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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Fix Our Forests Act Gets Committee Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) applauded the continued progress of their Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, as it received a legislative hearing this afternoon in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The bipartisan legislation would help combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive.
    The comprehensive Senate bill reflects months of bipartisan Senate negotiations to find consensus on how to best improve forest management practices, accelerate processes to protect communities, advance watershed restoration, and strengthen partnerships between federal agencies, states, tribes, and private stakeholders. The Senate version of the bill would also bolster coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center, which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.
    A one-pager on the Senate Fix Our Forests Act is available here. A list of provisions particularly impactful for California is available here.
    “The status quo around wildfires isn’t working. To protect our communities from these disasters, we have to work together across the aisle to reassess how we prevent and mitigate wildfires,” said Senator Padilla. “Our Fix Our Forests Act represents important bipartisan progress, not just in reducing wildfire risk in and around our national forests, but in protecting urban areas and our efforts to slash climate emissions. I am glad to see the bill continue to move through the Senate and will keep fighting to advance forward-thinking, practical solutions to the wildfire crisis because if we can help prevent even one more community from the devastation California has experienced, it’ll be worth it.”
    “Utah and the American West are on the front lines of raging wildfires—and the longer we wait, the more acres will burn, and the more families will be impacted,” said Senator Curtis. “I’m encouraged to see our Fix Our Forests Act receive a hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee today. Our legislation reflects months of consensus-building, and I’m confident that spirit will continue as the bill is considered by the Committee and, later, by the full Senate.”
    “The wildfire crisis is here – and climate change is making it worse,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill matches the urgency to protect our communities and the environment. We’re glad the committee is moving fast – this crisis won’t wait.”
    “As we work to create more good-paying jobs and support those on the frontlines protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire, better stewarding our forests is something we can all agree on, regardless of party. The Fix Our Forests Act is a bipartisan, commonsense solution that helps secure a stronger economy, more resilient, healthy forests, and safer communities,” said Senator Sheehy.
    The American West has long been prone to wildfires, but prolonged drought and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic — growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231 percent increase.
    California averages more than 7,500 wildfires a year. Not including the recent Los Angeles fires, six of the top 10 most destructive fires, three of the top five deadliest fires, and all of the state’s nine largest fires have burned since 2017. The status quo is simply unsustainable, and responding to the scale and magnitude of the crisis on the ground is essential to keeping California communities safe.
    Additionally, wildfires release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change. California’s 2020 fire season, the worst on record, emitted enough greenhouse gases to erase nearly two decades of progress on emissions reductions in California. Addressing this wildfire emergency is critical to ensuring that our climate progress is not undermined by the devastating impacts of these fires.
    The Western Governors’ Association recently expressed their strong support of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act:
    “Western Governors have long supported several policies which are included in the Fix Our Forests Act. Shared Stewardship, prescribed fire, and other management strategies addressed in the bill are imperative to the health and resilience of forests as well as the communities that live among them. Western Governors and the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) applaud the bipartisan efforts of U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to address these issues of critical import to the west. WGA encourages swift consideration of this important piece of legislation in the Senate, and then the House, and looks forward assisting with its eventual implementation.”
    Last month, Senators Padilla, Curtis, Hickenlooper, and Sheehy announced growing support from state and local government officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders for the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act. Padilla also recently joined federal and state emergency officials for a tour of the Pacific Palisades fire recovery area led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he highlighted the importance of passing the bipartisan bill.
    In the aftermath of the devastating Southern California fires, Senator Padilla has introduced more than 10 bills to help prevent and respond to future disasters. In February, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, the Wildfire Emergency Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. In January, Padilla introduced another suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience, including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, the Fire Suppression and Response Funding Assurance Act, and the Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act. Additionally, last month, he introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore the FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.
    More information on today’s hearing is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy introduces bill to lower health care costs for patients, taxpayers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today introduced the Same Care, Lower Cost Act. The bill would fix a part of Medicare’s billing structure that allows hospital systems to charge patients for outpatient care at more expensive hospital rates—even when the medical procedures could be done safely at non-hospital settings.
    “Patients should only pay for the care they receive, not for the sign on the door or where they get treated. My Same Care, Lower Cost Act is a common-sense reform that expands patients’ health care options, creates greater transparency and reduces taxpayer burden,” said Kennedy. 
    This unfair billing practice occurs due to a provision in the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act. That law established “site-neutral” payments under Medicare, but only for certain newly-constructed facilities. This left most hospitals exempt from the policy. The Same Care, Lower Cost Act would close that loophole, cutting health care costs for many patients.
    In a June 2023 report, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommended that 66 Medicare billing codes, also known as ambulatory payment classifications (APCs), be made eligible for site-neutral payment reform.
    The Same Care, Lower Cost Act would:
    Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to finally make the 66 APCs identified in MedPAC’s report eligible for site-neutral payments.
    Give the Secretary the authority to add additional APCs for site neutrality consideration.
    According to the Congressional Budget Office, implementing site-neutral payments for hospital outpatient departments could save the Medicare program and taxpayers roughly $157 billion over 10 years.
    Some estimates also suggest that this reform could save Medicare recipients anywhere from $94 to $134 billion in lower premiums and cost sharing over 10 years. 
    Better Solutions for Healthcare, AMAC Action, Free2Care, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Americans for Prosperity, the Libre Initiative and Concerned Veterans for America support the bill.
    “High healthcare costs driven by dishonest hospital billing practices leave patients and employers with unsustainable financial burden. This legislation would put a check and balance on hospital pricing, and its introduction reflects the American public’s concern with how corporate hospital systems conduct business,” said Connie Partoyan, Executive Director, Better Solutions for Healthcare.
    “The Same Care, Lower Cost Act equalizes Medicare payment rates across health care provider locations which would result in significant savings for the Medicare program. This legislation would also drive down wasteful spending within the program while reducing premiums, cost-sharing, and other out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare beneficiaries. AMAC Action has long advocated for site neutrality legislation to reduce health care costs for seniors and we are pleased to support this bill on behalf of AMAC’s 2-million-plus members,” said Andy Mangione, Senior Vice President, AMAC Action.
    “The Same Care, Lower Cost Act will usher in reduced Medicare spending, decreased cost-sharing for seniors, and greater transparency in healthcare pricing. For the patients we represent, this means lower premiums and fewer out-of-pocket surprises. For physicians, it means a more level playing field and greater independence from hospital system acquisition pressures driven by payment disparities, not clinical necessity,” said Josie Gallagher, Executive Director, Free2Care.
    “Site-neutral payments simply make sense. Medicare should pay the same price for the same service regardless of whether the service is provided in a physicians’ office or in a hospital outpatient department. We are happy to see a new site-neutral bill introduced by Senator Kennedy that would require the same rates at both on- and off-campus hospital outpatient departments. In a time of high and rising debt and deficits, it makes perfect sense to reduce deficits and save money for both taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries,” said Maya MacGuineas, President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
    “We applaud Senator Kennedy and his colleagues on introducing a sensible reform that will give patients more options and make health care more affordable, not just for seniors but for all Americans. For too long, Medicare’s archaic payment policies have enabled hospital corporations to get away with overcharging for care, an error that is fueling harmful local market consolidation and needlessly driving up costs for patients and taxpayers alike. This important legislation fixes a major flaw in our health care system, and our thousands of activists across the country will be working hard to enact it, this year,” said Dean Clancy, Senior Health Care Policy Advisor, Americans for Prosperity.
    “Site neutrality ensures patients are treated based on the care they receive, not where they receive it. For Latino families and other minorities, who often rely on community-based providers and outpatient centers, site neutrality means lower costs, more choices, and better access to care close to home,” said Sandra Benitez, Executive Director, The LIBRE Initiative.
    “Veterans, service members, and military families live all across our country, in settings from urban to deeply rural. Like our civilian neighbors, we deserve access to high quality, affordable health care of our choice. Site neutral payment reform for both TRICARE and VA community care providers would promote greater health care competition, expand treatment options and lower costs for taxpayers. In this way, Sen. Kennedy’s bill will enhance military and veterans’ health care, while creating a model the rest of America can emulate and expand access to quality affordable care for underserved patients everywhere,” said John Vick, Executive Director, Concerned Veterans for America.
    Full text of the Same Care, Lower Cost Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott, Wicker and Griffith Applaud the Rollback of Biden-Era EPA Rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) celebrated the passage of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the unnecessary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Rubber Tire Manufacturing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule in the Senate. 
    “I am happy we are one step closer to eliminating the Biden-era NESHAP rule driven by radical environmentalism that did nothing but hurt workers and businesses across the nation,” said Senator Scott. “Republican leadership continues to deliver for the American people by getting rid of government overreach and inefficiency and paving the way for productivity and prosperity.”
    “The Biden administration forced needless regulations on American tire manufactures and producers. Increasing the NESHAP standard puts an unnecessary financial and environmental burden on rubber manufacturing facilities. Reversing this decision will protect jobs and bring back the time-tested NESHAP rule, which has kept our environment clean and our communities safe,” said Senator Wicker.
    “House and Senate Republicans are acting decisively to repeal onerous regulations from the Biden EPA, like the rubber tire manufacturing rule, that do very little to serve public health. Like many of regulations issued during the waning days of the Biden-Harris Administration, the rubber tire manufacturing emission standard utilized questionable emissions data and pointed to negligible health benefits as justification for the rule. Thanks to strong conservative leaders in the Senate, like Senators Tim Scott and Roger Wicker, Congress is exercising its authority to undo this harmful Biden EPA measure and provide relief to America’s rubber tire manufacturers,” said Rep. Griffith.
    In addition to Senators Scott and Wicker, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).
    In the House of Representatives, additional cosponsors include Reps. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Bob Latta (R-Ohio), and Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). 
    Senator Scott delivered remarks on the Senate floor emphasizing that the rule would have resulted in increased CO2 emissions and forced rubber tire companies to pay millions of dollars per year.
    [embedded content]
    Click here to watch Senator Scott’s remarks.
    BACKGROUND
    The Rubber Tire Manufacturing source category is comprised of facilities that produce rubber components such as rubber compounds, tread, tire cords, and liners. The category is split into rubber processing, tire production, tire cord production, and puncture seal application subcategories.  
    In 2002, the original Rubber Tire Manufacturing NESHAP established emissions limits for the tire production, tire cord production, and puncture seal application subcategories.
    In 2020, a residual risk and technology review (RTR) found that the current NESHAP provided an ample margin of safety to protect public health and that the risk associated with air emissions from rubber tire manufacturing was acceptable. The RTR also clarified that emissions during startup, shutdown, and malfunction are subject to the NESHAP.
    The DC Court determined in Louisiana Environmental Action Network v. EPA that the agency should address unregulated emissions from a source category when the EPA conducts an eight-year technological review as required by the Clean Air Act.
    On November 16, 2023, the EPA proposed the emission standards to address unregulated hazardous air pollutants from the rubber processing subcategory pursuant to the decision in Louisiana Environmental Action Network.
    The EPA’s risk review found that the rule was not necessary to protect public health or the environment and could not quantify any public health benefits from the rule.
    To comply with the rule, tire manufacturers will have to install regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs), which will cause an increase in CO2 emissions. As a result, the EPA quantified public health disbenefits associated with the rule ranging from $2.7 million to $8.1 million per year, in addition to $13.3 million per year in compliance costs.
    Full text of the resolution can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump HHS Nominee Dodges Cantwell Questions on Admin’s Proposed $18B in Medical Research Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.06.25
    Trump HHS Nominee Dodges Cantwell Questions on Admin’s Proposed $18B in Medical Research Cuts
    During his Finance Committee hearing, James O’Neill pleads ignorance when asked about Trump’s massive budget cut proposal for NIH: “I haven’t had a chance to review the details”; White House proposal released Friday would slash 40% of NIH research funding and “reform” its priorities to align with Trump
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, pressed James O’Neill – President Trump’s nominee to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — on the Trump administration’s latest budget proposal that would wipe out $18 billion from the National Institute of Health (NIH), the federal agency tasked with lifesaving medical research.
    “Mr. O’Neill, do you support the proposed $18 billion cuts to NIH funding?” asked Sen. Cantwell.
    O’Neill responded: “Senator, I had no involvement in the development of any proposed budgets. I think it’s important to pursue gold standard research, and anything we can do to improve NIH, ensure that it’s promoting gold standard research, ensuring that it’s funding research that replicates seems completely reasonable to me.”
    Sen. Cantwell: “You mean the proposed cuts seem reasonable because there’s some stuff we’re doing that isn’t gold standard?”
    O’Neill: “Senator, I believe the President’s proposal for NIH suggests combining some separate institutes of NIH into single institutes, where the functions belong together to reduce duplication.”
    Sen. Cantwell: “That would cut $18 billion?”
    O’Neill: “Senator, I haven’t had a chance to review the details that went into the budget. All I can say is I did not participate in that decision.”
    Sen. Cantwell: “Okay, well, I’m looking for a little bit of philosophy here. I come from a part of the world where we like innovation. We certainly like NIH investment in that because we look at it and say, ‘How are we going to reduce these unbelievable costs of a Baby Boomer population reaching retirement and having huge demand?’ So places like the University of Washington have done incredible work on Alzheimer’s research. So we’re going to strive to solve these huge health care costs by innovation, not by shortcutting innovation.”
    On Friday, President Trump released a budget proposal that would cut NIH research funding by $17.97 billion and “reform” the agency so that its remaining $27 billion for research aligns with his administration’s priorities. The budget also proposes more than $3.5 billion in cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    In Washington state, NIH funding supports over 12,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in economic activity.
    Last month, National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Sethuraman Panchanathan resigned after the White House directed the NSF to accept a 55% cut in funding – part of “a deliberate dismemberment of America’s innovation engine,” Sen. Cantwell said at the time.
    In February, Sen. Cantwell joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s decisions that threatened to undermine America’s life-saving biomedical research infrastructure, in violation of federal law. The letter followed her strong opposition to RFK Jr.’s nomination, which she articulated in a speech on the Senate floor:
    “Now we are at the possibility of the beginning of another crisis, the avian flu. This crisis is yet another reminder of the importance of medical research and collaboration,” Sen. Cantwell said in her February floor speech. “Does it make sense to cut science at the time we might have another pandemic? Does it make sense to continue to cut the collaborative efforts of research?”
    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s Q&A today is available HERE, audio HERE, and a full transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Joins Schumer & Colleagues To Call on GOP: Don’t Cut Medicaid

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.06.25
    Cantwell Joins Schumer & Colleagues To Call on GOP: Don’t Cut Medicaid
    Last week, Cantwell released a snapshot report showing how long-term care & nursing homes would be decimated by even a 5% cut
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, joined Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other colleagues for a press conference at the Capitol calling on Republican lawmakers to protect Medicaid funding.
    “We’re here today to say it’s time for the war on health care to stop,” Sen. Cantwell said. “President Trump’s cutting of NIH is causing great impacts to our health care system. President Trump’s tariffs are causing higher cost on prescription drugs. And the proposed budget that we still haven’t seen the details on  — $880 billion in Medicaid cuts — is going to cause a devastating impact to communities all across the United States.”
    In her remarks, Sen. Cantwell cited a letter sent by a coalition of Washington state hospital leaders and Republican elected officials opposing any cuts to Medicaid. The group included the CEOs of Skyline Health and Klickitat Valley Hospital, as well as multiple Republican members of the Washington state legislature, leaders of Klickitat County, and councilmembers of White Salmon and Goldendale.
    The letter emphasized that hospitals in rural areas are especially reliant on Medicaid, and any funding reductions would result in loss of services or even hospital closures.
    “The fact that in my state, five to seven hospitals could close as a result of that, and many other impacts on rural health care has caused a group of citizens to send a letter to my House colleagues urging them to oppose cuts to Medicaid rates, any adjustment to the Federal Medical Assistance Program, or direct Medicaid payment programs,” Sen. Cantwell continued.
    “Who are these people? Some of them are hospital CEOs. But guess who else they are? Republican state representatives, Republican county commissioners, city councilpeople from the communities, they all know this is the wrong idea. And they are not interested in a sneak attack by the Republicans of saying that they can successfully cut $880 billion and not have an impact on our communities.”
    Medicaid, also known as Apple Health in Washington state, pays for home-based long-term services and supports for 105,700 Washingtonians.  Last week, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that Medicaid cuts would have on Washington state’s highly-ranked long-term care system for seniors and people with disabilities. In February, she additionally released a snapshot report that demonstrated how cuts would harm health care access in Washington state, and followed up with a report in March that dove into impacts on the Puget Sound region.
    Highlights of those snapshot reports include:
    In Washington state, WA-04 (Central Washington) and WA-05 (Eastern Washington) have the highest proportions of adults and total population on Medicaid (Apple Health). In District 4, 70% of children are on Medicaid.
    In the Puget Sound, children in Seattle’s blue-collar strongholds would feel the deepest pain from Medicaid cuts. More than half of children in Burien, SeaTac, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Renton, and Rainier Valley depend on Medicaid.
    In an exclusive new survey of 68 WA nursing homes, 67 of 68 would cut services if Medicaid were cut by 5% or more, and 65% would consider closing.
    In the coming weeks, Congressional Republicans are expected to release details of their plan to cut as much as $880 billion from Medicaid, the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities.
    READ MORE:
    Axios: GOP faces Medicaid conundrum with clock ticking
    Newsweek: Medicaid funding reduction suggested by Mehemet Oz
    Medicaid is a crucial support for WA’s long-term care system, paying for home care workers that help seniors and people with disabilities stay in their homes. When these patients need a level of care that only a nursing home can provide, Medicaid can reimburse nursing homes for that care.
    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks today are available HERE and a full transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER REVEALS: UNDER-THE-RADAR SECTION OF TRUMP’S BUDGET WOULD DECIMATE 5 NORTH COUNTRY AIRPORTS’ ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE FEDERAL FUNDING, RISKING THEM LOSING CRITICAL FLIGHTS THAT DRIVE THE LOCAL…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Last Week Trump Released Budget Proposal That Would Slash Funding For The Essential Air Service Program By A Whopping 50%, Which Is The Main Federal Funding That Brings Flights To Watertown, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh, Adirondack Regional And Massena International Airports
    Senator Says This Extremely Destructive Cut Would Leave All Major North Country Airports Without The Support They Need To Provide Air Service – And Which Keeps The North Country Connected To National Travel Network
    Schumer: The North Country Would Be Hit First And Hardest By Proposed Trump Air-Service Cuts, And We Need NY Republicans To Stand Up To Trump To Ensure These Changes Don’t Clear The Runway And Do Real Harm To The North Country
    U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today revealed that – tucked away in President Trump’s just released budget proposal – is a plan to decimate funding for the federal Essential Air Service (EAS) program by 50%. This program provides vital federal support to bring air service to underserved & rural communities, and specifically to all five of the North Country’s major airports.
    Schumer said these cuts would be devastating for the North Country’s residents, universities and businesses and is calling on NY House Republicans to stand up and be vocal in their opposition to the cuts in Trump’s budget and protect this vital program for the North Country economy, which keeps the region connected to desperately-needed flights across the country.
    “Trump’s half-baked plan to cut the vital Essential Air Service program will hit the North Country first and hardest. All five of the North Country’s airports rely on the federal EAS program, and without it many would lose these vital flights hurting residents, businesses, universities and hampering tourism, as well,” said Senator Schumer. “I’ve long fought to protect and boost the Essential Air Service program because I know how important it is for our rural communities like the North Country to get access to these flights to boost the local economy and connect area residents and businesses with national and international travel options. Without this program, thousands of North Country residents would be left stranded having to travel hundreds of miles to get air service.”
    Schumer added, “That’s why I’m calling on NY House Republicans, including Congresswomen Stefanik and Tenney, whose districts would be impacted more than nearly anywhere else in the country, to stand up against Trump’s budget plan and beat back this very unwise cut. We cannot let these callous cuts clear the runway and blow a crater in North Country airports’ budgets.”
    Schumer explained that all five of the airports in New York that rely on EAS are in the North Country and help support flights critically important to the local economy, including:
    Ogdensburg International Airport: round trip flights to Washington’s Dulles International Airport
    Massena International Airport: round trip flights to Boston-Logan International Airport
    Plattsburgh International Airport: round trip flights to Washington’s Dulles International Airport
    Adirondack Regional Airport: round trip flights to Boston-Logan International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport
    Watertown International Airport: round trip flights to Philadelphia International Airport
    In Trump’s budget proposal he calls to slash the EAS program by over $300 million next year, 50% of the programs budget, gutting support for airports in the North Country. Without these airports, North Country passengers would have to travel hundreds of miles to access air service, for example passengers in Massena would have to travel as much as 256 miles to access air service. In addition to potential loss of air service it would also devastate the local economy and eliminating hundreds of jobs.
    The Essential Air Service program was developed after the airline industry was deregulated in 1978. Deregulation gave airlines the freedom to decide which markets to serve and how much to charge for that service. This led to a scarcity of air service in many communities across the country where operating costs were higher and populations were smaller and less dense. The EAS program was put in to place to guarantee air service to these underserved communities. EAS ensures commuter airlines across the country serve rural communities, including Upstate New York.
    The EAS program is widely popular and has been incredibly successful in Upstate NY. Schumer last fall announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation named Breeze Airways as Ogdensburg International Airport’s new Essential Air Service carrier. Breeze launched a new direct, daily route from Ogdensburg International Airport to Washington, D.C.’s Dulles Airport in October 2024.
    Schumer has worked for years to ensure NY’s airports are adequately funded and in last year’s FAA bill secured an over 111% funding increase per year to strengthen the Essential Air Service (EAS) program and ensure small and rural communities maintain regular commercial service. The bill also makes it harder for airlines to terminate contracts that could leave communities without air service by incentivizing airports to keep their essential air service contracts, protecting families in areas that would not have easy access to an airport without the small one in their community.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Applauds White House Announcement of Four Outstanding Missourians to the Federal Bench

    US Senate News:

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

    Tuesday, May 06, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) applauded President Trump’s decision to appoint four outstanding Missourians to fill court vacancies on the Eastern District of Missouri. Senator Hawley has been working with the White House since the beginning of the year to ensure appointments to Missouri vacancies are prioritized.
    “This country needs good district court judges now more than ever,” said Senator Hawley. “We need judges that are committed to the rule of law and upholding the Constitution, and I’m ecstatic to see President Trump nominate these outstanding individuals to the federal bench.”
    The four nominees include:
    Joshua Divine, Solicitor General of the State of Missouri and former Chief Counsel to Senator Hawley. He attended Yale Law School and clerked for United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
    Maria Lanahan, Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the State of Missouri. She attended the University of Chicago School of Law and clerked for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
    The Honorable Cristian Stevens, Judge for the Missouri Court of Appeals – Eastern District and former First Assistant Attorney General of Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri School of Law and clerked for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
    Zachary Bluestone, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri and former Deputy Solicitor General of Missouri. He graduated from Harvard Law School and clerked for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
    The nominees will undergo the full confirmation process within the United States Senate before taking their respective seats to the bench.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Booker, colleagues demand DOJ reverse cancellation of hundreds of public safety grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) as well as nearly 30 other Democratic senators urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg to reverse the abrupt cancellation of hundreds of public safety grants that serve crime victims and improve public safety in communities across the country in a letter sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) last week.

    “On April 22, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) notified hundreds of grant recipients across the country, without warning, that their funding had been terminated, effective immediately. Many of these grants are authorized by Congress and support programs that have enhanced public safety in communities rural and urban, affluent and poor, Democratic and Republican. While this administration continues to market itself as the administration of law and order and public safety, DOJ has decided to defund programs that prosecutors, police and sheriff’s departments, judges, mental health service providers, academics, and more depend on to advance the Department’s longstanding ‘core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law,’” the senators wrote. 

    “Based on public reporting, outreach from grantees, and a DOJ Justice Management Division  (JMD) spreadsheet, … it appears that the Department defunded at least 365 public safety grants on April 22, 2025. A review of this information reveals that these grants provide support for victims of crime and resources for communities to ensure public safety,” the senators continued.

    By terminating these grants, the Department has defunded programs that support victims of crime, combat rape in prison, assist people with mental health disorders, reduce and prevent violence, and support successful reentry. These examples offer only a sample of the critical funding that DOJ abruptly pulled away from law enforcement organizations in communities across the country.

    “The magnitude of these defunding measures, Congress’ role in authorizing and appropriating grant funds, and the negative impacts that the sudden termination of funding will have on public safety in communities across the country, requires the immediate review of the processes and decisions that led to the cancellation of these critical grants,” the senators added.

    The senators requested answers to nine questions about the cancellations, including whether the Department has reallocated the money to other programs and how officials determined which grants should be cancelled. 

    “Additionally, we advise that the Department restore immediately the grants terminated on April 22. The cursory termination of these programs imperils the public safety of the victims and communities that rely on these critical resources,” the senators concluded.

    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

    You can read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at HHS Nominations Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider James O’Neill to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Gary Andres to be an Assistant Secretary of HHS. 

    As prepared for delivery:

    “Today, we meet to consider the nominations of Mr. Jim O’Neill to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Mr. Gary Andres to serve as the Department’s Assistant Secretary for Legislation.  Congratulations on your nominations.

    “Thank you, both, for meeting with bipartisan members and our staff throughout this process.  These conversations have provided us the opportunity to highlight our priorities and learn more about how each of you would approach your roles at HHS.

    “During the hearings for Secretary Kennedy and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Oz, I noted the size and scope of the Department, as well as the importance of the programs it oversees to millions of Americans.

    “If confirmed, you will play an integral role in managing the Department, coordinating and communicating across often-siloed agencies and with Capitol Hill.

    “In many ways, our health care system reflects a bureaucratic, disjointed Department.  Well-intended programs and initiatives can be conflicting, confusing and, in practice, ineffective.

    “While this dynamic presents significant challenges, it also offers opportunities for transformative solutions that benefit patients, providers, innovators and taxpayers.

    “Much like HHS, patients are best-served when our health care system functions as a team, relying on a variety of provider perspectives and talents to deliver patient-centered, high-quality outcomes.  By rethinking the outdated strategy of late-stage, symptom-based care, we can address the underlying causes of chronic conditions that drive up costs for patients and taxpayers.

    “Having previously served at the Department, Mr. O’Neill understands the multifaceted nature of HHS and the importance of internal collaboration to accomplishing shared goals.  If confirmed, he will have cross-cutting insight into the efforts of each division within the Department, allowing him to integrate effective actions to make our health care system more proactive.

    “Mr. Andres is a veteran of Capitol Hill and has a deep understanding of how to implement a successful legislative agenda.  I am confident he will be an asset to Congress as we seek input on the development of legislation and updates on departmental actions.

    “Americans deserve a transparent, responsive health care system that empowers consumer choice, drives competition-spurring innovation and rewards values.  This Committee has taken bipartisan steps to achieve these goals by acting to reform our prescription drug supply chain, fix our broken clinician payment system and expand access to mental health in rural areas, including through telehealth. 

    “If confirmed, I look forward to continuing those efforts with each of you.

    “Thank you, both, for your willingness to serve.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Recognizes National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, issued the following statement regarding Senate passage of a resolution recognizing the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls:
    “Today and every day, we must continue to shed light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in New Mexico and across the country. For decades, our legal system has failed Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and their families, and we must do more to bring attention to this injustice and stand with our Tribal Nations and Pueblos. I am proud to have cosponsored the resolution to remember the countless Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and I will continue to fight to deliver justice, the truth, and accountability for these women, girls, and their loved ones.”
    Last week, Senator Luján cosponsored a resolution designating May 5, 2025, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed the resolution by unanimous consent.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Whitehouse, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Equip Law Enforcement with Trauma Kits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act, which would equip law enforcement officers with quality trauma kits so they can respond immediately if a civilian or fellow officer experiences a traumatic injury during a call:
    “When responding to medical emergencies, time and access to the right tools can mean the difference between life and death,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would equip law enforcement officers with high-quality trauma kits to prevent deaths due to blood loss and give patients the best chance of survival.”
    “Police officers serve on the frontlines in their communities every day, and they are often first on the scene in medical emergencies,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “Our bipartisan legislation would provide officers in the field with emergency trauma kits, and fund standardized training to allow them to better protect the public and save lives.”
    “As a strong supporter of our brave men and women in law enforcement, I am proud to co-introduce the Improving Police CARE Act which would equip them with the tools they need to keep our communities safe,” said Sen. Tillis. “Ensuring law enforcement officers have effective trauma kits will save countless law enforcement and civilian lives.”
    “Our nation’s law enforcement officers keep our communities safe, and they deserve the resources they need to do just that,” said Sen. Coons. “As co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, I know that this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will ensure that police officers have trauma kits they need in order to save lives.”
    Background:
    Trauma kits play a vital role in preventing deaths due to blood loss. Between 30-40% of trauma-related deaths are caused by hemorrhaging, or uncontrolled bleeding, with 33-56% of them occurring before the patient arrives at the hospital. During the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, tourniquets and tourniquet training were widely adopted by the military for their lifesaving potential in combat. This practice has since been embraced in civilian populations given its clear survival benefit. In fact, one study found that patient survival was six times more likely when a tourniquet was used, underscoring the critical need for timely bleeding control. This is especially true in rural areas where the average EMS response time is typically double that in urban areas. Having access to a trauma kit and early bleeding control can help bridge this gap and mean the difference between life and death.
    The effectiveness of a law enforcement trauma kit program depends in part on the contents and the quality of the kits. Medical professionals recommend that a kit include bleeding control supplies like tourniquets, bandages, non-latex gloves, scissors, and instructions. However, there is enormous variation in the products available on the market.
    The Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act would:
    Establish baseline standards in consultation with law enforcement and medical professionals for trauma kits purchased using grant funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG);
    And require the development of optional best practices that law enforcement agencies can adapt for training law enforcement officers to use trauma kits and for deployment and maintenance of the kits in vehicles and government facilities.
    The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the Society of Trauma Nurses, the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the American Trauma Society.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Takes Action to Terminate Harmful Postal Plan, Protect Rural Mail Delivery

    US Senate News:

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

    Tuesday, May 06, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senator Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the No Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) Act, a response to the United States Postal Service’s Regional Transportation Optimization plan. That plan would eliminate end-of-day mail collection at most of the nation’s post offices, resulting in significant negative impacts on rural communities throughout the United States. Senator Hawley’s bill would block this harmful new policy.
    “I’ve been very clear that I will in no way support any USPS plan that slashes service to rural Americans, particularly those in Missouri,” said Senator Hawley.“I’ve vowed to do everything I can to thwart Regional Transportation Optimization, and my bill is an important step in upholding that promise.” 
    Senator Hawley has long been vocal about his opposition to the plan, support for postal workers, and commitment to rebuilding post offices damaged by severe weather, including one in Baring, Missouri which just reopened after being closed by tornado damage in 2023.  Senator Hawley’s No Regional Transportation Optimization Act (RTO) would:
    Prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from implementing the RTO plan or any similar initiative that the Postal Regulatory Commission concludes would negatively affect rural communities.
    Protect mail service in rural communities across America from further degradation.
    Click here to read the full text.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Applauds Trump’s Ban of Wuhan-Style Gain-of-Function Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: May 6, 2025
    Order comes after Ernst fought for years to end batty experiments of pandemic potential.
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban all federal funding of risky gain-of-function research in China, Iran, and other countries and blocking all federal funding for foreign research that could cause another pandemic.
    “I have been fighting for years to end the insane practice of sending tax dollars to China for sketchy pseudoscience,” said Ernst. “Thankfully, President Trump is ending the batty experiments, like those conducted in Wuhan, that are dangerous and wasteful. This is a great win for the American people and common sense. I will continue working to expose and halt all taxpayer-funded risky research of pandemic potential in malign foreign countries!”
    Background:
    Ernst has led the charge in Washington to stop tax dollars from being sent for risky research overseas.
    An Ernst-requested investigation exposed how EcoHealth sent over $1 million U.S. tax dollars to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for risky experiments on bat coronaviruses. She also secured an audit by the Department of Defense’s Inspector General of risky research in China paid for by the Pentagon and hidden from the public by Biden’s Pentagon.
    She fought to permanently debar the Wuhan Institute of Virology and defund EcoHealth Alliance from receiving U.S. tax dollars.
    Ernst efforts also led to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defunding EcoHealth and promising to cut off any taxpayer dollars used for research of pandemic potential.
    In her $2 trillion blueprint to slash waste in Washington, Ernst pointed to the millions being sent to China for secretive risky research.
    Last month, she introduced the AFAR Act to end the insane practice of funding sketchy animal experiments in China with American tax dollars. Ernst also introduced the TRACKS Act to require every penny sent to foreign adversaries or entities of particular concern, such as terrorist groups including the Taliban, to be accounted for and disclosed to the public for scrutiny.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Message on National Nurses Day, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-left”>On National Nurses Day, we thank the extraordinary men and women who have dedicated their lives to the critical and noble profession of nursing—providing quality, compassionate, and essential care to all patients. Nursing is our Nation’s largest healthcare profession, with an estimated 4.3 million actively licensed registered nurses.  From the frontlines of war to our local hospitals, nurses have shown an unwavering commitment to those in need, serving others and providing hope, help, and healing during times of crisis.   Nurses are providing critical care to millions of Americans struggling with chronic diseases.  Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease, and four in ten are affected by two or more chronic diseases.  These numbers have increased significantly in recent years, causing hardships for the Americans suffering from these conditions while putting immense pressure on our healthcare system.  My Administration recognizes this critical issue and is committed to Making America Healthy Again.  Through our initiative, we will address the root causes of chronic disease, reduce its prevalence, and ensure that nurses have the support they need in order to continue providing life-saving care. We are also refocusing Public Service Loan Forgiveness on its original intent of encouraging Americans to enter essential public service roles, such as nursing.  By doing so, we hope to inspire a new generation of Americans to pursue careers in vital public services, contributing to a healthier, stronger Nation. Nurses reflect the character of America and epitomize the inexhaustible capacity of the human spirit.  As we stand at the threshold of our new Golden Age, our nurses stand ready to make America stronger and healthier than ever before.  On this National Nurses Day, Melania and I join with every citizen in extending our wholehearted gratitude and utmost respect to these invaluable healthcare professionals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Promises Made, Promises Kept: President Trump Brings Americans Home

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Since taking office, President Donald J. Trump and his administration have secured the release of 47 detained Americans abroad — and that’s just the beginning as countries around the world respond to our renewed display of American strength and President Trump’s commitment to leaving no American behind.
    The released American citizens include:
    Ksenia Karelina — an American ballet dancer who was wrongfully detained in a Russian penal colony for 14 months — returned home in April.
    “Mr. Trump, I’m so, so grateful for you to bring me home and for [the] American government. And I never felt more blessed to be American — and I’m so, so happy to get home. Thank you,” Karelina said.
    President Trump greets Ksenia Karelina in the Oval Office on May 5, 2025Marc Fogel — an American teacher who was wrongfully detained in a Russian prison for years — returned home in February, making good on a promise President Trump made to Fogel’s 95-year-old mother, Malphine.
    “President Trump is a hero … I will forever be indebted to President Trump, to Steve [Witkoff] over there — what a dynamic man this guy is. When I met him, the energy, the can-do attitude just exudes from his body,” Fogel said.
    President Trump welcomes Marc Fogel to the White House on February 11, 2025Keith Siegel — an American held hostage by Hamas for 484 days — was freed in February.
    “I am here and I am alive. President Trump, you saved my life. You saved the life of 33 hostages because of your efforts,” Siegel said.
    George Glezmann — an American held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 836 days — was freed in March, joining Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were released on the night of President Trump’s inauguration.
    “President Trump — amazing. Thank God he’s in the White House where he’s at and thank God he got me out … I’m in debt with everybody that was involved in this equation because they got me home. A free American individual, free from the hands of these people that abducted because of my U.S. passport, basically — and I’m just thankful. I got no words to express my gratitude for my liberty, my freedom,” Glezmann said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Introduces New Legislation To Prohibit Presidents From Profiting Off Meme Coins While In Office

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    May 06, 2025

    WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday introduced the Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement (MEME) Act, legislation to prevent corrupt federal officials from using their position to profit off digital assets such as meme coins. U.S. Representative Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    On January 17th, three days before the inauguration, President Donald Trump launched $TRUMP, a meme coin or digital asset with no inherent value. The coin was initially only worth a few cents, but it exploded in value upon limited release and drove Trump’s net worth temporarily north of $50 billion. Each time the coin is released and traded, Trump makes money from trading fees, and he and his family have made more than $100 million from these fees. There is no way to know who is buying the coin, which leaves the door wide open for billionaires, Russian oligarchs, and Saudi princes to secretly purchase $TRUMP and directly enrich the president in order to curry favor.
    Last month, Trump’s team announced the top 220 meme coin holders would be invited for an exclusive dinner with the president and the top 25 coin holders would get a “Special VIP Tour” of the White House. After that message went up, the price of $TRUMP jumped more than 50 percent and its market value soared to $2.7 billion. In just two days following the announcement of the dinner, Trump and his allies made nearly $900,000 in trading fees alone.
    The MEME Act would prohibit the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, senior Executive Branch officials, and their spouses and dependent children from issuing, sponsoring, or endorsing a security, future, commodity, or digital asset. After the asset’s issuance, the proposal would bar federal officials from engaging in the promotion or other conduct likely to benefit themselves financially. The legislation subjects violators to criminal and civil penalties.
    “The Trump meme coin is the single most corrupt act ever committed by a president. Donald Trump is essentially posting his Venmo for any billionaire CEO or foreign oligarch to cash in some favors by secretly sending him millions of dollars. It’s almost unbelievable until you remember this president will do whatever it takes – even selling access to the White House – to make himself richer. This is not normal, and we won’t let him get away with it,” said Murphy.
    “Even more disturbing than the kleptocratic actions of this President and his minions has been the utter silence of the Republican majority. That’s why, several weeks ago, I introduced the MEME Act—to make corruption criminal again. Since then, we’ve learned of the Trump family’s collection of hundreds of millions in fees, 220 $TRUMP investors being invited to an exclusive White House dinner, and Abu Dhabi investing $2 billion through the First Family’s stablecoin. This blatant corruption must end,” said Liccardo.
    Full text of the legislation can be found HERE. Click HERE to watch Murphy’s video on the legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Warren Call for Investigation Into Trump Administration Delaying Disaster Recovery Funding, Effects on Communities Including Spokane

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Senator Murray secured $44 million in long-term disaster recovery funding for Spokane in December—new letter calls for investigation into Trump administration actions leading to delays and confusion with the recovery program

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, wrote to the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) calling for an investigation into the Trump Administration delaying HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, which supports recovery in disaster-stricken communities across the country. 

    In January, Senator Murray announced over $44 million in CDBG-DR funding for Spokane County disaster recovery efforts from the Gray and Oregon Road fires in August 2023, which burned more than 21,000 acres in Eastern Washington and were among the most destructive in Washington state history. The funding came from the disaster relief bill that Senator Murray negotiated as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee last Congress and that was signed into law by President Biden on December 21st, 2024.

    However, recent actions by the Trump administration—including abrupt changes to the CDBG-DR program requirements, the mass termination of thousands of employees at HUD who are responsible for getting critical funding out the door, and a lack of communication with partners on the ground—have potential ramifications for the funding Spokane is owed. Senator Murray has also pushed to permanently authorize and codify HUD’s CDBG-DR program, reduce unnecessary delays and red tape, and avoid ad-hoc changes to the program like those being made by the Trump administration now.

    “At his confirmation hearing, Secretary Turner stated that getting the CDBG-DR funds out to communities was a ‘top priority’ for him. However, his actions have not matched that stated commitment. The last three months have been marked by chaos, confusion, and poor communication with the people and communities that rely on this funding the most,” Senators Murray and Warren wrote. “Nearly a quarter of HUD’s workforce has either been terminated or resigned through the Deferred Resignation Program, and with that, HUD will lose immeasurable institutional and operational know-how needed to execute its programs. On March 19, HUD announced updates to CDBG-DR funding requirements ‘to align requirements with the President’s executive orders,’ which principally undercut anti-discrimination requirements and increase the chances of waste, fraud, and abuse by not requiring grantees to adequately account for future disaster risk. On March 31, HUD issued yet another set of revisions to the Universal Notice it had already revised earlier in the month, and in recognition of the setback these changes would represent for grantees, HUD granted a 60-day extension for grantees to its action plan submission deadline.”

    The senators pressed for answers on delays, asking: “What analysis, if any, did HUD conduct on the potential for delays in the availability of CDBG-DR funding as a result of changing eligibility requirements?” and “To what extent have grantees been able to receive clear and timely responses to their questions?,” among other questions. 

    The senators also outlined how the Trump Administration’s changes to the CDBG-DR program have “undercut anti-discrimination requirements and increased the chances of waste, fraud, and abuse by not requiring grantees to adequately account for future disaster risk,” among other issues.

    The letter follows news that the Trump administration is slashing funding for community disaster preparation as well as reporting that the Trump Administration prioritized FEMA funding to states based on who they voted for.

    The full text of the letter is HERE.

    CDBG-DR funding supports disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation, in the most impacted and distressed areas. As the only federal disaster recovery assistance to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income households and communities, CDBG-DR funding can be used to:

    • Replace damaged affordable housing and build it back more resiliently;
    • Strengthen infrastructure through repairs, upgrades, and activities to increase the resilience of public facilities and infrastructure including roadways, water systems, and utilities;
    • Support economic revitalization including support for small businesses, creation of jobs, and assistance for residents; and
    • Implement disaster mitigation measures to reduce risk of damage from future extreme weather and disaster events.

    The allocated funds will help communities fill the funding gaps in disaster recovery and mitigation not covered by insurance and other federal and local sources. The total allocation amount is based on a formula which considers an estimate of unmet needs for housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure, plus an additional 15 percent for mitigation activities.

    Senator Murray pushed nonstop to approve additional disaster relief funding for well over a year—and negotiated the bipartisan disaster relief package that was signed into law on December 21st, 2024. In November, she chaired a full committee hearing on the president’s updated disaster relief request, at which she again underscored the need to finally pass a robust disaster relief package, noting it has been one of the longest stretches in her memory that Congress has failed to provide such relief.

    In September 2023, Senator Murray spoke on the Senate Floor about the devastation the Gray and Oregon Road Fires caused in Eastern Washington, making clear that “communities in Eastern Washington have a long way to go on the road to recovery—so, I will absolutely be staying in close touch with folks in my state, and on the frontlines, and making sure our families and communities have the support they need to get through this.”In October 2023, Senator Murray and others sent a letter to President Biden in support of Governor Jay Inslee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Washington state as a result of the significant damages incurred by the fires. In February 2024, Senator Murray called President Biden to emphasize the importance of approving the Major Disaster Declaration request—the declaration was granted shortly afterward.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/5/2025 Blackburn Praises Commerce Committee’s Passage of Her Bills to Protect Consumers in the Online Ticket Marketplace and Enhance 9-1-1 Emergency Response System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after her bipartisan Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for (MAIN) Event Ticketing Act to strengthen consumer protections in the online ticket marketplace and Enhancing First Response Act to update the classification of 9-1-1 dispatchers passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee:
    “Fans shouldn’t have to fight bots and scammers when trying to buy tickets online, and I’m thrilled the Commerce Committee has moved the MAIN Event Ticketing Act one step closer to becoming law so we can protect consumers in the online ticket marketplace. The Commerce Committee also passed my bipartisan Enhancing First Response Act, which would make important updates to our 9-1-1 emergency reporting system and prevent service disruptions,” said Senator Blackburn. 
    MAIN EVENT TICKETING ACT
    In 2016, President Obama signed Senator Blackburn’s legislation, the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, into law, which prohibits ticket scalpers from using software to purchase high volumes of tickets.
    Creating reporting requirements whereby online ticket sellers must report successful bot attacks to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC);
    Requiring the FTC to share consumer complaints submitted through their website to state attorneys general;
    Enacting data security requirements for online ticket sellers and requires the sharing of information between the FTC and law enforcement; and
    Requiring a report to Congress on BOTS enforcement. 
    The MAIN Event Ticketing Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.).  
    Click here for bill text.
    ENHANCING FIRST RESPONSE ACT
    The Enhancing First Response Act would:
    Update the classification of 9-1-1 dispatchers in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) from clerical workers to protective service workers to better reflect life-saving work performed by them each day;
    Require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold an annual hearing and issue a report after major natural disasters on 9-1-1 unreachability and make recommendations to improve the resiliency of 9-1-1 systems to prevent future service disruptions;
    Require the FCC to study unreported 9-1-1 outages and develop recommendations to improve outage reporting and communication between mobile carriers experiencing network outages and 9-1-1 centers.
    The Enhancing First Response Act is sponsored by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
    Click here for bill text.
    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leader Schumer, Padilla, Whitehouse Lead Democratic Ranking Members in Warning Republicans Against Overruling Parliamentarian’s Decision on California’s Clean Air Act Waivers

    US Senate News:

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

    Leader Schumer, Padilla, Whitehouse Lead Democratic Ranking Members in Warning Republicans Against Overruling Parliamentarian’s Decision on California’s Clean Air Act Waivers

    Senators to Republican Leadership: Disregarding the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision in an attempt to revoke California’s waivers “would be a procedural nuclear option—a dramatic break from Senate precedent with profound institutional consequences.”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, led Democratic Ranking Members in strongly warning Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) of the dangerous and irreparable consequences if Senate Republicans overrule the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision regarding California’s preemption waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that allow the state to implement more protective air quality standards.
    The letter comes after the House of Representatives last week voted to revoke three of California’s Clean Air Act waivers for the state’s clean cars and trucks programs, despite the Government Accountability Office (GAO)’s determination that California’s Clean Air Act waivers are not rules under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), and the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision that any CRA resolutions on this subject would therefore require 60 votes to secure Senate passage. The Senators emphasized that GAO’s determination is consistent with 50 years of agency practice, and that Senate opponents of the Clean Air Act waivers — including Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) — have even previously acknowledged themselves that these waivers are not reviewable under the CRA by sponsoring legislation related to California’s waiver authority.
    “We understand that some may be considering overruling the Parliamentarian’s decision,” wrote the Senators. “While that might be more expedient than agency rulemaking or considering legislation under the Senate’s normal rules, such an action would be a procedural nuclear option—a dramatic break from Senate precedent with profound institutional consequences.”
    The Senators warned that if Senate Republicans disregard the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision in an attempt to revoke California’s Clean Air Act waivers, they would set a precedent that could be applied to legislation beyond the CRA — eliminating longstanding guardrails and paving the way for a future Senate Majority to overrule the Parliamentarian in order to achieve its legislative goals.
    “If the current Senate Majority were to open this door, the CRA could be weaponized to retroactively invalidate decades of agency actions—including adjudications, permits, and licensing decisions that were never previously considered ‘rules’—and effectively hijack the Senate floor,” continued the Senators. “In addition, if efforts to invalidate such actions were successful, future administrations would face significant obstacles utilizing the underlying authorities for any arguably similar actions, given the plain text of the CRA. Most importantly, however, once that precedent is set, a future Senate Majority could subsequently apply it to legislation beyond the CRA. Put bluntly, there is no cabining a decision to overrule the Parliamentarian.”
    In addition to Leader Schumer and Senators Padilla and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.).
    Senator Padilla has been outspoken in pushing back against Republican attacks on California’s Clean Air Act waivers. Padilla, Whitehouse, and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) welcomed the Senate Parliamentarian’s decision that the waivers are not subject to the CRA. Padilla also joined Senators Whitehouse and Schiff in blasting Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s weaponization of the EPA after that GAO finding. Padilla and Schiff previously slammed the Trump Administration’s intent to roll back dozens of the EPA’s regulations that protect California’s air and water.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Leader Thune and Whip Barrasso:
    We write to emphasize the far-reaching and likely irreversible consequences if the current Senate Majority were to overrule the Senate Parliamentarian’s recent decision that a joint resolution of disapproval regarding three Clean Air Act preemption waivers granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the state of California would not be entitled to expedited procedures in the Senate.
    In reaching that decision, the Senate Parliamentarian relied on the determination made by the independent, non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) that the three Clean Air Act preemption waivers do not qualify as “rules” under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
    GAO’s determination should not be seen as novel or surprising because it is consistent with fifty years of agency practice. Even prominent Senate opponents of the Clean Air Act waiver provision—including Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lee and Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Capito—have previously acknowledged in legislation and public materials that these waivers are not subject to CRA review.
    We, however, do not write to relitigate the determination by GAO or the question already decided by the Parliamentarian. Both parties have been on the losing end of decisions by the Parliamentarian. We ourselves were on the losing end of several decisions by the Parliamentarian during the 117th Congress. But we did not attempt to overrule these decisions, even though we did not agree with them.
    Now, we understand that some may be considering overruling the Parliamentarian’s decision. While that might be more expedient than agency rulemaking or considering legislation under the Senate’s normal rules, such an action would be a procedural nuclear option—a dramatic break from Senate precedent with profound institutional consequences.
    If the current Senate Majority were to open this door, the CRA could be weaponized to retroactively invalidate decades of agency actions—including adjudications, permits, and licensing decisions that were never previously considered “rules”—and effectively hijack the Senate floor. In addition, if efforts to invalidate such actions were successful, future administrations would face significant obstacles utilizing the underlying authorities for any arguably similar actions, given the plain text of the CRA. Most importantly, however, once that precedent is set, a future Senate Majority could subsequently apply it to legislation beyond the CRA. Put bluntly, there is no cabining a decision to overrule the Parliamentarian. 
    We therefore urge you to weigh these issues carefully—with full knowledge of the consequences—should you consider whether to overrule the Parliamentarian regarding a CRA resolution disapproving the Clean Air Act preemption waivers.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Colleagues Demand DOJ Reverse Cancellation of Hundreds of Public Safety Grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.05.25
    Cantwell, Colleagues Demand DOJ Reverse Cancellation of Hundreds of Public Safety Grants
    Trump Administration seeks to cut $55 million in grant funding for six Washington state public safety programs
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined nearly 30 Democratic senators in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg to reverse the abrupt cancellation of hundreds of public safety grants that serve crime victims and improve public safety in communities across the country. The Trump Administration is attempting to cut grant funding for 365 programs nationwide, including cutting $55 million in grant funding for six Washington state public safety and victim service programs. The letter also instructs DOJ to provide information about its decision to cancel the grants. 
    “On April 22, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) notified hundreds of grant recipients across the country, without warning, that their funding had been terminated, effective immediately. Many of these grants are authorized by Congress and support programs that have enhanced public safety in communities rural and urban, affluent and poor, Democratic and Republican. While this Administration continues to market itself as the  administration of law and order and public safety, DOJ has decided to defund programs that  prosecutors, police and sheriff’s departments, judges, mental health service providers,  academics, and more depend on to advance the Department’s longstanding ‘core mission of  keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law,’” the Senators wrote. 
    “Based on public reporting, outreach from grantees, and a DOJ Justice Management Division (JMD) spreadsheet (Encl. 1), it appears that the Department defunded at least 365 public safety grants on April 22, 2025. A review of this information reveals that these grants provide support for victims of crime and resources for communities to ensure public safety,” the Senators continued.
    For example, with these grant terminations, the Department has defunded programs that support victims of crime, combat rape in prison, assist people with mental health disorders, reduce and prevent violence, and support successful reentry. These examples offer only a sample of the critical funding that DOJ abruptly terminated. In Washington state, DOJ cancelled six grants totaling over $55 million. These grants included:
    Three awards worth over $48 million to the National CASA Association to train court appointed special advocates (CASA) who represent abused and neglected children in legal proceedings.
    Two awards totaling $6 million to the Children and Youth Justice Center to prevent violent crime by creating on-the-ground partnerships with community members, law enforcement, victim service providers, and other local stakeholders.
    One award worth $250,000 to the Washington State Department of Corrections to reduce sexual abuse in state correctional facilities.
    “The magnitude of these defunding measures, Congress’ role in authorizing and appropriating grant funds, and the negative impacts that the sudden termination of funding will have on public safety in communities across the country, requires the immediate review of the processes and decisions that led to the cancellation of these critical grants,” the Senators wrote.
    The Senators requested answers to nine questions about the cancellations, including whether the Department has reallocated the money to other programs and how officials determined which grants should be cancelled. 
    A DOJ JMD spreadsheet lists 365 grants totaling $811 million that were terminated on April 22.
    Does this spreadsheet represent the entire universe of grants that were terminated?  
    Are there grants that were terminated that are not reflected on the list? If so, provide the information in every column for these grants. 
    Which grants that were terminated on April 22 have since been restored? For each grant restored, please provide the reason for its restoration.  
    How were the grants that were terminated chosen? What were the factors  considered in making the determination to terminate? Where the affected grantees were state or local jurisdictions, did the political party of state or local officials in  those jurisdictions influence the determination to terminate? 
    Were there entire categories of grants that were terminated? If so, provide the  categories.  
    What is the legal basis for terminating grant funds that are statutorily required? 
    Has DOJ reallocated the funds it rescinded on April 22? Provide any specific  programs or purposes to which these funds will be reallocated. 
    Will DOJ terminate any more grants, from any of its funding components, that have been obligated or are in cycle? If so, provide the grant-making component and the grants that will be terminated or are under consideration to be terminated.  
    Was former Tesla employee turned-DOGE staffer Tarak Makecha solely responsible for selecting which grants to terminate? Provide the names of all individuals within DOJ who reviewed or approved the cancellation of the grants.  
    Did any White House officials review the grants to be terminated or otherwise have any involvement in the decision to terminate the grants? Provide their names.
    “Additionally, we advise that the Department restore immediately the grants terminated on April 22. The cursory termination of these programs imperils the public safety of the victims and communities that rely on these critical resources,” the Senators concluded.
    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and is cosigned by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT). 
    The full text of the letter is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Applauds New NC State Directors for the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis applauded the announcement from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins that Ron Garrett has been appointed as State Executive Director of the North Carolina Farm Service Agency and Robert Hosford has been appointed as State Director of North Carolina Rural Development.

    “Ron and Robert are fantastic choices to lead the NC Farm Service Agency and Rural Development,”said Senator Tillis. “I was proud to advocate on behalf of both of them and I look forward to working with them to support North Carolina’s farmers and rural communities.”

    Background: 

    Ron Garrett will serve as the State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in North Carolina. Most recently Ron served as a County Executive Director for FSA for over 33 years. Ron earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business Management from North Carolina State University.

    Robert Hosford will serve as State Director for Rural Development in North Carolina, a position he held during President Trump’s first term. In 2003 he was appointed the Chief of Staff for the USDA Farm Service Agency through 2009. After earning a B.S. from Mississippi State University, Hosford relocated to Washington D.C., as a part of the Government Affairs team for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During National Small Business Week, Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Nimrod Meats

    US Senate News:

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

    RED OAK, Iowa – During National Small Business Week, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Nimrod Meats of Hardin County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “To kick off National Small Business Week, I’m honored to recognize Iowa Falls’ Nimrod Meats. Founded in 2022 by the Damiano family, this small business has grown into a cornerstone of Hardin County that offers fresh cuts of meat, local honey, and more,” said Chair Ernst. “This full-service meat processor, locker, and farm-to-table retail market continues to meat the needs of Iowans while beefing up community processing capabilities across Iowa.”
    In 2022, Marine Corps veteran Rocky Damiano and his wife, Karla, established Nimrod Meats to provide a full-service meat processing facility for local farmers, hunters, and families in central Iowa. The 9,800-square-foot facility offers custom and third-party meat processing, specialized packaging, and a farm-to-table retail market. The market features artisan goods and health-focused products, many of which are sourced from other small businesses across Iowa. The family-run and veteran-owned operation continues to grow its footprint, delivering premium products across the state of Iowa. Later this month, Nimrod Meats will celebrate its third anniversary.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Praises Texas DOGE, Discusses Musk’s Legacy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), a member of the Senate DOGE Caucus, highlighted the work President Trump and Elon Musk have done through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to eliminate wasteful government spending and save American taxpayer dollars and praised the creation of Texas DOGE. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

    “Mr. Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency should be applauded for their efforts to root out waste, fraud, and abuse.”

    “Back home in Texas, Governor Abbott and the Texas legislature have also followed dozens of other states in paying a high compliment to the Department of Government Efficiency and Elon Musk by proposing a DOGE-like task force at the state level.”

    “I’m sure even in a state as efficiently run with as low a tax is as Texas that you can find inefficiency that can be and should be rooted out.”

    “Governor Abbott recently signed the first bill of this year’s legislative session into law to establish the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, modeled after DOGE.”

    “While some states are more fiscally responsible than others, state governments, as I said, are not immune from spending taxpayer money on outdated or inefficient programs. Texas is one of the most efficient. That shouldn’t surprise anyone.”

    “I look forward to seeing the great work being done down in Austin by the Texas DOGE and what they can do to try to help make state government more efficient.”

    “Elon’s status within the federal government is that of what’s called a special government employee. That means it’s for a period of time—130 days in this case. And with that date approaching soon, Mr. Musk indicates he plans to wrap up his work, but I must emphasize that the work of DOGE must go on.”

    “I support Congress and the administration working together to codify these cost-cutting measures through rescissions.”

    “I will be a willing and eager partner in their efforts.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Hosts Crowd of Over 800 at South Fulton Town Hall

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
    Senator Reverend Warnock hosted an in-person town hall at Zion Hill Baptist Church in South Fulton, Georgia, taking questions from a crowd of over 800 constituents
    Senator Reverend Warnock heard from Georgians concerned about threats to social security, federal workers, non-profit funding, and more
    In March of this year, the Senator hosted a virtual town hall
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “That’s why we are here today, to talk about what keeps you up at night, what I’m going to do to fix it, and what we can do together, because you can’t outsource democracy – it’s a group project”

    Watch Senator Warnock’s town hall HERE
    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) hosted his first in-person town hall of 2025 to answer questions directly from constituents about how he is fighting for all Georgians amid an unprecedented first 100 days of the Trump Administration.
    “Seriously, this is a scary time, and I want you to know I’m sober-minded about it and focused,” said Senator Warnock during the town hall. “Today, I won’t have all the answers to your questions, I’ll tell you that in advance, but let me just state that during this unprecedented time we must come together to fight back against the dangerous actions of this administration, this is no ordinary time.”
    The conversation between Senator Warnock and some of his constituents went on for well over two hours and addressed a range of topics, including non-profit funding, the administration’s tariff policies, fired federal workers, Georgia’s failure to adopt Medicaid expansion, international conflicts, eliminating poverty, and so much more.
    In answering the first question of the evening on protecting the nation’s democracy, Senator Warnock addressed some of his previous work to bolster voting rights and protect election integrity.
    “What we are seeing in real time is that our democracy depends on our charter documents […] I was fighting hard to pass the John Lewis Voting Right Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act,” said Senator Warnock. “You have my commitment that as a member of the Senate, I’m holding this administration accountable, I’m dragging Trump officials in front of my committees and asking the tough questions, I’m voting down legislation that I think runs roughshod over the American people and their rights.”

    Senator Warnock also hosted a virtual town hall in early March. Both events highlighted his urging not to give in to despair during these difficult times and his commitment to standing up on behalf of ordinary people in Washington, D.C. 
    “We have to stand together on these issues, we have to stand up for the rule of law and for due process,” said Senator Warnock during his closing remarks.
    Missed the town hall? It can still be viewed in full HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Washington, Klobuchar, Smith and Minnesota Small Business Owner Beth Benike Highlight Impact of Trump Administration Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined small business owners from Minnesota and across the country to speak out against the rising costs of President Trump’s trade war.

    Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year, Beth Benike, CEO and founder of Busy Baby based in Zumbrota, MN, spoke at the event about how tariffs are crushing her business. Klobuchar and Smith highlighted Benike’s story and emphasized the broader impact these tariffs are having on thousands of small business owners and farmers across Minnesota who can’t keep up with rising costs caused by President Trump’s tariffs.

    “The small business owners that are standing here with us today, they do not have a direct dial number for the White House. They do not have the President’s cell phone. They are not like a major, major CEO of a Fortune 500 company that can call and get a meeting with the White House and then get their products exempted,” said Klobuchar. “The unfairness and the destruction of the competitive marketplace for small businesses will have longer-term effects than anyone can even imagine.” 

    “For American entrepreneurs, this is not a political issue. This is about the survival of their businesses and the survival of their dreams. Beth Benike’s story shows us so clearly that President Trump’s chaotic approach to tariffs is putting small businesses like hers at risk. It’s hurting people’s capacity to make payroll, it’s hurting our economy and it’s hurting American consumers,” said Smith. 

    “I currently have three months’ worth of inventory sitting at my factory that I cannot bring to the US. I have maybe two months’ worth left in my warehouse in Minnesota, and when that’s gone, I have no more revenue. I cannot pay my employees. I cannot pay my bills. I cannot pay the loans which I have leveraged my house against, so we could lose our house. I do not have the $230,000 that were just immediately dropped in front of me to get my products into the US,” said Benike. 

    Klobuchar’s bipartisan bill with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) to undo President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods passed the Senate last month. Recently, Klobuchar and Smith voted for a bipartisan bill to overturn Trump’s across-the-board global tariffs. Klobuchar also co-sponsors the Trade Review Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to restore congressional oversight over President Trump’s tariff taxes.

    Download Klobuchar’s full remarks here.

    Download Smith’s full remarks here.

    Download Benike’s full remarks here. 

    Download photo here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Request Biden White House and NARA Records on Politically-Motivated Investigations into President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are calling on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to release all government records demonstrating the Biden administration’s role in advancing investigations into then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The senators are also opening an inquiry into NARA and its Inspector General’s role in those investigations.  
    The chairmen requested:
    All records between or among Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to President Trump’s election interference case, that began as the Arctic Frost investigation and ultimately became part of Jack Smith’s elector case. 
    All records between or among DOJ, FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to the investigation into President Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified information.
    All NARA records, including the NARA Office of Inspector General, referring, or relating to the Arctic Frost and the classified document investigation. 
    Read their full letter to NARA here. 
    Previous Arctic Frost oversight:
    April 9, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Release Additional Arctic Frost Records Detailing Sweeping Anti-Trump Investigation
    March 14, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Release Records Showing FBI Obtained Trump, Pence Cell Phones, Conducted Sweeping Interviews to Advance Anti-Trump Arctic Frost Investigation
    February 25, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Call for Investigation into Potential Criminal Leaks, Violations of FBI Information Sharing Policies
    January 30, 2025: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Make Public Whistleblower Records Revealing DOJ and FBI Plot to Pin Trump in Jack Smith Elector Case  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 5th, 2025 Heinrich, Rounds Seeking Public Input on Initiative to Accelerate Advancements in American Science (ASAP)

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    Published: May 5th, 2025
    Request seeks input for building out national AI infrastructure to make science advancements 10 times faster by 2030

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today released a Request for Information (RFI) for the American Science Acceleration Project (ASAP), a bipartisan initiative aimed at making advancements in U.S. science ten times faster by 2030. The RFI invites researchers, innovators, businesses, government agencies and the public to share proposals that will equip American scientists and stakeholders with next-generation data, computing and artificial-intelligence capabilities while removing unnecessary barriers to innovation.
    “It’s time to unleash a new era of American discovery — one where we cure cancers, power our grid with fusion energy, and widely deploy superconductors,” said Heinrich. “With the American Science Acceleration Project, we’re setting out to make U.S. science ten times faster by 2030. To get there, we need bold ideas from every corner of the country. This is our moment to dream big, remove outdated barriers, and build the tools that will define the next century of innovation.”
    “The United States has always faced grand challenges, from building the interstate highway system to landing on the moon,” said Rounds. “Today, we face a new imperative: creating a superhighway for science that lets our researchers cure cancer, harness fusion energy and defend our country from both physical and cyber threats in record time. Creating a centralized system that involves input from the experts and the public is the first step in turning that vision into reality.”
    BACKGROUND:
    American innovations routinely take a decade or more to move from laboratory discovery to products that improve lives. Emerging AI-driven research methods have demonstrated 10- to 50-fold improvements in drug design, materials screening and clean-energy development, yet access to the requisite data, compute and regulatory agility remains sparse. ASAP seeks to match the scale of the 1950s interstate build-out with a 21st-century investment in scientific infrastructure so the nation can:

    Bring life-saving therapies to patients in months, not years.

    Connect net-positive fusion power and next generation nuclear to the grid before 2030.

    Deploy affordable superconductors and materials that revolutionize energy and transportation.

    Specifically, the RFI invites comment on:

    DATA – Creating secure, interoperable platforms that house the world’s largest collection of AI-ready, consented scientific data.

    COMPUTING – Making sure U.S. researchers have unrivaled access to advanced computing, networking and energy infrastructure.

    AI – Developing scientific artificial intelligence “copilots” that accelerate innovation and discovery—and keep scientists at the heart of the scientific process.

    COLLABORATION – Unlocking cross-disciplinary teamwork and tapping wells of talent across the nation.

    PROCESSES – Streamlining regulatory pathways and adopting AI-enabled testing protocols to speed time-to-market while raising the bar for safety and establishing clear metrics for measuring success.

    The comment window is now open for 60 days. The feedback received will guide ASAP legislation to be introduced this Congress.
    Click HERE to read the full RFI and submission instructions.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Shaheen Joins Senior Senate Colleagues in Demanding Investigation into Elon Musk’s Alleged Abuse of White House Position for Personal Gain

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    **Shaheen introduced new legislation last month that would prevent Special Government Employees like Musk from receiving federal contracts or grant payments to companies they own**
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, on Friday joined several of her high-ranking Senate officials in sending a letter to President Trump to demand an investigation into recent reports that Elon Musk—senior White House advisor and Special Government Employee—has used his role to advance personal business interests abroad. In the letter led by U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the lawmakers reference an alarming pattern in which Musk allegedly utilized influence in the  policy making process to pressure foreign governments—including India, South Africa, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan and Lesotho—into granting favorable treatment to his satellite internet provider Starlink in apparent exchange for U.S. policy concessions.  
    Last month, Shaheen unveiled new legislation that would prevent federal contracts or grant payments to companies owned or controlled by any person who became a Special Government Employee on or after January 1, 2025. 
    The Senators wrote, in part: “Public servants must serve Americans, not their own bank accounts. These alleged actions are an egregious breach of public trust, degrade our credibility with allies and partners, and potentially violate U.S. laws.”  
    The letter details instances of Musk meeting with foreign leaders – including those from India and Bangladesh – inside the White House complex and the Blair House, shortly before their governments fast-tracked regulatory approvals for Starlink. In one example, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission issued what was described as “the swiftest recommendation” in its history for a Starlink license shortly after officials requested a delay in U.S.-imposed tariffs and met with Musk on White House grounds. 
    The Senators continued: “The White House and the Blair House are not merely buildings – they are enduring symbols of American democracy and service. To use this public property for personal enrichment is not only a betrayal of the public trust – it also sends a dangerous signal that power is not a solemn responsibility, but an asset to be exploited for personal gain.” 
    They concluded: “Brazen corruption of that sort is seen in despotic regimes, not the United States of America. We call for you to investigate these claims about Musk and to make public any findings. And we call for an accounting to Congress of Musk and his associates’ use of government positions for personal benefit.” 
    Click here to view the letter. 
    In addition to Shaheen and Warner, the letter was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee; Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee; Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member, Senate Budget Committee; Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee; Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member, Senate Agriculture Committee; and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell Call on President Trump to Secure Release of Joseph St. Clair

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    “We must have decisive action,” senators write
    St. Clair, a Washingtonian and military vet, is being wrongfully detained in Venezuela
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter asking President Donald Trump to secure the release of Joseph St. Clair, a Washingtonian who is being wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
    “[St. Clair] is a decorated U.S Air Force veteran who served four tours in Afghanistan and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Each day he is held, it prolongs his suffering, and the suffering of his friends and family,” the Senators write. “We must have decisive action by the U.S. Government to secure his release along with other Americans being wrongfully detained by Venezuela.”
    Both senators met with members of St. Clair’s family this week.
    The full text of the letter is HERE and below.
    Mr. President:
    We are writing to urge your personal involvement in pressing for the release of Joseph St. Clair, who is being wrongfully detained in Venezuela. He is a decorated U.S Air Force veteran who served four tours in Afghanistan and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Each day he is held, it prolongs his suffering, and the suffering of his friends and family.
    We must have decisive action by the U.S. Government to secure his release along with other Americans being wrongfully detained by Venezuela.
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Johnson Request Biden White House and NARA Records on Politically-Motivated Investigations into President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are calling on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to release all government records demonstrating the Biden administration’s role in advancing investigations into then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The senators are also opening an inquiry into NARA and its Inspector General’s role in those investigations. 
    The chairmen requested:

    All records between or among Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to President Trump’s election interference case, that began as the Arctic Frost investigation and ultimately became part of Jack Smith’s elector case.
    All records between or among DOJ, FBI and Biden White House officials referring or relating to the investigation into President Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified information.
    All NARA records, including the NARA Office of Inspector General, referring or relating to the Arctic Frost and the classified document investigations.

    Read their full letter to NARA HERE.
    Previous Arctic Frost oversight:
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –