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Category: United States House of Representatives

  • MIL-OSI USA: Williams Goes Against Party Leadership, Joins Bipartisan Group Forcing Vote on Social Security Fairness Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) signed Discharge Petition #16, which will force the House of Representatives to hold a floor vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act.

    Introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), this bill will repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which have both been in place for forty years. Rep. Williams, already a cosponsor of this legislation, signed the corresponding Discharge Petition this morning.

    Rep. Williams released the following statement on his decision to sign the Discharge Petition:

    “I came into office as a political outsider who believes in common sense solutions to our most pressing issues and that means standing up against my own party when it is for the betterment of Central New York and our working families. For over four decades, our nation’s police officers, firefighters, teachers, and many others have been negatively impacted by the WEP and GPO. They paid into this system for their entire lives—they must not be penalized for doing the right thing. We owe it to our constituents to place the Social Security Fairness Act on the President’s desk, and this Discharge Petition will give us an opportunity to do so before the end of this year.”

    The full text of the Social Security Fairness Act  is available here.

    GROUPS IN SUPPORT:

    American Federation of Teachers

    National Education Association

    The Fraternal Order of Police

    National Association of Police Organizations

    International Association of Fire Fighters

    The Senior Citizens League

    National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

    American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

    National Association of County Office Employees

    National Treasury Employees Union

    Federal Managers Association

    Alliance for Retired Americans

    National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association

    National Association of Letter Carriers

    American Postal Workers Union

    American Federation of Government Employees

    National Committee of Preserve Social Security & Medicare

    National Postal Mail Handlers Union

    Society of Former Special Agents

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. McGarvey, Barr Introduce Resolution to Recognize Bourbon Heritage Month

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

    September 24, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 24, 2024) – Today, Representatives Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), and Andy Barr (KY-06), co-chairs of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, introduced a resolution recognizing the month of September as National Bourbon Heritage Month and honoring over two centuries of bourbon history in Kentucky.

    “Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon—its heritage is woven throughout two centuries of our commonwealth’s history,” said Rep. McGarvey. “I love working alongside Rep. Barr, as co-chairs of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, to strengthen one of Kentucky’s signature industries and biggest economic drivers, and I’m proud to introduce this resolution to honor the significance and history of America’s Native Spirit.”

    “Bourbon is more than just a beverage – it’s a proud symbol of Kentucky’s rich heritage and craftsmanship,” said Rep. Barr. “I’m honored to join my colleague, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, in introducing a resolution to designate September as Bourbon Heritage Month, celebrating an industry that supports thousands of jobs and contributes significantly to our state and national economy. This month, we raise a glass to the tradition, innovation, and passion that make Kentucky bourbon the best in the world.”

    Congress first declared bourbon – the only spirit distinctive to the United States – as “America’s Native Spirit” in 1964, and the U.S. Senate recognized September as National Bourbon Heritage Month in 2007, with the passage of a resolution sponsored by Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky. 

    Representative McGarvey’s resolution declares September 2024 “National Bourbon Heritage Month” and reaffirms bourbon’s place as America’s only native spirit. The resolution also celebrates Kentucky as the birthplace and home of bourbon, acknowledges bourbon’s contribution to Kentucky’s economy and agricultural industry, and commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Rosendale’s Forest Information Reform Act Passes House of Representatives

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) released the following statement after his Forest Information Reform (FIR) Act successfully passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This critical piece of legislation is part of Chairman Bruce Westerman’s (AR-04) comprehensive Fix Our Forests Act. The FIR Act addresses the regulatory challenges stemming from the United States Forest Service v. Cottonwood Environmental Law Center decision, which has imposed excessive and burdensome regulations for developing key infrastructure and conducting resource management projects on federal lands.

    Congressman Rosendale’s FIR Act will successfully streamline the federal process by exempting the U.S. Forest Service from the need to re-consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over new Endangered Species Act data. This amendment will eliminate unnecessary delays and improve efficiency in forest management and infrastructure development.

    “I’m proud that the House of Representatives is standing up against unnecessary, burdensome regulations that infringe upon Montanans and our private lands by finally passing the FIR Act,” said Rep. Rosendale. “This legislation is a critical step in protecting our natural resources while ensuring that local communities and tribes throughout the Treasure State maintain control over their land management decisions. Now, it’s up to the Senate to advance this important legislation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Bill to Boost Wildfire Tech Passes House in Fix Our Forests Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8790, the bipartisan Fix our Forests Act.

    Included in this package is the Wildfire Tech Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act (H.R. 4235), a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (CA-40) that allows private entities to partner with federal land management agencies to test wildfire technologies alongside ongoing hazardous fuels mitigation activities and training.

    Watch Rep. Kim speak on the floor in support of the bill HERE.

    “Southern California wildfires, including the Airport Fire in our area, are a pressing reminder of the importance of wildfire response. Our first responders need all available tools to keep our communities safe and combat the ever-changing threat posed by wildfires,” said Rep. Kim. “The DEMO Act will help us more quickly develop and deploy emerging technologies for wildfire response. I am thrilled this important initiative to update wildfire response tools is included in the Fix our Forests Act and will keep fighting to get this done.”

    In addition to the DEMO Act, Rep. Kim has been working tirelessly to improve wildfire mitigation efforts through efforts such as: 

    • Helping introduce the Cross Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act (H.R. 9703) to help inform recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire mitigation;  
    • Helping introduce the Fire Weather Development Act (H.R. 4866), which passed the House and includes bipartisan bills Rep. Kim worked on to enhance wildfire detection capabilities and improve communications and information sharing efforts between first responders and community members;  
    • Introducing the Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety (ROUTES) Act (H.R. 6994) to prioritize, streamline, and improve maintenance of federal trails, roads, campgrounds, and recreation sites damaged by certain natural disasters;  
    • Securing funding in FY22 appropriations for the City of Yorba Linda Water District to install an additional heli-hydrant and for the City of Chino Hills’ fuel reduction project for areas susceptible to wildfires;  
    • Increasing resources for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search & Rescue Response System (US&R) task forces, which are deployed to respond to natural disasters in California and across the nation; and,
    • Adding language to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024 directing U.S. Forest Service to address deferred trail maintenance issues. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove, Salazar, Castro Legislation to Codify U.S. Participation in the Summit of the Americas Passes House Foreign Affairs Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) celebrated the bipartisan passage of the Summit of the Americas Act through the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

    The Summit of the Americas is the primary convening mechanism for leaders of Western Hemisphere countries to gather and discuss common concerns, craft solutions, and deepen areas of collaboration. This legislation would direct the Secretary of State to support the organization of the Summit of the Americas and codify the existing implementation unit at the State Department to ensure continued implementation of Summit commitments. The legislation would also institutionalize the Cities Summit, a convening of city and community leaders across the Hemisphere, to take place as part of the Summit of the Americas.

    “There are 48 countries in the Western Hemisphere, and each one is critical to promoting shared prosperity in our region,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “The Summit of the Americas is an invaluable opportunity to give these relationships their due by upgrading and invigorating U.S. engagement within the Hemisphere. Further, the Cities Summit fosters relationships at the local level and invests in the future of the region by bringing together rising leaders such as Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s President-elect who attended the Cities Summit last December. The advancement of this legislation reflects the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s unwavering commitment to our regional partners—I look forward to getting this bill across the finish line.”

    “The nightmare Latin America is facing in Venezuela reminds us of the need for coordination among democracies to restore democracy and bring an end to the suffering in that country,” said Congresswoman Salazar, Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. “I am proud to see the House Foreign Affairs Committee commit to ensuring the Summit of the Americas will continue to be a useful space for the freedom-minded heads of state of our region to come together and work toward a more prosperous future.”

    “For the last three decades, the Summit of the Americas has provided a critical forum for the United States and our neighbors to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in our hemisphere,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. “The Summit of the Americas Act is an important expression of bipartisan Congressional support for deepening U.S. multilateral engagement as a reliable champion of democracy and freedom. I am proud to stand with Reps. Kamlager-Dove and Salazar as this timely effort advances through Committee.”

    Full text of the bill can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Lawler’s Bill Enhancing Secret Service Protection for Vice President Harris and Former President Trump Passes Senate Unanimously

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

    Congressman Lawler’s Bill Enhancing Secret Service Protection for Vice President Harris and Former President Trump Passes Senate Unanimously

    Washington, DC, September 24, 2024

    Tonight, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 – Representative Mike Lawler’s (R-NY-17) bill introduced with Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) to provide enhanced United States Secret Service protection for former President Trump and Vice President Harris – passed the Senate unanimously.

    “I am thrilled to see that the Senate unanimously passed the Enhanced Presidential Security Act tonight, building on the House’s overwhelming passage of this measure last week,” said Congressman Lawler. “Ensuring that both Vice President Harris and Former President Trump have an equal level of Secret Service protection to President Biden is critical for this election.”

    “Our elections should be decided at the ballot box, not by a bullet,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “This legislation will make sure that they are.”

    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.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger, Levin Introduce Bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced the bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024, which would modernize our country’s nuclear waste management program by establishing an independent Nuclear Waste Administration to manage the country’s nuclear waste. In line with recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Energy Future, this bill would establish a new, single purpose organization to manage the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, provide for a consent-based siting process for nuclear waste facilities, and ensure adequate and reliable funding for managing nuclear waste.

    “Nuclear energy plays an important role in our energy mix, especially as a significant increase in energy demand is projected over the next decade. However, one of the most significant challenges to broad deployment is the impasse regarding a permanent repository. West Texas has experienced the consequences of this impasse as evidenced by the Andrews County interim storage site. I am proud to introduce the ‘Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024’ with Rep. Levin to move our country closer to developing a permanent repository and robust fuel management plan. We cannot meet our nuclear goals without this piece of the puzzle,” said Rep. Pfluger.

    “The federal government has a responsibility to safely manage our nation’s nuclear waste, but we’ve been caught in an impasse for decades,” said Rep. Levin. “This legislation represents a comprehensive pathway to modernize our nuclear waste program, based in consent. Our bipartisan bill would empower a new single-purpose, independent federal agency to consult and collaborate with communities to chart a path forward for safely storing and disposing of our nuclear waste. Years of inaction have left nuclear waste stored in communities all across the country – including ours – and with the federal government currently spending $2 million per day for the failure to fulfill its obligation to find a real solution. It’s clear that now is the time to act on bold solutions.”

    Read the full bill here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Bean, Colleagues Recognize POW/MIA Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON—Recently, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04), U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and U.S. Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating the third Friday of September annually, as “National POW/MIA Recognition Day.” This legislation will encourage all Americans to properly honor the service and sacrifice of all POW/MIA by participating in commemorative celebrations in local communities, appropriately displaying the POW/MIA flag, and performing acts of good will, compassion, and service to the family members of these American heroes.

    According to the Department of Defense, there are more than 142,000 service members who have been captured as prisoners of war (POW) and more than 81,000 service members listed as missing in action (MIA) from the outset of WWII.

    Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said, “We will never be able to repay our debt to those who have given their last measure of devotion for America. But we can continue to do our solemn duty to remember. With this national day of recognition, we the people of the United States, salute those who endured great dangers at the hands of the enemy and those lost in service to our nation and reaffirm our commitment to resolve the accounting of our great American patriots.”

    Read the full text of the resolution HERE.

    Watch Congressman Bean’s House floor remarks HERE.
     

    BACKGROUND

    Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Susan Wild (D-PA), Kay Granger (R-TX), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), August Pfluger (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Randy Weber (R-TX),Brian Mast (R-FL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Troy Carter (D-LA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Bill Keating (D-MA), and Steven Horsford (D-NV).

    This resolution is supported by Enlisted National Guard Association of the U.S. (EANGUS), National Guard Association of the U.S. (NGAUS), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A (JWV), and Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

    In May 2023, Congressman Bean introduced the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act to designate the POW/MIA Memorial Museum at Cecil Field as a national landmark to honor, connect, inspire and educate the American people about our prisoners of war and those missing in action.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Passes Amendment to Combat Pine Beetle Infestation

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Nick LaLota(R-Suffolk County) successfully passed his amendment to H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, focusing on the devastation caused by the southern pine beetle in the Northeast, particularly within Long Island’s Pine Barrens. LaLota’s amendment directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on the causes, effects, and solutions for the infestation of pine beetles in the Northeastern United States, ensuring that the problem is addressed with targeted actions.

    “This tiny pest, no larger than a grain of rice, has wreaked havoc on over 5,000 acres of forest in my district alone, threatening our ecosystem and critical natural resources. The southern pine beetle infestation has put immense pressure on Long Island’s Pine Barrens, which serve as a vital habitat for wildlife and play a crucial role in protecting our water supply,” said LaLota. “My amendment is not just about studying a pest; it’s about taking proactive measures to protect our environment, safeguard the drinking water of millions, and ensure that our forests’ rich biodiversity and natural beauty remain intact for future generations. Without intervention, the consequences for our ecosystem and local economy could be severe so we must take action now.”

    LaLota spoke on the House floor ahead of the amendment’s passage, click HERE to watch.

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

    Background:

    The Pine Barrens, crucial for preserving clean drinking water and home to endangered species, have suffered significant damage from the pine beetle infestation. LaLota’s amendment will enable federal, state, and local officials to better understand and mitigate the pine beetle’s impact, fostering resilient forest ecosystems across the region.

    Along with this amendment, LaLota has fought to preserve the abundant natural environment Long Island is blessed with.

    Earlier this year, LaLota announced he had secured $40 million in federal funding for the Long Island Sound Program. This funding for the Sound is provided by the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill LaLota helped pass, which was signed into law in March.

    In January, LaLota testified at a Natural Resources Committee hearing in support of his Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. The same month, LaLota testified at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of including a reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Program in the biannual Water Resources Development Act.

    The Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act would reauthorize the Long Island Sound Program through 2028. In 1985, Congress created the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to identify and address the major environmental problems affecting the Long Island Sound. The LISS brings together the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York State, Connecticut, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to help restore and protect the Long Island Sound, including the watershed, which spans up towards New Hampshire and Vermont into Canada.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Casar, Williams, Adams, Carter, McClellan, & Raskin Introduce Resolution Declaring Abortion as a Human Right

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Alma Adams (NC-12), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced the introduction of a Congressional Resolution affirming reproductive freedom as a human right.

    “Texas is ground zero in the fight for abortion rights, with many of my constituents now traveling hundreds of miles to get the health care they need,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas). “Let me be clear: Reproductive rights are human rights. We won’t stop fighting until abortion rights are restored and protected across the U.S.”

    “We are seeing the deadly result of abortion bans in Georgia and around the country. Just last week, ProPublica reported on the deaths of two Georgia women, Candi Miller and Amber Thurman, who died because they could not receive the abortion care they desperately needed,” said Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05). “That is why this resolution is important: it affirms that reproductive freedom is a fundamental human right according to the United States’ own law and that state abortion bans are violating federal law and endangering the lives of women.”

    “Too many women have already died from Donald Trump’s abortion bans, and even one more is too many,” said Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12). “Abortions are healthcare, and reproductive justice is a human right. I will continue to stand up for women’s rights until they are restored nationwide.”

    “Access to safe, legal abortion is healthcare. It’s as fundamental as any other medical service,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02). “I’m proud to support this resolution because it sends a message that no matter where you live in this country, your rights to make decisions about your body and your health should not be up for debate. That’s a matter for you, your doctor, and your family. Not the government.”

    “After Trump-appointed Justices on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, conservative legislatures and judges across the nation have unleashed extreme abortion bans and restrictions to comprehensive reproductive health care,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04). “Reproductive health care is a public health, social justice, economic, civil rights, and human rights issue. I thank Congresswoman Williams for her leadership on this resolution, as we affirm that reproductive rights are part of our obligations under international human rights treaties.”

    State and Local Actions

    • Alexandria, VA enacted a resolution to expand access to abortion on June 28th, 2022.
    • In Louisiana, House Bills 56, 63, 164, and 293 were introduced in February 2024 to counter the state’s restrictions on reproductive freedom and underscore the human rights concerns with those restrictions.
    • Mt. Rainier, MD issued a Mayoral Proclamation declaring June 24, 2024, as “Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Day.” 
    • Montgomery County, MD passed a resolution to address the Dobbs decision and introduced a new resolution with unanimous support in 2024 to increase abortion access in the county.
    • Austin, TX has invested over $400,000 in support for abortion access and introduced a resolution declaring abortion as a human right.

    This bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Colin Allred (TX-32), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nannette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Bennie Thompson (MI-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Cori Bush (MO-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), André Carson (IN-07), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jim Himes (CT-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Ted Lieu CA-36), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mary Peltola (AK-AL), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Katie Porter (CA-47), Delila C. Ramirez (IL-03), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Darren Soto (FL-09), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Lori Trahan (MA-03), David Trone (MD-06), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Susan Wild (PA-07), and FredericaS. Wilson (FL-24).

    The resolution text can be found here.

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    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: Donalds Leads Florida House Republican Delegation In Demanding Answers Regarding Water Permitting In The Sunshine State

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) is leading an initiative to demand much-needed answers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding its implementation of Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting, following the recent detrimental decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which discontinued the State of Florida’s 404 permitting authority.

    The Donalds initiative has received the support of the entirety of the Florida House Republican Delegation including Representatives Michael Waltz (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), María Salazar (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

    Read the full text of the letter HERE or below:

    Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon
    Chief of Engineers and Commanding General
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
    441 G Street N.W.
    Washington, D.C. 20314-1000

    Dear Lieutenant General Spellmon:

    We write today as Members of Congress from the Florida Delegation seeking answers relating to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permitting process. On February 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia revoked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designation of the State of Florida—which has been in place for the last three years—to process CWA 404 permits for the purpose of “[regulating] the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands.” As a result of the court’s decision, USACE regained stewardship of Section 404 permitting in Florida, and has assumed new and pending applications from Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)—however, USACE appears unprepared and untransparent regarding the approval or denial of these applications. We have concerns that the recent court’s decision has negatively impacted the economies of Florida and its industries, and provides no greater protection of wildlife or the environment. Therefore, we request a staff-level briefing to understand how USACE is processing Section 404 permit applications after the February 15th, 2024 court decision.

    USACE’s assumption of the Florida 404 program immediately created intense regulatory delays among industries and other applicants trapped in the bureaucratic backlog.4 The delays in issuances of permits not only cost tens of millions of dollars in the near term, but also impacts other infrastructure downstream such as commercial spaces, housing, charter schools, and roadways. Thus, USACE’s reluctance to readily approve or deny 404 permit application burdens the growth of the Sunshine State and the prosperity of its people because projects are located in most Florida counties.

    Since assuming the 404 permitting program in 2020, FDEP trained approximately 300 additional staff and certified wetland evaluators to formally review 404 applications. While USACE contends they have the appropriate resources to handle the change of permitting under the 404 program, we are unsure about this contention. USACE expressed they are “ready to accept permit applications,” however, it is the impression of our offices that the USACE uses their own, distinct 404 permitting process compared to the process utilized by FDEP. The February 15th, 2024 court order requires a USACE-specific application, meaning the whole application process restarts from scratch. We question how USACE will be able to restart and lessen the backlog of “well over 1,000 applications” including those applications previously situated on the state’s desk.

    The fiscal year 2024 budget provided for 132 full time staff positions, however, as of April 2024 USACE totaled 126 staff members. This is a modest increase from the fiscal year 2020 USACE budget which provided for approximately 103 staff positions. Thus, we seek to understand how 132 staff positions could process the same workload in which FDEP hired an additional 300 trained and certified staff members to complete.

    Additionally, FDEP’s 404 program had Florida-specifications for applicants “at least as stringent as federal permitting.” We question how USACE is more equipped than FDEP to process 404 applications, since FDEP provided an additional layer of expertise by requiring the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission’s approval on 404 requests—a feature not required by the USACE or the EPA.

    The Chief Regulator of the USACE Jacksonville District also noted the additional workload will require the assistance from the South Atlantic Division and the USACE’s headquarters. This would require staff with no knowledge of Florida to issue or deny permits that solely implicate Florida and its resources. In fact, the EPA previously stated that “state and tribal regulators are generally more familiar with local aquatic resources, issues, and needs . . . An efficient state ran program can help reduce delays and save money for applicants.”

    FDEP provided a transparent process by which to obtain information and permit applications via the Oculus portal. This portal, no longer used due to the assumption of duties by USACE, provided real-time and readily available information to potential applicants. As an additional layer of transparency, Florida’s sunshine laws allowed for stakeholders to gather all information necessary for applications. Thus, we request information on how USACE will keep the 404-process transparent and easily accessible to applicants and industry participants that seek permits.

    Finally, we request the formal definition used by USACE in determining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and its relationship to state 404 permitting moving forward. Due to USACE assuming authority over state 404 permitting, applicants must now ask whether their projects will impact the WOTUS as modified by Sackett v. EPA. Previously, under Florida’s permitting authority, applicants were able to select the state’s wetland designation. Florida’s wetland line in the 404 program is more expansive than the current WOTUS interpretation. Because of the lack of current guidance on how Sackett modifies WOTUS, these determinations are being made on a case-by-case basis until clarity is provided by USACE and, ultimately, the EPA. Florida still provides other state wetlands permits under state waters, however, now there is additional confusion for applicants who affect assumable WOTUS. We require further understanding of USACE’s interpretation and implementation of WOTUS as applied to state 404 permits, and how lack of clarity impacts applicants.

    Considering the above concerns, we ask that USACE provide information on its efforts to timely issue permits, provide transparency, and address the challenges created by the D.C. District Court order from February 2024.

    To assist the undersigned Members of Congress’ concerns on this matter, please make arrangements to schedule a staff level briefing no later than October 4th, 2024. This briefing should include information about any ongoing audits or preparations of USACE in handling current or future section 404 permitting in Florida, as assumed by USACE. To schedule the briefing, please contact the office of Congressman Byron Donalds at 202-225-2536.

    Sincerely,

    Byron Donalds (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Michael Waltz (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Scott Franklin (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Daniel Webster (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Aaron Bean (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Brian Mast (R-FL) Member of Congress
    María Salazar (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Greg Steube (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Kat Cammack (R-FL) Member of Congress
    John Rutherford (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Cory Mills (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Bill Posey (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Laurel Lee (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Neal Dunn (R-FL) Member of Congress
    Matt Gaetz (R-FL) Member of Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Langworthy Announces FEMA Major Disaster Declaration for the Southern Tier Following Hurricane Debby Flooding

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy announced that New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the extreme weather during August 8-10 in Allegany, Steuben, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, St. Lawrence, and Yates Counties.

    “Seeing the damage up close in some of the hardest hit areas, it became clear how essential federal assistance was for these communities to recover, and I was proud to be a vocal advocate for the Southern Tier throughout this process,” said Congressman Langworthy. “With homes, businesses, and key infrastructure severely impacted, this Major Disaster Declaration will allow people to rebuild their lives. Now that this assistance is in place, we can focus on helping our neighbors get back on their feet after such a devastating storm.”

    Immediately following the flooding, Congressman Langworthy toured the Steuben County areas that were hardest hit, including Canisteo, Jasper-Troupsburg High School, Greenwood, Woodhull, and the Jasper sewage plant.

    Congressman Langworthy also penned a letter to President Joe Biden urging the swift approval of New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration request following the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Debby in August 2024. Congressman Langworthy’s letter comes after New York State completed damage assessments and submitted its request. 

    In his letter, Congressman Langworthy highlighted the severe damage to major roadways, including state Route 417 and county Route 36, that have left residents cut off and businesses unable to operate. The Congressman also emphasized the need for additional Individual Assistance to ensure that residents can rebuild their homes.

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis Recognized as a Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business

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

    (WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was recognized by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and was honored as a Guardian of Small Business. This award honors lawmakers who consistently vote in favor of small businesses on key issues identified by business owners. Lawmakers who voted in support of small businesses on key issues during the 118th Congress earned the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award. A total of 269 members of Congress were recognized as Guardians of Small Business during the 118th Congress.

    “I thank the National Federation of Independent Business and NFIB President Brad Close for this award,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “As a Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, my priority has been to support and champion our small businesses by cutting bureaucratic red tape, lowering taxes, and reducing regulations. We must continue working to create an economic environment where small businesses can invest, expand and thrive, as they are job creators and the backbone of our economy.”

    “The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is presented to Members of Congress with a demonstrated record of supporting America’s small and independent business owners,” said NFIB President Brad Close. “This Congress, small businesses faced tough economic headwinds, especially from inflation, burdensome regulations, and threats of tax hikes at all levels of the government. We are proud to recognize the lawmakers from the 118th Congress, including Representative Nicole Malliotakis, who stood up for Main Street by taking pro-small business votes that would reduce taxes, eliminate burdensome government mandates, lower health insurance costs, and fuel the Main Street economy.”

    READ MORE HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ***MEDIA ADVISORY *** TOMORROW: Chair Bean to Hold Hearing on Improving Teacher Preparation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, September 25, at 10:15 a.m., the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), will hold a hearing titled “Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators.”

    “Communities across the U.S. are facing teacher shortages. In the 2023-2024 school year, 86 percent of public schools struggled to hire teachers,” said Chairman Bean. “Many teachers are deterred from the profession as well as the prospect of enrolling in preparation programs due to the steep price tag, prolonged time commitment, and lack of professional career opportunities. The nation’s preparation pipeline is failing to prepare teachers for the education environment, and our students are suffering the consequences. This hearing will shine a light on innovative teacher preparation initiatives and allow the Committee to consider meaningful reforms to ensure our educators have the necessary tools to be successful in the classroom.”

    What: 
    Subcommittee hearing titled “Innovative Teacher Preparation: Properly Equipping America’s Educators”

    When: 
    10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024

    Where: 
    2175 Rayburn House Office Building

    Press: 
    The hearing is open to the press and will be live-streamed on the Committee’s YouTube page.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sorensen Announces $250,000 for Kewanee to Support Local Police and Fight Crime

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    MOLINE, IL – As we approach the start of National Crime Prevention Month, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing $250,000 for the City of Kewanee to hire two law enforcement officers to increase community policing and crime prevention efforts.  

    “Our local police departments, especially in our small hometowns, often work under tight budgets with limited resources,” said Sorensen. “And despite these conditions, our brave men and women in law enforcement work around the clock to keep our neighborhoods safe. I am proud to announce this funding for the Kewanee Police Department, so our local police have the tools they need to fight crime and protect our communities. I will always work to bring tax dollars back home to make sure Northwestern Illinois is safe for our neighbors.”   

    “We are grateful for this grant from the COPS hiring program, which will allow us to expand our community policing efforts without placing additional strain on local budgets,” said Chief Stephen Kijanowski of the Kewanee Police Department. “These funds will also help us address local violent crime and the narcotics issues facing our community, enhancing our public safety initiatives and better serving the residents of Kewanee.” 

    The $250,000 in funding for the City of Kewanee is coming from the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which builds trust between police departments and the communities they serve. These grants allow local police departments to hire community policing professionals, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and train local government leaders to best support their police officers and protect their communities.  

    This past May, Sorensen led a group of 24 of his colleagues in calling on Congress to fully fund the COPS program in direct response to roundtable discussions and meetings he has hosted with law enforcement from across Central and Northwestern Illinois.    

    Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Mann, Kaptur and Sens. Marshall, Brown Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Put American Farmers First

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) alongside Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), introduced the Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act to restrict eligibility for the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) to domestically produced feedstocks and to extend the credit to 2034.The ten-year credit will allow for more certainty as the U.S. ethanol industry builds infrastructure to open new markets for farmers, increase the production of ethanol across the country, and incentivize domestic feedstocks while continuing to support global renewable fuel production made from a wide array of feedstocks.

    “In no world should American tax incentives first benefit foreign producers,” said Rep. Mann. “While the use of foreign feedstocks can play an important role in producing domestically manufactured ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, we must not displace harvest in America. Our legislation puts American farmers first by ensuring that American tax credits are incentivizing American-grown products.”

    “I joined my colleagues in this important bicameral and bipartisan effort because helping American farmers, producers, and growers goes beyond state and party lines,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. ”We must ensure the Clean Fuel Production tax credit is structured in a way that benefits domestic producers, and not one that advantages foreign-produced feedstocks from China or Brazil. Our legislation will extend this credit through 2034 and bolster American energy independence by prioritizing American producers and the production of domestic biofuels.”

    “It’s very tough in farm country with high interest rates and low commodity prices, which is exactly why we can’t have a tax policy that will lower commodity prices even more,” said Senator Marshall. “While we support free trade and open markets, we do not believe foreign feedstocks should be incentivized through the hard-earned dollars of U.S. taxpayers to the detriment of American farmers. This legislation puts farmers FIRST to ensure they are the primary beneficiaries of renewable fuel tax incentives and provides businesses a decade of certainty.”

    “American tax dollars should support American farmers – not imported feedstocks,” said Senator Brown. “To continue to grow the biofuels industry and open new markets for Ohio farmers, we must stop taxpayer money from subsidizing a surge in Chinese cooking oil or any other foreign feedstock from infiltrating the American market. Our bipartisan bill ensures these investments benefit Ohio farmers and Ohio energy producers.”

    The legislation is cosponsored by Representatives James Comer (KY-01), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and Don Bacon (NE-02) and Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

    The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act is supported by Growth Energy, National Oilseed Processors Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association, Ohio Soybean Association, Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Soybean Association, Kentucky Soybean Association, Scoular, and Louis Dreyfus Company.

    “Our farmers need policies that protect their ability to compete fairly as the United States strives to be a leader in renewable fuels markets,” said Ed Prosser, Senior Vice President at Scoular.  “We greatly appreciate Representative Mann and his colleagues for introducing this legislation that helps ensure American agriculture will have a well-deserved seat at the table in the journey to lower the carbon intensity of our energy supply.”

    “NOPA commends this bipartisan, bicameral legislative effort which puts U.S fuel producers, U.S. crushers and U.S. farmers first. We thank Senators Brown and Marshall and Representatives Mann and Kaptur for their leadership,” said NOPA President and CEO Kailee Tkacz Buller. “We support free trade and open markets, but do not believe foreign feedstocks should benefit on the backs of U.S. taxpayers to the detriment of U.S. farmers. Without this fix, the 45Z credit will incentivize the use of foreign feedstocks over those grown by U.S. farmers. Our industry has made significant investments to expand U.S. crush capacity by 30 percent and this fix is pivotal to ensuring these investments are delivered.”

    “Biofuel production paves a key path for our country to be a clean energy leader, and U.S. farmers who grow the crops going into those biofuels take pride in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting the U.S. economy and energy independence,” said ASA President Josh Gackle, a North Dakota soybean farmer. “However, for continued growth of America’s promising biofuels industry, U.S. farmers need the support of a final 45Z rule that prioritizes domestically sourced feedstock.”

    “Farmers and bioethanol producers need to know they’ll be able to rely on the 45Z tax credit for more than just the next few years,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This bill gives them the certainty they need to unlock significant investments in their operations and in the rural communities that depend on them. We commend Representatives Mann and Kaptur for introducing this bill and all of our House champions for making a 45Z tax credit extension a top priority as we head into the tax reform process next year.” 

    “Ensuring American farmers reach maximum profitability and build resiliency to pass down their farms to the next generation should be our top priority,” said Adam York, Kansas Sorghum Producers CEO. “This legislation helps make sure the intended benefits of this program arrive into our rural economies.”

    “Corn growers are making every effort to help the airline industry lower its greenhouse gas emissions through the use of corn ethanol,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA president Harold Wolle. “We are deeply appreciative of these leaders for introducing legislation that establishes requirements for the tax credit that will level the playing field for America’s corn growers.”

    “The Farmer First Fuel Incentive Act recognizes the vital role of American agriculture in 45Z,” said Craig Meeker, Chairman of National Sorghum Producers. “This legislation ensures that the guidance is designed and implemented in a farmer-focused manner, supporting domestic clean energy production and stimulating economic growth across rural America.”

    “U.S. soybean farmers have been at the forefront of our domestic clean-energy production through the booming biodiesel and renewable diesel industry over the last decade,” said Kaleb Little, CEO, Kansas Soybean Association. “The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act ensures our Kansas soybean growers maintain access to this vital market sector going forward and strengthens the clean fuel production credit for the future.”

    Earlier this month, Representatives Mann and Kaptur led 39 of their colleagues in penning a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury urging it to expedite the issuance of final guidance for 45Z.  Senators Marshall and Brown led a similar letter in the U.S. Senate.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Garcia Co-Leads Bipartisan Initiative to Safeguard and Strengthen Transitional Housing Services

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

    Washington, D.C. – This week, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) co-led the Transitional Housing Protection for the Homeless Act (H.R. 9644) with Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Young Kim (CA-40), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07). This bipartisan proposal expands the legal definition of “chronic homelessness” to make sure that more people experiencing homelessness can access the resources they need to get back on their feet. It would also help transitional housing providers offer more services, including assisting individuals with securing permanent supportive housing and providing health and wellness aid to those in need. The full bill text can be found here.

    “We must ensure that our most vulnerable community members can get the services they need when moving into temporary housing, which is why we’re expanding the definition of ‘chronically homelessness.’ Experiencing homelessness is already extremely tough, and we need to make sure our government doesn’t let folks slip through the cracks during transition periods. I will always fight to make funding available for those struggling with homelessness,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. 

    “To help our homeless population transition into stable housing, we must ensure the floor doesn’t fall out from underneath them while they take concrete steps to get back on track. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Transitional Housing Protection for the Homeless Act, which builds on my previous efforts to reduce homelessness by protecting and expanding critical resources. This bill would help ensure that our most vulnerable populations receive the comprehensive support they need,” said Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer.

    The Transitional Housing Protection for the Homeless Act would make the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expand its existing definition of chronic homelessness to include individuals who have experienced homelessness for at least one year, continuously or cumulatively within the past three years, to make sure they are eligible for essential support services. Additionally, it would classify those residing in transitional housing for fewer than 90 days as chronically homeless if they met the original criteria before entering the program, ensuring that short-term residents of transitional housing are not excluded from critical assistance.

    The bipartisan proposal is supported by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. 

    Congressman Garcia believes that housing is a human right and that we have a moral obligation to take steps toward making sure everyone has access to housing that is safe and affordable. In May 2023, he introduced the People Over Parking Act to make housing more affordable and reduce emissions by eliminating outdated parking minimum requirements for the new construction of residential, retail, industrial, or commercial spaces. Congressman Garcia is dedicated to promoting affordable, inclusive, and public transit-friendly communities that increase housing availability while curbing harmful emissions through federal Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) policymaking. Congressman Garcia will continue the fight to secure safe and affordable housing for every American.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Langworthy Announces More Than $860,000 in Federal Funding to Expand Newtown Battlefield Preservation

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy (NY-23) announced that the Town of Ashland in Chemung County has been awarded $860,278 by the National Park Service (NPS) for the acquisition of 322.09 acres at the Newtown Battlefield. This grant, awarded through the American Battlefield Protection Program, will protect and preserve the historical site of the Revolutionary War’s pivotal Battle of Newtown. 

    “The Newtown Battlefield is a treasured and historic gem in Chemung County,” said Congressman Langworthy. “This investment will allow the Town of Ashland to preserve this important part of our nation’s history for future generations while promoting local tourism and education. Preserving our historic battlefields also honors the sacrifice of those who gave their lives and ensures that their heroism is never forgotten.” 

    According to the National Park Service, the American Battlefield Protection Program aims to invest in the long-term safeguarding of significant battlefields across the country. By investing in these preservation efforts, the program ensures that historic sites are protected from development and remain accessible for public education and commemoration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Langworthy Announces $600,000 in Federal Funding for the Chautauqua Center

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy (NY-23) announced a $600,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to The Chautauqua Center to expand behavioral health services in the region.

    “The Chautauqua Center plays a critical role in ensuring that the Southern Tier has access to affordable quality care,” said Congressman Langworthy. “This grant will strengthen their ability to provide vital mental health services, supporting individuals and families facing mental health challenges. I am proud to support their mission and this significant investment in the well-being of our community.”

    According to HHS, the Behavioral Health Service Expansion program aims to improve access to mental health care by funding treatment services at Community Health Centers in underserved areas. This grant enables health centers to increase their staff, broaden their service offerings, and enhance care for individuals struggling with mental health issues, including substance abuse disorders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Langworthy Announces $1.36 Million in Federal Funding for City of Elmira Fire Department to Hire Firefighters

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy announced that the City of Elmira Fire Department has been awarded a $1,365,672 grant through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. This critical funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will enable the department to hire additional firefighters.

    “Elmira’s firefighters play an essential role in safeguarding our community, and this significant federal investment will allow the department to expand its team and enhance emergency response capabilities,” said Congressman Langworthy. “This SAFER grant will help ensure the Elmira Fire Department is ready and able to meet the local demand for fire and emergency services, protecting local families, homes, and businesses.”

    According to FEMA, the SAFER program was created to provide funding directly to fire departments to help increase the number of trained, “front-line” firefighters available in communities. The program aims to enhance local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Molinaro To Host Think DIFFERENTLY Field Day With Binghamton Rumble Ponies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19)

    Binghamton, NY – Immediately following Springbrook’s Miles for a Mission 5K, U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) will host a Think DIFFERENTLY Field Day on Saturday, September 28 from 10:30am to 12:00pm at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton. Since taking office, Rep. Molinaro has hosted three successful Think DIFFERENTLY field days for individuals with disabilities. 

    Participants must pre-register. To register, please email Events.Molinaro@mail.house.gov or call (607) 242-0200.

    At the event, individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities of all ages will be able to participate in field games and activities, engage with local service providers, and connect with community partners to learn about resources available to the disability community. There will also be a special performance from the Victory Troupe, a musical theatre group of individuals with disabilities that’s supported by the Endicott Performing Arts Center. 

    Rep. Molinaro said, “I’m excited to be teaming up with the Rumble Ponies for a Think DIFFERENTLY Field Day. This event will be an amazing opportunity for families to connect with local disability service providers and individuals of every ability to participate in some fun field games on the Rumble Ponies very own field! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone out there.” 

    Details on the event are as follows:

    Date: Saturday, September 28

    Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm

    Location:

    Mirabito Stadium

    211 Henry Street

    Binghamton, NY 13901

    In 2015, Rep. Molinaro launched the ‘Think DIFFERENTLY’ initiative, which aims to break down barriers for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. In Congress, Rep. Molinaro has built on the effort by crafting and passing a package of bipartisan legislation that removes barriers in key areas of society for individuals with disabilities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scholten Celebrates Fully Funded Grant for Catherine’s Health

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

    WASHINGTON – Following strong support from Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Catherine’s Health was awarded the full grant amount from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The funding will expand the federally qualified health center’s behavioral health services. 
    “West Michigan’s behavioral health system is strained due to the rising number of incoming patients coupled with the closure of clinics. This grant funding will help Catherine’s Health become part of the solution to the mental health crisis facing our community,” said Rep. Scholten.  “I supported Catherine’s through this grant process because I know their primary care infrastructure, coupled with their family planning and dental services, make their practice the perfect fit for this expansion. With the ability to better treat substance abuse disorders and support individuals struggling with their mental health, Catherine’s will make a life-saving impact for West Michiganders, especially those experiencing homelessness. I am proud to have played a role in bringing these grant dollars home.”

    “This funding will expand access to essential behavioral health services in our community while also transforming Catherine’s ability to provide holistic care to the unhoused,” said Megan Erskine, Catherine’s Health CEO. “Catherine’s thanks Congresswoman Scholten for her continued support of Federally Qualified Health Centers and the role they play in America’s primary care safety net.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Bill to Protect Child Victims from Online Predators

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-4) introduced the Protection of Child Victims from Online Predators Act, a bipartisan bill that will amend title 18 of the U.S. Code to expressly clarify that a “notice” or “advertisement” seeking or offering child pornography can occur within a private, one-on-one communication.

    “We are seeing more and more children being exploited online across our nation,” said Congresswoman Laurel Lee. “Protecting our children from online exploitation is one of my top priorities in Congress. This bipartisan bill will help protect children by ensuring abusers who solicit or share child pornography via one-on-one communication will be held accountable.”

    “We must protect children from pedophiles,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey, (MD-04). “As a former prosecutor, Congresswoman Laurel Lee understands, like I do, that criminal cases against on-line sexual predators must have solid legal predicates. This bill would assure that anywhere across the federal legal landscape that any notice or advertisement from adults to children for explicit acts or images is consistent and clear. When it comes to one-to-one communications with minors from these purveyors of child pornography, this conduct harms kids. I fully support this legislation and commend Rep. Lee’s partnership on this matter and stand with her to protect our young people. We must deter these predators from acting on their worst impulses, this bill helps us do that,” Ivey continued (D-MD).

    Summary:

    • To avoid detection, dangerous child abusers send private, one-on-one messages to child victims or other child exploiters to solicit or share child pornography.
    • Under federal law, any person who “knowingly makes, prints, or publishes, or causes to be made, printed, or published, any notice or advertisement seeking or offering to receive, exchange, buy, produce, display, distribute, or reproduce, any visual depiction… of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct . . . or participation in any act of sexually explicit conduct by or with any minor” shall be punished. 18 U.S.C. § 2251(d)(1).
    • Federal courts, including the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits, have held that a private, one-on-one communication to solicit, share, invite, offer, distribute, or otherwise obtain child pornography, constitutes the Federal crime of making a “notice” or “advertisement” to seek or offer child pornography under section 2251(d) of title 18, United States Code. Unfortunately, not every circuit court has followed this construction of the law.
    • The bill amends the law to expressly clarify that a private, one-on-one communication can constitute “notice” or “advertisement,” and that no public display or public communication is necessary to constitute a notice or advertisement for purposes of such section 2251(d).

    Read the bill here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Glenn Ivey Joins Congresswoman Laurel Lee to Introduce Bill to Protect Child Victims from Online Predators

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

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-4) and Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) announced the introduction of the Protection of Child Victims from Online Predators Act, a bipartisan bill that will amend title 18 of the U.S. Code to expressly clarify that a “notice” or “advertisement” seeking or offering child pornography can occur within a private, one-on-one communication.  The bill was introduced yesterday.

    “We are seeing more and more children being exploited online across our nation,” said Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15). “Protecting our children from online exploitation is one of my top priorities in Congress. This bipartisan bill will help protect children by ensuring abusers who solicit or share child pornography via one-on-one communication will be held accountable.”

    “We must protect children from pedophiles,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey, (MD-04). “As a former prosecutor, Congresswoman Laurel Lee understands, like I do, that criminal cases against on-line sexual predators must have solid legal predicates. This bill would assure that anywhere across the federal legal landscape that any notice or advertisement from adults to children for explicit acts or images is consistent and clear. When it comes to one-to-one communications with minors from these purveyors of child pornography, this conduct harms kids. I fully support this legislation and commend Rep. Lee’s partnership on this matter and stand with her to protect our young people. We must deter these predators from acting on their worst impulses, this bill helps us do that,” Ivey continued.

    Summary: 

    • To avoid detection, dangerous child abusers send private, one-on-one messages to child victims or other child exploiters to solicit or share child pornography.
    • Under federal law, any person who “knowingly makes, prints, or publishes, or causes to be made, printed, or published, any notice or advertisement seeking or offering to receive, exchange, buy, produce, display, distribute, or reproduce, any visual depiction… of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct . . . or participation in any act of sexually explicit conduct by or with any minor” shall be punished. 18 U.S.C. § 2251(d)(1).
    • Federal courts, including the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits, have held that a private, one-on-one communication to solicit, share, invite, offer, distribute, or otherwise obtain child pornography, constitutes the Federal crime of making a “notice” or “advertisement” to seek or offer child pornography under section 2251(d) of title 18, United States Code. Unfortunately, not every circuit court has followed this construction of the law.
    • The bill amends the law to expressly clarify that a private, one-on-one communication can constitute “notice” or “advertisement,” and that no public display or public communication is necessary to constitute a notice or advertisement for purposes of such section 2251(d).

    Read the bill here. 

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DURING NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DELIVERS $1.25 MILLION TO COMBAT YOUTH DRUG USE, CRACKDOWN ON FENTANYL IN HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITIES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Ryan (New York 18th)

    During National Recovery Month, Congressman Pat Ryan Delivers $1.25 Million to Combat Youth Drug Use, Crackdown on Fentanyl in Hudson Valley Communities

    Ryan secured $625,000 for the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County’s Tri-County Prevention Coalition and $625,000 for The Council on Addiction, Prevention, and Education of Dutchess County, Inc. to implement comprehensive strategies and programming to combat youth drug use over the next five years, including keeping out deadly fentanyl 

    WASHINGTON DC –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan secured $1.25 million in federal Drug Free Community (DFC) funding to combat youth drug use in Orange and Dutchess County communities. Ryan delivered $625,000 for the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) of Orange County’s Tri-County Prevention Coalition (TCPC) and $625,000 for The Council on Addiction, Prevention, and Education of Dutchess County, Inc. to implement comprehensive strategies and programming to combat youth drug use over the next five years. Each coalition will receive $125,000 per year for the next five years. The funding comes during this month’s National Recovery Month that promotes awareness of drug addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. Last year, Ryan secured $125,000 in DFC funding for the Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition to combat youth addiction in the Warwick Valley Central School District. 

    “Addiction is tearing Hudson Valley families apart and stealing the bright futures of our kids with gut-wrenching frequency. I’m pushing to end that vicious cycle,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “During National Recovery Month, I’m proud to deliver this crucial funding that will help prevent Hudson Valley youth from ever falling into the spiral of addiction and keep deadly fentanyl out of our communities. I look forward to continuing to work with community partners and local officials as we fight to end youth drug use.” 

    “The Northern Dutchess Community Coalition (NDCC), and its fiscal agent the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education (CAPE) of Dutchess County, are eager to enhance our work after securing a five-year continuation of the federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant,” said Dana Nalbandian, Interim Agency Director and Staff Accountant for the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education of Dutchess County, Inc. “The new funding will help the coalition expand its use of evidence-based prevention practices, increase public awareness of substance use trends, and continue efforts to prevent and reduce underage drinking, vaping, and the use of marijuana and other drugs. The coalition also aims to enhance the well-being of local youth and families through strong community bonds, collective action, and advocacy for policy change.”

    “Research shows that PREVENTION is the most effective tool we have to reduce the consequences associated with underage drinking and drug use among young people,” said Alayne Eisloeffel, Program Director and Project Coordinator for TCPC. “This funding will allow the Tri-County Prevention Coalition to better engage and involve the community to steer more young people toward success and enable them to live healthier and safer lives.”

    Congressman Ryan secured the $1.25 million in funding from the Fiscal Year 2024 White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Drug-Free Communities Support Program grants, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2023, Ryan secured $125,000 for the Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition from the same program.

    With the funding, the Council on Addiction, Prevention, and Education of Dutchess County, Inc.’s Northern Dutchess Community Coalition looks to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The coalition will achieve its goals by implementing strategies that focus on youth alcohol use, tobacco and marijuana use, the opioid epidemic, increased community awareness, greater access to information, and infrastructural and policy reforms promoting a drug-free lifestyle. The Coalition serves Amenia, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Barrytown, Millerton, Hyde Park, Millbrook,  Annandale-on-Hudson, Pleasant Valley and Pine Plains, New York. This area encompasses a

    population of 65,282 residents. 

    The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) of Orange County’s Tri-County Prevention Coalition plans to use the $625,000 in funding to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The coalition will achieve its goals by implementing these strategies: 

    • Mobilizing key adult and youth stakeholders to challenge and address risk factors of community norms around substance use, low perception of risk, and easy access to substances by promoting and rewarding healthy choices and lifestyles
    • Increasing protective factors of opportunities and rewards for prosocial involvement and social skills by supporting and expanding inclusive prevention programs and clubs in and out of schools
    • Enhancing skills to identify and address local conditions contributing to youth substance use
    • Supporting policies/laws that reduce access to alcohol and marijuana by minors, and increasing opportunities for youth to engage in needs assessment and strategic planning  activities, act as role models, and provide leadership around substance abuse prevention.

    The Tri-County Prevention Coalition will specifically work to address underage drinking and marijuana use among youth through environmental strategies. The coalition includes diverse representation from all sectors of the community, including the Pine Bush Central School District, Town of Wallkill and Town of Crawford Police Departments, the Towns of Wallkill and Crawford, the Pine Bush Chamber of Commerce, The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) of Orange County, Wallkill East Rotary, Mid-Hudson Prevention Resource Center, STOP-DWI of Orange County, POW’R Against Tobacco, Orange County Department of Mental Health, local hospitals, parents, business owners, and students. Its mission is to engage collaborative partners in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of strategies that prevent youth substance use. 

    Congressman Pat Ryan has delivered major investments to combat drug trafficking and use in Hudson Valley communities, including $400,000 for the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office crisis intervention ORACLE team that tackles drug trafficking, addiction, and the overdose epidemic in Ulster County. Ryan has repeatedly called for increased funding to address drug trafficking and use, in particular the opioid and fentanyl crisis currently gripping Hudson Valley communities. He cosponsors the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act and the END FENTANYL Act and has demanded that any comprehensive border security legislation must include funding and provisions to stop the flow of fentanyl across the southern border. Congressman Ryan introduced the Public Safety and Community Support Act to use Byrne-JAG funds for deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs to help local law enforcement combat drug addiction

    A key component of Congressman Ryan’s recently introduced Youth Agenda is preventing youth drug use and addiction. Ryan is a member of both the Congressional Dads Caucus and the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. Ryan cosponsors the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act and the Mental Health Services for Students Act to make mental healthcare more accessible for youth, as well as the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to bolster the mental healthcare workforce to treat drug addiction. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Pushes to Improve Wildfire Mitigation Efforts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) joined Reps. Joe Neguse (CO-02), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), and Josh Harder (CA-09) to introduce the Cross Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act (H.R. 9703). 

    This bipartisan bill will help inform recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire mitigation by identifying gaps and opportunities in current federal rules and regulations and supporting increased collaboration across agencies and land boundaries.  
     

    “As we introduce this bill, firefighters are working around the clock to contain the Airport fire on federal land in the Cleveland National Forest in Trabuco Canyon and surrounding communities. We also recently saw how a fire miles away can negatively impact the air quality in our area,” said Rep. Young Kim. “Reducing barriers to wildfire mitigation can save lives. The Cross Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act aims to bridge any barriers to wildfire mitigation and ensure our first responders can do their jobs as effectively as possible. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan, commonsense effort with Reps. Neguse, Molinaro, and Harder, and I will keep doing all I can to keep our communities safe and support first responders.” 

    Rep. Kim has been working tirelessly to improve wildfire mitigation efforts through efforts such as: 

    • Leading the bipartisan Wildfire Technology Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act (H.R. 4235) to expand access to wildfire technologies;  
    • Helping introduce the Fire Weather Development Act (H.R. 4866), which passed the House and includes bipartisan bills Rep. Kim worked on to enhance wildfire detection capabilities and improve communications and information sharing efforts between first responders and community members;  
    • Introducing the Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety (ROUTES) Act (H.R. 6994) to prioritize, streamline, and improve maintenance of federal trails, roads, campgrounds, and recreation sites damaged by certain natural disasters;  
    • Securing funding in FY22 appropriations for the City of Yorba Linda Water District to install an additional heli-hydrant and for the City of Chino Hills’ fuel reduction project for areas susceptible to wildfires;  
    • Increasing resources for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search & Rescue Response System (US&R) task forces, which are deployed to respond to natural disasters in California and across the nation; 
    • Adding language to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024 directing U.S. Forest Service to address deferred trail maintenance issues. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steel Calls on Biden to Address Human Rights Abuses with Vietnam Leader

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to President Biden ahead of his Wednesday meeting with Vietnam’s president and ruling Communist Party chief, Congresswoman Michelle Steel called on the President to directly address worsening human rights abuses in Vietnam under To Lam’s leadership.

    “Regretfully, this week you will be giving the enormous platform of a presidential meeting to Vietnam’s President and ruling Communist Party Chief, To Lam. During your sit down at the UN, it is crucial that you stop paying lip service to human rights and instead directly address the persecution that has defined To Lam’s leadership in Vietnam,” wrote Steel, who represents the Little Saigon community of Orange County that his home to a large population of Vietnamese Americans.

    Steel’s letter noted that during the meeting, Biden must pressure To Lam to:

    • Release all prisoners of conscience.
    • End the persecution of Vietnamese human rights defenders, activists, and government critics.
    • Respect all religious minorities and hold accountable Vietnamese authorities who imprison individuals based on religious beliefs.

    Steel also noted that the Biden-Harris Administration’s recent engagement with Vietnam has done nothing to slow the suppression of free speech and religious persecution on To Lam’s watch. Prior to his current head of state role, To Lam served as the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security.

    “As the Biden Harris Administration attempts to promote closer ties with Vietnam, To Lam’s rise to power has coincided with a significant increase in human rights abuses by the Vietnamese authorities on its own citizens. This includes scores of human rights activists and independent journalists…who all face lengthy prison sentences for voicing their opinions about the Communist Party of Vietnam,” Steel added.

    Steel’s letter can be viewed here.

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

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Moran Receives Guardian of Small Business Award from National Federation of Independent Business

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

    Washington, D.C. ­– Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for his efforts to support small businesses in East Texas and across the country. Congressman Moran received an 100% score from NFIB for his voting record in Congress on issues that impact small businesses.

    “I’m grateful to receive the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award,” said Congressman Moran. “As a former small business owner, it’s a privilege to promote the right to own, operate, and help grow East Texas small businesses. I look forward to continuing the fight to protect Main Street businesses.”

    “The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is presented to Members of Congress with a demonstrated record of supporting America’s small and independent business owners,” said NFIB President Brad Close. “This Congress, small businesses faced tough economic headwinds, especially from inflation, labor shortages, and tax pressures at all levels of the government. We are proud to recognize the lawmakers from the 118th Congress who stood up for Main Street by taking pro-small business votes that would reduce taxes, eliminate burdensome government mandates, lower health insurance costs, and fuel the Main Street economy.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Laurel Lee Introduce Bill to Combat CCP Cyber Threat Actors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, House Homeland Security Committee Republicans introduced legislation to combat growing cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against our critical infrastructure. Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL) introduced legislation to establish an interagency task force led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to address the cybersecurity threats posed by state-sponsored cyber actors associated with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including Volt Typhoon.
     
    Additionally, the bill requires that the task force provide a classified report and briefing to Congress annually for five years on their findings, conclusions, and recommendations relating to malicious CCP cyber activity. Committee Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) cosponsored the legislation. Read more in NextGov via David DiMolfetta.
     
    On the “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act,” Representative Lee said, “The CCP, acting through Volt Typhoon and other threat actors, has made a concerted effort to pre-position itself within our networks in order to target and compromise the critical infrastructure Americans rely on every day––from the transportation and water sectors to the energy sector. While individual agencies have worked to examine and address the threats posed by malign cyber actors like Volt Typhoon, a siloed approach to cybersecurity will only give our adversaries the upper hand. It is critical that the federal government implements a focused, coordinated, and whole-of-government response to all of Beijing’s cyber threats, so no other actors succeed.”  
     
    Chairman Green said, “The threat actor ‘Volt Typhoon’ remained undetected and undeterred in our networks for far too long.  The discovery of the new actor ‘Flax Typhoon’ further demonstrates the CCP’s unabashed commitment to infiltrating our critical infrastructure. While intrusions from threat actors like the Typhoons create a dangerous opportunity for espionage, we know they could also serve as open doors for the CCP to manipulate or thwart crucial services Americans rely on in the event of escalation in the Indo-Pacific. Now is the time to address the threat China poses in cyberspace.”
     
    Chairman Moolenaar said, “At our Select Committee hearing earlier this year, FBI Director Wray broke the news that the United States had uncovered state-affiliated Chinese hackers, known collectively as Volt Typhoon, who infiltrated American critical infrastructure and installed malware to unleash a cyber-attack at a time of their choosing. I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation alongside Rep. Laurel Lee that will help protect the American people.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Condemns Hochul Administration’s Silence on Embedded CCP Agent

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

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today issued the following statement in response to the Hochul Administration’s failure to address her inquiries by the September 18 deadline regarding the Department of Justice’s recent indictment of Linda Sun, a high-ranking official in the Hochul administration, for allegedly acting as an agent of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

    “Governor Hochul’s failure to respond promptly sends a dangerous message not only to the CCP but to all foreign adversaries seeking to infiltrate our government. Clearly, Governor Hochul does not take this issue seriously and is content with CCP infiltration of her administration. We must hold Governor Hochul accountable and ensure any other CCP operatives within this administration are exposed and removed. In addition, Hochul must recognize the serious consequences this has had on the state’s relationship with Taiwan and our economy. Her administration must immediately address these concerns and initiate a bipartisan investigation to ensure no compromised CCP agents remain employed by New York State,” said Congresswoman Tenney. 

    View Tenney’s letter that she sent to Governor Hochul on September 5th here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –