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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Merkley, Blumenthal, Markey: President Trump’s Cuts To Tobacco Prevention Will Make Americans Sicker & Cause More Tobacco-Related Deaths, Diseases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 21, 2025

    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today slammed the Trump Administration for staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that will devastate tobacco use prevention efforts across America.

    “Dozens of staffers at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) have been placed on administrative leave, including the Center’s director, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has been gutted. These actions risk undermining progress that has been made in reducing the death, disease, and addiction caused by tobacco use,” the Senators wrote. “Without these critical staff, we are concerned that more youth will start using tobacco products, fewer people will quit, and more people will become ill and die from tobacco-caused disease.”

    The Senators stressed the impacts of these staffing cuts on the federal government’s ability to protect kids from nicotine addiction and reduce chronic diseases caused by tobacco use, which remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and creates billions of dollars of health care related costs every year.

    “We cannot make a serious effort to reduce chronic disease and protect children’s health without addressing the harm caused by tobacco,” the Senators continued. “Yet the drastic reductions in force at HHS has led to the removal of key officials at the CTP, a center at the FDA created by Congress under the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Without adequate personnel, CTP will not be able to meet its statutory requirement to enforce the law and effectively conduct premarket reviews of new tobacco products and prevent the entry of products that will increase youth tobacco use.”

    The Senators warned, “The firing of thousands of staff at HHS also effectively eliminates CDC’s OSH, which plays a critical role in preventing youth tobacco use and helping adult tobacco users to quit. Eliminating this office will deprive states of the only dedicated source of federal funding for state tobacco prevention and cessation programs. It also means the end of its national public education campaign, Tips from Former Smokers, which helped about one million people to quit, prevented an estimated 129,100 smoking-related deaths, and saved about $7.3 billion in health care costs from 2012 through 2018. Eliminating OSH will not improve efficiency. Instead, it will only cost lives and increase health care expenses.”

    In addition to Durbin, Merkley, Blumenthal, and Markey, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The letter was also endorsed by the American Cancer Society Action Network, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Lung Association, National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation, and The Fenway Institute.

    Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy, Acting Director Monarez, and Commissioner Makary,

    We write to express deep concerns regarding the impact your drastic staffing cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will have on efforts to reduce smoking and other tobacco use. Dozens of staffers at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) have been placed on administrative leave, including the Center’s director, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has been gutted. These actions risk undermining progress that has been made in reducing the death, disease, and addiction caused by tobacco use. Without these critical staff, we are concerned that more youth will start using tobacco products, fewer people will quit, and more people will become ill and die from tobacco-caused disease.

    Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for about $240 billion in health care costs every year. More than 16 million Americans are currently living with a tobacco-caused disease, including chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Nearly 500,000 Americans die each year from tobacco use, making up one in every five deaths in the United States.

    Tobacco use has been described as a pediatric disease because almost all tobacco use begins during adolescence. Tobacco companies have a long history of making and marketing products that appeal to kids. E-cigarettes, for example, come in a wide variety of kid-attracting flavors and expose users to high doses of nicotine and other harmful substances. In fact, e-cigarettes have been the most popular tobacco product among youth since 2014. Last year, 1.6 million middle school and high school students were e-cigarette users with many of them using e-cigarettes frequently or daily, an alarming sign of addiction.

    We cannot make a serious effort to reduce chronic disease and protect children’s health without addressing the harm caused by tobacco. Yet the drastic reductions in force at HHS has led to the removal of key officials at the CTP, a center at the FDA created by Congress under the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Without adequate personnel, CTP will not be able to meet its statutory requirement to enforce the law and effectively conduct premarket reviews of new tobacco products and prevent the entry of products that will increase youth tobacco use. CTP already has an extensive backlog of premarket applications and has had difficulty stopping unauthorized e-cigarettes from entering the market. Fewer employees will only make matters worse. Severe reductions in regulatory personnel also will cripple FDA’s ability to establish product standards to reduce the appeal, addictiveness, and harm of tobacco products.

    The firing of thousands of staff at HHS also effectively eliminates CDC’s OSH, which plays a critical role in preventing youth tobacco use and helping adult tobacco users to quit. Eliminating this office will deprive states of the only dedicated source of federal funding for state tobacco prevention and cessation programs. It also means the end of its national public education campaign, Tips from Former Smokers, which helped about one million people to quit, prevented an estimated 129,100 smoking-related deaths, and saved about $7.3 billion in health care costs from 2012 through 2018. Eliminating OSH will not improve efficiency. Instead, it will only cost lives and increase health care expenses.

    Given the significant ramifications of the HHS proposed reorganization on the federal government’s ability to protect kids from nicotine-addiction and to reduce chronic diseases caused by tobacco use, we request responses to the following questions by Friday, April 25, 2025.

    1. How many total FDA CTP employees have lost their jobs? How many have lost their jobs as a result of:
      1. The recent reductions in force announced by the Department on March 27, 2025 (including transfers to other federal agencies)?
      2. The termination of probationary employees?
      3. Other Administration efforts to reduce the federal workforce (e.g., early retirement and Fork in the Road)?
    2. For each office within FDA CTP (e.g., Office of the Director, Office of Management, Office of Regulations, Office of Science, Office of Health Communications and Education, and Office of Compliance and Enforcement), how many people have been removed from their positions and how many remain?
    3. Which directors of offices within FDA CTP have been removed from their positions, placed on administrative leave, or transferred to other federal agencies?
    4. Does FDA CTP intend to spend the $712 million in tobacco user fees authorized under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act and included in the FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act (P.L. 119-4)? Please indicate how CTP intends to spend its tobacco user fees for FY 2025, including, but not limited to, dollars spent on premarket review, enforcement of marketing and sales of illegal products, and Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science.
    5. What functions of CTP have been transferred to other offices at FDA or to other agencies? To which offices or agencies were they transferred?
    6. What functions of CTP have been eliminated?
    7. How many employees does CDC OSH currently have? What are their roles and functions?
    8. Have any of the programs and activities, including data collection, previously run by CDC OSH been transferred to other agencies? To what other offices or agencies were they transferred to?
    9. The FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act (P.L. 119-4) allocated $125.85 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund to CDC OSH. How does the Department plan to spend this money if CDC OSH has been eliminated?
    10. Will states no longer receive federal grants from the National and State Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) to support state and local tobacco control programs? If so, when will states be notified of this loss in federal funding?
    11. Does the proposed elimination of CDC OSH mean that the highly effective media campaign, Tips from Former Smokers, will end? What about Tips ads for which air time has already been purchased? When do you anticipate the current Tips ad buy (both on Over-the-Top [OTT] and Over-the-Air [OTA] platforms) will conclude?
    12. Will the proposed elimination of CDC OSH eliminate federal funding for quitlines and cause state quitlines to reduce the services they can provide and the number of people they can serve?

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Reintroduce Resolution to Designate Clela Rorex Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    As Boulder County Clerk, Clela Rorex Issued the First Same-Sex Marriage License in the U.S. in March 1975

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representative Joe Neguse reintroduced a resolution to designate March 26, 2025, as “Clela Rorex Day” to honor Clela Rorex, the Boulder County Clerk who issued the first same sex-marriage license in the U.S. in March 1975.

    “Clela should be recognized for her leadership as a national civil rights leader, paving the way for countless individuals,” wrote the lawmakers.

    In April 1975, 40 years before the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, the Boulder County Clerk issued the first marriage license to a same-sex couple. At the time, Colorado State laws did not expressly prohibit granting a marriage license to a same-sex couple. Mrs. Rorex, continued to advocate on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community for the remainder of her time in public service and throughout her life.

    In 2016, Mrs. Rorex said, “After having been so deeply involved in the women’s rights movements, who was I to then deny a right to anyone else? It wasn’t my job to legislate morality.” Clela passed away in the summer of 2022, in Longmont, Colorado. She was 78 years old.

    In addition to Hickenlooper, Bennet, and Neguse, the resolution is supported by Representatives Diana DeGette, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen.

    Full text of the resolution is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Statement on the Passing of Pope Francis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    April 21, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement honoring the passing of Pope Francis:
    “Pope Francis was a pillar of the Catholic Church, a beacon of hope, compassion and light in times of fear, hatred and darkness. Throughout his life, he taught us that in order to be great, we have to be good. He urged each of us to care for the poor, feed the hungry, be humble stewards of the Earth and treat others how we would want to be treated ourselves—even if they pray or live differently than us. His teachings remain as important as ever.
    “May he rest in peace and may his spirit continue to uplift and guide all those who followed his sacred word.”
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Condemning Trump and Hegseth’s Trans Military Service Ban

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    April 22, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC) Committees—led 13 of her fellow Senate Democratic colleagues in condemning President Trump’s un-American, unconstitutional transgender military service ban for being a blatant violation of our brave servicemembers’ civil rights and weakening our 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 that the Administration 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,” wrote the 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 derided 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 Duckworth, the letter is 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), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-WA).
    The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:
    Dear Secretary Hegseth:
    We write to express our expectation that the Department of Defense (Department) adhere to recent U.S. District Court injunctions halting terminations of transgender servicemembers and provide all servicemembers with equal protection under the law by protecting the constitutional and legal rights of our Nation’s transgender troops. Our extreme concern over the demonstrably false and propaganda-laden claims in President Donald Trump’s January 27, 2025 Executive Order “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” (EO) is rooted in our commitment to military recruiting and readiness.
    Fewer than one percent of the American people—approximately 0.4 percent—choose to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.  Given the unwillingness or inability of 99.6 percent of the U.S. population to serve in our military, the last thing our Nation should be doing is rejecting patriotic Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country in uniform and bravely accept the risk of making the ultimate sacrifice.
    The United States military became the greatest fighting force in the world by pioneering the integration of diverse groups.  In fields where performance is the top priority, effective leaders recruit from the widest pool of applicants, understanding that arbitrarily restricting eligibility on a discriminatory basis betrays the very concept of meritocracy. 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.
    This should not be a controversial issue: most Americans support transgender individuals serving in the military, and a 2020 study found that transgender servicemembers reported above-average physical health and few risk behaviors.  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 Trump administration’s repeated attacks on the transgender community reveal an ideological obsession rooted in a poor understanding of science. Transgender identities are valid, and respecting someone’s gender identity while minding your own business harms no one.  All servicemembers—cisgender and transgender—benefit from investing in unit cohesion, contrary to the false claims in the EO.  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. Contrary to the low opinion you and the President seem to have of our servicemembers’ professionalism and commitment to mission accomplishment, we believe that our troops can serve together cohesively in pursuit of military effectiveness and excellence, regardless of their differences in identity. Fox News television personalities—not military units—are the ones bothered by transgender people faithfully serving their country.
    This EO establishes a dangerous precedent, allowing the President to arbitrarily decide that an entire group of people is harmful to an undefined ideal of “unit cohesion” and purge them from the Joint Force—without producing any meaningful evidence. You have already personally questioned women’s fitness to serve and erased public records of accomplishments by American military heroes from minority backgrounds.  Who will be targeted next?
    Nearly 20 percent of the transgender community are current servicemembers or Veterans, a significantly higher rate than the approximately seven percent of all U.S. adults fitting these categories.  In return for this patriotism, the administration denies transgender servicemembers not only the ability to serve, but also the resulting benefits they have earned.  The EO and ensuing Department policy proposals specifically target transgender individuals who have accessed gender-affirming care, even though such care continues to be accepted as evidence-based, medically necessary and highly effective by all major medical and behavioral health professional organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association.
    On March 18, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes issued a nationwide preliminary injunction in Talbott v. Trump (1:25-cv-00240, (D.D.C.)), blocking implementation of the EO. Judge Reyes stated that the ban undermines national security, is likely unconstitutional and is “soaked with animus and dripping with pretext.”  10 days later, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Hale Settle, a former JAG officer appointed by President George W. Bush, issued a second nationwide injunction against the transgender military ban in Shilling v. Trump (2:25-cv-00241 (W.D. Wash.)).  These injunctions were timely, as the Department was scheduled to begin implementing the ban on March 28, 2025, despite several military experts and former leaders characterizing this rapid timeframe as “rushed,” “alarming” and “brutal.”  We could not agree more.
    As the Secretary of Defense, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring the United States maintains a strong and capable fighting force that will keep Americans safe. This harmful EO negatively impacts national security and undermines your oath of office. Given the recent legal developments concerning the order, we request that you respond to the following questions in writing by April 25, 2025:
    Do you commit to following the nationwide injunctions from Talbott v. Trump and Shilling v Trump regarding implementation of President Trump’s transgender servicemember ban? Please explain the steps taken to comply with these injunctions.
    How many taxpayer dollars will be spent to implement this policy?
    As of the date of this letter, how much has been spent on the government’s defense in the aforementioned lawsuits and any other legal challenges related to this EO?
    Approximately how many taxpayer dollars have been spent on training, continuing education, fitness testing, boarding and other related expenses on the transgender troops you are seeking to expel from the Joint Force?
    What is the estimated cost for administrative time spent scouring records to identify transgender servicemembers, pursuing the administrative separation process, providing transition services and implementing associated lifetime benefit payouts to forcibly remove honorably serving, fit transgender troops from service?
    Were any servicemembers prematurely dismissed due to the EO and planned policy implementations? What assistance was provided to help these individuals transition back to civilian life?
    Please provide a detailed reintegration plan for any servicemembers prematurely separated or who began the separation process, outlining how the Department is working to undo the harm already done.
    Do you commit to consulting with professional organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, to ensure that our Nation’s transgender servicemembers receive the medically necessary, evidence-based healthcare they earned in service to our country?
    How will you ensure that transgender servicemembers can continue to serve without facing stigma or backlash resulting from the Trump administration’s targeted attacks against them?
    The ban on transgender service members will have long-term consequences on military morale and recruitment. Addressing these issues promptly is crucial to prevent negative impacts on the Armed Forces. As the Secretary, you have the opportunity to help reverse the Trump administration’s anti-science, ideologically driven agenda. Swift corrective action will help preserve the military’s integrity and ensure it continues to attract and retain the best talent. Denying any servicemember who has met the qualifications to serve our Nation the right to serve based on ideological grounds is inherently un-American and jeopardizes our national security. This administration’s animus towards transgender heroes prioritizes a manufactured culture war over military excellence and readiness and is a purge of brave servicemembers who protect our freedoms.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    The Honorable Mike JohnsonSpeaker of the House of RepresentativesWashington, D.C. 20515
    March 28, 2025
    Dear Mr. Speaker:
    I write to apprise you of developments in Yemen and the broader Middle East region.
    Houthi militants operating from bases in Yemen have perpetrated piratical aggressions against shipping and have continued to threaten and attack United States forces in the airspace and waters in and around Yemen. I will no longer allow this band of pirates to threaten and attack United States forces and commercial vessels in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. We will act to keep Americans safe. Consistentwith my commitment to defend United States forces and to uphold navigational rights and freedoms, I directed the Department of Defense to take several actions concerning the Houthis in Yemen, described below.
    First, I directed the Department of Defense to move additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to enhance the defensive capabilities available to United States forces and facilitate necessary military actions. These forces include capabilities for air and missile defense of Israel and of locations hosting United States forces as well as fighter, support, and reconnaissance aircraft to enable strikes on Houthi targets. The additional forces have deployed to countries in the Middle East region as detailed in the attached classified annex.
    Second, at my direction, forces under United States Central Command have commenced large-scale strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen to eliminate the capabilities the Houthis use for attacks on United States forces and commercial ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. United States Navy ships and aircraft, along with United States Air Force bombers, fighters, and unmanned aircraft, operating in and around Yemen, have participated in these strikes. Targets have included Houthi leadership and equipment, command and control facilities, and munitions storage facilities. We will continue these decisive military operations until the Houthi threat to United States forces and navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and adjacent waters has abated.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I directed these actionsconsistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuantto my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.
    Sincerely,
    Donald J. Trump
    The Honorable Charles GrassleyPresident pro tempore of the SenateWashington, D.C. 20510
    March 28, 2025
    Dear Mr. President:
    I write to apprise you of developments in Yemen and the broader Middle East region.
    Houthi militants operating from bases in Yemen have perpetrated piratical aggressions against shipping and have continued to threaten and attack United States forces in the airspace and waters in and around Yemen. I will no longer allow this band of pirates to threaten and attack United States forces and commercial vessels in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. We will act to keep Americans safe. Consistentwith my commitment to defend United States forces and to uphold navigational rights and freedoms, I directed the Department of Defense to take several actions concerning the Houthis in Yemen, described below.
    First, I directed the Department of Defense to move additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to enhance the defensive capabilities available to United States forces and facilitate necessary military actions. These forces include capabilities for air and missile defense of Israel and of locations hosting United States forces as well as fighter, support, and reconnaissance aircraft to enable strikes on Houthi targets. The additional forces have deployed to countries in the Middle East region as detailed in the attached classified annex.
    Second, at my direction, forces under United States Central Command have commenced large-scale strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen to eliminate the capabilities the Houthis use for attacks on United States forces and commercial ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. United States Navy ships and aircraft, along with United States Air Force bombers, fighters, and unmanned aircraft, operating in and around Yemen, have participated in these strikes. Targets have included Houthi leadership and equipment, command and control facilities, and munitions storage facilities. We will continue these decisive military operations until the Houthi threat to United States forces and navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and adjacent waters has abated.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I directed these actionsconsistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuantto my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.
    Sincerely,
    Donald J. Trump

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Photos: Kaine Highlights Need to Continue Support for America’s Alliances on Official Visits to Poland, Ukraine, and Germany

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, concluded a week-long trip of official visits in Poland, Ukraine, and Germany to highlight his support for America’s transatlantic partnerships and Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s brutal invasion. The visit came amid Russia’s horrific Palm Sunday attack on the Ukrainian town of Sumy, which killed dozens of innocent civilians, including children; global fallout from the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff regime that not only punishes allies, but also severely inhibits defense cooperation; and reported plans to shrink America’s diplomatic presence abroad—even as China moves to expand its own footprint.
    “America has always been strongest and safest when we link arms with our allies. I traveled to Poland, Ukraine, and Germany this week to highlight the importance of that principle, especially in the face of Russia’s continued illegal invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s horrific Palm Sunday attack in Sumy was a disturbing—yet unsurprising—sign that Russia is not negotiating in good faith to stop the fighting. It’s more important than ever that we strengthen our relationships across the Atlantic. I know that I have colleagues on both sides of the aisle who see how the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff regime and insulting comments about our friends abroad make that harder, and will keep doing all that I can to urge them to stand up for the alliances that keep America safe.”
    Photos of Kaine’s trip are available here.
    Kaine traveled to Poland to:
    Meet U.S. servicemembers stationed at the Logistical Support Area (LSA) in Jasionka, which has played a critical role in delivering security assistance to Ukraine since 2022.
    Visit Remote Maintenance Distribution Cell-Ukraine, a U.S. Army sustainment initiative that provides direct maintenance and repair support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
    Meet with Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijolek. Rzeszów was given the distinction of “Rescuer City” by President Zelenskyy in honor of the humanitarianism, charity, and solidarity it has offered the Ukrainian people. Kaine is a former mayor and the meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm U.S.-Polish cooperation on regional security, especially at the local level.
    Meet with Head of the National Security Bureau Lt. General Dariusz Lukowski, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz to discuss support for Ukraine and NATO.
    Visit the POLIN Museum, which is dedicated to telling the history of Jewish life in Poland, including the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Movement of 1943, in which Jewish insurgents in the Nazi-created ghetto resisted German troops and police who entered it to deport its surviving inhabitants.
    Then, Kaine traveled to Ukraine to:
    Meet with David Arakhamia, a leader of the Servant of the People political party in the Verkhovna Rada, and Sergiv Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration.
    Visit wounded Ukrainian veterans undergoing rehabilitation treatment at a NextStep Ukraine facility. NextStep Ukraine offers prosthetics, brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation to veterans. The organization receives U.S. funding.
    Tour the Kyiv Combined Heat and Power Plant No. 5, a major infrastructure site that supplies both electricity and heat to five districts of the city, to highlight U.S. support for energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The facility was severely impacted by Russian missile strikes in October 2022 and again in March 2023. USAID provided the funding and expertise to restore the plant’s operations.
    Lay flowers at the Bucha Memorial that honors the civilians and prisoners of war killed by Russian forces during their occupation of the town in early 2022.
    Lay flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, which honors the lives of thousands of soldiers and volunteers who have died defending Ukraine. The Wall of Remembrance was created through a collaboration between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, the National Military History Museum, and civic memory organizations.
    Visit the site of the 1941 massacre at Babyn Yar, a ravine near Kyiv.
    Meet with Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, a leading civil society coalition dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Ukraine and pursuing accountability for Russian war crimes.
    Then, Kaine traveled to Germany to:
    Meet with Norbert Röttgen, a member of the German Bundestag who has long led on German foreign affairs issues; Deputy Director-General of the German Ministry of Defense Major General Stefan Schulz; and the German State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Susanne Baumann. 
    Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a place of remembrance and commemoration for the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
    Visit United States European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart.
    Visit U.S. servicemembers assigned to United States Air Force Europe and Special Operations Command Europe in Ramstein.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Visits YWCA Clark County After Securing $475K for Therapeutic Preschool Program, Hears How Trump’s Funding Cuts, EOs Threaten Care for Survivors

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Trump Admin Withholding Nearly $1 Billion in Funding for Head Start—Crunching Centers Nationwide and Forcing Devastating Closures

    ***PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***

    Vancouver, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited the YWCA Clark County and toured renovated classroom and outdoor space for the YWCA’s therapeutic pre-school program, which caters to children who have experienced trauma like abuse, neglect, and homelessness already in their early lives, and who need extra support to be able to thrive. Senator Murray secured $475,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funding for the YWCA’s preschool program in the government funding bills she negotiated and passed last Congress as Chair of the Appropriations Committee. On her visit, Senator Murray also heard from YWCA staff about how the Trump administration’s funding freezes, cuts to federal funding, and Executive Order on DEI initiatives—as well as looming Republican cuts to Medicaid—are affecting their work helping domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.

    The Clark County YWCA is a multi-service organization that works with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse; youth aging out of foster care; and preschool children who have experienced or are at risk for homelessness. Without adequate funding, critical services at the YWCA are at risk of being reduced or eliminated, and many survivors rely on Medicaid and would be seriously harmed by deep cuts to the program, which Republicans are trying to pass through Congress right now. Senator Murray was joined during her visit by YWCA CEO Brittini Lasseigne, Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Yarie, VP of Support & Prevention Programs Laurie Schacht, VP of Domestic Violence Programs Beth Landry, and VP of Communications and Marketing Chandra Chase.

    “Federal investments like the one I was able to secure for the therapeutic preschool program here at the YWCA Clark County can make a real difference for kids and families at risk,” said Senator Murray. “Unfortunately, Trump’s unprecedented funding freezes and lack of communication with partners on the ground has created real chaos and uncertainty for places like the YWCA, who do really important work helping some of the most vulnerable in our communities—and have now been left without guidance on whether and when critical grant programs they rely on will open at all. And the Medicaid cuts Republicans are trying to force through Congress right now would also be devastating for the kids and survivors they serve who overwhelmingly rely on Medicaid for their health care. You can be sure I will take these stories with me back to the other Washington and keep fighting with everything I’ve got to end this chaos.”

    “Thanks to Senator Murray, our community has a therapeutic preschool option for trauma informed care for our youngest survivors. The Occupational Therapy room symbolizes what’s possible when federal-local partnerships focus on uplifting entire communities.  We’re not just addressing trauma—we’re preventing it by equipping families with resources to build safer, stronger futures together,” said Brittini Lasseigne, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Clark County. “Senator Murray’s visit to YWCA Clark County’s Y’s Care Therapeutic Preschool program and our new Occupational Therapy room—spaces her federal investment helped build—shows what’s possible when leaders prioritize people over profits. These rooms are more than facilities; they’re proof that trauma-informed care works. We’re grateful for allies like Senator Murray, who continue to fight to ensure no child is left behind as we face new federal funding challenges that are both devastating and far-reaching.”

    Senator Murray has long worked to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including authoring important provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) over the years. In the most recent reauthorization of VAWA, Senator Murray passed major provisions of her Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA) to develop national standards of care for survivors of sexual assault, strengthen the sexual assault examiner workforce, and expand access to sexual assault examination services. Murray first introduced SASCA in 2016, after her constituent, Leah Griffin, shared her personal story of surviving a sexual assault and then getting turned away from a hospital when it was unable to administer a rape kit—ultimately contributing to prosecutors declining to file criminal charges. Senator Murray also leads the SAFE for Survivors Act, which would provide increased economic security for survivors of domestic violence. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill Senator Murray authored and passed into law as then-Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Murray secured $713 million—the highest funding level ever, for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women, a $13 million increase over the previous year support training for police officers and prosecutors, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, lethality assessment and homicide reduction initiatives, domestic violence hotlines, women’s shelters, transitional housing, and rural support services.

    Senator Murray has led the fight to tackle the child care crisis in Congress. She was instrumental in ensuring Congress took action when the COVID pandemic forced the child care sector to the brink of collapse. She authored the stabilization provisions in the American Rescue Plan alongside Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-03) and helped secure a historic $24 billion in stabilization funds and an additional $15 billion for CCDBG in the legislation. One third of child care providers who received a stabilization grant said their child care program would have closed permanently without the grants. Senator Murray introduced legislation and pushed to extend the stabilization grants—and has continued to push to deliver supplemental funding to address the child care crisis. In the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills Senator Murray authored and passed, she successfully secured $1 billion more for our nation’s primary child care program and for Head Start—in addition to a variety of other steps across government programs to help families find quality, affordable child care. Critically, Senator Murray has introduced and continues working to build the support needed to pass her Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to tackle the child care crisis and ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: GOP PLAN TO CRIPPLE MEDICAID WOULD SLASH ADDICTION TREATMENT IN ROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES AND WORSEN OPIOID EPIDEMIC ACROSS UPSTATE NY; STANDING WITH DOCTORS & PEOPLE IN RECOVERY THANKS TO…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Congressional Republicans Just Voted To Advance The Biggest Medicaid Cut In History — $880 BILLION — Which Could Devastate Rochester-Finger Lakes Healthcare, Hammering Hospitals Which Could Face Layoffs, Nursing Homes, And Kick Patients In Recovery To The Curb, Setting Back Upstate NY’s Efforts To Fight The Opioid Crisis

    70% Of Patients Receiving Addiction Treatment At Wayne County’s Finger Lakes Counseling & Recovery Agency Are Funded By Medicaid; GOP’s Dangerous Medicaid Cuts Would Impact 300,000+ Across Finger Lakes From Seniors To Children And Could Rip Away Healthcare For Thousands

    Schumer: GOP Medicaid Cuts Would Inflame Opioid Crisis Across Upstate NY

    Just two weeks after Congressional Republicans voted to advance the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer stood with Finger Lakes people in recovery and nurses at the Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Agency (FLACRA) to call on Congressional Republicans to block Trump’s plan to decimate Medicaid. The Republican plan to cut $880 billion from Medicaid would hurt more than 300,000 New Yorkers in the Finger Lakes and set back Upstate NY’s decades of efforts to combat the opioid crisis.

    “House Republicans just voted to advance the biggest Medicaid cut in history, putting places like the Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Agency where 70% of their patients in recovery in danger. Make no mistake: these cuts could set back decades of efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in Upstate NY and risk healthcare for over 300,000 across the Rochester-Finger Lakes region,” said Senator Schumer. “Medicaid is one of the largest funding sources for Rochester’s nursing homes, hospitals, and is a lifeline for our rural areas and especially our addiction treatment centers. Across the Finger Lakes, seniors are worried they could be kicked out of their nursing homes and patients in recovery are fearful they’ll be stuck, stranded, and abandoned with no support. We are in the fight of a lifetime to block the Republican plan to gut Medicaid by $880 BILLION. That’s why I’m demanding NY House Republicans stand up and join me in ensuring Finger Lakes rehab centers and patients have the resources they need to fight the opioid crisis.”

    Schumer said Finger Lakes patients in recovery will face the worst when Republicans cut Medicaid. Over 300,000 people in the Finger Lakes have Medicaid for their insurance, and many of them are patients in recovery who could be discharged from local rehab facilities if Congressional Republicans cut Medicaid. Schumer explained that once Medicaid is forced to stop paying for addiction treatment in these facilities, and once the facilities exhaust every possible way to keep patients in place, facilities could be forced to lay off staff and kick patients to the curb, setting back decades of efforts fighting the opioid crisis in the Finger Lakes.

    Schumer has long led the fight against the opioid crisis. In 2023, the senator personally met with the President of China to talk about how fentanyl is destroying families in Upstate New York and urged him to work with the United States to stop the flow. Under Schumer’s leadership, the Senate also passed critical legislation to upend the flow of fentanyl into the United States and expand access to treatment for people struggling with addiction.

    In the Finger Lakes, Medicaid is a lifeline for fighting the opioid crisis. FLACRA serves individuals and their loved ones across the Finger Lakes region affected by substance use and mental health disorders. FLACRA’s 500 employees provide substance abuse treatment including detox, stabilization, rehabilitation, outpatient and supportive living and housing assistance. In 2024 alone, more than 4,690 individuals received help and addiction treatment at FLACRA, of which 3,281 – or 70% – were able to get the care they and their loved ones needed because they were covered by Medicaid.

    FLACRA President & CEO Jennifer Carlson said, “The proposed Medicaid cuts will be devastating for individuals and families in need of critical, life-saving substance abuse and mental health treatment. These cuts will impede urgent and time-sensitive access to care programs offered through FLACRA and other Behavioral Health providers throughout our communities. The nation is in a substance abuse and mental health epidemic. Thank you, Senator Schumer, for opposing these cuts and for continuing to support access to vital care and services for people during such a critical time.”

    Medicaid funding is also vital to fund the work of the Wayne County Department of Mental Health and Wayne Behavioral Health Network (WBHN) which operates outpatient mental health and addiction treatment programs and support services through its clinics. In 2024 alone WBHN served 4,255 clients in over 95,000 individual sessions of which 76% were billed and paid by Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care. This Medicaid revenue has been critical for WBHN to fiscally sustain offsetting any cost to Wayne County for over a decade.

    Schumer added, “This proposal to decimate Medicaid is not just heartless, it would make streets across the Finger Lakes less safe. It would be a gut punch to our efforts to combat the opioid crisis in Upstate NY.”

    Wayne Behavioral Health Substance Use Treatment Senior Program Supervisor, Jamie Castellano-Gates said, “Our clients struggle with so many barriers dealing with addiction and other co-occurring disorders but also the lack of resources from living in a rural community. Medicaid has been so helpful to these individuals who rely on it to get in treatment programs…They are incredibly fearful they will be “stuck, stranded and abandoned” – with no support and unable to progress in recovery. Medicaid funding has made recovery a viable option for the majority of our clients to present them with opportunities they never would have.”

    Wayne Behavioral Health Director of Community Services (DCS), Sharon MacDougall said, “Medicaid funding for comprehensive behavioral healthcare, including critical substance use services, is an investment in the foundational health, safety, and welfare of every citizen. Access to this care is not a luxury, but a basic right that deserves the same level of unwavering commitment we provide to other essential infrastructure like accessible roads and a functioning emergency response system. Ensuring parity access to behavioral healthcare through Medicaid is principal to the overall well-being of our communities. We all welcome efforts to streamline costs for all essential services supporting our communities; but never at the cost of lives dependent on promised support.”

    Schumer emphasized Medicaid is a key tool for fighting the opioid crisis. Across New York, approximately 47% of Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder received medications for opioid use disorder in 2021. New York Medicaid covers all FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) – methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—without prior authorization requirements. In 2021 alone, more than 382,500 New Yorkers – and close to 5 million Americans – were treated for substance use disorder thanks to Medicaid coverage. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of people in New York getting buprenorphine – a medication that helps treat opioid addiction – went up by nearly 30%, meaning more people are getting access to this type of treatment. The most recent data available shows an approximately 25 percent drop in overdose deaths nationwide in 2024 compared to 2023, the largest drop in years.

    Last month, Trump cut $11 billion from state health services including $300 million for New York State providers like Delphi Rise’s Open Access Center which is Monroe County’s only 24/7 walk-in clinic for substance use care and recovery. Schumer said those cuts plus the looming loss of Medicaid funding could force Delphi Rising to shut its Open Access Clinic’s doors permanently since 80% of the nearly 2000 individuals who seek care to begin their recovery at Delphi Rise rely on Medicaid. Across the Finger Lakes, rehab centers depend on Medicaid and federal health funding to provide behavioral health treatment, but with both on the chopping block, people fear the fentanyl crisis will only worsen.

    Jen Cathy, President and CEO of Delphi Rise said, “Medicaid is more than a funding stream. It is a lifeline. On average, 80% of the individuals who walk through our doors at Delphi Rise’s Open Access Center rely on Medicaid. For those who aren’t yet enrolled, we connect them immediately so they can access the appropriate treatment facility. As the only 24/7 walk-in center for substance use in Monroe County, we’re often the last stop before someone ends up in the emergency room, in jail, or worse. Without Medicaid, that critical access to care is lost, and we miss the opportunity to intervene and save lives.”

    Mike Hoffman, Delphi Rise Peer Advocate who relied on Medicaid for his recovery said, “Medicaid coverage was the most important part of my recovery from substance use disorder. When I heard about the proposed cuts to Medicaid and OASAS funding, I felt terrified for people like me who live here in New York and across the county. I have turned my life around: without Medicaid, others might not get that chance.”

    The Republican proposal to cut $880 billion from Medicaid would mean that the costs of care shifts to states, which would result in slashed services, benefits, eligibility, and reimbursement rates. These agonizing decisions would happen at the state and local level, with county executives and state legislators forced to decide where to make up for the huge budget hole caused by Republicans slashing federal funding for Medicaid. Counties could even be forced to shoulder the burden of increased costs in Medicaid, using more local dollars to provide coverage because less federal funding will be coming in. This means legislators and county executives will have to decide who loses their Medicaid, what services will no longer be covered, or how much doctors will be paid. The senator said while some Congressional Republicans claim that this plan won’t cut Medicaid, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found the GOP plan could not be reached without reducing the funding that goes to Medicaid. There is no way to protect Medicaid benefits if Republicans move ahead with these cuts.

    Schumer added, “Medicaid has helped patients in recovery transform their lives, giving them the care they need to recover from substance use disorder and stay off the streets. Many have even become powerful advocates for others struggling with substance use disorder. Meanwhile, Trump wants these cuts for one reason: to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. He’s not looking out for our neighbors or trying to fight the fentanyl crisis. Republicans have tried to hide their Medicaid cuts, use smoke and mirrors and claim this isn’t a cut, but the math shows this would hurt our seniors and families’ Medicaid, and places like the Finger Lakes the most.”

    Schumer detailed the scope of Medicaid enrollment throughout the country and warned that Medicaid serves as a lifeline for millions of seniors. More than 7 million New Yorkers are enrolled in Medicaid, and it is the primary payer for long-term care in the United States. Many patients and families will have nowhere else to turn if Medicaid is cut, and millions of people will be left trying to figure out how to access the care and services they rely on every day.

    Major reductions in Medicaid spending will have serious consequences for seniors and people with disabilities. Nearly 1 in 4 Medicaid enrollees are eligible for the program because they are ages 65 and older or have a disability. Proposals to limit federal spending on Medicaid will force states to consider dropping or limiting eligibility or coverage for seniors and people with disabilities to make up for a huge budget hole with fewer federal dollars coming to New York. Loss of Medicaid coverage poses unique challenges for seniors and people with disabilities, people who are likely to live on fixed incomes, have high health care spending, and rely on Medicaid for help with everyday life and for coverage of long-term care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 21st, 2025 New Mexico Congressional Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Keep Hands Off of New Mexico’s National Monuments

    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 led the New Mexico Congressional Delegation — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), members of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) — in urging the Trump-Musk Administration to leave New Mexican national monuments intact.

    The letter comes in anticipation of a number of harmful executive orders to be announced tomorrow by the Trump Administration, including one that will purportedly target America’s national monuments.

    “Our national monuments in New Mexico protect some of the most significant landscapes and cultural resources in the nation. The monuments were carefully curated and represent a balance of public land protection negotiated between local leaders, communities, Tribes, and our constituents. The areas protected under national monument status across the state are culturally valuable, archeologically and geologically unique, and represent a conservation legacy that should not be erased,” the lawmakers wrote. “National monuments are vitally important to our history and any proposals to reduce their boundaries will not be reflective of the voices of New Mexicans.”

    The lawmakers emphasized how crucial New Mexico’s national monuments are to the state’s economy, underscoring the significant revenue particular monuments under threat of elimination generate annually, “In New Mexico, we have a $3.2 billion outdoor recreation sector and monuments are a significant contributor to this robust economy. In 2022 alone, monument visitation resulted in $1.9 million in tax revenue. The economic impacts of visitation to Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDP) surpassed the initial prediction by more than 50 percent. In just one year after its establishment, the Rio Grande del Norte (RGDN) National Monument saw a 40 percent increase in visitors, resulting in a 21 percent increase in Town of Taos lodgers’ tax revenue.”

    The lawmakers continued, highlighting the immeasurable cultural and economic impact of three national monuments in New Mexico under consideration for reduction or elimination: Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks, Rio Grande del Norte, and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, “In OMDP in southern New Mexico, you will find significant petroglyph and archeological sites and walk among historic travelers’ routes. In northern New Mexico, RGDN boasts some of New Mexico’s most prized recreational opportunities in an area where the Rio Grande carves an 800-foot gorge through historic volcanic activity. RGDN offers immense economic value to northern New Mexico and provides access for traditional use like piñon nut collection. As for the third monument under review, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, the Bureau of Land Management recently celebrated the monument’s inclusion on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025. Not only is Tent Rocks “geologically surreal,” but it is also a sacred landscape to the Cochiti Pueblo.”

    The lawmakers concluded by demanding the Administration keep New Mexico’s national monuments intact, “There is no greater value to these natural landscapes than what is brought to the community through their continued protection. Withdrawing protections from these sites would threaten the economic benefits associated with New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy and it undermines our community and tribal voices. We urge you to honor the voices of New Mexicans and confirm that you will leave the Organ Mountains, Rio Grande del Norte, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, and all other national monuments intact.”

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces Over $3.2 Million for Repairs Following Hurricanes Laura, Ida

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $3,279,624.93 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in reimbursement for permanent repairs following Hurricanes Laura and Ida.
    “These grants help return communities and classrooms to wholeness,” said Dr. Cassidy. “It’s a step forward for South Louisiana families and their communities.”
    The City of Lake Charles will receive $1,681,034.13 in federal funding for permanent repairs to communication towers damaged during Hurricane Laura. The Jefferson Parish Public School System will receive $1,598,590.80 in federal funding for permanent repairs to Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, The Candy Kitchen

    US Senate News:

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

    Published: April 21, 2025

    Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: The Candy Kitchen of Muscatine County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “For over 100 years, The Candy Kitchen has cured sweet tooths across Iowa, serving up everything from classic cherry sodas to candy and ice cream,” said Chair Ernst. “Founded by Gus Nopoulos, who came to Wilton knowing only two English words, The Candy Kitchen now speaks the universal language of dessert—delighting eight generations of Iowans and visitors alike.”
    In 1910, Gus Nopoulos launched The Candy Kitchen in downtown Wilton, Iowa and grew the business even through the Great Depression and World War II. In 1946, after returning from military service, Gus’ son, George, purchased the business along with his wife, Thelma. The couple ran the family establishment for over 66 years. In 2015, Lynn and Brenda Ochiltree assumed ownership and have continued to serve all things sweet in the original booths and the 1951 marble soda fountain. In June, The Candy Kitchen will celebrate its 115th anniversary.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wicker, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Physician Shortage in Rural Areas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jackie Rosen, D-N.V., introduced a bill to help increase the number of specialist doctors and other medical specialists in rural communities. The bipartisan Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act would tackle the shortage of physicians in rural communities by creating a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians and other specialist medical professionals practicing in rural areas. Mississippi, especially rural areas, face severe physician shortages and is among the most medically underserved states within the United States.
    Click here for bill text.  
    “The entire nation is dealing with a physician shortage, and rural communities in Mississippi have been particularly affected. Congress can help provide a solution,” said Senator Wicker. “The SPARC Act would offer targeted incentives to medical professionals who choose to work in underserved towns and cities. I believe this bill will encourage providers to bring their services to areas that need them most.”
    “Nevada’s shortage of medical professionals is jeopardizing the ability of families to get the care they need — especially in our rural communities,” said Senator Rosen. “We need new solutions to bring more physicians to all parts of our state, which is why I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to create a student loan repayment program for specialist physicians practicing in rural areas. I’ll keep working to address the medical provider shortage crisis Nevada is facing.” 
    “As the only academic medical center and the largest health system in a rural state, the University of Mississippi Medical Center supports measures that increase access to health care for all Mississippians. The SPARC Act would be an effective tool to encourage more skilled physicians to establish specialty-medicine practices in rural Mississippi communities. UMMC’s overall mission is to foster a healthier Mississippi, and should this bill pass and be enacted, it will help us move closer to that goal,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of UMMC.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: In New Op-Ed, Padilla Outlines Bipartisan Approach to Mitigating Wildfire Risk

    US Senate News:

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

    ICYMI: In New Op-Ed, Padilla Outlines Bipartisan Approach to Mitigating Wildfire Risk

    LA Daily News Op-Ed
    LOS ANGELES — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, published an op-ed in the Los Angeles Daily News highlighting his bipartisan push to address wildfires in the aftermath of the devastating Southern California fires.
    In the piece, Padilla discusses the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, which he recently introduced alongside Senators John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.). The Senate version of the legislation would help combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive.
    A list of Senate Fix Our Forests Act provisions particularly impactful for California is available here.
    Full text of the op-ed is available here and below.
    “California can’t wait for the political winds to shift. My bipartisan wildfire bill would save lives.”
    By Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
    No matter how many times you’ve seen it, nothing can prepare you for the devastation you find in the aftermath of a wildfire.
    Nothing.
    I’ve visited the Forest Service’s Incident Post in Quincy as fire crews battled the raging Dixie Fire in 2021.
    And I toured what’s left of the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods that were hit worst by this winter’s fires. What I’ve seen is heart wrenching.
    Car wheels melted into the sidewalk.
    A sea of embers and ashes, interrupted only by chimneys and fireplace mantels where family photos once rested.
    In some cases, brick sidewalks and doorways that once led to baby cribs and kitchen tables, that now lead to nowhere.
    No one could walk away after seeing what I’ve seen, year after year in California, and still deny the threat of climate change.
    We have to do more.
    That begins with listening to our climate scientists and working to reduce emissions to protect our planet in the long term.
    But reducing emissions alone won’t save your house or keep your neighborhood from burning down.
    As long as massive wildfires continue to burn, we’ll see those same greenhouse gases pouring out into the atmosphere — just as we did in 2020, when wildfires alone emitted enough to wipe out nearly 20 years of California’s emissions reduction progress.
    This isn’t a choice between addressing short-term wildfire risk and combatting climate change. We must do both.
    It may seem like an impossible task in our current political environment — Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. That means we face an uphill battle to passing any law that address the impacts of climate change.
    But whether it’s political division in Washington, or wildfires raging in Los Angeles — Californians can’t afford to wait.
    Since January, I’ve convened a bipartisan group of senators from Western states willing to work towards a comprehensive wildfire bill that could pass both chambers of Congress.
    It’s been hard, but I’ve been driven by that image I have of the Californians who would do anything they could to save their homes, their property, and their families.
    That’s why, I was proud to announce our Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act.
    It starts with a basic premise: The status quo isn’t working. Wildfires are getting worse. To protect our communities, we have to reassess how we prevent and mitigate wildfires.
    That means increasing the speed and scale of our prevention and mitigation efforts, while making sure no one exploits this crisis to compromise our natural resources.
    We’ve worked to make sure our Senate bill will protect both communities close to forests AND those in non-forested, urban areas like Los Angeles and Santa Rosa.
    Here’s how:
    Our bill would allow us to responsibly speed up the removal of hazardous fuels from our forests that serve as kindling for mega wildfires. Think dry branches, leaves, and dead and diseased trees that can pile up and spread fires very easily.
    It would make it easier for land managers and utilities to build “fuel breaks.” These strips of thinned out trees can serve like a gap in a long line of falling dominos which can allow firefighters to gain a foothold or even stop a growing wildfire in its tracks.
    It would help neighborhoods become more resilient to wildfires, with guidance to help Americans build or retrofit their homes with more fire-resistant materials and landscaping plans. And it would allow for prescribed burns to proactively clear hazardous fuel — just as Native American tribes have done for countless generations.
    Finally, it would create the first-ever Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline our wildfire preparedness and response — similar to what the National Weather Service does for storms.
    These are exactly the types of tools firefighters and state, tribal, and local agencies have been asking for.
    That’s why our bill is already supported by Governor Gavin Newsom, CAL FIRE Chief Joe Tyler, California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, along with environmental groups like The Nature Conservancy, Audubon, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the National Wildlife Federation.
    Of course, the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act may not stop every wildfire. Nothing could.
    But if these measures can prevent just one more community from having to experience the same heartbreak felt by families in Santa Rosa, in Paradise, and now in the Palisades and Altadena, then our efforts will have been worth it.Alex Padilla represents California in the United States Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Luján Lead Colleagues Warning Against Trump’s Plan to Privatize Postal Service That Would Undermine Vote by Mail

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Luján Lead Colleagues Warning Against Trump’s Plan to Privatize Postal Service That Would Undermine Vote by Mail

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, led six Senators in expressing serious concerns about the harmful impacts to American voters 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 to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, the Senators emphasized that the move risks politicizing and imperiling vote by mail efforts across the nation, while 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.”
    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 cannot be replicated by private actors[.]”
    “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,” continued the Senators. “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.”
    In addition to Senators Padilla and Luján, the letter was also signed by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).
    Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump and Republicans’ reckless attempts to restrict the right to vote. Earlier this month, Padilla issued a statement condemning the House passage of Republicans’ Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which threatens to disenfranchise millions of eligible American citizens. Padilla also warned Secretaries of State, Lieutenant Governors, and Chief Election Officials across the country of the devastating potential impacts of Republicans’ SAVE Act, concerns that have been echoed by top election officials across the country. Padilla also led 11 Senators in introducing the Defending America’s Future Elections Act to repeal Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order and prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive voter registration data and state records. Additionally, Padilla led 14 Democratic Senators in calling on Trump to revoke his illegal anti-voter executive order and issued a statement slamming the order when it was announced.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Lutnick:
    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. 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.
    Vote by mail is a safe and trustworthy method that millions of Americans use to cast their ballots in federal and state elections. During the 2024 general election cycle alone, the Postal Service delivered over 99 million ballots to and from voters, according to the USPS’s December 2024 post-election report. Data from the most recent 2024 general election cycle makes clear that the Postal Service provides reliable mail delivery without any partisan influence, as Democrats, Republicans and Independents all continued to embrace vote by mail as a secure and convenient way to participate in our elections.
    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. The Postal Service provides free mail delivery to every address in the country, including rural and small communities that are hard to reach. President Trump’s Task Force on the United States Postal System concluded in its December 2018 report that the Postal Service’s “comprehensive delivery network that covers every address in the country is a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure that cannot be replicated by private actors[.]” 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.
    Generations of Americans have grown up trusting and relying upon the Postal Service, which for decades has operated as an independent agency.
    In addition to the myriad other harmful aspects of moving the USPS under the Department of Commerce and potentially privatizing it, we urge you to be especially mindful of this proposal’s effect on our democracy and cease all efforts to take political control over the Postal Service and the handling of Americans’ mail-in ballots.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Statement on Passing of Pope Francis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Boston (April 21, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, on Easter Monday. In May 2014, Senator Markey traveled to the Vatican and met with Pope Francis and high-level Vatican leaders and Cardinals to discuss the importance to act on climate change and to encourage the Catholic Church to continue to use their moral authority to elevate the issue. Senator Markey lauded Pope Francis’s 2015 Joint Meeting of Congress Address as a “Sermon on the Hill.” 

    “I join the world in mourning the loss of the People’s Pope, His Holiness Pope Francis, who reminded us that no matter our faith, we are all caretakers of creation,” said Senator Markey. “It should be no surprise that a Jesuit trained in chemistry who was devoted to the poor and ensuring a just and better future for all mankind was the only pope to devote an entire encyclical to humanity’s relationship with the environment. Pope Francis delivered a powerful message in his encyclical Laudato Si’, or ‘Praise Be’: Mankind created this problem of climate change, and now mankind must fix it. With the world’s poorest and most vulnerable suffering the worst consequences of climate change – extreme poverty, famine, disease, displacement – Pope Francis challenged us in our actions to embody the moral obligation to act. 

    “He led with a vision of inclusion, compassion, and humility, calling on us to act boldly on the world’s most pressing issues and take up a mission centered around justice for the most vulnerable. He embraced the world’s sick, poor, and hungry with open arms. In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis wrote: ‘Today, in the view of the common good, there is an urgent need for politics and economics to enter into a frank dialogue in the service of life, especially human life.’ In his passing and every day forward, Pope Francis would want us to be in service of life and to embrace the moments and opportunities to be part of a global movement that protects our people and our planet.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Kicks Off Weeklong “Medicaid Impact Tour” With Rural Health Roundtable at Northern Human Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Berlin, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) hosted a roundtable discussion on rural health care and the importance of Medicaid at Northern Human Services in Berlin. Shaheen was joined by health care providers and Medicaid recipients for the discussion. The event marked the first in a series of discussions Shaheen is hosting across the Granite State to highlight the disastrous impact that Republican-led cuts to Medicaid would have on New Hampshire’s health care system and working families. Photos from today’s event can be found here.

    “Despite what promises we may hear from President Trump, the unfortunate reality is that Congressional Republicans want to cut Medicaid to pay for a tax package that only benefits the wealthiest Americans,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was very appreciative of the chance to speak with Granite Staters in the North Country about their experiences and what the impact would be on our state’s most rural communities if Republicans slash Medicaid.”

    Shaheen’s “Medicaid Impact 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: Senators Hassan, Lankford Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Disrupt Cartel Operations by Increasing Southbound Border Inspections

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and James Lankford (R-OK), both members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, reintroduced bipartisan legislation to increase inspections of traffic going from the U.S. to Mexico, which would help combat the flow of illicit firearms and money that fuel drug cartels. 

    “Dismantling drug cartels requires cutting off the flow of illegal firearms and cartel money moving from the U.S. into Mexico, which help give cartels the resources to continue to operate and flood our communities with deadly drugs,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation significantly enhances our southbound inspection capabilities, which will help disrupt cartel operations and reduce the trafficking of fentanyl, which has devastated communities across New Hampshire and nationwide.” 

    “With border crossings at a record low, the results speak for themselves. President Trump’s leadership is making America safer; the southern border is much more secure than it was a year ago,” Lankford said. “But US Customs and Border Protection still doesn’t have the resources they need to stop gun smuggling to the criminal cartels in Mexico. We need to ensure border law enforcement has the personnel and technology to crack down on criminal activity that puts Americans at risk.”

    Specifically, the bipartisan Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act would: 

    • Require that at least 10 percent of southbound vehicles are inspected, to the extent practicable 
    • Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate the smuggling of guns and money from the U.S. into Mexico
    • Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate drug smuggling, human trafficking, child trafficking, and unauthorized entries from Mexico into the U.S.
    • Authorize 50 additional x-ray inspection systems for southbound inspections 

    This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to support border security. Last year, the Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to allow U.S. and Canadian personnel to jointly patrol both sides of the Northern border on aircraft, helping better combat drug smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. In March, Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, passed the Senate. Additionally, in December, Senator Hassan worked with her colleagues to pass into law her bipartisan legislation to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and its contractors are operating as effectively as possible at the Southern border.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Colleagues Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Defund Libraries and Museums

    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 the Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) expressing serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums through federal LSTA grants. In the letter, the lawmakers called on the Administration to ensure continued funding, in accordance with federal law, for libraries, museums, and the critical programs and services that many Nevada 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,” wrote the lawmakers. “These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities.”
    “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,” the lawmakers’ letter continued. “We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all awarded LSTA grant funding to our states, […] and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    In 2023, nearly 640,000 Nevadans benefited directly from an LSTA grant-funded program, including: 

    Nevada’s Talking Books Library, a program to provide reading materials to blind or disabled individuals with an emphasis on supporting disabled veterans;
    Access to academic and research databases for K-12 schools and all of Nevada’s public universities and community colleges;
    Youth and summer reading programs, and continuing education and training programs hosted at libraries across the state;
    Traditional language and culture-based learning programs for the Pyramid Lake and Walker River Paiute Tribes; and
    Continued maintenance and upgrades at the Discovery Children’s Museum in Las Vegas.

    Without intervention, all of the programs described above will be cut and ended immediately or quickly discontinued as federal funding they receive through LSTA grants will be paused, cancelled, or revoked.
    Senator Rosen has been fighting back against reckless cuts to education resources and their impacts on children and our communities. Last month, she joined Senate colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon condemning the Administration’s reckless and illegal firing of half of the workforce at the Department. Senator Rosen also issued a statement denouncing President Trump’s executive order attempting to dismantle the Department of Education.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 04/21/2025 Blackburn, Tillis Introduce Bill to Prevent Chinese Communist Party from Exploiting Sister City Economic Partnerships for Radical Agenda

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the Sister City Transparency Act to identify the risks of foreign espionage, including by Communist China, within sister city partnerships that exist to promote cultural exchange and economic development:
    “Communist China is exploiting sister city partnerships to achieve its own strategic objectives, and we need to make certain we are not enabling this activity in our own communities,” said Senator Blackburn. “This legislation would shine a bright light on these partnerships to keep our enemies from furthering their own dangerous agendas.”
    “This commonsense bill is an important step towards protecting our security and economy by studying our sister city partnerships with cities across the world,” said Senator Tillis. “We must ensure sister city partnerships don’t expose us to harmful market practices, limit free speech, or support foreign interests that undermine our values.”

    Click here to download a video of Senator Blackburn discussing her Sister City Transparency Act.
    BACKGROUND
    The United States maintains 1,800 sister city partnerships with countries worldwide, including 157 partnerships with Chinese communities. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has begun using these partnerships to achieve geostrategic objectives.
    The CCP hides behind soft diplomacy and mutual benefit until its foreign partners exhibit political nonconformity. Thus, similar to Confucius Institutes, sister city partnerships may leave American communities vulnerable to foreign espionage and ideological coercion.
    Little information currently exists regarding sister city partnerships operating within the U.S because such partnerships generally fail to publicize information regarding their agreements, activities, and employees. This impedes proper oversight and could enable malign activity.
    SISTER CITY TRANSPARENCY ACT
    The Sister City Transparency Act would create a Government Accountability Office report on sister city partnerships in the U.S. It would direct the Comptroller General to study partnerships involving foreigncommunities in countries with significant public sector corruption like Communist China and the Russian Federation. The study would:
    Identify the oversight practices that U.S. communities implement to mitigate the risks of foreign espionage and economic coercion within sister city partnerships;
    Assess the extent to which foreign communities could use sister city partnerships to conduct malign activities, including academic and industrial espionage; and
    Review best practices to ensure transparency regarding sister city partnerships’ agreements, activities, and employees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Demands Answers from Secretary Collins Over VA’s Unprecedented Refusal to Allow VA Puget Sound to Participate in Women Veterans Roundtable This Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Senator Murray in letter to Secretary Collins: “Over the thirty years I have represented Washington state, VA has approved and hosted countless outreach events with me… I was surprised and dismayed to find out this month that my office had been suddenly denied permission to hold a roundtable for women veterans to be able to talk about their own health care experiences, and concerns related to continued access to services.”

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (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 a roundtable discussion Senator Murray is holding in Seattle tomorrow on women veterans’ health care. In the hearing on his nomination to lead VA and in his meeting with Senator Murray ahead of the Senate vote on his nomination, Doug Collins promised to be transparent with Congress if confirmed.

    “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,” Senator Murray wrote in her letter to Secretary Collins. “However, this administration has proven to be vastly different—VA is now providing little to no information in response to congressional inquiries and VA providers are being prevented from getting the opportunity to hear directly from veterans about their health care experience.”

    Murray continued, “VA has approved and hosted countless outreach events with me, including roundtables, on VA property to talk about everything from the implementation of the PACT Act to VA’s advancements in prosthetics care. All these events have been compliant with the Hatch Act.  So, I was surprised and dismayed to find out this month that my office had been suddenly denied permission to hold a roundtable for women veterans to be able to talk about their own health care experiences, and concerns related to continued access to services. Furthermore, the VA provided no rationale to justify this denial.”

    “This roundtable was designed to give providers, women veterans, and VA staff a chance to come together, in a space they all know and trust, to talk about the current state of women’s health care and ensure an ongoing conversation on the importance of prioritizing gender-specific health care services at VA… We owe women veterans the opportunity to have a say in how VA can best deliver their health care to them—and VA Puget Sound has a robust women’s health program that is worth showcasing,” Murray wrote. “From the abrupt mass firing of tens of thousands of VA employees, to the refusal to meaningfully engage with Congress, I am left to conclude that this administration is committed to putting up barriers that only make it harder for women veterans—and all veterans—to receive the care they deserve.”

    Senator Murray concluded by requesting answers to the following questions by May 16th, noting her concern with VA’s lack of transparency on the decision to deny her request to host a women veterans’ roundtable at VA Puget Sound, and growing concern with VA politicizing constituent services and congressional oversight:

    1. Plainly, why was the request refused?
    2. At what level was the request refused –VISN, VHA headquarters, or by VA central office political leadership?
    3. Was VA’s refusal based in any way due to the due to the event’s focus on women veterans?
    4. Has VA approved outreach activities at other VA facilities since January 22, 2025 which have involved other Members of Congress?
      1. If so, which Members, which facilities, and what is the distinction between those events and this planned event?
    5. What has caused VA to shift away from its previous policy regarding hosting on-campus events?
      1. Please provide a copy of the new policy, guidance, directive, or memo.
    6. What does VA define as an “outreach” activity?
    7. What would be considered an approved outreach activity?
    8. Will Congressional visits, tours, or in-person oversight actions of any kind no longer be allowed?
    9. What kind of in-person engagement will be allowable for the administration?

    In February 2024, Senator Murray hosted a roundtable discussion on improving health care for women veterans where she heard directly from VA officials as well as women veterans and Veteran Service Organizations. Senator Murray has hosted countless other events in conjunction with VA Puget Sound over the years.

    A PDF of the letter is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Hosts Event on His New Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Expand Telehealth

    US Senate News:

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

    BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today discussed his new bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicaid, the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, while visiting the Thayer House in Burlington. Senator Welch was joined at the Thayer House by a clinician from Cathedral Square’s Support and Services at Home (SASH) program, Vermont patients, and health care providers.  
    “The COVID-19 pandemic proved that telehealth not only works, but is essential,” Senator Welch said about the CONNECT for Health Act. “Rural and underserved areas in Vermont, and across the country, need modern solutions to help get folks connected to care, and increasing telehealth services must be part of the answer. This bipartisan bill takes commonsense steps to bridge that gap and make sure that our policies adapt to the capabilities of our technology.”  
    The Thayer House is an affordable living community for Vermonters aged 55 and older, and is a SASH program location. SASH is based in more than 140 living communities throughout the state and supports the health of Vermonters who rely on Medicare. 
    The CONNECT for Health Act would make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current Medicare telehealth flexibilities will expire on September 30th, 2025, without Congressional action. Telehealth provides essential access to care, with nearly a quarter of Americans accessing telehealth monthly. Telemedicine is also on the rise in Vermont, with 92% of healthcare providers in the state reporting use of audio/video services to provide care to patients in the past 60 days.  
    See photos from the event below:  

    “In a rural, northern state such as Vermont, our patients face many barriers that limit their ability to physically reach our offices– lack of transportation, bad weather, back roads, days that get dark early during our long winters.  These factors hit our older patients particularly hard.  One tool that is helping patients get the care they need is to be able to see us from home using telehealth.  The Vermont Medical Society and Vermont Academy of Family Physicians thank Senator Welch for introducing this important legislation and call on Congress to join him in ensuring patients with Medicare can continue to make use of telehealth visits,” said Anne Morris, MD, family physician, Milton, VT; Board member, Vermont Medical Society and past-president of the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians. 
    “Telehealth visits increase our resident’s access to care, are more convenient, and save travel time. Telehealth visits also allow our nurses to participate with residents. This can improve the resident’s understanding of their care and ensures that our staff have an in depth understanding of the care plan,” said Jessiyln Dolan, RN, a SASH Wellness Nurse.  
    “Telehealth is so much easier and I never have to cancel.  I can’t do computers very well, so having help from SASH makes it possible to talk to my doctor. I don’t have a car, and it is hard to get a ride to the doctor’s office,” said Helen Mischik, a resident of Thayer House.  
    The CONNECT for Health Act is cosponsored by a broad bipartisan coalition of more than 60 Senators and is led by Senator Welch and Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives. The CONNECT for Health Act has the support of more than 150 organizations, including the American Medical Association, AARP, American Hospital Association, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and American Telemedicine Association.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: SAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES FROM TRUMP’S TARIFF WAR; STANDING AT ALBANY’S YONO’S RESTAURANT WITH CAPITAL REGION BUSINESSES THAT ARE SEEING MAJOR PRICE INCREASES HURTING FAMILIES & LOCAL JOBS,…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Albany’s Renowned Yono’s Restaurant Is In Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs That Threaten Their Business, And Small Businesses & Manufacturers In Capital Region Like Latham Pool Are Already Seeing Costs Spike From Trade War With Canada
    Senator Says 14,000 NY-ers In The Capital Region Work In Industries Directly Impacted By Tariffs, And Albany Families Could See Prices Rise Nearly $5,000 More A Year
    Schumer: We Need To Save Our Restaurants & Small Businesses From Trump’s Tariff War That Is Raising Prices And Killing Jobs
    To kickstart National Cost of Living Week of Action, with Trump’s tariff war hammering Albany’s restaurants and small businesses, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood at Albany’s renowned Yono’s Restaurant with Capital Region small business leaders who are feeling major hits to their bottom line due to tariffs. The senator said this chaotic, self-destructive tariff war has Upstate NY restaurants, local businesses, and working- and middle-class families footing the bill, with the average family in the Capital Region estimated to be hit with nearly $5,000 in higher prices per year.
    Schumer said every day this chaos continues it risks more than 14,000 jobs in the Capital Region in industries impacted by the tariffs and even more jobs in Upstate NY’s vital recreation and tourism industries. Schumer said enough is enough, and announced that when the Senate returns he will force a vote to end Trump’s trade war.
    “Albany and the Capital Region are on the frontlines of Trump’s destructive tariff war. Let’s be clear: these tariffs are a tax increase on Upstate NY. Family restaurants are the heart and soul of the Capital Region and the backbone of Main Streets across Upstate New York. They are still recovering from the pandemic. They can’t afford to eat price increases when Trump slaps them with tariffs and neither can their customers. Small businesses and manufacturers have already seen costs skyrocket, and some are being hit with a double whammy as tourism & business from Canada dries up from Trump’s actions. No small business or restaurant in Upstate NY or anywhere in America can operate with this kind of uncertainty,” said Senator Schumer. “We need to save our restaurants & small businesses from Trump’s tariff war. That’s why when the Senate returns, I will force a vote to end this reckless trade war. This is a vital ingredient to protect restaurants and families throughout the Capital Region and across Upstate New York.”
    Schumer explained Capital Region restaurants were already hit hard by the pandemic and many are still trying to recover. Schumer explained that restaurants operate on some of the slimmest margins – typically 3 to 5 percent – which could shrink more as tariffs go into effect. Since ingredients are perishable, restaurants don’t have the option of stockpiling materials and they can’t change suppliers on a whim. With the threat of tariffs looming, prices across the board have increased and restaurant owners are worried that customers can’t afford to go out to eat anymore. Without business, they might not be able to recover and would be forced to lay off staff, or worse, close their doors.
    A New York Times analysis found that over 14,000 New Yorkers across the Capital Region including 4,400 in Albany County work in industries targeted by Trump’s tariffs, which does not even account for all the related jobs, including in the tourism and recreation industries, that are also being impacted by the damage of this trade war. According to the Main Street Alliance, a network of small businesses, 81.5% of small business respondents to a recent survey indicated they would raise prices for consumers due to tariffs and 31.5% indicated they would lay off employees as a result of the increased costs from tariffs.
    The tariffs are also creating uncertainty for families and jobs and are expected to increase costs for the average American family by nearly $5,000 a year, while families are struggling to plan for the future without assurances about their jobs.
    Yono’s Restaurant has Indonesian influences and relies on spices and fruits that are not widely produced domestically, such as coconut milk, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, palm sugar, chilies, and galangal. Without knowing how much they will cost, it is impossible for Yono’s to plan its menu, which they often shift seasonally, and now they do not know which products they can maintain a consistent, affordable supply of. In addition, as the market has shifted to more takeout and delivery options, Yono’s has relied on imported containers and bags that are already more expensive and could get more expensive with tariffs in effect.
    The senator said unpredictability makes it difficult for local restaurants to plan for tomorrow, especially when they are already operating on such small margins. For example, when asked about catering orders, owners aren’t sure how to quote orders and are faced with the option of facing sky-high prices when planned events roll around, or even needing to turn down customers. These added challenges make it more difficult for small restaurants to survive against larger chain restaurants.
    “Here at Yono’s we support an immense amount of USA grown meats, vegetables, cheeses, beer, spirits and wine. However our guests appreciate a broad amount of options. We use coconut milk, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, palm sugar, chilies, galangal, and pandan. These items are not able to be grown in the USA, let alone in the amounts we need. We also import lamb from New Zealand and Australia. Of course, he biggest items imported that affect us will be coffee (99.5% of the coffee consumed in the USA is imported). We can only grow coffee in Hawaii in this county. Even our fine wine glasses come from Austria,” said Dominick Purnomo, of Yono’s Restaurant.
    Schumer added, “If this tariff war continues, it could devastate Upstate NY’s economy in ways we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic. Our local restaurants and other small businesses are already operating on razor thin margins and now they’re being forced into difficult decisions, including if the increase in costs means they will need to raise prices for customers, lay off staff, or even close their business altogether. That is unacceptable.”
    “New York State restaurants have faced immense challenges in recent years. From the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the soaring price increases driven by inflation and the rising cost of living, many restaurants have fought to stay afloat. The implementation of these new tariffs is yet another blow to an already struggling industry. Tariffs on food and beverages will place an additional strain on restaurants, ultimately leading to higher prices that will be passed on to consumers. Restaurants are not only a cornerstone of New York State’s economy but also serve as essential gathering places for communities to come together and enjoy each other’s company. Simply put, the tariffs are just an unnecessary burden on an industry barely hanging on. We urge the Administration to control consumer price increases as much as possible by exempting food and beverage items from future tariffs,” said Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association.
    Other businesses across industries are also facing uncertainty. Latham Pool, the largest designer, manufacturer, and marketer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, has called the Capital Region its home for nearly 70 years. Latham Pool has 1,500 employees including 300 in New York State, mostly in the Capital Region. Tariffs on foreign goods – especially aluminum and steel – are impacting Latham Pool’s ability to serve its customers and his company along with so many others are deeply fearful of customers pulling back. We are already seeing these fears manifest across America as consumer confidence is cratering and is the lowest it has been in years due to tariffs.
    Latham Pool estimates that 15-20% of their materials are sourced from overseas and will be impacted by the tariffs. Worse, they are impacted by the devolving trade relationship with Canada, where the Canadian reciprocal tariff now disadvantages their products for sale in Canada, which has been a strong market for them.
    The whiplash and uncertainty over tariffs have also sent the economy into a tailspin. Trump previously delayed the start of his tariffs twice and canceled across-the-board tariffs six days after implementing them. Uncertainty is causing the stock market to fall, causing chaos for restaurants to operate, and shaking the job market.
    Schumer said the Senate has a plan to end this dangerous trade war and protect Upstate NY businesses. Earlier this month, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to end tariffs on Canada and urged the House to pass it as well. Schumer also said when the Senate returns, he will force a vote to reverse these new taxes of 10% on all imported goods and end the looming threat of additional tariffs of up to 49% on products Americans buy from other countries. Schumer said ending this costly trade war is key to protecting New York from price increases and job losses as a result of tariffs on Canada.
    Schumer concluded, “I am all for addressing trade imbalances—I have always been a China hawk and have long fought against unfair trade practices, but these sweeping, ill-conceived tariffs are creating chaos and undermining those goals. Rather than uniting the world against China, Trump has united them against us! No matter which way you slice it, costs are going to skyrocket for our local restaurants and consumers. If you’re in Upstate New York, you’ll feel it first, and worse than just about anywhere in the country. We need everyone, especially NY Republicans, to stand up against Trump’s senseless, job-killing, cost-increasing tax on Upstate New Yorkers.”
    When the Senate returns, it will vote on a bipartisan resolution that would terminate the emergency declared by Trump to authorize his global tariffs. If the resolution is enacted into law, the tariffs would be rescinded. The Senate also previously passed a bipartisan resolution terminating Trump’s national emergency that is justifying his destructive tariffs on Canada, which Schumer said the House needs to vote on. Schumer has been a vocal supporter of both resolutions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: SAVE OUR RESTAURANTS & SMALL BUSINESSES FROM TRUMP’S TARIFF WAR, STANDING WITH CENTRAL NY BUSINESSES SEEING MAJOR PRICE INCREASES HURTING FAMILIES & LOCAL JOBS, SENATOR ANNOUNCES SENATE DEMS…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Syracuse’s Renowned Emerald Cocktail Kitchen Is In Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs That Threaten Their Business, And Small Businesses & Manufacturers Across Central NY Are Already Seeing Costs Spike From Trade War With Canada
    Senator Says 16,000 NY-ers In Central NY Work In Industries Directly Impacted By Tariffs, And Syracuse Families Could See Prices Rise Nearly $5,000 More A Year
    Schumer: We Need To Save Our Restaurants & Small Businesses From Trump’s Tariff War That Is Raising Prices And Killing Jobs
    To kickstart National Cost of Living Week of Action, with Trump’s tariff war hammering Syracuse’s restaurants and small businesses, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood at Syracuse’s renowned Emerald Cocktail Kitchen with Central NY small business leaders who are feeling major hits to their bottom line due to tariffs. The senator said this chaotic, self-destructive tariff war has Upstate NY restaurants, local businesses, and working- and middle-class families footing the bill, with the average family in Central NY estimated to be hit with nearly $5,000 in higher prices per year.
    Schumer said every day this chaos continues it risks more than 16,000 jobs in Central NY in industries impacted by the tariffs and even more jobs in Upstate NY’s vital recreation and tourism industries. Schumer said enough is enough, and announced that when the Senate returns he will force a vote to end Trump’s trade war.
    “Syracuse and Central New York are on the frontlines of Trump’s destructive tariff war. Let’s be clear: these tariffs are a tax increase on Upstate NY. Family restaurants are the heart and soul of Central New York and the backbone of Main Streets across Upstate New York. They are still recovering from the pandemic. They can’t afford to eat price increases when Trump slaps them with tariffs and neither can their customers. Small businesses and manufacturers have already seen costs skyrocket, and some are being hit with a double whammy as tourism & business from Canada dries up from Trump’s actions. No small business or restaurant in Upstate NY or anywhere in America can operate with this kind of uncertainty,” said Senator Schumer. “We need to save our restaurants & small businesses from Trump’s tariff war. That’s why when the Senate returns, I will force a vote to end this reckless trade war. This is a vital ingredient to protect restaurants and families throughout Central New York and across Upstate New York.”
    Schumer explained Central NY restaurants were already hit hard by the pandemic and many are still trying to recover. Schumer explained that restaurants operate on some of the slimmest margins – typically 3 to 5 percent – which could shrink more as tariffs go into effect. Since ingredients are perishable, restaurants don’t have the option of stockpiling materials and they can’t change suppliers on a whim. With the threat of tariffs looming, prices across the board have increased and restaurant owners are worried that customers can’t afford to go out to eat anymore. Without business, they might not be able to recover and would be forced to lay off staff, or worse, close their doors.
    A New York Times analysis found that over 16,000 New Yorkers across Central NY including 10,000 in Onondaga County work in industries targeted by Trump’s tariffs, which does not even account for all the related jobs, including in the tourism and recreation industries, that are also being impacted by the damage of this trade war. According to the Main Street Alliance, a network of small businesses, 81.5% of small business respondents to a recent survey indicated they would raise prices for consumers due to tariffs and 31.5% indicated they would lay off employees as a result of the increased costs from tariffs.
    The tariffs are also creating uncertainty for families and jobs and are expected to increase costs for the average American family by nearly $5,000 a year, while families are struggling to plan for the future without assurances about their jobs.
    At the Emerald Cocktail Kitchen, co-founded by local businesswomen Michelle and Nora Roesch, Trump’s tariffs have already begun to take root and are among the Roesch’s chief concerns moving forward, with some of their liquor and wine being imported from Canada and other countries. On the food side of the house, Emerald’s culinary experts use cheeses like feta and gouda, imported from Greece and the Netherlands, as key ingredients in their burgers, pizzas and salads. They also use fruits and other products imported from Canada and Mexico.
    In addition to the wide ranging impact that tariffs will have on Emerald Cocktail Kitchen’s menu, they are driving increased costs across the board, which in turn are driving down consumer discretionary spending. As a result, Emerald Cocktail Kitchen customers have started spending less money on an average visit and opting to save by skipping an appetizer or desert. With customers spending less, the business brings in less and employees receive less in tips on smaller checks. Altogether, Trump’s tariffs have left small businesses like Emerald Cocktail Kitchen exposed to significant impacts, uncertain about how to proceed, and uneasy about what could be next. 
    The senator said unpredictability makes it difficult for local restaurants to plan for tomorrow, especially when they are already operating on such small margins. For example, when asked about catering orders, owners aren’t sure how to quote orders and are faced with the option of facing sky-high prices when planned events roll around, or even needing to turn down customers. These added challenges make it more difficult for small restaurants to survive against larger chain restaurants.
    “Imported goods like tequila, gin, prosecco, Aperol, avocados, limes, feta, gouda, and more – all of which are staples behind our bar and in our kitchen – have surged in price as a result of recent United States tariff policy decisions. In Central New York, small businesses like ours depend on steady customer traffic and predictable costs to survive. Unfortunately, the administration’s back-and-forth approach to tariff implementation has made long-term planning feel impossible,” said Michelle Roesch, Co-owner of Emerald Cocktail Kitchen. “For small Syracuse businesses like ours, Trump’s tariffs have created the same kind of stress and uncertainty we felt during COVID – except this time, it’s self-inflicted. As a result, customers are watching their wallets, staff are taking home smaller tips, and we’ve had to cut back on bulk orders. We need trade policies that lift up small and local businesses, not weigh them down. That is why I am proud to stand in support of Senator Schumer as he fights to force a vote Trump’s trade war in support of small businesses here in Syracuse and all across Upstate NY.”
    Schumer added, “If this tariff war continues, it could devastate Upstate NY’s economy in ways we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic. Our local restaurants and other small businesses are already operating on razor thin margins and now they’re being forced into difficult decisions, including if the increase in costs means they will need to raise prices for customers, lay off staff, or even close their business altogether. That is unacceptable.”
    Other businesses across industries are also facing uncertainty. In the City of Syracuse alone, tariffs are among the top concerns at restaurants and artisanal food shops like The Wedge and the Curd Nerd, veteran-owned businesses like Talking Cursive Brewing Company, and local food vendors like Firecracker Thai Kitchen at Salt City Market. Elsewhere in Central New York, 5th generation family and employee-owned northern hardwood lumber producer, Gutchess Lumber, and it’s 500 employee-owners are also bracing for negative impacts to their business.  
    In the North Country, Trump’s tariffs and trade war with Canada have already taken a toll on craft breweries like 1812 Brewing Company in Watertown, manufacturing companies like AmTech Yarns in Massena, and transportation authorities like the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority. In addition, Alcoa, an aluminum producer based in the North Country, predicts tariffs will cost the company an additional $90 million this quarter alone.
    In the Mohawk Valley, local coffee shops like Character Coffee in the City of Utica, and trendy fast-casual restaurants like Laffa’s Mediterranean Grill in the Town of New Hartford have both started to feel the impact of tariffs.
    “New York State restaurants have faced immense challenges in recent years. From the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the soaring price increases driven by inflation and the rising cost of living, many restaurants have fought to stay afloat. The implementation of these new tariffs is yet another blow to an already struggling industry. Tariffs on food and beverages will place an additional strain on restaurants, ultimately leading to higher prices that will be passed on to consumers. Restaurants are not only a cornerstone of New York State’s economy but also serve as essential gathering places for communities to come together and enjoy each other’s company. Simply put, the tariffs are just an unnecessary burden on an industry barely hanging on. We urge the Administration to control consumer price increases as much as possible by exempting food and beverage items from future tariffs,” said Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association.
    “At a small business like Firecracker Thai, we feel the impact of tariffs and increased costs on every single order and with every single purchase. We plan to increase menu prices by 10-15% to help offset rising costs, but our prices can only go so high before we risk pricing out customers. Unfortunately, our planned 10-15% increase is not enough to cover all of our increased costs, so the remainder will take a bite out of our bottom line,” said Sarah Tong-Ngork, Owner of Firecracker Thai Kitchen. “In addition, tariffs have made it more difficult to find authentic, imported ingredients like Jasmine Rice and Rice Noodles at local markets. After the devastating impact that COVID had on the food service industry, the last thing we need is to increase prices and disrupt supply chains. I would like to thank Senator Schumer for coming to Syracuse to fight for small businesses like Firecracker Thai and small business owners like me.”
    “As a small craft brewery in Central New York, Talking Cursive Brewing Company faces significant challenges due to tariffs. We rely on imported aluminum cans from Canada, as well as hops and grain from the EU, Australia, and New Zealand. These tariffs, coupled with their ripple effects on the global economy, have been compounded by other actions from the current administration that are reshaping travel, tourism, and consumer behavior. While we experienced a brief uptick in business at the end of 2024 and into January, February and March of this year have seen a sharp decline, with customer counts and sales dropping more than 25% year-over-year. This marks the first time in our seven years of operation that we’ve faced such a downturn in the first quarter,” said Andrew Brooks, Co-Owner of Talking Cursive Brewing Company. “Tourism is a vital part of our business, especially in the summer when 15-20% of our customers are tourists, including about 7% from Canada. Many Canadians I know that travel here often have expressed that they feel disrespected by the current administration, and no longer plan to visit the U.S. in the near future. This decline in tourism directly impacts the revenue of both our tasting room and accounts that we distribute to across New York, including several in the Thousands Islands Region that depend on Canadian tourists. We anticipate a significant loss of sales in that region and will need to reassess the viability of distributing there. I appreciate the efforts that Senator Schumer is taking to help support small businesses like ours during these challenging times.”
    “Over the last 24 month, 1812 Brewing Company has invested hundreds of man hours and significant capital to gain entry into the Ontario, Canada market.  Because of recently implemented tariffs, the Provincial Government of Ontario has put a stop on the purchase of all American-made craft beer, including our gold medal winning War of 1812 Amber Ale. This will immediately cut off around 10% of our sales,” said Thomas W. Scozzafava, Chairman & CEO of 1812 Brewing Company. “Although relatively small, 1812 Brewing Company and its employees will be hurt by an escalating Trade War with Canada, which could ultimately result in the loss of jobs in our local plant. I hope that those deciding these policies – on both sides of the aisle – understand the true human impact of sudden and dramatic changes to the parameters of trade with our Canadian partners. I thank Senator Schumer for sticking up for small businesses like 1812 and always fighting to protect New York State’s craft breweries.”
    “As the owner of Character Coffee in Utica, I rely on specialty roasters who are already feeling the impact of new tariffs. Coffee isn’t grown in the U.S. — so by design, our industry depends on farmers around the world. Even more concerning, these tariffs are piling onto an already fragile supply chain, strained by climate shifts and a year of poor harvests. It’s not just the coffee we have to worry about, but everything from cups and lids to delivery fees,” said Katie Aiello, Owner of Character Coffee. “When costs rise, customers pull back — starting with discretionary spending like grabbing a cup of coffee. The uncertainty is costly too. It’s hard to plan, price, or grow when every week brings new instability in the market. Independent cafes aren’t faceless corporations. We’re local businesses trying to offer good jobs, contribute to the community, and serve something meaningful. These tariffs threaten that. We urgently need thoughtful trade policy that protects American small businesses, and that is why I am proud to stand alongside Senator Schumer in Syracuse today to join in his fight for to safeguard locals businesses like mine.”
    “Since we opened in 2021, rising costs have been one of our biggest challenges, and we’ve had no choice but to pass some of that burden onto our customers just to stay open. With tariffs on the horizon, we’re already seeing price hikes on ingredients we depend on, like kalamata olives, tahini, and feta,” said Elias Zeina, Owner of Lafa Mediterranean. “It’s heartbreaking—we’re trying to protect our team and our guests, but I worry about how much more our customers can take. Small business owners like me are feeling squeezed, and our customers are the ones paying the price.
    The whiplash and uncertainty over tariffs have also sent the economy into a tailspin. Trump previously delayed the start of his tariffs twice and canceled across-the-board tariffs six days after implementing them. Uncertainty is causing the stock market to fall, causing chaos for restaurants to operate, and shaking the job market.
    Schumer said the Senate has a plan to end this dangerous trade war and protect Upstate NY businesses. Earlier this month, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to end tariffs on Canada and urged the House to pass it as well. Schumer also said when the Senate returns, he will force a vote to reverse these new taxes of 10% on all imported goods and end the looming threat of additional tariffs of up to 49% on products Americans buy from other countries. Schumer said ending this costly trade war is key to protecting New York from price increases and job losses as a result of tariffs on Canada.
    Schumer concluded, “I am all for addressing trade imbalances—I have always been a China hawk and have long fought against unfair trade practices, but these sweeping, ill-conceived tariffs are creating chaos and undermining those goals. Rather than uniting the world against China, Trump has united them against us! No matter which way you slice it, costs are going to skyrocket for our local restaurants and consumers. If you’re in Upstate New York, you’ll feel it first, and worse than just about anywhere in the country. We need everyone, especially NY Republicans, to stand up against Trump’s senseless, job-killing, cost-increasing tax on Upstate New Yorkers.”
    When the Senate returns, it will vote on a bipartisan resolution that would terminate the emergency declared by Trump to authorize his global tariffs. If the resolution is enacted into law, the tariffs would be rescinded. The Senate also previously passed a bipartisan resolution terminating Trump’s national emergency that is justifying his destructive tariffs on Canada, which Schumer said the House needs to vote on. Schumer has been a vocal supporter of both resolutions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER CALLS FOR TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY TO MEET WITH FLIGHT 3407 FAMILIES AND COMMIT TO THEM PERSONALLY TO PROTECTING 1,500 HOUR RULE AND AIR SAFETY REGULATION SENATOR & FAMILIES FOUGHT TOGETHER TO…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Trump’s FAA Nominee, The CEO Of Republic Airways, Has Previously Fought To Roll Back Basic Air Safety Standards – Including Rule that Pilots Must Have 1,500 Hours Of Flight Training – That Flight 3407 Families Have Fought For
    Amid Growing Calls For FAA Safety, Schumer Urges Trump’s Transportation Secretary To Meet With Flight 3407 Families, Which Every Previous Transportation Secretary Has Done
    Schumer: We Must Protect Air Safety Regulations And Honor Advocacy Of 3407 Families
    A longtime advocate for airline safety, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for U.S. Transportation Sean Duffy to meet with the families of Flight 3407 and commit to them clearly and unequivocally that he will not roll back the aviation safety law and pilot training standard, including the 1,500 rule, that they fought together to create. Schumer said amid growing calls for FAA Safety he is concerned about Trump’s FAA nominee’s proposal to roll back basic air safety standards and urged Secretary Duffy to meet with families and commit to upholding air safety regulations.
    “With air safety concerns more prevalent than ever, this rule is vital to keep air travel safe, uphold the integrity of our aviation system, and save lives. I strongly urge Secretary Duffy to meet with the families of Flight 3407… I urge you to meet with the families of Flight 3407—the ones who paid the highest price—and make that same commitment to them, clearly and unequivocally,” wrote Senator Schumer. “I will be frank: I am gravely concerned about Bryan Bedford’s nomination to serve as FAA administrator. Mr. Bedford has been one of the most vocal and persistent advocates of rolling back and circumventing basic air safety standards, including the 1500-hour rule. I find Bedford’s nomination to run the very agency tasked with keeping our skies safe incredibly dangerous.”
    Schumer has been a long-time, relentless advocate for air safety standards following the tragic crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. In February 2009, the tragic crash of Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York claimed 50 lives and alerted the nation to the shortfalls in our aviation safety system, particularly at the regional airline level. In the wake of the tragedy, Schumer worked with the families who lost loved ones in the crash, to pass the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. This landmark aviation safety legislation addressed many of the factors contributing to the increasing safety gap between regional and mainline carriers by requiring the FAA to develop regulations to improve safety, including enhanced entry-level pilot training and qualification standards, pilot fatigue rules, airline pilot training and safety management programs, and the creation of an electronic Pilot Record Database.
    Notably, the legislation included a mandate that first officers – also known as co-pilots – hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which requires that the pilot log 1,500 flight hours, and the advocacy of the families has led to many other laws including regulations to combat pilot fatigue, the establishment of the electronic Pilot Records Database, and more.
    Schumer’s letter to Secretary Duffy can be found HERE or below:
    Dear Secretary Duffy:
    I write to you during a pivotal moment for air safety regarding an issue near and dear to me: the 1500-hour pilot training requirement established in the aftermath of the tragic Colgan Flight 3407 in February 2009, which claimed the lives of 50 people.
    This essential safety standard—born from profound loss and championed with unwavering dedication by the families of the victims—has been instrumental in advancing the safety of our nation’s skies over the past decade. Now, with air safety concerns more prevalent than ever, this rule is vital to keep air travel safe, uphold the integrity of our aviation system, and save lives. I strongly urge you to meet with the families of Flight 3407, as every Transportation Secretary has done since the tragedy. I am confident that you, like your predecessors, will find their wisdom, experience, and insight to be invaluable.
    As you know from our January 2025 meeting in my office, I have worked arm-in-arm with the 3407 families for more than 16 years. With serious and growing concerns about air travel safety across the country, there is no room for hesitation: the 1500-hour rule must not only be upheld, it must be defended without compromise. You gave me your word that you would protect it. Now, I urge you to meet with the families of Flight 3407—the ones who paid the highest price—and make that same commitment to them, clearly and unequivocally.
    The Colgan crash alerted our nation to shortfalls in our aviation safety system, particularly at the regional airline level, where the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident report found 46 contributing factors, many directly related to piloting experience. Immediately, I joined the families in the fight to close the massive gaps in air safety and save lives: ultimately leading to the passage of the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010.
    The totality of the 2010 law’s provisions has made the skies safer by putting the best pilots in the cockpit and setting them up for success. A keystone of that law was a mandatory First Officer Qualifications (FOQ) rule, colloquially known as the 1500-hour rule, that was formally adopted in 2013. This rule requires 1500 hours of in-air training and experience, among other requirements, prior to prospective pilots earning their Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. Against industry objections and repeated attempts to circumvent this safety standard, the 1500-hour rule has proven to be a life-saving success and has been upheld in every FAA reauthorization since its adoption, including the most recent 2024 reauthorization.
    I will be frank: I am gravely concerned about Bryan Bedford’s nomination to serve as FAA Administrator. Mr. Bedford has been one of the most vocal and persistent advocates of rolling back and circumventing basic air safety standards, including the 1500-hour rule. I find Bedford’s nomination to run the very agency tasked with keeping our skies safe incredibly dangerous. 
    As early as 2014, less than a year after the 1500-hour rulemaking process took effect, Mr. Bedford – serving as Republic Airways CEO – sought to reduce the number of hours required to serve as a pilot-in-command of a commercial airline. Again in 2022, the Bedford-led Republic Airways sought to circumvent flight-safety regulations by requesting an exemption from the 1500-hour rule.[2] The FAA eventually denied this request, following strong advocacy from me and the families against Bedford’s attempt to roll back safety standards. Given his history, there is ample reason to believe that Bedford would utilize the authority delegated to the Administrator in Sec. 217(d) of the 2010 law to grant credits that would effectively erode the 1,500-hour rule.
    Congress’s intent in delegating this authority was to empower a safety-minded FAA Administrator with flexibility to give credits for accredited academic training experience certified by either the military or the FAA, not with an end-around to effective safety standards. Mr. Bedford’s anti-safety track record suggests that he will abuse his authority to enhance the financial performance of regional airlines at the cost of safety for the American flying public.
    Make no mistake, the 3407 families and I will doggedly fight against any attempt by Bedford to weaken air-safety, just as we have successfully done so for years.
    There is a phrase in Hebrew: “May their memory be a blessing.” Since the 2010 FAA law’s passage, the memory of the 50 lives lost on Flight 3407 has become just that—a blessing that has protected millions of American travelers. Through unimaginable loss, the families turned grief into action and pain into purpose. Today, with serious questions surrounding air safety in America, I ask you to honor your commitment to me to protect the 1500-hour rule, to meet with the Flight 3407 families to reaffirm the same, and to let the memory of those we lost continue to serve as a blessing—for their families, for our skies, and for all Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins’ Statement on Passing of Pope Francis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: April 21, 2025

    Click here for a full-resolution image.
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement today on the passing of Pope Francis.
    “Pope Francis brought faith, hope, and light to Catholics all over the world. It was an honor to meet him in 2015 when his mission to share God’s grace brought him to Washington as the first pontiff to address Congress. His extraordinary efforts, despite being gravely ill, on Easter to bless the tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square and to greet the Vice President and his family speak to his profound commitment to celebrate the Risen Lord. His visit to prisoners reflected his pastoral dedication to reaching out and welcoming everyone to experience God’s love. May he rest in eternal peace.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Statement on the Passing of Pope Francis

    US Senate News:

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

    MINNESOTA – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released the following statement on the passing of Pope Francis.

    “John and I mourn the death of Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church with humility and hope. He encouraged each and every one of us to consider our responsibility to uplift those most in need. 

    He did not just preach that value, he lived it. When I visited Vatican City in 2014, I saw him address the crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square where he finished as he always did—by blessing those with disabilities first. 

    I was honored to be part of the escort committee that brought Pope Francis around the Capitol when he addressed Congress in 2015. That speech was a resounding call for us to put aside our differences and come together with a renewed spirit of cooperation in pursuit of the common good. One moment in particular stood out to me from that day – as the Pope was getting ready to address thousands of people gathered on the Mall, one of the security guards plucked a woman out with her baby, who Pope Francis blessed. He understood that faith exists in the moments big and small. 

    Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy of humility, compassion, and faith that will continue to inspire us all.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on the Life and Legacy of Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement on the life and legacy of Rhode Island Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, 76, who passed away after a battle with cancer:

    “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, a distinguished public servant, a champion for working people and our state, and a dear friend.

    “Through decades of service to his constituents in North Providence and Providence, and to the entire state of Rhode Island, Donny devoted his life to improving our communities, strengthening public health and public safety, and creating new opportunities for all Rhode Islanders to thrive.

    “I will miss Donny’s friendship and his unwavering advocacy for our state and the people who make it a special place. Rhode Island is better today because of Senate President Ruggerio’s leadership and dedication.

    “My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the whole Ruggerio family, Donny’s children and grandchildren, and his colleagues and friends.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on SecDef Hegseth Reported Misuse of Signal Chat With Wife, Brother, Personal Lawyer

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, press reports indicated that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth created a Signal chat with his wife, brother, personal lawyer, and senior defense officials, within which he disclosed likely classified intelligence about active U.S. military strikes in Yemen.

    U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response:

    “If true, this incident is another troubling example of Secretary Hegseth’s reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military servicemember is required to follow. He must immediately explain why he reportedly texted classified information that could endanger American servicemembers’ lives on a commercial app that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. I urge the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General to include this latest incident in its ongoing investigation of Mr. Hegseth’s mishandling of classified information.

    “Since he was nominated, I have warned that Mr. Hegseth lacks the experience, competence, and character to run the Department of Defense. In light of the ongoing chaos, dysfunction, and mass firings under Mr. Hegseth’s leadership, it seems that those objections were well-founded. Accountability starts at the top, and I have grave concerns about Secretary Hegseth’s ability to maintain the trust and confidence of U.S. servicemembers.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on the Passing of Pope Francis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    PROVIDENCE, RI — U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement on the passing of Pope Francis, 88, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, who was elected to the papacy on March 13, 2013, becoming the first person from the Southern Hemisphere to hold the papacy:

    “I join people of all faiths in mourning the loss of Pope Francis.  His dynamic leadership, humility, compassion, and care for the downtrodden resonate widely and continue to inspire.  A man of great wisdom, courage, and faith, his life and ministry are marked by love, devotion, and a commitment to bringing people together and promoting peace and cross-cultural understanding.  His selfless example continues to resonate and inspire.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RI Delegation Helps Launch New Equipment for Warwick FD

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WARWICK, RI – After delivering a $1 million federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today helped the Warwick Fire Department place state-of-the-art pieces of equipment into service to ensure local firefighters can safely and effectively respond to emergencies throughout the community.

    The delegation joined Mayor Frank Picozzi, Fire Chief Peter McMichael, and Warwick firefighters to celebrate the AFG award and to officially launch 72 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.

    “Ensuring that our firefighters have modern, updated equipment to keep them safe is critical. I was pleased to work with my colleagues to deliver this funding to Warwick and provides dozens of new SCBA units that will ensure firefighters can respond to emergencies safely, efficiently, and effectively,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

    “The men and women of the Warwick Fire Department do heroic work every day to protect their community,” said Whitehouse.  “I’m glad to help deliver this federal funding to ensure Warwick’s first responders have access to the tools they need to do their job safely and effectively.”

    “Warwick firefighters are among Rhode Island’s bravest, and we owe it to them to make sure they have the tools they need to do their jobs,” said Magaziner. “Bringing home $1 million in federal funding for new breathing equipment is one way Rhode Island’s congressional delegation is stepping up to meet that responsibility and have the backs of local firefighters. I’ll keep fighting for first responders to get them whatever they need to keep Rhode Islanders safe.”

    “I want to thank Senators Reed, Whitehouse and Congressman Magaziner for their ongoing efforts in securing funding to ensure the safety of not only our residents, but our firefighters,” said Mayor Picozzi.  “This new equipment will be instrumental in protecting our first responders, and for that I am grateful.”

    The new equipment launched today replaces outdated SCBA units that are no longer compliant with operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). An SCBA is a device worn by firefighters and other rescue workers that provides breathable air and necessary protection against harmful toxins in what are called Immediate Danger to Life and Health (IDLH) atmospheres.

    Thanks to Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, Rhode Island’s fire departments received a record-breaking amount of federal funding last year through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding, with a total of nearly $30 million for firefighters and first responders across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –