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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Washington Examiner: Tuberville is the Senate champion needed to protect female sports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, the Washington Examiner published a story highlighting Senator Tuberville’s efforts to protect Title IX from the Radical Left’s attempts to erase women’s and girls’ sports.
    Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to preserve Title IX protections for female athletes. Unfortunately, every single Senate Democrat voted against the legislation to protect women.  
    Read excerpts from the Washington Examiner piece below or read the full story here.
    Tuberville is the Senate champion needed to protect female sports
    “Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear suits to the Senate and fight to protect women’s sports.
    Another day, another girls’ sporting event is dominated by a male athlete who thinks he is female — an occurrence that keeps happening because Democrats don’t want to protect female sports. Instead, they rather genuflect to the activist mob and allow such travesties to keep happening.
    Ada Gallagher is a 16-year-old at McDaniel High School in Oregon who runs on the school’s female track team. Last week, Gallagher dominated the girls’ 200-meter and 400-meter varsity races in the Portland Interscholastic League, reportedly winning one of the races by nearly seven seconds. It was a fantastic performance that would have drawn unanimous praise if not for one pesky detail: Gallagher is allegedly a boy claiming he is now a girl. 
    If the reports are accurate, this shows why the country desperately needs Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Senators voted along party lines earlier this month, 51-45. The proposed legislation failed to earn the necessary 60 votes to prevent a Democratic filibuster. Tuberville’s bill would have prevented Gallagher from defeating the actual high school girls who ran in the races. 
    How many high school and college-aged girls have to suffer because of the radical, left-wing political agendas of Democrats? Furthermore, what could possibly motivate Democrats, let alone any human being, to go against Tuberville’s bill?
    ‘Democrats have clearly learned nothing from this election,’ Tuberville told me in an exclusive interview earlier this month. ‘The American people decisively rejected Democrats’ anti-women, woke ideology and want us to get back to common sense. But surprise, surprise — the party that spent the past four years saying men can get pregnant apparently still thinks men should compete in women’s sports.’
    Gallagher’s athletic victory over actual high school girls competing in a track race is the kind of thing that happens because of Democrats. Their motives defy logic and common sense. Unfortunately, innocent young girls must suffer because of their radicalism, even though the overwhelming majority of the country is against boys competing against girls in sports. It is the country’s far Left, ideologically fanatical and unhinged, that allows this to keep happening.
    ‘It’s deeply unpopular, out-of-touch, and reveals that Democrats would rather stand up for a few trans people than fight for the rights of 50% of this country,’ Tuberville said.
    Boys are boys, and girls are girls. Males are bigger and stronger than females and enjoy a biological advantage when competing against them in sports. It’s the sole reason female athletic leagues were established. The fact that Democrats are intent on ignoring this reality leads one to conclude that they genuinely do not care about protecting female athletes or ensuring they are provided an opportunity to engage in fair athletic competitions and be protected from the dangers and harm of competing against bigger, larger, and stronger male athletes.
    ‘It’s hard to understand why Democrats are so willing to sacrifice the rights of women at the altar of woke ideology,’ Tuberville said. ‘Democrats claim to care about women, which is why I don’t understand why they don’t want women to have fair competition, equal access to scholarships, and safe locker rooms. It’s not about politics. It’s about right and wrong.’
    Democrats’ resistance to this is beyond puzzling, especially given their insistence on championing the rights of females. At this point, it would have to seem that interest groups are influencing them to promote these out-of-touch ideas while sacrificing the rights of female athletes in high schools and colleges. Tuberville mentioned links between interest groups and the left-wing political agenda to allow boys who pretend to be girls to compete in female sports.
    […]
    ‘One of Democrats’ most frequent talking points is that this bill is ‘hateful,’ Tuberville said. ‘That isn’t true. What is hateful is stripping opportunities away from millions of women in favor of the rights of a few trans people. This bill isn’t about excluding or alienating anyone. It is about protecting the rights and safety of our daughters, granddaughters, and nieces.’
    ‘We’ll keep pushing — this fight isn’t over,’ Tuberville said. ‘Nearly 80% of Americans are on our side. And we’ll continue to put pressure on Democrat senators to do the right thing and stand up for women.’”
    BACKGROUND:
    During President Biden’s administration, more than 900 women lost medals to men competing in women’s sports. The issue of men in girls’ and women’s sports proved to be one of the top concerns of voters during the 2024 Presidential Election. A recent New York Times (NYT) poll found 79% of respondents said men should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. This is a bipartisan issue—the same recent NYT poll found that 67% of Democrats agree that male athletes shouldn’t be allowed in women’s sports.
    In February, President Trump signed a historic Executive Order banning men from competing in women’s sports. President Trump has spoken about the need to keep men out of women’s sports on multiple occasions.
    Unfortunately, Executive Orders can be reversed. That’s why on Monday, March 3, 2025, the Senate voted on Senator Tuberville’s bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would make President Trump’s Executive Order permanent. 45 Democrats voted to block the bill from proceeding. 
    Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville also introduced a bill to ban men from competing in women’s U.S. Olympic sports, following USA Boxing’s announcement that it would allow men to box against women.
    Senator Tuberville has vowed to continue fighting until women’s rights to compete fairly and safely are protected.
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Shame on Trump Admin. for Threatening to Shut Down SSA & Denigrating Seniors Who Rely on Social Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    PROVIDENCE, RI – Arbitrary mass-firings, field office closings, and deep staff cuts at the Social Security Administration (SSA) threaten the agency’s capacity to deliver for seniors and Americans with disabilities.  This week, President Trump’s hand-picked temporary SSA boss threatened to shut down the entire agency over an unfavorable court ruling.  Such an irresponsible move would jeopardize the delivery of monthly Social Security payments to millions of Americans.  Yesterday, President Trump’s billionaire Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick went on a podcast hosted by fellow billionaires and doubled down on this threat and declared his 94-year old mother-in-law wouldn’t complain if her Social Security check didn’t arrive; only “fraudsters” would miss monthly Social Security payments; and people wouldn’t mind if the U.S. government stopped sending out Social Security checks for a month.
    In response, U.S. Senator Jack Reed stated:
    “I hope Secretary Lutnick washes his feet frequently because he seems to stick them in his mouth quite a bit.
    “Trump’s cabinet is shamefully out of touch and clearly does not care about everyday Americans.  President Trump and his billionaire golfing buddies have no use for Social Security.  Their Project 2025 manifesto makes clear their intention to eliminate America’s social safety net in order to give themselves a bigger tax break.
    “Americans pay into Social Security rightfully expecting it to deliver when they need it.  Missing a check could mean missing the rent, missing a prescription, or going hungry.  These folks don’t deserve to be denigrated by the Trump Administration and lumped in with ‘fraudsters.’
    “Secretary Lutnick’s message is ‘don’t complain when the payments stop or it means you’re a fraud.’  First of all, there is no reason Social Security payments should be halted.  Second, if they are, Americans have every right to complain and damn well should.  And third, if the Trump Administration follows through with threats to shut Social Security down and stop people’s payments then they will be the ones investigated for fraudulent activity and more.
    “If people aren’t getting their checks on time or if they can’t get through to someone at SSA who can assist, President Trump and his team are to blame and must be held accountable.  Instead of shaming seniors, this Administration should be ashamed of itself.”
    According to SSA data, over 7 million Americans 65 and older receive at least 90 percent of their income from Social Security.
    Unelected billionaire Elon Musk, who heads up Trump’s so-called DOGE office claims there is “massive” fraud in the Social Security payment system and that it is an illegal “Ponzi scheme.”   Lee Dudek, who Trump named as acting commissioner of the SSA, said this week that around $100 million is lost each year in direct deposit fraud, which would make up about 0.006 percent of the total sum paid out each year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Trump Slashing SBA, Decimating Service and Oversight, & Shifting New Student Loan Portfolio onto Agency is Another Economic Blow to Main Street and Taxpayers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    PROVIDENCE, RI – After the Trump Administration announced plans to slash 43 percent of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) workforce while also reducing SBA capabilities and shifting management of the federal government’s student loan portfolio from the U.S. Department of Education to the SBA, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) denounced the move as irresponsible and harmful to small businesses, students, and taxpayers alike.
    “Small businesses are a big part of our economy and we should be helping them innovate, grow, and thrive,” said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the SBA.  “Instead of cutting red tape, President Trump is piling on new bureaucratic challenges and decimating customer service capabilities of federal agencies.  He is eliminating key SBA resources and staff that help small businesses access capital and create jobs while at the same time trying to tack on new student loan mandates.  His chaotic tariff taxes are already raising costs for entrepreneurs, and these latest SBA cuts will add more financial pressure and uncertainty for many small businesses.”
    “President Trump’s irresponsible decision to downsize the SBA and saddle it with overseeing a massive $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio of over 40 million-plus Americans makes zero sense. The intent to transfer these loans flies in the face of both education and appropriations law.  It would sow chaos and confusion, burden borrowers, and needlessly cost taxpayers.  If people don’t know where to turn or can’t get the expert help they need from the proper federal agency then it could lead to a spike in loan defaults,” said Reed, noting President Trump can’t legally transfer management of the loan portfolio to the SBA without Congressional authorization.
    Reed continued: “Putting the financial interests of students and small businesses at risk is a screwup by the Trump Administration.  I expect these cynical ploys will be challenged in court.  And I will work with my colleagues in Congress to uphold the law, support small businesses, and ensure that student borrowers can get the loan servicing and protections they need.”
    Reed says Congressional authorization is needed in order to legally transfer management of the extensive student loan portfolio from the U.S. Department of Education to the SBA.
    Created by Congress in 1953, the SBA helps American entrepreneurs nationwide start, build, and grow businesses. The SBA is a key partner for Rhode Island small businesses, offering a variety of services that small businesses can leverage, including:
    Financing: SBA offers a range of loans, grants, and other funding programs to eligible businesses.
    Education and training: SBA offers educational programs and counseling to help small business owners start and grow their businesses.
    Disaster assistance: When disaster strikes, SBA provides critical assistance to businesses, homeowners, and renters.
    Government contracting: SBA helps small businesses compete and win government contracts.
    Policy advocacy: SBA works with Congress and local governments to ensure small business input is heard in policy matters.
    Support underserved businesses: SBA helps level the playing field for veteran, women, and minority small business owners.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Delivers Meals on Wheels of RI’s 21-Millionth Meal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    PROVIDENCE, RI – In honor of “March for Meals,” U.S. Senator Jack Reed today joined Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island (MOWRI) to deliver the organization’s 21- millionth meal to a local senior citizen, highlight the critical services the organization provides to homebound Rhode Islanders, and thank volunteers for making a positive difference in their communities.
    MOWRI’s “More than a Meal” model provides clients with safety-assuring wellness checks and an opportunity for socialization. Volunteers get to know the clients they deliver to and become a trusted resource, offering not just nutrition but a sense of connection and support. These regular visits help combat the social isolation many older adults face, providing a valuable lifeline to both physical and emotional well-being.
    Maintaining a robust volunteer base is always a challenge for any service organization, and MOWRI is fortunate to have a dedicated group of some 500 annual volunteers, which is key because demand for its programs continues to grow.
    In 2025, MOWRI is serving approximately 34 percent more daily meals to homebound Rhode Islanders than five years ago. In 2024, the Home-Delivered Meal Program served more than 400,703 meals to 3,158 homebound clients statewide, including on Block Island.
    This morning, Senator Reed met with Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island team members and volunteers before visiting the home of Ms. Patricia Capuano, in Providence.  Meghan Grady, Executive Director of MOWRI; Christina Pitney, Board President of MOWRI and Senior Vice President, Government Programs of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI; and other supports joined Senator Reed for today’s visit.
    As a MOWRI Home-Delivered Meal Program client for the past year, Ms. Capuano has described her trusted volunteer delivery drivers as a vital part of her life, emphasizing the importance of both the meals and the personal connection they provide.
    “Meals on Wheels of RI is a critical program run by incredible people and volunteers.  The compassion, hope, and connection that volunteers serve up are just as important as their nutritious, prepared meals to keep older Rhode Islanders aging safely, comfortably, and independently right at home.  At a time when hunger in older populations continue to rise and critical nutrition assistance programs are being threatened, it is clear that MOWRI and its terrific team of volunteers play a critical role in keeping our seniors well-connected and well-fed. Visiting Ms. Capuano and delivering MOWRI’s 21-millionth home-delivered meal was truly the highlight of my day,” said Senator Reed, who today delivered a meal of chicken ziti broccoli casserole, vegetables, and hot cinnamon apples.
    “The delivery of our 21-millionth meal marks a major milestone in our organization’s history, an accomplishment that has been made possible in large part by Senator Reed and the unwavering support of the entire Rhode Island Congressional Delegation,” said Meghan Grady, Executive Director of MOWRI. “Today’s milestone delivery also highlights the promising future ahead as we prioritize food is medicine and expand our programs to deepen our statewide impact. We are grateful for the ongoing support of community champions, donors, and volunteers who have been instrumental to our success.”
    Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island is a critical link in the state’s network of senior nutrition programs, both congregate and home-delivered.  The program’s meals are delivered through 24 meal dispatch sites around the state.  Meals on Wheels of RI largely relies on federal sources of funding to deliver food to homebound seniors in need to help them remain healthy and safe living in their own homes.
    A member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed has been recognized as a Congressional champion of the Meals on Wheels program and has led efforts to secure funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, which assists Meals on Wheels with serving millions of Americans across the nation.
    Founded in 1969, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island is the only non-profit home-delivered meal program of its kind in the state.  In order to qualify for home-delivered meals, clients must be over the age of 60, homebound, no longer driving, unable to prepare food themselves. About 80 percent of Meals on Wheels clients nationwide are classified as “low-income or extremely-low-income,” according to an internal study by Meals on Wheels America.
    To learn more about volunteering with MOWRI, visit: https://www.rimeals.org/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on Trump Cabinet Breach of Operational Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, The Atlantic reported that senior members of President Trump’s cabinet discussed highly classified military plans and operations over “Signal,” an commercial messaging app, and apparently mistakenly included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in the group chat while active military missions were discussed and executed. The group chat included the Secretaries of Defense and State, as well as the National Security Advisor, CIA Director, and several other top Trump appointees.
    U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response:
    “If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen. Military operations need to be handled with utmost discretion, using approved, secure lines of communication, because American lives are on the line. The carelessness shown by President Trump’s cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the Administration immediately.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Deliver Combat-Injured Veterans Full Military Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce a bipartisan bill to provide combat-disabled veterans their full benefits. The bipartisan Major Richard Star Act would repeal unfair offsets, allowing these disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and disability compensation. Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their Department of Defense (DoD) retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments—leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees.
    “It’s unconscionable that so many brave men and women who served our nation in uniform and sustained injuries during their service still cannot access the full benefits they’ve earned,” said Senator Rosen. “We need to right this wrong, which is why I’m helping introduce a bipartisan bill to make sure veterans who were injured in combat can receive their full disability and retirement pay.”
    Senator Rosen has been working to deliver for Nevada’s veterans. She has sent letters demanding that the VA reverses harmful plans to reduce their workforce, calling on the VA to permanently reverse layoffs, and pushing for answers regarding mass employee terminations at the VA. Earlier this month, Senator Rosen helped introduce legislation to reinstate veterans wrongfully fired by President Trump and Elon Musk. She also took to the Senate floor to oppose the actions of the Trump Administration and Musk to mass fire employees working at the VA. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Rosen Statement on Reports of Trump Administration Mishandling Highly Sensitive Military Operations 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement after it was reported that numerous members of President Trump’s National Security Council mishandled highly sensitive information regarding U.S. military operations.
    “The Trump Administration’s reckless handling of highly sensitive information regarding U.S. military operations is an inexcusable failure that has weakened our national security and put American lives at risk,” said Senator Rosen. “Using an unclassified communications platform to discuss classified military operations and being careless enough to add someone without the proper clearance is a dangerous level of incompetence. Congress needs to immediately hold hearings to get answers about how such a thing can happen, and we must hold those involved in this major national security breach accountable.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 03.24.2025 Sen. Cruz Celebrates Approval of Deepwater Port License Off Texas, Louisiana Coast

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement celebrating the Trump administration’s issuance of a license to Delfin LNG, LLC to construct and operate a deepwater port near the border of Texas and Louisiana to export Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from the United States. This project is a major step toward unlocking America’s full energy potential.
    Sen. Cruz said, “This project was needlessly delayed by the radical environmentalists in the Biden administration. Getting it approved was a top priority of mine as the leader of the Senate Commerce Committee. I am grateful to see Secretary Duffy follow through on a promise he made to me – and to have directed MARAD and the Coast Guard to complete Delfin’s deepwater port license review post-haste. I am proud to work with President Trump and his administration to support Texas’ robust oil and natural gas industry to and reestablish American energy dominance globally.”
    BACKGROUND
    Sen. Cruz has long been a leader in unleashing America’s energy potential and protecting America’s traditional energy industry. He called out the previous administration for undermining the oil and gas industry and urged them to expedite the permit process for LNG projects.
    In April 2024, Sen. Cruz and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) sent a letter urging for an extension of time to Delfin LNG LLC’s approval to export LNG after the Biden administration’s deference to the radical climate lobby. During the nomination hearing for Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation, Sen. Cruz pointed out the Biden administration’s hostility towards the oil and gas industry, citing the previous administration’s failure to approve deepwater port licenses and asked Secretary Duffy to expedite review of Delfin’s reapplication in Texas.
    Sen. Cruz successfully fought to include language in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 that would increase transparency and expedite deepwater port licenses by MARAD.
    In February 2023, Sen. Cruz sent a letter to MARAD seeking information about its lengthy delays in reaching decisions on applications for deepwater ports exporting oil and natural gas. The letter also urged MARAD to meet its statutory deadlines to make decisions. At the time, four of the seven pending applications for licenses were for projects located off the coast of Texas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters and Senate Committee Ranking Members Demand Immediate Review by Agency Inspectors General of Trump Administration’s Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led 16 Senate Committee Ranking Members in a letter to the Inspectors General of 23 federal agencies, pressing for details on the impact of President Trump’s sweeping and unprecedented dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. The senators asked the Inspectors General to review the Trump Administration’s actions, citing potential violations of federal laws and procedures, which the senators warn could harm Americans’ access to vital government services and increase waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

    “The decision to terminate thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies will impose undue hardship on millions of Americans who rely on their services,” wrote the senators. “The loss of experienced agency staff may risk causing serious disruptions to nearly 73 million Americans who rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer retiree and disability benefits and 9.1 million veterans who depend on the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.), many of which rely on the V.A. for life saving medical treatments and care.”  

    Highlighting the devastating consequences of these mass firings, the senators underscored the Trump Administration’s layoffs have already disrupted critical operations at agencies that millions of Americans depend on for survival. 

    “Among the 2,400 employees fired from the V.A. since Mr. Trump’s inauguration are workers who purchase medical supplies, schedule appointments and arrange rides for patients to see their doctors,” wrote the senators, citing a NY Times report. “Additionally, taxpayers seeking in-person assistance as they navigate the 2025 filing season may find the support centers they previously relied on completely relocated or shuttered. That risk is a direct consequence of the Administration’s mass dismissals and decision to terminate over 100 IRS offices with Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) – which provide free, in-person assistance for those seeking it.”

    The senators are requesting that IGs examine whether these dismissals violated agency policies and assess the damage to agency missions, public safety, and national security, calling for an initial review to be completed within 60 days, with findings made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.  

    In addition to Peters, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators and Ranking Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Special Committee on Aging, Patty Murray (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations, Jack Reed (D-RI), Committee on Armed Services, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Committee on Finance, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Committee on Foreign Relations, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Committee on the Judiciary, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Committee on the Budget and Ed Markey (D-MA), Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters and Shaheen Demand Answers on Destruction of USAID Documents, Urge Compliance with Federal Records Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 03.21.2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Gary Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pressed Secretary of State and Acting USAID Administrator Marco Rubio for information on whether the agency’s directive to shred and burn certain classified documents complied with the Federal Records Act (FRA), the federal law that requires the preservation of government records. The directive, sent out on March 11, instructed staff to clear out classified safes and personnel documents through a combination of shredding and burn bags. The Senators raised concerns about the legality of this directive, particularly as it follows recent staffing changes and grant terminations at the agency.
    “While not all federal records are required to be preserved permanently, the FRA requires that records only be disposed of in accordance with an approved records schedule,” wrote the senators. “The email does not make any distinction between categories of federal records and does not make any reference to approved agency records schedules. It is unclear whether additional orders were conveyed by other means.” 
    “In a court filing last week, attorneys from the Department of Justice asserted that these disposals did not violate the FRA because ‘they were copies of documents from other agencies or derivatively classified documents, where the originally classified document is retained by another government agency and for which there is no need for USAID to retain a copy,” the senators continued. “This explanation is insufficient.”  
    Under the law, federal agencies are required to submit potential schedules for disposition of records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which partners with the agencies to determine if and when the documents in question can be destroyed. The determination is based on whether the records possess enough historical or research value to be retained by the government, not on the existence of duplicate copies at other agencies.
    In the letter, the Senators requested that Acting Administrator Rubio provide all relevant records disposition schedules, communications regarding the March 11 directive, communications with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and information on the status of USAID personnel records by March 21, 2025. The Senators also reminded USAID officials that unauthorized destruction of federal records could result in penalties including fines, imprisonment, and loss of government office under federal law. They have requested a response by March 28.
    The full text of the letter can be found here.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Moran, Baldwin, Capito, Mullin, Hickenlooper Announce Senate 340B Bipartisan Working Group

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), alongside Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO), were welcomed by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), as new members of the Senate 340B bipartisan working group.
    The 340B program was established to provide certain non-profit health care providers, hospitals and clinics a discount on outpatient drugs. These covered entities then use these savings to provide more comprehensive services to eligible patients and their communities. The Senate 340B working group was founded to advance bipartisan policy solutions that would make certain the program can continue to achieve its intended goal of supporting hospitals serving vulnerable populations like rural communities.
    “I often hear from Virginia health care providers, especially those serving rural areas, about the instrumental role the 340B program plays in ensuring that patients can access the medicines they need,” said Kaine. “That’s why I’ve long appreciated that support for 340B comes from both sides of the aisle, and I’m looking forward to joining this working group so we can make this program even stronger.”
    “The 340B program fulfills a critical purpose of keeping costs low for eligible health care providers and the patients they serve,” said Moran. “After making significant progress last year, I am pleased to continue the efforts of the Senate 340B bipartisan working group, and add new members, with the shared goal of strengthening the 340B program to ensure its long-term viability. I am grateful for Sen. Thune’s past leadership of this group and look forward to building upon past efforts with this new working group.”
    “The 340B program is crucial in helping ensure that Wisconsinites – especially in rural and hard to reach areas – get the medication and care they need,” said Baldwin. “I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to strengthen this program and better ensure all Wisconsin can get the health care they need at a price they can afford.”
    “As a long-time member of the Working Group, I welcome our new members and thank our past members for their dedication and work on this important issue,” saidCapito. “The 340B program is vital for my state and I look forward to introducing legislation that provides clarity, transparency, and accountability to ensure the program remains strong.”
    “Together, we’re working to restore integrity and intent to the 340B program,” said Mullin. “I appreciate this working group’s transparent and thoughtful process and look forward to driving results for American families.”
    “The 340B program provides lower-cost prescription drugs for millions of Americans and is a lifeline for our community health care providers,” said Hickenlooper. “We’re working together to make the program more transparent and resilient, so it supports those who need it most.”
    Past work by the Senate 340B bipartisan working group:
    In February 2024, the 340B working group released a legislative discussion draft and supplemental request for information which included solutions to improve the 340B program.
    In 2023, the working group requested feedback from stakeholders on ways to improve the 340B program through bipartisan policy solutions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MEDIA ADVISORY: Sanders to Hold Roundtable Discussion with Student Finalists of his Fifteenth Annual State of the Union Essay Contest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    BURLINGTON, Vt., March 24 – Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday will hold a roundtable discussion with the student finalists of his fifteenth annual State of the Union Essay Contest at the Vermont State House. 
    This year, 475 students from 25 Vermont high schools submitted essays. A panel of nine Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays and selecting 12 finalists and three winners. Students wrote on critically important issues, including climate change, access to mental health care, the opioid epidemic, immigration reform, the housing crisis, political polarization, and the cost of higher education. Sanders also entered the finalists’ essays into the Congressional Record, the official archive of the U.S. Congress. 
    Read the essays of the winners and finalists here. 
    Details:
    What: State of the Union Essay Contest Roundtable with student finalists and Sen. Sanders
    When: Saturday, March 29, 2:00 p.m. 
    Where: Vermont State House, House Chamber 
    Notes: Attendance is limited to student participants, their invited guests, and members of the press. Media members must RSVP by contacting press@sanders.senate.gov. Please be in place 15 minutes prior to the event start time. All attendees are expected to follow Vermont Department of Health guidance, monitor symptoms, and are encouraged to take a rapid COVID-19 test prior to the event. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Secures a Win for Iowa Commerce

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – After U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) called for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to support commerce on the Missouri River, USCG Commander David Barata has decided to stop all efforts to remove the 36 Aids to Navigation (ATONs) north of Blencoe, Iowa.
    Navigation on the Missouri River is an integral part of moving Iowa’s inputs and goods both domestically and worldwide. In recent years, navigation up to Sioux City, Iowa has increased, and planned development projects are expected to further increase traffic in the coming years.
    “I will always stand up for Iowans, and I’m glad that, following my advocacy, our state’s critical role in commerce will continue,” said Senator Ernst. “By ensuring the Missouri River will continue to have navigation aids, the nation and the world will be able to enjoy manufacturing and ag products straight from the heartland!”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Van Hollen, Booker Urge Trump to Work with Congress to Keep TikTok Online

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Letter Text (PDF)

    Washington (March 24, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today wrote to President Donald Trump, requesting additional information on any efforts to keep TikTok online in the United States and urging the Administration to work with Congress on any potential resolutions to the TikTok ban.

    Under the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act, ByteDance had until January 19 to either divest TikTok or face a ban in the U.S. In an executive order, President Trump directed the Department of Justice to not enforce the law for 75 days. This nonenforcement of the TikTok ban was not only unlawful but also raised serious questions about TikTok’s future, as the law imposes liability—up to $850 billion in fines—on companies for facilitating TikTok’s continued operations in the U.S. That 75-day extension expires on April 5. With a qualified divestiture unlikely to occur by that deadline, the Senators urged the Trump administration to work with Congress to keep TikTok online.

    In the letter, the lawmakers write, “There is a better solution: Work with Congress. We have previously introduced legislation — the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act — that would extend the TikTok deadline to October 16, 2025, but Senate Republicans blocked passage of our bill. If you need additional time to complete a deal, we urge you to direct Senate Republicans to pass our legislation and provide the companies with legal certainty to keep TikTok online and in the app stores over the next few months. If you intend to proceed with the reported Oracle deal, we urge you to work with Congress to propose modifications to the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act to ensure that any Oracle deal prevents TikTok from going dark. Regardless of your approach, the path to saving TikTok should run through Capitol Hill.

    “Without any further action from Congress, the 170 million Americans that rely on TikTok will continue to face uncertainty about TikTok’s future. Creators will continue to fear that the platform could disappear at any moment. This situation is unfair and unworkable. We urge you to stand up for TikTok’s users and use your immense influence over congressional Republicans to demand a long-term solution to the TikTok ban.”

    Ahead of the April 5, 2025 deadline, the lawmakers request responses by March 28, 2025, to the following questions:

    1. Is your administration considering further extending the TikTok divestment deadline by executive order? If so, please identify the statutory basis for such an extension.
    2. Are news reports accurate that your administration is considering a potential deal with Oracle under which Oracle would take a stake in TikTok and provide certainty about the security of TikTok’s user data?
    3. Does your administration believe that any further legislative action is necessary to ensure that TikTok remains online in the United States?

    On January 16, 2025, Senator Markey, along with Senators Van Hollen and Booker, sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to trigger the 90-day extension in the Protection Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act to allow ByteDance additional time to divest from TikTok. Senators Markey, Booker, and Van Hollen, along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17), introduced the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act, legislation that would delay the January 19 deadline by which ByteDance must sell TikTok or face a ban, by an additional 270 days. In December 2024, Senators Markey and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), along with Congressman Khanna, submitted a bipartisan, bicameral amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the D.C. Circuit Court’s decision in TikTok Inc. v. Garland, which upheld the TikTok ban established under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. On December 19, Senators Markey and Paul sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to provide TikTok owner ByteDance with a 90-day extension to either sell TikTok or face the ban.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley to Host Sixth Federal Judiciary Youth Summit for Iowa High School Students

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will host his sixth Federal Judiciary Youth Summit on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the U.S. Courthouse in Cedar Rapids. The summit allows students and educators to learn more about the federal judiciary system and their constitutional freedoms.

    Grassley has served on the Senate Judiciary Committee throughout his time in the U.S. Senate and continually advocates for civic engagement and appreciation of the nation’s system of checks and balances. 

    “As the first farmer to ever chair the Judiciary Committee, I know how important it is for people of all backgrounds to gain an understanding of the judicial process,” Grassley said. “Participants will be able to learn and ask questions about a branch of government that can often seem complex and unapproachable. The courts interpret the law and defend the constitutional freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis. Learning how these decisions are made and upheld will provide a valuable experience for these students. I’m pleased to host this opportunity once again.”

    The summit will feature Chief Judge C.J. Williams, a Senate-confirmed judge for the Northern District of Iowa, as the speaker. The event will start with a welcome reception followed by a question-and-answer session. 62 area high schools have been invited to participate. Each school is allowed to bring four juniors or seniors, accompanied by one teacher.

    Attendees from last year’s summit praised the experience:

    “I really enjoyed the session,” said Madelyn Gobble of Fort Madison High School. “[It was] interesting to hear a real-life perspective from both [Judge Locher] and Senator Chuck Grassley, as well as getting that perspective of being from such a small town and being able to go on and be something larger.”

    “I thought this was a very beneficial experience. We got to learn about our judicial system and speak with some very influential people in our society,” said Jack Hoffman of Clinton High School.

    Learn more about Grassley’s role and responsibilities as Judiciary Chairman HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: Administration’s Reckless Approach to Social Security “Disrespectful, Destructive, and Dangerous”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), is releasing the following statement in response to a decision made by the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to close dozens of Social Security offices across the country — a move following the February dismissal of 7,000 Social Security Administration (SSA) employees and one that could result in delayed or missing checks for the over 70 million Americans that rely on Social Security. The statement comes after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, a billionaire, insisted during an interview that only ‘fraudsters’ would complain about missed Social Security checks, not honest Americans.   

    “The Trump Administration’s callous indifference to the millions of Americans who rely on the monthly Social Security checks they have earned – and the millions more Americans who are relying on Social Security for their planned retirements — is the most direct assault on this vital program in its almost 100 year history. It is disrespectful, destructive, and dangerous,

     “These payments have been penciled onto every page of Americans’ calendars for generations. These checks signify promises kept to millions of our family members and friendly neighbors when they reach into their mailbox every month. Household budgets rely on the timely arrival of these earnings to pay for mortgages, heat, and medications.

     “When the Trump White House and its corporate-suite cabinet sends reckless DOGE computer engineers into the Social Security networks, threaten cuts to the committed workforce who carefully manage this system, make it harder for citizens to interact with that workforce, or scoff at older Americans justifiably worried about late payments — as one of his billionaire cabinet members did just this week — this dismissive public stance frightens the very people who literally built this country, and who deserve a hell of a lot better.

     “Social Security is not social media; this ‘move fast and break things’ approach they seem to be following is a betrayal of the public trust.

     “The President has said repeatedly, during the campaign and since, that he would protect Social Security — but what’s happening now in his name is anything but protection, and he should put a stop to it.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Statement on President Trump’s Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter/F-47 Decision

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today reacted to President Trump’s White House announcement that the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) sixth-generation fighter, now known as the F-47, will commence production under the aerospace company Boeing:
    “Today is a great day for American airpower, and an even better day for peace and prosperity. I am delighted that President Trump has made the decision to move forward on NGAD/F-47, and I congratulate the Boeing Company. The NGAD/F-47 is a vital platform that would allow the United States to rule the skies for years to come,” Chairman Wicker said. “The new F-47 is a fine first step in a broader effort to revitalize peace through strength. I now look forward to working with President Trump on a massive scale-up of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, supercharging B-21 bomber production, and a broad revitalization of the defense industrial base.”
    Chairman Wicker has long championed the NGAD/F-47 program. His May 2024 “Peace Through Strength” report calls for a major investment in national defense, adding that progress in funding the Collaborative Combat Aircraft should not come at the expense of NGAD/F-47. In October 2024, Chairman Wicker visited the Boeing facility in St. Louis, which will be primarily responsible for NGAD/F-47 production. Also in October, Wicker and Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, which argued for rapid Air Force platform modernization, starting with NGAD/F-47. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NBC News: Sen. Warren calls Trump’s expected Education Department executive order a ‘code red’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 20, 2025
    Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., slammed Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Education Department, saying in a statement that it’s “a code red for every public school student, parent, and teacher in this country.”
    “Trump is telling public school kids in America that their futures don’t matter. Billionaires like Trump and Musk won’t feel the difference when after school programs are slashed, class sizes go up, and help for families to pay for school gets cut,” she said in a statement first to NBC News. “But working families, students, and teachers will pay a heavy price.”
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Megan LebowitzSource: NBC News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Request from Warren and Senators, Government Watchdog Opens Investigation into How Trump’s Purge of Workers Harms Americans’ Health and Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 24, 2025
    Response from GAO (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – Following a request from U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) agreed to open an investigation into how the Trump administration’s firing of probationary federal workers will impact Americans’ health and safety. 
    Thousands of these recently fired federal employees were responsible for protecting Americans’ health and safety, across areas like air travel, flood and wildfire response, infectious disease control, nuclear safety, veterans’ healthcare and benefits, food safety, and managing the opioid epidemic.
    In recent weeks, courts have ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary employees, only for many of the employees to be reinstated and immediately placed on administrative leave, still leaving the health and safety of Americans at risk. 
    On March 6, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren led 10 Democratic senators in writing to the Government Accountability Office requesting an investigation into how the recent mass firings of probationary federal workers have impacted Americans’ health and safety.
    “GAO accepts your request as work that is within the scope of its authority,” wrote agency officials, noting that the work would begin “shortly.” GAO’s investigation is set to investigate how the recent firings of probationary federal workers affect the health and safety of Americans. 
    Senator Warren has been a leader in standing up for federal workers amidst Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s government takeover: 
    On March 20, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) led a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to slash the capacity of Federal Student Aid to handle student aid complaints.
    On March 19, 2025, at a town hall in Lowell, MA, Senator Elizabeth Warren laid out her strategy, including fighting the illegal mass firings in the courts, to fight Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s dangerous government takeover, which is hurting Massachusetts families, and she invited neighbors from Lowell to join her in the fight.
    On March 3, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren announced Doug Kowalewski, a National Science Foundation employee who was fired unexpectedly as part of Elon Musk’s and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) gutting of the federal workforce, as her guest at the 2025 State of the Union. Senator Warren brought Doug “to force Trump to confront the federal workers he fired – the people who make this country run.” 
    On February 20, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured an investigation by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Inspector General into how the Acting Chairman rescinding more than 200 job offers to bank examiners impacts the U.S. banking system. 
    On February 18, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren led a letter demanding that the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Scott Turner, halt any further staff cuts at the agency, noting that additional staffing reductions would further exacerbate the housing crisis and would likely prevent HUD from being able to meet critical functions like supporting disaster recovery efforts. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bloomberg: Syria Sanctions Relief Sought by Bipartisan Pair of Lawmakers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 21, 2025
    A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is seeking sanctions relief for Syria as the country rebuilds after the fall of President Bashar al Assad.
    Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Representative Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, wrote a letter to to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking them to review the US’s Syria sanctions policy with an eye toward removing some measures to help the country’s development and counter the influence of Russia and Iran.
    “Sanctions inertia would undercut Syria’s path to stability,” they wrote, citing Rubio’s own testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee. “There is an opportunity to explore the removal of sanctions that were aimed at a regime that no longer exists, if doing so would advance positive outcomes.”
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Daniel FlatleySource: Bloomberg

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NBC News: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth demand answers about Musk’s Pentagon meeting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 21, 2025
    Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., are demanding information from the Defense Department about Elon Musk’s meeting this morning at the Pentagon.
    “Did the Pentagon today provide Mr. Musk with a top-secret briefing today on U.S. war plans for China?” Warren and Duckworth asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a letter obtained exclusively by NBC News.
    They sought additional details about the briefing, including whether the Pentagon changed its original plans for the meeting after initial public reports came out about it. The two senators also asked what clearance processes were in place for Musk to receive the information that he did.
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Megan Lebowitz and Rebecca ShabadSource: NBC News
    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Reaction to Noem Saying, “We Are Going to Eliminate FEMA.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today during President Trump’s Cabinet meeting, Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said, “We are going to eliminate FEMA.”
    Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following reaction: 
    “The Trump Administration’s grand plan for victims of natural disasters is to abandon them—and it’s a complete non-starter. Eliminating FEMA’s ability to respond after a disaster hits would be catastrophic not only for flood victims in Vermont, but for hurricane victims in the Carolinas, tornado victims in Kansas, and wildfire victims in California. This rash decision will harm ongoing disaster recovery efforts, and make it impossible to respond after the next natural disaster.  
    “I’m the first to say we need to reform and improve FEMA, but we can’t do that if the agency has been illegally demolished.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Marshall, Moran Introduce Legislation to Provide Consistent, Affordable Energy to Missouri, Kansas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Monday, March 24, 2025

    U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced legislation – alongside Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) – that would provide stable energy rates and a reliable electric grid to states in the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) region, including Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

    “After the devastating tornadoes that left victims without power for days, Missourians deserve consistent and affordable energy,” said Senator Hawley. “This legislation will ensure that every Missourian has access to power they can rely on.”

    The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act would give SWPA the authority to operate on a self-funding, revolving Treasury fund to help provide the affected states with a long-term, reliable financing source. This would give the region more stable funding to lower customer rates, which can be highly volatile due to market demand and weather. Furthermore, the legislation would provide SWPA clarity to plan long-term infrastructure improvements and power replacement and allow SWPA to avoid drastic and unnecessary spikes in power rates charged to its wholesale customers in an extreme or multi-year regional drought situation.

    “It is critical that Kansans have access to reliable electricity at stable rates, especially during extreme and dangerous weather,” said Senator Moran. “This legislation will provide funding stability that will allow energy providers to make needed infrastructure improvements and prevent Kansans from suffering mass power outages.”

    “Kansans – especially our farmers and ranchers – need reliable and affordable power,” said Senator Marshall. “Consumers have suffered from high energy costs for too long, and this bill will help deliver stable and affordable power while improving our power grid infrastructure. I am proud to stand with Senators Jerry Moran and Josh Hawley in supporting this important legislation.”

    Senator Hawley has long advocated for Missourians to access reliable American-made energy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn on Democrats’ Tesla Attacks: ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on Fox News’ The Faulkner Focus, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) slammed Democrats for resorting to attacking Tesla cars and dealerships across the country because they refuse to accept that President Trump was delivered a mandate on November 5th to get our economy back on track and cut government spending with the help of the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
    On the Destruction of Tesla Vehicles:
    “It is Trump derangement syndrome.”
    “I’m glad to hear the Attorney General say that this will not be accepted and that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Maybe that will stop this once they see the full weight of prosecution come down on them.”
    “What DOGE is doing, what Elon Musk is doing is demonstrating some of the most egregious examples of wasteful spending.”
    “I’m actually excited about the opportunities that this presents for us to do something about something we should have done a long time ago.”
    On Comments from Democrats like Failed Candidate Tim Walz:
    “Well, you can see now why [Tim Walz] lost the election, if that’s the best he has to offer.”
    “They are unteachable, and certainly they didn’t learn anything from the election on November 5th, when their party and their platform was rejected by the American people.”
    “I would prefer that they would engage constructively and try to work together with us to try to solve some of these problems, rather than just lose their mind and destroy an inanimate object like a Tesla vehicle.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bonamici, NW Members Demand Trump Admin Not Close Portland, Seattle Housing Offices

    US Senate News:

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

    March 21, 2025

    WASHINGTON DC [3/21/25] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1) led Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Adam Smith (WA-9), Suzan DelBene (WA-1), Val Hoyle (OR-4), Andrea Salinas (OR-6), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) in demanding that the Trump administration abandon plans to close the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s field office in Portland and regional office in Seattle.

    The Trump administration is reportedly planning to close a majority of HUD offices across the country, including the offices in Portland and Seattle. This move would be especially harmful to Region X, which includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. The members noted that federal law requires HUD to maintain an office in every state, and that closing the offices in Portland and Seattle would mean the nearest HUD office will be in San Francisco, CA, more than 650 miles from Portland and 850 miles from Seattle.

    “We know how devastating it can be when services are moved out of state and implore you to keep the Seattle regional office and Portland field office open,” the Members wrote. “The Pacific Northwest is already experiencing a significant housing shortage. The closure of these regional and field offices would significantly hinder the ability of state agencies, public housing authorities, community-based organizations, and private developers and landlords to develop new housing and address this housing crisis.”

    The Members of Congress explained that regional staff have the expertise needed to meet local needs and are essential to provide vital services and technical assistance with mortgage assistance, affordable housing developments, fair housing claims, and more.

    “Field offices are the most direct touchpoint to navigate the complexities of federal housing assistance programs by providing eviction prevention assistance and other housing quality services to individuals and families with few or no other options,” the Members wrote. “The closure of these offices would result in undue risk for our constituents.”

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

    Dear Secretary Turner:

    We write to you with deep concern about recent reports indicating that your agency may plan to close a majority of its field and regional offices across the country. Specifically, we are concerned about the reported plan to close the regional office in Seattle, WA, and the field office in Portland, OR, which would leave our constituents without any support. Given the immense benefit these offices provide across the region, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) statutory responsibility to maintain an office in every state  and to thoroughly analyze and publicly report on the impacts of any field office closures on costs, the local economy, and service delivery , we urge you to retain HUD’s footprint by keeping these offices open.

    Field office staff serve as primary points of contact who have both specialized expertise in housing assistance programs and an understanding of the local context. HUD field staff help communities problem solve, navigate administrative challenges, and respond to urgent needs and emergencies. Those staff are best able to perform these duties when they have a deep understanding of the local market and strong relationships with local partners. Should HUD decide to move forward with the planned closures, the nearest HUD office will be in San Francisco, CA, more than 650 miles from Portland and 850 miles from Seattle. These closures would have devastating effects on our communities as many projects currently in development would be delayed and specific program expertise lost.

    Regional and field offices provide a range of vital services and technical assistance to our constituents and the federal government, including processing applications for mortgage insurance for single-family homes, affordable housing developments, and other facilities. Regional and field offices also assist individual tenants, landlords, and municipalities with housing properties and resolve fair housing claims.  Field offices are the most direct touchpoint to navigate the complexities of federal housing assistance programs by providing eviction prevention assistance and other housing quality services to individuals and families with few or no other options. The closure of these offices would result in undue risk for our constituents.

    Housing stakeholders, including community members, State and local governments, Public Housing Authorities, and Housing Finance Agencies, also rely on HUD field offices to provide support for a wide range of needs and help navigate administrative challenges. For Public Housing Authorities, HUD field offices are the first point of contact for HUD concerns, support communities when disasters strike, and conduct environmental review of projects to determine if the project meets federal, state, and local environmental standards. For Housing Finance Agencies, HUD field offices are invaluable in bringing partners to the table to work together to provide financing and other services for multifamily affordable housing. HUD field offices have also been important to facilitating and supporting place-based community partnerships, like Promise Zones, EnVision Centers, and Opportunity Zones.

    We know how devastating it can be when services are moved out of state and implore you to keep the Seattle regional office and Portland field office open. In past years, HUD moved to transfer all of Oregon’s Multifamily Section 8 work to the regional office in San Francisco. This decision hurt the state’s ability to execute Multifamily Section 8 work, and Portland’s field office lost significant capacity to work through challenges. The Pacific Northwest is already experiencing a significant housing shortage. The closure of these regional and field offices would significantly hinder the ability of state agencies, public housing authorities, community-based organizations, and private developers and landlords to develop new housing and address this housing crisis.

    We request that you reevaluate any consideration of closure of field offices across the country and urge you to keep the Portland field office and Seattle regional office open. If these closures are under consideration, we ask that you explain why your agency is considering closing these offices, adhere to all statutory requirements to assess and publicly report on impacts before any staff changes are made, and respond to the concerns we raised about the lack of access to services that would result from any closures. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. We stand ready to work with you to keep these important services accessible to our constituents, and we look forward to receiving a response from you no later than Thursday, April 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Delegation Reintroduces Legislation To Empower Greater Development Of State-Owned Energy Resources

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Representative Julie Fedorchak today announced they have reintroduced the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act, bicameral legislation to enable greater development of state-owned lands and minerals. Specifically, the bill would authorize the State of North Dakota to relinquish state-owned lands and minerals contained within the Tribal Reservations to the U.S. Department of the Interior and, in exchange, receive federal land and minerals of equal value within North Dakota. The delegation secured Senate passage of the legislation last Congress, a critical step that will help streamline the bill’s advancement in the 119th Congress.
    “Energy development on state and federally-held lands not only plays a critical role in supporting economic growth and our nation’s energy security, but it produces significant revenue to help fund education, infrastructure and a wide range of priorities,” said Senator Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Through equal-value exchanges, our legislation would help the State of North Dakota and Native American Tribes reduce the fragmentation of their minerals and surface acres, easing the development of these important resources and unlocking their potential for the benefit of North Dakotans and tribal members.”
    “Our Trust Lands Completion Act is a win-win-win solution for North Dakota, tribes, and the federal government,” said Senator Cramer. “It’s proof not every transaction in Washington requires a loser. This will restore tribal land ownership and go a long way toward simplifying energy and resource development to generate more revenue for education in the state. It’s time to pass this bill.”
    “This legislation is a commonsense solution to a longstanding problem,” said Representative Fedorchak. “By allowing North Dakota to exchange fragmented state-owned lands within Tribal Reservations for federal lands of equal value, we’re unlocking new opportunities for responsible energy development while ensuring tribes have greater control over their own lands. It’s a win-win for North Dakota—empowering our state to better utilize its resources and cut through bureaucratic barriers that have held back development for too long.”
    “This legislation will promote more productive trust lands to enhance North Dakota K-12 education funding, while also providing North Dakota Tribes with the opportunity to further consolidate lands within their reservations. I look forward to working with our delegation to build on the success we achieved last Congress where it unanimously passed the United States Senate,” said Joseph Heringer, North Dakota Trust Lands Commissioner.
    “We were glad to help shape how the draft bill would restore some Reservation land previously taken from us,” said Mark Fox, Chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. “We support its introduction and look forward to working closely with our congressional delegation and the Congress to ensure the preservation of our treaty rights to land and minerals on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.”
    Currently, North Dakota holds more than 130,000 acres of minerals and over 31,000 surface acres within Tribal Reservations alone, which are largely unavailable for development. At the same time, existing federal laws do not adequately allow for the state and federal government to exchange land and minerals. This leaves surface and mineral rights within the Tribal Reservations fragmented, while limiting the state’s ability to generate revenue from the land and minerals it owns. The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act would resolve this issue by allowing equal value transactions between North Dakota and the Interior Department to exchange land and mineral rights, thereby:
    Enabling North Dakota to access the lands and minerals that were promised upon statehood to fund education and other public purposes.
    Providing Tribes greater ownership over the lands within their reservation boundaries.
    Valuations conducted under this legislation would be determined by the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions and the Uniform Standards for Professional Appraisal Practice. Valid existing rights will be respected in these transactions and there will be no impact on any Indian treaty rights or to the National Grasslands. The full text and a summary of the legislation can be found here and here, respectively.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Kelly Request Answers from CDC Acting Director Monarez Regarding Shutdown of Vital Maternal Health Data System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) led colleagues in writing a letter to CDC Acting Director Susan Monarez regarding reports that suggest the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) has stopped operations, leaving states, researchers, and health care providers without access to this vital data. The CDC has not clarified why this shutdown occurred.
    “We are reaching out to inquire about the current status of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). As a vital initiative jointly operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and several state, territorial, and local health departments, PRAMS plays a crucial role in collecting data to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, representing over 80 percent of all U.S. live births. This information is of increasing importance as the U.S. is experiencing a maternal health crisis: it has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income nations, increasing rates of complications from pregnancy or childbirth, and persistent disparities in such outcomes,” the lawmakers wrote. 
    In response to the alleged shutdown, the lawmakers requested answers to the following questions:
    Why is PRAMS, this critical maternal and infant health data program, no longer collecting and reporting data? When did the program stop collecting and reporting data?
    Is there a timeline when PRAMS will be operational again? If so, when?
    Will PRAMS return to full operability? If yes, on what date is PRAMS expected to return to full operations? 
    Was there any communication to states and institutions prior to PRAMS shutting down? If so, what was communicated and when?
    Is there a plan in place to collect PRAMS data so there is not a significant gap in maternal and infant health data collection?
    If PRAMS will be operational again, were there any changes made? If so, what were they?
    Have any CDC personnel working on PRAMS been laid off?
    “PRAMS plays a crucial role in reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Preserving this program will strengthen public health efforts, reduce inequities in care, and ultimately save lives. Thank you for your attention to this important matter,” the lawmakers concluded. 
    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Jesús García (D-IL-04), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Henry Johnson (D-GA-04), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), and Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04).
    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Visits Quad Cities International Airport, Underscores How Trump’s Illegal Funding Freeze Hurts Local Infrastructure and Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 22, 2025

    [MOLINE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation—today met with Quad Cities International Airport Director Benjamin Leischner and airport leadership to hear concerns about the impacts of Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staff cuts. Duckworth also discussed the over $2.7 million in federal funding she secured last year through the Airport Improvement Plan (AIP) for airfield safety. Photos of today’s visit are available on the Senator’s website.

    “Quad Cities International Airport is an essential economic hub for our state and the region,” Duckworth said. “During our meeting, we discussed how Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s FAA layoffs are jeopardizing safety at a time when we should be investing more in our aviation system—not less. As we continue to face an aviation safety crisis, I will keep working alongside QC Airport leadership to advocate for federal investments that will make our skies safer, modernize infrastructure and support economic development across the Quad Cities.”

    In September, Duckworth and U.S. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $37,031,074 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements at airports across Illinois—including $2,765,727 for the Quad Cities International Airport through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration, supports airport improvement projects across the state such as reinforcing taxiway structural integrity, expanding terminal buildings to accommodate more passengers and aircraft operations and implementing modernization measures. These measures include reducing noise pollution for nearby residents, increasing clean energy opportunities, improving drainage infrastructure and mitigating wildlife attractants.

    Earlier this month, Duckworth and Durbin sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy criticizing the Trump Administration’s mismanagement of federal funding for Illinois transportation and infrastructure projects. In their letter, the Senators called for more clarity on the future of transportation and infrastructure grants and formula funding for states that were included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was strongly supported by both Duckworth and Durbin.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Visits Parr Instruments to Discuss Economic Impacts of Trump’s Tariffs on Illinois Manufacturing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 22, 2025

    [MOLINE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—visited Parr Instrument Company yesterday to tour the facility and discuss with company leaders and members of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) how Trump’s tariffs threaten Illinois’s manufacturing industry. For over 125 years, Parr Instrument Company has designed and built high precision laboratory equipment. However, because of President Trump’s reckless, blanket tariffs on critical materials such as steel and aluminum, Parr could face increased costs and supply chain disruptions, threatening jobs and the stability of their workforce. Photos of yesterday’s visit are available on the Senator’s website.

    “Trump’s chaotic, sweeping tariffs will negatively impact Illinois’s workforce and manufacturers, while harming our nation’s allies around the world,” Duckworth said. “The consequences of Trump’s needless trade wars will hurt key Illinois manufacturers like Parr Instrument Company, which employs many hardworking, middle-class workers across the Quad Cities. I’m proud to work alongside Illinois manufacturing leaders as we continue to push back against Trump and his one-sided political interests.”

    “It was a pleasure and honor to host Senator Duckworth at our facilities at Parr Instrument Company,” said Jim Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parr. “I appreciated the Senator’s sincere interest in the challenges small and mid-size manufactures are facing in today’s world. She takes a pragmatic approach to the issues and works in a bipartisan manner in her your representation of her constituents.”

    Duckworth is a proven leader in securing international investments that drive commerce and job growth in Illinois—all while strengthening economic ties with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region. As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth led a bipartisan delegation of her Senate colleagues to Taiwan last year to further enhance our bilateral economic ties, including deepening our trade ties on chip manufacturing and agricultural investments.

    Parr Instrument Company, based in Moline, Illinois, designs, manufactures, and sells laboratory instruments for testing fuels and conducting chemical reactions under heat and pressure. Its equipment is used in chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech research labs. The company employs about 100 skilled professionals and machinists at its Moline plant and operates a sales and service branch in Frankfurt, Germany.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Risch, Blumenthal Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Deliver Combat-Injured Veterans Full Military Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) led reintroduction, along with Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), of S. 1032, the Major Richard Star Act.  This bipartisan legislation would provide combat-injured veteran retirees their full benefits.

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

    “Our veterans made significant sacrifices for our freedoms. Penalizing their retirement benefits due to injuries they incurred during their honorable service to our country is unacceptable,” said Risch.  “The Major Richard Star Act protects the entirety of veterans’ earned benefits and give our nation’s heroes the respect they deserve.”

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

    Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments, leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees, including hundreds in Idaho.  The Major Richard Star Act would fix this unjust policy for retired combat veterans—providing them full VA disability and DOD retirement payments earned by their service.

    The bipartisan legislation is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran who was forced to medically retire due to his combat-related injuries.  Major Star sadly lost his battle with cancer on February 13, 2021. S. 1032 has 43 bipartisan co-sponsors.

    Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida) and Raul Ruiz (D-California) introduced companion legislation, with 185 bipartisan co-sponsors, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    The bipartisan effort to provide combat-injured veterans their due benefits is supported by the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), American GI Forum, The American Legion, American Military Society, American Veterans (AMVETS), Armed Forces Retiree Association, Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), Association of Military Surgeons of the United States  (AMSUS), Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Burn Pits 360, Chief Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard (CWOA), Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service, Inc. (COA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Heroes Athletic Association, Gold Star Wives of America (GSW), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV), K9s for Warriors, Marine Corps League (MCL), Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA), Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America (MCA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Mission Roll Call, National Defense Committee, National Military Family Association (NMFA), Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (NERA), Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), Operation First Response, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Quality of Life Foundation, Reserve Organization of America (ROA), Stronghold Freedom Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), The Independence Fund (TIF), United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA), USCG Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA), VetsFirst/United Spinal Association, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Wounded Paw Project and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

    MIL OSI USA News –