of legislation to bolster our child care workforce, help lower costs for parents, and ensure every family can access the care they need for their children to thrive.” 

    “I’m also grateful for Congressman Molinaro’s partnership on the Creating Childhood Leaders Act. Early childhood education lays the groundwork for lifelong learning, and this bill ensures school leaders focus on children from birth to age eight, building a strong foundation and fostering long-term success,” said Pettersen. 

    Background:

    The Child Care Infrastructure Act would create a grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide funding to states for building or renovating child care facilities and help ensure safe, high-quality learning environments for children. Additionally, the legislation calls for a nationwide assessment of the current condition of child care facilities. Bill text is available HERE. 

    The Child Care Workforce Development Act would create a student loan repayment program for early childhood educators and establish a grant program for individuals pursuing a childhood development credential. This would help attract and retain skilled educators, addressing workforce shortages in early education and ensuring that young children receive high-quality care and instruction during their most formative years. Bill text is available HERE. 

    The Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act would modify Title II of the Higher Education Act by mandating that school leadership programs receiving federal Teacher Quality Partnership grants incorporate training on early childhood development and effective instructional leadership for children from birth to age eight. Companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mitt Romney (R-UT). Bill text is available HERE.

    • This legislation is endorsed by The Education Trust, National Association of Elementary School Principals, First Five Years Fund, ZERO TO THREE, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and New America. 

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    To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Manning Votes for Bipartisan Budget to Avert Government Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06)

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Tokuda Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jill Tokuda (Hawaii – 2nd District)

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after voting yes on the House bill to prevent a government shutdown.

    “Our communities can’t afford to lose critical services, but House Republicans have yet again been unable to write or pass legislation to keep the government operating. A shutdown would hurt working families in Hawaiʻi who are already struggling to make ends meet and that’s why I voted today to send this stopgap funding bill to the Senate to ensure our government remains open through December. It is frustrating that while we kept government running, we are continuing to fail our disaster stricken communities like Maui by not passing critical funding or the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act. This is a rare bipartisan opportunity to help Americans across the country recover, rebuild and heal, and I will keep fighting to bring home the relief Maui needs.

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