NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Passage of Republican Tax Bill, Cortez Masto Fights to Restore CFPB Funding, Protect Consumers from Scams

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the Stop the Scammers Act to restore critical Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) funding and authorize the CFPB to reward whistleblowers who report wrongdoing. This legislation follows the passage of the Republican tax bill, which slashed CFPB funding in half and removed vital protections for victims of scams and fraud and people experiencing unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices from financial institutions.

    “The CFPB has proven to be a champion for everyday Americans, protecting them from scammers and predatory business practices,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Slashing the CFPB’s funding is a short-sighted decision that will have long-lasting effects on working families and our financial markets. It’s important that we not only restore this funding but also give them more tools to keep us safe from scams.”

    The Stop the Scammers Act wouldencourage whistleblowers to come forward by allowing the CFPB to reward whistleblowers with financial compensation from the Civil Penalty Fund. The money for this fund comes directly from monetary penalties imposed on companies and individuals who violate federal consumer financial protection laws. The legislation would also allow whistleblowers to retain independent counsel and protect a whistleblower’s identity. The bill also restores CFPB funding to 12 percent of the Federal Reserve’s operating budget, ensuring the Bureau can carry out its mission and properly protect Americans.

    Read the full bill here. The Stop the Scammers Act has been cosponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.),Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

    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. The Senator’s bipartisan legislation to deter disruptive and potentially harmful phone calls and texts was signed into law in 2020. Most recently, she called out the Trump Administration’s Internal Revenue Service Commissioner for his involvement in a tax fraud scheme in which he encouraged people to claim a fake Tribal tax credit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: National Housing Shortage Is A Problem The Government Has Created; We Can Fix It

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor today about the national housing shortage in the United States and the urgent need to cut onerous regulations that stand in the way of building more housing. Schatz introduced three bipartisan housing bills this week, including the Build More Housing Near Transit Act and the YIMBY Act. The Build More Housing Near Transit Act incentivizes local governments to build housing near federally-funded transit projects. The YIMBY Act encourages localities to cut regulations and adopt pro-housing policies.

    “When it comes to one of the most basic necessities in life for people – housing – both political parties have failed,” said Senator Schatz. “This crisis was not inevitable. It is a problem that the government has created. There is not enough housing in this country because we have made it virtually impossible to build housing. But the good news is this if the government got us into this mess in the first place, it can help to get us out. And mainly that means getting out of our own way and not preventing the very things that we say that we like.

    Senator Schatz added, “We can and we do disagree about almost everything. But on this we should all be able to agree: in the richest country in the history of the world, people should not have to worry about having a roof over their heads. We can fix this, and we must.”

    A transcript of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.

    When it comes to one of the most basic necessities in life for people – housing – both political parties have failed. Housing costs more than ever today, with the median home costing five times as much as the median income for your average American. First time home buyers are fewer and older than ever. 1 in 4 renters are being forced to spend more than half of their income on rent, and homelessness is plaguing more people than ever before.

    This crisis was not inevitable. It is a problem that the government has created. There is not enough housing in this country because we have made it virtually impossible to build housing. Ask anyone who has tried to build anything a shed, a patio, or an accessory dwelling unit for their in-laws. They will tell you that the moment you try to do something, there are endless procedural hurdles and regulatory barriers that immediately get in the way. Exclusionary zoning. Minimum lot sizes. Height restrictions. Requirements for multiple staircases, environmental reviews, dozens of public meetings where the grouchiest people in your neighborhood can stop the most virtuous project in your neighborhood. Extensive permitting paperwork. Yearslong battles with community organizations and boards. And if you want to expedite your permit. You can pay a permit expediter. If you’ve got ten grand, they’ll put your thing on the top of the pile.

    Nobody should like this system. I cannot think of something so essential to American life: housing. Whether you rent or you want to own, so essential to American life, where the government has created the shortage on purpose. And then it strokes its chin, confused as to why there is a shortage there is a shortage. There is a shortage because of the government itself, making it hard to construct the thing that we all say we want.

    But the good news is this if the government got us into this mess in the first place, it can help to get us out. And mainly that means getting out of our own way and not preventing the very things that we say that we like. A lot of progressives in my own party like to say we’re for housing, we’re for clean energy, we’re for transit and infrastructure. But you can’t be for something if you don’t want it near you. If you’re for housing, you’ve got to see the housing. If you’re for clean energy, you’re going to see a windmill or a wind farm or a nuclear power plant somewhere. As we envision a just and sustainable and wealthy country, we have to actually make the things that make us more sustainable and wealthy.

    There is nothing progressive about preventing a nurse, or a firefighter, or a teacher, or a small business owner from actually living in the community in which they work. There is nothing progressive about making people drive an hour to work or in Hawaii, forcing people to leave the state. Lawn sizes and building heights don’t make neighborhoods – people do.

    And yet, you’ll often hear people who oppose new housing say things like, ‘Well, we want to preserve the unique character of the neighborhood.’ And this is something that I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know until I came to the United States Senate. Understand what those words mean and where they came from. They are echoing a dark time in American history: the Jim Crow era. It was a time when communities specifically codified into law language that prohibited Black people and other racial minorities from moving into certain neighborhoods. The racial covenants would literally say, “No lot covered by this indenture, or any part thereof, shall ever be sold, resold, conveyed, granted, devised, leased or rented to or occupied by, or in any way used by, any person or persons not of the Caucasian Race.” That’s from a covenant in St. Louis from 1949. And there were contracts just like that one in neighborhoods all across the country.

    And then racial covenants were outlawed. But their legacy continues today, because what happened was the racists, after this was outlawed, figured out a proxy for race. Figured out a way to keep people separated and figured out a way to keep people out of their neighborhoods. Figured out a way to make housing more constrained. And that’s exclusionary zoning. That’s minimum lot sizes. That means you need interior staircases. All of these things that sound virtuous: safety, sanitation, environmental review, historic preservation – all of those things actually matter. But understand that they are being weaponized against the working class.

    And I’m not sure if this is permissible under the rules, but I’m looking at a bunch of Senate pages, all 16 years old, trying to figure out: ‘Where am I going to live when I get a job? Do I have to live with my folks? And for how long? Am I going to be able to move to a suburb, or a city, or stay in my hometown? Where am I going to live?’

    So how do we fix it? First of all, government has a role that is not just getting out of the way. On the financing side, on the public housing stock side, on vouchers, on Section 8, on HUD-VASH – there are lots of programs that work. A lot of government – things that we do – that have helped and can help more.

    But the truth is that the throughput capacity of the system is being constrained by the government itself. We could allocate $3 trillion to affordable housing. And if it’s still hard to build a house in an individual neighborhood, all that money would get stuck. Actually, the state of California tried that. They allocated an enormous amount of money to housing, and they didn’t get very much built. The County of Maui many years ago said no new housing unless it’s affordable. Which kind of lands on the ears in a wonderful way, right? No new housing unless it’s affordable. You know what happened? There was no new housing at all for a full decade.

    The reason I care about this is because I think it is the single most impactful economic policy that we can implement to make it easier to build housing for working people, for students, for the disabled, for the elderly, for the entrepreneurs, for cities, for towns, for rural neighborhoods. This is important because I care about that. Now, if you are a conservative, the basic principle is almost even more simple, which is it’s your damn property. You should be permitted to do what you want with your property, within certain safety boundaries and all the rest of it. But if it’s your property and if you’ve got a quarter of an acre and you want to build an accessory dwelling unit for your kids because they’re adults and they just had a baby, you should be allowed to do pretty much whatever you want with your property.

    But we have inverted the presumption so that it’s your neighbors that get to decide what you get to do with your property. So if you’re a private property rights person, you should love the idea of deregulating the housing market. And if you are a progressive and you see how much people are struggling right now, you should love the idea of deregulating the housing market. We need to reform land use laws for upzoning to allow higher density, reduce minimum lot sizes, deploy manufactured homes, enable single room occupancy development wherever multifamily housing is allowed. And we know all of this works because it’s working in certain places.

    It’s hard to keep any issue out of the partisan crossfire, where everyone retreats to their own corner and starts talking past each other and trying to light the algorithm on fire. Our ability to come together, use common sense, and find a way forward will affect how people live and succeed for generations to come. Just this week, Senator Banks and I introduced legislation to incentivize local governments to build more housing near federally funded transit projects. Senator Young and I introduced the YIMBY Act – the Yes in My Backyard Act – which encourages localities to cut onerous regulations and adopt pro-housing policies.

    We can and we do disagree about almost everything. But on this we should all be able to agree: in the richest country in the history of the world, people should not have to worry about having a roof over their heads. We can fix this, and we must.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases, Including Proposed Outpatient Clinic in Hampton Roads

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Warner and supported by Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Exempt Small Businesses from Trump Tariffs on Canada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and five of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from President Donald Trump’s senseless tariffs on Canada.

    “President Trump’s broad-based tariffs are causing economic chaos, uncertainty, and higher costs for families and businesses,” said Kaine. “I’ve heard from small businesses across Virginia about how Trump’s trade wars have forced them to make tough decisions about how they’ll continue to operate. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with my colleagues to exempt small businesses from Trump’s tariffs on Canada, one of our closest allies and top trading partners.”

    President Trump has changed or modified his tariff proposals and policies dozens of times in his second term. These tariffs have been difficult to navigate for small businesses across the U.S., including in Virginia. In 2024, Canada was Virginia’s largest export market and accounted for 15 percent of Virginia exports. In Virginia in 2022, top goods exports to Canada included motor vehicles and transportation equipment, such as medium- and heavy-duty trucks. 56.1 percent of Southwest Virginia’s economic output is dependent on trade. Tariffs lead to supply chain disruptions, increased costs of goods and materials, smaller profits, and higher costs for consumers.

    Kaine has been a leading legislative voice in countering Trump’s senseless tariff policies. Earlier this year, Kaine successfully secured Senate passage of his legislation to undo Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. Kaine has since sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson demanding that he schedule a vote in the House of Representatives on his Senate-passed legislation. Kaine also introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs that the White House announced on April 2. The bill received bipartisan support but narrowly failed. In May, Kaine traveled to Ottawa, Canada to meet with Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, members of his cabinet, and Canadian business leaders to discuss Trump’s tariffs and to reinforce the importance of strong U.S.-Canada relations.

    In addition to Kaine and Welch, the legislation is cosponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

    The full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Helps Reintroduce Legislation to Make Child Care More Affordable and Accessible

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    Michigan Continues to Experience Acute Child Care Shortage

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined a group of his colleagues in reintroducing the Child Care for Working Families Act. This comprehensive legislation aims to make child care more affordable and accessible for hardworking families in Michigan and across the country. The bill would expand access to pre-K and support full-day, full-year Head Start programs that families rely on. Senator Peters proudly joined this legislation as an original cosponsor amid the Trump Administration’s drastic cuts to resources that help working families succeed, including cuts to health care, food assistance, and Head Start.

    “Lack of affordable child care is an ongoing crisis in Michigan. This issue impacts not only families but our entire economy,” said Senator Peters. “When parents struggle to find child care, they lose out on opportunities to provide for their family, while businesses lose out on talented workers. This bill would help ensure all families can find and afford quality child care, making a needed investment in our nation’s future.”

    A 2023 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that a child care shortage is hurting Michigan’s economy on numerous fronts, including reducing labor force participation, causing worker absenteeism, and curbing Michigan’s gross domestic product output. According to the report, between lost tax revenues and business earnings, Michigan loses nearly $3 billion in economic activity every year due to lack of child care access.

    Specifically, the Child Care for Working Families Act would:

    • Improve the quality of child care and expand families’ child care options: The bill would help address child care deserts by providing resources to help open new child care providers in underserved communities. It would also increase child care options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours and support child care for children who are dual-language learners, experiencing homelessness, and in foster care.
    • Support higher wages for child care workers: Child care workers would be paid wages comparable to elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience.
    • Expand access to high-quality pre-K: States would receive funding to expand high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
    • Better support Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increasing wages for Head Start workers.

    Senator Peters has long fought to improve access to affordable child care and support working families in Michigan. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters recently secured resources in funding legislation advanced by the committee to help Central Montcalm Public School’s Early Childhood Center in Stanton, Michigan to provide more child care and educational services for the community. Earlier this year, Peters sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding answers about the closure of five regional Head Start Offices across the country, including Chicago’s Region 5 office, which serves Michigan’s Head Start centers. Peters made clear that this decision will negatively impact the early educational programs and child care support that children and families depend on.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nearly $30 Million for Maine Fire Stations and Public Safety Facilities Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill Nearly $30 Million for Maine Fire Stations and Public Safety Facilities Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $29,875,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine fire stations and public safety facilities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

    “There is an enormous need to update fire stations throughout the State of Maine to ensure both the safety of our brave first responders and communities,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help to improve public safety efforts and emergency response services throughout Maine. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

    This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate.

    Funding advanced by Senator Collins for Maine fire stations and public safety facilities in the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations bill is as follows:

    Brownville Fire Station

    Recipient: Town of Brownville

    Project Location: Brownville, ME

    Amount Requested: $2,770,000

    Project Purpose: To renovate the fire station.

    Dixmont Fire and Rescue Station

    Recipient: Town of Dixmont

    Project Location: Dixmont, ME

    Amount Requested: $2,332,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a fire and rescue station.

    Eagle Lake Fire Department Substation

    Recipient: Town of Eagle Lake

    Project Location: Eagle Lake, ME

    Amount Requested: $150,000

    Project Purpose: To support the construction of the Town of Eagle Lake’s Fire Department substation.

    Easton Fire Station

    Recipient: Town of Easton

    Project Location: Easton, ME

    Amount Requested: $3,600,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.

    Island Falls Fire and Ambulance Department

    Recipient: Town of Island Falls

    Project Location: Island Falls, ME

    Amount Requested: $1,603,000

    Project Purpose: To expand the fire and ambulance department.

    Kenduskeag Fire Station

    Recipient: Kenduskeag Fire Department

    Project Location: Kenduskeag, ME

    Amount Requested: $3,500,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.

    Monson Fire Station

    Recipient: Town of Monson

    Project Location: Monson, ME

    Amount Requested: $3,000,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a new fire station.

    North Berwick Fire and Rescue Station

    Recipient: Town of North Berwick

    Project Location: North Berwick, ME

    Amount Requested: $3,400,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a fire and rescue station.

    Sanford Public Safety Facilities

    Recipient: City of Sanford

    Project Location: Sanford, ME

    Amount Requested: $5,000,000

    Project Purpose: To construct public safety facilities.

    Stacyville Fire Station

    Recipient: Stacyville Fire Department

    Project Location: Stacyville, ME

    Amount Requested: $2,000,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a new fire station.

    Wesley Volunteer Fire Station

    Recipient: Wesley Volunteer Fire Department

    Project Location: Wesley, ME

    Amount Requested: $2,520,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.

    Earlier this month, Senator Collins advanced more than $12 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine fire stations and emergency services in the FY 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill.

    In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: More Than $46 Million for MaineDOT Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $46,250,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

    “Maintaining and improving Maine’s transportation infrastructure has always been a top priority of mine,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help to ensure the reliability and safety of travelers on Maine roads while strengthening local economies. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

    This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate.

    Funding advanced by Senator Collins is as follows:

    Androscoggin State Route 4 Safety Improvements

    Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation

    Project Location: Androscoggin County, ME

    Amount Requested: $5,000,000

    Project Purpose: To make safety improvements to State Route 4 from Auburn to Livermore.

    Bucksport Main Street Safety Improvements

    Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation

    Project Location: Bucksport, ME

    Amount Requested: $7,200,000

    Project Purpose: To rehabilitate State Route 15 in Bucksport.

    Route 26-100 Roundabout Construction

    Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation

    Project Location: Cumberland, ME

    Amount Requested: $9,600,000

    Project Purpose: To construct a roundabout at the intersection of Route 26-100 and Skillin Road in Cumberland.

    Deer Isle State Route 15 Causeway Improvements

    Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation

    Project Location: Deer Isle, ME

    Amount Requested: $12,000,000

    Project Purpose: To improve the causeway between the mainland and the towns of Deer Isle and Stonington.

    Madrid to Rangeley State Route 4 Rehabilitation

    Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation

    Project Location: Franklin County, ME

    Amount Requested: $10,000,000

    Project Purpose: To rehabilitate State Route 4 from Madrid to Rangeley.

    Jackman US Route 201 Rehabilitation

    Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation

    Project Location: Jackman, ME

    Amount Requested: $2,450,000

    Project Purpose: To rehabilitate US Route 201 in Jackman.

    In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bill to Fund Key Interior and Environmental Programs in Maine Clears Appropriations Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured significant funding and provisions for Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

    The measure, which was advanced by a vote of 26-2, provides $38.6 billion in nondefense discretionary funding.

    “This legislation would provide important investments in Maine’s public lands, national parks, and tribal programs. It would promote healthy and resilient communities by supporting critical infrastructure that would help to provide clean drinking water and mitigate increasing flood risks,” said Senator Collins. “As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advance this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

    Bill Highlights:

    Local Projects: Nearly $68 million for Congressionally Directed Spending projects in Maine.

    Spruce Budworm Treatment: $10 million for the U.S. Forest Service to provide assistance to states for an emerging spruce budworm outbreak approaching the northeastern border. Last year, Senator Collins secured $14 million to help combat the spread of spruce budworm in Maine forests in disaster relief legislation.

    Carbon Neutrality of Biomass: Includes a provision that recognizes biomass as carbon neutral across federal agencies.

    Brownfields Grants: $25.7 million for the Brownfields Projects Grant, as well as $46.3 million for Brownfields Categorical Grants.

    Wild and Scenic Rivers Program: $5.6 million for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Program at the National Park Service, which includes an increase in funding for the York River Wild and Scenic Program, bringing their total to $300,000.

    Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF): $2.8 billion for the Clean Water SRF and the Drinking Water SRF.

    Community Wood Energy Program: $15 million for the Community Wood Energy Program, a competitive grant program that supports the installation of wood energy systems and wood product manufacturing facilities.

    Water System PFAS Support Funding: $116 million for EPA’s Public Water System Supervision categorical grant programs, which provides PFAS cleanup assistance to state drinking water programs.

    Staffing at National Wildlife Refuges: $525.5 million and report language directing the Refuge system to fill vacant positions in Maine.

    Rural Water Technical Assistance Grant Program: $30.7 million and the continuation of report language directing that funding be awarded competitively.

    Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC): $6 million for the NSRC. A collaboration among universities in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, the NSRC sponsors research to sustain the health of northern forest ecosystems and communities, to develop new forest products, improve forest biodiversity management, and to establish a Digital Forestry Systems Research Consortium.

    National Estuary Program (NEP): $40 million for the NEP. The Casco Bay Estuary Partnership and Piscataqua Region Estuaries are members of the NEP.

    Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program: $6 million for this program, which provides support to tribes, local governments, and qualifying nonprofits for fee purchase of forestlands to convert to community forests.

    This funding advanced through the markup of the FY 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Warnock, Collins, Schumer Lead Push to Boost Supply of Doctors, Ensure Access to Medical Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), along with Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), introduced the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act to increase the number of Medicare-supported doctor training slots available for medical students and address the shortage of primary and specialty care physicians in Arkansas and across the country.

    “There is an urgent, demonstrated need to strengthen our health care system by combating the alarming shortage of providers, particularly in rural areas,” said Boozman. “Lifting the outdated cap on residency positions supported by Medicare can expand the supply of physicians while helping ensure access to quality care and treatment in more communities nationwide. I am proud to work in a bipartisan way on this important medical workforce solution that also supports better health outcomes.”

    “Our state faces a critical shortage of primary care and specialty physicians, preventing many Georgians from accessing health care services in their community,” said Warnock. “Where you live shouldn’t determine the type of medical care you receive, and I will not stop working to help our hospitals hire and retain the health care workforce that Georgians deserve.”

    “In the face of growing demand for medical treatments and services, our country continues to struggle with a shortage of trained physicians. It is critical that we bridge the gap,” said Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would support training opportunities needed to alleviate the physician shortage and improve access to health care, particularly in rural or underserved communities, which in turn promotes healthier lives.”

    “The physician shortage in New York and across the country drastically impedes our hospitals from delivering good, quality care, leading to longer wait times and putting more strain on a healthcare system that’s already stretched thin,” said Leader Schumer. “This bipartisan legislation would expand training supported by Medicare and help ensure our communities have access to primary care and specialty physicians when they need it.”

    The U.S. faces a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, including up to 40,000 primary care doctors and as many as 20,000 surgical specialists. In 2023, around one-quarter of Arkansas’s medical residencies were not Medicare-supported Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots. Funding residencies independently is extremely costly to rural hospitals already struggling to attract and support physicians.

    Specifically, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act addresses the growing physician workforce shortage by:

    • Raising the number of residency program positions that Medicare can fund by 14,000 over seven years; and
    • Prioritizing positions for states with hospitals located in rural areas, new medical schools, hospitals training physicians in excess of their cap as well as hospitals that serve areas designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). 

    Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) have cosponsored the bill.

    This measure builds upon Boozman’s continued efforts to champion health care in The Natural State. In March, Boozman introduced the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act to prioritize placement of available medical residency spots in rural and underserved areas, as well as the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act to ease financial burdens on medical professionals completing their medical training.

    The bill is supported by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), National Rural Health Association (NRHA), American Medical Association (AMA) and the Greater New York Hospital Association.

    “The Association of American Medical Colleges applauds Senators Boozman, Warnock, Collins, Schumer, Gillibrand, Rosen, Klobuchar, King, Gallego, Welch, Slotkin, and Durbin for championing this important bipartisan legislation that would expand federal investment in physician training,” said AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, M.D. “With the nation facing a persistent physician shortage, this bipartisan bill would enhance and build on the investments academic health systems are making to strengthen the physician workforce by increasing Medicare support for physician training. We look forward to working with the Senate to advance this critical legislation and help ensure that patients across the country have access to timely, high-quality health care they deserve.”

    “The National Rural Health Association is proud to support the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act and thanks Senator Boozman and Senator Warnock for their work to introduce this bill. Rural communities continue to experience a chronic lack of physicians and these shortages are only projected to grow,” said NRHA CEO Alan Morgan. “This important legislation is a huge step towards recruiting and training more physicians in rural areas and ensuring that all rural residents have access to care. We look forward to continuing to work with the senators to pass this bill and find sustainable solutions to rural workforce issues.”

    “The American Medical Association commends Sens. John Boozman and Raphael Warnock for introducing this crucial bipartisan legislation that aims to address the physician shortage and resulting access challenges for patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “By expanding federal support for graduate medical education over the next seven years, Congress is taking a critical step toward ensuring patients nationwide have access to well-trained physicians in their communities.”

    Bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on Jimmy Graham: “He gave my people in Louisiana a lot of joy at a time they really needed it”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor: 

    “I just want to briefly thank Jimmy Graham. Who’s Jimmy Graham? I know, Mr. President, you know who Jimmy Graham is. He was one of the best tight ends who ever played the game. 

    “Now, he was a New Orleans Saint, I think, for six or seven seasons. He played elsewhere. I looked it up. He played for the Seahawks. He played for the Packers. He played for the Bears, but he was a total beast in the best sense of the word, playing for the New Orleans Saints. And he has retired. 

    “After 13 years in the NFL, Jimmy has decided to retire. He was a big boy—he is a big boy—but he started out as a basketball player. He didn’t play football. He played basketball. And he transformed himself. 

    “The numbers that Jimmy put up are just out of this world. They’re other worldly. He is clearly one of the most prolific pass-catching tight ends in the history of the game.

    “As you know, Mr. President, many tight ends just block. That’s their job. Jimmy not only blocked, but he caught passes. And he caught a bunch of them. He is number seven in NFL history in receptions at 719. He ranks number eight in receiving yards at 8,545. He ranks fourth in touchdowns at 89.

    “When he was with the Saints . . . in six seasons, Jimmy Graham caught 392 passes for 4,791 yards and 55 touchdowns. And he was a tight end. His first job was to block. He also caught a few balls. And he gave my people in Louisiana a lot of joy at a time they really needed it.

    “And I just wanted to thank Mr. Graham for the joy that he brought to anybody and everybody who watched him play football, but especially when he played for the New Orleans Saints. I want to wish him well, and I wanted to end on some good news tonight.”

    Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Ruiz Introduce Senate Resolution to Honor Community Health Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    July 24, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz, MD, D-Calif., today introduced a resolution to recognize the contributions of community health workers and support their work to improve health outcomes in underserved and high-need communities by establishing the week of August 25 to August 29, 2025, as “National Community Health Worker Awareness Week.”

    “Community health workers put in long, tireless hours to make sure people and families living in rural and underserved communities receive quality health care,” Wyden said. “These unsung heroes deserve all the recognition in the world for the work they do to keep America healthy.” 

    “Community health workers play a crucial role in our health care system, connecting individuals with essential services and support right in their neighborhoods. Their commitment to addressing local health needs is fundamental to building stronger, healthier communities,” Ruiz said. “That is why we introduced a resolution to commemorate National Community Health Worker Awareness Week to be celebrated from August 25-29, 2025.”

    Wyden has consistently advocated in the Senate for legislation that supports and expands opportunities for health workers. In December 2024, Wyden introduced a bill that would create apprenticeship programs to address the labor shortage of critical health care workers. In August 2024, he championed legislation to tackle health care worker shortages, especially in rural and underserved communities. In September 2024, he brought forward legislation that would boost funding to labor and delivery units in rural and underserved communities so that patients everywhere could receive quality maternity care from trained professionals.

    “In PIH’s experience across the U.S. and around the world, community health workers are the backbone of effective health systems. Now more than ever, CHWs are vital in helping people—especially those in rural and historically underserved areas—access the care, support, and services they deserve. PIH is proud to support National Community Health Worker Awareness Week and stands in solidarity with the National Association of Community Health Workers. We applaud the recognition of this critical workforce by the resolution’s cosponsors and sponsors, Representative Raul Ruiz and Senator Ron Wyden. We honor the tireless leadership and service of CHWs in protecting and promoting the health of our communities,” said Katie Bollbach, Executive Director at Partners In Health United States (PIH-US).

    “Community Health Workers (CHWs) across the nation continue to demonstrate unwavering commitment to addressing health disparities and supporting the most vulnerable members of their communities. Their resilience, often in the face of limited resources and uncertain funding—highlights the essential role they play in advancing equity, building trust, and expanding access within our public health system. Honoring their impact is not only timely, but also a bold affirmation of our shared values and collective vision for a healthier, more accessible healthcare system,” said Katherine Martinez, Interim Executive Director at the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW).

    In addition to Wyden, the resolution is led by Representative Raul Ruiz MD, D-Calif. The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Chris Coons, D-Conn., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., alongside Representatives Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., Don Davis, D-N.C., Mark Takano, D-Calif., Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., and Sarah McBride, D-Del.

    Full text of the resolution is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Hassan Joins Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Canada to Repair Trade Partnership after President Trump’s Reckless Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Canada to discuss ways to repair and rebuild the relationship between the United States and Canada, which has been damaged by President Trump’s reckless tariffs that increase costs for Granite Staters. Senator Hassan visited Canada as part of a delegation with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). The delegation met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Minister for Canada-U.S. Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc, Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Industry Minister Melanie Joly.

    “Canada is New Hampshire’s most important trading partner, and we must continue to find ways to rebuild our partnership amid the uncertainty caused by President Trump’s reckless tariffs,” said Senator Hassan. “Historically, we have had a close security and trade relationship that benefits workers, businesses, and families on both sides of the border, but that relationship is now at risk because of President Trump’s actions. It was great to meet with Prime Minister Carney and other Canadian officials to discuss these critical issues facing our relationship and the ways in which we can work together to move forward. I will continue working to restore stability and trust to this vital partnership that is so important to New Hampshire’s economy and our shared future.”

    Senator Hassan is standing up for Granite State families and speaking out against President Trump’s reckless and haphazard tariffs. Earlier this year, she joined the New Hampshire Congressional delegation in urging President Trump to halt tariffs on Canada that would dramatically increase costs for Granite State families. The wide-reaching effects of these tariffs were further highlighted in April when Senator Hassan met with business owners from a NH-based building materials retailer, who described the higher costs the business is facing due to President Trump’s tariffs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Hawley Secures Pledge from Trump Nominee to Ditch the Biden-era Government Censorship Business 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Thursday, July 24, 2025

    This morning, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Sean Plankey—President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—and secured his pledge to refocus the agency on protecting America’s critical infrastructure instead of propping up Biden-era government censorship. 
    “Let me just read some of the euphemisms that your predecessor used to talk about CISA’s mission in the censorship effort: ‘narrative control,’ ‘perception management’—’information integrity’ is my favorite,” Senator Hawley said. “You’re telling me that you’re going to get CISA out of the business of policing ‘narrative control?’” the Senator asked, to which Plankey affirmed.
    [embedded content]
    Watch the full exchange here.
    Senator Hawley reminded Plankey and his Senate colleagues of the gross First Amendment abuses Americans faced online under the direction of the Biden Administration’s CISA. The agency’s wide-ranging censorship shut down posts about “COVID-19, vaccines, elections, school-board meetings.”
    Breaking with his Biden-era predecessors, Plankey assured the Senator that “it is not CISA’s job, and nor is it in its authorities, to censor or determine the truths, whether it be on social media or at any level of media.” If confirmed for the role, Plankey said he would, “like to focus CISA on what it’s mandated to do and that’s protect the federal civilian executive branch, as well as protect the critical infrastructure of the United States.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, Fitzgerald Introduce STUDENT Act to Reform National Education Association’s Federal Charter

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    Washington, D.C. –  Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), along with Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), today introduced the STUDENT Act, legislation that would impose necessary limitations and conditions on the National Education Association’s (NEA) federal charter to bring it in line with other federally chartered organizations and redirect it toward its original purpose of supporting teachers in America. 

    The NEA, which received its federal charter through an act of Congress, has strayed far from its original educational mission. Despite claiming to be “non-partisan,” the nation’s largest union has repeatedly supported divisive political causes through endorsements and financial contributions that harm students’ education and undermine parental rights. Earlier this month, the NEA members voted to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over its support for Israel. 

    “The NEA has exploited its federal charter to advance a radical political agenda that puts ideology before education,” said Sen. Lummis. “Wyoming parents and teachers deserve better than a union that prioritizes woke politics over student achievement. The resolution passed at the NEA Representative Assembly to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League because of its support for Israel is abhorrent and does nothing to stem the rising tide of antisemitic incidents we’ve witnessed nationwide. Federal charters should be reserved for organizations that serve patriotic, charitable, historical, or educational purposes – not for unions that push divisive and antisemitic ideologies.”

    “The NEA long ago transformed from an educational association into a political machine, pushing a progressive agenda that puts activists ahead of students’ needs,” said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald. “The STUDENT Act reins in NEA’s federal charter, restores accountability, and demands a return to its original purpose: educating, not indoctrinating, American children.”

    “The National Education Association has failed to respect its duties as a federally chartered organization or as a steward of children’s education,” said Sen. Ricketts.  “Rather than promote educational outcomes, they promote a radical agenda that supports illegal immigration and teaches harmful gender ideology.  It is time for Congress to restore oversight of the entity it created and make sure young Americans receive the education they deserve.”

    “Rep. Fitzgerald and Sen. Lummis should be commended for their leadership in introducing the STUDENT Act, which would address some of the NEA’s most concerning conduct and make it more accountable to the public and even its own members,” said Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe. “The Freedom Foundation is proud to stand with these courageous lawmakers in the fight to restore sanity to public education.”

    “The Endowment for Middle East Truth, EMET, is proud to endorse the STUDENT Act,” said Sarah Stern, President of the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET). “We solidly stand behind the ADL’s fight against the rising tide of antisemitism, which has skyrocketed in our country since October 7, 2023, as well as their position on Israel. We are appalled by the National Education Association’s blatant refusal to entertain the ADL’s professional, fair and balanced point of view, and that they have chosen to take a position that effectively condones Hamas’ atrocities against the Jewish people. It’s unfortunate that the NEA no longer works to fulfil its core mission of advancing an American bias-free education and has instead dedicated itself to political indoctrination and prejudice.”

    In addition to Senators Lummis and Ricketts, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) are original cosponsors. 

    Background: 

    A 2023 Freedom Foundation report revealed that the NEA’s federal charter is unusually brief compared to other Title 36 federally-chartered organizations, allowing the union to operate with minimal oversight while enjoying taxpayer-funded benefits. 

    Key Provisions of the STUDENT Act:

    • Bans promotion of antisemitic beliefs, including harmful stereotypes about Jewish people, Holocaust denial or minimization, and hatred based on Jewish identity or connection to Israel
    • Prohibits the union from promoting or requiring adherence to critical race theory concepts.
    • Prohibits the NEA from engaging in electoral politics and lobbying, a restriction included in 60 percent of federal charters;
    • Eliminates the NEA’s exemption from Washington, D.C. property taxes 
    • Requires explicit member consent for all dues and fees 
    • Mandates comprehensive record-keeping and document accountability 
    • Directs all assets to the Department of Treasury if the NEA dissolves 
    • Prohibits discrimination and hiring quotas 
    • Prevents the NEA and its affiliates from calling strikes or work stoppages 
    • Requires all NEA officers to be U.S. citizens 
    • Establishes transparent governance standards 

    So far, the STUDENT Act has been endorsed by the following state and national organizations:

    • Alabama Policy Institute 
    • American for Fair Treatment 
    • Beacon Impact 
    • Buckeye Institute 
    • California Policy Center 
    • Center for the American Experiment 
    • Commonwealth Foundation 
    • Competitive Enterprise Institute 
    • Consumer Action for a Strong Economy 
    • Defense of Freedom Institute 
    • Endowment for Middle East Truth 
    • Foundation for Government Accountability 
    • Freedom Foundation 
    • Goldwater Institute 
    • Heartland Impact 
    • Heartland Institute 
    • Idaho Freedom Foundation 
    • Illinois Policy Institute 
    • Independent Women’s Voice 
    • Institute for Reforming Government Action Fund 
    • Institute for the American Worker 
    • John Locke Foundation 
    • Kansas Policy Institute 
    • Mackinac Center for Public Policy 
    • National Right to Work Committee 
    • Nevada Policy 
    • Palmetto Promise Institute 
    • Parents Defending Education Action 
    • Rio Grande Foundation 
    • Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy 
    • Upper Midwest Law Center 
    • Yankee Institute 
    • Young America’s Foundation 

    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham and Cornyn Call for Special Counsel to Investigate Obama Administration’s Role in the Russia Collusion Hoax

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), both senior members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a special counsel to investigate the Obama Administration’s involvement in the Russia collusion hoax.

    “For the good of the country, we urge Attorney General Bondi to appoint a special counsel to investigate the extent to which former President Obama, his staff and administration officials manipulated the U.S. national security apparatus for a political outcome.

    “As we have supported in the past, appointing an independent special counsel would do the country a tremendous service in this case.

    “With every piece of information that gets released, it becomes more evident that the entire Russia collusion hoax was created by the Obama Administration to subvert the will of the American people.

    “Democrats and the liberal media have been out to get President Trump since 2016. There must be an immediate investigation of what we believe to be an unprecedented and clear abuse of power by a U.S. presidential administration.”

    Background:

    Last week, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard released evidence demonstrating that former President Barack Obama and his national security staff manipulated information from the intelligence community in order to insinuate that Russia was attempting to help then-candidate Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election, including:

    • In the months leading up to the November 2016 election, the Intelligence Community (IC) assessed that Russia is “probably not trying … to influence the election by using cyber means.”
    • On December 7, 2016, after the election, talking points were prepared for DNI James Clapper stating, “Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome.”
    • A declassified copy of the Presidential Daily Brief, which was prepared using intelligence from the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, FBI, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, State Department, and open sources, for Obama on December 8, 2016, assessed that “Russian and criminal actors did not impact recent US election results by conducting malicious cyber activities against election infrastructure.”
    • That Presidential Daily Brief was scheduled to be published on December 9, 2016, but communications revealed that DNI Clapper’s office stopped its publication “based on some new guidance”.
    • On December 9, 2016, Obama gathered top National Security Council Principals for a meeting in the Situation Room that included James Clapper, John Brennan, Susan Rice, John Kerry, Loretta Lynch, Andrew McCabe and others, to discuss Russia.
    • After the meeting, DNI Clapper’s Executive Assistant sent an email to IC leaders tasking them with creating a new IC assessment “per the President’s request” that details the “tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election.” It went on to say, “ODNI will lead this effort with participation from CIA, FBI, NSA, and DHS.”
    • Obama officials leaked false statements to media outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, claiming, “Russia has attempted through cyber means to interfere in, if not actively influence, the outcome of an election.”
    • On January 6, 2017, a new Intelligence Community Assessment was released.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Advances Over $60 Million to Improve Nebraska’s Infrastructure, Firefighting Capabilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Advances additional provision to enhance roadway safety
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she advanced over $60 million in funding to support critical infrastructure projects and firefighting capabilities across Nebraska. 
    The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Act, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.“From roads and bridges to railways and airports — our infrastructure keeps Nebraska’s communities connected. It allows our farmers and ranchers to bring their goods to market and enables us to travel to work or school. By investing in infrastructure, we are investing in our future. I’m proud to advance these critical investments which will improve our state’s infrastructure for Nebraska’s families and make our Good Life even better,” Fischer said.Fischer advanced funding to support critical investments in Nebraska’s infrastructure:
    $6 million to the Alliance Airport for electrical improvements
    $6 million to add safety enhancements to the Heartland Expressway
    $5.2 million to replace the Lisco Bridge in Garden County
    $5 million to extend the runway and parallel taxiway at the Blair Airport
    $4.7 million to pave a 4-mile stretch of Hickory Road in Gage County
    $4 million to road improvements for Fairbury Highway 36
    $4 million to improve the lighting system at the Hastings Airport
    $3.5 million to improve walkability and safety of downtown Omaha
    $3.4 million to complete the parallel taxiway and improve the lighting system at the Nebraska City Airport
    $3.4 million to make improvements to roads in Sheridan and Garden County
    $3.2 million to make roadway improvements on Cedar River Road in Garfield County
    $2.2 million to reconstruct the 9th street roadway in Stromsburg
    $897,000 to replace or repair multiple bridges in Brown County
    $880,000 to pave the Adams Bypass
    $700,000 to pave the roadway and improve access to the local grain elevator in Exeter
    $600,000 to relocate the Midfield Connector Taxiway at Brenner Field Airport in Falls City
    Fischer advanced funding to support Nebraska’s firefighting capabilities: 
    $2.5 million to replace South Sioux City’s aerial ladder fire truck
    $1.8 million to replace Plattsmouth’s aerial ladder fire truck
    $1.3 million to upgrade Friend’s fire hall facilities
    $1.3 million to upgrade Clatonia’s fire hall facilities
    Fischer advanced key provision to enhance roadway safety:
    Advanced language from Fischer’s She DRIVES Act by directing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to adopt the most advanced crash test dummies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Warns of New Nuclear Arms Race, Urges U.S. to Spearhead New Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 

    US Senate News:

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

    Welch calls on the U.S. to negotiate a successor to the New START Treaty 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week took to the Senate Floor to urge the United States to reaffirm its commitment to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons. Senator Welch warned the threat of a new nuclear arms race is looming with the imminent expiration of the New START Treaty. 
    “In the 1980s, thanks to negotiators in both countries, the United States and Russia curtailed an unrestrained nuclear arms race that led to the deployment of staggering numbers of increasingly destructive weapons that could not rationally be justified for deterrence or any other purpose. The START Treaty and New START were historic achievements—bipartisan achievements,” said Senator Welch. “I would like to think that President Trump was serious when he spoke of the need for the U.S., Russia, and China to stop building more nuclear weapons. But even modest steps to reduce the chance of a catastrophic mistake or miscalculation resulting in the use of nuclear weapons should be among our highest national priorities.” 
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 

    On the 80th anniversary of the Trinity test, Senator Welch joined Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in introducing a resolution urging the United States to lead the world to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race. 
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Colorado River Day, Hickenlooper, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Snowpack Monitoring, Help Manage Water

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and John Curtis introduced the bipartisan Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 to help better predict and measure water supply to manage drought in the West, including on the Colorado River. Tomorrow, July 25th, is Colorado River Day, which celebrates the day when the river was officially renamed to the Colorado River in 1921.
    “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” said Hickenlooper. “Snowmelt is Colorado’s largest reservoir. Leveraging advanced snow monitoring tech will give us more accurate water predictions and unlock a better understanding of how to make the most of our water in an era of extreme drought.”
    “In the West, water is everything—our economy, our communities, and our way of life depend on it,” said Curtis. “This bill brings 21st century tools to one of the oldest challenges we face: knowing how much water we’ll have and when. By reauthorizing this program, we’re embracing new technology like airborne snow surveys and advanced modeling to give our water managers the clarity they need to prepare, allocate, and respond.”
    More than 80% of Colorado’s annual surface water supply comes from snowmelt runoff. Accurate measurements of snowpack are necessary to have a clear picture of the snowmelt that feeds rivers and streams across the West.
    The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program which provides grants to advance emerging snow monitoring technology that improve water supply predictions.
    Specifically, the bill would:
    Reauthorize BOR’s Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program through 2031
    Increase authorization from $15 million over five years to $32.5 million over five years
    Update language in existing authorization to emphasize water supply forecasting activities that inform interstate water management decisions
    Yesterday, Representatives Joe Neguse and Jeff Hurd’s companion legislation advanced out of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
    As governor, Hickenlooper helped negotiate the 2019 Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan, which helped protect critical levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead and ensured continued compliance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact. In the Senate, Hickenlooper convened the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus to help address the Colorado River crisis.
    The bipartisan Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 is supported by American Rivers, the Southwestern Water Conservation District, Colorado River District, Denver Water, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Water Congress, Colorado Municipal League, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, the Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the National Ski Areas Association, the Family Farm Alliance, the National Audubon Society, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
    Full text of the bill available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Denounces Trump’s Attacks on DOJ’s Civil Rights Division in Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Raking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, this week denounced the President Trump’s attacks on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, including the Administration’s plans to freeze all new civil rights cases or investigations at the division. 
    Ahead of yesterday’s hearing, Senator Welch released a memorandum with the new policy statements provided to career attorneys at the Civil Rights Division. These directives, which have not previously been made public, show how the Division’s enforcement priorities have been narrowed, changed, and in some cases reversed under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, to mirror and advance President Trump’s political agenda. The memo also sheds light on Assistant Attorney General Dhillon’s efforts to oust career attorneys through reassignments and resignations. Senator Welch’s office obtained data showing that since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, more than 368 individuals have left the Civil Rights Division and only two Section chiefs remain in place. 
    “The Civil Rights Division is a crown jewel in the Department of Justice of the United States of America,” said Senator Welch. “But there’s a profound difference in the Justice Department today than there was the day before the election. The new policy directives that are being issued to DOJ attorneys is the zealous and faithful pursuit of, ‘The priorities of the President.’ No! It’s the priorities of the Constitution. It’s the priorities of the legislation passed by Congress. It is not the priorities of any person, even if that person is the President of the United States. That is not what the job of the Justice Department is to do.” 
    Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below:  
    Read Senator Welch’s opening remarks as delivered here. 
    Senator Welch questioned Ms. Dhillon about whether the Trump Administration influenced the DOJ’s highly irregular decision to order mid-decade redistricting of Texas’ congressional districts. The Senator also called out Ms. Dhillon for her refusal to acknowledge that President Biden won the 2020 Presidential Election.   
    Read key excerpts from Senator Welch’s exchange with Ms. Dhillon: 
    “As you know, President Trump has recently ‘encouraged’—I’ll use that—Texas Republicans to do mid-cycle redistricting in order to gain more seats in the House of Representatives. I understand that after the President made that decision, or that announcement, you personally sent a letter on July 7 to Texas—in your capacity as Assistant Attorney General—arguing that four Democratic districts violate federal law,” said Senator Welch. “Before you sent the letter on July 7, did you have any conversation with any representatives of the White House?”   
    Ms. Dhillon: “Senator, as you’re aware, there are privileges that are involved in all Executive Branch communications and without—I’m not able to testify without breaching the Department of Justice’s guidelines in that regard. So, I’m unable to answer any questions about conversations I may have had with other Executive Branch officials.”   
    Senator Welch: “I’m not asking you what the content of the conversation was. I’m asking whether there was any conversation with anyone from the White House before you sent that July 7 letter.”  
    Ms. Dhillon: “Senator, I have the same answer. I think you’re aware of the scope, the broad scope of privileges that apply to lawyers’ conduct.” 
    Senator Welch: “Well, here’s what I’m aware of: the President made a directive—which is highly unusual—telling a legislature, the Texas legislature, mid-decade to do redistricting when we do that every ten years. And oh, it just so happened the Assistant Attorney General sent a letter to that legislature—after the President made his announcement—and said that your investigations suggest four districts are in violation of federal law.” 
    Ms. Dhillon: “Is there a question, Senator?” 
    Senator Welch: “There’s a point here that it’s hard to believe that that wasn’t coordinated.” 
    Senator Welch has been a leading voice in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law and efforts to undermine the Department of Justice. In April, Senator Welch led six Senate Judiciary Committee colleagues in demanding answers from the DOJ concerning the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Senators separately called for Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, to immediately hold an oversight hearing with Assistant Attorney General Dhillon on the politicization of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. 
    During President Trump’s first week in office, Senator Welch slammed the President’s plans to freeze all new civil rights cases or investigations at DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and suggestions that it would sideline police reform agreements established by the Biden Administration.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:
    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.
    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 
    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Reapproval of VA Medical Facility Leases

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases – the final congressional committee needed to greenlight the leases, including one for a proposed outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads:

    “We’re very pleased that all four congressional committees have now approved these much-needed VA leases, including the proposed new outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads. This is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality, convenient care for the more than 60 percent of Hampton VA Medical Center patients who live on the south side of the region. For years, we’ve pushed to get these kinds of facilities authorized and built, because we refuse to accept a system where veterans are stuck with long wait times or forced to travel hours for basic appointments. With this final vote, we are one step closer to ensuring these long-overdue facilities become a reality.

    “Now that the leases have cleared every hurdle in Congress, we’ll be pushing the VA and GSA to award these leases, and make sure these projects get off the ground without delay. Our veterans have waited long enough.” 

    While these leases were originally authorized under the PACT Act, which both senators strongly supported, updated cost estimates and rent bids prompted the VA and the General Services Administration (GSA) to seek reauthorization from four congressional committees. With yesterday’s action by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the leases have now been reauthorized by all four needed committees: the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to expand health care and benefits for Virginia’s nearly 700,000 veterans. Sens. Warner and Kaine began raising the alarm about the significant backlog of unapproved VA leases in 2016. After putting significant pressure on officials across the federal government, Congress unanimously passed the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation written by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine, to cut the backlog and get over two dozen delayed VA medical facilities’ leases approved.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Participates in EPW T&I Subcommittee Hearing on Surface Transportation Improvements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s questions, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in an EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing on proposals to improve America’s transportation infrastructure.

    During the subcommittee hearing, Chairman Capito opened with remarks outlining the need for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill to provide states with needed flexibility, and how projects could be done more efficiently with permitting reform. Additionally, Chairman Capito asked for an update on efforts to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    FLEXIBILITY FOR STATES:

    “My history here on Capitol Hill has been that transportation and infrastructure is something that we all have. We have our different needs, but we all have need for. So, I think flexibility, Senator Lummis, I think, asked the first question I was going to ask of Mr. Orn on the flexibilities that you get by having the formula funding. We’re not going to build highways in West Virginia the same way that you build them in North Dakota, or Maryland, or other places. There’s just different needs.”

    PERMITTING REFORM:

    “I think one of the things that is important as well, is permitting reform. I think if we can get bipartisan permitting reform, all of these dollars will go a lot faster, and a lot more efficiently than they have in the past.”

    UPDATE ON FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE:

    Chairman Capito:

    “Could you update me on the status of the reconstruction of the bridge and tell us the current cost estimate for that bridge?”

    Samantha Biddle, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation:

    “Of course, and thank you as well for your support and partnership as we navigated what was truly a catastrophic event that we are still working through. So, we’re so immensely grateful for the federal support. This is a critical national freight and supply chain asset, and we pledge to remain transparent with this committee and providing updates, as well as in our efforts to seek reimbursement to the responsible party for that bridge collision. To date, the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild has been environmentally cleared, and we have a progressive design-build contractor in place, and pre-construction and demolition activities are currently underway. We appreciate the strong continued partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, as well as our progressive design-build contractor, Kiewit, and we do remain on track to deliver a new bridge as quickly and cost effectively as possible. However, due to the progressive design-build process that we’re working through, we are currently still tracking the initial cost estimate from earlier on in the bridge rebuild process.”

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Participates in EPW T&I Subcommittee Hearing on Surface Transportation Improvements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s questions, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in an EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing on proposals to improve America’s transportation infrastructure.

    During the subcommittee hearing, Chairman Capito opened with remarks outlining the need for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill to provide states with needed flexibility, and how projects could be done more efficiently with permitting reform. Additionally, Chairman Capito asked for an update on efforts to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    FLEXIBILITY FOR STATES:

    “My history here on Capitol Hill has been that transportation and infrastructure is something that we all have. We have our different needs, but we all have need for. So, I think flexibility, Senator Lummis, I think, asked the first question I was going to ask of Mr. Orn on the flexibilities that you get by having the formula funding. We’re not going to build highways in West Virginia the same way that you build them in North Dakota, or Maryland, or other places. There’s just different needs.”

    PERMITTING REFORM:

    “I think one of the things that is important as well, is permitting reform. I think if we can get bipartisan permitting reform, all of these dollars will go a lot faster, and a lot more efficiently than they have in the past.”

    UPDATE ON FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE:

    Chairman Capito:

    “Could you update me on the status of the reconstruction of the bridge and tell us the current cost estimate for that bridge?”

    Samantha Biddle, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation:

    “Of course, and thank you as well for your support and partnership as we navigated what was truly a catastrophic event that we are still working through. So, we’re so immensely grateful for the federal support. This is a critical national freight and supply chain asset, and we pledge to remain transparent with this committee and providing updates, as well as in our efforts to seek reimbursement to the responsible party for that bridge collision. To date, the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild has been environmentally cleared, and we have a progressive design-build contractor in place, and pre-construction and demolition activities are currently underway. We appreciate the strong continued partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, as well as our progressive design-build contractor, Kiewit, and we do remain on track to deliver a new bridge as quickly and cost effectively as possible. However, due to the progressive design-build process that we’re working through, we are currently still tracking the initial cost estimate from earlier on in the bridge rebuild process.”

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Participates in EPW T&I Subcommittee Hearing on Surface Transportation Improvements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    [embedded content]
    To watch Chairman Capito’s questions, click here or the image above.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in an EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing on proposals to improve America’s transportation infrastructure.
    During the subcommittee hearing, Chairman Capito opened with remarks outlining the need for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill to provide states with needed flexibility, and how projects could be done more efficiently with permitting reform. Additionally, Chairman Capito asked for an update on efforts to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.
    HIGHLIGHTS:
    FLEXIBILITY FOR STATES:
    “My history here on Capitol Hill has been that transportation and infrastructure is something that we all have. We have our different needs, but we all have need for. So, I think flexibility, Senator Lummis, I think, asked the first question I was going to ask of Mr. Orn on the flexibilities that you get by having the formula funding. We’re not going to build highways in West Virginia the same way that you build them in North Dakota, or Maryland, or other places. There’s just different needs.”
    PERMITTING REFORM:
    “I think one of the things that is important as well, is permitting reform. I think if we can get bipartisan permitting reform, all of these dollars will go a lot faster, and a lot more efficiently than they have in the past.”
    UPDATE ON FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE:
    Chairman Capito:
    “Could you update me on the status of the reconstruction of the bridge and tell us the current cost estimate for that bridge?”
    Samantha Biddle, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation:
    “Of course, and thank you as well for your support and partnership as we navigated what was truly a catastrophic event that we are still working through. So, we’re so immensely grateful for the federal support. This is a critical national freight and supply chain asset, and we pledge to remain transparent with this committee and providing updates, as well as in our efforts to seek reimbursement to the responsible party for that bridge collision. To date, the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild has been environmentally cleared, and we have a progressive design-build contractor in place, and pre-construction and demolition activities are currently underway. We appreciate the strong continued partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, as well as our progressive design-build contractor, Kiewit, and we do remain on track to deliver a new bridge as quickly and cost effectively as possible. However, due to the progressive design-build process that we’re working through, we are currently still tracking the initial cost estimate from earlier on in the bridge rebuild process.”
    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –