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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
    SUBJECT:       DIRECTING THE REPEAL OF UNLAWFUL REGULATIONS
    Promoting economic growth and American innovation are top priorities of this Administration.  Unlawful, unnecessary, and onerous regulations impede these objectives and impose massive costs on American consumers and American businesses.  In recent years, the Supreme Court has issued a series of decisions that recognize appropriate constitutional boundaries on the power of unelected bureaucrats and that restore checks on unlawful agency actions.  Yet, despite these critical course corrections, unlawful regulations — often promulgated in reliance on now-superseded Supreme Court decisions — remain on the books.
    Consistent with these priorities and with my commitment to restore fidelity to the Constitution, on February 19, 2025, I issued Executive Order 14219 (Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Deregulatory Initiative).  It directed the heads of all executive departments and agencies to identify certain categories of unlawful and potentially unlawful regulations within 60 days and begin plans to repeal them.  This review-and-repeal effort shall prioritize, in particular, evaluating each existing regulation’s lawfulness under the following United States Supreme Court decisions: 
    Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. 369 (2024);
    West Virginia v. EPA, 597 U.S. 697 (2022);
    SEC v. Jarkesy, 603 U.S. 109 (2024);
    Michigan v. EPA, 576 U.S. 743 (2015);
    Sackett v. EPA, 598 U.S. 651 (2023);
    Ohio v. EPA, 603 U.S. 279 (2024);
    Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, 594 U.S. 139 (2021);
    Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023);
    Carson v. Makin, 596 U.S. 767 (2022); and
    Roman Cath. Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, 592 U.S. 14 (2020).
    In effectuating repeals of facially unlawful regulations, agency heads shall finalize rules without notice and comment, where doing so is consistent with the “good cause” exception in the Administrative Procedure Act.  That exception allows agencies to dispense with notice-and-comment rulemaking when that process would be “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.”  Retaining and enforcing facially unlawful regulations is clearly contrary to the public interest.  Furthermore, notice-and-comment proceedings are “unnecessary” where repeal is required as a matter of law to ensure consistency with a ruling of the United States Supreme Court.  Agencies thus have ample cause and the legal authority to immediately repeal unlawful regulations.
    Accordingly, I hereby direct:
    Following the 60-day review period ordered in Executive Order 14219 to identify unlawful and potentially unlawful regulations, agencies shall immediately take steps to effectuate the repeal of any regulation, or the portion of any regulation, that clearly exceeds the agency’s statutory authority or is otherwise unlawful.  Agencies should give priority to the regulations in conflict with the United States Supreme Court decisions listed earlier in this memorandum.  The repeal of each unlawful regulation shall be accompanied by a brief statement of the reasons that the “good cause” exception applies.
    Within 30 days of the conclusion of the review period directed in Executive Order 14219 to identify unlawful and potentially unlawful regulations, agencies shall submit to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs a one-page summary of each regulation that was initially identified as falling within one of the categories specified in section 2(a) of that Executive Order, but which has not been targeted for repeal, explaining the basis for the decision not to repeal that regulation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Senate Democrats Release Report Highlighting DOGE’s Deep Cuts to Veterans Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), along with Senate Democrats, released the following report on how President Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE are gutting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and undermining benefits for New Mexico veterans:

    The so-called Department of Government Efficiency has slashed the federal workforce, firing up to 6,000 veteran workers and decimating staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Over 2,400 VA staffers have been fired and DOGE announced plans to terminate 80,000 more. That’s one in five staffers that serve our nation’s heroes by getting them to appointments, providing lifesaving care, and helping them receive the benefits they’ve earned. The Veterans Health Administration serves over 9 million veterans annually in 1,380 VA health care facilities, making it the largest U.S. health care system. Any staffing reduction will adversely affect the timeliness and quality of care these service members receive.

    “President Trump and Elon Musk are abandoning the brave men and women who serve our country – a profound betrayal of our nation’s heroes. I stand with Senate Democrats in demanding that the administration reverse course from gutting essential services and staff, and prioritize the well-being of our veterans and their families who depend on the VA,” said Senator Luján. “These heroes have sacrificed for our freedom and deserve far better care and respect. It’s our duty and honor to ensure that they receive the support and recognition they have rightfully earned.”  

    In March, Senator Luján joined Senate Democrats in calling on the Trump administration to reverse its cancellation of 585 contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs, including those that help veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins access lifesaving health care. In February, Senator Luján joinedSenate Democrats in urging VA Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reinstate the more than 1,000 VA employees terminated last week who serve veterans and their families nationwide, including critical employees combatting veteran suicide working at the Veterans Crisis Line.

    The report can be seen HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on funding NPR, PBS: “That’s not the role of the federal government”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) argued that the federal government should stop subsidizing public media programming in Louisiana and elsewhere throughout the country in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.
    Key excerpts of the speech are below:
    “Now, look, you don’t have to be a Latin scholar to see that these articles are biased—every single one of them—at the federal level and at the state and local level in Louisiana. And you know what, that’s the right of these state and local television stations. They have the right to say this stuff, but they don’t have the right to say it with your money.” 
    . . .
    “These folks have the right to publish that, but they do not have the right to publish it with taxpayer money—$500 million a year. And I think you know how I feel. We know how President Trump feels, but I hope the U.S. Congress, in our reconciliation package, abolishes the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and no longer gives them or any media organization in this country a single solitary dime of taxpayer money.
    “That’s not the role of the federal government, and—given these kinds of articles—to do so incites the anger of at least half of our country, and that is not right.”
    Watch Kennedy’s speech here.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Presses NASA Nominee to Stand Up for Science, Support Artemis Moon Missions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    04.09.25
    Cantwell Presses NASA Nominee to Stand Up for Science, Support Artemis Moon Missions
    WA’s 1,500 aerospace companies deliver $4.6B in economic output
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, pressed Jared Isaacman – President Trump’s nominee to serve as NASA Administrator — on his commitment to protect critical NASA programs from DOGE cuts and support the Artemis mission.
    “The more [the budget] gets slashed and burned by different approaches, by DOGE, the more harmful it can become to people undermining the support for the mission overall … So do you believe that we should have a reduction in workforce or the science budget?” asked Sen. Cantwell.
    Isaacman was non-committal in his response: “Senator, I read what’s on NASA Watch and in the news, like everybody else. If I’m confirmed, I am eager to understand all of the considerations, the discussions being made about a reorganization.”
    Last month, it was reported that the President’s FY2026 budget could slash NASA’s science funding by up to 50%. Cuts in funding could severely threaten critical science and research programs across the administration.
    Sen. Cantwell then asked Isaacman about his commitment to supporting the Artemis missions. Over 42 companies in Washington state and 2,000 jobs are directly tied to supporting the Artemis program: “Do you support the continued Artemis mission with the Space Launch System?”
    “Senator, I believe that is currently the plan… I think the real question is, again, why has it taken so long? Why does it cost so much money?” replied Isaacman.
    “But in the issue of, are we going to commit to this? I think [Artemis] and the [lunar] lander redundancy … people see that as a we’re going to the moon and we’re going to get this done. Not this discussion of, we’re going to skip these things, shortchange this, and then we’re going to focus on Mars in a different route. That’s what I’m trying to get from you,” responded Sen. Cantwell.
    Sen. Cantwell is a champion for American leadership in space exploration. In March, Sen. Cantwell joined her colleagues in introducing the bipartisan NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025, which sets clear near-term priorities for NASA programs, advances American leadership in deep space exploration, prevents a gap in low Earth orbit leadership and capability, and upholds scientific ingenuity.
    In July 2023, Sen. Cantwell brought NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, regional aerospace industry leaders, STEM education leaders, and students together for a Washington State Space Summit, held at Blue Origin HQ in Kent. The summit included a trade show with 20 space companies, industry groups, and educators from across the State of Washington followed by a panel discussion.
    In 2022, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the successful launch of NASA’s Artemis I mission. Washington state contributes significantly to the Artemis program with 42 companies providing components either for Artemis I or for later Artemis missions, including General Dynamics in Bothell, Aerojet Rocketdyne in Redmond, Blue Origin in Kent, and Toray Composites Material in Tacoma. A full list of Washington companies supporting the Artemis program is available HERE.
    In November 2019, Sen. Cantwell co-sponsored the bipartisan NASA Authorization Act of 2020, which aimed to recognize the Artemis missions in U.S. law for the first time. To provide certainty and stability for the program, language authorizing the Artemis missions and requiring NASA to establish stringent oversight requirements was eventually incorporated into the CHIPS & Science Act, which Cantwell spearheaded through Congress. The CHIPS & Science Act was signed into law on August 9, 2022. 
    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s Q&A today are available HERE, audio HERE, and a full transcript is HERE.
    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s opening remarks are available HERE, audio HERE, and a full transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Foreign Relations Committee Democrats To Rubio: Plan For USAID Illegal, Unconstitutional; Broader Restructuring Threatens National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    April 09, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the State Department’s recently announced plans to restructure the Department – including folding USAID into the Department of State. In their letter, the senators emphasize that the State Department’s proposal for USAID is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers, and that broader efforts to restructure, including the closure of U.S. embassies and consulates, are illegal without Congressional action and would be an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S foreign policy enterprise. 
    “On March 28, 2025, the State Department sent a Congressional Notification indicating its intent to fold USAID into the Department of State. The proposal, if implemented, and action taken to date to gut USAID, are clearly an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. The executive branch may not eliminate a congressionally created and funded agency without congressional authorization. Such action would be incompatible with the express will of Congress. The administration’s plan to permanently dismantle USAID and fire all of its employees will not only render it impossible for any retained USAID programs to be implemented, but will also cause significant disruption to the State Department’s core mission. The actions outlined in this proposal are unconstitutional, illegal, unjustified, damaging, and inefficient,” the senators wrote.
    “In addition, we have seen reports on additional restructuring that would include dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates being closed, a fifth of the State Department’s workforce slashed, career positions being reclassified into political “Schedule P/C” positions, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) being absorbed into separate divisions under the DFC. This reorganization would have dramatic U.S. national security implications, constitutes an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S. foreign policy enterprise, and includes many proposed measures that would be illegal without congressional action.   We demand that you follow the law and engage with the relevant committees before the State Department begins to execute any such plans, including you testifying before the relevant committees to explain and defend these plans to restructure the country’s premier diplomatic agencies,” they continued.
    “Given the gravity of these potential consequences, we expect that the administration will immediately engage with Congress before taking any further steps toward implementing these plans, as required by law,” the senators concluded.
    U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) also signed the letter.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
    Secretary Rubio,
    On March 28, 2025, the State Department sent a Congressional Notification indicating its intent to fold USAID into the Department of State. The proposal, if implemented, and action taken to date to gut USAID, are clearly an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. The executive branch may not eliminate a congressionally created and funded agency without congressional authorization. Such action would be incompatible with the express will of Congress. The administration’s plan to permanently dismantle USAID and fire all of its employees will not only render it impossible for any retained USAID programs to be implemented, but will also cause significant disruption to the State Department’s core mission. The actions outlined in this proposal are unconstitutional, illegal, unjustified, damaging, and inefficient.
    In addition, we have seen reports on additional restructuring that would include dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates being closed, a fifth of the State Department’s workforce slashed, career positions being reclassified into political “Schedule P/C” positions, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) being absorbed into separate divisions under the DFC. This reorganization would have dramatic U.S. national security implications, constitutes an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S. foreign policy enterprise, and includes many proposed measures that would be illegal without congressional action. We demand that you follow the law and engage with the relevant committees before the State Department begins to execute any such plans, including you testifying before the relevant committees to explain and defend these plans to restructure the country’s premier diplomatic agencies.
    According to the congressional notification we received, the administration would eliminate USAID’s status as an independent establishment in the executive branch, abolish multiple USAID bureaus and offices, as well as “realigning certain USAID functions to the Department.” As you know, Congress mandated that USAID be established in statute. Some reporting about the State Department’s plans also suggest an attempt to dissolve certain State Department bureaus that focus on functional and bilateral assistance, which could potentially result in the dissolution of multiple bureaus already authorized in law. Any attempt to dissolve those bureaus requires congressional action to modify or repeal the relevant authorizing statutes.
    It is also our understanding that the State Department is considering substantially shrinking its workforce and diplomatic footprint around the world. This includes a potential major cut in staffing and the closure of multiple embassies and consulates abroad. If carried out, these plans would undermine our ability to conduct diplomacy abroad at a time when China is increasing its presence globally and outpacing the U.S. presence in multiple regions.
    Beyond the immediate structural and personnel changes, these proposed reforms could have a severe deleterious impact for U.S. global leadership and influence. The State Department, USAID, and its diplomatic corps are the backbone of American foreign policy, advancing U.S. interests, strengthening alliances, and responding to global crises. Slashing their workforces, closing embassies, consulates, and missions, and dismantling key bureaus would severely weaken America’s ability to conduct diplomacy, support democracy, and counter the growing influence of strategic competitors like China and Russia. At a time when global challenges are increasing, from conflicts and humanitarian crises, such as the recent earthquakes in Myanmar, to economic instability, the United States cannot afford to undermine its own diplomatic capacity.
    Given the gravity of these potential consequences, we expect that the administration will immediately engage with Congress before taking any further steps toward implementing these plans, as required by law.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: “Burdensome, Slow” Process Harming Maine’s Defense Industrial Base

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King, in a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Seapower, spoke with Matthew Sermon, the program manager of the Maritime Industry Base, about the importance of strengthening Department of Defense (DoD) operations by removing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers to help expand the defense industrial base. During the exchange, Senator King cited the “burdensome” and “slow” process that companies are currently forced to go through when trying to contract with the DoD, and how it puts smaller organizations at a disadvantage.

    Last spring, Senator King joined Governor Janet Mills, Senator Susan Collins and Representative Chellie Pingree in announcing the Maine Defense Industry Alliance (MDIA) — a newly established non-profit coalition of Maine defense companies, state agencies, community colleges and universities, and other vocational training organizations. The partnership was created to attract and train thousands of new employees to perform critical jobs at smaller contracting businesses that work within Maine’s defense industrial base. In Maine, the defense sector employs more than 200,000 people at over 150 companies, and, in 2021, defense spending in Maine totaled $3.2 billion.

    “Everybody around here for the past three or four years has been talking about rebuilding the defense industrial base, expanding it. How do we do it? Is that a matter of more contracts for big prime contractors? Is it bringing new people into the business? Is it encouraging smaller companies? This is one thing everybody talks about, but I never hear specifics about how to go about it. Mr. Sermon what’re your thoughts,” asked Senator King.

    “My three primary focus areas that are absolutely aimed at capacity are getting the workforce that we need, and not just shipbuilders but the supply chain across the nation, not just where the shipyards are in the coast,” replied Sermon.

    “Isn’t one of the big issues supply chain? Second and third order suppliers,” questioned Senator King.

    Sermon responded, “It is. My second item is foundational investment in the supply chain. In the submarine community, we have about 70% of our critical suppliers are single or sole source which means we don’t have a backup method, so getting a backup supplier or getting to where they are competitive both in terms of schedule and cost is crucially important.”

    Senator King said, “We have had testimony before the full committee that smaller companies have given up trying to contract with the Pentagon. It’s so burdensome, slow. There is so much paperwork. We are losing the opportunity to develop the capacity and anything but larger entities.”

    “It is necessary for us to lower the barriers to entry to get more suppliers in,” said Sermon.

    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has championed funding for both Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). Recently, Senator King and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, discussed the importance of utilizing lessons from the private sector to maintain best practices for ship designing, building, and maintenance. Last year, he strongly urged Mr. Frederick J. Stefany, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition to prioritize long-term investments in the defense industrial base — including Bath Iron Works — to avoid a ‘trough’ between contracted work, resulting in a likely loss of workers and threatening American national security.

    In the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act, Senator King secured authorization for the procurement of an additional DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that Bath Iron Works will build. In a recent hearing of the Armed Service Committee, he outlined the importance of supporting our nation’s shipbuilding capacity, citing the three biggest challenges for the industry as “workforce, workforce, workforce.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz, Sheehy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Use AI To Protect Communities Against Extreme Weather, Wildfires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) today introduced the TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act, bipartisan legislation to improve and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to better predict and respond to extreme weather and protect people and communities from the increasing toll of wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and other disasters.

    “Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe, and more deadly, and AI can be a powerful tool in saving lives and livelihoods,” said Senator Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. “Our bill will harness AI’s immense processing and prediction capabilities to improve weather forecasts and help communities better prepare for and respond more quickly to extreme weather events.”

    “Extreme weather and wildfires cost us hundreds of billions of dollars in economic impact and harm countless Americans each year, yet our government response – particularly to wildfire – hasn’t changed in decades. By incorporating leading-edge artificial intelligence into our forecasting and disaster threat prediction modeling, we will have the ability to know where, how big, and how bad weather is going to be, and can take preventative measures long before the impact is realized. Now is the time for transformational innovation and leadership to prevent future tragedies and protect American families, homes, and communities from disaster quickly and effectively,” said Senator Sheehy.

    The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to:

    • Develop a U.S. global weather dataset to train AI forecasting models;
    • Partner with the private and academic sectors on AI weather and wildfire forecasting, and innovate new AI weather and wildfire products and applications; and
    • Support the integration of AI weather models into the forecasts that the American people use and rely on.

    In addition to Schatz and Sheehy, the TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-Fla.).

    “Extreme weather is only getting more severe and more frequent. We need to use every tool at our disposal—including artificial intelligence—to save lives and livelihoods. By requiring federal agencies to use AI in proactive ways, such as boosting grid resiliency and improving weather forecasts, this bill will allow us to better predict and respond to extreme weather events and mitigate their impacts,” said Senator Welch.

    “Far too many communities in New Mexico and across the country have experienced the devastation that extreme weather events bring,” said Senator Luján. “We must utilize every tool at our disposal, like AI, to protect our communities from the devastation caused by wildfires, floods, and other disasters. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill that will leverage the powers of AI to better predict extreme weather events and save lives.”

    “As devastating weather events continue to threaten lives, homes and communities across the country, the need for faster, more accurate forecasting is critical,” said Representative Franklin. “The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act leverages emerging AI technologies to enhance forecasting systems and bolster disaster preparedness. By encouraging American innovation and uniting the efforts of the federal government, academia and the private sector, our bill ensures we can respond swiftly to natural disasters here at home without relying on foreign data. I’m pleased to join Senator Schatz in leading this bipartisan effort to protect Americans and modernize our national weather capabilities.”

    In 2023 alone, the United States experienced a record 28 disasters that caused nearly 500 deaths and cost at least $1 billion in damages each, including to property and crops. The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act would help the United States better prepare for extreme weather and wildfires by providing forecasts that are improved by integrating traditional and AI weather models. Currently, AI weather models are dependent on a dataset created and maintained by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The bill bolsters the security of AI weather models by requiring the development of a U.S. weather dataset.

    The text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz, Senators Demand HHS Restore Title X Family Planning Funding Immediately To Protect Health Care Services For Millions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), led a group of 29 senators urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately reinstate Title X family planning funding in 23 states, including Hawai‘i, after the agency began withholding grants that support basic health care for approximately one million people.

    “We are alarmed at the Trump administration’s attacks against providers that enable access to health care for low-income and uninsured people,” the senators wrote in a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We urge you to swiftly reinstate funding to avoid extended gaps in service for vulnerable communities who rely on Title X funded health centers and programs.”

    Title X is the nation’s only dedicated source of federal funding for family planning. In 2023, the program supported health care services for 2.8 million people at nearly 4,000 clinics across all 50 states and U.S. territories. These clinics provide cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infections testing and treatment, contraception, and pregnancy-related care—regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

    On April 1, the Trump administration began withholding all, most, or a substantial portion of Title X funds across 23 states, including all funds to Hawai‘i. The move threatens 23 percent of the entire Title X network.

    “These interruptions will be widely felt in our communities and exacerbate the country’s maternal health crisis,” the senators wrote. “By withholding critical appropriated funds, you are impeding access to essential health care services in rural and underserved areas, risking providers closing their doors, and jeopardizing working families’ lives and livelihoods.”

    California, Hawai‘i, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, and Utah are currently receiving no family planning dollars; while Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia are experiencing reduced access to Title X-funded services.

    In protest of this lawless Trump administration policy and many more like it, Schatz has placed a hold on the confirmation of more than 300 Trump nominees, including the nominee for HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Brian Christine, who would oversee Title X.

    In addition to Schatz, Smith, Schiff, and Hirono the letter was also signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.).

    The full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.

    Dear Secretary Kennedy:

    We write with great concern regarding the withholding of Title X family planning funding, impacting approximately one million patients in 23 states. We are alarmed at the Trump administration’s attacks against providers that enable access to health care for low-income and uninsured people. We urge you to swiftly reinstate funding to avoid extended gaps in service for vulnerable communities who rely on Title X funded health centers and programs.

    For the past 55 years, Title X has served as the nation’s only dedicated, federally-funded family planning program. It provides lifelines to essential health care, including cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive services and supplies, pregnancy testing, and more. Importantly, Title X providers offer care to all people, regardless of their ability to pay. In fact, 60 percent of patients seeking care at Title X funded health centers have incomes below 101 percent of the federal poverty level and receive care at no cost. Altogether, in 2023, Title X supported health care services for 2.8 million patients at 3,853 health centers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Freezing Title X funds puts millions at risk of losing basic health services and screenings.  A 2024 report from the HHS Office of Population Affairs determined that there “remains a significant need for publicly funded programs to provide free or subsidized sexual and reproductive health [SRH] services.”

    Despite its vast impact, on April 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began withholding all, most, or a substantial portion of Title X funding in 23 states, and all other grantees received partial awards. These states span from coast to coast and the non-contiguous states, covering nearly a quarter of the nation’s Title X network. You have entirely cut access to Title X family planning services for California, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, and Utah; and your agency is making significant cuts to Title-X funded services in Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. All other grantees have received partial funding which significantly constrains planned staffing and service delivery this performance year.

    The notifications were premised on specious arguments and contain unreasonable deadlines given the hundreds of health centers that must be surveyed in order to respond to this politically motivated inquiry. Though the administration has explicitly targeted specific providers like Planned Parenthood affiliates, it also included a varied group of nonprofit state and regional grantees.

    These interruptions will be widely felt in our communities and exacerbate the country’s maternal health crisis, particularly in the context of health center closures and restrictive state policies that impact access to reproductive care. By withholding critical appropriated funds, you are impeding access to essential health care services in rural and underserved areas, risking providers closing their doors, and jeopardizing working families’ lives and livelihoods. We request that you expeditiously release funding to Title X grantees in the 23 impacted states before you cause irreparable harm.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin: The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Should Be Resumed And The Hostage Returned Immediately

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 09, 2025

    Durbin continues to speak for progress toward a second ceasefire phase and to address the significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza on the Senate floor

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of ending the war in Gaza and addressing the humanitarian crisis. During his remarks, Durbin reiterated the need to resume the ceasefire and return the hostages immediately.

    “I am proud of the fact that President Harry Truman was the first president to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and I certainly concur with that sentiment to this day. The creation of the state of Israel after World War II was almost inevitable if this group of people were to exist. The holocaust was a reminder of the prejudice against the Jewish faith and the enduring struggle which they had been engaged in for decades—if not centuries. It was the right thing to do. There were times in history when Israel stood with us, when we desperately needed their help and there have been times when we have disagreed with their policy. That has never diminished for me personally or for our nation—Israel’s right to exist,” said Durbin.

    “What happened on October 7 was horrific. Some 1200 innocent Israelis were killed [and] butchered by terrorists under the flag of the Hamas movement. Unfortunately, they took hostages as well. I don’t know the exact number, but I believe it was over 250 hostages were taken. Some still remain in captivity under the control of Hamas. Israel is defending itself and it has a right to do that,” Durbin continued.

    Recent episodes of 60 Minutes have showed the continued pain and devastation from the war, including hostages still being held and considerable civilian death and destruction in Gaza, with children being a large number of victims. Last Sunday’s episode in particular highlighted doctors from Chicago, including those who had helped in the wars in Syria and Ukraine, sharing their stories of trying to treat innocent civilians caught up in the seemingly endless violence.

    One of the doctors Durbin referenced on the Senate floor is Dr. Lisa Thornton, a pediatric rehabilitation expert from Chicago. Dr. Thornton described her first time seeing such war trauma, noting the estimated 15,000 children killed and 30,000 injured in the war (out of an estimated total 50,000 killed), and the thousands more who have lost a parent.  Dr. Thornton coordinates therapies and prosthetics forinjured children, explaining, “our goal is to get them back to childhood”—a near impossible task amid the destruction and violence. 

    Orthopedic surgeon Samer Attar, also from Chicago, volunteers for the Syrian American Medical Society. Dr. Attar knows the horrors of the brutal Syrian civil war, and he said of his time in Gaza, “every day felt like a horror show.” He continued, “Imagine 50 people showing up all at once, and 15 of them are dead on arrival. And they’re all trying to get into the emergency room, and there’s no place to step. I remember one little girl just pounding her fists on the floor, just refusing to believe that her mom was dead, but they had to just forcefully pull her away to make room for incoming wounded because the pace of the wounded just doesn’t stop. They keep coming.”

    “The scenes that were depicted last Sunday on 60 Minutes are heart breaking—two doctors from Chicago have gone there risking their lives to volunteer to try to save the children and the victims of Israeli bombing. And I’m sorry to say they have not been successful as they would like to have been. But they reported to us graphically what is going on there with the lack of medical supplies, the lack of hospitals, and [the lack of] basic food. This war has to end. If it is going to continue until every Hamas terrorist is killed, I’m afraid there will be thousands and thousands of innocent Palestinians lost in the process,” Durbin concluded. “The ceasefire should be resumed and the hostages returned immediately.”

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Trump’s Trade War, Durbin Meets With Illinois Pork Producers Association

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 09, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Illinois Pork Producers Association to discuss federal issues that affect the Illinois hog industry.  Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in pork production.  Producers emphasized the challenging market dynamics in the pork industry over the past several years, and the importance of maintaining free trade and strong export markets, including Canada, Mexico, and China.  Durbin and the members of the Illinois Pork Producers Association also discussed California’s Proposition 12 on the consumer pork prices in that state, the need for Congress to pass a bipartisan, five-year Farm Bill, as well as the critical role of foreign workers who help with workforce shortages.

    “Let’s be clear:  President Trump’s reckless, chaotic, and poorly executed tariff strategy already is hurting the Illinois agricultural sector, which relies heavily on trade with Canada, Mexico, and China,” said Durbin.  “While the President is swerving down the road with no map, Illinois farmers will lose growing international markets forever to farmers in Brazil and Argentina.   I will continue to speak out on behalf of Illinois farmers against these poor decisions by the President.”

    The meeting included producers from Clinton, Peoria, Effingham, and Knox Counties.

    Photos of the meeting are available here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Markey Joins Sen. Hirono, Rep. Norcross in Introducing Legislation to Strengthen Rights of Public Sector Workers to join Unions, Bargain Collectively

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (April 8, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee today joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ) in reintroducing the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, bicameral legislation to guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. This comes at a critical time, after President Trump’s recent executive order ended collective bargaining for over a million federal workers.
    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing everything in their power to kill public sector unions and deny public servants their fundamental right to organize and collectively bargain. Their union busting is disgusting,” said Senator Markey. “Congress must pass the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act to guarantee public service workers their rights and empower them to fight for better wages and working conditions. Public servants deliver for the American people every day, and we must deliver for them.”
    “Public sector workers teach our children, protect our safety, and keep our communities moving forward—they deserve the right to organize,” said Senator Hirono. “The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act will help ensure that that millions of public sector workers across our country have the federal protections they deserve as they fight for fair wages, benefits, and improved working conditions. Private sector workers are already guaranteed the right to organize under federal law, it should be common sense that public sector workers are afforded those same rights. As President Trump works to gut our public sector workforce, this bill is crucial to protect workers’ freedom to organize and bargain collectively. I’m proud to lead this important legislation with Representative Norcross to help ensure that every public employee has their voice heard in the workplace.”
    “I know the power of collective bargaining because I’ve lived it,” said Congressman Norcross, a former union electrician, member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus. “I spent decades at the negotiating table standing up for working families—fighting for fair pay, safer jobs, and better benefits like health care and retirement. This bill ensures public-sector workers across the country have that same right to a voice on the job and a seat at the table.” 
    The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would establish baseline federal protections to ensure all public service workers can join a union and negotiate workplace conditions—regardless of state law. Unlike private sector workers, there is currently no federal law protecting the freedom of public sector workers to join a union and collectively bargain for fair wages, benefits, and improved working conditions.
    “Unions built the middle class,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “At a time when our President has unleashed brazenly illegal attacks on unions, we need legislation to protect our public service employees – those who keep us safe, who ensure our communities can function, and who are teaching our next generation. They deserve fair benefits and wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize – and we won’t stop fighting until they get it.”
    “The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act ensures that teachers, nurses, child welfare workers, firefighters, and so many others who serve our communities are afforded the same right to join a union as workers in the private sector,” said Senator Blumenthal. “All workers deserve the free and unhindered opportunity to organize and collectively bargain for better pay, benefits, and working conditions.”
    “As the granddaughter of union steelworkers and Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, I know the power workers have when they stand together,” said Senator Blunt Rochester, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. “At a moment when the Trump administration is indiscriminately firing federal employees across government, it is past civil servants have the protections and benefits that private sector workers do: the right to organize. I look forward to working with Senator Hirono and Congressman to get the bicameral Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act across the finish line. We are standing up for public servants across the nation.”
    “Public sector workers bear a huge responsibility within our communities, whether it’s teaching our children, responding to emergencies, or providing vital services that keep our society running,” said Senator Booker. “Public servants should have the same right to advocate for higher pay or safer working conditions as everyone else in America. The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act will ensure all workers have the opportunity organize, collectively bargain, and thrive in our economy.”
    “Public servants ask nothing more than the chance to serve our communities and our nation. They are our neighbors and often our heroes: teachers and 911 operators and police officers,” said Senator Coons. “This legislation protects their right to unionize so they can seek fair salaries and safe workplaces, just like everyone else. When public servants join together and elect a path forward, we ought to respect that choice. I’m proud that the bill we put forward today will do just that while creating better opportunities for public servants and their families in Delaware and across the country.”
    “Our public sector workers deserve the same right to organize as private sector workers, to work in a safe job that pays a livable wage and to be able to save for a secure retirement,” said Senator Duckworth. “As Donald Trump works to hollow out the backbone of our public sector, I’m proud to help Senator Hirono and my colleagues introduce this legislation that would protect these hardworking Americans by finally enshrining their right to unionize into law and enabling them to advocate for the wages and working conditions they rightfully deserve.”
    “Public sector workers – our teachers, firefighters, nurses – keep our communities safe, healthy, and educated.  They deserve the same freedom to organize and collectively bargain as those who work in the private sector,” said Senator Durbin.  “I am cosponsoring the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act to ensure that those who serve our communities are not denied basic labor rights.”
    “From the firefighters and police officers who keep us safe to the educators who teach our kids, public sectors employees serve Arizonans every day. They deserve our support in return,” said Senator Gallego. “I’m proud to back this bill to ensure that public sector employees have the same rights and protections as any other worker.”
    “Public sector workers are the backbone of our communities, ensuring that essential services are provided with dedication and care,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Unionization and collective bargaining are not just rights—they are a recognition of the value of these critical public servants. The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would help ensure that millions of public sector workers have a voice in their working conditions, pay, and benefits, giving them the same federal rights as their private sector counterparts. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation so that every worker can organize and fight for fair treatment.”
    “Unions, including public-sector unions, have provided critical advocacy and support for many workers,” said Senator Kaine. “I am proud to cosponsor this crucial legislation to protect millions of American workers’ right to unionize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.”
    “All workers deserve the right to collectively bargain and have their voices fully heard on the job,” said Senator Kim. “As President Trump continues to vilify public service and go after workers’ rights, it is as important as ever that congress pass legislation like this to defend them, empower their voice, and have their backs as they simply demand the fair pay and benefits working families across our country deserve.”
    “Every worker in this country should have the opportunity to speak up for themselves on the job. This includes the teachers shaping our kids’ futures, the first responders keeping us safe, and the healthcare and social workers who are there for us when we need them most,” said Senator Luján. “I’m proud to introduce legislation that ensures the folks essential to our communities have the right to organize and fight for fair wages, good benefits, and safe working conditions.”
    “As the son of a union mechanic, I know unions make a difference in standing up for workers and their families by ensuring they have a safe workplace and good pay for their work,” Senator Merkley said. “While the Trump Administration threatens the rights of America’s public sector workers to organize and receive fair treatment in the workplace, we’re pushing to make sure these workers receive just treatment and fair pay for a hard day’s work.”
    “Trump has already stripped hundreds of thousands of federal workers of their collective bargaining rights, and even more public sector workers could be next. Unions built the middle class, and they’re still the best tool for workers to fight for better pay and fair treatment. This legislation would make sure our teachers, firefighters, and more than a million Americans who serve their communities have a seat at the negotiating table,” said Senator Murphy.
    “The nearly 20 million public sector workers across our nation deserve the fundamental right to organize and fight for a fair contract and better working conditions. Yet, the Trump Administration has repeatedly tried to strip away this right and attack public service workers’ ability to unionize,” said Senator Padilla. “From public school teachers who educate our children to first responders on the frontlines of emergencies in our communities, we must guarantee the right for workers to join a union and collectively bargain nationwide.”
    “Working men and women deserve the freedom to negotiate for fair wages and improved working conditions in the communities they serve.  This bill is about basic fairness,” said Senator Reed.
    “Nevada’s police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other public servants work tirelessly to serve our communities, and they absolutely deserve the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m proud to help introduce a bill to protect their right to join a union and collectively bargain amid attacks from the Trump Administration. I’ll always stand up for Nevada’s public servants.”
    “Donald Trump is dead set on illegally dismantling workers’ rights to organize and advocate for higher pay, benefits, and workplace safety,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Public employees dedicate themselves to serving their communities each and every day, and they deserve the opportunity to join a union. Democrats stand with working Americans and will continue to fight until the right to organize is fully protected.”
    “Americans have a fundamental right to come together to bargain with their employer for fair wages and better working conditions,” said Senator Smith. “By protecting the rights of public employees to organize and advocate for themselves, we will put the power back in the hands of workers and strengthen the middle class.”
    “American workers’ right to organize is ingrained in our democratic principles, but for state and local government employees, this right is not a given. These public servants deliver vital services for our communities – and we’re fighting to ensure they have the freedom to organize and be treated fairly, no matter where they live,” said Senator Van Hollen.
    “Our hardworking civil servants dedicate their careers to teaching our kids, making sure our buses run on time, protecting our communities, and so much more. They should have the freedom to collectively organize and fight for good pay and working conditions,” said Senator Warren. “This bill protects the rights of these workers in every state to unionize and fight for what they deserve.”
    “Public servants are at the heart of our country and are essential to the functioning of our communities. The work of public employees–from our teachers to health care professionals to firefighters–is invaluable, and they deserve fair wages that reflect the important work they do every day,” said Senator Welch. “This bill will ensure that public sector employees have federal protections to form a union and collectively bargain in their efforts to secure better pay and safer working conditions for their essential work. In the wake of Elon Musk’s DOGE and Trump’s attacks on the federal workforce, it’s never been so important to protect workers.”
    Specifically, this bill would set a minimum nationwide standard of collective bargaining rights that states must provide, including allowing public service workers to join together and have a voice on the job to improve both working conditions and the communities in which they live and work. The legislation gives public service workers the freedom to:
    Join together in a union selected by a majority of employees; 
    Collectively bargain over wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment; 
    Access dispute resolution mechanisms; 
    Use voluntary payroll deduction for union dues; 
    Engage in concerted activities related to collective bargaining and mutual aid; 
    Have their union be free from requirements to hold rigged recertification elections; and 
    File suit in court to enforce their labor rights. 
    “Passing this legislation has never been more urgent — especially now, as federal workers face unprecedented attacks on their collective bargaining rights,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “We believe, as most Americans do, that every worker deserves a union — no matter who they work for.  This bill is about something fundamental: respect. Respect for the public service workers who’ve devoted their careers to serving their communities. And respect means the freedom to negotiate.”
    “When workers stand together in a union, their jobs and lives improve. But in half of the country, the people who keep our cities and towns running are banned from collectively bargaining for a good union contract. Every day, the attacks on the fundamental freedoms of workers who keep our streets and water clean, our public transportation moving, and our children learning are increasing from the highest level of government,” said AFL-CIO President, Liz Shuler. “We need federal law to protect their rights to form a union and negotiate fair contracts that allow them to continue to do the work that is so essential to our communities. We call on every member of Congress to stand with working people and support the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.”
    “For years now, the rights of workers like nurses, librarians, educators, and all our essential public servants who dedicate themselves to our communities have been chipped away at, despite their dedication and selfless service to their communities,” said Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America. “That’s why the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act is so vital. It protects public sector workers’ fundamental right to join together, bargain for fair pay, and stand up for decent working conditions. Congress needs to step up and pass this now and push back against efforts trying to undermine these essential rights.”
    “As education, healthcare and public service workers, our members make a difference in the lives of others every day. But too many states don’t allow the people who do the work to have a voice,” said Randi Weingarten, President of AFT. “The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would change that, ensuring public servants, no matter where they reside, have a means to influence their own lives. Whether it’s higher wages, safer working conditions, or a secure retirement, the ability to organize a union and bargain collectively lifts working families, students, patients, and entire communities up. That’s why we enthusiastically support this legislation and are committed to moving it forward.”
    This legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the Communications Workers of America (CWA); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); AFL-CIO; Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE); International Brotherhood of Teamsters; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM); International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); International Union of Police Associations (IUPA); International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT); Laborer’s International Union of North America (LiUNA); National Education Association (NEA); National Nurses United; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Transport Workers Union of America (TWU); UNITE HERE!; United Autoworkers; United Steelworkers (USW).
    The full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mullin, Capito, Fischer, Introduce Resolutions to Repeal California’s Extreme EV Mandate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    Mullin, Capito, Fischer, Introduce Resolutions to Repeal California’s Extreme EV Mandate

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal California’s EV waivers that prohibit the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035, and set unrealistic and stringent requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines.
    Senator Mullin’s CRA, the ‘Omnibus’ Low NOx Regulation, overturns a Biden EPA approved waiver that allowed California to enforce overly burdensome Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emission limits regulations for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines. The regulation includes longer emission control system warranties, new cold start emission requirements, and extended durability requirements over a vehicles operational life. This waiver applies to model year 2024 and later on-road heavy-duty Otto-cycle and heavy-duty diesel engines used to operate Class 3-8 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including drayage trucks, buses (except transit buses), refuse trucks, and other commercial work vehicles. 
    “This waiver imposes significant compliance costs estimated at upwards of $20,000 per truck making it more difficult for small fleets and independent operators to invest in new equipment. Moreover, this creates a competitive disadvantage for manufactures and fleets by forcing stricter standards to apply unequally across the country. We cannot allow California’s costly and extreme Green New Deal agenda to bankrupt families and eliminate consumer choice for hundreds of millions of American families. Thankfully, after four years of ineffective one-size-fits-all crippling bureaucracy, the Trump administration is bringing back common sense,” said Senator Mullin. “I’m grateful to my colleagues for partnering with me on this effort.”
    “By sending these rules to Congress, Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration followed the law and addressed the Biden administration’s attempt to circumvent Congress in this process. California’s extreme EV mandate imposes unrealistic and stringent requirements, fails to meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements for a waiver, forces the hand of American consumers, and makes our country more reliant on China for critical minerals. The American people have made it clear that they want consumer choice – not an EV mandate,” said Senator Capito. “I will continue to address all options available to strike down these rules and eliminate the consequential impact they would make across our country.”
    “As we saw under the Biden administration, what happens in California doesn’t stay in California. Their emissions regulation will cripple the truck manufacturing industry nationwide, overloading companies and truckers with expensive, heavy-handed requirements. This inevitably leads to increased prices for families across the nation. My resolution will overturn the Biden administration’s waiver allowing the ACT regulation to take effect without congressional review,” said Senator Fischer.
    The ‘Omnibus’ Low NOx Regulation is supported by the following groups: American Trucking Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Automobile Dealers Association.
    Full text of the resolution can be found here.
    Background:
    In December 2024, EPA granted California’s “Omnibus” low-NOx regulation waiver for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines.
    In February 2025, EPA Administrator Zeldin sent over to Congress three of the Biden Administration’s rules granting waivers that allowed California to preempt federal car and truck standards approved by EPA and DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Zeldin’s decision to send over the rules are part of EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative to protect human health and the environment while restoring our economy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to Discuss Tariffs, Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to discuss the Senate-passed budget resolution being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives this week, along with President Donald Trump’s trade agenda.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    Partial Transcript

    Hagerty on the budget resolution: “I’m very optimistic. The House Rules Committee will actually be meeting this morning. President Trump, as you know, met with a number of people in the House last night. I think we’ll get this moved through. This budget resolution process will then unlock the reconciliation process, which is where we’ll actually get the tax cuts extended. We’ll bring the certainty that American business needs to make the capital investments that they want to make. The optimal deadline would be sometime before the 8th of May, but I think we can definitely get this done in the next four weeks.”

    Hagerty on the misunderstanding of spending cut levels in the budget resolution: “We’re going to get to work on the committee level to work through and try to bring about as many cuts as we can possibly deliver for the American people. Over time, we want to deliver at least $2 trillion worth of cuts here. There’s been some miscommunication, I think, about some of the targets that we set, but we want to make certain the hurdles are low enough that we don’t have a procedural issue, but we certainly are going to be shooting high, in terms of the cuts that we want to deliver.”

    Hagerty on potential trade negotiations: “As you know, Japan’s got a team here this week on the ground. I think there’s a wonderful opportunity to see real breakthroughs and real progress. When I served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, we did two trade deals there. Our teams know the issues, and I’ve encouraged the parties to really think broadly beyond just trade, but also think about our defense relationship, to think about opportunities with energy, ways that we can make our economies much more integrated, much more harmonized, and at the same time, our national security and our energy security needs will be met as well. I’m very optimistic about what will be forthcoming here.”

    Hagerty on the budget resolution passing before recess: “As we look at the House Rules Committee today, I think we certainly will [get it passed]. I hope that they’ll be able to move on this before we leave for Easter recess. Our teams are certainly working hard here in the Senate on the reconciliation process itself. So, we’ll be ready to go as soon as we get back from recess [and] get [tax reform] passed.”

    Hagerty on Trump using tariffs to resolve trade imbalances: “I think we’ve got a great opportunity here, and Maria, there’s an historic reason for this. A lot of these imbalances that President Trump has been signaling, very clearly to the market, that he wants to address a lot of these imbalances dated all the way back to World War II and the reconstruction effort afterwards. Japan, European nations got very favorable terms of trade. Now is the time to rectify that, though these are fully developed economies, and what we’ve seen is a very deep imbalance. We’re in the process of getting that adjusted. We started working on that when I was Ambassador, but COVID hit. So, there’s more opportunity there on the terms of trade, but if we broaden this even further, there’s a lot more that we can do, in terms of defense production, technology development. If you think about energy, Maria, there’s a tremendous opportunity for us to cooperate with the Japanese there to send more American energy, not only to Japan, but to partner with Japan, to send it throughout Southeast Asia. I see great opportunity here, and I’ve been encouraging the parties to really focus broadly, make the problem larger, and then solve it.”

    Hagerty on China’s retaliatory tariffs: “China should have seen this coming. President Trump telegraphed this throughout the campaign. He wants to rectify the situation with China. There’s an opportunity here as well. I think China needs to step up to the plate. I’m very optimistic that David Perdue, former U.S. Senator, will be confirmed as our Ambassador to China very soon. My colleague, [Senator] Steve Daines, has been working closely trying to encourage the right type of cooperation there. And when David Perdue gets into the mix, I think we’ll see a lot more opportunity to bring the parties together. That’s where we need to head with China.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Reintroduces Legislation to Reverse IRS Snooping of Third-Party Payment Platforms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    SNOOP Act would strike the Biden Administration’s intrusive American Rescue Plan provision requiring thousands of small businesses to provide their personal information to the IRS

    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today reintroduced the Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments, or SNOOP, Act, a bill to strike the tax code provision inserted by the Biden Administration in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) that requires third-party payment platforms to report businesses’ gross transaction volumes totaling more than $600 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

    Prior to the ARP, payment providers were only required to report information when a payee had over 200 commercial transactions per year that exceeded $20,000. As a result of the new provision, thousands of small businesses will have to fill out 1099-Ks to provide their personal information to the IRS, despite the IRS’ poor history of safeguarding Americans’ personal data.

    “The Biden Administration proved to be relentless in its attempt to invade the privacy of Americans’ lives and finances,” said Senator Hagerty. “It is regrettable that the Biden Administration insisted on advancing their perilous and oppressive political agenda to the detriment of taxpayers’ privacy, heedless of the IRS’s failed track record of protecting Americans’ confidential data and the deep concern of the American people that they served. Though Republican efforts to repeal these new requirements were ignored for years, the Trump Administration is thankfully now looking out for the small business owners the Biden Administration ignored. It is past time we stand up for our small business owners and put an end to this egregious and unwarranted overreach for good.”

    Background:

    • During the 117th Congress, Hagerty led his colleagues in introducing the SNOOP Act, and Representative Michelle Steel (R-CA-45) led the effort in the House of Representatives.
    • In 2022, the Washington Examiner reported that third-party payment processors, like Venmo and PayPal, will be required to report these business transactions. 
    • During the 117th Congress, Democrats used the IRS to target conservative political organizations and private citizens to further their political agenda. 
    • Although the effort ultimately failed, the Biden Administration attempted to force banks to report data on all bank accounts with more than $600 in annual transactions, which would have allowed them to pry even further into Americans’ lives.
    • In December 2022, the IRS announced a one-year delay in increasing reporting thresholds for third-party payment platforms.
    • In January 2023, Hagerty led his colleagues in reintroducing the SNOOP Act during the 118th Congress.
    • In November 2023, the IRS announced a delay in the 1099-K reporting threshold for third-party platform payments in 2023 and plans for a threshold of $5,000 for 2024 as part of a phased implementation.

    Full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker: Senate Must Stay “As Long As It Takes” to Confirm Chairman of the Joint Chiefs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement regarding the confirmation of Lieutenant General (ret.) John D. Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: 

    “The Chinese Communist Party continues an expansive military buildup, and our adversaries continue to band together against the United States. It is critical that the Senate confirm Lieutenant General Caine as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff this week.

    “President Trump should have the expertise of the highest-ranking military officer in place without any delays. 

    “Lieutenant General Caine sailed through the Senate Armed Services Committee on a 23 to 4 vote – an overwhelming, nearly unanimous, bipartisan endorsement. We must stay as long as it takes to get the president’s chief military official on the job – because that is what the American people deserve and what the moment demands.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Cassidy, Cornyn, Fetterman Request Full Retroactive Payments Under Social Security Fairness Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Some qualified beneficiaries have been limited to six-month retroactivity when filing for benefits adjustment even though the law applies to all payments after and including January 2024.

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), and John Fetterman (D-PA) sent a letter to Social Security Administrator Leland Dudek requesting that the Social Security Administration (SSA) review agency policy and grant maximum retroactive payments to all protected spouses under the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA). The SSFA, coauthored by Senator Collins and cosponsored by Senators Cassidy, Fetterman, and Cornyn, restores earned Social Security benefits for millions of public employees and their spouses by repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. The SSFA also provided for retroactive payments to January 2024.

    “Over the past few weeks, several constituents have contacted our offices regarding the retroactivity of their spousal benefits under the Social Security Fairness Act,” the Senators wrote. “The law provides for retroactivity to the year the bill was introduced, first being applied to the January 2024 payment. These spouses, including widows and widowers, have shared with me that when they contacted the Social Security Administration years ago inquiring into spousal benefits, they were told by SSA employees that their spousal benefits would be reduced to $0 due to the Government Pension Offset; and therefore, there was no need to file an application for spousal benefits. Now, these same spouses are being told to file a claim for spousal benefits yet are only being granted a maximum of six months retroactivity from their most recent date of contact with the SSA.”

    “As noted, we have assisted spouses who have contacted our offices questioning the retroactivity,” they continued. “They have shared that even if they question the retroactivity with the SSA employees during their recent appointment to apply for benefits, the applicants are only granted six-months retroactivity from the most recent contact date. We ask SSA to review the agency’s policy and grant maximum retroactivity payments to all spouses who were protected on prior applications and wrongly advised by employees of SSA not to apply for spousal benefits when they first inquired.”

    The full text of the letter can be read here.

    As of March 10, 23,697 Mainers have received retroactive payments amounting to $158,412,740. Nationally, since implementing automated benefit adjustments under the SSFA, SSA has paid more than 2.2 million beneficiaries a total of $14.6 billion in retroactive benefits. Updates on the SSA’s implementation of this law, including a subscription link to receive all future updates, are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Resolution to Support the Independence and Critical Services of the United States Postal Service

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a bipartisan resolution to support the independence and critical public service mission of the United States Postal Service (USPS), emphasizing the essential role the Postal Service has played since its founding in 1775, by binding the nation together and connecting Americans in every community through its services.

    “The U.S. Postal Service plays a vital role in the daily lives of millions of Americans, especially in rural states like Maine, where the timely delivery of essentials like prescription medications is critical,” said Senator Collins. “Privatizing the Postal Service would jeopardize its core mission while driving up costs and reducing service. I have long supported efforts to strengthen the Postal Service, and I will continue working to ensure that it remains accessible in American communities for years to come.”

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

    Senator Collins has been a long-time advocate of the Postal Service, and has fought against proposed changes to the Eastern Maine Processing and Distribution Center in Hampden since 2012, when she led the successful effort to halt a considered closure of the plant.

    In November 2023, she wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, objecting to the Postal Service’s announced proposal to consolidate outgoing operations of Maine’s two USPS processing facilities. Senator Collins also provided comments for a public meeting on the proposal in February 2024. Prior to this, Senator Collins wrote to DeJoy several times, addressing concerns about delivery delays and workforce retention in Maine and across the national postal network. Additionally, she met with the USPS Inspector General in September 2023 to discuss their examination of Postal Service quality in Southern Maine.  

    In April of 2024, Senator Collins and former-Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) led a bipartisan group in sending a letter to DeJoy opposing the USPS’ recent nationwide consolidation and review announcements.  Then, in May, Senators Collins and Gary Peters (D-MI) led a bipartisan letter requesting a full review of the Delivering for America proposal by the Postal Regulatory Commission (USPS’ independent regulator).

    Following these efforts, in September 2024, Postmaster DeJoy called Senator Collins to inform her that the USPS had permanently abandoned its proposed changes to the Hampden facility.

    The full text of the resolution can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement on Trump Tariff Announcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, April 9 – After Trump posted on social media yet another change to his sweeping global tariffs, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement: 

    As someone who strongly opposed disastrous unfettered free trade deals with China, Mexico and other low-wage countries, I understand that we need trade policies that benefit American workers, not just large corporations. Targeted tariffs can be a powerful tool to stop corporations from outsourcing American jobs. They can help level the playing field for American autoworkers or steelworkers to compete fairly against companies who have moved production to countries where they can pay starvation wages. 

    But Trump’s chaotic across-the-board tariffs are not the way to do it. 

    Imposing steep tariffs on countries like Germany or France will not bring jobs back to America. These are not low-wage countries. Corporations are not shutting down plants in America and moving them to Switzerland. Trump’s blanket tariffs will just raise prices for American consumers and hurt our relationships with allies, undermining our global position. 

    Trump’s trade chaos – changing policy from day to day – is rapidly undermining our economy and making it impossible for households and small businesses to function. How can you plan for next week, let alone next year, when the rules might change tomorrow? People in my home state of Vermont are hurting. 

    This is exactly why the Constitution gives Congress sole authority to raise taxes and “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations,” not the President. What Trump is doing is unconstitutional. Trump has claimed supposed “emergency” powers to bypass Congress and impose unilateral tariffs on hundreds of countries. The last president to try something like this was Richard Nixon, and his overreach prompted Congress to pass the law Trump is now abusing. This is another step toward authoritarianism. 

    And let’s be clear about why Trump is doing all this: to give massive tax breaks to billionaires. These tariffs will cost working families thousands of dollars a year, and Trump plans to use that revenue to help pay for a huge tax break for the richest people in America. That is what Trump and Republicans in Congress are working on right now: If they have their way on the tariffs and their huge tax bill, most Americans will see their taxes go up, while those on top will get a huge tax break. 

    Enough is enough. We need a coherent trade policy that puts working people first. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Organic Import Verification

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Organic Imports Verification Act. The bipartisan legislation would protect American organic farmers from fraudulent organic imports. It would preserve the integrity of domestic organic commodities through robust certification and monitoring practices.

    “Fraudulent organic imports hurt American farmers and degrade consumer trust. This must stop,” said Senator Ricketts. “By enhancing oversight and enforcing stricter controls, we can better safeguard U.S. organic farmers and maintain consumer trust in organic products. This bipartisan legislation levels the playing field for our domestic organic producers.”

    “Many Americans pay a premium for organic food at the grocery store and many farmers invest a lot of work and financial equity to sell certified organic products in the marketplace,” said Senator Smith. “Despite USDA’s best efforts, products being imported to this country are often deemed organic when they are not, hurting both consumers and farmers. This bill will help ensure that items labeled organic are indeed organic, protecting the quality of food we eat and farmers’ livelihoods.”

    Specifically, the Organic Imports Verification Act: 

    1. Authorizes a full U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report to Congress on residue testing for all imported organic feedstuffs shipped via bulk;
    2. Authorizes USDA to take corrective action and stop the sale of organic imports for positive residue contaminant tests.

    The residue testing report must include frequency of testing, methods used, results, analysis standards, and any actions taken as a result of testing.

    Full text of legislation can be found here. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) is a co-sponsor of the legislation.

    The legislation is supported by the Organic Trade Association, Organic Farmers Association, and the National Organic Coalition.

    BACKGROUND:

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the Organic Food Production Act. This Act sets standards for labels on organically produced agricultural products. It creates a national list of approved and prohibited substances for organic production. It also includes an organic certification program, called the National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP establishes rules and regulations for the production, handling, labeling, and enforcement of organic products that undergo residue testing.

    The USDA and third-party organic certifiers are responsible for testing imported organic commodities under the NOP. A majority of these imports are coming from high-risk countries with a weak verification process in place.  This lack of an established verification process raises concerns about the authenticity and quality of these organic products coming into U.S. ports. 

    In 2024, 1.3 million metric tons of organic feedstuffs were imported via maritime vessels, with 80% originating from countries with questionable organic enforcement. This influx is equivalent to the output of 800,000 acres of domestic organic production and $1 billion in losses for U.S. organic farmers.

    U.S. organic farmers require stronger oversight and enforcement to protect the integrity of the organic marketplace. While import fraud affects various organic commodities, feedstuffs are particularly vulnerable. Products such as whole soybeans, soybean meal, corn, cracked corn, canola, sunflowers and sunflower byproducts frequently enter the U.S. market through high-risk and complex supply chains.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts, Flood CRA Legislation to Overturn CFPB’s Regulatory Overreach of Consumer Payment Companies Passed by House, Heads to President Trump’s Desk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) celebrated House passage of his bicameral Congressional Review Act. The resolution overturns the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s latest overreach in the digital consumer payment market. U.S. Representative Mike Flood (R-NE-01) led the legislation in the House. The Senate passed the CRA on March 5. The resolution now heads to President Trump’s desk. 

    The legislation, introduced in February, would nullify the CFPB’s burdensome “Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications” rule. The rule took effect on January 9, 2025. 

    “This is an early victory for President Trump,” said Senator Ricketts. “Our legislation overturns Biden-Harris overreach and eliminates barriers to innovation. It supports our job-creators. By cutting red tape, we’re helping President Trump deliver on his campaign promises. Thank you, Congressman Flood, for leading this in the House. I look forward to President Trump signing this common-sense legislation.” 

    Bill text can be found here. 

    BACKGROUND 

    On November 21, 2024, the CFPB finalized a rule entitled “Defining Larger Participants of a Market for a General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications.” The rule was one of the Biden Administration’s many midnight rulemakings at the end of the year. Effective Jan. 9, 2025, the rule stretched CFPB’s powers to establish new supervision and examination authority. It claimed new authority over nonbank entities identified as “larger participants” in the general-use digital consumer payment applications market. These entities include payment apps, digital wallets, peer-to-peer payment apps, and other entities. “Larger participants” are entities that facilitate at least 50 million consumer payment transactions annually.  

    Many payment companies are already regulated at the federal and state level. Consumers are having positive experiences in engaging with these services. Despite minimal consumer complaints about payment services—accounting for only 1% of the CFPB’s 1.3 million complaints in 2023—the CFPB chose to layer additional oversight on an already well-regulated industry. 

    This one-size-fits-all solution in search of a problem expands CFPB’s authority without properly identifying a specific market it seeks to supervise. It fails to identify the risks within a specific market that pose harm to consumers that existing regulation doesn’t already mitigate. It also layers overreaching, duplicative regulation that could stifle innovation and lead to fewer services and increased costs. 

    Further, the cost-benefit analysis supporting the rule is insufficient, unrealistic, and notably underestimates a CFPB exam to cost just $25,001. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Tackles Regulations That Stifle Competition

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    RESTORING COMPETITION TO U.S. MARKETS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at eliminating anti-competitive regulations. Competition lowers prices, speeds innovation, and increases options for consumers. The Executive Order continues the President’s policy of ushering in a Golden Age of American economic prosperity.
    Agency heads, in coordination with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General, are directed to review all regulations subject to their authority and identify any that impose anti-competitive restraints.
    This includes regulations that facilitate the formation of monopolies, create or impose unnecessary barriers to entry, or needlessly burden agency procurement.

    In the next 70 days, Agency Heads must provide the FTC Chairman and Attorney General a list of all anti-competitive regulations, as well as a proposal to rescind or modify them as necessary.
    Regulations requiring rescission or modification will be placed on the Unified Regulatory Agenda created pursuant to Executive Order 14129 of February 19, 2025.

    SOLICITING PUBLIC INPUT: The American people, more than any Federal official, know which regulations stifle entrepreneurship and economic growth. You are invited to tell us which regulations impede competition and should be changed or repealed:
    The FTC Chairman is required to seek input from the public, asking for help identifying anti-competitive regulations.
    The FTC Chairman will convey useful responses to the relevant agency for possible rescission or modification.
    POWERING ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH DEREGULATION: This Executive Order is another element of the President’s sweeping deregulatory agenda that will ensure America remains the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Pushes the Reset Button on America’s Energy Regulations

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    ZERO-BASED REGULATION TO UNLEASH AMERICAN ENERGY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order requiring the automatic rescission of outdated regulations to unleash American innovation and energy production.
    The Order requires ten agencies and subagencies to insert a one-year expiration date into existing energy regulations.
    If not extended before the expiration date, these energy regulations will expire no later than September 30, 2026.
    Agencies will extend only those regulations that affirmatively serve American interests.  The rest will expire, resetting the regulatory landscape.

    This Order will unleash American energy innovation, which has been frozen in the 1970s.  Regulations from the Carter Administration should not govern energy production today.
    President Trump is laser focused on energy abundance, not just efficiency.

    KEEPING AMERICAN ENERGY ON THE CUTTING EDGE: President Trump is committed to keeping American energy on the cutting edge:
    The Order requires the same agencies to include a five-year expiration date in future energy regulations, unless those new regulations are themselves deregulatory.
    If an agency does not affirmatively extend the expiration date of any energy regulation, that regulation will automatically expire after five years.
    This Order will ensure American energy regulations are continually reviewed and updated to keep up with modern technology and needs.
    The Order exempts permitting regimes, to ensure certainty for long-term development projects.
    REWIRING THE BUREAUCRACY: President Trump knows that the bureaucracy is built to regulate, not deregulate. The result is an ever-increasing number of regulations that stifle innovation and limit American freedom.
    Zero-based regulation uses the bureaucracy against itself. If bureaucrats move slowly, the default is deregulation and free markets—not the sclerotic status quo.
    Zero-based regulation demolishes agency resistance against innovation. It forces agencies to reconsider every regulation, and justify it for the present day, making regulation more accountable to elections and the American people.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Makes America’s Showers Great Again

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    UNDOING THE LEFT’S WAR ON WATER PRESSURE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure and make America’s showers great again.
    The Order directs the Secretary of Energy to immediately rescind the overly complicated federal rule that redefined “showerhead” under Obama and Biden.
    Twice in the last 12 years, those administrations put out massive regulations defining the word “showerhead.”  The Biden definition was a staggering 13,000 words. The Oxford English Dictionary, by contrast, defines “showerhead” in one short sentence. 
    President Trump is restoring sanity to at least one small part of the federal regulations, returning to the straightforward meaning of “showerhead” from the 1992 energy law, which sets a simple 2.5-gallons-per-minute standard for showers.
    The Order frees Americans from excessive regulations that turned a basic household item into a bureaucratic nightmare. No longer will showerheads be weak and worthless.
    ROLLING BACK OVERREGULATION: Overregulation chokes the American economy, entrenches bureaucrats, and stifles personal freedom.         
    Under Obama and Biden, the government issued lengthy rules—thousands of words long—redefining “showerhead” as a “nozzle” and making multi-nozzle showers illegal if they collectively discharged over 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
    These changes served a radical green agenda that made life worse for everyday Americans.
    President Trump sought to undo this definition in his first term by publishing extensive analysis and a formal rule—however, Biden undid this progress and the shower wars continued. 
    The government should not waste taxpayer time and money writing another elaborate definition for a term that has a simple definition.
    No market failure justifies this intrusion: Americans pay for their own water and should be free to choose their showerheads without federal meddling.

    It’s not just showers—the Biden Administration aggressively targeted everyday appliances like gas stoves, water heaters, washing machines, furnaces, dishwashers, and more, waging war on the reliable tools Americans depend on daily.
    These appliances worked perfectly fine before Biden’s meddling piled on convoluted regulations that made those appliances worse. 
    President Trump is slashing red tape and ending Biden’s dumb war on things that work.

    DELIVERING ON PROMISES: By restoring shower freedom, President Trump is following through on his commitment to dismantle unnecessary regulations and put Americans first.
    President Trump: “We’re going to get rid of those restrictions. You have many places where they have water, they have so much water they don’t know what to do with it. But people buy a house, they turn on the sink, and water barely comes out. They take a shower, water barely comes out. And it’s an unnecessary restriction.”
    This Executive Order builds on actions President Trump has already taken to roll back overregulation and empower Americans, including:
    Cutting red tape across federal agencies to unleash economic growth.
    Repealing burdensome Biden-era executive actions that stifled freedom.
    Fighting against radical green agendas that prioritize ideology over people.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-center”> BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
    A PROCLAMATION 
    On this National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, we remember every American service member who carries the memory of being captured in war as a consequence of defending American freedom.  Since the battlefields of the Revolutionary War, millions of selfless patriots have sacrificed their lives, safety, and security to protect our homeland and preserve our inheritance of liberty.  These noble men and women embody the best of our Nation’s spirit.  Tragically, far too many have been taken by the enemy and forced to endure captivity and sometimes torture.My Administration is steadfastly committed to taking care of our great veterans — especially every former American prisoner of war (POW).  For 4 long years under the previous administration, illegal aliens were living in luxury hotels while our homeless veterans were shivering on the sidewalks — a disgrace of the highest order.  Today, more than 30,000 veterans are homeless.  To that end, I am committed to eradicating all veteran homelessness in our country.  Under my leadership, if you served our Nation in uniform, your Government will never betray you — and we will never stop fighting for the brave men and women who devoted their lives to protect our sovereignty.To protect our brave service members and uphold our Nation’s interests both at home and abroad, my Administration remains committed to restoring peace through strength and ending the years of endless foreign wars.  As I stated during my Inaugural Address, we will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars we end — and my proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.We are approaching the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army later this year, and I pledge to every POW, POW family, and member of our Armed Forces that you have our Nation’s full support and unending gratitude.  Today and every day, we pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in service to our Nation.  We ask Almighty God to preserve America’s peace, prosperity, security, and freedom for generations to come.NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2025, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.  I call upon Americans to observe this day by honoring the service and sacrifice of all former prisoners of war and to express our Nation’s eternal gratitude for their sacrifice.  I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-center”> BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
    A PROCLAMATION 
    All Americans should be able to thrive in their communities, raise their families, and lead long and fulfilling lives without fear of being victimized by crime.  Tragically, in recent years, soft-on-crime policies have emboldened vicious criminals, murderers, and gang members to wage war on our public safety, endanger our public spaces, and break down the rule of law.  This National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we offer our unending support to every victim of crime, and we recognize that freedom in America cannot survive without safety in America.Under the previous administration, violent crime skyrocketed in virtually every city of our great Nation, with 12 major cities breaking all-time high murder records in 2021.  Over the last 4 years, radical left-wing policies empowered some of the most depraved criminals on the planet and made it harder for police officers to do their jobs.  Earlier this year, President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 death row criminals guilty of the most heinous acts imaginable — including rape, child molestation, and murder.  These commutations stand as a devastating betrayal of innocent victims and their families. During the Biden Administration, the United States Border Patrol recorded over 10.8 million encounters of illegal aliens nationwide, along with over 2 million known “got aways” — a number that could be underreported by as much as 20 percent.  Millions of illegal aliens have entered or evaded capture, with countless criminals and potential national security threats now at large in our Country.  That is why within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency on our southern border.  We have also begun the largest deportation operation in the history of our country — and as your 47th President, the first bill I signed into law was the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of all dangerous criminal aliens who threaten public safety.To aid the righteous mission of the men and women in blue, my Administration is committed to enhancing legal protections for law enforcement officers.  I am also asking the Congress for a new crime bill that will get tough on repeat offenders while enhancing protection for our law enforcement officials, so they can do their jobs without fear of their lives being destroyed. Under my leadership, America will soon, once again, be a country where the blessings of life and peace exist freely in our homes, at places of work and worship, and throughout our cities, streets, and neighborhoods.  Our citizens will be able to live without the threat of getting robbed, assaulted, or shot.  This week, as we honor the lives of victims and their families, I reaffirm my solemn pledge to build a safer, stronger, and more secure Nation for citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed.NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 6 through April 12, 2025, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.  I urge all Americans, families, law enforcement, community and faith-based organizations, and private organizations to work together to support victims of crime and protect their rights.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Directs Repeal of Regulations That Are Unlawful Under 10 Recent Supreme Court Decisions

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    REPEALING UNLAWFUL REGULATIONS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum requiring agencies to rescind regulations that are unlawful under 10 recent landmark Supreme Court decisions.
    This memorandum implements President Trump’s Executive Order 14219, Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s “Department Of Government Efficiency” Deregulatory Initiative (February 19, 2025).
    EO 14219 ordered agencies to review and identify their unlawful regulations.  Now, President Trump is directing agencies to prioritize that review under 10 recent watershed Supreme Court cases, and to repeal regulations that are unlawful under those cases.
    IMPLEMENTING THE LAW FROM RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS:  President Trump’s memorandum directs departments and agencies to review rules for legality under ten recent watershed Supreme Court decisions:
    Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. 369 (2024) overturned the Chevron doctrine.  Accordingly, agencies are to repeal any regulation that is not consonant with the “single, best meaning” of the statute authorizing it.   Agencies are also to repeal any regulation that was promulgated in reliance on the Chevron doctrine and that could be defended only by relying on Chevron deference.
    West Virginia v. EPA, 597 U.S. 697 (2022) was a landmark ruling applying the Major Questions Doctrine, i.e., the principle that an agency cannot claim to discover vast delegations of power on an important issue in a statutory text that doesn’t clearly provide such authority. (Agencies cannot “seek to hide ‘elephants in mouseholes.’”)  Accordingly, agencies must repeal any regulation promulgated in violation of the Major Questions Doctrine. 
    SEC v. Jarkesy, 603 U.S. 109 (2024) held that it violates the Seventh Amendment for agencies to adjudicate common-law claims in their in-house courts.  Agencies accordingly must repeal any regulation authorizing enforcement proceedings that enable the agency’s courts to impose judgments or penalties that can only be obtained via jury trial in Article III Courts.
    Michigan v. EPA, 576 U.S. 743 (2015) held that it violates the Administrative Procedure Act for an agency to promulgate regulations without properly considering the cost as well as the benefits.  Agencies accordingly must repeal any regulation where the costs imposed are not justified by the public benefits, or where such an analysis was never conducted to begin with.
    Sackett v. EPA, 598 U.S. 651 (2023) ended a twenty-year attempt by the EPA to enforce the Clean Water Act against landowners whose property was near a ditch that fed into a creek, which fed into a navigable, intrastate lake.  Agencies accordingly must repeal any regulation inconsistent with a properly bounded interpretation of “waters of the United States.”
    Ohio v. EPA, 603 U.S. 279 (2024) struck down an EPA plan under the Clean Air Act that the EPA had adopted after the scientific and policy premises undergirding it had been shown to be wrong.  Agencies accordingly must repeal any regulation that does not sufficiently account for the costs it imposes, or for which foundational assumptions have changed and are no longer defensible.
    Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, 594 U.S. 139 (2021) held that a law that forced landowners to admit union organizers onto their property violated the Takings Clause. Agencies accordingly must repeal any regulation inconsistent with a proper understanding of the Takings Clause, which protects far more than just real estate from being taken by the government without compensation.
    Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 600 U.S. 181 (2023) held that “affirmative action” admission programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.  Agencies accordingly must repeal any regulation that imposes racially discriminatory rules or preferences.  As the Court said, “[e]liminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it.” 
    Carson v. Makin, 596 U.S. 767 (2022) held that a law excluding religious schools from participating in Maine’s school-voucher program violated the Free Exercise Clause.  Agencies accordingly must review their regulations to ensure equal treatment of religious institutions vis-à-vis secular institutions for purposes of funding and access to public benefits.
    Roman Cath. Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, 592 U.S. 14 (2020) struck down New York’s Covid-era occupancy restrictions on churches and synagogues because they were uniquely harsher than those that applied to “essential” businesses—such as acupuncture facilities.  Each agency should review its regulations to ensure at least equal treatment of religious institutions vis-à-vis secular institutions for regulatory purposes. 
    AVOIDING CUMBERSOME AND UNNECESSARY PROCEDURES:  President Trump’s memorandum directs agencies to revoke these unlawful regulations expeditiously, using the Administrative Procedure Act’s (“APA”) “good cause” exception where appropriate.  Agencies must move quickly to delete illegal regulations from imposing further burdens on the American people. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses Risks from Chris Krebs and Government Censorship

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    RESTORING TRUST IN GOVERNMENT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum revoking any active security clearance held by Chris Krebs and his associates.
    The Order directs the head of every federal agency to immediately revoke any active security clearance held by Krebs.
    The Order also suspends any active security clearance held by individuals at entities associated with Krebs, including SentinelOne, pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest.
    Furthermore, the Order calls for a review of Krebs’ activities as a government employee, including his leadership of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
    The review will include a comprehensive evaluation of all of CISA’s activities over the last 6 years and will identify any instances where Krebs’ or CISA’s conduct appears to be contrary to the administration’s commitment to free speech and ending federal censorship, including whether Krebs’ conduct was contrary to suitability standards for federal employees or involved the unauthorized dissemination of classified information.

    ENDING GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP: President Trump is committed to ending government censorship of Americans and believes that those who engage in such conduct should not have access to our nation’s secrets.
    Krebs, the former head of CISA, is a significant bad-faith actor who weaponized and abused his government authority.
    Krebs, through CISA:
    Suppressed conservative viewpoints under the guise of combatting purported misinformation, and recruited and coerced major social media platforms to further its partisan mission.
    Covertly worked to blind the American public to the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop.
    Promoted the censorship of election information, including known risks associated with certain voting practices, and falsely and baselessly denied that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, including by inappropriately and categorically dismissing widespread election malfeasance and serious vulnerabilities with voting machines.
    Skewed the bona fide debate about COVID-19 by attempting to discredit widely shared views that ran contrary to CISA’s favored perspective.

    ENSURING LOYALTY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: President Trump has made clear that loyalty to the United States must come before personal or partisan agendas, taking decisive action against those who misuse their undeserved influence to deceive the American public.
    President Trump already revoked the security clearances held by intelligence officials who falsely claimed Hunter Biden’s laptop was Russian disinformation during the 2020 election.
    On Day One, President Trump signed an Executive Order to restore freedom of speech, dismantling federal programs that censored dissenting voices under the guise of combating misinformation, ensuring government serves the people—not partisan narratives.
    That same day, President Trump signed an Executive Order ending the weaponization of the federal government.
    These decisive actions underscore President Trump’s pledge to ensure a transparent government that is loyal and accountable to the people.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Car Repairs Easier, Expand Options, and Increase Transparency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Senators Champion Efforts to Improve Car Repair Processes, Offer More Repair Choices, And Make Information About Repairs More Transparent For Car Owners And Repair Shops
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the REPAIR Act, legislation that would give car owners expanded options for automobile repairs. The REPAIR Act ensures vehicle owners, independent repair shops, and aftermarket manufacturers have secure access to vehicle repair and maintenance data which is critical to the independent aftermarket industry’s ability to provide safe, dependable, and affordable repairs for consumers.
    As vehicle technology becomes more complex, safely repairing and maintaining automobiles requires access to data, software, compatible replacement components, training, and sophisticated diagnostic tools. The REPAIR Act guarantees the rights of vehicle owners and their designated repair facilities to maintain and repair their vehicles while maintaining the same cybersecurity standards, intellectual property protections, and vehicle safety standards that the manufacturers use with their dealerships.
    “Vehicle owners deserve to have options when it comes to safe, dependable, and affordable auto repairs,” said Senator Luján. “Giving vehicle owners, independent repair shops, and aftermarket manufacturers access to vehicle repair and maintenance data is critical to improving repair options. I’m proud to partner with Senator Hawley on this legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to support car owners and repair shops.”
    “Big corporations have a history of gatekeeping basic information that belongs to car owners, effectively forcing consumers to pay a fixed price whenever their car is in the shop. The bipartisan REPAIR Act would end corporations’ control over diagnostics and service information and give consumers the right to repair their own equipment at a price most feasible for them,” said Senator Hawley.
    Specifically, the REPAIR Act protects consumers by:
    Preventing motor vehicle manufacturers from deploying barriers that limit the ability of a motor vehicle owner (or their designee) from accessing their vehicle-generated data;
    Preventing barriers to an aftermarket parts manufacturer, a motor vehicle equipment manufacturer, a remanufacturer, a diagnostic tool manufacturer, or a motor vehicle repair facility (including their distributors and service providers), to access critical repair information, tools, and parts;
    Requiring motor vehicle manufacturers to make “Vehicle-Generated Data” available to consumers (or their designees);
    Requiring motor vehicle manufacturers make “Critical Repair Information, Tools, and Parts” available to motor vehicle owners (and their designees), aftermarket parts manufacturers, remanufacturers, diagnostic tool manufacturers, and motor vehicle repair facilities (including their distributors and service providers);
    Ensuring that Over-the-Air (OtA) updates do not render aftermarket parts inoperable;
    Prohibiting the mandate of a motor vehicle manufacturer the use of any particular brand or manufacturer of tools, parts, or other motor vehicle equipment; and
    Ensuring federal enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission.
    Endorsement quotes can be found here.
    Full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Statement on Trump Pausing Certain Tariffs

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today released the following statement on President Trump pausing certain tariffs for 90 days: 
    “President Trump’s decision is an acknowledgement of what we’ve said from day one: nobody wins in a trade war. Tariffs are a tax on Vermont businesses, farmers, and families, and this administration’s on-again, off-again trade orders are causing chaos and instability for Main Street and Wall Street alike. Vermont cannot afford the current tariffs, and we certainly cannot afford these so-called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs to go back into place. Congress needs to steady the ship and reassert our trade authority.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Comments on Mike Huckabee Confirmation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    April 9, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after voting to confirm Mike Huckabee, President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Israel:

    “We need an Ambassador to Israel who won’t waver in his support for our greatest partner in the Middle East. Mike Huckabee is that person. He knows that Hamas should have no future in Gaza. He will support Israel as it defends itself against Iran and its proxies. He will also continue the successful work of the first Trump administration in normalizing relations between Israel and its neighbors.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –