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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Expands Access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    LOWERING COSTS AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO IVF: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
    The Order directs policy recommendations to protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments.   
    The recommendations will focus on how to ensure reliable access to IVF.
    Priority will also be placed on addressing any current policies, including those that require legislation, that exacerbate the cost of IVF treatments.

    The Order recognizes the importance of family formation and that our Nation’s public policy must make it easier for loving and longing mothers and fathers to have children. 
    SUPPORTING AMERICAN FAMILIES: As many as one in seven couples trying to have a baby are unable to conceive, and many face significant financial hurdles to accessing IVF. 
    Avenues to more affordable IVF treatments are needed.
    The cost can range from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle and multiple cycles may be needed to get pregnant.  
    IVF is often not fully covered by health insurance.
    Only a quarter of employers report coverage of IVF for their employees.
    Just a handful of states require some sort of coverage for IVF in state-regulated insurance plans.
    The federal government covers IVF in a limited capacity for military personnel, veterans, and federal employees. 

    Department of Health and Human Services data reports that more than 85,000 infants were born as a result of IVF in 2021.
    The general U.S. fertility rate is at another historic low.
    The rate dropped 3% in 2023 from 2022. From 2014-2020, the rate consistently decreased by 2% annually.

    DELIVERING ON PROMISES FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES: President Trump promised to advance IVF and help American families with the associated costs so American families can have more babies, building on his record of supporting family formation and stability.  
    In his first Administration, President Trump doubled the child tax credit and expanded the eligibility of receiving the credit.
    He also signed into law a provision that enables new parents to withdraw up to $5,000 from their retirement accounts without penalty when they give birth to or adopt a child.
    President Trump has long advocated for more babies and expanding American families: “Because we want more babies, to put it very nicely. And for this same reason, we will also allow new parents to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes, so that parents that have a beautiful baby will be able, so we’re pro family. But the IVF treatments are expensive. It’s very hard for many people to do it and to get it, but I’ve been in favor of IVF, right from the beginning.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reins in Independent Agencies to Restore a Government that Answers to the American People

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order ensuring that all federal agencies are accountable to the American people, as required by the Constitution. Under this Executive Order:
    The Order notes that Article II of the U.S. Constitution vests all executive power in the President, meaning that all executive branch officials and employees are subject to his supervision.
    Therefore, because all executive power is vested in the President, all agencies must: (1) submit draft regulations for White House review—with no carve-out for so-called independent agencies, except for the monetary policy functions of the Federal Reserve; and (2) consult with the White House on their priorities and strategic plans, and the White House will set their performance standards.
    The Office of Management and Budget will adjust so-called independent agencies’ apportionments to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely.
    The President and the Attorney General (subject to the President’s supervision and control) will interpret the law for the executive branch, instead of having separate agencies adopt conflicting interpretations.
    REINING IN INDEPENDENT AGENCIES: So-called independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have exercised enormous power over the American people without Presidential oversight.
    These agencies issue rules and regulations that cost billions of dollars and implicate some of the most controversial policy matters, and they do so without the review of the democratically elected President.
    They also spend American tax dollars and set priorities without consulting the President, while setting their own performance standards.
    Now they will no longer impose rules on the American people without oversight or accountability.
    ENSURING A GOVERNMENT THAT ANSWERS TO THE PEOPLE: This order fulfills President Trump’s promise to restore constitutional governance and accountability to the entire executive branch.
    Executive power without responsibility has no place in our Republic. The United States was founded on the principle that the government should be accountable to the people. That is why the Founders created a single President who is alone vested with “the executive Power” and responsibility to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”
    Voters and the President can now hold all Federal agencies—not just Cabinet departments—responsible for their decisions, as the Constitution demands.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President George Washington’s Birthday, 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation
    Today, our Nation commemorates the Father of our country, the patriarch of our freedom, and a timeless exemplar of valor and virtue:  the first President of the United States, George Washington.  On President Washington’s Birthday, we honor his heroic legacy and steadfast love of country.
    As our Nation’s first chief executive, President Washington was a key architect of our Federal Government and constitutional order.  He was a visionary unifier, a fierce advocate for an America First foreign policy, and a man of devout faith.  To this day, he lives on in our souls as the original American patriot, the face of the American Revolution, and a legendary titan of American liberty.
    Through his presidency, private life, and personal conduct, George Washington was a model of public service and a living reminder that no challenge is too great for the strength of the American spirit.
    In the winter of 1776, with the Revolutionary War raging and the Continental Army on the verge of collapse, General Washington refused to surrender.  Low on supplies and teetering on the edge of defeat, he carried on, writing “Victory or Death” before departing for battle.  In the waning hours of Christmas night, Washington’s Continental Army ventured through miles of ice-cold darkness with nothing but patriotism in their hearts, courage in their veins, and faith in their God — going on to defeat the enemy and forever change the course of history.
    President Washington’s unflinching devotion to the common good remains the mandate of every American citizen.  As my Administration continues the work of reforming our country, we look to George Washington, the sacrifices he made, and the victories he won.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 17, 2025, as a reserved holiday commemorating George Washington’s Birthday.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Colleagues Warn IRS Staffing Cuts Will Cause a Tax Refund Train Wreck, Degrade Taxpayer Service, Undermine Law Enforcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    With Tax Filing Season Underway, Trump Cuts Have Already Hampered Key Tax Filing Assistance Programs; Democrats Warn Further Cuts Could Hurt Families Waiting for Refunds

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, Finance Committee Ranking Member U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and six Democratic committee members warned the Trump administration and IRS leadership today that staffing reductions at the IRS resulting from Trump’s hiring freeze and potential layoffs would likely delay tax refunds, harm taxpayer service, and undermine law enforcement efforts. The senators urged the Administration to end the IRS hiring freeze immediately, avoid further staffing cuts, and protect the Criminal Investigation division that plays a key role in combating drug and human trafficking, terrorism, and sanctions evasion.

    Regarding the impact of the hiring freeze and layoffs on taxpayer refunds and service, the senators wrote: “Americans need the IRS to be fully staffed with employees who can answer their questions, process their returns, send them refunds, and keep IRS systems online and functional. It is nearly inevitable that this hiring freeze, compounded by layoffs and further reductions in staff mandated as a result of Elon Musk’s unprecedented power grab, will delay refunds and degrade taxpayer service. Millions of Americans plan their budgets around timely refunds every filing season. These reckless decisions on the part of Elon Musk and the Trump administration will likely cause serious financial hardship for people across the country.”

    Regarding the impact on law enforcement and national security: “IRS Criminal Investigation is at the forefront of federal law enforcement efforts to investigate fentanyl trafficking by cartels, human trafficking, terrorism financing, and sanctions evasion. For example, CI was the lead investigative agency in the largest international fentanyl/opioid seizure in U.S. history. This operation took down a massive drug trafficking operation and seized 864 kg of drugs, including an astounding 64kg of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced opioids, enough to kill thousands of people. CI was also responsible for the dismantling of several large fentanyl trafficking networks operated by the Sinaloa cartel, including a collaboration with Chinese money laundering organizations. An indefinite hiring freeze at CI would endanger both public safety and national security by directly hampering multi-agency efforts to pursue and dismantle these highly dangerous criminal networks.”

    The complete text of the letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent, OMB Director Vought, acting OPM Director Ezell and acting IRS Commissioner O’Donnell is available here.

    U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also signed the letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan and Cornyn Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Against Child Identify Theft

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help parents protect their children from identity theft.

    “New parents have enough to juggle without having to jump through hoops to protect their children’s financial future,” said Senator Hassan. “Identity theft can be especially damaging to children because they may not be aware that their identity was stolen until they become adults. This bipartisan bill will streamline the process for parents to protect their children’s credit file by freezing it.”

    “Children are easy targets for identity theft, leaving them vulnerable to years of undetected fraud,” said Senator Cornyn. “By streamlining the process for parents to freeze their children’s credit files, our bill would help protect families from financial damage and identity theft.”

    “TransUnion welcomes the opportunity to help parents protect their children’s financial well-being with this legislation,” said TransUnion. “We are proud to be a partner in every parent’s mission to safeguard their children and help them build for a bright future.”

    Studies show that nearly one million children a year are victims of identity theft, costing families nearly $1 billion annually as criminals can use the identities to open up credit cards and make transactions in a child’s name. The best way to protect against this form of identity theft is for parents to freeze their children’s credit file. However, today the process can be cumbersome, requiring parents to contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually.

    The Credit Freeze for Kids Act will allow parents to contact only one of the agencies to freeze their children’s credit file and then require the notified credit bureau to inform the other credit bureaus of the freeze within three days.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Joins Fischer, Duckworth and Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make E15 Available Year-Round

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and 11 other Senators to introduce bipartisan legislation to make E15 available year-round. The Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 would enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent, helping to lower fuel prices and provide certainty in fuel markets for farmers and consumers.

    “I have long pushed to make E15 available year-round because investing in affordable, readily-available biofuels produced in the U.S. is good for drivers and farmers alike,” said Klobuchar. “By ensuring consumers can access E15 gasoline throughout the year, our bipartisan legislation will lower prices at the pump, support farmers, benefit our broader economy, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It’s critical that we diversify our fuel supply and invest in affordable energy solutions. I look forward to working with Senators Fischer and Duckworth to pass this bipartisan bill.”

    “It’s time to once and for all solidify President Trump’s pledge to allow the sale of year-round E15—giving America’s producers and consumers the certainty they deserve. My bill will put an end to years of patchwork regulations and finally make nationwide, year-round E15 a reality. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate, as well as with President Trump, to get this bill signed into law,” said Fischer.

    “For our country to remain a global energy leader, we must continue to invest in renewable and clean energy so we can decrease our emissions and dependence on foreign oil,” said Duckworth. “Producing less expensive fuel choices like E15 that can be sold year-round would help lower gas prices, protect the environment, support our farmers and drive economic opportunity throughout the Midwest. I’m proud to join Senator Fischer in reintroducing our bipartisan legislation that would do just that.”

    Additional cosponsors of this bipartisan bill include U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Thune (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Angie Craig (D-MN) lead companion legislation in the House.

    Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, American Petroleum Institute, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmer Union, and National Association of Convenience Stores endorsed the legislation.

    Klobuchar has long been a strong advocate for investing in renewable fuel infrastructure, increasing American biofuel production, and upholding the Clean Air Act’s RFS.

    In 2023, Klobuchar and Grassley led a bipartisan letter urging the EPA to strengthen the RFS by maintaining the blending requirements for 2023; denying all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs); eliminating proposed retroactive cuts to the renewable volume obligations (RVOs); and setting RFS volumes at the statutory levels.

    In February 2024, Klobuchar and Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led a group of 40 bipartisan members of Congress urging the Biden Administration to act quickly to ensure that the model used to determine eligibility for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tax credits unlocks the potential held by farmers, ethanol producers, and airlines to reduce carbon emissions from aviation. 

    In January 2024, Klobuchar, along with Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL.) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Farm to Fly Act. This legislation would help accelerate the production and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector, creating new markets for American farmers.

    In June 2021, Klobuchar announced the introduction of a package of bipartisan bills to expand the availability of low-carbon renewable fuels, incentivize the use of higher blends of biofuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    In 2021, Klobuchar and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act to create a renewable fuel infrastructure grant program and streamline regulatory requirements to help fuel retailers sell higher blends of ethanol.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Cramer Announces Mobile Office Hours in Larimore and Mayville

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced members of his staff will hold mobile office hours in Larimore and Mayville on Thursday, February 27.
    “Since it’s not always possible for people to travel to my in-state offices, these mobile office opportunities help bring the services we offer closer to the constituents who need them,” said Cramer. “Having members of my staff in Larimore and Mayville will give North Dakotans more chances to explore solutions to the problems they face with people who are in a position to help.”
    Individuals from the Larimore and Mayville areas are encouraged to stop by the mobile office for help with veterans and Social Security benefits, Medicare difficulties, immigration issues, military records or medals, or other assistance with federal agencies. 
    Mobile Office Hours – Thursday, February 27
    Larimore City Hall 
         119 Booth Ave
         Larimore
         9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CT
    Mayville City Hall
         21 1st St NE
         Mayville
         11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT
    Constituents should contact Cramer’s Constituent Services Representative Brooke Doss at Brooke_Doss@cramer.senate.gov for more information.
    For press inquiries, please contact Rachel Buening at Rachel_Buening@cramer.senate.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Introduces Bill to Raise Minimum Age to Buy Assault Weapons to 21

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined 18 Senate colleagues to introduce the Age 21 Act, legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21, the same age requirement that already applies to purchasing handguns from federally-licensed dealers. Assault weapons have been used by individuals under 21 to carry out some of the most devasting school shootings in U.S. history, including the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people on February 14, 2018.

    “Everyone in America should be able to live free from the fear of injury or death caused by a firearm,” said Kaine. “One of many commonsense steps we can take to reduce that risk is limiting young people’s access to assault weapons—just like we already limit their access to handguns. I’m proud to help introduce this bill to raise the legal purchasing age for assault weapons to 21, and will keep pushing for additional legislation to make our communities safer from gun violence.”

    Gun violence is a national crisis, claiming over 46,000 lives in 2023. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in America. Assault weapons, originally engineered for the battlefield to maximize damage inflicted on enemy soldiers, are frequently used in mass shootings. More than 85 percent of deaths in public mass shootings involving four or more fatalities were caused by assault rifles, and shootings involving assault weapons or large-capacity magazines result in twice as many deaths and fourteen-times as many injuries compared to incidents involving other firearms.

    The Age 21 Act is endorsed by organizations including Brady: United Against Gun Violence, March for Our Lives, Giffords, Newtown Action Alliance, and Everytown for Gun Safety.

    “Six of the deadliest mass shootings since 2018 were committed by individuals 21 and under. The Age 21 Act could have saved lives then, and will continue to do so if passed into law,” said Alexa Browning, Policy Manager at March For Our Lives. “Firearms are still the leading cause of death for young people, yet we continue to allow access to deadly weapons while restricting substances like alcohol and tobacco. We are deeply grateful to Senator Padilla for taking decisive action in this fight to prevent further tragedies and protect our future.”

    “People ages 18 to 20 are responsible for perpetrating a disproportionate share of school shootings, public mass shootings, and gun homicides overall. Raising the minimum age of purchase not only protects communities, but kids as well, as states with minimum age laws have seen significant declines in firearm suicides and other types of gun violence among young adults and children. Senator Padilla’s bill sets a national standard for something that has already proven effective at the state level, and we urge Congress to implement this common sense legislation,” said Vanessa Gonzalez, Vice President of Government & Political Affairs at GIFFORDS.

    The Age 21 Act is led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The full text of the bill is available here. A one-pager is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen FEMA’s Workforce Planning and Accountability

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) workforce planning and management. The Federal Emergency Mobilization Accountability Workforce Planning Act would require FEMA to develop and submit detailed workforce plans to Congress to ensure the agency can effectively respond to natural disasters and other emergencies. This legislation would also require FEMA to improve employee recruitment and retention efforts, develop strategies to train and deploy their workforce in efficient ways, and utilize data to address and fix staffing gaps.    

    “When disaster strikes, communities in Michigan and across the nation rely on FEMA to help them recover and rebuild. However, FEMA continues to face challenges in maintaining a qualified workforce that can be quickly deployed to help disaster survivors,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure FEMA develops comprehensive strategies to recruit and retain the skilled workers they need to carry out their vital mission.”    

    Recent reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have highlighted significant workforce management issues at FEMA, including with deploying qualified staff and recruitment efforts. In 2017, at the height of multiple disaster responses, GAO found that more than half of deployed FEMA staff were serving in positions for which they were not qualified. A 2023 GAO audit found that FEMA was not collecting necessary data to monitor hiring progress to close staffing gaps.   

    The Federal Emergency Mobilization Accountability Workforce Planning Act would require FEMA to submit a detailed human capital operating plan to Congress that includes specific performance measures and goals for recruitment and retention, analysis of current workforce gaps and strategies to address them, plans for training and deploying qualified staff, and detailed efforts and strategies to increase cost-efficiency in workforce operations. Additionally, the bill would require GAO to audit the plan within 6 months of submission to analyze whether it meets the requirements set in law, and, if not, offer recommendations to ensure subsequent plans do.     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Authorize FEMA to Accept Tribal Government Requests for Fire Management Assistance Grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Gary Peters(D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, reintroduced bipartisan legislation that requires FEMA to accept requests from Tribal governments to receive a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Declaration. FEMA can currently accept Emergency and Major Disaster Declaration requests from Tribal governments, but the agency cannot accept FMAG requests directly from Tribes. This limitation impedes Tribes’ capacity to access federal resources for wildfire management and undermines Tribal independence by forcing them to work through state governments rather than having the option to interact directly with federal authorities for this specific type of assistance.    

    “When wildfires threaten Tribal communities, Tribal governments must receive the assistance they need quickly,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation allows FEMA to directly provide Tribal governments with federal resources to combat wildfires.”  

    Tribal governments currently face unnecessary limitations in accessing FEMA’s wildfire disaster assistance. While the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act granted federally recognized Tribal governments the authority to directly request Emergency and Major Disaster Declarations from the President or to go through a state request, Tribes cannot do the same for Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Declarations. Instead, they must work through state governments to receive FMAG assistance, despite their status as sovereign nations.  

    The Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act aims to address this gap. This bipartisan legislation would modify the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to give Tribal governments the same options for FMAG Declarations that they already have for other FEMA declarations: either requesting assistance directly from FEMA or to work through their state. This change would create consistency across all three types of FEMA disaster declarations: Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Declarations, Emergency Declarations, and Major Disaster Declarations.  

    The bill has been endorsed by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Native American Law Enforcement Association, and the National Association of Counties.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Demands Trump Reinstate National Labor Relations Board Member Wilcox

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    Democratic Leaders Unite Against Unprecedented and Illegal Firing of National Labor Relations Board Member Gwynne Wilcox

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined every Democratic U.S. senator and a bipartisan group of 213 U.S. representatives in urging President Trump to immediately reinstate National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox. Congress created the NLRB nearly 90 years ago as an independent, non-partisan federal agency to protect workers nationwide by enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which guarantees the rights of workers to collectively bargain, including by organizing unions, negotiating contracts, and going on strike. The lawmakers pointed to specific federal statute that restricts the president’s ability to remove NLRB members for reasons other than neglect of duty or malfeasance. They also clarified that Wilcox’s firing without a hearing or cause expressly violated that law.

    “We are writing to express our deep frustration at the unprecedented and illegal firing of National Labor Relations Board Member Gwynne Wilcox and the negative impact this will have on working people across the country,” Peters and the lawmakers said.  “This firing violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), renders the Board unable to effectively enforce federal labor law, and profoundly undermines the independence of the agency.”

    The lawmakers also called on the president to restore the NLRB’s ability to protect the rights of American workers to organize and collectively bargain, which were already impaired by understaffing at the agency, and are now effectively lost due to lack of quorum on the NLRB.

    “Workers rely on the NLRB to safeguard their rights to organize and collectively bargain to better their working conditions,”  the lawmakers continued. “However, by firing Member Wilcox and leaving the five-seat NLRB with only two Members, you have left the Board without a quorum and effectively shut down its decision-making ability. This simply encourages bad employers to violate the law and trample on workers’ rights, while workers subjected to illegal union-busting will face significant delays in receiving the justice to which they are entitled.”

    “We urge you to reverse your decision and to immediately reinstate Member Wilcox to the NLRB to ensure that working people are afforded the protections to which they are entitled under the law,” concluded Peters and the lawmakers.

    Read the full text of the letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Helps Lead Legislation to Protect Access to Contraception

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped reintroduce legislation to guarantee Americans the right to access contraceptives. The Right to Contraception Act would prohibit government from restricting the use of – and health care providers’ ability to prescribe – contraception. Peters cosponsored the Right to Contraception Act in response to continued efforts across the U.S. to limit access to reproductive health care, including efforts to ban some or all forms of contraception despite overwhelming support among Americans.

    “Republican lawmakers across the country are actively working to strip women of their reproductive freedoms, despite more than 90 percent of Americans believing everyone should be able to access the contraceptives that they need,” said Senator Peters. “This legislation is simple. It would guarantee every single American the right to access contraception and ensure that health care professionals can do their jobs without interference from extreme politicians.” 

    Peters has been a strong advocate for protecting access to essential care and the right of all Americans to make health care decisions privately with their doctors and family. Peters spoke on the Senate floor last year in support of the Right to Contraception Act. Peters also spoke on the Senate floor last year to urge his colleagues to support the Access to Family Building Act, legislation Peters cosponsored that would protect every American’s right to access in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, as well as other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services that families depend on to start a family. In previous years, Peters joined his colleagues in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023, legislation seeking to restore the right to comprehensive health care for millions of Americans following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which repealed Roe v. Wade. In 2020, Peters was the first U.S. Senator to publicly share his family’s personal abortion story. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Bill to Help Beauty Professionals Identify and Respond to Domestic Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Boozman (R-AR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the bipartisan Supporting the Abused by Learning Options to Navigate Survivor (SALONS) Stories Act to incentivize domestic violence awareness training for cosmetologists and beauty professionals.

    “No state, no community, and no family is immune to the horrors of domestic violence. In Maine, domestic violence has historically been involved in approximately half of annual homicides. That’s unacceptable,” said Senator Collins. “Ending domestic violence requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and the SALONS Stories Act would equip cosmetologists with the tools they need to join the fight. It’s a bipartisan, commonsense idea that has the potential to save lives.” 

    In the United States, an average of three women are killed each day by an intimate partner, and one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime. The SALONS Stories Act would provide grants to states that have in place laws requiring cosmetologists to undergo free and easily accessible domestic violence awareness training, while preserving states’ autonomy in setting their cosmetology standards.

    The bill is endorsed by The Professional Beauty Association, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and YWCA USA.

    The complete text of the bill can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Colleagues Tell Trump and Republicans: Hands Off Medicare and Medicaid

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and a group of her colleagues are demanding the Trump administration, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) make no cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. This follows reports that Elon Musk and DOGE officials gained access to key payment and contracting systems at the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS). CMS is in charge of Medicare and Medicaid.

    “We write to say no to Elon Musk and DOGE, and demand hands off Medicare or Medicaid. We strongly oppose any efforts by Musk – or anyone else in your administration – cutting or damaging these vital programs,” wrote Baldwin and the lawmakers. “Medicare and Medicaid must not be raided to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Every cut risks Americans paying more, waiting longer, and wading through more insurance red tape for care. Every cut risks hospitals and community health centers struggling harder to keep their doors open and forcing health providers and workers out of their jobs.”

    In 2024, 68 million seniors and people with disabilities relied on Medicare coverage for essential health care, including hospital visits, screenings for cancer, diabetes, and depression, and prescription drugs. This includes the nearly 1.2 million Wisconsin veterans, children, and seniors who rely on Medicaid for health care.

    “We continue to fight for a health care system that works better for all Americans, so they experience lower costs, shorter wait times, and receive better care. But your Administration, Elon Musk, and DOGE have already made that harder,” continued the lawmakers. “Your Administration is already responsible for the shut-down of Medicaid portals across all 50 states, disruptions to vital health care communication, closures of community health centers, and significant delays in funding for life-saving health research. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will only serve to deepen the harm.”

    “It is dangerously unacceptable that an unelected Musk and his unqualified acolytes have access to sensitive CMS systems and are ready to bypass Congress to make life and death decisions affecting millions of Americans,” Baldwin and the lawmakers urged. “No one asked for this lawless approach to our critical government health care systems. We urge you to stop this threat to Americans’ health care, now.”

    A full version of this letter is available here and below.

    Dear President Trump:

    We write with alarm at recent actions by your Administration that put Medicare and Medicaid at risk – threatening access to care for 140 million Americans. On February 5, Elon Musk and representatives of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gained access to key payment and contracting systems at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that administers these vital programs. Masquerading as a false crusade against waste, fraud, and abuse, Musk appears intent to break the programs that seniors, people with disabilities, children, and families rely on to get their health care. We write to say no to Elon Musk and DOGE, and demand hands off Medicare or Medicaid. We strongly oppose any efforts by Musk – or anyone else in your administration – cutting or damaging these vital programs.

    Medicare and Medicaid must not be raided to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Medicare and Medicaid are lifelines for millions of Americans. In 2024, 68 million seniors and people with disabilities seniors relied on Medicare coverage for essential health care, including hospital visits, screenings for cancer, diabetes, and depression, and prescription drugs. Nearly 80 million Americans relied on Medicaid, making it the largest public health insurance program in the United States. Medicaid provides funding to states for services at nursing homes, hospitals, rural health clinics as well as home health services, addiction and mental health services, and family planning. Americans rely on Medicaid for pregnancy and childbirth, as well as long-term services and supports to care for people with disabilities, older adults, and chronically ill Americans.

    But now, DOGE is invading CMS, posing immeasurable risks to Americans’ health care. DOGE representatives, with no training or expertise, could make unilateral, politically motivated decisions to target both beneficiaries and health care providers while blocking access to care and essential payments for services. Every cut risks Americans paying more, waiting longer, and wading through more insurance red tape for care. Every cut risks hospitals and community health centers struggling harder to keep their doors open and forcing health providers and workers out of their jobs.

    We continue to fight for a health care system that works better for all Americans, so they experience lower costs, shorter wait times, and receive better care. But your Administration, Elon Musk, and DOGE have already made that harder. Your Administration is already responsible for the shut-down of Medicaid portals across all 50 states, disruptions to vital health care communication, closures of community health centers, and significant delays in funding for life-saving health research. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will only serve to deepen the harm.

    It is dangerously unacceptable that an unelected Musk and his unqualified acolytes have access to sensitive CMS systems and are ready to bypass Congress to make life and death decisions affecting millions of Americans. No one asked for this lawless approach to our critical government health care systems. We urge you to stop this threat to Americans’ health care, now.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Calls on Trump Administration to Contain Avian Flu, Protect Farmers and Consumers From Price Hikes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on President Trump to quickly develop a plan to contain the avian flu outbreak that is devastating the nation’s poultry flocks and dairy herds and driving egg costs to reach record highs. Baldwin’s letter follows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) refusing to provide updated information to the public and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) failing to publish the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the first time in decades due to the pause on all public health communications.

    “In the last 30 days, 22.43 million birds, including 153 total poultry flocks, have been affected by avian flu. Last week, the average wholesale price for large, white shell eggs reached $8 a dozen, a 218 percent increase from the $2.51 average consumers were paying in December 2023. The number of avian flu detections, and increases in egg prices, are far surpassing previous records and will not slow down anytime soon unless your Administration commits to a robust response,” said Senator Baldwin.

    Senator Baldwin has long led in supporting the agriculture community and consumers from the impacts of avian flu outbreaks. In February 2023, she called on the Biden Administration to take swift action to address the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza and use the resources she helped pass in government funding bills to address the situation. In April 2024, Senator Baldwin pushed the Biden administration to quickly deploy additional resources to contain the spread of the ongoing avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle. In May 2024, she called on the United States Department of Agriculture to strengthen interagency coordination to continue to provide the public and state agencies with coordinated, up-to-date and accurate information on the spread of HPAI, particularly around the safety of the U.S. commercial milk or meat supply, and the risk to farmworker health.

    “Your Administration is responsible for ensuring that data and available resources reach stakeholders on the ground responding to the outbreak. When the CDC, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) coordinate with each other and their counterparts across the country, stakeholders working on the ground can make informed decisions. The CDC and USDA, specifically, should prioritize communicating and deploying resources to farmers, ranchers, and veterinarians to strengthen biosecurity measures that protect workers and livestock. Without these measures in place, we will not be able to contain the spread of the virus, further exacerbating the risk to our nation’s farmers and driving up food costs,” Baldwin continued.

    The full letter is available here and below.

    Dear Mr. President:

    I write regarding the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak that is devastating our nation’s poultry flocks and dairy herds. The outbreak is putting a strain on the livelihoods of American farmers and driving up prices for consumers. I ask that you task your Administration with creating and announcing a plan to contain the virus through robust agency engagement and coordination with stakeholders.

    In the last 30 days, 22.43 million birds, including 153 total poultry flocks, have been affected by avian flu. Last week, the average wholesale price for large, white shell eggs reached $8 a dozen, a 218 percent increase from the $2.51 average consumers were paying in December 2023. The number of avian flu detections, and increases in egg prices, are far surpassing previous records and will not slow down anytime soon unless your Administration commits to a robust response.

    In the first few weeks of your Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) refused to provide updated information to the public on HPAI. For the first time in decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) failed to publish the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), including data on the HPAI outbreak, due to the pause on all public health communications. While I am relieved that the CDC has now resumed releasing the reports, I am alarmed by the message your Administration is sending to the public: that avian flu is not a priority.

    The HPAI MMWR released this week suggests that the disease is capable of spreading undetected to humans, and that it is more prevalent than we previously understood. Now is not the time to delay federal guidance and funding for research, biosecurity, and testing, yet I am hearing directly from Wisconsinites concerned about their access to federal resources. Farmers, veterinarians, food processors, and local health officials are seeking federal leadership on the outbreak, and I request that your Administration execute a plan that includes these stakeholders in the avian flu response.

    Your Administration is responsible for ensuring that data and available resources reach stakeholders on the ground responding to the outbreak. When the CDC, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) coordinate with each other and their counterparts across the country, stakeholders working on the ground can make informed decisions. The CDC and USDA, specifically, should prioritize communicating and deploying resources to farmers, ranchers, and veterinarians to strengthen biosecurity measures that protect workers and livestock. Without these measures in place, we will not be able to contain the spread of the virus, further exacerbating the risk to our nation’s farmers and driving up food costs.

    The FDA must be an active partner in addressing the outbreak, including continuing research and publishing guidance on the HPAI outbreak. I hope your Administration will continue FDA funding for the Animal and Veterinary Innovation Center that is tasked with studying the virus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. FDA should also prioritize its duty to keep consumers safe by enforcing the current rigorous food safety protocols, including pasteurization of dairy and egg products. In doing so, your Administration will reduce the risk to the public’s safety and safeguard their confidence in the nation’s food supply.

    Over the last few years, I pressed the Biden Administration to address the avian flu outbreak that began in early 2022. I weighed in with Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Beccera, and I plan to do the same with Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins.  Again, I request that your Administration prioritize its response to the HPAI outbreak, and I look forward to working with you on this issue.

                   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Calls on Trump Admin to Rehire VA Workers, Ensure Veterans’ Health Care Access

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 – After the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dismissed more than 1,000 employees last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins urging him to reverse the layoffs to ensure that America’s veterans have the health care they deserve – especially as VA facilities across the country already face severe understaffing challenges. Earlier this month, Sanders voted to confirm Collins as VA secretary.

    “One of the reasons I voted for you to become Secretary of Veterans Affairs was your promise to protect the needs of veterans and oppose the privatization of the VA. And then, in your first few weeks on the job, you lay off over 1,000 VA employees at a department that is already understaffed,” wrote Sanders. “There is no way that these layoffs will not negatively impact the veterans of our country in terms of the health care and benefits they receive.”

    These reductions to the VA’s workforce come after the VA Office of Inspector General in August detailed existing “severe occupational staffing shortages” that delay care for veterans in Vermont and across the country. This chronic understaffing included an astounding 86% of facilities reporting shortages of medical officers including physicians, and 82% of facilities reporting shortages of nurses. Among the 139 facilities the VA surveyed for this report, all but two reported significant understaffing.

    In his letter, Sanders also calls out the Trump administration’s defense of these layoffs – which they claim will save the department only $98 million – as the administration simultaneously proposes more than $1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

    “In other words, you are sacrificing the needs of veterans, who put their lives on the line to defend our country, in order to make billionaires even richer. That is unacceptable,” continued Sanders. “I am writing to demand that you rescind these layoffs and restore these workers, many of whom are themselves veterans, to their jobs.”

    Read the text of the letter here and below.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Statement on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Stepping Down

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s tenure at the U.S. Postal Service was a disaster for Vermont residents and postal workers alike. DeJoy and the national management of the USPS failed to promptly reopen a fully-functioning Post Office in downtown Montpelier following the July 2023 floods, ultimately taking 15 months to restore the essential service for Vermont’s Capital City. At the same time, DeJoy’s restructuring plan has led to unacceptable mail delivery delays across Vermont, especially in rural areas of the state. In response to legitimate criticism, DeJoy has demonstrated an utter disregard and, at times, disdain for Congress and the communities it represents. U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today issued the following reaction to Postmaster General DeJoy’s announcement he will soon leave the U.S. Postal Service: 
    “Good riddance.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Trump Should Urgently Address Air Traffic Controller Staffing Shortages, Not Indiscriminately Fire FAA Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    PROVIDENCE, RI — Hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees are in the process of being fired — not because of their performance or because they weren’t delivering critical services for taxpayers — but as part of the Trump Administration’s and billionaire Elon Musk’s partisan mass terminations of federal workers.

    U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees FAA funding, says FAA staffing decisions should be based on the agency’s mission-critical needs, not partisan whims. 

    Senator Reed says Trump’s shortsighted mass-firing of new FAA employees will have a ripple effect, leading to understaffing at the FAA now and in the future, which could then cause airports to slow down air traffic to match staffing levels.

    “Our air traffic control system is already overtaxed and firing these dedicated FAA professionals will make it harder to keep the traveling public safe.  There should be an FAA hiring push right now, not a mass-firing purge.  FAA staffing shortages can have a detrimental impact on air travel and operations.  Understaffing in control towers leads to more planes on the ground and flight delays.  Every member of Congress should be calling on President Trump and Elon Musk to strengthen, not weaken the FAA’s workforce,” said Reed. 

    Air traffic controllers at the nation’s 313 air traffic control locations across the country help safeguard more than 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline passengers nationwide per day.

    The Trump administration has begun firing hundreds of the FAA’s most recent hirees — known as ‘probationary workers’ during their first year or two of public service — who were sent termination emails over the weekend and could be barred from entering their FAA job sites on Tuesday.

    According to the Associated Press, the impacted workers include personnel hired for FAA radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance.  Many of these workers are veterans, as the FAA continuously recruits employees with prior air traffic experience from the military and private industry.  

    The Trump Administration’s FAA purge comes after he fired all the members of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, a panel mandated by Congress that is charged with examining safety issues at airlines and airports around the country.

    Air traffic control is one of the most specialized and skilled professions in the federal government. Air traffic controllers work in towers at airports and radar rooms at FAA facilities nationwide. Their job is to separate planes, navigate them through weather, and ensure that everyone reaches their respective destinations safely.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Padilla Lead Colleagues from Disaster-Impacted States in Demanding Answers About Elon Musk and DOGE’s Access to Disaster Victims’ Personal Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led ten of their colleagues from disaster-impacted states in demanding answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the potential security breach created by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has reportedly accessed the sensitive personal data of disaster victims. The Senators also requested more information on the procedures FEMA follows to protect data from misuse, and if DOGE’s unaccountable agents were in compliance with federal law. 
    Senators Welch and Padilla were joined by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). 
    “The United States has suffered from a growing number of natural disasters over the past several years—from severe flooding in Vermont and hurricanes in North Carolina, to catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii and California. In order to register for federal disaster assistance and receive help rebuilding their communities, our constituents have provided their personally identifiable information to FEMA. They did not do so with the expectation that their sensitive information would be turned over to unvetted, unaccountable DOGE agents,” the Senators wrote to Cameron Hamilton, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator. 
    “Mr. Musk has stated his desire to eliminate waste at FEMA. We agree the country must examine and thoughtfully consider reforms to the operation of FEMA. Our constituents have experienced first-hand the frustrating bureaucracies that hinder the federal disaster recovery process. Congress must take steps to equip FEMA and communities with the tools needed to better assist disaster victims after the storm has passed. We stand ready to work with anyone willing to fix it,” continued the Senators. “But such reforms do not require, or come close to justifying, the invasive measures DOGE has reportedly undertaken.” 
    The Senators concluded: “When disaster strikes, Americans should have confidence the government will safeguard their data, regardless of the Administration at the helm. Reports indicate you have breached that trust—perhaps in violation of federal privacy law.” 
    In their letter, the Senators requested responses to the following questions to understand the scope of that breach and the extent of FEMA’s compliance with federal law: 

    Please provide a complete list of individuals authorized by FEMA to access disaster victims’ data and records during the period between January 20, 2025, and February 14, 2025. Please indicate whether those individuals are employees of FEMA, the White House, DOGE, or another federal agency and specify the agency. If the individuals are not federal employees, please indicate that in your response.  

    What are the individuals specified above authorized to do with disaster victims’ data and records, and what types of data were obtained?  

    What procedures does FEMA follow to protect disaster victims’ data from misuse? Are DOGE-affiliated individuals required to follow those procedures?   

    How many Americans’ personally identifiable data has been accessed by DOGE-affiliated individuals? What vetting did these individuals undergo prior to their being granted access to FEMA systems? 

    Read the full text of the letter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Hickenlooper, Capito, Peters Reintroduce Bill to Boost Broadband Supply Chain Transparency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) reintroduced their bipartisan Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act to increase broadband supply chain transparency through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make certain federal broadband programs stay on track.
    Previous supply chain disruptions have delayed broadband infrastructure projects. A lack of transparency into the health of the telecommunications supply chain may contribute to future equipment shortages as federal broadband programs prioritize high-speed, reliable and accessible networks.
    “In this digital age, access to reliable internet can determine the success of farms, businesses and even health care in rural communities,” said Sen. Moran. “Adding transparency to the supply chains that support broadband infrastructure projects will help speed up the rollout of programs designed to increase internet activity for rural America.”
    “We wrote our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with the goal to connect every Coloradan to reliable, high-speed internet,” said Sen. Hickenlooper. “Supply chain disruptions shouldn’t delay the rollout of these projects. We don’t have time to waste.”
    “In order to effectively connect our communities, it’s critical that our federal agencies work to address any potential problems that would slow or hinder this process of deployment,” said Sen. Capito. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the NET Act, which will provide us with another tool to monitor the supply chain so these crucial projects can be executed in a timely manner.”
    “Resilient, efficient supply chains are essential to keeping prices low and ensuring Americans can get the products they need, and that includes broadband internet,” said Sen. Peters. “This bipartisan bill would fortify the investments we made in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand high-speed, affordable internet by identifying issues in the broadband supply chain early, before they impact American businesses, workers, and consumers. I’ll continue to fight for high-speed internet access for all Michiganders.”
    This bill would require the FCC’s Communications Marketplace Report to describe to Congress the impact of supply chain disruptions on the timely completion or deployment of broadband infrastructure projects.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: With University Of Rochester And Rochester Institute Of Technology Set To Lose A Total Of $50 Million In Federal Funding, Senator Gillibrand Highlights Potential Upheaval Of Local Economy, End To Lifesaving Medical Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    National Institutes Of Health Funding Supports 30,000 Jobs and $8 Billion In Economic Activity In New York Alone;
    Funding Cuts Will Cost Jobs, Derail Critical Research, And Endanger Public Health
    University of Rochester Is Region’s Largest Employer, Employs 3,000 Biomedical Researchers; 
    Gillibrand Leading Bipartisan Call To Reverse Cuts
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology leadership at the University of Rochester to highlight the impact of President Trump’s recent attempts to cut National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding on the universities and the local economy.
    The University of Rochester receives hundreds of NIH grants to study cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, allergies, aging, mental health, children’s health, and much more. Slashed funding would force researchers to abandon this critical work and extinguish hope for patients and families looking for cures. This funding cut could also put thousands of jobs across New York State at risk; NIH funding supports roughly 30,000 jobs in New York State alone. 
    “New York is home to top notch universities that attract the world’s best scientists conducting cutting-edge research,” said Senator Gillibrand. “President Trump’s attempt to radically cut funding for the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology, as well as other research institutions, is irresponsible and short-sighted. It will imperil research that saves lives and is guaranteed to hurt our economy and the thousands of New Yorkers employed by local research institutions. These cuts are facing strong bipartisan opposition, and I am working across the aisle with my colleagues in the New York delegation, including Congressman Morelle, to call on the Trump administration to reverse them.”
    “I want to thank Senator Gillibrand for her leadership in opposing these draconian cuts and for her tremendous and unwavering support to our Rochester scientists, doctors, and patients. Arbitrarily and abruptly cutting groundbreaking biomedical research that has led to countless breakthroughs and that saves, extends, and improves human lives is no way to make government more efficient. It is detrimental to our efforts to improve health in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region and in the Southern Tier, threatens the future health of all Americans, and puts in jeopardy the nation’s position as the scientific and clinical research leader of the world,” said Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President of the University of Rochester
    “NIH-funded research forms the backbone for scientific innovation in medicine, driving discoveries that improve lives and strengthen our nation’s global leadership in healthcare and related technologies. To remain competitive, universities must have the resources necessary to support groundbreaking research, including the associated indirect costs, such as laboratory facilities and infrastructure, compliance, and administrative assistance.  Indirect costs are not optional; they are fundamental to sustaining a research environment where faculty, staff and students can focus on advancing knowledge and solving the world’s most pressing challenges,” said David C. Munson, President, Rochester Institute of Technology. “Continued investment in NIH research at higher education institutions across the nation, and the full restoration of NIH indirect cost recovery, are necessary to ensure that we continue to attract the best talent and maintain our worldwide leadership in healthcare science and innovation.“
    Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would slash billions in federal funding for research institutions nationwide by imposing a cap on “indirect costs” for research associated with NIH grants. Indirect costs are expenses that are essential for scientific research, and include the construction and maintenance of research facilities, the purchase of costly scientific tools, and support staffing for major research projects. The University of Rochester is set to lose $40 million in funding for indirect costs, and Rochester Institute of Technology is set to lost $10 million, which would cripple their ability to continue to conduct much of their research. New York institutions are expected to lose $850 million in total. While a federal judge has temporarily paused these cuts from going into effect, they have created chaos and confusion for the New York institutions that rely on a steady and stable flow of NIH funding. 
    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s bipartisan letter with Senator Schumer and Representatives Morelle, Garbarino, Lawler, Clarke, Espaillat, Gillen, Goldman, Kennedy, Latimer, Mannion, Meng, Meeks, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Suozzi, Tonko, Torres, Velázquez, Riley, and Ryan highlighting the impact these cuts would have on New York is available here.
    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter with 46 Senate Democrats is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: With University At Buffalo Set To Lose $47 Million In Federal Funding, Senator Gillibrand, Rep. Kennedy, Highlight Potential Upheaval Of Local Economy, End To Lifesaving Medical Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    National Institutes Of Health Funding Supports 30,000 Jobs and $8 Billion In Economic Activity In New York Alone;
    Funding Cuts Will Cost Jobs, Derail Critical Research, And Endanger Public Health
    Gillibrand Leading Bipartisan Call To Reverse Cuts
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Tim Kennedy visited the University at Buffalo to highlight the impact of President Trump’s recent cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding on the university and the local economy. 
    The University at Buffalo receives hundreds of NIH grants to study cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infectious disease, arthritis, allergies, mental health, and much more. Slashed funding would force researchers to abandon critical work and extinguish hope for patients and families looking for cures. This funding cut could also put thousands of jobs across New York State at risk; NIH funding supports roughly 30,000 jobs in New York State alone. 
    “New York is home to top notch universities that attract the world’s best scientists conducting cutting-edge research,” said Senator Gillibrand. “President Trump’s attempt to radically cut funding for the University at Buffalo and other research institutions is irresponsible and short-sighted. It will imperil research that saves lives and is guaranteed to hurt our economy and the thousands of New Yorkers employed by local research institutions. These cuts are facing strong bipartisan opposition, and I am working across the aisle with my colleagues in the New York delegation, including Congressman Kennedy, to call on the Trump administration to reverse them.”
    “The administration’s arbitrary cuts to NIH funding are a matter of life and death,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “This funding is the difference between a grandparent keeping cancer at bay long enough to meet their grandchild or an infant benefiting from lifesaving research—these scenarios play out every day across our region and nation. The federal government should be investing in our future, not defunding cancer research and other critical health programs. These cuts need to be rescinded immediately, and we need to let scientists and doctors get back to the business of researching lifesaving technologies.”
    “NIH has been an exceptional partner to the University at Buffalo and universities nationwide, enabling life changing and lifesaving discoveries in all aspects of health, wellness, and healthcare,” said Venu Govindaraju, PhD, vice president for research and economic at the University at Buffalo. “The proposed changes to the NIH funding structure will make vital research difficult if not impossible to undertake and impede decades of scientific advancements.”
    “The Jacobs School, along with the health science community at the University at Buffalo, is dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and significantly improving health outcomes across Western New York. Through cutting-edge research funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, we aim to transform health care by developing innovative solutions, generating new knowledge, and training the next generation of health care professionals. We do research to enhance patient care and improve public health both locally and globally. However, the NIH’s recent announcement of a new policy capping the indirect cost payment rate for new and existing grants at 15% — a change that could threaten billions of dollars in funding for universities and health systems — will significantly diminish these efforts that are critical to the health of our community,” said Allison Brashear, Dean, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
    “At SUNY, we are proud of our extraordinary researchers and the life-changing, groundbreaking medical discoveries they have dedicated their careers to advancing,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “From working to cure Alzheimer’s disease to improving cancer outcomes, from supporting 9/11 first responders to detecting brain aneurysms, their research is essential to our national security and economic leadership.”
    Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would slash billions in federal funding for research institutions nationwide by imposing a cap on “indirect costs” for research associated with NIH grants. Indirect costs are expenses that are essential for scientific research, and include the construction and maintenance of research facilities, the purchase of costly scientific tools, and support staffing for major research projects. The University at Buffalo is set to lose $47 million in funding for indirect costs, which would cripple its ability to continue to conduct much of its research. New York institutions are expected to lose $850 million in total. While a federal judge has temporarily paused these cuts from going into effect, have created chaos and confusion for the New York institutions that rely on a steady and stable flow of NIH funding. 
    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s bipartisan letter with Senator Schumer, and Representatives Kennedy, Garbarino, Lawler, Morelle, Clarke, Espaillat, Gillen, Goldman,Latimer, Mannion, Meng, Meeks, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Suozzi, Tonko, Torres, Velázquez, Riley and Ryan highlighting the impact these cuts would have on New York is available here.
    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter with 46 Senate Democrats is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: With SUNY Upstate Set To Lose Millions In Federal Funding, Senator Gillibrand, Rep. Mannion Highlights Potential Upheaval Of Local Economy, End To Lifesaving Medical Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    National Institutes Of Health Funding Supports 30,000 Jobs and $8 Billion In Economic Activity In New York Alone;
    Funding Cuts Will Cost Jobs, Derail Critical Research, And Endanger Public Health
    SUNY Research Foundation Would Lose An Estimated $79 Million 
    Gillibrand Leading Bipartisan Call To Reverse Cuts
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative John Mannion visited SUNY Upstate Medical University to highlight the impact of President Trump’s recent cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding on the university and the local economy. 
    SUNY Upstate receives dozens of NIH grants to study cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, aging, mental health, and much more. Slashed funding would force researchers to abandon this critical work and extinguish hope for patients and families looking for cures. This funding cut could also put thousands of jobs across New York State at risk; NIH funding supports roughly 30,000 jobs in New York State alone. 
    “New York is home to top notch universities that attract the world’s best scientists conducting cutting-edge research,” said Senator Gillibrand. “President Trump’s attempt to radically cut funding for SUNY Upstate and other research institutions is irresponsible and short-sighted. It will imperil research that saves lives and is guaranteed to hurt our economy and the thousands of New Yorkers employed by local research institutions. These cuts are facing strong bipartisan opposition, and I am working across the aisle with my colleagues in the New York delegation, including Congressman Mannion, to call on the Trump administration to reverse them.”
    “I join Senator Gillibrand in rejecting cuts to NIH funding and staff that would have devastating consequences for lifesaving medical research happening right here in Central New York,” said Representative John W. Mannion said. “At the CNY Biotech Accelerator, researchers rely on NIH support to develop breakthrough treatments and technologies that improve and save lives. Slashing these resources will make government less efficient, put innovation at risk, delay critical medical advancements, and threaten local jobs in our growing biotech sector. We must protect federal investments in science and health.”
    “At SUNY, we are proud of our extraordinary researchers and the life-changing, groundbreaking medical discoveries they have dedicated their careers to advancing,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “From working to cure Alzheimer’s disease to improving cancer outcomes, from supporting 9/11 first responders to detecting brain aneurysms, their research is essential to our national security and economic leadership.”
    “Upstate Medical University is fortunate to have leading researchers among its faculty finding cures and better treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, lupus and many other disorders. Biomedical research is an essential part of being an academic medical institution that adds to the vibrancy of our CNY community,” said Upstate Medical University President Mantosh Dewan, MD.
    “Cutting NIH funding would be a devastating blow to the future of medical innovation and the fight against diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. These cuts threaten to stall groundbreaking research, delay critical treatments, and stifle the progress of startups working tirelessly to bring lifesaving therapies to patients. Right here in Central New York, the CNY Biotech Accelerator is home to incredible companies working on cutting-edge medical breakthroughs. Many of them rely on NIH support, and these cuts could mean fewer innovations, fewer jobs, and fewer solutions for the patients who need them most. We cannot afford to let innovation be the casualty of short-sighted policy decisions,” said NYS Senator Chris Ryan. 
    “The American people deserve the best medical research in the world and thanks to our historic investments in this area, scientists at universities and academic medical centers across New York State are finding cures and treatments for conditions like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and stroke,” said Win Thurlow, Executive Director, LifeSciencesNY. “This work not only saves lives, but also strengthens the local economy.  Biomedical research creates jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers. Cutting support for this research means that cures will go undiscovered, jobs will be lost and our communities will suffer.”
    “Basic and applied medical research at NYS higher education institutions and agencies is critical to improving and saving lives. Federal funding, particularly from NIH, is imperative. Any disruption in funding may cause delays in important discoveries and upheaval in the work and lives of researchers and patients. Federal funds help drive New York’s economy for all New Yorkers. Cutting NIH funding hobbles medical research resulting in both immediate and long-term consequences for all Americans,” said Assemblyman Al Stirpe.
    Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would slash billions in federal funding for research institutions nationwide by imposing a cap on “indirect costs” for research associated with NIH grants. Indirect costs are expenses that are essential for scientific research, and include the construction and maintenance of research facilities, the purchase of costly scientific tools, and support staffing for major research projects. SUNY Upstate is set to lose $5 million in funding for indirect costs, and the SUNY Research Foundation would lose an estimated $79 million overall, which would cripple New York scientists’ ability to continue to conduct much of their research. New York institutions are expected to lose $850 million in total. While a federal judge has temporarily paused these cuts from going into effect, they have created chaos and confusion for the New York institutions that rely on a steady and stable flow of NIH funding. 
    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s bipartisan letter with Senator Schumer and Representatives Mannion, Morelle, Garbarino, Lawler, Clarke, Espaillat, Gillen, Goldman, Kennedy, Latimer, Meng, Meeks, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Suozzi, Tonko, Torres, Velázquez, Riley, and Ryan highlighting the impact these cuts would have on New York is available here.
    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter with 46 Senate Democrats is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Cotton, Thune Introduce Legislation to Repeal the Federal Death Tax

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON––U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and 45 of their Senate Republican colleagues to introduce legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. The Death Tax Repeal Actwould end this punitive tax that threatens family-run farms, ranches and businesses upon the owner’s death. 
    “Arkansas’s farm families and small businesses should have the opportunity to preserve their legacies for the next generation instead of getting hit with a penalty that jeopardizes their livelihoods,” said Boozman. “They need certainty and relief from this counterproductive burden. Repealing the death tax supports our agriculture producers and entrepreneurs so they can continue to grow their operations and benefit their local economy.”
    “Families shouldn’t have to sell major portions of their businesses or farms after the death of a parent just to afford the estate tax. Breaking apart a family’s livelihood is neither fair nor good for the economy. This legislation would end the federal death tax, making it much easier to preserve a family’s legacy and way of life,” said Cotton. 
    “Family farms and ranches play a vital role in our economy and are the lifeblood of rural communities in South Dakota,” said Thune. “Losing even one of them to the death tax is one too many. It’s time to put an end to this punishing, burdensome tax once and for all so that family farms, ranches and small businesses can grow and thrive without costly estate planning or massive tax burdens that can threaten their viability.”
    The Death Tax Repeal Act would:
    Fully repeal the Estate Tax;
    Repeal the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax for when a grandparent transfers assets to a grandchild; and
    Maintains step-up basis to allow the evaluation of an inherited asset to be adjusted to reflect a fair market value at the time of death
    The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Todd Young (R-IN).
    Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04). 
    The Death Tax Repeal Act is supported by more than 190 members of the Family Business Coalition and more than 105 members of the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, which includes the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Restaurant Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
    Click here for full text of the legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on RSF Attacks on Zamzam IDP Camp in Sudan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), top Democrat on Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, issued the following statement:

    “I am horrified by reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked the Zamzam IDP camp outside El Fasher, Sudan, indiscriminately shooting people and setting fires. Zamzam is a place where half a million Sudanese civilians, including hundreds of thousands of children, have sought shelter and safety from violence by the RSF and allied militias in the surrounding area and other parts of Darfur. This is already an extremely vulnerable population, living in dire circumstances, with famine confirmed there last year, and warnings from the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum of the potential for acts of genocide. It is also being reported that the RSF stopped cellular and web services in the area, which cuts off emergency communications and limits the ability to document attacks taking place.

    “The RSF must stop the ruthless atrocities perpetrated against civilians, and all parties must ensure the safety and freedom of movement for all civilians and humanitarian workers in the area. I call on the Trump administration to take immediate action to protect the displaced community at Zamzam, ensure accountability for the violence committed, ramp up diplomatic engagement, and immediately restart all emergency humanitarian assistance that USAID provided to the Sudanese people to save lives.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Confirmation Hearing, Warren Lays Out Concerns with Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee Stephen Feinberg

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    February 18, 2025
    As former head of private equity firm Cerberus, Feinberg drove Massachusetts’ Steward hospital into the ground, would have significant financial conflicts of interest 
    “Your track record at Cerberus includes mismanagement, profiteering, and little relevant government experience. You have put profits at the center of your work when the Deputy Secretary role requires that you put the Department and its people at the center.” 
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – Ahead of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the SASC Subcommittee on Personnel, wrote to Mr. Stephen Feinberg, nominee for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense (DoD), pressing him to explain his “serious conflicts of interest” and his track record of mismanagement. 
    As Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr. Feinberg will need to be able to manage the building, support the workforce, and “(e)nsure Department-wide capability and resources across all functions to carry out the strategic plan of the DoD in support of national security objectives.” Upon his nomination, President Trump regarded him as “(a)n extremely successful businessman.” However, as the former head of private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, Mr. Feinberg reportedly ran several companies, including Chrysler, into the ground. 
    “I am concerned that your track record as a private equity executive shows you lack the skills and demonstrated experience needed to manage and execute the scale of reforms necessary at the Department of Defense,” wrote Senator Warren. 
    In Massachusetts, residents have had first-hand experience with the damage caused by Cerberus’ private equity model. Cerberus bought into Massachusetts’ Caritas Christi hospital system, in 2010, investing $246 million, rechristening it as Steward, and leaving Dr. Ralph de la Torre in charge as CEO. In 2020, Cerberus began to exit by transferring its ownership stake and then, over a six-year period, straddled Steward with over a billion dollars in liabilities – while Cerberus executives profited handsomely, receiving $800 million in profits. Unable to handle the massive debt load, Steward went bankrupt last year – resulting in the closure of two hospitals in the Commonwealth. 
    Mr. Feinberg is estimated to own about 75% of Cerberus, which holds large investments in companies that do business with DoD. These investments have included everything from a company testing hypersonic missile technology to an open-source internet scrapping company. They have also included companies that have defrauded the U.S. government. DynCorp, a private military contractor Cerberus previously owned, was sued by the Department of Justice for intentionally overcharging the Department of State while doing a contract overseas. The letter finds Cerberus has investments in at least 7 companies that do at least $15.9 billion in business with the DoD.
    “These holdings would pose a conflict of interest between your duty as Deputy Secretary to advance the Department’s national security interests and your personal interest in delivering profits for the defense companies in which you or Cerberus have invested,” said Senator Warren. 
    The Deputy Secretary is supposed to help ensure international law is followed, including protecting civilians from harm. However, the New York Times, found that “(f)our Saudis who participated in the 2018 killing of the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi received paramilitary training” from a company owned by Cerberus. 
    “If the Deputy Secretary has shown disregard for those laws, that will undermine the faith in these laws for the entire organization,” wrote Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren also questioned Mr. Feinberg’s qualifications to manage the Department. Beyond a lengthy business and political relationship with President Trump, Mr. Feinberg lacks military experience to lead the Department. Mr. Feinberg participated in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) while studying at Princeton University, but left the program before graduating. 
    “Without Department of Defense knowledge or experience in government leadership, I have doubts about your qualifications and how your past has prepared you to take on a role such as Deputy Secretary of Defense,” concluded Senator Warren. 
    Given Mr. Feinberg’s severe conflicts of interest, record of mismanagement and profiteering, and lack of relevant government experience, Senator Warren asked Mr. Feinberg to respond to questions about several areas of concern with his record, including his experience with private equity, potential ties to human rights violations, history of defrauding the federal government, and vision for managing a key part of the federal workforce by February 24, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 18th, 2025 Heinrich Demands Answers from FEMA About Elon Musk and DOGE’s Access to Disaster Victims’ Personal Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and 9 Senate Democrats demanded answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the potential security breach created by Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which has reportedly accessed the sensitive personal data of disaster victims.

    In a letter to the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator, the senators requested more information on the procedures FEMA follows to protect data from misuse, and if DOGE’s unaccountable agents were in compliance with federal law.

    “The United States has suffered from a growing number of natural disasters over the past several years — from severe flooding in Vermont and hurricanes in North Carolina, to catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii and California. In order to register for federal disaster assistance and receive help rebuilding their communities, our constituents have provided their personally identifiable information to FEMA. They did not do so with the expectation that their sensitive information would be turned over to unvetted, unaccountable DOGE agents,” the senators wrote to Cameron Hamilton, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator.

    “Mr. Musk has stated his desire to eliminate waste at FEMA. We agree the country must examine and thoughtfully consider reforms to the operation of FEMA. Our constituents have experienced first-hand the frustrating bureaucracies that hinder the federal disaster recovery process. Congress must take steps to equip FEMA and communities with the tools needed to better assist disaster victims after the storm has passed. We stand ready to work with anyone willing to fix it,” continued the senators. “But such reforms do not require, or come close to justifying, the invasive measures DOGE has reportedly undertaken.”

    The senators concluded, “When disaster strikes, Americans should have confidence the government will safeguard their data, regardless of the Administration at the helm. Reports indicate you have breached that trust — perhaps in violation of federal privacy law.”

    In their letter, the senators requested responses to the following questions to understand the scope of that breach and the extent of FEMA’s compliance with federal law:

    1. Please provide a complete list of individuals authorized by FEMA to access disaster victims’ data and records during the period between January 20, 2025, and February 14, 2025. Please indicate whether those individuals are employees of FEMA, the White House, DOGE, or another federal agency and specify the agency. If the individuals are not federal employees, please indicate that in your response. 
    2. What are the individuals specified above authorized to do with disaster victims’ data and records, and what types of data were obtained? 
    3. What procedures does FEMA follow to protect disaster victims’ data from misuse? Are DOGE-affiliated individuals required to follow those procedures?  
    4. How many Americans’ personally identifiable data has been accessed by DOGE-affiliated individuals? What vetting did these individuals undergo prior to their being granted access to FEMA systems?

    The full text of the letter is here and below:

    Dear Mr. Hamilton,

    We write with serious concern about reports that Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) has obtained access to sensitive information at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including the personal data of thousands of disaster victims.

    The United States has suffered from a growing number of natural disasters over the past several years—from severe flooding in Vermont, Minnesota, and Connecticut and hurricanes in North Carolina, to catastrophic wildfires in Hawai’i, California, New Mexico, and Oregon. In order to register for federal disaster assistance and receive help rebuilding their communities, our constituents have provided their personally identifiable information to FEMA. They did not do so with the expectation that their sensitive information would be turned over to unvetted, unaccountable DOGE agents.

    Mr. Musk has stated his desire to eliminate waste at FEMA. We agree the country must examine and thoughtfully consider reforms to the operation of FEMA. Our constituents have experienced first-hand the frustrating bureaucracies that hinder the federal disaster recovery process. Congress must take steps to equip FEMA and communities with the tools needed to better assist disaster victims after the storm has passed. We stand ready to work with anyone willing to fix it.

    But such reforms do not require, or come close to justifying, the invasive measures DOGE has reportedly undertaken.

    When disaster strikes, Americans should have confidence the government will safeguard their data, regardless of the Administration at the helm. Reports indicate you have breached that trust — perhaps in violation of federal privacy law.

    To understand the scope of that breach and the extent of your compliance with federal law, we request responses to the following items by no later than February 28, 2025:

    1. Please provide a complete list of individuals authorized by FEMA to access disaster victims’ data and records during the period between January 20, 2025, and February 14, 2025. Please indicate whether those individuals are employees of FEMA, the White House, DOGE, or another federal agency and specify the agency. If the individuals are not federal employees, please indicate that in your response.
    2. What are the individuals specified above authorized to do with disaster victims’ data and records, and what types of data were obtained?
    3. What procedures does FEMA follow to protect disaster victims’ data from misuse? Are DOGE-affiliated individuals required to follow those procedures?
    4. How many Americans’ personally identifiable data has been accessed by DOGE-affiliated individuals? What vetting did these individuals undergo prior to their being granted access to FEMA systems?

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 18th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján Raise Alarm Over Trump Admin Pushing Illegal Funding Cuts to NIH & Derailing Lifesaving Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    New Mexico receives $125 million in NIH funding that supports over 1,400 jobs and generates nearly $290 million in economic activity

    Heinrich and Luján: “The administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly”

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), alongside 45 Senate Democrats, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious concern over the Trump administration’s recent decisions that threaten to create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions in New Mexico, undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, jeopardize the U.S. economy, and endanger the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    “As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds,” the senators wrote.

    This month, the NIH announced it would set the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15% — creating a serious funding shortfall for research institutions of all types across the country. This move would dismantle the biomedical research system, stifle the development of new cures for diseases, and affect ongoing research important to New Mexicans such as clinical trial research at the University of New Mexico.

    Importantly, this change is not a cost savings. It a cost transfer to organizations that cannot afford to pay the difference. This action by the Trump administration is unlawful — Congress’ bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill prohibits modifications to NIH’s indirect costs.

    “This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly,” the senators wrote.

    The senators point out that, in addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NIH research supported more than 1,400 jobs and spurred nearly $290 million in new economic activity in New Mexico during Fiscal Year 2023.

    “The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications ‘pause’ enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research — they cost lives,” the senators continued.

    “Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted,” the senators concluded.

    Last week, a federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the NIH rate cut and set a hearing for February 21st.

    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    The text of the letter is here and below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy,

    We write to express our serious concern with the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine the nation’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump Administration has taken will create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars, and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds.

    Just last week, NIH announced an illegal plan to cap indirect cost rates that research institutions rely on. In capping indirect cost rates at 15 percent for NIH-funded grants, this policy would cut funding essential for conducting research, such as operating and maintaining laboratories, equipment, and research facilities. This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly.

    These confusing and harmful policy changes threaten patient safety. The strength of the American research enterprise – recognized as the best in the world – is built on Congress’ bipartisan commitment to supporting essential research infrastructure. This funding, which Congress has long appropriated on a bipartisan basis, fuels groundbreaking medical discoveries and cements the United States’ position as the global leader in biomedical research.

    In addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with everyone from custodians, to research trainees, to scientists facing potential layoffs. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023. Every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. These reckless policy changes not only threaten biomedical innovation and research, but also the livelihoods of thousands of workers in every state across the nation.

    The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research – they cost lives.

    The NIH plays a critical role in our nation’s efforts to fund scientific advancements that improve health and save lives. Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján Raise Alarm Over Trump Admin Pushing Illegal Funding Cuts to NIH & Derailing Lifesaving Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    New Mexico receives $125 million in NIH funding that supports over 1,400 jobs and generates nearly $290 million in economic activity

    Heinrich and Luján: “The administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), alongside 45 Senate Democrats, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious concern over the Trump administration’s recent decisions that threaten to create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions in New Mexico, undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, jeopardize the U.S. economy, and endanger the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    “As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds,” the senators wrote.

    This month, the NIH announced it would set the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15% — creating a serious funding shortfall for research institutions of all types across the country. This move would dismantle the biomedical research system, stifle the development of new cures for diseases, and affect ongoing research important to New Mexicans such as clinical trial research at the University of New Mexico.

    Importantly, this change is not a cost savings. It a cost transfer to organizations that cannot afford to pay the difference. This action by the Trump administration is unlawful — Congress’ bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill prohibits modifications to NIH’s indirect costs.

    “This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly,” the senators wrote.

    The senators point out that, in addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NIH research supported more than 1,400 jobs and spurred nearly $290 million in new economic activity in New Mexico during Fiscal Year 2023.

    “The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications ‘pause’ enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research — they cost lives,” the senators continued.

    “Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted,” the senators concluded.

    Last week, a federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the NIH rate cut and set a hearing for February 21st.

    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    The text of the letter is here and below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy,

    We write to express our serious concern with the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine the nation’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations. The steps the Trump Administration has taken will create a serious funding shortfall for research institutions nationwide, threaten to undermine progress on lifesaving scientific advancements, could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars, and threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers. 

    As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH plays a critical role in sustaining the research infrastructure necessary for scientific breakthroughs in cancer treatment, infectious disease prevention, and medical technology innovation, among many others. President Trump has wreaked havoc on the nation’s biomedical research system in recent weeks. In his first several days in office, President Trump imposed a hiring freeze, communications freeze, ban on travel, and cancellation of grant review and advisory panels that are necessary to advance research. While some of these efforts have been reversed, they continue to cause confusion and miscommunication among researchers and recipients of NIH funds.

    Just last week, NIH announced an illegal plan to cap indirect cost rates that research institutions rely on. In capping indirect cost rates at 15 percent for NIH-funded grants, this policy would cut funding essential for conducting research, such as operating and maintaining laboratories, equipment, and research facilities. This change to NIH’s indirect cost rate represents an indiscriminate funding cut that will be nothing short of catastrophic for the lifesaving research that patients and families are counting on. The Administration’s new policy means that research will come to a halt, sick kids may not get the treatment they need, and clinical trials may shut down abruptly.

    These confusing and harmful policy changes threaten patient safety. The strength of the American research enterprise – recognized as the best in the world – is built on Congress’ bipartisan commitment to supporting essential research infrastructure. This funding, which Congress has long appropriated on a bipartisan basis, fuels groundbreaking medical discoveries and cements the United States’ position as the global leader in biomedical research.

    In addition to the stifling impact on discovering new cures and ripping away treatment from those who need it, changes to NIH policy and communications threaten jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with everyone from custodians, to research trainees, to scientists facing potential layoffs. NIH research supported more than 412,000 jobs and fueled nearly $93 billion in new economic activity in Fiscal Year 2023. Every dollar the NIH invests in research generates almost $2.50 in economic activity. These reckless policy changes not only threaten biomedical innovation and research, but also the livelihoods of thousands of workers in every state across the nation.

    The Trump Administration has left researchers, universities, and health systems with great uncertainty about whether they can continue to support entire research programs and patient clinical trials across the country. Institutions and grantees nationwide are dealing with an unprecedented external communications “pause” enacted by new leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the lack of transparency regarding the Administration’s illegal funding freeze, and the uncertainty of how new Executive Orders would be applied to their critical work. These actions resulted in NIH freezing grant reviews and cancelling advisory meetings, delaying critical funding that scientists need to continue advancing new cures and treatments. These disruptions do not just slow research – they cost lives.

    The NIH plays a critical role in our nation’s efforts to fund scientific advancements that improve health and save lives. Our standing as a world leader in funding and producing new medical and scientific innovations has been put at risk by these recent actions from the Trump Administration. We urge you to stop playing political games with the lifesaving work of the NIH and to allow NIH research to continue uninterrupted.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Introduces American Investment in Manufacturing and Main Street Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) recently introduced the American Investment in Manufacturing and Main Street (AIMM) Act, legislation that would reinstate the Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) measure, supporting a competitive tax code for American job creators and businesses. Reinstating EBITDA will make it easier for capital-intensive companies to raise capital or obtain financing, protect U.S. jobs and wages, and strengthen global competition.
    “After years of sustained inflation, high interest rates, and increased taxes burdening U.S. businesses due in part to the failed policies of the Biden administration, additional limitations jeopardize American manufacturers, retailers, and service providers’ ability to compete across global markets. This legislation would reinstate a needed measure to encourage industrial growth, increase jobs and wages at all levels, and contribute to America’s economy. I’m proud to support American workers and businesses by leading the introduction of this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in this effort,” Senator Capito said.
    Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.-03), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.-01), and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.-10).
    BACKGROUND:
    Prior to 2022, businesses could deduct 30% of its EBITDA. A new limitation that went into effect would limit the deduction to only EBIT. This change is an added cost to businesses environment in the U.S. and could harm global competition. This restriction harms a wide range of industries including – but not limited to – American manufacturers, broadband providers, healthcare systems, and restaurants. Without this change, businesses will on average see close to a threefold increase in their incremental tax obligations
    The legislation has been endorsed by: The National Association of Manufacturers, Business Roundtable, Global Business Alliance, RAIN Coalition, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, West Virginia Manufacturers Association, Rural Broadband Association (NTCA), Americans for Tax Reform, Inspire Brands, National Restaurant Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Taxpayers Union, Novelis, and Charter Communications.
    Click here to read what others are saying about the legislation.
    Click here for full text of the legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News –