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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Hill: Senate Democrats open investigation into reports AI could replace contract workers at Education Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 02, 2025
    Senate Democrats are opening an investigation into reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is attempting to replace some contract workers at the Education Department with artificial intelligence (AI).  
    Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon after The New York Times reported call centers that take questions from students and families about student aid could be replaced with an AI bot.  
    “DOGE’s proposal threatens to misinform borrowers and families, lead to data privacy breaches, and pose conflicts of interest arising from Elon Musk’s financial stake in AI development,” the letter said.  
    The call centers field around 15,000 questions per day from an average of 1,600 students and families. The proposal has been floated as the president is looking to dismantle the federal agency, laying off nearly half the Department of Education’s employees already.  
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Lexi Lonas CochranSource: The Hill

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Congressional Delegation Calls on HHS to Reinstate Fired Workers and Protect Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    LIHEAP provides heating assistance for more than 26,000 Vermonters
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-At Large) called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately reinstate the staff of the Division of Energy Assistance and disburse funding to states for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans afford heat and air conditioning.  
    “Your decision to close the Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) at HHS and terminate its employees is unacceptable. These arbitrary firings will threaten the continued existence of the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is a lifeline for more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans across the country. The Administration must reinstate DEA staff immediately and continue to disburse Congressionally-appropriated LIHEAP funding to states so that thousands of Vermonters and millions of Americans are not forced to make the unacceptable choice between putting food on the table, paying for prescription drugs, or heating their homes in the winter,” wrote the Vermont Delegation. 
    “As energy prices have increased across the country, LIHEAP has seen record utilizations in recent years. In Vermont, approximately 23% of households report that they were unable to pay their energy bills in full, with tariffs on Canadian energy products threatening to drive utility bills even higher. Vermont receives around $20 million in LIHEAP funding per year that provides energy assistance to more than 26,000 households. For children and seniors, for individuals with medical devices, and for working families, LIHEAP is a lifesaving service during the long winter heating months and hot summers,” the Delegation continued. 
    “The administration has a moral responsibility to disburse LIHEAP funds to states and ensure the program lives up to its promise to help families keep the heat on. Failure constitutes an illegal impoundment of bipartisan, congressionally-appropriated funds and will put millions of households across the country at risk of energy insecurity. You must immediately reinstate DEA staff so they can continue the urgent work of administering LIHEAP and providing critical assistance to American families. Being able to heat your home is not a luxury. It is a matter of life and death,” the Delegation concluded. 
    The Vermont Congressional Delegation’s letter was addressed to Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy. 
    Read and download the full letter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Johnson Reintroduces Legislation to Delist Gray Wolf as Endangered Species

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), along with two of his Republican colleagues, reintroduced legislation to return management of gray wolf populations to the states and delist the gray wolf as endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
    “Control of the gray wolf population must be returned to state wildlife agencies, who can best handle the recovered population. This legislation would do just that and provide relief for the farmers, loggers, sportsmen, and others that are most impacted by the gray wolf,” said Sen. Johnson.
    The legislation comes after a previous federal court ruling in 2022 that restored endangered species protection for the gray wolf in the lower 48 states, rolling back policies supported by the current and previous administrations. Since 2015, Sen. Johnson has advocated a narrow approach to delist the gray wolf and allow wolf management plans that are based on state wildlife expertise.
    Sen. Johnson is joined by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
    Full text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Slams Republican Budget That Slashes Medicaid to Fund Billionaires-First Tax Windfall and Add Trillions to the Debt

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Early this morning, after an overnight vote-a-thon, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 to pass a controversial Republican budget framework.  Republicans used unprecedented budget gimmicks to pretend that adding over $4.6 trillion to the debt in the coming years by extending the Trump Tax Giveaways will magically add $0 to the national debt.  The GOP-approved budget likely will lead to severely slashing Medicaid and core programs that families depend on. 
    Now that Senate Republicans advanced their budget framework, it unlocks a process where both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will work on the actual details of the legislation, saving their differences to hammer out later. 
    U.S. Senator Jack Reed voted against the Republican budget, stating:
    “Under the cover of late Friday night and into Saturday morning, Senate Republicans set in motion a process that will require massive borrowing and tax giveaways to the wealthiest.  The Republican budget would tear holes in Medicaid and the social safety net that helps Americans when they need a hand.”
    Two Republicans, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) joined Democrats in voting against the Republican budget.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Adversaries Trying to Exploit Trump’s Mass-Firings to Recruit Ousted Gov’t Employees as Spies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – With the Trump Administration arbitrarily laying off tens of thousands of skilled government workers, many with security clearances and expertise in critical fields, foreign government intelligence agencies are ratcheting up efforts to increase spies.
    According to intelligence recently distributed by the U.S. Coast Guard Counterintelligence Service: “New intelligence indicates agents from China, Russia, and other countries have set their sights on recently fired probationary workers, or those with security clearances, hoping to obtain valuable information about U.S. critical infrastructure or national security interests.”
    U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) says it is just one more example of how the Trump Administration short-sighted, chaotic approach to slashing government is making America less safe.
    “Espionage threats against America are rising as Donald Trump continues to weaken U.S. national security and enable America’s adversaries to conduct foreign malign influence operations.  The Trump Administration is handing foreign-linked entities a target-rich environment to recruit willing or unwitting participation in their intelligence gathering operations.  We know China, Russia, and others are trying to exploit the Trump Administration’s missteps and they’re increasingly targeting those who have been fired or could soon be ousted – especially defense workers,” said Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and an ex officio member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.  “Russia, China, and others are using sophisticated methods and deceptive techniques and fronts to try to lure unsuspecting, recently laid off U.S. government employees into divulging sensitive information.  And when U.S. government employees see how careless Trump’s Secretary of Defense, national security advisor, and National Director of Intelligence are with sensitive information on group chats, they may do the same.  We can’t let that happen.  President Trump also allows a lot of unvetted people to influence him and apparently direct him to take specific actions, like firing the head of the NSA.  That is very worrisome.”
    Last week, President Trump abruptly fired the director of the National Security Agency without explanation and has also targeted the CIA, FBI, and DOJ for mass-layoffs, including the purging of career civil servants who the Trump Administration deems insufficiently loyal to the MAGA political agenda.
    According to CNN: “A document produced by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service said the intelligence community assessed with “high confidence” that foreign adversaries were trying to recruit federal employees and “capitalize” on the Trump administration’s plans for mass layoffs, according to a partly redacted copy reviewed by CNN.
    “It added that foreign intelligence officers were being directed to look for potential sources on LinkedIn, TikTok, RedNote and Reddit.
    “At least one foreign intelligence officer directed an asset to create a company profile on Linkedin and post a job advertisement, and to actively pursue federal employees who indicate they are “open to work,” the NCIS document says.”
    All intelligence agencies use similar exploits.  Countries with high levels of internal division, economic turmoil, and vulnerable populations may be more susceptible.
    Senator Reed stressed that the increased risk of Americans becoming foreign intelligence assets is not a matter of loyalty, but a matter of sophisticated intelligence tactics designed to trick American workers, such as the use of fake job ads or realistic front companies.
    Reuters noted: “Max Lesser, a senior analyst on emerging threats with the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said some companies placing recruitment ads were “part of a broader network of fake consulting and headhunting firms targeting former government employees and AI researchers.”
    The story continued: “Asked about the research, three intelligence analysts told Reuters the network appeared to be a prime example of how foreign-linked entities are trying to gather intelligence from staff fired or forced into retirement by President Donald Trump and billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
    “Once employed by the network, federal employees could then be asked to share increasingly sensitive information about government operations, or recommend additional people who might be targeted for willing or unwitting participation, the analysts said.””
    The Coast Guard’s bulletin noted a telltale sign of foreign agents attempting to recruit former government officials is if something that is too good to be true, it probably is.
    “Your contact might overly praise or focus on your skills/experience, especially if your government affiliation is known,” the notice stated, adding that flattery, scarcity, and a sense for urgency might be an indicator as well.
    An active-duty U.S. army sergeant was recently charged with selling and transmitting sensitive military and national defense secrets to co-conspirators working on behalf of China.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Lower Drug Costs, Hold Big Pharma Accountable for Price Hikes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Bill would extend popular program Americans on Medicare receive to people with private insurance 
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined 11 of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Lower Drug Costs for Families Act, which would help lower the cost of prescription drugs and hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for raising prices above the rate of inflation.
    “The Inflation Reduction Act lowers prescription drug prices for millions of Americans on Medicare,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill will deliver those same savings to Americans with private insurance.”
    The Inflation Reduction Act, which Hickenlooper helped pass, requires drug companies to pay a penalty if they raise their prices above the inflation rate for drugs covered by Medicare. The Lower Drugs Costs For Families Act would extend that inflation-based rebate model for prescription drug price increases to the commercial market.
    The bill is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, Patients for Affordable Drugs Now, and the United Mine Workers of America.
    Full text of the legislation available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Joins Durbin, Foster in Introducing American Innovation Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    April 03, 2025

    As the Trump Administration continues to ax critical research funding, Duckworth, Durbin and Foster introduce legislation that would bolster research funding at five federal research agencies

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today in reintroducing the bicameral American Innovation Act, which would provide annual budget increases at a rate of five percent, indexed to inflation, for cutting edge research at five federal agencies: the Department of Energy Office of Science; the National Science Foundation; the National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientific and Technical Research Services; the Department of Defense Science and Technology Programs; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Directorate. The American Innovation Act would position the U.S. as a leader in development and discovery for decades to come by creating steady, sustained funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies.

    “As the Trump Administration continues slashing federal funding programs, investing in our world-renowned scientific research facilities and institutions is critical in order for America to stay competitive on the global scale,” said Duckworth. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin and Congressman Foster in reintroducing the American Innovation Act to support our scientists and researchers as we expand American innovation, strengthen national security, create jobs, and grow our economy.”

    “In its crusade to damage essential government infrastructure, the Trump Administration has failed to recognize that sustained support for basic scientific research has enabled the United States to put a man on the moon, build the internet, and produce a COVID-19 vaccine in record time.  If we want to maintain our status as a world leader in research and technology, we must empower and fund our federal research agencies and retain their top talent,” said Durbin. “I’m introducing the American Innovation Act to ensure our nation’s scientists and researchers have access to critical funding to push our world forward while also creating jobs, growing our economy, and improving our national security.”

    “I’m proud to work with Senator Durbin on this legislation to expand federal investment in scientific research,” said Foster.  “Since World War II, investments in science and technology have helped expand our economy, create millions of jobs, and advance our national security.  As we confront new and existing challenges, it’s critical that our scientists have the resources they need to ensure our nation remains at the forefront of research and innovation.”

    The introduction of the American Innovation Act comes as the Trump Administration continues to gut federal research agencies by slashing programs and firing scientists conducting critical research. These moves only harm the future of the U.S., as investments in scientific research have helped the nation lead the world in new technologies, create millions of jobs, grow the economy and advance national security. Further, without serious federal investment in research, the U.S. could fall behind its competitors, particularly China.

    Basic science funding in the U.S. has lagged in recent decades. Since the 1970’s, the United States investment in basic science has decreased by tenfold to about 0.1 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, China’s research intensity (GDP expenditures on R&D) has increased by 500 percent since 1996– if this trend continues, China will soon surpass the U.S. in investment in science.

    In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the American Innovation Act is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

    The legislation has earned the endorsement of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Association of American Universities; American Mathematical Society; Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities; Council of Undergraduate Research, Institute for Progress; Coalition for Academic Scientific Computation; American Physical Society; Federation of American Scientists; American Geophysical Union and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

    A one-pager on the legislation can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth on Senate Republicans’ Budget Resolution That Would Enrich Billionaires at the Expense of Middle-Class Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    April 04, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the Republicans’ budget resolution that would hurt middle-class Americans in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires:

    “By moving this budget resolution forward, Republicans are putting their full stamp of approval on Donald Trump’s plan to reach even further into the pockets of middle-class families to give even larger tax cuts to his billionaire buddies,” said Duckworth. “Every Republican that votes for this budget will put themselves on the record supporting Trump’s tariffs and trade wars that are skyrocketing everyday costs and tanking Americans’ retirement plans, his firing thousands upon thousands of Veterans, his slashing Medicaid and Medicare, his attacks on Social Security and so much more. This Republican budget is a complete betrayal of the American people, and I’m going to keep doing everything in my power to push back against this disastrous agenda.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Meeting with Environmental Groups, Duckworth Recommits to Defending and Promoting Environmental Justice as Trump Slashes EPA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    April 05, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator and co-founder of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) last week met with members of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) to discuss President Trump’s recent attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cuts to dozens of EPA regulations that protect our nation’s public health and threats to dismantle Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits that promote clean jobs and support a green energy economy. Duckworth also reiterated that she will not let up in her work to promote and defend environmental justice. Photos of the meeting can be found on the Senator’s website.

    “The Trump Administration seems determined to undermine protections aimed at helping every American—no matter their zip code—breathe safe air, drink clean water and live, work and play on uncontaminated land,” Duckworth said. “In order to help preserve our environment for generations to come, we need to push back against Trump’s attacks on EPA and his dangerous cuts to over 30 critical regulations that have helped protect public health and our environment for decades. I appreciated the opportunity to speak with the League of Conservation Voters and the Illinois Environmental Council about our shared priorities as well as the need for environmental justice, and I will continue to work in Congress to move our country forward in the push against climate change.”

    As co-chair and co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, Duckworth has been a strong advocate for bringing environmental justice to Illinois and across the country. She led the charge in the U.S. Senate to remove lead drinking water pipes across the country. Her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which was included in the BIL, is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead service line replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, is helping rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems.

    Last month, Duckworth issued a statement alongside Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), fellow founding co-chair of the Senate’s first Environmental Justice Caucus, condemning the Trump Administration for taking actions to shut down all EPA environmental justice offices and slash dozens critical regulations that help protect public health and environment.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bill to reassert congressional trade role

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON––U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in introducing a bipartisan legislation to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy. In addition to Senator Cantwell, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have also co-sponsored the bill. The Trade Review Act of 2025, modeled after the War Powers Resolution of 1973, would reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs without the approval of Congress.

    “Donald Trump has showed that lowering prices for the average American is the least of his concerns, since he imposed his dangerous tariffs on our closest allies and our biggest trading partners,” said Senator Coons. “Congress should have the authority to weigh in on these reckless tariffs, and my colleagues across the aisle agree. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, because we must hold the Trump administration accountable for the sake of the American people.”

    “Trade wars can be as devastating, which is why the Founding Fathers gave Congress the clear Constitutional authority over war and trade. This bill reasserts Congress’s role over trade policy to ensure rules-based trade policies are transparent, consistent, and benefit the American public. Arbitrary tariffs, particularly on our allies, damage U.S. export opportunities and raise prices for American consumers and businesses,” said Senator Cantwell. “As representatives of the American people, Congress has a duty to stop actions that will cause them harm.”

    The bill restores Congress’ authority and responsibility over tariffs as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution by placing the following limits on the president’s power to impose tariffs:

    • To enact a new tariff, the president must notify Congress of the imposition of (or increase in) the tariff within 48 hours.
      • The congressional notification must include an explanation of the president’s reasoning for imposing or raising the tariff, and
      • Provide analysis of potential impact on American businesses and consumers.
    • Within 60 days, Congress must pass a joint resolution of approval on the new tariff, otherwise all new tariffs on imports expire after that deadline.
    • Under the bill, Congress has the ability to end tariffs at any time by passing a resolution of disapproval.
    • Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are excluded.

    You can read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Statement on Passage of Senate Budget Resolution

    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.) released the below statement following the passage of the Senate’s budget resolution:
    “The passage of the Senate’s budget resolution marks a critical step forward in delivering on the promises we’ve made to the American people. This budget paves the way to advance President Trump’s priorities—securing our borders, strengthening our military, cutting taxes for hardworking families, and unleashing American energy. I was proud to vote in favor of this resolution that puts us on a path to greater economic growth, national security, and opportunity for West Virginians and all Americans. I was also proud to vote against uniformed and unserious messaging amendments by Democrats, which continued to show they care more about political points than what is important to Americans,” Senator Capito said.
    The Senate’s budget resolution:
    Makes important adjustments to allow President Trump’s tax cuts to be made permanent.
    Creates savings floor to maximize Republicans’ ability to cut wasteful spending while complying with Senate rules to allow the legislation to pass with a simple majority vote.
    Prevents Democrats from using the debt limit to extract liberal priorities as a condition to raising before the 2026 midterm elections.
    Adds reconciliation instructions for Senate Committees and preserves the House Committees’ instructions

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Review of Proposed United States Steel Corporation Acquisition

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Memorandum for THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
    THE SECRETARY OF STATE
    THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
    THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
    THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
    THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
    THE SECRETARY OF LABOR
    THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY
    THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
    THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
    THE Director of the Office of Science
    and Technology Policy
    SUBJECT:       Review of Proposed United States Steel
    Corporation Acquisition
    On January 3, 2025, President Biden issued an order prohibiting the acquisition of United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) by Nippon Steel Corporation, Nippon Steel North America, Inc., and 2023 Merger Subsidiary, Inc. (collectively, the Purchasers, and collectively with U.S. Steel, the Parties).  In that order, President Biden reserved the right of the President “to issue further orders with respect to the Purchasers or U.S. Steel as shall in my judgment be necessary to protect the national security of the United States.”
    Section 1.  Review.  (a)  Consistent with my authority under Article II of the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (section 721), as amended, 50 U.S.C. 4565, I direct the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to conduct a review of the acquisition of U.S. Steel by the Purchasers to assist me in determining whether further action in this matter may be appropriate.
    (b)  CFIUS’s review shall be conducted de novo, confidentially, and consistent with the procedures set forth for national security reviews under section 721, including, but not limited to, identifying potential national security risks associated with the proposed transaction and providing adequate opportunity to the parties to respond to such concerns.
    Sec. 2.  Recommendation.  Consistent with the procedures set forth in section 721, within 45 days of the date of this memorandum, CFIUS shall submit a recommendation to me describing whether any measures proposed by the parties are sufficient to mitigate any national security risks identified by CFIUS.  This recommendation shall include a statement describing each member agency’s position, including the reasons for such position.
    Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz To Republicans: Leave Social Security Alone

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke out on the Senate floor against the Trump administration’s cuts to Social Security services which have left seniors and disabled people around the country worried about their ability to get their monthly checks. Schatz spoke during the Senate’s debate on the Republican tax bill which seeks to cut essential services for Americans in order to pay for the biggest tax cuts for billionaires in history.

    “Leave Social Security alone,” said Senator Schatz. “Donald Trump wants to gut the most successful anti-poverty program in American history. Over the past three months, his administration has made sweeping cuts to Social Security in ways that are already being felt across the country. Wait times have doubled to as many as 4 or 5 hours. Local field offices are closing. Websites are crashing. And people are understandably panicked about getting checks or missing payments altogether.”

    Senator Schatz added, “The idea that we are going to balance the budget on the backs of seniors who have paid into an earned benefit is immoral. It is wrong.”

    A transcript of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.

    Leave Social Security alone. Leave Social Security alone. Donald Trump wants to gut the most successful anti-poverty program in American history. Over the past three months, his administration has made sweeping cuts to Social Security in ways that are already being felt across the country. Wait times have doubled to as many as 4 or 5 hours. Local field offices are closing. Websites are crashing. And people are understandably panicked about getting checks or missing payments altogether.

    But according to Commerce Secretary Lutnick, there is nothing to worry about. “Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain. She just wouldn’t. She would think something got messed up and she’d get it next month. She wouldn’t complain.”

    Well, when your son in law is a billionaire, a missed check is not a very big deal. But when you’re a senior on the island of Oahu, where the average rent far exceeds the average benefit. I want you to understand that the average benefit is about $1,900. The average rent is more than $2,000. 300,000 people in the state of Hawaii depend on Social Security. And for the vast majority of them, Social Security is either all of their income or most of their income.

    The idea that we are going to balance the budget on the backs of seniors who have paid into an earned benefit is immoral. It is wrong. And I speak on behalf of all of my constituents who depend on it. It’s not just the 300,000. It’s all of the family members. I speak on behalf of my mother- and father-in-law, George and Ping Kwok. George Kwok worked all his life in a kitchen. Sometimes he was an employee. He eventually ended up owning a place called Kwok’s Chop Suey. He sold it and bought a home for his mom and helped to send his daughter to college. Then he started to get blind and he burned his hand in a fryer. And so he was unable to work and he took Social Security Disability. He deserves that money. Leave Social Security alone.

    Social Security cuts were always the third rail in American politics. Anyone on any side of the aisle with any sense of how to get elected knew not to touch that third rail. But they are grabbing this third rail with both hands.

    I want to quote a couple of my constituents. One constituent wrote to me. “We are elderly and we are concerned about the potential of cutting Social Security checks. We paid into the system our entire working lives and fear we can’t afford food, water, bills, and medical care. What will happen with these cuts and the cost of living going up? What will be our safety net? We are afraid of what’s to come.”

    Another wrote, “I worked for 36 years for the federal government, including four years as active duty Air Force in Vietnam. I contributed to Social Security with the explicit understanding that I would get Social Security as a portion of my retirement. Cutting Social Security means I lose about a third of my retirement with no recourse. I am 77 years old with health issues and hadn’t planned on getting another job. My wife was a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines for 50 years and also depends on Social Security for her retirement. It is completely unfair when she paid into Social Security for more than 50 years just to be abandoned when she is 70-years-old.”

    Another constituent: “I’m a 73-year-old woman who, unlike billionaire Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s mother-in-law, cannot afford to miss or reduce my Social Security payment. It is my sole income and I need it to pay rent and buy food. I worked hard all my life and contributed my fair share of taxes towards Social Security. I’m not asking for a free ride. I earned my Social Security.”

    I am not asking for a free ride. I earned my Social Security. Leave Social Security alone.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz: Donald Trump Is Ruining The Economy On Purpose, Everyone Will Pay More For Everything

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke out on the Senate floor today after President Donald Trump announced a new tariff plan that will levy the largest tax hike on middle-class families in a generation and force families to pay an average of $5,000 more each year.

    “Donald Trump is ruining the economy on purpose,” said Senator Schatz. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll be paying more for everything – groceries, food, cars, homes, toys, electronics, everything that you buy. This is about the ability for people to pay for college. This is about the ability for people to retire with dignity and comfort. Trillions of dollars of wealth are being demolished. These are everyday people panicked about how much more expensive their next trip to Walmart or Costco will be, or when they’ll lose their job.”

    The full text of Senator Schatz’s remarks can be found below. Video is available here.

    Donald Trump is ruining the economy on purpose. He is ruining the economy on purpose. I’m not sure if there’s ever been an American president, let alone a chief executive of any country that has ruined the economy on purpose. The stock market had its worst day in five years yesterday, and I just checked before I delivered these remarks. Just five minutes ago, 1600 down on the Dow Jones, the S&P down 5 percent, Nasdaq 4 percent, the Russell 5 percent. What does that mean as a practical matter? It means if you spent all your life working and saving and investing, and you are on the edge of retirement, and let’s say you’ve got $312,000 plus your Social Security income, you just lost 30 grand in two days because of Donald Trump. You lost 10 percent of what you earned over a lifetime. Now, for Howard Lutnick and Elon Musk and Donald Trump and everybody that surrounds him at Mar-a-Lago, they can ride this out. They can short it, they can buy crypto. They can do all kinds of wonderful things to make sure that they can ride this out. Regular people cannot ride this out.

    The dollar hit a six-month low. Layoffs have already started. Consumers are cutting back on spending. And by the way, the data is there. But also just talk to anybody. Just talk to anybody about how they feel about spending right now. And the likelihood of a recession went up 20 percent in a day. JPMorgan now says it’s more than 60 percent likely.

    So what is this even for? Why are people so freaked out? Why is the entire world, from friends and partners to adversaries and enemies, scrambling to retaliate against the United States, the indispensable nation? It’s so that Donald Trump can raise trillions of dollars in revenue to pay for the biggest tax cuts for billionaires in the history of the planet.

    Starting tomorrow, we’ll be paying more for everything – groceries, food, cars, homes, toys, electronics, everything that you buy. Estimates have home prices ballooning by almost $20,000 per unit. Cars will cost $6,000 more. An iPhone, 250 bucks more. Clothing prices will go up by roughly 20 percent. Also, what we’re going to be a textile manufacturer? That’s our goal as a country is to make t-shirts and socks?

    Workers will be laid off, but I guess it’ll all be worth it in the end because this is paid for. What does that mean? It means that in their big budget plan, they need to cut taxes for billionaires, but they don’t have enough money to finance that. And so they’re using tariff revenue to balance out the money that they’re going to shovel to a bunch of billionaires.

    Trump is very famous for having few firm, fixed political beliefs. He’s changed his mind about just about everything, but not on tariffs. He’s a self-proclaimed “tariff man.” He’s repeatedly said that the word tariff is the most beautiful word in the English language. And for years, he’s lavished praise on the 20th century tariffs, which, by the way, helped to deepen the Great Depression. So he’s very happy about all of this. Like there should be no mistaking this is what he intends to do. And this is one of the differences between Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0. He’s doing all the things. He’s actually going through with it. This is not mean tweets and like normal behavior. This is all of the crazy stuff he’s saying is now being effectuated as public policy, as economic policy, as fiscal policy. He’s going through with it. You can no longer be dismissive of these resistance types, these Democrats, these shrill, these partisans, these people who can’t keep their head on straight. These people who just want to punish Donald Trump for saying: “man, that guy is kind of crazy. He’s going to crash the economy.” He’s literally crashing the economy on purpose.

    The idea that other countries will just graciously pay the tariffs is a fantasy. Much like Trump’s claim that Mexico would pay for the wall. In reality, it’s American importers who pay the tariffs, and then they pass it on to consumers, which is exactly what happened the last time Trump tried to do this. Economists who studied the tariffs that Trump imposed during the first term on certain goods from China found that it was consumers. It was you that paid the price. So here’s roughly how it worked this time around. There’s going to be math involved here. If these tariffs are expected to raise $6 trillion, as Trump says, that would mean collecting something like $600 billion every year over the next ten years. Broken out by household people are looking at $5,000 a year in added costs.

    I bet you Donald Trump doesn’t know anyone personally. Maybe he’s met people, but like in terms of the people he hangs out with that he spends time with, that he likes that he works with, he probably doesn’t know anyone for whom $5,000 is an unmanageable, increased cost. But I know a lot of people like that. In fact, a lot of people in my home state are like that.

    They cannot absorb a $5,000 increase in the cost of everything. And that is before you consider the hundreds of thousands of lost jobs and the devastation of small businesses and farmers and others. One small business owner in Iowa put it this way, “Trump’s calling it Liberation Day. Maybe something like Liberation Day liberated from reality.” Farmer in Kansas agreed.

    “These tariffs are just absolutely bad news that caused the prices for everything that we buy to go up and the prices for everything that we sell to go down.” Everything that we buy is more expensive. Everything that we sell is cheaper. Does that sound like a smart economic plan?

    It’s bad news any way you cut it. But even worse, more confusing, more idiotic, more infuriating is when you look at how they arrived at these rates. These are not actually reciprocal tariffs. Reciprocal tariffs being like essentially country X assesses tariffs in the amount of 15 percent so we reciprocate. We do 15 percent back. This is how they did it.

    They used a one size fits all formula to remake the global trading system. They took our trade surplus with any given country. So the way you do it to do reciprocal tariffs is country X says 10 percent, we go back at 10 percent. What they did is say let’s take our trade surplus, which means what we export minus what we import divided by total exports. And then cut it in half. Why they didn’t cut it in a third? Why they didn’t, you know, do some coefficient other than 50 percent?  I don’t know, but it’s purely arbitrary. So we have an $18 billion trade deficit with Indonesia. We import $28 billion worth of goods from them. 17.9 divided by 28 is 64. Divide that by two and you get 34, which is surprise, surprise, exactly the rate that Trump set for Indonesia. Half of the differential between export exports and imports literally makes no sense. Like you’ve got a bunch of economists right, left and center going WTF? I cannot believe this is bad policy. But also it’s like childish, childish math.

    The White House formula is so bonkers at the same economist that pointed that it pointed to as the basis for the rationale immediately were critical: “they pulled two numbers out of thin air that perfectly cancel each other out. This type of reductionist analysis is very troubling and scares me,” said economics professor Anson Soderbery, whose paper the White House cited even their sources are saying, don’t use my name to justify this nonsense.

    Another economist said that the White House had misunderstood his research, which specifically cautioned against excessively high tariff rates like Trump’s. “Making rates higher is a bad idea for the United States. We use supercomputers to find the optimal tariffs. The Trump administration seems to have taken a bit of a shortcut here. Also, our results suggest that the EU should not be tariffs and yet they set high tariffs against them. Finally, our range of optimal tariffs are substantially lower than the ones the administration just announced.” So if you can believe it, we’re in a situation where economists are using supercomputers to find optimal tariff rates. While the president of the United States is using a formula. And I’m not exaggerating that a fifth grader could solve. Now, whether it’s the Signal chat or this formula, this administration’s incompetence is on display every day.

    It’s why we now have tariffs in places like Herd Island and McDonald Island, where there are no living human beings, only penguins. Or, as the New York Times noted, “Trump’s decision to put a 32 percent tariff on Switzerland stunned politicians and business leaders in the alpine country. Switzerland has an open trade policy and recently abolished all industrial tariffs.” It’s not reciprocal. If they’re not tariffing us. For countries like Brazil, where we have a trade surplus, they still slap 10 percent. Israel reduced their tariffs to zero, still got the 10 percent. This is not a case of a bunch of Democrats crying wolf just to warn the Republicans. The markets are speaking. They are terrified. And this isn’t about a bunch of billionaire corporations and their profitability.

    This is about the ability for people to pay for college. This is about the ability for people to retire with dignity and comfort. Trillions of dollars of wealth are being demolished. These are everyday people panicked about how much more expensive their next trip to Walmart or Costco will be, or when they’ll lose their job. People are already stockpiling supplies. Shortly after Trump’s announcement, JPMorgan described the impact of the tariffs over the next few months like this. “On a static basis, today’s announcement would raise just under 400 billion in revenue, or about 1.3 percent of GDP, which would be the largest tax increase since 1968. The resulting hit to purchasing power could take real disposable personal income growth in the second and third quarters into negative territory, and with it, the risk that real consumer spending could also contract in these quarters. This impact alone could take the economy perilously close to slipping into a recession.”

    Now countries are already responding. So it’s not like this is a static situation which can’t get worse because the retaliations are going on. And this idea that all this is just a leverage play, look, there’s 200 countries that we have some sort of trading arrangement with and Donald Trump is very unpopular so asking a leader of a country or a parliament of a country to waive their tariffs at the end, at the end of a economic gun because Trump is bullying them. It’s like not good domestic politics for them. The best domestic politics for them is to stand up to Donald Trump’s bullying. And that’s bad for all of us. We’re not going to wave our way through 194 trading partners.

    China just imposed a 34 percent reciprocal tariff for our 54 percent tariff on Chinese goods. And in a truly bizarre turn of events, we forced our allies and adversaries to try to find ways to work together. Earlier this week, for the first time in years, China, Japan and South Korea discuss possible of working together on free trade as a response to Donald John Trump.

    This is the most shocking image. This red line continuing to go down precipitously, but among the other most shocking images, there’s a picture of high leaders from Korea… first of all, Korea and Japan are in a better place now. But they are, you know, there have been some diplomatic challenges over the decades and the generations, but they’re in a reasonably good place.

    So just to see them shaking hands is a big deal. But to see them shaking hands, literally holding hands with a high official from China to indicate they’re in this together against us. So it is true that Donald Trump is uniting the world. The problem is he’s uniting the world against us.

    Look, there is a. Real objective here that we’ve been working on for the last four, eight years. And whether it’s chips or it’s cars or it’s clean energy, we’ve actually increased the amount of domestic manufacturing in the United States of America with good industrial policy and targeted trade policy. But this is mayhem. This is mayhem. John Kennedy, the current senator from Louisiana, said it exactly right. He said tariffs are like whiskey. A little bit can be refreshing, can be useful too much – I’m paraphrasing – very bad things happen. Very bad things are happening.

    In the time I took to deliver these remarks, probably some number of tens of billions of dollars of additional wealth from working people was just wiped out. And I want to make one final point, and this is the most important point Republicans can and should stop this, with an exception of maybe 3 or 4 members, almost every Republican senator hates tariffs.

    The question is whether they will stand up to Donald Trump, who has taken this decidedly protectionist, anti-market, super harmful direction. But all we need Republicans are in charge of the Senate is for them to exert their constitutionally given authority over the assessing of tariffs. There is bipartisan momentum in that space. But we are not there because what I’m reading and what I’m hearing is they’re willing to give this a couple of months and let me give you a bunch of free advice to my Republican friends.

    If you’re going to stand up to him in two months, do it now.

    Your people are suffering. People are being laid off. People are about, by the way, most of people, most of what is happening in terms of Trump’s plummeting popularity is what they are seeing on their screens. But in the next week or so, it’s not what they’re seeing in their screens. It’s what they’re seeing when they try to buy something.

    It’s what they’re seeing amongst their friends who are being laid off. This is about to get very real, and I advise you against my own political interests, but in the country’s interests, if you’re going to stand up to him in June, my God, do it now. I yield the floor.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz Statement On Voting Against Senate Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after voting against the Republican Senate budget resolution.

    “Tonight, Senate Republicans voted to give even more money to billionaires while slashing programs that help regular people get by—things like Medicaid, food assistance, and education. Working families are struggling with rising costs, but instead of offering real solutions, Republicans are trying to take away the support people count on—just to fund more tax cuts for the ultrawealthy.

    “And to make matters worse, Donald Trump’s new tariffs are already sending shockwaves through the economy. The stock market is tumbling, prices are going up, and working families are the ones who’ll get hit hardest. It’s chaos, and Republicans are doubling down with a budget that makes things even worse.

    “We will continue to fight for an economy where everyone—not just the wealthiest few—has a fair shot. The American people deserve better than this billionaire-first budget.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Sanders Call On Trump To Release Ozturk, Khalil, & All Those Targeted For Political Activities Protected By First Amendment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 04, 2025

    Durbin, Sanders to Trump: “Ideas are not illegal, and there is no controversial speech exception to the First Amendment. No president should be allowed to exclude or remove people from our country simply because they disagree with their political speech.”

    WASHINGTON – Following the arrests of Rumeysa Ozturk, Mahmoud Khalil, and reports of numerous other students, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today called on President Donald Trump to release all those targeted solely for political activities protected by the First Amendment and immediately terminate all removal proceedings against those individuals. 

    “We understand Ms. Ozturk’s case to be a part of a pattern of retaliatory action to punish lawful immigrant and foreign students for publicly expressing opinions that your Administration opposes.  This effort threatens the fundamental right to engage in free speech and expression under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the Senators wrote in a letter to President Trump.

    On March 6, the State Department reportedly began a “Catch and Revoke” initiative to use artificial intelligence to review the social media accounts of lawful immigrant and foreign students and revoke their green cards or visas, giving immigration enforcement authorities a basis to detain and deport them. To justify the arrest and detention of Mr. Khalil, Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked a rarely used authority that allows him to deport a noncitizen for “beliefs, statements, or associations” if he “personally determines” that there is a “compelling foreign policy interest” for such deportation.  

    “Congress intended for this authority to ‘be used sparingly and not merely because there is a likelihood that [a noncitizen] will make critical remarks about the United States or its policies.’ Yet, federal agents have arrested noncitizens (including lawful permanent residents) around the country in retaliation for political affiliations or activity,” the Senators wrote. “Secretary Rubio admitted that he has revoked the visas of hundreds of students for First-Amendment protected speech that is disfavored by the current Administration.”   

    Their letter continues, “Ideas are not illegal, and there is no controversial speech exception to the First Amendment. No president should be allowed to exclude or remove people from our country simply because they disagree with their political speech.”

    Their letter concludes, “No one is above the law, and even you must uphold and respect the fundamental American values of free speech and political dissent.”

    Full text of today’s letter is available here and below:

    April 4, 2025

    Dear President Trump:

    Last week, Tufts University Ph.D. candidate Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested and placed in an unmarked car by unknown agents in plainclothes—some masked—claiming to be police.  The agents did not identify themselves or give Ms. Ozturk any information for her arrest and detention.   By the time a judge could issue an order to keep her in Massachusetts, she had been transferred to an immigration detention facility in Louisiana.  We understand Ms. Ozturk’s case to be a part of a pattern of retaliatory action to punish lawful immigrant and foreign students for publicly expressing opinions that your Administration opposes.  This effort threatens the fundamental right to engage in free speech and expression under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

    On March 6, the State Department reportedly began a “Catch and Revoke” initiative to use artificial intelligence to review the social media accounts of lawful immigrant and foreign students and revoke their green cards or visas, giving immigration enforcement authorities a basis to detain and deport them.   On March 8, federal authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University and lawful permanent resident.   White House officials made clear that he broke no laws, and Mr. Khalil was not issued any official notice explaining why he was subject to removal until after his arrest.   To justify his arrest and detention, Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked a rarely used authority that allows him to deport a noncitizen for “beliefs, statements, or associations” if he “personally determines” that there is a “compelling foreign policy interest” for such deportation.  

    Congress intended for this authority to “be used sparingly and not merely because there is a likelihood that [a noncitizen] will make critical remarks about the United States or its policies.”   Yet, federal agents have arrested noncitizens (including lawful permanent residents) around the country in retaliation for political affiliations or activity. Secretary Rubio admitted that he has revoked the visas of hundreds of students for First-Amendment protected speech that is disfavored by the current Administration.   

    The First Amendment protects both citizens and noncitizens in the United States from being targeted by the government for their political speech, even if we strongly disagree with their views.   Noncitizens like Mr. Khalil and Ms. Ozturk have the constitutional right to freedom of expression, including taking part in demonstrations and publicly expressing opinions critical of government policy. 

    Ideas are not illegal, and there is no controversial speech exception to the First Amendment.  No president should be allowed to exclude or remove people from our country simply because they disagree with their political speech.  In the words of Justice Robert H. Jackson, “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion […].”  

    We call on you to abandon this effort, release all those targeted solely for political activities protected by the First Amendment, and immediately terminate all removal proceedings against those individuals.  No one is above the law, and even you must uphold and respect the fundamental American values of free speech and political dissent.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans Advancing Their Plan To Cut Medicaid & Social Security In Order To Pay For Tax Cuts For Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    April 05, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding Senate Republicans advancing their budget resolution, which proposes cuts to Medicaid, the Social Security Administration (SSA), veterans’ benefits, and more to pay for tax cuts for billionaires:

    “Last night, Senate Democrats were on the Senate floor fighting for working families one amendment at a time while Republicans struck down each one. Their message was clear: Let’s give billionaires a tax break and have everyday Americans pay for it by slashing Medicaid, Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and more.

    “If Republicans continue to push forward with their cruel and unpopular budget resolution, working families will lose and billionaires will win. It is simple and devastating math.”

    House Republicans have proposed $880 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program in order to pay for President Trump’s tax cuts for billionaires, and Senate Republicans have similarly put this program in the crosshairs. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program provide health coverage to approximately 80 million people nationwide—including nearly 40 million kids, or nearly half of all children in America, as well as 60 percent of seniors in nursing homes. In addition, Medicaid is the largest funder of addiction and mental health treatment.

    In Illinois, 3.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid, including 1.5 million children. In Illinois, Medicaid covers nearly half of all births, two-thirds of nursing home residents, the majority of patients with behavioral health needs, and is a lifeline for children’s and rural hospitals. Under Republican plans to slash Medicaid, 775,000 adults in Illinois who gained health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act could lose coverage almost overnight.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Crapo Statement on Senate Passage of FY 2025 Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Published: April 05, 2025

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Senate agreed to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget Resolution by a vote of 51–48.
    “Republicans are committed to restoring the economic prosperity experienced under President Trump’s first term.  This budget resolution lays the groundwork to prevent an over-$4 trillion tax hike on American families and businesses; to make those tax cuts permanent, providing the certainty businesses need to make long-term investments and the stability families need as they save for the future; and to provide additional middle-class tax relief.  It unlocks the process to implement serious spending reforms, acknowledging that the best way to address our deficit is not to tax hardworking Americans more—it is to spend less.  I look forward to continuing our work in the coming weeks to quickly deliver on President Trump’s pro-growth economic agenda.”
    READ: Crapo: Republicans are United in Delivering Trump’s Pro-Growth Agenda
    READ: FY 2025 Budget Resolution will Deliver Permanent Tax Relief, Spur Economic Growth and Restore Fiscal Order

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo: Republicans are United in Delivering Trump’s Pro-Growth Agenda

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) discussed the Senate’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget Resolution that lays the groundwork to make permanent and build on the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, ensuring American families can keep more of their hard-earned money and stop financing Washington’s spending problem.
    As Chairman of the Finance Committee, Crapo explained that the resolution’s instructions would unlock the ability for Congress to prevent a more-than $4 trillion tax hike on American families and businesses, provide certainty and predictability by making the Trump Tax Cuts permanent, and deliver additional middle-class tax relief. 
    Crapo also emphasized Republicans’ commitment to restoring fiscal sanity by achieving deficit reduction, noting that spending reforms are the best way to achieve that goal, not imposing the largest tax hike in our country’s history. 

    Full remarks as delivered:
    “The problem that we have in America is not that our taxes are too low, but that our spending is too high.
    “Republicans are unified in delivering—as President Trump calls it—one big, beautiful bill for the American people. 
    “But what does this bill include?
    “The FY 2025 Budget Resolution fulfills promises to secure America’s borders, increase our national defense, unleash our energy potential and finally start to get our fiscal house in order. 
    “I agree completely with my colleague – we have got to reduce our spending and this bill contains a target with a minimum floor of $2 trillion in spending reduction in our federal budget. 
    “Importantly, it also lays the groundwork to make permanent and build on the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts so that American families can keep more of their hard-earned money and stop financing Washington’s spending problem.
    “Our conference is united in preventing an over-$4 trillion tax hike on American families and businesses and delivering additional tax relief to those who have suffered under four years of inflation.
    “We are united in making this proven tax policy permanent to provide the certainty that businesses need to make the long-term investments that drive growth, and the stability that families need as they save and plan for the future.
    “We are also unified in our resolve to restore fiscal sanity and know that the best way to do so isn’t to tax hardworking Americans more—it’s to spend less.
    “While many tend to focus on the policy disagreements that occur—as they should—in these halls, the reality is Republicans are completely unified in delivering on President Trump’s agenda, a major portion of which is to restore the economic prosperity experienced under his previous presidency.
    “Let’s just look back for a minute at the bill we’re trying to extend and make permanent now.
    “Most Americans don’t pay attention to the minutia of tax policy.  But if you ask them, the majority will tell you they’d rather keep more of their money than let the government spend it, and that’s exactly what the 2017 tax cuts did.
    “Those Trump Tax Cuts lowered tax rates for the overwhelming majority of Americans, simplified the tax code, and encouraged companies to do business in the United States instead of abroad.
    “In addition to lowering rates across the board, it provided targeted tax relief to middle-class working families by doubling the standard deduction and the child tax credit, and to small businesses by providing a new 20 percent deduction, enabling America’s entrepreneurs to create new jobs, increase workers’ wages and reinvest in their business.
    “The majority of benefits from the Trump Tax Cuts, contrary from what you’ve heard today from the other side, flowed to working middle-class families—the bottom 50 percent of earners received the largest reduction in average tax rates at 17.3 percent. 
    “Contrary to claims that the benefits were only for ‘billionaires and corporations,’ the Trump Tax Cuts actually made the tax code even more progressive.  Meaning that the highest income earners now pay a greater share of all income taxes than they did before, and if we can extend this tax cut, that will continue to be the case.
    “The generational reforms we made in 2017 were designed to strengthen investment, boost economic growth, increase take-home pay and reduce poverty, and it worked.
    “Not only did taxpayers keep more of their hard-earned money, but a growing economy powered median household income to an all-time high.
    “The labor market improved, workers saw record wage growth and the unemployment rate fell dramatically to 3.5 percent—the lowest in 50 years. 
    “And the lowest-income workers experienced the largest wage growth.
    “There was a capital formation explosion in the United States, and corporate inversions—corporations leaving America—became a thing of the past as companies came back home and America became the place to do business again.
    “All Americans reaped the benefits of a booming economy. 
    “Extending this current, proven tax policy—and building on it—is the best way to restore economic prosperity and opportunity for working families, many of whom are still struggling to recover from the historic inflation of the last four years.
    “Tonight, I expect we’ll hear once again the ‘politics of fear’ at work as my Democrat colleagues claim all sorts of dire things will happen so that Republicans can cut taxes for the wealthy. 
    “This attack has been used for nearly a decade, and it’s just as false now as it has been in the past.
    “Americans should not be scared by these falsehoods. 
    “What they should be alarmed by is what my colleagues and I are committed to preventing: the largest tax hike in history that will occur if we do not extend the current Trump’s Tax Cuts.
    “Middle-class Americans and small businesses will pay the highest price. 
    “If the tax cuts expire:
    There will be a $4+ trillion tax hike on all Americans.
    More than $2.6 trillion of that tax increase will hit people who earn less than $400,000 per year.
    The average American household will see a more-than $1,700 increase in their tax bill.
    An over $600 billion tax increase on more than 20 million small business owners, who could face rates as high as 43.4 percent. 
    Families would have their child tax credit slashed in half from $2,000 to $1,000.
    The standard deduction, claimed by over 90 percent of taxpayers, would be cut in half.
    The economic cost has been estimated to be 6 million jobs; $540 billion in employee compensation, and $1.1 trillion of GDP.
    “Republicans are united in our efforts to prevent these damaging consequences.
    “Not only are we focused on extending these proven tax policies, but we are committed to making this growth in our economy permanent so that we don’t have to face these dire consequences in the future. 
    “Permanent tax policies promote stability and lead to more pronounced economic effects than temporary ones. 
    “Making the Trump Tax Cuts permanent will provide businesses the certainty and stability they need to make the long-term investments that drive growth, accelerate productivity and increase prosperity across all segments of the economy.
    “Studies find that a permanent extension of TCJA would increase long-run GDP by 1.1 percent and increase after-tax income for Americans of all income levels. 
    “Making the small-business deduction alone permanent is estimated to create 1.2 million jobs annually over the first ten years, increasing to 2.4 million in the long run.
    “The President’s Council of Economic Advisers just released an analysis that says extending the Trump Tax Cuts, combined with other pro-growth economic policies that we are pursuing, would:
    Boost the level of short-run real GDP by 3.3 to 3.8 percent and long-run real GDP by 2.6 to 3.2 percent;
    Raise annual real wages by $2,100 to $3,300 per worker;
    Increase real annual take-home pay for a median-income household with two children by roughly $4,000 to $5,000;
    Save over 4 million full-time equivalent jobs from being destroyed; and
    Facilitate $100 billion of investment in distressed communities.
    “That analysis also projects that extending these tax cuts, ’together with the full suite of Trump Administration policies—such as deregulation, which the CEA previously estimated would add 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points to real GDP growth rates over a decade—is expected to result in 3.0 percent annual real GDP growth rates over the next 10 years.’ 
    “Now what does that mean?
    “According to CEA, that 3.0 percent annual real GDP growth will result in $4.1 trillion in additional revenue to the Treasury to help us deal with our national debt.
    “$4.1 trillion dollars.
    “To unleash that growth, the best way to make these tax cuts permanent is by using a current policy baseline: this is the scoring method that more accurately reflects reality. 
    “The average American easily understands there is a difference between a tax increase and a spending cut. 
    “However, there’s an inherent bias in Congress’s scoring process where tax policy is treated differently than spending policy. 
    “If tax rates are scheduled to increase, like they are right now if we don’t act, preventing that tax hike is counted as a ‘cost’ in uncollected future revenue. 
    “But many spending programs are assumed to be extended beyond their expiration, so the spending just continues and continues, unabated, which the budget rules say do not have any cost.  That’s what we’re trying to fix today in this bill.
    “In fact, there is $2.5 trillion in spending that is automatically extended by our budget rules over the next ten years under a current policy baseline.
    “Even the Obama White House has used a current policy baseline for tax policy. They recognized there’s a difference between increasing taxes and cutting spending.
    “In 2013, they argued that a ‘current policy baseline to be the appropriate reference point, since it measures changes relative to the status quo, rather than the mix of expiring provisions and policy changes that would likely never be implemented.’
    “Interpreted, what they said is exactly what I’ve been saying.  You can’t say that just keeping the tax rates where they are and not raising them is the same as spending more money.
    “We need to level the playing field and sever the connection that creates a tax-and-spend budgeting process in Congress.
    “And that’s another thing that we’re going to do today.
    “Critics—who have been strangely silent over the years as trillions of dollars in spending has been automatically extended under a current policy baseline—now take offense to correcting the bias toward forcing federal spending. 
    “As applied only to tax policy, those critics assert that we’ll be increasing the deficit by using a current policy baseline, or we’re using this baseline to ‘hide the cost.’
    “Let me be very clear: we are not hiding the score that JCT or CBO would assign the bill under a current law baseline.  In fact, I like to see that score – it shows the amount of the tax increase that my colleagues on the other side are trying to push onto the American people.
    “But let’s be fully transparent—both an estimate based on current policy and one based on current law will be released when we consider this bill on the Senate floor, and then Americans can see what kind of savings have been given to them by not raising their taxes.
    “Under our existing tax regime, the tax revenue to GDP ratio this year will be 17.1 percent, meaning we will raise taxes for the federal Treasury—under our current tax policy—at about 17.1 percent of GDP.  It will also be about the same next year if we don’t let the taxes go up, meaning that the revenue will not appreciably change.
    “Yet my colleagues on the other side say it’s going to spike a hole in the deficit—why? Because they won’t get their hands on that $4 trillion of new tax revenue out of the American people.
    “This would not increase the debt relative to GDP; it would simply prevent a tax increase. 
    “And we need to be honest about what those tax increases would and would not do. 
    “Those who say we should let taxes go back up say, ‘Wow, then we could use it to pay down the national debt some more.’
    “Every tax increase that Congress has adopted for as long as I can remember was not used to pay down the national debt; it was used by Congress to spend more money.
    “Congress does not have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem.
    “Senate Republicans are united in our desire to take concrete steps to address our deficit and get our fiscal house in order.
    “Because the bill we’re debating today is within the confines of reconciliation, the scores and numbers that we’ll be discussing don’t reflect the full fiscal picture.
    “In order to have an honest discussion, there needs to be an acknowledgment that there are other factors at play that can generate economic growth and reductions in spending.
    “What am I talking about?  Economic growth.  As I indicated in one of the charts that we had up, the estimates from the CEA are that if we make the tax policy permanent, the confidence that will give our economy and the boost it will give our economy through proper tax incentive policy will grow the economy by as much as $4 trillion to the federal treasury.
    “The President is also directly impacting government spending through his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency, aggressively cutting waste, fraud and abuse from our government programs.
    “Spending on federal government programs has ballooned in recent years.  We have a responsibility to evaluate these spending increases to ensure these programs work efficiently and effectively for everyone.  
    “The President has also undertaken, and will likely pursue more, deregulation efforts, which have as big of an impact on revenues and economic growth as tax policy does, and we should recognize that.
    “The bottom line is, in addition to the actions that Congress can take, there are activities that the President is currently engaged in that will impact our fiscal policy by either reducing spending or increasing revenue, and we should take those into consideration.
    “Congress must begin the process of restoring fiscal sanity by achieving deficit reduction, and spending reforms are the best way to achieve that goal. 
    “In contrast, imposing the largest tax hike in our country’s history would be counterproductive by easing the glide path for even more spending.
    “We will be having a very robust debate in the weeks ahead about the best way to deliver on President Trump’s agenda, and I look forward to those discussions.
    “This budget resolution unlocks the process to allow us to strengthen our national security, secure our borders, permanently extend the Trump Tax Cuts and provide additional middle-class tax relief.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SUNDAY SHOWS: President Trump’s Bold Vision for Economic Prosperity

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    This morning, officials from the Trump Administration took to the networks to outline President Donald J. Trump’s reciprocal trade plan as he ends the globalist policies of economic destruction that have shipped American jobs and industries overseas at the expense of American workers.
    Here’s what you missed:
    Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent on Meet the Press
    On tariffs during President Trump’s first term: “A 20% tariff on China led to a 0.7% price level increase over four years. I think that’s pretty good — if we can take in 20% in tariffs and it’s a 0.7% increase … Households saw real net wages go up, so if wages go up faster than prices — which is not what happened over the past four years.”
    On making goods in America: “We saw during COVID that [our] supply chains are not resilient … President Trump has decided that we cannot be at risk like that for our crucial medicines, for our semiconductors, for shipping.”
    Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Face the Nation
    On trade as an issue of national security: “We don’t make medicine in this country anymore. We don’t make ships. We don’t have enough steel and aluminum to fight a battle … We got to stop having all the countries of the world ripping us off.”
    On trade imbalances: “In 1980, we were a net investor, meaning we owned more of the rest of the world than they owned of us — and now, they own $18 trillion of us, net … Eventually, we’re not going to own America and we are going to be owned by the rest of the world.”
    National Economic Director Kevin Hassett on This Week
    On so-called free trade: “China entered the WTO in 2000. In the 15 years that followed, real incomes declined about $1,200 cumulatively over that time … We got the cheap goods at the grocery store, but then we had fewer jobs.”
    Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on State of the Union
    On using tariffs to level the playing field: “This whole concept is about rebuilding an American economy around American goods, around American industry … Mexico won’t take our corn. Australia won’t take our beef … It is time for a change.”
    On the EU’s refusal to take American ag exports: “They are using fake science and unsubstantiated claims to not take our products … We produce the safest, the most secure, the best food in the world.”
    On the agricultural trade deficit: “In the last four years, the cost of inputs for our farmers went up 30%. In the last four years, we had an agricultural export deficit that increased from zero when President Trump left to $49 billion.”
    Attorney General Pam Bondi on Fox News Sunday
    On lawfare: “Just since January 20th, we’ve had over 170 lawsuits filed against us. That should be the constitutional crisis right there — 50 injunctions … trying to control his executive power.”
    Senior Counselor Peter Navarro on Sunday Morning Futures
    On the need for tariffs: “It’s all these things that these foreign countries do that are designed, explicitly, to cheat us, and are sanctioned by the WTO. So, President Trump says, ‘No more’ … We’re headed towards a strong America that makes things again.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: STANDING WITH 9/11 ADVOCATES, SCHUMER & GILLIBRAND DEMAND TRUMP ADMIN FULLY RESTORE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM STAFF & STOP PLAYING DANGEROUS GAMES; RECENT FIRINGS JEOPARDIZE HEALTHCARE; MORE…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    The World Trade Center Health Program Provides Services For Roughly 137,000 Sickened 9/11 First Responders & Other Survivors & Heroes Across Nation; Trump Admin Keeps Playing Games With Staff, The Program – And The People Who Need Care; Schumer & Gillibrand Say It Must End NOW
    Two Days Ago, Another 16 WTCHP Staff Members Fired On Top Of Earlier Cuts At NIOSH; Continuity Of Care At Risk; Schumer & Gillibrand Have Worked For Years To Fund & Fortify The Program So Heroes Can Live Their Lives; Now, Trump Admin Is Delivering Total Chaos, Even As Some Downplay This Is All Just A “Mistake”
    Schumer, Gillibrand to Trump: Clean Up The Mess You Made & Fully Restore Every Aspect Of The Successful 9/11 Health Program—Now  
    As chaos swirls regarding the future of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), made worse in recent days with a slew of contradicting public information, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand stood with 9/11 community leaders and demanded the Trump administration fully restore key staff for the World Trade Center Health Program and stop playing dangerous games. Schumer said that in the matter of days, some have said this torrent of chaos—essential NIOSH and WTCHP firings and staff cuts—are an innocent ‘mistake,’ all while people are still being fired.
    Schumer, today, said these actions by President Trump are not accidents. Schumer said that these actions appear to be very real choices—bad ones that hurt New York and our 9/11 heroes.
    “It is revolting that President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, Secretary of Health and Human Services, fired staffers at the World Trade Center Health Program, including its administrator, Dr. John Howard, a Trump appointee who has dedicated his life to serving 9/11 families and who’s respected by all sides of the aisle. Even with the apparent return of Dr. Howard, President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are effectively working to shut the World Trade Center Health Program down. This is the third time this has happened so it’s pretty clear these are not “mistakes.” Some of the Trump supporters who care about the 9/11 program are saying it’s a mistake. It seems clear it’s on purpose, so today we are demanding real action,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
    “The uncertainty surrounding the WTCHP is dangerous and unacceptable for the thousands of 9/11 responders and survivors who risked their lives in our nation’s darkest hour,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Trump administration is using our nation’s heroes as political pawns while critical questions surrounding the program’s funding and staffing cuts remain. This is completely unacceptable and disrespectful to the 9/11 responders and survivors who protected our nation when we were under attack and are now suffering from life-threatening health ramifications from that day.” 
    “In the past 24 years since September 11th, 2001 the FDNY has lost 398 heroes to World Trade Center illnesses, and thousands more continue to suffer the effects of their toxic exposure, even with the excellent efforts of the WTC Health Care Programs many more will be lost. These last two interruptions to the program; although reversed, should never have occurred. In December the WTC Health Care Program Funding Correction Bill was agreed upon by a bi-partisan effort and was going to ensure the program would be funded until 2040. That bill was taken out of the Continuing Resolution and it was never restored. This Administration needs to make it a top priority that this bill gets passed as soon as possible, so that America can fulfill its promise to ‘Never Forget’ those who suffer and die now, because they answered the call 24 years ago,” said President Andrew Ansbro of UFA, Uniformed Firefighters Association.
    “The cuts to NIOSH & the CDC which directly affect the WTC Health Program tear the program to its core and will directly affect the tens of thousands of responders and survivors who depend on the program to stay alive and is a potential death sentence to those Responders and Survivors who will become sick in the days, months and years to follow from exposure to the toxic dust,” said Gary Smiley of FDNY EMS Local 2507, Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics & Fire Inspectors, WTC Liaison.
    “The World Trade Center Health Program must be made whole, it must be fully funded and this program must stay off the table for any future cuts,” said Sean Michael, FDNY Battalion Chief, Uniformed Fire Officers Association Board Member.
    “While the reinstatement of Dr John Howard as administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program is good news, this is only the first step in repairing the damage that is being done. All of the other staff of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), the CDC and NIOSH staff that support and work on behalf of 9/11 responders and survivors need to be restored immediately. Right now, the treatment of sick and injured 9/11 responders and survivors is being impacted by these staff cuts, despite what Secretary Kennedy is saying,” said Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act. 
    “I want to thank our Senators for their steadfast leadership. I want to thank Congressman Garbarino for his passion and commitment to help restore Dr. Howard’s job. And I understand they want to thank the administration for restoring Dr. Howard but I sort of think it is like thanking the arsonist who started the fire. Secretary Kennedy has been disingenuous and contradicted himself. The Secretary said no impact on care but that is a LIE! Proof that he is grossly unqualified for title of HSS Secretary. The 21-year-old DOGE frat kids use AI to do these cuts and firings. Last time I checked real people with real illnesses worked on the pile or lived, worked or went to school in lower Manhattan,” said John Feal, 9/11 Advocate.  
    “This is a life or death situation, not the time to be playing musical chairs at HHS. The government can call all the pauses it wants to. 9/11 related cancer isn’t gonna listen and won’t stop coming. The WTC staff must be restored now,” said Mariama James, WTCHP participant.
    “None of these cuts have anything to do with efficiency. This is MAGA extremism pure and simple that hurts our brave first responders and others, who risked life and limb on 9/11, who rushed to the towers. They’re suffering, they’re getting cancers from the chemicals they breathed in when they ran to the towers to help protect us. Do you want to cut that help off to these heroes? How un-American can that be? How vicious, how nasty, how callous,” Schumer added.
    Schumer and Gillibrand urged an end to these ‘games,’ and said that the WTCHP saves lives, and that recent firings and overall funding threats raise more questions than answers for New York and the nation. The senators said that this chaos is a dereliction of duty by the federal government, a disservice that must be reversed, so that the 9/11 health program, its staff, the federal government and the amazing medical professionals can all do their jobs: save lives. Schumer and Gillibrand said that they will not rest until this chaos is over. 9/11 advocates like John Feal, Sean Michael, Tom Hart, Andrew Ansbro, Gary Smiley and Mariama James all spoke, as well.
    On Friday, amid NIOSH firings that included critical staff, and Dr. John Howard, Newsday reported that sixteen World Trade Center Health Program employees received notices that they could lose their jobs in the Health and Human Services Department’s downsizing, ‘despite promises the program’s staff would not be reduced.’ Benjamin Chevat, executive director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, told Newsday Friday that he learned that 16 of the current 86 WTC Health Program staff members had been put on notice that they are in line to be dismissed.
    The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) provides critical medical treatment, research, and monitoring to over 137,000 responders and survivors of the September 11th terrorist attacks, living in every state and nearly every Congressional district. The WTCHP serves first responders and survivors from the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This vital program provides life-saving care to the heroes who answered the call to serve in one of our nation’s darkest hours and the survivors who are forced to live with the health consequences from the attacks every single day. 
    Schumer and Gillibrand worked to establish the WTCHP on a bipartisan basis in 2011 with a five-year authorization to provide medical treatment and monitoring for 9/11 responders and survivors suffering from the effects of the toxins at Ground Zero. They worked to reauthorize the program in 2015 and extended through 2090 with bipartisan support. In 2022, Schumer and Gillibrand delivered $1 billion for the WTCHP in the end-of-year spending bill, and in 2023, they secured an additional $676 million for the program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Statement on Passing of Phil Johnston

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Boston (April 6, 2025) — Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on the passing of Massachusetts’s Philip “Phil” W. Johnston. 

    “Politics was Phil Johnston’s lifeblood, but he had the soul of a social worker,” said Senator Markey. “Phil’s accolades were many and well-deserved — as chair of the state Democratic Party, as the longest serving head of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, and as a universally respected state legislator. But it was in the time he spent individually with those who approached him for help, offering counsel, a lead on a job, or additional resources for their family or situation, where his greatest gifts were on display. He was selfless with his time and attention, gaining as much from learning about a person’s interests and challenges as they from the assistance he provided. He brought joy and humor to every conversation, as well as reassurance and comfort in times of pain or uncertainty. No problem or person was too small, nor was any challenge too great for Phil’s creativity, compassion, and dedication.  

    “My deepest condolences go out to Phil’s beloved wife, Beverly, his children, Ellen and Robert, and his cherished granddaughter, Priscilla, of whom he beamed with unending love and pride. The entire Johnston family is in my prayers.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senate Republicans Block Senator Markey’s Amendment to Protect Social Security Phone Service

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Watch: Senator Markey slams Republican attempts to make accessing Social Security benefits more difficult for seniors

    Washington (April 6, 2025) – On April 4, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) forced Republicans to vote on preserving phone services at the Social Security Administration so seniors can continue to access their earned benefits. Republicans voted down the amendment from passing. Below is an excerpt from Senator Markey’s remarks on protecting Social Security phone service:

    “Ten days from now, the DOGE chainsaw is threatening to cut phone services at the Social Security Administration. This Administration is proposing to force Grandma and Grandpa to go online or drive long distances to a field office – if it is still open – just to access their earned benefits. And why is this happening? Because of the lie that Social Security is rife with fraud.

    “Republicans haven’t been able to destroy Social Security yet, and we’re not going to let Trump, Musk, or their billionaire buddies succeed in destroying Social Security with lies, cuts, and cruelty. We will NOT neglect the promise we made – and we will preserve security and dignified retirement for everyone.”

    Senator Markey is fighting to protect Social Security benefits for current and future generations. On March 28, Senator Markey hosteda press conference in Boston to spotlight how the Trump administration’s attempts to gut Social Security impact Massachusetts residents. In February 2025, Senator Markey led his colleagues in a letter to Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) urging them to provide at least $15.402 billion for the Social Security Administration in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, allowing for full and timely implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, while improving customer service.

    Senator Markey is an original cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by President Biden in January 2025. TheSocial Security Fairness Act repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which had reduced benefits for 3.2 million public servants. As a member of the House of Representatives in 1983, Markey was one of a handful of Democrats to vote against the Social Security Reform Act, which created WEP/GPO. Senator Markey is an original cosponsor of the Social Security Expansion Act to protect and expand Social Security benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Momentum Growing: Large and Small Business Orgs Line Up Behind Bipartisan Cantwell Trade Bill Due to Concerns Costs on Consumer Goods Will Rise, She Announces On Face the Nation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    04.06.25

    Momentum Growing: Large and Small Business Orgs Line Up Behind Bipartisan Cantwell Trade Bill Due to Concerns Costs on Consumer Goods Will Rise, She Announces On Face the Nation

    70% of U.S. GDP is consumer spending – new tariffs and falling consumer confidence will shrink the economy, not grow it

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced on CBS’s Face the Nation that nine major U.S. business organizations have endorsed her new bipartisan legislation that would reassert Congress’ role in overseeing trade and roll back the president’s ability to unilaterally impose tariffs.

    “Organizations who know their bread and butter comes from consumer spending, which is a big part of our economy … are very anxious about a plan,” said Sen. Cantwell.

    “Consumers are saying: ‘How is this helping me in a time of inflation? You are adding to my costs with a tax on my consumer goods.’ And so I think that’s why we are gaining support from these organizations today.”

    These organizations have announced their support for the legislation; statements by most are below:

    1. Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
    2. Retail Industry Leaders Association
    3. American Apparel & Footwear Association
    4. USA Pulses Coalition
    5. Outdoor Industry Association
    6. Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
    7. Main Street Alliance
    8. Washington Council on International Trade
    9. Washington Distillers Guild

    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s appearance on Face the Nation can be found HERE, audio HERE and a transcript HERE.

    The bipartisan Trade Review Act currently has a total of 14 co-sponsors – seven Democrats and seven Republicans.

    Statements of Support for Trade Review Act:

    Consumer Technology Association

    “The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) applauds Senators Maria Cantwell and Chuck Grassley for introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025 at this deeply concerning time when tariffs are about to destroy the U.S. economy. This bipartisan legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring that tariffs and trade policies are established transparently and democratically. By requiring the President to explain the reasoning and impacts of new tariffs to Congress within 48 hours and setting a 60-day expiration unless explicitly approved by Congress, this act reaffirms Congress’ essential role in shaping U.S. trade policy.  This is a necessary step by the Congress to reclaim its constitutional authority on trade from the executive branch.  We urge Senators in both parties to sponsor and pass it.” — Ed Brzytwa, Vice President of International Trade, CTA

    Retail Industry Leaders Association

    “Congress is vested by the Constitution with the power to levy taxes and it should play an integral role in deciding what tariffs are imposed to protect American industry and families. Tariffs are taxes and have the potential to hit family budgets hard by pushing up prices on clothes, school supplies, food and other household goods. By one estimate, the tariffs announced yesterday will cost the average American family a staggering $2,100. We applaud Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell for introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, an important step for Congress in upholding its Constitutional role in tax and trade policy. The nation’s leading retailers urge Congress to pass this legislation.” —  Blake Harden, Vice President of International Trade, Retail Industry Leaders Association

    American Apparel & Footwear Association

    “We welcome the introduction of the Trade Review Act of 2025 and urge its immediate consideration and enactment. Durable and predictable trade policy requires greater transparency and robust consultation with stakeholders and Congress, which is not happening now. With 97 percent of the goods?we sell in the U.S.?being imported,?and with 96 percent of the people who wear?clothes and shoes on the planet living outside our borders, successful fashion companies need access to global consumers and suppliers to compete. That’s only possible with active Congressional participation in trade policy. On behalf of the 3.5 million trade dependent American workers in our industry, we thank?Senators Cantwell and Grassley for their leadership on this legislation and for their efforts to restore Congressional primacy on trade and tariff policy, as enshrined in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.” –?Steve Lamar, President and CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association  

    USA Pulses Coalition

    “USA Pulses would like to thank Senator Grassley and Senator Cantwell for introducing legislation to review and approve changes to tariffs on countries that could impact grower sales of pulses (dry peas, lentils, chickpeas and dry beans) and the processors and exporters who provide needed jobs in rural America. We applaud their bipartisan leadership on this important issue.  Free and fair trade is important to everyone in rural America and this legislation would give Congress the opportunity to review the potential impacts of increased tariffs on the rural economy and vote on their approval.”

    Main Street Alliance

    “Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are a direct hit to working families and small businesses—jacking up prices on everyday goods and costing households $3,000–$4,000 a year. It’s a tax hike on the middle class, just as inflation cools. Worse, it’s a sleight of hand—meant to distract Americans from the massive tax breaks Trump is promising billionaires and big corporations. Tariffs aren’t strategy—they’re sabotage. Congress must pass the Trade Review Act of 2025 and stop this economic shell game before Main Street pays the price.” – Richard Trent, Executive Director, Main Street Alliance 

    Washington Council on International Trade

    “The secret sauce for the U.S. form of government isn’t a secret – it is built on checks and balances to ensure a balanced, thoughtful approach. Trade policy is one area that is out of balance. Congress needs to reassert its role in trade policy, including trade agreements and tariffs. We applaud Senators Cantwell and Grassley’s leadership to restore Congressional oversight on tariffs and urge Congress to quickly approve the Trade Review Act of 2025. It maintains the ability of the President to quickly enact tariffs in response to emergency situations while also guaranteeing Congressional agreement.” – Lori Otto Punke, President, Washington Council on International Trade  

    Washington Distillers Guild 

    “The WA Distillers’ Guild supports the bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Cantwell and Grassley to provide oversight, structure and accountability to the tariff process.  Our Main Street, family owned small businesses need certainty in everyday operations and adding rules based oversight from Congress will help to ensure that the tariffs enacted help American manufacturers.” — Mhairi Voelsgen, President, Washington Distillers Guild

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 5th, 2025 As Republicans Tank Economy, Heinrich Fights Against Trump-Musk Handouts to Billionaires at the Expense of New Mexico Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — Last night, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) stood up for New Mexico families by voting against Senate Republicans’ budget resolution that funds Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s tax handouts for billionaires at the expense of working people. 
    Heinrich pushed to amend Republicans’ resolution by repeatedly voting to lower costs for families — particularly as Trump’s tariffs push America to the brink of a recession. Heinrich and Senate Democrats also worked to block cuts to Medicaid, extend the tax credits for health care premiums, and prevent millions of Americans from losing health insurance, protect Social Security, and reverse cuts to the Social Security Administration, including cuts by Elon Musk’s DOGE. 
    Heinrich additionally led an amendment with U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) to prevent the sale of our public lands as Congressional Republicans publicly discuss public lands sales to fund their tax breaks for billionaires. Republicans blocked it.  
    “Republicans’ budget resolution is a massive tax handout for Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their billionaire donors. It has one aim: Billionaires win, American families lose.  
    “Throughout the night and into the early morning, I fought back, introducing and voting for dozens of amendments to shield New Mexico families from Republicans’ harmful legislation. Amendments that would rescind President Trump’s tariff taxes if the price of groceries, medicine, and other household goods increase, protect Medicaid by blocking Musk’s DOGE cuts that threaten rural hospital closures, reverse cuts to Social Security, and prevent the sale of our public lands to fund tax cuts for billionaires. Republicans blocked every single one of them.  
    “When Republicans had the opportunity to go on the record and show the American people whose side they’re on, they put their billionaire donors on a pedestal and threw working people under the bus. Rather than putting New Mexico families first, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their Republican enablers in Congress are tanking our economy, pushing us into a recession.” 
    Last night, Senate Republicans blocked Heinrich’s efforts to:
    Fight Increasing Costs, Including From Trump’s Tariffs
    Senate Republicans voted against: 
    Rescinding President Trump’s tariff taxes that increase the price of groceries, medicine, and other household goods. 
    Protecting food assistance for kids and seniors, who are otherwise significantly harmed by rising grocery prices. 
    Preventing essential services for children, families, and seniors from being defunded to give massive tax cuts to billionaires.  
    Protecting agriculture programs that support farmers and rural economies. 
    Prioritize Working Families Over Billionaires
    Senate Republicans voted against:  
    Providing tax cuts for the middle class and small businesses while ensuring large corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share. 
    Preventing tax handouts for people making over $100 million a year. 
    Preventing tax handouts for people making over $500 million a year. 
    Preventing tax handouts for people making over $1 billion a year. 
    Preventing tax handouts for corporations making over $1 billion a year. 
    Preventing more than $37 trillion from being added to the debt in 30 years—more debt than has accumulated over the past 249 years. 
    Protect Medicare and Medicaid
    Senate Republicans voted against: 
    Stopping cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. 
    Preventing cuts to Medicaid that could lead to rural hospital closures, increased costs for people with private insurance, and higher rates of uncompensated care. 
    Protecting Americans from losing health care through Medicaid, including seniors, children, families, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and military families. 
    Preserving access to health care by preventing cuts to Medicaid that could lead to loss of benefits or coverage, and slashed provider payments. 
    Lowering prescription drug costs for seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare. 
    Extending the health care premium tax credits created in the Affordable Care Act to prevent millions of Americans from losing health insurance. 
    Safeguard Social Security
    Senate Republicans voted against:  
    Reversing cuts to the Social Security Administration, including cuts by Elon Musk’s DOGE. 
    Preventing Elon Musk’s DOGE from closing Social Security field and regional offices, preserving access to benefits for seniors and people with disabilities. 
    Preventing Elon Musk’s DOGE from limiting access to Social Security phone services to protect seniors’ access to Social Security benefits. 
    Protect Our National Security and Provide Disaster Relief 
    Senate Republicans voted against: 
    Protecting service members by prohibiting the use of Signal and other commercial messaging applications for sharing information on the timing, sequencing, or weapons to be used related to impending U.S. military operations. 
    Prohibiting any reduction in U.S. security assistance and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. 
    Supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) role in providing nonpartisan and long-term disaster relief to disaster survivors. 
    Support Our Farmers and Federal Workers
    Senate Republicans voted against: 
    Ensuring contracts made with our farmers are honored. 
    Protecting legally binding collective bargaining agreements and the right to organize for federal workers. 
    Below is a total list of amendments that Heinrich filed to amend Republicans’ budget resolution to cut taxes for billionaires at the expense of working people:
    Amendment to prevent the sale of public lands. 
    Amendment to lower housing costs for Americans.  
    Amendment to reduce Department of Veterans Affairs wait times for 136,000 veterans per day. 
    Amendment to reduce Social Security Administration wait times for 344,000 Americans per day. 
    Amendment to scale up American manufacturing by supporting small and medium-sized manufactures enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance. 
    Amendment to recruit and hire additional wildland firefighters. 
    Amendment to exempt federal wildland firefighters and personnel from hiring freezes and reinstate federal wildland firefighters and personnel fired by Trump, Elon Musk, or DOGE. 
    Amendment to increase forest health and wildfire mitigation forest treatments to support wildland firefighting.   
    Amendment to hire reforestation crews and promote the recovery of burned forest land to support healthy watersheds, outdoor recreation, and timber resources.  
    Last month, Heinrich attempted to amend Republicans’ prior resolution by offering an amendment to reinstate blocked grants for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and ensure law enforcement can hold predators and abusers accountable. Republicans voted against his amendment. Watch Heinrich’s video here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Welch, colleagues demand answers from Justice Department about Deputy Attorney General’s misleading answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in requesting documents from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to determine the veracity of U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his nomination hearing. The senators’ letter comes as recent public reporting has raised questions as to whether Mr. Blanche testified truthfully to senators at the hearing and in written Questions for the Record , regarding his knowledge of plans to dismiss the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. 

    “As you are aware, all nominees who come before the Senate Judiciary Committee provide testimony under oath. It is a federal crime to ‘knowingly and willfully’ provide ‘any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation’ while under oath with respect to ‘any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee,” wrote the senators. “Congress has an obligation to investigate whether Mr. Blanche provided untruthful testimony before the Judiciary Committee, including whether a referral to the Department of Justice for a criminal inquiry is warranted.” 

    “At the time of his hearing, Mr. Blanche was a private citizen and not an employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Two days before his hearing, news broke that the DOJ intended to drop criminal corruption charges against Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City. Senator Welch asked Mr. Blanche if he was aware of the instructions to dismiss the charges, and Blanche responded, “I have the same information you have. It appears it was, yes.” In response to Senator Coons’ question regarding the basis for the dropping of charges, Mr. Blanche stated, “I have no idea.” And in response to Senator Booker’s written Questions for the Record, Mr. Blanche stated in writing that he didn’t know why the charges in Mayor Adams’ case were dismissed,” the senators added. “However, recent reporting suggests that Mr. Blanche may have been aware of the orders to dismiss the case against Mayor Adams almost two weeks before he testified.”

    In their letter, the Senators requested the following documentation from the Justice Department: 

    1. Copies of all documentation and records that reference or discuss Todd Blanche in the possession of the Department of Justice related to the decision to dismiss the criminal charges in United States v. Adams, 24 CR 556 (S.D.N.Y.). 
    2. Copies of all communications between and among then-Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove III and Todd Blanche relating to the decision to dismiss the criminal charges in United States v. Adams, 24 CR 556 (S.D.N.Y.). 

    The letter was signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). 

    You can read the full text of the letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Statement on Republican Proposal to Take Medicaid Coverage Away From Granite Staters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement after voting against a Republican proposal that allows for massive cuts to Medicaid funding — taking health care coverage away from Granite Staters — in order to pay for tax giveaways for billionaires and for corporate special interests:
    “In the middle of the night and over bipartisan opposition, Senate Republicans advanced their effort to take Medicaid health coverage away from millions of people in order to pay for tax cuts for corporate special interests and billionaires. I put forward a number of amendments to chart a different path forward, one where we would work together on a bipartisan basis to lower costs for Americans and protect Medicaid, Medicare, and the Social Security benefits that hardworking Americans have paid into and deserve, but Republicans once again doubled down. At a time when American families are struggling to keep up with high costs, I can imagine few ideas more ill-advised, outrageous, and devastating than to rip lifesaving health care away from millions of our fellow Americans, and therefore I voted against this budget resolution.”
    Senator Hassan proposed over a dozen amendments to urge Congressional Republicans to reverse course and instead work on a bipartisan basis to help lower costs for Granite Staters, stand up for the rule of law, and protect individual freedoms. Senator Hassan’s proposed amendments included those to:
    Stop unelected billionaires from advancing their own financial interests at the expense of American taxpayers
    Prevent any efforts to cut Medicare or Medicaid benefits for seniors, children, and families
    Prevent any efforts to cut Social Security benefits for seniors, increase wait times for Social Security benefits, or close Social Security offices
    Overturn broad-based tariffs on allies like Canada that raise costs for American families
    Promote childhood vaccinations against measles
    Provide tax cuts for middle-class workers and small businesses
    Lower the cost of housing, groceries, and prescription drugs

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Baldwin Votes Down Republicans’ Bill to Green Light Cuts to Medicaid, Tax Breaks to the Wealthy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to set the stage for their massive tax cuts for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans at the direct expense of healthcare Wisconsin families rely on, including Medicaid. Overnight, Republicans rejected Senator Baldwin’s amendment that would have prevented cuts to Medicaid that will lead to rural hospital closures and protected rural health care from being decimated in the wake of their deep cuts to Medicaid.
    “Over the last two months, I’ve heard from Wisconsinites in every corner of our state who are terrified about what cuts to Medicaid, or BadgerCare, will mean for their families’ future, health, and finances. I’ve heard from Wisconsinites with cancer literally fighting for their lives, seniors in nursing homes, dairy farmers struggling to make ends meet, and rural hospitals working on tight margins – all of whom have begged me to protect Medicaid,” said Senator Baldwin. “But instead of listening to the 4 in 5 Americans who want to protect Medicaid, Republicans voted  for a plan that puts this essential lifeline for families on the chopping block so they can make room in the budget for tax giveaways to Wall Street investors and big corporations.”
    Overnight, Republicans rejected Senator Baldwin’s amendment to their legislation that would have protected rural health care services from these devastating cuts. Rural hospitals,  already closing at a more rapid pace than in suburban and urban places, depend on Medicaid for financial viability. Deep cuts to Medicaid as outlined in the Republican’s budget could force more hospitals in rural areas to shutter.
    Watch Senator Baldwin’s remarks on why Medicaid is so essential to rural hospitals here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Republicans Vote NO on Protecting Americans’ Social Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    April 05, 2025
    During Senate Vote-a-rama, Republicans voted no on amendments to reverse cuts to Social Security Administration; prevent DOGE from closing field offices, cutting phone services
    Senate Democrats launched Social Security War Room earlier this week
    Washington, D.C. – While President Donald Trump and Elon Musk launch a wholesale attack on Social Security, Senate Republicans voted to block multiple amendments that would protect Americans’ Social Security benefits and services.
    Senate Republicans voted against:
    An amendment proposed by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) to reverse cuts to the Social Security Administration ordered by Elon Musk.
    An amendment proposed by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) to prevent Elon Musk’s DOGE from closing Social Security field and regional offices and preserving access to benefits for seniors and people with disabilities.
    An amendment proposed by U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to prevent DOGE from cutting Americans’ access to vital phone services.
    “We need to honor our sacred promises under Social Security, and we need to tell billionaires and billionaire corporations they can pay their fair share to make this country work. That’s the fight between Republicans and Democrats right now in Washington. I know which side I stand on, and I see which side the Republicans stand on,” said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who led Senate Democrats in launching their new Social Security War Room this week.
    President Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE have gutted the Social Security Administration in recent weeks, creating chaos and threatening Americans’ benefits. Last month, the Social Security Administration announced plans to cut about 7,000 employees, or about 12% of its workforce. 78% of these employees were working in field offices, directly serving Social Security recipients. SSA is reportedly planning to enact even deeper cuts to the agency’s workforce, crippling Americans’ ability to access their benefits.
    DOGE has also tried to significantly limit Americans’ access to services by shutting down regional offices and requiring new and existing beneficiaries to go in-person or online for a variety of services, including applying for benefits and changing direct deposit and other banking information—posing a challenge to many seniors who rely on benefits.
    Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Votes No on Republicans’ Destructive Budget Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch Votes No on GOP’s Destructive Budget Senate Republicans rejected Welch-led amendment to help hardworking Vermonters 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, voted against the Senate Republicans’ budget plan early this morning:
    “Since taking office, President Trump has made it crystal clear that he’s willing to bulldoze programs hardworking Americans rely on to line the pockets of billionaires. It’s truly outrageous that Republicans agreed to this cruel budget, which will have disastrous long-term consequences for Americans across the country—from farmers and seniors in Vermont to Social Security beneficiaries and small businesses in Texas. I voted no on the GOP’s budget,” said Senator Welch.
    Senator Welch filed 61 amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget plan. The Senator’s amendments aim to help working families through the affordability crisis, defend vital government services and disaster aid from Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), and combat President Trump’s reckless, illegal agenda. Senate Republicans rejected Senator Welch’s amendment to block tax cuts to billionaires paid for by cutting meals for hungry seniors and eliminating child care services for families.
    Senate Republicans’ budget, unveiled Wednesday, attacks Medicaid, Medicare, and the health care of seniors, children, people with disabilities, and rural patients; threatens Social Security for millions; raises costs for working families and enables President Trump’s trade war; jeopardizes support and health care for veterans; and gives DOGE a greenlight to destroy the federal government—all in the service of paying for Trump’s tax cut to billionaires.  
    Senator Welch offered amendments to the Republican budget resolution aimed to:   
    Address the Affordability Crisis: 
    An amendment to block tax cuts to billionaires paid for by cutting meals for hungry seniors and eliminating child care services for families. 
    Amendments to support federal dairy programs, organic farmers, and young and beginning farmers. 
    An amendment to address the impacts of disasters in rural communities.   
    An amendment to promote innovation, domestic job creation and U.S. competitiveness. This amendment would support Vermont’s growing semiconductor industry and America’s Tech Hubs. 
    Amendments to block the extension of tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations until all federal services are provided. 
    Defend Federal Programs and Disaster Aid from Elon Musk: 
    Amendments to prohibit cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and to improve rural access to nutrition programs. 
    Amendments to protect and defend rural broadband deployment and promote internet affordability.   
    An amendment to prohibit the elimination of over-to-phone identity verification for Social Security beneficiaries. 
    Amendments to prohibit the reduction or elimination of funding for rural care providers, health centers, and critical access hospitals.   
    Amendments to limit affiliates of the Department of Government Efficiency’s ability to access federal payment systems and personally identifiable information of Social Security beneficiaries. 
    An amendment to protect disaster survivors’ data privacy during any interaction with Department of Government Efficiency personnel. 
    An amendment prohibiting any reduction in disaster response and recovery programs for States and local communities. 
    Combat Trump’s Reckless and Illegal Agenda:   
    Amendments to preserve relations between the United States and Canada, and to prohibit Canadian energy tariffs that raise energy costs domestically.  
    An amendment to block legislation that enables U.S. troops to operate in Gaza to assist in the displacement or removal of Palestinians from Gaza. 
    An amendment to prevent enforcement of the Alien Enemies Act, unless there is a declared war between the United States and any foreign government, or an invasion of predatory incursion is perpetrated. 
    An amendment to prevent the arrest, detainment and deportation of college students and faculty on the grounds they have expressed views the sitting administration objects to. 
    An amendment that would block legislation banning the Associated Press from the White House. 
    An amendment that would preserve United States-Denmark relations. 
    An amendment to address global hunger including hiring aid workers and facilitating the dispersal of aid into Gaza 
    In addition, Senator Welch cosponsored 31 amendments. 

    MIL OSI USA News –