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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW: Baldwin Releases Report on How Trump Cuts Are Hurting Veterans and Caregivers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released a new report on how President Donald Trump’s reckless cuts to staff and services are hurting our veterans.

    “When Americans serve and sacrifice for our freedom, it’s our duty to have their back when these brave men and women return home,” said Senator Baldwin. “As we spend this weekend remembering those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for us and honoring the families of the fallen, we also recommit ourselves to taking care of those in uniform, those who returned home, and the loved ones of our troops. I will work with anyone to do right by our veterans and survivors but this Administration is failing to keep their end of that sacred promise.”

    President Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE are enacting deep cuts across the federal government that continue to cost veterans their jobs and jeopardize essential care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that veterans and their caregivers rely on every day. VA Secretary Doug Collins announced they plan to cut 83,000 jobs, slashing the essential workforce by over 17 percent at the federal agency. These cuts come on top of staffing shortages at the VA, including having 66,000 vacancies across the health system, and further outlined in a 2024 report that found that 137 of 139 VA health centers nationwide report a severe staffing shortage in at least one area, particularly nursing and psychology.

    NPR found that 11,273 VA employees nationwide have applied for deferred resignation, which the Trump administration is offering as part of its DOGE initiative to cut the VA’s workforce. The top positions across all networks that are requesting deferred resignation are nurses (about 1,300), medical support assistants (about 800), and social workers (about 300). In a recent poll by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, more than 4 out of 5 veterans said they are concerned that recent federal cuts could impact veteran benefits and health care.

    Veterans are also being hit hard by cuts across the federal agencies, where they make up 30 percent of the nearly 2.3 million civilian federal workforce. DOGE’s stated goal to eliminate 75 percent of the federal workforce could mean that up to 500,000 veterans could lose their jobs.

    Read the full report.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Cantwell, Lummis, Wicker Reintroduce Bill to Clear Space Junk, Protect Space Exploration

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    ORBITS Act would create landmark program to clean up dangerous orbital debris threatening space exploration, satellites, and commercial space operations
    Bill unanimously passed Senate last Congress
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Maria Cantwell, Cynthia Lummis, and Roger Wicker reintroduced the bipartisan Orbital Sustainability (ORBITS) Act to establish a first-of-its-kind demonstration program that would reduce the nearly 1 million pieces of space junk in orbit.
    “Dangerous debris in Earth’s orbit threatens American satellites and jeopardizes future space exploration missions,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s time we clean up the clutter and protect our critical space operations.”
    “The Orbital Sustainability or ORBITS Act will jumpstart the technology development we need to address the very serious problem of orbital debris that threatens our scientific satellites, human space exploration and commercial space services,” said Cantwell.  “The longer we delay in taking meaningful action, the less safe our activities in orbit become.”
    “Space is getting more and more crowded with debris that poses a real threat to our satellites,” said Lummis. “People in Wyoming and across the country depend on satellites for our national security, weather forecasting, wildfire monitoring, GPS navigation, and communications essential for our way of life. The ORBITS Act addresses this growing challenge and helps maintain safe human spaceflight operations above the earth. This bipartisan solution will protect America’s interests in space for generations to come.”
    “The ORBITS Act would address a key aspect of the complex space debris problem. We should be empowering NASA to partner with the U.S. space industry in active debris removal technology to tackle space junk threats. The United States is the world’s premier spacefaring nation, and I look forward to continuing our leadership,” said Wicker.
    The ORBITS Act passed the Senate in the 118th Congress.
    Space junk, or orbital debris, currently threatens human space exploration, scientific research missions, and emerging commercial space services. There are approximately 8,000 metric tons of debris currently in orbit, including at least 900,000 individual pieces of debris that are potentially lethal to satellites. Because of the threats from debris already in orbit, simply preventing more debris in the future is not enough. The ORBITS Act will jumpstart a program focused on research, development, and the demonstration of technologies capable of safely carrying out successful Active Debris Remediation (ADR) missions to create a robust commercial market for these services.
    In recent years, NASA canceled a planned spacewalk and maneuvered the International Space Station (ISS) to avoid colliding with orbital debris. Due to growing amounts of debris, the ISS has performed numerous Pre-Determined Debris Avoidance Maneuvers (PDAM) in the past year alone. 
    Specifically, the bill contains the following provisions:
    Orbital Debris Remediation List
    Directs NASA, in coordination with the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and the National Space Council, to publish a list of debris objects that pose the greatest risk to the safety of orbiting spacecraft and on-orbit activities

    Active Orbital Debris Remediation Demonstration Program
    Directs NASA to establish a demonstration program to partner with industry in developing technology for remediating debris objects through repurposing or removal from orbit
    The NASA program will promote competition by incentivizing  two or moreteams of technology developers to conduct demonstrations of successful debris remediation

    Asks NASA to partner with other nations to address debris in orbit that belongs to them

    Active Debris Remediation (ADR) Services
    Encourages the U.S. government to buy ADR services from  industry partners once they succeed in the demonstration and are commercially available
    Requires an economic assessment of the long-term demand for ADR services

    Uniform Orbital Debris Standards
    Directs the National Space Council to update the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) used by U.S. government space missions
    Encourages the FAA and FCC to use the updated standards and practices as the basis for federal regulations applicable to all space activities
    Directs the U.S. to encourage other nations to align their regulations with ours to encourage effective and non-discriminatory regulation worldwide

    Space Traffic Coordination Standard Practices
    Directs the Department of Commerce, in coordination with the National Space Council and the FCC, to develop and promote standard practices for avoiding near misses and collisions between spacecraft in orbit

    Key supporters of the bill include the Aerospace Industry Association, Secure World Foundation, and CONFERS.
    Full text of the ORBITS Act is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PSI Chairman Johnson Requests Transparency from Biden Cabinet Officials Regarding the Former President’s Cognitive Decline

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (“the Subcommittee”), sent letters to 28 former Biden Cabinet members regarding their knowledge of President Biden’s cognitive and health decline during his time in office and while running for reelection. Chairman Johnson requested that these former public officials appear voluntarily before the Subcommittee for interviews by June 6, 2025.

    A recent book detailing the former president’s cognitive and health decline while in office revealed that members of President Biden’s inner circle were alarmed by the state of his health. One Cabinet secretary was reportedly left “upset and disturbed” after meeting with President Biden due to his “mumbly and incoherent” speech. As the chairman’s letter noted, the reported behind-the-scenes concerns stand in stark contrast to Cabinet officials’ public statements portraying the former president as healthy and mentally sharp.    

    “The discrepancy between what Cabinet officials were telling the public about the former president’s health and what they were apparently witnessing and saying privately is astonishing, particularly considering that the former president was seeking reelection. After years of being lied to and kept in the dark, the public deserves full and complete transparency about what was known and when concerning President Biden’s health,” Chairman Johnson wrote. 

    The letters went out to the following former Biden Cabinet-level members:

    1. Lloyd Austin, former Secretary of Defense;
    2. Xavier Becerra, former Secretary of Health and Human Services;
    3. Jared Bernstein, former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers;
    4. Antony Blinken, former Secretary of State;
    5. William J. Burns, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency;
    6. Pete Buttigieg, former Secretary of Transportation;
    7. Miguel Cardona, former Secretary of Education;
    8. Marcia Fudge, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
    9. Merrick Garland, former Attorney General;
    10. Jennifer Granholm, former Secretary of Energy;
    11. Isabel Guzman, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration;
    12. Deb Haaland, former Secretary of the Interior;
    13. Avril Haines, former Director of National Intelligence;
    14. Kamala Harris, former Vice President;
    15. Ronald Klain, former White House Chief of Staff;
    16. Alejandro Mayorkas, former Secretary of Homeland Security;
    17. Denis McDonough, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
    18. Arati Prabhakar, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
    19. Gina Raimondo, former Secretary of Commerce;
    20. Michael Regan, former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
    21. Julie Su, former Acting Secretary of Labor;
    22. Katherine Tai, former United States Trade Representative;
    23. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations;
    24. Adrianne Todman, former Acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
    25. Tom Vilsack, former Secretary of Agriculture;
    26. Janet Yellen, former Secretary of the Treasury;
    27. Shalanda Young, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and
    28. Jeff Zients, former White House Chief of Staff.

    The letters from Chairman Johnson can be found here.

    Read more about the chairman’s letters here: Axios, Fox News, and Washington Examiner. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 05.22.2025 Sens. Cruz, Luján Introduce Bill to Streamline International Bridge Permits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act. This legislation expedites the presidential permitting process for all international bridges and land ports of entry. It expands on legislation written and passed into law Senator Cruz’s that streamlined permits for international bridges in Eagle Pass, Laredo, and Brownsville.  
    Sen. Cruz said, “Streamlining the permitting process for bridge infrastructure between Texas and Mexico has been a top priority of mine. This bill builds on and expands our success in securing presidential permits for four major international bridge projects in South Texas by streamlining the approval process for all future international bridges along the Texas–Mexico border. I strongly urge my colleagues to pass this bill so it can be sent to the President for signature.”
    Sen. Luján said, “Ports of entry and international bridges are vital to the economic success of our border communities, supporting trade, business, and tourism. Yet, new border crossings are too often held up by the presidential permit process. I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation that will help streamline this process and deliver real investments to Santa Teresa and Sunland Park in New Mexico.”
    This bill was endorsed by the City of Laredo and Texas Association of Business.
    Dr. Victor Treviño, Mayor for the City of Laredo said, “I want to thank Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for introducing the International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) for co-leading this legislation. Their bipartisan partnership reflects a strong commitment to strengthening trade along both our southern and northern borders. This bill marks a critical step toward modernizing the development and expansion of cross-border infrastructure by bringing much-needed efficiency and predictability to the presidential permitting process—an essential reform for communities like Laredo, which continues to be on the front lines of international commerce as the #1 Port of Entry in the United States. I urge Congress to pass this legislation and send it to the President for his signature.”
    Glenn Hamer, President and CEO of Texas Association of Business said, “No state is more impacted by international trade than Texas, and our entire business community relies on robust, efficient cross-border commerce to maintain access to global markets – particularly with our top trade partners Mexico and Canada. By making permanent and enhancing the critical, bipartisan reforms to the cross-border infrastructure permitting process that were implemented last year, Senators Cruz and Luján are solidifying the most important trade policy since the negotiation of USMCA. This legislation will be a major win for Texas and the entire country, and we applaud Senator Cruz for his leadership in ensuring the federal government moves at the speed of business to keep the Texas and U.S. economies strong.”
    Read the full text of the bill here.
    BACKGROUND
    Sen. Cruz was the first elected Republican member to be awarded the Key to the City of Laredo for his leadership in streamlining the presidential permitting process and securing permits to build and expand four major international bridges in South Texas, including two in Laredo.
    In October 2024, Sens. Cruz and Cornyn secured a presidential permit for the Laredo 4/5 International Bridge (Bridge 4/5) in Webb County.
    The International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act would:
    Expand the scope to include all international land ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders, rather than being limited to bridges in the original three counties in Texas;
    Add the word “sole” before “basis” to clarify that the State Department should not consider other factors besides America’s foreign policy interest;
    Include language to bar future administrations from considering environmental documents (NEPA) during their decision making.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner and Kaine Statement on the House GOP Bill to Gut Medicaid to Pay for Tax Cuts for Ultra-wealthy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after Republicans in the House of Representatives voted in the dead of night to approve legislation to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy while slashing Medicaid and nutrition assistance, raising taxes on working families, and exploding the national debt:  
    “This bill would do real harm to Virginia families, workers, and communities. It would raise taxes on working families and rip health care away from more than 262,000 people in Virginia in order to give tax breaks to Donald Trump and his billionaire friends. Virginians deserve better, and we will oppose this bill with everything we’ve got as it comes to the Senate. “
    Warner and Kaine have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia if Republicans in Congress continue to insist on gutting vital programs in order to pay for tax breaks for the richest Americans, noting that the GOP bill would strip health insurance from more than 262,000 Virginians; rip nutrition assistance away from at least 204,000 Virginians, including children; raiseenergy costs for Virginia households; jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs; and raise taxes on minimum wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Highlights Opportunities, Challenges with Interior Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    05.22.25
    Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hosted the Secretary of the Interior in subcommittee to discuss the Department’s budget request. The Senator reinforced her appreciation for the administration’s approach to resource development in Alaska, while also addressing staffing concerns, public land sales, and other avenues of potential for the department.
    Watch the Senator’s opening statement here.
    Read the Senator’s full opening statement below.
    FULL TRANSCRIPT
    Senator Murkowski: Good to have you here to discuss the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior. I’m pleased to have the opportunity today to talk about the important work that the Department does, including its leading role in supporting America’s energy agenda, empowering Indian country and Tribal nations, providing recreational opportunities to tens of millions of Americans, and generating billions of dollars in economic output.
    It’s been a real pleasure, I have appreciated the meetings that we’ve had, the conversations that we’ve had by phone, and it’s been great to meet the various Assistant Secretary nominees from the Department. I’ve enjoyed our conversations there. I’m impressed by their understanding of the issues that they focus on, and their commitment to public service.
    You’re building out quite the team. It was great to be able to talk to Kate MacGregor. She has a little bit of history with the Department, and comes with a lot of knowledge and understanding, certainly on Alaska–related issues, so we were glad to get her confirmed and to work as well as some of the other nominees. As the Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, we’re anxious to have a nominee for the [Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs] as well.
    So, I want to thank you, I want to thank President Trump for recognizing Alaska’s amazing natural resource potential. This was very significant in the day-one executive order: everything from the Ambler Road to the NPR-A, to non-wilderness Coastal Plain, Alaska
    LNG. There’s been very swift, very early, and decisive action in this space. It’s welcome both here in Washington, DC, and certainly in my state. So, I’m looking forward to working with you to further facilitate the development of Alaska’s resources.
    I know you are looking forward to going to Alaska in just a couple weeks. Hopefully, it’s going to be a great trip, lots of good information, good feedback, and good weather. I’m hopeful that Denali will be out in all of its majesty and splendor and you’ll be reminded why Alaskans prefer the Koyukon-Athabascan name, “Denali,” meaning ‘the Great One.’
    The President and you have set out an ambitious agenda, particularly with respect to the focus on energy and economic development. I’m very supportive of this endeavor, and know that I want to be your partner in achieving so many of the goals.
    Beyond resource development, the Department of the Interior can be an economic force for good in many different ways. One of the most important economic drivers that we see up in Alaska, aside from the resource end of things, within the Department is the National Parks System. The National Parks in the home states of the members on this subcommittee generate a collective $7.4 billion of economic output annually. That’s more than the gross domestic product of 40 different countries. But it’s not just the economic output that makes parks so important, it’s the experiences of traveling to parks, seeing the wildlife, having an adventure that creates a lifetime of memories. And, we’ve had discussions about some of your early years and the significance of that.
    Back home in Alaska, we’ve already had about 150,000 people come through on cruise ships this year. That might not surprise other people, but this is early for us. We estimate a total of 1.65 million visitors for the tourism season – that’s about double the population of our state. So, when we see a skinny budget that proposes to cut $1.2 billion or 35% from the Park Service, it’s hard to square it with the claims that DOI is focused on fostering the American economy, again recognizing that our economy is more than just our natural resource development.
    Another area of concern that I will address in my questions within the National Park Service budget proposal is the concept of turning over management of National Parks to the states. I’m trying to figure out exactly how this would work, and I’m kind of thinking it’s like me putting my kids in charge of the upkeep for the house that I own. In some instances, it might make good sense, but as a wholesale best practice I worry about how that might impact the parks or our people. So, should this concept be included in the full budget request, I’d hope that we have a really thorough conversation with you to better understand the justification for the proposal.
    I am concerned about what the skinny budget proposes for the BIA and the BIE. Cutting nearly $1 billion from Indian Affairs would hurt the federal government’s ability to meet its trust responsibility to Native people. In some of our conversations, I’ve shared some of the areas where I think the Department has failed Indian Country, and this is in areas like probate, where we have an extraordinary backlog, public safety and justice, missing and murdered indigenous people, as well as the education of Native American children.
    While I appreciate that the skinny budget alleges that proposed cuts would enable Tribes to focus on law enforcement, I’m not sure how reducing BIA law enforcement funding by $107 million is treating the program as a core priority of Tribes. I know, because I hear Tribes have been requesting more support for this program to address a serious lack of policing, so I worry that cuts of this magnitude can’t be made up for by directing Tribes to apply for grants at DOJ as the skinny budget suggests.
    I want to end my opening comments this morning by talking about what I consider to be, and I know that you put equal priority to, and that’s the men and women of the Department. The people who actually make things happen.
    We’ve talked about a lot of good ideas for using new systems, IT systems, artificial intelligence, how we can make the Department more efficient. These are good goals, worthy goals, and I hope to see that detailed more in the budget. But I think we know when we’re talking about management of our public lands, if you don’t have the necessary staff, whether out in the field or in the headquarters, all the investments that we want to make become less efficient.
    When I think about the Executive Order as it relates specifically to Alaska, we’ve got some good things that we want to do up north when it comes to resource development, but scientific and ecological assessments that are provided by USGS are relied upon by not just federal land management agencies, but by the industry as well. USGS science helps avoid polar bear dens, identify permafrost, map caribou migration patterns. So, when we see cuts to USGS, but also BLM, BOEM, BSSE, and OSMRE, it causes me to wonder, are we going to be able to accomplish what we’re all seeking to accomplish together?
    I think it’s important also that people have expertise and knowledge about the places that they serve. I had this conversation with folks in the Forest Service. You just can’t take somebody who maybe comes from Indianapolis, a good Forest Service person, but you put them out at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center where their job is bear management and they don’t have a clue about bear management.
    We want to make sure that we’re making good and smart decisions. I know you’re probably going to get a lot of questions today about staffing cuts, and how that is going to impact the operations of the Department not just here in Washington, but around the country. I do wish that the Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget, Mr. Hassan, [was] here today to answer some of these questions because he seems to be in charge of making a lot of the decisions about the staffing and the [reorganization]. I’m hoping that he is going to be in a position to be more responsive to my staff about some of the questions that we have raised. But ultimately, and you know, you’ve been a governor you know the buck stops with you. He can be responsible for certain things, but ultimately it is you that is accountable.
    So, getting the answers to questions about the reorganizations, the impacts of RIFs, how the Department will operate National Parks, protect reserves, and implement the President’s energy agenda. Getting this channel of communication going back and forth in a good and a constructive way, I think is going to be important. But, my bottom line to you this morning is [that] I’m I pleased with your nomination, I’m excited that you are there at the Department.
    I’m really excited about the shift that we’re seeing in Alaska where the Department has really gone from being a problem to being a partner in so many different areas. So, [I’m] looking forward to what we’re going to be able to do together.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner and Kaine on House GOP Bill to Gut Medicaid to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Ultra-Wealthy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (D-VA) issued the following statement after Republicans in the House of Representatives voted in the dead of night to approve legislation to cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy while slashing Medicaid and nutrition assistance, raising taxes on working families, and exploding the national debt:  
    “This bill would do real harm to Virginia families, workers, and communities. It would raise taxes on working families and rip health care away from more than 262,000 people in Virginia in order to give tax breaks to Donald Trump and his billionaire friends. Virginians deserve better, and we will oppose this bill with everything we’ve got as it comes to the Senate. “
    Warner and Kaine have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia if Republicans in Congress continue to insist on gutting vital programs in order to pay for tax breaks for the richest Americans, noting that the GOP bill would strip health insurance from more than 262,000 Virginians; rip nutrition assistance away from at least 204,000 Virginians, including children; raise energy costs for Virginia households; jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs; and raise taxes on minimum wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Introduces Legislation to Target Predatory Litigation Funding Practices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senator Thom Tillis introduced the Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act, legislation which would impose a new tax on profits earned by third-party entities that finance civil litigation and curb predatory practices in the litigation funding industry.
    “Predatory litigation financing allows outside funders, including foreign entities, to profit off our legal system, driving up costs and delaying justice,” said Senator Tillis. “This legislation will bring much-needed transparency and accountability by taxing these profits and deterring abusive practices that undermine the integrity of our courts.”
    Representative Kevin Hern (R-OK) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    “Foreign entities shouldn’t be allowed to meddle tax-free in the American legal system. Frivolous lawsuits have gotten out of control in recent years, largely because of these third-party funders fueling a market that is ballooning,” said Representative Hern. “Taxing these third-party entities will limit unmeritorious lawsuits and provide economic relief to the middle class.”
    Background:
    Third-party litigation funding (TPLF) is the practice of an outside party to a legal dispute paying for a lawsuit with the expectation of financially profiting off the outcome. This highly questionable practice adds tremendous costs to U.S. consumers by encouraging and needlessly extending litigation. It is also arguably violative of several common law principles that seek to prevent profit-seeking and abusive practices in the tort system. 
    The involvement of otherwise uninterested parties gambling on the outcome of litigation also raises significant concerns that this funding disrupts the attorney-client relationship. This practice remains hidden in the shadows, as there is no comprehensive disclosure regime for when a TPLF contract exists for a lawsuit. Despite this lack of disclosure, TPLF market participants acknowledge that the litigation funding industry has exploded over the last decade, with the largest year-over-year growth in capital commitments reported in 2022. 
    There is now estimated to be well over $15 billion deployed for U.S. litigation financing, with the leading firm seeing a 355% increase in its assets over the last several years, including the addition of nearly $1 billion at the end of 2018 by an unknown, foreign sovereign wealth fund.
    While these TPLF investment firms are treating the U.S. court system like a casino, there are real questions about the tax treatment of the financial returns from litigation funding. By structuring TPLF contracts as complex investment vehicles, funders pay a more favorable tax rate on their share of a court award when compared to the actual injured plaintiff – while in many cases receiving more total money than the injured party.
    With capital gains treatment, foreign investors can create a situation in which they avoid any U.S. tax obligation on their returns despite using the U.S. court system to generate profit. Perversely, this incentivizes foreign investment in more U.S. litigation because of the potential for lucrative, tax-free returns. The current situation is unfair and untenable and the time has come for lawmakers to update current tax law to address these issues.
    The following organizations support the Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act:American Consumer Institute, 60 Plus Association, Advancing American Freedom, American Association of Senior Citizens, Americans for Tax Reform, Center for Individual Freedom, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Consumer Choice Center, Council for National Policy Action, Frontiers of Freedom, Heartland Impact, Institute for Liberty, Less Government, National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Heartland Institute, and the James Madison Institute.  
    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Cruz Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Land Port of Entry Permits

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act. This legislation expedites the presidential permitting process for all international bridges and land ports of entry.

    “Ports of entry and international bridges are vital to the economic success of our border communities, supporting trade, business, and tourism. Yet, new border crossings are too often held up by the presidential permit process. I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation that will help streamline this process and deliver real investments to Santa Teresa and Sunland Park in New Mexico,” said Senator Luján.

    “Streamlining the permitting process for bridge infrastructure between Texas and Mexico has been a top priority of mine. This bill builds on and expands our success in securing presidential permits for four major international bridge projects in South Texas by streamlining the approval process for all future international bridges along the Texas–Mexico border. I strongly urge my colleagues to pass this bill so it can be sent to the President for signature,” said Senator Cruz.

    Specifically, the International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act would:

    • Expand the scope to include all international land ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders;
    • Add the word “sole” before “basis” to clarify that the State Department should not consider other factors besides America’s foreign policy interest;
    • Include language for the State Department to not consider NEPA during their decision making for the purpose of a presidential permit. NEPA would be considered for any new international bridge or port of entry before construction or expansion.

    Read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Welch Introduce the Carla Walker Act to Help Solve Cold Cases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Peter Welch (D-VT) today introduced the Carla Walker Act, which would dedicate existing federal grant funds to support forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) DNA analysis and help solve previously unsolvable cold cases. The bill is named for Carla Walker, a Fort Worth native whose murderer was finally identified 46 years after her death with the help of this advanced technology.

    “Fort Worth native Carla Walker was abducted in a bowling alley and tragically murdered in 1974, but it took more than four decades and the advent of forensic genetic genealogy DNA analysis for her killer to be identified and brought to justice,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I am proud to have authored this legislation, which would make this cutting-edge DNA testing technology more widely available to law enforcement so they can better identify and prosecute offenders, solve cold cases, and bring closure to victims’ families.”

    “Advancements in forensic DNA technology have revolutionized our ability to combat crime. In Vermont, detectives were able to use forensic genetic genealogy analysis to help provide answers to a family who thought they might never come. We’ve also seen how this technology can be a powerful tool in giving those wrongly accused a chance to clear their names,” said Sen. Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will help investigators across the country harness the incredible power of FGG technology to crack cold cases and deliver justice to countless victims and families, and I’m thankful for Senator Cornyn’s leadership on it.”

    U.S. Congressman Wesley Hunt (TX-38) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

    Background:

    Typically, when a suspect’s identity is unknown, a crime laboratory uploads the genetic material recovered from a crime scene into the FBI’s national database to search for DNA matches between the forensic sample and any known offenders. While this traditional form of forensic DNA profiling only examines 13-20 Short tandem repeat (STR) DNA markers, forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) technology examines over half a million Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that span the entirety of the human genome. It does so by cross-referencing shared blocks of SNP markers to identify relatives of the genetic profile by uncovering shared blocks of DNA. This enables criminal investigators to build family trees that ultimately help determine the sample’s identity and solve cases.

    Carla Walker was abducted from a bowling alley parking lot in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 17, 1974. Her body was found three days later in a drainage ditch 30 minutes south of Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Police Department was able to collect a few forensic samples and clothing items from the crime scene, but law enforcement could not solve the murder due to limited forensic technology at the time. Carla’s brother, Jim Walker, never stopped searching for answers and nearly 50 years later, FGG DNA analysis was conducted on the last remaining DNA on a piece of Walker’s clothing, which led to a successful DNA match with the McCurley family and ultimately identified Glen McCurley, Jr. as the killer, who confessed in 2021 and died in prison on July 14, 2023.

    Sen. Cornyn’s Carla Walker Act would create a pilot program to make this cutting-edge FGG DNA analysis more widely available to investigative agencies to:

    • Aid in resolving previously unsolvable cold cases;
    • Assist in the identification of criminals;
    • Seek justice for previously unidentified victims;
    • Help exonerate wrongly accused suspects;
    • And bring closure for the victims’ loved ones. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Provision for Texas Border Security Reimbursement Included in House ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes $12 billion in funding to reimburse states like Texas for stepping up during the Biden administration to secure the border due to President Biden’s dereliction of duty:
    “The State of Texas spent more than $11 billion taxpayer dollars to protect and defend the southern border in the Biden administration’s absence, and I commend the House for passing language that serves as a good starting point in the One Big Beautiful Bill to secure billions in critical funding for Texas, which did the job of the federal government amidst the Biden border crisis,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I will continue to spearhead the fight in the Senate for border security reimbursement funding and strengthen the language to ensure that Texas will be rightfully repaid for Operation Lone Star. I thank Congressman Chip Roy and all Texas Republicans in the House for making this reimbursement funding a priority and look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to send the One Big Beautiful Bill Act with these funds included to President Trump’s desk.”
    Background:
    Senator Cornyn has led the fight in Washington to secure federal reimbursement for Texas by:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Cruz, Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution Honoring U.S. Border Patrol’s 101st Anniversary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and 16 of their Senate colleagues introduced a resolution to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the U.S. Border Patrol, honoring the brave men and women of the Border Patrol for their unwavering service, dedication, and countless sacrifices to our nation.

    Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), James Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) also cosponsored the resolution. Text is below, and you can view the full resolution here.

    “Whereas the Mounted Guard was assigned to the Immigration Service under the Department of Commerce and Labor from 1904 to 1924;

    Whereas the founding members of this Mounted Guard included Texas Rangers, sheriffs, and deputized cowboys who patrolled the Texas frontier looking for smugglers, rustlers, and people illegally entering the United States;

    Whereas, following the Department of Labor Appropriation Act of May 28, 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol was established within the Bureau of Immigration, with an initial force of 450 patrol inspectors, an annual budget of $1,000,000, and $1,300 in annual pay for each patrol inspector, with each patrolman furnishing his own horse;

    Whereas changes regarding illegal immigration and increases of contraband alcohol traffic brought about the need for this young patrol force to have formal training in border enforcement;

    Whereas on March 1, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security was established, and the U.S. Border Patrol became part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a component of the new Department;

    Whereas, during the U.S. Border Patrol’s 101-year history, Border Patrol agents have been deputized as United States Marshals on numerous occasions;

    Whereas the present force of more than 19,000 agents and 3,000 professional staff, who are located in 131 stations and 34 permanent checkpoints under 20 sectors, is responsible for protecting more than 8,000 miles of international land and water boundaries, preventing terrorists and terrorists weapons, including weapons of mass destruction, from entering the United States, and providing humanitarian assistance in response to numerous natural disasters and to emergencies that have occurred along the United States’ international borders;

    Whereas the U.S. Border Patrol’s highly trained and motivated personnel have been called upon to perform their duties 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of scorching southern desert heat or freezing northern winters, and have worked tirelessly as vigilant protectors of our Nation’s borders;

    Whereas every day the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol put their lives on the line protecting the United States and 163 Border Patrol agents, while serving with honor and integrity, have lost their lives in the line of duty;

    Whereas the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol have demonstrated a continued commitment to mission, not only through the prevention, detection, and apprehension of those who seek to enter or reenter the United States illegally, but also through the detection and identification of victims of human traffickers and the transnational criminal organizations who profit from the forced movement and labor of such victims, and through the interdiction and seizure of illegal and deadly narcotics, such as fentanyl, before such drugs are further transported into the interior of the United States;

    Whereas through a combination of enforcement of the immigration laws, increases in immigration prosecutions for illegal entry and reentry, continued use of technology, and partnering with other law enforcement entities, including the National Guard, as a force multiplier, the U.S. Border Patrol has seen a significant decrease in border encounters and apprehensions;

    Whereas the U.S. Border Patrol continues to have a historic mission and a firm commitment to the enforcement of immigration laws: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate—

    (1) recognizes the 101st anniversary of the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28, 2025;

    (2) applauds the significant achievements of the U.S. Border Patrol;

    (3) commends the tens of thousands of men and women who have served in the ranks of the U.S. Border Patrol;

    (4) remembers the 163 agents and pilots who have lost their lives in the performance of their duties;

    (5) commends those Border Patrol agents and their family members who have chosen to make service in the U.S. Border Patrol a family legacy of honor, service, and commitment to mission; and

    (6) offers its support for policies that improve the working conditions for U.S. Border Patrol agents, increase access to cutting edge technology and equipment needed to secure the United States borders, and recruit, hire, and retain more qualified Border Patrol agents.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Introduces the HEALTH Panel Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Healthy Equipping and Lending Technical Help (HEALTH) Panel Act. The bill provides congressional oversight of the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) Panel of Health Advisors. Currently, this panel is not bipartisan, lacks regional representation, and holds private meetings.

    “The HEALTH Panel Act is a necessary step toward increasing congressional oversight over unelected bureaucrats,” said Senator Ricketts. “The Panel of Health Advisors can influence scoring of health-related bills. We need to bring this panel into the light. This bill will develop the CBO scoring process so that it accurately represents the healthcare interests of all Americans when evaluating legislation—especially for rural Americans.”

    “Balancing the budget starts with understanding how new policies will impact our bottom line. The HEALTH Panel Act is a necessary, common-sense step to improve both cost estimates and congressional oversight of the CBO’s Panel of Health Advisers, so Congress can craft effective legislation with a full and accurate understanding of budgetary impacts. I thank Senators Ricketts for his support of this critical bill,” said Representative Buddy Carter (GA-01), the HEALTH Panel Act’s lead in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    The HEALTH Panel Act:

    • Requires that the membership of the panel shall include 15 appointed members.
      • The chair and the ranking member of the House Budget Committee will each make three appointments to the panel.
      • The chair and ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee will each make three appointments.
      • The Director of the Congressional Budget Office will make three appointments.
      • Members will serve a term of three years and a maximum of two terms.
    • Requires the Panel to meet at least once annually and to issue an annual report to Congress detailing the work of the Panel.
      • Includes a description prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office detailing how the office utilized any such recommendations provided and the extent to which any such recommendations were integrated into the office’s studies and cost estimates.

    The text of the bill is available here.

    BACKGROUND:

    Over 20 years ago, the Congressional Budget Committee (CBO) created the Panel of Health Advisors. The panel advises CBO in its scoring process on health-related bills.

    There is no statutory authority for this Panel of Health Advisors, nor is there any clear guidance on the purpose, duty, function, responsibility, or appointment authority. It is not bipartisan, and the meetings are not open to the public. This legislation would provide much needed oversight and ensure ideological diversity on the panel.

    Recently, an article revealed that the CBO’s Health Analysis Division is primarily composed of registered Democrats and Democratic donors. This adds to the importance of congressional oversight.

    Last Congress, the HEALTH Panel Act passed the House Budget Committee with every member of the majority voting in favor of it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Wright and Hagerty Agree: Nuclear Energy Will Power the American Energy Golden Age

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    Tennessee can lead the nation in nuclear energy production
    WASHINGTON—Yesterday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, at a hearing received confirmation from Energy Secretary Chris Wright that nuclear energy is the most critical component to bring about the American Energy Golden Age. He also agreed that Tennessee has the potential to be the nation’s leader in nuclear energy production.
    “The United States is at a pivotal moment in energy production,” Hagerty said. “It’s not just for our nation; it’s for the entire world…Tennessee has been at the forefront of what you’ve called yourself as the ‘Manhattan Project 2.0’, and I was very pleased to introduce you there and to talk about how we can leverage the deep technological expertise that we have there in our home state as you take this department and lead our nation toward a new energy future.”
    “I am very hopeful that Tennessee can become the catalyst for the United States as nuclear energy resurgence… But if we could zoom out a bit, Secretary Wright, I’d like to ask you how you see nuclear energy, particularly [Small Modular Reactors], playing a central role in advancing and achieving American energy dominance and grid liability over the next decade,” Hagerty asked.
    “It is the critical technology that could scale wildly beyond where it is today, which is just electricity production into huge-scale electricity production and process heat, an even larger, more critical source of energy to make everything in the globe possible,” said Secretary Wright. “I am all in with you on advancing nuclear…Nuclear is the [energy source] that could burst through.”

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: To the President’s Desk: Fischer’s Resolution to Overturn California’s EV Mandate, Protect Truckers and Consumers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, the U.S. Senate approved Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) resolution of disapproval to repeal California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation which imposed unrealistic and stringent emissions requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.

    A companion resolution passed the House on April 30, 2025. Now, the resolution will head to the President’s desk where it is expected to be signed into law.

    Fischer also spoke on the Senate Floor in support of her resolution to highlight the necessity in overturning the waiver to stop one state from dictating emission policies for the entire country.

    Click the image above to view a video of Fischer’s remarks

    Click here to download audio
    Click here to download video

    Transcript of Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

    M. President,

    Today, the United States Senate voted on and passed my resolution to overturn the EPA’s waiver for California’s Advanced Clean Trucks Act.

    First, I’d like to thank my friend and colleague, Chairman Capito, for her strong leadership and work on this very important issue.

    This heavy-handed regulation imposes unrealistic emissions requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.

    This government mandate handed down to vehicle manufacturers demand they sell zero-emission trucks at an increased rate from 2024 to 2035.

    We aren’t under any illusion as to what this means.

    We know that the goal is to effectively end the sale of internal combustion engine trucks.

    Now – I’m not here today to disparage electric vehicles – and I’m certainly not here to discourage the manufacturing and purchasing of EVs, either.

    What I am concerned about is the federal government dictating which cars and which trucks are acceptable, and which are not.

    If Americans want to drive an electric or a hybrid car – that’s fine; however, the government should not pick winners and losers in the vehicle marketplace.

    M. President – I believe in the power of America’s free markets – and I believe we should allow the markets to determine the viability of clean trucks.

    Here’s the truth: This California waiver and subsequent regulation is simply not based in reality – and it will have real-world consequences.

    By requiring truckers to meet California’s standards – even while working outside of the state – operator costs will increase, fleet upgrades will be impacted, and interstate commerce will be disrupted.

    And American consumers will bear the brunt of increased costs.

    Hardworking families are already dealing with the high cost of everyday goods and services – and they cannot afford this regulation.

    Let me be clear: This action is necessary to stop one state from dictating emission policies for the entire country.

    Prior to this waiver being granted, California’s own Air Resources Board readily admitted this action would extend beyond its own state borders – and several states have already followed suit.

    I’d also like to address the eligibility of Congress disapproving rules.

    A few weeks ago, I questioned the Government Accountability Office Comptroller during an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.

    The Comptroller explicitly stated that GAO’s role is just an advisory one – and that it is up to Congress to determine what constitutes a rule.

    Again, let me be clear: We are reclaiming our Congressional authority under the Congressional Review Act.

    I’m proud that this body passed my resolution, which is a commonsense step to keep government overreach at bay, protect consumers, and support America’s free markets.

    With the passage of the House version of this resolution and with the passage of the Senate’s today – it will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

    Thank you, M. President – I yield the floor. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren on Federal Judge Blocking Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle the Department of Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 22, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to the news that a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education., U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement:
    “Firing over 1,300 federal education workers was all part of Trump’s illegal scheme to dismantle the Education Department. But Donald Trump is not a king, and his attempts to dismantle the Department of Education are illegal. This court ruling is a win for students with disabilities, for working-class students trying to afford college, and for teachers in under-resourced schools.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 22nd, 2025 Heinrich Joins Colleagues in Call to Protect ENERGY STAR

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, this week joined his colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to immediately reverse course on its plan to illegally and unilaterally terminate the ENERGY STAR program. In the letter, Heinrich highlighted the cost-saving benefits of the program, which would save the average American household $450 on utility bills each year simply by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products.

    Since 1992, ENERGY STAR has reduced energy costs for American families and businesses by $500 billion, including $42 billion worth of savings in 2020 alone. For every federal dollar spent on ENERGY STAR, Americans have seen $350 in savings.

    “For over three decades, the ENERGY STAR program has lowered Americans’ energy bills by informing consumers about energy efficient products. The program has enjoyed bipartisan support since its creation under authority of Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, most recently receiving $35.7 million in fiscal year 2025 appropriations,” wrote the senators. “Reporting has indicated, however, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to eliminate ENERGY STAR without Congressional approval. Not only is the program protected under federal statute and thus illegal for the Administration to terminate unilaterally, but this decision also lacks basic economic sense. We write to urge you to immediately reverse course.”

    The senators continued: “ENERGY STAR is the epitome of an effective public-private partnership. As the program’s administrators, EPA and the Department of Energy set qualifying energy efficiency standards for products. EPA also protects the integrity of the ENERGY STAR brand, ensuring it remains well-known, trusted, and indicative of a quality product. Appliance manufacturers then voluntarily display the ENERGY STAR label, notifying consumers that a product will reduce their energy consumption and lower utility bills. The program strengthens consumer choice by sharing critical product information.”

    “Eliminating the ENERGY STAR program will not only raise energy costs for American families and businesses, but also inflict far-reaching economic harms, threatening industry jobs and the reliability of the grid at a time of growing demand. We again urge you to immediately reconsider eliminating this popular and effective Congressionally authorized program,” the senators concluded.

    Administered by the EPA and Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR is a voluntary, market-based program that has saved consumers billions of dollars annually. The ENERGY STAR program has cumulatively reduced four billion metric tons of harmful emissions and currently supports more than 790,000 American jobs manufacturing and installing ENERGY STAR products.

    ENERGY STAR is strongly supported by a wide array of manufacturers, homebuilders, housing organizations, building owners, small businesses, and other organizations. In April, the U.S. Real Estate Industry sent a letter to the Trump Administration expressing its strong support for the ENERGY STAR program. Additionally, the U.S. Green Buildings Council partnered with the Alliance to Save Energy in leading over 1,000 organizations in urging the Trump Administration to protect the program and maintain full funding and staffing levels.

    The letter was authored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). In addition to Heinrich, it was signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

    Read and download the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 22nd, 2025 Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation to Expand Medicare Drug Price Negotiation and Lower Costs for New Mexicans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHGINTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, legislation that will expand Medicare negotiation of drug prices to lower drug costs for consumers, reduce federal spending, and give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stronger tools to negotiate lower drug prices in Medicare Part B and Part D.

    According to preliminary estimates from a model by West Health and Verdant Research, if the SMART Prices Act is enacted by 2026, it would save 33 percent more by 2030 than current law. It would also allow Medicare to begin negotiations earlier and bring down the price of more expensive drugs.

    The legislation builds on provisions passed into law by Heinrich and Luján in 2022 that empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time. The SMART Prices Act extends this progress by more than doubling the number of prescription drugs Medicare must negotiate to a minimum of 50 per year, allowing the most costly prescription drugs and biologics to have negotiated prices five years after approval by the Food and Drug Administration, and by increasing the discount that Medicare is allowed to negotiate.

    “While the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans work to gut Medicare to give massive tax handouts to billionaires like Elon Musk, I’m fighting to protect and strengthen Medicare for New Mexicans,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to co-sponsor legislation that will lower health care costs by making more prescription drugs affordable for New Mexico’s seniors enrolled in Medicare.”

    “No one should have to choose between paying for life-saving medication and putting food on the table. At a time when President Trump’s tariffs threaten to raise prices on everyday goods and medicine, the SMART Prices Act is more important than ever for New Mexican families,” said Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to lower prescription drug costs by strengthening Medicare’s ability to negotiate prices, helping Americans afford the medications they rely on.”

    The SMART Prices Act is led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

    The bill is endorsed by Center for American Progress, FamiliesUSA, Patients For Affordable Drugs NOW, Protect Our Care, and Public Citizen.

    As Republicans tank the economy, Heinrich and Luján are putting New Mexico families first and fighting against Trump and Musk’s budget, which includes cuts to Medicaid to fund massive tax handouts to billionaires.

    Earlier this month, Heinrich and Luján (D-N.M.) released a joint statement slamming President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) preliminary budget request. In their joint statement, the senators wrote, “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s budget will further tank the economy and throw working families under the bus. As New Mexico’s senators, we’ll fight back.”

    Last month, Heinrich and Luján stood up for New Mexico families by voting against Senate Republicans’ budget resolution. This was after Heinrich and Luján pushed to amend Republicans’ resolution by repeatedly voting for amendments to lower costs for families — particularly as Trump’s tariffs push America to the brink of a recession. Heinrich and Luján also worked to block cuts to Medicaid, extend the tax credits for health care premiums, and prevent millions of Americans from losing health insurance, protect Social Security, and reverse cuts to the Social Security Administration, including cuts by Elon Musk’s DOGE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Ernst Releases Alarming Report on Tech Vulnerable to China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) released a report revealing that billions of dollars in sensitive American intellectual property are vulnerable to China, because the lack of a consistent due diligence standard in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs has left loopholes for America’s adversaries to exploit.
    To safeguard the technology that supports our national security, Chair Ernst is fighting to pass her INNOVATE Act and asked Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to investigate and potentially halt all funding to six companies mentioned in the report with troubling ties to China that received nearly $180 million from 2023 to 2024 in SBIR-STTR funding after a due diligence vetting system had been implemented by the agency.
    Here is some of the coverage of Ernst’s groundbreaking report:
    Bloomberg | Senator Flags China Ties in Program to Aid Defense Startups
    “The findings from Senator Joni Ernst add fuel to her campaign to overhaul the programs, which have awarded more than $75 billion since the first one began in 1982.”
    Politico | GOP report finds small business innovation grants still carry foreign risk
    “Senate Small Business Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) released a report Wednesday that found that small business innovation program grant applicants flagged for foreign risk still received federal funding.”
    National Review | Small Business Grants Across Federal Government Vulnerable to Chinese Influence, Report Finds
    “Seeking to combat the problem, Ernst’s INNOVATE Act would clearly define “foreign risk” for due diligence reviews across agencies. The legislation would also create eligibility rules for applicants with foreign ties and codifies collaborations between agencies and the intelligence community on foreign risk reviews.”
    Politico Morning Defense | Red SBIR?
    “Congress previously rewrote SBIR and STTR rules to prevent funds from flowing to China after DOD discovered in 2021 that some SBIR awards had gone to companies linked to the Chinese military. The continued exploitation of the program, however, suggests that DOD may need to take further steps.”
    Federal News Network | SBIR/STTR awards remain vulnerable to foreign influence
    “Ernst’s investigation comes as Congress must reauthorize the SBIR/STTR programs. The 2022 update expires on Sept. 30. Ernst’s Innovate Act would extend the programs another three years to 2028 and continue to press agencies to address concerns over SBIR mills and foreign influence on awards.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Appointed as Co-Chair of Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Established in 1959, the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group is tasked with promoting better understanding and cooperation between Canadian parliamentarians and U.S. members of Congress. The association is comprised of nearly 90 members and serves as a forum to discuss key bilateral and multilateral issues impacting both countries.

    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) is the newest member of the group. Cramer’sappointment as co-chair of the Senate delegation is a continuation of his efforts to support the American-Canadian relationship. In June 2023, Cramer joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) in launching and co-chairing the bipartisan, bicameral American-Canadian Economy and Security Caucus to strengthen ties with Canada. Cramer was previously a member of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group from 2013 to 2019 when he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and served as co-chair of the House Northern Border Caucus.

    “The Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group is a strategic venue for legislators in Washington and Ottawa to engage on the shared issues our nations face,” said Cramer. “Just like iron sharpens iron, the alliance between Canada and the United States is dependent on open, honest dialogue on what binds us together and where improvements are needed. I’m honored to be appointed as co-chair of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group and look forward to strengthening our alliance and working on resolving mutual concerns.”

    The association holds a meeting each year, alternating between Canada and the United States to address priorities and policy differences on issues such as trade, energy, infrastructure, and defense. During the event, attendees seek to identify shared values and find possible solutions to a variety of concerns to both countries. As a newly appointed member of the association, Cramer will travel to Canada today to meet with Canadian leadership.   

    In March 2024, on behalf of North Dakota, Cramer received the Embassy of Canada’s Maple Leaf Award from Ambassador Kirsten Hillman and Consul General Beth Richardson. North Dakota sells more exports to Canada than to all other nations in the world combined, and this award recognizes the incredible volume of trade between the two countries.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Sheehy Introduce Bill to Improve Veterans Access to Timely, Local Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    Legislation streamlines health care access and creates new pathway for rural veterans within 35 miles of a Critical Access Hospital

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Many of America’s veterans live in rural or highly rural areas and face major challenges to accessing quality and timely health care. To improve access to local rural care options, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced the Critical Access for Veterans Care Act. The bill would create a new option for veterans living in rural America, allowing them to seek health care services at their local rural hospital or clinic under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Program.

    Specifically, the legislation would amend the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to create a new category under which care is required to be furnished through community providers, specifically for care sought by a rural veteran residing with 35 miles of the Critical Access Hospital or Rural Health Clinic.

    While communities may lack a VA Medical Center or Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), they are often served by Critical Access Hospitals or Rural Health Clinics. Critical Access Hospital is a designation given to eligible rural hospitals by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As defined by federal statute, they are the sole provider within 35 miles, must have 25 or less inpatient beds, and provide 24/7 emergency care services. They are often the only available care in rural communities, but due to community care restrictions veterans can only access them with prior authorization from the VA. There are 37 Critical Access Hospitals across North Dakota, five of which also have a VA CBOC. The Critical Access for Veterans Care Act would expand immediate access in the 32 other communities, as well as the few areas already served by a CBOC.

    “Many of our nation’s veterans live in rural areas and face significant barriers to getting the care they need,” said Cramer. “As a country, we have prioritized the preservation of Critical Access Hospitals to ensure rural America has readily available care. This designation has been a lifeline for so many, yet veterans in these communities do not have the same open access as their neighbors. Our bill removes the unnecessary roadblocks, allowing veterans to freely pursue care at their local hospital or clinics already serving those communities.”

    “As a combat veteran myself, putting America’s veterans first is at the center of my mission, and that means increasing access to the best care, people, and facilities available for our veterans,” said Sheehy. “For too long, the status quo has failed veterans, especially in rural communities, leaving them without timely access to the high-quality care they have rightly earned. In Congress, it’s our duty to ensure our veterans have the support they need to achieve the same American Dream they fought to defend, and the Critical Access for Veterans Care Act helps accomplish that mission.”

    Additionally, the legislation:

    • Prohibits VA from employing tactics like prior authorization, referrals, or other box checking activities which delay care and create unnecessary hurdles for veterans.
    • Updates the payment methodology to match the cost-based reimbursement currently used in Medicare to ensure Critical Access Hospitals are not reimbursed less to treat veterans than other patients.
    • Allows referrals originating from the Critical Access Hospital or Rural Health Clinic to other providers within the same community.

    The Critical Access for Veterans Care Act is supported by several groups in North Dakota, including Unity Medical Center in Grafton and First Care Health Center in Park River. The bill is also endorsed by America’s Warrior Partnership and the National Rural Health Association.

    “The Critical Access for Veterans Care Act is a necessary step toward ensuring rural veterans can receive timely, high-quality care close to home,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of National Rural Health Association. “By removing unnecessary prior authorization requirements and aligning VA reimbursement with Medicare’s cost-based rates for rural providers, this legislation supports rural providers and expands access to essential health services for veterans who need them most. We commend Senator Cramer and Senator Sheehy for championing this bill and urge Congress to advance this life-improving policy without delay.”

    “America’s Warrior Partnership strongly supports the Critical Access for Veterans Care Act and thanks Senator Cramer for its introduction,” said Jim Lorraine, President of America’s Warrior Partnership. “This essential legislation expands veterans’ access to local and timely healthcare, removing prior authorization hurdles for care delivered at critical access hospitals and affiliated rural clinics under the Veterans Community Care Program. America’s Warrior Partnership recognizes this bill as a meaningful step toward enhancing quality of life, continuity of care, health outcomes, and local community-based care for our nation’s veterans.”

    “I am very encouraged by the effort and direction being taken by Senator Cramer and others as they work to improve healthcare access opportunities for the nearly 3.0 million veterans residing in the rural areas of the United States,” said Alan O’Neil, CEO, Unity Medical Center in Grafton, N.D. “This bill will not only help the veterans, but will also improve utilization of the 1300 plus Critical Access Hospitals in the rural areas of the United States. Thank you for your support of our Rural Veterans and Rural Hospitals!”

    “Thank you Senator Cramer for your commitment to improving healthcare access for rural veterans,” said Marcus Lewis, CEO, First Care Health Center in Park River N.D. “Like many, I was hopeful when the Veteran’s Choice Program was introduced in 2013. Unfortunately, that hope gave way to frustration as I encountered delays, denials, and a confusing credentialing process that has too often left me—and countless other veterans—without timely or effective care. That’s why this bill is so critical. It acknowledges the unique challenges rural veterans face and offers a real pathway to timely, local, and reliable care.”

    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Capito Resolution to End California’s EV Mandate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed her joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal California’s EV mandate through their “Advanced Clean Cars II” regulation that prohibits the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035. Chairman Capito introduced the CRA last month, and pledged to end the EV mandate in December 2024.
    “Today, the Senate voted to end California’s EV mandate and send my joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA to President Trump’s desk. The Biden administration and Congressional Democrats tried to block the will of the American people from this attempt by extreme unelected California and Biden EPA bureaucrats to ban gas-powered cars throughout the country, but Congress has now spoken and soundly rejected this rule. The impact of the California’s waiver would have been felt across the country, harming multiple sectors of our economy and costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process. I’m proud to have led this effort to protect American workers and consumers from this radical and drastic policy,” Chairman Capito said.
    Yesterday, Chairman Capito spoke on the Senate floor outlining the importance of ending California’s EV mandate, and the Congressional Review Act process she led to repeal California’s waiver. The Chairman’s full floor speech is available here.
    TIMELINE OF SENATOR CAPITO’S EFFORTS:
    February 28, 2024: Senator Capito joined Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.-05), Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.-13), in a bicameral letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan warning of the legal and economic consequences of granting a Clean Air Act waiver request from the state of California, which would enable the state to require 35 percent of automobile sales to be zero-emission vehicles in model year 2026, and finally, 100 percent of them by 2035.
    December 18, 2024: Senator Capito pledged to work to reverse the Biden administration’s lame duck action of approving California’s waiver to implement its “Advanced Clean Cars II” regulation.
    April 4, 2025: Senator Capito joined Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to introduce joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to repeal California’s EV waivers that prohibit the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035 and set unrealistic and stringent requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.
    May 1, 2025: Senator Capito applauded the House of Representatives’ passage of joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to repeal California’s EV waivers.
    May 21, 2025: Senator Capito spoke on the Senate floor outlining the importance of ending California’s EV mandate, and the Congressional Review Act process she led to repeal California’s waiver. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Review Labor Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    Click here or on the image above to watch Chairman Capito’s opening remarks from the hearing. 

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), chaired a hearing with U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to consider the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.  

    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Capito as prepared for delivery: 

    “Good morning. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, thank you for being here today to testify to the President’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of Labor. 

    “I am pleased to be joined by Senator Baldwin, the ranking member of the subcommittee. I am also happy to have the chair of the full committee, Senator Susan Collins, with us today. Thank you, Senator Collins, for your strong leadership and your tireless efforts to get us back to regular order. 

    “Following four years of reckless spending under the Biden administration, President Trump is taking steps to rein in our bloated bureaucracy and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being well spent. 

    “The department’s request proposes to reduce funding for the agency by $4.6 billion, a decrease of nearly 35%. We look forward to hearing your testimony and discussing in greater detail your priorities, new proposals, and programs you think we should consider scaling back.  

    “This month, we continued to receive good news about the strength of the American economy. Our economy has added jobs every month since President Trump took office and the unemployment rate remained steady this past month at 4.2%. However, millions of Americans are still underemployed or have stopped looking for work altogether.

    “We need to make sure that Americans have access to training programs – especially those that provide on-the-job training and those focused on in-demand jobs, which in West Virginia includes important industries like coal mining and healthcare. I’d like to see the department take innovative approaches to expand apprenticeship opportunities to new programs and fields as a lot of worthy apprenticeship opportunities don’t fit the current registered apprenticeship model. I’m interested in hearing more about how the Make America Skilled Again grant program will increase flexibility and improve outcomes for workers looking to upskill and advance in their careers. 

    “I’ve also been a long-time champion of expanding and strengthening the early childhood education workforce through apprenticeships. Giving our educators a clear pathway to successful careers opens the door to higher quality and better coverage of care, helping both families and childcare workers in West Virginia. 

    “Having a highly-skilled workforce is critical, but it is only half of the equation. We must also continue advancing common-sense solutions to create an economic environment where businesses can thrive and create good, well-paying jobs. I have been pleased to see this administration take steps to rein in unnecessary regulatory burdens that make it harder for businesses to create jobs.

    “Earlier this month, the Department of Labor announced it will no longer enforce the Biden administration’s misguided independent contractor rule, which jeopardized the ability of as many as 70 million freelancers, rideshare drivers, and other independent workers to earn a living in a way that best fits their needs and schedules.  

    “This rule would take away the freedom for West Virginia real estate agents, truck drivers, freelance writers, and other self-employed workers to choose their own hours and work around other life priorities — like going back to school or raising children.

    “I hope to see this administration continue to remove bureaucratic red tape to allow companies to expand their workforce, grow their businesses, and show their employees how much they’re valued in a growing economy. 

    “However, to be clear, not all regulations are bad. It is important to have appropriate protections in place to keep hard-working West Virginians, including our miners, safe. West Virginia is the second largest producer of coal in the country. For generations, coal miners in West Virginia have helped keep the lights on across the country. But doing so has sometimes come at a great price. In the last couple decades, West Virginia has experienced major mining tragedies at the Upper Big Branch Mine and Sago Mine, which claimed 29 and 12 lives, respectively.

    “I hope to hear more about the administration’s plans to ensure our workplaces are safe so that our workers are able to return home to their loved ones at the end of each day.  

    “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, as the Fiscal Year 26 appropriations process moves forward, I know we will continue to work together to identify priorities and find common ground on how best to responsibly allocate taxpayers’ resources. Thank you again for being here today.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Questions Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer During Appropriations Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    [embedded content]
    Click here or the image above to watch Senator Capito’s questions.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), questioned U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer during a hearing to consider the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. 
    HIGHLIGHTS:
    ON WEST VIRGINIA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS:
    SENATOR CAPITO: “Madam Secretary, we’ve talked about this issue, but it’s about the West Virginia Department of Transportation and the Davis-Bacon wage determinations for highway construction. They’re just unworkable…The Biden wage determinations left out key job classifications that are commonly used on highway projects. It’s been very frustrating. The absence of these classifications has required West Virginia DOT to go through a complicated administrative process with DOL to determine proper wages…We’re missing the construction season here…there has been significant delays in not only advertising, but also in awarding construction projects…So will you commit to continue working with me to resolve this issue, to ensure that West Virginia’s highway construction projects can begin without undue burden?” 
    ON WEST VIRGINIA’S MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OFFICES: 
    SENATOR CAPITO: “Let’s talk about MSHA. I mentioned it in my opening statements, obviously it’s important to a state like West Virginia, the health and safety of our nation’s miners. I’m really concerned because I’m hearing from my constituents that MSHA offices in West Virginia are closing. I’m worried that will reduce the number of mine inspections, which are essential to ensuring that the coal that powers our nation is mined safely and the workers return home to their families. West Virginia’s know far too well the importance of keeping our miners safe on the job.” 
    SECRETARY CHAVEZ-DEREMER: “My goal as the agency head is to make sure every worker is protected. As far as it relates to the MSHA offices, we’re working with GSA, that is under GSA’s purview, I’m working with them and advocating for those leases to stay open.” 
    ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: 
    SENATOR CAPITO: “What has worked in some instances in West Virginia has been a public-private partnership with workforce programs. Where students who are maybe a junior or senior, maybe they’re career and technical, maybe they’re in regular high school, or are unsure as to what direction they want to go. I’ll use Toyota as an example. They work with the local community college to do a blended work study program that at the end, really can result in a full-time job, a life job at with a great company, Toyota.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Introduces Bill to Incentivize Domestic Production of Lifesaving Medicines

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    May 22, 2025

    Cotton Introduces Bill to Incentivize Domestic Production of Lifesaving Medicines

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Producing Incentives for Long-term production of Lifesaving Supply of medicine (PILLS) Act, legislation that would incentivize domestic manufacturing of lifesaving medicines.

    “America’s overreliance on foreign-made medicines is a national security issue with the potential to impact nearly every household in our country. This bill will ensure that our supply chains for lifesaving drugs remains stable while promoting President Trump’s made in America agenda,” said Senator Cotton.

    Full text of the bill may be found here.

    The PILLS Act would establish the following:

    • A production-based tax credit (PBTC) of 35% for final manufacturers of APIs and finished drug products and 30% for all other components.
    • A proportional domestic content bonus tax credit of up to 20% for 100% domestic content in the drug’s constituent materials.
    • Optional election of an investment tax credit equal to 25% of the qualified investment to offset costs of creating new production capacity (in lieu of PBTC).
    • Disallowance of tax credits to any entity which, at any time during the taxable year, was a foreign entity of concern.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: On MSNBC, Rosen Discusses Her Successful Passage of Her Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Taxes on Tips

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined The Weeknight on MSNBC to discuss how she was able to pass her bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act in the Senate. The bill, which Senator Rosen passed by unanimous consent, would exempt American workers’ tipped wages from federal income tax. It now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives to be considered. Nevada has the highest concentration of tipped workers in the nation, and the bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act would allow workers to keep their tips without having to pay federal income tax on them. This bipartisan legislation also includes guardrails to ensure that it benefits workers who need it most, not CEOs and the ultra-wealthy.
    MSNBC: Rosen Discusses Senate Passage of Her Bipartisan No Tax On Tips Act
    HOST: I did want to give you the shout-out on the tax on tips bill that you called up yesterday. And it passed.
    ROSEN:  Yes. Yes, it did.
    HOST:  Tell us, what magic did you bring to that?
    ROSEN:  Well, I want to tell you, my motto is, agree where you can, fight where you must.
    And so this is a great bill for Nevada, because 25 percent of our workforce is in hospitality. 
    You may not know this, but I put myself through school as a waitress. I worked as a member of the Culinary Union. And even after I got my first job as a computer programmer, I continued to wait tables because I didn’t make enough money. So I know what it means to live on tips.
    [The] Average Nevadan makes about 40 grand a year. Our bill, the bill in the Senate, is a stronger bill with guardrails, so those who need to not pay taxes on their tips are really the tip workers, not some CEO or billionaire like Elon Musk and the entire Cabinet, so they can declare their salary as a tip.
    So, this bill is a stronger, better bill. It should stand on its own. I’m going to challenge the House to pass it, because in that reckless reconciliation bill that they have been working on since 1:00 a.m., the middle of the night, they have a different bill for tax on tips. It doesn’t have the guardrails. And so I urge them to pass this one and get it over the finish line.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Celebrates Removal of Destructive Amodei Lands Proposal From Extreme House Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement applauding the news that Congressman Mark Amodei’s (R-NV-02) hastily-drafted and misguided proposal to sell off public lands in Nevada was removed from the House Republicans’ extreme budget reconciliation package that they passed this morning. 
    “It’s great news for Nevada that Congressman Amodei’s flawed, hastily-drafted proposal to sell our state’s public lands has been removed from the extreme House Republican budget that passed today. This proposal would have led to Nevada losing out on the opportunity for hundreds of millions of dollars in funding so that it could instead pay for more tax cuts for billionaires,” said Senator Rosen. “I’ll keep working in the Senate to make sure my Washoe and Pershing County Lands Bills, which have been endorsed by a wide range of stakeholders in Nevada, are passed.”
    The flawed amendment proposed by Congressman Amodei would have sold off nearly 16,000 acres of public lands in Washoe County and hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Pershing County to pay for Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation proposal. It would have abandoned key provisions in the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act, also known as the Washoe County Lands Bill, and directed funds from public land sales in Nevada to the U.S. Treasury, instead of keeping the funding in Nevada. It also ignored the balance struck in the Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act.
    Senator Rosen’s Washoe County Lands Bill would: 
    Permanently protect a million acres of public lands, which Congressman Amodei cut in his proposal.
    Promote sustainable growth and economic development by directing over 15,200 acres of public lands to be made eligible for sale, all of which must be assessed for its suitability for new affordable housing. An additional 33 acres are set aside to only be sold for affordable housing. Any land sold for affordable housing would have to be sold at less than fair market value.
    Support local Tribal communities by expanding land held in trust by more than 8,400 acres for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 11,300 acres for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and over 1,000 acres for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, none of which was in the Amodei proposal.
    Provide local governments over 3,700 acres for public purposes such as parks, water treatment facilities, fire stations, and schools, all of which was excluded from the Amodei proposal. Land is specifically conveyed to Washoe County, the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, the Incline Village General Improvement District, the Gerlach General Improvement District, the State of Nevada, the Truckee River Flood Management Authority, the Washoe County School District, and the University of Nevada, Reno.
    Keep proceeds from land sales in Nevada for priorities like education and restoration around the Truckee River.
    For years, Senator Rosen has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders across Washoe County to develop this comprehensive legislation. In 2023, she unveiled a working draft of the bill and collected feedback from hundreds of Nevadans during a public comment period, which she then incorporated into this legislation, which was previously introduced last year with the support of local government officials, conservation advocates, and business leaders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Rosen Secures Air Force Commitment to Address Long-Overdue Veteran Benefits Issue for Toxic Exposures at Nevada Test and Training Range

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Watch Senator Rosen’s Exchange HERE.
    WASHINGTON, DC – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator Jacky Rosen (NV) secured a commitment from senior Air Force officials to take action to address critical gaps in care and benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxins and radiation at classified locations, including six in Nevada alone that the Department of Energy recognizes as exposure zones. Senator Rosen highlighted how servicemembers have been denied care because the Pentagon has neglected to similarly recognize their contaminated worksites as exposure zones, despite decades of nuclear testing and documented hazards.
    Earlier this week, Senator Rosen also urged immediate action in a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and top Pentagon officials imploring them to investigate the matter and ensure veterans receive the care they deserve. This follows an exchange she had on this topic with General Dan Caine in his nomination hearing earlier this year to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    “Several constituents have brought to my attention that they were exposed to radiation and toxic substances– including emissions from burn pits used to dispose of debris from developmental aircraft– while stationed at NTTR [Nevada Test and Training Range],” wrote Senator Rosen in the letter. “However, because of the classified nature of their assignments, they cannot substantiate their presence or exposure.”
    “I urge the Department to conduct a comprehensive review to determine whether veterans who served at classified or data-masked locations have portions of their medical records similarly classified or otherwise inaccessible to the VA,” she continued. “If such restrictions exist, I request that the Department develop a secure and efficient process– coordinated with the VA– to ensure that relevant health information can be shared for the purposes of care and benefits adjudication, while still protecting the sensitive nature of the veteran’s service. No veteran should be denied care because their records are locked behind classification barriers.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Below is the transcript of Senator Rosen’s exchange with the Secretary of the Air Force during the hearing: 
    Senator Rosen: I have heard from constituents who served at such locations within the Nevada Test and Training Range, who believe they were exposed to radiation from our days of conducting explosive nuclear weapons testing, and to toxins from burn pits which disposed of classified waste. However, [the Department of Defense] does not classify the range as a place where exposure occurred – despite the Department of Energy providing a presumption of exposure for their personnel who served at these exact same locations within the range, such as the Tonopah Test Range. And, because their service records are Data Masked, these veterans can’t even prove to the VA that they were ever stationed there. Imagine that?
    All of this has prevented them from being able to receive the veterans’ benefits they deserve. Secretary Meink and General Allvin … will you work with me and this committee to ensure that the Department of the Air Force both provides a presumption of exposure at relevant Air Force locations, where the Department of Energy has done so for their personnel, and ensure that those who served—or are currently serving—at these sites receive sufficient documentation to support health-related claims, all while protecting the classified nature of their service? 
    Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink: Yes, Senator, we take the health of our workforce seriously and we need to deal with this issue. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Rosen, Rick Scott Pass Their Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month Unanimously in Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    In Remarks, Rosen Calls Out Heinous Murder of Israeli Embassy Employees at Jewish Museum Event
    Video can be found HERE.
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Rick Scott (R-FL) took to the Senate floor to condemn last night’s antisemitic attack in Washington, DC and pass their bipartisan resolution recognizing May as Jewish Heritage American Month. The resolution celebrates the many contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States and calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to condemn and combat any and all acts of antisemitism. 
    “Like so many other Jews in America and around the world, I woke up this morning heartbroken by the news of yet another unspeakable act of antisemitic violence that occurred late last night. This shooting was antisemitism — plain and simple,” said Senator Rosen. “We cannot be silent. There is a desperate need to confront dangerous and growing antisemitism in our country and around the world, and to show that bigoted efforts to intimidate us will not work. That’s why I’m proud to have passed my bipartisan resolution with Senator Rick Scott to recognize and celebrate Jewish Americans and their accomplishments, and to encourage greater understanding. Together, we’ll continue working to build a more inclusive and welcoming America, where Jewish Americans can freely and proudly express their faith and identity.”
    “I am proud to once again recognize Jewish American Heritage Month with the unanimous passage of our bipartisan resolution honoring the profound contributions of Jewish Americans to our nation’s history, culture, and success,” said Senator Rick Scott. “As we continue to see a disturbing rise in antisemitism following Hamas terrorists’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and in the wake of the tragic killing of two staff members from the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night, this resolution reaffirms America’s strong and united commitment to stand with Jewish Americans and against hatred in all forms. In Florida, we are blessed to have incredible Jewish communities that enrich every part of our state. I am as committed as ever to working with leaders at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure these communities are safe, supported, and empowered to live freely and pursue the American Dream.”
    For years, Senator Rosen has worked across party lines to combat antisemitism and prevent efforts to do so from becoming politicized. In February, Rosen introduced the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on college campuses. Earlier this year, Rosen introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen Holocaust education. Last year, Rosen’s bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Never Again Education Act became law. Rosen helped launch the first-ever Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism with Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and led the push to create the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. Senator Rosen also helped introduce a bipartisan resolution denouncing antisemitism at institutions of higher education, which passed the Senate unanimously.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “We Will Not Forget:” Padilla Sends Strong Warning as Republicans Go Nuclear to Revoke California Clean Air Waivers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    “We Will Not Forget:” Padilla Sends Strong Warning as Republicans Go Nuclear to Revoke California Clean Air Waivers

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, blasted Republicans for their shortsighted revocation of California’s clean air waivers by overruling the nonpartisan Senate Parliamentarian’s decision and going nuclear on the Senate rulebook. Republicans defied their own promises and broke 30 years of precedent by moving forward with their cynical repeal of California’s Clean Air Act waivers with a 50-vote threshold under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), bypassing the filibuster and its 60-vote requirement by overruling the Senate Parliamentarian.
    Over the last few weeks, Padilla has spoken on the Senate floor repeatedly to sound the alarm on Senate Republicans’ revocations of these critical waivers.
    “Over the last 24 hours, Trump and radical Republicans have gone nuclear on the Senate rulebook, stopping at nothing to attack California for protecting the health of my constituents, for having the audacity to lead the clean energy economy. California became the fourth-largest economy in the world by leaning in to the clean energy transition, and we’ve proved that what’s good for the planet and our air is good for business. By denying California the ability to control our own toxic air and greenhouse gas emissions, Republicans are threatening the public health, environment, and economy for millions of my constituents and people around the country. And let me be clear: California has not and cannot force our emission standards on any other state in the nation.
    “It’s not just why Republicans are undermining California’s climate leadership. It’s how they did it. Republicans are effectively saying that whenever the Parliamentarian rules against them, they can simply disregard her to bypass the filibuster and pass legislation on a simple majority vote. So no, this isn’t some one-off change to the rules — this is throwing out the rulebook entirely — all to please Donald Trump and the Big Oil lobby. If they can ignore the Parliamentarian here, then why not on an upcoming tax bill, or to gut health care, or to revoke lifesaving vaccine approvals?
    “Republicans have crossed the red line and gone nuclear. As the saying goes, ‘what goes around comes around.’ And it won’t be long before Democrats are back in the driver’s seat again. When that happens, all bets will be off. Every agency action that Democrats don’t like — whether it’s a rule or not — will be fair game, from mining permits and fossil fuel projects to foreign affairs and tax policies.
    “We will not forget what happened here. History won’t forget. And California will not forget.”
    Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in pushing back against Republican attacks on California’s Clean Air Act waivers. Earlier this week, Padilla placed a hold on the four pending Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominees until Republicans stop their reckless attempts to overturn California’s clean air waivers. Padilla, along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also led Democratic Ranking Members in strongly warning Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) of the dangerous and irreparable consequences if Senate Republicans overrule the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision on California’s waivers.
    Last month, Padilla, Whitehouse, and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) welcomed the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision that the waivers are not subject to the CRA. Padilla also joined Whitehouse and Schiff in blasting Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s weaponization of the EPA after the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) similar finding. Padilla and Schiff previously slammed the Trump Administration’s intent to roll back dozens of the EPA’s regulations that protect California’s air and water.
    Throughout the past several weeks, Padilla has made clear that these reckless revocations of California’s clean air waivers will lead to disastrous public health, environmental, and economic impacts for millions of Californians and people across the country. Inaction against the climate crisis costs Americans an average of $2,500 a year in medical bills and over $820 billion in total, according to estimates by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
    Padilla has consistently stressed the extreme consequences of Republicans ignoring the Parliamentarian, effectively blowing up the filibuster. While he and other Democrats supported lowering the threshold to pass a bill in 2022, Republicans defended the filibuster relentlessly — a dramatic contrast from their revocation of California’s waivers under a simple majority vote.
    Now that they’ve taken the nuclear option, the Trump Administration could make a series of dangerous moves in bogging down Congress with reviews from the past 30 years on items including vaccine approvals, broadcast licenses, merger approvals, and more, enabling President Trump’s political retribution. Padilla has warned multiple times that a future Democratic administration could come after Republican oil and gas priorities, including mining permits, fossil fuel projects, foreign policy, tax policies, and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) disruptions.
    In case you missed it, Senators Schumer, Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Schiff, and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) also all came out strongly against Republicans’ reckless effort and warned of the consequences of setting this new precedent.

    MIL OSI USA News –