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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: No President Should Take $400 Million Gift From A Foreign Country

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today took to the Senate floor to condemn a luxury airplane gift, valued at $400 million, that President Donald Trump announced he will receive from the government of Qatar. According to reports, Trump intends to designate the plane as Air Force One while in office and then transfer it to a foundation for personal use following the end of his term. Schatz also announced he will be asking for a vote in the Senate to condemn this action.

    “I cannot believe I have to say this, but a president should not take a $400 million gift from a foreign country,” said Senator Schatz. “The Emoluments Clause. It’s a fancy phrase, but a simple idea: No foreign gifts.”

    “Air Force One is not just a random luxury airplane,” continued Senator Schatz. “It is a symbol of — and a projection of — American power… It represents not just the weight of the presidency, but America itself — generations of history and international leadership. But in one fell swoop, Donald Trump is selling out one of the most iconic symbols of American power that we have.”

    “This week, several of my colleagues and I will be asking the Senate to vote to condemn this action,” concluded Senator Schatz. “There should be 100 of us that agree on this fundamental principle: No president should take free stuff from a foreign government. And certainly nothing worth $400 million.”

    The full text of his remarks can be found below. Video is available here.

    I cannot believe I have to say this, but a president should not take a $400 million gift from a foreign country.

    It doesn’t matter which president, what party. It doesn’t matter which foreign country. It doesn’t matter if there is or is not a legal justification. No president should take a $400 million gift from a foreign country.

    I shouldn’t have to explain why — but it is a high principle literally enshrined in the Constitution because people who we have representing us should know, not think, but know, that their representatives are focused on them and this country only, that our loyalties not be divided, that our minds are not wandering elsewhere.

    The Emoluments Clause. It’s a fancy phrase, but a simple idea: No foreign gifts.

    If a foreign government offers you anything — but especially something close to half a billion dollars—the answer is, ‘No, thank you.’ End of story. Very simple. End of story. ‘I cannot take that.’

    First of all, because I cannot take that because I cannot have divided loyalties. I’m going into the region; I cannot take a $400 million gift before I begin negotiations with you. But it is explicitly prohibited by the United States Constitution. And the gift in is that the country of Qatar is going to literally provide a luxury aircraft — not just any luxury aircraft to the President of the United States, but Air Force One.

    And why does this matter? Air Force One is not just a random luxury airplane. It is a symbol of — and a projection of — American power. It has flown 15 different presidents. It carried President John F. Kennedy’s body after his assassination, and saw President Johnson be sworn in under unprecedented circumstances, it rushed President George W. Bush back to Washington after the Twin Towers were struck, and just two years ago, it flew President Joe Biden for a secret trip to Ukraine during the war.

    When people see Air Force One on TV, when they see it land in other countries— whether in London, or Tokyo, or Brazil — they immediately know that America has arrived. It represents not just the weight of the presidency, but America itself — generations of history and international leadership.

    But in one fell swoop, Donald Trump is selling out one of the most iconic symbols of American power that we have, and what people will now see is the most powerful man on Earth flying around in a plane paid for by a foreign government. It is disgusting. It is wildly corrupt. And just because they are doing the corruption in plain sight does not make it any less damning or sad or gross.

    This week, several of my colleagues and I will be asking the Senate to vote to condemn this action. There should be 100 of us that agree on this fundamental principle: No president should take free stuff from a foreign government. And certainly nothing worth $400 million.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate and House Republicans Make Strides to Repeal Over a Dozen Biden-Era Regulations to Advance Trump’s America First Agenda

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – In a seismic victory for President Trump’s America First Agenda, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today released the following statement on Senate and House Republicans’ efforts to reverse over a dozen of Joe Biden’s nonsensical regulations using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) – a legislative tool allowing Congress to strike down federal rules and regulations with a simple majority vote.
    “While the Biden-Harris administration tried to suffocate our nation’s businesses and families with nonsensical regulation after regulation, Senate and House Republicans are tearing down these barriers to unleash American prosperity,” said Senator Marshall. “I am committed to continue working with my colleagues to ensure these CRAs allow us to boldly deliver on President Trump’s promises.”
    Among the 13 burdensome Biden-Harris-era regulations that were targeted, Senate Republicans have slashed red tape to unleash American energy, end costly green new scam mandates, strengthen digital finance, and expand personal freedoms. These actions deliver on President Donald Trump’s America First agenda by reducing consumer costs, protecting privacy, and empowering businesses.
    Promise Made: Unleash American Energy
    Promise Kept:

    S.J.Res. 11 – Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era rule that prevented offshore oil and gas drilling because of the presence of “shipwrecks and cultural resources.” 
    Why It Matters: By overturning this regulation, we can unleash American energy through expanded production capacity off American shores.
    Status: Passed and became law on March 14, 2025.

    S.J.Res. 31 – Tailpipe Emissions and Area Pollution

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era rule that requires sources of persistent and bioaccumulative hazardous air pollutants to comply with certain major source emission standards under the Clean Air Act.
    Why It Matters: By eliminating it, we’re lessening regulations and letting American industry flourish without the heavy and misguided hand of activist government bureaucrats holding it back.
    Status: Passed the Senate but has not yet passed the House.

    Promise Made: End the Green New Scam
    Promise Kept:

    H.J.Res. 24 – Walk-in Coolers and Freezers

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era regulation that defines “walk-in coolers” and “walk-in freezers” as refrigerated spaces smaller than 3,000 square feet, which would have increased costs and regulations on manufacturers and restaurants.
    Status: Passed, but not yet signed by the President.

    H.J.Res. 42 –Appliance Energy Efficiency

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era Department of Energy (DOE) rule that would have increased the cost of basic appliances.
    Status: Passed, but not yet signed by the President.

    H.J.Res. 75 –Energy Standards for Freezers and Refrigerators

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era DOE rule that attempts to amend energy conservation standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers, that would have increased the cost of basic appliances. It would also have put financial constraints on any business that uses these appliances, such as restaurants, grocers, and more.
    Status: Passed, but not yet signed by the President.

    H.J.Res. 20 – Gas Powered Water Heaters

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era rule that would have placed restrictions and regulations on gas-powered water heaters, which would have resulted in increased costs of tankless water heaters and reduced choice in the market.
    Status: Passed, but not yet signed by the President.

    H.J.Res. 35 – Waste Emissions Tax for Energy Producers

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that implemented a Methane Tax on American energy producers, which would have resulted in higher costs passed onto consumers.
    Status: Passed and became law on March 14, 2025.

    H.J.Res. 61 – Rubber Tire Manufacturer Emissions

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era EPA rule that attempted to add emissions standards to rubber tire manufacturing, including them in the hazardous air pollutant (HAP) regulation requirements, which would have resulted in higher costs passed onto consumers.
    Status: Passed, but not yet signed by the President.

    Why They Matter: By passing resolutions to overturn these six specific rules, we’re preventing increased costs from being invariably be passed onto consumers, removing burdensome regulations that could harm businesses large and small, and allowing American families to have more choice in the market and keep more of their hard-earned money.

    Promise Made: Strengthen U.S. Leadership in Digital Finance
    Promise Kept:

    S.J.Res. 3 / H.J.Res. 25 –Crypto IRS Reporting Requirements

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era rule that mandates that brokers submit information returns and provide payee statements detailing the gross proceeds from digital asset transactions they carry out for their clients.
    Why It Matters: With the elimination of this rule, the private financial information of American citizens is further protected. 
    Status: Passed and became law on April 10, 2025.

    S.J.Res. 18 – Overdraft Fee Regulations

    What It Does: This resolution overturns an overreaching Biden-era Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that limited overdraft fees.
    Why It Matters: Overturning this ensures that banks and financial institutions can negotiate their own relationships with customers with limited government interference. 
    Status: Passed and became law on April 10, 2025.

    S.J.Res. 28 – Digital Payment Providers

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a burdensome and overreaching Biden-era CFPB rule that would have threatened Americans’ privacy interests.
    Why It Matters: The rule, if left intact, could stifle innovation and impose undue burdens on digital payment providers like Venmo or PayPal. 
    Status: Passed, but not yet signed by the President.

    S.J.Res. 13 –Bank Merger Application Review

    What It Does: This resolution overturns a Biden-era rule from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that would have made more stringent the government’s review of bank mergers.
    Why It Matters: Overturning this rule will allow American financial institutions to make decisions that work best for their customers. 
    Status: Passed the Senate but has not yet passed the House.

    Promise Made: Eliminate Burdensome Regulations
    Promise Kept:

    H.J.Res. 60 – Regulations for ATV Usage

    What It Does: This resolution will make minor changes to a Biden-era regulation that will result in improved management of motorized uses in the Orange Cliffs Special Management Unit, including:

    Prohibiting the use of ORVs and street-legal ATVs on an 8-mile segment of the Poison Spring Loop located on Route 633 proceeding north to Route 730.
    Eliminating the superintendent’s authority to potentially allow ORVs and street-legal ATVs on the upper portion of the Flint Trail.

    Why It Matters: By improving this regulation, we will give Americans greater freedom to traverse the great outdoors, without the government needlessly telling them how to do it. 
    Status: Passed, but not yet signed by the President.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall and Rep. Nehls Reintroduce Bill to Support Families of Victims Killed by Illegal Aliens

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today reintroduced the Justice for Angel Families Act, legislation that would amend the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to expand financial coverage for Angel Families – the immediate relatives of victims killed by illegal aliens, including in drunk driving accidents. This legislation would allow federal funds to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs, easing the financial burden on grieving families.
    Additionally, the bill would codify the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), originally established by President Trump in 2017 and recently reopened last month by the Trump Administration after the Biden Administration shuttered it. The VOICE Office provides critical services like grief counseling and case follow-ups for victims’ families. This bill would ensure the VOICE Office can never be shut down again.
    “President Trump is righting the catastrophic wrongs of the Biden-Harris Administration by restoring law and order, securing our borders, and putting an end to the lawlessness that plagued our nation for too long,” said Senator Marshall. “But for countless Angel Families, the damage is permanent – their loved ones were taken from them because of disastrous open-border policies. I urge my colleagues to join Congressman Nehls and me in delivering justice and ensuring these families receive the resources and support they deserve by passing the Justice for Angel Families Act.”
    U.S. Representative Troy Nehls (R-Texas-22) introduced the House companion version of this bill. Cosponsors in the House include Representatives Paul Gosar (R-Arizona-09), Don Bacon (R-Nebraska-02), Randy Weber (R-Texas-14), Lance Gooden (R-Texas-05), Barry Moore (R-Alabama-01), Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin-07), and Brian Babin (R-Texas-36). 
    “President Trump and his administration are restoring law and order and standing up for American citizens,” said Congressman Nehls. “Millions of illegal aliens flooded our country during the Biden Administration, and many of them took the lives of Americans, such as Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, and Rachel Morin. By codifying the VOICE Office, which was reopened last month by Secretary Noem, no future president can close the office again, ensuring that families that fall victim to illegal alien crimes are supported, not left behind.”
    The legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana).
    “Under the Biden administration’s watch our country faced record levels of illegal immigration that resulted in innocent American lives lost,” said Senator Budd. “Our nation’s Angel Families have faced unimaginable tragedies because of Joe Biden’s senseless open-border policies. Now, we must stand with them – giving them the support and justice they deserve.”
    “Families of victims murdered by illegal immigrants are forced to face unimaginable grief,” said Senator Cramer. “This bicameral bill supports Angel Families by ensuring they have the help and resources they need.”
    The legislation is also supported by Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, NumbersUSA, and National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE).
    “As a nation, we spend hundreds of billions of dollars supporting illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country. Yet the victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens are left to fend for themselves at the worst times in their lives,” said Don Rosenberg, President and Treasurer of Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime. “Financial compensation will never replace the loss of a loved one, but the “Justice for Angel Families Act” will at least reduce the financial burden faced by those families who have been betrayed by the failure of some in our government to uphold the rule of law.”
    “It’s a shame that our past open border policies have made it necessary and needed to pass legislation to aid Angel families who suffered loss at the hands of illegal immigrants,” said Michael Hough, Director of Federal Government Relations at NumbersUSA. “This legislation will rightfully help those families who have lost their loved ones.”
    “To support angel families – American citizens permanently separated from loved ones due to illegal alien crime – President Trump relaunched the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement (VOICE) office,” said RJ Hauman, President of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE). “Now fully operational again, VOICE is assisting thousands of angel families, connecting them to vital services like grief counseling, tracking their cases, and ensuring criminal aliens responsible for their suffering are arrested, detained, and removed. This stands in stark contrast to the previous administration, which dismantled VOICE, opened our borders, and neglected angel families while policies led to more tragic losses. With Republicans now leading Congress, angel families are no longer ignored. Congressman Nehls and Senator Marshall are championing the Justice for Angel Families Act, reaffirming that their highest duty is to American citizens. This bill honors angel families, ensures their loved ones’ deaths were not in vain, and strengthens our nation’s safety and security. NICE urges everyone to support the Justice for Angel Families Act and calls on Congress to pass it after ICE receives critical resources via reconciliation.”
    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Sec. Kennedy Testifying Before The Senate, Gillibrand, Schumer Demand Answers On Chaos At The World Trade Center Health Program After Kennedy And President Trump Broke Promises, Fired Workers, And Gutted The Vital Health Care Of 9/11 First Responders

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Ahead of Secretary Kennedy’s Testimony Before Senate HELP Committee, Senators Say 9/11 First Responders Deserve Clear Answers On Safety Of Their Health Care After Recurring Firings Of Medical Staff & Lack Of Transparency 

    Gillibrand, Schumer: “Secretary Kennedy Must Honor America’s Promise To Never Forget Our 9/11 Heroes”

    *** Watch The Full Press Conference HERE ***

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer held a press conference demanding answers from Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on ongoing chaos, recurring cuts, sudden reversals, and lack of transparency at the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). They were joined by 9/11 advocate John Feal; President of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act and President of Local 94 International Union of Operating Engineers Thomas Hart; President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association Local 94 IAFF AFL-CIO Andrew Ansbro; and 9/11 survivor and advocate Mariama James.

    The press conference comes ahead of Secretary Kennedy’s appearance in front of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), where he is expected to be asked about his plan to honor our promise to 9/11 first responders and survivors and ensure they get the health care they are owed.

    Since Trump has taken office, there has been constant upheaval at the WTCHP — including the firing of critical staff and release of inaccurate information about rehiring and program operation – which has disrupted continuity of care for 9/11 survivors and first responders with 9/11-related health issues, including cancer and lung ailments. In February 2025, the Trump administration slashed the workforce of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) as part of DOGE’s senseless cuts to the federal health system. In response, Schumer and Gillibrand, together with a bipartisan group of House members, called on the administration to reverse the cuts. The Trump administration relented and re-hired WTCHP staff. Most recently, last month, nearly all staff at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) including Dr. John Howard, the administrator of the WTCHP, were fired. On April 5th HHS and NY House Republicans said Dr. Howard was rehired, but it later came out that was not true and for nearly a month his position was stuck in limbo, delaying the treatment of care for 9/11 first responders.

    While some staff have been rehired, the disruptions have led to cancer treatment being denied; enrollments for as many as 800 9/11 responders and survivors halted; and processing of nearly 1,200 written treatment approvals stopped. Access to treatment has been hindered for those impacted by the toxic chemicals at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville crash site.

    Senators Gillibrand and Schumer have reached out to Secretary Kennedy directly demanding clear answers on the status of operations at the WTCHP, including whether or not WTCHP Administrator John Howard is being reinstated; whether or not there was a month-long pause in enrolling new members; whether CDC and NIOSH staff that support the WTCHP will be reinstated; and whether the administration will support the senators’ legislation to address the WTCHP’s impending funding deficit. 

    “We are tremendously concerned about the conflicting reports that the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) has stopped providing services to injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors. We have worked for years alongside first responders and community leaders to get Congress to recognize the health effects of toxic exposure and ensure that our nation’s heroes get the care they deserve,” wrote the senators in a letter to Secretary Kennedy.  “That is why we are truly dismayed at what staff at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the DOGE staffers have done in just one hundred days. We write to get clear information on what has happened with staff of the World Trade Center Health Program and the ability for survivors of 9/11 to get necessary care. To support the function of the World Trade Center Health Program, Dr. Howard must be fully restored to his position, including past June 2, and the WTCHP staff must be brought to full strength, permanently reinstating the medical, epidemiological, contract, grant, and support staff.  This needs to be done immediately. The CDC and NIOSH staff that support and work on behalf of 9/11 responders and survivors must be restored and HHS’ external “communications pause” must be lifted so Members of Congress are able to receive up to date information on WTCHP operations.”

    The full text of the senators’ letter to the WTCHP is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Works to Counter Chinese Aggression in Indo-Pacific

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: May 13, 2025
    WASHINGTON – To keep Americans safe from the threat of increased Chinese aggression, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced a bill to strengthen the United States’ strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations.
    The bipartisan Pacific Partnership Act would help the U.S. establish a clear, comprehensive strategy to support diplomatic, security, and economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region.
    “Strengthening America’s partnerships in the Indo-Pacific is critical to deterring Chinese aggression,” said Ernst. “This bipartisan legislation equips us to work with nations in the Pacific that serve as the first line of defense against the Chinese Communist Party and keep Americans safe at home.”
    “Supporting our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific is essential to combatting the Chinese Communist Party’s influence and to our long-term national security,” said Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan bill is critical to strengthening our ties with our allies in the Pacific and ensuring they become enduring global relationships.”
    Click here to view the bill.
    Background:
    Ernst’s work to increase cooperation with Pacific Island Nations to counter China’s malign influence was also included in the final National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Condemns GOP’s Cruel Proposal to Kick Millions Off Medicaid: ‘You’re Going to Make All Those People Go to An Emergency Room?’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.13.25
    Cantwell Condemns GOP’s Cruel Proposal to Kick Millions Off Medicaid: ‘You’re Going to Make All Those People Go to An Emergency Room?’
    GOP proposal would cancel health coverage and drive-up co-pays for hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning the House GOP’s ill-conceived proposal to cut health care by $715 billion to help pay for a tax break for the ultra-rich and corporations, forcing at least 13.7 million Americans off their health insurance.
    “House Republicans say that these cuts are about waste, fraud, and abuse — but the real fraud is telling the American people that by implementing these requirements, that somehow these policies are going to save money. The truth is, it’s just making it harder on Americans to stay on Medicaid,” Sen. Cantwell said.
    “In 2018 Arkansas tried the same thing that the House of Representatives are now suggesting. They became the first state to establish a work requirement for certain Medicaid enrollees. It took just four months, and the new requirement got 18,000 people kicked off Medicaid. Where do you think those people go? You think they don’t have any health care needs? You don’t think they go to the hospital and cost us all a bunch load more money?” she continued.
    “So I ask my colleagues to make sure that we are fighting these cuts to Medicaid. Our communities are demanding it. They are watching.”
    Video of her speech is available HERE and a full transcript is HERE.
    On Sunday, the Republican leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives released a draft proposal to cut $912 billion from the Energy and Commerce Committee budget — the committee that oversees Medicaid, the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Their proposal would institute new co-pays and onerous work requirements, ultimately blocking access to health care for the people who need it most.
    Medicaid, also known as Apple Health in Washington state, covers 1.9 million Washingtonians. On May 2, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that Medicaid cuts would have on Washington state’s highly-ranked long-term care system for seniors and people with disabilities. In February, she additionally released a snapshot report that demonstrated how cuts would harm health care access in Washington state, and followed up with a report in March that dove into impacts on the Puget Sound region.
    Highlights of those snapshot reports include:
    In Washington state, WA-04 (Central Washington) and WA-05 (Eastern Washington) have the highest proportions of adults and total population on Medicaid (Apple Health). In District 4, 70% of children are on Medicaid.
    In the Puget Sound, children in Seattle’s blue-collar strongholds would feel the deepest pain from Medicaid cuts. More than half of children in Burien, SeaTac, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Renton, and Rainier Valley depend on Medicaid.
    In an exclusive new survey of 68 WA nursing homes, 67 of 68 would cut services if Medicaid were cut by 5% or more, and 65% would consider closing.
    Over the past two months, Sen. Cantwell also took a tour around the state to hear from folks who would be directly impacted by cuts to Medicare. Doctors, patients, and health care providers in Seattle, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Wenatchee warned that such cuts would devastate Washington state’s health care system and limit access to lifesaving care.
    Last week, a coalition of Washington state hospital leaders and Republican elected officials sent a letter opposing any cuts to Medicaid. The group included the CEOs of Skyline Health and Klickitat Valley Hospital, as well as multiple Republican members of the Washington state legislature, leaders of Klickitat County, and councilmembers of White Salmon and Goldendale. The letter emphasized that hospitals in rural areas are especially reliant on Medicaid, and any funding reductions would result in loss of services or even hospital closures. The letter warned, “Any reduction in funding from any source will undoubtedly result in a reduction of services, reduction of access or worse – hospital closures,” and further that “Policy decisions that put a community’s access to healthcare in jeopardy are a sure way to hasten the demise of rural Washington State.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy On Trump’s Middle East Trip: This Isn’t America First. This Is Trump First. It’s A National Security Disaster And A Moral Abomination.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    [embedded content]
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to deliver a blistering condemnation of President Trump’s foreign policy corruption, highlighting his use of the office to enrich himself while putting U.S. national security at risk. Murphy called out Trump’s brazen willingness to accept luxury gifts and bribes from foreign governments like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, blasting the president for openly prioritizing his own profits over the well-being of American families and calling for bipartisan action to confront these abuses of power.
    “Usually, public corruption happens in secret,” said Murphy. “The politicians that do it, they know it’s wrong to accept money in exchange for favorable government treatment, and so they hide it – until they’re found out.”
    He continued: “The key difference is that Donald Trump isn’t hiding it like other corrupt officials are. He’s not ashamed, he’s not doing it in secret. His corruption is wildly public, and his hope is that by doing it publicly, he can con the American people into thinking that it’s not corruption because he’s not hiding it. But what he’s doing, in reality, is no different than any other corrupt public official who does it in private, other than the fact that Trump’s corruption, his foreign policy corruption, is just so much bigger in scope and the impact that it has on the American people than anything a corrupt mayor or a corrupt governor may have done. Trump’s first major foreign trip–and he just landed–is to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE; not because these are our most important allies in the world; not because these are the most important countries in the world; not because he’s going there to talk about making the Middle East more safe and more secure. No, his first trip is to these three countries because these are the three countries that have agreed to pay Donald Trump money. Donald Trump is going to collect tribute, and it’s all just out in the open.”
    Murphy laid out the price of doing business with the Trump administration: “So let’s ask, what is the going rate right now for a Gulf country to buy access to Donald Trump? To get favorable treatment from the federal government? For Qatar, we recently found out, it’s a $400 million luxury plane. This plane has been opulently configured for royal use. It’s not a gift to the U.S. government – it’s a personal gift to the president. The terms of the arrangement apparently include a stipulation that after Trump leaves office, it will be transferred to Trump, to his presidential library – which means Trump gets the so-called ‘floating palace’ for himself…For Saudi Arabia, the price is also in the billions. Soon after leaving the White House, in Trump’s first term, his son-in-law Jared Kushner created a private equity firm and got a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia. The board of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund questioned such a large investment in an unproven fund, but the Saudi Crown Prince overruled the board, undoubtedly seeing the political advantage of investing directly with the Trump family…For the UAE, the price is somewhere north of $2 billion.”
    “Well, the most simple way to think about this is that if the guy that you elected to protect us and make our lives better is spending most of his time alternating between playing golf and cutting deals for himself, he’s not protecting you. He’s not spending any time trying to lower costs or defeat our enemies. Corruption, it can be a full-time job for Donald Trump, and that’s a pretty lousy deal for the American people,” Murphy added. “But more importantly, when our foreign policy is for sale, we are less safe. Let me give you an example relative to the trip that Donald Trump is on right now. These countries aren’t padding Donald Trump’s pockets because they like him. They are paying him in order to get things from the federal government, from the U.S. government, without having to make any actual policy concessions that would benefit the U.S. people. 
    Murphy called on Republicans and Democrats to unite, vowing to block arms sales linked to corrupt deals and push legislation to stop politicians from profiting off crypto: “We can look the other way, or we can join together, Republicans and Democrats, to stand up for this country and do something about it. I’ve joined with Senators Schatz and Coons and Booker to introduce a resolution condemning the acceptance of the plane. It’s a blatant violation of the Emoluments Clause. We could stand together as a Senate to vote for that resolution. I’ve introduced legislation to make it illegal for presidents or members of Congress and their family members to profit off of crypto coins while they hold federal office.  We could join together in that effort. I will personally seek to block any arms sale that is announced as part of this trip with a country that is personally investing in Donald Trump and his family. I will force a full Senate debate and a vote on these sales. Foreign leaders need to know there will be a price for participating in the corruption of the American presidency.”
    Murphy tore into Trump’s corruption, calling it a national security sellout and a slap in the face to working families: “This level of corruption is so gross that even Trump’s most hardened MAGA sycophants are turning against him. I didn’t think I’d see the day, but people like Ben Shapiro and Laura Loomer, who fawn over Trump, can’t believe he is so crass as to think that it’s ok to accept planes as a gift in exchange for U.S. national security concessions. This isn’t America First. This is not what he promised the American people. This is Trump First. He is willing to put our nation’s security at risk, take unconstitutional bribes, just so he can fly himself and his Mar-a-Lago golf buddies around the world in gold plated luxury planes gifted to him by foreign governments. All while at the same time, he tells Americans that they should be okay buying fewer school supplies for their kids, or fewer birthday presents for their grandchildren, because he is driving prices up for non-billionaires in this country. All while at the same time he is kicking 13 million people off of their health care. Trump lines his pockets, he corrupts our foreign policy to enrich himself, while driving up prices and stealing health care from average Americans. It’s a national security disaster and it’s a moral abomination.”
    A full transcript of his remarks can be found below:
    MURPHY: “Usually, public corruption happens in secret. The politicians that do it, they know it’s wrong to accept money in exchange for favorable government treatment, and so they hide it – until they’re found out.
    “A textbook example would be Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, who in the 1990’s was quietly taking bribes from businessmen who wanted to get licenses for riverboat casinos. In the late 1990’s, Edwards was convicted for the crimes of extortion, racketeering, and money laundering. The way in which he was doing it was like out of a movie– in one instance, a businessman handed the Governor a suitcase full of $100 bills – totaling $400,000 – all in order to get a 6-0 commission ruling in favor of this casino. Eventually, as with most all corrupt officials who are taking money privately, Edwards was discovered. He was disgraced, and he went to jail.
    “As we speak, our president, Donald Trump, is going to the Middle East on a public corruption tour. He’s no less corrupt than Edwin Edwards of Louisiana. In fact, he’s way more corrupt. Edwin Edwards took $400,000, while in the Middle East, Donald Trump will cement deals totaling in the billions in exchange for favorable treatment by the U.S. federal government for these Gulf countries. 
    “The key difference is that Donald Trump isn’t hiding it like other corrupt officials are. He’s not ashamed, he’s not doing it in secret. His corruption is wildly public, and his hope is that by doing it publicly, he can con the American people into thinking that it’s not corruption because he’s not hiding it. But what he’s doing, in reality, is no different than any other corrupt public official who does it in private, other than the fact that Trump’s corruption, his foreign policy corruption, is just so much bigger in scope and the impact that it has on the American people than anything a corrupt mayor or a corrupt governor may have done. 
    “Trump’s first major foreign trip–and he just landed–is to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE; not because these are our most important allies in the world; not because these are the most important countries in the world; not because he’s going there to talk about making the Middle East more safe and more secure. No, his first trip is to these three countries because these are the three countries that have agreed to pay Donald Trump money. Donald Trump is going to collect tribute, and it’s all just out in the open.
    “Frankly, it’s pretty easy to see this coming. Recent former presidents – Republicans and Democrats – have always very seriously and studiously avoided even the appearance of a conflict of interest. President Bush placed his assets into a qualified blind trust, where investment decisions were made without his knowledge or input. Both Biden and Obama divested all of their assets except for cash and mutual funds. They did not enter into any new business ventures while in the White House. 
    “In contrast, Trump has refused to abide by these standard ethics rules. His family runs his business, but nobody honestly believes that the kids are really in charge. President Trump is still calling the shots. His interests are not in a blind trust. He’s made no pledge he won’t do new deals, even with foreign entities, while he’s in office. In fact, he is doing deals seemingly every single week. He is open for business, and every foreign government knows it. 
    “In fact, it appears that right now the Gulf states are trying to outdo each other to up the price of buying an American President. And because Trump is greedy and he’s insecure – he wants to fit in with the billionaire class – he is traveling to the region with his hat out for further solicitations.
    “So let’s ask, what is the going rate right now for a Gulf country to buy access to Donald Trump? To get favorable treatment from the federal government?
    “For Qatar, we recently found out, it’s a $400 million luxury plane. This plane has been opulently configured for royal use. It’s not a gift to the U.S. government – it’s a personal gift to the president. The terms of the arrangement apparently include a stipulation that after Trump leaves office, it will be transferred to Trump, to his presidential library – which means Trump gets the so-called ‘floating palace’ for himself. 
    “This is outrageous. We’ve never seen anything like this before in American history– a foreign government gifting a $400 million luxury plane to the President of the United States. This is spelled out as blatantly unconstitutional by our Founding Fathers. They wrote into the Constitution a specific clause, the emoluments clause, which prohibits federal officeholders from accepting gifts from any King, Prince, or foreign state without the consent of Congress. How much clearer could it be? It’s unconstitutional. It’s illegal. The Founding Father knew it was evil to have members of Congress or the President of the United States accepting expensive gifts from a foreign nation who in exchange want favors from the US government. Donald Trump’s acceptance of the luxury plane from a foreign monarch is basically THE corruption our Founding fathers were seeking to prevent.
    “That’s not all he’s getting from Qatar. The Trump Organization recently signed a $5.5 billion golf course and real estate deal with DarGlobal and Qatari Diar, a firm established by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. $5.5 billion. While Trump’s in office.
    “It would have been unthinkable for any previous president to enter into a $5.5 billion dollar business deal with anybody, nevermind a foreign government, while they were in office. And it still should be unthinkable. 
    “Now, Qatar is a U.S. ally It’s a very important ally. But they are a complicated country. They have their own interests, some of which do not overlap with ours. A foreign government like Qatar’s should not have a $5 billion chit hanging over the head of a sitting U.S. president, and they should not be gifting him a $400 million plane. That should kind of go without saying.
    “For Saudi Arabia, the price is also in the billions. Soon after leaving the White House, in Trump’s first term, his son-in-law Jared Kushner created a private equity firm and got a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia. The board of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund questioned such a large investment in an unproven fund, but the Saudi Crown Prince overruled the board, undoubtedly seeing the political advantage of investing directly with the Trump family.
    “But this was only the beginning. The Trump family has put things into overdrive during his second term. Within his first three weeks in office, Trump convened a meeting at the White House with the head of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund – not to discuss matters of state, but to negotiate a deal between the PGA and the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour. You want to know why? To try to bring PGA tournaments back to Trump golf courses. Convened a meeting in the White House with the Saudis in order to enrich himself.
    “In addition to the $5 billion Qatari real estate deal, the Trump Organization is also partnering with Saudi firm [Dar Global] on a $1 billion Trump-branded hotel and tower in Dubai. The property’s website–this is a Trump-financed property along with a Saudi investment fund offers free 10-year “golden visas,” to the United States, hinting at the opportunity for investors in Trump’s property to buy residency in the United States and a pathway to citizenship.
    “For the UAE, the price is somewhere north of $2 billion. Last week, Eric Trump and World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff spoke at a conference in Dubai on crypto called Token 2049. 
    “As an aside here, it’s just so fantastic – and bone chilling – how transparent these guys are in their use of public positions to enrich themselves. I’m going to tell the story of Trump stablecoin and the corruption with the Emiratis, but let’s just pause for a second and consider the fact that the Trump family could have partnered with anybody in the world on their new crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. But of all the people in the world to partner with on this new crypto venture, they chose the son of Trump’s Middle East envoy. Trump’s Middle East envoy, the guy who’s making all the decisions on U.S. policy in the Middle East – just to make it crystal crystal clear to the Gulf countries that when they deal with World Liberty Financial, Trump’s crypto venture, they are dealing directly with the people responsible for making U.S. policy in the Middle East. It’s just stunning. Literally the sons of the president and the sons of the Middle East envoy running a crypto venture and then going directly into the Middle East in order to find their first investment. And guess what? Miracle– they found it.
    “MGX, an investment firm backed by the Emirati government at this conference, announced that they had looked at all the crypto companies in the world that they could partner with to invest $2 billion in the crypto exchange Binance and they selected, wait for it, drumroll… the company run by the sons of the President of the United States and the U.S. Middle East envoy. $2 billion. Now World Liberty’s role in this transaction is not that complicated–it’s similar to a bank: MGX, this Emitari firm, deposits $2 billion with the firm and, in return, receives the stablecoin to be used on these crypto exchanges. The firm holds on to these dollars, invests them, and keeps the profits for themselves. So the Trump-Witkoff company just gets basically a gift of capital. And if they just used that $2 billion to invest in Treasury bonds, it would profit around $85 million a year from these investments alone.
    “And the money goes directly to Trump. Just directly to Trump. It’s literally not complicated. Emirates. World Liberty Financial. Donald Trump. This isn’t 1990’s Louisiana. Nobody’s hiding it. On World Liberty’s website they say, “an entity affiliated with Donald J. Trump” owns 60% of the equity in the company. And because of this deal, Trump and Witkoff can further capitalize. Because Trump’s stablecoin just became the 5th most valuable stablecoin in the world because of the Emirati investment.
    “And if the plane and the real estate deals and the private equity fund investment and the stablecoin weren’t enough for you, Trump has found one last way for Gulf money to flow seamlessly into his pocket: it’s called the Trump meme coin.
    “What’s the business model here? Trump gets a huge payment whenever he releases a batch of these meme coins, which by the way have no underlying value other than just the demand that people have for Trump’s coin. And then each time a Trump coin is bought or sold, a small fee is routed directly to the company owned by Trump. According to one analysis, nearly $325 million in fees have been accrued since the coin was launched in January. Just four and half months, $325 million worth of fees. 
    “Trump hides the buyers of the coin. In this way, the meme coin is kind of a little bit like Louisiana corruption. But we know that the majority of the buyers aren’t Americans who want to help Trump make this nation great again. The majority of the buyers of Trump coin are super-rich foreigners – princes, oligarchs, authoritarians – who are buying the coin in order to get in good with Trump or to get something in exchange.
    “Now one great thing about buying the coin is that you get access to Trump and the White House. And again, they’re not hiding this. Two weeks ago, Trump announced that he would host a private dinner at the White House, with seats reserved exclusively for the top 220 Trump coin holders. In two days since the announcement, Trump’s company made $900,000 in fees, because everybody, mostly foreigners–many of them probably in the Gulf–were buying up the coin as quickly as they could in order to get one of these seats. 
    “If a mayor of a small town was selling meetings at city hall for a thousand bucks, he would be run out of town on a rail. But that’s exactly what Donald Trump is doing, in the Middle East and all over the world, as foreign buyers line up to buy the meme coin guaranteed [to provide] private access to Donald Trump at the White House. You cannot make this up. 
    “Now, the obvious question for the average American is, okay, what does this mean for me? Somebody living in New Britain, Connecticut, might think it’s kind of gross that Trump is lining his pockets as President, but they want to know, how does this actually affect me?
    “Well, the most simple way to think about this is that if the guy that you elected to protect us and make our lives better is spending most of his time alternating between playing golf and cutting deals for himself, he’s not protecting you. He’s not spending any time trying to lower costs or defeat our enemies. Corruption, it can be a full-time job for Donald Trump, and that’s a pretty lousy deal for the American people.
    “But more importantly, when our foreign policy is for sale, we are less safe. Let me give you an example relative to the trip that Donald Trump is on right now. These countries aren’t padding Donald Trump’s pockets because they like him. They are paying him in order to get things from the federal government, from the U.S. government, without having to make any actual policy concessions that would benefit the U.S. people. 
    “Before anybody could begin to process the brazen corruption of the UAE/Trump/Witkoff crypto deal, reports very quickly emerged that the Trump administration was considering changing regulations to make it easier for the country of UAE to purchase highly advanced semiconductors from U.S. manufacturers. This was a huge priority of the Emiratis, but the restrictions are on the UAE for a reason. The UAE has a very troubling and very close security relationship with China, and so the reason why we didn’t allow U.S. companies to sell semiconductors directly to the UAE is because we believed that it would very easily become a conduit to China getting their hands on these advanced semiconductors and being able to leapfrog the United States in the business of advanced AI.
    “But all of a sudden, once the cash payment to Trump through the crypto venture was announced, Trump signaled that he was willing to throw our security concerns out the window and transfer this sensitive technology to the UAE, even though it’s likely that China will get their hands on this technology, allowing China to put themselves in a position to leapfrog us in the race for advanced AI. That would be a disaster for the American people. But that’s what’s happening. We might hand AI leadership to China because that’s the price of Trump getting paid, and as long as he gets paid, he doesn’t seem to care about the impact on regular Americans. 
    “The White House is open for business and the Trump family is proudly advertising to the world where to send the check. They aren’t trying to hide it. A $400 million luxury plane gifted to the president of the United States right as he is going over to negotiate potentially sensitive security arrangements with the Gulf countries. Every American, every Republican, every supposed ‘national security advocate’ in the Senate should be outraged by this. 
    “We can look the other way, or we can join together, Republicans and Democrats, to stand up for this country and do something about it. I’ve joined with Senators Schatz and Coons and Booker to introduce a resolution condemning the acceptance of the plane. It’s a blatant violation of the Emoluments Clause. We could stand together as a Senate to vote for that resolution. I’ve introduced legislation to make it illegal for presidents or members of Congress and their family members to profit off of crypto coins while they hold federal office.  We could join together in that effort. I will personally seek to block any arms sale that is announced as part of this trip with a country that is personally investing in Donald Trump and his family. I will force a full Senate debate and a vote on these sales. Foreign leaders need to know there will be a price for participating in the corruption of the American presidency.
    “This level of corruption is so gross that even Trump’s most hardened MAGA sycophants are turning against him. I didn’t think I’d see the day, but people like Ben Shapiro and Laura Loomer, who fawn over Trump, can’t believe he is so crass as to think that it’s ok to accept planes as a gift in exchange for U.S. national security concessions.
    “This isn’t America First. This is not what he promised the American people. This is Trump First. He is willing to put our nation’s security at risk, take unconstitutional bribes, just so he can fly himself and his Mar-a-Lago golf buddies around the world in gold plated luxury planes gifted to him by foreign governments. All while at the same time, he tells Americans that they should be okay buying fewer school supplies for their kids, or fewer birthday presents for their grandchildren, because he is driving prices up for non-billionaires in this country. All while at the same time he is kicking 13 million people off of their health care. Trump lines his pockets, he corrupts our foreign policy to enrich himself, while driving up prices and stealing health care from average Americans. It’s a national security disaster and it’s a moral abomination.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner Joins Colleagues in Resolution to Condemn Trump’s $400 Million Airplane Gift from Qatar

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON — Today, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined 26 of his colleagues in introducing a resolution to condemn the gift of a luxury airplane, valued at $400 million, President Donald Trump announced he will receive from the government of Qatar. According to reports, Trump intends to designate the plane as Air Force One while in office and then transfer it to a foundation for personal use following the end of his term.

    In addition to Sen. Warner, this resolution is sponsored by Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Andy Kim (D-NJ). Earlier today, the senators attempted to pass this legislation through the Senate by unanimous consent, but were blocked by Republicans.

    “This is corruption plain and simple. The President of the United States accepting a $400 million plane from a foreign government is unheard of, and would require direct consent from Congress,” Sen. Warner said. “This is just the latest act by President Trump that shows his administration has no regard for the rule of law and is ripe to be exploited by foreign actors.”

    “President Trump’s penchant for corruption and grift has risen to a new level with the news his presidency is for sale – if you happen to have $400 million dollars,” Leader Schumer said. “This Qatari plane deal would be the largest Presidential bribe in modern history and it’s not just naked corruption, it’s a grave national security threat. Senate Republicans may bury their heads in the sand while Trump tries to enrich himself and his billionaire buddies, but Senate Democrats are going to stand up for the American people and say enough is enough – we condemn this attempt at corruption and gross violation of the Constitution.”

    “Air Force One is more than just a plane — it’s a symbol of the presidency and of the United States itself,” Sen. Schatz said. “Any president who accepts this kind of gift, valued at $400 million, from a foreign government creates a clear conflict of interest, raises serious national security questions, invites foreign influence, and undermines public trust in our government. We are asking the Senate to vote to reiterate a basic principle: no president should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts.”

    “We wouldn’t trust another country to decorate the Oval Office, to set up our Situation Room, or to wire the White House briefing room, so why would we let another country build Air Force One for us, which is an airborne version of all three? This isn’t just a massive act of corruption, it’s a national security risk of the highest order,” Sen. Coons said. “If President Trump is so willing to put his own administration in danger for the sake of a $400 million gift, imagine how much danger he’s willing to put the American people in.

    “While Republicans plot to gut vital services like Social Security and Medicaid and unleash economic uncertainty onto hardworking Americans, Donald Trump is planning to accept a luxury jet, valued at $400 million, from a foreign government,” Sen. Booker said. “This not only creates a clear conflict of interest, raises serious national security concerns, and undermines public trust in our government, but is a slap in the face to the people across the country who are struggling to make ends meet. All Senators should be able to agree that no one should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts. I hope my Republican colleagues will support this resolution.”

    “The president doesn’t get to trade U.S. foreign policy and national security for a private jet,” Sen. Murphy said. “This resolution sends the message Trump won’t: the Oval Office is not for sale.

    “No, Donald Trump cannot accept a $400 million flying palace from the royal family of Qatar. Not only is this farcically corrupt, it is blatantly unconstitutional,” Sen. Sanders said. “Congress must not allow this over-the-top kleptocracy to proceed.”

    “President Trump wants to accept a $400 million private jet from a foreign government, have American taxpayers pay to retrofit it as Air Force One, and then keep it for himself to jet around the world as soon as he leaves office. It’s hard to imagine more brazen corruption or a clearer violation of our Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, and there’s no question this outlandish proposal puts our country’s national security at risk,” Sen. Murray said. “Every member of Congress should support this simple resolution condemning violations of the Emoluments Clause and making clear Trump cannot accept a $400 million private jet from Qatar without explicit consent from Congress.”

    “If someone came to one of my town halls in Oregon and tried to argue that getting a $400 million jet from the government of Qatar wasn’t corruption, they would be laughed out of town,” Sen. Wyden said. “Instead of securing new allies against adversaries like China or opening new markets for American products, Trump is using America’s clout to get a private jet. It’s corruption plain and simple that fritters away American influence and leaves us weaker.” 

    “While Republicans in Congress are working to gut Medicaid and Social Security, President Trump is brazenly accepting a luxury jumbo jet from Qatar — for his use during and after he leaves office,” Sen. Padilla said. “Once again, Trump is showing us that he puts his own interests above those of the American people, benefiting himself and leaving working families behind. This foreign gift reeks of corruption, is blatantly against the law, threatens our national security, and will cost taxpayers tens of millions in retrofit costs and security upgrades.”

    “Donald Trump is accepting a multimillion dollar plane from a foreign government as a personal gift, while clearly ignoring the Constitution,” Sen. Rosen said. “Trump gets richer off of his position while hardworking families suffer from his reckless actions. This is corruption plain and simple, and I’m supporting this resolution to make our strong opposition clear.” 

     “Trump’s brazen willingness to accept a luxury jet from Qatar raises the dangerous prospect that the president can be bought and paid for by foreign powers — putting their interests over Americans’ and our national security. Every Senator should join us in rejecting it and blocking the sale of the presidency to the highest bidder,” Sen Van Hollen said.

    “Our founding fathers knew that we must protect ourselves from corruption and foreign influence, which is exactly why we have a constitutional provision prohibiting presidents from accepting lavish gifts from foreign governments—a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, reportedly valued at $400 million, is no exception,” Sen. Shaheen said. “Congress and the American public have a right to know the details of any arrangement that calls into question whether the President is acting on behalf of American interests and American interests alone. Further, the security implications of taking a foreign-owned and managed plane and outfitting it with the most sensitive U.S. technology continues to demonstrate a lack of judgement in this administration when it comes to guarding U.S. intelligence.”

    “There’s no such thing as a $400 million “no-strings-attached” gift,” Sen. Duckworth said. “This is the mother of all bribes. It puts our national security in jeopardy and erodes public trust—all for the President’s own personal gain. Donald Trump wants to sell our foreign policy and sell out our people.”

    “Donald Trump accepting a $400 million gift from a foreign country is corruption in plain sight,” Sen. Hirono said. “Trump’s latest grift undermines our national security, flies in the face of the Constitution, and will cost American taxpayers hundreds of millions, if not billions, in retrofits.”

    “The mere notion that the President would cravenly accept a $400 million attempt to win favor from a foreign power is beyond the pale and reeks of corruption.  The White House and presidency are sacred trusts from the American people, not venues for Trump to enrich himself and his family with shady deals and influence buying,” Sen. Durbin said. “Our resolution reaffirms what our Constitution makes clear – no President should receive gifts from a foreign power.”

    “While President Trump claims to target fraud and abuse, his actions continue to prove that his priorities are his own interests and those of his wealthy friends,” Sen. Bennet said. “His plan to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari government for use as Air Force One is an act of blatant corruption and a violation of our Constitution that poses severe counterintelligence risks, needlessly undermining U.S. national security.”

    “This is corruption in plain sight. Under no circumstance should a sitting president be accepting luxury gifts from a foreign government, especially while negotiating an arms sale,” Sen. Blunt Rochester said. “This is yet another example of President Trump focusing on enriching himself rather than improving the lives of everyday Americans. I’m joining with my colleagues on this resolution to protect national security, to stand up for our constituents, and to uphold the rule of law.”

    “If an ordinary government official accepted a gift even a fraction as valuable as this, there would be a full investigation, and potential firings due to concerns of foreign influence,” Sen. Slotkin said. “Now the President is taking a $400 million foreign gift. Beyond the perception of corruption, the idea that a foreign country would have access to Air Force One, as the buyer, during production, leaves it incredibly vulnerable to bugs, tracking devices, and whatever else they or other countries may attempt to manipulate.”

    “This is corruption, plain and simple. The U.S. is not for sale, and we cannot allow the presidency to be bought by foreign interests,” Sen. Klobuchar said.

    “Just when you think the Trump Administration can’t sink to a new low of ethical misconduct, he accepts a luxury jet from a foreign nation. Corruption on full display,” Sen. Merkley said.

    “We’re beyond foreign interference at this point. We’re watching a President invite a foreign government to buy him off,” Sen. Alsobrooks said. “American values are actively being flushed down the toiled by this corrupt President.”

    The full text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 9th, 2025 Heinrich, Colleagues Urge Trump to Press for Immediate Resumption of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Return to Israel-Gaza Hostage & Ceasefire Negotiations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to President Trump in advance of the president’s upcoming travel to the Middle East next week, urging him to take an active role in pressing for humanitarian aid and a return to ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in order to ensure Israel’s security and end more than 15 months of devastating conflict in Gaza.
    When Trump took office, the January 15 ceasefire deal negotiated under the presidential transition of the Biden administration was in effect — 30 Israeli hostages were reunited with their families, Hamas’ military capacity had been effectively obliterated, and humanitarian aid was reaching Gaza. In the months since Trump’s inauguration, however, negotiations towards long-term regional security have collapsed, and dozens of hostages remain imprisoned by Hamas.
    Before next week’s visit, the senators wrote to President Trump that, “The United States is not providing much needed leadership to drive peace forward in the region.” President Trump’s planned visit to the region does not include a stop in Israel.  He has chosen to conclude a truce with Houthi terrorists even as they pledge to continue striking Israel. He also appears to be turning a blind eye towards the core task of ensuring Israel’s security for today and for the long term.
    In the letter, the senators described Gaza’s catastrophic humanitarian crisis under a months-long blockade of aid. More than 116,000 metric tons of food assistance have been stuck outside Gaza, and an estimated 90 percent of Gaza’s population face high levels of acute food and water insecurity. According to the United Nations, most civilians face emergency or crisis levels of hunger.
    This week, Israel also announced its intent to expand military operations and pursue a long-term occupation of Gaza. “The announcement has already escalated tensions in the Middle East, once again threatening to engulf the volatile region in conflict,” the senators wrote. “The Houthis struck Israel’s Ben Gurion airport on May 4 and have vowed to further retaliate against the proposed occupation. Jordan, one of our most important regional security partners, is facing intensifying pressure amid continued public anger over Gaza. Saudi Arabia has made it clear there can be no progress towards normalization with Israel without a pathway toward Palestinian statehood.”
    “Israel’s proposed occupation plans take us further away from permanently ending the Israel-Gaza war and upholding Israel’s security, both goals that you have promised to achieve under your administration,” the senators added.
    Specifically, the senators asked Trump to press all parties to agree to a deal that: 

    Secures the immediate release of all remaining hostages;

    Ushers in a ceasefire;

    Works towards the creation of a security force backed by Arab partners to administer Gaza without Hamas; and

    Creates a path toward a lasting solution that will allow the Israeli and Palestinian people to live in security, dignity, and prosperity.

    The senators ended the letter by reaffirming their unequivocal commitment to Israel’s security and its right to defend itself.  
    “It has been nearly 20 months since Hamas murdered more than 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, including American citizens,” the senators concluded. “This period has also been marked by severe humanitarian suffering of civilians in Gaza, where more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed and millions displaced. All of us are longstanding advocates of the U.S.-Israel security partnership, and we will continue to fight for the defense of the Israeli people. That is why, today, we stand with the nearly three-quarters of the Israeli public who are fighting for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire.”
    The letter was is by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). Alongside Heinrich, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
    The full text of the letter is here and below:
    Dear President Trump:

    When you took office in January 2025, we were on a path to peace in the Israel-Gaza conflict, thanks in part to your team’s efforts during the Presidential transition. A ceasefire was in effect and 30 hostages were reunited with their families. Hamas’s military capacity had been effectively obliterated, with the IDF calling it a “guerilla terror group” that could no longer mount a sustained military operation against the people of Israel – a testament to both Israel’s military prowess and the United States’ unflinching support. But today, the United States is not providing critically needed leadership to drive peace forward, which is why we write to express our deep concern in advance of your upcoming travel to the Middle East.
    Since March of this year, the situation on the ground has deteriorated dramatically. Fighting in Gaza has resumed, negotiations towards long-term regional security have collapsed, and dozens of hostages remain imprisoned by Hamas. In fact, we have not had a single hostage return home since February 26. In addition, we are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe in the third month of Israel’s full blockade of food, water, and medicine into Gaza. This is the longest closure Gaza has ever faced. While the World Food Program ran out of food stocks inside Gaza on April 25, they report that more than 116,000 metric tons of food assistance – enough to feed one million people for up to four months – has been positioned outside Gaza at aid corridors, unable to enter. According to the United Nations, an estimated 90 percent of Gaza’s population faces high levels of acute food and water insecurity, with most civilians facing emergency or crisis levels of hunger. Against this backdrop, the Israeli government’s new aid proposal is simply not viable. It would limit aid distribution to just a few sites in southern Gaza secured by private U.S. contractors, and nearly all aid groups operating in the region note this would only increase insecurity and displacement. Roughly half of Gaza’s 2.1 million people are children; a generation of starving children today would prevent a secure and peaceful Israel tomorrow.
    This week, the Israeli government announced a plan to expand military operations and pursue a sustained, long-term occupation of Gaza. This is a dangerous inflection point for Israel and the region, and while we support ongoing efforts to eliminate Hamas, a full-scale reoccupation of Gaza would be a critical strategic mistake. The announcement has already escalated tensions in the Middle East, once again threatening to engulf the volatile region in conflict. The Houthis struck Israel’s Ben Gurion airport on May 4 and have vowed to further retaliate against the proposed occupation. Jordan, one of our most important regional security partners, is facing intensifying pressure amid continued public anger over Gaza. Saudi Arabia has made it clear there can be no progress towards normalization with Israel without a pathway toward Palestinian statehood. In this context, Israel’s planned actions would severely undermine Jerusalem’s path to a more secure, stable and regionally integrated future, which you championed in your first term through the Abraham Accords.
    Israel’s proposed occupation plans take us further away from permanently ending the Israel-Gaza war and upholding Israel’s security, both goals that you have promised to achieve under your administration. As such, in advance of your upcoming visit, we urge you to oppose a permanent reoccupation of Gaza and to press for the immediate resumption of neutral and impartial humanitarian assistance, access, and distribution that fully meets the needs of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
    You also have a unique opportunity to press the parties to agree to a deal that:
    (1) secures the immediate release of all remaining hostages;
    (2) ushers in a ceasefire;
    (3) works towards the creation of a security force backed by Arab partners to administer Gaza without Hamas; and
    (4) creates a path towards a lasting solution that will allow the Israeli and Palestinian people to live in security, dignity, and prosperity.
    Mr. President, like you, we are unequivocal in our commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself. It has been nearly 20 months since Hamas murdered more than 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, including American citizens. This period has also been marked by severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, where more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed and millions displaced. All of us are longstanding advocates of the U.S.-Israel security partnership, and we will continue to fight for the defense of the Israeli people. That is why, today, we stand with the nearly threequarters of the Israeli public who are fighting for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Markey, Collins Resolution Designating April “Community College Month”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Resolution Text (PDF)
    Washington (May 13, 2025) – Last week, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution led by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, designating April as “Community College Month.” The resolution recognizes the importance of community colleges as sources of education, opportunity, and economic mobility. More than 1,000 public, tribal, and independent community colleges serve almost half of all undergraduate students in the United States. Representatives Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) introduced a companion resolution in the House of Representatives.
    “Massachusetts community colleges are of and for the community – delivering affordable, high-quality education to students where they live and work.  When we invest in them, we are investing in people, families, neighborhoods, and their futures,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud to reintroduce my resolution designating April as Community College Month in recognition of their essential contributions to our students, to building our workforce, and to driving economic opportunity and mobility.”
    “Maine’s community colleges play an important role in shaping our future workforce and providing students with the skills they need to prepare for rewarding careers in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, cybersecurity, and health care,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan resolution celebrates the hard work of faculty at the more than 1,000 community colleges throughout our country and reaffirms our commitment to increasing access to higher education and workforce training.”
    “For decades, community colleges have opened the door to quality, higher education for students, regardless of their family’s income,” said Congressman Courtney. “Community colleges are particularly critical to students and employers in eastern Connecticut where our economy is growing faster than any other region in the state. With so many new, good-paying jobs available, community colleges are well-situated to prepare workers with the skills they need to succeed. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect resources for community colleges and ensure they can continue delivering on their mission.”
    “Community Colleges empower students of all ages with the tools, industry certifications and hands-on skills they need to be successful in high wage jobs that are in demand throughout the country.  The skilled workforce they help create serves as a catalyst for fueling our nation’s economic engine,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis who serves as Co-Chairman of the Community College Congressional Caucus. “This Community College Month, we celebrate the success of these fine educational institutions and the positive impact they have on the lives of millions of Americans.”
    “The Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges are grateful to Congress for recognizing April as Community College Month,” said Nate Mackinnon, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges. “Our community colleges offer an open access education to all, regardless of their goals. We are proud to be part of our local communities and partners in educating employees in high-demand industries across Massachusetts.”
    Community colleges play a crucial role in workforce development across the United States, providing an affordable pathway to further education for all students, including nontraditional, low-income, working, parenting, veteran, and first-generation students. For more than a century, community colleges have contributed to prosperity and economic mobility, and they are vitally important to the economic future of the United States.
    The Senate resolution is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Clark, Pressley Condemn Termination of Federal Grants to Harvard University

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (May 13, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, along with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), today condemned the Trump Administration’s cancelation of $450 million in federal grants to Harvard University, including all grants from the National Science Foundation. In fiscal year 2024, Harvard University received $56 million in National Science Foundation grants. This announcement is the next in a series of illegal and authoritarian Trump administration attacks on Harvard, including freezing $2.2 billion of federal funding and blocking all future research grants to Harvard.
    “Yet again, the Trump administration is flouting the Constitution and laws passed by Congress in an authoritarian attempt to intimidate Harvard University into complying with its political demands. The Trump administration is demonstrating astonishing disregard for not only the students, faculty, and staff that these cuts impact, but also for the general public who benefit from scientific breakthroughs and the global standing of the United States. This is a blatant and condemnable strike against freedom, and we stand by Harvard University in their fight against authoritarian overreach by Trump.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Warren, Nadler Press Pepsi on Potentially Illegal Price Discrimination Against Small, Independently-Owned Grocery Stores

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), wrote to Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo, Inc. (Pepsi) demanding an explanation for the company’s potentially illegal price discrimination against small and independent grocery stores. The lawmakers are the top Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrate State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, respectively. 
    In recent months, Pepsi has faced legal action from convenience stores and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a government regulator responsible for enforcing federal consumer protection laws and antitrust laws. In January 2025, the FTC sued Pepsi, accusing it of violating the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), which prohibits sellers from engaging in anticompetitive price discrimination. The FTC claimed that for years, Pepsi has disadvantaged retailers – including local convenience stores – by consistently giving benefits and advantages, such as promotional payments, to a big-box store, while denying those same benefits to the store’s competitors.
    In February 2025, two small, family-owned convenience stores accused Pepsi and its subsidiary Frito-Lay of violating the RPA, claiming the corporation charged independent retailers more “for identical bags of snack chips” compared to what it charged chain stores. The plaintiffs claimed they were charged as much as 50 percent more for those goods, and that the “discriminatory pricing” forced them to pass on the higher costs to consumers. 
    “The Robinson-Patman Act is an important tool for the FTC to combat illegal price discrimination and concentration, and to provide a level playing field to all businesses…Charging discriminatory, high prices to smaller, independent retailers harms those retailers’ ability to compete, and often forces consumers to endure unfair price increases,” wrote the lawmakers. 
    The RPA forbids sellers from charging competing buyers different prices for the same goods when the price discrimination may lessen or harm competition. The law also prohibits special promotional payments, discounts, rebates, allowances, or services to one buyer unless they are made available to all competing buyers.
    “As food prices remain sky-high, the FTC should continue to enforce the RPA to promote fair competition in the food industry,” urged the lawmakers. 
    The bicameral coalition asked Pepsi to explain, by May 25, 2025, its pricing strategies, any discrepancies between what it charges chain retailers and small, independent retailers, how these price discrepancies affect shopping options for consumers, and the company’s lobbying efforts to refute price discrimination allegations.  
    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Statement on the Passing of Kit Bond

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator for Missouri, Christopher “Kit” Bond:
    “Elaine and I were saddened to learn of the passing of our good friend, Kit Bond. Over four terms together in the Senate, I had a front row seat as one of the Senate’s most relentless and effective legislators built coalitions and made a difference – from agricultural innovation to intelligence oversight. Kit wore his devotion to his fellow Missourians on his sleeve, and made no secret of his belief in the importance of American leadership abroad.
    “I will miss Kit’s uncompromising advocacy for investment in America’s military strength and engagement with allies and partners in critical regions. Considering the challenges we face today, his longtime focus on southeast Asia was prescient.
    “But most of all, Elaine and I will miss Kit’s warm friendship. And today, our prayers and deepest sympathies are with Kit’s wife, Linda, his son, Sam, and his entire family as they say farewell to a great and good man.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch, Luján Introduce Legislation to Improve AI Testing and Evaluation Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Testing and Evaluation Systems for Trusted Artificial Intelligence (TEST) AI Act of 2025.

    This legislation would improve the federal government’s ability to test and evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to drive innovation, protect national security, and build trust in these technologies.

    “While AI offers an opportunity to revolutionize American research and innovation, we must be cognizant of bad actors and potential threats to privacy and national security,” said Risch. “The Idaho National Laboratory is already a leader in AI, national security, and cybersecurity, and the TEST AI Act will use the National Labs’ capabilities to establish safeguards to prevent misuse of this growing technology.”

    “AI has reached every sector in our country and driven innovation, but we cannot ignore the vulnerabilities and risks that come with it. While these systems have the power to change lives, they can also fall short – providing inaccurate or biased data – and are at risk of malicious attacks or misuse by our adversaries,” said Luján. “The TEST AI Actaddresses these shortcomings by creating government testbeds to better evaluate AI systems. This will help leverage the talent of our National Laboratories and strengthen the federal government’s ability to implement responsible guardrails that protect our national security and the American people.”

    Risch and Luján were joined by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Peter Welch (D-V.T.) in introducing the TEST AI Act.

    The TEST AI Act directs the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) to collaborate with the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a testbed pilot program to develop and refine standards for evaluating AI systems. By laying the groundwork for broader national evaluation standards through a transparent and collaborative approach, the TEST AI Act would ensure that AI systems used by federal agencies are trustworthy, secure, and objective.

    The TEST AI Act would:

    • Codify collaboration between NIST and DOE to evaluate AI models;

    • Improve public-private partnerships through an AI Testing Working Group to develop standards for performance, reliability, security, privacy, and bias; and  

    • Create a public strategy for testing and the construction of testbeds, and a report to Congress on the results and recommendations for future standards development.

    Senators Risch, Luján, Blackburn, and Durbin co-lead the Senate National Labs Caucus, which identifies legislative opportunities to elevate the National Labs’ visibility and meet national energy and security objectives while solidifying U.S. leadership in critical scientific sectors. ?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Joins Bipartisan Bill to Increase Support to Law Enforcement, First Responders Suffering from Service-Related Cancers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – During National Police Week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced she has joined the bipartisan Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act to expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers. Currently, these heroic men and women are only eligible for support under the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program for physical injuries sustained in the line of duty, or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11 related illnesses.
    “Nevada’s police officers, firefighters, and first responders put their health at risk to keep our communities safe, sometimes developing cancer from exposure to toxic chemicals during their service,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why it’s critical that these public safety officers and their families can access all the federal support they need. I’m proud to support this bill to do just that, and will keep pushing to make sure we take the best care of our first responders.”
    Senator Rosen has fought to support Nevada’s first responders. Last year, she helped secure nearly $1 million in federal funding to provide mental health training and support to thousands of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and first responders. Senator Rosen also announced that more than $6 million in funding they secured for Nevada law enforcement, criminal justice, and public safety projects is being delivered. Last Congress, Senator Rosen introduced bipartisan legislation to improve federal mental health support programs for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency response personnel.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham Arrives in Turkey

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today arrived in Turkey. Senator Graham traveled to the nation to meet with Turkish and U.S. officials to assess the situation in Syria. 
    “I have traveled to Turkey this week for the express purpose of assessing the situation in Syria. I am very inclined to support sanctions relief for Syria under the right conditions. However, we must remember that the current leadership in Syria achieved its position through force of arms, not through the will of its people. 
    “I know the Trump Administration has provided guidance to Syrian officials about conditions that need to be met before any sanctions can be relieved. I fully understand the role that Congress plays in this process, having supported Syrian sanctions that passed Congress during the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.  
    “Currently, Syria is also listed as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law. In order for that designation to be lifted, the administration must submit a report to Congress on how circumstances have changed. That report has not been received and Congress has the opportunity to review this action if it chooses. The designation of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism has tremendous ramifications apart from the sanctions. I am certain that Congress would need to be informed of changes in conditions placed on Syria and how they have met those conditions before Congress can make an informed decision on whether or not it should approve the change in designation. 
    “I have also been in close contact with Israel, as they are extremely concerned about the state of play in Syria. During this trip, I will be discussing this matter with our allies in Turkey and will maintain extremely close coordination with our allies in Israel so that we can fully understand the implications of sanctions waivers.
    “Waiving congressionally-passed sanctions is a complicated process. While I would like to empower the new players in Syria, it has to be done in a coordinated fashion with our allies – especially our friends in Israel – so that numerous security concerns can be addressed. Over the past decades, locations in Syria have been used to attack Israel.
    “This newly formed government in Syria may be a good investment and could be the pathway to unifying Syria, making it a stable part of the region. However, there is a lot that must be learned before making that determination. 
    “A stable Syria would be a game changer for the region, but given its past, their progress must be evaluated closely.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Takes on PBMs During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) pressed Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) on how their anti-competitive practices have raised costs for Vermont patients by undermining competition in the prescription drug supply chain. Senator Welch also discussed how PBMs’ lack of transparency has crushed and driven community pharmacies in Vermont and around the country out of business. 
    “We only have 126 independent pharmacies in Vermont. They’ve been going out of business left and right. In my view, they’re absolutely critical to the community. Main street’s getting devastated—this is especially true in rural America,” said Senator Welch. “Mr. Scott, I want to ask you—how in the world can a business survive if they sell the product at what is an agreed upon price, and then you reimburse them at a lower price months after the fact? How in the world is that a fair business model that makes it at all possible for our community pharmacies to survive?” 
    Mr. Juan Carlos Scott, President & Chief Executive Officer, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, answered: “We all have the same goal, Senator. We need a healthy retail pharmacy market, because if we can’t serve patients with those access points…” 
    Senator Welch responded: “You know what? We don’t have a healthy retail pharmacy market—it doesn’t exist. They’re under incredible pressure, and we can be blind to it…I want an answer of how we deal with Mr. McDonough, how we deal with Jeff Hochberg, and how we deal with all of these community pharmacies in our small towns throughout the country.” 
    Watch the exchange between Senator Welch and Pharmaceutical Care Management Association President and CEO Juan Carlos Scott below: 

    Senator Welch has championed bipartisan initiatives to lower prescription drug prices for Vermonters. Senators Welch and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) recently introduced the Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act, bipartisan legislation that would offer relief for millions of patients by prohibiting pharmaceutical companies from selling drugs in the United States at higher prices than an international average, ending the practice of forcing Americans to pay the world’s highest prices for medications.    
    In March, Senators Welch and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) led their colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act to crack down on PBMs’ use of ‘spread pricing,’—charging Medicaid more than PBMs pay pharmacies for a drug—which drives up costs for Medicaid and short-changes pharmacies that are already struggling to stay in business. The bill would save Medicaid an estimated $2 billion over 10 years. 
    Last Congress, Senator Welch and Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led the introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to streamline prescription drug patent litigation, encourage fair market competition, and lower prescription drug prices. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with UT San Antonio President

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met yesterday with University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) President Taylor Eighmy and other system leaders to discuss their leading academic programs, merger with UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and their research efforts in hypersonics. See photo below.

    This image is in the public domain, but those wishing to do so may credit the Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
    Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with National Border Patrol Council

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met yesterday with National Border Patrol Council board members to discuss improving infrastructure, updating technology, and increasing personnel along our southern border to give them the resources needed to do their job. Thanks to Border Patrol’s work and President Trump’s historic efforts to secure the border and enforce the laws on the books, southern border apprehensions are down nearly 95% from one year ago. See photo below.

    This image is in the public domain, but those wishing to do so may credit the Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
    Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Introduces Mission to MARS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced the Mission to Modernize Astronautic Resources for Space (MARS) Act, which would improve and modernize Johnson Space Center’s (JSC) infrastructure to prepare National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for human missions to the moon and Mars:
    “Throughout history, America has pioneered human space exploration and boldly charted the path into the great unknown,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I am proud to lead this legislation to not only send humans back to the moon, but to the next frontier of Mars, where technological advancements and untold scientific discoveries await.”
    Background:
    The Mission to MARS Act would bolster Johnson Space Center’s human spaceflight infrastructure by:
    Preparing the Neutral Buoyancy Lab for commercial space station training, lunar-suited operations, and collaborations with the Department of Defense;
    Upgrading and repairing the Astromaterials Curation and Research facility for samples from the moon and Mars;
    Modernizing the Mission Control Center to prepare for crewed missions beyond low-Earth orbit;
    Improving Ellington Field astronaut flight training facilities;
    Constructing the space food systems laboratory;
    And refurbishing astronaut training aircraft.
    This legislation aligns with Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas Space Commission’s efforts to further cement Texas as a leader in space exploration, and it supports President Trump’s call during his Joint Address to Congress to “conquer the vast frontiers of science” and “lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond.” As the space race with China accelerates, we must take steps to strengthen our national security and ensure American ingenuity is not weaponized against us. By staying one step ahead of this adversary in our missions to the moon and Mars, this legislation would help reinforce America’s standing as the preeminent global power in space.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Hoeven Introduce Bill to Strengthen Farm Safety Net

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON––U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) in introducing the Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act, legislation to strengthen crop insurance and make higher levels of coverage more affordable for agricultural producers.
    “Farmers must have the risk management tools they need to plan for the future. The FARMER Act would make critical improvements to the farm safety net and deliver support to producers across the country who rely on these programs. I appreciate Senator Hoeven for continuing to lead on this issue as we work to provide certainty to America’s farm families,” Boozman said. 
    “Crop insurance remains the number one risk management tool for our farmers, but it doesn’t provide the kind of affordable coverage options that all producers need. The result has been the repeated need for ad-hoc disaster assistance. Ultimately, producers buying higher levels of coverage will lessen the need for ad-hoc disaster assistance in the future. That means less emergency spending by the federal government, greater certainty for farmers and a more resilient ag economy. Those are wins across the board,” Hoeven said.
    Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jim Justice (R-WV), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) have cosponsored the bill.
    The FARMER Act would:
    Increase premium support for higher levels of crop insurance coverage, which will enhance affordability and reduce the need for future ad-hoc disaster assistance;
    Improve the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) by increasing premium support and expanding the coverage level, providing producers with an additional level of protection;
    Direct the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to conduct a study to improve the effectiveness of SCO in large counties; and
    Give producers flexibility to make decisions that work best for their operations rather than obligating them to choose between purchasing enhanced crop insurance coverage or participating in Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.
    The bill is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, American Sugarbeet Growers Association, Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau, Crop Insurance Professionals Association, Farm Credit Council, Midwest Council on Agriculture, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Sunflower Association, USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, U.S. Beet Sugar Association, U.S. Canola Association, U.S. Durum Growers Association, Southwest Council of Agribusiness and Western Peanut Growers Association.
    The bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Legislation to Ban Conversion Therapy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    May 13, 2025
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore) today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would ban so-called “conversion therapy,” a practice fraudulently claiming to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. 
    “Forcing Americans into sham therapy for a non-existent illness is medieval quackery, not modern science,” Wyden said. “This legislation protects the LGBTQ+ community from forced treatment for something that doesn’t need fixing.” 
    “So-called ‘conversion therapy’ has been discredited by every mainstream medical association and is not legitimate medical care,” said Merkley. “It’s dangerous and ineffective, yet too many LGBTQ+ people are still being harmed by it. The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act will protect LGBTQ+ Americans from this fraudulent and damaging practice.”
    The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would ban a practice that has been recognized by the national community of professionals in health, education, social work, and counseling as both dangerous and ineffective.
    In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (D-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.),Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and led by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).
    Full text of the bill is here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Just Follow the Science,” King Gains Agreement from Army Corps of Engineers Nominee in Discussion of Climate Resiliency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King questioned an administration nominee on his willingness to follow the science in the face of increasingly occurring and violent weather events. In his questioning of Mr. Adam Telle to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, King asked about the importance of Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in responding to natural disasters and how, if confirmed, he would lead the Army Corps of Engineers to work with FEMA.
    Senator King began, “Does FEMA play an important role in disaster response in this country, particularly for major disasters that affect more than one state?
    “Senator King, thank you for the question. And FEMA certainly has played a role in disaster response,” Telle responded. “The US Army Corps of Engineers under the National Response Framework, is of course, charged with leading on debris removal, and that relationship between our emergency managers and the Corps of Engineers is important as we respond to disasters like those that occurred recently, recently in North Carolina and Tennessee and surrounding areas with Hurricane Helene.”
    Senator King said, “I just don’t see how we’re going to be able to turn disaster response entirely over to the States, given the fact that disasters don’t respect state borders. Resiliency planning. That has to be part of the responsibility when the Corps is doing projects wherever they are. Do you agree?”
    “Yes, Senator, resiliency is critically important,” Telle affirmed.
    Senator King continued, “And do you agree that we are facing more and greater and more devastating storms than we have in the in the past?”
    “Senator King, we’ve certainly faced devastating natural disasters throughout our nation’s history,” Telle said. “It’s been a long-standing issue that we’ve dealt with. I don’t have the specific data about the intensity of those disasters, but they’re still happening. They’ve been happening throughout our nation’s history, and we have to stay vigilant to make sure we’re up to date with the latest data.”
    Senator King continued asking Mr. Telle, if confirmed, he would follow the science in his role leading the Army Division of Civil Works.
    “Well, I hope that regardless of the position of the administration on climate change, that the corps will take advantage of the science, which I think you’ve committed to, and particularly in resiliency planning. The worst thing we could do would be to build to 100-year-old standards instead of 100 years from now standards. Do you agree?” Senator King asked.
    Telle responded, “Senator, I do agree, and the Corps of Engineers currently, and it’s my understanding, we’ll continue to use the latest hydrological trend data that we can measure to make decisions about investments and the design of flood control infrastructure.”
    Senator King followed up, “Just follow the science, correct?”
    “Senator, we should follow the science,” Telle concluded.
    Because Maine faces increasingly extreme weather and storms, modernizing energy infrastructure through clean solar energy and new storage technologies can help ensure public buildings are able to maintain access to energy during destructive weather events. Last year, Senator King secured $2.5 million through the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2024 Congressionally-Directed Spending appropriations package for the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to support an energy resiliency pilot program. The pilot program is helping to fund climate resiliency initiatives in Caribou, Carthage, Dover-Foxcroft, Fairfield, Jonesport, Limestone, Lubec, Machias, Millinocket, and Rockland.
    Senator King is also a longtime supporter of working waterfronts and small businesses. He previously introduced the bipartisan Providing Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Enterprises (PREPARE) Act to reauthorize the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Pilot Program, which would give small businesses the opportunity to take out low-interest loans for the purpose of proactively implementing mitigation measures that protect their property from future disaster-related damage. He also led a bipartisan bill to provide working waterfronts with a 30 percent tax credit on up to $1 million in mitigation expenses, adjusted for inflation annually.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Wants RIers to Have a Say Before U.S. Coast Guard Removes Any Coastal Buoys

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – As the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) embarks on phase one of a multi-phase plan to remove dozens of buoys from waters along Rhode Island’s coast and the surrounding area, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Appropriations Committee, is urging the Coast Guard to seek input from Rhode Island commercial and recreational boaters and harbormasters before removing any navigational markers in the water.
    The Coast Guard recently announced a modernization plan to phase out hundreds of physical coastal buoys and lateral marks across the First Coast Guard District system and transition to more tech-based navigation practices, including reliance on GPS and other maritime technology.   
    An interactive grid map of the area shows just how expansive the Aids to Navigation (AtoN) system is along Rhode Island’s waterways, as well as the coastal buoy candidates considered for discontinuation.  The Ocean State is home to about 400 federal aids to navigation, including the roughly three dozen coastal buoys identified for removal in phase one of USCG’s plan.
    Senator Reed says public outreach and input is essential in this process and wants to ensure all impacted Rhode Islanders have a chance to weigh in and be heard before changes are made or buoys are eliminated.
    “The Coast Guard’s goal should be to ensure safety through an effective, efficient, and resilient navigation system.  Rhode Islanders know these waters best, and their views should guide Coast Guard decision-making.  That’s why it is important for mariners to register their views with the Coast Guard during this comment period,” said Senator Reed.  “GPS technology and apps are great, but when technology fails, there needs to be a fail-safe to keep people safe.  Everyone agrees it’s better to save a life than a few bucks.  I will not support any changes that undermine marine safety.”
    The Coast Guard is accepting public comments by email until June 13.  The electronic chart systems are available digitally through the Coast Guard’s Navigation Center.
    When providing feedback, USCG requests users include “the size and type of your vessel, how you use the buoys to navigate and the distance at which you start looking for and using it.”
    Responses are only accepted via email at: D01-SMB-DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil.  A special notice, posted to USCG’s District One’s local notice to mariners website further details USCG’s request for feedback.
    Most buoys in Rhode Island’s navigation system are made of steel with steel chains, which can be costly to upkeep over time due to salt water and the elements. 
    “The Coast Guard works hard to maintain our buoy infrastructure.  And as they make changes, it is essential that they listen to local voices.  That is why I have encouraged them to reach out to Rhode Islanders and also encourage Rhode Islanders to be proactive in providing feedback.  Waterways can change over time and we want to ensure everyone can navigate them safely and efficiently,” Reed concluded.
    This coastal buoy project is just the first of USGC’s three planned efforts to modernize and reduce Rhode Island’s overall buoy constellation.  Two other plans identify shallow water and harbor buoys that the Coast Guard is considering for discontinuation.  In total, Rhode Island waters could see roughly 100 federally maintained aids to navigation cut, or roughly 25 percent of the total buoy constellation reduced in the coming years.  The Coast Guard’s overall plan can be viewed with this interactive map.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call on Trump Administration to Crack Down on U.S. Firearms Flowing to Latin American Drug Cartels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Congressmen Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.-10) and Rob Menendez (D-N.J.-08) in a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Trump administration to use its recent designation of Latin American cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) to take aggressive action to stop the illegal trafficking of American firearms south across the Southern Border.
    “We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels,” the Members wrote. 
    The lawmakers called for a coordinated federal response to stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of American firearms that arm violent drug cartels, fuel lawlessness along the Southern Border, and bring drugs into communities across the United States. Between 200,000 and 500,000 American firearms are smuggled across U.S. borders into Mexico every year, arming Latin American criminal organizations that have used them to undermine domestic law enforcement and assert control over fentanyl and human trafficking operations back into the United States. 
    “The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years,” the Members continued. 
    The members urged the administration to effectively and strategically employ the full suite of legal options this new designation enables and offered their assistance to empower it to specifically address the “Iron River” of American firearms that are fueling violence and destruction in communities across the United States and Mexico. 
    “We hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue,” the Members concluded. 
    Read the full letter here. 
    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. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Wyden Demand Answers from Promoters who Paid Trump Nominee to Sell Investors Fraudulent Tax Credits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) demanded answers from the promoters of a fraudulent “tribal tax credit,” after they obtained a recording of an investor call showing the scam may be far larger than previously known. Billy Long, Trump’s nominee to lead the IRS, reported earning $65,000 for his work related to the scheme. 
    The call between White River Chief Financial Officer Jay Puchir and 100 or more investors provides new evidence that the company could not provide its own investors with clear proof that the “tribal tax credit” was legitimate. White River could not provide investors with a definitive government document or government point of contact willing to validate or authenticate the legitimacy of the “tribal tax credits” sold by White River.
    The call also contains evidence of a potentially corrupt lobbying scheme between White River and incoming Trump Administration officials to authorize millions in so-called “tribal tax credits” the IRS claimed “do not exist.” During the call, Puchir claims he will use his “contacts” in the new Trump Administration to gain favorable treatment on regulatory approvals from the IRS and other federal agencies, including a potential private letter ruling from the IRS. Puchir also claims to have contacts at the SEC that will help White River get its stock publicly traded again after being delisted on the OTCQB stock market.
    “We believe the investor call contains evidence of a corrupt lobbying scheme between White River and incoming Trump Administration officials to authorize millions in so-called “tribal tax credits” the IRS claims do not exist,” wrote Cortez Masto and Wyden. “During the call, Puchir claims he will use his ‘contacts’ in the new Trump Administration to gain favorable treatment on regulatory approvals from the IRS and other federal agencies, including a potential private letter ruling from the IRS.”
    Last month, the senators called for a criminal investigation into the tax credit scheme, after the IRS informed Democratic Finance Committee Staff that “these tax credits do not exist.” 
    The full text of the letter can be found here.
    As the former top law enforcement official in Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has been a leading voice fight fraud throughout her career. She sounded the alarm on increasing check fraud scams, which cost consumers millions of dollars each year. She introduced legislation to protect and support whistleblowers reporting wrongdoing to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and her bipartisan legislation to deter disruptive and potentially harmful phone calls and texts was signed into law in 2020.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Ernst, Case, Radewagen Work to Strengthen Strategic Relationships with Pacific Islands, Counter Chinese Aggression in the Region

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Congressman Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01), and Delegate Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-A.S.). introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at strengthening the United States’ strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations, supporting sustainable development, and combating the increasing Chinese aggression in the region. The Pacific Partnership Act would help the U.S. establish a clear, comprehensive strategy to support diplomatic, security, and economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region.
    “Supporting our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific is essential to combating the Chinese Communist Party’s influence and to our long-term national security,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan bill is critical to strengthening our ties with our allies in the Pacific and ensuring they become enduring global relationships.”
    “Strengthening America’s partnerships in the Indo-Pacific is critical to deterring Chinese aggression,” said Senator Ernst. “This bipartisan legislation equips us to work with nations in the Pacific that serve as the first line of defense against the Chinese Communist Party and keep Americans safe at home.”
    “Our Pacific Partnership Act responds directly to the reality that our country’s and world’s future lies in the Indo-Pacific, and that the islands of the Pacific are our indispensable partners in charting that future,” said Congressman Case. “The Pacific Islands are under increasingly severe economic, environmental and geopolitical stress, and we must expand our generational engagement to assist them where they most need assistance. The Pacific Partnership Act, molded directly on the Pacific Islands’ own blueprint to their collective future, is our roadmap to expanded engagement as well.”
    “Thank you to Senator Cortez Masto, Senator Ernst, and Congressman Case for their focus on these important partnerships that are close to home for my congressional district in the South Pacific,” said Congresswoman Radewagen. “We need sustained U.S. engagement for enduring partnerships in the Pacific Islands, keeping China’s influence in check, and strengthening mutual development opportunities.”
    The U.S. has a longstanding relationship with the Pacific Islands, and they play a crucial role in U.S. national security, facilitating military operations in support of American allies and partners. Nevada – through the National Guard – collaborates with the Republic of Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Independent State of Samoa under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, strengthening security cooperation globally. 
    The Pacific Partnership Act would strengthen these crucial ties by creating a “Strategy for Pacific Partnership”. This strategy, crafted by the President and presented to Congress every four years, would outline U.S. involvement in the Pacific Islands and highlight combined efforts to combat regional challenges including natural disasters, security threats, and economic development. 
    Read the full bill here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party’s influence and protect the American national and economic security. She introduced the PASS Act to ban individuals and entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing agricultural land and businesses located near U.S. military installations or sensitive sites and the Strengthening Exports Against China Act, which would incentivize economic growth by eliminating barriers for American businesses competing directly with China in emerging industries like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. She’s also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which are critical components of cell phones, computers, defense systems, and electric vehicles, but are almost exclusively made in China.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Introduces Legislation Supporting Law Enforcement in Honor of National Police Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced a resolution recognizing law enforcement officers for their diligence in protecting and serving our communities and calling for increased health and safety measures for law enforcement professionals.
    “As hostility toward police officers grows, threats to their safety increase. We must support those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Dr. Cassidy. 
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Jim Justice (R-WV), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Bernie Moreno (R-OH). Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in introducing the legislation. U.S. Representative Mike Ezell (MS-04-R) introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “It’s an honor to join my colleagues in observing National Police Week. Our bipartisan resolution recognizes the valor, dignity, and dedication of our incredible law enforcement officers. Those who wear the uniform and stand with integrity to protect the liberties we cherish so deeply are owed a great debt of gratitude by our nation. I’m deeply thankful for their continued service to the state of Alabama and our entire country,” said Senator Britt.
    “The courageous men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and our communities. In the face of outrageous attacks against these American heroes, we salute them, we thank them, and we pray for them,” said Senator Lee.
    “Brave law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Hagerty. “As growing threats occur, it’s critical that they have the resources they need to stay protected. I’m pleased to join this resolution calling for increased health and safety resources for law enforcement officers and highlighting their outstanding and important work.”
    “National Police Week is an opportunity to honor the men and women of law enforcement who uphold our laws, hold criminals accountable, resolve disputes, and protect the safety of our communities,” said Senator Sullivan. “There is something special, sacred even, about people who put their lives on the line for their fellow citizens in the course of a typical day at work. This week, we remember our fallen law enforcement heroes and their families, and we thank all of our public safety professionals for their selfless service on our behalf.”
    “During National Police Week, we honor the brave men and women of our law enforcement who put their lives on the line for our communities. I am proud to back the blue each and every day. May God protect all who serve,” said Senator Mullin. 
    “As a former sheriff with four decades in law enforcement, I know firsthand what it means to put on the badge and serve your community,” said Representative Ezell. “This resolution is about showing our law enforcement professionals that Congress stands with them, not just in words, but through meaningful support. We honor their service, we mourn those we’ve lost, and we commit to making sure every officer has what they need to do their job safely and effectively.”
    The bill is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, United States Deputy Sheriffs Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, and Citizens Behind the Badge.
    “We endorse this resolution’s call for comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and well being of our law enforcement professionals. Our officers deserve the full support of the communities and the nation they so faithfully serve. Let us honor their service not only with words but through concrete actions that empower them to continue their essential work. We would like to thank Senator Cassidy for being the author of this resolution and for his continued support of Law Enforcement,” said Fabian Blache, Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director.
    “Efforts like your resolution that bring greater awareness and appreciation to the sacrifices of our officers goes a long way in helping our sheriffs and police chiefs recruit and retain our forces. At the same time, it also builds a greater community understanding and appreciation which is critically needed for law enforcement work,”said Kevin Cobb, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director. 
    “Our organization has the honor of working with these quiet professionals across the nation. They serve with integrity and honor every day and more than ever need to know they are supported. We thank Senator Cassidy for his continued commitment to these everyday heroes who deserve this recognition,” said Mike Willis, United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association National Training & Programs Director.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Smith Reintroduce Bill Preventing Spread of Foreign Animal Diseases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Click HERE to download audio of Grassley discussing the legislation
    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced the Healthy Dog Importation Act to combat the spread of foreign animal diseases entering the United States. The legislation would expand the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA-APHIS) program by providing additional tools to monitor and safeguard the health of dogs being imported into the country. 
    “Maintaining animal health is critical to our nation’s overall public health goals. We want to stop the spread of diseases that can hurt both animals and humans. Our commonsense proposal will boost an existing program to ensure all dogs entering the United States are healthy and not at risk of spreading dangerous diseases that threaten humans and our livestock,” Grassley said. 
    “We’ve seen first-hand the risk that animal-borne diseases pose to other species and humans, so it’s important that we screen animals coming across the border to make sure we’re keeping Minnesotans and their families safe. This bipartisan legislation ensures every dog imported into the United States is screened and vaccinated. Monitoring the illnesses of imported dogs will not only protect the health of our domestic and wild animals, it will also prevent disease outbreaks in people,” Smith said. 
    In addition to expanding the USDA-APHIS program, the Healthy Dog Importation Act would require every imported dog to have a certificate of veterinary inspection from a licensed veterinarian, with some exemptions for personal pet travel and military dogs. The health certificate must attest the dog has received all required vaccinations and demonstrated negative test results. 
    The legislation also would create an online database containing documentation and import permits to ensure dogs entering the country are being properly screened. This would allow further cooperation and communication between APHIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 
    “NAIA commends Representatives Johnson and Davis and Senators Grassley and Smith for taking action to reduce the spread of foreign animal diseases and pathogens. The bipartisan Healthy Dog Importation Act ensures that imported dogs meet basic health standards before crossing our borders—an essential safeguard not only for animal welfare, but for public health, biosecurity, and the integrity of our domestic pet and livestock industries. It’s a commonsense measure that responds to the realities of an increasingly interconnected world,” President of the National Animal Interest Alliance Patti Strand said.
    “NASDA is grateful for Senators Grassley and Smith’s leadership to reintroduce this timely legislation. The ongoing avian influenza outbreak and the ever-present threat of deadly African Swine Fever show the need to better protect the U.S. from highly contagious pathogens and zoonotic diseases. This legislation is critical for NASDA members, as the state departments of agriculture regulate and oversee animal health programs in their states to protect against an animal disease outbreak and secure our food supply. The Healthy Dog Importation Act helps our partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services by providing additional tools to monitor and safeguard the health of dogs being imported into the country,” CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Ted McKinney said.
    “Animal health is a top priority for U.S. cattle producers. This legislation will strengthen the inspection process to guard against the entry of zoonotic animal disease and protect public health and cattle health in the U.S. NCBA thanks Reps. Dusty Johnson and Don Davis and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tina Smith for introducing this important bill,” NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Rivera said.
    “With the number of dogs imported into the United States rising to over one million annually, the risk of introducing and spreading diseases impacting human and animal health has dramatically increased. The proposed legislation equips federal agencies with the necessary tools to ensure all dogs entering the country are healthy and not a risk to public health. We urge Congress to pass the Healthy Dog Importation Act swiftly, as it is vital to improving our dog importation standards and strengthening the country’s animal health infrastructure,” American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) President Dr. Sandra Faeh said. 
    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
    Full text of the legislation is available HERE.
    Click HERE to download audio of Grassley discussing the legislation
    Background:
    CDC estimates up to 1.245 million dogs are imported into the U.S. each year. For the estimated 113,000 canines imported from countries considered at a high-risk for rabies transmission, CDC requires a rabies vaccination certificate, but no other health documentation or identification. For the 950,000 dogs imported from rabies-free, low-risk or moderate risk countries, CDC requires no documentation or vaccination. 
    The COVID-19 pandemic has increased public health officials’ concerns regarding zoonotic diseases, which can be spread between animals and humans. The CDC reports 60 percent of all infectious diseases and three out of four emerging diseases can be spread from animals to humans. USDA-APHIS has separate regulatory authority over dogs imported for resale. However, USDA’s import requirements apply to only half of a percent of all imported dogs. 
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Force Senate Vote for Trump Admin to Obey Federal Courts, Due Process

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined Alex Padilla, Chris Van Hollen, Chuck Schumer, and Tim Kaine to introduce a resolution to investigate the Trump administration’s compliance with due process and court orders and El Salvador’s human rights abuses.
    “Due process is a fundamental American value and a constitutional requirement,” Hickenlooper said. “The administration cannot ignore our courts and send people to a prison in a foreign country without following due process. That’s just un-American. This vote will put every senator on the record.”
    The senators will force a vote on the resolution as soon as this week to require the Trump administration to produce a report including the following:
    Steps the administration is taking to follow court orders for U.S. citizens or residents who were wrongfully deported by the U.S. to El Salvador
    Confirmation whether U.S. security assistance has been used to support the illegal detention of U.S. residents
    Assessment of El Salvador’s human rights record
    Under existing Senate rules, if the administration fails to produce the report, security assistance to El Salvador would be prohibited by federal law.
    Companion legislation is being led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Joaquin Castro.
    Full text of the resolution available HERE.

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