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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Demands Trump Administration Undo Funding Termination for National Endowment for the Humanities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Reno, Nev. – U.S. Senator Cortez Masto joined her colleagues in sending a letter demanding the Trump administration undo its termination of congressionally-appropriated funding for grants administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The cuts include funding for Nevada Humanities, which supports museums, cultural centers, and libraries across the state.

    “Overnight, on April 2, 2025, the NEH terminated all current five-year General Operating Support grants awarded to state and jurisdictional humanities councils. […] The administration is also targeting NEH with the aim of terminating more than 1,400 other grant awards, substantially reducing its staff, and eliminating many of the agency’s previously announced grant programs,” the lawmakers began. “Such reckless actions will have a devastating impact on museums, historic sites, universities, educators, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, and local humanities programming throughout our nation.” 

    “NEH funds, allocated to state humanities councils, are for local use and allow councils to leverage $2 in private investment for every federal dollar spent. The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate the ability of these nonprofits to serve localities in their states, eliminating programs that are essential to each state’s cultural infrastructure,” the lawmakers wrote. “This will lead to significant job loss in communities that are the most vulnerable to the lack of federal support.”

    “Libraries, museums, historic sites, and community centers in rural communities and small towns face particularly dire financial futures without grant funding from state humanities councils and the NEH. Additionally, small and midsize organizations benefit from the guidance and expertise of the agency,” the lawmakers continued. “These organizations are the backbone of our communities’ unique cultures, reinforcing civic participation, community engagement, historic preservation, tourism infrastructure, and economic development.”

    The NEH funding provides the majority of operating support for state humanities councils. The Trump administration is also threatening to terminate more than 1,400 other grant awards at the NEH, substantially reducing its staff, and eliminating many of the agency’s previously announced grant programs. 

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    Senator Cortez Masto has pushed multiple Departments under the Trump Administration for detailed, public information regarding the impacts of President Trump’s federal funding freeze, hiring freeze, and terminations on Nevada – including to the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, General Services Administration, and Department of Health and Human Services.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Helps Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Protect Independence of USPS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a bipartisan resolution to protect the independence and services of the United States Postal Service, emphasizing the essential role the Postal Service has played in connecting and serving Americans, especially in rural communities.

    “Privatizing the United States Postal Service would completely destroy the reliable and timely delivery that Granite Staters count on for medication and other essential goods,” said Senator Hassan. “The Postal Service serves all Americans, no matter where they live. Privatization would completely abandon that, potentially slowing down or even eliminating mail service to the rural communities that need it most. This bipartisan resolution is a clear statement of the bipartisan opposition against any attempts to privatize the Postal Service.” 

    The resolution notes that the Postal Service delivers mail to more than 168 million residential and business addresses six days a week and is one of the most trusted government agencies. The Postal Service is a self-sustaining entity that is not funded by taxpayer dollars and relies on revenues derived from its products and services. The resolution also highlights the Postal Service’s critical role in the $1.9 trillion mailing industry, which employs 7.9 million Americans. The Postal Service provides affordable and universal service to rural, suburban, and urban communities alike, and employs more than 73,000 military veterans. Finally, the resolution underscores that Congress should ensure the Postal Service remains an independent establishment and not subject to privatization. 

    The full text of the resolution can be found here.

    This resolution is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to protect and strengthen the USPS. In 2022, Senator Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan legislation to strengthen the USPS and improve the agency’s long-term financial stability was signed into law. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They’re Saying: Support Grows for Hickenlooper’s Bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    Hickenlooper’s Fix Our Forests Act will help reduce wildfire risk for Colorado communities and speed up mitigation projects while maintaining environmental safeguards and encouraging local involvement

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, John Curtis, Alex Padilla, and Tim Sheehy announced growing support from state officials, community leaders, and environmental organizations for the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. The bill works to strengthen wildfire resilience by improving forest management, supporting fire-safe communities, and streamlining approvals for projects that protect communities and ecosystems from extreme wildfires.

    The comprehensive bill reflects months of bipartisan negotiations to find consensus on how to accelerate forest management projects, promote safe and responsible prescribed fire treatments, expand public input in assessments of wildfire resilience needs, and enhance collaboration between federal agencies, states, tribes, and stakeholders.

    The Fix Our Forests Act is supported by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado State Forest Service, ColoradoDivision of Fire Prevention and Control, The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Federation of American Scientists, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), Association of Firetech Innovation (AFI), Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), Wildfire Alliance, Tall Timbers, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, The Stewardship Project, Megafire Action, Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), National Association of State Foresters (NASF), Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, American Forests, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Utah Department of Natural Resources, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Utah Farm Bureau Federation, California Natural Resources Agency, and Climate & Wildfire Institute.

    WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

    “I applaud the bipartisan work and leadership of the Senate sponsors of this bill, including Colorado’s Senator Hickenlooper, in crafting a bill that will make Colorado communities safer amidst the urgent and growing wildfire crisis in the West. From supporting responsible and expedited on-the-ground fuel reductions, to bolstering the use and development of the latest wildfire satellite monitoring technology which compliments Colorado’s national leadership in the aerospace sector, and to investing in stewardship practices for local communities to be better prepared for wildfires and reforestation efforts with the state nursery to improve our ability to recover – this bill makes major strides in addressing the country’s wildfire risk and will support Colorado’s continued leadership in wildfire preparedness, response and recovery,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

    “Extreme risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West demands urgent action,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “In California, we’re fast-tracking projects by streamlining state requirements and using more fuel breaks and prescribed fire. The Fix Our Forests Act is a step forward that will build on this progress — enabling good projects to happen faster on federal lands. I’m appreciative of Senator Padilla and the bipartisan team of Senators who crafted a balanced solution that will both protect communities and improve the health of our forests.”

    “A century of fire suppression and decades of reduced forest management have left us with overgrown, unhealthy forests that are more vulnerable to disease and catastrophic wildfire,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “The Fix Our Forest Act, along with the tools provided by President Trump’s executive order, will help us actively manage our forests—protecting our watersheds, improving wildlife habitat, reducing wildfire risk, and providing the timber we need to build strong homes and neighborhoods.”

    “We applaud the efforts made by Senator Hickenlooper in the Fix Our Forests Act to provide federal, state, and local partners with the tools needed to address wildfire mitigation in the most vulnerable areas in Colorado. Wildfires do not abide by our political boundaries. But here in Colorado we have built strong coordination among federal, state, local land managers and stakeholders to help reduce the impact of wildfires on our critical infrastructure and landscapes,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “We appreciate that this legislation builds upon this important collaboration and draws on existing agreements, such as Shared Stewardship, which will help strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships as we prepare for the next Colorado mega-fire.”

    “Forests are central to our way of life in Colorado. They support world-class outdoor recreation and a vital water supply that more than 40 million Americans rely upon. I am grateful to Senator John Hickenlooper for his work on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act,” said Matt McCombs, Colorado State Forester and Director of the Colorado State Forest Service. “This critical legislation will bolster our shared stewardship ethic in Colorado and enhance our ability as a state to improve forest health, protect lives, communities and water supplies from wildfire, and ensure that the forests that define Colorado endure for generations to come.”

    “First of all, thanks to Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Sheehy, and Padilla for their leadership in moving all this forward! Having spent so many hours working on the Wildfire Mitigation and Management Commission, it is refreshing to see so many of the recommendations moving forward!” said Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.“Colorado has taken a very aggressive approach in addressing the wildfire challenges we face and we are pleased to see these efforts at the federal level taking a more holistic look at the challenges we all face and in support of the Commission’s recommendations. This bipartisan effort will serve Colorado and America well! I fully support this effort and I am happy to help in any way that would be helpful.”

    “TNC appreciates the serious undertaking of Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to build on legislation targeted at preventing more catastrophic wildfires through improved forest and fuels management and expanded use of prescribed fire. TNC has been working to restore beneficial fire and improve the resilience of forest systems on the ground for more than 60 years. Every year, wildfires continue to grow deadlier and more devastating to communities and the environment, and we remain concerned that the significant cuts to the Forest Service workforce will impede work to protect people and nature from these wildfire risks.  We support this legislative effort aimed at improving the forest management process to better address catastrophic wildfires,” said Kameran Onley, managing director of North America policy and government relations, The Nature Conservancy.

    “For many Americans, catastrophic wildfires are a very real and growing threat to their homes and lives,” said Environmental Defense Fund Executive Director Amanda Leland. “The U.S. Forest Service needs new tools and more resources now to prevent and control these wildfires, and with the right funding, this bipartisan proposal will help. Protecting people and nature from catastrophic wildfire requires both a robust, science-based plan of forest management and the resources to implement it.”

    “As the megafire crisis grows larger and more severe with each fire season, we need policy solutions that reflect the urgency and scale of the problem. Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla and Sheehy have negotiated a Senate companion to the Fix Our Forests Act that will move the federal government towards a science-based, strategic approach to addressing megafires. We look forward to working with the sponsors to advance this bill and enact the most transformative wildfire and land management law in a generation—since the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, if not the National Forest Management Act of 1976,” said Matt Weiner, CEO of Megafire Action.

    “We are thrilled to see the Fix Our Forests Act introduced in the Senate through a bipartisan cooperation between Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy. The bill greatly expands upon the version that passed the House, adding critical details to support wildfire risk reduction in the built environment and provisions for mitigating the health impacts of smoke to communities while promoting expanded use of prescribed fire,”said Annie Schmidt and Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Managing Directors, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience. “Covering a third of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, this bill is a significant step forward in wildfire policy and, coupled with sufficient funding and staffing to realize the proposed tools and programs, will make a real difference in our nation’s experience with wildfire.”

    “I thank Senators Hickenlooper, Padilla, Curtis, and Sheehy for introducing this bipartisan legislation,” said Fire Chief Josh Waldo, President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. “As we saw in January’s fires in Los Angeles, the nation faces a serious and growing risk from fires in the wildland urban interface (WUI). This legislation will enact many of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. It also will improve coordination of federal wildland fire preparedness efforts; promote the use of prescribed fires and other preventative measures to prevent WUI fires; and promote the development of new technologies to help local fire departments. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to pass this legislation.”

    “Our national forests provide essential wildlife habitat, store carbon, and supply communities across the nation with clean air and water. These vital landscapes are under threat and must be proactively stewarded if they are to survive the changing climate, rapidly intensifying wildfires, and past management missteps. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act will help increase the pace and scale of evidence-backed forest management, including the use of beneficial prescribed fire and the restoration of white oak forests. But we must have a robust and talented federal workforce in place for it to succeed,” said Abby Tinsley, vice president for conservation policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “We will work with Senators Hickenlooper, Padilla, Sheehy, Curtis, and Chairman Westerman in the House to strengthen and advance this important conversation.”

    “The health of our nation’s forests is dependent on the rivers, streams, and wetlands that sustain them. Actively conserving and restoring these critical aquatic resources is an important tool that can be used to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and drought, among other threats,” said Alicia Marrs, director of western water for the National Wildlife Federation. “We’re encouraged to see language in the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act that recognizes the wildfire benefits of aquatic restoration. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders from both sides of the aisle to elevate these common sense and cost-effective approaches to forest and water management for all Americans.”

    “Wildfires grow more intense and destructive each year, leaving behind immense devastation for our forests, wildlife, and communities,” said Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer at the National Audubon Society.“The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act represents an important step in reducing wildfire risks across forested landscapes. Audubon thanks Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Padilla, and Sheehy for working together to craft a bill that sets the stage for improved forest management, and we urge Congress to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure federal agencies are well-equipped to reduce wildfire risks, steward our forestlands, and protect wildlife habitat.”

    “The growing frequency and severity of wildfires pose a tremendous threat to the health of our forests and the safety of countless communities. The Fix Our Forests Act takes important steps to mitigate wildfires, improve forest health, and protect local communities. We appreciate this thoughtful, bipartisan effort led by Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to advance this important legislation,” said Jennifer Tyler, VP of Government Affairs at Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

    “The declining health of our National Forests and the fish and wildlife habitat that they provide is a concern for America’s hunters and anglers,”said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP applauds the leadership of Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper, and Padilla for introducing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate and urges Congress to advance these important forest management provisions and to accompany them with adequate resources and capacity to carry out on-the-ground work.”   

    “HECHO enthusiastically applauds the impressive bipartisan leadership behind the Senate’s Fix Our Forests Act. At a time when cooperation is more important than ever, these Senators are putting forward real, thoughtful solutions to reduce wildfire risk while engaging local and rural communities. This legislation is a critical step toward actively managing our forests to protect public lands, watersheds, and the communities that depend on them. By expediting emergency authorities in high-risk firesheds —and through the creation of the Wildfire Intelligence Center—this effort has the potential to significantly reduce catastrophic wildfires and strengthen prediction and response, particularly in fire-prone states like Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. It’s a shining example of the kind of balanced, forward-looking leadership we need to protect our natural landscapes and communities,” said Camilla Simon, Executive Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO).

    “BPC Action applauds the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Curtis (R-UT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheehy (R-MT), and Padilla (D-CA) on the introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act. By streamlining and improving forest and hazardous fuels management activities on public and Tribal lands, this legislation will help reduce wildfire risks, improve forest health, and protect communities in fire-prone areas. The Fix Our Forests Act also delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits by addressing critical needs to enhance the domestic supply chain of seeds and advance biochar commercialization,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).

    “The Senate’s bipartisan Fix Our Forest Act is a critical step toward restoring forest health and reducing catastrophic wildfire risk. This bipartisan legislation tackles the root causes of catastrophic wildfires by fixing the Cottonwood decision, reforming litigation standards, expanding categorical exclusions up to 10,000 acres, and boosting restoration capacity through long-term stewardship contracts and extended Good Neighbor Authority. Healthy forests require active stewardship—not bureaucratic delay. We thank Senators Hickenlooper, Sheehy, Padilla, and Curtis for bringing forward this bill, and we urge swift passage of this much-needed legislation,” said Brian Yabolnski, CEO of The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC).

    “Wildfires continue to ravage communities igniting homes, businesses, and infrastructure. APCIA commends Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla for their bipartisan leadership of the Fix Our Forests Act. The bill would improve fire assessment and prediction for wildland areas and communities to improve response, reduce hazardous fuels, enable greater vegetation management by utilities in federal rights-of-way to prevent fires, and create a community wildfire risk reduction program to support fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards, promote ignition-resistant materials, defensible space, and other measures to reduce risk,” said David A. Sampson, President & CEO of APCIA

    “The Fix Our Forests Act streamlines collaboration between the National Wild Turkey Federation, the USDA Forest Service, and other partners, cutting red tape to accelerate urgent forest restoration and management on federal lands,” said Matt Lindler, NWTF Director of Government Affairs. “This bill ensures we can better manage and conserve vital natural resources for wildlife, hunters and anglers. We are grateful to see the Senate introduce this critical piece of legislation and await the signature from the president.”   

    “There is no time to waste in restoring and reforesting the forests that work every day to be the lungs of our nation,” said Brian Kittler, Chief Program Officer-Resilient Forests. “More than ever before successful and timely forest restoration will require strengthened coordination across federal, state, and tribal governments together with non-profit organizations. This bill prioritizes a complementary series of actions that will accelerate wildfire resilience and community resilience including ensuring post-fire reforestation is implemented quickly and with the best available science.”

    “The science is clear: tackling the wildfire crisis requires better forest management, increasing the use of prescribed fire, and investing in and deploying the next generation of wildfire technologies. The Fix Our Forests Act will get this urgently needed work done. Now is the time for the Senate to build on the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by the sponsors and pass this bill,” said James Campbell, Wildfire Policy Specialist at the Federation of American Scientists.

    “CWI commends Senator Curtis, Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Sheehy, and Senator Padilla for their bipartisan efforts to meaningfully address the wildfire crisis. The Fix Our Forests Act is an important step towards accelerating proven solutions to reduce catastrophic fire risk, improve forest and ecosystem health, and safeguard our local communities,” said Marissa Christiansen, Executive Director at the Climate and Wildfire Institute.“We are pleased to see many recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report included in the updated legislation, including a directive to establish the Wildfire Intelligence Center to serve as the national hub for wildfire data, prediction, and response. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to help accelerate solutions to the wildfire crisis by incorporating the best available science, data, and management principles into commonsense policy reform and decision-making.”

    “AFI supports the Fix Our Forests Act and calls on the United States Senate to pass it with the urgency the $100 billion a year wildfire crisis warrants from our elected officials,” said Bill Clerico, Founding Chair of AFI and Managing Partner of Convective Capital. “AFI is particularly supportive of the legislation’s inclusion of a Wildfire Intelligence Center, a long-overdue step to better integrate and coordinate wildfire response efforts and invest in cutting-edge technology. Our country’s wildfire response efforts are antiquated and are leaving us ill-prepared for this growing crisis. FOFA is a critical step to refining our wildfire response efforts and protecting our communities.”

    “State forestry agencies play a lead role not only in managing and protecting over 550 million acres of state and private forests, but also working to improve the health and resiliency of federal lands through cross-boundary partnerships nationwide. State Foresters are also responsible for wildfire protection on more than 1.5 billion acres and, in collaboration with local fire departments, responding to 80 percent of the nation’s wildland fires,” said Jay Farrell, Executive Director of the NASF. “NASF applauds the bipartisan work of Senators Sheehy, Curtis, Hickenlooper, and Padilla to chart a path forward to greatly enhance wildfire management and recovery efforts and stem the tide of disastrous wildfires that threaten our nation’s forests and the livelihood of communities that depend on them. We recognize that many of the improvements made in the Fix Our Forests Act are nuanced and look forward to continuing our work with Congress to ensure its landmark reforms become law.”

    “The poor health of our federal forests exacerbates the wildfires that negatively impact wildlife habitat, sportsmen’s access, and communities across the country, and comprehensive reforms are needed to actively treat hazardous fuels efficiently and at scale to increase forest resiliency to severe wildfires, insects, and disease,” said John Culclasure, Senior Director of Forest Policy at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Members Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy for introducing the Fix Our Forests Act to improve forest management through strengthened authorities, collaborative tools, and improved processes. We look forward to working with the bill sponsors to advance the legislation quickly as we approach wildfire season.”

    “Arnold Ventures praises the bipartisan introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, an evidence-based, constructive proposal to cut red tape and prevent catastrophic forest fires. We applaud Senators John Curtis (R‑UT), John Hickenlooper (D‑CO), Tim Sheehy (R‑MT), and Alex Padilla (D‑CA) for their work to craft and introduce this important and necessary legislation. We encourage all Senators to support and ultimately pass the Fix Our Forests Act,” said Charlie Anderson, Executive Vice President for infrastructure at Arnold Ventures. “AV also thanks Reps. Bruce Westerman (R‑AR) and Scott Peters (D‑CA) for championing this vital work in the House of Representatives. We are heartened by the collaborative work across party lines in both chambers to support thoughtful, bipartisan policy that will save lives and property.”

    “Berkshire Hathaway Energy applauds the Senate introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act and thanks the bipartisan group of Senators who worked together to move it forward. The bill’s provisions would improve forest management activities on federal and tribal lands in common-sense ways, improving their resilience to wildfire,” said Scott Thon, President and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. “Passage and enactment of these provisions would be a step to help prevent catastrophic wildfires and lessen their environmental damage. Berkshire Hathaway Energy recognizes the growing threat of wildfires affects everyone and requires holistic solutions with businesses, governments and key stakeholders working together to design and implement constructive, enduring solutions.”

    “Our forests face serious threats, and this bipartisan bill is a vital step forward in addressing complex forest health challenges,” said Joel Ferry, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. “It gives land managers the tools to proactively reduce wildfire risk, protect critical watersheds, and restore forest ecosystems through stronger collaboration.”

    “The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act provides much-needed tools that will move the needle and improve our work to mitigate wildfires,” said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “This bill will bring California’s use of cutting-edge technology to the rest of the country. The proposed Wildfire Intelligence Center will advance the kind of predictive services, monitoring, and early detection work already happening at California’s Wildfire Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center.”

    “Utah’s farmers and ranchers applaud Senator Curtis’ sponsorship of the ‘Fix Our Forests Act’, which will enhance forest health, reduce wildfire risks, and protect vital watersheds. We are particularly encouraged by provisions promoting locally-led restoration efforts, targeted grazing as a wildfire mitigation tool, and watershed protection strategies,” said ValJay Rigby, Utah Farm Bureau Federation President. “The Utah Farm Bureau appreciates the bill’s emphasis on active forest management and increasing the pace and scale of treatment projects to address catastrophic wildfire risks. The ‘Fix Our Forests Act’ represents a significant step toward healthier forests and safer communities.”

    BACKGROUND:

    The West has long been prone to wildfires, but climate change, 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.

    Colorado has seen four of the five largest fires in our state’s history since 2018. The 2021 Marshall fire was Colorado’s most destructive on record, burning over 1,000 homes. The Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires in 2020 together burned more than 400,000 acres, the two largest fires in the state’s history. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231% increase.

    Forest health challenges are also increasing in frequency and severity due to climate stressors like drought and fire, and biological threats like invasive species – all of which the West is particularly vulnerable to. From 2001 to 2019, total U.S. forest area declined by 2.3%, with the Intermountain West experiencing the largest losses by area.

    To address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would:

    • Establish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority “firesheds,” with an emphasis on cross-boundary collaboration.
    • Streamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments.
    • Create a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications.
    • Boost reforestation with the inclusion of Hickenlooper’s Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) Support Act to support reforestation capacity of state, tribal, and private nurseries.
    • Strengthen coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center with the inclusion of Hickenlooper’s bipartisan Wildfire Intelligence Collaboration and Coordination Act of 2025, which would streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.
    • Support prescribed fire activities on both federal and non-federal lands – prioritizing large, cross-boundary projects, strengthening the prescribed fire workforce, and facilitating coordination on air quality protections.
    • Expand research and demonstration initiatives – including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program – to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies.
    • Enable watershed protection and restoration projects to include adjacent non-federal lands; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments.

    A one-pager can be found here, and a section-by-section can be found here.

    The Fix Our Forests Act was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Bruce Westerman and Scott Peters.

    Hickenlooper has been an active supporter of wildfire resilience, including sponsorship of legislation to restore land management agency staffing and pushback on the firings of the federal employees that support wildfire resilience on our public lands. The Fix Our Forests Act provides the tools necessary to accelerate wildfire resilience, which will work alongside Hickenlooper’s sustained efforts for the funding and staffing necessary for land management efforts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Condemn Trump and Hegseth’s Trans Military Service Ban

    US Senate News:

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

    April 23, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in condemning President Trump’s un-American and unconstitutional transgender military service ban, calling it a blatant violation of our brave servicemembers’ civil rights and a threat to national security.

    The lawmakers demanded answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on whether the Administration is complying with the nationwide injunctions that halted the unconstitutional ban, and asked the Administration to disclose whether any trans servicemembers have been wrongfully dismissed as a result of Trump’s executive order, despite the courts’ injunctions.

    “This policy insults the service of brave Americans who believe that all people, regardless of differences, are equal and have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Merkley, Wyden and the other lawmakers wrote in a letter to Secretary Hegseth. “As the Joint Force faces a recruiting crisis amid a staggering attrition rate for new troops (nearly a quarter of Army recruits have failed to complete their initial contracts since 2022), our Nation cannot afford to expel several thousand troops serving honorably on a baseless, hateful whim.”

    The lawmakers criticized Trump’s trans military service ban for not only being discriminatory and based on false pretenses, but also for hurting our military readiness and exacerbating the ongoing military recruiting crisis in service of continuing hateful attacks against transgender Americans.

    “The United States military became the greatest fighting force in the world by pioneering the integration of diverse groups,” the lawmakers continued. “We have triumphed over our enemies because military effectiveness and lethality are strengthened by a broad range of skills, experiences, and backgrounds. Naysayers who have derided the U.S. military as lacking the discipline, intelligence, and ability to achieve unit cohesion among Americans of different classes, races, ethnicities, religions, and yes, genders, have been proven wrong again and again.”

    In addition to Merkley and Wyden, the letter was led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and co-signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

    The full text of the letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Restore Funding for National Endowment for the Humanities

    US Senate News:

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

    April 23, 2025

    “Libraries, museums, historic sites, and community centers in rural communities and small towns face particularly dire financial futures without grant funding from state humanities councils and the NEH.”

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate and House colleagues to demand the Trump administration reverse its termination of congressionally-appropriated funding for grants administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

    Their letter follows the Oregon Democratic delegation’s denouncement of this administration’s egregious attacks on humanities funding earlier this month. 

    In this latest letter to Donald Trump and NEH Acting Chair Michael McDonald, the lawmakers wrote: “Overnight, on April 2, 2025, the NEH terminated all current five-year General Operating Support grants awarded to state and jurisdictional humanities councils. This funding provides the majority of operating support for state humanities council partners of NEH. The administration is also targeting NEH with the aim of terminating more than 1,400 other grant awards, substantially reducing its staff, and eliminating many of the agency’s previously announced grant programs. Such reckless actions will have a devastating impact on museums, historic sites, universities, educators, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, and local humanities programming throughout our nation.

    “For over 60 years, NEH staff have helped grantees, from individuals to museums and nonprofits, provide high-quality humanities programs to communities across the country, including 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. NEH funds, allocated to state humanities councils, are for local use and allow councils to leverage $2 in private investment for every federal dollar spent. The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate the ability of these nonprofits to serve localities in their states, eliminating programs that are essential to each state’s cultural infrastructure. This will lead to significant job loss in communities that are the most vulnerable to the lack of federal support,” the lawmakers continued. 

    “These cuts will not provide significant savings for the federal government nor the American taxpayer, but they will impact millions who benefit from the far-reaching humanities programs, including our veterans, students, educators, and seniors. We urge the Administration to reconsider this decision. Supporting the NEH is not merely an investment in cultural preservation; it is also a crucial investment in community health, education, social development, and economic vitality,” the lawmakers concluded. 

    NEH funding provides the majority of operating support for state humanities councils. The Trump administration is also threatening to terminate more than 1,400 other grant awards at the NEH, substantially reducing its staff, and eliminating many of the agency’s previously awarded and announced grant programs.  

    U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) led the letter, which was co-signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Angus King (I-Me.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and 108 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, in addition to Wyden and Merkley.  

    Full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Continues “Medicaid Impact Tour” with Roundtable at Partnership for Public Health in Laconia, Highlights Importance of Access to Preventative Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Laconia, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) continued her “Medicaid Impact Tour” by hosting a roundtable discussion at Partnership for Public Health in Laconia with local leaders, health care providers and constituents from the Lakes Region who would be hurt by Republican-led cuts to Medicaid. Photos from today’s event can be found here.

    “I was pleased to continue my ‘Medicaid Impact Tour’ today with a roundtable in the Lakes Region to hear from more Granite Staters who would be impacted if President Trump and Congressional Republicans follow through with their plan to dramatically cut Medicaid,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m going to take what I learned today back to Washington. Republicans need to be reminded that Medicaid increases access to vital preventative care that helps Americans save money in the long-term, hold jobs, be active in their communities and contribute to local economies.”

    Yesterday, Shaheen kicked off her “Medicaid Impact Tour” by hosting a roundtable on rural health care at Northern Human Services in Berlin. Shaheen’s tour comes as Congressional Republicans, led by President Trump and Elon Musk, work to advance legislation that will pave the way for steep cuts to Medicaid funding and would impact millions of people across the country. Under the Republican proposal, more than 59,000 Granite Starters will be at risk of losing coverage including 7,600 patients that are currently receiving treatment for substance use disorders. 

    Earlier this month, Shaheen and Democrats held the floor and offered dozens of amendments to push back against the Republican-led budget resolution that paves the way for tax breaks for the wealthiest while slashing programs like Medicaid to pay for it. The majority of Senate Republicans worked to block several amendments Shaheen offered that would have helped make health care more affordable and accessible.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2026

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 23, 2025

    After serving seven House terms and five Senate terms, Durbin says, “I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch.”

    CHICAGO – In a video message shared with Illinois voters today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026.

    “The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term,” Durbin said in the video.

    “The people of Illinois have honored me with this responsibility longer than anyone elected to the Senate in our state’s history. I am truly grateful,” Durbin said. “Right now, the challenges facing our country are historic and unprecedented. The threats to our democracy and way of life are very real, and I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country every day of my remaining time in the Senate.”

    Durbin concluded, “To the Illinoisans who gave this kid from East St. Louis a chance to serve: Thank you for supporting me—through words and actions—over the years. Now that I have this announcement behind me, I need to get back to work.”

    Senator Durbin is the 47th U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois, the state’s senior Senator, and the longest serving, popularly elected Senator from Illinois. Durbin also serves as the Senate Democratic Whip, the second highest ranking position among Senate Democrats. Durbin has been elected to this leadership post by his Democratic colleagues every two years since 2005 and is the longest serving Whip for either party.

    Senator Durbin served as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 117th and 118th Congresses. During his time as Chair, the committee held 145 full committee hearings, 88 subcommittee hearings, and 86 executive business meetings; advanced 373 executive and judicial nominees out of the committee; and reported 56 bills out of the committee. The Senate also confirmed a record 235 judges, including Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

    Senator Durbin has given more than half of his life to House and Senate Congressional service, having first been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, representing the Springfield-based 20th congressional district. After serving seven House terms, Durbin was elected to the U.S. Senate on November 5, 1996, and re-elected in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. Durbin fills the seat left vacant by the retirement of his long-time friend and mentor, U.S. Senator Paul Simon.

    A video summary of Durbin’s accomplishments as a member of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate can be found here. Below is a list of some of Durbin’s top legislative accomplishments throughout his career.

    • Judicial Confirmations. During his time as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Democrats confirmed 235 judges to lifetime positions. This included the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. Of the confirmations, two-thirds were women, two-thirds were people of color, and two-fifths were women of color.
    • Curbing Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use. As a Congressman, Durbin was the primary author of legislation that ended smoking on airplanes. Since, he has continued to work to reduce tobacco use—especially by young people—by leading the passage of legislation to increase the tobacco purchase age to 21, pressing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, and repeatedly calling on the FDA to better enforce laws regulating unauthorized e-cigarettes.
    • Dream Act/DACA. Beginning in 2001, Durbin introduced the Dream Act to give young immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. He has introduced the legislation every Congress since. Durbin has spoken on the Senate Floor 147 times to tell the stories of these young people. In 2012, Durbin worked with President Obama to establish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to allow these young people to gain temporary status. As of September 2024, roughly 530,000 people had active DACA status. 
    • Criminal Justice Reform. Durbin’s Fair Sentencing Act, enacted in 2010, reduced the federal sentencing disparity for crack/powder cocaine offenses. In 2019, Durbin led bipartisan efforts to enact the First Step Act, the most significant criminal justice reform legislation in a generation. More than 40,000 people had been released under the First Step Act as of January 2024, with a recidivism rate of only 9.7 percent. Durbin continues to work to further these efforts through his Safer Detention Act, Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act, and Smarter Sentencing Act.
    • Infrastructure Investments. Durbin has made strengthening Illinois’ role as a transportation hub a top priority. He has led efforts to secure funding to relieve congestion on Illinois’ roads; modernize O’Hare International Airport; expand air service downstate; improve and expand passenger rail service—including Amtrak, CTA, and Metra; modernize locks and dams; and improve pedestrian safety. Since the return of earmarks from Fiscal Year 2022 – Fiscal Year 2024 alone, Durbin secured $548.1 million for Illinois projects. 
    • Health Care Shortages. Durbin has led efforts to expand health care access, especially in rural areas. Durbin’s bipartisan SIREN Act, first enacted in 2018, provides grants to rural fire and EMS agencies. He secured $1 billion for the National Health Service Corps and Nurse Corps in the American Rescue Plan to recruit more doctors, nurses, dentists, and behavioral health providers. Durbin has also worked to expand oral health care access through Medicaid. 
    • Medical & Scientific Research. Through Durbin’s American Cures and American Innovation Acts, and his America Grows Act, he has led efforts to secure increased funding—with the goal of five percent real growth—for federal medical and scientific research funding, including through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DoD), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other agencies. Durbin’s efforts resulted in a 60 percent funding increase for NIH over the past decade.
    • Support for the Baltics. Durbin was a strong supporter of the accession of Poland and the Baltics into NATO. He has been a steadfast Senate champion of the NATO alliance. And he has worked to provide further security support through his bipartisan Baltic Security Initiative Act and by securing funding for Baltic security through defense appropriations. 
    • College Affordability. In 2013, Durbin helped negotiate the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act to lower interest rates on federal student loans. Durbin’s Open Textbooks Pilot program has resulted in more than $250 million in estimated savings for students.  Durbin also led efforts to hold fraudulent for-profit colleges accountable and has pushed the Education Department to discharge the student loans of borrowers who attended these predatory schools. 
    • Gun Violence Prevention. Durbin has prioritized addressing childhood trauma to break the cycle of violence, including through his Chicago HEAL Initiative and his Trauma Support in Schools grant program with Senator Capito. In 2023, the 10 HEAL hospitals provided 4,403 students with employment/training opportunities and provided 2,614 victims of violence with trauma-informed case management. Durbin is working to further these efforts through his bipartisan RISE from Trauma Act.
    • Consumer Protection. In 2008, Durbin first introduced legislation to create an agency focused on consumer protection, which eventually was added to Dodd-Frank and resulted in the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Dodd-Frank also included the Durbin swipe fee amendment to cap debit card swipe fees, estimated to have saved consumers $6 billion in the first year after implementation. Durbin has continued to work to protect consumers through his bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act—and more recently, legislation to protect consumers from crypto ATM fraud and to bring transparency to airline rewards programs.
    • Protecting the Environment. Durbin has led efforts to protect the Great Lakes, including through Army Corps projects like Brandon Road, securing funding for Chicago shoreline restoration, supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and introducing legislation to prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets into waterways. Durbin has worked to reduce emissions and chemical discharges, including to reduce ethylene oxide emissions and more recently, legislation to phase out non-essential uses of PFAS. Durbin has also secured significant funding for electric vehicle production and charging infrastructure in Illinois.
    • Veterans Care. Durbin’s Veteran Servicemember Caregiver Support Act led to a new, national program at the VA, enacted in 2010, to provide financial assistance, health care, and counseling to family caregivers of disabled veterans. In 2023, the VA provided services to more than 74,000 caregivers participating in the program. Durbin also led the effort to establish the Lovell Federal Health Care Facility in North Chicago.
    • Defense Funding. Durbin served as Chairman/Vice Chairman of Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee from the 113th-116th Congresses. As a leader and member of that subcommittee, Durbin secured funding for a range of small defense contractors in Illinois, strengthened manufacturing at Rock Island Arsenal and capabilities at Scott Air Force Base, and led efforts to increase service member pay. Durbin also led the effort to bring a DoD Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute to Illinois (MxD) and has worked to address DoD’s PFAS releases to protect service members and their families.

    Durbin was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, to his father, William Durbin, and his Lithuanian-born mother, Ona (Kutkaite) Durbin. He is married to Loretta Schaefer Durbin. Their family consists of three children—Christine, Paul, and Jennifer—as well as six grandchildren.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth on Durbin Retirement: The Senate is Losing a Giant

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    April 22, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation Ranking Member—with House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and House Subcommittee on Aviation Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) today wrote to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau with their concerns regarding the safety of aircraft operations in and around Washington National Airport (DCA) in the wake of recent tragic incidents and multiple close calls. 
    “In the wake of the tragic January 29, 2025 midair collision, the operational challenges at DCA were thrust into the spotlight, drawing increased scrutiny and attention,” the Members wrote. “This includes numerous underlying issues, such as problems with existing standard operating procedures and air traffic controller resourcing.”
    Given the continuing pattern of safety incidents at DCA following the tragic mid-air collision on January 29, the Members called for the FAA to take the following actions: 
    Ensure that the required updated staffing targets at the DCA air traffic control tower are met and ensure that any necessary support roles are also fully staffed.
    Keep the hourly aircraft arrival rate at DCA at reduced levels, at least until the—
    DCA air traffic control tower is fully staffed up to such staffing targets; and
    FAA fully addresses the safety risks identified from the agency’s ongoing safety risk management panel (SRMP) review of DCA.
    Evaluate and modify any agreements with the Department of Defense and any other relevant government agencies pertaining to flight operations in the DCA capital region to ensure the safety of the flying public.
    Hold regular briefings for Congress about DCA, its operations, and any progress made in the agency’s review.
    In addition to the above actions, the Ranking Members call on the FAA to expand its ongoing SRMP review of DCA to include an analysis of various additional factors, including congestion in the airspace, the ideal staffing levels of the air traffic control tower, outstanding National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations, aircraft safety technology equipage and communication standards and the general mental health of aviation professionals working or operating at DCA. To ensure safer skies for the flying public, the FAA must take these immediate actions.
    The full letter is available on the Senator’s website and below.
    Dear Acting Administrator Rocheleau,
    We write to express our considerable concerns regarding the safety of aircraft operations in and around Washington National Airport (DCA). In the wake of the tragic January 29, 2025 midair collision, the operational challenges at DCA were thrust into the spotlight, drawing increased scrutiny and attention. This includes numerous underlying issues, such as problems with existing standard operating procedures (SOP) and air traffic controller resourcing.  In response, the FAA has made urgent safety changes which we strongly support, including the prohibition of operations on helicopter route 4 at DCA, the examination of helicopter operations at 21 other U.S. airports in 10 metro areas, a review of air traffic controllers staffing levels at the DCA tower, and an evaluation of DCA’s current hourly aircraft arrival rates.
    Despite these efforts, incidents at DCA continue to occur at an alarming rate. On Thursday, March 27, two air traffic controllers at DCA’s tower were involved in a physical altercation, with one controller being arrested and put on administrative leave while the FAA investigates the matter. Although the cause of the altercation has yet to be determined, we remain concerned that the mounting stress arising from the January 29 accident is having a lasting effect on air traffic controllers at DCA and that FAA’s dispatching of a ‘stress management team,’ while welcome, may be an insufficient response.
    On Friday, March 28, there was another alarming loss of separation between a military aircraft and civilian commercial carrier. According to numerous sources, a flight of four Air Force T-38 Talons was conducting a flyby of the Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), at which point DCA was advised to stop departures. Despite the notification, DCA continued to launch departures as the group of Talons continued inbound to the ANC. After Delta Airlines Flight 2983 departed Runway 19, separation was lost with the Talons, resulting in a serious near-miss event that allowed a distance between the two aircraft to be as close as 3,900 feet laterally and 100 feet vertically.
    Finally, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, two American Eagle flights, Flight 5490 operated by PSA Airlines and Flight 4522 operated by Republic Airways, made contact on a DCA taxiway. Together these planes were transporting a total of 143 passengers to Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries and both aircraft safely returned to the terminal and were taken out of service for inspection. However, this event is yet another in a growing pattern of concerning incidents at this congested airport.
    Given these significant ongoing issues at DCA, we call for the FAA to take the following actions:
    Immediately implement, in coordination with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the Collaborative Resource Working Group (CRWG) staffing targets at the DCA air traffic control tower and ensure that any necessary support roles are also fully staffed.
    Maintain the reduced hourly aircraft arrival rate at DCA to the rate put in place after standard operations first resumed on all three runways on or around February 11, 2025, at least until the—
    DCA control tower is fully staffed in alignment with the CRWG staffing targets; and
    FAA fully addresses the safety risks identified from the agency’s ongoing safety risk management panel (SRMP) review of DCA, including any risks identified from the analysis of the additional factors enumerated below.
    Evaluate and, as appropriate, modify any agreements or established SOPs with the Department of Defense and any other relevant governmental agencies pertaining to flight operations in the DCA capital region to ensure the safety of the flying public.
    Commence, at minimum, monthly briefings for our Committees describing
    Aviation safety incidents that occur in the DCA capital region, including identified airspace risks;
    Reforms the FAA or other agencies are actively implementing to improve the safety of DCA and its surrounding airspace; and
    Progress of the DCA SRMP and the implementation of its recommendations.
    In addition to the above actions, the FAA should ensure it is conducting a comprehensive analysis reviewing issues that may not currently be within the scope of the existing DCA SRMP. We urge you to either extend the scope and timeline for the existing DCA SRMP or conduct a separate review to sufficiently examine the following factors pertaining to DCA and its surrounding airspace:
    Congestion levels at DCA and its surrounding airspace;
    Any outstanding NTSB recommendations that, if implemented immediately, could improve the safety of DCA and its surrounding airspace;
    Existing data from the DCA capital region that has been collected but not analyzed, with the purpose of identifying presently unknown risks to aviation safety;
    Staffing levels of the DCA air traffic control tower and related facilities;
    General mental health of aviation professionals working or operating at DCA, including air traffic controllers, pilots, and airport first responders;
    Effectiveness and timeliness of mental health resources provided to these professionals, particularly after aviation accidents and other emergencies;
    Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) usage on aircraft operating near DCA; and
    Communication practices between air traffic controllers and flight crews, including—
    The segregation of various aircraft communications frequencies; and
    Air traffic controller and pilot callback standards and best practices;
    While it may take time for the NTSB to determine the causes of the tragic January 29 midair collision over the Potomac, we can act now to ensure safer skies for the flying public. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Releases New Social Security Explainer Video on YouTube to Reach Seniors Concerned About Benefits, Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 23, 2025
    “This is about all of us getting into the fight to defend the Social Security that people have paid into all of their working lives.”
    Senator Warren led Senate Democrats in launching Social Security War Room to fight back against Trump, Musk Attacks on Social Security
    Watch the Video (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released a new Social Security explainer video on YouTube to reach seniors concerned about cuts to their benefits and services. In the video, entitled “What’s going on with Social Security — and how we’re fighting back,” Sen. Warren explains the state of play, lays out the fight ahead to protect Social Security from Trump and Musk’s attempts to gut the agency, and urges people to share their stories about what Social Security means to them. According to AARP, at least half of Americans aged 50 and older use YouTube.
    “One of the best things we can do is tell the stories. Tell the stories about why Social Security matters. Tell the stories if you’re running into problems. Tell the stories about the people you know, maybe people who work at the Social Security Administration. This is about all of us getting into the fight to defend the Social Security that people have paid into all of their working lives,” said Senator Warren.
    Senator Warren recently led Senate Democrats in launching their Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.
    Transcript: What’s going on with Social Security — and how we’re fighting back.YouTubeApril 23, 2025
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: You might have heard that Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a chainsaw to your Social Security. So let’s talk about it.
    Moderator: So what have Donald Trump and Elon Musk done to Social Security so far? 
    Senator Warren: Donald Trump and Elon Musk are saying 78% of the people they want to fire are the folks working in those field offices to help people across this country when they have a problem. This is Donald Trump and Elon Musk working together as co-presidents to keep people from getting the Social Security benefits that they earned and they were promised by law.
    Moderator: Can Trump and Musk actually do this? 
    Senator Warren: No. Not legally. Congress established Social Security, and only Congress can cut benefits officially. But Trump and Musk are so determined to cut people’s access to Social Security, they’re trying a backdoor way. They’re making it harder and harder and harder and harder for people to get the Social Security benefits that they earned, and that the law says that they have a right to.
    That’s what they’re up to.
    Moderator: Are people seeing issues with their Social Security benefits?
    Senator Warren: Oh, yeah. Tom and Chris in Massachusetts have an adult son on the autism spectrum. He relies on Social Security benefits, for his support and for the care that he needs. So they check routinely to make sure everything is okay. 
    They checked last week and they’re told “nothing.” He has no benefits, no right to any benefits. And now what are they going to do? So this is what is happening around the country. 
    Shoot, there’s a guy out in Seattle, Ned. He finds out from checking about his Social security. He receives a notice that he’s dead, and has to spend weeks going back and forth to the Social Security office just to say, “not really. I’m still alive. Please don’t take back the money already in my account and please restart my Social Security payments.” 
    Look, Social Security is a great agency and bless them and bless those workers for the work they do every day. But mistakes do happen.
    When Elon Musk and Donald Trump come in with a chainsaw and they’re firing people and creating chaos, two things happen: the number of mistakes goes up and the people there to help you get them fixed goes down. And that’s bad for everyone who counts on Social Security.
    Moderator: So what’s anyone doing about it? 
    Senator Warren: Well, I’ve established a Social Security War Room. This means I’m going to be doing oversight, investigations, we’ll be sending out letters, visiting Social Security offices, but I need help from all of you.
    One of the best things we can do is tell the stories. Tell the stories about why Social Security matters. Tell the stories if you’re running into problems. Tell the stories about the people you know, maybe people who work at the Social Security Administration. This is about all of us getting into the fight to defend the Social Security that people have paid into all of their working lives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Democrats seek answers from inspector general on Social Security cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 23, 2025

    Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (New York) and four other Senate Democrats are urging the Social Security Administration’s inspector general’s office to investigate the impacts of the U.S. DOGE Service’s dramatic restructuring and sweeping cuts to the government agency.
    The letter sent to the inspector general’s office Wednesday is part of a broader Democratic effort to defend Social Security from what they describe as a reckless government downsizing campaign spearheaded by Donald Trump adviser Elon Musk. The agency provides critical benefits to more than 70 million Americans, and the lawmakers say the recent upheaval could leave many without access to basic services.

    Having received few answers about the scale and effect of the cuts, Schumer led the call for oversight from the agency’s independent watchdog because that avenue has yielded answers in the past, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.
    The letter was signed by Schumer, Sens. Ron Wyden (Oregon), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Kirsten Gillibrand (New York), and Mark Kelly (Arizona).
    In the sharply worded letter to acting inspector general Michelle L. Anderson, the lawmakers expressed “deep concern” over what they called a “drastic” disruption to Social Security’s ability to serve the public. The letter cites mass layoffs, additional pressure on existing staff and a dramatic overhaul of internal agency structures — many carried out, the lawmakers say, with little to no transparency.
    “This will undoubtedly lead to disruption in benefit payments and increasing barriers for Americans to access their Social Security benefits,” the senators wrote.
    The senators asked the inspector general to determine whether Social Security assessed what effect the changes could have had and whether they have affected customer service. The lawmakers also requested quarterly updates from the independent watchdog on the effects stemming from the agency’s changes.
    White House spokeswoman Liz Huston told The Post in a statement that Democrats’ concerns were “fake.”
    “President Trump will fiercely protect Social Security, eliminate unfair benefit taxes to boost seniors’ take-home pay, and drive the Social Security Administration to modernize systems, enhance customer service, and combat fraud,” she said.
    The move follows a similar push in the House. Last week, Gerry Connolly (Virginia) — the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee — sent a separate letter to Anderson urging a full investigation into DOGE’s changes within the agency, citing whistleblower allegations that the restructuring has “already degraded operations” and put beneficiaries’ sensitive data at risk.
    While Musk and DOGE officials have defended their approach as an overdue modernization of a bloated bureaucracy, Democrats argue the opaque, rapid-fire changes are putting some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens at risk.
    The growing drumbeat from Democrats suggests Social Security could become a centerpiece issue in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. Party operatives have already begun using the Musk-led restructuring efforts in political ads targeting Republican lawmakers. Last week, former president Joe Biden broke his silence for the first time since leaving office to warn of the consequences of cuts to Social Security.
    By:  Meryl KornfieldSource: Washington Post

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Schumer, Wyden, Senate Democrats Demand Social Security Watchdog Investigate Impact of DOGE’s Social Security Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 23, 2025
    Text of Letter (PDF) 
    Washington, D.C. – In their latest move to defend Social Security, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), led Senate Democrats in writing to the Acting Inspector General (IG) of Social Security, requesting a report into how the recent cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts have affected Americans who rely on Social Security.
    In the last two months, DOGE has moved to dramatically reduce the workforce of the Social Security Administration, including through laying off staff, pressuring employees to resign, and closing regional offices. This includes staff that work in field offices, who directly support Social Security beneficiaries, and that maintain and protect the SSA’s online systems millions rely on to access their benefits—which have been plagued with technical difficulties and service blackouts since DOGE initiated its takeover of SSA. 
    “These actions have already created a chilling effect among the agency’s workforce, with several senior SSA officials with centuries’ worth of institutional knowledge and experience having already left the agency,” wrote the senators. 
    “Collectively, this will undoubtedly lead to disruption in benefit payments and increasing barriers for Americans to access their Social Security benefits,” the lawmakers continued. 
    The senators requested the IG’s review include the agency’s organizational restructuring, closure of field offices, and moves to reduce its workforce to determine whether it has affected the agency’s ability to provide quality customer service. The senators also requested the IG’s office provide recurring quarterly updates on the impact of the agency’s reorganization and workforce reductions on customer service.
    “We are concerned that this hostile environment will foster burnout, low morale, higher attrition, and worse productivity among employees,” the senators wrote. 
    This call for an investigation is part of Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort launched this month to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement on Trump Detaining Vermont Farm Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    BURLINGTON, Vt., April 23 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement on the detention of eight farm workers in Vermont by the Trump administration:
    Trump wants to deport migrant agricultural workers. This will only disrupt families, raise food prices and put more pressure on struggling family farms. It is exactly the wrong approach. The time is long overdue for real immigration reform and a path to citizenship for migrant workers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: This Ain’t Our First Hike: National Park Week in the Heart of Texas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    National Park Week is here—April 19 through April 26—and it’s the perfect time to step back and appreciate the natural heritage that makes the Lone Star State so extraordinary. This year, the National Park Service (NPS) is celebrating with the theme “National Park Playlist,” highlighting the connections between music and nature from songs about nature to heavy metal.

    With Earth Day falling right in the middle of National Park Week, it’s also a time to honor both the planet and the great outdoors—two birds, one stone. National Park Week also includes National Junior Ranger Day, a special opportunity for young Texans to connect with nature through the NPS Junior Ranger Program. With games, hands-on activities, and guided learning offered at more than 400 national parks across the country, it’s a fun and family-friendly way to plant the seeds of environmental stewardship early.

    You don’t have to travel far to experience the great outdoors. Texas is home to numerous parks, offering everything from piney woods and desert plains to sweeping mountain ranges. Among its most treasured gems are Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend National Parks, two stunning landscapes that exemplify the natural beauty and vibrant wildlife of the Lone Star State.

    Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to Texas’ highest peak and a rugged beauty that draws hikers and nature lovers year-round. Established as a national park in 1966, it shares a geological history with nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where over 119 caves were formed through the dissolution of limestone over millions of years. These mountains carry the stories of ancient hunter-gatherers and the Mescalero Apache, whose presence is still honored today.

    In the northern reaches of the Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend stretches more than 800,000 acres. It offers dramatic canyons, desert solitude, and some of the best stargazing in the world. The park is a haven for wildlife, hosting approximately 31 species of snakes, 22 species of lizards, and more than 450 species of birds. Despite scorching summer temperatures that can exceed 115 degrees, the desert blooms with ocotillo, yucca, lechuguilla, bluebonnets, and desert marigolds. In fact, Big Bend contains more species of cacti than any other national park in the country.

    Humans have called this region home for millennia, with archaeological sites within the park that date back nearly 10,000 years. The Comanche were the last indigenous people to inhabit the area before American settlers in the late 1800s. And in a little-known chapter of Texas history, camels once roamed this land, having been brought in for military purposes in the 1850s. Through several expeditions, these camels marched over rough, rocky terrain with little to no water or vegetation. They were eventually sold off to ranchers and circuses after the expeditions.

    This year, Big Bend is at the heart of an exciting conservation effort. I introduced the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act, which would allow the NPS to acquire approximately 6,100 acres along the park’s western edge and help protect the land that makes this region, rich in ecological and culture meaning, so special. If passed, the legislation would be a step forward in preserving Texas’ natural wonders not just for us, but for generations to come.

    Here in Texas, National Park Week is a celebration of our land and our communities. The Lone Star State has never done things halfway, and our approach to public lands is no exception. Because in Texas, we know the land isn’t just ours to enjoy—it’s ours to protect for those who will walk it next.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Schiff, Reed, Lawmakers Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Defund Libraries and Museums

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    “The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day.”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and 23 lawmakers in writing to the Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) about serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate IMLS which was created by a Republican-led Congress in 1996 and is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums. In the letter, the Senators call on the Administration to ensure there is continued funding in accordance with federal law for libraries and museums and to reverse any actions that jeopardize their provision of critical services on which many communities rely on. 
    “The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day. These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities,” wrote the lawmakers.  
    “We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all LSTA grant funding to our states, including California, Connecticut and Washington, and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on,” the lawmakers concluded.  
    Libraries serve as essential lifelines for families, students, and workers throughout California providing literacy programs, access to technology, job training, small business support, and more. 
    This letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). In the U.S. House of Representatives, this letter is signed by Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-15), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.-46), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24) Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.-44) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18). 
    The full text of the letter is available here and below.   
    Dear Mr. Sonderling,
    We write to express our serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums. On March 14, 2025 President Trump issued the Executive Order “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy” which includes IMLS to be eliminated “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” and for IMLS to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to confirm compliance. We are reminding the Administration of its obligation to fully execute the law as authorized by Congress under the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) of 2018 (PL 115-40), as signed by President Trump. Beginning on April 3, 2025, several grantees— including the states of California, Connecticut and Washington— received written notice from IMLS that their federal Fiscal Year 2024–25 grants under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) had been terminated. We strongly urge the Administration to reverse these terminations and ensure continued funding in accordance with federal law.
    For Fiscal Year 2024, Congress appropriated $294.8 million for IMLS, specifying funding should be allotted across the programs in the following manner:
    Library Services Technology Act
    Grants to States                                                                                            $180,000,000
    Native American Library Services                                                             $5,763,000
    National Leadership: Libraries                                                                  $15,287,000
    Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian                                                            $10,000,000
    Museum Services Act
    Museums for America                                                                                 $30,330,000      
    Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services                           $3,772,000
    National Leadership: Museums                                                                 $9,348,000
    African American History and Culture Act                                                $6,000,000
    National Museum of the American Latino Act                                         $6,000,000
    Research, Analysis, and Data Collection                                                   $5,650,000
    Program Administration                                  $22,650,000
    We expect the Administration to fully implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 consistent with the Fiscal Year 2024 allocations. We also urge the Administration to allow IMLS to continue to engage with and support libraries and museums as Congress intended and as authorized in the MLSA, including maintaining the expertise of the IMLS staff to carry out the functions of the agency.
    Libraries and museums are deeply embedded in local communities across the country and millions of Americans rely on their services and programs, particularly the most rural and underserved areas. In 2024, IMLS funding reached 140,000 libraries and museums across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Public, school, academic, and specialty libraries provide a wide range of local services such as summer reading programs for youth, high-speed internet, workforce training, and support for small businesses. Libraries are especially vital for low-income families, students, and workers who depend on them for free access to technology, educational resources, and job search support. In California, local libraries serve as critical lifelines for families experiencing homelessness and those displaced by natural disasters, offering space for community gathering and access to emergency information. Every year, more than 1.2 billion people visit libraries in-person—and they are deeply valued by the American public.
    Museums serve as crucial sources of information for history, art, science, and culture and have broad public support. In fact, 96 percent of surveyed Americans believe lawmakers should support museums. Museums support more than 726,000 American jobs and contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy every year. Beyond their cultural significance, museums play a vital role in education, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students of all ages and providing resources that supplement school curricula, especially in underserved communities. For states like California, Connecticut, and Washington, museums are essential pillars of local identity, tourism, and community development.
    The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day. These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities.
    As such, please provide us with a written response to the questions below no later than May 1, 2025.
    How many IMLS employees have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment offer since January 20, 2025?  Please provide the number of employees in each category.
    How many individuals are currently employed at the agency?  Please provide their titles and duties.
    How many of these employees were responsible for, or assisted in, administering grants?
    Which officials at IMLS were involved in the staffing reduction decisions and what planning, if any, was undertaken prior to these reductions?
    What factors are being used to determine the cancellation of grants, including the Grants to States funding?
    Please provide a full list of cancelled grants, including the date of cancellation, type of grant, and dollar amount.
    Please share what the agency’s “updated priorities” are and how grants are being assessed for alignment and plans for grant competitions in Fiscal Year 25.
    Which officials at IMLS are involved in developing the report to the Director of OMB?
    What are such officials’ expertise in IMLS administration and the Museum and Library Services Act statute?
    Please share with Congress the report detailing the functions of IMLS and what is statutorily required and to what extent.
    Museums and libraries are the cornerstone of our society that serve as protected spaces for people to learn, engage with their community, and build curiosity. We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all awarded LSTA grant funding to our states, including California, Connecticut and Washington, and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Peters, Young Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Research of Emerging Driver Assistance Systems and Improve Roadway Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to expand its research of emerging driver assistance systems, helping to improve roadway safety for Americans.  

    Many vehicles on our roadways today are equipped with advanced driver assistance features, including collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assistance. Through its Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS) Program, NHTSA can access real-world data from vehicles equipped with these safety features and study their effectiveness. However, under current law, the PARTS Program is limited in the amount and type of safety data it can handle. The Vehicle Safety Research Act would codify the PARTS Program and unlock an expanded range of data collection and information sharing between automakers and the government that will help accelerate both deployment and oversight of advanced safety technologies. 

    “Millions of Americans depend on driver assistance systems every day, and we must ensure our highway safety experts are able to analyze how these emerging features improve roadway safety,” said Senator Peters. “This legislation would help support the development and deployment of the most innovative technologies found on our roadways today, which is essential to saving lives.” 

    “The PARTS Program is a public-private initiative that encourages the sharing of automobile safety-related data. By making this program permanent, our bill will support automobile safety efforts, including gaining insight into the benefits and opportunities of emerging advanced driver assistance systems,” said Senator Todd Young.

    “The Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety has been an important collaboration between automakers like Ford and NHTSA for many years. Investing in this public-private partnership plays an important role in keeping Americans safe in their communities,” said Emily Frascaroli, Global Director, Automotive Safety Office at Ford Motor Company. 

    “GM remains committed to the PARTS program and its industry-wide collaborative mission to support advanced driver assistance systems development,” said Regina Carto, Vice President of GM Global Product Safety, Systems and Certification. “Benchmark data from the program helps us all raise the bar in vehicle safety performance. We appreciate the leadership of Senator Peters and Senator Young on this important initiative.” 

    “Vehicles on the road continue to get even more safe as automakers test, develop and integrate breakthrough driver assistance and crash avoidance technologies like automatic emergency braking that help save lives and prevent injuries. Safety is a top priority for the auto industry – and the introduction of the Vehicle Safety Research Act to support NHTSA’s voluntary PARTS program shows it’s a top priority for Senators Peters and Young too,” said John Bozzella, President and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. 

    “Accelerating advanced technology is a key pillar of the Road to Zero vision to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities from traffic crashes. The PARTS program has helped validate technology countermeasures in hundreds of vehicles used by the American public and with sustained support will be able to examine the safety benefits of connected vehicle technology. NSC supports the efforts of Senators Peters and Young to codify this important program within the United States Department of Transportation,” said Mark Chung, Executive Vice President, Safety Leadership & Advocacy, National Safety Council. 

    “AAA’s commitment to advocating for safer roads is a mission that began over 100 years ago. We support the Vehicle Safety Research Act, which aims to improve road safety by ensuring continued collaboration between automakers and NHTSA to share and analyze real-world driving data. This collaboration will deepen our understanding of how new vehicle technologies affect driver behavior and roadway safety. This work is critical to achieving our goal of preventing crashes and saving lives,” said AAA President and CEO Gene Boehm.

    The PARTS Program is a partnership between automakers and NHTSA in which participants voluntarily share safety-related data for collaborative safety analysis. Today, the program has access to data from 98 million vehicles, including 168 different vehicle models that would not have been possible without this public-private partnership.  

    The Vehicle Safety Research Act would ensure that this program continues and expands to new technologies and new types of safety data collection. It also provides for new protection for data shared exclusively through the PARTS program to ensure that any sensitive information related to these cutting-edge technologies is secure. 

    The automakers currently participating in the PARTS program include: Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Stellantis, American Honda Motor, Hyundai Motor North America, Mazda North American Operations, Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Subaru Corporation, Toyota Motor North America. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Permanently Protect the Pacific Ocean from Offshore Drilling

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    04.22.25
    Cantwell & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Permanently Protect the Pacific Ocean from Offshore Drilling
    Cantwell: WA’s maritime economy supports nearly $46 billion in business revenue & more than 174k jobs – all of which could be compromised in an instant by an oil spill
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on Earth Day, 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 her colleagues in announcing the reintroduction of the West Coast Protection Act to permanently protect the Pacific Ocean from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling.
    “Washington’s $45.9 billion maritime economy supports over 174,000 jobs from fisheries, trade, tourism, and recreation – but it could all be devastated in an instant by an oil spill,” Sen. Cantwell said. “We must permanently ban offshore drilling on the West Coast to protect our coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems against the risk of an oil spill.”
    This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington. This legislation comes just after the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.
    The West Coast Protection Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and is additionally cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation, Seattle Aquarium, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Food & Water Watch, Environmental Protection Information Center, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Surf Industry Members Association, Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC), Clean Ocean Action, and Hispanic Access Foundation.
    Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, is leading companion legislation in the House for the West Coast Ocean Protection Act.
    A one-pager on the West Coast Protection Act is available HERE. Full text of the West Coast Protection Act is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Holds Roundtable on How Trump Attacks on Health Care, Child Care, and Social Security in WA State Put Families at Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Budget Proposal to Fully Eliminate Head Start

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Admin Ripping Away Billions—Including Over $160 Million for Washington State—to Protect People from Public Health Threats

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Evisceration of Seattle HHS Office and Spokane NIOSH Office Amidst Mass Layoffs at HHS

    ***AUDIO HERE; PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***

    Seattle, WA— Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion at Solid Ground in Seattle about how President Trump’s indiscriminate mass firings across the federal workforce, his funding freezes and attempts to rip away billions in public health funding for communities, and the deep cuts he is now proposing to our nation’s health care and child care infrastructure—and much else—puts programs and services that families across Washington state rely on every day at grave risk.

    Senator Murray was joined for the discussion by: Tana Senn, Secretary for the WA Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF); Dr. Tao Kwan-Gett, State Health Officer, Washington State Department of Health; Shalimar Gonzales, CEO of Solid Ground; Janice Deguchi, Executive Director of Neighborhood House, a Head Start provider in Seattle; and Sarah Stafford, a Senior Tribal Specialist who worked in HHS’s Administration for Children and Families office in Seattle but is being fired through no fault of her own by Trump and Elon as part of the wide-scale Reduction in Force (RIF) at HHS.

    “We are talking about incredibly essential, basic necessities here—programs that get communities health care, programs that help families afford groceries, pay their energy bill, get child care—and let’s not forget Social Security offices are being shuttered, and Republicans are getting ready to gut Medicaid. We are getting our first look at Trump’s budget plans—it will be a bloodbath for programs our communities rely on,” said Senator Murray. “I know child care is make or break for so many families—and it has become a crisis, not just for parents, but for our economy. But Trump is already choking off funding for preschool, child care, and early learning programs. His funding delays temporarily closed at least a dozen of Head Start classrooms in Washington state—over 450 kids lost support, and more than 50 employees were out of work. Thankfully, they got their grant eventually, but the chaos is unacceptable and the threat remains. If Trump has his way with his budget, this is going to get catastrophically worse.

    “And it’s not just child care that Trump wants to zero out,” Senator Murray continued. “He is closing the HHS office in Seattle, undermining services for the Pacific Northwest. He illegally tried to rip away over $160 million awarded to Washington state for basic public health work. He wants to eliminate rural health programs—leaving our rural hospitals high and dry, shuttering our programs to train doctors in rural areas, and cutting families off from care. And he wants to cut 40 percent of NIH funding, which will push bright young minds out of our country. I am going to keep lifting up the voices of families in Washington state and I am going to fight tooth and nail to protect the programs that help them meet their basic needs from Trump’s and Elon’s chainsaw.”

    In late March, President Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary RFK Jr. announced plans to cut HHS’s workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 (a 25 percent reduction) through a combination of mass firings and buy-outs and hollow out the Department, which is responsible for protecting Americans’ health and delivering essential health and social services. The announcement followed weeks of mass firings and chaos at HHS that prevented the Department from executing its mission to protect people’s health, and an onslaught of detrimental policies that are halting lifesaving biomedical research and more.

    As part of the restructuring, the administration abruptly shuttered the HHS Region 10 office, which is based in Seattle but covers all of Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon, and has the greatest number of federally recognized Tribes (272) of all HHS regions. The closure of the HHS Region 10 office also included the closure of the Seattle Office of Head Start—among many other HHS subagency offices—and the termination of all employees who worked there.

    Since taking office, President Trump has gutted the offices that keep Head Start centers and child care programs across the country running and shuttered half of the regional offices at the Office of Head Start, which are responsible for ensuring high-quality Head Start services are available to families nationwide. Last week, new reporting revealed President Trump will propose zeroing out funding for Head Start in his forthcoming budget request—a goal proposed in Project 2025, which would cut off essential services and early childhood educational opportunities for hundreds of thousands of families nationwide. Head Start currently serves over 750,000 kids nationwide—with over 17,000 Head Start centers across the country, which are particularly important in serving rural communities with fewer options for care.

    “We are on the brink of seeing more of our communities fall victim to a deliberate and entirely preventable crisis when they are already suffering from historically high housing and food costs. If these proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid go through, the human toll will be profound: more families going without enough food, more people becoming seriously ill because they can’t get the medical care they need, and more of our neighbors losing their homes,” said Shalimar Gonzales, CEO of Solid Ground. “Solid Ground is committed to doing everything in our power to meet these growing needs, but we need support from partners and the local community, particularly as we face the loss of critical funding from the federal government.”

    “These cuts hurt kids,” said Tana Senn, Secretary for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. “While there are a lot of unknowns about what’s to come, we do know that a pause or termination of federal funds would have a devastating impact on Washington families and DCYF’s ability to provide them with much-needed services.”

    “These federal cuts are weakening public health in Washington state. The closure of the Seattle HHS office took away a critical connection between our region and Washington DC—professionals who understood our unique geographic challenges and health needs,” said Dr. Tao Kwan-Gett, State Health Officer at Washington State Department of Health. “The termination of over $11 billion nationally in CDC grants, with $140 million to Washington state would devastate our disease tracking systems, cancel over 100 planned vaccine clinics including 35 school-based clinics reaching 800 children, and cripple our laboratory response capacity for emerging threats. While we’re grateful for the temporary restraining order protecting these funds, the interruptions have already disrupted critical services, and the ongoing uncertainty puts them at greater risk. These chaotic federal changes threaten to put us on a path towards more illness and shorter lives.”

    “Neighborhood House’s Head Start and Early Head Start program serves 429 low-income children pre-natal to age 5 through home based and center-based services at 4 locations, with a 5th opening at White Center in May. There are 186 eligible children on our waitlist. Head Start and Early Head Start is comprehensive, we support the whole child: their academic, social emotional growth, medical, dental, and nutritional health. Head Start and Early Head Start supports the whole family, connecting parents to jobs, housing, health care, and providing opportunities for leadership development. Defunding Head Start would cut a vital lifeline for our nation’s children and families by eliminating a bridge to stability and economic opportunity,” said Janice Deguchi, Executive Director of Neighborhood House, a Head Start provider in Seattle. “Without Low Income Heating and Assistance Program, many hard-working people Neighborhood House serves will face the impossible choice between paying utility bills and meeting other basic needs like food and medication. Eliminating LIHEAP will leave vulnerable families without the support they rely on to stay safe and stable in their homes. Community Services Block Grant advances economic independence and strengthens local communities by empowering local Community Action Agencies like Solid Ground and Neighborhood House to respond to pressing and quickly changing community needs.”

    “The [HHS] Region 10 team recruited me to work with them because the CCDF, or Child Care Development Fund, serves many tribal nations within Region 10. I would say the majority of federally recognized tribes are within Region 10 and Region 9, so it was really important previously to have a staff that represented the communities that were being served for that program…There was zero transition of planning happening, there are files that cannot be accessed that are needed by the remaining staff. The staff that are left of course are qualified and dedicated, however the years of expertise from the staff that were RIF’d—you just can’t make any sense out of it,” said Sarah Stafford, a Senior Tribal Specialist in HHS’ Administration for Children and Families who is being fired for no reason and through no fault of her own by Trump and Elon as part of the HHS Reduction in Force (RIF). “In Region 10…those staff in particular spend so much time relationship building with tribal nations and states, no two states are the same, and no two tribal nations are the same. CCDF requirements are quite complex, and people are really innovative in the ways that they choose to deliver those services, and so absent having that expertise and guidance on policy, historical institutional policy knowledge, questions are going to go unanswered, grant applications are going to take a long time to review…Our office was understaffed before, and we made some great progress within the last four years, but all of that has been completely wiped—and without any tribal consultation, which is required anytime you make substantial changes that impact tribal nations as well.”

    Senator Murray has been a leading voice raising the alarm about how Trump and Elon’s mass firings across the federal workforce will undermine services all Americans rely on and hurt families, veterans, small businesses, farmers, and so many others in Washington state and across the country. Senator Murray has spoken out on the Senate floor repeatedly against this administration’s attacks on federal workers, held multiple press conferences  with federal workers—including at NOAA—who are being fired for no reason and through no fault of their own, released information about the mass firings, and repeatedly outlined her concerns with the administration’s so-called “Fork in the Road” offer to her constituents in Washington state.

    A fact sheet on how Trump and RFK Jr. hollowing out HHS is threatening Americans’ health and wellbeing is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Trump Admin Refuses to Allow VA to Host Discussion on Women Veterans’ Health Care, Senator Murray Meets with Women Veterans and Advocates In Seattle

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Demands Answers from Secretary Collins Over VA’s Unprecedented Refusal to Allow VA Puget Sound to Participate in Women Veterans Roundtable

    ICYMI: REPORT: Trump’s Mass Firings at VA Hurt WA Veterans

    ICYMI: Murray Statement on Trump & Elon Plans to Decimate the VA, Firing 80,000 Employees and Putting Veterans’ Care in Grave Danger

    ***AUDIO HERE; PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***

    Seattle, WA — Today,U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, hosted a roundtable discussion at the Ballard-Eagleston VFW Post 3063 with women veterans and veteran advocates to discuss the challenges women veterans face in receiving quality care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and how the Trump administration’s steep cuts across the federal workforce—including at VA—are affecting veterans. Senator Murray’s roundtable at the VFW took place only after the Trump administration refused to allow VA Puget Sound to host or participate in a discussion about the current state of women veterans’ health care. Audio of the full roundtable discussion is available HERE.

    Senator Murray has been outspoken in calling attention to how Trump and Elon’s indiscriminate mass layoffs are hurting people—especially veterans—across the country and will undermine services Americans everywhere rely on. She has hosted multiple press conferences with veterans and VA employees in Washington state who are being laid off by Trump and Elon for no reason and through no fault of their own.

    Participating in the discussion with Senator Murray today were: Minnette Mason, Veterans Training Support Center Program Manager at the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA); Alyson Teeter, Commander of VFW Post 3063; Barbara Heston-Moore, President of VFW Post 2289 Auxiliary; Sarah Rubin with VFW Post 3063; Dr. Samantha Powers, Director of UW Veteran Student Life; and Shellie Willis, Chair of the WDVA Women’s Veterans Advisory Committee.

    “I’m furious that under Trump, VA leadership is barring VA Puget Sound from participating in or hosting this important discussion on women veterans’ issues. Throughout my time in Congress, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, I have been able to have open and honest conversations with VA and engage with my veteran constituents in Washington state—but this administration has proven to be vastly different,” Senator Murray said. Yesterday, Senator Murray sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins expressing concern and dismay over the unprecedented refusal—with no justification—by VA to allow VA Puget Sound to participate in today’s roundtable. In the hearing on his nomination to lead VA, his meeting with Senator Murray ahead of the Senate vote on his nomination, and in his own public statements, Doug Collins promised to be maximally transparent with Congress if confirmed.

    “Even though women are more likely to seek care through VA, and are more likely to be dealing with depression, anxiety, or sexual trauma—women are also more likely to face barriers to getting the care they need,” Senator Murray said. “And it’s been deeply frustrating to see the Trump administration undermine VA care, fire researchers, and push out other crucial workers who help veterans get care over the past few months, to say nothing of the disrespect they have shown female veterans—literally erasing the history of some women in uniform and denigrating the service of women in combat. I’m going to push every day to make sure you get the respect you deserve, and the care you were promised—whether that’s making sure VA is implementing women’s health care laws I worked to pass, fighting to expand access to IVF services and menopause research, and providing the federal resources we need for VA to improve care for women veterans.”

    Senator Murray was the first woman to join the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the first woman to chair the Committee—as the daughter of a WWII veteran, supporting veterans and their families has always been an important priority for Murray. Advocating for women veterans in particular has been a longtime focus for Senator Murray. As Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in 2010, Senator Murray passed her landmark Women Veterans Health Improvement Act into law. Murray has worked to permanently authorize the VA child care pilot program to increase access to free, quality child care for veterans during their appointments, make much-needed improvements to the women veterans call center, and fix a loophole that left veterans footing the bill for medically-necessary emergency newborn transportation that VA should be covering. Murray introduced and helped pass the Deborah Sampson Act, legislation to address gender disparities at VA that established a dedicated Office of Women’s Health at VA and required every VA health facility to have a dedicated women’s health primary care provider, among other things. Murray also helped to pass the MAMMO Act to expand access to high-quality breast cancer screening and treatment services for veterans.

    Last year as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray delivered a record $900 million investment in women veterans’ health care. Earlier this month, Senator Murray introduced bipartisan legislation to require VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) to research and study the effects of menopause on women servicemembers and women veterans.

    Senator Murray has also been a leading voice in the Senate in speaking out forcefully against President Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firing of VA employees and VA researchers across the country and Elon Musk and DOGE’s infiltration of the VA, including accessing veterans’ sensitive personal information. In recent weeks, Senator Murray and her colleagues sent letters to VA Secretary Doug Collins demanding that the VA swiftly reverse moves to cut VA researchers, as well as multiple letters pressing Secretary Collins to sever Elon Musk and DOGE’s access to any VA or other government system with information about veterans, and protect veterans, their families, and VA staff from unprecedented access to sensitive information. Senator Murray grilled Trump’s nominee for VA Deputy Secretary, Dr. Paul Lawrence, on the mass firings of VA employees and VA researchers, and voted against Doug Collins’s nomination to be VA Secretary in early February, sounding the alarm over reports of DOGE at the VA and making clear that the Trump administration’s lawlessness was putting our national security and our veterans at risk.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Rollins Meet with North Dakota Producers, Outline Farm Bill & Disaster Assistance Efforts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    04.22.25
    Senator Invited Ag Secretary to Visit State, Giving Producers Opportunity for Direct Feedback & Showcasing ND Leadership in Precision Ag at Grand Farm
    FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today organized meetings with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in North Dakota, giving farmers, ranchers, agriculture researchers and agri-businesses the opportunity to:
    Give direct feedback as:
    Work proceeds on the next farm bill. Hoeven stressed the importance of keeping the farm in the farm bill and outlined efforts to invest in the farm safety net.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues accepting applications for and distributing the $10 billion in market-based disaster assistance that Hoeven worked to secure in year-end legislation.
    To date, more than $5.8 billion in assistance has been sent out, with nearly $480 million of that going to producers in North Dakota.
    In addition, USDA today released $6 million in disaster relief for rural electric infrastructure damaged by storms and wildfires in North Dakota, which comes from the overall disaster funding Hoeven secured in December.

    Showcase North Dakota’s leadership in precision ag technologies and secure support for local initiatives like Grand Farm.
    Hoeven has secured $6 million between Fiscal Years (FY) 2022-2025 to establish and support the AgTech Cooperative Agreement between North Dakota State University (NDSU), Grand Farm and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

    Hoeven, who serves as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, invited Rollins to visit the state during her recent confirmation process.
    “North Dakota is an ag powerhouse today, and we’re making sure that, through innovation and good farm policy, our leadership in this vital sector continues to grow,” said Senator Hoeven. “I appreciate Secretary Rollins for accepting my invite to meet with our state’s farmers and ranchers right here in North Dakota and learn more about our region’s specific needs and priorities. Farming isn’t a monolith. If we want to keep our network of small family farms, we have to ensure the farm safety net actually works when it is needed most and in the wide variety of circumstances our producers face. At the same time, we are supporting our innovators through institutions like NDSU and Grand Farm in bringing new technologies to market that will help producers reduce their costs, stay competitive and continue providing the low-cost, high-quality food supply that all of America relies on every single day.”
    Strengthening the Farm Safety Net
    Hoeven continues working to pass a farm bill that addresses producers’ needs and ensures the farm safety net works when needed most. These priorities include:
    Enhancing crop insurance, the primary risk management tool for many producers.
    Improving the affordability of higher levels of coverage, consistent with Hoeven’s FARMER Act, will better enable producers to weather natural disasters and reduce the need for future ad-hoc disaster assistance.

    Improving the counter-cyclical safety net, including the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.
    Securing adequate access to credit by including his legislation to modernize Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits as part of the farm bill.
    Strengthening livestock disaster programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP).
    Ensuring support for U.S. sugar policy.
    Making programs voluntary and farmer-friendly, instead of one-size-fits-all.
    Helping Producers Recover from Disasters
    Last month, USDA released details for the $10 billion in market-based assistance, following Hoeven’s efforts to secure the funding and his work with Secretary Rollins to implement and quickly deliver the assistance. At the same time, Hoeven continues working with USDA to advance the $21 billion in weather-related assistance for losses in 2023 and 2024, which includes $2 billion set aside for livestock producers, including those with losses due to wildfires.
    Applications for market-based assistance may be submitted online or to local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. Additional information and resources are available to producers on USDA’s website here: https://fsa.usda.gov/ecap.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, North Las Vegas Leaders Celebrate Opening of Dolores Huerta Resource Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Cortez Masto Secured $1.6 Million for Resource Center in First Bipartisan Government Funding Package for FY24

    Las Vegas, Nev. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Congressman Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04), Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nev.01), North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown, and North Las Vegas Councilman Isaac Barron to celebrate the opening of the Dolores Huerta Resource Center, named in honor of the longtime labor activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association. In 2024, Cortez Masto secured $1,616,279 in bipartisan government funding legislation for the completion of this project.

    “Dolores Huerta is living proof that if we believe in ourselves and forge ahead with confidence, we really can change the world,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to have secured more than $1.5 million towards the opening of the Dolores Huerta Resource Center. I can’t think of a better way to honor her than with this community hub that will carry on her work.”

    The Dolores Huerta Resource Center will provide resources and services to the North Las Vegas community, including tutoring and homework help for school-aged children, GED preparation and college readiness workshops, bilingual language classes, job search and resume writing assistance, vocational training and certification programs, and digital literacy training for all ages.

    Senators Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) secured more than $184 million in Community Project Funding for FY2024 to support 100 projects across Nevada. This funding included more than $7 million for nine law enforcement projects in the state. A full list of projects in Nevada receiving community project funding in the first FY24 government funding legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, Reed Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Defund Libraries and Museums

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Schiff, Reed Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Defund Libraries and Museums

    Senators: “The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and 23 lawmakers expressed serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which was created by a Republican-led Congress in 1996 and is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums. In the letter, the lawmakers called on the Administration to ensure there is continued funding in accordance with federal law for libraries and museums and to reverse any actions that jeopardize their provision of critical services on which many communities rely on.
    “The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day. These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities,” wrote the lawmakers.
    “We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all LSTA grant funding to our states, including California, Connecticut and Washington, and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on,” concluded the lawmakers.
    Libraries serve as essential lifelines for families, students, and workers throughout California providing literacy programs, access to technology, job training, small business support, and more.
    In addition to Senators Padilla, Schiff, and Reed, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). In the U.S. House of Representatives, this letter is signed by Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18).
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Mr. Sonderling, 
    We write to express our serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums. On March 14, 2025 President Trump issued the Executive Order “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy” which includes IMLS to be eliminated “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” and for IMLS to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to confirm compliance. We are reminding the Administration of its obligation to fully execute the law as authorized by Congress under the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) of 2018 (PL 115-40), as signed by President Trump. Beginning on April 3, 2025, several grantees — including the states of California, Connecticut and Washington — received written notice from IMLS that their federal Fiscal Year 2024–25 grants under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) had been terminated. We strongly urge the Administration to reverse these terminations and ensure continued funding in accordance with federal law.
    For Fiscal Year 2024, Congress appropriated $294.8 million for IMLS, specifying funding should be allotted across the programs in the following manner:
    Library Services Technology Act 
                    Grants to States                                                                                           $180,000,000
                    Native American Library Services                                                             $5,763,000 
                    National Leadership: Libraries                                                                  $15,287,000 
                    Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian                                                            $10,000,000 
    Museum Services Act 
    Museums for America                                                                                  $30,330,000       
    Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services                           $3,772,000 
    National Leadership: Museums                                                                 $9,348,000
    African American History and Culture Act                                                       $6,000,000 
    National Museum of the American Latino Act                                                      $6,000,000
    Research, Analysis, and Data Collection                                                                $5,650,000
    Program Administration                                   $22,650,000 
    We expect the Administration to fully implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 consistent with the Fiscal Year 2024 allocations. We also urge the Administration to allow IMLS to continue to engage with and support libraries and museums as Congress intended and as authorized in the MLSA, including maintaining the expertise of the IMLS staff to carry out the functions of the agency.
    Libraries and museums are deeply embedded in local communities across the country and millions of Americans rely on their services and programs, particularly the most rural and underserved areas. In 2024, IMLS funding reached 140,000 libraries and museums across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Public, school, academic, and specialty libraries provide a wide range of local services such as summer reading programs for youth, high-speed internet, workforce training, and support for small businesses. Libraries are especially vital for low-income families, students, and workers who depend on them for free access to technology, educational resources, and job search support. In California, local libraries serve as critical lifelines for families experiencing homelessness and those displaced by natural disasters, offering space for community gathering and access to emergency information. Every year, more than 1.2 billion people visit libraries in-person—and they are deeply valued by the American public.
    Museums serve as crucial sources of information for history, art, science, and culture and have broad public support. In fact, 96 percent of surveyed Americans believe lawmakers should support museums. Museums support more than 726,000 American jobs and contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy every year. Beyond their cultural significance, museums play a vital role in education, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students of all ages and providing resources that supplement school curricula, especially in underserved communities. For states like California, Connecticut, and Washington, museums are essential pillars of local identity, tourism, and community development.
    The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day. These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities. 
    As such, please provide us with a written response to the questions below no later than May 1, 2025.
    How many IMLS employees have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment offer since January 20, 2025?  Please provide the number of employees in each category.
    How many individuals are currently employed at the agency?  Please provide their titles and duties.
    How many of these employees were responsible for, or assisted in, administering grants?

    Which officials at IMLS were involved in the staffing reduction decisions and what planning, if any, was undertaken prior to these reductions?
    What factors are being used to determine the cancellation of grants, including the Grants to States funding?
    Please provide a full list of cancelled grants, including the date of cancellation, type of grant, and dollar amount.
    Please share what the agency’s “updated priorities” are and how grants are being assessed for alignment and plans for grant competitions in Fiscal Year 25.

    Which officials at IMLS are involved in developing the report to the Director of OMB?
    What are such officials’ expertise in IMLS administration and the Museum and Library Services Act statute?
    Please share with Congress the report detailing the functions of IMLS and what is statutorily required and to what extent.

    Museums and libraries are the cornerstone of our society that serve as protected spaces for people to learn, engage with their community, and build curiosity. We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all awarded LSTA grant funding to our states, including California, Connecticut and Washington, and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey, Baldwin Announce Resolution to Designate April as Earth Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Resolution Text (PDF)

    Washington (April 22, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Green New Deal resolution and member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) today announced the Earth Month resolution to recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and climate action. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) cosponsors the resolution.

    “Planet Earth is our home. Now more than ever, we need stewardship of our home. As the Trump administration is targeting environmental safeguards that ensure we have a livable future, I am doubling down on my commitment to fight back and uplift efforts that promote environmental stewardship and spur even more climate action. Earth Day is our moment to recommit and expand our movement for a just and livable future – a future with clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and clean land on which to live,” said Senator Markey. “We know environmental pollution and the climate crisis do not affect us all equally. That is why environmental stewardship and climate action must center the most marginalized communities, particularly Black and Indigenous communities who have been overburdened with pollution and the harms of climate change. Using the tenets of a Green New Deal – fighting for environmental justice and climate action while creating good-paying union jobs – we can work together toward a livable future every day, but especially during Earth Month.”

    “From the Great Lakes and the rolling hills of the Driftless Region, to the Great Northwoods and Mighty Mississippi, Wisconsin is rich with natural resources that have defined our state and way of life. I’m proud to carry on Wisconsin’s tradition of environmental stewardship and recognize Earth Month as we all do our part to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s wilderness and resources for the next generation,” said Senator Baldwin.

    “We proudly support Senators Markey’s & Baldwin’s Earth Month resolution as a vital affirmation of our collective responsibility to protect Mother Earth and the communities most impacted by environmental injustice. At a time when climate change is both accelerating and the solutions to it are being actively undermined, Congressional recognition of Earth Month sends a powerful message: that bold, equitable, and community-led climate action is not only necessary — it is the only thing that will solve the problem for us all,” said KD Chavez, Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance.

    “Since it was first observed in 1970, Earth Day has successfully provided countless Americans with an opportunity to reflect on the shared responsibility we have to preserve the beauty of our planet. The designation of Earth Month would help get and keep people engaged for more than just one day, as we rededicate ourselves to doing all we can to explore, enjoy, and protect our environment year round. Together, we can protect our lands, clean air, and clean water to ensure a livable planet for future generations. We’re incredibly thankful for the efforts of Senator Markey, a true champion in the fight to combat climate change and protect America’s wild places,” said Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS: Capito, Rosie Rios Take Girls Rise Up Program to Ruthlawn Elementary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosted her 36th West Virginia Girls Rise Up program at Ruthlawn Elementary School in Charleston, W.Va. where she was joined by America250 Chair Rosie Rios. 

    Senator Capito and Rios met with 4th and 5th grade female students to discuss the importance of self-confidence, education, and physical fitness. Additionally, Senator Capito and Rios discussed America250, the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which our nation will celebrate next year. Senator Capito serves as an America250 Commissioner, one of only a few members of the Senate appointed, while Rios serves as the Chair. 

    “As our nation prepares to celebrate such a historic milestone, I can’t think of a better group of young girls who will lead us to even greater heights in the future.  Empowering the next generation of leaders is one of the most important investments we can make. I was proud to bring my Girls Rise Up program to a new group of students, alongside Rosie Rios—a trailblazer in her own right. Together, we delivered the message to these young women that if they dream big, lead boldly, and know their voices matter, that the sky is the limit.,” Senator Capito said.  

    “I’m honored to join Senator Capito and the Girls Rise Up initiative to help inspire the next generation of leaders,” Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, said. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, it’s vital that we empower the voices who will define the next 250 years. Girls Rise Up is helping young women see themselves as leaders in America’s next chapter and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

    “With great reverence, I am pleased to welcome Senator Capito and the 43rd United States Treasurer Rosie Rios to Ruthlawn Elementary. Two shining examples of what is possible when girls chart their own course. Girls Rise Up is such a wonderful opportunity for current leaders in their field to share strength, wisdom and self-determination with our future leaders, who just happen to be girls. We need our female youth to be passionate about their personal stories of growth and grit and never give up on their dreams. Another pioneering woman, Eleanor Roosevelt, said, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’ Together we can build an awareness of Girl’s Rise Up’s three pillars of success, so our young ladies can be ‘Mustang STRONG,’ this year and beyond. Thank you, Senator Capito, for your vision and dedication to guiding a better future!” Natalie Laliberty, Ruthlawn Elementary Principal, said.

    Senator Capito launched the West Virginia Girls Rise Up program in 2015 to instill confidence in young West Virginia women and empower them to be strong and kind female leaders. The program focuses on three areas: education, fitness, and self-confidence. Learn more about the program here.

     Photos from today’s event can be found below: 

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Rosie Rios, America250 Chair, at a Girls Rise Up event at Ruthlawn Elementary School in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday April 22, 2025. 

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosts a Girls Rise Up event at Ruthlawn Elementary School in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosts a Girls Rise Up event at Ruthlawn Elementary School in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosts a Girls Rise Up event at Ruthlawn Elementary School in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Padilla, Reed Introduce Bills to Permanently Protect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from Offshore Drilling

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  On Earth Day, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Jack Reed (D-RI) announced a pair of bills to permanently protect the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. The package includes Booker and Reed’s Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act, which would permanently prohibit the U.S. Department of the Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, as well as Padilla’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act, which would permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for offshore drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington.
    This legislation comes just after the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.
    U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, are leading companion legislation in the House for the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act and West Coast Ocean Protection Act respectively.
    Full text of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act is available here.
    Full text of the West Coast Protection Act is available here, and a one-pager is available here.
    “This week marks both Earth Day and the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster,” said Senator Booker. “I’m standing alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our communities and our environment. Offshore drilling endangers our coastal communities – both their lives and their livelihoods – and threatens marine species and ecosystems. The COAST Act, along with this critical package of legislation, will ensure that marine seascapes along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and the wildlife, industries, and communities that rely on them, are protected from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling.”
    “Offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean would open up the eastern seaboard to considerable risk, and we have seen the destruction that an accident can cause. This legislation is about more than simply protecting the environment, it’s also about protecting the tourism and fishing industries that create jobs and help power Rhode Island’s economy,” said Senator Reed.
    “We must end offshore oil drilling in coastal waters once and for all,” said Senator Padilla. “Over 50 years ago, after a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, Californians rose up and demanded environmental protections, spurring the modern environmental movement and creating the very first Earth Day. As the Trump Administration threatens to recklessly open our coasts to new drilling, California and the West Coast need permanent safeguards to protect our communities from the devastation of fossil fuels and disastrous oil spills. We must act now to fulfill the promises we made to our children and our constituents to meet the urgency of this environmental crisis with bold action.”
    “For decades, I’ve fought to protect our coasts from the dangers of oil and gas development, and this legislative package reaffirms that commitment. Offshore drilling risks devastating spills, accelerates climate change, and threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities like those in New Jersey. On Earth Day and every day, we must stand up to Big Oil and prioritize renewable energy that actually protects our planet,” said Representative Pallone.
    “It’s clear that in the 15 years since the most catastrophic oil spill disaster in history, Republicans in the pocket of Big Oil have learned nothing. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to our public health, coastal economies, and marine life. The science is clear, and so is the public sentiment: we need to speed up our transition to a clean energy future, not lock ourselves into another generation of fossil fuel fealty,” said Representative Huffman. “We cannot let history repeat itself. My Democratic colleagues aren’t standing idly by as the Trump administration tries to reverse all of our progress so they can give handouts to Big Oil. Our legislation will cut pollution and ramp up clean energy, ensuring our coasts remain safe, clean, and open to all Americans— not turned into open season for fossil fuel billionaires looking to drill, spill, and cash in.” 
    These bills reaffirm vital protections for America’s coastal communities and ecosystems. The Biden Administration protected more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters — including the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Northern Bering Sea — from offshore oil and gas drilling. President Trump immediately tried to roll back those protections, attempting to illegally reopen those areas to drilling on day one of his second term. Trump’s record speaks for itself: during his first Administration, the Interior Department proposed a sweeping plan to open 47 offshore oil and gas lease areas across nearly every U.S. coastline, from California to New England.
    The two bills would protect critical coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems against offshore drilling, which is especially important in the face of the climate crisis. U.S. coastal counties support 54.6 million jobs, produce $10 trillion in goods and services, and pay $4 trillion in wages. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to public health, coastal economies, and diverse marine life that play an important economical, ecological, and cultural role in our ecosystem. 
    The COAST Anti-Drilling Act is cosponsored by Senator Padilla as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, Earthjustice, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, Food & Water Watch, Waterspirit, Business Alliance to Protect the Atlantic, Clean Ocean Action, Jersey Coast Anglers Association (NJ), American Littoral Society, Save Coastal Wildlife, Environmental Protection Information Center, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, North Carolina Coastal Federation, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, National Aquarium, American Bird Conservancy, and Hispanic Access Foundation.
    The West Coast Protection Act is cosponsored by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) as well as Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation, Seattle Aquarium, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Food & Water Watch, Environmental Protection Information Center, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Surf Industry Members Association, Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC), Clean Ocean Action, and Hispanic Access Foundation.
    “It’s time to end the threat of expanded drilling off America’s coasts forever,” said Joseph Gordon, Oceana Campaign Director. “Oceana applauds these Congressional leaders for reintroducing pivotal legislation that would establish permanent protections from offshore oil and gas drilling for millions of acres of ocean. Earth Day is an important reminder that every coastal community deserves healthy oceans and oil-free beaches. This bill is part of a national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. Congress must swiftly pass these bills into law and reject any expansion of drilling to protect our coasts.”
    “Protecting these waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”
    “The Trump administration’s path of so-called ‘energy dominance’ is paved with threats to American coasts,” said Sierra Weaver, senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “This set of bills offers real protections for coastal communities and wildlife against unwanted, unreasonable and unsafe offshore oil drilling. This is just the type of bold action we need on the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.”
    “Imperiled species like Southern resident orcas and sea otters need clean, healthy ocean habitats to thrive. New offshore drilling would bring habitat destruction, noise pollution and the threat of spills and chronic contamination to those species and their homes,” said Joseph Vaile, Northwest Program senior representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “This legislation is a critical step toward permanently safeguarding marine mammals and coastal communities from irreversible harm. We thank Senator Padilla for championing the West Coast Ocean Protection Act at a time when the threat of offshore drilling is especially urgent.”
    “California’s spectacular marine life — including complex kelp forests and charismatic sea otters — and vibrant coastal economies rely on healthy ecosystems. This legislation could, once and for all, block offshore drilling activities along the continental shelf, and protect critical marine habitats along California’s iconic Pacific Coast,” said Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife California Program Director.
    “These bills will permanently protect our coastal communities from the threats of offshore drilling. Oil spills like the one caused by the deadly BP drilling disaster 15 years ago are dangerous to people’s health and our public waters. The economic vitality of entire regions depend on oceans staying healthy,” said Earthjustice Senior Legislative Representative Laura M. Esquivel. “We applaud these Members of Congress for doing what’s right on behalf of their constituents.” 
    “These important bills will protect our environment, communities, and economy from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development. Offshore drilling is a dirty and damaging practice that threatens our nation’s ocean recreation, tourism, and fisheries industries valued at $250 billion annually. The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support this important legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters,” said Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager, Surfrider Foundation.
    “These bills are critical, especially now. Protecting our environment and frontline communities from the dangers of offshore oil and gas development must be a top priority in the face of the escalating climate and biodiversity crises,” said Elizabeth Purcell, Environmental Policy Coordinator with Turtle Island Restoration Network. “Congress must act swiftly and support these bills to protect our oceans from further exploitation by the oil and gas industry, ensuring a healthy and safe planet for all.”
    “We are the generation that will live with the consequences of today’s energy choices. As young ocean advocates, we want to leave a better legacy for ocean health behind us than what has been left for us,” said Mark Haver, North America Regional Representative with Sustainable Ocean Alliance. “Congress has a moral responsibility to prevent new offshore oil and gas drilling leases. We will be counting on Congress to act on behalf of our ocean and future generations.”
    “Our coasts are a source of life, livelihood, and recreation for coastal communities and the millions of visitors they see every year,” said Athan Manuel, Director of the Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program. “They also support untold diverse wildlife and ecosystems that are put at risk by exploitation from the oil and gas industry. These bills provide much-needed critical protections for the health of our coastal communities and to ensure that future generations will get to enjoy the wonders of our oceans and beaches.”
    “It has been clear for years that we cannot afford to expand fossil fuel extraction and burning if we want any hope of staving off the ever worsening effects of climate change,” said Mitch Jones, Managing Director of Policy and Litigation at Food & Water Watch. “In addition to the threat of worsening climate chaos, offshore drilling directly endangers local environments, wildlife, and economies due to the threats of oil spills and disruptions to aquatic life. We urge Congress to pass these bills to protect our coastlines and our oceans from Trump’s disastrous push for more drilling.”
    “Water is the pulse of our planet, the sacred thread that connects all life. We all have a responsibility to protect the very essence that sustains us,” said Rachel Dawn Davis, Public Policy & Justice Organizer at Waterspirit. “The threat of exploitation-whether through drilling or pollution-puts ecosystems and future generations at risk. We must continue to honor and defend our waters; in preserving them, we preserve life itself.”
    “Our oceans provide forever benefits in so many ways for both local communities and whole nations. We thoroughly support the bipartisan protections put forward in these Bills, which would position the United States to lead the world and reap huge benefits for tourism, energy security, health and local jobs, not to mention the beautiful wildlife that drives billions of dollars of tourism and other benefits,” said Global Rewilding Alliance.
    “A clean ocean is crucial for the conservation of marine biodiversity,” said Jenna Reynolds, Executive Director of Save Coastal Wildlife. “A polluted ocean poses significant risks to marine wildlife, including increased vessel traffic around oil platforms, which can lead to collisions with marine animals, especially sea turtles and juvenile whales which are difficult to see from moving vessels. Oil spills can directly coat and kill marine animals, including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, and can also damage coastal ecosystems like beaches and coastal wetlands, impacting wildlife and people that rely on these areas. We need to bring back and fully protect biodiversity in our ocean!”
    “We must work toward a future where our coastal communities, economies, and marine life can thrive thanks to a healthy ocean. As the Trump Administration seeks to threaten our favorite beaches and ecosystems with new offshore drilling, it’s more important than ever for ocean champions in Congress to advance ocean protections,” said Sarah Guy, Ocean Defense Initiative. “We are grateful for the leadership of members supporting these bills, and commit to working toward a future where all our coasts are protected from the harms of offshore drilling.”
    “We believe our coasts are far too valuable to risk for short-term fossil fuel gains,” said Katie Thompson, Executive Director of Save Our Shores. “Permanently protecting offshore areas from oil and gas leasing is a critical step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and our climate future. These bills reflect the will of the people to prioritize ocean health and long-term sustainability over polluting industries of the past.”
    “This suite of legislation is a critical move to safeguard our marine resources against Trump and his Big Oil agenda,” said Rachel Rilee, oceans policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s been 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster devastated coastlines and killed hundreds of thousands of marine animals. Our oceans and the incredible ecosystems they support are counting on us. Congress must pass these bills and then get right back to work protecting marine life and coastal communities from every manmade danger and every Republican attack.”
    “Americans love our coasts. For some of us, they’re home, and for many others, they’re home to wonderful memories, including family vacations at the beach, fishing trips with friends, and encounters with wildlife like sea turtles, dolphins, and whales. But oil spills can destroy all of that. It’s simply not worth the risk. We must not squander our children’s inheritance,” said Bill Mott, Executive Director of The Ocean Project. “The ocean offers endless inspiration, recreational opportunities, and serves as a critically important economic driver. Yet despite its vastness, it is incredibly vulnerable. As we’ve seen too many times before, offshore oil and gas drilling is not compatible with stewarding our ocean. We all share a responsibility to keep our coasts clean and our ocean healthy for future generations. That’s why we urge Congress to act now to prohibit new offshore oil and gas development forever.”
    “AWI commends these Congressional leaders for taking bold action to protect our oceans and coasts from dirty, dangerous oil and gas development along the outer continental shelf,” said Georgia Hancock, Senior Attorney and Director of the Animal Welfare Institute’s marine wildlife program. “Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, it remains painfully clear: there is no such thing as safe offshore oil drilling, nor is there any way to fully clean up a significant oil spill. Keeping oil rigs out of the ocean prevents unnecessary harm to sensitive marine animals like sea turtles, whales, and seabirds, and avoids the massive costs associated with environmental remediation when things go wrong. These bills draw a clear line in the sand: our marine ecosystems are too precious to risk.”
    “The Pacific west coast economy provides over $80 Billion in GDP via industries like tourism, outdoor recreation, fishing, retail, and real estate, supporting more than 825,000 jobs. And BAPPC’s 8,100 business members rely on a clean ocean to drive their revenues and provide for their customers, employees and families. We strongly support the West Coast Protection Act and other legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling and protect our businesses by prioritizing a healthy coastal ecosystem,” said Grant Bixby, Founding Member, The Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast.
    “The impact of offshore oil drilling on marine life is well-documented, from toxic discharges of drilling mud and fracking chemicals, to chronic oil spills, to the effects of a major well blow-out as has occurred many times in the history of offshore oil drilling. It is time we stopped burning fossil fuels and switch to non-polluting sources such as wind, solar, and other green energy sources. Industrializing our oceans is the last thing we should be doing,” said the International Marine Mammal Project, Earth Island Institute.
    “The oceans and coasts are the lifeblood of the US economy. They deserve not only protection but increased investment and stewardship. Anyone that threatens the coasts puts the entire US economy at risk,” said the Center for the Blue Economy.
    “We strongly support these bills to protect our vital coastal ecosystems and ocean health, which are increasingly threatened by the climate crisis. Offshore oil and gas leasing not only poses a direct risk of pollution to our waters and endangers marine life, but also contributes to climate change by perpetuating our reliance on fossil fuels. We urge swift passage of these protections to safeguard coastal communities, their economies, and a livable future for all,” said the U.S. Climate Action Network.
    “Offshore oil and gas drilling threatens coastal communities and endangers whales, sea turtles and other wildlife that Americans treasure,” said National Aquarium President and CEO John Racanelli. “On Earth Day and every day, all of us – people and wildlife – rely on a healthy ocean for our very survival. The science is clear that moving from dependence on fossil fuels towards clean energy sources safeguards marine ecosystems and protects public health. Legislation that places sensible limits on new oil and gas development along our shores is just smart public policy.”
    “President Biden’s recent permanent ban on offshore drilling in most ocean realms of the US is strong and cause for celebration! That said, codifying this long-overdue protection with acts of Congress is needed to add bulwark against attempts to override the ban as well as provide proof of bipartisan support for the ocean. The reason is simple: a healthy ocean sustains all life on earth and is essential to a vibrant clean ocean economy,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.
    “Last year President Biden issued an executive action to protect more than 625 million acres of federal waters from fossil fuel development, a historic and bold decision to defend coastal communities, public health, and ecosystems. Azul’s 2024 nationwide poll found that Latinos across political ideologies support action to ban offshore drilling and are even willing to pay more out of pocket to make it happen. We applaud the leadership of members of Congress seeking to codify protections for coastal waters against offshore drilling, and these added protections are needed to defend against threats to undo existing protections against offshore drilling,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudins, Founder of Azul.
    “Protecting our oceans is a matter of safeguarding our health, our economy, and our future. Proposals to reduce existing ocean protections and expand offshore drilling raise serious concerns for coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and millions of livelihoods,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “Latino communities, many of whom live along our coasts and rely on clean water and healthy marine environments for recreation, jobs, and cultural connection, are uniquely impacted. We support efforts that uphold strong protections and ensure our public lands and waters remain preserved for future generations. Now is the time for bold, bipartisan leadership that centers communities and protects the ocean legacy we all share.”
    “The New Jersey Environmental Lobby unequivocally supports all of the bills,” said Anne Poole, President of the NJ Environment Lobby. “Our organization’s primary focus is State legislation and policies that affect our densely populated coastal state, but oceans know no national or state boundaries.  The oceans are connected and impact all life on this globe.  What affects one coast eventually affects us all. Thank you to all of these ocean champions for their foresight and political courage!”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Sounds Alarm on Disturbing Findings from ADL Antisemitism Report, Urges Congress to Take Action to Combat Rise of Antisemitism

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, released the following statement in response to a new report by the ADL, which found that in 2024, antisemitic incidents rose to the highest level on record since it began tracking them in 1979. Notably, there were over 9,000 instances of antisemitic vandalism, harassment, and assaults on the Jewish community — which all saw increases from the year prior. 
    “No one should be threatened or made to feel unsafe because of who they are. The ADL report confirms what we’ve known to be true: incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault are on the rise,” said Senator Rosen. “These disturbing acts of anti-Jewish hate and violence are unacceptable, and we all have a responsibility to push back on these incidents of bigotry whenever they occur. I will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take action to address antisemitism and protect Jewish communities.”
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight to combat antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and distortion. In February, Rosen introduced the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on college campuses. Earlier this year, Rosen introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen Holocaust education. Last year, Rosen’s bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Never Again Education Act became law. Rosen helped launch the first-ever Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism with Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and led the push to create the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. Senator Rosen also helped introduce a bipartisan resolution denouncing antisemitism at institutions of higher education, which passed the Senate unanimously.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Colleagues Push Back Against Trump’s Plan to Privatize Postal Service & Undermine Vote by Mail

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick expressing serious concerns about the harmful impacts of the Trump Administration’s plans to privatize the United States Postal Service (USPS) and move it under the control of the Department of Commerce. In their letter, the Senators emphasized that the move risks politicizing and imperiling vote-by-mail efforts nationwide, while also violating the Postal Reauthorization Act.
    “We write to express our grave concern over your statements and ongoing reports that the Trump Administration may soon attempt to bring the United States Postal Service (USPS) under the control of the Department of Commerce and potentially privatize services that are relied upon by millions of Americans,” wrote the Senators. “Not only would such a move violate the Postal Reauthorization Act and harm Americans in many ways, but it would also have a very negative impact on our democracy by disrupting and undermining public confidence in the handling of election mail. We strongly urge you to stop your deeply misguided pursuit of this effort immediately.”
    “Privatizing the Postal Service would put our democracy in the hands of corporations that are more focused on efficiency and profit than the public good,” they continued. “Bringing the Postal Service under the control of political appointees at the Department of Commerce and potentially private companies raises serious concerns that partisan and private actors would deprive eligible voters of the confidence that USPS will properly handle their ballot by disrupting the robust delivery routes that connect our country or by imposing a cost on ballot returns.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Millions of Americans rely on vote-by-mail as a safe and trustworthy method to vote in federal and state elections, the Senators noted. In the 2024 general election cycle, USPS securely and efficiently delivered more than 99 million ballots to and from voters, including free mail delivery to rural and remote communities. President Trump’s own U.S. postal system task force found that a “comprehensive delivery network that covers every address in the country is a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure that private actors cannot replicate [.]”
    Senator Rosen has been leading the effort to protect local postal operations in Nevada. Last year, she announced that she successfully pushed USPS to keep local letter mail processing operations in Reno, following a misguided plan to move operations to Sacramento, California. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Calls Out HHS Secretary Kennedy for Hiring Fraudster to Relitigate Long-Disproven Theories

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) is calling out Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s reported decision to hire David Geier, an individual with a history of practicing medicine without a license, to relitigate long-disproven links between vaccines and autism.

    Senator Hassan is urging Secretary Kennedy to fire Mr. Geier and to invest in the work of qualified scientists at HHS who are advancing research on autism rather than waste taxpayer dollars by hiring fraudsters like Mr. Geier to push baseless theories. Senator Hassan’s push comes as Secretary Kennedy held an event last Wednesday about the importance of finding the cause of autism – during which he made disparaging comments about children with autism – despite the fact that the Trump Administration is actively defunding the health research that has built years of expertise and evidence towards better understanding autism.

    “David Geier has directly endangered the lives of children, and he does not belong at a government agency that oversees the health of more than 70 million American children,” wrote Senator Hassan. “David Geier was disciplined by the State of Maryland in 2012 for endangering children’s health by falsely diagnosing and treating medical conditions in children with autism without a medical license.” 

    “You have reportedly selected David Geier to lead a scientific study relitigating a baseless link between vaccines and autism. Mr. Geier has no qualifications to lead such a study, and decades of rigorous scientific research – studies that have included more than one million children – have shown again and again that childhood vaccines and autism are not linked,” Senator Hassan continued. 

    “As you hire David Geier, the United States is facing a growing measles outbreak that has sickened nearly 500 children and led to dozens being hospitalized,” Senator Hassan emphasized. “To protect the health of children, and to abide by your stated goals of advancing gold-standard science, I urge you to terminate Mr. Geier’s employment.” 

    Click here to see the full letter or see text below: 

    Dear Secretary Kennedy:

    I write to express my grave concern regarding your decision to hire David Geier, a vaccine cynic and fraudster, to study a long-debunked theory that vaccines are linked to autism. Mr. Geier not only lacks any scientific qualifications, but he has a track record of harming children and manipulating data to fit his disproven conspiracy theories about vaccine safety. I urge you to protect the health of children in the United States and immediately remove this individual from the Department.

    David Geier has directly endangered the lives of children, and he does not belong at a government agency that oversees the health of more than 70 million American children. David Geier was disciplined by the State of Maryland in 2012 for endangering children’s health by falsely diagnosing and treating medical conditions in children with autism without a medical license. David Geier’s father, Dr. Mark Geier, was previously a doctor in Maryland and lost his medical license after parents reported that both Geiers were endangering children with autism by administering quack treatments that were not evidence-based. For example, the Geiers administered a potent medication called Lupron, a testosterone-suppressant approved for prostate cancer and ovarian fibroids, to children with autism, despite these children having no diagnosed conditions that would necessitate this treatment. In other instances, David Geier – who has no medical license or scientific training – performed an ultrasound on a child, falsified medical diagnoses, and ordered more than 20 blood tests for a child.

    You have reportedly selected David Geier to lead a scientific study relitigating a baseless link between vaccines and autism. Mr. Geier has no qualifications to lead such a study, and decades of rigorous scientific research – studies that have included more than one million children – have shown again and again that childhood vaccines and autism are not linked. Decades of scientific studies supported by the NIH suggest that both genetic factors and environmental factors may contribute to childhood autism. I urge you to continue investing in this promising research, and to not waste taxpayer dollars to advance Mr. Geier’s pre-conceived conspiracy theories about vaccines.

    As you hire David Geier, the United States is facing a growing measles outbreak that has sickened nearly 500 children and led to dozens being hospitalized. Based on decades of research and scientific consensus, medical professionals recommend the MMR vaccine to provide children with strong protection from measles infection. To protect the health of children, and to abide by your stated goals of advancing gold-standard science, I urge you to terminate Mr. Geier’s employment.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Introduce Bipartisan New England Offshore Drilling Ban

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    Washington, DC – On Earth Day, a bipartisan group of New England Senators is announcing the introduction of legislation to bar offshore drilling along the New England coast. The New England Coastal Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).  Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-RI) introduced companion legislation in the House. 

    “Offshore drilling would enrich the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the Ocean State’s coastal economy and the health of our Narragansett Bay,” said Whitehouse, who originally introduced the legislation during the first Trump administration.  “With President Trump scrambling to grant the looters and polluters swarming around his administration every item on their wish list, I’m committed to doing everything in my power to stop reckless oil and gas drilling off Rhode Island’s coast.”

    “President Trump’s blatant efforts to benefit Big Oil will devastate economies and environments up and down the New England coast, including Long Island Sound,” said Blumenthal.  “Our measure takes the bold action we need to prevent new offshore drilling and protect our waterways for future generations. Our coastline should be protected as a vital tourism, fishing, and environmental resource – not exposed to the dangers of oil spills or drilling pollution.”

    “The waters off Maine’s coast provide a healthy ecosystem for our fisheries and are an integral part of our tourism industry, supporting thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in revenue each year,” said Collins.  “Offshore drilling along the coast could impact Mainers of all walks of life for generations, which is why I join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to ban offshore drilling on the New England coastline.” 

    “Coastal drilling has led to some of the worst natural disasters in modern history, and we cannot afford to risk harm to New Hampshire’s coastal communities,” said Hassan.  “This bipartisan bill would ban offshore drilling in New Hampshire and throughout the region, and I’ll continue to speak out to make clear that our coast is off limits to offshore oil and natural gas extraction.”

    “Maine’s fisheries and coastal communities rely on healthy, clean waters to support their livelihoods. Offshore oil drilling would pose an immense threat to this delicate ecosystem and the people it supports,” said King.  “As we respond to global energy crises, we must work together to find practical, fiscally responsible clean energy solutions that can protect Maine communities and the Atlantic Ocean that do not rely on offshore drilling.  This bipartisan effort would be a positive step forward to ensure we continue to protect the Gulf of Maine and all the communities that rely on its bountiful, yet fragile, ecosystem.”

    “We must do everything in our power to protect New England’s coasts and waters from the dangers of offshore drilling,” said Markey.  “As the Bay State, we will not allow Massachusetts coasts to be destroyed by Donald Trump’s reckless mission to ‘drill baby drill.’ We refuse to stand by as the President and his Big Oil buddies destroy our environment, disrupt our waters, and make consumers pay for their pollution.  It’s time to say goodbye to the Oil-igarchy.”

    “Offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean poses tremendous risks for the Ocean State’s environment and economy.  This legislation is about protecting critical natural resources and the livelihoods of New Englanders in countless industries who rely on a clean, healthy Atlantic Ocean,” said Reed.

    “New Hampshire’s eighteen miles of coastline are home to families, small businesses that power our economy and cherished wildlife – all of which would be severely threatened by harmful offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean,” said Shaheen.  “As President Trump eyes opportunities to expand offshore drilling, which has led to disastrous oil spills that cause economic and environmental devastation, New England’s bipartisan delegation is introducing legislation to help safeguard of our communities, local economies and way of life.”

    “Rhode Islanders take pride in being the Ocean State, and in our clean waterways that support good jobs and quality of life,” said Magaziner.  “The New England Coastal Protection Act will help safeguard our environment by preventing new offshore drilling that would threaten the coastline that is so essential to our state.”

    According to NOAA Fisheries, ocean and coastal industries, including tourism, fishing, and recreation, generate more than $17.5 billion in New England annually.  Expanding drilling in the Atlantic would harm New England’s key industries, and significantly increase the chance of environmental disaster in the region.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Hosts Medal Ceremony for Family of Local WWII Veteran

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    CRANSTON, RI – Nearly eight decades after Seaman First Class Ferdinand “Bull” Viveiros was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today presented Mr. Viveiros’ family with several military honors he received through his courageous and honorable service during World War II. 

    Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today joined Mr. Viveiros’ children to honor their father, celebrate his tremendous service and sacrifice, and deliver military medals and recognitions for his role in defending freedom around the globe.

    “We are grateful to Mr. Viveiros and his fellow servicemembers for their courage and dedication.  They made tremendous sacrifices.  It is a privilege to recognize and honor their service and thank their families,” said Senator Reed.

    “I’m proud to join Senator Reed today to pay tribute to my dad.  These military honors are long overdue, and I honestly think my dad can rest in peace now,” said Sharon Alves, Mr. Viveiros’ daughter who was joined today by her husband, Peter Alves, and their son, PJ.

    Born and raised in Bristol by his parents, Louis and Maria Viveiros, Bull Viveiros enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1943 just before his eighteenth birthday. He went on to participate in the Allied Invasion of Europe on D-Day on June 6, 1944, serving as a gunner on a Landing Ship, Tank (LST) which landed on Utah Beach.

    During Seaman First Class Viveiros’ approximately three years of service, he trained at the U.S. Naval Training Station in Sampson, NY and served on several military vessels, including: USS Cassia County (LST 527), an amphibious landing ship that participated in the Invasion of Normandy; USS Fall River, a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser which sailed in experimental development operations; and USS Wyandot, an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship.

    After the war, Mr. Viveiros returned home and settled in Fall River, MA to start a family and return to his work as a carpenter and tradesman. He married his wife, Mary (Ferreira) Viveiros, and had three children: a daughter, Sharon; and two sons, Dean and Ferdinand Jr.

    Mr. Viveiros worked for over four decades as a lead shipper for the Haskon Corporation of Taunton. He continued to serve his nation, fellow veterans, and community in his native state of Rhode Island as a devoted member and past commander of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW), Woodrow L. Silvia Post 5392 in Tiverton.

    Until his passing in 2017 at the age of 91, Mr. Viveiros donated his time to fellow veterans by serving with organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the U.S. Landing Ship, Tank (LST) Association.

    During the ceremony, Mr. Viveiros’ family received four military honors for exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity that he earned while serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII, including:

    World War II (WWII) was the most widespread war in history with more than 100 million people serving in military units, including roughly 16 million Americans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 22nd, 2025 Heinrich, Daines, Neguse, Leger Fernández Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) introduced their bipartisan Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act, legislation that directs the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Interior to prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT).

    Designated by Congress as part of the National Trail System in 1978, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail stretches more than 3,000 miles and passes through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The trail follows the Continental Divide and transverses some of the nation’s most treasured natural, historic, and cultural resources.

    Since the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail’s creation, stakeholders have worked tirelessly to complete the trail. Today, more than 160 miles of the trail require diversions onto roadways and highways, and 600 miles of the trail require relocation.Closing these gaps and relocating these segments will help better maintain the trail’s purpose while ensuring a safer and more enjoyable journey for hikers.

    “The existing Continental Divide National Scenic Trail serves as a major economic driver for communities along the trail like Grants and Silver City, New Mexico. The trail also provides recreational access to some of our most incredible natural, historic, and cultural landscapes,” said Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Our Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act will finally finish incomplete portions of the trail and make it easier and safer for locals and through-hikers to access. As a National Scenic Trail, the Continental Divide Trail deserves no less.”

    “The Continental Divide Trail provides an unmatched outdoor experience for Montanans and visitors alike,” said Daines. “My bipartisan bill ensures the trail will continue to provide public access and a continuous route will finally be completed.”

    “It’s been nearly half a century since Congress formally established the Continental Divide Trail, a scenic route that spans the Rocky Mountains and crosses five states. Since then, the trail has provided the American people with world-class recreational opportunities and has served as an economic driver for the rural towns and cities along its route. In championing the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act, we are calling on the federal government to fulfill its promise to complete the trail’s full 3,100-mile length, enhancing the benefits this iconic trail brings to both our people and our public lands,” said Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

    “A divided and incomplete Continental Divide Trail is calling out for congressional action to finish the job. A completed trail highlights and honors the unique cultures and environments along its route in New Mexico.” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “This bill will help grow our outdoor recreation economy and support the rural communities along the CDT. Importantly, it also makes sure we respect local landowners, Tribes, Land Grants-Mercedes, Acequias, and other land users. I look forward to co-leading the bill again this Congress with Congressman Neguse and my colleagues.”

    Specifically, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act: 

    • Directs the USDA Secretary and Interior Secretary to establish a Trail Completion Team comprised of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Administrator. This team will be responsible for conducting optimal location reviews and to assist in developing a comprehensive development plan for the Trail.
    • Recognizes the value of cooperation between federal land managers, states, Tribes, towns, Native communities, and others. The Continental Divide Trail Completion Act directs USFS and BLM to maintain close partnerships with stakeholders in developing, maintaining, and managing the trail.
    • Requires the completion of a comprehensive development plan for the Trail, to include areas of Trail where there are gaps, opportunities for acquiring land to complete the trail, and site-specific Trail development plans.
    • Ensures that land purchased to complete the trail may only be acquired from willing sellers.

    Last year, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act passed through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with unanimous consent. The legislation has the backing of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition and a number of organizations and businesses.

    “Completing the CDT is not just about closing the gaps — it’s about all the benefits that result from ensuring connections to one of the country’s most important landscapes exist for future generations,” said Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition.

    Text of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act can be found here.

    Timeline of Actions on Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in 118th Congress:

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