NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Lee Introduces SCREEN Act for 119th Congress to Protect Children from Pornography Online

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee has introduced the Shielding Children’s Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act, a step toward safeguarding minors from the pervasive threat of online pornographic content. Sens. John Curtis (R-UT) and Jim Banks (R-IN) are cosponsors. Representative Mary Miller (R-IL) leads the companion bill in the House of Representatives.  
    “It is time for our laws to catch up with technology,”  said Senator Mike Lee. “The SCREEN Act addresses the urgent need to protect minors from exposure to online pornography and stop those who profit from stealing the innocence of America’s youth.”
    “As a mother of seven and grandmother to 20, I am committed to defending parental rights,” said Representative Mary Miller. I am proud to join Senator Mike Lee in introducing the SCREEN Act to the House, providing parents with more control over their children’s online access and protecting our kids from exposure to pornography. I urge my colleagues in the House to act swiftly in adopting the SCREEN Act to protect American children.”
    “Like any parent in Utah, I’m deeply concerned that children remain vulnerable to explicit content online, as well as the psychological and societal harm it brings,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bill ensures that online platforms take responsibility by leveraging modern technology to verify users’ ages and prevent minors from accessing explicit material—all while upholding personal freedoms.”
    “Internet pornography has infected our culture and corroded the vulnerable minds of America’s kids, with the average age of initial exposure being 12 years old. That’s appalling,” said Senator Banks. “The accessibility of commercial pornography calls for the implementation of commonsense guardrails to protect our children. Indiana passed an age verification bill last year, paving the way for the rest of the nation. Our bill combats—with federal legislation—the forces attempting to poison the young minds of America.”
    Despite Congress’s ongoing efforts over the past three decades to shield children from online pornography, prior legislative measures have been challenged and overturned by the Supreme Court on the grounds of not meeting the least restrictive means test. Nonetheless, the Court acknowledged the government’s compelling interest to protect children.
    Advancements in technology since the Supreme Court last addressed this matter reveal a stark reality: traditional methods like blocking and filtering software have fallen short, leaving an alarming 80% of teenagers exposed to online pornography. The repercussions on minors are profound, contributing to a spectrum of psychological issues, unhealthy sexual behaviors, and broader societal harms.
    Senator Lee’s SCREEN Act is a necessary evolution of the law, aligning technological progress with the government’s duty to protect children. The Act mandates commercial pornographic websites to implement robust age verification technologies, providing a pragmatic and narrowly tailored solution to a complex problem.
    The bill has garnered support from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, National Decency Coalition, Heritage Action, Ethics and Public Policy Center, American Principles Project, Family Policy Alliance, Institute for Family Studies, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Culture Reframed, Enough is Enough, Envoc, Foundation and Council on Pornography Reform, Eagle Forum, Eagle Forum of Alabama, and The Silent Addiction.
    For bill text, click HERE. 
    For a one-pager, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Graham Statement On House Adopting Its Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today made this statement after the House of Representatives adopted the House Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res 14).
    “I appreciate the House’s efforts to begin the process of passing a reconciliation bill.
    “I look forward to working with the House to strengthen the tax cut provisions by making them permanent in order to meet President Trump’s priorities. I will also ensure the Department of Homeland Security gets the $175 billion in funding they need to secure the border.
    “Time is of the essence when it comes to border security. ICE will run out of money in weeks, not months. Stalling President Trump’s border security agenda is not only bad politics, it is dangerous.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters, Slotkin, Bergman Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Settle Longstanding Land Claims of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Clear Title of Current Landowners

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), reintroduced bipartisan legislation to settle the longstanding land claims of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). Through Treaties signed in 1842 and 1854, the KBIC was granted occupancy over a large area of land established as the L’Anse Reservation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Despite those treaties, thousands of acres of reservation land were taken by the federal government without compensation and awarded to the State of Michigan. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025 would address this issue and clear the title of current landowners in the community.   
    “For years, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has worked to settle these land claims and provide clear title to those who currently own the property in question,” said Senator Peters. “I was proud to work alongside Tribal partners and local community members to introduce this long overdue legislation, which would right this wrong once and for all.” 
    “This legislation to settle longstanding claims represents the work of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the local community and a bipartisan coalition in Congress to correct this historic mistake,” said Senator Slotkin. “KBIC has for some time sought to address a problem it did not create, and resolving this issue is the least we can do to right a longstanding wrong.”
    “I’m proud to have introduced this much-needed legislation in the House of Representatives. It’s time to ensure fairness and to correct the wrongs of history on behalf of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community,” said Representative Bergman.
    “This legislation represents our Community, our neighbors, and the Michigan delegation coming together to acknowledge the unlawful taking of our lands and provide a solution for a better future for the Tribe and our neighbors. This settlement has been generations in the making, and the Tribal Council and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community share our sincere gratitude to Senator Peters, Senator Slotkin, and Representative Bergman for their leadership to right this historic wrong,” said KBIC President Robert “RD” Curtis, Jr. and the KBIC Tribal Council.
    The KBIC’s land claims involve the dispossession of between approximately 1,333 and 2,720 acres of land transferred by the United States government to the State of Michigan as compensation for the construction of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, as well as approximately 2,743 acres of swamplands. The KBIC asserts that as a result of the 1842 and 1854 Treaties, these lands were not available for transfer and therefore transferred illegally. The KBIC contends that the inappropriate transfer of these lands has created substantial economic and other harm, through the loss of valuable land in prime locations along Lake Superior that could have been used for a variety of revenue-generating activities over the past 150 years. Meanwhile, non-Indian individuals, entities, and local governments have since acquired the land at issue – in good faith – and now seek to ensure they possess clear title to the land.  
    The bill – which unanimously passed the Senate last Congress – would authorize funds through the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) that may be used by the KBIC for governmental services, economic development, natural resource protection, and land acquisition. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Cosponsors Bipartisan Postal Processing Protection Act to Safeguard Rural Delivery 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week joined Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in introducing the Postal Processing Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to protect timely mail delivery by mandating a robust review of the consequences of downsizing or closing facilities. The Senators’ billwould ensure that efficient service is not interrupted by the closure or downsizing of a mail processing center, especially as outgoing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s “Delivering for America” plan continues to dismantle the postal service, and as President Trump threatens to put USPS under the control of the executive branch. USPS has operated as an independent entity since 1970. 
    This bipartisan legislation comes as USPS plans to downsize postal processing facilities located in Essex Junction and White River Junction, and move most mail processing to Hartford, Connecticut, which would slow postal delivery and jeopardize service across Vermont. 
    “The Postal Service provides an essential service all Vermonters rely on—from children receiving a birthday card, to seniors getting prescriptions delivered, to small businesses. Back-to-back floods wreaked havoc on our postal service in Vermont, and outgoing Postmaster General DeJoy’s ‘Delivering for America’ plan would take a sledgehammer to two mail processing centers in our state,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with Sens. Durbin and Rounds on this bipartisan bill to ensure USPS follows a more robust review and notification process before taking action to close or consolidate crucial postal facilities.” 
    “Rural mail services are a lifeline for South Dakotans,” said Senator Rounds. “We must make certain that residents across our entire state are able to receive letters and packages in a timely manner. USPS is required to review impact to rural residents when closing a retail location, so it’s only right that they consider the impact for processing facilities as well.”  
    “If I drop a piece of mail off in Springfield to go across town, why should it have to go all the way to St. Louis and back? Postmaster General DeJoy’s ‘Delivering for America’ plan, which included downsizing three mail processing centers in our state, is decimating a service that Illinoisans rely on,” said Senator Durbin. “I’m joining Senator Rounds to reintroduce the Postal Processing Protection Act to ensure that USPS leadership does its due diligence in studying the impact of consolidating or altering mail processing and shipping facilities before crippling critical USPS locations.” 
    In reviewing processing facilities, USPS is not required to consider the impact on rural areas as long as the change gains “efficiencies.” However, USPS is required to ensure closing a location is consistent with its obligation to provide effective and regular postal services to rural areas. This legislation would require USPS to consider the impact to rural areas when closing or downsizing processing centers, just as it does with closing post office retail locations.
    Senator Welch has pushed for postal reform to better serve rural communities and has called for improvements to USPS’ national management. After the announcement of proposed changes to mail processing centers in March 2024, Senator Welch joined 20 of his Senate colleagues in urging Postmaster General DeJoy to stop any changes to USPS service standards that would result in job losses and further degrade mail delivery performance, especially in rural areas. As a Member of the House, Senator Welch helped passed postal reform legislation that put USPS on firm financial footing. 
    Last Congress, Sen. Welch partnered with a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues to urge Postmaster General DeJoy to reconsider the Postal Service’s plan to consolidate the national postal network, which threatened to severely diminish mail service across the country. Following the Senators’ advocacy, USPS paused the Mail Processing Facility Reviews process until after the 2024 election. 
    Read the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Johnson, Grassley Call for Investigation into Potential Criminal Leaks, Violations of FBI Information Sharing Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
    WASHINGTON – Today, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter requesting Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate potential criminal leaks to the media of sensitive and classified information ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The senators are also requesting Bondi and Patel investigate former Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Timothy Thibault, and his associates’ potential breach of FBI information sharing policies, in light of legally protected whistleblower disclosures revealing Thibault shared sensitive, non-public investigative information from his FBI email account with a private citizen with whom he was romantically involved.
    “The FBI repeatedly lectures Congress, without any legitimate basis, that it can’t share information with Congress because the matter is an ongoing investigation. The FBI has asserted to Congress that [For Official Use Only] information and FBI email accounts and personnel names should remain non-public. Yet, here, Thibault sent all of that type of information to a private citizen while the FBI stiff-arms Congress and the American people,” the senators wrote.  
    “Thibault’s conduct exemplifies the FBI’s ‘do as I say, not as I do’ hypocrisy and why its repeated complaints to Congress when it makes government information public should fall on deaf ears,” the senators concluded. 
    Sens. Johnson and Grassley pointed to news reporting released shortly before the November 2024 election containing potentially “classified U.S. intelligence,” as a further example of DOJ and FBI officials sharing non-public investigative information while ignoring congressional requests for the same. Accordingly, the senators are requesting DOJ and FBI open a criminal media leak investigation to hold accountable those responsible for sharing potentially classified and other sensitive information with the press.
    The senators also made public an award given to Special Agent Walter Giardina, an FBI employee who worked on aspects of the Mueller and Jack Smith investigations, which he received for investigating Trump. 
    Read more about Chairman Johnson’s letter on Daily Mail.
    The full text of the letter and legally protected whistleblower disclosures can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote American Businesses in Competition with China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced bipartisan legislation to help American businesses compete with Communist China. The Strengthening Exports Against China Act would incentivize economic growth by eliminating barriers for American businesses competing directly with China in emerging industries like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Representatives Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio).
    “The Chinese Communist Party provides massive subsidies and financing for businesses in emerging industries. To remain competitive, the United States needs to do more to support innovative businesses here at home,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “My bipartisan legislation will support more American businesses directly competing with China to help them make breakthroughs in AI, critical mineral mining and processing, and other transformational areas.”
    “It’s time for fair competition on the global stage,” said Senator Rounds. “We must level the playing field for U.S. exporters when they’re up against firms backed by the Chinese Communist Party’s opaque financing. The Strengthening Exports Against China Act would allow the Export Import Bank to increase export financing and insurance support to U.S. firms that export products in direct competition with China.”
    The Export-Import Bank (EXIM) creates American jobs by promoting and financing exports. The China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP) was established on a bipartisan basis in 2019 to counter Chinese export subsidies and financing while advancing U.S. innovation and export competitiveness in 10 Transformation Export Areas, including AI, 5G, energy efficiency, and semiconductors. Unfortunately, the CTEP is struggling to scale up due to the rules governing EXIM financing. Under current law, if EXIM projects reach or exceed a two percent default rate, the Bank must immediately freeze all lending. This default rate cap poses a significant challenge to EXIM’s ability to support U.S. exporters in emerging, less established fields. The Strengthening Exports Against China Act would eliminate the default rate cap for exporters covered by the CTEP program to help them better compete directly with PRC rivals.
    The full text of the legislation can be found here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to strengthen our national security and supply chains. She has consistently blocked burdensome taxes on mining and wrote important provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bolster Nevada’s critical mineral supply chain. She’s also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which are critical components of cell phones, computers, defense systems, and electric vehicles, but are almost exclusively made in China.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Calls on USDA to Provide Answers for Bird Flu Response Amid Employee Terminations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), demanding critical answers on recent terminations and the Department’s response to bird flu outbreaks. Cortez Masto’s letter comes after last week’s reports that the Trump Administration fired several USDA employees involved in bird flu response efforts. While the USDA has stated that it’s actively working to reverse these ill-advised firings, the Trump Administration has not been transparent about the impacts it poses to ongoing federal response efforts for recent bird flu outbreaks in Nevada and across the country.
    “Reports on the firing of employees at USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) could severely impact or delay efforts to detect, track, research, and respond to the spread of bird flu variants,” wrote Cortez Masto.
    Cortez Masto asked that the following information about the terminations be made public no later than March 11, 2025:
    The USDA’s strategic vision to combat current and future HPAI outbreaks.
    The specific positions of terminated employees, including their roles and responsibilities as it relates to your strategic vision and coordination with federal, state, and municipal officials.
    The total number of USDA employees who have been terminated by the Trump Administration, including any positions in Nevada, and a status update on those who have successfully been rehired.
    Analysis on how these terminations, rehires, and the ongoing hiring freeze or buy-out offers have impacted bird flu response, coordination with impacted states and municipalities, and efforts to fill key vacant positions – including those in Nevada.
    A detailed assessment of ongoing work to fill open positions, as well as the impacts that these firings and rehirings will have on future recruitment at USDA.
    The full text of the letter can be found here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has pushed multiple Departments under the Trump Administration for detailed, public information regarding the impacts of President Trump’s federal funding freeze, hiring freeze, and terminations on Nevada – including to the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Statement on Confirmation of Jamieson Greer as Trade Representative

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement after voting against Jamieson Greer to serve as the U.S. Trade Representative:
    “In the first month of the Trump administration, the President attacked our nation’s allies and closest trading partners. New Mexicans and Americans across the country deserve a Trade Representative that will help lower costs, not one that will add fuel to the President’s trade war and raise costs for American families.
    “During Mr. Greer’s nomination hearing, I questioned him on the negative impacts President Trump’s trade war would have on New Mexico businesses and families. Mr. Greer could not guarantee that New Mexicans would not face negative impacts and that showed me all I needed to know: Mr. Greer will pursue the President’s trade war at the expense of American families.
    “I am committed to lowering costs for New Mexicans and trade policies that help our small businesses grow and succeed. As a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, I will hold the administration accountable for needlessly igniting trade wars that raise prices, threaten American industries and jobs, and hurt New Mexicans’ bottom lines.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Opening Statement on DOJ Nominees John Sauer, Harmeet Dhillon and Aaron Reitz

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
    Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
    Wednesday, February 26, 2025
    Good morning. I’d like to welcome everyone to this hearing to consider the nominations of John Sauer to serve as the Solicitor General, Harmeet Dhillon to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division and Aaron Reitz to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy.
    Before I turn to my opening statement, I’ll explain how we’re going to proceed today.
    I’ll give my opening remarks, and then I’ll invite Ranking Member Durbin to give opening remarks. Then, I’ll call on Senators Lee, Cruz, Hawley and Schmitt to introduce the nominees. After that, the nominees will have a chance to give an opening statement to the Committee. 
    Following the statements from the nominees, we’ll proceed to a single, five-minute round of questions. I ask Members to do their best to adhere to these time limits, so that we can proceed efficiently with the hearing.
    With that, I’ll turn to my opening remarks.
    Our three nominees have been tapped to serve in important roles in the Department of Justice. Congratulations on your nominations. If confirmed, your work will impact the lives of millions of Americans.
    Each of you has impressive qualifications, and we’re looking forward to hearing from you. I’d like to thank your family and friends for coming today. I know they’re all very proud of you.
    I’ve said many times that the Department of Justice is at an inflection point. Over the last four years, public trust in the Department has declined, and many Americans feel like the justice system doesn’t work for them.
    If confirmed, we expect you to work with Attorney General Pam Bondi to fulfill her promise to turn things around.
    Mr. Sauer, you’re particularly well suited to serve as the nation’s chief appellate lawyer. You started your career clerking for Justice Scalia, one of the legal giants of our time. Justice Scalia spent his life teaching lawyers to faithfully interpret the law and Constitution according to its original meaning. I’ve no doubt that you learned this lesson well.
    After clerking and a stint in private practice, you left D.C. behind to go home and serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in Missouri. You worked diligently to prosecute criminals and to keep your community safe. 
    In 2017, you joined the Missouri Attorney General’s Office as the Solicitor General, where you served under two members of this Committee, Senator Hawley and Senator Schmitt.  Serving as a state’s chief appellate officer during the COVID pandemic and across two presidential administrations undoubtedly prepared you for the role you will walk into if you are confirmed. 
    There’s a lot of work to be done defending our nation’s laws, and I know you’re prepared to take it on.
    Ms. Dhillon, you’re one of the nation’s foremost experts on civil rights. Your journey started a long way from here, when your family immigrated from India. You went to Dartmouth at the tender age of 16, and then went to law school at the University of Virginia.
    Throughout your career, you’ve never shied away from unpopular but just causes. You served as the Director of an ACLU chapter after 9/11, a group many on my side are often skeptical of. You also started your own law firm and founded a non-profit. You’ve litigated some of the most important cases on free speech, religious liberty, voting rights and discrimination.
    Discrimination is wrong. Our Constitution and our civil rights laws do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, as the Supreme Court recently made clear in the Students for Fair Admissions cases.
    Unfortunately, the Biden administration not only allowed discrimination to take place, but openly encouraged it. Under the name of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” the Biden administration imposed a nationwide regime of discrimination, and the Civil Rights Division completely failed to enforce our nation’s laws. President Trump has put an end to this and, if confirmed, I trust that you’ll work to help him execute on his promise.
    Americans don’t pick winners and losers based on the color of their skin, their sex or the name of their God.
    Ms. Dhillon, you’ve fought for everyone to be treated equally. You fought against colleges shutting down free speech for political reasons, against states restricting freedom of worship and against big tech companies engaged in censorship. You’ve won many victories defending freedom and our constitutional rights. If confirmed, we’ll need your continued leadership to protect the civil rights of all Americans.
    Our side of the aisle doesn’t spend much time talking about people’s personal characteristics. We care about character and merit. But in addition to your qualifications, your background makes you particularly suited to return the Justice Department to its proper role of enforcing our civil rights laws and ending discrimination.
    You’re an immigrant, a religious minority, a woman, a business owner, a civil rights leader, an accomplished lawyer, and, I’ve learned, an excellent knitter. You’re an example of what is great about America.
    Mr. Reitz, you have an impressive and dedicated career of service to our country. You attended college at Texas A&M University on an ROTC Scholarship and honorably served our country as a United States Marine, including a tour in Afghanistan.
    Upon your return from Afghanistan, you attended law school at the University of Texas, where you excelled.
    After a time in private practice, you decided to serve your country again. You clerked for the now-Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Then you ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives and campaigned on issues that you believed in. You continued gaining legal experience during this time in private practice.
    You eventually joined the Office of the Attorney General of Texas as Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy. In that role, you were involved in some of the office’s most impactful litigation during the Biden administration. You fought to secure the border, hold Big Tech accountable, protect the integrity of the ballot box and promote conservative social values.
    Today, you continue to serve Texas and your country as a member of Senator Cruz’s staff. You are currently his Chief of Staff, and I think I won’t offend my colleague when I say that this is no easy job. This is particularly true because you continue to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve, where you actively drill with your unit and hold the rank of Major. Your relentless work ethic and love of country are obvious.
    In short, the three nominees before us have impressive careers and life stories. I look forward to hearing from them today.
    With that, I’ll turn to Ranking Member Durbin for his opening remarks.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 02/26/2025 Blackburn, Schatz Introduce Bill to Strengthen U.S.-Taiwan Partnership, Safeguard U.S. from Communist China’s Security Threats

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act to keep Americans safer by establishing robust security screenings for those traveling to the U.S. from Asia, open new markets for American industry, and strengthen the economic partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan:  
    “Not only does the Chinese Communist Party present a threat to Taiwan, but Communist China’s campaign for global dominance also presents a clear threat to U.S. interests,” said Senator Blackburn. “We need to secure our homeland by requiring Customs and Border Protection officers to inspect those who are traveling to the U.S. from airports in Asia, and the Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act would move us one step closer to achieving enhanced security at foreign airports. This legislation would also help identify opportunities to strengthen our economic partnership with Taiwan and increase collaboration between our two countries.”
    “Taiwan is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific, and boosting our ties strengthens both Taiwan and the United States. This bill would help unlock more economic opportunities for the people of Taiwan, Hawai‘i, and our entire country,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
    BACKGROUND
    Taiwan is the United States’ vital trading partner and ally in the Indo-Pacific region and is increasingly under threat from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). To combat this threat to our interests, we must assist our allies in stabilizing their economies and growing their national industries.
    Travel and tourism play a crucial role in a nation’s economic security, yet this sector in Taiwan faces pressure and coercion from the CCP. With strategic efforts proposed in this bill, the United States and Taiwan can turn these challenges into opportunities to strengthen our relations and our tourism industries.
    The CCP’s campaign for global dominance presents a clear threat to both Taiwan and U.S. interests as well. To secure our homeland, we must establish “pre-clearance” facilities in Asia. Pre-clearance is the strategic stationing of Customs and Border Protection personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights, and it is incredibly important to enhance security, increase collaboration, and streamline travel. Notably, there is no pre-clearance facility in Asia, despite there being an annual average of over 4 million travelers from the continent.
    TAIWAN TRAVEL AND TOURISM COORDINATION ACT
    Specifically, the Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act would require the federal government to:
    Identify opportunities for enhanced travel between the U.S. and Taiwan;
    Facilitate events and coordination between the travel and tourism industry partners in the United States and Taiwan;
    Coordinate with Taiwan and other agencies on the safety and security of international visitors both at home and abroad; and
    Conduct a feasibility study on establishing a pre-clearance facility in Taiwan. 
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Health Care in Rural and Medically Underserved Areas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
    The legislation would allow international doctors trained in the United States to remain in the country if they practice in underserved areas 
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to increase the number of doctors working in rural and medically underserved areas. The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Conrad 30 programs, which allows international doctors who have completed their residency training in the U.S. to remain in the country under the condition that they practice in areas experiencing physician shortages. Companion legislation in the House of Representatives was reintroduced by Representatives David Valadeo (R-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Robert Garcia (D-CA).
    “Rural and other medically underserved areas do not have adequate access to health care or doctors. Over the last 15 years, the Conrad 30 program has brought more than 15,000 physicians to underserved areas, filling a critical need,” said Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation would allow these doctors to remain in the areas they serve and continue to bring more doctors to rural areas, improving health care for families across the nation while retaining talent trained and educated here in the United States.”
    “The Conrad 30 program allows international physicians who were educated in the United States to remain in our country and practice where there is an unmet need for health care professionals,” said Collins. “This bipartisan reauthorization would expand access to care in rural and underserved communities, thereby improving health outcomes for more Mainers.”
    “Far too many communities in Nevada lack access to medical care, an issue that is especially dire in our rural and underserved areas. In fact, every county in Nevada is experiencing a shortage of medical professionals,” said Rosen. “This bipartisan legislation will help to address the physician shortage by allowing international doctors to stay and work in the U.S. following their residencies, helping to increase the number of doctors available to provide care.”
    “Too many rural areas in North Carolina and across the country lack the health care workforce needed to provide quality and timely care,” said Tillis. “This bipartisan legislation will allow American-trained doctors to help fill those gaps so we can expand access to critical health care in medically underserved and health professional shortage areas.”
    Generally, doctors from other countries working in America on J-1 visas are required to return to their home country after their residency has ended for two years before they can apply for another visa or green card. The Conrad 30 program allows doctors to stay in the United States without having to return home if they agree to practice in an underserved area for three years. The “30” refers to the number of doctors per state that can participate in the program.
    This legislation extends the Conrad 30 program for three years, improves the process for obtaining a visa, and allows for the program to be expanded beyond 30 slots if certain thresholds are met, while protecting small states’ slots. The bill also allows the spouses of doctors to work and provides worker protections to prevent the doctors from being mistreated. The legislation also allows physicians who serve in a Veterans Affairs (VA) facility or health professional shortage area for 5 years to get expedited consideration for a green card.
    The legislation has been endorsed by more than 50 organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Academy of Neurology, the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, and Physicians for American Healthcare Access.
    “With the physician workforce crisis showing no signs of abating, the Conrad 30 program remains an important tool to help ensure patients, particularly in rural and underserved communities, continue to have access to physicians. The Conrad 30 program has expanded the physician workforce across all communities, yet it would benefit greatly from the long-term reauthorization and targeted policy improvements outlined in this legislation. Once again, Sens. Klobuchar and Collins have stepped up for patients and physicians, and we applaud them for introducing the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act,” said Bruce A. Scott, M.D., President, American Medical Association.
    “The Conrad 30 program continues to be a vital lifeline for rural and underserved communities facing physician shortages. However, without reforms, recruiting and retaining international medical graduates (IMGs) will become increasingly difficult. This reauthorization strengthens incentives for IMGs and streamlines the waiver process for employers, making it easier to recruit physicians in areas with persistent shortages. These updates will strengthen the U.S. position in the global competition for top medical talent and uphold access to care in underserved areas. Physicians for American Healthcare Access applauds Senators Klobuchar, Collins, Rosen, and Tillis for their leadership on this bipartisan legislation,” said Physicians for American Healthcare Access President Ram Alur, M.D.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Moran Bill Fights Housing Shortage by Encouraging Homeowners to Expand, Build Properties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) are introducing bipartisan legislation to make it easier for rural workers to live in the communities they serve, as well as address the housing shortage across the nation. The Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act would expand the existing Housing Preservation Grants (HPG) program so rural home owners can create more housing on their property — such as an attached apartment unit or a small home nearby — to be available for rent. Currently, HPGs are underutilized and receive limited funding that only covers small costs and repairs. This legislation would enhance the program for rural housing creation by increasing its funding and expanding eligibility for homeowners who want to participate.
    The housing crisis has risen dramatically in recent years. A 2023 study found that Maine is now short more than 80,000 homes, in both urban and rural communities. The study also found Maine faces serious challenges including historic underproduction, aging housing stock, future need, lack of affordability, workforce decrease and a high demand for seasonal homes. The Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act would make it easier for Maine people in rural areas to access housing in the communities where they work.
    “Communities all across Maine and the nation are facing a serious housing shortage,” said Senator Angus King. “Unfortunately, one law we can’t repeal in Congress is the law of supply and demand. And right now our rural communities, in particular, are up against a short supply problem coupled with serious demand — leaving many people without a place to live that is affordable or close to their community. It’s a pleasure to work with Senator Moran of Kansas — who knows all too well the challenges rural communities face — on the Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act. This bipartisan, commonsense effort is another step toward combating the housing crisis and ensuring Maine people can live where they work. By making it more affordable for folks to renovate their homes, or build news one, we can help offset the rural housing shortage.”
    “There is a high demand for rural housing across Kansas, and it’s important that our housing programs offer creative solutions to address this issue,” said Senator Moran. “Modernizing the Housing Preservation Grants program will help create new avenues for renovating and constructing homes in smaller communities across the country.”
    Specifically, the Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act would:
    Allow recipients to use HPG money to construct additional housing units either within or outside their home.
    Authorize funding for the nationwide program at $200,000,000.
    Offer grants of up to $100,000 to low-or medium-income recipients.
    Require the original home to be 25 years or older.
    Established a required landlord education program to help homeowners learn how to oversee rental housing.
    Create a five-year ownership and occupancy requirement upon completion to prevent homeowners from flipping their property at increased values and prevent developers from taking advantage of the program.
    Senator King has long been committed to ensuring Maine people across the state can access safe and affordable housing, as well as working with his colleagues on creative solutions to combat the housing shortage. He recently introduced the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to create nearly two million new affordable homes across the country — including thousands in Maine. He also worked with his Republican colleagues to improve affordability of rural homes and farms through the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act of 2023. Additionally, he has worked to expand affordable workforce housing on Mount Desert Island to support the economic development surrounding Acadia National Park. Last year, he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to expand affordable housing availability in Maine through redevelopment of historic buildings. He also introduced the bipartisan HELPER Act to unlock home ownership for first responders and teachers, and introduced the Manufactured Housing Community Sustainability Act to encourage manufactured home park owners interested in selling their properties to sell to residents rather than developers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Padilla, Hirono, Lankford Introduce Bill to Promote Wildfire Mitigation Through Wildlife Grazing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced legislation to promote research on how grazing can support wildfire mitigation, fuels reduction and post-fire recovery.
    Several states have implemented pilot programs in which animals like goats and cattle, called “ungulates,” have grazed on prescribed areas of land containing highly flammable grasses and shrubs to mitigate fire risk. These pilot efforts have successfully reduced vegetation that can fuel rapid fire growth. However, limited scientific research has been conducted on optimal grazing land management techniques that also protect against other environmental harms.
    To address this critical research gap, the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act would add the “Grazing for Wildfire Mitigation Initiative” to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s High-Priority Research List.
    “Using grazing as a way to reduce wildfires is both beneficial to our ranchers and important to eliminating the grasses that accelerate fires on the prairie,” said Sen. Moran. “Kansans have faced devastating wildfires in recent years and understand the importance of proactively working to keep our land healthy and free of undergrowth that can make these fires worse.”
    “As devastating wildfires pose increasingly severe threats to our communities, we need to explore out-of-the-box approaches to blunt these disasters,” said Sen. Padilla. “Grazing animals like goats and cattle have been successfully used to reduce the hazardous brush that fuels wildfires. Expanding our understanding of novel grazing strategies can make it a cost-effective tool to save lives and protect homes.”
    “As the people of Lahaina continue to recover from the devastating wildfires in 2023, we recognize just how necessary it is to pre-emptively reduce wildfire risk,” said Sen. Hirono. “As wildfires occur with increasing frequency across the country, this legislation is a crucial step to help strengthen community resilience by studying the implementation of grazing as a strategy for reducing vegetation that can fuel wildfires. I’m glad to join my colleagues in introducing this important bill to help prevent wildfires and protect our communities.” This legislation is supported by the Kansas Livestock Association.
    “The Nature Conservancy welcomes this bill as a jump start for the utilization of grazing as a tool for wildfire risk reduction,” said Whitney Forman-Cook, Senior Policy Advisor for Forests and Fire at The Nature Conservancy. “In our Roadmap for Wildfire Resilience, we recommend federal land management agencies research and implement new strategies for forest and rangeland fuels reduction treatments at landscape scales. Targeted grazing satisfies that call for a new, cost-effective approach to promoting both drought and wildfire resilience while maintaining rangeland health.”
    The Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act would:

    Support research and development of grazing land management techniques for wildfire mitigation and recovery by driving research at land-grant colleges and universities like the Kansas State University, University of California system, University of Hawai?i at M?noa and Oklahoma State University.
    Promote the dissemination of information on these wildlife grazing land management techniques to public and private landowners, land managers and livestock owners, including land management activities that protect against negative environmental impacts and improve soil health.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill Enhancing Mental Health Support for First Responders

    US Senate News:

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

    Wednesday, February 26, 2025

    U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the bipartisan First Responders Wellness Act. The legislation would establish a national mental health hotline for first responders in addition to expanding mental health services for those on the frontlines of major disasters.

    “Congress should prioritize the wellbeing of those first on the scene of life’s crises. That starts with investing in the health and safety of our police officers, firefighters, and EMTs,” said Senator Hawley. “This bipartisan legislation would provide first responders with the mental health tools they need to cope with past trauma and the resources necessary to support them in their jobs.”

    “Police officers, firefighters, and EMTs face unique stressors, and as a result, they are at high risk of developing PTSD and other mental health problems,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We owe it to our first responders to do more to help. I am introducing bipartisan legislation to establish a mental health hotline specifically tailored to the needs of first responders and staffed by peer specialists and counselors who have an understanding of the occupational stressors experienced by first responders and have completed trauma-informed training. The bill would also expand professional mental health services for first responders during times of major disasters. I am proud to be introducing this legislation with Senator Hawley and hope to get it passed soon.”

    First responders—including our men and women in blue, firefighters, EMS personnel, and public safety telecommunicators—face higher rates of PTSD than civilians. 

    To address this, the First Responders Wellness Act would:

    • Amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to develop a professional program to provide confidential and independent mental health services to law enforcement officers.
    • Increase the number of mental health service providers available to law enforcement officers.
    • Establish a first responders mental health hotline to provide peer and emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental or behavioral health and substance use disorder resources.
    • Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit an annual report to Congress on the hotline and its implementation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Reintroduces Bill Blocking Agencies from Partnering with Pro-CCP Consulting Firms

    US Senate News:

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

    Wednesday, February 26, 2025

     Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reintroduced his legislation to prohibit the Department of Defense and other federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms, like McKinsey & Company, which provides services to the Chinese government or its affiliates while being contracted by the United States government. The Time to Choose Act would force these firms to choose whether to stand with the U.S. in its efforts to protect America against China’s global ambitions, or forfeit U.S. government contracts entirely.

    This bipartisan legislation passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with strong bipartisan support in the 118th Congress. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) are both original cosponsors. 

    “For too long, these companies have basked in the financial security of government contracts while actively undermining our own national security,” said Senator Hawley. “It is unconscionable that we’ve allowed them to sell us out to the Chinese Communist Party by advancing their agenda rather than putting America’s interests first. My bill would bring that to an end.” 

    “The Chinese Communist Party is actively working to undermine our country at every turn,” said Senator Peters. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill would prohibit companies that are providing consulting services to the Chinese government from receiving highly competitive government contracts, paid for by American taxpayers, to protect both our national security and our competitive edge in the global economy.”

    “Any firm who wants to help, support or represent Communist China’s best interests clearly is choosing to work against America’s best interests and choosing to forfeit access to federal tax dollars. It’s a clear conflict of interest,” said Senator Scott. “The Chinese Communist Party is one of our greatest adversaries, hellbent on destroying our way of life, crippling our industries and spying on our citizens. Our bill, the Time to Choose Act, requires firms to make a choice: support the freedom-loving United States or support the regime in Communist China. There’s no in between.”

    The Time to Choose Act would:

    • Prohibit federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms that hold a contract with the Chinese government and other foreign adversaries.
    • Impose penalties on consulting firms that intentionally hide or misrepresent contracts with the Chinese government and other foreign adversaries, including:
      • Terminating affected federal contracts.
      • Debarring relevant firms from future work with the federal government.
      • Requiring relevant firms to pay damages equivalent to three times the amount spent by the U.S. government on the contracts.

    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Statement on Jamieson Greer Ahead of Confirmation Vote

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement ahead of the Senate’s confirmation vote of Jamieson Greer to be United States Trade Representative (USTR):

    “President Trump has proposed disastrous trade policies, including tariffs on our closest trading partners, which will raise costs and hurt Virginia businesses. We need a United States Trade Representative who will seek to expand markets for American exports, foster relationships with our allies, and reduce costs for American families. I don’t believe Jamieson Greer will do that, and that’s why I’m voting no on his confirmation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Questions Michael Kratsios and Mark Meador at Nomination Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, questioned two of President Trump’s nominees: Mr. Michael Kratsios, nominated to be the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and Mr. Mark Meador, nominated to be a Federal Trade Commissioner.

    During the hearing, Senator Fischer asked Mr. Kratsios about emerging technologies and the Department of Defense’s essential role in shaping national spectrum policy, especially given its unique testing abilities for wireless technology. She also asked about the lessons learned from the America’s Mid-Band Initiative Team (AMBIT) spectrum auction.

    Additionally, Senator Fischer questioned Mr. Meador about how he would effectively use agency resources to uphold the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) mission. She emphasized the importance of the FTC’s coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on enforcement efforts to protect consumers.

    Click the image above to watch a video of Senator Fischer’s questioning

    Click here to download audio

    Click here to download video

    On the DoD’s Cutting-Edge Spectrum Testing and Innovation:

    Senator Fischer: Mr. Kratsios, I welcome your enthusiasm for advancing American leadership on emerging technologies. As you know, OSTP is responsible for coordinating science and tech policy among federal agencies. 

    When you were the United States Chief Technology Officer, one of your focuses was advancing DoD’s unique testing abilities to drive innovation. And at the time, you stated that the Department of Defense is “at the forefront of cutting-edge 5G testing and experimentation.” Do you still believe that?

    Michael Kratsios: I do, yes.

    Senator Fischer:     And when it comes to 5G and other spectrum matters, do you believe that DOD testing should be faithfully integrated into a national spectrum policy?

    Michael Kratsios: Yes, DOD is a critical component of the spectrum strategy.

    On AMBIT:

    Senator Fischer: Previously, I understood you were involved with “America’s Mid-Band Initiative Team,” known as AMBIT, and you brought that up a couple times yesterday in our discussion. And so, I looked into it a little bit more to familiarize myself with it. That was an auction of mid-band spectrum held by DOD, and it was to make those licenses available to wireless companies. Is that correct?

    Michael Kratsios: Yes. 

    Senator Fischer: Did the AMBIT auction cause more congestion for defense systems operating in the lower 3 [GHz] band?

    Michael Kratsios:     In my opinion, I think AMBIT provided an opportunity for a technical analysis of that spectrum range and find a way to be able to still complete the national security mission by moving some of the workloads that were in the auction band to lower bands. 

    Senator Fischer:     So, they had to compress that band even more then in order to accommodate that into the lower 3. Is that correct?

    Michael Kratsios:     Yeah, so some of the activities that were in the band that ultimately were auctioned were moved down to lower bands.

    Senator Fischer:     I also understand that AMBIT struggled on the back end with major relocation costs from the defense systems that were displaced in that process of compressing them. Is that correct?

    Michael Kratsios:     I haven’t tracked the details of that since I left office, but there’s always transition costs associated with freeing up bands, typically.

    Senator Fischer: Are you familiar with any of the costs? Are those readily available, so we can access those? Do you know how that cut into the net revenue that was expected from the auction?

    Michael Kratsios:     I’m not familiar with those details, but I can try to see what’s publicly available.

    Senator Fischer: That would be great. 

    On Responsible FTC Enforcement:

    Senator Fischer:     Mr. Meador, over the years, the Federal Trade Commission has faced off in court against the deepening pockets of major corporations, especially when it comes to Big Tech. If confirmed, how would you prioritize litigation and effectively use agency resources in upholding the FTC mission?

    Mark Meador: That’s a very important topic. I will say the FTC staff have gotten very good at doing a lot with often much less. If confirmed, my first step will be to consult with the Chairman and the Commissioners and of course, the staff, who understand what challenges they are facing. What do we have on our docket and what resources do we have available? And then we’re collaborating with all of them to determine which cases are the highest priority to protect the largest number of consumers from the gravest threats. 

    On FTC Coordination with the Department of Justice: 

    Senator Fischer: It’s my understanding that at times there can be tension with that enforcement coordination with the Department of Justice. Do you have any comments on that? Or if that would occur, what would you do?

    Mark Meador: Sure, this is something that has happened frequently in the past. Some of it has unfortunately been very public. I’m confident that President Trump has selected leaders for this administration who can work very well together. I think it is of paramount importance that both agencies be singing from the same hymn sheet, be aligned on policy and enforcement decisions, and there should really be no daylight between them when it comes to how they’re enforcing the antitrust laws.

    I think anything is possible if you don’t care who gets the credit. And so, when it comes to merger clearance, we should be focusing on protecting consumers as fast as possible, not trying to get one up on the other agency.

    Senator Fischer: Thank you both for putting yourselves forward to serve in these very dangerous times that we live in. I really appreciate it and thank you to your families as well.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Questions Stephen Feinberg at Confirmation Hearing on Spectrum Policy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned Stephen Feinberg at the confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Deputy Secretary of Defense.  

    During the hearing, Senator Fischer asked Feinberg whether the Department of Defense deserves a seat at the table in shaping spectrum policy. She also asked him to clarify that, while sharing with commercial entities may be possible, the national security risks posed by forcing the Department to vacate airwaves entirely far outweigh economic considerations.

    Click the image above to watch a video of Senator Fischer’s questioning

    Click here to download audio

    Click here to download video

    On Spectrum Defense:

    Senator Fischer: Mr. Feinberg, there are currently efforts underway to force the Department of Defense to vacate critical bands of spectrum, including the lower 3 band and the 7-8 GHz band, and this would mean that the Department would not be allowed to operate radar systems or satellite systems that allow our warfighters to detect, discriminate, track, and shoot incoming missiles and enemy targets.

    I adamantly believe that forcing national security systems to vacate these bans would be detrimental to national security. It would degrade our missile defense capabilities when we should be aggressively pursuing an Iron Dome for America. That would be off the table if these were vacated. 

    However, I also understand that sharing these bands with commercial entities may be possible. This would potentially allow DoD systems to operate and coexist with commercial systems in the same exact bands without forcing us to lose these capabilities. Do you believe the Department of Defense must have a meaningful co-leadership role in interagency determinations about the future of federal spectrum? Should DoD be at the table to be involved in those decisions?

    Stephen Feinberg: I totally agree we need spectrum to defend our country. We also need commercial use of it to develop the technologies that will defend our country. The best solution is sharing. But we have to get it right, make sure sharing can be done without risk. That needs to get tested, and until that it’s clear that it can be done without risk, we must protect DoD’s spectrum position.

    Senator Fischer:     Thank you. It must be clear that it can be done without risk, correct?

    Stephen Feinberg: Yes, Senator, 100 percent. 

    Senator Fischer: Thank you, sir.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Baldwin, Grassley Roll Out Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Foreign Investment in Farmland, Protect Rural Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Farmland Security Act of 2025 to build on their work to safeguard rural communities and protect American farmland from being secretly bought up by foreign investors. The bipartisan legislation will build on a Baldwin-Grassley law to ensure that all foreign investors, including “shell companies,” who buy American agriculture land report their holdings, strengthen penalties for those who evade filing, and invest in research to better understand the impact foreign ownership of American farmland has on agricultural production capacity.

    “America’s farmland is critical to the health of our rural communities and our national security. But when foreign investors own farmland or our ability to process food, it can put our national security, domestic food supply, and local communities at risk,” said Senator Baldwin. “Our bipartisan legislation will help bring to light foreign investments in rural America, so we know who is buying up land critical to all of our safety and the future of our agricultural communities.” 

    “Foreign purchases of American farmland needlessly increase competition for young and beginning farmers and potentially threaten our national security. Family farmers and ranchers have a justified cause for concern. Our commonsense legislation provides the resources needed to monitor these sales and protect against risks they may pose. It also increases penalties for violators, especially shell corporations, who fail to report or misreport their acreage. I’ll never stop fighting to support family farmers and protect our farmland,” said Senator Grassley.

    United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has catalogued foreign ownership of approximately 45 million acres of American agricultural land, an 85 percent increase since 2010. These investments have the potential to impact our food security and national security. For example, in 2020, exports of U.S. chicken products from Brazilian-owned Pilgrim’s Pride Corp jumped 24 percent, disrupting our domestic food supply during a global pandemic. Additionally, while the current foreign ownership data reports that land owned by Chinese interests represents a small fraction of the overall foreign investments in American agricultural land, the purchasing of agricultural land by Chinese interests near military installations poses potential national security risks.

    Senators Baldwin and Grassley’s Farmland Security Act of 2022, which was signed into law as part of funding legislation for 2023, included new requirements that the USDA is implementing to address this national security concern, including the transition to digital filings of foreign purchases of domestic agricultural land; the creation of a publicly accessible database of certain disaggregated foreign ownership data to enable research by outside entities into these ownership trends; and reporting by USDA to Congress on the impact these investments have on family farms, rural communities, and the domestic food supply.

    The Farmland Security Act of 2025 takes additional steps to support transparency and better understand the scale and impact of foreign ownership by:

    • Requiring research into foreign ownership of agricultural production capacity and foreign participation in agricultural economic activity in the United States;
    • Requiring USDA to conduct annual compliance audits of no less than ten percent (10%) of the reports to ensure completeness and accuracy of filings;
    • Amending report to Congress to require research into foreign entities’ agricultural leasing activities and the impact it has on rural communities, family farms, the domestic food supply;
    • Requiring research into trends of foreign-owned “shell corporations” purchasing American agricultural land;
    • Requiring USDA to provide annual training to state and county-level staff re: identification of non-reporting foreign-owned agricultural land;
    • Striking the cap on fee of 25% of the agricultural lands valuation for failing to report or misreporting foreign-owned acreage;
    • Requiring a fee of 100% of the agricultural lands valuation for shell corporations that are failing to report or misreporting foreign-owned acreage, except in cases where the shell corporation remedies non-filing or defective filing within 60 days of notice by the Secretary; and
    • Authorizing $2 million annually for the activities prescribed under the Agriculture Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, as amended.

    This legislation is endorsed by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the Wisconsin Farmers Union. This legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03) and John Moolenaar (R-MI-02).

    “When foreign investors buy up broad swaths of American farm and timberland, we lose control over resources in our own backyard, our cultural identity and self-sufficiency suffers, and small family operations across Southwest Washington get squeezed out,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “At a time when we import 40 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables we consume each day, this bipartisan legislation will help us strengthen our food supply at home and the national security that comes with it.”

    Full text of this legislation is available here. A one-pager on this legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: N.M. Delegation Demands HHS Secretary Kennedy Take Immediate Action to Contain Measles Outbreak

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Delegation Letter Comes Amid Measles Outbreak in New Mexico and Texas;
    Measles is One of the Most Highly Infectious Diseases and Can Lead to Serious Complications Like Pneumonia, Blindness, Brain Swelling, and Death
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. demanding immediate action to contain the recent outbreak of measles in New Mexico. Measles, once declared eliminated in the U.S. over two decades ago, has sickened nine individuals in Lea Country.
    “Given the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) important responsibility to stop the spread of infectious diseases, we request that you utilize HHS’ authorities for testing and monitoring and vaccine education and promotion, as well as rehire critical federal employees, to stop the spread of this dangerous infection,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Secretary Kennedy.
    The lawmakers urged Secretary Kennedy to maintain regular reporting on measles cases, “States report confirmed measles cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Previously, measles tracking on the CDC website was consistently updated weekly. These updates are critical for public health officials to effectively track the rapid spread of this life-threatening disease. We urge you to maintain posting updated measles tracking data weekly.”
    Following the firing of federal public health officials, the lawmakers demanded the reinstatement of these officials to contain the outbreak, “Just last Friday, two dozen employees at the CDC charged with training public health laboratory staffers and supporting outbreak response efforts were fired. These firings will worsen outbreaks and ultimately threaten the health of all Americans in the face of the next public health emergency. We urgently request that you reinstate the fired federal health workers to help stop the spread of measles and other infectious diseases.”
    Additionally, to prevent future outbreaks, the lawmakers pressed Secretary Kennedy to support life-saving measles vaccines, “Given that most of the infected individuals are unvaccinated, more must be done to increase vaccination rates against measles. Vaccination rates can and should be increased and therefore we request that HHS launch a national campaign to improve measles vaccination rates to prevent future outbreaks.”
    The text of the letter is here and below:
    Dear Secretary Kennedy,
    We are concerned about the recent outbreak of measles in New Mexico. As of Wednesday, there are nine people with confirmed cases of measles in isolation in Lea County, New Mexico. This news comes as the nearby counties of Gaines, Terry, Lubbock, and Yoakum in Texas have recently reported 90 cases with 16 people hospitalized. Given the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) important responsibility to stop the spread of infectious diseases, we request that you utilize HHS’ authorities for testing and monitoring and vaccine education and promotion, as well as rehire critical federal employees, to stop the spread of this dangerous infection.
    Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases because the virus can survive in the air for up to 2 hours. Ninety percent of people who are susceptible will become infected if exposed. While many recover, some experience serious complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and death.
    Preventing and mitigating outbreaks is only possible through effective disease tracking and communication, an adequate workforce, and vaccination. States report confirmed measles cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Previously, measles tracking on the CDC website was consistently updated weekly. These updates are critical for public health officials to effectively track the rapid spread of this life-threatening disease. We urge you to maintain posting updated measles tracking data weekly.
    The public health workforce protects community health by tracking disease and communicating with the public about health threats. But on January 29, 2025, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that there are still health care workforce shortages that inhibit the U.S.’s ability to protect and improve the health of American communities. Despite these health care workforce shortages, federal employees have been fired from the CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Indian Health Service (IHS). Just last Friday, two dozen employees at the CDC charged with training public health laboratory staffers and supporting outbreak response efforts were fired. These firings will worsen outbreaks and ultimately threaten the health of all Americans in the face of the next public health emergency. We urgently request that you reinstate the fired federal health workers to help stop the spread of measles and other infectious diseases.
    Finally, the most effective way to protect people from contracting measles is to increase vaccination rates as quickly as possible. The measles vaccine, which also inoculates against mumps and rubella, has been in use for about 60 years and has consistently been found to be safe and effective. We urge you to keep your commitment to maintain the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for vaccination. The ACIP is critical for ensuring safe and effective vaccination practices among American adults and children. The resources provided by the ACIP not only help health care providers make vaccination recommendations to their patients but also empower everyday Americans to make informed decisions about their health. Given that most of the infected individuals are unvaccinated, more must be done to increase vaccination rates against measles. Vaccination rates can and should be increased and therefore we request that HHS launch a national campaign to improve measles vaccination rates to prevent future outbreaks.
    In closing, your action is urgently needed to stop the spread of measles in New Mexico and across America. In order to mitigate the further spread of this life-threatening disease, we urge you to utilize HHS’ authorities and proven outbreak mitigation strategies. Specifically, we are asking that you maintain weekly disease tracking data updates, rehire federal health workers, launch a vaccination promotion campaign against measles and other life-threatening infectious diseases, and trust the recommendations of public health experts, physicians, and scientists.
    Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner Presses Defense Department on Moving Issues for Military Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today contacted the commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to express concern that military families are experiencing delays and poor communication from the contractor that handles moving of household goods. In a letter to General Randall Reed, Warner urged immediate action to address the failures reported by more than 1,000 military families, including missed household goods pickups, delivery issues, and difficulties communicating with the contractor responsible for the moves, HomeSafe Alliance.

    “My constituents and press reporting indicate that HomeSafe Alliance is struggling to support military moves in a timely and predictable manner, calling into question performance on the contract, and ultimately degrading the readiness of our nation’s servicemembers and their families. As the military community enters the permanent change of station (PCS) peak season, it is essential that our servicemembers and their families have the logistical support they need to meet the mission,” wrote Sen. Warner.

    In the letter, Warner requested a briefing from USTRANSCOM to discuss how the command plans to resolve these issues and ensure HomeSafe Alliance fulfills its obligations in a timely and efficient manner.

    “I am disappointed to once again find that intervention is necessary to ensure the military community has what they need to focus on their jobs and families. Public reporting that cites USTRANSCOM officials indicates that more than 1,000 military families have already experienced missed household goods pickup or delivery dates, contractor communication challenges, or other issues associated with this contract. Your Director of the Defense Personal Property Management Office said that failures on a program this size, in the midst of transformation, are ‘to be expected,’” Warner added. “I can assure you that the military families missing their beds, kitchen appliances, and comforts of home expect far more in terms of support.”

    A copy of today’s letter is available here.

    Warner has previously engaged with USTRANSCOM on behalf of military families experiencing problems with moving. In 2014, Warner was forced to step in when more than 160 Virginians reported that their personal vehicles had been significantly delayed or misplaced by the contractor responsible for moving their vehicles during permanent change of station moves to and from overseas duty stations.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Schiff, Senate Judiciary Democrats Oppose Use Of Federal Prisons As Part Of President Trump’s Mass Deportation Efforts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 25, 2025

    Senate Judiciary Democrats to Pam Bondi: “We write to object to the recent decision to use Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities to detain immigrants swept up in the Trump Administration’s mass deportation efforts and urge you to reconsider this plan”

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) led a group of Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi stating opposition to the Trump Administration’s intended use of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities to detain immigrants. The move is a policy revival from President Trump’s first Administration, where detained immigrants described allegations of mistreatment and unconstitutional detention conditions.

    The Senators begin by describing the allegations of mistreatment and unconstitutional detention conditions experienced under the previous Trump Administration, which this announcement revives, writing:“We write to object to the recent decision to use Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities to detain immigrants swept up in the Trump Administration’s mass deportation efforts and urge you to reconsider this plan. During the previous Trump Administration, detained immigrants described alleged mistreatment and unconstitutional detention conditions in federal prisons.  The detainees, many of whom were seeking asylum, lacked access to legal counsel, religious rights, phone calls, educational or other programming, and even clean clothing. Despite this troubling history, the current Trump Administration is apparently relying on the same poorly conceived detention scheme.”

    The Senators continue by stating concerns with the February 7th memo from BOP’s Correctional Programs Branch directing the policy change, writing: “[This memo fails] to provide meaningful guidance and direction to staff on the serious questions raised by these instructions. These questions include how to manage interactions between civil immigration detainees and the existing criminally incarcerated population; how the Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS will ensure BOP staff receive adequate training and resources to meet the needs of the civil immigrant detainee population; and whether BOP facilities would even be able to meet basic immigration detention standards. Due to BOP already suffering from years of understaffing, inadequate resources, and crumbling infrastructure, the Administration’s decision to revive immigration detention in BOP facilities seriously threatens the safety and well-being of BOP staff, incarcerated individuals, and immigrant detainees.”

    The Senators then outline the long-faced staffing and infrastructure challenges that this policy change would perpetuate, as detailed by labor unions and previous Senate Judiciary Committee hearings. Additionally, they describe understaffing as just “one symptom of chronic underinvestment in the Bureau,” among which include growing maintenance needs that executive staff characterize as a “foundational, enterprise-wide challenge” to the tune of $3 billion.

    The Senators conclude by summarizing the challenges facing the Bureau that make immigration detention at BOP facilities problematic, writing: “Until serious funding and staffing challenges outlined above are addressed, federal prisons simply cannot safely and humanely meet the needs of its current inmate population, much less the needs of civil immigration detainees. Immigration detainees in federal prisons will face substandard conditions and care and their detention will only exacerbate significant institutional problems facing the Bureau. We therefore urge you to reconsider this plan and instead work with us to address BOP’s existing challenges.”

    In addition to Durbin and Schiff, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

    For a PDF copy of the letter to Attorney General Bondi, click here.

    During his tenure as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Durbin prioritized oversight of BOP and revived the Committee’s practice of holding annual BOP oversight hearings. In April 2021, the Committee held a BOP oversight hearing with then-Director Carvajal to address chronic understaffing issues and other concerns.  Later, Durbin called for a new, reform-minded BOP Director after an Associated Press report that found that BOP is a “hotbed of abuse, graft and corruption, and has turned a blind eye to employees accused of misconduct.” Then-Director Carvajal’s resignation was announced less than two months later.

    In September 2022, the Committee held its second BOP oversight hearing under Durbin, which was BOP Director Peters’ first time testifying before Congress since taking over as head of the Bureau. At that hearing, Durbin pressed Director Peters about abuse in federal prisons. In September 2023, Durbin held his third BOP oversight hearing. 

    In February 2024, Durbin convened a hearing entitled “Examining and Preventing Deaths of Incarcerated Individuals in Federal Prisons” at which Director Peters and DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified regarding issues related to the operation and management of BOP, including staffing shortages, that contributed to deaths in custody.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Announces Resolution With Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Other Senate Democrats To Support Critical Work At NIH As Elon Musk, President Trump Continue To Slash Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    February 25, 2025

    Durbin asked for unanimous consent from the Senate to pass a resolution in support of NIH; Republicans rejected it

    WASHINGTON – Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), as well as 21 other Senators, that would pledge support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as President Trump and Elon Musk continue to illegally cut funding and resources at NIH. The resolution simply says that the work of NIH should not be subject to interruption, delay, or funding disruptions in violation of the law, and it reaffirms that the NIH workforce is essential to sustaining medical progress. U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) rejected Durbin’s UC request.

    “All the progress we have made [at NIH], all the progress we hope to make is in danger because of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. That’s right—these two men promised to bring down the price of eggs, gasoline, and make housing more affordable. None of that has happened. Instead, they are carrying out an unprecedented and devastating campaign to cut research funding for cancers, ALS, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and infectious diseases,” Durbin said. “Instead of making life better for Americans, they want to slash research funding for the National Institutes of Health.”

    Durbin continued, “NIH funding is why people are beating cancer, why babies are being spared from preventable illnesses, why HIV is no longer a death sentence, why progress is being made on dementia and other neurological diseases.”

    Since the start of this Administration, the White House has unleashed a lawless, chaotic attack on everything from funding for farmers to biomedical research.

    “Let me tell you this—there is nothing to cheer about when it comes to [cutting] medical research. It was this bizarre memo from the Office of Management and Budget that illegally froze federal grant funding. They even prohibited the recipients of federal grants and medical research from physically meeting in the same place… The cuts that were announced by this Administration were quickly halted by a federal judge… but it seems even though the Court made a ruling, this Administration is still holding up funding, in violation of the court’s order. As a result, NIH has delayed awarding approximately $1 billion in grant funding—delaying research at institutions nationwide,” Durbin said.

    Durbin spoke about how the Administration’s cuts to NIH is harming one of his constituents, Dr. Timothy Koh—a Professor of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago. For 15 years, Dr. Koh has been researching why people with diabetes develop wounds that do not heal, as well as researching treatments to address these wounds. While having steady federal funding for his research through the years, Dr. Koh was recently informed that his NIH grant application is on hold because of the federal funding freeze. His current grant is scheduled to end on Friday, and if his grant is not renewed, he will have to lay off lab staff and will see major setbacks in his research. Dr. Koh recently said, “It’s going to potentially put an end to my research career, and we won’t be able to develop these new therapies for diabetic [patients].”

    “Make no mistake: under the Constitution, Congress is supposed to have the ‘power of the purse’ and over the past decade, bipartisan members of Congress have worked on a bipartisan basis to [increase] NIH’s funding [by 60 percent]… We did this because we know that NIH funding leads to new cures and treatments for patients in need, it supports well-paying jobs nationwide, and it cements our global leadership,” Durbin continued.

    Illinois universities and hospitals receive approximately $1.2 billion in NIH funding—which supports 14,000 jobs in the state and $3.5 billion in economic activity. Reports indicate that 1,200 NIH employees have been fired so far under President Trump and Musk’s direction—from experienced vaccine researchers to the next generation of scientists, to the Acting Director of the NIH’s Alzheimer’s and dementia program. Further, President Trump and Musk have reportedly ended a popular trainee program that brought 1,600 young scientists just out of college to the NIH’s world-renowned campus in Maryland to help run labs.

    Durbin concluded, “NIH research leads to the new cures and treatments that extend, improve, and save lives which is why I am introducing a resolution today to simply say of Senators on both sides of the aisle: let’s pledge support to make NIH an exception. Let’s not let wanton cuts stop something very valuable. This resolution is straight-forward—it says that the work of NIH should not be subject to interruption, delay, or funding disruptions in violation of the law, and it reaffirms that the workforce of the NIH is essential to sustaining medical progress… This is not controversial—Americans get sick on a bipartisan basis—shouldn’t we support medical research on a bipartisan basis? For as long as I can stand, for as long as I can speak, I will fight to protect NIH and the medical research it supports… I hope my Republican colleagues wake up and join me before it’s too late.”

    Van Hollen and Alsobrooks—whose state is home to NIH’s campus—helped lead the introduction of today’s resolution with Durbin. Along with Durbin, Van Hollen, and Alsobrooks, today’s resolution was cosponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Angus King (I-VT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Jack Reed (D-RI).

    “The dedicated civil servants at NIH work tirelessly on behalf of the American people to develop medical advancements that save lives. Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s reckless efforts to attack the agency are not only throwing this critical work into chaos, they’re also flat-out illegal. It’s disgraceful that Republicans refuse to join us in defending what has been a long record of bipartisan investment in biomedical research that helps Americans live longer, healthier lives,” said Van Hollen.

    “The Marylanders who work at NIH are contributing to lifesaving research and medical advancements. To stop this work will literally cost lives. The President and this Administration are no longer just targeting civil servants—they’re targeting the American people,” said Alsobrooks.

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

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

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

    Text of the resolution can be found here.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford Calls on Trump Admin to Provide Update on +810,000 Aliens Roaming Freely Because of Biden’s Border Crisis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Chairman on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce and Regulatory Affairs, called on the Trump Administration to expose the Biden Administration’s border crisis by providing an update on the over 810,000 aliens who were released under President Biden’s Notice to Report policy and are now roaming the country freely.
    Lankford sounded the alarm on the Biden Administration’s policies when they were first rolled out and later highlighted contradicting requirements. He also released report after report outlining how the Biden Administration’s policies were failing the American people.
    Lankford wrote in the letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan, “While these programs are no longer in operation, over 800,000 aliens were caught and released under these programs during the Biden Administration…Given ICE’s unwillingness to provide basic answers about this program and the continued delays in addressing this population, I ask that you prioritize this population as you work toward fully enforcing immigration law in the interior of the United States. I am concerned that the Biden Administration’s operation of these programs has resulted in hundreds of thousands of aliens absconding after receiving minimal vetting.”
    View full letter HERE or below. 
    Dear Secretary Noem and Mr. Homan,
    I write today to request that you take action to address the population of aliens who were released with a “Notice to Report,” “Parole+Alternatives to Detention,” and “Parole with Conditions” under the Biden Administration. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found significant coordination issues in the administration of these Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs, and a Federal judge set aside these programs as unlawful. While these programs are no longer in operation, over 800,000 aliens were caught and released under these programs during the Biden Administration. As of January 29, 2025, roughly 445,000 of the more than 800,000 aliens released under these programs have not yet received a Notice to Appear (NTA) in immigration court, the first step in the deportation process. Many of the aliens released under these pathways have received minimal vetting and have not complied with the terms of their release. Accordingly, I ask that you prioritize the vetting of and removal of inadmissible aliens who were released under this program.
    In March 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) instituted a new policy called “Notices to Report” to address overcrowding in its facilities at the border. Under this policy, CBP would release illegal aliens who crossed the border and ask them to call a 1-800 number to report themselves to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for processing. Oversight I led found that CBP did not communicate this new policy to ICE whatsoever, and ICE had to pull resources away from its important interior enforcement mission to figure out this new policy and process the illegal aliens who were subject to this policy for release.
    As I and my staff looked at this program, we discovered that CBP collected limited biometrics and performed minimal security checks before releasing an illegal alien under this program. It took months for CBP and ICE to develop a process to track and monitor illegal aliens who were released. GAO reported that ICE had significant difficulties in validating the addresses that aliens processed through this pathway provided to the government, noting that “many of the addresses […] were often incomplete or invalid.” GAO noted that many of the aliens who sought to comply with the terms of their release were turned away from ICE due to capacity constraints at field offices and were instead instructed to return for processing at a later date. 
    To address the concerns around ICE’s inability to process these aliens at its field offices, ICE rolled out a website that aliens could use to check-in with ICE and comply with the terms of their release. ICE also began mailing NTAs to the aliens who had not complied with the terms of their release. In subsequent oversight, I found that ICE did not have geo-fencing enabled on the check-in website – this means that an alien who traveled to Nebraska could tell ICE that they went to Miami, and ICE would have no way of knowing where the alien was actually located. ICE also informed my staff that the mailed-out NTAs were not sent via certified mail, which means that there was no signature requirement to confirm receipt. ICE also informed my staff that they were not tracking returned mail from aliens who provided ICE with illegitimate addresses. We do not know how effective ICE’s mail-out NTAs have been, and any mistake made by ICE in mailing out these documents could result in an immigration judge allowing an otherwise inadmissible alien to remain in the United States.
    By the time the courts stepped in, CBP had caught and released 810,281 aliens who unlawfully crossed the border under this pathway. ICE reported to my staff on January 29, 2025 that, of the roughly 810,000 aliens released under this pathway:
    •  531,425 aliens complied with instructions and checked in with ICE within 60 days of release;
    • 180,920 aliens violated the terms of their release and reported to ICE after 60 days of release;
    • 97,935 aliens violated the terms of their release and did not report to ICE whatsoever.
    While 531,425 aliens who were processed under this program reported to ICE within 60 days, only 354,896 aliens have been served a Notice to Appear in immigration court and began the removal process. ICE has not reported whether the remaining nearly 200,000 aliens have continued to check-in with ICE and abide by the terms of their release, or whether they have since absconded. ICE informed my staff that they will remove an alien’s ankle bracelet and reduce the intensity of the alien’s supervision after the initial 60-day check-in; however, ICE has yet to notify Congress on whether the population that has checked in but has not yet been served a Notice to Appear in immigration court has complied with the terms of their release. 
    ICE reported that some aliens released under these programs who have “checked in” and made an appointment will have to wait nearly 10 years to receive their initial charging documents and commence the removal process. For example, aliens whose final destination was New York City will need to wait until November 2034 to have their initial removal proceedings commenced and could, then, wait another 8 years as their case moves their way through the backlog facing the immigration courts.
    I included this program in my annual Federal Fumbles report due to the Biden Administration’s abject mismanagement of this program. I have also regularly sought answers to how ICE will clean up the mess of this program and ensure that any alien who does not have a lawful basis to remain in the United States is removed. Given ICE’s unwillingness to provide basic answers about this program and the continued delays in addressing this population, I ask that you prioritize this population as you work toward fully enforcing immigration law in the interior of the United States. I am concerned that the Biden Administration’s operation of these programs has resulted in hundreds of thousands of aliens absconding after receiving minimal vetting. 
    In addition to including this population in your enforcement efforts, I ask the following questions:
    1. Of the 810,281 aliens released under these pathways, how many have been served a Notice to Appear in-person?
    2. Of the 810,281 aliens released under these pathways, how many have been served a Notice to Appear by mail?
    3. Of the 810,281 aliens released under these pathways, how many have committed a criminal offense since release? For each alien who has committed a criminal offense, please provide the NCIC code affiliated with each charge. 
    4. The parole for many of the aliens released under these pathways has likely expired. Of the aliens who were released through these pathways, how many: 
    a. Were paroled a second or subsequent time? 
    b. Did not receive parole a second or subsequent time?
    5. What is your plan for addressing this population in the Administration’s enforcement efforts?
    Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving your response by not later than March 11, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Pushes for Answers on UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare Advantage Billing Practices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Read more from the Wall Street Journal HERE

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to UnitedHealth Group Chief Executive Officer Andrew Witty demanding detailed information on the company’s Medicare billing practices.

    Grassley’s letter cited reports of apparent fraud, waste and abuse at UnitedHealth Group, including efforts to diagnose enrollees with obscure revenue-generating diagnoses that were irrelevant or inaccurate. According to reporting, this resulted in $8.7 billion in extra payments in 2021 alone.

    “Despite these oversight efforts, [Medicare Advantage Organizations] continue to defraud the American taxpayer, costing them billions of dollars a year … The apparent fraud, waste, and abuse at issue is simply unacceptable and harms not only Medicare beneficiaries, but also the American taxpayer,” Grassley wrote.

    In the letter, Grassley requested UnitedHealth provide its training manuals, guidance documents, compliance program details, audit results and other documents.

    Since 2015, Grassley has pressed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Justice to recover improper payments made to Medicare Advantage Organizations, including UnitedHealth Group.

    Text of the letter to UnitedHealth Group follows:

    February 24, 2025

    VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

    Mr. Andrew Witty

    Chief Executive Officer

    UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    Dear Mr. Witty:

    Twenty-five years ago, I helped shepherd Medicare Part C into law, and I have repeatedly advocated for the program.[1]  Further, since 2015, I have pressed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to recover improper payments made to Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAO), including UnitedHealth Group.[2]  Despite these oversight efforts, MAOs continue to defraud the American taxpayer, costing them billions of dollars a year.[3] 

    On February 21, 2025, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled, “DOJ Investigates Medicare Billing Practices at UnitedHealth,” which reported that the DOJ launched an investigation into UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare billing practices.[4]  According to the Journal, UnitedHealth Group used in-home health risk assessments (HRA) and chart reviews to diagnose enrollees with obscure revenue-generating diagnoses that were irrelevant or inaccurate.[5]  Further, according to the reporting, the inappropriate diagnoses resulted in extra payments of $8.7 billion in just 2021.[6] 

    On October 24, 2024, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) released a report titled, Medicare Advantage: Questionable Use of Health Risk Assessments Continues To Drive Up Payments to Plans by Billions.[7]  The HHS OIG found that UnitedHealth Group received more money from CMS for diagnoses only made during in-home HRAs and chart reviews than any other MAO.[8]  The OIG, which reviewed all MAO enrollees, noted that, “the lack of any other follow-up visits, procedures, tests, or supplies for these diagnoses…raises concerns that either: (1) the diagnoses are inaccurate and thus the payments are improper or (2) enrollees did not receive needed care for serious conditions reported only on HRAs or HRA-linked chart reviews.”[9]  In this context, UnitedHealth Group benefited financially more than any other MAO, which raises serious questions about its practices.  The apparent fraud, waste, and abuse at issue is simply unacceptable and harms not only Medicare beneficiaries, but also the American taxpayer.  

    For Congress and the American public to better understand UnitedHealth Group’s billing practices, please provide answers to the following questions no later than March 10, 2025:

    1. What steps has UnitedHealth Group taken to review all diagnoses submitted to CMS for its Medicare Advantage enrollees (“enrollees”) that were identified only by HRAs or chart reviews (either manual or artificial intelligence) and to identify all submitted diagnoses that are obscure, irrelevant, or inaccurate?  Quantify the number and amount of inappropriate payments identified as a result of these actions.  Provide all records.[10]
    1. Provide all records that relate to the compliance program that UnitedHealth Group had in place from 2019-2024 to monitor the accuracy and appropriateness of the diagnosis codes submitted to CMS for enrollees, including the design and results of all audits conducted.
    1. Provide all training manuals and guidance documents for conducting HRAs and manual chart reviews, a list of all software used during the course of an HRA and a manual chart review, and the logic rules for all electronic decision support tools embedded in the software.  Does UnitedHealth Group use artificial intelligence to conduct the aforementioned processes?  Are all diagnoses identified by artificial intelligence confirmed by a trained medical record reviewer?
    1. Provide all policies and procedures for obtaining diagnostic confirmation from an enrollee’s primary care provider and ensuring the receipt of treatment for a new diagnosis identified by an HRA or a chart review.  Provide all documentation related to compliance audits of this process.

    Thank you for your prompt review and response.  If you have any questions, please contact Tucker Akin with my Committee staff at (202) 224-5225.

    Sincerely,

    Charles E. Grassley

    Chairman

    Committee on the Judiciary

    -30-

    [1] Thomas Oliver, Philip Lee, and Helene Lipton, A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage, The Millbank Quarterly (June 2004), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2690175/; Webpage, Cuts to the Medicare Advantage Program, Off. of Senator Charles E. Grassley (Feb. 27, 2014), https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/video/watch/cuts-to-the-medicare-advantage-program; Letter from Senator Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Comm. on Finance, to Seema Verna, Administrator, Cntrs. for Medicare & Medicaid Srvcs. (Mar. 29, 2019), https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/03292019%20Medicare%20Advantage%20Letter.pdf.

    [2] Letter from Senator Charles E. Grassley, Ranking Member, Senate Comm. on the Budget, to Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator, Cntrs. for Medicare & Medicaid Srvcs. (Dec. 16, 2024), https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/grassley_to_cms_-_radv_final_rule.pdf;

    Letter from Senator Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Comm. on the Judiciary, to Seema Verna, Administrator, Cntrs. for Medicare & Medicaid Srvcs. (Apr. 17, 2017), https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2017-04-17%20CEG%20to%20CMS%20(Risk%20Score%20Follow%20Up).pdf; Letter from Senator Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Comm. on the Judiciary, to Andrew Slavitt, Administrator, Cntrs. for Medicare & Medicaid Srvcs. (May 19, 2015), https://media.npr.org/documents/2015/may/grassley_cms.pdf; Letter from Senator Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Comm. on the Judiciary, to Loretta Lynch, Attorney General, Dept. of Justice (May 19, 2015), https://media.npr.org/documents/2015/may/grassley_doj.pdf.  

    [3] Medicare Advantage Provider Independent Health to Pay Up To $98M to Settle False Claims Act Suit, Dept. of Justice (Dec. 20, 2024), https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/medicare-advantage-provider-independent-health-pay-98m-settle-false-claims-act-suit; Oak Street Health Agrees to Pay $60M to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Liability for Paying Kickbacks to Insurance Agents in Medicare Advantage Recruitment Scheme, Dept. of Justice (Sep. 18, 2024), https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/oak-street-health-agrees-pay-60m-resolve-alleged-false-claims-act-liability-paying-kickbacks.

    [4] Christopher Weaver and Anna Wilde Mathews, DOJ Investigates Medicare Billing Practices at UnitedHealth, The Wall Street Journal (Feb. 21, 2025), https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/unitedhealth-medicare-doj-diagnosis-investigation-66b9f1db?msockid=1979114121c76140288a04d6207560b1.

    [5] Id.; Christopher Weaver, Anna Wilde Mathews, and Tom McGinty, UnitedHealth’s Army of Doctors Helped It Collect Billions More From Medicare, The Wall Street Journal (Dec. 29, 2024), https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/unitedhealth-medicare-payments-doctors-c2a343db?msockid=1979114121c76140288a04d6207560b1; Anna Wilde Mathews et al., The One-Hour Nurse Visits That Let Insurers Collect $15 Billion From Medicare, The Wall Street Journal (Aug. 4, 2024), https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/medicare-extra-payments-home-visits-diagnosis-057dca8b?msockid=1979114121c76140288a04d6207560b1; Christopher Weaver et al., Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated, The Wall Street Journal (July 8, 2024), https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/medicare-health-insurance-diagnosis-payments-b4d99a5d?msockid=1979114121c76140288a04d6207560b1.

    [6] Weaver & Mathews, supra note 4.

    [7] U.S. Dep’t of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Medicare Advantage: Questionable Use of Health Risk Assessments Continues To Drive Up Payments to Plans by Billions, OEI-03-23-00380 (Oct. 24, 2024), https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/evaluation/10028/OEI-03-23-00380.pdf.

    [8] Id.

    [9] Id.

    [10] Records” include any written, recorded, or graphic material of any kind, including letters, memoranda, reports, notes, electronic data (e-mails, email attachments, and any other electronically-created or stored information), calendar entries, inter-office communications, meeting minutes, phone/voice mail or recordings/records of verbal communications, and drafts (whether or not they resulted in final documents).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Video: Kaine Speaks on Senate Floor About Trip to Finland and Importance of NATO

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, spoke on the Senate floor to discuss his trip to Finland, one of the newest NATO members. During Kaine’s trip—which coincided with the third anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine—he attended Arctic Forge 25, a joint exercise between the Karelia Brigade of the Finnish Army and the Virginia National Guard. Kaine also met with the Finnish President, the Finnish Foreign Minister, and other government officials to reaffirm U.S. support for NATO and Ukraine following President Trump’s remarks blaming Ukraine for starting the war with Russia and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections.”

    “I rise to describe an amazing journey that I took this weekend—that was a powerful journey connected to my Virginia National Guard and also to issues that are very, very prominent right now in the world,” Kaine said. “We finished voting on the Senate floor a little bit before 5 AM on Friday on the reconciliation bill, and a few hours later, I went to Dulles Airport and flew to Finland.”

    “The reason for the visit over the weekend was to see my Virginia National Guard. The Virginia Guard—as most states—are active participants in the State Partnership Program that was established back in the 1990s where a state’s guard unit connects with the military of an allied country and engages in joint training exercises,” Kaine continued. “Once Finland decided to join NATO, Virginia, which already has a partner in the State Partnership Program, reached out and said to Finland, we would like to work with you as well.”

    “It was a great trip—too short—but really powerful,” Kaine said. “There was a sobering element to it too…To be in Finland—a nation that had to fight two wars against Russia in the late 1930s/early 1940s to maintain its independence—and to be there with those leaders on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine was sobering and thought-provoking.”

    Kaine continued, “Finland knows Russia and Russian leadership better than just about anybody… and that memory of fighting two wars against Russia to maintain Finnish independence is still a very present day and palpable memory for the Finns, even though those wars happened in the late 1930s and early 1940s. You can be sure…that our friends, our allies, those we are training together with had some pretty strong thoughts about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the commemoration of the third anniversary.”

    During his floor speech, Kaine discussed the United States’ vote against a United Nations General Assembly resolution that acknowledged Russia invaded Ukraine and called for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. The United States also abstained on a vote on its own United Nations General Assembly resolution after European countries successfully amended it to add stronger language in support of Ukraine.

    “These Finnish colleagues—who are friends and allies—were pretty candid about their disappointment in the United States for not being willing to state a truth that this war was instigated by Russia,” Kaine said. “They’re puzzled with an American leadership from the President to the Secretary of Defense…that’s unwilling to state that Russia started this war.”

    “It takes sacrifice to protect democracy. Our nation is coming up on the 250th anniversary of our democracy—and not only our democracy, but our leadership role in democracies around the globe. The world needs us to continue to stand strong. Our friends like Finland are hoping and praying that we continue to stand strong. It is my belief that in the heart of the American people there is a desire to stand strong,” Kaine concluded.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UPDATE: Social Security Administration Begins Implementation of Senator Collins’ Social Security Fairness Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Law coauthored by Senator Collins will deliver benefit adjustments and retroactive payments to more than 3 million Americans, including more than 26,000 in Maine

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins praised the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) announcement that this week it will begin issuing retroactive payments dating back to January 2024 and adjusting benefit levels for those whose monthly Social Security payments were reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)—two provisions that have unfairly lowered the retirement benefits of many public employees and their spouses. Senator Collins, along with former Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), coauthored the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) that repealed the WEP and GPO. The bill was signed into law last month.

    According to the SSA, approximately 3.2 million Americans are due benefit adjustments or retroactive payments under the SSFA. The agency says that retroactive payments will begin depositing into bank accounts in the coming months.

    “This is welcome news for beneficiaries of the Social Security Fairness Act. I am glad that the Social Security Administration has announced that it will begin issuing retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to those affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. I will continue to urge SSA to implement the law swiftly as we finally right this wrong,” Senator Collins said.

    Senator Collins recently joined 27 of her Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the acting commissioner of the SSA calling for the immediate implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act.

    The SSA also noted that because retroactive payments are being expedited, beneficiaries may receive their payment before receiving an explanatory notice. The agency urges beneficiaries to wait until after receiving their April benefit payment before inquiring about the timeline for their benefit adjustments.

    Additionally, while most cases will be processed automatically, some will require manual processing, which may delay adjustments. The SSA will provide more details on the timeline for these manual cases in the coming weeks.

    Updates on the SSA’s implementation of this law, including a subscription link to receive all future updates, are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Durbin, Schiff Blast Trump Administration’s Plan to Use Federal Prisons for Mass Deportation Efforts

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Durbin, Schiff Blast Trump Administration’s Plan to Use Federal Prisons for Mass Deportation Efforts

    Senate Judiciary Democrats to Attorney General Bondi: “We write to object to the recent decision to use Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities to detain immigrants swept up in the Trump Administration’s mass deportation efforts and urge you to reconsider this plan”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and other Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in condemning the Trump Administration’s intended use of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities to detain immigrants as part of President Trump’s mass deportation plan. The move is a policy revival from Trump’s first administration, where detained immigrants described allegations of mistreatment and unconstitutional detention conditions. The detainees, many of whom were seeking asylum, were often denied access to legal counsel, phone calls, clean clothing, educational programming, and even religious freedom.

    The Senators expressed concerns with the February 7 memo from BOP’s Correctional Programs Branch directing the policy change. They highlighted the memo’s lack of answers on how to safely manage interactions between civil immigration detainees and incarcerated criminals, how BOP staff will receive sufficient training and resources to manage the civil immigrant detainee population, and whether BOP facilities could meet basic immigration detention standards.

    “[This memo fails] to provide meaningful guidance and direction to staff on the serious questions raised by these instructions,” wrote the Senators. “… Due to [the Bureau of Prisons] already suffering from years of understaffing, inadequate resources, and crumbling infrastructure, the Administration’s decision to revive immigration detention in BOP facilities seriously threatens the safety and well-being of BOP staff, incarcerated individuals, and immigrant detainees.”

    “Until serious funding and staffing challenges outlined above are addressed, federal prisons simply cannot safely and humanely meet the needs of its current inmate population, much less the needs of civil immigration detainees,” continued the Senators. “Immigration detainees in federal prisons will face substandard conditions and care, and their detention will only exacerbate significant institutional problems facing the Bureau. We therefore urge you to reconsider this plan and instead work with us to address BOP’s existing challenges.”

    In their letter, the Senators also outlined the long-faced staffing and infrastructure challenges that this policy change would perpetuate, as detailed by labor unions and previous Committee hearings. Additionally, they described understaffing as just “one symptom of chronic underinvestment in the Bureau,” including growing maintenance needs that executive staff characterize as a “foundational, enterprise-wide challenge” costing $3 billion.

    In addition to Padilla, Durbin, and Schiff, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

    Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress opposing President Trump’s anti-immigrant actions and rhetoric. He sharply criticized Trump’s harmful executive orders targeting immigrants at the start of his second Administration. Yesterday, Padilla denounced Trump’s transfer of immigrants from the United States to Guantánamo as unlawful and demanded answers regarding these transfers. Last week, Padilla cosponsored the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of Trump’s unconstitutional executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States, or a similar subsequent executive order. Last year, Padilla emphasized the dangers and immense economic costs of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

    Full text of the letter to Attorney General Bondi is available here and below:

    Dear Attorney General Bondi:

    We write to object to the recent decision to use Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities to detain immigrants swept up in the Trump Administration’s mass deportation efforts and urge you to reconsider this plan.

    During the previous Trump Administration, detained immigrants described alleged mistreatment and unconstitutional detention conditions in federal prisons. The detainees, many of whom were seeking asylum, lacked access to legal counsel, religious rights, phone calls, educational or other programming, and even clean clothing. Despite this troubling history, the current Trump Administration is apparently relying on the same poorly conceived detention scheme.

    On February 7, the Bureau’s Correctional Programs Branch issued a memo stating that, “[e]ffective immediately, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees will accept and process all new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detainees,” while failing to provide meaningful guidance and direction to staff on the serious questions raised by these instructions. These questions include how to manage interactions between civil immigration detainees and the existing criminally incarcerated population; how the Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS will ensure BOP staff receive adequate training and resources to meet the needs of the civil immigrant detainee population; and whether BOP facilities would even be able to meet basic immigration detention standards. Due to BOP already suffering from years of understaffing, inadequate resources, and crumbling infrastructure, the Administration’s decision to revive immigration detention in BOP facilities seriously threatens the safety and well-being of BOP staff, incarcerated individuals, and immigrant detainees.

    With 122 institutions nationwide, BOP is responsible for the well-being and rehabilitation of over 155,000 federal inmates, nearly 143,000 of whom are in BOP custody. The Bureau has long-faced significant staffing and infrastructure challenges. At the end of 2024, BOP announced plans to permanently close one prison and idle six additional facilities due to “significant challenges, including a critical staffing shortage, crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources.” BOP already grapples with considerable resource deficiencies in discharging its primary mandate, and simply does not have adequate resources to take on the additional challenge of safely and humanely accommodating immigration detainees.

    The Bureau’s chronic understaffing challenges are well-documented. President Trump’s order to freeze hiring of all federal civilian employees as of January 22, 2017 exacerbated the situation. BOP reportedly eliminated 6,000 positions as a result, a 14 percent staffing decrease from 2016 levels. Though the hiring freeze was rescinded later in the Trump Administration, the Bureau has continued to struggle with underfunding, resulting in decreased competitiveness in the employment market; staffing levels have still not rebounded. As set forth in a February 2024 letter to then-President Biden from the President of the Council of Prison Locals 33, American Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO, the Bureau has lost “almost 9,000 staff since 2016,” bringing the federal prison workforce down to a “critical level.” As of December 2024, BOP is authorized for 14,900 full time correctional officer positions and reported 12,662 officers in pay status. BOP is additionally authorized for 27,498 “other” positions, of which the Bureau reports 23,949 are in pay status.

    As several recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearings have highlighted, understaffed prisons already face immense challenges in keeping current populations and staff safe, let alone accommodating an influx of immigration detainees. BOP currently institutes inadequate workarounds to address dangerous staff shortages. A February 2024 DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on inmate deaths detailed BOP’s overreliance on augmentation, the practice of assigning noncustodial staff such as teachers, case managers, and medical staff to perform routine correctional officer duties for a period of time to help offset correctional staff shortages. BOP also mandates overtime to compensate for staffing shortages, with officers “often covering six to seven days per week with shifts extending up to 16 hours,” according to the correctional officers union. The OIG report “found that both practices burdened existing staff and potentially contributed to staff fatigue, sleep deprivation, decreased vigilance, and inattentiveness to duty,” outcomes negatively affecting staff morale and performance.

    The significant stress on BOP staff caused by chronic understaffing predictably impacts the Bureau’s ability to care for those in its custody. For example, staff shortages in health and psychology positions “can negatively affect the availability and quality of treatment, programming, and general medical and mental healthcare” for incarcerated individuals, including “treatment and programs designed to treat substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses.” NPR found that some incarcerated individuals have been forced to wait months or years for necessary medical treatment. Similarly, understaffing in educational and programming positions hinders successful implementation of rehabilitative programs designed to reduce recidivism—including programming mandated by the First Step Act, the bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation that President Trump signed into law in 2018.

    Most alarmingly, safety and security cannot be ensured without minimum levels of staffing. For example, in 2022, a fight left two incarcerated individuals dead in United States Penitentiary Beaumont. The correctional officers’ union condemned the incident and noted that “chronic understaffing of our prisons is jeopardizing the lives of both workers and inmates.” Indeed, according to the OIG’s February 2024 report, “[t]he BOP specifically identified insufficient staffing as an issue in at least 30 of the inmate deaths” that the report examined.

    Understaffing is just one symptom of chronic underinvestment in the Bureau. For example, a May 2023 DOJ OIG report noted that “BOP has limited resources to address its extensive and growing maintenance needs, and in many cases, necessary repairs cannot be completed in a timely manner due to a lack of funding.” Examples of the Bureau’s “aging and failing infrastructure” include buckling concrete, water leaks, poor ventilation, and energy inefficiencies. BOP Executive Staff have described the inability to address this issue as a “foundational, enterprise-wide challenge.” In February 2024, then- BOP Director Colette Peters testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee that the Bureau has a maintenance and repair backlog of about $3 billion.

    Immigration detention facilities with which DHS contracts must comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detention standards, including providing access to medical and mental health care, access to counsel, language access, access to religious opportunities, a process for reporting and responding to complaints, and limitations on solitary confinement. Troubling reports indicate that BOP is not observing ICE detention standards, which reflect the appropriate conditions for the unique nature of civil immigration detainees. Indeed, given the staffing, infrastructure, and resource challenges that BOP faces, BOP facilities cannot be expected to rapidly adapt to meet such standards—and as a result they will likely again face challenges regarding unconstitutional conditions of confinement.

    Until serious funding and staffing challenges outlined above are addressed, federal prisons simply cannot safely and humanely meet the needs of its current inmate population, much less the needs of civil immigration detainees. Immigration detainees in federal prisons will face substandard conditions and care and their detention will only exacerbate significant institutional problems facing the Bureau. We therefore urge you to reconsider this plan and instead work with us to address BOP’s existing challenges.

    We look forward to your prompt response.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jason Bohrer Named Communications Director for Senator Kevin Cramer

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here to download audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) has named Jason Bohrer, former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lignite Energy Council, to serve as Communications Director in his Washington, D.C. office. 

    Bohrer is leaving the Lignite Energy Council after nearly 12 years with the trade association headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. A graduate of North Dakota State University and the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, Bohrer previously held Capitol Hill positions as a Chief of Staff, Legislative Counsel/Director and Director of Constituent Communications for members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.  

    “My team and I started working with Jason shortly after we went to Congress,” said Cramer. “He was working for Congressman Raul Labrador, who is now Idaho’s Attorney General and a good friend of mine. We worked closely together on natural resources and energy issues, but many others as well.  When Jason came to North Dakota to be president of the Lignite Energy Council I was happy to be a strong advocate for that. Now, after 12 years in the state, I’m thrilled he’s coming back to Washington and will continue working for North Dakota and North Dakotans in my office. He’s a great communicator, organizer, and manager. He’s also a team leader and will be a tremendous asset to the people of North Dakota. I’m honored he’s chosen to come to work for us and help us in this very new and important session of Congress.” 

    “I met Senator Cramer when he was first elected to Congress in 2012,” said Bohrer. “I was impressed by his authenticity, consistency and dedication to his principles. Obviously, from my work at the Lignite Energy Council I am familiar with his national leadership on energy policy. But I have also watched him rise to become one of the nation’s strongest voices for other common sense and constitutionally-consistent solutions. Senator Cramer has been a huge part of the North Dakota success story, and I’m excited to join him as he continues to take proven North Dakota policies to Washington, D.C., to unleash American energy and return to sound federalist principles of law and order.”

    Elected to his second term in the U.S. Senate in November, Cramer’s Senate committee assignments are Armed Services; Environment and Public Works; Veterans’ Affairs, and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. An energy policy expert, in 2003 he began serving nearly a decade as a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner and helped oversee the most dynamic economy in the nation.

    Bohrer will begin his position on April 7.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Coons Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Restore Injunctive Relief for Patent Infringement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    Cotton, Coons Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Restore Injunctive Relief for Patent Infringement

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) today reintroduced the Realizing Engineering, Science, and Technology Opportunities by Restoring Exclusive (RESTORE) Patent Rights Act of 2025. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would restore the presumption that courts will issue an injunction to stop patent infringers, strengthening protections for U.S. inventors, entrepreneurs, universities, and startups. Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pennsylvania) also introduced the House companion bill. 

    “American ingenuity should be rewarded and protected,” said Senator Cotton. “Current patent law fails to protect inventors and leaves them vulnerable to intellectual property theft from adversaries like China. This bipartisan legislation will help solidify America’s edge in technological innovation.”

    “Thanks to a wrongheaded decision from the Supreme Court, there are now companies who steal patented technologies rather than license them from inventors and then justify their actions as simply the cost of doing business. Innovators at universities and startups who lack resources are often unable to stop patent infringement in court and are forced into licensing deals they do not want,” said Senator Coons. “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act will protect innovators across the country, stop the infringe-now, pay-later model in its tracks, and strengthen America’s economic competitiveness for generations to come.”
    For more than two centuries, courts granted injunctive relief in most patent cases upon a finding of infringement, preventing patent infringers from continuing to produce goods that ran afoul of patent laws. However, this practice was upended in 2006 when the Supreme Court’s decision in eBay v. MercExchange created a four-factor test to determine whether a permanent injunction is warranted in infringement cases, altering the longstanding remedy for patent infringement.

    Since that decision, obtaining injunctive relief in patent cases has become significantly more difficult and rare. A recent study found that requests for permanent injunctions in patent cases fell by 65% for companies that use their patented technology to manufacture a product; grants of permanent injunctions to those companies fell even more significantly. Requests and grants for licensing patent owners like universities and research clinics dropped even further: Requests fell by 85%, and grants fell by 90%. 

    The RESTORE Patent Rights Act would undo the damage of the eBay decision by returning to patent owners a rebuttable presumption that an injunction is warranted after a court makes a final ruling that their rights are being infringed. This would deter predatory infringers and restore meaning to the right to exclude.

    “American innovation is only as strong as the confidence in knowing ideas cannot be stolen by competitors. In the last two decades, innovators have found it harder to obtain a permanent injunction from U.S. courts, which stops bad actors from stealing their intellectual property (IP). Our legislation will restore the rights of American innovators by ensuring permanent injunctions are accessible from U.S. courts. This bill will provide greater certainty in the protection of IP and prevent cases from being taken overseas to countries like China. When U.S. courts enforce the exclusivity of patent rights, America becomes a world leader in innovation,” said Congressman Moran.  

    “Enforceable patents are vital to our ability to invent, improve and advance – yet today, it is increasingly difficult for patent holders to enforce their rights through permanent injunctions, even after proving infringement in court,” said Congresswoman Dean. “The bipartisan, bicameral RESTORE Act addresses this issue and safeguards American innovation. I’m grateful to be joined by Congressman Moran, Senator Coons, and Senator Cotton in our push to protect patentholders, including universities, research laboratories, and startups.”

    “Years of economic pitfalls and regulatory restrictions have stifled innovation and competition, preventing American companies from flourishing and dominating markets. As new competitors emerge against American companies, safeguarding intellectual property rights and strong patent protections are more necessary than ever. Congress has a duty to protect the fruits of Americans’ labor and secure America’s success against our competitors. The RESTORE Patent Rights Act is an important bill that promotes domestic innovation and healthy industry competition that will secure American superiority in global markets,” said Heritage Action Executive Vice President Ryan Walker.

    Text of the bill may be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –