NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Scott Turner as HUD Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.05.25

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Eric “Scott” Turner to serve as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

    “Congratulations to Secretary Turner on his confirmation to lead HUD,” said Hoeven. “With his experience advancing Opportunity Zones to revitalize and bring investment to economically distressed areas and his background in housing, he will be a great partner as we work to ensure Americans have access to safe and affordable housing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Peters Introduce Legislation to Help Ensure Access to Safe Infant Formula, Prevent Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.05.25

    WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced bipartisan legislation to help prevent future infant formula shortages. The senators’ bill comes in response to bacterial contamination at an infant formula manufacturing plant in Michigan that caused the deaths of 9 infants and infant formula recalls that triggered a nationwide shortage in 2022. The legislation would strengthen U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of infant formula manufacturing to improve the security of U.S. infant formula supply and ensure American families have access to safe formula.

    “Access to safe infant formula is essential for families across the U.S., and as shortages in recent years have demonstrated, improvements are needed to ensure our nation continues to have a secure supply of this important product,” said Senator Hoeven. “Our legislation would build greater resiliency into the infant formula market, helping to protect against contamination and bolstering supplies to prevent future shortages.”

    “As a father and grandfather, I was devastated for the parents who lost their children. Parents deserve to know with complete confidence that the formula they are giving their babies is safe. I’m working to make sure something like that never, ever happens again,” said Senator Peters. “This commonsense bill would help intercept contaminated formula from reaching the shelves in the first place by allowing the FDA to have a hand in testing for dangerous bacteria. Doing so will help protect our children, but also prevent families from facing another nationwide shortage where folks were struggling to both find and afford infant formula.”

    The Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act (PIFCA) would take a three-pronged approach to reduce the risk of infant formula contamination. Specifically, the bill would: 

    • Strengthen safety reporting and ensure timely corrective action.
      • The bill requires infant formula manufacturers to conduct testing for Cronobacter or Salmonella in infant formula marketed for consumption.
      • The legislation also requires manufacturers to notify FDA within one business day of detecting contamination, while setting timelines for investigation and corrective action.
      • This improves upon current law, under which manufacturers are only required to notify the FDA if the product has left the company’s control.
    • Enhance market resiliency.
      • The FDA would be required to monitor and quarterly report on the in-stock rates of infant formula, as well as work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies to ensure markets can meet demand over the long term.
    • Increase accountability and consultation.
      • The FDA would be required to issue a progress report to Congress on implementation of the long-term national strategy that it developed after the 2022 recall and shortage.
      • The bill would also require FDA to consult with industry on contamination mitigation best practices and ways to maximize infant formula supply.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch, Blackburn Introduce Bill to Dismantle Unlawful IRS Direct File Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) introduced the Fostering Autonomy in Independent Returns by Prohibiting Redundant and Extralegal Programs (FAIR PREP) Act. 

    This legislation would end the Biden-Harris Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) blatant overreach by terminating its unauthorized “Direct File” tax filing program. By barring the agency from unlawfully preparing taxpayer returns without congressional approval, the FAIR PREP Act would establish crucial safeguards to protect American taxpayers and prevent future attempts by the IRS to sidestep Congress.

    “The IRS’ Direct File program is costly, unnecessary, and unconstitutional,” said Risch. “The FAIR PREP Act prevents the IRS from railroading Congressional authority, and allows Idahoans to file their taxes as they see fit.” 

    “By taking on the role of both tax preparer and tax auditor, the IRS created an undeniable conflict of interest when it circumvented Congress to establish the Direct File program,” said Blackburn. “This legislation would right this wrong by stopping the IRS from preparing tax returns without explicit legislative approval and ending this wasteful and misguided program.” 

    This legislation is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).

    BACKGROUND:  

    • In 2024, the Biden-Harris IRS launched the “Direct File” tax-preparation program without congressional authorization. Roughly 140,000 taxpayers utilized the new filing option – less than 1% of the estimated 19 million eligible taxpayers.

    • Last year, Attorneys General from 13 states sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury suggesting that the IRS’s unilateral decision to create the program was “unnecessary and unconstitutional.” Despite low utilization rates and objections from congressional Republicans, the IRS announced that it would make the program permanent.

    • The IRS estimates the program could cost up to $249 million annually, diverting resources from addressing longstanding agency shortfalls. Last month, a U.S. Government Accountability Office report revealed the agency has already abandoned plans to hire additional staff and is reallocating hundreds of employees from its taxpayer-services account.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Demands Answers About DOGE’s Illegal Seizure of Americans’ Private Data

    US Senate News:

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

    February 05, 2025

    WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today demanded White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles answer questions about the acute risks posed to national security by letting unvetted ‘DOGE’ staff rifle through Americans’ private data and classified government materials. 

    Wyden, along with fellow Senate Intelligence Committee members Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), demanded the administration provide details to Congress about how DOGE staff and representatives are being vetted for security clearance; which systems, records and information are being shared; and what steps the administration is taking to safeguard them from misuse or disclosure.

    “According to press reports, DOGE inspectors already have gained access to classified materials, including intelligence reports, at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sensitive government payment systems, including for Social Security and Medicare, at the Treasury Department, and federal personnel data from the Office of Personnel Management. Further, as of today the scope of DOGE’s access only seems to be expanding, as reports indicate DOGE has now entered the Department of Labor and other agencies,” the senators wrote. “No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information.”

    “As you know, information is classified to protect the national security interests of the United States. Government employees and contractors only receive access to such information after they have undergone a rigorous background investigation and demonstrated a ‘need to know.’ Circumventing these requirements creates enormous counterintelligence and security risks,” warned the senators. “For example, improper access to facilities and systems containing security clearance files of Intelligence Community personnel puts at risk the safety of the men and women who serve this country. In addition, unauthorized access to classified information risks exposure of our operations and potentially compromises not only our own sources and methods, but also those of our allies and partners. If our sources, allies, and partners stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust us to protect it, we will all be less safe.”

    The senators added, “Unclassified government systems also contain sensitive data, the unintended disclosure of which could result in significant harm to individuals or organizations, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure of medical and other private personal information. The U.S. Treasury payment systems, in particular, are used to disburse trillions of dollars each year, and contain everyday Americans’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and bank accounts. Allowing DOGE access to this information raises unprecedented risks to Americans’ private personal and financial information.”

    “Such unregulated practices with our government’s most sensitive networks render Americans’ personal and financial information, and our classified national secrets, vulnerable to ransomware and cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign adversaries. The recent unprecedented Salt Typhoon and Change Healthcare attacks that affected tens of millions of Americans further underscore the importance of rigorously fortifying our government systems,” the senators cautioned.

    Finally, the senators also noted there are strict cybersecurity controls in place for federal networks which DOGE does not seem to be following, including by reportedly connecting personal devices to sensitive government systems and using personal emails. The senators concluded, “To underscore, DOGE seems to have unimpeded access to some of our nation’s most sensitive information, including classified materials and the private personal and financial information of everyday Americans. In light of such unprecedented risks to our national and economic security, we expect your immediate attention and prompt response.”

    The full text of the letter is here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senate Intelligence Members Sound the Alarm about “DOGE” Risk to National Security and American Privacy

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, along with Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), wrote to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about the risks to our national security of allowing unvetted DOGE staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials. The Committee members demanded that the administration provide details to Congress about how DOGE staff and representatives are being vetted, which systems, records and information are being shared, and what steps the administration is taking to safeguard them from misuse or disclosure.

    “According to press reports, DOGE inspectors already have gained access to classified materials, including intelligence reports, at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sensitive government payment systems, including for Social Security and Medicare, at the Treasury Department, and federal personnel data from the Office of Personnel Management. Further, as of today the scope of DOGE’s access only seems to be expanding, as reports indicate DOGE has now entered the Department of Labor and other agencies,” the senators wrote. “No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information.”

    The senators added, “As you know, information is classified to protect the national security interests of the United States. Government employees and contractors only receive access to such information after they have undergone a rigorous background investigation and demonstrated a ‘need to know.’ Circumventing these requirements creates enormous counterintelligence and security risks. For example, improper access to facilities and systems containing security clearance files of Intelligence Community personnel puts at risk the safety of the men and women who serve this country. In addition, unauthorized access to classified information risks exposure of our operations and potentially compromises not only our own sources and methods, but also those of our allies and partners. If our sources, allies, and partners stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust us to protect it, we will all be less safe.”

    The senators also raised alarms about the privacy implications of allowing an unknown number of DOGE staff to access unclassified systems containing information about individual American taxpayers and organizations. 

    Wrote the senators, “Unclassified government systems also contain sensitive data, the unintended disclosure of which could result in significant harm to individuals or organizations, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure of medical and other private personal information. The U.S. Treasury payment systems, in particular, are used to disburse trillions of dollars each year, and contain everyday Americans’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and bank accounts. Allowing DOGE access to this information raises unprecedented risks to Americans’ private personal and financial information.”

    Finally, the senators also noted that there are strict cybersecurity controls in place for federal networks which DOGE does not seem to be following, including by reportedly connecting personal devices to sensitive government systems.

    “Such unregulated practices with our government’s most sensitive networks render Americans’ personal and financial information, and our classified national secrets, vulnerable to ransomware and cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign adversaries. The recent unprecedented Salt Typhoon and Change Healthcare attacks that affected tens of millions of Americans further underscore the importance of rigorously fortifying our government systems,” the letter says. 

    The full text of the letter is available here and below. 

    Dear Ms. Wiles,

    We write to express our grave concern with the illegal actions currently being undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which risk exposure of classified and other sensitive information that jeopardizes national security and violates Americans’ privacy. The January 20 Executive Order establishes DOGE under the Executive Office of the President with DOGE Teams established by Agency Heads within their respective agencies, and requires the Administrator of DOGE to report to the White House Chief of Staff. According to press reports, DOGE inspectors already have gained access to classified materials, including intelligence reports, at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sensitive government payment systems, including for Social Security and Medicare, at the Treasury Department, and federal personnel data from the Office of Personnel Management. Further, as of today the scope of DOGE’s access only seems to be expanding, as reports indicate DOGE has now entered the Department of Labor and other agencies.

    No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information.

    As you know, information is classified to protect the national security interests of the United States. Government employees and contractors only receive access to such information after they have undergone a rigorous background investigation and demonstrated a “need to know.”  Circumventing these requirements creates enormous counterintelligence and security risks. For example, improper access to facilities and systems containing security clearance files of Intelligence Community personnel puts at risk the safety of the men and women who serve this country. In addition, unauthorized access to classified information risks exposure of our operations and potentially compromises not only our own sources and methods, but also those of our allies and partners. If our sources, allies, and partners stop sharing intelligence because they cannot trust us to protect it, we will all be less safe.

    Unclassified government systems also contain sensitive data, the unintended disclosure of which could result in significant harm to individuals or organizations, including financial loss, identity theft, and exposure of medical and other private personal information. The U.S. Treasury payment systems, in particular, are used to disburse trillions of dollars each year, and contain everyday Americans’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and bank accounts. Allowing DOGE access to this information raises unprecedented risks to Americans’ private personal and financial information.

    Moreover, there are strict cybersecurity controls for accessing federal networks, which DOGE does not seem to be following, including by reportedly connecting personal devices to sensitive government systems. Such unregulated practices with our government’s most sensitive networks render Americans’ personal and financial information, and our classified national secrets, vulnerable to ransomware and cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign adversaries. The recent unprecedented Salt Typhoon and Change Healthcare attacks that affected tens of millions of Americans further underscore the importance of rigorously fortifying our government systems.

    The Executive Branch cannot operate without regard to rules, regulations, or Congressional oversight. The American people, and our intelligence officials, deserve to know that their information is being appropriately safeguarded. We therefore respectfully request written responses to the following questions by February 14, 2025:

    1. Provide a list of personnel operating under DOGE, their position or role, and their duties. 
    2. Pursuant to the Executive Order, DOGE teams are to be established by Agency Heads within their respective agencies. Provide a list of each agency that has established a DOGE team, and the agency personnel overseeing such team.
    3. Under what authorities is DOGE conducting its operations?
    4. Who is overseeing DOGE’s operations? 
    5. Provide a list of each agency DOGE has requested information from.
    6. Provide a list of all unclassified systems, records, or other information DOGE has requested and/or gained access to. 
    7. Provide a list of all classified systems, records, or other information DOGE has requested and/or gained access to.
    8. Do DOGE staff or representatives have access to any Intelligence Community systems, networks, or other information? If so, please specify the extent of such access.
    9. Under what authority is DOGE requesting and/or gaining access to classified information?
    10. What security clearances have been provided to DOGE staff or representatives, and who has authorized such clearances?
    11. What processes have been followed prior to granting security clearances to DOGE staff or representatives?
    12. What vetting for potential conflicts of interest has been conducted prior to granting clearances or access to government systems, records, or other information to DOGE staff or representatives?
    13. Provide a list of each DOGE staff or representative who has requested and/or gained access to classified information, what clearance each such individual holds, and who authorized each security clearance. 
    14. Who is supervising and/or monitoring DOGE employee access to classified information?
    15. What processes have been followed prior to granting DOGE staff or representatives access to sensitive government systems and networks, and who has authorized such access?
    16. Who is supervising and/or monitoring DOGE employee access to sensitive government systems and networks?
    17. Has DOGE briefed you, the White House Chief of Staff, on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing classified and other sensitive information? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
    18. Has DOGE briefed you, the White House Chief of Staff, on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing government networks and systems? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
    19. Has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency been briefed on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing Treasury’s payment systems? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.  
    20. Has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency been briefed on the counterintelligence and other risks of DOGE staff or representatives accessing USAID’s classified and other sensitive information, including security clearance files? If so, please specify the date of the briefing and those in attendance.
    21. What actions if any has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency taken to ensure DOGE employee access does not create counterintelligence risks?
    22. What actions if any has the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and/or the Central Intelligence Agency taken to ensure DOGE employee access does not compromise classified or other sensitive intelligence and/or personal information of intelligence community officials?  

    To underscore, DOGE seems to have unimpeded access to some of our nation’s most sensitive information, including classified materials and the private personal and financial information of everyday Americans. In light of such unprecedented risks to our national and economic security, we expect your immediate attention and prompt response.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Statement on the Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the statement below following her appointment to the Senate Judiciary Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights and Privacy, Technology, and the Law subcommittees.

    “Tech innovation strengthens our economy and touches every aspect of our lives, but there is still so much we must do to put guardrails in place and protect Americans – from children exposed to harmful content and illegal drugs to consumers who have no privacy protections. We also must continue the momentum on reforms to ensure we strengthen our antitrust laws to lower costs and ensure American markets are strong and breed innovation through competition.  

    Senator Blackburn – the Chair of the Technology Subcommittee – and I and a number of the other members of the subcommittee have worked together on legislation in this area, and I look forward to working with her and the entire committee. As Ranking Member of the Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee and a member of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, I will work across the aisle to make progress on these crucial issues.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Graham: Senate Budget Committee Will Move Forward On A Budget Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today announced the committee will mark up the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget resolution next week.

    The FY 2025 budget resolution will be the blueprint that unlocks the pathway forward for a fully paid for reconciliation bill to secure the border, bolster our military and increase American energy independence.

    “To those who believe that Republicans should fulfill their promises on border security, mass deportation of criminal illegal aliens: I agree.

    “That is why the Senate Budget Committee will be moving forward next week to give the Trump Administration’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, the money he needs to finish the wall, hire ICE agents to deport criminal illegal immigrants, and create more detention beds so that we do not release more dangerous people into the country.

    “This will be the most transformational border security bill in the history of our country.

    “It’s time to act.”

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Colleagues Urge Trump to Reinstate Inspectors General After Illegally Firing Them 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    Senators: “Removing these non-partisan watchdogs without providing a substantive and non-political reason is not lawful…”

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and 39 of his Senate colleagues wrote to President Donald Trump strongly condemning his recent decision to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies and called on the President to immediately reinstate the officials.

    “The federal government and the American people count on these officials to operate in a professional and non-partisan way to hold our government accountable – regardless of who is in power,” wrote the senators. “Without strong, qualified and independent officials to lead these critical efforts, the Administration risks wasting taxpayer dollars, and allowing fraud and misconduct to go unchecked.”

    IGs provide independent oversight of federal programs and play a key role in improving government efficiency and effectiveness. President Trump removed IGs from at least 18 departments and agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services.

    According to the Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act, which was signed into law in 2022, the President is required to provide a 30-day notice and substantive reasons for removal in writing to Congress before an Inspector General can be removed. President Trump failed to alert Congress or provide substantive reasoning. 

    “These officials, which include those appointed by Presidents of both parties, including many during your first Administration, collectively conduct oversight of trillions of dollars of federal spending and the conduct of millions of federal employees,” continued the senators. “Removing these non-partisan watchdogs without providing a substantive and non-political reason is not lawful, and undermines their independence, jeopardizing their critical mission to identify and root out waste, fraud, and abuse within federal programs.”

    Full text of the letter available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan, Colleagues Demand Greater Accountability at VA Following Budget Shortfall Fiasco

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

    02.05.25

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), and 10 of his Senate colleagues today introduced the Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act, legislation to establish greater accountability and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after a stunning multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall in 2024 followed by a multi-billion-dollar surplus two months later. This budget debacle came after the VA mismanaged funds, resulting in $10 million dollars’ worth of bonuses being improperly awarded to senior management at the VA. These bonuses ranged from $40,000 to $100,000 each, significantly more than the average disability benefits a veteran receives in a year.

    The Pro VETS Act will institute a three-year requirement for the VA to provide quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress to encourage greater oversight and financial accountability, and also withhold bonuses for senior VA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) personnel if there are future financial shortfalls.

    “Last year, we witnessed a shocking budget debacle, with the VA saying veterans’ hard-earned benefits were in peril if the VA didn’t immediately receive billions of dollars in additional funds—only to find out weeks later that no such shortfall exists,” Sen. Sullivan said. “Congress cannot become numb to these kinds of scandals and gross mismanagement. My colleagues and I are demanding basic accountability at the VA, including quarterly in-person budget reports to Congress and the withholding of bonuses for senior VA and OMB leaders involved in any future budget debacle. I urge my colleagues to join us in this effort to put commonsense guardrails on VA leadership and safeguard the benefits of our courageous veterans who’ve sacrificed so much on our behalf.”

    The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.),  Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

    Below is a timeline of Sen. Sullivan and his colleagues’ recent work to address the lack of accountability at the VA:

    • In the summer of 2024, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) announced that it was experiencing a historic budget shortfall of $15 billion and would need $3 billion immediately to ensure the delivery of veterans’ benefits.
    • On July 31, 2024, Senators Sullivan and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) sent a letter to the SVAC chairman demanding an immediate hearing on the reported budget shortfall.
    • On September 18, 2024, SVAC held a hearing on the funding shortfall and Sen. Sullivan introduced the PRO Vets Act.
    • On September 19, 2024, Sen. Sullivan attempted to pass the PRO Vets Act as an amendment to a VA supplemental funding package, but it was blocked by Senate Democrats.
    • On November 18, 2024, Sen. Sullivan and 15 of his colleagues sent a letter to the SVAC chairman demanding greater accountability and oversight of the VA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Utah’s Senators Introduce Bills for Navy and Coast Guard Readiness

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    WASHINGTON –Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator John Curtis (R-UT) introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing the readiness and capabilities of the United States Navy and Coast Guard. The “Ensuring Naval Readiness Act” and the “Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act” are designed to modernize and expedite the construction and procurement processes for U.S. maritime forces by fostering increased collaboration with allied nations.

    “Both bills are about leveraging our diplomatic relationships and the comparative advantages of our allies to ensure America remains at the forefront of maritime security,” said Senator Lee. “By modernizing our approach to shipbuilding and repair, we can enhance our readiness and maintain our military edge, all while ensuring fiscal responsibility.”

    “The Ensuring Naval Readiness Act and the Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act take common-sense measures to strengthen America’s Navy and Coast Guard while keeping costs down and reinforcing our alliances with trusted partners.” said Senator Curtis. “I am pleased to support Senator Lee on these bills that ensure we remain ready to meet our national security threats.”

    “The Ensuring Naval Readiness Act” addresses the critical shortfall in our naval forces, echoing the Force Structure Assessment’s recommendation for a fleet of 355 ships to ensure a ready and capable Navy. By allowing the option to construct ships or components in shipyards of NATO member countries or Indo-Pacific nations with which the U.S. has mutual defense agreements, this bill aims to reduce costs and speed up delivery times, helping to close the gap between current capabilities and strategic needs.

    Following closely, “The Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act” proposes a strategic shift in the construction of U.S. Coast Guard vessels. This legislation permits the Coast Guard to partner with allied shipyards to procure vessels more quickly and cost-effectively, without compromising national security. It specifically allows for the construction of major vessel components in foreign shipyards not influenced by adversarial powers, particularly China.

    For further details on the bills or to review bill texts and summaries, please click the links below:

    Ensuring Naval Readiness Act: Bill Text | One-Pager
    Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act: Bill Text | One-Pager

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barrasso, Colleagues Introduce Enhancing Energy Recovery Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming John Barrasso

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced legislation to enhance carbon capture incentives and energy production.

    The Enhancing Energy Recovery Act (S. 425) would create parity under the Section 45Q carbon capture tax credit by giving across-the-board, equal treatment for carbon captured for increased energy production, utilization, and sequestration.

    “Wyoming proudly leads the way on carbon capture projects. We have used this technology to take carbon out of the air and find alternate, productive uses for it,” said Senator Barrasso. “Using carbon for enhanced oil and natural gas recovery has proven to significantly increase energy production while reducing carbon emissions. Changes to Section 45Q made it harder for American energy producers and manufacturers to take advantage of this credit. Our bill will fix this policy and ensure equal treatment for energy production, utilization, and sequestration. By bolstering our national energy security, we can support Wyoming’s energy workers and lower costs for Americans across the country.”

    “Investing in the infrastructure to capture carbon means investing in tens of thousands of Louisiana jobs. And with Louisiana’s primacy over permitting, it will also create tens of billions of dollars of other investment,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Let’s help Louisiana continue to lead as an energy and manufacturing state.”

    “North Dakota is leading the way in cracking the code on carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies. This legislation will help to advance these technologies by making the tax credit for enhanced oil recovery and utilization the same as the tax credit for storage,” said Senator Hoeven. “Streamlining these benefits will enable more businesses to invest in these advanced technologies, boost economic growth, and help make America not only energy secure but energy dominant.”

    This legislation is supported by the Wyoming Energy Authority, Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Carbon Utilization Research Council (CURC), Domestic Energy Producers Alliance (DEPA), Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), National Rural Electric Cooperatives, CO2 Solutions Coalition, and the Compressed Gas Association.

    “At a time where energy demand is soaring, it is more important than ever to ensure that the United States relies on domestic energy sources for our security. Wyoming has long been a leader in carbon management, whether it be using CO2 as a commodity for enhanced oil recovery or paving the way with CCUS technologies. Capturing CO2 and using it to increase our domestic production, keeping energy reliable and affordable for all Americans, is a win for our nation. This bill is a crucial piece of legislation to ensure a level playing field for the growing markets that use CO2. We applaud Senator Barrasso’s continued leadership and efforts to support Wyoming’s energy industry.” – Rob Creager, Executive Director of the Wyoming Energy Authority

    “Senator Barrasso’s Enhancing Energy Recovery Act is the right approach for Wyoming’s oil and gas producers, and for national energy policy. In Wyoming, CO2 is a useful commodity, not a waste product, and so long as there is equal tax treatment for using CO2 to recover oil and gas, I’m confident Wyoming will benefit. We applaud Senator Barrasso and urge speedy passage of the Enhancing Energy Recovery Act.” – Pete Obermueller, President, Petroleum Association of Wyoming

    “The Carbon Utilization Research Council (CURC) is pleased to support Senator Barrasso’s Enhancing Energy Recovery Act. As a coalition focused on the responsible use of our nation’s fossil resources, CURC commends the Senator’s efforts to create parity under the Section 45Q carbon sequestration tax credit by giving equal treatment for CO? captured for increased energy production, utilization, and sequestration. Expanding the use of CO? for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) not only helps facilitate the development of large-scale CCS deployment across the country, but also promotes a practical, market-driven approach to lowering emissions and producing a lower CO?-intensity barrel of oil. CURC looks forward to working with Senator Barrasso to advance this legislation as well as other policies that accelerate the development and deployment of CCS solutions.” – Shannon Angielski, Executive Director, CURC

    The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) supports Senator Barrasso’s Enhancing Energy Recovery Act. Providing parity between carbon sequestration and utilization within the tax code ensures that CO2 is captured and stored in the most economically viable manner possible. The bill further incentivizes companies to continue to use direct air capture technology, fostering ongoing development and deployment of these cutting-edge emissions reduction technologies with the promise of working toward the goals of overall emissions reduction in the United States. IPAA thanks Senator Barrasso for taking a pragmatic, forward looking approach to management of carbon dioxide emissions.” – Jeff Eshelman, President & CEO, Independent Petroleum Association of America

    “We are pleased to express our strong support for Senator Barrasso’s Enhancing Energy Recovery Act, which takes a critical step forward in leveling the playing field for carbon dioxide sequestration. This balanced approach provides a powerful incentive for the oil and gas industry to continue its leadership in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) while also recognizing the role of EOR in safely managing carbon dioxide and extending the productive life of oil fields. Senator Barrasso’s vision for equitable treatment of carbon management technologies aligns with the industry’s commitment to reducing emissions, enhancing energy security, and delivering economic benefits to rural communities.” – Jerry R. Simmons, President & CEO, Domestic Energy Producers Alliance

    Full text of the legislation can be found here.

    Background:

    The Enhancing Energy Recovery Act will:

    • Increase the effective value of the 45Q tax credit for captured carbon used in enhanced oil recovery and utilization to match that of sequestration.
    • Currently, the full tax credit incentive for carbon used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and utilization is $60/metric ton, while the value for sequestration is $85/metric ton. This bill sets all three values at $85/metric ton for EOR, utilization, and sequestration.
    • Additionally, the bill creates equal treatment for carbon captured through Direct Air Capture (DAC). It increases the value of DAC-captured carbon used for EOR and utilization by increasing the incentive from $130/metric ton, up to $180/metric ton, consistent with the current value of captured carbon used in sequestration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Congressional Delegation Celebrates UVM Men’s Soccer Team National Championship

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.),and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large), today celebrated Senate passage of a Resolution recognizing the University of Vermont (UVM) Men’s Soccer Team for winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division I championship.  
    “Congratulations to the UVM Men’s Soccer Team on an incredible season that finished with the program’s first-ever NCAA Division I National Championship title. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, talent, and sportsmanship displayed by the team throughout this historic season. Their championship victory truly showcased the very best of Vermont values and proved that we are, in fact, a soccer state. Our resolution forever encapsulates this special moment for Vermonters and the Cardiac Cats,” said the Vermont Congressional Delegation.  
    Read the full resolution. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermont Delegation Reintroduces Bill to Redraw Boundaries of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Woodstock

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) today reintroduced the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act, legislation to extend the boundary of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to include the neighboring King Farm, which is currently owned by the Vermont Land Trust.  
    “The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is a treasure for Vermont and our nation,” said Senator Sanders. “Vermont’s forests and working farms have always been vital to our economy and critical to our character as a state. I’m pleased this bill will continue Vermont’s conservation legacy by expanding this park and helping to conserve land for agriculture, forestry, and educational purposes for future generations.” 
    “The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is a unique example of how decades of conservation and stewardship have shaped our landscape with Vermont Values. As Vermont’s first and only national park, it plays an important role in conservation and educating folks about our state’s rich agricultural heritage,” said Senator Welch. “By expanding the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to include the King Farm, our bill will create new enrichment opportunities and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate this historical treasure.” 
    “In Vermont, we care deeply about the preservation, stewardship, and the future of our parks and lands,” said Rep. Balint. “I’m proud to take action to strengthen this partnership and ensure that King Farm has the resources it needs for trail maintenance, conservation, and land management. I’m grateful to work with Senator Welch and Sanders and our shared commitment to our state’s outdoor recreation.” 
    Located in Woodstock, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park preserves a significant historical, agricultural, and natural landscape. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park became Vermont’s first and only national park when it opened its doors to the public in 1998. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park commemorates the historical contributions of its namesakes—George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Billings, and Mary French Rockefeller—preserves Vermont’s proud agricultural heritage, and conserves native forestland ecosystems. It also provides countless educational opportunities for visitors, protects archaeological sites, and showcases historic architecture. 
    The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act would also codify the National Park Service Stewardship Institute housed at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to support educational programing, research, community engagement, and conservation efforts throughout the National Park System. Additionally, the bill would authorize the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to acquire the King Farm from willing property owners in the future, without requiring its sale. 
    The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act is endorsed by the Vermont Land Trust and the National Parks Conservation Association and has the support of the Town of Woodstock: 
    “The Town of Woodstock is happy with this legislation as we have an outstanding and cooperative relationship with the National Park Service and our residents enjoy all the activities and services they currently offer,” said Eric Duffy, Municipal Manager, Town of Woodstock. “The Park is a massive tourist draw and a vital part of our community.” 
    “We welcome the opportunity to partner more closely with NPS in enhancing access to land and programming at King Farm. The timing aligns perfectly with our efforts to raise funds and invest in King Farm as a place-based educational resource for learners of all ages, alongside community partners,” said Tracy Zschau, President and CEO, Vermont Land Trust. 
    “Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is one of the first places to champion conservation in America,” said Todd Martin, Northeast Senior Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. “You can’t tell the story of Vermont without farming, and expanding the park boundary will help us do that by including the historic King Farm within the park boundary. One of the oldest working farms in Vermont, this expanded landscape will enhance public access and better connect trails to the town of Woodstock. We’re grateful to Senators Welch, Sanders and Congresswoman Balint for their leadership and unwavering support for Vermont’s beloved national park.” 
    Learn more about the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act. 
    Read the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse: Trump’s Shutdown of USAID Will Cause Human Suffering Abroad & Weaken U.S. National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Recognizing that diplomacy and development play a key role alongside defense when it comes to U.S. national security, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Tim Kaine (D-VA) and 34 of their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their deep concern regarding the growing chaos and dysfunction at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

    USAID is a critical pillar of U.S. national security strategy, providing lifesaving aid and development support around the world to help ensure stability. Yesterday, personnel at USAID were not permitted to enter the agency’s headquarters, and Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump agreed to close the agency and move it under the State Department – which Trump has no legal authority to do. The Trump Administration, led by Mr. Musk, has also furloughed thousands of senior career civil servants, including two top security officials who denied Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency access to classified documents and systems.

    “…We are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners,” wrote the 37 U.S. Senators.

    The senators continued, “The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy. The Administration’s failure to expend funds appropriated on a bipartisan basis by Congress would violate the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “Foreign assistance is critical to supporting U.S. strategic interests around the world. Foreign assistance protects U.S. national security, advances U.S. values, and ensures the U.S. is the partner of choice for everything from defense procurement to cutting edge scientific research. China, Russia and Iran are already moving rapidly to exploit the vacuum and instability left by the U.S.’s sudden global retreat,” wrote the senators.

    They continued, “Every Administration has the right to review and adjust ongoing assistance programming. However, attempting to arbitrarily turn off core functions of a critical U.S. national security agency, without Congressional consideration or any metric-based review and absent legal authority to do so, is unprecedented and deeply disturbing.”

    In addition to Kaine, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Angus S. King (I-ME), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

    The full text of the letter follows.

    Dear Secretary Rubio:

    The effective administration of U.S. foreign assistance is critical to advancing core U.S. national security priorities, including countering the influence of China, Russia and Iran. As you acknowledged at your confirmation hearing, pushing back on China in particular is a top bipartisan priority. 

    As such, we are deeply concerned by reports of not only growing chaos and dysfunction at the Department of State, but the Administration’s brazen and illegal attempts to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mass personnel furloughs of dubious legality and abrupt, blanket stop-work orders without regard to relevant appropriations laws are causing immediate harm to U.S. national security, placing U.S. citizens at risk, disrupting life-saving work and breaking the U.S. government’s contractual obligations to private sector partners.

    The Administration’s failure to consult with Congress prior to taking these steps violates the law and impedes Congress’s constitutional duty to conduct oversight of funding, personnel and the nation’s foreign policy. The Administration’s failure to expend funds appropriated on a bipartisan basis by Congress would violate the Impoundment Control Act.

    Foreign assistance is critical to supporting U.S. strategic interests around the world. Foreign assistance protects U.S. national security, advances U.S. values, and ensures the U.S. is the partner of choice for everything from defense procurement to cutting edge scientific research. China, Russia and Iran are already moving rapidly to exploit the vacuum and instability left by the U.S.’s sudden global retreat.

    Every Administration has the right to review and adjust ongoing assistance programming. However, attempting to arbitrarily turn off core functions of a critical U.S. national security agency, without Congressional consideration or any metric-based review and absent legal authority to do so, is unprecedented and deeply disturbing.

    We request immediate clarification on the following:

    Status of USAID:

    1.         Confirmation of your understanding that any effort to abolish USAID or merge USAID into the Department of State absent Congressional consultation and approval is illegal.

    2.         Confirmation of your understanding that adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran are quickly moving into the vacuum left by suspended USAID programs. 

    3.         The Department of State’s assessment of Mr. Elon Musk’s financial ties to China and the impact of these ties to the decision-making process of Mr. Musk and his employees.

    4.         Confirmation that neither you nor any member of your leadership team are taking direction from Mr. Musk with regards to the work of the Department of State or USAID, personnel or financial decisions for either agency, or any other matters relevant to U.S. national security. 

    5.         Confirmation of the names and employment status of individuals directed by Mr. Musk to engage with USAID staff, the qualifications of these individuals, and the level of their security clearances – if any.

    Personnel:

    1.         Confirmation of your understanding that any unauthorized access by or disclosure of classified information to individuals without appropriate security clearance could be considered a criminal offense.

    2.         The legal authority and rationale under which, on January 28, more than 50 senior career civil and foreign service USAID officials were placed on administrative leave. This move was not only unprecedented, but also inconsistent with the Office of Personnel Management’s own guidelines for the use of administrative leave.

    3.         The legal authority under which, on January 28, approximately 390 USAID Institutional Support Contractors (ISCs) were given stop-work orders, and clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this termination.

    4.         Whether any Department of State career civil and foreign service or contractors have been placed on administrative leave or removed from their roles as a result of or relating to the assistance freeze or any directives from the Office of Foreign Assistance.

    5.         Clarification of which Administration official directed the implementation of this mass furlough.

    6.         Clarification of whether these individuals were directed to be terminated without cause.

    7.         Confirmation that personnel will not face retaliation or retribution for performing their duties under the previous Administration’s policy direction.

    8.         Under what authorities and by which official’s directive career civil service, foreign service, and Personal Services Contractors (PSC), and those under other hiring authorities have been removed from their roles or limited in their ability to execute their work.

    9.         Confirmation that further career civil service, foreign service and USAID contractors will not be removed from their roles without cause or receive stop work orders.

    10.       Whether, upon full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities, the Administration intends to re-hire contractors who have been removed from their roles.

    11.       Any additional guidance provided to State and USAID staff regarding the foreign assistance freeze, including confirmation of whether direct hires, contractors, or implementing organizations have been directed not to speak publicly about the foreign assistance freeze.

    12.       Public identification of the individual currently serving as the Director or Acting Director of the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance and as Acting Deputy Administrator of USAID, and the dates upon which this individual was appointed to each position.

    13.       Confirmation of your understanding that the State Department’s Director of Foreign Assistance has no authority to issue personnel directives for USAID.

    Resumption of Foreign Assistance:

    1.         The specific process and anticipated timeframe for activities to receive exemptions or waivers, as referenced in your January 28, 2025 directive to State and USAID staff.

    2.         The mechanisms and metrics established for this waiver process.

    3.         The timeline for full resumption of legally mandated foreign assistance activities.

    4.         Clarification of what risk assessment or analysis of potential risk to U.S. national security interests were conducted prior to the decision to freeze foreign assistance activities.

    5.         Confirmation of the Department of State’s obligation to comply with U.S. contract law and your responsibility as Secretary of State ensure the Department honors its commitments to contracting partners.

    We welcome your urgent attention to these questions. We and our staff stand ready to work with you to ensure U.S. foreign assistance funding continues to be deployed effectively to protect American citizens, at home and abroad.

    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commerce Committee Advances Schatz-Cruz Bipartisan Legislation To Keep Kids Safe, Healthy, Off Social Media

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    Bill Now Moves To Full Senate For Consideration

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the Kids Off Social Media Act. Authored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the bipartisan legislation will keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. To do that, the bill would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17. In addition to Schatz, Cruz, Murphy, and Britt, the Kids Off Social Media Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and John Curtis (R-Utah).

    “There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or Snapchat. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed, more anxious, and more suicidal. Yet tech companies refuse to anything about it because it would hurt their bottom line. This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act with the boldness and urgency it demands,” said Senator Schatz. “Protecting kids online is not a partisan issue, and our bipartisan coalition – which includes several parents of kids and teenagers – represents the millions of parents across the country who’ve long been asking for help.”

    Upon the introduction of the Kids Off Social Media Act, Senator Cruz said, “Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids—from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. Many families have suffered due to Big Tech’s failure to take responsibility for its products. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families in crisis and empowering teachers to better manage their classrooms. I am proud to work with Senator Schatz on this bipartisan legislation to combat the harms social media poses to children, especially in schools. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am confident we can swiftly move this legislation and similar measures through committee and urge Congress to heed the calls of parents everywhere by delivering this bill to President Trump’s desk to help protect America’s youth.”

    Specifically, the Kids Off Social Media Act would:

    • Prohibit social media platforms from allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain social media accounts;
    • Prohibit social media companies from pushing targeted content using algorithms to users under the age of 17;
    • Provide the FTC and state attorneys general authority to enforce the provisions of the bill; and
    • Follow existing CIPA framework, with changes, to require schools to work in good faith to limit social media on their federally-funded networks, which many schools already do.

    Parents overwhelmingly support the mission of the Kids Off Social Media Act. A survey conducted by Count on Mothers shows that over 90 percent of mothers agree that there should be a minimum age of 13 for social media. Additionally, 87 percent of mothers agree that social media companies should not be allowed to use personalized recommendation systems to deliver content to children. Pew finds similar levels of concern from parents, reporting that 70 percent or more of parents worry that their teens are being exposed to explicit content or wasting too much time on social media, with two-thirds of parents saying that parenting is harder today compared to 20 years ago—and many of them cited social media as a contributing factor.

    The Kids Off Social Media Act is supported by Public Citizen, National Organization for Women, National Association of Social Workers, National League for Nursing, National Association of School Nurses, KidsToo, Count on Mothers, American Federation of Teachers, American Counseling Association, National Federation of Families, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Parents Television and Media Council, Tyler Clementi Foundation, Parents Who Fight, Conservative Ladies of America, David’s Legacy Foundation, Digital Progress, HAS Coalition, Parents Defending Education Action, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

    A copy of the legislation is available here. For more information on the Kids Off Social Media Act, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Cohen Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Improve Roadway Safety and Uplift Victim Voices at DOT

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, reintroduced the DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act to create a new role designated as the “National Roadway Safety Advocate” at the Department of Transportation (DOT) who will be responsible for working directly with roadway safety crash victims, survivors, and their families. Specifically, this new role will be responsible for building relationships with victims and survivors, providing education on DOT activities, and providing the victim perspective to the Secretary of Transportation and other DOT officials throughout the process of Department decision-making. U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    After suffering from a traffic crash, victim-advocates often don’t know where to go to make their voice heard and prevent crashes like theirs from happening to others. In addition, latest projections from the National Highway and Traffic Administration (NHTSA) estimate that 40,990 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023 and millions more each year are involved in non-fatal crashes. Many of these crashes are preventable with the right policies in place to save lives.

    “In New Mexico and across the country, far too many families know the pain of losing a loved one to a traffic crash. More must be done to address traffic safety issues, and that includes having an advocate for victims at the Department of Transportation,” said Senator Luján. “I’m proud to partner Representative Cohen to reintroduce the DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act to make this position a reality and ensure victims have a permanent seat at the table. As a victim and survivor of a drunk driving crash myself, I understand the necessity and importance of improving roadway safety and providing victims of roadway safety crashes with the support they deserve. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law.”

    “Traffic accident victims and their families deserve an advocate in the Department of Transportation to listen to their ideas for improving roadway safety, especially after the experience of suffering from a traffic accident. The DOT Victim and Survivor Advocate Act will help ensure that victim-advocates have a point of contact to work with at DOT and give them a permanent and respected voice in DOT decision-making.  I’m pleased to partner with Senator Luján on this important legislation,” said Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9).

    This legislation is supported by a number of New Mexican advocates, including Eric Hein, IST Board Member; Barbara Toth, Vulnerable Road Users NM; and Linda Unruh, Bobby’s Law, NM. National supporters of this legislation include Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, National Safety Council, Truck Safety Coalition, League of American Bicyclists, Institute for Safer Trucking, Families for Safe Streets, AnnaLeah & Mary For Truck Safety, Stop Underrides – In Loving Memory of Roya, StopDistractions.org, The Kiefer Foundation, Safe Kids Worldwide. Quotes from supporters are available here.

    Senator Luján is a longtime advocate of comprehensive safety measures to save lives and keep our roadways safe. In 2021, Luján championed the HALT/RIDE Act, which was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and implements drunk and impaired driving measures to prevent drunk driving and help save thousands of lives each year. In March 2024, Luján called on the U.S. Department of Transportation to swiftly move forward with its rulemaking process to implement the HALT/RIDE Act, and to do so in a way that protects’ drivers privacy. Since the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Luján has supported a number of efforts encouraging the Department of Transportation to make positive progress to make our roadways safer, including putting an end to underride crashes and distracted driving, and completing vital rulemakings.

    Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Help Prevent Future Infant Formula Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help prevent future infant formula shortages. Peters’ bill is in response to the bacterial contaminations at an infant formula manufacturing plant, the deaths of 9 infants, and infant formula recalls that triggered a nationwide shortage in 2022. Peters’ Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act – which he introduced with U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) – aims to strengthen the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight of infant formula manufacturing to improve the safety of our nation’s infant formula supply and ensure American families have access to safe, affordable formula.

    “As a father and grandfather, I was devastated for the parents who lost their children. Parents deserve to know with complete confidence that the formula they are giving their babies is safe. I’m working to make sure something like that never, ever happens again,” said Senator Peters. “This commonsense bill would help intercept contaminated formula from reaching the shelves in the first place by allowing the FDA to have a hand in testing for dangerous bacteria. Doing so will help protect our children, but also prevent families from facing another nationwide shortage where folks were struggling to both find and afford infant formula.”

    Between September 2021 and February 2022, the FDA received reports of infants who were sickened after consuming powdered infant formula products manufactured by a facility in Michigan. The FDA initiated an onsite inspection at the facility and commenced an investigation that revealed insanitary conditions, including the presence of five different strains of Cronobacter sakazakii within the facility. In February 2022, the FDA warned consumers not to use certain products manufactured at this facility and the company issued a voluntary recall. In addition, in 2023, FDA issued warning letters to three additional infant formula manufacturers to improve conditions at their plants. Peters’ bipartisan legislation would improve the FDA’s ability to help prevent future bacterial contaminations and minimize the supply chain disruptions if product recalls do occur.  

    Peters’ Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act would take a three-pronged approach to reduce the risk of infant formula contamination from the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii that triggered a nationwide formula shortage. Specifically, the bill would: 

    • Require infant formula manufacturers to conduct testing for Cronobacter or Salmonella in infant formula marketed for consumption: Under current law, infant formula manufacturers are required to notify the FDA if their product is contaminated, but only if the product has left their control. Knowledge about such incidents would enable the FDA to more effectively and proactively target its inspections, import controls, and finished product testing requirements for manufacturers.   

    • Require infant formula manufacturers to share positive contaminant results with the FDA: The bill would require manufacturers to share contaminant information with the FDA, supporting the FDA’s efforts to quickly identify the strains and origins of contamination, and detect other potentially contaminated products. This requirement would have helped the FDA identify related Cronobacter or Salmonella strains during the contaminations and formula recalls in 2021.    

    • Require infant formula manufacturers to consult with the FDA on how to properly dispose of contaminated products: Bacteria can live and spread across multiple surfaces in the process of removing infected product from a facility. The safe, comprehensive disposal of contaminated products is critical to ensuring that recontamination risks are eliminated and do not impact other product batches. The bill would ensure the highest, science-backed standards and methods of disposal are made available to manufacturers with impacted products. 

    Additionally, the bill would require the FDA to issue a progress report to Congress on its implementation of the recommendations it provided in the Long-Term National Strategy to improve the safety and security of our nation’s infant formula supply. In January 2025, the FDA released its Long-Term National Strategy to Increase the Resiliency of the U.S. Infant Formula Market to secure a safe, consistent, and diversified infant formula supply, addressing vulnerabilities exposed by the 2022 formula shortage. Among other recommendations, the FDA’s strategy calls for the testing authorities included in Peters’ Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act.

    The Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act is supported by numerous key stakeholders including the Association of Maternal and Child Health, First Focus, Zero to Three, March of Dimes, MomsRising, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

    “As the nonprofit organization leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies, March of Dimes is proud to endorse the Protecting Infant Formula from Contamination Act (PIFCA). This critical legislation would strengthen the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight of infant formula manufacturing, ensuring American families have access to a safe, secure, and affordable formula supply,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes, SVP Public Policy & Government Affairs. “March of Dimes supports the bill’s comprehensive three-pronged approach to enhance FDA surveillance, improve the safety and security of the infant formula supply chain, and address risks like Cronobacter sakazakii contamination, which has tragically caused infant deaths and recalls. By reducing the likelihood of future shortages and promoting safe manufacturing practices, this legislation is vital to protecting babies and supporting families. We thank Senators Gary Peters and John Hoeven for their leadership and urge Congress to act swiftly to pass this important measure.”

    “The Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act is a crucial step in improving food safety standards for infant formula,” said Livleen Gill, President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics believes it is vital to ensure safe, nutritious formula for families, especially for those returning to work or facing breastfeeding challenges. By implementing a rigorous process to monitor and prevent potential contamination, this legislation would reduce the risk of illness and provide parents with greater peace of mind.”

    The Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act is a sensible step to enhance transparency, safety, and consumer trust by ensuring that manufactures notify the FDA when they find a formula product has been contaminated with harmful bacteria. By passing this law, Congress will help to ensure a swifter, more targeted federal response, enhancing the stability and safety of our infant formula supply,” said Sarah Sorscher, Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Lee Celebrate America’s Role in Creating the Panama Canal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in introducing a resolution recognizing the great American achievement of creating the Panama Canal, the vital importance of the Canal in America’s trade, national security, and geopolitical interests, and the necessity to ensure the neutrality of the Canal from interference by global adversaries like China.

    “The Panama Canal would not exist without America,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is integral to our global supply chain and national security interests. Now, more than ever, we cannot let our foreign adversaries, like China, have a foot in the door here. I’m glad Congress and the White House are putting America’s interests first when it comes to the Panama Canal.”

    Joining U.S. Senators Tuberville and Lee in cosponsoring the resolution are U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Rick Scott (R-FL).

    Full text of the resolution can be found here. 

    BACKGROUND:

    Sen. Tuberville has sounded the alarm of the growing Chinese influence in Panama since his visit in 2023. Over the last two years, he has led multiple trips to the country and met with a plethora of Panamanian officials as well as questioned DOD officials on American involvement in the country. 

    MORE:

    ICYMI: Tuberville Joins “Sunday Morning Futures” With Maria Bartiromo

    ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Kudlow on Fox Business Network

    1819 News: Tuberville Warns of ISIS Fighters Crossing Southern Border—‘They’re Coming by the Droves’

    Tuberville Questions Top Defense Nominees on Recruiting and Readiness

    Tuberville Discusses Panama Visit, Growing Threat from China During Senate Armed Services Hearing

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Takes Action to Protect Conservatives, Taxpayers from Political Discrimination by Banks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to reintroduce the Fair Access to Banking Act, which protects fair access to financial services and ensures banks operate in a safe and sound manner. The legislation requires that lending and services decisions must be based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. 

    In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers. 

    “Banks should make lending decisions based solely on economic factors – not woke political concerns,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Big banks are bowing to pressure from woke activists who oppose loans being given to businesses that don’t fall in line with the left’s agenda. No financial institution should be pressured to cut off lending to a legitimate business. Financial discrimination is un-American and unacceptable. I’m proud to support the Fair Access to Banking Act to push back against attempts to weaponize the banking sector for political reasons.”

    “When progressives failed at banning these entire industries, what they did instead is they turned to weaponizing banks as sort of a backdoor to carry out their activist goals,” said Sen. Cramer. “Financial institutions are backed by taxpayers, for crying out loud! They should be obligated to provide services in an unbiased, risk-based manner. The Fair Access to Banking Act ensures that banks provide fair access to services and enacts strict penalties for categorically discriminating against legal industries and individuals.”

    The Fair Access to Banking Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, North Dakota Petroleum Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Online Lenders Alliance, Day 1 Alliance, GEO Group, the Lignite Energy Council, and National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

    Joining U.S. Senators Tuberville and Cramer in cosponsoring this bill are U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), 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), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

    U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. 

    Click here for bill text. 

    BACKGROUND:

    Specifically, this legislation penalizes banks and credit unions with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, or their subsidiaries, if they refuse to do business with any legally compliant, credit-worthy person. It also prevents payment card networks from discriminating against any qualified person because of political or reputational considerations. The bill requires qualified banks to provide written justification for why they are denying a person financial services. Further, the Fair Access to Banking Act would penalize providers who fail to comply with the law by disqualifying institutions from using discount window lending programs, terminating status as an insured depository institution or credit union, or imposing a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. 

    The bill is based on President Trump’s Fair Access Rule, which was introduced during his first administration and required financial institutions to make individual risk assessments rather than broad decisions regarding entire industries or categories of customers. The Biden administration paused the rule’s implementation in early 2021.

    The Senators’ legislation is a response to United States banks and financial institutions increasingly using their economic standing to categorically discriminate against legal industries and conservatives. For example, Citigroup instituted a policy in 2018 to withhold project-related financing for coal plants, and in 2020, five of the country’s largest banks announced they would not provide loans or credit to support oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite explicit congressional authorization. Such exclusionary practices also extend to industries protected by the Second Amendment, with Capital One, among other banks, previously including “ammunitions, firearms, or firearm parts” in the prohibited payments section of its corporate policy manual, and payment services like Apple Pay and PayPal denying their services for transactions involving firearms or ammunition. First Lady Melania Trump and technology companies alike allege banks have debanked them or refused to do business. During his address to the World Economic Forum in January, President Trump highlighted big banks and their discriminatory practices of targeting conservatives.  

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Takes Action to Protect Women’s Olympic Sports in Honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) reintroduced the Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to prohibit any governing body recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) from allowing men to participate in any athletic event intended for females. The bill modifies eligibility requirements for amateur sports governing organizations. Senator Tuberville re-introduced the legislation on National Girls and Women in Sports Day and as part of his continuing fight to protect Title IX and save women’s sports.

    Representative Greg Steube (R-FL-17) introduced the House version of this bill.

    “Men should not be competing in women’s sports at any level,” said Senator Tuberville. “We were all deeply disturbed last summer to see videos of men boxing against women in the Olympics. This is not only dangerous, but it is incredibly unfair to the young women who have trained their whole lives to compete. Whether in little league or the Olympics, it’s unsafe, it’s unfair, and it’s just plain wrong. I am proud to introduce this bill and hope to see it signed into law long before the United States hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics so we can all enjoy watching safe, fair competition.” 

    “From the swimming pool to the boxing ring, far-left activists have hijacked the rulebook to push their extremist agenda onto sports governing bodies. Not only is this antithetical to the principles of fair competition, but it constitutes a direct assault on the future of women’s sports altogether,” said Rep. Steube. “It is more important than ever that we stand up for common sense by prohibiting biological males from competing in female athletics. That is why I have reintroduced The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to protect the integrity of women’s sports from woke ideologues.”

    The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act boasts the support of a broad coalition of organizations, key stakeholders, and women’s groups.

    “As an athlete who has experienced the injustice of competing against a male firsthand, I’m grateful for the leadership of Representative Steube and Senator Tuberville. They have made it clear that they will fight for fairness, privacy, and safety for girls and women in sports,” said Riley Gaines, 12x NCAA All American Swimmer and Independent Women’s Forum Ambassador.

    “Women and girls deserve the opportunity to compete in sports on a level playing field, free from unfair competition with male athletes in their own categories. With no national governing body of Olympic sports currently barring all males from women’s categories, this glaring inequity undermines opportunities for female athletes and the integrity of women’s sports. Congressman Steube’s Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act is a vital step to ensure fairness, empower women, and preserve the future of women’s athletics.” —Independent Council on Women’s Sports

    “It’s obvious that men do not belong in women’s sports. Yet despite the overwhelming support for this position among the American people, too many sports bodies still allow men who claim to be women to compete against female athletes. This is incredibly unfair to women, and it needs to end. APP is grateful to Congressman Steube and Senator Tuberville for their long-standing leadership in defense of women’s sports, and we are proud to once again support this legislation.” —Terry Schilling, President of American Principles Project

    “On numerous occasions, women have been sidelined and victimized due to extreme transgender ideology. It’s time to keep men out of women’s sports. We applaud Representative Steube for his leadership on this issue and urge all members of Congress—regardless of party—to vote for The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.” —Kris Ullman, President of Eagle Forum

    “Women’s Liberation Front applauds Rep. Steube’s legislation aimed at preserving women’s sports for women and girls. The world witnessed the travesty carried out in Women’s Olympic Boxing in 2024 when the International Olympic Committee allowed men to box women. The men of course won, robbing real women of medals and titles they trained for years to win. We appreciate this legislation as a return to sanity and a decisive move to protect women’s sports.” —Women’s Liberation Front

    “Women and girls should never be reduced to spectators in their own sports. Allowing men to deprive women of medals, podium spots, public recognition, and opportunities to compete is unfair and unacceptable. Our laws must acknowledge the clear biological differences between men and women in order to preserve equal athletic opportunities for female athletes. Women and girls deserve a fair and level playing field. We applaud Rep. Steube for his leadership on this bill,” said Matt Sharp, Director of the Center for Public Policy and senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom

    “I appreciate Senator Tuberville and Representative Steube for their leadership on protecting women and girls in athletics. Allowing even a single female athlete to be displaced by a male is discriminatory, risky, and unfair. And it must be stopped. That is precisely what lifelong sports advocate Senator Ted Stevens would want — equality in sports, preserving the safety, fairness and equal opportunity for female athletes. This bill will do just that,” said Paula Scanlan, Independent Women’s Voice Ambassador. 

    “As a former athlete who was forced to compete against a male, resulting in a life-altering injury, it’s crucial to recognize that allowing men’s participation in women’s sports not only deprives women of opportunities but also exposes them to significant danger. I deeply admire Representative Steube and Senator Tuberville for their leadership in addressing this issue and standing up for fairness and safety, especially for women,” said Payton McNabb, Independent Women’s Voice Ambassador. 

    Read the bill here.

    BACKGROUND:

    USA Boxing updated their National Rule Book to add a Transgender definition and link to a new Transgender Policy, effective on January 1, 2024. The policy states: “a boxer who transitions from male to female is eligible to compete in the female category” with certain conditions.

    Under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, Congress chartered the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and allowed the organization to recognize governing bodies for individual sports. USA Boxing has been recognized by the USOC as the official governing body for boxing. The Act sets out a variety of requirements that must be followed by these individual governing bodies in order to be certified by USOC.

    In February 2024, Senator Tuberville originally introduced the Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act during the 118th Congress. Representative Greg Steube introduced the House version.

    Fighting for Women’s Sports:

    As a former educator, mentor, and coach for more than 40 years, Senator Tuberville is concerned about the future of girls’ and women’s sports. He began his career coaching high school girls’ basketball shortly after the enactment of Title IX and witnessed the law’s positive impacts firsthand. Senator Tuberville has been a vocal advocate of preserving Title IX and urged Joe Biden’s Department of Education officials to keep the protections in place. 

    In January 2025, Senator Tuberville led 36 Republican colleagues in re-introducing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 to preserve Title IX protections for female athletes and ensure fair, safe competition in women’s sports across the country. Senator Tuberville’s bill passed the House in January 2025.

    MORE:

    ICYMI: Tuberville Joins “The Megyn Kelly Show” to Advocate for Senate Leadership to Schedule Title IX Legislation for a Vote

    ICYMI: Tuberville in OutKick: Senate to Consider My Bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act

    Tuberville Introduces Hallmark Legislation to Preserve Title IX, Protect Women’s Sports

    ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Harris Faulkner on Fox News to Discuss Title IX, Save Women’s Sports

    Tuberville Leads Colleagues in Fight to Save Title IX, Women’s Sports

    Tuberville, Blackburn Urge NCAA President to Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports

    The Globalist-Left’s Assault on Female Athletics

    Tuberville Sponsors Resolution to Overturn Biden’s Attack on Title IX, Save Women’s Sports

    Tuberville Takes Action to Recognize October 10th as ‘American Girls in Sports Day’

    Tuberville Demands Answers on Biden Administration’s Radical Rewrite of Title IX

    ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Lou Holtz: There’s an Attack on Title IX

    ICYMI: Tuberville on Newsmax: Democrats are Trying to Destroy Women’s Sports, Title IX

    Tuberville Leads Roundtable on Protecting Title IX and Saving Women’s Sports

    ICYMI: Tuberville Hosts Roundtable About Saving Women’s Sports

    What Democrats’ Vote Against Women Reveals About the Future of Sports

    Tuberville Forces Senate Vote to Protect Women’s Sports

    Tuberville Demands Answers from NCAA, Dept of Ed on Title IX

    Tuberville Introduces Legislation to Prohibit Men from Competing in Women’s Olympic Sports

    Senator Tuberville joins Fox and Friends to discuss the 50th Anniversary of Inflation and Title IX

    Tuberville Calls for Fairness in Women’s Sports

    Ahead of 50th Anniversary of Title IX, Senator Tuberville Warns Biden Admin is Hacking Away at Women’s Progress

    Senator Tuberville: Biden Title IX Modifications Will Destroy ‘Opportunities For Generations Of Women And Girls’

    Biden executive order will ruin women’s sports and erode Title IX

    Dr. Ben Carson, Sen. Tuberville Break Down Why They Think Trans Athletes Shouldn’t Compete In Women’s Sports

    U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville says Biden administration pushing women to the sidelines

    Tuberville on Biden Administration’s Upcoming Title IX Proposed Rule: ‘It would take a wrecking ball to the five decades of Title IX success and tilt what was a level playing field to the far left’

    Tuberville Presses Under Secretary of Education Nominee on Title IX, Free Speech on Campus

    Tuberville: The Real March Madness

    Tuberville Warns Secretary Cardona Against Weakening Title IX Protections 

    Tuberville Emphasizes Importance of Title IX Protections

    Tuberville Offers Amendment Protecting Women’s Title IX Rights

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commerce Committee Advances Capito-Backed Bills, Lutnick Nomination

    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.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today voted during a committee markup to advance the nomination of Howard Lutnick to serve as Secretary of Commerce. She also voted to advance several pieces of legislation, including the Rural Broadband Protection Act (RBPA), legislation Senator Capito authored to require a more thorough vetting and verification process for internet service providers (ISP) seeking to participate in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) high-cost programs. Learn more about RBPA here.

    Senator Capito also voted to advance all legislation considered at today’s markup, including several bills she cosponsored:

    The Lutnick nomination, RPBA, as well as the other Capito-backed legislation, now head to the full Senate for consideration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Votes to Confirm Scott Turner for HUD Secretary

    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.) issued the following statement after voting to confirm Scott Turner to serve as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

    “I have seen firsthand the skills Scott Turner brings to the table when it comes to targeted economic development initiatives. He has a wealth of knowledge, experience, and will respond to the individual challenges that each unique community faces in West Virginia and across America. I was proud to vote to confirm Scott to this position and look forward to working with him and the Trump administration to make sure the needs of West Virginia and rural America are met,” Senator Capito said.

    BACKGROUND:

    Senator Capito previously met with Turner in January to discuss his nomination and learn more about his vision to lead the department including his commitment to address responsiveness issues West Virginians have faced.

    In May 2019, Senator Capito welcomed Turner to Charleston, W.Va. for a series of roundtable discussions focused on economic development.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barrasso Votes to Confirm Scott Turner as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming John Barrasso

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor prior to voting to confirm Scott Turner, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

    Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

    Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:

    “The Senate will soon vote on the confirmation of Scott Turner to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

    “Scott grew up in Texas. He dreamed of a career in the National Football League. He achieved that dream and so much more.

    “He used his platform as a player to help others achieve their own dreams.

    “These leadership qualities are fundamental to who Scott is. They will serve him well as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

    “Scott also has extensive experience in state and federal governments.

    “After playing in the NFL, he served his community in the Texas legislature.

    “In 2019, Scott oversaw investments in Opportunity Zones under President Trump.

    “In that role, Scott secured more than $50 billion in private investments for over 8,700 economically-distressed communities.

    “These investments helped to revitalize forgotten communities.

    “Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina – the now-Chairman of the Banking Committee – created these Opportunity Zones in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

    “Scott Turner was instrumental in their success. He is the right man to help restore opportunity now.

    “He will put his experience and his leadership skills to work for the American people.

    “I strongly support his nomination.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    02.04.25
    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after voting to confirm former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General:
    “Pam Bondi has years of law enforcement experience, including as a prosecutor and the former attorney general of Florida. She has committed to leading the Department of Justice with a focus on its core mission of prosecuting crime and keeping the American people safe. We look forward to working with her to improve public safety in North Dakota and across the nation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bipartisan Duckworth-Daines-Cruz-Hirono Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Passes Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    February 05, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies successfully passed through the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST). The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, which Duckworth reintroduced last week alongside co-leads U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related nutrition products, including ice packs, in consultation with leading maternal health groups. This swift committee passage comes after the bipartisan legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent late last year in the 118th Congress.
    “After hearing far too many stories about traveling moms being mistreated and wrongfully denied access to their breast milk and the breastfeeding equipment they need to take care of their babies, I’m thrilled our bipartisan legislation passed through committee—bringing us that much closer to preventing these incidents from ever happening again,” said Senator Duckworth. “Ensuring that the TSA keeps its employees up to speed on their own policies and updates those policies as necessary is the least we can do to help parents travel through airports with the dignity and respect they deserve. The Senate already passed this legislation by unanimous consent last year—now, the full Senate must pass it again so we can send it to the House as soon as possible.”
    “Moms have a tough job, and the last thing they need to worry about is traveling safely with breast milk and formula for their babies,” said Senator Daines. “I’m glad to see this bipartisan legislation pass out of committee and become one step closer to becoming law.”
    “Far too often, families traveling with infants and young children are subjected to inconsistencies when going through TSA’s screening, causing inconveniences that can make traveling together even more difficult. This simple legislation to update the TSA’s compliance guidance for the 3-1-1 liquids will help families travel without added hassles,” said Senator Cruz.
    “The BABES Enhancement Act will require TSA to clarify and regularly update its guidance on handling breast milk and baby formula, helping to ensure that parents and their young children can travel by air with peace of mind, knowing they can keep milk and supplies they need to keep their babies fed,” said Senator Hirono. “I am glad to see this important legislation passed out of committee and I look forward to working with Senators Duckworth, Daines, and Cruz to pass this bill to keep families and their children safe and healthy.”
    The bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act would help keep breastfeeding parents and their kids safe and healthy while traveling by air. Mishandled breast milk can become contaminated, which puts children at risk. Moreover, parents who lactate typically need to breastfeed or pump once every few hours. Failure to do so can result in a clogged milk duct, or a painful infection called mastitis. The legislation would better protect families by requiring TSA to:
    Issue guidance promoting the hygienic handling of any breast milk, baby formula and other infant nutrition products, as well as accessories required to preserve these products;
    Consult with nationally recognized maternal health organizations in establishing and communicating this guidance; and
    Update guidance every five years to respond to emerging needs of parents and to account for developments in technology.
    This legislation would also direct an independent government watchdog to conduct an audit of compliance with TSA screening policies for passengers traveling with breast milk and other infant nutrition products, providing lawmakers with information related to violations of policies.
    A copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
    Duckworth has been a strong advocate in ensuring moms receive the dignity and respect they deserve while traveling. In 2022, Duckworth pressed TSA Administrator David Pekoske for improved treatment of new mothers and Americans with disabilities from employees of the TSA. That same year, Duckworth also called on TSA to address inconsistent implementation of the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy for breast milk and formula at airport security checkpoints as well as ensure new moms and their infants can travel safely without fear of harassment.
    Duckworth has also championed several policies that help make air travel easier for new moms. Her bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act, which was signed into law in 2020, is helping ensure our small airports across the country support new moms and promote breastfeeding-friendly environments. The legislation builds on Duckworth’s success in enacting a law that ensures all large and medium airports provide a clean, private space where moms can breastfeed or pump. As a result of her legislation, O’Hare and Midway Airports both installed free-standing lactation pods.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch: Loeffler will Strengthen Idaho Small Businesses, Achieve Trump Priorities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), senior member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, released the following statement today on the importance of Idaho’s small businesses and his support for President Trump’s nominee to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA), Kelly Loeffler.

    “Small businesses are the lifeblood of Idaho—fueling our economy, creating jobs, and strengthening our communities. Yet, many small businesses have been stifled by bureaucratic complexity and the heavy-handed regulations implemented under the Biden administration,” said Risch. “With former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler leading the Small Business Administration, I am confident that Idaho’s small businesses will have greater freedom to innovate and access much-needed resources for success. I was proud to support her nomination by President Trump through the Small Business Committee and look forward to her confirmation by the full Senate.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons, Representative Chu reintroduce bill to prevent Muslim bans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) reintroduced the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act, which would prevent future bans by the Trump administration on Muslims or any other religious group by strengthening the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion. The bill would also require that any suspension of entry into the United States be narrowly tailored, backed by credible evidence, and subject to appropriate consultation with Congress.

    “President Trump’s Muslim ban during his first term was un-American, unjust, and weakened our standing in the world,” said Senator Coons. “Now, as the country enters President Trump’s second term, fear and prejudice are once again guiding immigration policy, and his flurry of executive orders have laid the groundwork for another attempt at a Muslim ban. The NO BAN Act is needed now more than ever to ensure that the Trump administration cannot implement discriminatory measures and to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to religious freedom and equality under the law.”

    “A hateful stain on our nation’s history, the Muslim Ban that President Trump instituted in his first term was fueled by bigotry and Islamophobia and did lasting damage to the families it separated,” said Representative Chu. “Distressingly, President Trump has already started the process to fulfill his campaign promise to reinstate a ban, signing an Executive Order on his first day back in office that lays the groundwork for a future, and potentially expanded, Muslim Ban. That’s why I am joining Senator Coons and my Democratic colleagues to once again introduce the NO BAN Act to make certain that no president can ever ban people from entering the country solely because of their religion.”

    Additionally, Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) reintroduced the Access to Counsel Act, which Senator Coons cosponsored. This bill ensures that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status are able to consult with an attorney, relative, or other interested parties to seek assistance if they are detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour at ports of entry, including airports. As a result of President Trump’s Muslim Ban in 2017, individuals were held for long periods of time, often without access to legal counsel.

    The NO BAN Act was initially introduced in the 116th Congress in response to President Trump’s attempts in 2017 to introduce a Muslim ban. Courts initially struck down the bans, but a conservative Supreme Court upheld a version of the ban in a 5-4 decision. As a result, families were separated, couples were forced to live apart, and communities were unable to reunite for milestones of joy and grief. While former President Biden rescinded the bans, President Trump has signaled intent to issue a new travel ban in the coming months.

    The NO BAN Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in both 2020 and 2021. In 2021, the Biden administration issued a statement in support of the legislation, noting that the prior “bans were a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths.”   

    An executive order issued by President Trump on his first day of his second term requires government departments to identify over the course of 60 days nations whose migration and screening processes are “so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.” The order lays the groundwork for another ban on migration from predominantly Muslim countries.

    The NO BAN Act would push back on Trump’s Muslim ban or any other travel ban by:

    • Providing that the Immigration and Nationality Act nondiscrimination provisions apply to religion, as well as to the issuance of non-immigrant visas and benefits;
    • Requiring that any travel restriction imposed under Immigration and Nationality Act be based on specific and credible facts, and in a way narrowly tailored to address a compelling government interest; and
    • Establishing procedural requirements, including notice to Congress within 48 hours, and periodic reporting.

    The NO BAN Act has received endorsements from numerous immigrants’ rights organizations, faith-based organizations, and civil rights organizations, including Care in Action, 18 Million Rising, Afghans For A Better Tomorrow, African Public Affairs Committee, America Indivisible, American Humanist Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Americans for Immigrant Justice, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, ANAR, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Church World Service, Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Emgage Action, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Global Refuge, Hindus for Human Rights, Human Rights First, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Immigrants Act Now, Interfaith Alliance, International Refugee Assistance Project, League of Conservation Voters, Muslims for Just Futures, National Council of Jewish Women, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Law Center, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, National Partnership for New Americans, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Poligon Education Fund, Queer Crescent, Quixote Center, Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), Refugees International, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Social Workers for Immigration Justice, South Asian Legal Defense Fund, South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA), The Advocates for Human Rights, The Sikh Coalition, Union for Reform Judaism, Win Without War, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice, Arab American Civic Council, ASATA Power, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL), CAIR Washington, California Immigrant Policy Center, Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University, Civic Ark, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Education Law Center-PA, Estrella del Paso, Family Action Network Movement, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), Indo-American Center, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, Malikah, Muslim Justice League, Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center, Womankind, and Concerned Christian Citizen.

    “As President Trump fulfills his racist campaign promises by indefinitely blocking all vulnerable refugees and by preparing a potential resurrection of categorical bans on people who come to the U.S. from African, Muslim-majority, or other countries, we welcome the timely reintroduction of an essential policy rooted in the highest American aspirations of equality, religious freedom, and refuge from tyrannical leaders,” said Sumayyah Waheed, Senior Policy Counsel, Muslim Advocates. “With the reintroduction of the NO BAN Act, we hope to check discriminatory and cruel abuses of presidential power at our borders. We remember clearly the hate, chaos, and family separation resulting from President Trump’s first-term Muslim and African bans – effects that remain unresolved to this day. Meanwhile, people seeking safety at our borders are forced to face unlawful, dehumanizing, debilitating, and even lethal barriers to doing so. We thank Rep. Chu and Sen. Coons for their leadership and urge Members in both houses to swiftly pass this bill.”

    “The first time President Trump was in the White House, as we all watched his xenophobic Muslim ban wreak havoc on families in airports and communities across the country, the ACLU took to the courts for relief. This time around, the landscape includes the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Trump’s previous ban to go into effect. We can’t sit back as Trump again seeks to inflict cruelty. The NO BAN Act is an important effort to uphold our fundamental values and ensure our laws prevent discriminatory bans from being enacted in the future,” said Naureen Shah, deputy director of government affairs with the ACLU Equality Division. 

    “Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban was a stain on America’s conscience and President Biden’s Executive Order rescinding the various versions of the ban was an important first step,” said Yasmine Taeb, Legislative and Political Director at MPower Change Action Fund. “During the campaign trail, Trump vowed not only to reinstate the Muslim Ban but to expand it, and has made good on that promise by previewing a travel ban on his first day back in office. To ensure our communities do not face the threat of family separation, xenophobia, and Islamophobia through the implementation of another unconstitutional and unconscionable ban by Trump, Congress needs to take action and pass the NO BAN Act. We’re grateful for the leadership of Representative Chu and Senator Coons in reintroducing the NO BAN Act and urge Congress to pass the bill swiftly.”

    “Trump’s discriminatory Muslim and African bans inflicted unthinkable cruelty and separated families. The policy was met with widespread resistance, with thousands of people making their voices heard in protests at airports across the country. With Trump’s return to office, and his day-one executive order signaling another forthcoming ban, we must all do everything in our power to ensure these harmful bans do not return. We commend Senator Coons’ and Representative Chu’s leadership on this issue and call on Congress to pass the NO BAN Act today to protect communities from lasting harm,” said Raha Wala, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy at the National Immigration Law Center.

    “Thousands of American families will soon be separated and America’s economic competitiveness will be damaged if President Trump reimposes the so-called travel ban. The scars of the first ban have not yet fully healed, and some who were denied entry under the first ban are staring down more than four years of separation from their families. As members of Trump’s own coalition have noted, U.S. innovation and economic strength are fueled by immigrants from Iran and other countries that will potentially be banned. It is not stable or secure or fair to American families for the U.S. to impose and repeal such policies every four years by executive fiat — Congress must act as a co-equal branch and establish guardrails that protect the rights, security, and economy for all Americans by passing the NO BAN Act,” said Jamal Abdi, President of National Iranian American Council Action.

    “The reintroduction of the NO BAN Act in the 119th Congress is a crucial step in reaffirming America’s historic role as a beacon of hope and opportunity for immigrants. For generations, the United States has stood as a nation that values diversity, equity, and justice. This legislation ensures that the executive power cannot be misused to undermine these principles or to close our doors to those seeking opportunity and refuge. We extend our gratitude to Representative Judy Chu, Senator Chris Coons, and the original co-sponsors of this critical bill and urge Congress to act swiftly to pass it, preserving the ideals that have long defined and strengthened our nation,” said Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action. 

    The text of the bill is available here. 

    A section-by-section summary of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons, Foreign Relations Committee Democrats push Secretary Rubio for answers on national security risks stemming from pauses to USAID programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and the rest of the Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an explanation of recent developments at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This includes recent reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) requested unauthorized access to USAID’s main headquarters, American citizens’ data and classified spaces, and illegally demanded access to classified documents, creating a national security risk. 
    Senator Coons has long advocated to strengthen USAID given its vital role in advancing U.S. national security and global stability. He introduced the bipartisan Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act last year, aiming to increase and improve USAID’s collaboration with local partners when implementing humanitarian and development programs around the world. Until recently, he was the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS), responsible for overseeing USAID and our nation’s entire foreign aid spending.
    “Congress established the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency, separate from the Department of State, to ensure that we can deploy development expertise and U.S. foreign assistance quickly, particularly in times of crisis, to meet our national security goals,” the senators wrote. “For this reason, any effort to merge or fold USAID into the Department of State should be, and by law must be, previewed, discussed, and approved by Congress.” 
    “We received reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, including classified spaces,” the senators continued. “The potential access of sensitive, even classified, files which may include the personally identifiable information of Americans working with USAID, and this incident as a whole raises deep concerns about the protection and safeguarding of matters related to U.S. national security.” 
    “We request an immediate update about the access of USAID’s headquarters, including whether the individuals who accessed the headquarters were authorized to be there and by whom, whether all individuals who accessed classified spaces have active security clearances at the appropriate level, what they were seeking to access, if any [personally identifiable information] of American citizens was breached, and whether any review is underway regarding potential unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information and classified materials,” concluded the senators. 
    You can read the full letter here and below.
    Dear Secretary Rubio:
    Congress established the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency, separate from the Department of State, to ensure that we can deploy development expertise and U.S. foreign assistance quickly, particularly in times of crisis, to meet our national security goals. For this reason, any effort to merge or fold USAID into the Department of State should be, and by law must be, previewed, discussed, and approved by Congress. Congress has also made clear that any attempt to reorganize or redesign USAID requires advance consultation with, and notification to, Congress.
    Consistent with past precedent, we expect and welcome the Department of State’s and USAID’s engagement on any proposed organizational reforms, and other matters implicating congressional requirements.
    While we continue to welcome such engagement, we write with deep concern about this weekend’s developments at USAID’s headquarters.
    We received reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, including classified spaces. While some of the individuals purported to have security clearances, it is unclear whether those who accessed secure classified facilities had proper clearance or what they were seeking to access. We understand that the security guards present at the facility were threatened when they raised questions. As members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we had not been notified of any such visit to USAID by DOGE or other agency officials. Following this incident, the senior management of the Office of Security, which secures USAID personnel and facilities and safeguards national security information, were placed on administrative leave. The potential access of sensitive, even classified, files, which may include the personally identifiable information (PII) of Americans working with USAID, and this incident as a whole, raises deep concerns about the protection and safeguarding of matters related to U.S. national security.
    We request an immediate update about the access of USAID’s headquarters, including whether the individuals who accessed the headquarters were authorized to be there and by whom, whether all individuals who accessed classified spaces have active security clearances at the appropriate level, what they were seeking to access, if any PII of American citizens was breached, and whether any review is underway regarding potential unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information and classified materials.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Peters, Rep. Norton Reintroduce Legislation to Remove Derogatory Language from D.C. Code

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Congressional Down Syndrome Task Force – Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), today reintroduced legislation that would update the District of Columbia (D.C.) Code by eliminating the words “mentally retarded” and replacing it with language that better respects the dignity of individuals with disabilities.

    In 2010, Congress passed Rosa’s Law which eliminated the word “mental retardation” from federal law. However, Title 11 of the D.C. Code still uses various forms of those words and can only be amended by Congress. The Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act would replace the term with “persons of moderate intellectual disabilities.”

    “Individuals with disabilities deserve to be respected and valued,” said Sen. Moran. “Language that is degrading to individuals with disabilities should be eliminated from our laws and courts. This legislation makes certain the D.C. courts are using language that is both accurate, appropriate and maintains the dignity of all people.”

    “Our words have power, and every person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity,” said Sen. Peters. “It’s long past time to remove this derogatory language from D.C. code, so that we can better ensure every individual is treated with compassion and decency.”

    “Words indisputably matter,” said Rep. Norton. “Certain words can become antiquated and offensive over time, and I am pleased to be joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in modernizing the D.C. Code. My own daughter, Katherine, has Down syndrome. I’m appalled at the thought of someone using the ‘R-word’ slur toward her, and it is beyond the pale that the derogatory term is still a part of the D.C. Code.”

    This legislation is also supported by the National Down Syndrome Society, National Down Syndrome Caucus, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Special Olympics.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Duckworth Call on FAA to Continue Restricting Non-Essential Helicopter Operations Near Ronald Reagan National Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) – the chair and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation –  called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue the restrictions placed on non-essential helicopter operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following the mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, and a United States Army H-60 Blackhawk on the night of January 29, 2025.
    “We write to you to request the Federal Aviation Administration continue the restrictions placed on non-essential helicopter operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport until the completion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary report and a briefing by FAA to the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, regarding the safety of resuming non-essential helicopter operations,” the senators wrote. “Until investigators complete this work, restricting helicopter operations, while allowing for essential medical support, active law enforcement, active air defense, and presidential transport traffic will help keep the area safe and improve public trust in commercial air travel.”
    The full letter can be found here and below.Dear Acting Administrator Rocheleau,
    We write to you to request the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continue the restrictions placed on non-essential helicopter operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport until the completion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary report and a briefing by FAA to the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation (Subcommittee) regarding the safety of resuming non-essential helicopter operations. Until investigators complete this work, restricting helicopter operations, while allowing for essential medial support, active law enforcement, active air defense, and presidential transport traffic will help keep the area safe and improve public trust in commercial air travel. 
    The mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, and a United States Army H-60 Blackhawk on the night of January 29, 2025, is a tragic event which requires a thorough evaluation of air traffic in the vicinity of airport. As the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, we intend to conduct a subcommittee review into the January 29th tragedy by examining the facts and expert findings to determine whether policy changes may be necessary to increase safety and improve public trust. We look forward to your cooperation as we conduct our review to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
    We are grateful for our first responders, military and civilian men and women who have contributed to the response efforts and for your actions in response to this tragic event.

    MIL OSI USA News –