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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Warren, Merkley, Blumenthal, Liccardo, Advocates Call Out Trump’s Corrupt Meme Coin Dinner, Demand The Release Of Attendees’ Names And What Favors They’re Getting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    May 22, 2025

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    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday led a press conference with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and End Citizens United to call out the blatant corruption behind President Trump’s meme coin dinner — a secretive, high-dollar event where anonymous crypto investors are buying direct access to Trump. The Members demanded full transparency: who’s attending, how much they paid, and what kind of influence they’re expecting in return for the millions of dollars they put in Trump’s meme coin. With no press, no disclosure, and crypto wallets tied to foreign actors, this dinner isn’t just unethical — it’s a national security risk. It’s pay-to-play politics on steroids, and Trump is cashing in. The dinner is scheduled for tonight at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.

    “We’re here today to call on the President and the people who serve him to do something really simple: release the names of the people who are going to be there,” said Murphy. “Even if you release the names, it’s still corrupt. But at least let us see who’s going to be there. At least let the American people know who has bought access to the President. Release the names. If there’s nothing wrong, if you think that this is all above board, then what are you hiding?”

    “Americans sent us to Congress to unrig the economy — not to help the President turn the White House into a crypto cash machine with private dinners for his top meme coin buyers or legislation that supercharges his stablecoin profits,” said Banking Committee Ranking Member Warren. “The GENIUS Act should be written to prohibit the president and his family from profiting—period.”

    “President Trump has put a ‘for sale’ sign on the White House lawn with his cryptocurrency schemes,” said Merkley. “Congress needs to act fast to stop the massive corruption and national security threat that is Trump selling access and influence to the highest bidders. My End Crypto Corruption Act not only cracks down on this corruption but also prevents other federal officials, like Members of Congress, from betraying our ‘We The People’ government.”

    “Donald Trump is selling access. He is selling out America, he is selling it to a foreign power, and he is putting our national security at risk. Trump is becoming beholden to foreign powers—the Emirates that provided $2 billion to World Liberty Financial, the Qataris that have provided him with a plane, and the unknown foreign actors that have invested in his meme coin operation. It’s not just about corruption—it is about corruption that endangers our national security by putting the president in a compromised position in relation to foreign powers,” said Blumenthal. “My hope is that the Trump Administration will give us the list of individuals attending tonight’s dinner as the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation has asked them to provide.”

    “I was not invited to dine with Donald Trump today. I’m not disappointed.  But you know who should be disappointed? The 746,000 people (probably many of them Americans) who bought small amounts of that Trump coin – maybe some of them bought a little bit more – who didn’t get invited. When I introduced the MEME Act in the House it was because, to borrow from Richard Nixon, those 764,000 Americans needed to know that their president was a crook. And hopefully, we’re going to find some Republicans who have the courage and the spine to say this is corruption regardless of which party is committing it,” said Liccardo.

    “America should not be for sale. With tonight’s prize dinner, our President is using his private golf course to cater to some of the world’s richest people, instead of working on behalf of working families and our country. He claims to be ‘America first,’ but really, he’s ‘Donald Trump first.’ Between his outrageous meme coin grift, his Tesla car show on the White House lawn, the jumbo jet gift from Qatar and his numerous candlelit dinners for tech bros and foreign billionaires, this President is the definition of corruption and personal profit over regular people,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen.

    “The President’s corrupt dinner is yet another alarming example of foreign interests opening their wallets to him. By turning the American presidency into a money-making venture, Trump is inviting an unprecedented level of corruption—and putting our national security at risk. End Citizens United proudly stands with Senator Murphy and the other lawmakers who spoke out today to demand transparency and accountability,” said Justin Unga, Vice President of Public Affairs, End Citizens United.

    Earlier this month, Murphy introduced the Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement (MEME) Act, legislation to prevent corrupt federal officials from using their position to profit off digital assets such as meme coins. Rep. Liccardo introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Overturns Harmful California EV Mandates

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the final days of the Biden administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Clean Air Act waivers for a number of California electric vehicle (EV) mandates. These waivers would allow California to force a shift to EVs by 2035, imposing unrealistic standards on automakers and restricting consumer choice for millions of Americans.
    California set the strictest levels in the nation, requiring all new passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles sold to be electric or hydrogen-powered by 2035. As of 2023, 17 states chose to mimic California’s standards including Minnesota. California is also the most populous state. Automakers and dealers cannot have a patchwork of standards that switches back and forth across state lines, so they are forced to default to the unrealistic bar California imposes. EVs are more expensive than gas or hybrid-powered cars, cater to wealthier customers, and have less range in cold climates.
    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, cosponsored three Congressional Review Act joint resolutions of disapproval to overturn these waivers. On Thursday, he voted to overturn the waivers.
    “Consumers should have a choice in the vehicles they purchase, without government mandates,” said Cramer. “Granting California and 17 other states these waivers skews the entire market, inhibiting manufacturing and market choice for consumers. The cars they choose should meet the needs of their families, not check a political box for coastal activist Democrats trying to force EVs on the American public. The EPA’s eleventh-hour waiver for California’s heavy-handed adoption of EVs is extreme regulatory overreach. It needed to go, and I’m grateful my Senate colleagues voted to eliminate it.
    “North Dakota auto dealers commend Sen. Cramer for his leadership to stop California’s ban on new gas cars,” said Matthew Larsgaard, President/CEO of the Automobile Dealers Association of North Dakota. “In North Dakota, only about 1 percent of vehicles are EVs.  Besides being unworkable, California’s rule would have raised car and truck prices and reduced consumer choice for all North Dakotans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan Highlights Need for “Golden Dome” Amid Evolving Threats from China and Russia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
    05.22.25
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), highlighted the need for President Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system, and the critical role Alaska will play, in an interview with Greta Van Susteren last night on Newsmax. Sen. Sullivan, the leader on missile defense in Congress since coming to the Senate in 2015, attended an announcement this week at the White House on the Trump administration’s vision of a layered, integrated missile defense system to protect the United States from the intensifying threats and growing arsenals of China and Russia. Sullivan and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) will soon be introducing the GOLDEN DOME Act, which will complement the administration’s effort, including the President’s executive order on missile defense, signed on January 27, 2025. Additionally, the House-passed budget reconciliation bill includes a $25 billion down-payment for the Golden Dome system.
    “The threats in terms of what the Golden Dome is going to focus on, they’ve increased,” said Sen. Sullivan. “It used to be just intercontinental ballistic missiles that we were worried about. Now it’s hypersonics that China has done a pretty darn good job at. Now it’s cruise missiles. To be honest, right now, Greta, without this Golden Dome, we don’t have any defenses on hypersonics. We don’t have any defenses on cruise missiles. I think it’s the responsible thing to do when you see new threats developing—we have those new threats—to take action against them. That’s what the President is doing. That’s what we’re doing here in the Congress.”
    [embedded content]
    Below is a full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s interview on Newsmax.
    VAN SUSTEREN: Okay. Talk about a really dumb business decision. No, not ours, but Russia’s. Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million. That won’t even buy you a house in Hollywood. The sale was a while ago. It was back in 1867. But, still, it was so smart of the United States and so dumb of Russia to sell it. It’s not just an acre too they sold us. Alaska is the size of 19 other United States combined, twice the size of Texas. And get this: Alaska has only 740,000 residents. That is what Seattle, Washington has—just one city has here in the United States. Why am I mentioning this? Because President Trump has his eyes on Alaska. Alaska is going to play a big role in Trump’s Golden Dome for America plan.
    PRESIDENT TRUMP: Alaska is involved and Alaska is a big part of it because the location is sort of perfect. I think it’s your first line of defense in certain instances.
    VAN SUSTEREN: Speaking of Alaska’s geographic location, I should note, though, that at its closest point to Russia, Alaska from Russia is less than three miles. The United States’ Adak naval base is about 800 miles. Alaska’s U.S. Senator, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Dan Sullivan, joins me. Good evening, sir, and why do we need the Golden Dome?
    SULLIVAN: Well, good evening, Greta. I was in the Oval Office yesterday with the President when he was talking about the Golden Dome and talking about Alaska’s key role in that. It’s a great vision of President Trump. By the way, it’s continued leadership by President Trump. He was working on big missile defense during his first term. Of course, Joe Biden didn’t do anything in this area. Now, during his second term, President Trump has laid out this vision of a Golden Dome that can protect all of America through layered defenses, starting, of course, with Alaska—our ground-based missile interceptors that are based there already, our radar systems based throughout our state, including in the Aleutian Islands. This vision, which the Congress fully supports, is going to move forward into space. It’s going to have space-based sensors, space-based interceptors, and an open architecture that brings in data and new software to bring it all together. It’s a great vision. We had a big day in the Oval Office. Alaska is going to play a big role. But I will tell you, President Trump’s leadership is driving this, and it’s something that no other country can do, and we’re going to do it.
    VAN SUSTEREN: All right. Well it’s got a huge price tag. The President said $150 billion. I read it’s $850 billion over ten years. But this is Washington, where we play with a lot of numbers. But China sees this as an offensive military action by us, not defensive. Is it offensive or defensive?
    SULLIVAN: It’s defensive, right? If you listen to President Trump yesterday, he said exactly what this is. It builds on the vision that Ronald Reagan put forward during his term. It’s just that, during the Reagan administration, we didn’t have the technology to do this. Now we do have the technology to do this, and that’s why it’s so important that we should. But it’s also very defensive. The reason China and Russia are so upset about this is, it’s the reason the Soviet Union was upset about what Ronald Reagan was trying to do in the 1980s—because they can’t do this. This is going to make Americans safer. When you have the ability to do that, and the President’s focused on it, I think that’s what a smart commander in chief does.
    VAN SUSTEREN: Is the technology profoundly different than the Iron Dome in Israel, which detects by radar a missile coming in and then shoots up and gets the missile. Is this technology different?
    SULLIVAN: It’s different in that it’s obviously much bigger. It covers a much greater area. That’s one area that I’ve worked on in the Senate is the cooperation between the United States and Israel with regard to the Iron Dome. The U.S. played an important role in the technology and the research that went into Israel’s Iron Dome. The Israelis came actually, Greta, to Alaska and tested elements of the Iron Dome on Kodiak Island a couple of years ago. But this is much bigger. I will tell you, the big difference is, it’s not just the ground-based missile interceptors that we have in places like Alaska that can take out intercontinental ballistic missiles. It’s the space layer. That’s really different. That’s important. The space layer in the Golden Dome is going to be not only detecting missiles and detecting threats, but intercepting them, shooting them down from space. That’s something different. That’s a much more significant technology, but we have the capacity to do it. That’s what is exciting. We need to do it.
    VAN SUSTEREN: All right. Obviously, I want to protect the United States. I want to be safe myself. But the other thing, too, is, I don’t want to rattle the cage of China. Then we get in basically into an arms race, for lack of better terms, with Russia and China over this. The thing that bothers me more than that—I’m less worried about missiles coming in than I am of gain of function viruses, because that is—you can sneak it in on the next United Airlines or American Airlines flight in from overseas and you can take out an entire population. So while we’re spending all these billions of dollars that—I worry about China and their labs or anybody else.
    SULLIVAN: The bio threats that we have are very real. So I would agree with you on that. But we’re a great nation, and we can focus on different threats at different times. But there’s no doubt that the threat of bioterrorism is something we’ve got to focus on. But the threats in terms of what the Golden Dome is going to focus on, they’ve increased. What do I mean by that? It used to be just intercontinental ballistic missiles that we were worried about. Now it’s hypersonics that China has done a pretty darn good job at. Now it’s cruise missiles. To be honest, right now, Greta, without this Golden Dome, we don’t have any defenses on hypersonics. We don’t have any defenses on cruise missiles. I think it’s the responsible thing to do when you see new threats developing—we have those new threats—to take action against them. That’s what the president is doing. That’s what we’re doing here in the Congress. We already have in the budget reconciliation a down payment on the Golden Dome for about $25 billion in the bill we’re working on right now. I am working on legislation that we’re introducing soon with Senator Cramer that we briefed the President on—the Golden Dome legislation—to make sure this is embedded in the law. We’re going to be introducing that soon. So you have the Congress backing this initiative, and leadership by the President to address new threats. They’re out there. I think that’s what responsible leaders do, and that’s what the President is doing.
    VAN SUSTEREN: Senator, thank you very much. I hope you come back next time. Let’s talk about how people come up with these numbers of how the cost is—who’s putting the price tags on this. We’ll talk about that next time. Senator Dan Sullivan from the great state of Alaska. Thank you, sir.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Lee Introduce OFF Act to Protect Farmers, Cut Government Waste

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) ) reintroduced the bipartisan Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act today to protect agricultural producers and cut government waste by making needed reforms to federal checkoff programs. Senators and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) cosponsored the legislation.

    “America’s farmers and ranchers deserve accountability and transparency when it comes to how their checkoff dollars are being spent,” said Senator Booker. “Checkoff dollars too often get channeled to lobbying groups who advocate against the best interests of many of the farmers who are required to pay into the program. This bipartisan bill will prohibit conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices in these checkoff programs and will ensure that these programs work better for our farmers and ranchers.”

    “America’s farmers are being ripped off by federal checkoff programs that take farmers’ money and play favorites with who they serve,” said Senator Lee. “These programs have a reputation for hurting farmers through financial fraud and deceptive practices. The OFF Act will implement accountability measures to cut waste, enforce transparency, and ensure that our farmers get the services they pay for.”

    “We must change the agricultural checkoff programs that put money in the hands of corporate lobbyists at the expense of farmers and ranchers,” said Senator Warren. “The OFF Act will put commonsense safeguards in place to ensure accountability and transparency for our farmers.”

    The OFF Act is endorsed by organizations representing over 200,000 American farmers and ranchers.

    “We commend Senators Booker and Lee for their important work on fighting for fairness in the Beef Checkoff,” said United States Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper. “USCA looks forward to this bill preserving the original intent of the Checkoff and implementing more transparency and accountability. The Checkoff must work for cattle producers who both support and benefit from it.”

    “America’s farmers and ranchers are fed up with their hard-earned money landing in the hands of corporate lobbyists,” said Farm Action Fund President and Missouri farmer Joe Maxwell. “We face enough hurdles as it is; the last thing we need is our own dollars extracted against our will and then used to illegally lobby on behalf of the largest corporations that are already squeezing us out of the market. It’s the USDA’s job to prevent this abuse, and they continue to fail us. The OFF Act’s common-sense reforms would ensure USDA performs stringent oversight so that farmers know exactly where their money is going.”

    “We are grateful to Senator Lee and Senator Booker for their work to bring accountability and transparency to the beef checkoff program and to recognize that the cattle and beef production systems in the USA are not one size fits all,” said Carrie Balkcom, Executive Director, American Grassfed Association. “The OFF act will allow cattle and beef producers of all production methods to be served by the dollars that they pay into the system.”

    “We applaud this bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Booker and Senator Lee to bring needed transparency and accountability to the antiquated beef checkoff program that has long been used to undermine the interests of America’s independent cattle producers,” said Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA.

    “We applaud the Members of Congress for their longterm leadership and for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral OFF Act and call on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to stand up for American family farmers by moving this legislation swiftly through their committees,” said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets. “If we’re going to be forced to pay into USDA’s checkoff programs then the very least we should expect is transparency, accountability, and oversight of our hard-earned dollars, and the OFF Act accomplishes just that.”

    “Scandal after scandal has proven the longterm corruption in the beef, dairy, and pork checkoff programs that continue to utilize our own tax dollars against us and the day of reckoning is here,” said Mike Schultz, Founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. “American family farmers are up in arms and are determined to see justice in the 119th Congress with the enactment of the OFF Act. Clean up decades of corruption.” 

    Background:

    Under checkoff programs, farmers are required to make payments into the programs which are meant to increase demand for their products through marketing and research. Slogans like “Got Milk?” and “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner,” are the result of checkoff program marketing campaigns that allowed agricultural producers to access large-scale advertising by promoting their product categories as a whole without individual branding. These campaigns are directed by multiple boards and are funded with the checkoff dollars collected from farmers.

    Unfortunately, some checkoff programs have exhibited fraudulent and unethical behavior. One investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that a subcontractor organization had used checkoff program funding to award its employees unauthorized bonuses totaling approximately $302,000 – then requested further funds to remedy its poor financial situation. More recent audits reveal the USDA’s oversight of checkoff programs still needs improvement.

    The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would:

    • Prohibit checkoff boards with an annual assessment revenue of over $20 million from entering into contracts to carry out checkoff activities with parties that lobby to influence government agriculture policy.
      • Exempt institutions of higher education.
    • Prohibit board members and employees of checkoff programs from engaging in any act that may involve a conflict of interest.
    • Prohibit engagement in anticompetitive activity, deceptive practices, or the disparaging of other commodities.
    • Require that contracts entered into by the board be recorded to describe goods and services provided/costs incurred.
    • Require checkoff boards to publicize a transparent budget.
    • Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Inspector General of USDA.
    • Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Comptroller General.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell, Padilla, Schiff Slam Trump’s Outrageous, Partisan Decision to Slash Flood Prevention Funding for Blue States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Work plan released by Army Corps zeroes out hundreds of millions of dollars for key WA, CA waterway construction projects, among others—steering hundreds of millions to red states
    ***WATCH: WA, CA Senators hold press conference calling out Trump’s decision*** 
    Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate delegations from Washington state and California joined together to call out President Trump’s outrageous, nakedly-political decision to zero out critical funding for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects in blue states like Washington and California while steering hundreds of millions more to red states.
    U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) blasted the Trump administration’s plans, released late last week, detailing how the Army Corps intends to zero out all Army Corps construction funding for the state of California, as well as $500 million for the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state. California was set to receive well over $100 million in funding for projects, and the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state was set to receive $500 million—in the Corps’ fiscal year 2025 budget request, in the Senate’s bipartisan draft fiscal year 2025 funding bill, and even in House Republicans’ draft fiscal year 2025 funding bill. But the Trump administration—using the new discretion afforded by the yearlong CR House Republicans drafted that was signed into law—ignored the draft bills and instead apportioned funding on a nakedly political basis.
    On Tuesday, a top Army Corps official testifying before the House failed to provide any justification for the decision and noted that the ultimate decision rested with Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), headed by Russ Vought.
    “We are here for a simple reason: Trump is robbing our states in broad daylight, and we are not going to be quiet about this,” said Senator Murray. “Last year, we worked across the aisle to hammer out a bipartisan understanding about what projects needed Army Corps construction funding. But President Trump is ripping up the roadmap we all agreed on—even House Republicans— and turning the Army Corps construction fund into his personal political slush fund. I don’t know how you get more obviously partisan than cutting California, the most populous state in the country, out of Army Corps construction funding entirely, and I just don’t know how you get more blatantly corrupt than zeroing out half a billion dollars for Washington state and completely shafting major work at the Howard Hanson Dam—work to address dam safety, water supply issues, and more.”
    “The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma received $45.4 million less in this budget,” said Senator Cantwell. “This is a huge problem for the next five years. We want to stabilize our ports. We want the Army Corps to do their investment on important waterway issues. We want to grow economic opportunity at an age when the Pacific economy is continuing to grow. We want to be on the doorstep of that access and to be efficient about delivering it, not giving those jobs away to Canada and Mexico.”
    “When anyone takes the oath of office, even Donald Trump as President of the United States, you become the president for all Americans — not just for red states or for blue states, but for every state and every community equally,” said Senator Padilla. “Yet, since the minute Donald Trump returned to office, he’s set out to politicize the office he holds, now trying to take hundreds of millions of dollars in flood prevention funding away from the states that happened to not vote for him and redirect them to projects in states that supported his election. It’s absolutely wrong. In California, that means cutting every last dollar of funding that was allocated for certain flood control projects. For a president so obsessed with fighting waste, fraud, and abuse, I know where he can find it. He just has to look in the mirror. Communities up and down California — including farmers and farm workers in the Central Valley and Pajaro — will now be at a higher risk of flooding because Donald Trump’s playing politics with federal funding.”
    “Natural disasters don’t discriminate based on whether a state is red or blue, and the administration and Congress shouldn’t either when it comes to protecting communities from natural disasters. This puts us on a very dangerous path, a path where anything can be on the chopping block for a partisan reason,” said Senator Schiff. “Today, it’s funding for these projects. Tomorrow, it could be another form of funding meant to save lives. There will be a domino effect of threats aimed at blue states. When you’re elected to be president of the United States, you’re not a half president. You’re not president for only half of the country, not if you do the job right. These baseless attacks threaten millions of people from both parties whose lives are endangered by floods.”
    Overall, the Army Corps’ plan would steer roughly $258 million dollars more in construction funding to red states while ripping away roughly $437 million dollars in construction funding for blue states, relative to the fiscal year 2025 request—which, historically, has been fully funded and was fully funded in the draft fiscal year 2025 bills produced on a bipartisan basis in the Senate and by House Republicans in the House. Trump’s work plan steers two-thirds of all Army Corps construction funding to red states while the budget request and House and Senate bills would have split that funding roughly evenly to red and blue states.
    Supporting the Howard Hanson Dam has been a longtime priority for Senator Murray, and she has pressed the Army Corps to prioritize funding for the Dam for years. Under the last administration, Senator Murray was able to secure critical funding boosts for Howard Hanson Dam, including $220 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $50 million to begin construction of a new facility in the funding bills for fiscal year 2024 that Murray wrote as then-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Back in 2010, Murray secured $44 million in badly needed emergency funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Howard Hanson Dam. In the draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill she cleared unanimously out of Committee last year, Senator Murray secured $500 million for the dam, which would support fish passage and address dam safety and water supply issues for cities like Tacoma and Covington. $500 million was also included in the House’s draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill. The funding is needed to execute a construction option on the contract for the project, which would have allowed construction to begin in 2026 as scheduled.
    Congress typically provides specific, detailed instructions in its annual appropriations bills on how the Army Corps (and so many other agencies) must spend funding provided by Congress. Annual appropriations bills note exactly what Army Corps projects must be funded and at what levels. But instead of working with Democrats to pass full-year appropriations bills that deliver for communities across America, Republicans in Congress put forth a yearlong continuing resolution (CR) that failed to include hundreds of specific directives on how funding must be spent. For months, Senator Murray warned of the dangers of passing Republicans’ slush fund CR, noting, for example, that it would allow the administration to zero out funding for Army Corps projects. 
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “We are here for a simple reason: Trump is robbing our states in broad daylight, and we are not going to be quiet about this.
    “We are not going to stop fighting for our communities, and we are going to make every single person understand what is happening—and what it means for our states, for our communities, and for this democracy.
    “Last year, we worked across the aisle to hammer out a bipartisan understanding about what projects needed Army Corps construction funding. And ‘we’—isn’t just the four of us here. It includes our Republican counterparts and even our House colleagues.
    “But President Trump is ripping up the roadmap we all agreed on—even the House Republicans—and turning the Army Corps construction funds into his personal political slush fund.
    “To give you a sense of how blatantly political this is, consider the fact that the Corps’ budget request last year, the bipartisan Senate bill my committee passed unanimously, and the House bill—yes the Republican House bill—all split this funding just about evenly—every one of them split it just about 50-50 between red and blue states.
    “Now compare that to Trump’s partisan takeover. This thing is totally lopsided—roughly two-thirds goes to red states and one-third for blue states.
    “This is not how it should work—an out-of-control Republican president punishing blue states and rewarding his friends instead.
    “I don’t know how you get more obviously partisan than cutting California, the most populous state in the country, out of Army Corps construction funding entirely. Trump slashed over $100 million for projects that reduce flooding for crying out loud! I mean who is pro-flooding?
    “And I just don’t know how you get more blatantly corrupt than zeroing out half a billion dollars for Washington state and completely shifting major work at the Howard Hanson Dam—work to address dam safety, water supply issues, and more. 
    “This is a project years in the making, and it is being slashed at the stroke of one careless pen, at the will of one corrupt President alone.
    “So why does President Trump think our constituents don’t need a safe water supply?
    “Why does President Trump think our constituents don’t need to be protected from floods?
    “It’s clear he simply doesn’t care.
    “But it’s actually worse than what I just laid out—because Trump is not just taking hundreds of millions of dollars from blue states for projects that we all agreed on. He is actually shoveling this money to projects that were not funded by either bill in either chambers—and that is nakedly political.
    “Suddenly, projects in or near his allies’ districts are funded.
    “So we need answers. And more than that, we need accountability.
    “Yesterday, a top Army Corps official testified before the House, and let me tell you: she had absolutely no acceptable—or even half-convincing—justification for these decisions.
    “In fact, she very explicitly stated that OMB—not the experts at the Corps—called the final shots.
    “That should raise everyone’s eyebrows—Russ Vought calling the shots for your constituents.
    “So we’re here to call this out—and we are going to fight tooth and nail to make this right, and make these critical projects whole.
    “I will tell you right now: I will not let defunding Howard Hanson Dam stand in any future bipartisan spending bill.
    “And, I will continue warning my colleagues about passing another partisan CR, which gave this administration that power to pick winners and losers like this in the first place.
    “I warned about exactly this before I voted against the CR—I warned that Trump could, and would, abuse the discretion in a slush fund
    CR to rob our communities. And now, here we are.
    “So every single member needs to pay close attention to what is happening here—and needs to speak out.
    “Because it may not be your state today but what happens when your governor disagrees with the President? What happens when you vote against him and your state loses out on funding?
    “Take my word—you don’t want to find out. We have to put a stop to this, and push back now.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: On Newsmax, Cornyn Condemns Antisemitism, Discusses Murder of Israeli Embassy Staff

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on Newsmax’s American Agenda, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed last night’s horrific murder of two staffers working for Israel’s embassy in D.C. that prompted Sen. Cornyn to call on the Department of Justice to investigate the details surrounding the suspect and the radical groups he was associated with. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
    “Antisemitism is on the rise and needs to be condemned.”
    “Violence has no place in this country.”
    “There’s been a course correction since the election of President Trump.”
    “A lot of the woke programs and policies of universities across this country were a big surprise to a lot of people – the blatant antisemitism in particular, the targeting of Jewish students. This is unacceptable.”
    “We have a new sheriff in town. We have a new Attorney General, a new FBI Director that can aggressively do investigations and prosecute individuals who violate the rights of our Jewish citizens, and I think that will go a long way to correcting the direction that we have been on for the last four years.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Cosponsors Bill to Help Lower Drug Costs for Maine People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to expand Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices and lower the costs of prescription medication nationwide. The Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act would also reduce federal spending by reaching lower-price agreements, and give the Department of Health and Human Services 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 was enacted in 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. 
    “Lifesaving prescription medications shouldn’t break the bank,” said Senator King. “Expanding Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices will go a long way toward helping Maine people get the medication they need at a price they can afford. The SMART Prices Act is a commonsense step that will help Maine people save money and stay healthy, and I thank my colleagues for putting Maine people first.”
    In addition to Senator King, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján, Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
    Senator King has been a leader in working to reduce prescription drug costs throughout his time in the United States Senate. He also recently cosponsored bipartisan legislation which would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to inform patients who are considering certain medications after seeing television commercials. He previously introduced legislation to prohibit pharmaceutical drug manufacturers from claiming tax deductions for consumer advertising expenses. Most recently, Senator King cosponsored the Safe and Affordable Drugs From Canada Act would give Maine people the ability to purchase their prescriptions directly from pharmacies across the northern border at the market rate of a less expensive marketplace. Additionally, Senator King introduced the Responsibility in Drug Advertising Act, which would prohibit direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of a new drug in the first three years after the drug receives Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
    He has also supported a number of commonsense bills to drive down the costs of prescription medication in the United States including the historic Inflation Reduction Act. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, insulin fees are capped at $35 per month, Medicare is able to negotiate drug prices, and a $2,000 yearly cap on out-of-pocket expenses has been instituted for Medicare recipients.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján: Congressional Republicans Just Voted to Rip Away Your Health Care and Nutrition Assistance for the Most Vulnerable

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    House-Passed Bill Includes Largest Cut to Medicaid in History

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after House Republicans passed President Trump’s sweeping plan to rip away health care and nutrition programs, close hospitals, cut incomes for working families, and deliver massive giveaways to the ultra-wealthy:

    “House Republicans just voted to gut Medicaid and SNAP – programs that thousands of New Mexicans rely on every day. Their bill would strip health care from working families, take meals away from children and seniors, and slash support for those who need it most – all while handing over billions in benefits to the wealthiest Americans.

    “In New Mexico, the consequences would be devastating. Slashing Medicaid means hospitals will close their doors, families across the state will lose access to care, and doctors, nursing homes, and home care providers will face deep payment cuts. House Republicans just voted to take away your health care and nutrition assistance – passing the largest cut to Medicaid and SNAP in our nation’s history.

    “It’s working families who will foot the bill. Americans earning less than $51,000 a year could actually see their incomes drop – while those at the top get a majority of the benefits. This bill lines the pockets of Elon Musk and his billionaire friends while ripping the rest of America off.”

    Impacts of the House GOP legislation include:

    • Cuts to Medicaid, jeopardizing health care access for millions;
    • Cuts to SNAP, reducing food assistance for children, families, and seniors;
    • Many Americans making less than $51,000 a year will lose money;
    • Delivers 65% of benefits to the wealthiest Americans;
    • According to a study by Wharton, the Republicans’ plan will add $4.6 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Statement on Murder of Israeli Embassy Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement on the murder of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim: 

    “Among the innocent victims of October 7th were young peacemakers. Last night, terrorist murder on the streets of Washington claimed the lives of two more. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were attending a discussion about responding to humanitarian crises, including in Gaza. Their alleged killer, grotesquely invoking the will of the Palestinian people, thought better that these peacemakers should die. 

    “My deepest sympathies are with those who loved Yaron and Sarah, with their colleagues at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, and with all working to bring Hamas’ reign of terror to an end. America must continue to stand with our ally, Israel, and with the Israeli people who continue to face existential threats from Iran and its proxies. I pray that no American will mistake last night’s anti-Semitic terrorism for advancing the cause of peace.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Baldwin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure More Americans Can Access Lifesaving Cancer Screenings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) re-introduced their bipartisan Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act to reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), a lifesaving program that provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for women who are low-income, uninsured, and underinsured who do not qualify for Medicaid.
    “Nearly every American’s life has been touched by a devastating cancer diagnosis, and early detection is one of the best tools we have to save lives. No Wisconsinite should miss regular screenings because of cost,” said Senator Baldwin. “That’s why I’m proud to lead this legislation with my Republican colleague to help detect cancers earlier, save lives, and ensure more Americans get the care they need at a price they can afford.”
    “Cancer prevention and screening programs are vital because the earlier the disease is caught, the better the prognosis,” said Senator Collins. “The NBCCEDP provides thousands of uninsured and underinsured Mainers with breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services each year. Our bipartisan legislation would reauthorize and strengthen this critical program, which has helped nearly 4,000 women in Maine receive a total of 8,198 screening tests over the past five years.”
    An estimated 319,750 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 43,000 will die from the disease this year alone. Since 1991, the NBCCEDP, a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state departments of health, has provided lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to more than six million women who are low-income, uninsured and underinsured who do not qualify for Medicaid.
    NBCCEDP has a proven record of cancer detection, detecting nearly 80,000 breast cancers and over 25,000 premalignant breast lesions. The program also provides public education, outreach, patient navigation, and care coordination to increase breast and cervical cancer screening rates and reach underserved populations. Without access to early detection programs, many people who are uninsured are forced to delay or forgo screenings, which could lead to late-stage breast cancer diagnoses.
    The SCREENS for Cancer Act would reauthorize the NBCCEDP for the first time in more than a decade to help ensure that the program reaches more eligible women. This reauthorization would provide flexibility to NBCCEDP grantees, allowing for a greater emphasis on implementing innovative evidence-based interventions and aggressive outreach to underserved communities through media, peer educators, and patient navigators. The bill authorizes $235 million per year for FY26 through FY30.
    This legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).
    The SCREENS for Cancer Act is endorsed by the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Indian Cancer Foundation, Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, Cancer Support Community, Check for a Lump, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Men Supporting Women with Cancer, NAACP, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Consortium of Breast Centers, Oncology Nursing Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, SHARE Cancer Support, Society of Breast Imaging, Susan G. Komen, Tigerlily Foundation, Triage Cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, and Young Survival Coalition.
    “Everyone should be able to get the breast health care they need when they need it, but barriers remain for far too many—the SCREENS for Cancer Act can change that,” said Molly Guthrie, VP of Policy & Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “To support healthier communities across the country, we must make high-quality screening and diagnosis more readily available to those who need it. This bill will provide access to vital services so that cancers can be caught earlier.”
    “Reducing the cancer burden for everyone requires improving access to cancer early detection and prevention services,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “By reauthorizing the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the SCREENS for Cancer Act will ensure that program grantees can continue to receive critical resources and maintain the flexibility needed to provide access to lifesaving screening, diagnostic and treatment services to those who need them most.”
    A one-pager on this legislation is available here. Full text of this bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Markey Slam Trump’s Science Funding Cuts, Highlights Threats to Research and Innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 22, 2025
    Senators concerned by Administration’s false claims of progress highlight over 250 NSF grants that have been canceled across Massachusetts.
    “We urge you to work with the NSF and the White House to reverse the Trump Administration’s budget cuts and the chaos the administration has created.”
    Text of Letters (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), detailing their concerns with the ongoing chaos and upheaval at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its impact on the future of scientific research and innovation across the United States and the hundreds of thousands of students, postdocs, and faculty in Massachusetts who depend on federal science funding.
    “As the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Science Advisor to President Trump, you are charged with ‘empowering researchers to achieve groundbreaking discoveries’ and safeguarding U.S. leadership in science,” wrote the senators. “Therefore, we write to seek answers regarding why the Trump administration has led the agency into such disarray.” 
    On February 12, 2025, the senators wrote to the NSF inquiring about the decision-making process for the recent disruptions to grant funding and highlighting their impact on research institutions in Massachusetts. In response, NSF told the senators, “The agency has not stopped working; in fact, we have continued to make significant progress over the past few weeks.”
    But since the beginning of the Trump Administration, the NSF appears to have awarded fewer new grants than in any of the five preceding years and recently announced that it would be returning all approved grant proposals back to the review stage, terminating more than 1,400 existing grants, freezing all new grant funding actions “until further notice,” and capping the percentage of NSF grants that institutions are able to spend on administrative and operational costs like facilities and equipment costs at 15 percent. Amidst all of this, on April 24, 2025, NSF Director Panchanathan abruptly stepped down, leaving the agency without a leader or clear direction.
    A federal judge issued an order to the NSF stopping the agency from freezing, blocking, or terminating grants, calling such actions “unlawful.” However, reports indicate that the NSF has significantly cut back on funding and awards activity—in what appears to be defiance of court orders—reversing years of progress and endangering the nation’s scientific future.
    Over 250 grants have been canceled across Massachusetts, with research institutions scrambling to support students who have lost NSF funding and beginning to reduce incoming class sizes for certain scientific programs by 50% due to funding cuts, pauses, and uncertainty. 
    More upheaval continues to plague the NSF, with Director Panchanathan unexpectedly stepping down, leaving the agency currently leaderless and without a clear future. Reports suggest that Panchanathan’s departure may have been triggered by impending budget and staff reductions at the recommendation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), making working for the NSF untenable. If the reports are accurate, the departure represents a clear rebuke of the Trump Administration’s approach to the U.S. science enterprise.
    “Given the critical importance of NSF funding to scientific progress in Massachusetts and across the country, we urge you to work with the NSF and the White House to reverse the Trump Administration’s budget cuts and the chaos the administration has created,” concluded the senators.
    Due to the troubling reports about the status of the grant review and funding process at the NSF and the impacts these disruptions have on researchers who depend on federal science funding, the senators demand a response by June 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Border Security Through Innovative Technology

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced the Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act, which would make Innovation Teams at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) permanent. In 2018, the CBP Commissioner created an Innovation Team to quickly deliver new and effective technologies to strengthen law enforcements’ ability to combat human and drug trafficking at the border.
    “Technology continues to improve our everyday lives, and it’s just common sense that we look for ways innovative technologies can help keep our border communities secure,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I am committed to helping CBP continue developing the tools they need to improve border security operations.”
    “President Trump secured the southern border in his first 30 days. Let’s secure the border forever by using new technology,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Let’s stop fentanyl from flowing into our country.”
    Investments in border security technology will strengthen CBP’s detection and response time to cases of trafficking and illicit border crossings in remote areas. In order to improve upon the development of these Innovation Teams, this legislation would make them a more permanent and long-lasting part of CBP operations, with included Congressional oversight.
    The Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act will guarantee that these enhanced technologies continue to be developed and implemented by:
    Authorizing the CBP Commissioner to maintain one or more CBP Innovation Teams to research and adapt commercial technologies to assist in border security operations and urgent mission needs;
    Requiring DHS to submit a plan to Congress that assesses the performance parameters and security impacts of potential technologies, as well as the deactivation of former CBP technology;
    Requiring CBP Innovation Teams to make standard operating procedures; and
    Requiring DHS to submit information to Congress that describes CBP Innovation Team activities and operating procedures.
    Read the full bill here. A similar version of this legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46) and Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas-08).
    Senator Cortez Masto has been working to crack down on cross-border crime since she was first elected Attorney General, when she worked with Nevada’s Republican governor, law enforcement, and Mexican officials to combat the rise of methamphetamine manufacturing and cross-border drug trafficking. In the Senate, she has authored legislation to combat drug trafficking online that was signed into law, and passed critical legislation to eliminate illegal fentanyl supply chains. She has also introduced legislation to crack down on the deadly fentanyl additive xylazine.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions Executive Branch Nominees During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 22, 2025
    Durbin pushed all nominees to answer if they believe a litigant—including the Executive Branch—can lawfully deny a court order
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Joseph Edlow, nominated to be the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Elliot Gaiser, nominated to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC); John Squires, nominated to be the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); and Stanley Woodward, nominated to be the Associate Attorney General, during a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing.
    Durbin began by asking all nominees if they believe a litigant—including officials in the Executive Branch—can lawfully defy a court order.
    Mr. Woodward first responded that he “take[s] issue with the premise of the question insofar as district court judges are not holding that President Trump’s orders are illegal or unconstitutional.”
    Durbin pushed back by saying, “If you would stick to my hypothetical—an approach that is very clear… Do you believe that officials in the Executive Branch can lawfully defy a court order, yes or no?”
    Mr. Woodward responded that he believes President Trump will follow “any” order of the Supreme Court.
    Mr. Squires also said that they believe the Supreme Court orders will be followed by the Executive Branch. However, neither answered as to whether a government official can lawfully defy a lower court order.
    “Do you believe any executive official can lawfully defy a court order?” Durbin asked.
    Mr. Gaiser responded “no.” Mr. Edlow responded to the question by saying, “I am not here [as an] attorney, but I am here as a [nominee].”
    Durbin responded, “I don’t believe you need a law degree to answer this question. Can an executive official lawfully defy a court order?”
    Mr. Edlow responded, “given the speculative nature [to] the question—my answer is the same.”
    “No response. This is what troubles me greatly. If we cannot agree on this as the basic premise of our rule of law, where in the world are we headed as a nation?” Durbin asked.
    Durbin then asked Mr. Squires about President Trump’s executive order against Perkins Coie—a law firm where he was a partner.
    “Mr. Squires, have you ever engaged in dishonest and dangerous activity at a law firm?” Durbin asked to Mr. Squires, and Mr. Squires responded that he has not.
    In March, President Trump issued an executive order targeting Perkins Coie by, among other actions, suspending the firm’s lawyers’ security clearances and terminating its federal contracts.
    “Did you read the position on your former law firm? The executive order claimed that the firm’s ‘dishonest and dangerous activity […] has affected this country for decades.’ The order further alleged that the firm is ‘undermining democratic elections, the integrity of our courts, and honest law enforcement.’ Did you see any evidence of that activity when you were a member of that firm?” Durbin asked.
    After first deflecting the question, Mr. Squires responded, “in my areas of responsibility, I saw no evidence of wrongdoing.”
    Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Statement On Republicans Voting To Overrule The Senate Parliamentarian

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 22, 2025
    Durbin: Today’s decision by my Senate Republican colleagues will have major long-term impacts for the Senate and the legislative filibuster
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding Senate Republicans voting to overrule a decision by the Senate Parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), therefore eliminating longstanding guardrails and paving the way for a future Senate majority to overrule the Parliamentarian to achieve its partisan goals.
    Last month, the Senate Parliamentarian, after analyzing the GAO’s opinion, ruled that Senate Republicans cannot use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn a waiver granted to California by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate its own vehicle emissions. However, Senate Republicans voted today to overrule the Senate Parliamentarian and the GAO regarding the CRA, which is unprecedented.
    “What my Senate Republican colleagues did today is a procedural nuclear option—a dramatic break from Senate precedent with profound institutional consequences.
    “Now that Senate Republicans have disregarded the GAO and the Parliamentarian’s decision, they have set a new precedent in the Senate—one that future Democratic majorities will be able to take advantage of as well. As I’ve said time and time again: there cannot be one set of rules for Republicans and another set of rules for Democrats.”
    Earlier today, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor and cautioned his Senate Republican colleagues from overruling a decision by the Senate Parliamentarian and the GAO.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Schumer, Padilla, Schiff, Raskin, Swalwell, and Johnson Introduce Bicameral Bill to Move US Marshals Service to Judicial Branch

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation that would address the potential for weaponization of the U.S. Marshals Service (“Marshals” or “USMS”) by President Trump and the executive branch. The Maintaining Authority and Restoring Security to Halt the Abuse of Law Act (MARSHALS Act) would move the Marshals from the operation and direction of the executive branch to the judiciary, ensuring that USMS can perform its primary mission of protecting federal judges and to obeying, executing, and enforcing federal court orders without political interference. U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), and House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts Ranking Member Hank Johnson (D-GA-04) introduced companion legislation in the House.

    President Trump and members of his Administration are systematically undermining judicial independence and the rule of law: the President himself called for impeachment of a federal judge who ruled against him, the Vice President has suggested that the executive branch does not need to follow court orders, and a federal judge has found that the Trump Administration demonstrated a “willful disregard” for its court order. Against the backdrop of Trump’s attacks on the rule of law, serious threats of violence against federal judges and their families have risen to alarming levels. Hundreds of unsolicited pizza deliveries have been sent to the homes of federal judges and their relatives across seven states in an apparent attempt to intimidate the judiciary. Many of the deliveries have been sent to judges who ruled against the Trump Administration and some have been placed in the name of Daniel Anderl, the son of New Jersey District Judge Esther Salas, who was fatally shot by an attorney who appeared in her courtroom.

    The USMS, the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, risks being ensnared in Trump’s efforts to upend our constitutional order. While the USMS’s “primary role and mission” is to protect the federal judiciary and obey and enforce its court orders, the USMS is under the control of the executive branch, specifically the U.S. Attorney General who in turn answers to the President. The potential conflict looming between the USMS’s duty to provide security for and carry out the orders of the federal judiciary and the Attorney General’s control of the Marshals will put our democracy to the test if the Administration directs the USMS to ignore a court order or otherwise prevents the USMS from carrying out its duties. For example, at a recent meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States, a federal judge expressed concern that the President could order the USMS to stop protecting judges.

    “President Trump has made it abundantly clear through his words and actions that he does not respect the law, court orders, the safety of our judges, or our institutions,” said Senator Booker. “Since 1789, the U.S. Marshals have valiantly protected our nation’s judges and enforced court orders. But their dual accountability to the executive branch and the judicial branch paves the way toward a constitutional crisis. To ensure these necessary functions are carried out, Congress must act to move the bureau into the judicial branch. Our U.S. Marshals are critical to protecting the rule of law, and they must be able to do their jobs without political interference.”

    “Trump’s tenure has been marked by corruption, chaos, and abuse, with his administration waging a war against the rule of law,” said Leader Schumer. “We will not allow Trump and Pam Bondi to interfere with the marshals as they enforce court orders, or weaponize them to intimidate government employees or American citizens. This legislation would protect the U.S. Marshals Service from abuse by the executive branch and ensure that law enforcement officers perform their essential duties.”

    “The Trump Administration has repeatedly undermined judicial independence and misused the U.S. Marshals Service for political gain,” said Senator Padilla. “They’ve politicized the Marshals Service by intimidating the former pardon attorney, threatening USAID officials, and potentially risking the security of federal judges. Our bill restores the Marshals Service’s independence by placing it within the judicial branch so it can fulfill its core mission of protecting judges and enforcing court orders without political interference.” 

    “We’ve seen threats against judges escalate as the president has threatened impeachment of those who rule against him. We have also seen the administration pull security from former officials who are still at risk because the president views them as enemies. And we have also seen the president ignore court orders he doesn’t like. The U.S. Marshals are central to preserving our democracy and upholding the rule of law. Marshals must be able to protect all judges, enforce all court orders and have the independence necessary to do their jobs,” said Senator Schiff.

    “We’re seeing a rise in outrageous attacks on federal judges simply for doing their jobs. Congress must act to make sure that our courts have reliable personal, physical and electronic security to count on, and that means security not subject to the discretionary whims of a president who may disrespect judicial independence and the rule of law. This legislation is necessary to fortify the independence of the judicial branch which is essential to the survival of strong democracy. Our legislation will ensure that the U.S. Marshals can perform their duties without political interference or coercive pressure from the president or anyone else in the executive branch,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

    “Judges should be in charge of their own security. Today, they’re not. And they’re facing more death threats than ever in the history of the judiciary. Today, independent judges must rely upon the executive branch, whose cases are often in front of them, for personal security. We’re in a constitutional crisis that necessitates a structural change to protect judges from political violence and intimidation,” said Congressman Swalwell. “I have seen how threats of violence to members of Congress pressure them into staying silent or influence their votes on the House floor. We cannot allow the same calculations to creep into the deliberations of independent judges. That is why I’m proud to introduce the MARSHALS Act to prevent political interference in the courts. In a time when we face a lawless president, giving the defendant command and control over the security of their judges is indefensible. That’s why my colleagues and I are moving forward to realign the U.S. Marshals Service under the judicial branch—the very institution they are sworn to protect.”

    “The independence of the judicial branch and the rule of law itself are under assault by Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies,” said Representative Johnson, ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet. “Putting control of the U.S. Marshals Service squarely within the judiciary goes a long way towards protecting the judicial branch from continued abuse by the Trump Administration.”

    Specifically, the MARSHALS Act would: 

    1. Create a U.S. Marshals Board modeled on the Board of the U.S. Capitol Police, the federal law enforcement agency that protects Congress. The Board would consist of the Chief Justice of the United States and the Judicial Conference of the United States.
    2. Authorize the Chief Justice, in consultation with the Board, to select a Director of the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Marshals in each judicial district of the United States and its territories.
    3. Allow the Marshals to continue their existing work of protecting judges and enforcing judicial subpoenas and court orders without political interference and preserve their other law enforcement functions (pursuing fugitives, seeking missing children, etc.) at the request of the Attorney General and with the consent of the Director of the Marshals

    The MARSHALS Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Court Accountability, Demand Justice, Fix the Court, People for the American Way, and Public Citizen.

    “As a co-equal branch of government the judiciary should be responsible for the security of judges and should not have to rely on the benevolence of the executive branch to enforce court decisions,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “But under our current system the courts rely almost exclusively on the executive branch for judicial security with the Attorney General overseeing the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice bureau responsible for protecting judges and enforcing court orders. With threats against judges both from litigants and public officials reaching historic highs, it is past time for this to change. We thank the lead sponsors for introducing the MARSHALS Act and encourage all senators to work together to ensure that the judiciary can fulfill its constitutional and statutory functions safely and without fear of political interference.”

    “This legislation is a critical bolster for checks and balances at a time when the Trump administration is defying court orders and leveling threats against judges simply for doing their jobs. If we want fair-minded judges to be able to defend the rule of law, it’s essential that we empower the judiciary to ensure compliance with its orders and protect judges from a dangerous surge in violent threats,” said Alex Aronson, co-founder and executive director, Court Accountability.

    “Trump has shown us that virtually nothing is out-of-bounds when it comes to eliminating checks on his dangerous, unpopular agenda. The Marshals must be able to carry out their duties without political interference and judges deserve to have protection regardless of how they rule on cases. This has been made even clearer by Trump and his allies’ threats and intimidation tactics against federal judges and others they view as their political enemies. We applaud the bill sponsors for introducing this bill and taking this important first step,” said Maggie Jo Buchanan, Interim Executive Director of Demand Justice.

    “Presidents supervise more than a dozen law enforcement agencies, but the fact that the primary mission of one of them is to protect members of another branch has never made a whole lot of structural sense. I applaud the bill’s sponsors for crafting a bill to move that agency, the U.S. Marshals Service, from Article II to Article III, thereby ensuring that judges’ safety isn’t subject to interbranch politics or other distractions — all the more important today, as both Democratic and Republican appointees face unprecedented threats,” Fix the Court executive director Gabe Roth said.

    “The US Marshals Service plays an essential role in enforcing federal court orders and protecting federal judges. Now, with a president who is undermining the rule of law and challenging courts’ authority,  coupled with a rising tide of threats against federal judges, the integrity of the Marshals Service is more important than ever. Without fair and independent courts, our freedom to speak our minds and challenge those in power will come to an end. Judges must be able to freely and fairly interpret the law and the constitution without fear for theirs and their families’ safety. We cannot wait until it’s too late to protect our courts. We congratulate Senator Booker, Leader Schumer, Senator Schiff, and Senator Padilla on introducing this important legislation and lifting up the need for robust protections for the safety and sanctity of our federal courts,” said People For the American Way, President Svante Myrick.

    “This commonsense legislation from Leader Schumer, Senator Booker, Senator Schiff, and Senator Padilla will simply ensure that the judiciary’s decisions are followed. In this era of executive branch court defiance, a repositioning of the marshals within the judiciary branch is a sensible move to protect the prerogatives of our coequal branches of government. Public Citizen applauds this smart policy,” said Lisa Gilbert, Public Citizen, Co-President.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Statement Condemning the Antisemitic Terrorist Attack in Washington, DC

    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 Statement Condemning the Antisemitic Terrorist Attack in Washington, DC

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement after the murder of two Israeli embassy employees outside of the Capital Jewish Museum:

     “On behalf of Arkansans, I extend deepest condolences for the tragic loss of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim to their families and our Israeli friends. I condemn these antisemitic murders—and the wave of depraved antisemitic incitement that contributed to this atrocity. This terrorist attack mere blocks from the Capitol is what they mean when they chant ‘globalize the intifada.’ We must not only get justice for these murders, but also oppose—bravely, strongly, and consistently—antisemitism in all its forms.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Announces $30.2 Million from Department of Transportation for 2024 Flood Damage Reimbursements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today celebrated the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) announcement of $30.2 million in new emergency relief funding to the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help Vermont communities impacted by the July 2024 floods. The funding, allocated through DOT’s Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program, will reimburse the state for costs associated with repairing roads, culverts, headwalls, bridges, and trails.  
    “The floods in July 2023 and July 2024 were catastrophic—they hammered communities and left the infrastructure we rely on every day—roads, bridges, culverts, and more—in really rough shape. Thankfully, the Vermont Agency of Transportation worked through the storms and long after to repair and replace infrastructure as quickly as possible. This $30.2 million from the Department of Transportation will be a big help here in Vermont. I was proud to help pass and secure this funding and I am thankful for former President Biden’s commitment to our flood recovery,” said Senator Welch.   
     “Vermont has experienced more than its fair share of flooding in the last two years, leaving many communities without the financial resources needed to repair infrastructure,” said Governor Phil Scott. “This funding will help us build back smarter and more resilient and I’m appreciative of Senator Welch’s work to bring this funding to Vermont.” 
    Senator Welch was a champion of disaster aid and emergency relief funding for flood-stricken communities across Vermont. Senator Welch helped shape and pass the comprehensive disaster aid package. The disaster aid package was signed by President Biden in December 2024.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Merkley, Tokuda Renew Fight to Hold Soldiers Accountable for Wounded Knee Massacre

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 22, 2025
    Legislation would strip Medal of Honor from soldiers who participated in the slaughter of hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children at the Wounded Knee massacre
    Text of the Bill (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), reintroduced the Remove the Stain Act. The bill would revoke the Medal of Honor from the soldiers who perpetrated the Wounded Knee massacre on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota on December 29, 1890. During the massacre, U.S. soldiers slaughtered hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children—most of them unarmed. Twenty U.S. soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor—the highest military decoration—for their actions at Wounded Knee. 
    Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) co-sponsored the bill. 
    As the country’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor is awarded in the name of Congress for “gallantry beyond the call of duty.” The 101st Congress (1989-1990) adopted a concurrent resolution acknowledging the 100th anniversary of the massacre and “expresse(d) its deep regret on behalf of the United States” for the “terrible tragedy.” 
    Congress has rescinded Medals of Honor before. The Remove the Stain Act would do the same for perpetrators of the Wounded Knee Massacre, to respect and honor the Lakota men, women, and children who lost their lives, advance justice, and take a step toward righting a profound wrong in our nation’s history.
    “We cannot be a country that celebrates and rewards horrifying acts of violence against Native people,” said Senator Warren. “Congress must recognize how shameful this massacre was and take an important step toward justice for the Lakota people.”
    “We must acknowledge our history and take concrete steps to right historic wrongs from America’s darkest chapters,” said Senator Merkley. “Moving forward together as a nation demands we remember, reflect on, and work to rectify the abhorrent massacre of hundreds of innocent Lakota men, women, and children at Wounded Knee. This horrific injustice is not deserving of our nation’s highest award for military valor, and our long-overdue bill helps finally set the record straight by revoking these medals.”
    “The massacre of hundreds of unarmed Lakota men, women, and children at Wounded Knee was a crime against humanity, and honoring the perpetrators with the Medal of Honor adds insult to that deep wound. The Remove the Stain Act is about facing the truth, no matter how painful,” said Representative Tokuda. “I’m proud to introduce this bill to revoke medals that should never have been given, because healing begins with honesty—and the Lakota people deserve nothing less.” 
    Senators Warren and Merkley first introduced the Remove the Stain Act in the 116th Congress, and again in 117th Congress. Former Representatives Denny Heck (D-Wash.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), and Paul Cook (R-Calif.) led the bill in the House in the 116th Congress and Congressman Kaiali’i Kahele (D-Hawaii) led the bill in the 117th Congress.
    The Remove the Stain Act is supported by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Yankton Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, the Native Organizers Alliance, Four Directions, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and the Spotted Elk, Afraid of Hawk, Catches, and LeBeau families  — alongside other stakeholders. It is also supported by coalitions of veterans, including Veterans for Peace, VoteVets, Common Defense, and Veterans for American Ideals.
    “For decades, NCAI and Tribal Nations have steadfastly called on Congress to revoke the Medals of Honor awarded to the U.S. 7th Cavalry for their role in the Wounded Knee Massacre. The continued recognition of those responsible for the brutal slaughter of our Lakota relatives—women, children, and elders—remains a shameful stain on our nation’s conscience. Our ancestors and their survivors have long awaited justice, and taking action on this issue is long overdue. We are deeply grateful to Senator Warren and Senator Merkley for reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act, a critical step toward condemning the horrific atrocities committed at Wounded Knee. NCAI has and will continue to advocate for the passage and signing into law of this important legislation. We remain committed to working alongside our partners to ensure justice, healing, and reconciliation for all Native American communities affected by this historic injustice,” said the National Congress of American Indians. Read the full letter of support here.
    “As President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, I express my Tribal Nation’s gratitude to Senator Warren for again reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act. The Act will revoke the Medals of Honor inappropriately awarded to soldiers for slaughtering hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children at the Wounded Knee Massacre.  This bill would not only help recognize a monstrous injustice but also preserve the integrity I and so many others associate with being awarded a Medal of Honor for service to the United States of America,” said Frank Star Comes Out, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Read the full letter of support here.
     “My Uncí (grandmother) Marcella LeBeau served as a U.S. Army nurse in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge, she strongly advocated for the Remove the Stain Act to rescind the Wounded Knee Massacre Medals of Honor. She said, ‘there is a pervasive sadness among our Lakota People due to the tragic loss of our Relatives at Wounded Knee. 
    The Remove the Stain Act takes the significant step of revoking Medals of Honor that were unjustly awarded to U.S. soldiers who murdered over 350 children, women and men at the Wounded Knee Massacre. We commend Senator Warren and Senator Merkley’s leadership and commitment to ensuring that the wrongs of the past are acknowledged and addressed,” said Ryman LeBeau, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Read the full letter of support here. 
    “December 29, 2025, will mark 135 years since the Wounded Knee Massacre, when historians estimate that members of the U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Regiment killed at least 150 women and children — some estimates go even higher. In 1990, to commemorate one hundred years since the massacre, the 101st Congress passed a concurrent resolution describing the victims murdered and wounded as ‘tragic death and injury,’ going on to express ‘… its deep regret on behalf of the  United States to the descendants of the victims and survivors and their respective tribal communities…’ I was angered but, unfortunately, not surprised that soldiers received awards for their role in the atrocities. I am outraged that, despite our government’s explicit recognition of the crimes, those who refuse to face the ugly and racist parts of U.S. history prevail. It is past time for acknowledgement and accountability. Revoke the awards now,” said Michael T. McPhearson, U.S. Army Captain Combat Veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, with Veterans for Peace. 
    “I support the Remove the Stain Act as a critical step toward justice for the victims of the Wounded Knee Massacre and their descendants. Rescinding these Medals of Honor will restore the integrity of this prestigious award and honor the truth of our nation’s history. This legislation is a necessary measure to acknowledge historical injustices, promote healing for Native American communities, and demonstrate a commitment to equity and reconciliation,” said Chairman Garret Renville of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe.  
    “As direct blood descendants of several ancestors, including the leader, Chief Spotted Elk, a Minneconjou treaty signer, we strongly support the Remove the Stain Act. Our ancestors were killed in one of the largest and most notorious massacres in history, and the Medals of Honor awarded to the soldiers responsible for their deaths continue to dishonor their memory. It is well-documented that the soldiers deliberately targeted women and children with cannons, killing innocents and even their own men in the chaos. Our people, unaware of their fate that day, were brutally massacred, and this alone is reason enough to rescind the medals. For the Spotted Elk Tiospaye, the Medals of Honor symbolize not only the massacre but also the erasure of our ancestors’ dignity and legacy. Rescinding them is a critical step in correcting history and ensuring that our ancestors, Spotted Elk and Flying Horse, and the others are remembered as leaders, not as casualties of a government that celebrated their killers. Spotted Elk’s photograph, taken after his death, where he is frozen in the snow, has become a grim icon. Yet, to this day, no meaningful effort has been made to correct the errors surrounding his true name or history. He continues to be confused with an Oglala sub-chief who died nine years after the Wounded Knee Massacre. This long-standing confusion compounds the burden and grief we carry as direct descendants, dividing our people and perpetuating false narratives that tragically impact families in ways too painful to fully express here. We are grateful for your work on the Remove the Stain Act to rescind the medals and ask for your continued assistance in correcting this grave injustice. We stand with you in supporting the removal of these Medals as a necessary step toward healing and justice, and we deeply appreciate your leadership in making this long-overdue change possible,” said Calvin and Michelle Spotted Elk of the Spotted Elk Family. Read the full letter of support here.
    “I am the living Descendant of my Grandfather Richard Afraid of Hawk/Cetan Kokipa, who was one of the 1890 Wounded Knee Descendant Survivor. At the age of 16/17 years of age. The tragedy of the massacre of Uphan Gleska/Spotted Elk/Big Foots Band. From Our Homelands of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Was a planned attack directed by Colonel James Forsyth. And his 7th Calvary Unit. A senseless act of cowardice. To this day the unjust wrong done by the US Government/7th Calvary. Can be felt the heavy sadness. Upon the living Descendants. The removal of the Medals of Honor will be righteous and just cause. As this was indeed a Massacre done to our Relatives. So that the grieving and healing process will begin. As a Lakota Nation as a whole. Thank you/Pilamaye for your passion and hard work. To correct the wrong of Our Relatives,” said Marlis Afraid of Hawk of the Afraid of Hawk Family. 
    “As Co-Executive Directors of Four Directions Native Vote Barb & I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley and Representative Jill Tokuda for reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act. We and the descendants continue to think of our relatives who faced a terrible massacre at Wounded Knee. We must show the World these types of actions are not condoned and this legislation will start a healing process for the people and Nations,” said OJ and Barb Semans of Four Directions Native Vote. Read the full letter of support here.
    “As Chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes and Chairman of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, I want to express my gratitude on behalf of COLT and SWO to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley and Representative Jill Tokuda for reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act in the 119 Congress. The Oglala, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes as well as the 7 other Tribes in South Dakota all have Wounded Knee Descendants within our territories and the passage of this bill will create healing for the Descendants and our Nation,” said J. Garret Renville, Chairman Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT). 
    “Rescinding these Medals of Honor – awarded for actions that embody dishonor – is essential to maintaining the distinction of our nation’s highest military award. Those who have been earned the Medal of Honor for true acts of valor in the course of their military service should not be in the same company as the twenty individuals awarded for participation in the Wounded Knee Massacre. It’s long past time for Congress to act and rescind those Medals. We applaud Senator Warren’s leadership and encourage every Member to join her in this effort,” said Mary Kaszynski, VoteVets Director of Government Relations. 
    “History lives and breathes in the stories we tell and is buried by those we ignore. The Wounded Knee Massacre is a story we cannot forget. It was not an act of bravery but a brutal attempt to erase the Lakota people from their land. And yet, rather than mourning the over 300 lives lost, we rewarded the very hands that pulled the triggers with Medals of Honor. The Remove the Stain Act is not about rewriting history—it is about recognizing the truth and acknowledging our rights, as Native peoples, to live freely in our homelands. The Native Organizers Alliance stands with the Tribal Nations and leaders in demanding justice. The revocation of these medals will not undo the tragedy of Wounded Knee, but it will be a step toward telling the truth about what happened that day. It is time for Congress to act, not out of favor, but out of respect for the Lakota people and the truth,” said Tre Nez, Director of Policy at the Native Organizers Alliance. 
    Additional letters of support for the Remove the Stain Act are available from the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association, Inc., Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, and a Descendant of the Wounded Knee Massacre Violet Catches.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Klobuchar Lead 25 Colleagues on Legislation to Expand Medicare Drug Price Negotiation and Lower Costs for Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) reintroduced the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, legislation to 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. 
    This Senators’ legislation builds on their provision passed into law in 2022 which empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time, unleashing the power of 53 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D Drug Coverage. The SMART Prices Act would extend 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 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and by increasing the discount that Medicare is allowed to negotiate. 
    “Far too many Americans struggle to pay for the prescription drugs they need,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with my friend and colleague, Senator Klobuchar, and reintroduce the SMART Prices Act. This bill will build on the Inflation Reduction Act by giving Medicare the ability to negotiate the prices of more prescription drugs and lower the cost of the prescription drugs Vermonters need, faster.”  
    “No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and affording their medications. This bill builds on our progress to lower prescription drug costs by accelerating Medicare’s ability to negotiate prices for more drugs on behalf of the American people,” said Senator Klobuchar. “We will make prescriptions more affordable and save taxpayers more money by continuing to take on Big Pharma’s price gouging.” 
    According to preliminary estimates from a model by West Health and Verdant Research, if the SMART Prices Act was enacted in 2026, it would save 33% more by 2030 than current law. It would also allow Medicare to begin negotiations earlier and bring down the price of more expensive drugs.  
    In addition to Senators Welch and Klobuchar, the SMART Prices Act is cosponsored by 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.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), 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-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). 
    “Hard-working Nevadans often struggle to afford the high prices of the medications that they rely on,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This common-sense fix builds on the legislation, passed and signed into law by Democrats, that caps insulin at $35 a month and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices. We will continue to deliver real solutions that lower costs for American families and end Big Pharma’s price gouging.” 
    “People in the United States are paying four times more than people in similar countries pay for life-saving medications,” said Senator Durbin. “Democrats took the first step to address this issue three years ago by passing the Inflation Reduction Act, to enable Medicare to negotiate with Big Pharma to lower costs for seniors—while every Republican opposed these savings. Now, instead of focusing on lowering prices for Americans, Republicans in Congress are focused on cutting Medicaid to give tax breaks to billionaires. Senate Democrats are introducing the SMART Prices Act tohelp lower the outrageous cost of prescription drugs, expand on the progress we have made, and improve health care for Americans.”  
    “No one should be forced to choose between paying for lifesaving prescription drugs and putting food on the table,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This vital, commonsense legislation would help lower the unacceptably high cost of prescription medication for seniors on Medicare. I’m proud to champion this effort, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get it passed.” 
    “In 2023, my colleagues and I took on Big Pharma and moved to help lower prescription drug costs by finally allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of medications. But rather than build upon this important work, the Trump Administration wants to add loopholes and exemptions that weaken this program and result in higher prices for patients,” said Senator Hassan. “This legislation rejects the Trump Administration’s handouts to Big Pharma and instead accelerates the drug price negotiation efforts that will help more people afford the medications that they need.”   
    “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 Senator 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.” 
    “Lifesaving prescription medications shouldn’t break the bank,” said Senator King.“Expanding Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices will go a long way toward helping Maine people get the medication they need at a price they can afford. The SMART Prices Act is a commonsense step that will help Maine people save money and stay healthy, and I thank my colleagues for putting Maine people first.” 
    “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 Senator 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 amount of money Minnesotans are paying for their medications is out of control & unsustainable,” said Senator Smith. “This legislation would empower Medicare to negotiate lower prices, faster — and for more prescription drugs. And yet here we are, with President Trump and Congressional Republicans sabotaging Medicare’s power to negotiate lower drug prices at every turn, all while raising prices for seniors and giving handouts to Big Pharma. I’ll keep working to get this bill passed and make sure everyone has access to the medication they need.” 
    “No one should ever have to decide between filling a life-saving prescription and putting gas in the tank or food on the table,” said Senator Merkley. “The Inflation Reduction Act was an important step forward to make sure Americans get the best price, not the worst, for several prescription drugs. President Trump has said he wants to lower drug costs for families and seniors across America, and Senate Democrats are offering real proposals to crack down on Big Pharma’s sky-high drug prices.” 
    “Drug companies have had a free pass to gouge seniors for decades and people in Connecticut are paying the price,” said Senator Murphy. “It’s time to put an end to the price games. This legislation would give the federal government power to negotiate drugs more quickly after they are approved and with more substantial cost-savings for patients. It’s time to stop the abuse.” 
    “The prices Americans pay for many medications that treat cancer, diabetes, and other common conditions have actually gone down in recent years thanks to the law Democrats passed in 2022 that forced Big Pharma to the negotiating table with Medicare for the first time ever,” said Senator Murray. “The SMART Prices Act would build on that important progress and expand these savings to more medications, and more people. Donald Trump is lying and making empty promises when it comes to lowering drug costs—meanwhile Republicans are pushing to pass a mega-bill that would rip away health care from millions of people. I’m going to keep fighting to make sure no person is forced to choose between putting food on the table and buying life-saving medication.”     
    “No one should have to choose between medicine and groceries. Multi-billion-dollar drug corporations are making obscene profits off of seniors and working families struggling just to get by,” said Senator Fetterman. “The SMART Prices Act is not complicated: it will boost Medicare’s ability to negotiate fair deals with pharmaceutical companies and bring drug prices down. Big Pharma lobbyists might hate it, but regular people sure as hell won’t.” 
    “One of the biggest expenses for seniors on fixed incomes is prescription drug costs. I helped include provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to lower the prices seniors pay at the pharmacy counter. The SMART Prices Act builds on this progress by strengthening Medicare’s ability to use bulk purchasing power to negotiate lower prices,” said Senator Reed. 
    “Through the Inflation Reduction Act, we stood up to Big Pharma and took important steps to lower health care costs for seniors – empowering Medicare to negotiate lower prices for medications that millions of older Americans rely on. But there’s more we can do. This legislation expands Medicare’s negotiating leverage to cut the prices of even more drugs – a commonsense way to provide more health care cost relief for seniors while saving billions in taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Van Hollen. 
    “While Republicans in Congress are jamming through a bill that would rip health care away from 14 million Americans and raise drug prices for seniors, we’re doubling down on lowering drug prices and cutting costs for families. We’ll keep fighting to make sure people have access to the life-saving care and medications they need,” said Senator Warren. 
     “As Republicans move to cut health care, Democrats are working to lower health care and prescription drug costs for our nation’s seniors,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Our SMART Prices Act will build on progress made in our Inflation Reduction Act and strengthen Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices, providing welcome relief to seniors living on fixed incomes.” 
    The bill is endorsed by Center for American Progress, FamiliesUSA, Patients For Affordable Drugs NOW, Protect Our Care, and Public Citizen.  
    “The SMART Prices Act builds on the progress of the Inflation Reduction Act to help bring down today’s exorbitant prescription drug prices,” said Andrea Ducas, Vice President of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress. “The bill is an important step forward in holding pharmaceutical companies accountable and ensuring seniors are paying fair and affordable prices for life-saving medications.” 
    “One in three Americans can’t afford their prescription drugs. We hear from patients every day who are rationing medication or skipping doses because of high drug costs. The SMART Prices Act is a welcome step that builds on the historic drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act byincreasing the number of drugs subject to Medicare negotiation – a proposal that has broad support from Americans on both sides of the aisle. We are grateful to Senator Klobuchar for her tireless leadership on this critical issue and are eager to expand Medicare negotiation to secure a better deal for more patients on Medicare,” said Merith Basey, Executive Director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. 
    “Senators Klobuchar and Welch are fighting for seniors and their families by bringing down the high cost of prescription drugs,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Americans across the political spectrum support Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices and want to see the program expand. Instead, Trump and his cronies in Congress are charging ahead with their budget that not only guts Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to fund billionaire tax breaks, but hands billions in give-aways over to Big Pharma. The contrast couldn’t be more clear. If Republicans are serious about wanting to lower drug prices and save taxpayer dollars, they should join Senators Klobuchar and Welch in passing the SMART Prices Act and deliver real, lasting relief for the American people.” 
    “The SMART Prices Act would save billions of dollars by empowering Medicare to negotiate lower prices for more patients sooner. We applaud Senators Klobuchar, Welch, and cosponsors for their leadership. Congressional Republicans should follow their lead instead of seeking to undermine Medicare drug price negotiations and take away health insurance from millions of our society’s most vulnerable people,” said Robert Weissman, Co-President of Public Citizen. 
    Learn more about the SMART Prices Act. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins “The Evening Edit”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    “Now, they’re [Democrats] trying to make up for it by coming after people that actually know what they’re doing and wanna help this country. And that’s Marco Rubio.”
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined “The Evening Edit” on Fox Business to discuss Democrats’ attacks toward Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his hearings on Capitol Hill this week.
    Excerpts from Senator Tuberville can be found below, and his full remarks can be found on Rumble or YouTube.

    MacDONALD: “Joining us now for reaction from Senate Armed Services—he’s Alabama Senator, Tommy Tuberville. Senator, it’s always great to have you on. What do you make of what happened with Marco Rubio—the Secretary’s—testimony today?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, number one, he’s standing up for the American people. He’s standing up for our country. And he’s standing up for our Constitution. You never see that from the Democratic Party who’s actually turned into the party of cartels and criminals—it’s absolutely amazing to me we have a plan. There was no plan, Liz, here for four years. People were running amuck. There was no rudder on their ship. They had no clue where they were going. Now, they’re trying to make up for it by coming after people that actually know what they’re doing and wanna help this country. And that’s Marco Rubio.”
    MacDONALD: “He also said that U.S. foreign aid, that it’s not a charity that it sits squarely inside U.S. national interests overseas. What did you make of that when you heard it?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, I thought it was a great comment because people look at us as somebody that—in terms of the Democrats—of somebody that’s selfish. They don’t do things for other people. We help more people than all the other countries combined. And he just said that, and I’m proud for Marco Rubio bringing that out because very few people like to talk about it. The American taxpayers really help millions of people all over the world and it needs to be advertised every day, but you would never know it if you’d ask the Democrat[s] because they think that the American people should be giving everything away and not keeping anything for themselves to make them stronger as a family.”
    MacDONALD: “So, when you saw the Democrats perform, do you think any of them landed any punches?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Oh, no. No. There again, Marco Rubio, he could debate all of those people all day long and they’d never get anything over on him. He’s much smarter than they are. He believes—again, when you have a game plan, when you have an idea of what you wanna do—an outline—and address the future of your job, you can handle whatever they put out at you, but they were scrambling. They were trying to make him look bad. I’d put Marco Rubio in front of any of these people and he would win every time.”
    MacDONALD: “Senator Tuberville, it’s always a pleasure and it’s great to see you again. Thanks for joining us tonight.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: Republican Tax Bill Is ‘Largest Wealth Transfer In American History’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON — In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) called out House Republicans for holding a committee meeting at 1 a.m. to quietly advance then pass a bill that would cut health care and reduce food assistance for millions, as well as promote a dying and dirty fossil fuel energy agenda — all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.

    “This is a sort of general rule in politics, which is that if you start your meeting at 1 a.m., you’re probably not proud of what you’re doing,” Senator Schatz began. “Republicans in the House know that the bill that they are considering is super unpopular. But they’ve been ordered to pass it anyway. That is what’s happening on the other side of the Capitol right now. House Republicans have convened the Rules Committee at 1 a.m. to advance their tax bill. And it’s because they know this bill stinks.”

    “It is the largest wealth transfer in American history… They’re literally taking from the poor — people who don’t have enough money — and shoveling straight into the pockets of people who already have more than enough. This bill is about making the richest people to ever walk the earth even richer,” Senator Schatz continued. “How do they plan to do that? By kicking 14 million Americans off of health insurance and denying food assistance to millions more. People will be turned away at hospitals and go to bed hungry — all so that billionaires have a bit more.”

    “Even the biggest cuts to Medicaid in history are still not enough to cover the cost of these enormous giveaways. So the Republicans have turned to one of their favorite punching bags: solving the climate crisis… This is going to raise costs for Americans,” said Senator Schatz. “And so there is a reason they convened at 1 a.m., and it is not because that’s prime time in Hawai‘i. They didn’t convene at 1 a.m. because they like to see each other past midnight. They convened at 1 a.m. because they are about to pass one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation that has ever been passed out of the United States House of Representatives.”

    The full text of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.

    This is a sort of general rule in politics, which is that if you start your meeting at 1 a.m., you’re probably not proud of what you’re doing. Now, there are some instances in which you start the meeting at 7 p.m. and it goes long, and then you have to vote at whatever hour you finish. But to convene at 1 a.m. is an intentional thing, right? It is to say: “I would very much like if nobody saw what we were up to.” And that’s exactly what happened at 1a.m. today, Wednesday morning.

    Republicans in the House know that the bill that they are considering is super unpopular. But they’ve been ordered to pass it anyway. That is what’s happening on the other side of the Capitol right now. House Republicans have convened the Rules Committee at 1:00 a.m. to advance their tax bill. And it’s because they know this bill stinks.

    For starters, it is the largest wealth transfer in American history. Think about that—been a lot of wealth transfers in American history, but this is the biggest one in terms of the tax code. It’s not like they’re redistributing wealth among the wealthy. They are literally taking from the poor—people who don’t have enough money—and shoveling it straight into the pockets of people who already have more than enough. This bill is about making the richest people ever to walk the Earth even richer.

    How do they plan to do that? By kicking 14 million Americans off of health insurance and denying food assistance to millions more. People will be turned away at hospitals and go to bed hungry—all so that billionaires have a bit more.

    You do not need fancy polling to tell you that this is super unpopular. And so Republicans have decided to fix that problem by convening the hearing in the middle of the night, hoping that people will not notice.

    The plain facts of the bill are so egregious. And as I started to write these remarks, I had a problem, which is: how do you describe this thing accurately and not sound like you’re frothing at the mouth, like a partisan, and sort of overstating the case? Because this really is kicking 14 million people off of Medicaid, kicking millions more off of food assistance, and then that is the savings that is generated in order to fund these tax cuts for billionaire corporations and the wealthiest people in the United States.

    And what happens if something is both true and sounds like a partisan accusation? But that’s where we’re at. This is actually what they’re trying to do. And here’s the thing—even the biggest cuts to Medicaid in history are still not enough to cover the cost of these enormous giveaways. So the Republicans have turned to one of their favorite punching bags: solving the climate crisis.

    Never mind that hundreds of billions of dollars are being invested in clean energy across the country—mostly in Republican states and districts. Never mind that those investments are creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. Never mind that even if you don’t care about any of that, there is a basic principle in running a smart economy and running an investable economy—and that is that when the private sector makes an investment on the basis of the tax code, and they are in the middle of that investment, that you can’t pull the rug out from under them.

    And the reason is very simple. Besides fairness—and besides the fact that we are undermining progress toward actually addressing an existential crisis for the planet—it also makes the United States very hard to invest in. Because if you are a business and you are looking at the federal tax code and you’re saying, “I’m going to make a five-, maybe ten-year investment—capital investment—chips, manufacturing, climate, agriculture, hospitality, real estate, transportation, infrastructure, whatever it may be,” but you’re doing it on the basis of what the federal tax code says, and then your investment committee, the board of directors, whomever it may be, will say: “Well, how do we know these things are going to stay on the books?”

    And the normal answer is, “Well, come on—the federal government is not going to pull out a tax incentive structure in the middle of your investment and construction cycle.” And the truth is: yes, they are. And so this doesn’t have just climate implications or economic implications in terms of the specific projects. It actually has to do with how stable of an investment climate we establish in the United States of America.

    You know, we’re no longer doing “all of the above.” The argument that we used to have between the political parties was: Democrats would say, “We’ve got to transition to clean energy.” Republicans would say, “No, let’s do clean energy, but let’s also do these other things.” But now the Republican position is picking winners and losers—and basically riding the losers into the ground.

    Here’s the very tough truth: coal is on the way out, whether you like it or not. But Trump and Republicans would rather revive it for a few more years just to squeeze a couple more years of profitability out of it. Because, after all, their capital investments are fully amortized. So a couple more years of profitability means no more investment, but a couple more years of revenue. And so that’s what they’re doing.

    This is going to raise costs for Americans. Let’s be clear—this is going to raise costs for Americans.

    There was a time—and I was part of these debates in the state of Hawai‘i—there was a time when there was a tradeoff between how much consumers had to pay and our climate objectives. But those trends have changed. So now wind is the cheapest form of energy. Nuclear is among the cheapest forms of energy. Solar is among the cheapest forms of energy.

    For me, in the state of Hawai‘i, to bring in low-sulfur fuel oil on a fuel tanker and then light it on fire for electrons is the single dumbest thing you could do—even if you didn’t care about climate. It is simply cheaper. It is simply cheaper for consumers, and businesses, and for the climate crisis, and therefore our ability to fiscally manage the climate crisis, as we see increasing disasters—both in their severity and how often they happen.

    And then every, what, year, year and a half, we do a $150 billion emergency supplemental because there are now wildfires where there have never been wildfires, floods where there have never been floods, tornadoes where there have never been tornadoes. This is not made up. Nobody gets to deny this anymore.

    And so there is a reason they convened at 1:00 a.m., and it is not because that’s prime time in Hawai`i. They didn’t convene at 1:00 a.m. because they like to see each other past midnight. They convened at 1:00 a.m. because they are about to pass one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation that has ever been passed out of the United States House of Representatives.

    And I just wonder why. If I’m a House member and I’m being told, “We’re going to make all these changes—all these things that you’re voting for are going to be excised from the Senate version, don’t worry”—well, my view would be: if you’re going to fix all that stuff, why are you making me vote on it now? Why are you making me vote on it now?

    And the answer is very simple: Donald Trump showed up in the caucus, used a couple of expletives. They implied that voting no is a betrayal—that standing up for your constituents is a betrayal. And I think they’re all going to fall in line. And so it is up to the United States Senate to fix this bill or kill this bill. And so that’s the task in front of us. And I am hoping that cooler heads prevail. I know there are a number of Republicans that hate these Medicaid cuts. I know there are a number of Republicans who have a ton of clean energy investment in their state.

    And there’s plenty of political room to criticize the Biden administration or say “I’m against the Green New Deal” and still be for wind, and solar, and nuclear, and geothermal, and agriculture that’s done in a more climate-friendly way. All of that is available to us. We don’t have to do things in the maximally unpopular way. But the Speaker apparently wants to do it that way.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Kennedy and Rep. Murphy in the Washington Examiner: Congress should not stand by as DEI destroys American medical schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) penned this op-ed in the Washington Examiner to explain why Congress should pass the EDUCATE Act to prevent medical schools from prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over merit.
    Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
    “When patients lie on the operating table, they don’t care what their doctors look like or which political parties they support. They just want a safe and successful operation. 
    “Many medical schools, however, apparently believe that patients have the wrong priority. These universities place diversity, equity, and inclusion above all else, even if it means worse outcomes for patients. This obsession with racial quotas is destroying some of America’s best medical schools.” 
    . . .
    “The U.S. is home to the most gifted and innovative doctors on Earth, and it’s not by happenstance. We sought them out by making medical school one of the most impressive, merit-based institutions in our country. 
    “It’s wrong for universities, which are supported by American taxpayers, to prioritize the DEI agenda over merit in any academic program, but it’s lethal to do this in medical schools. It needs to stop. There is no reward for being stupid.
    “Congress should not stand by as this dangerous foolishness drives more medical schools into the ground.”
    Read Kennedy and Murphy’s full op-ed here.
    Text of the EDUCATE Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Cornyn, Cruz, colleagues introduce resolution honoring Border Patrol’s 101st anniversary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and 15 colleagues in introducing a resolution honoring the brave men and women of the U.S. Border Control for their service to our country ahead of the agency’s 101st anniversary.
    “We owe the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol a debt of gratitude for all they do to secure our border and keep Americans safe. I’m proud to join my colleagues in honoring these brave and effective officials on their 101st anniversary,” said Kennedy.
    The senators’ resolution: 

    Supports policies that improve Border Patrol agents’ working conditions, including increasing access to key technology and equipment needed to secure the border, and better the agency’s ability to recruit, hire and retain agents.

    Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also cosponsored the resolution. 
    The full resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Outlines Efforts to Strengthen Market Opportunities for U.S. Cattle Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    05.22.25
    Senator Discusses Need for More Competitive & Transparent Cattle Market, Urges Nominee to Push Back on Barriers to U.S. Beef Exports
    WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven discussed efforts to strengthen market opportunities for the nation’s cattle industry. With Mr. Dudley Hoskins, the nominee to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Hoeven outlined the need to:
    Fully enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act to help ensure more competitive and transparent cattle markets.
    As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has worked to provide additional funding for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to enforce the law and investigate anti-competitive practices.
    Hoskins highlighted the Cattle Contract Library pilot program that Hoeven established as an example of how to create greater price transparency for cattle producers.

    Secure fair access to foreign markets for U.S. beef producers and push back against artificial barriers impacting U.S. exports.

    “There is a real need for greater price discovery in cattle markets, which would provide our ranchers with more transparency and access to a more competitive market. That’s a win for both producers and consumers,” said Hoeven “Between our efforts to ensure enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, advance my Cattle Contract Library pilot program and reinstate MCOOL, we’re working to strengthen the U.S. domestic cattle market. At the same time, we need to remove artificial trade barriers used to block U.S. livestock producers from accessing foreign markets. That’s why we support the Trump administration as it works to secure better trade deals for U.S. ag producers. We look forward to working with Mr. Hoskins to continue advancing these priorities.”
    In addition, Hoeven invited Dr. Scott Hutchins, the nominee to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education and Economics, to visit North Dakota to learn firsthand about:
    The state’s leadership in precision agriculture technology development, including the innovative work occurring under the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) partnership at Grand Farm.
    The Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC) that Hoeven has worked to stand up at North Dakota State University (NDSU). The center will:
    Help address farm and agribusiness challenges through in-depth policy and economic analysis.

    • • Complement the work conducted at similar centers currently housed at the University of Missouri, Texas A&M University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons, colleagues introduce trio of bipartisan bills to advance American nuclear energy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) has introduced three bipartisan bills in recent days focused on strengthening U.S. nuclear energy policy and international collaboration. The legislation focuses on enhancing civil nuclear exports, financing, and streamlining the nuclear licensing process to reduce red tape.
    “To lower costs for consumers and combat climate change, the U.S. and the rest of the world need to be able to rely on sources of clean and abundant power, including nuclear energy,” said Senator Coons. “Right now, however, barriers that we have erected for domestic and international nuclear development stunt our energy independence here at home and give China and Russia the upper hand abroad. I’m pushing for these three bills because I know how important it is for the United States to on the cutting edge of clean, safe, affordable nuclear power.”
    The three bills Senator Coons has introduced are:
    The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act with Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), which would remove the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) mandatory hearing requirement created by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 without limiting opportunities for public engagement in order to enhance and boost the efficiency of the NRC in reviewing new reactor applications. The text of the bill is available here. 
    The International Nuclear Energy Act with Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), which would support the U.S. domestic nuclear energy industry’s leadership and offset China’s and Russia’s growing influence on international nuclear energy development. The bill would create an office to coordinate nuclear export strategies and financing, promoting regulatory harmonization and standardization, and enhancing safeguards and security. The bill would also form programs to support international nuclear energy collaboration and calls for a cabinet-level biennial summit focused on nuclear safety along with industry and government relationships. The text of the bill is available here.
    The International Nuclear Energy Financing Act with Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), which would encourage more financing for nuclear energy projects to create more U.S. jobs. The legislation would do this by empowering the Treasury to leverage its influence to ensure that international financial institutions support U.S. nuclear exports. The text of the bill is available here.
    Senator Coons is a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Introduces OFF Act to Protect Farmers, Cut Government Waste

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act today with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to protect agricultural producers and cut government waste by enforcing transparency in checkoff programs. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) cosponsored the legislation.
    “America’s farmers are being ripped off by federal checkoff programs that take farmers’ money and play favorites with who they serve,” said Senator Mike Lee. “These programs have a reputation for hurting farmers through financial fraud and deceptive practices. The OFF Act will implement accountability measures to cut waste, enforce transparency, and ensure that our farmers get the services they pay for.”
    “America’s farmers and ranchers deserve accountability and transparency when it comes to how their checkoff dollars are being spent,” said Senator Booker. “Checkoff dollars too often get channeled to lobbying groups who advocate against the best interests of many of the farmers who are required to pay into the program. This bipartisan bill will prohibit conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices in these checkoff programs and will ensure that these programs work better for our farmers and ranchers.”
    “We must change the agricultural checkoff programs that put money in the hands of corporate lobbyists at the expense of farmers and ranchers,” said Senator Warren. “The OFF Act will put commonsense safeguards in place to ensure accountability and transparency for our farmers.”
    The OFF Act is endorsed by organizations representing over 200,000 American farmers and ranchers.
    “We commend Senators Booker and Lee for their important work on fighting for fairness in the Beef Checkoff,” said United States Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper. “USCA looks forward to this bill preserving the original intent of the Checkoff and implementing more transparency and accountability. The Checkoff must work for cattle producers who both support and benefit from it.”
    “America’s farmers and ranchers are fed up with their hard-earned money landing in the hands of corporate lobbyists,” said Farm Action Fund President and Missouri farmer Joe Maxwell. “We face enough hurdles as it is; the last thing we need is our own dollars extracted against our will and then used to illegally lobby on behalf of the largest corporations that are already squeezing us out of the market. It’s the USDA’s job to prevent this abuse, and they continue to fail us. The OFF Act’s common-sense reforms would ensure USDA performs stringent oversight so that farmers know exactly where their money is going.”
    “We are grateful to Senator Lee and Senator Booker for their work to bring accountability and transparency to the beef checkoff program and to recognize that the cattle and beef production systems in the USA are not one size fits all,” said Carrie Balkcom, Executive Director, American Grassfed Association. “The OFF act will allow cattle and beef producers of all production methods to be served by the dollars that they pay into the system.”
    “We applaud this bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Booker and Senator Lee to bring needed transparency and accountability to the antiquated beef checkoff program that has long been used to undermine the interests of America’s independent cattle producers,” said Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA.
    “We applaud the Members of Congress for their longterm leadership and for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral OFF Act and call on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to stand up for American family farmers by moving this legislation swiftly through their committees,” said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets. “If we’re going to be forced to pay into USDA’s checkoff programs then the very least we should expect is transparency, accountability, and oversight of our hard-earned dollars, and the OFF Act accomplishes just that.”
    “Scandal after scandal has proven the longterm corruption in the beef, dairy, and pork checkoff programs that continue to utilize our own tax dollars against us and the day of reckoning is here,” said Mike Schultz, Founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. “American family farmers are up in arms and are determined to see justice in the 119th Congress with the enactment of the OFF Act. Clean up decades of corruption.” 
    Background:
    Under checkoff programs, farmers, producers, importers, and other stakeholders in the marketing chain join together to pool resources, advancing demand for their products through marketing and research. Slogans like “Got Milk?” and “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner,” are the result of checkoff program marketing campaigns that allowed agricultural producers to access large-scale advertising by promoting their product categories as a whole without individual branding. These campaigns are directed by multiple boards and are funded by checkoff dollars, which stakeholders pay through regular business activities.
    Unfortunately, some checkoff programs have exhibited fraudulent and unethical behavior. One investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that a subcontractor organization had used checkoff program funding to award its employees unauthorized bonuses totaling approximately $302,000 – then requested further funds to remedy its poor financial situation. More recent audits reveal the USDA’s oversight of checkoff programs still needs improvement.
    The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would:
    Prohibit checkoff boards with an annual assessment revenue of over $20 million from entering into contracts to carry out checkoff activities with parties that also work to influence government policy.
    Exempt institutions of higher education.
    Prohibit board members and employees of checkoff programs from engaging in any act that may involve a conflict of interest.
    Prohibit engagement in anticompetitive activity, deceptive practices, or disparaging practice.
    Require that contracts entered into by the board be recorded to describe goods and services provided/costs incurred.
    Require checkoff boards to publicize a transparent budget.
    Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Inspector General of USDA.
    Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Comptroller General.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Opening Statement at SAC-D Hearing on FY 26 Budget Request for National Guard and Reserve Forces

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the National Guard and Reserves Forces”: 

    “We’ll begin today’s hearing to receive testimony on the posture of the National Guard Bureau and Reserve Components. I’d like to start by thanking the witnesses: 

    “General Steven Nordhaus, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant General Robert Harter, the Chief of Army Reserve; My understanding is that Vice Admiral Lacore is unable to testify this morning due to an illness — I hope she recovers quickly.

    I welcome Rear Admiral Luke Frost – Director, Reserve Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in her absence; 

    “Lieutenant General Loni Anderson, the Commander of Marine Forces Reserve; and Lieutenant General John Healy, the Chief of Air Force Reserve. 

    “The Subcommittee is grateful for your service to the nation in uniform, and we’ll look forward to your candid testimony. 

    “Our discussion today will be oriented toward the President’s Budget Request for FY 2026. 

    “The exact details of the request are still to come, but the topline summary released by the Office of Management and Budget gives proponents of robust national defense plenty to be concerned about, already. 

    “Annual topline investment in the Department of Defense is a measure of national will. It sends a message to allies and adversaries, alike, about the strength of our resolve. And it appears that the message for the coming year is one of weakness. 

    “Nobody in this room needs a reminder of how much the Department relies on stable and predictable funding to drive the crucial functions of development, acquisitions, and procurement. Nor is anyone here naïve to the increasingly coordinated forces that threaten to undermine U.S. interests around the world. 

    “But when we talk about the consequences of short-changing our armed forces, we have to recognize that these effects are often compounded for the guard and reserve. 

    “And the harder we have to scrape for funding to meet unfunded requirements of the Department of Defense, the harder it will be to support the growing needs of the Guard and Reserve. 

    “Despite playing an increasingly significant operational role, guard and reserve units still struggle to access top-of-the-line kit. Despite so often taking the lead in engagement with allied and partner forces, they face persistent hurdles in maintaining adequate infrastructure, equipment, and personnel.

    The current strategic landscape and operational realities give us no reason to suspect that the demand for highly-trained, well-equipped citizen servicemembers will diminish anytime soon. 

    “Last year, it was guardsmen – including Kentuckians – defending Tower 22 from Iran-backed attack, and sustaining casualties in the process. 

    “Adding new missions without adequate resourcing can strain Guard units’ training calendars. 

    “I’ll be interested in the witnesses’ candid observations on these headwinds impacting readiness. And I’ll look forward to discussing them in more detail during the question and answer session.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation Supports Gov. Beshear’s Request for a Third Presidential Disaster Declaration in 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    WASHINGTON, DC – Kentucky’s bipartisan federal delegation, led by Dean of the House Hal Rogers (KY-05), including U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, Congressmen Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Andy Barr (KY-06), James Comer (KY-01), Thomas Massie (KY-04) and Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), sent a letter to President Donald Trump expressing their support for Governor Andy Beshear’s request for the third major disaster declaration of the year for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The request comes as a result of devastating storms, including an EF4 tornado that took the lives of at least 19 individuals in southern Kentucky since May 16, 2025.  
    “This severe weather event has resulted in catastrophic damage, and 19 Kentuckians have lost their lives. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed or severely damaged, with homes, businesses and essential infrastructure suffering widespread loss. Critical roadways have been washed out, vital utilities disabled, and basic government services disrupted. The storm’s destruction spans more than 600 miles across the Commonwealth,” the letter stated. “We urge your swift approval of federal disaster assistance to help Kentucky communities begin the process of recovering and rebuilding.” 
    The National Weather Service’s final report confirmed an EF4 tornado traveled over 55 miles through Russell, Pulaski and Laurel counties, staying on the ground for an hour and a half with winds reaching a peak of 170 miles per hour.
    President Trump has already approved two major disaster declarations for Kentucky, including: 
    Declaration DR-4860 was approved after a deadly severe storm on February 14, 2025 that caused widespread flooding, resulting in the loss of least 22 lives in Kentucky. More than $43 million have been approved for Individual Assistance, with 6,895 applications approved.
    Declaration DR-4864 was approved after a deadly severe storm, beginning on April 2, 2025, that caused historic flooding, resulting in the loss of at least seven lives in Kentucky. The flooding, landslides, mudslides and tornadoes impacted 85 counties in Kentucky. 
    Click here to download the delegation’s joint letter to President Trump.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Sanders, Gillibrand: “We have a responsibility to expand federal support for Lake Champlain” 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today led U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in sending a letter to bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee urging Congress to provide robust federal funding for programs supporting the Lake Champlain basin. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the importance of federal programs to Lake Champlain that support critical work in the basin, from fostering a climate-resilient watershed to promoting outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation.  
    “As Congress considers the Fiscal Year 2026 Bills for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Energy and Water Development, State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, we ask you to continue to provide robust federal funding for programs supporting the Lake Champlain basin,” wrote the Senators. “Lake Champlain provides significant environmental, recreational, historic, and educational value to our region. We have a responsibility to expand federal support for the lake so our constituents can benefit from these opportunities for generations to come.” 
    The Lake Champlain Basin Program was first created in 1990 and long-championed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in a landmark effort to protect the lake’s unique ecological, economic, and cultural significance. In 2022, the program was formally renamed the Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program. 
    The lawmakers requested financial support for the following programs: 

    Lake Champlain Basin Program  
    Heritage Partnership Program 
    Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control Program 
    Great Lakes Fishery Commission 
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Aquatic Plant Control Laboratory 
    Sea Grant National College Program (Lake Champlain Sea Grant) 

    Senator Welch has championed efforts to support the Lake Champlain Basin in the Senate. Last Congress, Sens. Welch, Sanders, and Gillibrand sent a letter to the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee urging Congress to provide robust federal funding for programs supporting the basin, including the LCBP.  
    Last year, Senator Welch led Sens. Sanders, Gillibrand, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) in introducing the bicameral Lake Champlain Basin Program Reauthorization Act, legislation that would reauthorize the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) for ten years at $55 million to support interstate conservation and the health of the Lake Champlain Basin. 
    Read the full text of the letter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Warns GOP Cuts to Food Assistance Will Harm Rural Families, Economies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock Warns GOP Cuts to Food Assistance Will Harm Rural Families, Economies

    Senator Reverend Warnock’s new white paper, “SNAPing a Lifeline for Georgia’s Children and Families” exposes the hidden harm of Washington Republicans’ plan to pay for their tax cut to billionaires by shifting the cost of nutrition assistance to the states, ultimately making it harder for Georgia families to cover their grocery bill

    The report finds that Georgia families would suffer the most under this GOP tax bill with a projected loss of over $860 million, disproportionately affecting Georgia’s rural communities. Over 77% of Georgia counties with the highest rates of families who rely on SNAP to buy nutritious food are rural

    1 in 8 Georgians – or 1.4 million people, rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) throughout the state. SNAP helps vulnerable families supplement their budget by just $6.16 per day and lifts millions of Americans out of poverty each year

    In 2023, stores and retailers in Georgia saw over $3.6 billion in revenue thanks to SNAP, helping local grocery stores keep their doors open

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released new findings on the harm Congressional GOP cuts from the nutrition assistance program would have on Georgians across the state, especially rural areas. The new white paper titled “SNAPing a Lifeline for Georgia’s Children and Families: How Washington Republicans Are Robbing Georgia’s Poor to Pay the Rich” finds that Georgia could be levied with a massive unfunded mandate of over $860 million dollars that risks nutrition benefits for children, seniors, and people with disabilities, devastating families and rural communities that rely on the program to help afford groceries.

    The paper finds that rural communities stand to bear the brunt of these impacts. Over 77% of Georgia counties with the highest rates of SNAP participation are rural, and the economic impact of the proposed funding cuts to these communities would be staggering. By helping families spend their dollars locally, SNAP supports rural economies at a higher rate than many of their metro-Atlanta counterparts. Estimates show every dollar of federal investment in SNAP generates $1.79 in economic activity for local businesses. In 2023, stores and retailers in Georgia saw revenues of over $3.6 billion from SNAP benefits, helping local groceries keep their doors open.

    “Washington Republicans’ plan to terminate funding for lifesaving programs that help working families cover the cost of groceries to pay for tax cuts for billionaires is not only immoral, it hurts our economy,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “This proposal is bad for Georgia. It’ll make it more likely that children, seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities go hungry. I will do everything in my power to protect these critical programs and help the many families across Georgia that are just trying to get by.”

    With control of the House, Senate, and White House, Washington Republicans are rushing through a massive budget reconciliation bill that terminates funding for lifesaving programs like SNAP to pay for their tax cuts for billionaires. According to the House Republicans’ bill provisions advanced by the House Agriculture Committee on May 14, 2025, beginning in 2028, Washington Republicans would require all states to pay a 5% cost-share, shifting the burden from the federal government to the states. However, most states have higher payment error rates, like Georgia, and would have to pay even more.

    If the bill becomes law, Georgia could be on the hook for $867 million in new costs on the state budget, leaving children, seniors, and disabled people more likely to be unable to afford groceries. 

    A full copy of the paper can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –