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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins Newsmax to Discuss No Taxes on Overtime and President Trump’s Ongoing Trade Negotiations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Bob Brooks with Newsmax last night to discuss his new legislation to codify one of President Donald Trump’s key campaign promises – the Overtime Wages Tax Relief Act – as well as ongoing tariffs and trade negotiations with foreign powers. 
    You may click HERE to watch Senator Marshall’s full Newsmax interview.
    On the introduction of the Overtime Wages Tax Relief Act:
    “You know, this One Big Beautiful Bill will be President Trump’s legacy. And he wants to make sure that this bill prioritizes those hard-working Americans, those hourly wage employees you’re talking about. And that’s exactly what we do with this. We’re going to let that first $10,000 of overtime wages that you make – we’re going to make sure the government doesn’t take home any of, that’s $20,000 for a couple. That means you could keep up to $4,000 more of your hard-earned money. And you’re just absolutely right – if you weren’t a Republican before you saw that first overtime check and all the government took out of it, you were after.”
    On experiencing overtime wage taxes at a young age:
    “My first job off the farm, I wasn’t quite 16 yet. The minimum wage was… $2.30 an hour, believe it or not. And to your point, I was working at a sale barn, sorting heifers and steers, shoveling manure, those types of things. My brother and I often would work 18, 20, 24 hours at a time. And after eight hours, it was overtime, so you sat there thinking, my goodness, this is going to be a huge check. I’m saving up money to buy a car someday. And you open up that check and there you say, oh my gosh, I thought I worked all these extra hours, time and a half, and you saw the government take so much of it and across America, again, hardworking Americans, that’s exactly what they’re experiencing today.
    “So, President Trump, promises made, promises kept. He’s going to let you keep more of your hard-earned money and fulfill one more of his campaign promises.”
    On future trade deals with foreign nations:
    “Even just moments ago, President Trump announced, the White House announced that they’re going to sit down with the Chinese and work on a trade deal with them. I think they’re very close on a deal with Mexico and Canada, probably Japan as well.
    “But remember what President Trump’s goals are. His goals are to bring more manufacturing jobs, more jobs back to America, and to negotiate free and reciprocal trade agreements, trade agreements that will last and take care of our children and our children’s children, not just fix the moment.
    “I am reminded of President Eisenhower, who did so many things that it took decades to come to fruition, for people to recognize his success. So yes, we’re enduring a little bit of pain right now, but already across the state of Kansas, small manufacturing companies are having spikes in sales. Because why? Because people want to invest in American-made products and not have to deal with the potential tariffs of something coming from abroad. So, it’s already working. Things are, things are just, just starting to shine here right now, better days are ahead of us. For America, I’m not tired of winning yet.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Cruz Work to Safeguard Second Amendment Rights, Protect Communities from Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are introducing legislation to safeguard Americans’ Second Amendment rights and prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands. The Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act would take concrete steps to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), prosecute gun crime and crack down on cartel-fueled gun trafficking. 
    “The Second Amendment is a fundamental right established by our Founders. This bill would protect Americans’ right to bear arms, while prioritizing public safety, strengthening our national background check system and fighting gun trafficking across our southern border,” Grassley said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this commonsense measure.”
    “I’m proud to work with Senator Grassley to increase support for school safety funding, improve NICS reporting and do more to prosecute criminals who illegally purchase firearms. These measures are common sense, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation, which has received bipartisan support before and should again,” Cruz said.
    Specifically, the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act would:
    Improve recordkeeping by ensuring states submit relevant mental health records to NICS.
    Preserve the Second Amendment by strengthening protections for veterans, active military members and American citizens.
    Enhance accountability by directing federal agencies to issue annual reports on the records they submit to NICS and requiring the Justice Department to explain to Congress why it has, or has not, prosecuted certain gun cases.
    Prioritize public safety by requiring federal and state officials to coordinate on gun law enforcement, designating federal attorneys to prosecute gun crimes and increasing the maximum sentence for straw purchasing and lying and buying schemes.
    Combat cross-border gun smuggling by creating law enforcement run, firearms trafficking task forces across the southern border, at no additional cost to the taxpayer. 
    The full bill text is available HERE.
    A section-by-section summary of the bill is available HERE.
    Background: 
    The bill was first introduced as the “Grassley-Cruz” amendment in 2013, when it passed the Senate by a vote of 52-48. However, it couldn’t overcome a Democrat filibuster, and Republicans were in the minority. 
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation Introduces Bill To Strengthen, Protect Health Care For Seniors In Hawai‘i

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i) and Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) today reintroduced bicameral legislation that would help strengthen and protect health care for seniors in Hawai‘i. The Protecting Access To Care in Hawai‘i (PATCH) Act would provide fair Medicare reimbursements to Hawai‘i providers, helping retain and recruit more doctors and protect access to health care for seniors across the state.
    “As more people reach Medicare age in Hawai‘i, we are seeing fewer health care providers because of the rising operating and living costs in our state,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill would help fix that, boosting Medicare payments to providers and protecting health care access for the 300,000 seniors in Hawai‘i that rely on Medicare.”
    “Hundreds of thousands of seniors rely on Medicare throughout Hawai‘i, yet there are numerous obstacles that prevent them from accessing the care they need,” said Senator Hirono. “Hawai‘i’s high cost of living and unique geography make it difficult to attract and retain physicians, further exacerbating the state’s shortage of health care professionals. That is why I am proud to support the PATCH Act, legislation that will help expand and protect access to health care across the islands by ensuring that physicians and other health professionals are being fairly compensated.”
    “Hawai‘i’s seniors deserve reliable, timely care, no matter where they live. But our health care system is under real strain, especially in rural and Neighbor Island communities, where too many providers are already operating on thin margins,” said Representative Tokuda. “The PATCH Act is simply about fairness and sustainability. By adjusting Medicare payments to reflect the true costs of care in Hawai‘i, we can better support our doctors, strengthen local health systems, and ensure that our kupuna aren’t left behind when they need care the most.”
    “Nearly one in five of our Hawai’i ‘ohana are now age 65 or older and our senior population continues to grow rapidly,” said Representative Case. “The PATCH Act reinforces our commitment to Hawai‘i’s kupuna by ensuring that their medical practitioners are adequately compensated for the care they provide to our seniors.”
    Medicare physician payments per beneficiary in Hawai‘i are among the lowest in the country. While health care operating costs in Hawai‘i are substantially higher than in other states, its Medicare reimbursement rates do not account for those rising costs. The PATCH Act would increase health care provider payments by up to 38 percent, ensuring more doctors stay in Hawai‘i to help provide care to Hawai‘i’s 300,000 Medicare beneficiaries.
    “There is a serious workforce shortage in Hawai‘i that affects the ability of residents in the state to access timely care. We’ve known for decades that physician reimbursements in the state do not accurately reflect the actual costs of providing care. Coupled with our unique, difficult geography, more steps need to be taken by Medicare to ensure that all Hawai‘i residents can see a doctor when they need one. This bill will provide long-overdue relief to our state by ensuring that physicians are paid fairly for their services,” said Hilton Raethel, President and CEO of Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i.
    The full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Strengthen American Innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) to introduce the American Innovation and Jobs Act, legislation that will expand and strengthen research and development by small businesses and startups located in the United States. The bill will help America outcompete and out-innovate global rivals, like China, who are significantly investing in research and development.
    “China is on the move and would love nothing more than to make American innovation a thing of the past,” said Senator Tuberville. “Thankfully, President Trump is 100% committed to doing whatever it takes to put American businesses first on the world stage. This bill gives us the upper hand over China by investing in research and development projects based in the United States.”
    “The United States is locked in a competition to ensure we maintain our position as the global leader in scientific and technological innovation. Our legislation would incentivize job-creating R&D activity in the United States — particularly among start-ups — to drive our innovation future, strengthen international competitiveness, and protect our national security. Congress must pass this legislation,” said Senator Young.
    Sens. Tuberville and Young are joined by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jon Husted (R-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), John Kennedy (R-LA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in cosponsoring the legislation.
    Read full text of the legislation here. 
    BACKGROUND:
    Specifically, the American Innovation and Jobs Act would:
    Restore incentives for long-term R&D investment by ensuring that companies can continue to fully deduct R&D expenses each year by repealing the change made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to section 174 of the tax code.
    Expand support for innovative startups by:
    Immediately doubling the cap on the refundable R&D tax credit from $250,000 to $500,000, and ultimately raising it to $750,000 over ten years.
    Expanding access to the R&D tax credit for startups by lowering certain threshold needed to qualify.

    Expand the number of startups eligible to use the refundable R&D credit by:
    Increasing the eligibility threshold from $5 million to $15 million in gross receipts.
    Increasing the period during which startups can claim the credit from 5 years to 8 years after beginning to generate at least $25,000 in revenue.

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Crapo Introduce Legislation to Level Playing Field for Alabama Sporting Equipment Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act  to close a tax loophole that has resulted in lost revenue for state-led wildlife conservation efforts.  Foreign sellers should be held to the same tax regulations as domestic manufacturers, and this bill will ensure that happens. 
    “Alabama is proud to be home to hundreds of small businesses who make sporting equipment that outdoorsmen and conservationists rely on. The last thing these business owners need is to be punished for producing goods right here in the U.S.A.” said Senator Tuberville.“Under President Trump, we are laser-focused on doing everything we can to encourage domestic production. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Crapo which closes a loophole allowing foreign sellers to exploit our domestic retailers and rob money from our state conservation programs.”
    “Federal excise taxes on certain recreational outdoor sporting equipment provide funding for conservation programs,” said Senator Crapo. “This bill closes loopholes on imported fishing and archery equipment that deprive fish and wildlife conservation programs of additional critical funds. This move will help level the playing field for Idaho and American companies and strengthen existing conservation programs.”
    Numerous conservation and sporting groups, including the Alabama Department of Conservation, Archery Trade Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, American Sportfishing Association, and The Conservation Fund haveendorsed Senator Tuberville’s legislation. 
    “We applaud Senator Tuberville’s support of the Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.“These funds are critical to supporting outdoor activities in the U.S. and we rely on them heavily in Alabama. This legislation will help secure state conservation funding and ensure all Americans have access to quality outdoor recreation throughout the country.”
    “The archery industry applauds Senators Crapo and Tuberville for their exceptionally strong leadership and introduction of this high priority legislation,” said Dan Forster, Vice President & Chief Conservation Officer, Archery Trade Association. “Holding foreign companies accountable for paying the federal excise tax is not only about protecting American businesses but it will help ensure that our conservation funding and outdoor heritage are protected for future generations.”
    “We thank Senators Tuberville and Crapo for their leadership in helping to make the Sport Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration funds whole,” said Jim Fredericks, Chair of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Fisheries and Water Resources Policy Committee and Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.“State fisheries programs count on these funds to maintain the good quality fishing opportunities that keep our anglers coming back for more.”
    “The Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act will ensure the future viability of the Sport Fish Restoration Fund by closing a loophole and securing millions of dollars in lost excise tax revenue to improve recreational fishing,” said Glenn Hughes, President and CEO of American Sportfishing Association. “Since 1950, excise taxes on fishing equipment have provided $12 billion for conservation efforts and improved access for anglers across the country – a unique user-pay, public-benefit system that has become a cornerstone of the American conservation model. We applaud Senators Tuberville and Crapo for introducing this legislation and for their commitment to the sportfishing industry, which contributes $230 billion to the U.S. economy each year.”
    Complete text of the bill can be found here. U.S. Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT-01) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year.
    BACKGROUND:
    For decades, the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act have provided states and territories with essential funding for wildlife restoration, conservation, hunter education programs, and boating access programs.  These programs, funded through excise taxes on sportfishing and archery equipment, have contributed more than $1.3 billion in FY2025 to support conservation efforts across the country.
    However, a loophole in current tax policy allows some online purchases of imported sporting goods to bypass these excise taxes when purchased directly from foreign sellers, leading to a shortfall of tens of millions of dollars from going to conservation funds. Many consumers are unaware that they may be responsible for these taxes, and even those who are aware often struggle to navigate IRS guidelines on calculating and paying them. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report recommended that Congress address this issue by ensuring that U.S. online marketplaces, rather than consumers, are responsible for collecting and remitting these excise taxes.
    The Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act would:
    Require U.S. online marketplaces to collect and remit federal excise taxes on imported archery and fishing equipment, treating them as the importer of record.
    Ensure that funding for state-led wildlife conservation efforts is not lost due to tax loopholes.
    Maintain fairness for domestic retailers who already pay these taxes on sporting goods they sell.
    Simplify the tax process for consumers, eliminate confusion, and ensure that conservation programs receive the full funding they deserve.
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Kudlow on Fox Business to Discuss Trump Administration’s Negotiations With China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the Trump Administration’s trade negotiations with China.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on the importance of holding China accountable to their end of the trade deal: “I remember being on the phone with you [Larry] during the 2018 G20 when Xi pledged to President [Donald] Trump and stopped fentanyl flowing in the United States. Of course, he didn’t do it. If you think about the $200 billion worth of goods they promised to buy from us in the phase one deal—you were there, you architected this—and they fell through on that too. So, there’s going to be a lot more proof required here. And I think [Treasury] Secretary [Scott] Bessent, Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer are going to be very focused on making certain that whatever the Chinese agreed to, that they’re going to be ascertainable goals, they’re going to be goals that have to be met. And I sure as hell wouldn’t be leading with any sort of forgiveness or easing until we see performance from China.”
    Hagerty on the stark difference between the Biden Admin’s and Trump Admin’s posture towards China: “If you think about it, these partners [other nations] want to extend and deepen their economic relationships with us, Larry. And our economic relationship has to do with security as much as it does our economies and the stronger economic ties. I think the better the opportunity is for us to lock arms from an economic and national security standpoint, and China’s going to see the writing on the walls. They’re going to be left out here. And if you think about the high standard digital trade agreement that we negotiated with Japan in the last administration—you were part of that team—that’s precisely the type of agreement that China could never abide by, with companies like Huawei and contaminated systems like this. So, we are in a position right now like we’ve never been before. I couldn’t agree with you more, [Senator] Kevin [Cramer]. I think that Secretary Bessent and Ambassador Greer have a very strong hand to play as they walk into this. And I’ll just add one more thing, Larry: what a contrast compared to the previous administration that flew four cabinet secretaries over [to China]. Psilocybin mushrooms were on the menu just begging Xi to come to San Francisco for a meeting. Things have definitely changed under President Trump and for the good.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Wyden, Schumer, Gillibrand Welcome Frank Bisignano to Social Security Administration With Nearly 200 Unanswered Questions, Push for Answers on Behalf of Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 07, 2025
    Lawmakers send Bisignano 17 letters previously sent to Acting Commissioner Dudek
    “We are extraordinarily concerned about the future of the SSA under the Trump Administration, and Americans deserve information about the fate of their benefits under your watch.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) welcomed newly-confirmed Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Frank Bisignano to the agency with copies of 17 letters — containing nearly 200 unanswered questions — the lawmakers had previously sent to the SSA under Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek. The push is the latest in the Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room efforts to fight back against Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s attack on Social Security.
    “We are extraordinarily concerned about the future of the SSA under the Trump Administration, and Americans deserve information about the fate of their benefits under your watch,” wrote the lawmakers.
    Since President Trump took office, co-president Elon Musk and his DOGE team have worked to dismantle the Social Security Administration. Senate Democrats sent 17 letters to the SSA — helmed by then-Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek — pressing for answers and fighting back against the attack on Americans’ services and benefits.
    Following Senate Republicans’ vote to confirm Frank Bisignano last night, the lawmakers redelivered the 17 letters sent to Dudek, along with a note pressing Bisignano to respond to the letters and answer for DOGE’s attacks on the SSA.  
    “We have not received responses to the vast majority of our questions. In fact, Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek has reportedly instructed staff to not respond to public or congressional inquiries. The limited answers we have received have been unsatisfactory,” wrote the lawmakers.
    The lawmakers also highlighted their past requests for information from Bisignano — most of which went unanswered. 
    “You repeatedly claimed that, because you were not yet working at SSA, you did not have sufficient information to answer. You made these claims despite the fact that a former SSA employee whistleblower has reported that you have been participating extensively in high-level operational, management, and personnel decisions at SSA. Regardless of your previous claims, though, you have now been sworn in and have access to the information you claimed you need to provide us answers,” wrote the lawmakers.
    Following Bisignano’s official swearing-in as SSA Commissioner earlier today, the lawmakers pressed him for urgent answers on behalf of the American people.
    Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy reintroduces CRAWDAD Act to support Louisiana jobs, culture

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today reintroduced the Crawfish Recovery Assistance from Weather Disasters and Droughts (CRAWDAD) Act. The bill would support Louisiana crawfish jobs when severe weather puts strain on the industry.

    “Come rain, shine, sleet or snow, Louisiana’s mudbug farmers always work hard to deliver quality food to crawfish lovers. My CRAWDAD Act would make sure crawfish producers have access to the emergency support they need when droughts and other severe weather strike,” said Kennedy. 

    Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) cosponsored the CRAWDAD Act.

    “When you think Louisiana, you think crawfish. Crawfish farmers work hard to provide Louisiana and the world with the tastiest crawdads possible. Let’s support them as they do so, rain or shine,” said Cassidy.

    Background:

    • The Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) provides producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish access to federal financial assistance when they face adverse weather, disease or loss conditions. 
    • In 2021, the Secretary of Agriculture temporarily expanded the ELAP to include crawfish producers when the industry suffered losses.

    The CRAWDAD Act would make crawfish producers eligible for ELAP funding on a permanent basis, ensuring that they have access to the emergency support they need without unnecessary bureaucratic delays.

    Kennedy’s bill would also classify a drought as a weather event that the Secretary of Agriculture could declare as an emergency. 

    The Louisiana Farm Bureau supports the CRAWDAD Act.

    “Louisiana crawfish farmers hope to never see another drought like they did in 2023. Louisiana Farm Bureau appreciates Senator Kennedy in the reintroduction of the CRAWDAD Act to provide additional support for this vital Louisiana industry,” said Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot.

    Full text of the CRAWDAD Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Curtis introduce bipartisan legislation to help small businesses bring new technologies to market

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) today introduced legislation that would help innovative small businesses commercialize their technologies. The Research Advancing to Market Production (RAMP) for Innovators Act updates the SBIR/STTR programs—often called “America’s seed fund”—to turn more technological research into market-ready products.  
    A companion bill was also introduced today in the House by Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Troy Balderson (R-Ohio). 
    “Innovative small businesses in Delaware and across the country drive our economy further, and we need to cut red tape so that it’s easier for these businesses bring their ideas to customers faster and profit off their research,” said Senator Coons. “The bipartisan RAMP for Innovators Act makes it easier for small businesses conducting government-funded research to more easily commercialize their work, ensuring these grants will strengthen our economy for years to come.” 
    “Utah’s small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, representing over 99% of all companies,” said Senator Curtis. “To sustain our economic strength and preserve Utah’s exceptional quality of life, it’s crucial that we empower these businesses to succeed. By improving programs that foster innovation and commercialization, our bipartisan legislation helps entrepreneurs develop new technologies and bring them to market—strengthening our economy and our competitiveness on the world stage.”
    “As an entrepreneur myself, I know the difficulties that small businesses in our Commonwealth and country face in scaling their operations and getting their products to the shelves,” said Representative Houlahan. “Federal programs that support our small businesses need to be both more efficient and more effective in order to make the American dream a reality for small business owners. The RAMP for Innovators Act provides entrepreneurs with streamlined access to the resources, intellectual property protections, and capital they need to scale, compete, and succeed. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to ensure that more of the amazing, innovative technologies developed by American entrepreneurs become a reality, helping our nation maintain its competitive edge.”
    “America’s strength has always come from our ability to foster innovation and empower those willing to take risks,” said Representative Balderson. “The RAMP for Innovators Act ensures that our tech entrepreneurs have the tools they need to grow, compete globally, and transform bold ideas into real products, good-paying jobs, and lasting economic growth in places like Central Ohio and across the country.”
    The RAMP for Innovators Act builds on the success of two competitive programs for developing small business innovation: the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Currently, federal agencies use these programs to award grants and contracts to small businesses across the country for high-tech research that helps solve Washington’s research and development needs. However, various roadblocks and administrative delays make it hard for these businesses to turn their research into commercial products. The RAMP for Innovators Act cuts red tape around the SBIR/STTR programs to help more of these innovative businesses make money off their ideas on the open market.
    Specifically, the legislation would:
    Streamline and accelerate the SBIR/STTR application and award process
    Provide agencies a fast-track option for making awards to promising small businesses
    Designate a Technology Commercialization Officer at each agency with an SBIR/STTR program
    Provide awardees with robust and flexible technical assistance
    Provide awardees with access to I-Corps training to help bring their technologies to market
    Increase clarity on SBIR/STTR commercialization performance by requiring a metrics-based assessment
    Establish a fast-track patent examination process for awardees
    Senator Coons has long championed small businesses and entrepreneurs up and down Delaware and across the country. Last week, he introduced the bipartisan Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act with Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) to reshape the financial landscape for small businesses. 
    This bill has been endorsed by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the University City Science Center, BPC Action, and the Delaware Small Business Development Center.
    “ITIF supports RAMP for Innovators, the Research Advancing to Market Production for Innovators Act, which will further bolster the commercialization potential of SBIR/STTR programs through improvements such as making commercialization potential a stronger consideration in project selection, clarifying that all awardees may use a share of Phase I and II funds for commercially oriented activities, and supporting the ability of innovators to secure intellectual property rights underpinning their inventions through stronger linkages with the PTO,” said Dr. Rob Atkinson, President of ITIF.
    “The University City Science Center heartily endorses the Research Advancing to Market Production for Innovators Act introduced by Senators Coons and Curtis and Representatives Houlahan and Balderson. This legislation would codify language that has already been signed into law to ensure that commercialization is central to the goals of SBIR and STTR. The RAMP for Innovators Act fulfills the mission of the 2016 SBIR/STTR recommendations from the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) at the Department of Commerce. I was honored to serve as a member of NACIE during this time and believe these recommendations are necessary to fulfill our commercialization needs in this country,” said Tiffany Wilson, CEO of the University City Science Center.
    “American innovation is the foundation upon which U.S. economic competitiveness is built. Commercializing more new technologies helps the United States strengthen its edge over our competitors and ensures taxpayers get a good return on their investment in research and development. BPC Action applauds Senators Coons and Curtis, and Representatives Houlahan and Balderson, for their bipartisan leadership in reintroducing the RAMP for Innovators Act,” said Michele Stockwell, President of BPC Action.
    “Delaware SBDC is pleased to endorse the new SBIR Commercialization Bill, the Research Advancing to Market Production for Innovators Act. There are significant improvements to help entrepreneurs move innovation to commercialization,” said Mike Bowman, Director of Delaware Small Business Development Center. 
    Senators Coons and Curtis are members of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.  
    You can read the one-pager here.
    You can read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/7/2025 Blackburn, Welch Introduce Bill to Safeguard Rideshare Passengers’ Privacy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Safe and Private Rides Act, which would require transportation network companies (TNCs) to notify passengers when their driver has a video recording device in the car and give passengers the opportunity to opt out of riding with a driver with a dashcam, preventing rideshare drivers from violating passengers’ privacy:
    “Passengers shouldn’t have to sacrifice their right to privacy the moment they step into a rideshare vehicle, and they deserve to know when they are being recorded,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Safe and Private Rides Act would increase transparency and ensure that both driver safety and passenger privacy are protected as more Americans take advantage of these services.”
    “Millions of people around the country rely on rideshare services for transportation every day, whether it’s to the doctor, work, or the airport. Folks using rideshare services deserve to have peace of mind about their digital privacy during a ride, which includes knowing if they will be filmed before calling a ride,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan Safe and Private Rides Act gives passengers using rideshare services straightforward privacy protections by allowing the option to opt out of a rideshare using video recording devices that record passengers.”
    BACKGROUND
    Americans are increasingly using rideshare services as a form of transportation, and U.S. ridesharing profits are expected to generate $54 billion annually by 2027.
    In many American cities, rideshare drivers have expressed feeling uncomfortable and unsafe while driving and have turned to technology and dashcams to add a layer of safety. These dashcams, while beneficial for the driver, could present privacy concerns for passengers. In the past, some rideshare drivers have recorded their passengers and subsequently released the footage online, in a blatant violation of privacy. Passengers should ultimately have a right to know that they are being recorded and to opt out of riding in cars that utilize recording devices if they so choose.
    Rideshare companies have become a source of convenience and accessibility, and they are an example of American innovation. As they grow, their drivers should be able to use technology to protect themselves, and passengers should be able to make decisions to preserve their privacy.
    THE SAFE AND PRIVATE RIDES ACT
    The Safe and Private Rides Act would increase transparency by giving passengers choice while preserving the driver’s safety.
    Specifically, the Safe and Private Rides Act would: 
    Require TNCs to notify passengers when their driver has a video recording device in the car;
    Require TNCs to give passengers the opportunity to opt out of riding with a driver with a recording device in the car; and 
    Grant the Federal Trade Commission the authority to enforce these transparency requirements.
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Sounds Alarm About Trump Administration’s Decision To Terminate Program That Helps Prevent Opioid Overdoses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    In 2024, This Program Distributed Over 280,000 Kits Containing The Opioid Overdose Reversal Medication Naloxone – Often Known As Narcan
    New York Law Enforcement Has Administered Naloxone Over 12,000 Times Since The Program Began In 2014
    Gillibrand: ”Terminating A Proven Tool Without Clear, Transparent Justification Places Countless Lives At Needless Risk”
    U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is condemning the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) plans to terminate a program that distributes and provides training to administer the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone. The program in jeopardy provides $56 million annually under the First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act for the distribution of naloxone to law enforcement, community-based organizations, and tribes across the country. If terminated, first responders and organizations will lose a highly effective resource that has saved thousands of lives.
    “With the ongoing challenges posed by the opioid crisis, it is critical that the federal government’s actions are guided by public health expertise and a commitment to sustaining the momentum behind federal policy and funding that is working,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It is imperative that HHS’s actions support, rather than undermine, local efforts by municipalities and first responders to respond. Terminating a proven tool without clear, transparent justification places countless lives at needless risk. Our communities will bear the cost: in lives lost, in families broken, and in public trust further eroded.”
    Gillibrand called on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to answer the following questions to ensure that the agency has a clear understanding of the dangers of terminating this funding:
    Provide a detailed explanation for how the Administration intends to sustain investments in opioid overdose mitigation strategies that support and equip first responders?
    If funding for this program is being reallocated, what new initiatives or priorities will those resources support?

    Has HHS consulted with any stakeholders before planning to terminate this program? Please detail how HHS has solicited feedback from the following groups:
    First responders;
    Public health officials, including state and local officials;
    Medical professionals, including substance use disorder treatment professionals.

    How does HHS plan to address the potential disproportionate impact on medically underserved and rural communities who depend on well-equipped first responders for medical emergencies?
    Has HHS conducted an analysis of the potential public health impact, particularly on overdose survival rates, resulting from the termination of this program? If so, please provide any analysis done.
    A full copy of Senator Gillibrand’s letter can be found here and below.
    Dear Secretary Kennedy,
    I write to express profound concern regarding reports that the administration is planning to terminate a $56 million annual grant program under the First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that distributes and provides training to administer the opioid overdose reversal medication, naloxone. If terminated, first responders would lose a highly effective resource that can help save countless lives.
    In 2024 alone, this critical program distributed more than 282,500 naloxone kits to cities, community-based organizations, and tribes across the country. Opioid-related overdoses and deaths in the United States have fallen to their lowest since 2020, due in part to the wider availability of naloxone and its distribution to first responders underscoring how impactful treatment programs like this are in saving lives and combatting the opioid crisis. From 2020 to July 2022, New York State law enforcement personnel administered naloxone an average of 141 times a month. Put another way, every five hours, one New Yorker had a trained, well-equipped first responder to thank for saving their life.
    The long-term successes of this funding support cannot be overstated; by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) own accounting, more than 150,000 first responders have undergone naloxone training, and more than 90,000 overdoses have been reversed since 2017. Opioid deaths are preventable and every additional first responder trained and equipped in New York, especially in medically underserved communities, has been a game changer.
    With the ongoing challenges posed by the opioid crisis, it is critical that the federal government’s actions are guided by public health expertise and a commitment to sustaining the momentum behind federal policy and funding that is working. It is imperative that HHS’s actions support, rather than undermine, local efforts by municipalities and first responders to respond. Terminating a proven tool without clear, transparent justification places countless lives at needless risk. Our communities will bear the cost: in lives lost, in families broken, and in public trust further eroded.
    Given the public good SAMHSA naloxone distribution and training grant programs provide, and the clear dangers of unilaterally terminating this funding, I request a written response to the following inquiries by May 16, 2025:
    Provide a detailed explanation for how the Administration intends to sustain investments in opioid overdose mitigation strategies that support and equip first responders?
    If funding for this program is being reallocated, what new initiatives or priorities will those resources support?

    Has HHS consulted with any stakeholders before planning to terminate this program? Please detail how HHS has solicited feedback from the following groups:
    First responders;
    Public health officials, including state and local officials;
    Medical professionals, including substance use disorder treatment professionals.

    How does HHS plan to address the potential disproportionate impact on medically underserved and rural communities who depend on well-equipped first responders for medical emergencies?
    Has HHS conducted an analysis of the potential public health impact, particularly on overdose survival rates, resulting from the termination of this program? If so, please provide any analysis done.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to hearing from you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Wyden, Senate Colleagues Slam Social Security for Improperly Declaring Thousands Dead, Call for Watchdog Investigation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Trump administration abused Death Master File to purge at least 6,300 Social Security numbers–including children and seniors
    ICYMI: Senator Murray on Vote Against Social Security Nominee, Releases New WA State Report on How Trump and Elon Are Breaking the Social Security Administration
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and 10 Senate colleagues in slamming the Social Security Administration (SSA) for transferring thousands of Social Security numbers associated with immigrants to SSA’s Death Master File, marking them as dead to pressure ‘self-deportation’ and demanded the agency’s watchdog launch a full investigation into the decision.
    Exploiting Social Security’s Death Master File to terminate the SSN of living individuals without full due process, violates several federal laws and bedrock constitutional rights. The Trump administration’s actions violate their due process rights enshrined in the Constitution, falsify government records, and violate the Privacy Act, wrote the senators. Even Trump’s lawyers reportedly agreed that Social Security’s actions violated the Privacy Act. 
    “This decision will result in the ‘financial murder’ of living individuals improperly placed in the file, with everything from their credit cards and banking to their ability to access healthcare and housing being ripped out from under them,” the senators wrote in the letters to Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek and Social Security Assistant Inspector General for Audit Michelle Anderson. 
    The senators also called on the SSA Office of the Inspector General to launch a full investigation into the agency’s decision to begin using the Death Master File for this purpose, including how an individual gets targeted, who at the agency has decision making authority, and how those who have their SSNs nullified through this process can get it fixed if there is a mistake.
    The Trump administration’s abuse of Social Security’s centerpiece role in America’s economy sets a dangerous precedent of allowing the government to rip away workers’ access to their earned Social Security benefits while threatening the security of all Americans.
    “The purpose of SSA is to provide for the welfare of number-holders and their dependents, not to serve as an arm of President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. This move degrades the solvency, reliability, and accuracy of SSA systems and programs. It is as cruel as it is thoughtless– the impact will be felt in communities across the country and in the future of SSA programs themselves,” the senators concluded in one of their letters to SSA.
    In addition to Murray and Wyden, the letter was signed by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). 
    A PDF of the letter to SSA Acting Commissioner Dudek is available HERE.
    A PDF of the letter to SSA Assistant Inspector General for Audit Anderson is available HERE.
    Yesterday, Senator Murray released a new report featuring testimonials from Washington state residents—including employees at the Social Security Administration who were recently fired through no fault of their own—and detailing how the Trump administration’s wide-ranging attacks on SSA risk depriving Washingtonians of the Social Security benefits they have earned and deserve. More than 73 million Americans, including 1.4 million—or one in six—people in Washington state rely on Social Security benefits. Half of seniors nationwide rely on Social Security for most of their income, and a quarter of seniors rely on Social Security for at least 90 percent of their income.   
    Senator Murray has an extensive record of protecting Social Security benefits and fighting to secure essential funding for the Social Security Administration—and she has been tirelessly raising the alarm about the threat Elon Musk’s DOGE poses to Americans’ hard-earned benefits. In March, Senator Murray held a press conference to lift up the stories of SSA employees who are being pushed out by Elon Musk through no fault of their own and hear from Washington state residents who rely on Social Security. In February, Murray released a fact sheet warning of the Trump administration’s plans to make it harder for Americans who’ve paid into Social Security to get the benefits they have earned.
    Under Senator Murray’s leadership as Chair last Congress, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a draft Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill that would have provided a $509 million increase for SSA this year. Millions of Americans rely on Social Security and have earned benefits over lifetimes of work. Senator Murray also helped pass the Social Security Fairness Act at the end of 2024, which restored full Social Security benefits for public servants, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, teachers, and other state and local government workers—in January, Murray held a roundtable discussion in Everett with local union members on the implementation of the law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Statement on Rep. Amodei’s Flawed Proposal That Would Make Nevada Lose Out on Millions of Dollars in Public Land Sales to Pay for More Tax Cuts for Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement after Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV-02) and House Republicans snuck in a hastily-drafted proposal to sell off Nevada public lands to pay for more tax cuts for billionaires. 
    “I am outraged that Congressman Amodei sold out Nevadans in the dead of night by passing a flawed, hastily-drafted proposal that undermines the careful balance struck in the Washoe County Lands Bill and would result in our state losing out on much-needed funding. For years, I’ve worked in good faith with a wide array of stakeholders to craft a balanced bill that makes more land available for housing and economic development in Washoe County, while at the same time conserving precious public lands and advancing Tribal priorities,” said Senator Rosen. “While I will always support taking steps to address Nevada’s housing crisis, I will not support a Washington-drafted proposal that will lead to Nevada losing out on millions of dollars in funding for our local priorities like education and restoration around the Truckee River, all so Republicans in Washington can pay for more tax cuts for billionaires.”
    Without consulting Senator Rosen or the rest of the Nevada delegation, Congressman Amodei proposed and passed a flawed amendment in the House Natural Resources Committee that would sell off nearly 16,000 acres of public lands in Washoe County and hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Pershing County to pay for Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation proposal. This proposal abandons key provisions in the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act, also known as the Washoe County Lands Bill, and directs funds from public land sales in Nevada to the U.S. Treasury, instead of keeping the funding in Nevada. It also ignores the balance struck in Senator Rosen’s Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act.
    Senator Rosen’s Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act would: 
    Permanently protect a million acres of public lands, which Congressman Amodei cut in his proposal.
    Promote sustainable growth and economic development by directing over 15,200 acres of public lands to be made eligible for sale, all of which must be assessed for its suitability for new affordable housing. An additional 33 acres are set aside to only be sold for affordable housing. Any land sold for affordable housing would have to be sold at less than fair market value.
    Support local Tribal communities by expanding land held in trust by more than 8,400 acres for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 11,300 acres for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and over 1,000 acres for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, none of which is in the Amodei proposal.
    Provide local governments over 3,700 acres for public purposes such as parks, water treatment facilities, and schools, all of which is excluded from the Amodei proposal. Land is specifically conveyed to Washoe County, the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, the Incline Village General Improvement District, the Gerlach General Improvement District, the State of Nevada, the Truckee River Flood Management Authority, the Washoe County School District, and the University of Nevada, Reno.
    Keep proceeds from land sales in Nevada for priorities like education and restoration around the Truckee River, unlike the Amodei proposal that sends money from land sales to the federal government in Washington, D.C.
    For years, Senator Rosen has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders across Washoe County to develop this comprehensive legislation. In 2023, she unveiled a working draft of the bill and collected feedback from hundreds of Nevadans during a public comment period, which she then incorporated into this legislation, which was previously introduced last year with the support of local government officials, conservation advocates, and business leaders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost America’s Businesses and Economic Competitiveness

    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) and 34 of their Senate colleagues introduced the bipartisan American Innovation and Jobs Act, legislation that will expand and strengthen research and development (R&D) by small businesses and startups throughout the United States by extending and making permanent an expired tax cut that allowed businesses investing in R&D to claim tax credits and deductions when filing federal taxes.
    “Research and development is critical to the success and competitiveness of American businesses and to protecting our status as a global leader in innovation and tech—especially as adversaries like China race to catch up,” said the senators. “At a time when President Trump is slashing federal funding for important research initiatives in everything from medicine to technology, we’re committed to doing all that we can to fight back. That includes introducing this bipartisan legislation to provide tax incentives to support the research and development investments we need to create jobs and stay on top.”
    The American Innovation and Jobs Act would extend and make permanent the ability of small businesses and startups that invest in R&D to claim a tax credit or deduct their investments when filing federal taxes. It would also permanently restore full expensing of R&D costs while allowing businesses to retroactively take advantage of the deduction for the tax years during which full expensing had expired.
    Specifically, the American Innovation and Jobs Act would:
    Expand support for innovative startups by:
    Immediately doubling the cap on the refundable R&D tax credit from $250,000 to $500,000, and ultimately raising it to $750,000 over ten years.
    Expanding access to the R&D tax credit for startups by lowering certain threshold needed to qualify.

    Expand the number of startups eligible to use the refundable R&D credit by:
    Increasing the eligibility threshold from $5 million to $15 million in gross receipts.
    Increasing the period during which startups can claim the credit from 5 years to 8 years after beginning to generate at least $25,000 in revenue.

    The legislation is endorsed by the R&D Coalition, which includes companies of all sizes and many trade associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Information Technology Industry Council.
    In addition to Warner and Kaine, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Gary Peters (D-MI), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Patty Murray (D-WA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Angus King (I-ME), Ted Budd (R-NC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jon Husted (R-OH), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Civilian Defense Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Angus King (I-ME), all members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), led the introduction of the Defense Workforce Integration Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that seeks to bolster the civilian defense and national security workforce. The bipartisan bill would leverage existing programs and best practices within the Department of Defense (DoD) to retain the talent and motivation of those who desire to serve in uniform but are found to be medically disqualified to address persistent workforce shortages. Companion legislation is being led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Don Bacon (R-NE-02).
    “I often hear from shipbuilders and other defense contractors in Virginia about how they need more skilled workers. That’s why I’ve been focused on expanding our national security and maritime industrial base workforce, including by helping talented young people who’ve been medically disqualified find other opportunities to serve their country,” said Kaine. “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would encourage these individuals to enter alternative career pathways to support the defense industrial base and expand awareness of civilian defense roles for transitioning servicemembers. That’s a win-win for workers and our national security.”   
    As defense workforce shortages grow in crucial areas like manufacturing, cybersecurity, and defense logistics, the Defense Workforce Integration Act would activate a pool of candidates who are ineligible for military service to fill vacant positions that contribute to America’s national security.  
    For applicants who cannot join the military, the legislation directs DoD to enable military personnel managers to provide individuals that are medically disqualified with information about civilian employment opportunities in the following areas: the defense industrial base, cybersecurity, intelligence, research and development of defense technologies, national emergency and disaster preparedness and any other non-military role the Secretary of Defense considers in the national security interest. 
    For servicemembers disqualified early in their careers, the legislation expands on existing Air Force best practices by establishing Army and Navy personnel management programs to execute “warm hand-offs” to DoD civilian hiring authorities for personnel who become medically disqualified during their initial accession and training pipelines. 
    For personnel leaving the military after serving honorably, the legislation leverages existing Navy transition assistance programs to expand awareness of critical civilian roles at Military Sealift Command and workforce training programs for shipbuilders to enhance our civilian maritime workforce. 
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Statement on Trump Administration’s Plan to Rescind Biden AI Diffusion Rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    May 7, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statement after it was announced that the Trump administration plans to rescind the Biden administration’s AI Diffusion rule (AIDR):
    “I am pleased to hear that the Trump administration plans to rescind Biden’s AI Diffusion rule. I look forward to working with the administration to propose a new rule that grows America’s AI leadership and promotes partnership with our friends and allies. We must prevent Communist China from capturing the world market and taking the lead on this technology. We must also make America the world capital of AI.”
    Ricketts recently led a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the need to withdraw this rule before the May 15th compliance deadline.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Gallego Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Home Appraisal Process

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced their bipartisan Appraisal Industry Improvement Act to improve access to housing in rural communities. This legislation comes as rural housing markets experience a shortage of trained appraisers and an aging appraiser workforce. Two thirds of appraisers are older than 51, while only 13% are younger than 35. These dynamics contribute to worker shortages, resulting in delays for appraisals and extending the homebuying process for purchasers and sellers. North Dakotans have experienced an average wait time of 21 days for home appraisals, while the national average is between six to nine days.
    To support the home appraisal workforce and speed up the appraisal process, the bill will add state credentialed trainee appraisers to the national Appraiser Registry run by the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council as well as add representation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service. It also allows ASC grants for state appraiser certification and licensing agencies to support education and training to address appraiser industry workforce needs. The legislation authorizes ASC to decrease annual registry fees if they determine the fees adversely impact functions and renews licensed residential appraisers’ ability to conduct appraisals on FHA properties. 
    “Housing markets, and especially rural markets like the ones we see across North Dakota, are negatively impacted by a shortage of trained appraisers,”said Cramer. “Our economy has a labor crunch and appraisers are no exception. Adding state-licensed appraisers to the national registry and supporting training and education efforts are solutions to speeding up the homebuying process. This bill improves access to the housing market without decreasing the quality of appraisals.”
    “Appraisals are a critical part of the home buying and selling process, but right now a shortage of licensed appraisers is delaying home purchases and raising costs for Arizonans, particularly in rural and tribal areas,” said Gallego. “As I work to ensure the dream of homeownership is within reach for every hardworking family, I’m proud to help introduce this commonsense, bipartisan bill to boost the appraisals workforce and improve service to underserved areas.”
    Click here for bill text. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Hassan Lead Legislation to Aid Victims of Identity Theft

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Download broadcast quality video HERE
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), a fellow Finance Committee member, reintroduced the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act to provide efficient help for Americans whose social security numbers have been stolen.
    “Millions of Americans suffer from identity theft each year, and Social Security numbers are a top target. Unfortunately, when a victim calls up the Social Security Administration, they can be jerked around from one contact to another, having to reexplain the situation each time. Our bill will help streamline the process by providing a victim of identity theft with a single point of contact at the agency, easing this frustrating and stressful process,” Grassley said.
    “Victims of identity theft whose Social Security numbers have been stolen shouldn’t have to deal with a cumbersome and frustrating process to get help from the Social Security Administration,” Hassan said. “This bipartisan legislation is an important way to ensure that Americans whose identities are stolen can access support through a streamlined process and a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration. This is one of the many common-sense proposals in Congress to combat waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds without making it harder for people to access their hard-earned benefits.”
    Background:
    Misuse of Social Security numbers is a large problem, and victims who are affected by identity theft face hurdles when trying to resolve issues with large, multi-office agencies such as the Social Security Administration (SSA).
    Currently, a victim may have to engage in multiple procedures and work with numerous representatives at SSA to resolve Social Security related identity-theft issues. The Grassley-Hassan Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act provides a single, focal point of contact at SSA to provide efficient resolution of an identity-theft victim’s issues.
    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.V.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Angus King (I-Maine), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.).
    The legislation has the endorsement of numerous groups, including: AARP, Social Security Works, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR).
    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
    Download broadcast quality video of Grassley discussing the legislation HERE.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Duckworth, Klobuchar Raise Privacy Concerns About New DOGE Scrutiny of Farmer Finances With USDA Loans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 07, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for more information about reports that farm loans and loan guarantees must be inspected and cleared by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees.
    “We write to express concern about a reported memorandum from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to require certain farm loans and loan guarantees to be cleared through Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees,” wrote the Senators.
    “In addition to raising privacy questions, this change could create delays in FSA loans for qualified borrowers,” the Senators continued. “At a time when financial uncertainty is rising for America’s families and farmers, creating more red tape for customers who often have no other options for credit could prevent farmers from getting crops in the ground, animals fed, or cause a beginning farmer to miss out on the purchase of their first parcel of land.”
    Along with Durbin, Duckworth, and Klobuchar, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
    The full letter is available here and below:
    May 6, 2025
    Dear Secretary Rollins, 
    We write to express concern about a reported memorandum from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to require certain farm loans and loan guarantees to be cleared through Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees. In addition to raising privacy questions, this change could create delays in FSA loans for qualified borrowers. At a time when financial uncertainty is rising for America’s families and farmers, creating more red tape for customers who often have no other options for credit could prevent farmers from getting crops in the ground, animals fed, or cause a beginning farmer to miss out on the purchase of their first parcel of land.  
    The April 29, 2025 memo reportedly requires that farm loans and loan guarantees exceeding $500,000 as well as any loans or guarantees to “formal entities” such as an LLC must be “reviewed and cleared” not only by the USDA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) but also by DOGE employees. Because most farming operations are structured as some type of entity, this requirement could impact a large number of loans and loan guarantees. 
    USDA’s Farm Service Agency has recently made improvements to farm loan program procedures to create more efficiency, cut red tape, and streamline application processes to ease the burden on farmers. The Agency has simplified the direct farm loan application to reduce paperwork from 29 pages to 13 pages and implemented a “fast track” expedited review process for farm loan applications. We are concerned this new review could undermine the improvements made by USDA to reduce delays for applicants. 
    We request answers to the following questions by May 13th, 2025. 
      Please provide a copy of the memo directing this new policy and any supporting guidance provided to USDA employees. 
    What is the purpose and the legal basis of this new layer of review? 
     What role, if any, will artificial intelligence systems play in this review? 
    If artificial intelligence systems are used for this review, what systems will be used, and what parameters or instructions will guide the process? 

    Please provide a description of the guardrails that are in place to ensure that any information shared with and used by DOGE will protect the privacy of loan recipients.  
    Please provide a detailed description of all specific farm loan categories the new review policy does or does not apply to.  
       What, if any, is the time limitation for the review? 
    Was any analysis performed about the effect on the applicants of the potential delay or denials as a result of this new policy, and if so, what was the conclusion? 
    The memorandum referenced an Executive Order covering “discretionary spending through Federal contracts, grants, loans, and related instruments” and was not specific to FSA farm loans.  
    Are there similar new procedures in place or being planned for other assistance to agricultural producers either through FSA farm programs or other agencies? If so, what are those procedures? If not, what makes farm loans trigger this review and not the other assistance to the same set of entities? 

      
    We look forward to working with you to ensure that our farmers and ranchers have access to the credit they need. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Requests Probe Into Justice Department Use Of Aircraft For Personal Or Political Purposes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 07, 2025
    Request for a GAO review comes amid public reporting of Kash Patel’s repeated travel on government aircraft that raises questions about proper reimbursement and oversight compliance
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today requested a review of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) use of government-owned aircraft by senior executives, in light of concerns about compliance with federal regulations that restrict nonmission-related travel and require reimbursement for personal or political use.
    In a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Durbin began by asserting his request, writing: “I write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) use of government-owned aircraft by senior executives.”
    Durbin continued by outlining policies and procedures for executive air travel, writing: “Multiple components within DOJ—including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and United States Marshals Service (USMS)—own, lease, and operate a fleet of aircraft primarily to support mission-critical DOJ operations such as counterterrorism, criminal surveillance, and interdiction of illicit drug trafficking. While use of government aircraft for nonmission-related needs is generally prohibited by federal regulations, such aircraft can be made available regardless of the trip’s purpose for ‘required use travel,’ which is travel that ‘requires use of a [g]overnment aircraft to meet bona fide communications needs (e.g., 24-hour secure communications), security requirements (e.g., highly unusual circumstances that present a clear and present danger), or exceptional scheduling requirements… of an executive agency.’ The President has typically designated two executives within DOJ as ‘required use’ travelers—the Attorney General and the FBI Director—due to their need for special protective security measures and secure communications while in flight. However, federal guidance requires that such travelers reimburse the government for any travel that is for political or personal reasons.”
    Durbin then cited recent reporting that FBI Director Kash Patel’s recent travel raises compliance questions, writing: “Some of these flights appear to coincide with official business,  but it is not clear whether all travel was mission-related or personal in nature. Nonetheless, this reporting underscores the need for clarity on whether DOJ executives—including the FBI Director—are complying with applicable regulations and reimbursement requirements for nonmission-related travel and whether DOJ has sufficient internal controls to track and enforce those obligations.”
    Durbin concluded with a request to update its 2013 report into the matter, writing: “Given these developments, I request that GAO review the circumstances in which DOJ aircraft are being used to transport executives for nonmission purposes, including the costs of these flights… This review is critical to ensuring the appropriate use of taxpayer resources and maintaining public trust in DOJ’s operations and use of taxpayer dollars.”
    For a PDF of the letter to GAO, click here.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Urges DOJ to ‘Reconsider’ Stance in Missouri Mifepristone Case

    US Senate News:

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

    Today, Senator Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Justice Department to reconsider its defense of the Biden Administration’s policy on mifepristone, which allows women to receive the abortion drug with virtually no safeguards. The case is currently pending before a federal district court. 

    A bombshell new study found that more than 1 in 10 women who use mifepristone experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, an emergency room visit, or another serious adverse event within 45 days. The report exposes just how essential reestablishing these guardrails are for women’s health. 

    “While the grounds for dismissal sought are mostly procedural in nature, I am troubled by the fact that the Justice Department has sided with the Biden administration’s position, especially considering new data showing the harms of chemical abortion for women,” Hawley wrote. “I urge you to reconsider.”

    Senator Hawley recently published an op-ed about the health risks of mifepristone and called on the Trump administration to restore the safety regulations on mifepristone without delay. 

    Read the letter here or below.  

    May 7, 2025

    The Honorable Pam Bondi Attorney General
    U.S. Department of Justice 
    950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
    Washington DC 20530

    Attorney General Bondi:

    Yesterday, your department sought the dismissal of three intervenor state plaintiffs—led by my home state of Missouri—in abortion drug litigation pending before a federal district court. While the grounds for dismissal sought are mostly procedural in nature, I am troubled by the fact that the Justice Department has sided with the Biden administration’s position, especially considering new data showing the harms of chemical abortion for women. I urge you to reconsider.

    Missouri, joined by Idaho and Kansas, is seeking to restore safeguards for the chemical abortion drug, mifepristone, that the Biden administration eliminated. The states have argued their interest in protecting their citizens against the adverse health consequences of the drug—a point which was recently underscored by a landmark new study of mifepristone. That study found that more than 1 in 10 women who use mifepristone experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, an emergency room visit, or another serious adverse event within 45 days. This rate is far greater than the rate reported on the FDA-approved drug label for mifepristone. Despite these severe safety risks, the Biden administration allowed mifepristone to be delivered via mail and without any medical supervision whatsoever. Missouri’s litigation aims to reverse that policy and protect women.

    The Biden administration’s mail-order abortion policy poses a grave threat to the health and safety of American women. I strongly urge you to reconsider the Justice Department’s defense of this policy in court.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    Josh Hawley
    United States Senator

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Ricketts, Coons Lead Tabletop Exercise on Hypothetical Chinese Energy Quarantine Against Taiwan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, organized a tabletop exercise with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and other senators. The two-hour exercise tasked the participating senators with responding to a simulated Chinese campaign designed to strangle Taiwan’s energy imports. The exercise was led by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). FDD plans to convene a follow-on simulation this summer in Taipei with Taiwanese officials, including members of Taiwan’s National Security Council. After the exercise completed, Senator Ricketts gave the following comments:
    “This exercise reflected the real risk that a Chinese energy quarantine presents to Taiwan,” said Ricketts. “Beijing would like nothing more than to force unification without war. However, Congress can play a decisive role in supporting our Taiwanese partners while also complicating Xi Jinping’s plans to coerce Taiwan into capitulation.”
    Senate Foreign Relations Committee East Asia Subcommittee’s Tabletop exercise in Washington, DC on May 6, 2025. (Official U.S. Senate photo by Erin Sutherland)Ricketts also underscored the threat posed by Communist China’s dictator Xi Jinping, who has signaled his military to be ready to seize Taiwan by 2027.
    “We seek peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” said Ricketts. “Increasing aggression from Communist China continues to threaten this long-standing status quo. Simulations and exercises like the one we did today are important for understanding the real-world impact of policy decisions. By working through potential actions by Communist China and planning an American response, we can take the steps necessary to deter this aggression.”
    “As Senator Ricketts and I saw on our travel to East Asia last month, Taiwan plays a central role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of Chinese aggression,” said Senator Coons. “This exercise made clear the sheer number of tools China has at its disposal to threaten Taiwan and the many steps the United States and our partners and allies should take to prepare. It also demonstrated that Congress will have a clear role to play in shaping our nation’s response to any crisis in the Indo-Pacific region. Unified, bipartisan support for Taiwan in Congress is more important today than ever before.”
    BACKGROUND
    Last month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Taiwan and the Philippines with Senators Coons and Ted Budd (R-NC). During the trip, the three senators met with senior Taiwanese officials including President Lai and Vice President Hsaio.
    This tabletop exercise continues the work that Senators Ricketts and Coons are doing as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia Subcommittee to foster bipartisan agreement around the island of Taiwan.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Colleagues Celebrate Small Businesses During Small Business Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and 81 Senate colleagues in cosponsoring a resolution declaring the week of May 5th as “National Small Business Week.” The measure recognizes the entrepreneurs and innovators that promote growth and create jobs across America. 
    “Small businesses are the heart and soul of the American economy,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Alabama is proud to be home to more than 420,000 small businesses that feed our families and fuel our economy. As a former small business owner, I know firsthand the tremendous challenges that our small business owners face every day. By cutting red tape and lowering taxes, President Trump was a champion for small businesses during his first term. Congress should work with President Trump to help him usher in the golden age of the American small business economy.”
    “Main Street is roaring back under President Trump’s pro-growth policies that are ushering in a Golden Age,” said Sen. Ernst. “This week, we celebrate the small businesses that mean so much more than the livelihoods they support and the jobs they create. These shops embody the American spirit and shape the culture of big cities and rural communities across America. I’m proud to recognize these entrepreneurs’ tremendous contributions and will continue to fight to ensure that they have a champion in Washington.”
    Read full text of the resolution here.
    BACKGROUND:
    Alabama boasts 422,586 small businesses, which account for more than 99% of Alabama’s businesses and nearly half of the workforce in the state.
    Sen. Tuberville has championed small businesses during his entire tenure in Congress. Earlier this year he reintroduced the Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act, which would overturn the disastrous Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and protect small businesses. He also joined his colleagues in reintroducing the Main Street Certainty Act to make the 2017 Trump-era 20% pass-through business tax deductions permanent.
    MORE:
    ICYMI: Tuberville Joins “Kudlow” on Fox Business to Discuss Trump Trial, Legislation to Protect Small Businesses
    The Corporate Transparency Act Means Jail Time For Small Business Owners
    Congress needs to save small businesses from Big Brother
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Sen. Markey, Rep. Summer Lee, Lawyers for Good Government Host Roundtable Discussion on EPA’s Termination of Environmental Justice Grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (May 7, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Representative Summer Lee (PA-12), and Lawyers for Good Government on Monday hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on the Trump administration’s damaging cuts to environmental justice funding and staff. Roundtable speakers included environmental justice advocates, Massachusetts recipients of environmental justice grants, as well as strategists and legal advocates, who all shared how the Trump administration’s attacks have directly affected frontline and fenceline communities crushed by generations of underinvestment and disproportionate exposure to pollution. This roundtable comes on the heels of news the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will cancel nearly 800 grants, including all of the agency’s environmental justice grants administered under the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, to skirt a recent preliminary injunction that ordered the agency to unfreeze environmental justice funds.
    “The Trump administration revoking federal dollars from community-based groups working hard to clean up the air, water, and land where they live, work, and play is yet another injustice in a long line of unjust policies that deemed certain neighborhoods undeserving of equal environmental protection,” said Senator Markey. “I am inspired by the environmental justice grant recipients who, rather than despair and give in to defeat, joined us and courageously shared their stories of the harm, chaos, and uncertainty that the Trump administration has inflicted by undercutting environmental justice at every turn and every level. Their testimony shone a spotlight on Trump’s shameful abandonment of overburdened communities, and reminds us that strengthening our solidarity, growing coalitions, sharing our stories, and charting paths forward together are powerful antidotes.”
    “What we’re witnessing with the Trump administration’s reckless and targeted cuts to environmental justice funding is nothing short of cruel and deliberate. These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet — these are real people, real families, and real communities being told they don’t matter. In places like Western Pennsylvania, we’ve already seen the human cost: frontline organizations shut down, clean air initiatives stalled, job training frozen, and our most vulnerable neighbors left without the tools they need to protect their health and their futures. These cuts are an attack on our kids, our workers, our elders, and on basic human dignity, and we will continue working to stop them,” said Representative Summer Lee.
    “Thank you to Senator Markey, Representative Lee, and the many environmental advocates and grantees for their leadership and courage in fighting back against these unlawful attacks on climate and environmental justice funding,” said Jillian Blanchard, Vice President of the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program at Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG). “At L4GG, we’re proud to be helping grantees assert their legal rights, navigate this confusing landscape, and push back against these attacks through our Fund Protection Clinic. We know the law is on our side, and we have already won significant victories in the courts to block these unjust terminations. We will continue to fight for impacted communities until these critical funds are fully restored and every grantee is able to do the work Congress intended—building a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable future, for all.”
    “I deeply appreciate Senator Ed Markey and team continuing to fight for these federal dollars that we earned as city. My administration has worked very hard to knock down the Asthma rates here in Springfield, but there is much more work to be done to keep all our residents safe, whether young or old, to properly deal with an Asthma affliction. This funding would help prevent future generations from getting it too. I am so proud of my city team, along with our partners, for their work to apply for and receive this significant EPA grant award. This multifaceted funding was to bring tangible health benefits to our community, including improved indoor and outdoor air quality and reduced emissions. We will continue to fight for these vitally important air quality and asthma reduction programs. We will also work closely with MA Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell as she leads the charge to challenge this funding termination through legal channels,” said Springfield, Massachusetts Mayor Domenic J. Sarno,
    “At the time of this unconstitutional and unlawful termination, the Environmental Justice for New England program was poised to invest in sustainable, community-driven environmental justice projects, countering historical disinvestment in rural, urban and Tribal communities across the region. We received almost 400 applications for our first round of funding, proposing activities that address critical environmental harms and which would create jobs, boost energy independence, and reduce pollution exposure. We are outraged,” said Ben Wood, Senior Director of Policy and Practice at Health Resources in Action.
    “As Boston summers continue to break historic heat records, extreme heat has become, and will continue to be, a significant threat to the health, safety, and livelihoods of people across our region. Through our Heat and Health project the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was proud to be working with residents, community partners, and local government to develop shared solutions to the rising dangers of extreme heat in our communities. It’s not dramatic to say that losing this funding source will negatively impact the health and well-being of our local residents–this summer and for many summers after. Despite this loss of funding–MyRWA is committed to delivering community-driven, science-based solutions to ensure that everyone and everything who calls our watershed home can enjoy clean water, air, and land,” said Mariangeli Echevarria-Ramos, Climate and Social Resilience Manager at the Mystic River Watershed Association.
    “Thank you to Senator Markey and all the co-hosts of the roundtable for creating space for this urgent conversation on the heels of alarming news that the EPA plans to cancel almost 800 environmental justice grants. These aren’t just numbers. These are real losses—for residents breathing polluted air, for communities threatened by flooding, and for young people trying to imagine a future in clean energy. Without access to these funds, we cannot support grassroots organizations, assist residents in navigating regulatory processes, or expand job training programs in the green economy. These disruptions threaten progress in areas already disproportionately affected by climate change, and hinder our ability to complete the work our communities deserve,” said Sarah Baldwin, Senior Director of Operations at the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, member of the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform.
    The Trump administration began halting environmental justice funding in January. Since then, funding recipients have been blindsided by termination notices or cut off from accessing their funds without notice—and, in some cases, grantees are expected to continue projects without assurance that they will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs. Adding to the chaos and uncertainty, Trump administration furloughs and layoffs of Environmental Protection Agency staff have also created additional barriers for environmental justice grant recipients when their point of contact is not able to respond with answers on the status of their funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Pressley, McGovern Applaud Second Circuit Decision Ordering Rümeysa Öztürk’s Transfer to Vermont

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Lawmakers met with Öztürk at Louisiana ICE facility where she has been illegally detained since March
    Washington (May 7, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Jim McGovern (MA-02) released the following statement after the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit directed the Trump administration to comply with a lower court order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk from ICE custody in Louisiana to Vermont. The court ordered the government to move Ms. Öztürk within one week. On March 25, 2025, Ms. Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, was abducted by six plainclothes ICE agents off the streets of Somerville, Massachusetts. She was quickly moved across state lines and shipped more than 1,500 miles away from her community to a detention facility in Louisiana. 
    “We applaud the Second Circuit for rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to delay complying with the district court’s order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk from Louisiana to Vermont, where she will be closer to her community and to her legal counsel. Rümeysa should never have been abducted and transferred thousands of miles away to begin with. She is being unlawfully detained for writing an op-ed in her school newspaper and has not been charged with a single crime. Last month, we visited Rümeysa in detention in Louisiana, where she faces intolerable conditions and has suffered multiple asthma attacks. Rümeysa’s case is part of an alarming trend by the Trump administration to trample individuals’ constitutional rights to due process and free speech. Rümeysa must be released and have her visa restored immediately, and we will continue to ring the alarm loudly until that is the case.”
    On April 22, Senator Markey and Representatives Pressley and McGovern, along with Representative Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of House Committee on Homeland Security, and Representative Troy Carter (LA-02), visited the Louisiana ICE facility where Rümeysa Öztürk was being held. Also on April 22, Senator Markey, Representative Pressley, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons to demand answers about the Trump administration’s concerning practice of detaining individuals, such as Öztürk, far from their attorneys and communities and in legal environments where their rights are more difficult to defend. The Trump administration is forum shopping to obtain a legal outcome favorable to its deportation agenda.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Fetterman, Lankford, Gallego Introduce SHIELD Against CCP Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the SHIELD Against CCP Act, which would create a dedicated working group at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP):
    “To effectively counter China, the U.S. must target them from all angles and through all agencies,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This widely supported, commonsense legislation would allow the Department of Homeland Security to arm itself with the tools to protect our sovereignty against the CCP’s malign influence.”
    “The CCP controls everything that happens in China and they will cheat, steal, and poison our communities if it helps them get ahead. They supply the chemicals behind the fentanyl claiming Pennsylvanian lives, rig our immigration rules, and rip off ideas from American companies. Enough is enough,” said Sen. Fetterman. “I’m teaming up with Senators Cornyn, Gallego, and Lankford on the SHIELD Against CCP Act to make sure DHS has the muscle to punch back and keep our people safe.”
    “The Chinese Communist Party threatens our sovereignty—whether it’s flooding our border with illegal immigrants, launching cyberattacks, or pushing deadly fentanyl into our communities,” said Sen. Lankford. “The SHIELD Against CCP Act provides the Department of Homeland Security with the necessary tools to address these challenges directly, safeguard our borders, and protect the American people.”
    “Fentanyl has devastated communities across Arizona for too long, and we need to use every tool available to stop the flow of this deadly drug into our country,” said Sen. Gallego. “This bipartisan bill will help DHS understand how the Chinese Communist Party is exploiting our border and fueling fentanyl trafficking, so we can close those gaps and keep our communities safe.”
    Companion legislation, led by Congressmen Dale Strong (AL-05) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03), overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives 409-4.
    Background:
    The SHIELD Against CCP Act would establish a working group within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to:
    Examine, assess, and report on efforts by DHS to counter terrorist, cybersecurity, border and port security, and transportation security threats posed to the U.S. by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including:
    Exploitation of the U.S. immigration system through identify theft, visa processes, unlawful border crossings, human smuggling, and human trafficking;
    Predatory economic and trade practices, including trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods, use of forced labor, customs fraud, and IP theft;
    Direct or indirect support of Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) trafficking fentanyl, illicit drug precursors, and other controlled substances through the US border, international mail shipments, or express consignment operations;
    And support for illicit financial activity by Chinese Money Laundering Organizations.

    Review information gathered by federal, state, and local law enforcement relating to threats, and disseminate such information to relevant authorities;
    Submit an annual report on its activities to the Homeland Security, Finance, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, and Banking Committees;
    And sunset seven years post-establishment.
    The bill would also require DHS Science and Technology Directorate to research technologies and techniques to enhance DHS’s security and situational awareness related to countering threats posed to the U.S. by the CCP.
    The SHIELD Against CCP Act is endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), National Border Patrol Council, National Fusion Center Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, and National HIDTA Director’s Association (NHDA).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins Senator Britt in Introducing MOMS Act to Support Women, Strengthen Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), and Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) in introducing the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act. This legislation would improve access to critical resources during the toughest phases of motherhood, including the prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood development stages.
    In 2023, the number of U.S. births was the lowest since 1979, and the total fertility rate in America hit an all-time low. Last year, fertility and birth rates remained near record lows, reflecting a continued, concerning trend in America.
    “As a former OB-GYN who spent over 25 years caring for thousands of women and delivering over 5,000 babies, I understand firsthand the importance of supporting mothers throughout their pregnancy and into motherhood,” said Senator Marshall. “The MOMS Act is critical legislation to ensure we are providing countless women in America the resources they need. I am proud to stand beside Senator Britt in sponsoring this much-needed, pro-family legislation.”
    “The Republican Party is the party of life, the party of parents, and the party of families. At the heart of the MOMS Act is building a comprehensive culture of life to give moms, children, and families the support system they need to thrive and live their American Dream,” said Senator Britt. “As a mom myself, I don’t have to wonder what other moms are facing – I’m living it. I know firsthand that there is no greater blessing in life than our children and I also understand the types of challenges that women face during their pregnancy journeys and while raising their kids. I’m proud to support women throughout these seasons of motherhood, and the MOMS Act is part of my continued commitment to fight on their behalf.”
    The legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia) and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana).
    This legislation is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, March for Life Action, the National Right to Life Committee, Students for Life Action, Concerned Women of America, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and the Human Coalition.
    The full text of the bill can be viewed here. 
    Background:
    The MOMS Act would establish a website of resources, Pregnancy.gov, for expecting and postpartum moms, as well as those with young children, which will increase access to adoption agencies, pregnancy resource centers, and other relevant public and private resources available to pregnant women near their zip code and surrounding areas.
    These relevant resources include health and well-being services; financial assistance; and material and legal support. HHS would also be required to include and maintain a national list of federal funding opportunities available to non-profit and healthcare entities for pregnancy support.
    The legislation would also improve access to pre and post-natal resources and would establish a grant program for non-profit entities to support, encourage, and assist women in carrying their pregnancies to term and to care for their babies after birth. 
    It would also institute a grant program to purchase necessary medical equipment and technology in rural areas and other medically underserved areas to support pre-natal and post-natal telehealth appointments.
    The MOMS Act also includes Senator Cramer’s Unborn Child Support Act to allow states to apply child support obligations to the time during pregnancy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst’s “Made in America” Bill Earns Support of Iowans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams’ (R-Texas) newly unveiled initiative to continue the domestic manufacturing explosion happening under President Trump has earned widespread praise.
    Business leaders in Iowa and across the country have applauded the bipartisan Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act that doubles the loan limit for Small Business Administration (SBA) manufacturing loans to bring back “Made in America.”
    What They Are Saying About the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act:
    Iowa Association of Business and Industry
    “Iowa’s manufacturers are ready to grow, invest, and lead in the future of American manufacturing – but access to capital is critical,” said Nicole Crain, President. “The Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act is a commonsense solution that will empower small manufacturers to invest in the tools, technology, and facilities they need to compete globally. ABI applauds Senator Ernst and Chairman Williams for their leadership and commitment to strengthening U.S. manufacturing.”
    Iowa Bankers Association
    “The Iowa Bankers Association thanks Senator Joni Ernst for her leadership in proposing the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act,” said Adam Gregg, President. “Bank leaders in Iowa have advocated for increasing the loan limits in these SBA programs with the goal of driving more investment in communities across the state of Iowa.  Manufacturing is an important piece of Iowa’s economy, and Iowa banks are proud partners in helping small businesses grow and expand.  This proposed legislation will make the work of our Iowa banks even more impactful.”
    Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
    “Manufacturing is a cornerstone of our region’s economic vitality,” said Barbra Solberg. “By increasing access to capital for small manufacturers, the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act empowers businesses to expand, innovate and compete globally—while reinforcing our domestic supply chains. We commend Senator Ernst for her leadership as Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee and her commitment to addressing the financial needs of small manufacturers in today’s economy.”
    Greater Burlington Partnership
    “Increasing loan limits for small manufacturers strengthens the backbone of our local economy,” said Amy O’Brien, CEO. “This bipartisan effort will give more Iowa businesses the tools they need to expand operations, invest in new technology, and create quality jobs right here at home. As the cost of doing business continues to rise, we support the recommended increases in borrowing to accommodate our manufacturing businesses.”
    Job Creators Network
    “Senate Small Business Committee Chair Joni Ernst and House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams are standing up for American small businesses by introducing the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act,” said Alfredo Ortiz, CEO. “This legislation significantly expands access to credit for American manufacturers under the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) and 504 loan programs, providing American manufacturers with the funds they need to invest, expand, and create good manufacturing jobs. This legislation is especially important during this period of high interest rates and scarce access to capital. It will significantly help grow the productive economy and contribute to President Trump’s goal of reshoring critical manufacturing capacity. All legislators on both sides of the aisle should vigorously support it.”
    Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
    “Increasing the SBA’s 7(a) and 504 loan program limits to $10 million for small manufacturers is a pragmatic reform that will provide entrepreneurs with a modernized level of resources needed to build, transform, or expand manufacturing facilities and capabilities in support of advanced U.S.-based manufacturing,” said Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO. “Small, entrepreneurial firms dominate U.S. manufacturing, and if our goal is to support their competitiveness, growth and innovative capacity, access to appropriate levels of capital is necessary. Leveling up these proven SBA loan programs will help to fuel manufacturing activity and innovation, which is so vital to U.S. economic growth, opportunity, and our global competitiveness. SBE Council strongly supports the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act.”
    National Small Business Association
    “While the demand for broader access to capital is generalized across the entire small business ecosystem, capital-intensive industries, including manufacturing, face unique challenges,” said Todd McCracken, President & CEO. “Initial investments in these industries, as well as long term development costs and diversification are appreciably more capital intensive than other businesses, as even a small change could result in significant retooling and related costs. Commonsense changes to existing federal support programs for small manufacturers would go a long way to leveling the playing field and allowing American entrepreneurs to invest in the United States. That is why we are pleased to support the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act of 2025, which would increase the maximum loans small manufacturing companies are eligible for under the existing 7(a) and 504 loan programs.”
    National Association of Development Companies
    “The time is now to increase the 504 manufacturing loan size and foster expansion opportunities for our nation’s small manufacturers,” said Rhonda Pointon, President & CEO. “The National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) and CDCs across the country strongly support the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act (MAMFA). This legislation would raise the 504 manufacturing loan limit to $10 million – empowering small manufacturers to scale, strengthen domestic production, and create high-quality jobs.”
    National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders
    “Often, manufacturers need large facilities and/or specialty equipment that can exceed the current SBA loan size limitations,” said Anthony Wilkinson, President & CEO. “Therefore, especially since it has been 15 years since the 7(a) Program maximum loan size was increased to $5 million, we believe that it would be appropriate to consider increasing that maximum to $10 million for loans to small business manufacturers as proposed in your legislation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst, Grassley to Host Service Academy Virtual Information Nights

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Published: May 7, 2025

    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced their offices will hold two United States Service Academy Virtual Informational Nights on Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 13 from 6 – 8p.m. CT for Iowa students interested in applying to one of our nation’s military academies. Every year, Ernst and Grassley each nominate 15 students to the academies.
    Representatives from all five service academies will be available to answer questions about the application and nomination process. The Monday session will be attended by representatives from the Air Force and Naval Academies. The Tuesday session will be attended by representatives from the Merchant Marine Academy, the Military Academy at West Point, and the Coast Guard Academy.
    The senators will not be in attendance at the meetings.
    Attendees must RSVP to receive meeting information. To contact Senator Ernst’s office, please email Brenda_Safranski@ernst.senate.gov or call (515) 284-4574. To contact Senator Grassley’s office, please email academy_nominations@grassley.senate.gov or call (515) 288-1145.
    Each year, Ernst and Grassley nominate current and future Iowa high school graduates for a limited number of academy positions. Click here to view the academy nomination application. Oct. 24, 2025, is the deadline to apply for a nomination for academy admission in the fall of 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton to Gabbard: Do Not Assist German Surveillance of Political Opposition

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353May 7, 2025
    Cotton to Gabbard: Do Not Assist German Surveillance of Political Opposition
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence requesting a pause on all intelligence sharing with Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BvF, that could be used to target political opponents. This letter comes after the BvF’s recent classification of German opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a “proven right-wing extremist organization.”
    In part, Senator Cotton wrote: 
    “I understand that liberal elites on both sides of the Atlantic loathe the AfD, but AfD’s platform has resonated with many Germans. Unsurprisingly so, since an agenda of strong borders, energy independence, and economic growth has appealed to our own electorate and may other Western democracies. Rather than trying to undermine the AfD using the tools of authoritarian states, Germany’s incoming government might be better advised to consider why the AfD continues to gain electoral ground and how German’s government can address the reasonable concerns of its citizens.”
    Full text of the letter may be found here and below. 
    The Honorable Tulsi Gabbard
    Director of National Intelligence 
    1500 Tysons McLean Drive 
    McLean, VA 22102
    Dear Director Gabbard:
    In support of the Trump administration’s goals to prevent the weaponization of our nation’s intelligence agencies, I urge you to ensure that foreign intelligence collected by those agencies isn’t shared with the German government to be used against its political opposition.
    On May 2, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) classified the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party as a “proven right-wing extremist organization.” Under German law, this decision allows BfV to intensify surveillance on AfD through signals collection and the use of undercover informants to support a potential party ban. In other words, German intelligence can now eavesdrop, monitor, and infiltrate Germany’s main opposition party and its second largest vote-getter in the recent elections. One would expect such police-state activities in dictatorships like Communist China and Russia—not Western Europe’s largest country. 
    I understand that liberal elites on both sides of the Atlantic loathe the AfD, but AfD’s platform has resonated with many Germans. Unsurprisingly so, since an agenda of strong borders, energy independence, and economic growth has appealed to our own electorate and may other Western democracies. Rather than trying to undermine the AfD using the tools of authoritarian states, Germany’s incoming government might be better advised to consider why the AfD continues to gain electoral ground and how the German government can address the reasonable concerns of its citizens. 
    Until the German government treats the AfD as a legitimate opposition party and not as a “right-wing extremist organization,” I ask that you direct our intelligence agencies to take the follow actions:
    Pause the sharing of intelligence with BfV that could be used to target the AfD,
    Refuse requests of assistance from the BfV to surveil AfD and its members, and
    Review whether our intelligence agencies under the Biden administration cooperated with German requests to surveil the AfD or other opposition parties and notify the Senate of the findings of the review.
    Sincerely,
    Tom Cotton
    Chairman

    MIL OSI USA News –