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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Emphasizes the Importance of Nuclear Triad Modernization, Airborne ISR During Senate Committee Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider the nomination of Elbridge Colby to be the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, a key position responsible for shaping U.S. defense strategy and guiding the Pentagon’s policy priorities.
    During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned Colby on the importance of modernizing the nation’s nuclear triad and deterrence, and maintaining airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
    [embedded content]
    North Dakota has nearly 70 years of nuclear deterrence experience. As a North Dakota native, Cramer said he has watched nuclear deterrence work up close at Minot Air Force Base (AFB), the only base to have two legs of the nuclear triad with 50-year-old Minuteman IIIs and 70-year-old B-52s. Cramer explained his extensive exposure to the processes, not just the systems, and also the work of the airmen who protect, fly, and operate the vehicles.
    “The year I was born, the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) was invented, and two years later the first one was installed at Minot, North Dakota,” said Cramer. “The Minuteman I and the Minuteman III came along after some time, and of course we also have 70-year-old B-52 bombers. Both of those vehicles carry nuclear warheads, and Minot Air Force Base contains and protects a large majority of nuclear material in our arsenal.”
    The Sentinel ICBM will replace the Minuteman III and is key to protecting the nation’s nuclear deterrent capabilities and maintaining the country’s Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). Cramer acknowledged the Sentinel program has faced challenges, but reiterated its importance. He asked Colby if he would commit to advising the President and Congress, “that we really do need to have that deterrence that has worked so well for so long, that not a single ICBM with a nuclear warhead has had to be fired.”
    “I do commit to advising the support for the ICBM, and the triad, and the land-based leg, and the Sentinel program as well,” responded Colby. “Obviously, there are concerns about the health of the program, so if confirmed, that would be a priority […]. But certainly, you have my commitment.”  
    Over the last couple of years, the U.S. Air Force has been shedding legacy airborne ISR platforms without sufficient new capabilities to replace them. Despite the demonstrated need for ISR, Cramer said he is seeing “an escalation of shedding by the United States Air Force, particularly modern ISR.” He asked Colby about how he views the importance of ISR, and his level of commitment to overseeing it.
    “I think that airborne ISR is very important, especially for its own reasons, but also because we cannot solely rely on the space-based layer,” said Colby.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Warns DOGE’s Indiscriminate Cuts, Sloppy Work, and Lack of Transparency will Backfire on Republicans & Harm U.S. Taxpayers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WATCH: Sen. Reed says DOGE doesn’t want efficient government, it wants to weaken government, blackout oversight & serve Trump and Musk’s interests at the expense of taxpayers

    WASHINGTON, DC – Who is in charge of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?  What is the agency up to?  Who is it benefitting?  Who is it hurting?  Is DOGE breaking the law?

    These are all simple, reasonable questions — ones that Congress and courts have been asking and ones that the Trump Administration has dodged since January 20, when the president signed an Executive Order that changed the name of the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), a small, technology-based office, and morphed it into the vastly more expansive DOGE with long tentacles extending into the operations of virtually every federal department, agency, and office.

    Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the U.S. Treasury Department, the White House, and other key federal agencies and offices, took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to call out DOGE for its attempted power grab, incompetence, and lack of transparency.

    “Mr. Musk and DOGE have rammed their way into agencies — not to make smart decisions, not to improve efficiency, not to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, but to disrupt, denigrate and demoralize.  And along the way, DOGE has made incredible blunders, such as firing and then scrambling to rehire employees at the Nation Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).  Let me repeat that – Mr. Musk and his minions fired the people who keep nuclear weapons safe,” said Senator Reed. 

    Senator Reed continued.  “Musk and his unvetted coders made the CIA send an unclassified email with the names of its recent hires.  And cut staff from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service who prevent and warn every American of travel and weather dangers.  These actions don’t just reflect incredible incompetence — they are dangerous.  They undermine national security and increase risks for American citizens.  In any other setting, blunders like these would be grounds for firing.  But Musk and DOGE operate with arrogance, impunity, and zero transparency.”

    Regarding the question of who is in charge of DOGE, Donald Trump told a Miami audience of investors and corporate executives on February 20: “I signed an order creating the Department of Government Efficiency and put a man named Elon Musk in charge.” Trump made that statement just days after his Administration’s lawyers told federal courts that Mr. Musk isn’t even a part of the federal bureaucracy.

    In terms of what the agency is up to, no one in the Trump Administration has been able to fully say, but Mr. Musk has repeatedly announced broad changes in federal policy well beyond the purview of “modernizing federal technology,” which was the guise Trump used to establish DOGE.  And DOGE has taken unprecedented and illegal actions against federal workers, firing thousands at a time with little planning and even less justification.  DOGE’s mass-firings and unchecked actions are proving to be harmful to both the federal workforce and the broader economy.

    Reed noted that members of the Appropriations Committee typically work together on a bipartisan basis to seek information and conduct oversight in order to ensure that federal dollars are spent in accordance with the laws passed by Congress. 

    “But now, without authorization from Congress, DOGE is recklessly slashing its way through virtually every federal agency, from the Office of Personnel Management to Treasury to HUD, State, USAID, to the Department of Defense and more,” said Reed.  “It is vital that we understand what DOGE is and isn’t.  While Elon Musk tells the American People that DOGE is ‘maximally transparent,’ it is not.”

    Reed pointed out the American people still do not have answers to fundamental questions like:

    •           What is the scope of DOGE’s work?

    •           How many people work at DOGE? And who are they?

    •           Do they also hold jobs outside the Federal government?

    •           What are their financial holdings and potential conflicts of interest?

    •           Do they have allegiances to foreign governments?

    •           Will it respond to requests under the Freedom of Information Act?

    •           What are its plans to reform agencies?

    •           Who is DOGE firing and why?

    During his floor speech, Reed noted that when DOGE does publicly share some limited information, it is frequently wrong.  As the New York Times reported, five of DOGE’s biggest claimed savings were deleted from its website because they were inaccurate.  This includes:

    •           A cancelled USAID contract for $650 million that was counted three times;

    •           A cancelled Social Security contract was erroneously listed as being worth $232 million instead of $560,000; and

    •           A cancelled ICE contract was listed as saving $8 BILLION instead of $8 million.

    “If you’re going to name something the Department of Government Efficiency, don’t you owe it to the taxpayers to actually do a good job?” Reed asked.

    On top of having zero accountability, DOGE’s legal authority to operate is dubious.

    “DOGE is now using the hollowed shell of USDS to illegally undo the American federal government, moving from agency-to-agency cutting congressionally appropriated federal spending, priorities, and even dismantling entire agencies.  The bottom line is that DOGE is without congressional authorization and without directed funding from Congress,” said Reed.  “Based on press reports, it appears to be populated by a mixture of unelected billionaires, tech executives,  and un-vetted, unexperienced people,  including an individual who was found to have posted racist tweets. This gang is being granted access to Americans’ most sensitive data like your bank accounts, your Social Security accounts, and it would seem, a host of classified intelligence.  How are they using this information?  How are they protecting this information from our enemies? Is it being shared with outside entities?” Reed asked.

    Reed concluded: “Every single day that passes without transparency and Congressional access to information about DOGE’s funding, staffing, and scope of work is a moment too long. With the current Continuing Resolution due to expire on March 14th, we have big decisions to make. My hope is that these decisions can be made on a bipartisan basis informed by the facts. But we cannot responsibly fund the government if we do not understand how DOGE has infiltrated it and made it less efficient and responsive to the taxpayers.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump is Undermining American Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and Chris Coons (D-DE), Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; as well as U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Gregory R. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party; issued the following joint statement in response to President Donald Trump’s systematic efforts to isolate the United States from longstanding partners and allies and decimate the federal workforce: 

    “President Trump’s early statements and actions are threatening the national security of our country. Since taking office a little more than a month ago, the president has alienated nearly every international partner and ally we have, leaving us isolated in an increasingly dangerous world as Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China work together. We need partners and allies to effectively address the multitude of national security threats we face—or could face. Yet, Trump has shown more alignment with Vladimir Putin, who threatens the international rules-based order, than with our long-standing partners and allies. This was most recently and appallingly demonstrated by Trump’s order yesterday to freeze delivery of all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, even as it endures constant bombardment and the decimation of its people.  

    “At the same time, and acting under the president’s direction, Elon Musk is destroying our federal national security workforce, terminating thousands of men and women with deep expertise and a proven commitment to securing our interests around the world. This has weakened our ability to respond to international crises by decimating our global foreign assistance investments, our nuclear safety protections, and our cyber security, just to name a few. And the federal workforce that hasn’t been fired yet is living under constant threat. Chaos at our national security departments and agencies does little to promote a secure America. It does the opposite. We should all be afraid that Trump has turned over access to these locations and our national security workforce to Musk and a collection of his staff, many of whom have no clue what they are reviewing and have never held security clearances.  

    “We are speaking out and urging others to join us before it’s too late. Because make no mistake—this is a concerted effort by Trump and Musk to dismantle our system of government and exploit our weakness to consolidate power that benefits the very countries threatening our national security. It is time to act for the sake of our national security and the American people we were elected to serve.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Secretary Hegseth Considers Gutting Workforce for Reducing Civilian Deaths, Pentagon Policy Nominee Agrees with Warren: Civilian Harm Prevention is Crucial to National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 04, 2025
    Trump Defense Policy Nominee Elbridge Colby agrees that following the laws of war is “a very important part of the picture that I think is part of the role of the USDP.” 
    Video of Exchange (YouTube) 
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, questioned Mr. Elbridge Colby, nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) about his vision to prioritize civilian harm prevention. Senator Warren also underscored the danger of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth firing top Judge Advocates General last month. 
    Mr. Colby agreed that preventing civilian deaths strengthens U.S. national security, including by reducing the risks to our own troops. This comes as the Washington Post reports that the Pentagon is set to make “deep cuts to the civilian workforce focused on reducing civilian harm in U.S. military operations.” Senator Warren highlighted that preventing civilian harm is not a partisan issue. In fact, Secretaries of Defense under President Trump’s first term and under President Biden all took steps to prevent civilian harm. 
    “Following the laws of war helps set us apart from terrorists and from adversaries like Russia, which has targeted civilians in Ukraine,” said Senator Warren. 
    “Observing the laws of war, understanding them in a reasonable way – that’s consistent with combat effectiveness and military effectiveness and achieving our goals in deterrence,” said Mr. Colby. “I think that’s a very important part of the picture that I think is part of the role of the (Under Secretary of Defense for Policy), if confirmed.” 
    Senator Warren also called attention to, and Mr. Colby agreed with, the importance of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, whom American troops rely on for legal advice and Senator Lindsey Graham has praised as “the conscience of the military.”
    Transcript: Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Mr. Elbridge A. Colby to be Under Secretary of Defense for PolicySenate Armed Services CommitteeMarch 4, 2025 
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations on your nomination, Mr. Colby. The U.S. military does not target innocent civilians. Not only because that’s what’s right, it is also that’s what’s effective. General Stanley McChrystal coined the term “insurgent math” – you may remember hearing about this – meaning that for every innocent civilian you kill, you create 10 new enemies. U.S. strikes killed as many as 48,000 civilians between 2001 and 2021. You can do the math on that. 
    Now, most people know that killing civilians is wrong and should be rare. And when it has happened, our troops file reports. But too often those reports don’t actually receive a response from anyone, and we don’t learn how to avoid future accidents that result in civilian deaths. 
    And that’s why Congress passed several reforms into law to reduce civilian harm and improve our guidance for our servicemembers, including establishing the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence. This Center helps make military operations more effective and it also supports troops in preventing and responding to civilian harm. 
    So let me ask you, Mr. Colby: if confirmed, will you oversee implementation of these reforms? Do you agree that preventing civilian deaths enhances U.S. national security, including reducing the risks to our own troops?
    Mr. Elbridge Colby, nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy: I do agree with that, Senator. 
    Senator Warren: Good, I’m glad to hear that. It’s very important. This isn’t a partisan issue. During the first Trump Administration, the Pentagon grew concerned about the number of civilian deaths resulting from operations that were in place to try to defeat ISIS and it launched a study. Secretaries Mattis, Esper, and Austin all took steps to improve civilian harm prevention across the administrations. So, today, the Center of Excellence helps commanders to sharpen their campaign plans so they can make smarter decisions about strikes that they need to deploy.
    So Mr. Colby, do you agree that commanders can make better decisions in the field when they’re equipped with training on how to avoid civilian casualties?
    Mr. Colby: I do, Senator. 
    Senator Warren: Good, I’m glad to hear that. Following the laws of war helps set us apart from terrorists and from adversaries like Russia, which has targeted civilians in Ukraine. And American troops also rely on the Judge Advocate General’s Corps for legal advice. Senator Graham – who himself was a JAG – rightly called JAGs “the conscience of the military.” 
    Mr. Colby, do you think it’s important that commanders have legal advice they can count on and trust?
    Mr. Colby: I do, Senator. 
    Senator Warren: Secretary Hegseth’s outspoken disregard for the rules of war endangers U.S. troops, and his firing of the top military lawyers of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force last month and his plans to reduce the rank of JAG leadership from a three-star role to a two-star role are deeply concerning. 
    If confirmed as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, your views will send a message from the top about whether the laws of war matter. I urge you to take this seriously. I appreciate your answers today. If you want to expand on any of them you’re welcome to do so. 
    Mr. Colby: Thank you, Senator. I’ve seen the reporters in the press, so I can’t speak about it authoritatively. I trust Secretary Hegseth’s judgement. What I would say is that, if confirmed, I certainly would take the laws of war very seriously. It’s something I’ve studied in the past and thought about a great deal. It’s part of the overall “Ends, Ways, Means and the Rational Use of Military Power.” Again, not to be too sanguine about it or blaise, but to say that observing the laws of war, understanding them in a reasonable way – that’s consistent with combat effectiveness and military effectiveness and achieving our goals in deterrence. I think that’s a very important part of the picture that I think is part of the role of the USDP, if confirmed.
    Senator Warren: I appreciate that Mr. Colby. I think that helps keep our warfighters safer and I also think it helps keep our nation safer. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues to Trump: Fire Elon Musk, Reinstate Agency Leaders and Federal Watchdogs

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues to Trump: Fire Elon Musk, Reinstate Agency Leaders and Federal Watchdogs

    Democratic lawmakers demand Trump reinstate fired Senate-confirmed officials and address Musk’s conflicts of interest, cite officials’ investigations and prosecutions of Musk’s companies
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined 40 of their Congressional Democratic colleagues in raising concerns about President Donald Trump’s unlawful firings of dozens of independent agency heads and Inspectors General (IGs), and calling attention to how many of these firings appear to benefit Elon Musk. The lawmakers also urged Trump to immediately reinstate the illegally fired individuals and remove Musk from his government role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on which there are still very few details, unless he addresses his conflicts of interest. 
    Musk and his companies have been the subject of at least 20 recent government investigations or prosecutions, including for possible violations of federal safety and labor laws. President Trump and Elon Musk’s removals of agency heads and career civil servants have affected at least 11 federal agencies that are conducting over 32 ongoing investigations, complaints, or enforcement actions against Musk’s companies.
    The lawmakers warned that failing to hold Musk accountable hurts American citizens and threatens the democratic system of checks and balances.
    “Nearly all of your decisions you made about who to fire appear to benefit Mr. Musk, and many target individuals and agencies that are currently investigating or prosecuting Mr. Musk or his companies for unlawful behavior,” wrote the lawmakers. “Many of these individuals have legal protections dictating why and how they can be removed from office. … Altogether, these firings either directly benefit Mr. Musk and his companies or remove guardrails that would hold them accountable to the rule of law.”
    “These firings have removed the exact individuals in our government who would hold Mr. Musk and his companies accountable for following the law and protect everyday Americans from threats to their health, welfare, safety, and economic well-being,” continued the lawmakers.
    The lawmakers’ letter lists several agency heads and watchdogs who were improperly fired while involved in oversight surrounding Musk, including but not limited to: National Labor Relations Board Chair Gwynne Wilcox, Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Commissioners Jocelyn Samuels and Charlotte Burrow, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong.
    Several of Trump’s orders contradict legal protections for the relevant officials. For example, federal law requires the president to notify Congress before removing an inspector general, but Trump did not do so before firing over a dozen IGs. Shortly after the terminations, Senators Padilla and Schiff joined a letter to President Trump demanding that the IGs be reinstated. President Trump has violated federal law with respect to numerous other agency officials, including the Office of the Special Counsel, the head of the Merit Service Protection Board, and a member of the National Labor Relations Board. Federal courts have already intervened against many of these presidential actions.
    The letter was led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.-11) and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08). In addition to Padilla and Schiff, the letter is also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), as well as Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vt.-AL), Donald Beyer (D-Va.-08), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), Danny Davis (D-Ill.-07), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.-02), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Summer Lee (D-Pa.-12), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.-02), Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.-01), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.-10), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai’i-02), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43).
    Senators Padilla and Schiff have fought against the Trump Administration’s federal workforce cuts and Inspectors General firings. Last month, Padilla, Schiff, and all other Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats demanded answers from Trump Administration nominees and acting officials on the removal or reassignment of career law enforcement officials across the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Padilla condemned Trump’s attempt to unlawfully fire more than a dozen Inspectors General during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. He previously sounded the alarm on concerning reports that DOGE will make wide-ranging, harmful cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) workforce and programs, hampering HUD’s ability to support vulnerable communities and combat the housing and homelessness crises. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Padilla also denounced the illegal firing of FEC Chair Weintraub and led 10 Democratic Senators to demand President Trump rescind this decision. 
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear President Trump:
    We are concerned that you have engaged in an unlawful firing spree that includes dozens of Senate-confirmed government officials. Many of the individuals you have targeted lead federal agencies and offices that are investigating or prosecuting companies belonging to Elon Musk, one of your top advisors, for violations of a wide swath of federal safety, labor, intelligence, and other rules and laws. The firings of these officials threaten our democratic system of checks and balances and fail to hold Mr. Musk accountable for actions that may have hurt workers, endangered national security and citizens’ and small businesses’ data, ripped off taxpayers, damaged the environment, and broken federal election rules.
    You have fired scores of Senate-confirmed government officials over the past three weeks, including many individuals who have legal protections dictating why and how they can be removed from office. For example, federal law requires the president to notify Congress before removing an inspector general (IG) from office, but you did not do so before firing over a dozen IGs during your first week in office. You also failed to set forth the specific and substantive rationale for each IG’s firing. Members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) can be removed “for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause,” and you removed an NLRB member with no justification. These and other firings are illegal.
    Nearly all of your decisions you made about who to fire appear to benefit Mr. Musk, and many target individuals and agencies that are currently investigating or prosecuting Mr. Musk or his companies for unlawful behavior. The fired individuals directly involved in pending or previous actions related to Mr. Musk and businesses include:
    NLRB Chair Gwynne Wilcox. In January 2024, the NLRB charged Mr. Musk’s astronautics company SpaceX with engaging in unfair labor practices; the NLRB also currently has at least a dozen unfair labor practices cases open against Mr. Musk’s automotive company Tesla;
    FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub. In 2024, the FEC adjudicated cases that alleged Mr. Musk may have violated campaign finance laws;
    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners Jocelyn Samuels and Charlotte Burrows. In September 2023, the EEOC sued Tesla for racial harassment and retaliation;
    U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) IG Phyllis Fong. In December 2022, the USDA IG investigated potential animal welfare violations at Musk’s brain implant company Neuralink; and
    U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) IG Paul Martin. The USAID IG was inspecting the use of Starlink terminals to support Ukraine.
    You also fired three other IGs from agencies that were investigating or had punished Mr. Musk’s companies.
    U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) IG Eric Soskin. In January 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency under the DOT, opened an investigation into Tesla over safety concerns in its remote and self-driving vehicles, and in September 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration, which is also part of DOT, proposed fining SpaceX $630,000 for failing to follow license requirements during rocket launches;
    U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) IG Robert Storch. In December 2024, the DoD IG reportedly opened an investigation into repeated failures by Musk and SpaceX to disclose their meetings with foreign leaders; and
    U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) IG Larry Turner. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, part of the DOL, “has opened probes into and fined SpaceX, Tesla and Boring Company for worker injuries or unsafe working conditions.”
    You have also fired numerous other agency leaders and IGs who would have provided a check on potential wrongdoing by Musk and his companies. These federal watchdogs could have held Musk and his associates accountable for future violations of the law. These individuals include:
    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) IG Sean O’Donnell. In 2019 and 2022, the EPA settled lawsuits with Tesla over Clean Air Act and hazardous waste law violations;
    U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) IG Mark Greenblatt. DOI had reviewed Musk’s rocket launch facility Starbase;
    U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Director David Huitema. OGE is an independent agency responsive for preventing conflicts of interest among federal officers and employees;
    U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Member Cathy Harris. MSPB is an independent agency that protects civil servants against partisan political and other prohibited practices;
    Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) Chair Susan Tsui Grundmann. FLRA is an independent agency that oversees labor-management relations for federal employees; and
    U.S. Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger. OSC is an independent agency that protects whistleblowers and enforces restrictions on partisan political activity by government employees.
    Altogether, these firings either directly benefit Mr. Musk and his companies or remove guardrails that would hold them accountable to the rule of law. The firings also hurt everyday Americans. The individuals you have fired served important watchdog roles in our government. IGs “protect taxpayer money by rooting out corruption, fraud, waste and mismanagement.” Minority commissioners on multi-member commissions of independent agencies provide dissenting opinions to the majority and allow for balanced decision-making over significant issues. In addition to removing agency leadership, you and Mr. Musk are removing career civil servants who would conduct investigations and enforcement actions against lawbreakers. The impacts are vast: in total, your removals of agency heads and career civil servants have affected at least eleven federal agencies with more than thirty-two ongoing investigations, complaints, or enforcement actions on Mr. Musk’s companies.
    Mr. Musk has failed to address conflicts of interest related to his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency while serving as CEO of multiple companies that have significant interests before the federal government. Musk is required to comply with federal conflict of interest prohibitions (18 U.S.C. § 208) that prohibit him “from personally and substantially participating in any particular matter that would have a direct and predictable effect on his financial interests,” but the White House has stated that he will be in charge of policing his own compliance with the law, and he has provided no indication of whether he is doing so. Now, these firings have removed the exact individuals in our government who would hold Mr. Musk and his companies accountable for following the law and protect everyday Americans from threats to their health, welfare, safety, and economic well-being. We urge you to immediately reinstate the illegally fired individuals and remove Mr. Musk from his government role unless he addresses his massive and glaring conflicts of interest as required by law.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Johnson Joins Sen. Cruz in Introducing Legislation to Dismantle China’s State-Sponsored Organ Harvesting Industry and Human Rights Abuses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in introducing the Falun Gong Protection Act. This bill would require sanctions on those responsible for or complicit in the involuntary harvesting of organs and also require the Secretary of State to report to Congress on organ transplant policies and practices of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP continues to engage in these atrocities, including against Falun Gong practitioners.
    Sens. Johnson and Cruz were joined by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). 
    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Johnson Joins Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Andy Harris in Urging Leadership to Reject Democrats’ Obstruction of DOGE in Funding Talks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, urging them to oppose any Democrat demands that would undermine President Trump and DOGE’s efforts to reduce wasteful federal spending. President Trump is fulfilling his promise to change the broken status quo in Washington that led the nation to a $36 trillion debt crisis, and Republicans must work together to ensure the President can continue to deliver on his mandate and Make America Great Again.
    Sens. Johnson and Scott were joined by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bernie Moreno(R-Ohio), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).
    Additional co-signers in the House include Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.), Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Brandon Gill (R-Texas), Mark Harris (R-N.C.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.).
    Full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, King, Sullivan Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize VA Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Highly Rural Transportation Grant (HRTG) Program provides free transportation services to VA-authorized healthcare appointments for veterans living in highly rural areas. Roughly 2.7 million veterans reside in highly rural areas across the country. 
    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Angus King (I-ME), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committees, introduced the bipartisan Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act. The legislation would reauthorize the VA HRTG Program for five years and add Tribal Organizations as entities eligible to apply directly for the program.
    According to Lonnie Wangen, Commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, “The number one reason our veterans have for missing a medical appointment is their lack of transportation. The Highly Rural Transportation Grant has provided hundreds of North Dakota’s highly rural veterans transportation to their VA medical appointments. This program has greatly improved the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable veterans.”
    The bill ensures transportation assistance for veterans living in rural areas with less than seven people per square mile. Eligible counties in North Dakota include Adams, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, Lamoure, Logan, McHenry, Mcintosh, McKenzie, McLean, Nelson, Oliver, Pierce, Renville, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Steele, Towner, and Wells Counties.
    “North Dakota is home to many veterans who rely on transportation assistance to access their healthcare services,” said Senator Cramer. “Reauthorizing the Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program will ensure veterans can travel to their medical appointments, whether in the community or at a VA facility directly facilitating access to the care they’ve earned.”
    “Veterans in rural Maine communities already face challenges when it comes to accessing quality, affordable care because of distance to VA medical facilities and availability of health care workers,” said Senator King. “The bipartisan Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act would provide rural veterans with travel assistance to appointments, ensuring they can more easily and efficiently access providers and treatments. Where veterans choose to live should not impede their ability to get the care they earned and deserve. I want to thank my Veterans Affairs Committee colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work to make sure our rural veterans get the support they need — from Maine all the way to Alaska.” 
    “Living in a small, highly-rural community far from a major metropolitan center does not justify a veteran losing or receiving limited access to the health care they have sacrificed for and earned,” said Senator Sullivan. “Transportation assistance is life-saving for Alaska’s veterans. I am glad to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program with Alaska-specific provisions to ensure our veterans are able to reach their VA appointments without lengthy delays or debilitating costs.” 
    Several organizations support this legislation, including the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).
    “Transportation to VA medical facilities remains a major challenge for the 2.7 million veterans who live in rural areas and are enrolled in VA care,” said Daniel Contreras, DAV National Commander. “DAV is proud to support the Supporting Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act as it would improve rural veterans’ access to VA medical treatment. We applaud Sens. Cramer and King for their leadership in re-introducing this vital bipartisan legislation that will help ensure our nation keeps its promises to America’s veterans.”
    “Among the post-9/11 wounded, ill, and injured veterans we serve, just over half report that they have experienced some degree of difficulty accessing health care through VA,” said Jose Ramos, WWP’s Vice President for Government and Community Relations. “The Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act would help ensure that transportation to appointments is one less barrier for veterans in rural areas to be concerned about.  Wounded Warrior Project is pleased to support this legislation, and we thank Senators Cramer, King, and Sullivan for their leadership in supporting better pathways to health for our nation’s veterans.”
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Colleagues Demand Clarification on NCAA Women’s Athletics Eligibility

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) and six other Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the National Collegiate Athlete Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker, urging the organization to clarify its stance on the participation of biological males in female sports. For the past four years, Democrats have waged a war against female athletes – allowing over 900 men to compete in women’s sports, share their locker rooms, and earn scholarships designed for women. In February, President Trump signed a historic Executive Order banning men from competing in women’s sports. Following the President’s Executive Order, the NCAA updated its policy to prevent men from competing in women’s sports. However, aside from competition, it is unclear what biological males have access to under the NCAA’s new policy.
    “In response to President Trump’s order, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) updated its student-athlete participation policy to bar biological male students from participating in women’s sports. We commend the NCAA’s quick action to comply with President Trump’s order and write to encourage the NCAA to take additional steps to protect the safety and privacy of female athletes nationwide.
    There is an opportunity to clarify that these guarantees do not include access to facilities that would undermine the privacy and safety of female athletes–such as women’s locker rooms or other female-only spaces— which the President’s order made clear should be protected,” they added. “We ask that the NCAA consider adding language to its policy that explicitly bars biological male athletes from female-only spaces and to consider adopting additional privacy protections for women and girls in sports,” wrote the Senators.
    Joining Senators Tuberville and Justice are U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Risch (R-ID, and Jim Banks (R-IN) in sending the letter.
    Read full text of the letter below or here. 
    “Dear President Baker,
    On February 5, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order-Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports- to strengthen Title IX and protect opportunities for biological female athletes to compete in safe and fair sports. After the Biden-Harris administration’s assault on Title IX in its efforts to allow biologically male athletes who identify as female to compete in women’s sports, this order came as a sigh of relief to millions of female athletes across the country who desire equal opportunity to engage in competitive athletics.
    In response to President Trump’s order, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) updated its student-athlete participation policy to bar biological male students from participating in women’s sports. We commend the NCAA’s quick action to comply with President Trump’s order and write to encourage the NCAA to take additional steps to protect the safety and privacy of female athletes nationwide.
    The NCAA’s new policy makes clear that biological male student-athletes may not compete on a women’s team. We could not be more supportive of this essential policy change. The NCAA’s policy guarantees that biological male athletes who practice with female athletes will “receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes who are otherwise eligible for practice.” There is an opportunity to clarify that these guarantees do not include access to facilities that would undermine the privacy and safety of female athletes–such as women’s locker rooms or other female-only spaces— which the President’s order made clear should be protected. We ask that the NCAA consider adding language to its policy that explicitly bars biological male athletes from female-only spaces and to consider adopting additional privacy protections for women and girls in sports.
    We also applaud the NCAA’s policy defining “sex assigned at birth” as the male or female designation that doctors assign to infants at birth, which is marked on their birth records—e.g. birth certificate. Publicly, the NCAA has affirmed that biological male athletes may not compete on a women’s team with amended birth certificates or by other documentary means. The NCAA’s public stance on this issue is commendable, and its policy could go a step further and explicitly state that amended birth certificates are prohibited.
    We stand in support of President Trump’s unparallel actions to protect the safety and privacy of female athletes across the country. The NCAA’s efforts are likewise respectable, and we look forward to working with you to ensure women and girls have equal opportunity in athletics.
    Sincerely,”
    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: Tuberville Introduces Bill To Put American Farmers and Producers First

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in re-introducing the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act, which will help eliminate trade barriers that harm American farmers, producers, and businesses, leading to higher prices for consumers. This legislation aims to protect U.S. agriculture while ensuring that the food which appears on U.S. store shelves meets U.S. health standards.
    “America’s ag industry can out-compete anyone in the world—as long as the rules are fair,” said Senator Tuberville. “But right now, our farmers, producers, and fishermen are suffering because of foreign countries violating their trade obligations. We must level the playing field to bolster our domestic ag industry. We must eliminate barriers to our agriculture exports. I will continue to keep working to remove red tape for those in our ag industry.”
    Joining Senators Tuberville and Cassidy in re-introducing this legislation are U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). Sen. Tuberville cosponsored this legislation in the 118th Congress as well.
    BACKGROUND:
    The Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act establishes a joint task force on agricultural trade enforcement led by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The task force will more proactively monitor upcoming Indian and Chinese industrial subsidies, rather than waiting to react after subsidies are in place. The bill will also require the task force to report recommendations to Congress to deal with unfair subsidies they identify, like India dumping shrimp on the U.S. market, driving down income for American fisherman.
    Establishing a USDA-USTR task force urges USTR to hold bad actors, like India, accountable for agricultural WTO violations and requires regular reporting to Congress and industry on those efforts. 
    Since 2005, the U.S. has imposed antidumping duties and conducted reviews of those duties on shrimp. These antidumping duties were placed on foreign shrimp suppliers as a result of unfair trade practices. These practices flooded the U.S. shrimp market with foreign frozen warmwater shrimp, deteriorating the per-pound price from $6.50 in 1980 to under $1.00 today. The decline in shrimp prices has driven domestic harvesters out of business and allowed foreign entities to control this U.S. market. India is the world’s top shrimp exporter, accounting for roughly 40 percent of U.S. shrimp imports, largely due to massive subsidies from the Indian government.
    Alabama shrimp farmers produce approximately 200,000 to 300,000 pounds of farm-raised shrimp annually. In 2022, commercial wild-shrimp landings totaled approximately 24.3 million pounds, with over $52 million in value, in Alabama.
    As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, Senator Tuberville has taken rigorous action to bolster and safeguard our own domestic agriculture industry, including recently reintroducing the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act and Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act. 
    MORE:
    Tuberville Honors National Agriculture Week, Continues to Stand Up for Farmers
    Tuberville Continues Fighting Foreign Influence in American Agriculture
    Tuberville Gets the Gavel for Key Agriculture Subcommittee
    Tuberville Continues Push to Combat Chinese Influence in U.S. Agriculture 
    Tuberville, Colleagues Stand up for Agriculture Producers
    Tuberville Introduces Bill to Combat Foreign Influence in U.S. Agriculture Industry
    Tuberville Announces Agriculture Subcommittee Assignments
    Tuberville Statement on Tom Vilsack Confirmation as Secretary of Agriculture
    Tuberville Advocates for Farmers During Senate AG Hearing
    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: Tuberville, Colleagues Push for Healthier Food Options for SNAP Participants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in introducing the Supporting All Healthy Options When Purchasing Produce (SHOPP) Act, which would expand access to frozen fruits and vegetables through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
    “SNAP participants deserve access to healthy alternatives,” said Sen. Tuberville.“RFK Jr. has exposed the scary truth behind much of America’s processed food. Expanding access to frozen fruits and vegetables is a step in the right direction of Making America Healthy Again. It is important we continue to increase options and encourage Americans to make healthy choices.”
    “Access to whole, nutrient dense foods are essential to making America healthy again,” said Sen. Cornyn. “The SHOPP Act will help meet this need for Texas families and communities across the country by ensuring SNAP participants are able to put well-balanced meals full of fruits and vegetables on their dinner tables.”
    “I am proud to reintroduce the bipartisan SHOPP Act to expand access to fruits and vegetables for families across the country,” said Sen. Luján. “This legislation helps strengthen food security and supports healthier communities in New Mexico and nationwide, especially in rural and Tribal communities where access to fresh produce can be limited. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to move it forward.”
    U.S. Congressmen Mark Alford (R-MO-04) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) led the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Full text of the bill can be found here.
    BACKGROUND: 
    The Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) are designed to help low-income families and individuals access the healthy food options they need. However, the GusNIP program currently only include funding for fresh produce, not frozen. The SHOPP Act would give local GusNIP providers the ability to provide frozen fruits and vegetables, which work better for SNAP participants who may live in rural or urban food deserts. Increased access to frozen produce makes eating a variety of fruits and vegetables possible for these families and individuals, and it is also easier to transport to areas that are on the last mile of a delivery route. This comes as March is National Nutrition Month and National Frozen Food Month, which raise awareness of the importance of developing healthy eating habits.
    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: Senate Democrats Block Tuberville Bill to Protect Female Athletes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    “At least 900 medals that belonged to women went to men instead over the past few years.”
    WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate took a procedural vote on U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, his legislation to require federally-funded institutions to keep men out of women’s sports, locker rooms, and other spaces designated only for females. The bill did not receive the 60 votes needed to proceed. All 45 Democrats refused to stand up for female athletes and voted to block the bill. 
    Prior to the vote, Senator Tuberville called on his colleagues to pass this commonsense piece of legislation and preserve Title IX to keep a level playing field for current and future female athletes.
    Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, or on YouTube or Rumble.

    “Over the past four years, women’s sports and women’s protections, at all levels, have been under attack. Since the beginning of time, people have agreed that sex is assigned at birth and determined by God. But under [the] Biden administration, you had people claiming that men can get pregnant. Pure, absolute insanity. But it didn’t stop there. They weren’t content just to erase gender norms that have been accepted for thousands of years. No, they wanted to allow transgender men to participate in women’s and girls’ sports. This has been happening at schools all across our country. […] Young women have been forced to compete against men and even to share locker rooms and shower time. And on top of that, your taxpayer dollars are paying for it. Thankfully, President Trump signed an Executive Order—he said, ‘no more, no more federal money to any state that allows this to happen.’ But you have to understand, this only lasts as long as President Trump is in office. We need this vote, which is going to happen in around an hour, to pass so we can make this into law. This Executive Order that he signed can be reversed.
    […]
    Congress needs to act on this to protect women’s sports to ensure Title IX protections are preserved. My bill that we are voting on today in about an hour, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, would make sure women’s rights to equal competition, equal scholarships, safe locker rooms, and that they all are protected. This legislation has already passed the House just about a month ago – with two Democrats actually supporting it. I appreciate the support of all my Republican colleagues on this. You all have joined me in championing this important cause for the past three years. I especially want to thank Leader Thune for […] bringing my bill to the floor here in the United States Senate. This will be the third time. It is hard to get a bill on this floor, but it is important to understand that. I also want to thank my friend and former Democrat colleague Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia who was the only Democrat in the last few years to support this when he was in the Senate. But unfortunately, my Democratic colleagues have been radio silent on this very issue despite the fact that a recent poll shows 67% [of] Democrats do not want men in women’s sports. 67%.
    […]
    One of the most frequent talking points I’ve heard from the other side on this is that it isn’t a big deal and isn’t impacting that many women. That’s not true. At least 900 medals that belonged to women have gone to men just over the past few years of men competing against women. In Pennsylvania alone, 66 female athletes have lost placements to male competitors since 2020. How sad is that. For each woman, the medals that went to men, there are potentially hundreds of women who lost out on that opportunity. Not to mention the hundreds of girls who perhaps did not make a team at all because they didn’t have a spot [on the roster]—you can only have so many on a team. Or the many young women who missed out on a scholarship because a man, or biological boy,  took that scholarship. It’s not fair. [So] no, this is [not] a minor issue impacting a few Americans. […] I took the liberty of looking up how many women and girls participate in women’s sports in some of my Democrat colleagues’ home states. More than 77,000 girls participate in high school [athletics] in the state of Georgia. In Michigan, 114,000. In Virginia, 164,000. In New Hampshire, 17,000. Pennsylvania [has] almost 150,000. New Mexico [has] almost 20,000. Minnesota [has] 98,000. Arizona [has] 120,633. And don’t tell me it’s not going to affect these states when, today, my Democrat colleagues come on this floor that represent these states and vote against this bill. It will affect [women], and it will affect them for years. So, as you can see, men competing in women’s sports has a negative impact on a lot of different girls across this country. But you know, it’s not just trophies. It’s about playing time,  it’s about learning and being on a team, learning how to win and learning how to lose.
    […]
    Last week, my wife Suzanne and I were proud to welcome our first granddaughter, Rosie Grace. She’s about five or six days old. We want her to have the same opportunities that all the other girls have had over the years. She deserves [the same rights] to fair competition, scholarships, trophies. I already bought her first pair of golf clubs—at age five days old. But if Democrats have their way today, she may one day be forced to compete against a man. Let me tell you something, if she has to share a locker room with a boy, you’re looking at a grandfather that will raise hell. If they shower in the same showers, we’re going to have problems. So, what we’re creating here is more and more problems that our country doesn’t need. I heard a story the other day about a 6th grade girl in Minnesota who was changing in a college locker room after swim practice when a biological man who identified as a female walked in and came within 5-6 feet of her to grab something. Let me tell you something, her dad became unglued. You would have too. Anybody would. This isn’t even about politics. This is about right and wrong. 79% of Americans agree on this: allowing men to compete against women is just plain wrong. 79% of the entire country. And like I said earlier, 67% of my Democratic colleagues and their constituents say, ‘no way, Jose.’ It’s not going to happen. So, to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you may want to check with your constituents before you make this vote today in about an hour.
    […]
    Because if polling is even close to correct, 8 out of 10 of your constituents do not want men competing against women. And if that doesn’t strike a chord with you, let me ask you this: Do you have daughters? Do you have granddaughters? Do you have nieces?  How would you feel if they trained for years – waking up early every morning, staying after school late practicing. Putting in those long hours when nobody else is watching. Missing spring breaks, family vacations, birthday parties, and holidays, making tremendous physical and financial sacrifices. All so they could one day have the opportunity either to win a trophy or win a scholarship. But then only to have that opportunity ripped away by a bigger, better, stronger, faster male athlete because they want to participate against women.
    […]
    Thanks to President Trump’s Executive Order, the NCAA recently announced men will no longer be allowed to compete against women on the college level. While this is a step in the right direction, the NCAA’s rules still allow, to this day, the NCAA to change the rules but they still allow men—biological boys or men—to enjoy in all the other benefits of being on a women’s team—practicing, dressing in the locker room, showering. But they just can’t compete in a game. That makes no sense. The NCAA needs to stand up for young women across this country and say, ‘no way.’ It just makes no sense, when [President Trump] made that [Executive Order]. To fully protect women, Congress needs to pass legislation on this, as I said earlier. We have got to pass it. It’s the only way it’s going to stop. Because the people out there that have lost their minds are going to continue to force this to happen. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would prevent a school from receiving federal funding if it lets boys compete in women. It’s the only way we can stop it. It also defines gender as male and female. What an idea, right?
    […]
    I hope we can put politics aside and in about, and hour [or] 45 minutes, do the right thing and protect women and girls in sports.”
    BACKGROUND:
    The issue of biological males in girls’ and women’s sports proved to be a winning message during the 2024 Presidential Election. Support continues to grow for keeping biological males out of women’s sports—a recent NYT poll found 79% of respondents said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. This number is a 10% increase from a 2023 survey where 69% of respondents agreed that biological males do not belong in women’s sports.
    This growing increase in support for keeping biological males out of girls and women’s sports isn’t a partisan issue. In the NYT poll, of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% agreed that biological male athletes shouldn’t be allowed in women’s sports.
    The Trump administration has taken historic action to establish where it stands on the issue, including an Executive Order from President Trump himself recognizing two genders and the Department of Education’s announcement that it will revoke the disastrous Biden-era Title IX policies. President Trump has spoken about the need to keep biological males out of women’s sports on multiple occasions.
    However, there is still a need to make the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act permanent law. Now, Senator Tuberville faces another different challenge—getting Republican leadership to bring the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (or S.9 for Title IX) before the Senate for a vote after leadership previously signaled support. The legislation is simple: 1) it bans federal funds from going to ANY institution that allows biological males in spaces designated for girls and women, and 2) ensures that Title IX provisions only recognize a person’s biological gender—or gender at birth.
    The U.S. House of Representatives quickly moved to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on January 14, 2025, a week after the bill’s reintroduction. Two Democrats—Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzales—joined Republicans in voting for its passage, bringing the vote to 218-206. Another Democrat congressman—Rep. Ron. Davis—voted “present.” The bill had no Democrat support when it passed the House in 2023, signaling that some Democrats are beginning to wake up to the fact that Americans do not want biological males competing against female athletes.
    One of Tuberville’s first acts after taking office in 2021 was offering an amendment to protect female athletes. Though the amendment had broad support, Senate Democrats blocked it from even being considered by a vote of 49-50.
    Senator Tuberville has continued to be the leader on preserving Title IX, introducing legislation such as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and the Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, and forcing Democrats to show the American people exactly where they stand on the issue of protecting female athletes.
    On June 23, 2022—the 50th anniversary of Title IX becoming law—the Biden Department of Education announced its proposed changes to Title IX that would allow biological males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports. Senator Tuberville led 21 of his Republican colleagues in submitting a “public comment” to then-ED Secretary Miguel Cardona that warned of the dangers of his proposal, should it be carried out. 
    In April 2023, Senator Tuberville reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to strip away funding from schools that allow biological males to participate in female sporting events. The U.S. House of Representatives passed this legislation, but Senate Democrats blocked it when Senator Tuberville brought it up for a vote on the Senate floor.
    In March 2024, Senator Tuberville once again forced the Democrats’ hand during a critical election year, when offering the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act as an amendment. ALL 51 Democrats at the time voted against allowing the bill to proceed.
    In March 2024, 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.
    IN THE NEWS:
    Not One Democrat Senator Voted to Protect Women’s Sports From Males
    White House Backs Tuberville’s Women’s Sports Legislation Ahead Of Senate Vote
    After This Vote, the Dems Show They Really Haven’t Learned Anything From Their 2024 Loss
    Democrats Stall Senate Bill To Protect Women’s Sports
    Bill to Ban Biological Males From Women’s Sports Blocked by Democrats
    Senate Dems face backlash after bill to prevent boys from playing girls’ sports fails to break filibuster
    Senate Dems Kill Legislative Effort to Protect Women’s Sports
    Senate Democrats block GOP bill to keep male-born athletes out of female sports
    Senate bid to prevent boys from playing girls’ sports get stuck on filibuster
    Fight To Protect Women’s Sports Could Stall In Senate
    Will Democrats stand up for women or let men destroy girls’ sports?
    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: Murphy Grills Trump Nominees On Gutting USAID, Abiding By The Constitution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    [embedded content]
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday questioned Christopher Landau, nominee to be U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Michael Rigas, nominee to be U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. Murphy pressed Landau on the administration’s hollowing out of USAID and how he can claim there was a good faith review if he also purports to not know the extent of furloughs and terminations. Murphy pushed Rigas on the executive branch’s legal obligation to spend money appropriated by Congress.
    A full transcript of Murphy’s exchange with the nominees can be found below:
    MURPHY: “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Landau, I deeply appreciate your service to this country and your willingness to come before this committee. But I’ll be honest with you, I find it pretty offensive that you are trying to maintain that there is some good faith review happening at USAID, when the representatives of the administration in charge of cost-cutting have made it clear that the goal is to destroy USAID. Do you know what percentage of USAID employees have been fired or furloughed?”
    LANDAU: “Senator, I do not. I’m here as a private citizen. I’m a nominee, so I am not part of the administration at this point.”
    MURPHY: “Do you have a ballpark guess? You’re about to help lead America’s diplomatic efforts–a ballpark guess as to how many USAID employees have been fired or furloughed?”
    LANDAU: “Again, Senator, I’ve just looked at the way the president has set this forth–that he has instituted a 90-day review period–”
    MURPHY: “You haven’t read reports that you might be able to cite today?”
    LANDAU: “Well, I’ve seen some reports, again, in the press, but I want to be very careful before I start acting as if I know what is going on behind the scenes. I’m not part of the administration yet. Obviously, if I am confirmed, you can call me before you for oversight.”
    MURPHY: “Here’s the problem: so the number is 94%. 94% of USAID staff have been fired or essentially permanently furloughed. And you stated to us that you believe this is a good faith 90-day review. And yet, you actually don’t know how many people have been fired or furloughed. How can you come to the conclusion that this is a good faith review when you actually don’t know the extent of the terminations? Wouldn’t it be relevant as to the question of whether it was a good faith review if 94% of the agency had already been terminated?”
    LANDAU: “Well, Senator, again, I think it’s important to recognize: what are the programs and how are these people that are being fired or furloughed–” 
    MURPHY: “But how did you come to the conclusion that this is a good faith review if you don’t even know what’s happening? You can’t have it both ways. You can’t come to the committee and say, ‘I know this is a good faith review, but I don’t know anything that’s happening because I’m not in the administration.’”
    LANDAU: “Well, Senator, again, I assume– there’s a presumption of government regularity that exists generally in the law. I believe strongly that the president wants to comply with the law, wants to make sure that we are doing the American taxpayers’ bidding by looking carefully at these programs and making sure that we separate the baby from the bathwater.”
    MURPHY: “I just don’t think you can have it both ways. I don’t think you can come here and tell us that you know that this is a good faith review but assert that you don’t have any basic information about what’s happening. Mr. Rigas, which branch of government has the power to decide how taxpayer money is spent? Is it the legislative branch, the executive branch, or the judicial branch?”
    RIGAS: “Thank you for the question, Senator. Congress has the power of the purse. The executive has the power to make sure the laws are faithfully implemented, and the courts arbitrate disputes between those two branches.”
    MURPHY: “So, if Congress has authorized an agency or a department, and has appropriated money with the caveat that the money shall be spent, does the administration have the obligation to spend that money in accordance with how Congress has appropriated the dollars?”
    RIGAS: “Senator, I’m not a lawyer but my understanding is the executive has a role in how those moneys are spent. So to the extent that the–”
    MURPHY: “I think Republicans and Democrats on this committee should care about the answer to this question. That’s a pretty easy one. If Congress has authorized a function, an agency or department, and has appropriated dollars with the word ‘shall,’ do you believe the executive branch can decide not to spend those dollars?”
    RIGAS: “Well I’m familiar with mandatory entitlement programs which have that language, and those are on autopilot, so–”
    MURPHY: “This is not an entitlement program. Let me give you an example. The National Endowment for Democracy is established by law. We appropriate every year, and we say that the dollars appropriated–in this case, $315 million–shall be spent. You are going to oversee spending at the Department of State. Do you believe that the executive branch could choose not to spend dollars that are appropriated by Congress with a ‘shall’ rather than a ‘may?’”
    RIGAS: “I don’t think so but I’m not the ultimate arbiter of that question. And how the money is spent–”
    MURPHY: “You are the arbiter of that question. You are actually being nominated for the job that would decide how those dollars are spent.”
    RIGAS: “I think the question at hand here is on what things is the money being spent, not whether it should be spent or not.”
    MURPHY: “No, we decide how the money is spent, and you’re supposed to execute it. If we say $315 million is to be spent at the National Endowment for Democracy, do you believe that you have the ability to deny that money to be spent on the functions that Congress appropriates? This is a really important question.”
    RIGAS: “I don’t think so, but I also think what’s at–”
    MURPHY: “So you don’t think so. So yes or no?”
    RIGAS: “I think that if that’s what the law says, then that is what needs to happen.”
    MURPHY: “Okay, thank you.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support the Health and Wellbeing of Family Caregivers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Click here to watch and here to download video of Senator Collins’ remarks on the Senate floor introducing the bill. Her remarks can be read in full here.
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced bipartisan legislation to support the health and wellbeing of family caregivers. The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 would reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program through fiscal year 2030.
    One in five adults – 53 million people –in the United States provide long term care to persons who are aging, disabled, or chronically ill.  In Maine, there are 166,000 family caregivers who provide 155 million hours of care to loved ones each year. Additionally, there are more than 5 million children in the U.S. who provide care for aging grandparents, parents, or siblings with disabilities.  
    “Caregivers provide an estimated $600 billion in uncompensated care each year. Yet, an astounding 85 percent of caregivers have not received any respite services at all. I saw this in my own family, where my mother took care of my father who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for eight years. Respite care was almost nonexistent for her, other than that provided by family members,” said Senator Collins. “Respite care helps to reduce mental stress and physical health issues that caregivers may experience, keeping them healthy and families intact. This bill would help give family caregivers and their loved ones the support they need by ensuring that quality respite is available and accessible.”
    “I was proud to serve as the primary caregiver for my grandmother as she got older, which is why I understand firsthand the financial and emotional strain of taking care of a loved one,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to deliver some much-needed relief and support for family caregivers so that when Americans step up to keep their loved ones safe and well at home, they can be confident we have their backs.”
    “While the benefits of family caregiving are plentiful, caregiving can take its toll. Respite—short-term care that offers individuals or family members temporary relief from the daily routine and stress of providing care—is a critical component to bolstering family stability and maintaining family caregiver health and well-being,” said Jill Kagan, MPH, Program Director of the ARCH National Respite Coalition. “We thank Senators Collins and Baldwin for their commitment to children and adults living with disabilities and chronic conditions, older adults in need of assistance and support, and the loved ones who care for them.”
    Specifically, the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 would:
    Reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program at current appropriations levels for five years (FY25-30); and
    Clarify that youth caregivers (those under 18 who are providing care or helping to provide care to family members) are eligible for the program.
    According to AARP, more than a third of family caregivers report wanting support like respite services, yet only 14 percent receive them, even as research indicates that caregivers who use respite have lower caregiver distress and better health and sense of well-being.
    Respite care provides temporary relief to caregivers from their ongoing responsibilities.  By protecting the health of caregivers, respite care decreases the need for professional long-term care and allows individuals who require care to remain at home. To date, 38 states have received funding through the Lifespan Respite Care Program, which provides competitive grants to states to establish or enhance statewide respite resources and help ensure that quality respite is available and accessible to all family caregivers.
    Senators Collins and Baldwin championed legislation in 2020 to authorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program through fiscal year 2024. The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 would reauthorize this programming through fiscal year 2030.
    In addition to the ARCH National Respite Coalition, this bill is endorsed by the Autism Society of America and the Alzheimer’s Association.
    The complete text of the bill can be read here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons, Foreign Relations Committee Democrats condemn Trump and Vance’s disgraceful Oval Office outburst during meeting with Zelenskyy and reiterate support for Ukraine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) issued the following statement condemning President Trump and Vice President Vance’s rhetoric during their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: 
    “Today’s behavior by President Trump and Vice President Vance would be more shocking if it wasn’t the new normal that this administration is forcing on our allies, partners and even our own citizens. Russia has not been able to break Ukraine’s spirit nor its will to fight. We are certain President Trump’s childish tantrum will not reach that objective either. Ukrainians have strong bipartisan support for their fight in Congress and Ukrainian flags continue to hang across our communities in the United States. We stand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and will continue to condemn Putin’s aggression toward the brave and honorable citizenry of Ukraine.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Plantpeddler

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Plantpeddler of Howard County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “Shipping over 15 million plants each year, Plantpeddler has rooted themselves as the go-to small business for all horticulture needs,” said Chair Ernst. “From garden mums to begonias, Plantpeddler serves 3,200 growers domestically and abroad, leafing an impact felt far beyond Iowa.”
    After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in horticulture, Mike and Rachel Gooder purchased Cresco Greenhouse in 1980 with plans to revitalize and rebrand it. The couple modernized the infrastructure, optimized production methods, and diversified the variety of plants grown, eventually renaming their business to Plantpeddler.
    In 1984, Plantpeddler established a wholesale division, providing independent and middle-market retailers with a wide range of premium crops and plants. In 2001, they continued to expand and created a Young Plants division, positioning the business as a major propagator of vegetative genetics in the floriculture industry. In 2014, John Gooder, Mike and Rachel’s son, joined the company. John pushed for advancements in automation and genetic research, ultimately becoming part-owner in 2024. This June, Plantpeddler looks forward to celebrating its 45th anniversary.
    Stay tuned as Chair Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: During National School Breakfast Week, Senator Hassan Speaks Out Against Threats to School Lunch Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    HAMPSTEAD – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan visited Hampstead Middle School on Monday to discuss the importance of school nutrition programs during National School Breakfast Week. During the visit, Senator Hassan met with school administrators, kitchen staff, representatives from the non-profit NH Hunger Solutions, and students who have been working on food insecurity projects and maintain the Mini Saltbox Pantry, Hampstead Middle School’s on-site food pantry.    
    “Students can’t focus on learning when they are hungry. Ensuring that students have school breakfast and lunch makes them healthier and improves their academic performance,” said Senator Hassan. “As President Trump and Republicans in Congress push forward a budget that could cut school breakfast and lunch programs in order to fund tax giveaways for billionaires, I remain committed to protecting the resources that New Hampshire students depend on to eat and thrive.”
    Senator Hassan’s visit comes as Congressional Republicans are considering a budget proposal that threatens dramatic cuts to funding for free and reduced school lunch, as well as to Medicaid. Nearly 40,000 K-12 public school students in New Hampshire are eligible for free and reduced school lunch and breakfast, representing more than 1 in 5 public school students. Additionally, more than 180,000 Granite Staters get health coverage through Medicaid, including nearly 90,000 children. Any cuts to Medicaid would threaten health coverage for thousands of beneficiaries across the state, including children, people experiencing disabilities, and those in recovery from addiction. Senator Hassan has heard directly from Granite Staters about the importance of safeguarding Medicaid. Last Monday, Senators Hassan and Shaheen hosted a roundtable discussion highlighting the harmful impact of potential Republican cuts to Medicaid. Senator Hassan has also spoken out on the Senate floor about the proposed cuts to Medicaid. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Warner on Halting U.S. Aid to Ukraine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:
    “Ukraine has been bravely fending off Vladimir Putin’s cruel and unjust invasion for over three years. U.S. assistance – supported by Congress on a bipartisan basis – has helped Ukraine resist and hold its ground against a Russian army that was supposed to take Kyiv in weeks or even days. Now President Trump threatens those hard-fought gains and imperils the lives of the Ukrainian people by unilaterally cutting off the aid that has helped Ukraine maintain its freedom in the face of aggression. Cutting off arms now only undermines the prospect of a peace deal that depends on Ukraine’s ability to negotiate from a position of strength. I call on President Trump to reverse this short-sighted decision, which weakens the United States’ credibility on the global stage.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Statement on Across-the-Board Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the Administration imposing tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico, and China.
    “These across-the-board tariffs will make it harder for Americans to put food on the table and will squeeze farmers who will lose valuable export markets and see higher input costs. This will raise prices for the average family by more than $1,200 a year, raise gas prices by as much as 50 cents a gallon, and raise fertilizer costs for corn and soybean farmers. Already, we are seeing retail stores and refineries increase prices—and retaliation from other countries that will raise prices even more. Farmers have spent decades building export markets, only to have them ripped away overnight. While I support targeted tariffs, these sweeping, across-the-board tariffs will set our country back.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Speaks Out Against Trump’s Tariffs On Mexico & Canada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 04, 2025
    Durbin: Instead of improving the lives of and lowering prices for Americans, President Trump is doing the very opposite
    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke out against President Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. As of today, President Trump has instituted a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10 percent on goods from China, bringing the total to 20 percent tariffs on China. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that the Trump tariffs would not lower prices, as he promised during his campaign, but instead spike prices for Americans.
    “Instead of improving the lives of or lowering prices for Americans, we are seeing policies of the Trump Administration do exactly the opposite. The President has spent his time trying to systematically dismantle the federal government, creating rifts with our closest allies, and now, imposing destructive tariffs on our biggest trading partners. The tariffs that he has unleashed… will hurt American consumers and supply chains and undermine American manufacturing.” 
    Durbin pointed to the harm that will come to Illinois’ economy as a result of the Trump tariffs, as Illinois relies on Canada and Mexico to purchase the state’s goods and agricultural products. In 2023, Illinois, which ranks first among the 50 states in imports from Canada, exported a total of $20.55 billion in products to Canada. Additionally, Illinois exports to Mexico in 2023 totaled $12.93 billion.
    “Illinois is the fourth largest exporter in the nation… These tariffs will hurt Illinois’ farmers, workers, and manufacturers—not to mention consumers,” Durbin said. “Additional tariffs on our three biggest trading partners will add to the economic strain that is already beginning to show under the new Administration. A survey of consumer sentiment published last month recorded its largest monthly decline in four years, due in large part to concerns about trade and tariffs. Tariffs are taxes and they are taxes that the consumers of America will have to pay. These levels of concern have not been seen since the trade wars in President Trump’s first term.”
    Durbin concluded, “While the President claims that foreign countries will pay for U.S. tariffs, that isn’t the truth and we know what the truth is—the burden of tariffs is carried by American companies and passed on to American customers. Indiscriminately slapping tariffs on the goods American consumers need will mean higher costs—higher costs on groceries, gas, and cars, while inspiring retaliatory tariffs, and even boycotts, on American-made products, further hurting our economy.”
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Food Waste

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 04, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today introduced the bipartisan Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act, legislation that would prevent and reduce food waste across the country. Each year, the U.S. produces and imports 237 million tons of food annually, but 31 percent of this food is never sold or eaten, while millions of Americans experience food insecurity. 
    Specifically, the Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act would establish a “Food Loss and Waste Reduction Certification,” and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create:
    Criteria, which businesses and organizations would have to meet to receive the certification;
    A verification process, to confirm that businesses and organizations have achieved the criteria; and
    A label, which certified businesses and organizations would be authorized to use on their products, buildings, and websites.
    “While millions of Americans face food insecurity, millions of tons of food waste end up in landfills every year and contribute to methane emissions that drive the climate crisis. We must address these crises for the sake of hungry families, our economy, and our environment,” said Durbin. “Today, I’m reintroducing the bipartisan Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act with Senator Grassley to move our country toward more conscious consumption and curbing food waste.”
    “Too many families suffer from food insecurity. The Iowa Waste Reduction Center at the University of Northern Iowa has demonstrated the economic and environmental benefits of reducing food waste, and Congress should act to build on their impactful work. Our legislation would recognize businesses for using excess food responsibly and incentivize others to improve their practices,” said Grassley.
    “Food waste continues to be a national concern for our communities, especially here in Iowa where 22 percent of all waste going to our landfills is food. We look forward to working with Senators Durbin and Grassley to support the Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act through our continued initiatives at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center,” said Mark Nook, President of the University of Northern Iowa. 
    Food waste has significant economic, environmental, and social impacts. More than $440 billion is spent annually to produce and dispose of food that is never consumed or sold. Sending uneaten food to landfills or incinerators is responsible for the use of more than 20 trillion liters of water, which is equivalent to the annual water use of 50 million homes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, just one-third of food waste, if saved from disposal, could feed the 47 million Americans, including 14 million children, who are suffering from food insecurity, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
    The “Food Loss and Waste Reduction Certification” would be similar to existing certifications, such as ENERGY STAR and the BioPreferred Program. The Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act would direct USDA to promote the certification to ensure that consumers are informed about which businesses and organizations have received it.
    The Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act has support from the Natural Resources Defense Council, Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, World Wildlife Fund, University of Northern Iowa, Too Good To Go, Kellanova, FMI – The Food Industry Association, National Restaurant Association, and Consumer Brands Association.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Statement on President Trump Restarting His New Tax on Americans Buying Products from Mexico and Canada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement after President Trump resumed the implementation of his across-the-board tariffs on imported goods from Mexico and Canada. These 25 percent tariffs essentially amount to additional taxes on consumers who buy products coming into the United States from our biggest trading partners. Senator Rosen spoke up against these tariffs when they were originally announced, but they were paused for a month, expiring today.
    “Nevadans are already being squeezed by rising costs, and President Trump’s reckless actions are only going to drive prices up even more,” said Senator Rosen. “He has effectively enacted a new tax on American businesses and families for products imported from Canada and Mexico, which will be felt at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and when buying a home. I’ll do everything in my power to fight back against this action and help lower costs for Nevada families.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Foreign Relations Committee Democrats Condemn Trump and Vance’s Disgraceful Oval Office Outburst During Meeting with Zelenskyy and Reiterate Support for Ukraine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    Published: February 28 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) issued the following statement condemning President Trump and Vice President Vance’s rhetoric during their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: 
    “Today’s behavior by President Trump and Vice President Vance would be more shocking if it wasn’t the new normal that this administration is forcing on our allies, partners and even our own citizens. Russia has not been able to break Ukraine’s spirit nor its will to fight. We are certain President Trump’s childish tantrum will not reach that objective either. Ukrainians have strong bipartisan support for their fight in Congress and Ukrainian flags continue to hang across our communities in the United States. We stand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and will continue to condemn Putin’s aggression toward the brave and honorable citizenry of Ukraine.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Senate Armed Services Committee Colleagues Demand Answers on Abrupt Firings of JAG Officers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined twelve of his SASC colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding legal justification for the recent abrupt dismissals of several Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) and documentation of the decision-making process. The senators also requested a response to several oversight questions on the removal and appointment process and expressed serious concerns about Secretary Hegseth’s statements regarding these actions.
    “This action not only undermines the integrity of the military justice system but also appears to be in direct violation of federal law, specifically 10 U.S.C. §§ 7037(e) (Army) and 9037(f) (Air Force),” wrote the senators. “The Army statute explicitly states: “No officer or employee of the Department of Defense may interfere with— (1) the ability of the Judge Advocate General to give independent legal advice to the Secretary of the Army or the Chief of Staff of the Army; or (2) the ability of judge advocates of the Army assigned or attached to, or performing duty with, military units to give independent legal advice to commanders.”
    The senators continued, “By arbitrarily and baselessly removing duly selected and highly qualified JAG officers, the Administration undermines the military justice system and has interfered with the independent legal counsel that uniformed attorneys provide to commanders and the Department itself. Such removals create an unmistakable chilling effect, signaling to all judge advocates that their positions are contingent not upon their legal expertise and adherence to the law, but rather upon political or personal loyalty. Further, this move undermines the rigorous selection and confirmation process established by Congress.”
    In the letter, the senators specifically raise their concerns on Hegseth’s plan to reduce the rank of JAG leadership from three-star to a two-star general or flag officer: “This position was elevated to three-stars to signal the United States’ commitment to the rule of law as the foundation of good decisions and to ensure they could advise policymakers on our most critical national security decisions, following the abuses at Abu Ghraib. Demoting the military’s champions for lawfulness sends a clear and troubling message across the force.”
    “Without independent legal counsel, military operations risk violating international law, exposing U.S. forces to war crimes allegations, damaging alliances, and undermining global legitimacy. The absence of sound legal advice can lead to unlawful targeting decisions, excessive use of force, or misuse of emerging technologies, increasing operational and strategic risks. It endangers uniformed service members by ceding moral high ground to our adversaries in their own conduct and prosecution of armed conflict,” the senators warned.
    The senators concluded, “These arbitrary dismissals are a direct violation of their statutory protections. It sends a dangerous message that military legal professionals who provide objective, legally sound advice may be removed at will, thereby making it impossible for the JAG Corps to function as prescribed by law.”
    In addition to Kaine, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
    A copy of the letter is available here and below.
    Secretary Hegseth:
    The Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps is an essential pillar of our military, ensuring adherence to the rule of law, upholding the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and providing critical independent legal advice to commanders at all levels. The JAG Corps is not only a vital element in maintaining good order and discipline within our armed forces, but it is also a key component of operational readiness. By law, JAG officers provide guidance on military justice, international law, operational law, administrative compliance, and ethics, ensuring that our warfighters operate within the bounds of national and international legal frameworks. The stability and impartiality of the JAG Corps are paramount, and any undue interference in its functioning directly impacts the effectiveness and credibility of our military.
    We write to you with deep concern regarding the recent relief of Judge Advocate Generals. This action not only undermines the integrity of the military justice system but also appears to be in direct violation of federal law, specifically 10 U.S.C. §§ 7037(e) (Army) and 9037(f) (Air Force). The Army statute explicitly states: “No officer or employee of the Department of Defense may interfere with— (1) the ability of the Judge Advocate General to give independent legal advice to the Secretary of the Army or the Chief of Staff of the Army; or (2) the ability of judge advocates of the Army assigned or attached to, or performing duty with, military units to give independent legal advice to commanders.” The Air Force and Navy statutes contain substantively identical language.
    By arbitrarily and baselessly removing duly selected and highly qualified JAG officers, the Administration undermines the military justice system and has interfered with the independent legal counsel that uniformed attorneys provide to commanders and the Department itself. Such removals create an unmistakable chilling effect, signaling to all judge advocates that their positions are contingent not upon their legal expertise and adherence to the law, but rather upon political or personal loyalty. Further, this move undermines the rigorous selection and confirmation process established by Congress.
    We are also deeply troubled by your follow-up statement after the firings where you said, “We want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don’t exist to attempt to be roadblocks.” This characterization of legal advisors within the military undermines the critical apolitical role they play in ensuring adherence to the Constitution, the UCMJ, and international law. Military lawyers are not “roadblocks” as you describe; they are guardrails, ensuring that orders issued by commanders are lawful and the armed forces uphold the principles that distinguish our military from those that serve autocrats around the world. Furthermore, your assertion that the selection process for senior legal officers is an “insulated” system that perpetuates the status quo disregards the legal framework established by 10 U.S.C. Chapter 36, which specifically governs the appointment, promotion, and selection of military officers, including those of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. This is not a self-perpetuating bureaucracy; it is a system codified by law to ensure that those entrusted with legal oversight are experienced, competent, and independent enough to provide candid legal counsel, even under difficult circumstances. Undermining this structure risks politicizing the military and eroding the very professionalism that has long been its foundation.
    We are also troubled that you plan to reduce the rank of JAG leadership from a three-star to a two-star general or flag officer. This position was elevated to three-stars to signal the United States’ commitment to the rule of law as the foundation of good decisions and to ensure they could advise policymakers on our most critical national security decisions, following the abuses at Abu Ghraib. Demoting the military’s champions for lawfulness sends a clear and troubling message across the force. JAGs play a crucial role in ensuring the U.S. military complies with international law, including the DoD Law of War Manual, DoD Directive 3000.09, and the Army Field Manual on Interrogation, which govern the conduct of armed conflict, the use of autonomous weapon systems, and authorized military interrogation techniques. Without independent legal counsel, military operations risk violating international law, exposing U.S. forces to war crimes allegations, damaging alliances, and undermining global legitimacy. The absence of sound legal advice can lead to unlawful targeting decisions, excessive use of force, or misuse of emerging technologies, increasing operational and strategic risks. It endangers uniformed service members by ceding moral high ground to our adversaries in their own conduct and prosecution of armed conflict.
    Such actions by the Administration amount to a betrayal of public trust and an erosion of the apolitical foundation of our military legal system. These arbitrary dismissals are a direct violation of their statutory protections. It sends a dangerous message that military legal professionals who provide objective, legally sound advice may be removed at will, thereby making it impossible for the JAG Corps to function as prescribed by law.
    Given these grave concerns, we demand immediate clarification on the legal justification for these reliefs and an explanation as to how these actions comply with Title 10 statutes governing the selection and tenure of JAG officers. Additionally, we request a detailed account of the individuals involved in the decision-making process and any documentation that led to these dismissals.
    To facilitate proper congressional oversight, we request responses to the following questions by March 13, 2025:
    What is the legal basis for the removal of these JAG officers?
    Were any communications or directives issued to justify these removals? If so, please provide them for review.
    Do you plan to appoint two- or three-star officers to replace these JAG officers?
    What analysis has the Department conducted to determine that the replacements for these JAG officers should be two-stars?
    How does the Department plan to ensure the continued independence of the JAG Corps in light of these dismissals?
    Were any external political or administrative pressures exerted on the decision to remove these officers?
    How will the Department mitigate the chilling effect this decision has had on the ability of JAG officers to provide independent legal counsel?
    What measures will be put in place to restore trust in the military justice system and prevent similar actions in the future?
    Will you follow the legally-prescribed process in selecting the next Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy, and Air Force?
    The rule of law is a foundational pillar of our nation, and the DoD must uphold it without exception. The independence of military legal professionals must be preserved, and any actions that erode this independence must be rectified without delay. Failing to integrate JAGs into military planning who are free to give independent legal advice to the commander threatens not only compliance with the law but also the safety and effectiveness of U.S. forces. As you committed at your confirmation hearing to respond promptly to the committee, we expect a response to these straightforward questions, along with full transparency in addressing the damage these firings have inflicted upon the military justice system.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement: USAID Cuts Will Lead to Millions of Preventable Deaths

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, March 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement about the impact that cuts to USAID from the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE will have on vulnerable people around the world. 
    Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will lead to millions of preventable deaths. The decision of the richest person in the world to destroy an agency that delivers life-saving aid to the poorest people on the planet is unconscionable. 
    According to internal USAID memos, the cuts to foreign aid will mean, every single year: 
    Two to three million additional deaths from lack of vaccinations;
    166,000 more deaths from malaria;
    28,000 new cases of highly-infectious diseases., including Ebola and Marburg virus; and
    200,000 more children paralyzed from polio.
    Separately, independent researchers estimate that the illegal freeze on global AIDS funding has already taken nearly 19,000 lives, and that the toll will increase as the funding freeze continues. 
    These actions are not just immoral, they are unconstitutional.
    Congress created USAID as an independent agency – it cannot be unilaterally eliminated by the president based on the whim of an unelected billionaire. The Constitution explicitly gives Congress the power of the purse. 
    Make no mistake: These cuts will not only lead to millions of unnecessary deaths throughout the world, they are an attack on our democracy and the checks and balances our Founding Fathers established more than 230 years ago. Further, it will weaken our national security and our standing in the global community. When we abandon desperate people in some of the poorest countries in the world, we can be sure that geo-political adversaries will fill the void.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Castor, Tonko Unveil Legislation to Rescind Trump’s Day-One Executive Orders on Energy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    March 04, 2025
    Legislation would protect American jobs, keep energy security competitive against China, and support record investments in rural communities
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., along with U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor, D-Fla., and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., today introduced legislation to nullify Donald Trump’s day-one executive orders on energy. The Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act would reassert America’s clean energy leadership, keep energy costs for families as low as possible, and unfreeze critical Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to protect jobs and support rural economies.
    “Since day-one, Trump has been laser focused on giving handouts to the oil and gas industry at the expense of American jobs,” Wyden said. “As the nation braces itself for more spin from Trump during tonight’s State of the Union, here are the facts: crippling clean energy production at home will only lead to clean energy manufacturing packing up and moving to China. Rural communities, which are the American epicenter of clean energy jobs and investments, will suffer the consequences of Trump’s ignorance. America needs a leading clean energy response to continue to be a dominant energy force against China.”
    “President Trump’s reckless energy agenda will hike electric bills, raise costs for families, and give China the upper hand in advancing clean energy solutions,” Castor said. “By reversing progress in clean energy initiatives and thumbing his nose at allies, Trump is forcing American families to pay the price of unchecked climate change while other nations reap the economic benefits of innovation. Floridians know the costs of extreme weather and pollution firsthand, and we must stand firm against policies that harm our economy and environment. That’s why I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in introducing this important legislation, which will protect our significant progress in expanding cleaner, cheaper energy for American families.”
    “Donald Trump’s Day One executive orders were nothing more than a massive giveaway to his Big Oil donors — gutting climate action and stalling clean energy investments while American families were left holding the bag,“ Tonko said. “Trump promised that his actions would lower energy costs for consumers, but instead, energy prices have only gone up. That’s why I’m joining Senator Wyden and Congresswoman Castor to introduce this legislation to repeal these reckless orders, restore American leadership on fighting the climate crisis, and put working families’ pocketbooks over oil industry profits.” 
    The Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act would nullify the “Unleashing American Energy” executive order, the executive order declaring a National Energy Emergency, the executive order behind the U.S. departure from the Paris Climate Agreement, and the executive order that pauses offshore wind leases in the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Cosponsors in the Senate include Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., as well as Senators Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Chris Coons, D-Del., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Jack Reed, D-R.I.
    Wyden is a longtime champion of keeping energy costs low for consumers while electrifying the grid. In 2019, Wyden and his colleagues introduced legislation to overhaul the federal energy tax code, create jobs and combat climate change. In 2022, Wyden’s Clean Energy For America Act was enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act – significantly lowering carbon emissions while reducing energy costs.
    The text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Wyden Lead Colleagues in Reaffirming Congress’ Authority to Maintain Trade Restrictions on Russia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led eight of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump reaffirming Congress’ authority to maintain trade restrictions on the Russian Federation while it continues its war of aggression against Ukraine. Their letter follows the devolution of talks between the United States and Ukraine last Friday, just two weeks after the President claimed that Ukraine “should have never started [the war].”
    “Vladimir Putin is a ruthless dictator who has led the Russian Federation into a war of aggression against Ukraine with the explicit goal of denying Ukraine and its people their collective rights to independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” wrote the Senators. “Our country, in coordination with our allies and partners and with bipartisan support has imposed sweeping financial sanctions, stringent export controls, and aggressive trade restrictions on the Russian Federation.”
    In 2022, Congress passed the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act which revoked Russia’s permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status to ensure Russian goods and services do not enjoy privileged, “most-favored nation” access to the U.S. market. Congress also passed the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act which banned the importation of all energy products from the Russian Federation.
    According to these laws, the Russian Federation must reach an agreement relating to the withdrawal of its forces and cessation of military hostilities that is accepted by the free and independent government of Ukraine, recognize the right of the people of Ukraine to independently and freely choose their own government, and pose no immediate military threat of aggression to any NATO member before the President can restore normal trade relations.
    “In light of your worrisome statements, we wish to remind you that you must not—and cannot, under statute—attempt to restore normal trade relations or lift the import ban on Russian energy products unless and until Ukraine’s peace demands are met and their free and independent government has accepted a peace agreement,” continued the Senators. “Ukraine must be at the table to determine its future, and conditions for peace cannot be imposed on Ukraine.”
    Additional signatories to the letter include Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
    The full letter can be found here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has consistently advocated for the U.S. to stand up to Russian aggression and support Ukrainian sovereignty. Earlier this year, Senators Cortez Masto and Cornyn (R-Tex.) introduced the HONOR Act to prevent businesses from claiming a foreign tax credit or deduction against taxes paid to fund the Russian government’s war machine. She has voted to pass bipartisan legislation to support Ukraine and helped pass bipartisan economic sanctions that were signed into law to hold Russia accountable for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. She voted in support of sanctions against Russia and its Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and she supported similar sanctions in the 2020 and 2021 National Defense Authorization Acts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: In New Op-Ed, Warren Warns Trump, Republicans Could Cut Health Care for Millions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 04, 2025
    “Should the government work for billionaires and giant corporations? Or should it work for working people, helping our friends, families, and neighbors get access to the medicine and doctors they need when they’re sick?”
    “Republicans may think they have the votes in Congress to cut health care, but if Americans ring the alarm bells and fight back, we can again save health care coverage for millions.” 
    Op-Ed in the Boston Globe
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, published an op-ed warning of the dangers of massive cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and giant corporations. Senator Warren called for working people to fight back and participate in the tax fight by voicing their opposition to these cuts. 
    Read the full op-ed here and below: 
    Boston Globe – Senator Warren: Trump is targeting Medicaid. Don’t let him win.March 3, 2025 
    President Trump and Elon Musk have unleashed a sandstorm of chaos in the past six weeks — on purpose. From starting a trade war with Canada to renaming the Gulf of Mexico, Trump is trying to distract from his real agenda: more tax giveaways for billionaires and billionaire corporations, paid for on the backs of hard-working Americans. One of their top targets? Medicaid.
    Life carries lots of risk. No one knows if their grandmother will outlive her savings. No one knows if their baby will run up a million dollars in medical bills. No one knows if their sister will be in a catastrophic accident and need full-time caregivers.
    And that’s where Medicaid steps up. Medicaid is jointly funded by states and the federal government and covers more than 79 million people, including almost 2 million people in Massachusetts. If the program is cut, the harm will echo through nearly every home in America.
    About half of all births are covered by Medicaid. Over a third of all children have health care thanks to Medicaid. More than half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid. Many people are counting on Medicaid to pay for medicine that treats their cancer, the hip replacement they need to walk, the prescription for their child’s inhaler, or the nursing home that takes care of their uncle with dementia.
    Cuts to health care programs would be devastating. In Massachusetts, nearly 2 in 3 seniors in nursing homes are covered by Medicaid. If that funding is cut, some of those nursing homes will be forced to cut back or close entirely, which could leave elderly people kicked to the curb.
    Around 92 percent of working-age adults receiving Medicaid coverage are either working — often two or even three low-wage or part-time jobs — or not working because they’re caregivers, have an illness or disability, or are in school. Cuts to Medicaid could mean they have to decide which medicines they will have to skip or whether they will need to cancel a trip to the doctor to have a cough checked out. Failing to treat medical conditions early will cost more money, both in higher long-term medical bills and in knocking more low-wage workers out of their jobs and jeopardizing their ability to support their families.
    For pregnant women, decisions about skipping visits to the doctor or forgoing prenatal vitamins can leave them and their babies at risk — again triggering greater costs in the long run for them and their babies. Denying health care to pregnant women could mean that their babies develop preventable conditions that could alter their entire lives.
    The consequences of cutting Medicaid will be felt in nearly every community. Massachusetts is rightly proud of its community health centers and network of local and regional hospitals. Without Medicaid, their business models simply wouldn’t work. About half of all revenues at our community health centers come from Medicaid. Significant cuts in funding will probably mean health centers will have to cut care — and may have to close pediatric wings, cancer treatment centers, and mental health services.
    All this misery so that a handful of billionaires and billionaire corporations can get another tax break.
    The legislative process is not glamorous, but it tells us a lot about our values as a country. Should the government work for billionaires and giant corporations? Or should it work for working people, helping our friends, families, and neighbors get access to the medicine and doctors they need when they’re sick?
    Trump, Musk, and Republicans in Congress have made it clear whose side they’re on: giant corporations and billionaires — the very people who don’t seem to understand what one bad medical diagnosis can cost a family. But they do understand that cutting health care for millions of people is unpopular everywhere, which is why they are probably hoping people will pay more attention to Trump’s bluster about buying Greenland than to the tax fight unfolding in Congress. Now is not the time to tune out — now is the time to fight back to save the health care program that helps millions of people in this country get health care.
    In 2017, Trump paired up with Republicans in Congress to slash Medicaid by $800 billion and gut health insurance protections. Democrats were in the minority in the House and Senate back then, just as they are today, but thanks to people raising their voices and shaking the ground under the feet of these Republican politicians, their efforts failed, and we managed to save health care for millions.
    Republicans may think they have the votes in Congress to cut health care, but if Americans ring the alarm bells and fight back, we can again save health care coverage for millions. We can win, but only if we fight back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Oversight Effort Demanding Answers from Defense Department on Servicemember Food Access, Quality to Promote Military Readiness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senator Reverend Warnock Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Oversight Effort Demanding Answers from Defense Department on Servicemember Food Access, Quality to Promote Military Readiness

    Senator Reverend Warnock led a bipartisan, bicameral oversight effort demanding answers from Department of Defense Leadership regarding a lack of nutrient-dense food, food shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy
    A lack of nutrient-dense food, shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy negatively affects junior enlisted servicemembers, impacting military readiness and retention rates
    A champion for Georgia’s military communities, Senator Reverend Warnock expects transparency from military leadership on servicemembers’ access to quality, healthy food options
    Senator Reverend Warnock, lawmakers to Secretary Hegseth: “Through your experience as a junior officer, you can empathize with the importance of a reliable, nutritious dining facility, and its importance to morale. You are now ultimately responsible for the welfare of these servicemembers”
    ICYMI from Military.com: Army’s Use of Soldier Food Allowances Spurs Bipartisan Inquiry from Congress
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) led a bipartisan, bicameral oversight effort demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding issues in providing servicemembers adequate and healthy food on military bases. The new oversight effort follows recent reporting on issues with food quality and access at several Army installations’ dining facilities. Senator Warnock and the lawmakers are expressing their concerns over underinvestment in food options for members of the military, which has a direct relation to military readiness and retention rates.
    Poor-quality meals and food shortages force servicemembers to perform grueling physical and mental training exercises without the proper energy, which negatively impacts military readiness and serves as a poor testament to the federal government’s obligation to protect and serve those who put their lives on the line for our nation’s freedoms.
    “The article also found that a lack of nutrient-dense food, shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy negatively affects junior enlisted servicemembers specifically because they often live in unaccompanied housing on installations.”
    Congress provides servicemembers with the food allowances to help them afford meals. Senator Warnock and the lawmakers wrote that if this funding is not given to servicemembers for meals because the government provides them instead, then that funding should be used to cover the costs and investments needed to serve those meals.
    “Our servicemembers are the best among us and expect fair compensation from their government. If a servicemember is losing money from their paycheck because they are being given a meal, it is reasonable for them to expect that funding will be used only to cover the costs of providing it and to ensure it is of the highest possible quality. We trust you will move expeditiously to answer our inquiries. Thank you for your earnest attention to this matter.”
    The oversight letter closes with a series of questions for Secretary Hegseth, seeking clarity on how investment decisions are made for on-post food service operations, answers on how DOD will improve quality and nutrition of food, and more.
    Senator Warnock is leading the charge in demanding answers on this issue. Additional senators signing onto the effort include U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO). The bicameral effort is being championed in the House of Representatives by Congressmembers Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), as well as Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), John McGuire (R-VA-05), Lance Gooden (R-TX-05), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Don Davis (D-NC-01), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24).
    A copy of the letter can be found HERE and full text is below:
    Dear Secretary Hegseth,
    We write to express our concern about the Department of Defense’s (DOD) apparent underinvestment in food options for members of the military. Recent public reporting in military.com highlighted that DOD spends far less on food for servicemembers who are afforded subsistence-in-kind than would be given directly to those servicemembers in Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) if they were not eligible for government-provided meals. Previous reporting also highlighted DOD’s challenges in providing healthy food for servicemembers. This reporting underscores the ongoing challenges the military services have in ensuring our servicemembers have access to high-quality and nutritious meals. 
    Current law states that most servicemembers who receive basic pay are entitled to receive BAS to help them afford the cost of food. It also gives the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Service Secretaries, the ability to prescribe policies regarding the use of dining facilities. Current DOD policy requires most servicemembers who receive government-provided meals to pay for their meals, including through BAS deductions managed by Defense Financial Accounting Service. The current policy delegates the use of those collected funds to the military services.
    The report noted that many installations’ current spending on DFAC operations represented only a small percentage of the BAS collected from servicemembers serving on those installations. The findings, which include 2024 financial records from eleven of the largest Army installations, show that more than $151 million of the $225 million in BAS collected from servicemembers on these installations was not spent on food costs. That figure does not include the additional garrisons under the Army’s control, nor does it include spending at installations managed by the other military services suggesting the issue may be much more widespread.  
    Congress provides servicemembers with BAS to help them afford meals. If BAS is taken from servicemembers for meals the government gives them, then that funding should be used to cover the costs and investments needed to serve those meals. Additionally, for Congress to effectively conduct its oversight responsibilities, it must be fully apprised of how the funding provided is appropriated and must ensure open transparency on behalf of the services. 
    The article also found that a lack of nutrient-dense food, shortages, and inconsistent adherence to the Army’s nutrition policy negatively affects junior enlisted servicemembers specifically because they often live in unaccompanied housing on installations. These junior enlisted servicemembers are also disproportionately affected by the loss of their BAS as it represents a significant portion of their overall compensation.
    Through your experience as a junior officer, you can empathize with the importance of a reliable, nutritious dining facility, and its importance to morale. You are now ultimately responsible for the welfare of these servicemembers, and we request your prompt response to the following questions by April 31, 2025:
    1.     What elements of DOD funding are used to provide meals to servicemembers?
    a.     How do the military services program through the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) fund food service operations?
    2.     How do the military services make decisions regarding investments in their on-post food service operations?
    a.     How do you consider including nutritious options on their menus?
    3.     Are there barriers to the military services providing healthy and nutritious meals to servicemembers living in unaccompanied housing on military installations?
    a.     If so, what are they?
    b.     Does the Department or the military services require additional resources or authorities to provide healthy and affordable food options to these servicemembers? If so, what are they?
    4.     How do you plan to improve the quality and nutrition of food at dining facilities and other food service providers across the Joint Force to meet the needs of the modern warfighter?
    Our servicemembers are the best among us and expect fair compensation from their government. If a servicemember is losing money from their paycheck because they are being given a meal, it is reasonable for them to expect that funding will be used only to cover the costs of providing it and to ensure it is of the highest possible quality. We trust you will move expeditiously to answer our inquiries. Thank you for your earnest attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Condemns Potential Closure of Carlsbad Facility Critical to the Mission of Nation’s Only Repository for the Disposal of Nuclear Waste

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) released the following statement in response to reports stating that the General Services Administration (GSA) is moving to discontinue the government’s lease for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Carlsbad Field Office. DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office employs nearly 200 federal workers who oversee highly radioactive nuclear waste from nuclear defense activities at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

    “WIPP is critical to our national security. Now, Elon Musk and President Trump are jeopardizing WIPP’s operations and its ability to safely manage the disposal of nuclear waste. The Carlsbad Field Office exists to ensure that WIPP can safely and effectively conduct its operations, and a potential closure could lead to delays in nuclear waste disposal and puts our environmental safety at risk.

    “Closing the Carlsbad Field Office would not only undermine the safety protocols at WIPP to protect the public and environment but also will put hundreds of federal jobs in one of the most rural areas of our state at risk. The Carlsbad Field Office is critical for WIPP’s mission, and I will fight to ensure DOE and GSA does not close this facility and put our national and environmental security at risk.”

    MIL OSI USA News –