NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Sounds Alarm on Inexperienced Trump Nominee to Run Nuclear Arsenal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 07, 2025

    “I am concerned that a leader without strong technical expertise and extensive experience could put our nuclear deterrent at risk and waste billions of dollars.” 

    “The person confirmed to lead the NNSA…must also make it abundantly clear that they would not share information with companies that might support China’s own nuclear modernization efforts, further jeopardizing American national security.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Mr. Brandon Williams, nominee for Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), with concerns over his lack of experience and potential ties to the Chinese government through his business. Mr. Williams’ nomination will be considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 8, 2025. 

    The NNSA is tasked with the design, production, and maintenance of the nation’s nuclear arsenal, along with ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the country’s nuclear weapons. By law, anyone nominated for the position must “have extensive background in national security” and be “well qualified to manage nuclear weapons.” Each of the six previous Under Secretaries for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrators had strong backgrounds in fields related to nuclear technology or national security. William’s two most recent predecessors each worked for more than 30 years in nuclear security before taking on the role. 

    Mr. Williams lacks any of the extensive technical experience of his predecessors. He completed a training at the Naval Nuclear Power School and served as a junior officer on a nuclear submarine, but does not possess any advanced degree in physics or engineering. The NNSA is in the middle of a $200 billion nuclear modernization project, which the Government Accountability Office has found already exceeded initial cost estimates by more than $2 billion and is behind by almost 10 years. Williams’ lack of experience raises concerns about his ability to effectively manage the nuclear arsenal.  

    “I am concerned that a leader without strong technical expertise and extensive experience could put our nuclear deterrent at risk and waste billions of dollars,” said Senator Warren.

    Senator Warren also called out Mr. Williams’ ties to the Chinese government through his software cloud computing company, CPLANE.ai. In 2013, after founding the company, Mr. Williams partnered with PCCW Global, which was partially controlled by the Chinese government through China Unicom, a company banned from U.S. markets in 2018 due to “spying concerns.” 

    “The person confirmed to lead the NNSA…must also make it abundantly clear that they would not share information with companies that might support China’s own nuclear modernization efforts, further jeopardizing American national security,” concluded Senator Warren. 

    Senator Warren asked Mr. Williams to explain whether he supports DOGE’s mass firings at NNSA, how he plans to address his experience shortfalls, asked him to commit to not share information that would compromise national security interests, and more, by April 14, 2025. 

    Senator Warren has long worked to ensure the stability and safety of the United States nuclear arsenal: 

    • In March 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren slammed Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) reckless firings of federal employees, including at the NNSA, where workers who ensure the safety and security of the country’s nuclear stockpile were fired and had to be rehired. 
    • In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Elon Musk with recommendations that would cut at least $2 trillion in government waste, including cutting nearly $2 billion in NNSA yearly spending on plutonium pit production at the Savannah River Site. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Schiff, Raskin for Bicameral Spotlight Hearing on the Trump Administration’s Attacks on the Rule of Law 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, today joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, for a bicameral spotlight hearing entitled, “Restoring Accountability: Exposing Trump’s Attacks on the Rule of Law,” to examine the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law.  Senator Welch questioned witnesses on the culture that career prosecutors saw breached and the attacks on the rule of law exhibited by the new administration. The hearing was held by Senator Schiff and Representative Raskin.  
    “The lawlessness of the Trump Administration knows no bounds, and Republicans’ silence on President Trump’s flagrant disregard for the rule of law is deafening. Their refusal to hold President Trump accountable only emboldens the President on his quest to make the Justice Department his Justice Department,” said Senator Welch ahead of the hearing. “We need to do everything in our power to speak out and stand up against Trump’s illegal rampage and demand accountability for his attacks on the rule of law.”   
    Lawmakers from the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives heard firsthand testimony from:  

    Ryan Crosswell, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) Trial Attorney in the Public Integrity Section who resigned after the Trump DOJ pressured career prosecutors to drop the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams in a shocking quid pro quo deal and cover-up;  

    Liz Oyer, a former DOJ Pardon Attorney who was fired for refusing to give actor and Trump “Special Ambassador” Mel Gibson special treatment to own a firearm despite a domestic violence conviction;  

    Rachel Cohen, a former Senior Associate at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, who resigned in protest following a string of Trump Executive Orders targeting law firms for taking on clients or cases that Trump dislikes; and  

    View the livestream here: 

    Senator Welch asked several witnesses about their personal experiences with the Trump Administration, including Liz Oyer, a fired former DOJ Pardon Attorney who faced intimidation by U.S. marshals, and Ryan Crosswell, who resigned after DOJ pressured career prosecutors to drop the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams. Senator Welch’s exchange with Rachel Cohen, a former Senior Associate at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, who resigned in protest following a string of Trump Executive Orders targeting law firms is below: 
    Senator Welch: “Tell me about how you saw being in Skadden, Arps—a major Wall Street…really world—law firm as being also an opportunity for you to live your values as an attorney, your commitment to justice, and also have an opportunity to work for folks who otherwise wouldn’t be represented.” 
    Rachel Cohen: “While I was on the job, I had unlimited pro bono hours. It was perhaps the most important thing to me when selecting a law firm. Because I wanted to get trained up on the private sector things. My past work was in public education, and I needed to understand how those things work. It drew me to finance. But I devoted anywhere from 20 to 33% of my hours to pro bono every year. And ultimately, that is why I resigned…I did a decent amount of immigration pro bono representation and actions by this administration are making it very clear that that is soon going to be viewed, or already is viewed, as adverse to the administration, despite the fact that it is just to allow people to survive when they are fleeing harm and persecution and death. And I couldn’t stay at a place that I knew was on the verge of not allowing me to take representations that the President viewed as adverse, knowing what he views as adverse, to him.” 
    ■ ■ ■
    “The Trump administration has been using the Justice Department to go after the president’s political enemies — firing prosecutors who uphold the law, attacking law firms that refuse to do his bidding, and seeking to dismiss cases against his political allies. The Republican Party has abdicated any interest in defending the rule of law or providing meaningful oversight, so I look forward to hosting some of the brave individuals willing to speak out, alongside Ranking Member Raskin, as we do the hard work of accountability that Senate and House Republicans refuse to do,” said Senator Schiff.   
    “While my GOP colleagues passively watch Trump punish his critics and take a jack hammer to the work of anti-corruption fighters at the Department of Justice, Democrats are lifting up the tough Americans who are standing strong against the corruption and lawlessness of Trump,” said Ranking Member Raskin.   
    Recently, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor and called on Congress to defend the right to free speech and freedom of the press. He discussed how our First Amendment rights are essential to the well-being of America’s democracy, and highlighted how President Trump has sought to silence or to punish journalists and citizens who speak out about the Trump Administration’s lawless agenda. Watch the Senator’s remarks on his website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Question Trump Administration on U.S. Liability for Aiding and Abetting Netanyahu’s Potential War Crimes

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) today wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that the bombing campaign carried out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Forces raises legal questions about U.S. officials’ liability for potentially aiding and abetting war crimes.  
    As noted in the Senators’ letter—which was sent on the same day Mr. Netanyahu met with President Trump at the White House—their request comes after the State Department bypassed Congressional approval and invoked an emergency declaration to send more than $8 billion in arms to Israel.  
    In the last two weeks, Mr. Netanyahu said in response a question concerning remaining legitimate targets to strike in Gaza: “I don’t care about the targets,” and ordered military officials to “destroy the homes, bomb everything in Gaza.”  Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that renewed offensive military operations in Gaza aimed to increase pressure “on the population in Gaza”—inflicting additional pain on the more than two million civilians in Gaza instead of focusing on military targets. 
    In their letter, the Senators requested a briefing by April 30, 2025, on the following questions: 

    What additional intelligence or diplomatic information does the U.S. government have regarding PM Netanyahu’s and senior Israeli officials’ ordering the destruction of civilian infrastructure for punitive purposes; to intimidate civilians; to coerce civilians to move out of certain zones or to take certain actions; or to affect the conduct of de facto authorities by mass destruction? 
    Israeli forces have destroyed more than 200,000 buildings in pursuit of a force that was estimated by their government at 10,000 to 30,000 fighters, raising questions about target distinction in a densely populated area. For how many of these over 200,000 destroyed homes and buildings have U.S. officials requested from the Israeli government the underlying intelligence justification for pre-planned airstrikes, given the licensing authority of U.S. officials to “verify credible reports” that U.S.-origin equipment and munitions have been used for unauthorized purposes? 
    The vast majority of the more than 50,000 Palestinian deaths in the last year and a half have been civilian men, women, and children. What calculations has the U.S. government made of the tolerance by Israeli forces of expected harm against civilians in targeting low-level enemy combatants that are not actively engaged in combat activities? 

    Read the full letter here and below: 
    Dear Attorney General Bondi, Director Gabbard, and Secretary Rubio, 
    We write to draw your attention to two concerning reports. According to a March 20 report from Israeli newspaper Ynet, Prime Minister Netanyahu, in response a question concerning remaining legitimate targets to strike in Gaza, said “I don’t care about the targets” and ordered military officials to “destroy the homes, bomb everything in Gaza. Just last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that renewed offensive military operations aim to increase pressure “on the population in Gaza.” 
    As you know, the destruction of civilian homes without military necessity is a war crime under United States criminal law and international law, while U.S. law additionally outlaws the use of violence to intimidate or coerce civilians. Experts have widely noted that Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza—the bloodiest and most destructive air campaign in modern history by some measures—stands out for its wide-area destruction and targeting of civilian infrastructure. This new information raises the question of whether U.S. officials risk liability for aiding and abetting war crimes, particularly in light of the State Department bypassing Congress and invoking an emergency to send more than $8 billion in arms to Israel, including 2,000-pound bombs. Accordingly, we request a briefing by April 30, 2025, on the following questions: 

    What additional intelligence or diplomatic information does the U.S. government have regarding PM Netanyahu’s and senior Israeli officials’ ordering the destruction of civilian infrastructure for punitive purposes; to intimidate civilians; to coerce civilians to move out of certain zones or to take certain actions; or to affect the conduct of de facto authorities by mass destruction? 
    Israeli forces have destroyed more than 200,000 buildings in pursuit of a force that was estimated by their government at 10,000 to 30,000 fighters, raising questions about target distinction in a densely populated area. For how many of these over 200,000 destroyed homes and buildings have U.S. officials requested from the Israeli government the underlying intelligence justification for pre-planned airstrikes, given the licensing authority of U.S. officials to “verify credible reports” that U.S.-origin equipment and munitions have been used for unauthorized purposes? 
    As you know, the vast majority of the more than 50,000 Palestinian deaths in the last year and a half have been civilian men, women, and children. What calculations has the U.S. government made of the tolerance by Israeli forces of expected harm against civilians in targeting low-level enemy combatants that are not actively engaged in combat activities? 

    Finally, we are deeply concerned by reports this weekend of an attempted coverup of the killing of 15 Palestinian first aid responders in marked ambulances—that were bulldozed into a mass grave. Israeli officials claimed to have struck Hamas militants in unlit vehicles, but video evidence on victims’ phones unearthed at the site indicates that those killed were uniformed first responders in marked and well-lit ambulances with emergency signals activated. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies noted that the incident “represents the single most deadly attack on Red Cross Red Crescent workers anywhere in the world since 2017. We urge you to insist that PM Netanyahu promptly inform the Administration and Congress of his plan to hold accountable the individuals responsible for this attack. 
    Sincerely, 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Raises Alarm to State Election Officials on SAVE Act, Warns it Would Disenfranchise Millions of Americans

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Raises Alarm to State Election Officials on SAVE Act, Warns it Would Disenfranchise Millions of Americans

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, warned Secretaries of State, Lieutenant Governors, and Chief Election Officials across the country of the devastating potential impacts of Republicans’ Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on this week. The bill threatens to disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters by creating overly burdensome documentation requirements, making voting harder for new voters, married women, rural voters, and the tens of millions of Americans who register to vote online or through the mail.

    Senator Padilla highlighted that nearly half of Americans do not own a passport, and 21 million voting age Americans lack easy access to the voter documentation required by the SAVE Act, including a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate. Furthermore, the bill could restrict the right to vote for approximately 69 million married women whose legal names differ from their birth certificates. As more than 12 percent of Americans move each year, millions of voters would also be required to find these documents any time they change their address.

    “If this legislation becomes law, millions of Americans will face major obstacles to vote because they either lack the required documents to prove citizenship or because they relied on ways to register that the bill would upend — including online voter registration, registration by mail, voter drives, or automatic voter registration,” wrote Senator Padilla. “I encourage you to use your office to help educate election officials in your state and your Members of Congress about how this bill could harm voters and elections in your state.”

    The SAVE Act is especially alarming following President Trump’s recent anti-voter executive order, Padilla wrote.

    “This vote is particularly concerning as it comes after a recent executive order, where the President asserted sweeping unilateral power of state-run elections, including illegally requiring documentary proof of citizenship on the National Voter Registration Form, and allowing DOGE and the Department of Homeland Security access to voter registration and other state records, along with federal databases,” continued Padilla. “We have not seen an attempt like this since the federal push for voter data by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity during the first Trump Administration in 2017, which state election officials rejected on an overwhelming bipartisan basis.”

    Padilla stressed that voting by noncitizens is already a federal crime and is incredibly rare. A review of the 2016 general election found that only 0.0001 percent of votes came from improper noncitizen voting among the jurisdictions reviewed. Additionally, a recent analysis of Heritage Foundation data identified only 68 such cases over the past four decades.

    He further emphasized that the immediate implementation of the SAVE Act, which also requires removal of noncitizens from the voter rolls, could result in the purging of eligible voters as states will lack the time and infrastructure to swiftly and accurately implement these changes. Padilla also underscored the risks the SAVE Act poses to the administration of elections, as the bill imposes extreme criminal penalties against election officials, including up to five years in federal prison and major fines, for helping register a voter without the required documentation. As election workers face mounting threats and high workloads, the threat of these penalties could further deplete the election administration workforce.

    “Put plainly, state and local election officials should be aware that Congress is rapidly moving legislation to disenfranchise voters and disrupt election administration based on the fiction of noncitizen voting,” concluded Padilla.

    Senator Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump and Republicans’ reckless attempts to restrict the right to vote. Last week, Padilla led 11 Senators in introducing the Defending America’s Future Elections Act to repeal Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order and prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive voter registration data and state records. Padilla also led 14 Democratic Senators in calling on Trump to revoke his illegal anti-voter executive order and issued a statement slamming the order when it was announced.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Lieutenant Governors, Secretaries and Chief Election Officials:

    As a former Secretary of State, I write to bring your attention to my serious concerns over the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22/S. 128) which will be considered in the U.S. House of Representatives soon. This bill purports to stop noncitizen voting by requiring anyone registering to vote to provide documentary proof of citizenship. If this legislation becomes law, millions of Americans will face major obstacles to vote because they either lack the required documents to prove citizenship or because they relied on ways to register that the bill would upend – including online voter registration, registration by mail, voter drives, or automatic voter registration. I encourage you to use your office to help educate election officials in your state and your Members of Congress about how this bill could harm voters and elections in your state.

    This vote is particularly concerning as it comes after a recent executive order, where the President asserted sweeping unilateral power of state-run elections, including illegally requiring documentary proof of citizenship on the National Voter Registration Form, and allowing DOGE and the Department of Homeland Security access to voter registration and other state records, along with federal databases. We have not seen an attempt like this since the federal push for voter data by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity during the first Trump Administration in 2017, which state election officials rejected on an overwhelming bipartisan basis.

    Voting by noncitizens, which this bill claims to combat, is exceedingly rare and this response only serves to inhibit eligible voters. A review of the 2016 general election found that in the jurisdictions studied, improper noncitizen voting was 0.0001 percent of votes. Voters already must affirm their U.S. citizenship under the penalty of perjury when registering to vote and voting in a federal election as a noncitizen is a federal crime.

    Further, the requirement for documentary proof of citizenship is a costly burden that could disenfranchise millions of Americans. A large majority of Americans live in states where their driver’s license does not meet the requirements of the bill. Over 140 million Americans do not have a passport, and over 21 million American citizens cannot easily access proof of citizenship documents. The bill also prevents people who have changed their legal names from using their birth certificates, impacting tens of millions of married women. More than 12 percent of Americans also move every year, and would be forced to access these documents to re-register at their new address.

    Taken together the bill’s requirements would disproportionately harm voters of color, married women, members of the military, and younger voters. As Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab has made clear, his state’s efforts to impose proof of citizenship requirements in 2013 “didn’t work out so well.” As the Kansas law was challenged in court, it was found that only 39 noncitizens had registered to vote in the state from 1999 to 2012, yet the law ultimately blocked the registration of over 31,000 eligible U.S. citizens.

    The SAVE Act would take effect immediately, giving states little time to set up a regime that not only requires verification of citizenship but requires removal of noncitizens from the voter rolls. The lack of time and infrastructure for these processes may cause states to rely on unreliable data, resulting in the removal of eligible voters.

    In addition to likely disenfranchising millions of Americans, the SAVE Act would make it more difficult for election officials to do their jobs, with dramatic consequences for errors. If enacted, the law would impose severe criminal penalties against election officials, including fines and up to five years in federal prison, if they help register a voter who does not provide documentary proof of citizenship. As you know, election workers in your states are already overburdened – imposing these penalties could have a profoundly harmful impact on the election administration workforce.

    Put plainly, state and local election officials should be aware that Congress is rapidly moving legislation to disenfranchise voters and disrupt election administration based on the fiction of noncitizen voting. As someone who served as a state election, I encourage you to review the legislation closely and ensure that election officials in your state and your Members of Congress are aware of the potentially serious consequences if this bill were to be enacted.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How the Path to Fight Back Begins for Oregonians

    US Senate News:

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

    There will be many paths to fight back against the illegal actions and dangerous incompetence of the Trump administration. Big and small actions are both important. 

    Here’s one such proven path that started from my most recent open-to-all town halls in Linn, Clackamas, Crook and Deschutes counties, along with a town hall just for current federal employees and those fired by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s gang of cronies at the self-declared “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).

    At the federal employees town hall I hosted along with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, witnesses told us specifics about the damage done to basic services that Oregonians count upon.

    Senior Social Security staff at the federal employees town hall in Portland told me that they were short-staffed even before DOGE arrived. They shared how they can’t respond on the phone, the website is crashing, and seniors are getting lost in the system due to fresh and deep cuts from the Trump administration.

    Based on those direct accounts, I grilled Trump’s nominee to lead the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano about these problems.

    In a national spotlight, the nominee failed to provide adequate answers for the tens of millions of Americans who have earned Social Security benefits. The nominee also lied to the committee and all Americans – I was able to call him out thanks to a whistleblower at the agency who confirmed that Bisignano personally insisted on hiring several key DOGE members.

    Whistleblowers are the unsung heroes brave enough to alert the public to violations happening behind closed doors. And I encourage anybody who wants to blow the whistle on the Trump administration’s lawbreaking and destructive buffoonery to contact me here. 

    It is only because of brave whistleblowers that I learned about the Trump administration’s shuttering Medicaid portals that so many providers rely on for payment across all 50 states in January. Trump only reversed course on this part of his disastrous blanket freeze on federal aid AFTER I called his bluff and showed what whistleblowers had confirmed. 

    Whether I get a tip from a whistleblower or hear from Oregonians directly at a town hall about the Trump corruption and devastation, it helps a lot as I work to hold the administration accountable.

    For another example from this past round of town halls, there’s Isabella Isakson, an Olympian athlete and Army veteran. She was a U.S. Forest Service employee for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland. She worked to alert the public about wildfires, and at our meeting, she conveyed the danger to rural areas when forests are not properly managed.

    These workers serve on the front lines of the fight against the climate crisis by maintaining our beautiful forests and reducing the risks of wildfires. They are your neighbors who worked at the Bonneville Power Administration to help keep your lights on. They are your friends who worked at the Veterans Health Administration to deliver critical services guaranteed to Oregon’s 251,000 veterans.

    All of these Oregonians are absolutely invaluable to our state and our entire nation at large. They are incredibly brave for coming forward to tell us their stories. 

    I am dedicated to investigating these dangerous incursions by Trump and Musk into vital functions of the federal government. Protecting federal workers who provide crucial services to Oregonians is an absolute top priority for me, and I will keep pushing legislation like the Putting Veterans First Act that reinstates veterans unduly fired from their federal positions. 

    I will also continue to fight to protect whistleblowers at every level, and encourage anyone with information of wrongdoing to contact me or my office. It’s not going to be easy and there is a lot of work ahead.

    But I am committed to working nonstop to hold the Trump administration and Musk accountable for their assault on America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Joins Colleagues in Calling on Trump Administration to Reinstate TPS for Venezuela

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 18 of her colleagues in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to reconsider the Trump Administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans who applied for TPS under its designation in 2023. The Administration’s decision to revoke this critical protection has been temporarily put on hold by a court order, postponing the harm it will cause to approximately 350,000 people who remain at risk of losing TPS.

    “Contrary to your assertion that ‘there are notable improvements in several areas, such as the economy, public health, and crime that allow for these nationals to be safely returned,’ the country conditions in Venezuela have deteriorated significantly since 2023, as discussed in detail below,” the senators wrote. “There is no credible evidence demonstrating substantive improvements in the human rights or security situation at this time. Nicolas Maduro’s third term began in January 2025 and has thus far has been characterized by political violence, violent crime, and corruption.”

    “For the reasons discussed above, we ask that you reconsider your February 1, 2025 decision and instead extend TPS for Venezuelans in the United States for the maximum statutory period of 18 months. Congress intended TPS to be both a humanitarian tool and a pragmatic response to unstable conditions abroad,” they continued.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    The first and only Latina senator, Senator Cortez Masto has consistently supported immigrant communities in Nevada, calling on both administrations to protect TPS holders and other immigrants, as well as leading commonsense legislation to fix our broken immigration system. Cortez Masto joined Senator Rosen (D-Nev.) in introducing the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of President Trump’s unconstitutional Executive Order attempting to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States. She has worked to pass meaningful immigration reform that balances critical border security measures with a path to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers, and she’s pushed legislation to allow Dreamers and TPS holders to work in Congress.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Rand Paul’s Forces Vote on Amendment to Limit Reckless Borrowing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    April 7th, 2025

     Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

     

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) forced a vote on his amendment to the budget resolution, offering a responsible alternative to a $5 trillion debt limit increase.

    Despite frequent discussions among his colleagues about the need for fiscal responsibility and spending cuts.. Dr. Paul’s amendment proposing  a limited, 3-month extension, to provide Congress an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to reducing spending was defeated by a 5-94 vote.  The Senate chose to continue an unsustainable path.

    Washington will borrow $2 trillion this year just to keep the lights on. Handing Congress another $5 trillion blank check ensures nothing changes. If we’re serious about cutting spending, then Congress needs to get serious about returning to fiscal responsibility,” said Dr. Paul. “

    In his speech, Dr. Paul highlighted the alarming trajectory of the national debt, noting that it has surpassed $36 trillion. He emphasized that this level of borrowing is unsustainable and poses a significant threat to the nation’s economic stability. Dr. Paul also pointed out the hypocrisy of many in Washington who campaign on fiscal responsibility but fail to take concrete action to address the spending problem. He called for genuine accountability and urged his colleagues to make difficult but necessary decisions to curb excessive spending.

    Dr. Paul also applauded President Trump and the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in holding government agencies accountable—but made clear that those efforts mean little if Washington continues to drown the country in debt. Fiscal responsibility must come first.

    Watch Dr. Paul’s full remarks HERE and Read the full amendment HERE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Introduces Resolution Recognizing National Assistant Principals Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 07, 2025

    The resolution would designate the week of April 7 through April 11, 2025, as “National Assistant Principals Week”

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a resolution designating the week of April 7, 2025, as “National Assistant Principals Week.”  Amid a national educator shortage, the resolution expresses support for assistant principals’ commitment to instructional leadership and the role they play in addressing student and staff needs while establishing positive school learning environments with strong community relationships. 

    “Assistant principals play a critical role in schools by cultivating a positive learning environment for students and providing essential support to faculty and staff,” said Durbin.  “I’m introducing this resolution to recognize the work of assistant principals.”

    According to a 2022 NASSP report, four out of 10 principals surveyed expected to leave the profession in the next three years.  In the midst of the national teacher shortage, strong leadership is increasingly important, and recent research shows that effective principals positively impact teacher satisfaction and retention.  School leaders are tasked with evolving and growing responsibilities with little support.  Further, with a shrinking teacher pipeline, there also is a smaller pool of teachers to promote to school leadership positions, like assistant principals. 

    The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

    The resolution has also earned the endorsement of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA).

    Full text of the resolution is available here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Joins Colleagues to Introduce Commemorative Coin Bill to Honor 25th Anniversary of 9/11

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined her colleagues to introduce the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act, which would require the U.S. Mint to design and mint coins to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins would be sold in 2027 at a price that would pay back the U.S. Mint for production and the surcharge proceeds would go to support the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and its mission to “Never Forget.”

    “As we approach the 25th anniversary of the attack on America, with each passing year and day it becomes more necessary to tell the story of what happened that day. This story is told powerfully at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I was proud to team up with my colleagues to introduce this legislation, which would mint a coin to help to preserve the lessons we need to never forget from that day and what it did to New York City and our nation,” Senator Capito said.

    Representatives Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, and the bill is supported by the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

    The full bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Lee Introduces the No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act for 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    Legislation would ban “official time” practice for federal employee unions
    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act, legislation that would prohibit the misuse of taxpayer dollars for union-related activities by federal employees during work hours. The legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA).
    “President Trump is taking strong steps to rein in overpowered public sector unions, which even Democrat leaders like FDR thought shouldn’t exist in the first place,” said Sen. Lee. “American taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund union organizing, and federal employees should be working full time for the American people when they’re on the clock.”
    “Taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for federal employees to conduct union business instead of fulfilling their official duties,” Rep. Cline said. “Ending ‘official time’ is a commonsense step to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and to increase accountability across the federal workforce. Public funds should serve the American people, not private union interests.”
    Since the passage of the Civil Service Reform Act in 1978, the practice known as “official time” has allowed federal employees to use work hours for union-related activities and to handle cases before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). This means federal employees can engage in union work, represent bargaining unit employees and advance union causes while being paid by the taxpayer.
    The cost of this practice to the American taxpayer is significant. According to a 2016 report by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), federal employees spent 3.6 million hours on union-related business at a cost of $177.2 million. Under the Trump Administration, this number dropped to 2.6 million hours, costing $134.9 million. However, due to the lack of unified reporting requirements, the last available data is from 2019, creating a transparency gap in the current use of official time.
    The legislation is endorsed by Heritage Action, Americans for Prosperity, and the National Right to Work Committee.
    No Union Time on Taxpayer’s Dime Act: One-pager | Bill text 
    Read the Daily Caller exclusive HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Meets with CBP Commissioner Nominee Rodney Scott

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) made the following remarks to media after meeting with Rodney Scott, whom President Trump has nominated to serve as Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):

    “One of the things that I am confident he will do is help improve the morale of the people who are on the ground doing the hard work, who know that now the Trump administration has their back, as opposed to the last four years under President Biden.”

    “The numbers of people coming across the border have gone down dramatically, and that’s not because Congress passed any new laws. It’s because we have a President who will finally enforce the law.”

    This image is in the public domain, but those wishing to do so may credit the Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

    Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Releases Statement After Senate Votes to Pass Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today issued the following statement after the Senate agreed to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget resolution to deliver on President Donald Trump’s America First Agenda. Senator Marshall is a member of the Senate Budget Committee.
    “Passing Senate Republicans’ budget resolution is a critical step toward delivering on President Trump’s promises to the American people, and I was glad to vote in support of this plan early this morning,” said Senator Marshall. “This legislative package provides the tools to achieve the president’s America-First priorities, including making the Trump tax cuts permanent, reducing wasteful spending, unleashing American energy, and securing our border. Republicans in Congress are working in tandem to pass this One, Big, Beautiful Bill immediately.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall and Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Dairy Products and Support Dairy Farmers 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025, legislation that would increase access to dairy products for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants and support dairy farmers across the country. This bill would allow SNAP participants to purchase more milk, cheese, and yogurt with their benefits, expanding access to affordable and nutritious options. Companion legislation is led in the House by U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-California-21) and Nick Langworthy (R-New York-23).
     “As a doctor who practiced medicine for more than 25 years, I cannot stress enough the importance of consuming dairy products, which serve as excellent sources of critical nutrients and contribute to a healthier cardiovascular system,” said Senator Marshall. “The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025 would support dairy farmers and provide commonsense updates to increase incentives for milk, cheese, and yogurt purchases in SNAP – ensuring all American families can benefit from these nutrient-dense foods.”
    “Making sure more Americans have better access to foods like yogurt and cheese while supporting our dairy farmers is a win-win,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will support healthy diets, make sure families are able to bring home more of the foods they love, and help dairy farmers feed Americans.” 
    The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York).
    The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025 is endorsed by the International Dairy Foods Association, National Milk Producers Federation, FMI – The Food Industry Association, National Grocers Association, and Associated Milk Producers Inc.
    “A SNAP dairy incentive program is a reliable investment in improving our nation’s health and reducing hunger and chronic food insecurity among low-income Americans,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are nutritional powerhouses that promote healthy immune function, hydration, bone health, and lower risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. IDFA applauds U.S. Sens. Klobuchar and Marshall, and U.S. Reps. Costa and Langworthy for their leadership on the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025, which would help our nation’s most vulnerable people afford wholesome, nutrient-dense dairy products for their families.”
    “Dairy foods provide critical nutrients for healthy lives, but nearly 90 percent of Americans don’t meet dairy intake recommendations,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “We commend Representatives Jim Costa, D-CA, and Nick Langworthy, R-NY, and Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and Roger Marshall, R-KS, for their bipartisan Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act, which would expand SNAP participant access to healthful dairy products at the grocery store. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors and ensuring all Americans have access to healthy dairy products.”
    “FMI – The Food Industry Association supports the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act as a way to expand access to nutrient-rich dairy products within SNAP,” said Jennifer Hatcher, chief public policy officer and senior vice president, membership of FMI – The Food Industry Association. “By building on existing milk-purchase incentives, this bill empowers retailers to help low-income households incorporate a variety of dairy options – milk, cheese, and yogurt – into a healthy eating pattern alongside fruits and vegetables.”
    “SNAP incentive programs for nutritious foods—like dairy, fruits, and vegetables—help families access healthier options while also strengthening independent grocers’ ability to promote better nutrition,” said Stephanie Johnson, group vice president for government affairs at the National Grocers Association. “NGA strongly supports the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program, which expands SNAP incentives to include more milk varieties, yogurt, and cheese. This not only provides SNAP participants with greater access to nutritious dairy products but also simplifies the process for independent grocers to offer these benefits in their communities.”
    “The Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act will help increase access to nutritious dairy products among SNAP participants and reinforce the essential role dairy plays in a healthy diet,” said Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) President and CEO Sheryl Meshke. “We are grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Marshall for championing this important legislation.”
    Background:
    The latest federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans report showed that more than 90% of Americans do not consume enough dairy products to meet daily nutrition requirements.
    The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act would increase access to dairy products by expanding the existing Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives program to include products like cheese and yogurt.
    Under this plan, SNAP participants would receive a coupon for additional cheese or yogurt when they purchase these items with their groceries. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Reintroduces Legislation To Designate The Finger Lakes Region As A National Heritage Region

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Legislation Would Promote Tourism And Help Preserve The History And Environment Of The Finger Lakes Region

    U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand reintroduced the bipartisan Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act, which would designate the Finger Lakes region as a National Heritage Area (NHA). NHAs are established by Congress to recognize a region’s natural, cultural, or historic significance. Securing this designation for the Finger Lakes would promote tourism and help ensure that the area’s history and natural landscape are preserved for generations to come.

    “Home to beautiful landscapes, rich history, and thriving small businesses, the Finger Lakes are a national treasure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “In recognition of all that this area has to offer, I’m leading the push to designate the region as a National Heritage Area. This designation will promote tourism, create jobs, conserve natural resources, and make sure local communities have what they need to thrive for years to come. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and I am committed to getting it signed into law.”

    The Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24). The bill is endorsed by the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance.

    “We are pleased to stand with Senator Gillibrand’s office, Congresswoman Tenney’s office and all of our regional partners as the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area legislation is reintroduced into session, ” said Meghan Nulty, President & CEO of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance. “While we were all saddened that the legislation did not reach the President’s desk last year, we stand firm in our commitment to the National Heritage Area designation for this region. The core motivation to seek a National Heritage Area designation for the Finger Lakes remains unchanged: to do tourism more responsibly and to honor the reasons our region is a landmark worthy of sharing with the world. Our industry stands on the shoulders of the Haudenosaunee, the suffragists, the abolitionists and innovators that uniquely make up the story of America and our work continues hand-in-hand with Senator Gillibrand’s office, the NY Congressional Delegation and the support of our county-level and industry partners. We thank Senator Gillibrand and all our partners across the region for their support and assistance in getting the Finger Lakes region one step closer to this designation.”

    The process for designating a region as a National Heritage Area usually involves two steps. First, Congress passes a bill directing the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study, which determines whether the area is suitable for being designated as an NHA. If the results of the feasibility study are positive, Congress then must pass a second bill to formally designate the region. 

    Gillibrand has been leading the push to designate the Finger Lakes as an NHA for years. In 2015, she first announced the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Study Act, which directed the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study for the area. This bill was signed into law in 2019, and the National Park Service completed its feasibility study and confirmed the Finger Lakes’ eligibility in 2023. Now, the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act would complete the second step in the process and formally create the Finger Lakes NHA.

    The following 14 New York counties would comprise the Finger Lakes NHA: Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Join Colleagues in Letter Emphasizing Immense Harm Shuttering Department of Education will have on Students with Disabilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, (both D-VA) joined 19 of their senate colleagues in writing to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to emphasize the detrimental effect shuttering the Department of Education will have on approximately 9.5 million students with disabilities and their families. Programs at risk include those authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which conducts vital oversight of federal civil rights laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  
    “We write with deep concern regarding the Trump administration’s recent actions to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) and the impact this will have on students with disabilities and their families,” the senators wrote. “Shuttering the Department will cause immense harm to all students, and especially students with disabilities and their families who rely on federal funding for key special education services and support.” 
    “Over the years, the Department has developed specific expertise to deliver on the promise that children with disabilities will have equal and fair access to educational opportunity in the United States. Congress has promised to families that students with disabilities will have a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and has specifically charged the Department of Education with making that promise real in the lives of students with disabilities,” the senators continued. “…Yet, on March 20th, President Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the Department.” 
    “We are alarmed by the potential consequences your proposed reassignment will have on the larger framework of education for students with disabilities,” the senators wrote. “Prior to the passage of IDEA, only one in five children with disabilities were educated in schools, and more than 1.8 million children were systemically excluded from public school in the United States. Disabilities were seen as medical conditions to be treated and as a result, many children with disabilities were institutionalized rather than educated. We cannot risk regression to an outdated and dehumanizing perspective on disability, which prevented millions of children from accessing the inclusive public education they deserve. Our entire nation benefits when disabled people have equal access to a high-quality education that enables them to use their gifts and talents.”
    Warner and Kaine have long supported equitable access to education for students with disabilities. Earlier this month, they joined their colleagues in cosponsoring the IDEA Full Funding Act, legislation that would ensure Congress fulfills its commitment to fully fund the IDEA.
    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and cosigned by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    Full text of the letter can be found here and below:
    Dear Secretary McMahon:
    We write with deep concern regarding the Trump administration’s recent actions to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) and the impact this will have on students with disabilities and their families. 
    Shuttering the Department will cause immense harm to all students, and especially students with disabilities and their families who rely on federal funding for key special education services and support. There are approximately 9.5 million students with disabilities in the United States. The Department administers critical programs to support these students, such as those authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and conducts vital oversight of federal civil rights laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 95 percent of students served under IDEA attend public schools, and these 7.5 million students comprise 15 percent of the public school population. 
    Over the years, the Department has developed specific expertise to deliver on the promise that children with disabilities will have equal and fair access to educational opportunity in the United States. Congress has promised to families that students with disabilities will have a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and has specifically charged the Department of Education with making that promise real in the lives of students with disabilities. It administers programs that support employment outcomes, like the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program which supports jobseekers with disabilities in preparing for and succeeding at work, including for underserved communities such as Native Americans.  Yet, on March 20th, President Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the Department.  This followed your decision earlier this month to move forward with a reduction in force plan that will critically damage your ability to fulfill your statutory duties to students with disabilities by eliminating nearly half of your workforce.
    It is essential to recognize the vital role the Department plays in safeguarding the rights of students with disabilities. We are concerned by President Trump’s effort to transfer implementation and oversight of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a move which you indicated you support during your confirmation hearing. The Department of Education has the statutory authority to implement and enforce IDEA. Without an act of Congress giving authority to HHS, this administration’s attempts to shift IDEA responsibility to HHS will merely prevent the law from being enforced at all. The Senate report from 1979 on the creation of the Department of Education found that the “significant, but carefully restrained Federal role in education…is severely hampered by its burial in [The Department of Health, Education and Welfare]…its confusing lines of authority and administration, its fragmentation, and its obvious lack of direction.”  In other words, the Senate’s findings in 1979 indicate that this department structure was inefficient and resulted in a lack of attention to public education. The Department of Education is the only agency with an existing institutional infrastructure and a staff of subject matter experts dedicated to ensuring equal educational opportunity for children and students with disabilities. More than this, disabled students deserve to be seen as and treated as the learners and scholars they are. Students with disabilities belong in classrooms alongside their nondisabled peers, and they deserve the accommodations and supports that enable them to thrive. Because of the Department of Education’s specific expertise, it is best positioned to do the job well and efficiently. Transferring these authorities to HHS will not only overburden an agency already confronting massive workforce cuts orchestrated by this administration, but it will also stretch HHS beyond its expertise as medical, rather than educational, professionals.
    We are alarmed by the potential consequences your proposed reassignment will have on the larger framework of education for students with disabilities. Prior to the passage of IDEA, only one in five children with disabilities were educated in schools, and more than 1.8 million children were systemically excluded from public school in the United States.  Disabilities were seen as medical conditions to be treated and as a result, many children with disabilities were institutionalized rather than educated. We cannot risk regression to an outdated and dehumanizing perspective on disability, which prevented millions of children from accessing the inclusive public education they deserve. Our entire nation benefits when disabled people have equal access to a high-quality education that enables them to use their gifts and talents.
    Additionally, the Trump administration instituted a one-month freeze on investigating discrimination complaints, an unprecedented decision even during a presidential transition. The Office for Civil Rights currently faces a backlog of 12,000 investigations, half of which involve students with disabilities. While the freeze was lifted February 20th for disability discrimination claims, we are concerned that the Department will still not have the capacity to process the backlog of 6,000 disability claims, as well as any incoming additional claims—especially considering the unjustified termination of dedicated public servants across the 12 regional divisions of the Office for Civil Rights.
    While all disabled students are harmed when supports are taken away and barriers left unchecked, disabled students of color are harmed disproportionately relative to disabled white students and nondisabled students of color. Students of color are misidentified for special education – both improperly identified and improperly excluded from identification, overrepresented in restrictive placements (segregated from their nondisabled peers) and disciplined in school.  Because of cuts to the Office for Civil Rights, as well as undermining the administration of education programs such as Title I that serve low-income students (who are disproportionately of color), disabled students of color stand to suffer the greatest harms of your policy actions. The Department of Education’s irreplaceable role providing guardrails and enforcing laws has allowed progress towards the goal of equal opportunity in education. While the work is unfinished, we must move forward not backwards.
    In a speech on March 3rd, you called for the elimination of “unnecessary bureaucracy” at the Department.  Yet, the Department has the smallest staff of any Cabinet-level agency while administering the third-largest discretionary budget. Prior to the recent firings, this number stood at 4,245 employees, including over 700 employees dedicated to addressing the needs of students with disabilities.  More than 1,300 employees have since been fired, in addition to over 500 employees who have opted for separation packages. Indiscriminate firings of workers who are stewards of federal dollars appropriated by Congress with the mandate of ensuring equal access to education for all students does not eliminate “bureaucracy;” it merely impedes the Department’s ability to carry out its work on behalf of children. Indeed, following the recent reduction in force, a coalition of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit arguing the layoffs are so severe the Department “can no longer function, and cannot comply with its statutory requirements.”
    We are also concerned about the combined efforts from the Department and the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to slash $900 million in education-related research and over $600 million in educator preparation grants. These cuts will negatively impact critical research into best practices to support students with disabilities who have the shared dream of graduating high school and contributing to our economy.  The cuts also result in the suspension of highly successful programs designed to address the special education teacher shortage which has been consistent over decades and negatively impacts the educational outcomes of students with disabilities. We cannot effectively serve students with disabilities or make informed policy decisions without quality information and highly qualified teachers.
    It is critical that students, parents, teachers, and schools have clear and accurate guidance in response to these recent actions to ensure and affirm the right of all students with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education.
    We request that you respond to the following questions by no later than April 11, 2025.
    Please provide a complete list of all terminated grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements that impact students with disabilities.
    Please provide the guidance developed by the Department and DOGE to determine which grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to cancel.
    How many Department employees have been affected by the reduction in force who conduct essential functions pertaining to serving students with disabilities?
    How many employees impacted by the reduction in force are involved in investigating civil rights complaints? Of those employees, how many were investigating disability discrimination cases? 
    How many employees impacted by the reduction in force are responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)? How many employees in the Office of the General Counsel who focused on oversight of IDEA were impacted? What provisions have been made to ensure that oversight of that law continues?
    As of January 20th, 2025, how many Department staff were employed in the Institute of Education Sciences’ National Center for Special Education Research, and how many staff have been impacted by the Department’s Reduction in Force (RIF) announced on March 11th, 2025?
    Given the recent RIF and media reported cancellations of Institute of Education Sciences’ routine activities, what is the Department’s plan to carry out special education research, including the statutorily required scientific peer-review for research grants awarded by National Center for Special Education Research?
    What, if any, criteria are the Department of Education using to determine which employees and divisions to cut or eliminate?
    What is your plan to ensure that all statutory obligations to students with disabilities are properly delivered in light of recent executive actions?
    Do you commit to the timely investigation of all disability-based discrimination complaints received by the Office for Civil Rights?
    What evidence do you have that indicates transferring existing programs to other agencies will be more efficient and improve outcomes for students with disabilities?
    How will the Department continue to monitor compliance with the significant disproportionality requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulation? How will cuts to OCR, OSERS, and OESE affect the Department’s ability to ensure students are protected from discrimination based on disability and race?
    This letter has been endorsed by the following organizations: Access Ready Inc., American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), The Arc of Delaware, The Arc of the United States, Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), Association of University Centers On Disabilities (AUCD), Autism Society of America, Center for Learner Equity, CommunicationFIRST, Council of Administrators of Special Education, Inc. (CASE), Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Delaware State Education Association (DSEA), Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC),Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children, Michigan Alliance for Special Education, MomsRising, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), National Down Syndrome Society, National Education Association (NEA), New America’s Early & Elementary Education Policy Team, School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA).
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Statement on Budget Resolution Slashing Programs that Virginians Rely on to Pay for Tax Cuts for Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), members of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to advance a budget resolution that will slash programs that Virginians rely on in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires:
    “The Trump Administration has thrown our economy into needless chaos by enacting universal tariffs that will raise costs. Now, despite our strong opposition, Republicans in Congress have moved forward with an enormous tax bill that will cut programs Virginians rely on, give massive tax breaks to billionaires, and raise the deficit by unprecedented levels. We should be focused on lowering the costs of child care and housing, cutting taxes for middle class Americans, and continuing to build on our progress to boost domestic manufacturing. President Trump and Republicans’ budget and economic policies will be a disaster for our country, and we urge them to reverse course before they do more harm.”
    Warner and Kaine spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to Republicans’ budget resolution. They also filed amendments that would have protected federal employees, veterans, and Virginians on Medicaid, and held the Trump Administration accountable for its harmful actions, including its reckless, sloppy handling of classified information; however, Senate Republicans refused to incorporate them.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Joins “Mornings with Maria” to Discuss Fulfilling Promises to Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Click the image above to watch a video of Sen. Fischer’s remarks
    Click here to download audioClick here to download video
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined Maria Bartiromo today on FoxBusiness to discuss the path forward to making President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent. Senator Fischer highlighted President Trump’s support of the Senate’s budget framework and emphasized the need for Republicans to work together to fulfill their promises to the American people. 
    During the interview, Senator Fischer also stressed the importance of giving President Trump time to address unfair trading practices, particularly those affecting ag producers and manufacturers.On Making Tax Cuts Permanent
    Fischer: “Well, when we passed our budget resolution last week, we were just starting the process. That’s a framework that we use here in the Senate, along with the House. In order to have reconciliation so we can meet President Trump’s agenda: to support our troops, to secure the border, to unleash American energy, and to keep taxes low. What we’re looking at here in the Senate is to make our tax cuts that we passed in 2017 permanent. If we don’t, the American public will see a $4 trillion tax increase at the end of 2026. I look forward to working with the House to make sure that we can meet all those extremely important points that we have promised the American people.”
    On President Trump Supporting the Senate’s Budget Framework  Fischer: “You know, I think we can work together to get this done. That’s our goal. We all want to be able to get this done for the American people right now. If we don’t make those tax cuts permanent, as I said, that’s a $4 trillion tax increase. The family of four that makes about $80,000 they would see $1,700 tax increase. We promised to keep taxes low. That’s one of our promises and President Trump likes ours.”On Giving President Trump Time to Address Unfair Trading Practices
    Fischer: “I want to give the President time. That’s where I’m at, and that’s where Nebraskans are, too. To be able to give the President time, as you quoted what he had put up this morning, I agree with those points. We’re seeing a decrease in oil prices. We’re seeing food prices come down. 
    “Here in Congress, we are looking at spending cuts to get spending under control. We’re looking at getting rid of a lot of regulations out there. All of that is part of this package. So, when we wait for the President’s tariffs to be able to have an impact on the unfair trade practices that we have seen against ag producers, against manufacturing here in America, we want to make sure that we’re going to be addressing that.”On Leveling the Playing Field for American-Grown Energy
    Fischer: “Nebraska is an ethanol state, we are the second largest producer. When we talk about ethanol, ethanol from Brazil comes in with no tariff right now, none. They pay zero. But yet, when we export ethanol to Brazil, 18%. Those kinds of actions by other countries need to stop. Those are prohibitive for exports. We had an administration under Joe Biden that did nothing. They had no interest whatsoever in trade. We saw an over $40 billion trade deficit. That has to stop, so we’re giving the President time.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: Eliminating Barriers for Federal Artificial Intelligence Use and Procurement

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    SUPPORTING AND EMBRACING AMERICAN INNOVATION: Under PresidentTrump’s leadership, America is well-positioned to maintain its global dominance in artificialintelligence (AI) innovation. Today, the White House Office of Management and Budget, incoordination with the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, issued two revised policies to facilitate responsible AI adoption to improve public services. These policies fundamentally shift perspectives and direction from the prior Administration, focusing now on utilizing emerging technologies to modernize the Federal Government.
    The Executive Branch is shifting to a forward-leaning, pro-innovation and pro competition mindset rather than pursuing the risk-averse approach of the previousadministration.
    The Federal Government will no longer impose unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions on the use of innovative American AI in the Executive Branch.
    By embracing AI adoption, agencies will be more agile, cost-effective, and efficient.
    This shift will deliver improvements to the lives of the American public while enhancingAmerica’s global dominance in AI innovation.
    PROMOTING RAPID AND RESPONSIBLE AI ADOPTION: M-25-21 gives agencies thetools necessary to embrace AI innovation, while maintaining strong protections for Americans’ privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
    Agencies will empower AI leaders to remove barriers to AI innovation.
    Agency Chief AI Officer roles are redefined to serve as change agents and AI advocates, rather than overseeing layers of bureaucracy.
    Chief AI Officers are tasked with promoting agency-wide AI innovation and adoption for lower risk AI, mitigating risks for higher-impact AI, and advising on agency AI investments and spending.

    Agencies will produce an AI adoption maturity assessment to better track progress andneeds.
    Policies introduce a single “high-impact AI” category to track AI use cases that requireheightened due diligence because of potential impacts on the rights or safety of theAmerican people.
    Accountability for AI will mirror the existing process for using government IT, instead ofcreating new layers of approvals.
    Use of American AI will be maximized when seeking new AI solutions.
    DRIVING EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AI ACQUISITION: M-25-22 provides agencieswith concise, effective guidance on how to acquire best-in-class AI quickly, competitively, and responsibly.
    Agencies must support a competitive American AI marketplace, maximizing the use of American AI systems and services in support of American AI leadership, human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security.
    This policy recognizes the importance of competition, communicating clear and specific requirements that avoid vendor lock-in.
    The new approach removes burdensome agency reporting requirements and optimizes the acquisition process, while continuing to protect privacy and ensure lawful use ofgovernment data.
    Agencies will use performance-based techniques to best harness the rapidly developing AI marketplace and create an online shared repository of resources and tools to assist with AI procurement.
    AI WORKING FOR AMERICANS: Federal agencies are maximizing the benefits of AI topromote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security. Illustrativeexamples include the following:
    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) optimizes patient care through AI tools that help identify and standardize Veterans’ care.
    The VA uses AI to support the identification and analysis of pulmonary nodulesduring lung cancer screening exams. The AI functionality improves detection of these nodules, assisting clinicians with life-saving diagnoses.

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) improves public safety by leveraging AI to protect theAmerican public.
    The DOJ is using AI to better understand the global drug market and the impact of illicit drugs on communities and individuals, in order to further drug traffickinginvestigations and protect the American public.

    The National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) expands humanity’s ability tosafely traverse Mars by using AI.
    NASA is using AI on the Mars2020 Rover to help it navigate with limited directionfrom Earth, optimizing scientific discovery from the rover’s sensors and assuring it safely traverses the planet’s hazardous terrain.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Reacts to Trump Removing Gen. Timothy Haugh from NSA & Cyber Command Without Explanation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    April 04, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Donald Trump removed Gen. Timothy Haugh from his roles as head of U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency without explanation or justification:

    “Again and again, Trump chooses loyalty to himself over keeping Americans safe. Firing General Timothy Haugh, Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency, without explanation is just the latest example of replacing much-needed national security expertise at the highest levels of our government for political reasons, starting with the troubling firing of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs CQ Brown and Judge Advocates General. 

    “Firing warriors with decades of experience while refusing to hold even a single senior SignalGate political appointee accountable for leaking classified information and putting our troops and our national security at risk once again lays bare what Trump’s true priorities are. The American people deserve transparency, and it’s critical that Congress investigate these unexplained firings.

    “Everyone who cares about our national security knows that General Haugh should be rehired and Pete Hegseth should be fired. It’s that simple.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: U.S. Shouldn’t Depend on China for Critical Minerals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    BOISE, Idaho – Last week, U.S. Senator Jim Risch outlined the immediate steps Congress can take to strengthen America’s critical mineral supply and support President Trump’s pro-energy agenda in a new editorial published by Newsweek.

    To read the full OpEd, click here.

    U.S. Shouldn’t Depend on China for Rare Minerals

    Excerpts from the editorial:

    “The United States possesses vast reserves of critical minerals vital for our national security, industrial production, and everyday consumer goods. But stifling regulations and unnecessary red tape have made us reliant on foreign sources for minerals we can find at home—directly undermining our military readiness and economic security.

    “President Donald Trump‘s executive order on American mineral production provides a much-needed opportunity to reverse this troubling trajectory, better leverage our domestic natural resources, and achieve self-sufficiency.

    “[. . .]China’s recent decision to cut antimony supplies underscores the danger of this situation. Antimony is an indispensable ingredient in ammunition, fireproofing military equipment, nuclear systems, and much more. The U.S. has no domestic antimony source currently in production, despite having high-grade reserves waiting to be tapped. We have placed our security completely at the mercy of the Chinese government’s whims. But fortunately, we don’t have to look far to course correct.

    “Projects like the Stibnite Gold Project in my home state of Idaho can fulfill our domestic needs. With a 148-million-pound reserve of antimony, it stands as the largest source of the element outside of Beijing’s control. However, the grueling road to production—currently slated to start in 2028, 18 long years after the project started—illustrates how U.S. policy has left our nation vulnerable.

    “Antimony is not a singular example[. . .]We have neglected our own resources, allowing ourselves to depend on Communist China for strategic minerals readily available in our own backyard.”

    “[. . .]We, in Congress, must stand ready to support the vision President Trump has put forward to have a lasting impact. Now is the time to forge a comprehensive strategy that invests in domestic mining projects, revitalizes processing capacity, and restores the American industrial base as the envy of the world. We must make it clear that the United States is leading rather than following in the global race for critical minerals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Allow International Students Remain in the U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help international students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) remain in the United States. The Keep STEM Talent Act would streamline the bureaucratic process for international students to obtain legal status and bolster the United States’ STEM labor force. The legislation would ensure that American born participants in the STEM labor market receive preference in the hiring process.

    “In order for the U.S. to remain a leader in science and technology, we need highly skilled STEM graduates to stick around after graduation—even if they were born abroad,” said Senator King. “The Keep STEM Talent Act is a commonsense step toward keeping the world’s brightest minds in STEM in the U.S., while ensuring American born workers retain a leg-up in the job market.”

    Specifically, the Keep STEM Talent Act:

    1. Addresses Green Card Backlogs: This legislation would exempt advanced STEM graduates who are educated at U.S. universities and have a job offer in the United States, along with their spouse and children, from numerical limitations for employment based green cards. 
    2. Protects U.S. Workers: This legislation would protect American STEM workers by requiring that employers sponsoring foreign STEM graduates under this bill recruit U.S. workers first and agree to pay workers hired above-average wages.   
    3. Permits Dual Intent: Currently, a student visa holder cannot apply for a green card while in student status. This legislation would allow advanced STEM degree students at U.S. universities to have a dual intent, meaning that they will not lose their student visa status if they are sponsored by an employer for a green card.
    4. Imposes Rigorous Vetting: This legislation requires advanced degree students in STEM fields to apply for a visa or status before starting their advanced degree program, requiring them to undergo rigorous vetting and address any national security or counterintelligence concerns prior to being approved for student status.

    Endorsers of the Keep STEM Talent Act include: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers USA; American Mathematical Society; American Physical Society; the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers; SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics; Association of American Universities; Information Technology Industry Council; American Council on Education; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; Society of Women Engineers; NAFSA: Association of International Educators; Optica; American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

    In addition to Senator King, this legislation is sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Senator King is a staunch supporter of promoting American innovation in emerging technologies. In addition to advocating for US technology independence and expanding broadband connections across America, King has supported expanding STEM education for Maine students.

    The full text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator King Warns of a “Five-Alarm Fire” in Interview with The Washington Post

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) sat down with Patrick Svitek of The Washington Post in an interview to discuss the unprecedented, unconstitutional overstep from President Trump’s Administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). During the interview — which comes during a surge of reckless federal layoffs and in the midst of a global trade war spurred by the Administration’s announcement of widespread tariffs — King made clear the dangers of Congress further ceding its power to the President. He noted that doing so is a “fundamental misunderstanding” of what is outlined in the Constitution, and that the White House’s drastic overstep is “rendering Congress almost an afterthought.”

    The interview is the most recent instance of Senator King sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution. At the end of January, he gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared.” A couple weeks later, he took to the floor again to respond to the hiring freezes and firings, calling them “thoughtless and dangerous.” Senator King also previously declared that the proposal to halt all federal grant and loan disbursement was illegal and a direct assault on the Constitution. He wrote a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside 36 senators, sharing the detrimental effects of  the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials. Additionally, he appeared on “Morning Joe” to further warn of the Constitutional overstep by the White House.

    You can read the interview here or below.

    +++

    Svitek: Before we get into the issues of the day, what’s it like being an independent in the Senate in 2025?

    Sen. King: “Well, it’s kind of a luxury because I don’t have to worry about a primary and I don’t have to worry about some group or another that supports the party and whether or not I’m going to offend them. … If you had to put my political philosophy on a bumper sticker, it would be, “I call them as I see them.” And I think that’s an advantage. And it also allows me to work with people on the left, the right, Republicans, Democrats. My only goal is to get things done and to try to protect the country.”

    Svitek: You’ve said we’re in a constitutional crisis right now. What concerns you the most?

    Sen. King: “The first point is to try to step back from the daily deluge of information … and take a longer view of what’s actually going on in terms of our constitutional structure. And that’s where I think we’ve got a five-alarm fire. What we’re seeing is a fundamental restructuring of the way our government was designed that basically is moving more and more power to the executive, to the point of rendering Congress almost an afterthought. It’s happening in multiple ways. The collapse of an entire agency, USAID. The Department of Education. These were created by statute, and the executive has no authority whatsoever to eliminate a statutorily created agency. If they don’t like the agency, come to Congress and pass a bill to eliminate it. The same thing goes with the impoundment of funds. This is dangerous stuff, and … I don’t like a lot of things the administration is doing in terms of policy, but this structural collapse of our system where power is basically being given to one person — I don’t care if it’s the Archangel Gabriel — it’s dangerous, and that’s the moment that we’re in.”

    Svitek: Do you feel your colleagues in the Democratic caucus fully understand the urgency of this moment, as you see it?

    Sen. King: “I think most of them are getting it. Again, it’s very hard — I’m not disparaging anybody — but it’s very hard to focus on this broader problem when the daily actions are so damaging and dangerous. I divide what’s going on into … two categories. One is … a question of competence, and the other is danger. And the dangerous part is the constitutional part we’ve been talking about.”

    Svitek: I know you’re disillusioned about Republicans, but do you see any glimmers of hope among them? Four Senate Republicans crossed over to support the resolution to undo Trump’s tariffs on Canada.

    Sen. King: “I’m not going to name anybody, but I think there are members of the Republican caucus who are growing increasingly uncomfortable with what’s going on, both in terms of what I mentioned — the constitutional part — but also, you know, what Elon Musk [and the U.S. DOGE Service are] doing. I mean, attacking the National Park Service, attacking Social Security, attacking veterans — I think, after [Tuesday night’s special elections], the Republicans are coming to realize that this is not a good electoral strategy.

    Svitek: Do you think their concerns are more political than substantive?

    Sen. King: “I think some of them do understand and share the constitutional concerns, but I think a lot of them, again, after [Tuesday] night, are going to realize that they’ve got some real political problems. And the other thing — there are three levels of guardrails of our constitutional system. One is the Congress itself, and right now the Congress is failing in protecting itself. … The second guardrail is the courts, and they are largely stepping up, but we’re at the earlier stages of the testing of this, and we don’t know where the Supreme Court will go on some of these fundamental issues. But the final guardrail is the people. We don’t have elections for 18 months, and the question is, “How much damage to our constitutional system … is going to be done between now and those midterm elections?” But ultimately … people are engaged, and we’re seeing it in demonstrations. The most common question I get from people in Maine is, “What can I do?”

    Svitek: How do you respond?

    Sen. King:     “I encourage them to stay engaged. Members of Congress are, in fact, responsive to their constituents. And when you get thousands of phone calls and thousands of emails, it has an effect. And I think members have been surprised, and I think it’s only going to accelerate because the negative effects of a lot of what they’re doing right now is not going to manifest itself for weeks or months.”

    Svitek: You’ve alluded to DOGE. How is it impacting Maine the most?

    Sen. King: “I think the two items that are resonating the most strongly in Maine — other than a generalized fear and anger — is Social Security and the [Veterans Affairs Department]. Those are iconic agencies that serve the public so well, and … I’ll tell you what, if Social Security checks are late next month or the month after, there’s going to be hell to pay. And people instinctively support veterans. By the way, when you hear a thousand people are fired at some agency, chances are, 300 of them are veterans. About 30 percent of the federal workforce is veterans, and the VA is probably more. One of the problems is, the people who are doing this — the DOGE people and Musk — literally don’t know what they’re doing. You can quote me on that. … They don’t know what these agencies do. They don’t know what these programs do. They don’t understand the implications back home of these programs and how important they can be. Listen, I did a major restructuring of Maine state government the first year I was governor, but we did it with a task force of private citizens, legislators and administration people. And we did it over a period of almost a year, very deliberately, very slowly, with a lot of discussion back and forth, and then at the end, the plan had to be approved by the legislature. And yet we reduced the size of state government by almost 10 percent. But they’re … trying to do it, instead of in a year, they’re trying to do it in two or three months, and as I said, they really don’t know what they’re doing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Padilla, Durbin Lead Colleagues in Demanding Answers on Dismantling of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Senators to Secretaries Rubio and Noem: “These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, joined Senate Judiciary Committee colleagues Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in leading 18 Senators to condemn the dismantling of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), including a funding freeze that has halted refugee processing and resettlement. The indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze have stranded tens of thousands in dangerous conditions, separated families, and left recently resettled refugees in the United States without adequate support. 
    “As you know, the USRAP was established on a bipartisan basis by the Refugee Act of 1980 and is a strong public-private partnership that drives U.S. economic growth, advances global stability and peace, and supports our national security and diplomatic priorities,” wrote the Senators. “The USRAP represents the best of American values and is part of what makes our country great. From 2005 to 2019, refugees contributed to the U.S. economy $123.8 billion more than they received in government expenditures. Refugees, including multiple former Secretaries of State, have shaped and improved our nation.” 
    President Trump suspended the USRAP “indefinitely” in a day one executive order with a review after 90 days, and on Friday, January 24, resettlement agencies received stop work orders, which the executive order defined as a “foreign assistance program.” Since then, on February 25, a federal court in Washington granted a nationwide preliminary injunction to restart refugee processing, but just 24 hours later, the State Department issued termination notices, effective immediately, to plaintiff organizations and all other resettlement agencies in attempt to circumvent the court’s order. Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals permitted the funding freeze to stay in effect amid ongoing litigation but required resettlement to continue for refugees approved before January 20, 2025. 
    The Senators urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to fully comply with the federal court order, resume all refugee processing, and rebook canceled travel for refugees.  
    “We ask that you restart this life-saving program and immediately confirm that the Department of State is expeditiously complying with federal court orders to resume refugee resettlement and reimburse resettlement agencies for critical reception and integration services,” continued the Senators. 
    The Senators highlighted reports indicating that all 10 refugee agencies and many Resettlement Support Centers overseas have received termination notices for the cooperative agreements that allow them to resettle refugees, leading to mass layoffs and shutdowns of essential refugee processing systems. They also emphasized that the Administration has delayed payments to refugee agencies for services already provided, despite the preliminary injunction requiring those payments to resume.  
    The consequences of these stoppages are immense, including for Afghan allies evacuated to third countries, such as Pakistan, who are now stranded indefinitely without legal status or the ability to reunite with their families. On February 2, an Afghan man who had worked for the U.S. military in Afghanistan was murdered after his scheduled resettlement to Garden Grove, California was delayed by the refugee ban and funding freeze. 
    “These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk,” wrote the Senators. “One of the most alarming consequences of the Administration’s funding and resettlement freeze is the situation facing Afghan allies who were evacuated to third countries with the promise of eventual resettlement in the United States. Many of these Afghans are former interpreters, civil society leaders, and their families, who now find themselves stranded without legal status and facing harassment, violence, and deportation.” 
    The Senators demanded answers regarding the refugee program suspension, refugees in the admissions pipeline, and current capacity of resettlement infrastructure. 
    In addition to Senators Welch, Padilla, and Durbin, the letter is also signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). 
    Read the full text of the letter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CEA Chairman Steve Miran Hudson Institute Event Remarks

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today I’d like to discuss the United States’ provision of what economists call “global public goods,” for the entire world.  First, the United States provides a security umbrella which has created the greatest era of peace mankind has ever known.  Second, the U.S. provides the dollar and Treasury securities, reserve assets which make possible the global trading and financial system which has supported the greatest era of prosperity mankind has ever known. 
    Both of these are costly to us to provide.  On the defense side, our men and women in uniform take heroic risks to make our nation and the world safer, preserving our liberties generation after generation.  And we tax hardworking Americans mightily to finance global security.  On the financial side, the reserve function of the dollar has caused persistent currency distortions and contributed, along with other countries’ unfair barriers to trade, to unsustainable trade deficits.  These trade deficits have decimated our manufacturing sector and many working-class families and their communities, to facilitate non-Americans trading with each other.
    Let me clarify that by “reserve currency,” I mean all the international functions of the dollar—private savings and trade included.  I’ve often used the example that when private agents in two separate foreign countries trade with each other, it’s typically denominated in dollars because of America’s status as the reserve provider.  That trade entails savings housed in dollar securities, often Treasurys.  As a result of all this, Americans have been paying for peace and prosperity not just for themselves, but for non-Americans too.
    President Trump has made it clear that he will no longer stand for other nations free-riding on our blood, sweat, and tears, whether in national security or trade.  The Trump Administration has already, in its first hundred days, moved forcefully to reorient our defense and trading relationships to place Americans on fairer ground.  The President has promised to rebuild our broken industrial base and pursue trade terms that put American workers and businesses first.
    I’m an economist and not a military strategist, so I’ll dwell more on trade than on defense, but the two are deeply connected.  To see how it works, imagine two foreign nations, say China and Brazil, trading with each other.  Neither country has a currency that is trusted, liquid, and convertible, which makes trading with each other challenging.  However, because they can transact in U.S. dollars backed by U.S. Treasuries, they are able to trade freely with each other and prosper.  Such trade can only occur because of U.S. military might ensuring our financial stability and the credibility of our borrowing.  Our military and financial dominance cannot be taken for granted; and the Trump Administration is determined to preserve them.
    But our financial dominance comes at a cost.  While it is true that demand for dollars has kept our borrowing rates low, it has also kept currency markets distorted.  This process has placed undue burdens on our firms and workers, making their products and labor uncompetitive on the global stage, and forcing a decline of our manufacturing workforce by over a third since its peak1 and a reduction in our share of world manufacturing production of 40%.
    We need to be able to make things in this country, as we saw during Covid, when many of our supply chains could not survive without being reliant on our biggest adversary, China.  We clearly should not rely on our biggest adversary for equipment essential to keeping our population safe and secure.  Nor should our biggest adversary be allowed to benefit so much from an international security and financial architecture we finance.
    There are other unfortunate side effects of providing reserve assets.  Others may buy our assets to manipulate their own currency to keep their exports cheap.  In doing so, they end up pumping so much money into the U.S. economy that it fuels economic vulnerabilities and crises.  For example, in the years running up to the 2008 crash, China along with many foreign financial institutions, increased their holdings of U.S. mortgage debt, which helped fuel the housing bubble, forcing hundreds of billions of dollars of credit into the housing sector without regard as to whether the investments made sense.  China played a meaningful role creating the Global Financial Crisis.  It took almost a decade to recover, until President Trump got us back on track in his first term.
    In my view, to continue providing these twin global public goods, there needs to be improved burden-sharing at the global level.  If other nations want to benefit from the U.S. geopolitical and financial umbrella, then they need to pull their weight, and pay their fair share.  The costs cannot be solely borne by everyday Americans who have already given so much.
    The best outcome is one in which America continues to create global peace and prosperity and remain the reserve provider, and other countries not only participate in reaping the benefits, but they also participate in bearing the costs.  By improving burden sharing, we can enhance resilience, and preserve the global security and trading systems for many decades into the future.
    Moreover, it is critical not just for fairness, but for capacity.  We are under siege by hostile adversaries trying to erode our manufacturing and defense industrial base and disrupt our financial system; we will be able to provide neither defense nor reserve assets if our manufacturing capacity is hollowed out.  The President has been clear that the United States is committed to remaining the reserve provider, but that the system must be made fairer.  We need to rebuild our industries to project the strength needed to protect reserve status, and we need to be able to pay our bills to do so.
    What forms can that burden sharing take?  There are many options, here are a few ideas:
    First, other countries can accept tariffs on their exports to the United States without retaliation, providing revenue to the U.S. Treasury to finance public goods provision.  Critically, retaliation will exacerbate rather than improve the distribution of burdens and make it even more difficult for us to finance global public goods.
    Second, they can stop unfair and harmful trading practices by opening their markets and buying more from America;
    Third, they can boost defense spending and procurement from the U.S., buying more U.S.-made goods, and taking strain off our servicemembers and creating jobs here;
    Fourth, they can invest in and install factories in America.  They won’t face tariffs if they make their stuff in this country;
    Fifth, they could simply write checks to Treasury that help us finance global public goods.
    Tariffs deserve some extra attention.  Most economists and some investors dismiss tariffs as counterproductive at best and devastatingly harmful at worst.  They’re wrong. 
    One reason the economic consensus on tariffs is so wrong is because nearly all of the models that economists use to study international trade assume either no trade deficits at all, or assume that deficits are short-lived and quickly self-correct through currency adjustments.  According to standard models, trade deficits will cause the dollar to weaken, which reduces imports and boosts exports, eventually wiping out the trade deficit.  If that happens, tariffs may be unnecessary, because trade will balance itself over time and, in this view, intervening with tariffs can only make things worse.
    However, that view is at odds with reality.  The United States has run current account deficits now for five decades, and these have widened precipitously in recent years, going from about 2% of GDP in the first Trump Administration to a high of nearly 4% of GDP in the Biden Administration2.  And this has happened all while the dollar has appreciated, not depreciated!
    The long run is here, and the models are wrong.  One reason is that they fail to account for the U.S. provision of the global reserve currency.  Reserve status matters and, because demand for the dollar has been insatiable, it has been too strong for international flows to balance, even over five decades.
    More recent economic analyses3 allow for the possibility of persistent trade deficits that resist automatically rebalancing, which is more in line with reality in the U.S.  They show that by imposing tariffs against exporting countries, the U.S. can improve economic outcomes, raise revenues, and impose huge losses for the tariffed nation, even with full retaliation.
    In this sense, analysis of what economists call the “incidence” of tariffs indicates that a large share and burden of the tariffs are “paid for” by the country on which we’re applying the tariffs.  Countries that run large trade surpluses are pretty inflexible—they can’t find other sources of demand to substitute for America’s.  Instead, they have no choice but to export, and America is the largest consumer market in the world.  By contrast, America has plenty of substitution options: we can make stuff at home, or we can buy from countries that treat us fairly instead of from countries that take advantage of us.  This difference in leverage means that other countries end up bearing the cost of tariffs.
    In 2018-2019, China bore the cost of President Trump’s historic tariffs through a weaker currency, meaning their citizens became poorer, with less purchasing power on the global stage.  The tariff revenue, paid for by China, was used to finance President Trump’s tax cuts for American workers and firms.  This time around, tariffs will help pay for both tax cuts and deficit reduction.
    Lower taxes on Americans, financed in part by revenue provided from foreigners, will create economic growth, dynamism, and opportunity the likes of which our country has never seen, ushering in President Trump’s new Golden Age.  Deficit reduction will help lower Treasury rates, and with them mortgage rates and consumer credit card rates, stimulating an economic boom.
    It is important to note here that tariffs are not levied simply to collect revenues.  For example, the President’s reciprocal tariffs are designed to address tariff and non-tariff barriers and other forms of cheating like currency manipulation, dumping, and subsidies to gain unfair advantage.  Revenue is a nice side effect, and if it is used in part for lowering taxes, it can help turbo-charge competitiveness improvements that boost U.S. exports.
    Burden sharing can allow the United States to continue leading the free world for many decades.  It’s a must not only for fairness, but for feasibility.  If we don’t rebuild our manufacturing sector, we will be strained in providing the security we need for our safety and to underpin our financial markets.  The world can still have the American defense umbrella and trading system, but it’s got to start paying its fair share for them.  Thank you, and I am happy to take some questions.
    [1] https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MANEMP
    [2] https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS?locations=US
    [3] https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5008591

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, The Great Hall of Royal

    US Senate News:

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

    Published: April 7, 2025

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

    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: The Great Hall of Royal of Clay County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “In 2018, the Ricke family didn’t just start a business—they built a community space where folks gather to make memories,” said Chair Ernst. “Featuring sleek, elegant woodwork, The Great Hall of Royal has a natural historic charm that makes it the perfect space to host any and all social gatherings.”
    In 2018, Sara and Matt Ricke acquired the St. Louis Catholic Church in Royal, Iowa with a vision to preserve the religious landmark while creating a modern event space. Originally from Sioux City, Iowa, the couple dedicated their weekends to renovating the space and transformed The Great Hall of Royal to a beloved destination to host intimate private parties and weddings. This past March, Sara and Matt welcomed their daughters, Jackie, Lexi, and Becky, into the company as partners. The Ricke family and their team look forward to celebrating The Great Hall of Royal’s fifth anniversary in Iowa later this year.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Helps Introduce Bipartisan Measure to Support Full Benefits for Disabled Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and 40 of their colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act. The bill allows combat-injured veterans with fewer than 20 years of military service to receive the full retirement benefits concurrent with their disability compensation.

    Currently, only veterans with over 20 years of military service and a 50 percent or more disabled rating can qualify to receive Department of Defense retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs disability payments concurrently. 

    “Veterans medically retired by injuries sustained in combat are heroes who have earned their full benefits and compensation. Their service and sacrifice unite us and this legislation demonstrates our commitment to ensuring they are not denied the vital support they have earned and are owed,” Boozman said.

    “The Major Richard Star Act corrects a severe injustice for combat-wounded veterans,” said Crapo. “The support for this correction is clear. Though the namesake of our legislation is no longer with us, I continue to press for its passage on behalf of the more than 50,000 veterans, including hundreds in Idaho, who stand to benefit.”

    “This measure corrects one of the deepest injustices in our present veterans’ disability system,” said Blumenthal. “It is unacceptable that tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans are denied the full military benefits they earned. Our bipartisan bill will right this longstanding injustice and finally provide these military retirees who have already sacrificed so much their full VA disability and Defense Department retirement payments.”

    Major Richard Star was a decorated war veteran after whom this legislation is named. Major Star retired due to combat related injuries and passed away from cancer in 2021. 

    Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Justice (R-WV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), John Kennedy (R-LA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), James Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NV), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) also cosponsored the bill. 

    Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12).

    Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on Vote Against Republican Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), issued the following statement:
    “Senate Republicans passed a budget resolution that betrays hard-working families across our nation, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet. This resolution sets the stage for tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans instead of offering any relief to those who need it most. Billionaires will reap the benefits at the expense of vital programs, like Medicaid, that millions of American families rely on.
    “This budget paves the way for $5.8 trillion of deficit increases – more than the borrowing from the American Rescue Plan, TCJA, CARES Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law combined. For what? So President Trump can deliver $1.5 trillion in new tax cuts for his billionaire friends and make his 2017 tax law permanent — the same tax law that cut the corporate tax from 35% to 21%  with the promise that these cuts would increase the average household income in the United States by $4000. That never happened. Instead, wealthy shareholders received nearly all of the benefits through stock buybacks, large corporations made more money, and U.S. workers and employees hardly saw any of those net gains. 
    “The budget put forth by Senate Republicans says it will ‘reduce the deficit by not less than $880 billion’ for the period from 2025 to 2034. While the White House has argued that these tax cuts will ‘pay for themselves,’ we know from history that isn’t true. The part that my Republican colleagues don’t want to admit is that reducing the deficit by $880 billion is not possible without completely gutting Medicaid, a program that over 70 million Americans rely on for essential health care.
    “I voted against this resolution because I stand for the people across New Jersey and our country who are struggling to make ends meet and for the families who rely on Medicaid to provide vital health care services.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on Republicans Blocking Amendment to Protect American Farmers from Broken Contracts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) put forward a vote on an amendment to the Republican budget resolution that would have prohibited the Trump administration from continuing to illegally withhold funding from signed contracts previously entered into by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). President Trump’s USDA has refused to make reimbursement payments to farmers and to organizations providing assistance to farmers, without any indication of when or whether they will be paid the money they laid out and are owed. Farmers and the organizations that serve them operate on tight margins and cannot be left waiting for weeks and months without funding they rightfully planned for and need to keep operating.
    “I am disappointed that my Republican colleagues blocked my attempt to bring relief to the farmers who have been in limbo ever since the USDA illegally froze previously signed agreements and contracts,” said Senator Booker. “We as the federal government made a deal with farmers and many organizations that support them. Based on that deal, they spent their hard-earned money to live up to their end of the bargain. In rejecting my amendment, Republicans showed that they were more concerned about tax cuts for billionaires than doing what is right by the people who keep us fed.”
    When farmers successfully apply to USDA programs and then spend their own dollars in reliance upon signed contracts with the agency, they rightfully expect that they will receive reimbursement. Similarly, farmer-serving organizations—which farmers rely upon to connect to local markets and implement practices that make them more productive and less resource intensive—are facing imminent funding crises from not being reimbursed for completed or in-progress contracted work. If not quickly made whole, these organizations will be forced to make agonizing decisions to lay off staff and stop helping farmers, destroying years of progress in advancing local food systems.
    Recently Senator Booker introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, legislation to release illegally withheld funding for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by USDA. Senator Booker will continue to push for enactment of this bill to provide desperately needed relief to America’s farmers

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Hill: Democratic senators call for investigation into assisted living facilities in Medicaid

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 01, 2025
    Senate Democrats are calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a new review of how oversight is conducted over assisted living facilities that participate in Medicaid following a 2018 report that uncovered a stark lack of transparency and reporting across states.
    Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.) wrote to the GAO, asking that the office provide an update to a 2018 report in which it found that federal oversight of the health and welfare of Medicaid beneficiaries in assisted facilities was lacking and allowing for abuse and neglect to go unnoticed.
    The 2018 report found that more than half of state Medicaid agencies could not tell the GAO the number of critical incidents in assisted living facilities or the nature of these incidents. While some incidents — such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse — were identified in all states, some states did not identify incidents indicative of possible abuse, such as medication errors or unexplained deaths.
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Joseph ChoiSource: The Hill

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Politico Massachusetts Playbook: The cost of Social Security cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 03, 2025
    SOCIAL INSECURITY — After launching a Social Security “war room” earlier this week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is running the numbers on how cuts to the financial assistance program for seniors could impact the Bay State.
    According to data compiled by Warren’s office and shared with Playbook, nearly 1.5 million Massachusetts residents rely on Social Security. The numbers, broken down by county, show that Massachusetts takes in more than $2.5 billion in monthly benefits from the program.
    The largest number of recipients are in Middlesex County, which includes some of Boston’s suburbs, municipalities along New Hampshire’s border and “gateway cities” like Lowell, Malden and Methuen. More than 258,000 Middlesex residents receive $538,105,000 in monthly Social Security payments, according to the data shared by Warren’s office.
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Kelly GarritySource: Politico Massachusetts Playbook
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    MIL OSI USA News –