NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Statement on Firing of Senior Military Officers and Department of Defense Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s dismissal of senior military officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown, Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force General James C. Slife, and the Department of Defense’s (DOD) announcement that it will fire at least 5,400 DOD civilian employees and reduce the DOD civilian workforce by 5-8%:

    “Instead of focusing on steps to ensure our military remains the most lethal in the world in the face of global threats, including from China, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are taking steps that make Americans less safe. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Franchetti, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Slife, and other senior military officers—who have served under presidents of both parties—were fired without cause out of pure pettiness. Further, Hegseth’s decision to conduct unanalyzed, indiscriminate cuts to the DOD civilian employee population by five to eight percent will undermine the civil servants that keep our military ready and our country safe for years to come. If my Republican colleagues really want to prioritize readiness and lethality, they’ll press Trump and Hegseth to reverse course on these ridiculous firings and focus on real issues.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Poll Shows Massive Support for President Trump and His Agenda

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    A new poll by Harvard CAPS-Harris reveals the majority of the country backs President Donald J. Trump and his actions to bring much-needed reforms that are making America great again.
    Americans overwhelmingly support President Trump’s agenda.
    81% support deporting criminal illegal immigrants.
    76% support a “full-scale effort to find and eliminate fraud and waste in government.”
    76% support closing the border with additional security and policies.
    69% support keeping men out of women’s sports.
    68% support government declaring there are only two genders.
    65% support ending race-based hiring in government.
    63% support “freezing and re-evaluating all foreign aid expenditures and the department that handled them.”
    61% support reciprocal tariffs.
    60% support direct U.S. negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
    59% support cutting government spending already approved by Congress.
    57% support ending the ban on new offshore drilling.

    Most Americans approve of President Trump’s job performance — including pluralities of men, women, independents, and Americans who live in urban, suburban, and rural areas — while almost six-in-ten say he’s doing a better job than President Biden.
    Almost half of Americans believe the U.S. economy is “strong” under President Trump — the highest number since 2021 — while a plurality say his policies will make them “financially better off.”
    Americans are significantly more optimistic about the direction of the country, with those who say we’re on the right track up 14 points over last month.
    Americans strongly support President Trump’s effort to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in government.
    77% support a “full examination of all government expenditures.”
    72% agree there should be a government agency “focused on efficiency.”
    70% say government is “filled with waste, fraud, and inefficiency.”
    Two-thirds say Congress should join the “effort to reduce government expenditures.”

    Americans back President Trump’s action to protect American workers.
    61% support reciprocal tariffs.
    57% say tariffs are an “effective foreign and economic policy tool.”
    54% say tariffs will help get “concessions from other countries.”

    President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Attorney General Pam Bondi all enjoy net positive favorability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES TRUMP & DOGE HEED HIS CALLS TO REVERSE BRUTAL CUTS TO 9/11 SURVIVOR HEALTH PROGRAM AND WILL REHIRE WORKERS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    New York, N.Y. – Following his all-out push to protect 9/11 health research and the workers rashly fired from the World Trade Center Health Program, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today released the following statement after DOGE, the CDC & the Trump Administration heeded his calls to restore the cuts and rehire the workers they fired, who provide critical care to 9/11 survivors and first responders:
    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to cripple the 9/11 health fund and all they got was the ‘ole Brooklyn Salute. I made sure that President Trump, DOGE, and Secretary Kennedy heard us loud and clear: do not mess with our first responders and the healthcare of 9/11 survivors. This lifesaving program should have never been on the chopping block in the first place and so it makes sense that the Trump administration has done a complete about-face and heeded our calls to reverse these devastating cuts and rehire the dedicated staff of the World Trade Center Health Program. Today we saw what happens when New Yorkers fight back against disastrous job-killing decisions: Trump and Musk back off. When we say ‘Never Forget’ that means never wavering in our commitment to take care of those who answered the call on 9/11. I will continue to watch this issue like a hawk because the people who do this hard work and deserve these health funds are watching this back-and-forth with distrust and disgust. I will fight to make sure this program is protected from disruption and that no further cuts to staff or funding are made.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Works to Give Maine People Access to Lower-Cost Prescription Drugs from Canada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation that would allow Americans to save money by importing the same medications from pharmacies in Canada — for less. The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act would give Americans safe access to prescription drugs from Canada, which would help lower costs, increase access for consumers and positively impact the domestic market for consumers through increased competition.

    According the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), studies have shown that people in the United States often pay more for prescription drugs than in other developed countries. A 2024 report from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) found that Canadian drug prices are roughly 44% of those in the United States. Canada’s drug prices are generally lower than those in the United States because the Canadian government has implemented various mechanisms to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Last year, Florida became the first state to gain authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to import certain prescription drugs from Canada.

    “As we work to address the cost-of-living, making the prescription drug market more competitive is a simple way to help Americans — especially when we’re seeing our neighbors to the north enjoy lower out-of-pocket prices,” said Senator King. “The bipartisan Safe and Affordable Drugs From Canada Act would give Maine people the ability to purchase their prescriptions directly from pharmacies across the northern border at the market rate of a less expensive marketplace. This legislation is a commonsense step that will help Maine people save money and stay healthy.”

    In addition to Senator King, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

    Senator King has been a leader in working to reduce prescription drug costs. He also recently cosponsored bipartisan legislation which would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to inform patients who are considering certain medications after seeing television commercials. He previously introduced legislation to prohibit pharmaceutical drug manufacturers from claiming tax deductions for consumer advertising expenses. Most recently, Senator King introduced the Responsibility in Drug Advertising Act, which would prohibit direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of a new drug in the first three years after the drug receives Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

    He has also supported a number of commonsense bills to drive down the costs of prescription medication in the United States including the historic Inflation Reduction Act. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, insulin fees are capped at $35 per month, Medicare is able to negotiate drug prices, and a $2,000 yearly cap on out-of-pocket expenses has been instituted for Medicare recipients.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Dr. Rand Paul Speaks on Fiscal Sanity and Stability, Introduces Amendment to Cut Spending by $1.5 Trillion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    February 21, 2025

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) spoke on the Senate floor on fiscal sanity ahead of introducing his amendment to the Senate budget. Dr. Paul’s amendment would have put the country on a path toward fiscal stability by cutting spending by $1.5 trillion, mirroring the House Budget Resolution which will be considered next week. Dr. Paul’s amendment received a vote during the Senate’s marathon “vote-a-rama,” the final vote tally was 24-76.

    You can read Dr. Paul’s amendment HERE, and watch his floor speech HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Pushes to Permanently Repeal the Federal Death Tax

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues in working to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, more commonly known as the death tax or inheritance tax.
    The Death Tax Repeal Act would end this purely punitive tax that has the potential to hit family-run farms and small businesses following the owner’s death. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa).
    “Iowa farming families and entrepreneurs work for generations to establish farms and build small businesses that are essential to our state’s economy and rural communities,” said Senator Ernst. “They should not have to fear the loss of their livelihoods as they grieve a loved one. It’s time to eliminate this crippling tax burden and costly estate planning expenses once and for all.”
    Background:
    Ernst has been a strong opponent of the death tax, recognizing its burden on family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches. During the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), she supported efforts to repeal the tax. While the TCJA did not fully eliminate the death tax, it did double the estate and gift tax exemption to $10 million through 2025, easing the impact on many families. The Death Tax Repeal Actwould provide permanent relief.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Leads Senate Colleagues in Urging Secretary Rubio to Restore Critical Global Health Programs to Keep Americans Safe

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 20 colleagues in calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to urgently restore funding for global health, development, and humanitarian programs. In the wake of the Trump administration’s abrupt termination of key foreign assistance programs and personnel without review, the letter highlights the national security imperatives of U.S. global health efforts, which keep Americans safe, strengthen U.S. leadership, and increase global stability.

    “The Trump Administration’s freeze on foreign assistance and opaque waiver process, coupled with the attempted dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has significantly weakened our ability to respond to emergencies, left gaps in disease surveillance, and undermined global partnerships— leaving a vacuum that our adversaries are eager to fill,” the Senators wrote.  

    The Senators expressed concern that without American global health programs, current outbreaks of infectious diseases like Ebola, Marburg Virus, and Bird Flu have the potential for spreading to U.S. soil. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an infectious disease can spread from a remote village to a major city in the United States in as little as 36 hours. Additionally, the foreign assistance funding freeze has stopped critical Malaria interventions before peak transmission and paused many clinical trials and data collection endeavors that require continuous data collection. As a result, product development for desperately needed drugs and vaccines have been brought to a halt. 

    “The U.S. cannot afford to withdraw from the global stage. Weak health systems in already fragile regions create opportunities for infectious disease to spread unchecked, for extremist groups to gain influence, and for adversaries to expand their reach,” the Senators continued.

    The Senators warned Secretary Rubio that Russian leaders have publicly praised the decision to dismantle USAID, an agency that helps counter China’s efforts to expand its Belt and Road Initiative in Africa and Latin America. Additionally, China is already stepping in to fill the vacuum left by the United States at the World Health Organization.  

    “We urge you to reverse the damaging personnel actions at USAID, and swiftly restart U.S. investments in global health, development, and humanitarian aid—not just as a moral obligation, but as part of the necessary strategy to protect America’s national security. In the meantime, there must be a clear process to achieve and implement waivers for these critical programs… Restoring these investments and the professional staff with training and skillsets to implement these life-saving programs will strengthen global health security, reinforce our leadership on the world stage, and make us safer at home,” the Senators concluded.

    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT),  Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). 

    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Opening Statement in Hearing to Consider Chavez-DeRemer Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today delivered an opening statement at the committee’s hearing on the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Secretary of Labor. 

    Sanders’ remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below and can be watched here.

    Let me begin by thanking the Biden administration for being the most pro-worker administration in modern history of this country. 

    The mission of the Department of Labor is to “foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage-earners, job-seekers and retirees of the United States, improve working conditions, advance opportunities for profitable employment and assure work-related benefits and rights.” That is the mission of the Department of Labor, and it’s a mission that is more important now, in my view, that it has ever been. 

    Mr. Chairman, for the past 50 years, our economy has been doing extraordinarily well. Never done better for the people on top. Top 1%, right now, is enjoying wealth and power in a way that has never existed in the history of America. 

    We now have the absurd situation – the disgraceful situation – where three people, Mr. Musk, Mr. Zuckerberg and Mr. Bezos are now worth over $900 billion. That is more wealth than the bottom half of American society: 170 million people. Is that really what America is supposed to be about? 

    In America, we have more income and wealth inequality than we have ever had. Over 60% of our people, as we speak right here, 60% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. I grew up in a family living paycheck-to-paycheck. That ain’t easy. Stress level: enormous. People trying to find out how they are going to get health care, how they are going to pay their rent, how they’re going to feed their kids, which is one of the reasons working-class people live six years shorter lives than the people on top. 

    Given this reality, of an economy working well for the billionaire class but not for working families, we need a labor secretary who, in fact, is going to be a champion of working families – not be ambiguous about it, but stand up for the working families of our country. 

    We need a labor secretary who understands we must raise the minimum wage. Now, $7.25. Federal minimum wage. Anybody think that anyone anywhere in America can live on $7.25 an hour?

    We need a labor secretary who will work each and every day to make it easier, not harder, for workers to exercise their constitutional right to form a union and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions. 

    We need a labor secretary who understands that we must end, once and for all, the disastrous right-to-work laws in 28 states by repealing section 14B of Taft-Harley.

    We need a labor secretary who understands we must end the international embarrassment of America being the only major country on Earth that does not guarantee paid family and medical leave, or paid sick days. Imagine that. Only major country on Earth that does not guarantee paid family medical leave. 

    We need a labor secretary who understands it is unacceptable that women earn 75 cents on the dollar compared to men. 

    So Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, I have reviewed your record, and in many respects, especially given the nature of the nominees that Mr. Trump has brought forth, it is very good. You’re one of the few Republican members of Congress who cosponsored the PRO Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, to make it easier for workers to form unions. 

    You have been a defender of union apprenticeship programs and you have fought to expand the concept of employee ownership – something I feel strongly about. Many unions have come out in support of your nomination, and that is an interesting development. I have spoken with you and union leaders who support your nomination. 

    But here is my concern: If you are confirmed, you will not only be in charge of enforcing more than 180 labor laws that are on the books today, you will be the president’s chief labor advisor. That is what you will be. 

    When it comes to labor policy, you will have to make a choice: Will you be a rubber stamp for the anti-worker agenda of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other multi-billionaires who are blatantly anti-union? They don’t make any bones about it. Or will you stand with working families all over the country? 

    That is really the main issue. It’s not just your record. This is an unusual administration. In my view, we are moving toward an authoritarian society where one person has enormous power. Will you have the courage to say, Mr. President, that is unconstitutional, that is wrong, I will not stand with you. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders to Colleagues on Senate Floor: “Do You Have the Courage to Continue Telling the Truth When the President is Lying?”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today gave remarks on the floor of the Senate regarding President Trump’s lies and asking his colleagues when they will stand up to the president.
    Sanders’ remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below and can be watched HERE: 
    We live in difficult times – in times where people throughout our country are experiencing a great deal of anxiety for a number of reasons. And in the midst of all of that, it is important that we not forget what is taking place, not only in Ukraine, but back home here in the United States. 
    And back home, right now, tens of millions of Americans are struggling economically to keep their heads above water. 60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck. 85 million are uninsured or underinsured. And we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major nation on Earth. 
    And as someone who has visited senior centers throughout the state of Vermont and has spoken to seniors throughout our country, I can tell you that there is a significant level of fear and anxiety among the older people in this country with regard to what’s happening right here in DC. 
    When we have a president of the United States and Republicans who are talking about massive cuts to Medicaid, let’s understand – and seniors do understand – that we are not just talking about throwing millions of kids off the health care that they have, at a time when we are the only major country on Earth not to provide health care to all people, not just kids, off of health care.
    We are talking about massive cuts to community health centers, which receive over 40% of their funding from Medicaid, and where millions of seniors go to get the primary care they need. 
    And at a time when we already have a major crisis in nursing home availability, let us understand that Medicaid provides funding for two out of every three seniors who live in nursing homes. In other words, massive cuts to Medicaid would be a disaster for senior citizens throughout this country. But it is not just Medicaid cuts that worry our seniors. 
    Today, quite unbelievably, 25% of people in our country who are 65 years of age or older are trying to survive on incomes of $15,000 a year or less. I, myself, do not know how anybody, let alone a senior with health care needs, can survive on $15,000 a year, but that is what 25% of our seniors are trying to do. 
    Mr. President, this issue of so many seniors struggling to get by, struggling to heat their homes, struggling to buy the food or the prescription drugs they need – this is an issue we must address. And it is a crisis that is unacceptable in the richest country in the history of the world. 
    And that is why, Mr. President, I am proud to tell you that within the next several weeks I, along with a number of cosponsors, will be introducing legislation that expands Social Security benefits and extends the solvency of Social Security for decades.
    We’re hearing a lot of talk about cutting Social Security. We should not be talking about cutting Social Security. We must be talking about expanding Social Security benefits. And the legislation that I will introduce will do just that. 
    It will expand social security benefits by $2,400 a year, and it would not raise taxes by one penny on the bottom 93% of Americans – those who make less than $250,000 a year. And how do we do that? By lifting the cap and applying the Social Security payroll tax on all income above $250,000.
    Unbelievably, under current law, a billionaire pays the same amount of money into Social Security as someone who makes $176,000 a year. Elon Musk, worth $400 billion, pays the same amount into Social Security as somebody who makes $176,000. That is because, under Social Security, there is an absurd cap on taxable income. 
    If we lifted that cap and made sure that millionaires and billionaires paid the same percentage of their income into Social Security as the working class of this country, we could extend the life of Social Security for generations to come and lift millions of seniors out of poverty. 
    Further, Mr. President, when we talk about the needs of senior citizens in this country, I want to mention that I will also be introducing legislation to expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing.
    It is unacceptable that millions of seniors are unable to read a newspaper because they cannot afford eyeglasses, can’t have conversations with their grandchildren because they can’t afford hearing aids, and have trouble eating because they cannot afford dentures. That should not be happening in the United States of America in the year 2025. 
    Expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing is an extremely popular concept. Poll after poll shows that 80% of the American people – Democrats, Republicans, Independents – support doing just that. 
    All across this country there is a growing fear that the Trump administration is undermining the Constitution of our country – a Constitution which has kept us a free nation and an example, a model of the rest of the world, for the last 250 years. 
    During the last month alone, President Trump has attempted to usurp the powers of Congress illegally and unconstitutionally, refusing to fund programs passed by Congress. 
    He has illegally destroyed agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that were created by Congress. And under the leadership of Mr. Musk, they have illegally and inappropriately gained access to tax data and Social Security data of millions of Americans. 
    Every day, they are acting in an illegal and unconstitutional manner. Just this week, President Trump tweeted, “he who saves his country does not violate any law.” 
    Wow. 
    In other words, Mr. Trump sees himself, the president of the United States, as above the law and immune from the basic rules of the Constitution and the separation of powers that have governed this country since the founding. 
    “Anything I want to do, I’m president, I can do it. It doesn’t matter what Congress says, it doesn’t matter what the Constitution says, it doesn’t matter what the rule of law is about. I don’t need to hear from anybody else.” 
    That’s not what Americans fought and died to preserve. In regard to the move to authoritarianism, let me say a few words about an area that I think has not gotten much attention at all. And that is Trump’s attack on the free press, which is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. The Founding Fathers of this country considered freedom of speech and free press to be enormously important. That was the First Amendment. 
    Mr. Trump has sued CBS and its parent company, Paramount, for $20 billion because he didn’t like how they edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The company is now reportedly considering settling the lawsuit, and I certainly hope they do not do that, out of fear of retaliation from Trump’s FCC. 
    He did not like a television program on CBS. But you don’t sue somebody for $20 billion because you didn’t like the program. 
    And obviously, the intention of that lawsuit is clear: and that is that CBS, and every other network and media outlet, will now have to look over their shoulder. “Oh, my goodness, we’re saying something critical of Donald Trump. Is he going to sue us for $5 billion or $10 billion? Maybe we should not run that Maybe we should not do that investigative report.” 
    Not just CBS. In recent times he has sued ABC. He has sued Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. He has sued the Des Moines Register. 
    What crime did a little newspaper in Iowa make? What was their crime? They ran a poll which turned out, in retrospect, to be inaccurate. So pollsters all over America, be careful.  
    How absurd is that? And what kind of threat is it to freedom of speech and expression in this country? 
    Mr. President, when we talk about the Trump administration’s movement toward authoritarianism, we should take note of another remarkable and troubling set of events that happened just this week. We saw the president of the United States openly aligning himself with the dictator of Russia, Vladimir Putin, to undermine the independence of Ukraine and abandon our closest democratic allies in Europe. 
    Trump made it clear that he sees one of the world’s most brutal dictators as his pal. And our long time democratic allies as his enemies. 
    It appears that Mr. Trump wants a world that is safe for authoritarians and oligarchs, but dangerous and unstable for democracies. And when we talk about authoritarianism, we have got to mention the growing phenomenon in this country of the Big Lie: say something that is blatantly untrue, repeat it over and over again and then blast that lie out on social media until people actually believe it. 
    Let me mention one of the very big lies that Trump said recently regarding the war in Ukraine. Earlier this week, the president said that Ukraine started the war. Trump said that Ukraine started the war. Really? 
    That is, as I hope every member of the Senate knows, an absolute lie. 
    Russia invaded Ukraine twice, first in 2014 and then again on February 24, 2022. And on that date, February 24, 2022, Putin’s tanks and troops rolled into Ukraine. And on that day, Russian aircraft began bombing targets all over Ukraine. 
    Russia started the war, period, end of discussion. Trump is lying. 
    Since Putin’s invasion over one million people having been killed or injured. Every single day, Russia continues to rain down hundreds of missiles and drones on Ukrainian cities. Putin’s forces have massacred civilians and captured Ukrainian children, bringing them back to Russian “re-education” camps. There atrocities led the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, in 2022, as a war criminal. 
    Further, Trump called Ukrainian President Zelensky – not Putin, but Zelensky, a dictator. And that obviously is not true either. Zelenskyy won 75% of the vote in free elections. And in the midst of a brutal war, Ukraine’s parliament continues to function and open and unfettered political debate takes place. 
    Trump recently claimed that our European allies have done little to support Ukraine in its fight against Putin’s invasion. He said the U.S. has contributed three times more than Europe. But that is another lie. In fact, Europe has provided more aid to Ukraine than the United States. 
    But it’s not just that Trump is lying again. That is not new. It’s what this all reveals about where we want to take our country and where we want the world to be moving – what direction.
    Trump is cozying up to Vladimir Putin. So who is Putin? And what kind of world does Putin want to build? 
    Putin is a dictator who crushed Russia’s movement toward democracy after the end of the Cold War. Russia now holds sham elections where Putin wins 90% of the vote, and authorities there do not even try to hide their ballot stuffing. 
    There it is no freedom of speech or free media in Putin’s Russia. Protests are violently suppressed. Tens of thousands of people are in prison for protesting Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Political dissidents are harassed or thrown into jail. The bravest, like Alexei Navalny are killed outright. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled Putin’s Russia since his invasion of Ukraine. 
    That, Mr. President, is the Russian leader that Donald Trump admires. But, Mr. President, my Republican colleagues know all of this. And what is particularly disturbing to me – and I believe the American people – is my colleagues, my Republican colleagues understand and know that Trump is lying. They know that Russia started the war, not Ukraine. They know that Putin is a dictator, not Zelensky. But their silence has been overwhelming on this issue. 
    I cannot tell you how many times I have sat here on the floor and I have listened to my Republican colleagues come to the Senate to condemn Vladimir Putin and his brutal invasion of Ukraine. And many of their remarks were right on the money. They were perceptive and they were right. 
    And my simple question to my Republican colleagues right now is: “Where are you now?”
    Last I heard, Mr. President, this is still a democracy. Last I heard, we are still allowed to disagree with the president of the United States, even if he is a member of your own party. Last I heard, we are allowed to call out the president when he lies – blatantly lies, even if he is a member of our own party. And what really bothers me is I know that many of my Republican colleagues understand all of this. 
    And I just want to give you an example of what is going on right now. Let me just quote a few of my Republican colleagues in statements they have made since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. These are Republican members of the United States Senate. And I’m not going to mention names right now. I don’t want to embarrass anybody, put anybody on the spot. But these are quotes. 
    One leading Republican said, “we must remember the instigator of this war was Russia. It was president Putin who launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine.” And that Republican colleague was obviously right. 
    Another Republican said, and I quote. “I think Vladimir Putin started the war, I also believe, through bitter experience, that Vladimir Putin is a gangster.” That’s a Republican colleague. 
    A third Republican colleague said, “there is no equivalency between Vladimir Putin and President Zelensky. President Putin is evil and he has to be stopped.” 
    A fourth Republican said, when the war began, “today’s invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a premeditated and flagrant act of war. Putin has violated the border of a sovereign country.” And that senator later said, “anyone who is surprised by Putin’s deadly attack on a sovereign nation has not been paying attention. These are the actions of a mad man.” And just recently, that very same senator said, “Putin is not going to stop with Ukraine. If we abandon Ukraine and throw in the towel as some would like us to do, that is going to drastically change how people view the United States and how people rely on the United States and there will be major consequences.” 
    And a fifth Republican colleague here in the Senate called Putin a “thug” and compared him to Hitler. He said, “Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate leader. He is a war criminal that needs to be dealt with.” 
    That is what my Republican colleagues have said time and time again. 
    And the question is, now, do you have the courage to continue telling the truth when the president of the United States is lying? 
    This is an extraordinarily pivotal moment in American history. And all of us must have the courage to stand up for truth, to stand up for democracy, to oppose authoritarianism. 
    This is the moment. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Announces Key Commerce Subcommittees for 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    February 24, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) today announced that she has been named to three subcommittees as part of her work on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. 

    Senator Lummis will serve on the following subcommittees during the 119th Congress: 

    • Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness subcommittee 
    • Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy subcommittee 
    • Telecommunications and Media subcommittee 

    “I’m honored to be chosen to serve on these critical subcommittees and work on these important issues that impact the future of our country,” said Lummis. “These subcommittees tackle everything from the impacts of AI to our efforts to bring manufacturing back to the United States, and I’m excited to bring Wyoming’s unique perspective to these issues. I look forward to working on these subcommittees to provide true oversight and harness America’s unlimited innovation potential. I am excited to get to work.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Education Nominee McMahon Tells Warren and Kim She “Wholeheartedly” Agrees with Trump’s Plan to Abolish Department of Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    February 24, 2025
    Text of Questions for the Record (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, released responses to Committee questions for the record from Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, in which McMahon states that she “wholeheartedly” agrees with Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education (ED).
    “President Trump believes that the bureaucracy in Washington should be abolished so that we can return education to the states, where it belongs. I wholeheartedly support and agree with this mission,” wrote McMahon.
    This response was not the only troubling answer from Ms. McMahon. She also refused to commit to preserving ED’s role in carrying out any of its present responsibilities, including:
    Administering federal student aid
    Funding Career and Technical Education
    Funding HBCUs
    Protecting the civil rights of students
    Funding teacher training programs
    Monitoring student loan servicers
    Sponsoring academic research
    Notably, McMahon also appeared to support the Trump Administration’s funding freeze, which continues to cause chaos across the country, stating that “Every Administration has the right to review all funding obligations and ensure that funding is being distributed in a way that aligns with both Congressional intent and the priorities of the duly elected President of the United States.”
    “Linda McMahon has made herself clear: as Secretary of Education, she will do whatever Donald Trump asks her to do—including abolishing the entire department, which supports millions of students trying to receive an education,” said Senator Warren. “Confirming her as Education Secretary would be a disaster for students and teachers in all 50 states.”
    “Linda McMahon has made clear her top responsibility is complete and total loyalty to President Trump, including her openness to dissolve the very department she would be confirmed to run,” said Senator Kim. “As the administration’s illegal funding freeze threatens already scarce resources for schools and critical programs, her blind loyalty is dangerous. Instead of treating education as a public good that is a foundation for our society, the Trump administration is trying to demonize it and change it in ways that will leave many children vulnerable. We cannot let them.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Demand Transparency Regarding Termination of NNSA Personnel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) sent a letter to President Trump’s Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) regarding recent terminations of NNSA personnel. Given the NNSA’s role in maintaining and modernizing the American nuclear stockpile, largely done at the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS), the senators expressed grave concern that the chaotic terminations could harm American national security.
    “NNSA personnel possess highly specialized expertise that is not easily replaceable, and any disruption to their work could have far-reaching consequences for U.S. national security and global nuclear stability,” wrote the Senators. “Reductions in staff, particularly among senior leadership and technical experts, could compromise the continuity of critical programs, modernization, and weaken the ability of the U.S. to respond to emerging nuclear threats.”
    “Adding to these concerns, there are reports the NNSA is now attempting to rehire the terminated employees but has been unable to contact some of them,” they continued. “The fact that the agency is struggling to restore essential personnel suggests these firings were premature, mismanaged, or not conducted with full consideration of the potential impacts on national security operations.”
    The senators asked that the following information about the terminations be made public:

     The total number of National Nuclear Security Administration employees who were terminated, including those in Nevada.
    Any planned future rounds of firings, including those in Nevada.
    The specific positions and responsibilities of these employees.
    How many employees, if any, have been successfully rehired.
    A detailed explanation of the rationale behind these terminations, including any financial, policy, or strategic considerations that led to these decisions.
    How the hiring freeze, put in place by the current administration, impacts the mission at NNSA.
    A detailed assessment on how these firings and then rehirings impact any future recruitment at the NNSA.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.
    Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto are champions for strengthening American national security, especially at sites like the NNSS. They have consistently voted to deliver critical funding to the NNSS. They also have a strong history of opposing nuclear waste disposal at Yucca Mountain and have introduced legislation to ensure the Secretary of Energy obtains written consent from state, local, and tribal leaders before allowing construction of a nuclear waste repository.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure All Purple Heart Recipients Can Transfer Benefits to Dependents

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce the bipartisan Purple Heart Veterans Education Act to close a loophole that has denied some Purple Heart medal recipients the ability to transfer their GI Bill benefits to their dependents. This bipartisan bill would ensure that all veterans who have received a Purple Heart are able to transfer their benefits to dependents.
    “Nevada’s Purple Heart recipients are heroes who sacrificed themselves in service to our country,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m joining this bipartisan bill to help close an unfair loophole and ensure that all veterans who have earned a Purple Heart can ensure their families have access to the full benefits promised to them. I’ll continue to stand with the men and women who have served our nation proudly.”
    The Purple Heart medal is presented to servicemembers who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military. A Purple Heart is a solemn distinction that recognizes servicemembers who have greatly sacrificed themselves, or paid the ultimate price, while in the line of duty.
    Senator Rosen has worked consistently to deliver for Nevada’s veterans and help them receive their benefits. Earlier this year, she helped introduce bipartisan legislation to assist veterans with home ownership and increase awareness of VA resources. She announced that a bipartisan Rosen-backed bill to expand veterans benefits outreach became law. Senator Rosen’s bipartisan legislation to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to maintain a permanent helpline for veterans to use for information on VA services is now law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Import Lower-Cost Prescription Drugs from Canada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a bipartisan group of her colleagues introduced the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act, which would allow Americans to safely import prescription drugs from Canada, lowering costs, increasing access for consumers, and creating more competition in the pharmaceutical market.
    “Big drug companies are ripping off Americans and far too many families in Wisconsin are struggling to afford the prescription drugs they need to stay healthy —it’s just not right,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to help lower costs for Wisconsinites and ensure they can get the medications they need at a price they can afford.”
    Senator Baldwin has long championed bringing down prescription drug costs. In August 2022, Senator Baldwin helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to lower health care and prescription drug costs for older adults, people with disabilities, and families across the nation. Starting in January 2023, the IRA capped the cost of insulin for Medicare Part D beneficiaries at $35 a month for certain covered insulin products. The Baldwin-backed IRA also empowered Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices with 25 drugs that treat diabetes, cancers, and asthma currently under negotiation with more to come. The cost-savings for the first 10 drugs will go into effect in 2026 and is estimated to save taxpayers $6 billion a year. 
    Senator Baldwin also launched an investigation into the extremely high prices four large pharmaceutical companies charge for inhalers that 25 million Americans with asthma and 16 million Americans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rely on to breathe. In just two months after the investigation was launched, three of the four pharmaceutical companies capped their out-of-pocket costs for their inhaler products at $35 per month in the United States.
    The bill is led by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley and co-sponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Hosts Roundtable with Local Chicago Federal Employees Impacted by Trump’s Mass Federal Layoffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    February 22, 2025
    [CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a roundtable discussion with local Chicago-based federal employees from seven different agencies who have been affected by Trump’s chaotic federal layoffs and Elon Musk’s reckless funding cuts, including multiple probationary employees who have been terminated. During the roundtable, Duckworth also highlighted the ways she is working to push back on Trump’s lawlessness at the federal level. 
    “In the wake of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s mass federal layoffs, I’m continuing to hear from local federal employees across Illinois who suddenly found themselves jobless,” Duckworth said. “While Trump and Musk can keep claiming that they’re working to weed out waste and save money, we know that these mass federal layoffs and funding cuts are ultimately their attempts to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy—and stick hardworking Illinoisans with the bill. By gutting our fraud enforcement agencies, Americans will have no one left to weed out the real fraud and hold Trump accountable, costing taxpayers even more in the long run. Trump’s federal purge is a slap in the face to those who’ve devoted their lives to public service and I’ll continue using my power as a U.S. Senator to push back against this lawlessness.”
    “We are grateful for Senator Duckworth’s leadership and advocacy on behalf of federal workers,” said Nicole Cantello, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704. “Every day, U.S. EPA employees work to keep Illinoisans safe from toxic pollutants in their air, water and soil. We need every senator standing strongly behind us and firmly opposing these cynical, self-serving efforts from the Trump administration.”
    Prior to these reductions, nearly 53,000 federal employees were based in Chicago. The five largest federal agencies by employment in Illinois are the Department of Veterans Affairs (16,200), the Department of the Army (7,075), the Department of Homeland Security (5,043), the Department of Justice (3,628) and the Department of the Air Force (3,490).
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Meets with Little Village Small Business Leaders to Discuss Economic Impacts of Trump’s Tariffs in Chicago

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    February 23, 2025
    [CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with leaders from the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, local elected officials and small business owners to discuss how Trump’s tariff threats and recent deportation raids threaten the local economy. After the Magnificent Mile, Little Village’s 26th Street business district is Chicago’s second most lucrative business corridor with many businesses relying on small business loans. In her remarks, Duckworth also spoke about how Trump’s unlawful funding freeze puts critical Small Business Administration (SBA) grant programs in jeopardy. As a result of Trump’s chaotic trade policies however, local small business owners would see blanket tariffs drive up costs, disrupt supply chains and put their critical SBA loans at risk.
    “Trump’s chaotic, sweeping tariffs will negatively impact Illinois entrepreneurs, workers and key industries, while harming our allies around the world,” Duckworth said. “The consequences of his needless trade wars will hurt our immigrant-owned small businesses, like the many in Little Village, and their dedicated workforce. Diversity makes our country and economy stronger—I will never stop advocating on behalf of our immigrant communities and small businesses as we push back against Trump and his one-sided political interests.”
    “Little Village’s 26th Street corridor is one of the strongest economic engines in Chicago, built by hardworking immigrant entrepreneurs,” said Jennifer Aguilar, Executive Director of Little Village Chamber of Commerce. “The increased immigration enforcement actions have created an atmosphere of fear that directly impacts our small businesses, leading to fewer customers, declining revenues, and economic instability. Our business owners deserve policies that support growth, not ones that undermine the economic vitality of our community. The Little Village Chamber of Commerce remains committed to advocating for our entrepreneurs and ensuring our corridor continues to thrive.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Speaks at Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s Lunar New Year Celebration

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    February 23, 2025
    [ROSEMONT, IL] – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered remarks at the Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s 42nd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, hosted by the Indonesian American Community, in Rosemont. Duckworth highlighted the historic contributions of the Asian American community, her Asian heritage and the importance of celebrating diversity despite President Trump’s recent attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
    “Every Lunar New Year is an opportunity to honor the trailblazers who came before us, uplift the stories of our traditions and celebrate our community as we continue to forge a path toward a better tomorrow for our children,” Duckworth said. “As Trump continues to use diversity as a derogatory soundbite, I was proud to join the incredible leaders of the Asian American Coalition of Chicago to celebrate our heritage and welcome the Year of the Snake this evening. From our struggles to our triumphs—AANHPI stories are the American story and our diversity has always made our nation stronger.”
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Garcia Discuss Economic and Staffing Impacts of Trump’s Mass Deportation Actions with Local Hospitality Leaders in Chicago

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    February 23, 2025
    [CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Representative Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-4) and local elected officials yesterday joined Chicago hospitality and restaurant industry leaders over lunch to discuss how Trump’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation raids have negatively affected the business community and their employees. In her remarks, Duckworth discussed how immigrant workers form the backbone of Chicago’s hospitality and restaurant industries, emphasizing that Trump’s reckless actions directly hurt the local economy.
    “The strength of Chicago is in the strength and diversity of its people and neighborhoods,” Duckworth said. “Donald Trump’s inhumane mass deportation raids do nothing but spread fear and chaos in our communities, targeting the essential workers who care for our loved ones, staff our hotels and restaurants and put food on our tables. I will continue working with our local business leaders and elected officials as we push back against Trump’s out-of-touch agenda and protect our immigrant community in Chicago.”
    In addition to Duckworth and Garcia, attendees included State Senator Celina Villanueva (IL-12th District), State Representative Edgar Gonzalez (IL-21st District), Alderman Michael Rodrigez (Chicago-22nd Ward), Jennifer Aguilar, Executive Director of Little Village Chamber of Commerce, Jaime di Paulo from the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Sam Toia from Illinois Restaurant Association and Marcos Carbajal, owner of Carnitas Uruapan.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons statement on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement commemorating the third anniversary of Russia’s total invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022:
    “Three years ago, more than 100,000 Russian troops invaded Ukraine, launching the largest war of aggression in Europe since World War II. I was visiting NATO and U.S. troops in Lithuania the week that the war began, and as I flew back from Europe, I prayed for the success of the brave Ukrainian fighters. Analysts believed it was only a matter of days until Kyiv fell and Putin was victorious.
    “Instead, for three years, the courageous Ukrainian people have defended their homeland, their freedom, and their democracy. Backed by a global coalition of more than 50 nations, they have fought and inflicted massive losses on the Russian aggressors, the largest army in Europe. They have endured unimaginable hardship, the crippling of their economy, and the atrocities of too many war crimes to count.
    “President Zelenskyy has ably led his country, and his people have fought with incredible bravery. Tragically, President Trump appears poised to give Putin a victory at the negotiating table that he has been unable to secure on the battlefield. He has repeated Russian propaganda, picked fights with Zelenskyy, and seems set on imposing a peace “deal” that will effectively surrender Ukraine to Putin. This strategic mistake would embolden our adversaries, waving a flag for Russia to continue marching across eastern Europe, for China to adopt a similar playbook for Taiwan, and for Iran and North Korea to learn that by partnering with this axis of autocrats, they can defeat the West. If he does abandon Ukraine, Trump will go down as the biggest betrayer of our interests and our ideals of this century.
    “On this anniversary, it is time for every American advocate of freedom, no matter their party, to tell President Trump that he must not force Ukraine into a weak peace that will not hold. He must instead make clear to Putin that we will stand behind Ukraine in this war, in partnership with our European allies, who are offering to take on more of the burden of defending Ukraine and to join us in securing the peace. That is “peace through strength,” that is how we bring this war to a just end, and how we live up to the values that have long defined us as Americans.”
    Senator Coons is the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Monday Morning Wins: Historic Investment, Border Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    There’s nothing better than starting the week with a pair of major victories for the American people — all made possible by the leadership of President Donald J. Trump.
    Apple’s $500 billion investment: Apple CEO Tim Cook announced today that the company will invest $500 billion in the United States over the next four years amid President Trump’s tariffs push. The historic venture, which comes following Cook’s meeting with President Trump last week, will result in 20,000 new U.S.-based jobs and was immediately hailed as a “landmark” step in bringing back U.S. manufacturing.
    It’s another watershed moment in President Trump’s commitment to usher in the new Golden Age of America. In just over a month, President Trump has announced a $500 billion private sector investment for the largest artificial intelligence infrastructure project in history, a commitment by Saudi Arabia to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, a $20 billion investment by DAMAC Properties to build new U.S.-based data centers, a pledge by Taiwan to boost U.S.-based investment, and a major investment by Nippon Steel. Mercedes-Benz also announced plans to “grow” its vehicle production in the U.S.
    Illegal immigrants turn around: New reporting says would-be illegal border crossers have “given up” and are returning to their own countries — citing the Trump Administration’s unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration, including the shutdown of the “CBP One” app, as the driving factor.
    It’s a victory for national security after four years of open borders. In President Trump’s first month back in office, illegal border crossings hit lows not seen in decades — down 94% over last year, while interior arrests are up 134%.
    Promises made, promises kept.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer, Smith, Ricketts Celebrate USPS Plans to Keep Mail Operations in North Platte, Additional Investment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03), and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) issued the following statements after the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced that local mail processing operations will remain at the North Platte Mail Processing and Distribution Center. In addition to mail operations remaining in North Platte, Nebraska, the USPS also announced its plans to invest up to $4.4 million in modernization efforts at the North Platte facility.

    “This is wonderful news for North Platte. We spoke out against the troubling plan to move mail operations to Denver, and thankfully, our concerns were heard. Mail processing operations are essential to the North Platte area, and I am glad they will continue benefitting this community and Nebraska as a whole,” said Senator Fischer.

    “I am glad to see the Postal Service no longer plans to send local mail from the North Platte facility to Denver. Improvements to postal operations are needed to better serve Nebraskans. Any efforts toward modernization must not come at the expense of customer service but rather increase effectiveness. Because of this, I have urged President Trump to maintain high standards for rural delivery as his administration works to address the significant challenges facing the Postal Service,” said Congressman Smith.

    “The North Platte facility is vital for ensuring timely and reliable mail and package deliveries for communities across Nebraska,” said Senator Ricketts. “This decision reaffirms that we can enhance efficiency and improve service quality without sacrificing local operations. I’m glad the Postmaster General listened to our call to protect critical services for rural Nebraska.” 

    North Platte Facility Background:

    On January 10, 2024, USPS published a notice that it was conducting a Mail Processing Facility Review of its processing operations at the North Platte P&DC.

    On March 11, 2024, USPS announced its initial results of the facility review, including plans to transfer some mail processing operations to the Denver P&DC in Colorado.

    Currently, the North Platte facility processes and distributes all mail in Nebraska west of the city of Cozad to the Wyoming border, north to the South Dakota border, and into portions of northern Kansas.

    On March 28, 2024, USPS held a public meeting to share the initial results of the study and allow members of the community to provide additional feedback.

    On May 8, 2024, USPS announced it will transfer operations of the North Platte Mail Processing and Distribution Center to Denver, Colorado, and convert the North Platte facility to a Local Processing Center.

    Shortly after, Senator Fischer sent a letter to Postmaster DeJoy urging him to delay the proposed changes until their impact could be further studied and better understood.

    As a result, on May 13, 2024, Postmaster DeJoy confirmed that the USPS would pause its planned changes and wrote that an updated plan would resume in 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Applauds USPS Decision to Maintain Robust Operations at Iron Mountain Mail Processing Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    Announcement Comes After Peters Pushed Back on Proposed Changes by USPS that Would Impact UP Mail Service

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement today after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center will continue its local mail processing operations. Today’s announcement comes after Senator Peters repeatedly pushed back on proposed consolidation of the USPS delivery network, including for the Iron Mountain facility, that would have significantly impacted mail service for Upper Peninsula residents:

    “Postmaster General DeJoy informed me today that the United States Postal Service’s Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center will remain fully operational into the future, continuing to provide robust mail processing service for communities across the Upper Peninsula. This is great news for rural Michiganders who depend on USPS for delivery of essential items including financial documents, lab tests, prescriptions for veterans, and more, that are critical to the health and safety of residents.

    “I was proud to push back against changes previously proposed by USPS at its Iron Mountain facility and highlighted the importance of mail service in our rural communities to USPS leadership. Today’s announcement means that UP residents can continue to depend on USPS for reliable service. 

    “For 250 years, the Postal Service has been required to provide delivery service to every United States address. I’ll continue working to ensure every American in every community can count on USPS to deliver for years to come.” 

    Peters has previously led efforts to protect mail service for Upper Peninsula communities, especially following the USPS proposal to consolidate mail service, which would have moved some mail processing services out of Iron Mountain to larger facilities in Wisconsin. Last May, Peters secured a pause on proposed changes at the Iron Mountain Mail Processing and Distribution Center until USPS leadership could ensure the changes would not impact local mail service. The pause was announced after Peters convened a hearing with key USPS officials to examine proposed changes to its delivery network. Prior to the hearing, Peters wrote a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy in February 2024 requesting further details into changes at the Iron Mountain Processing Center. 

    In 2022, Peters authored and led passage of a historic, bipartisan law to set the Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the country. The law made the first major reforms to the Postal Service in more than 15 years, including requiring six-day delivery.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rosen Demand Transparency Regarding Termination of NNSA Personnel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) sent a letter to President Trump’s Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) regarding recent terminations of NNSA personnel. Given the NNSA’s role maintaining and modernizing the American nuclear stockpile, largely done at the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS), the senators expressed grave concern that the chaotic terminations could harm American national security.

    “NNSA personnel possess highly specialized expertise that is not easily replaceable, and any disruption to their work could have far-reaching consequences for U.S. national security and global nuclear stability,” wrote the senators in the letter. “Reductions in staff, particularly among senior leadership and technical experts, could compromise the continuity of critical programs, modernization, and weaken the ability of the U.S. to respond to emerging nuclear threats.”

    “Adding to these concerns, there are reports the NNSA is now attempting to rehire the terminated employees but has been unable to contact some of them,” they continued. “The fact that the agency is struggling to restore essential personnel suggests these firings were premature, mismanaged, or not conducted with full consideration of the potential impacts on national security operations.”

    The senators asked that the following information about the terminations be made public:

    • The total number of National Nuclear Security Administration employees who were terminated, including those in Nevada.
    • Any planned future rounds of firings, including those in Nevada.
    • The specific positions and responsibilities of these employees.
    • How many employees, if any, have been successfully rehired.
    • A detailed explanation of the rationale behind these terminations, including any financial, policy, or strategic considerations that led to these decisions.
    • How the hiring freeze, put in place by the current administration, impacts the mission at NNSA.
    • A detailed assessment on how these firings and then rehirings impact any future recruitment at the NNSA.

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen are champions for strengthening American national security, especially at sites like the NNSS. They have consistently voted to deliver critical funding to the NNSS. They also have a strong history of opposing nuclear waste disposal at Yucca Mountain and have introduced legislation to ensure the Secretary of Energy obtains written consent from state, local, and tribal leaders before allowing construction of a nuclear waste repository. Cortez Masto also pressed DOE Secretary Wright in his confirmation hearing on whether he would stand up to any Trump administration attempts to cut funding to the NNSS.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Introduces NIH Reform Act to Bring Accountability to Public Health Bureaucracy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    February 21, 2025

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

     

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced the NIH Reform Act, legislation aimed at overhauling the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to increase congressional oversight on the agency’s leadership. The NIH Reform Act would separate the NIAID into three national research institutes: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases. Each new institute would be led by directors subject to Senate confirmation and limited to no more than two 5-year terms to prevent the unchecked authority that led to sweeping and disastrous pandemic-era mandates.

    “For nearly four decades, Dr. Anthony Fauci sat atop a bureaucratic empire, wielding unchecked power over public health policy—despite never being confirmed by the Senate once,” said Dr. Paul. “He dictated mandates that shut down businesses, kept kids out of school, and trampled individual liberties—all while being the highest-paid official in the federal government. That kind of power without oversight is dangerous, and my legislation will ensure it never happens again. This legislation will bring accountability and oversight into a taxpayer-funded position that has largely abused its power and has been responsible for many failures and misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    The legislation is currently cosponsored by U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) in the Senate. 

    “Anthony Fauci single-handedly shut down small businesses, forced our children out of classrooms, and took away the opportunity for many Americans to say goodbye to loved ones during the COVID pandemic,” said Senator Tuberville. “It’s scary to think that someone who was never elected – or even confirmed by the Senate – had so much power over health care decisions that impacted millions of Americans.  We need greater transparency in our government’s institutions to ensure this never happens again. I’m proud to join Senator Paul in this legislation to increase oversight of the NIH and give the American people greater transparency surrounding our government institutions.”

    U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) introduced the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “From the earliest days of the pandemic, public health bureaucrats proved themselves far more adept at ruining lives than saving them. Never again should a single, unaccountable government employee, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, wield unchecked power and influence over the lives of the American people. Jay Bhattacharya is an excellent choice for NIH Director, and I support his efforts to regain trust in America’s health agencies and promote healthcare freedom. However, we can’t structure government on the assumption that we’ll always have great people in office. Breaking up Dr. Fauci’s taxpayer funded bully pulpit into three separate agencies — and requiring Senate confirmation for all their future directors — is one of many actions necessary to allow the American people to check government power and hold public health agencies accountable,” said Congressman Roy.

    Background:

    Dr. Anthony Fauci was Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for over 38 years—longer than J. Edgar Hoover was Director of the FBI. By the time he retired, he was the highest paid official in the entire federal government. Yet the Senate never voted to confirm him once. The law does not require Senate confirmation of the NIAID Director.

    The NIAID’s stated mission is “to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.” This sweeping mandate covers everything from asthma to Ebola, from peanut allergies to the plague. As the head of that institute, Dr. Fauci installed himself as a de facto pandemic czar, advocating for misguided policies like mandatory vaccinations for school-aged children (one of the populations least at risk from COVID-19).

    To improve accountability of the NIH, the NIH Reform Act will restructure the NIAID to better align with its mission as follows:

    Abolish the NIAID and replace it with the following three new institutes:

    1. National Institute of Allergic Diseases;
    2. National Institute of Infectious Diseases; and
    3. National Institute of Immunologic Diseases.

    The directors of each new institute would be:

    1. Appointed by the president,
    2. Subject to Senate confirmation, and
    3. Limited to no more than two 5-year terms.

    This type of reorganization is nothing new. In the aftermath of J. Edgar Hoover’s decades-long tenure as head of the FBI, Congress passed a law in 1976 limiting the FBI Director to a single 10-year term, and as recently as 2012, Congress eliminated one center within the NIH and replaced it with a new one. In the aftermath of the damage done by pandemic-era mandates and restrictions, Congress must enact the NIH Reform Act to ensure that one official cannot claim the unquestioned authority to dictate the federal response to public health emergencies.

    The NIH Reform Act is part of Dr. Paul’s ongoing fight to bring transparency and accountability to federal agencies and rein in government overreach.

    You can read the NIH Reform Act HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA:

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    February 21, 2025

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

     

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) spoke on the Senate floor on fiscal sanity ahead of introducing his amendment to the Senate budget. Dr. Paul’s amendment would put the country on a path toward fiscal stability by cutting spending by $1.5 trillion, mirroring the House Budget Resolution which will be considered next week. Dr. Paul’s amendment received a vote during the Senate’s marathon “vote-a-rama,” the final vote tally was 24-76.   

    You can read Dr. Paul’s amendment HERE, and watch his floor speech HERE.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Continues Delivering for Main Street

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, led by Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), advanced a pair of bipartisan bills to reform the Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan process, a key bill to fix the broken federal workforce, and the committee rules.
    “I am proud to see the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee continue to work in a productive and bipartisan manner to make life better for Main Street,” said Chair Ernst. “The burdensome and bloated bureaucracy is costly to taxpayers and hurts small businesses. We are enacting long-overdue reforms to ensure Washington better serves the American people, especially in their time of need.”
    The three bills that passed out of committee were:
    Chair Ernst’s Returning SBA to Main Street Act, which relocates 30% of SBA D.C. headquarters employees across the country to be closer to the Americans they serve.
    The bipartisan Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act, led by Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.),which strengthens oversight, financial safeguards, and transparency within the SBA’s disaster loan account.
    The bipartisan SBA Disaster Transparency Act, led by Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), which reforms SBA disaster loan programs by requiring public reports.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Makes President Trump’s Executive Action on Deregulation Permanent

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – After President Donald Trump tasked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with scrubbing outdated regulations, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is introducing legislation to this executive action permanent to eliminate costly and burdensome red tape.
    Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Ernst is introducing the Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act, which tasks DOGE with working with federal agencies to identify and review old, unnecessary, and unconstitutional federal rules including, a ban on railroads reporting that an employee was hurt while playing racquetball or baseball, a 1964 Department of Labor regulatory decision that is still forcing states to pay unemployment benefits to millionaires, criminalizing airlines that provide a brush, towel, or comb for the common use of passengers on a flight, and so much more.
    “Washington insiders might brush it off, but the bloated bureaucracy has gotten out of control,” said Ernst. “Burdensome and outdated regulations have railroaded Americans, and the only way out is to conduct a complete review. We need to SCRUB every old law on the books to identify the red tape that needs to be slashed.”
    “Senator Ernst is once again leading the fight in Congress to cut wasteful government spending and rein in the bureaucrats who make life more difficult and expensive for everyday Americans,” said Peter Holland, Federal Affairs Director at the Foundation for Government Accountability. “The SCRUB Act will shine a desperately needed spotlight on the regulations and rules holding back hardworking Americans from pursuing their American Dream. The government exists to serve the people, not burden employers and stifle innovation. Senator Ernst’s bill delivers on her promise to advance real solutions to ease the cost-of-living crisis and put money back in taxpayers’ pockets.”
    “The SCRUB Act and its Regulatory Cut-Go procedures mirror the new 10-for-one Trump architecture by requiring reduction that exceed additions,” said Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Fred L. Smith Jr. Fellow in Regulatory Studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. “Given that federal regulations now cost at least $2.1 trillion annually, that implies a successful SCRUB would save some $690 billion for the American people. When regulatory reform works, you can take that to the bank.”
    Click here to view the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Moran Questions Steven Bradbury, Nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation – questioned President Trump’s nominee to be the Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Steven Bradbury, about the importance of flight safety, a strong aviation workforce and the Essential Air Service program.
    “We made significant attempts in the FAA’s aviation rulemaking role to improve the ability for the FAA to timely provide answers and provide technical standards to enable new innovation in aviation,” said Sen. Moran. “I come from the Air Capital of the World where we manufacture many of the planes that are flown today – general aviation and commercial. The challenges we face in keeping up with technology and safety are significant.”
    “Essential Air Service is a hugely significant component,” continued Sen. Moran. “Kansas has five airports that utilize Essential Air Service. We are one of the most prolific Essential Air Service states in the country.”

    Click HERE to watch Sen. Moran Question the Nominee

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Statement on Republicans Advancing a ‘Billionaires-First’ Budget

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, after an overnight vote-a-rama ended with Senate Republicans advancing their reconciliation budget bill that lays the groundwork to give massive tax windfalls to billionaires at the expense of everyday Americans, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:

    “The Republican ‘billionaires-first’ budget would raise costs for working- and middle-class families in order to grant bigger tax windfalls to the wealthiest Americans.  These tax cuts aren’t free, they’re paid for by regular American families and they should be targeted in a fair and balanced way that benefits every American. 

    “If Trump and the Republicans want to pass a tax cut for families struggling with high prices for food and housing, I’m all in.  But this plot is the exact opposite when it comes to families and prices.”

    “As working families are struggling with higher prices for groceries, housing, and health care, this budget would shift a greater cost burden onto those who can least afford it.  And to add insult to injury, the Trump plan tilts overwhelmingly towards the very richest at the expense of everyday Americans.  It could kick a struggling senior out of their nursing home so people like Donald Trump can add more gold to his fancy Mar-a-Lago ballroom.

    “It is telling that neither President Trump nor Congressional Republicans are doing anything here to bring down prices, tackle inflation, or make housing and health care more affordable for working families.  They aren’t prioritizing infrastructure investments or building bridges.  Instead, this Republican budget would do just the opposite: cut vital public programs like Medicare and Medicaid, make college less affordable, and roll back food assistance in order to fund a massive tax giveaway to the wealthy and well-heeled at the expense of workers, families, and older Americans.

    “Time and again during the debate, Republicans had the chance to go on record to support programs like Medicaid and Medicare, which provide essential healthcare coverage to tens of millions of Americans, and to repudiate tax cuts for billionaires.  The record clearly shows who they are standing with.

    “I will continue to oppose this reckless, fiscally irresponsible budget and work to get our nation on the right economic track.  Republicans need to kick the tax cuts for the rich habit and join Democrats to help lower prices, increase paychecks, expand opportunity, and strengthen the economy in ways that benefit all Americans, not just those at the very top.”

    The last Trump tax cut fueled a record $1 trillion explosion in stock buybacks in 2018, but it failed to deliver promised benefits to middle- and moderate-income families.  While Republicans claimed it would be revenue-neutral, it ended up adding trillions to the national debt.  According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), extending the Trump tax cuts for the next 10 years — as Republicans have proposed — would add $4.6 trillion to the deficit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Colleagues Sound the Alarm on Threats to Americans’ Health and Safety Following Trump Purges

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Murray Blasts Trump and Musk Decimating HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Livelihoods

    ***FACT SHEET: WA State Impacts of Trump and Musk’s Reckless Mass Layoffs***

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee joined Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and the entire Senate Democratic caucus in sending a letter demanding answers from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for firing more than 5,000 HHS workers, blatantly undermining Americans’ health and safety. Within days of being sworn in, Secretary Kennedy blindly followed Trump and Musk’s baseless directive.

    HHS consists of 13 operating divisions and 10 agencies responsible for protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of Americans nationwide. These highly qualified, dedicated public servants protect millions of families, seniors, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities against public health threats by advancing scientific innovations, discovering breakthrough cures, and providing lifeline services such as child care and home-delivered meals.

    Senate Democrats emphasized, “As HHS Secretary, the consequences of epidemics, lost treatments, and lack of access to care are your responsibility. These firings represent the abdication of your sworn duty to ensure the health and well-being of America’s families. You have an obligation to the American people, who rely on you as the nation’s top public health official, to stop these ill-conceived and dangerous attacks on agencies and programs that Americans rely on every day.”

    Specifically, these layoffs will:

    • Harm children, seniors, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities. Agencies across HHS are responsible for delivering everyday services that Americans rely on, including affordable child care, home-delivered meals, placing foster children in safe environments, and so much more.
    • Block the development of new treatments and cures. FDA and NIH nonpartisan staff research and develop life-saving treatments. Firing them may delay medical breakthroughs and will weaken America’s biomedical science leadership for years to come.
    • Put patient care at risk. More than 160 million Americans rely on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) programs for affordable health care coverage. CMS is already understaffed and leans heavily on its existing workforce to maintain current service levels. Any cuts to the CMS workforce could have wide-ranging consequences across the health care system, including potential disruptions in medically necessary care, delays in payments to hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers, and reductions in the frequency of safety inspections in nursing homes.
    • Make the nation less prepared. With the worst flu season in more than 15 years, an Ebola outbreak in Uganda, and the growing threat of avian influenza, firing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees will make American communities more vulnerable to dangerous diseases and less prepared to deal with any potential outbreaks. Also, broader public health response infrastructure would be less able to address cyber attacks, supply chain shortages, and natural disasters.

    In their letter, Senate Democrats asked the following questions:

    1. How many HHS employees were fired between January 20, 2025 and February 18, 2025? How many of these employees were probationary? Provide a breakdown by agency, position type, and justification for termination for each category of employee at each agency.
    1. How were HHS employees notified that they were being fired, and on what grounds? Provide the method of communication and content of the message employees received.
    1. Provide any analysis conducted prior to firings to determine the immediate and long-term impact it will have on programs and activities those employees were tasked with administering.
    1. What role did DOGE have in identifying or prioritizing employees for termination? What metrics did they use?
    1. As additional layoffs are anticipated according to the EO, Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative, what specific guidance was given to HHS for identifying additional employees to lay off?

    The full text of the letter can be found here.

    Earlier this week, Senator Murray responded at length to the Trump administration’s mass firings of dedicated workers across HHS and its many subagencies—and last week she released a fact sheet detailing how reckless mass layoffs across the federal government will jeopardize essential services Americans rely on. Senator Murray was a leading voice in opposition to the confirmation of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary. Earlier this month on the Senate floor, she warned of the dangers of confirming RFK, Jr.—given his lack of health care experience and deadly rhetoric—and encouraged her colleagues to “show some courage” by rejecting his nomination. A longtime congressional leader on health care and former HELP Committee Chair, she called her meeting with him the “most troubling” she’s ever had with a cabinet nominee.

    MIL OSI USA News –