NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Keep AM Radio in New Vehicles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) to reintroduce the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The legislation would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.

    “AM radio is the backbone of our emergency alert system, especially for tens of millions of Americans in rural areas. It’s been a part of our daily commutes and road trips for decades. Iowans rely on AM radio to catch up on local news, weather and commodity and livestock markets, as well as to hear competing viewpoints about the important issues of the day. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act will protect this critical resource, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation,” Grassley said.

    “During weather disasters or power outages, AM radio is consistently the most reliable form of communication and is critical to keep millions of Texans safe. AM radio has long been a haven for people to express differing viewpoints, allowing free speech and our robust democratic process to flourish for decades. I am honored to once again partner with Sen. Markey on this bipartisan legislation on behalf of our constituents who depend on AM radio and public airwaves for access to news, music, talk, and emergency alerts,” Cruz said.

    “As we witness more tragic climate change-induced disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles, broadcast AM radio continues to be a critical tool for communication. AM radio is a lifeline for people across the country for news, sports, and especially emergency information,” Markey said. “Tens of millions of listeners across the country have made clear that they want AM radio to remain in their vehicles. Our AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act heeds their words and ensures that this essential tool doesn’t get lost on the dial.”

    Additional cosponsors are Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.),    Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jim Justice (R-W.V.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).

    Read the bill text HERE.

    Background:

    Grassley and his colleagues previously introduced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act during the 118th Congress. The legislation passed the Senate Commerce Committee in July 2023 and the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September 2024.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Welch Work to Provide Rural Hospitals with Financial Stability and Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHIGNTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the bipartisan Rural Hospital Support Act to prevent rural hospital closures by extending and modernizing critical Medicare programs. 

    “As a lifelong resident of rural Iowa, I know the importance of having access to health care services close to home. In addition to providing life-saving care, rural hospitals are a source of economic security for many rural communities,” Grassley said. “Our bipartisan bill will ensure the continuity of these vital programs and help keep rural hospitals’ doors open.” 

    “Rural hospitals provide essential care to patients in rural communities, including to folks who rely on Medicare and Medicaid. In Vermont, rural hospitals are also job creators and economic drivers. But across the country, rural hospitals are struggling to stay open, and they need a lifeline,” Welch said. “Our bipartisan legislation will help ensure rural hospitals are reimbursed for resources they need to continue delivering vital care in our rural communities.” 

    Specifically, the Rural Hospital Support Act would: 

    • Permanently extend the Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) program to ensure eligible rural hospitals are reimbursed for their costs; 
    • Permanently extend the Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) program to level the playing field for rural hospitals whose operating costs often outpace their revenue; 
    • Update the rebasing year for Sole Community Hospitals (SCH) and MDHs to allow hospitals to tie reimbursement estimates to more recent trends in costs. 

    Cosponsors of the bill include Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). 

    The Rural Hospital Support Act has garnered support from Iowa and national stakeholders, including the Iowa Hospital Association, MercyOne, UnityPoint Health, the Alliance for Rural Hospital Access, the American Hospital Association and the National Rural Health Association.  

    Download audio of Grassley discussing the bill HERE.

    Find bill text HERE and a summary HERE.

    Background:

    Rural hospitals provide critical care for patients, many of whom rely on Medicare and Medicaid. These hospitals also serve as economic anchors – accounting for around 14 percent of total employment in rural areas. 

    The MDH and LVH programs have supported rural communities for decades. The programs were last extended as part of the Continuing Resolution on December 20, 2024, and would expire on March 31, 2025, without congressional action. The Rural Hospital Support Act does not change other rural hospital Medicare programs including critical access hospitals (CAH), rural referral centers (RRC), Rural Community Hospital Demonstration or the new voluntary rural emergency hospitals (REH). Each of these rural programs offer unique flexibilities to ensure health care services are accessible in rural America.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Intelligence Committee Advances Gabbard Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    February 4, 2025

    Senate Intelligence Committee Advances Gabbard Nomination

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement after the committee voted 9-8 to report with a favorable recommendation Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence:

    “I’m pleased that the Senate Intelligence Committee voted to advance the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence. Once confirmed, I look forward to working with Ms. Gabbard to keep America safe and to bring badly needed reforms to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Urges Action at Senate Judiciary Hearing on Fentanyl Epidemic Featuring Minnesota Mom’s Testimony

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)

    WATCH KLOBUCHAR QUESTIONS HERE

    WASHINGTON – At today’s Senate Judiciary hearing on the fentanyl epidemic, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) highlighted the need for Congress to take action to stop online drug trafficking to save children’s lives and give law enforcement what they need to combat the crisis. 

    Bridgette Norring of Hastings, Minnesota testified about her son’s death from illicit fentanyl. Norring’s 19-year old son Devin died in April 2020 after buying a pill online for tooth pain that he thought was a painkiller but turned out to be a fentanyl laced counterfeit. Bridgette founded the Devin J. Norring Foundation to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and advocate for stronger drug prevention measures.

    “My husband and I are no different than every American parent doing the best we can to protect our kids from the constant threat that social media poses. We did our due diligence in spot-checking our children’s accounts when they were minors. We preached constantly about internet safety and etiquette. None of that stopped Snapchat from allowing my children to open multiple new accounts to avoid our scrutiny. It did not stop them from pushing products designed to addict and exploit America’s young people. It did not stop them from blaming parents when our kids died. And it is no different than when opioid companies created a product they knew was extremely harmful and addictive, told the public that it was safe, and then blamed the parents when kids died as a result,” said Norring at the hearing. 

    “Social media has been a gateway to drugs for too many kids, and we must meet this threat with the all-hands-on-deck response it requires. We need to crack down on the sale of fentanyl through social media platforms and pass the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act. And we need to stop these illicit drugs and fake pills from entering our borders in the first place, by making sure law enforcement has the resources they need, including cutting-edge technology to detect and intercept fentanyl at our borders. Thank you to Bridgette Norring for her bravery in coming forward and sharing her story,” said Klobuchar in a statement.

    In 2023, nearly 75,000 Americans lost their lives to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, including nearly 950 opioid-related deaths in Minnesota. In Hennepin County, fentanyl kills an average of one resident every day. The number of Minnesotans who died from opioids last year was more than double the total number of people who died from car accidents.

    Senator Klobuchar is a leader in the fight to pass the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act, which would require social media companies to report to the DEA when they know of the sale or distribution of illicit drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, or a counterfeit controlled substance on their platforms.

    Witnesses at the hearing include:

    Bridgette Norring Survivor Parent and Founder Devin J. Norring Foundation Hastings, MN; Jaime Puerta President and Co-Founder of Victims of Illicit Drugs (“V.O.I.D.”) Co-Chair of Project Facing Fentanyl Santa Clarita, CA; Timothy W. Westlake, M.D., FFSMB, FACEP Emergency Physician ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital Oconomowoc, WI; Cecilia Farfán, Ph.D. Affiliated researcher Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California San Diego San Diego, CA; Donald Barnes Vice President of Homeland Security, Major County Sheriffs of America Sheriff-Coroner of Orange County, California Orange County, CA.

    A transcript of Klobuchar’s full questioning is available below. Video is available HERE.

    Senator Klobuchar: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Norring, I think everyone was touched by your story and your bravery for coming forward. I’ve been honored to get to know you, and I want to thank you for everything that you’ve done. As you said, “all the hopes and dreams we as parents had for Devin were erased in the blink of an eye, and no mom should have to bury their kid.” Those were your words. And I know the words of your all of your friends there that stand there to support you and have had their own pain. All he did was buy a pill off Snapchat. Thought it was a Percocet. You were there for that testimony with the tech executives, and there’s a bunch of us here that have had some battle wounds going after them when we just want to put some sensible rules in place or get rid of this legal protections that they have that other companies do not have, as you so well pointed out, but no wounds compared to what you have. You heard their testimony back then in January 2024. Do you think the social media companies are doing enough to stop the sale of drugs to kids online?

    Bridgette Norring: I do not think that they are doing enough. In fact, it’s still continuing. I was introduced to two new families just last week from Minnesota, both with ties to fentanyl, with their children passing, so no, they’re not doing enough. They could be doing more. I was just informed that Evan Spiegel is in support of the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act. And I must ask then if you are in such support of it, all these companies are in support of the Kids Online Safety Act. Why? Why aren’t they implementing those features and doing the job now? Why do we have to come before Congress and … have you make them do that?

    Klobuchar: Good point, thank you. Mr. Puerta, do you think we should get rid of or reform Section 230 in some way? Just to make this very clear. 

    Jaime Puerta: Absolutely, Senator Klobuchar. In 1996, as we all know, this legislative body came up with Section 230 C of the Communication Decency Act, and what it was meant to do was to protect free speech. But what’s happening right now cannot be free speech. When you have a drug dealer selling illicit fentanyl to unsuspecting children, that’s not free speech. Or a grown man sending unwarranted pictures to young ladies, sexual exploitation. This is not free speech. This is criminal behavior. And like Ms. Norring said, if it’s criminal, if it’s a criminal act in the real world, then it should be as well in the social media world. 

    Klobuchar: So you’re looking for that reform, which also I appreciate you bringing up Senator Cruz and I have this TAKE IT DOWN Act. There’s a number of other bills involving pornography as well. Sheriff Barnes, … thank you for your testimony and being here. Funding, as we look into this next year, funding for law enforcement, do you think that that is important to take on this Fentanyl crisis, as well, as well as the HIDTA program that helps your deputies get fentanyl off the streets?

    Donald Barnes: Senator, yes, thank you for the question. The HIDTA funding has been stagnant and still for the last 10 years. Hasn’t grown. If you look at the time value of money, it’s about 1/3 reduction over the last 10 years, and our costs have gone up, so it’s about 50 cents on the dollar. It’s not a fully funded program. My HIDTA program is funded at about 1/6 of the costs that we put into it and mostly subsidized through my investment of stabilizing that as other municipal agencies have withdrawn personnel. So yes, I think at this, the nation’s worst time in history, we have to reinvest those monies. We have to look at the use of those monies. And I think we have to look at what I call a Super HIDTA, the original intent of the gateway HIDTA, to invest on the greatest offense, which is our border HIDTA, and stop as much as drugs as we can at the border before they make it into the content of the United States.

    Klobuchar: Thank you. Dr Westlake, why does class-wide scheduling reduce the incentives for drug cartels to create new fentanyl variants? 

    Timothy Westlake: So the incentives were there before because when they initially created these without under the normal Controlled Substances Act, they were legal. So they could modify it. Instead of putting an ethyl group in, you could put a methyl group in. It’s a legal substance. I was on the controlled substance board in Wisconsin 2015. We had nine different fentanyl variants, fentanyl-related substances that were killing people. We could schedule them immediately, and then they were illegal. And when you schedule them and make them illegal, there’s no incentive for them to be created anymore, and there’s a cookbook of changes that you can do easily, look up the research to find what different chemicals to use. So, it literally just stops the incentive. It doesn’t stop illicit fentanyl incentive, but it closes the speculative fentanyl substances.

    Klobuchar: Thank you. One last point. Ms. Norring, and we’ll talk more in this committee. I am so pleased that Senator Grassley and Durbin will lead this together on some of the social media issues that go way beyond the ones we’ve talked about now. But you’ve also embarked on an education campaign, along with a lot of our sheriffs in Minnesota, that I think has been pretty effective going back in the schools with “One Pill Can Kill.” Ten seconds on that, and I’m out of time. 

    Norring: We have to do it because nobody else is doing it. It falls back on us. If we sit by and say nothing, children continue to die. So we feel it’s our obligation to get out there educate our community and the children because, as the ranking chair mentioned, the conversation really begins at home. It really has to begin at home. 

    Klobuchar: Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn: Border and Fentanyl Crises Must be Addressed in Tandem

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed with Sheriff Don Barnes of Orange County Sheriff’s Department (California), who also serves as Major County Sheriffs of America’s Vice President responsible for Homeland Security, the ways the border and fentanyl crises are interconnected and how an all-of-the-above approach is necessary to prevent more American loss of life due to the deadly drug. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

    CORNYN: “Having visited with a number of families in Texas—its various school districts—I’ve come to believe that this requires a layered approach. Maybe starting at the kitchen table, with awareness of our children to the threat because none of them take these counterfeit drugs knowingly, at least, knowing that it will take their lives, that it contains contaminated fentanyl.”

    “It’s going to require all of us, from parents, families, to school districts and local law enforcement, state and federal law enforcement, and border security.”

    “Do you believe that with improved border security, we can begin to stop some of the flow of the illicit drugs coming across the border, including fentanyl?”

    BARNES: “Senator, what you described is a very complex system, almost a supply chain that starts in China, using transit going to Mexico—the pill presses.”

    “The border, obviously, is going to be the most significant issue, as we shut down the border and the pathway for illicit fentanyl to make its way back into the United States.”

    “The vast majority of the large quantities coming across has been, in my experience, are being conducted by Mexican nationals.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders on America’s Dangerous Movement Toward Oligarchy, Authoritarianism & Kleptocracy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today gave remarks on the floor of the Senate outlining the Trump administration’s movement toward oligarchy, authoritarianism and kleptocracy.

    Sanders remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below and can be watched HERE:

    M. President: Today, we find ourselves in a pivotal moment in American history and millions of Americans, by their actions or lack of action, will determine the future of this country for decades.

    M. President: In my view, the Trump administration is moving this country very aggressively into an oligarchic form of society where extraordinary power rests in the hands of a small number of unelected multi-billionaires.

    The Trump administration is moving this country very aggressively into an authoritarian society where the rule of law, and our constitution, are being ignored and undermined in order to give more power to the White House and the billionaires who now control our government.

    In my view, the Trump administration is moving this country very rapidly toward a kleptocracy – where the function of government is not to serve the people of America, but to enrich those who are in power.

    M. President: I think that today is a good day to recall what one of our great presidents said at Gettysburg in November of 1863. Looking out at a battlefield where thousands of Union soldiers had just sacrificed their lives in the defense of freedom, Lincoln famously stated:

    “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

    “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

    M. President: Under President Trump we are not seeing a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Quite the contrary.

    We are seeing a government of the billionaire class, by the billionaire class, for the billionaire class. And it’s not being done secretly. It’s right out there for all to see.

    Several weeks ago, Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term as President of the United States. Standing right behind him were the three richest men in the country – Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg – worth a combined $920 billion. These 3 men have more wealth than the bottom half of America – 170 million people. And I should point out, and this should tell you exactly where we are going as a nation, these 3 men have become some $232 billion richer since Trump was elected. In just two weeks under Trump their wealth has exploded by $232 billion dollars.

    M. President: This is how an oligarchic system works. Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, and now a key part of the administration, spent over $277 million to get Trump elected. In other words, within a corrupt campaign finance system he helped buy the election for Donald Trump.

    Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, the second and third wealthiest people in our country, both kicked a million each into Trump’s inauguration fund.

    And let’s remember that Mr. Bezos, who owns the Washington Post, rescinded the endorsement of Kamala Harris of the Washington Post’s editorial board. Mr. Bezos was showing early on that he was willing to bend the knee for Donald Trump.

    Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, agreed to settle a lawsuit with Trump for $25 million.

    These three multibillionaires are working with Trump because they understand one very important reality. Trump’s policies are designed to make the very richest people in this country even richer.

    Since Trump’s election, Mr. Musk has become $154 billion richer, Mr. Bezos has become $35 billion richer, and Mr. Zuckerberg has become $43 billion richer.

    M. President: I am growing increasingly concerned that in our country, under the leadership of President Trump, we are moving rapidly towards authoritarianism.

    And all over this country people are alarmed and shocked by what they are seeing.

    Just a few examples.

    Last week, Trump attempted to suspend all federal grants and loans in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. As every 3rd grader knows, the power of the purse belongs to Congress, not the president.

    Let’s be clear. The president can recommend legislation, he can veto legislation, but he does not have the power to unilaterally terminate funding and legislation passed by the U.S. Congress. That is a dangerous and blatantly unconstitutional act.

    And I should add that Trump’s blocking of federal funding would have had an horrific impact on millions of Americans who utilize programs like Medicaid, Head Start, community health centers, Meals on Wheels, homeless veterans’ programs and many, many other initiatives.

    Tens of millions of Americans, including some of the most vulnerable people in our country, were impacted by that decision.

    But that’s not all.

    A few days ago, Trump fired 17 inspectors general – independent government watchdogs that were created by Congress, in the wake of the Watergate scandal, to prevent the abuse of power by the executive branch.

    Last week, President Trump fired a member of the National Labor Relations Board, and in so doing, effectively neutered the only federal agency in America with the authority to hold corporations accountable for illegal union busting and to protect the constitutional right of workers to form a union and to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

    Not only is this move blatantly illegal, it is exactly what Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, and Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, have been fighting for for months. This is a huge gift to the two wealthiest people in our country who are both strongly anti-union.

    The President also illegally fired members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – the only independent commission in our country that protects workers against discrimination in the workplace.

    Further, and this should upset every American regardless of political view, in direct violation of the Constitution and federal law, Trump is intimidating the media with lawsuits against ABC, CBS, Meta and the Des Moines Register. His FCC is now threatening to investigate PBS and NPR. Take a deep breath my fellow Americans.

    What Trump is essentially saying to every media outlet in America: If you say or do anything that is critical of me, that displeases me, you may be subject to a lawsuit or a federal investigation.

    If this is not a direct attack on the First Amendment, the U.S. Constitution and Freedom of Speech, I don’t know what is.

    But that’s not all.

    Elon Musk and his unelected minions at DOGE have forced out officials at the Treasury Department and illegally shut down US AID – a program which, among other things, helps feed and provide medical help to starving and desperate children all over the world. Presidents, much less unelected billionaires, do not have the unilateral right to shut down federal agencies established by Congress.

    When we talk about the dangerous movement towards authoritarianism let us not forget Trump’s pardoning of the January 6th insurrectionists who injured 174 police officers at the Capitol.

    Even worse, Trump is undermining the FBI by investigating the agents there who helped bring these violent criminals to justice.

    In other words, what Trump is saying is that violence against police officers, when done in his name is ok, but when law enforcement officers try to hold criminals accountable that is not ok.

    M. President: Under Trump, we are rapidly moving towards a kleptocracy as well.

    Just before Trump was inaugurated, he and his wife Melania launched their own cryptocurrency coins giving them the potential to earn tens of billions of dollars.

    M. President: If Wall Street CEOs tried to bribe the President with a bag full of money that would be against the law.

    But now, they don’t have to do that.

    Today, if a multi-billionaire or the head of a foreign country wants to curry favor with the President, all they have to do is buy his cryptocurrency coins and, when they do that, they are directly enriching Donald Trump and the First Lady.

    That is unacceptable and cannot stand.

    So, M. President, the question then becomes, where do we go from here?

    Instead of moving toward an economy which is designed to benefit the very richest people in our society we have got to fight hard to create a government that works for all of us, not just Mr. Musk or Mr. Bezos or Mr. Zuckerberg and other multi-billionaires.

    M. President, at a time of massive wealth and income inequality we must not provide more tax breaks to billionaires paid for by huge cuts in Medicaid and other programs that working families and low-income people desperately need.

    But let me tell you what we should be doing.

    At a time when 85 million Americans are uninsured or under-insured we have got to do what every major country on earth does and that is to guarantee health care as a human right to every man, woman and child in this country.

    At a time when 1 out of 4 Americans cannot afford the medicine that their doctors prescribe we have got to end the absurdity of Americans paying by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs.

    We have got to cut the cost of prescription drugs in half.

    M. President: The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage. While 60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck, we must raise that minimum wage to a living wage, at least $17 an hour. If you work 40 hours a week, you should not be living in poverty.

    Mr. Musk and Mr. Bezos want to make it harder for workers to join unions. Well, we have got to do exactly the opposite. We must pass the PRO Act so that anti-union CEOs cannot act unconstitutionally to deny workers the right to join a union.

    At a time when we need the best educated workforce in the world, we need to have the best public schools in the world. And, among other things, that means we need to substantially raise teacher salaries. If we want the best and the brightest to become educators no teacher in America should earn less than $60,000 a year.

    M. President: All over this country, we have a major housing crisis. And it’s not just the 800,000 who are homeless. It is millions of working families who are spending 40, 50 or 60 percent of their limited incomes on housing. Instead of spending almost a trillion dollars a year on a wasteful and bloated Pentagon budget, we have got to build millions of units of low-income and affordable housing. And when we do that, we put large numbers of people to work at good-paying union jobs.

    M. President: I hear from Trump supporters that the president won the election and he has been given this huge mandate to do whatever he wants. Well, no president has the right to move us to oligarchy, authoritarianism and kleptocracy. But more importantly, let us not forget that while Trump did win this election he actually received 4 million fewer votes in 2024 than Biden did in 2020 when Biden won the election.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Brazen and Illegal” — King, Colleagues Raise Alarm Over Trump Administration’s Attempt to Dismantle Critical National Security Agency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and 36 of his colleagues have contacted Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing their deep concern regarding the growing chaos at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration’s attempt to abolish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In a letter to Secretary Rubio, the Senators highlighted that USAID is a critical pillar of U.S. national security strategy, providing lifesaving aid and development support around the world to help ensure stability. By law, USAID is an independent agency and cannot be dismantled without approval from Congress.

    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 — despite no legal authority to do so. The Trump Administration 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 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.”

    The letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), 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), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

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

    +++

    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: Shaheen Joins New Hampshire Health Care Leaders to Discuss Her Legislation to Prevent Skyrocketing Costs for Granite Staters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Concord, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Granite State health care leaders to discuss the importance of preventing health care costs from skyrocketing, including by passing her bicameral legislation, the Health Care Affordability Act, to make permanent the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) for Marketplace coverage. If these credits are not extended, in New Hampshire alone, 10,000 Granite Staters would be priced out of their health insurance. The enhanced PTCs have led to record enrollment in ACA coverage, including more than 68,000 in New Hampshire, and a record low uninsured rate nationwide. In addition to Shaheen, participants included New Futures President, Michele Merrit, Lamprey Health Care CEO, Greg White and National Alliance on Mental Illness New Hampshire Executive Director, Susan Stearns. You can find photos from the event here.

    “For too many Americans, exorbitant costs are the biggest obstacle to purchasing health insurance leading to rationing medications and delaying appointments. Without an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, that will only get worse,” said Senator Shaheen. “My bill to extend these lifesaving tax credits was the first I introduced this Congress because we need to act now to protect access to health care and prevent costs from rising at the end of this year.”

    The Health Care Affordability Act would make permanent the ACA PTCs for Marketplace coverage as passed in the American Rescue Plan Act and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act. Those enhanced tax credits increase the value of the tax credits available to people with income between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), while expanding eligibility for premium tax credits to include individuals with income above 400 percent of FPL. 

    At the end of last year, Shaheen, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), as well as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, secured new data from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) detailing the impact on Americans’ health insurance should the ACA enhanced PTCs expire at the end of 2025. Shaheen’s legislation is cosponsored by 41 Senators.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Joins Young and Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Small Businesses Adopt Digital Tools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the former Chair and now a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, joined U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Ted Budd (R-NC) in introducing bipartisan legislation to help small business owners integrate digital tools into their businesses. The Small Business Technological Advancement Act would clarify that small businesses can utilize the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 7(a) loan program to finance technology that supports daily operations, including inventory management, product delivery and accounting systems.

    “In an increasingly digital world, more and more companies are using technology to modernize operations and compete globally. To ensure our small businesses can compete too, we must cut red tape to allow them to utilize digital tools to help manage and grow their businesses,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our commonsense, bipartisan bill will empower small businesses to use SBA’s 7(a) loans to access new software, digital tools and online work.”

    The last few years have seen an accelerated digital transformation among small businesses, pushing the adoption of software for business continuity and customer engagement. The Small Business Technological Advancement Act would help small businesses continue to bridge this technological gap by amending the Small Business Act to clarify that 7(a) loan borrowers can finance business software or cloud computing services for the following:

    • Facilitating daily operations;
    • Product or service delivery;
    • Processing, payment, and tracking of payroll expenses;
    • Human resources;
    • Sales and billing functions; and/or
    • Accounting or tracking of supplies, inventory, records and expenses.

    Full legislative text can be found here.

    As a former small business owner and now a top member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Shaheen fights for New Hampshire’s—and America’s—small businesses. During her time as Chair of the committee, Shaheen focused on addressing some of the biggest challenges small business owners face, reporting key legislation out of committee that included critical improvements to the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) and improved access to federal contracting opportunities for small businesses. Shaheen recently introduced the bipartisan Helping Small Businesses THRIVE Act with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) that would direct SBA to create a new program that helps small businesses lock in the cost of commodities, like gasoline or lumber, in order to protect against the future volatile price of energy and other expenses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Senate Intel Vice Chair Warner on the FBI

    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, released the following statement:

    “Earlier today, my office finally received a copy of the order that was sent on Friday by the acting head of the Department of Justice to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ordering that several of the most experienced and senior officials at the Bureau be terminated.

    “We need to be clear about why this matters. I am going to start by sharing a little bit about some of the individuals who were fired, and how they served our country.

    “At a time when we are facing threats to the homeland from ISIS and ISIS-inspired terrorists, the president fired the Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division. Bobby Wells began his career as an FBI special agent in 2003, and there are Americans who are alive today because he helped catch terrorists before they had a chance to carry out their plans to attack inside the United States.

    “While more than 100,000 Americans die every year due to drug overdoses, the president fired the Assistant Director of the FBI’s the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch, which, among other myriad responsibilities, puts criminal organizations and drug traffickers behind bars. Michael Nordwall began his career with the FBI as a special agent in 2002, and he has worked at field offices in Phoenix, Tampa, Denver, Pittsburgh, as well as at FBI headquarters, investigating some of the most dangerous criminals in the United States and making sure that they face justice.

    “As we face espionage and counterintelligence threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries, the president fired the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Intelligence Branch. Ryan Young joined the FBI as a special agent in 2001, working counterintelligence cases out of Miami. In 2014, he moved to counterterrorism and established the Syria-Iraq Task Force to counter the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, and has also worked in Dallas and Los Angeles, managing crises and counterterrorism investigations.

    “While new technologies are transforming crimefighting and our national security, the president fired the Assistant Director of the Science and Technology Branch. Jacqueline Maguire joined the FBI as a special agent in 2000. Among her other notable achievements, she was the lead agent for the investigation of the five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77 after the 9/11 terror attacks.

    “As the FBI builds a workforce to manage the threats of today and tomorrow and keep adversaries like China from penetrating our secrets, the president fired the Assistant Director of the Human Resources Branch. Timothy Dunham joined the FBI as a special agent in 2002, and has overseen matters relating to counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and transnational organized crime.

    “The president fired the head of the Miami field office, which oversees crimefighting in nine busy counties in South Florida, including the president’s home in Palm Beach County, as well as extraterritorial violations of American citizens in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Jeffrey Veltri joined the FBI as a special agent in 2002, working on matters from health care fraud to terrorism. He also deployed to Iraq, where he supported the prosecution of Saddam Hussein.

    “In the memo, the acting director of the FBI was also ordered to fire the head of the Washington Field Office, one of the most important field positions in the entire FBI, with jurisdiction over federal crimes in and around Washington, D.C. David Sundberg joined the FBI in 2002 as a special agent, and, among other stops in a distinguished career, served as a leader on the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team.

    “These are people who have served our country, protected Americans, and put criminals behind bars. Now they have been pushed out simply for doing their jobs.

    “As we deal with a myriad of threats – to our homeland, to our cyber networks, to our economic competitiveness – this blatant abuse of power is making us all less safe.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Delivers Floor Speech in Support of RFK, Jr. to be HHS Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    [embedded content]

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spoke on the U.S. Senate floor today to detail his decision to vote for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cassidy delivered the speech after voting to advance Kennedy’s nomination in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. The nomination now awaits a full vote in the U.S. Senate.
    Cassidy’s speech as prepared for delivery can be found below:
    Mr. President, I’d like to make a statement regarding my vote in Committee on behalf of Robert F. Kennedy to be the Secretary of HHS. First, I thank everyone who has contacted me over the last few days. Almost all have been respectful and seek the best for our country. And I’ve been contacted by text, by phone, by email. And if I did not respond to anyone, it was not to be rude. It’s just I was getting hundreds of messages a day personally and thousands through the office. And I just physically could not.
    Now Mr. President, believe it or not, of these hundreds of people calling me or contacting me, however they did, many of them disagreed with each other. Diametrically, three dimensionally, they disagreed. But the unifying factor is that they all desire the best for our country, even though they differ from each other so much. And maybe that kind of frames my feelings about this nomination.
    For context, before entering politics, before ever thinking running for political office, I practiced medicine for 30 years in a public hospital for the uninsured. Caring for those who otherwise would not have been able to afford the access to the care that I provided. After seeing patients die from vaccine preventable diseases, I dedicated much of my time to vaccine research and immunization programs. Personally witnessing the safety monitoring, and the effectiveness of immunization. But simply, vaccines save lives.
    This is the context that informed me when considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr as the nominee to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
    It was a decision I studied exhaustively. I took very seriously. As I said I would, I spoke with Mr. Kennedy not once, but multiple times over the weekend, including this morning. We had in-depth conversations about the medical literature and the science behind the safety of vaccines. He referred me to studies and people. I reviewed them and spoke to those whom he mentioned I should speak to.
    Now, the most notable opponents of Mr. Kennedy were pediatricians on the front lines of our children’s health who regularly have to combat misinformation; combating vaccine skepticism with correct information—correct information that comes from their education, training and experience as physicians. They are aware of the falling vaccine rates and the inevitability of increasing hospitalizations and deaths of children from vaccine-preventable diseases. They are aware that children are now contracting diseases that they would not have contracted if the children were vaccinated.
    I heard from others impassioned about the need to address chemicals in our food, and a belief that we are victims of large, impersonal forces maximizing profits while sacrificing our health. There is evidence for that. Although food safety is principally a USDA concern, I strongly agree that this is an issue society must address.
    Other RFK supporters are concerned regarding environmental risk. They fear these risks are being ignored by authorities. Mr. Kennedy’s history of environmental activism motivates their support. I pointed out that the Environmental Protection Agency monitors this, not the Department of Health and Human Services but they still feel that he can make a difference.
    So, as I looked how to resolve this, I returned to where I began. Would it be possible to have Mr. Kennedy collaborate in helping public health agencies re-earn the trust of the American people? 
    Regarding vaccines, Mr. Kennedy has been insistent that he just wants good science and to ensure safety. But on this topic, the science is good, the science is credible. Vaccines save lives. They are safe. They do not cause autism. There are multiple studies that show this. They are a crucial part of our nation’s public health response.
    But as someone who has discussed immunizations with thousands of people, I do recognize that many mothers need reassurance that the vaccine their child is receiving is necessary, effective, and most of all safe. 
    While I am aligned with Mr. Kennedy as regards to ultra-processed foods, reforming NIH, taking on chronic disease—once more, it still leaves vaccines.
    Now, Mr. Kennedy and the administration reached out seeking to reassure me regarding their commitment to protecting the public health benefit of vaccination.
    To this end, Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed that he and I will have an unprecedently close collaborative working relationship if he is confirmed. We will meet or speak multiple times a month. This collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective.
    Mr. Kennedy has asked for my input into hiring decisions at HHS, beyond Senate-confirmed positions. This aspect of our collaboration will allow us to represent all sides of those folks that were contacting me this weekend. 
    He has also committed that he would work within the current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems, and not establish parallel systems. If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes. CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism. Mr. Kennedy and the administration also committed that this administration will not use the subversive techniques employed under the Biden administration, like sue and settle, to change policies enacted by Congress without first going through Congress.
    Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed to a strong role of Congress. Aside from us meeting regularly, he will come before the Committee on a quarterly basis, if requested. He committed that the HELP Committee Chair, whether it’s me or someone else, may choose a representative on any board or commission formed to review vaccine safety.
    If he is confirmed, HHS will provide a 30-day notice to the HELP Committee if the agency seeks to make changes to any of our federal vaccine safety monitoring programs, and HELP Committee will have the option to call a hearing to further review. 
    These commitments, and my expectation that we can have a great relationship to make America healthy again, is the basis of my support. He will be Secretary, but I believe he will also be a partner in working for this end. 
    If Mr. Kennedy is confirmed, I will use my authority as Chairman of the Senate Committee with oversight of HHS to rebuff any attempts to remove the public’s access to life-saving vaccines without ironclad, causational scientific evidence that can be defended before the mainstream scientific community and before Congress. I will carefully watch for any effort to wrongfully sow public fear about vaccines between confusing references of coincidence and anecdote. 
    But my support is built on assurances that this will not have to be a concern and that he and I can work together to build an agenda to make America healthy again.
    We need a leader at HHS who will guide President Trump’s agenda to Make America Healthy Again. Based on Mr. Kennedy’s assurances on vaccines and his platform to positively influence Americans’ health, it is my consideration that he will get this done. 
    As I’ve said, it’s been a long, intense process. But I’ve assessed it as I would assess a patient as a physician. Ultimately, restoring trust in our public health institutions is too important and I think Mr. Kennedy can get that done. And as Chairman of the Senate committee with oversight authority of HHS, I will do my best to make sure that is what we accomplish.
    I want Mr. Kennedy to succeed in making America healthy again. His success will be tied to the health of our nation. He has the opportunity to address the most pertinent issues affecting Americans’ health. We also need to reform our health institutions like FDA and NIH. Those, as already been indicated, are my priorities as Chairman of HELP Committee. I look forward to his support in accomplishing this.
    If confirmed, I look forward to working together with Mr. Kennedy to achieve President Trump’s mission of improving the health of all Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand, Schumer, Blackburn, Fischer, Clarke, Garbarino, Langworthy, and Torres Reintroduce E-bike Safety Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Deb Fischer (R-NE), along with Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), and Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY), reintroduced the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act. The bipartisan bill would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to publish a final consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices to protect against the risk of fires caused by such batteries. The bill is being reintroduced at a time when fires from lithium-ion batteries have become widespread in New York City. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) reports rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have caused more than 850 fires since 2021, resulting in more than 450 injuries, 34 deaths & damage to hundreds of structures. In 2024, there were 279 e-bike and e-mobility device battery fires in NYC, a dramatic increase from the 44 that occurred in 2020.

    “Far too many innocent lives have been lost in New York City and across the country to fires caused by faulty and improperly manufactured lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act is a commonsense solution that brings us one step closer to stopping preventable fires, and I encourage my congressional colleagues to pass this bipartisan bill and create the first-ever mandatory consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices.”

    “We are in a time where technology is outpacing federal safety action in many ways, moving faster than the measures we need to keep the public safe, and there might be no better example of this dilemma than with the cheap, China-made lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, e-scooters and other devices,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “The fires and injuries caused by these batteries have resulted in tremendous loss across New York and federal action is needed to protect consumers and our brave firefighters who are on the front lines of this new paradigm in fire prevention spurred by these unpredictable, and often times, very dangerous batteries—and that’s why we are reintroducing the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act to create a consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.”

    “Battery fires in e-bikes have caused far too many devastating injuries and deaths,” said U.S. Senator Deb Fischer. “We need effective, sensible safety standards for the batteries in motorized devices like e-bikes and e-scooters. Our bipartisan bill will protect people across America from these preventable tragedies.”

    “Since 2021, we’ve seen far too many avoidable deaths and injuries due to unregulated, unsafe lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, e-scooters, and other mobility devices New Yorkers use to travel throughout the city delivering goods and services, said Rep. Yvette D. Clarke. “I fully support this legislation to improve public safety and ensure safety guidelines and standards to prevent fire risks – protecting our constituents and businesses from injury and loss of life.”

    “Unregulated lithium-ion batteries are one of the leading causes of fatal fires in New York, posing a serious threat to both the public and the firefighters who respond to these emergencies,” said Rep. Andrew Garbarino. “As the use of lithium-ion batteries in devices like e-scooters and e-bikes continues to grow, so do the risks. This legislation is a critical step toward preventing these fires and improving public safety.”

    “The safety of American consumers must always come first. Rechargeable lithium batteries power so many aspects of our daily lives, but without proper standards, they pose serious risks of fires and explosions,” said Rep. Nicholas Langworthy. “This legislation sets clear safety guidelines to protect families, first responders, and businesses from preventable hazards. I am proud to support this commonsense measure to ensure that these products meet rigorous safety standards before they reach the market.”

    “For years, it has been clear that unregulated lithium-ion batteries pose a clear and present threat to the public’s safety, and it’s long past time that we do something about it,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres. “My district specifically is acutely aware of the unmitigated disaster that urban fires pose and the urgent need for stronger safety standards. My colleagues and I fought throughout the last Congress to advance this legislation, and we will continue pushing it toward the finish line in the 119th — no matter the national political scene.”

    “Keeping our country safe from the dangers of lithium-ion batteries is incredibly important, because as we have seen time and time again, they present unique safety risks to the public and to first responders,” said NYC Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker. “We’re grateful to our partners in government for bringing back this legislation we know will save lives. We will continue to beat the drum on safe usage and best practices of these devices to help prevent tragedies in the future.”

    “I thank Senator Gillibrand, Representative Torres, and their allies for their continued leadership and perseverance on the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act,” said Chief Josh Waldo, President and Chair of the Board, the International Association of Fire Chiefs. “Fire departments across the country face numerous challenges when responding to these preventable incidents. We have gone far too long without any impactful changes to ensure the safety of humans around these devices. As we have seen, further injury and property damage is the result of inaction. It is time for Congress to act together and pass this life-saving legislation.”

    “Lithium-ion batteries, especially those of inferior quality, can be prone to explosion, thermal runaway, and other hazards. As devices powered by these batteries have become more common, so have the risks associated with them. I applaud Senator Gillibrand and Rep. Torres for introducing this bill, which would require lithium-ion batteries powering certain mobility devices to meet quality and safety standards, thereby reducing the fire risk these devices pose,” said Steven W. Hirsch, Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council.

    “Lithium-ion battery fires burn intensely, last longer than most fires, and release toxic fumes, putting fire fighters and the public at risk,” said International Association of Fire Fighters General President Ed Kelly. “The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act is an important step toward preventing these fires, protecting our communities, and keeping fire fighters safe. The IAFF thanks Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on this critical issue.”

    “Lithium-ion battery safety has rapidly become a top priority for property owners and managers across the country, as we’re on the front lines of making sure that office buildings and other commercial spaces are kept safe,” said Manuel Moreno, Chair and Chief Elected Officer of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, the professional association representing the commercial real estate sector. “This legislation will help protect the safety of millions of people in the nation’s commercial buildings as well as the safety of first responders who have to confront these intense chemical fires. This legislation will save lives.”

    “We applaud Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representative Richie Torres, and their Congressional colleagues for taking decisive action to address substandard lithium-ion batteries flooding in from overseas and help ensure that everyone can safely use these devices without fear that they may lack necessary safeguards,” said John Horton, Head of North America Public Policy at DoorDash. “DoorDash will continue to work with all stakeholders to help ensure certified safe lithium-ion batteries are used in our communities, but a safety floor must be put in place to keep unsafe batteries from the marketplace to begin with, and this bill does just that.”

    “Addressing the dangers posed by uncertified lithium-ion batteries is essential to protecting public safety,” said Kara Kelber, Grubhub’s Director of Federal Affairs. “Grubhub applauds Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer, Senator Blackburn and Senator Fischer for their continued leadership on this critical issue. The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act shows a strong, bipartisan commitment to tackling this urgent safety concern and keeping unsafe products from infiltrating our streets and communities. We are eager to see the bill pass and ensure safer micromobility options for communities across the country.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Leads 37 Senators in Raising Alarm Over Trump Administration Chaos at Critical National Security Agencies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 37 of his colleagues in sending a letter to 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 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 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.”

    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), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jack Reed (D-RI), 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 is available here and below.

    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: Kaine & Cornyn Introduce Bill to Create African Diaspora Heritage Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), introduced a bipartisan bill authorizing the formal designation of an African Diaspora Heritage Month to recognize and reaffirm the significant contributions of the African diaspora to the growth and prosperity of the United States. The month is traditionally celebrated by the diaspora community in September.

    “The African diaspora has contributed so much to the fabric of our nation, local communities, and our economy,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to recognize this vibrant community’s achievements by designating a federal African Diaspora Heritage Month.”

    The legislation was also cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy.

    “I know the invaluable impact the African diaspora has made in New Jersey and across our country,” said Booker. “Millions of African immigrants and citizens contribute to the fabric of our nation with their rich culture and heritage. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, I’m humbled to work across the aisle to recognize this community and work to designate a federal African Diaspora Heritage Month.”

    Virginia is home to more than 115,000 African immigrants, thousands of whom are small- and medium-sized business owners who have helped bring more than $205 million in international trade to the Commonwealth. The African Diaspora in the U.S. is comprised of approximately 50 million people. In March 2022, the Virginia General Assembly passed a resolution to designate September as Virginia African Diaspora Heritage Month.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Call for Reinstatement of Inspectors General Illegally Fired by President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), alongside a group of 37 senators, wrote to President Trump strongly condemning the President’s recent order to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies and called on the President to immediately reinstate the officials. 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.

    In Virginia, IGs have played key roles in much-needed oversight, including over the quality of the United States Postal Services’ work, and in responding to the horrific animal abuse committed by Envigo Global Services against 4,000 beagles in Cumberland County.

    “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,” wrote 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.”

    The senators continued, “While the President has the authority to remove Inspectors General from office, Congress has established clear requirements to ensure such removals are transparent and are not politicized.  The law requires that the President provide a written 30-day notice to both Houses of Congress and include “the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons for any such removal or transfer.” With respect to your firings Friday night, Congress has not received either the mandatory 30-day notice or a rationale for their removal. Because your actions violated the law, these Inspectors General should be reinstated immediately…”

    IGs are responsible for providing independent oversight of federal programs and play a key role in improving government efficiency and effectiveness. IGs were removed from at least 18 departments and agencies, including Departments of Defense, State, Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, the Social Security Administration, and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

    In addition to Warner and Kaine, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and John Fetterman (D-PA). 

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

    Dear Mr. President,  

    Your decision Friday evening to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 offices across government—including those overseeing the Departments of Defense, State, Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Social Security Administration, as well as the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction—does not comply with current law and could do lasting harm to IG independence.  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.  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. 

    Inspectors General are responsible for providing independent oversight of federal programs by working to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and protect taxpayer dollars – oversight our federal agencies desperately need.  They play a key role in improving government efficiency and effectiveness and have helped identify and recover billions of taxpayer dollars.  IG independence is the foundation of this work, and IGs must be free of political influence so that they can carry out their important mission with integrity and credibility.  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.  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. For example, just this week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued an unlawful memo directing agencies to pause nearly all federal grants and loans, which significantly disrupts the administration of over a trillion dollars of critical assistance to communities, businesses, and organizations across the country.  It is especially vital to have independent watchdogs at each of these agencies to conduct oversight of the impacts of this unconstitutional and unprecedented directive.     

    While the President has the authority to remove Inspectors General from office, Congress has established clear requirements to ensure such removals are transparent and are not politicized.  The law requires that the President provide a written 30-day notice to both Houses of Congress and include “the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons for any such removal or transfer.” With respect to your firings Friday night, Congress has not received either the mandatory 30-day notice or a rationale for their removal.  Because your actions violated the law, these Inspectors General should be reinstated immediately, until such time as you have provided in writing “the substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons” for each of the affected Inspectors General and the 30-day notice period has expired.   

    Lastly, if you believe it is necessary to place any of the affected IGs on administrative leave before the 30-day notice period has ended, the law requires that you submit a separate notification to Congress explaining how the IG presents a threat as defined in the Administrative Leave Act. 

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help More Americans Access High-Quality Job Training, Get Good-Paying Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus and a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Susan Collins (R-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, bipartisan legislation to help more Americans get good-paying jobs by allowing students to use federal Pell Grants—need-based education grants for lower-income individuals—to pay for shorter-term job training programs for the first time. Currently, students can only use Pell Grants for two- and four-year colleges and universities. By expanding Pell Grant eligibility, the JOBS Act would help close the skills gap by allowing people to access job training they might otherwise be unable to afford but need for careers in high-demand fields.

    “No one should be priced out of an education—including a technical education—but I hear from many Virginians that access to high-quality job training programs that align with their goals is out of reach because of financial barriers,” said Kaine. “Simultaneously, I hear from employers throughout the Commonwealth about their struggles to fill skilled labor positions. With these Virginians in mind, I wrote the JOBS Act to help remedy these issues and provide more workers with the skills they need to get good-paying jobs and provide for their families. This bill is good for workers, good for employers, and good for our economy as a whole.”

    Thanks to historic investments like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the job market has boomed in recent years. From January 2021–January 2025, the U.S. economy added 14.8 million jobs. But there’s also a skilled labor shortage that is expected to intensify in the coming years, in part because unemployed Americans lack access to the job training needed to fill vacant jobs.

    “Job training programs are proven, successful tools that help people gain the skills they need to prepare for rewarding careers,” said Collins.  “By helping students in Maine and across the country access this career pathway, this bipartisan legislation would assist young people with obtaining good-paying jobs and make it easier for businesses to find qualified workers.”

    “Some of the most in-demand jobs don’t require a four-year college degree — they require shorter-term training. People like welders, machine operators and medical technicians. We need to make it easier to get people into these career fields, and letting students use Pell Grants to make it happen just makes sense,” said Smith. “This bill will open up more career opportunities for people and will help boost our economy.”

    “The JOBS Act will provide an incredible opportunity for students that increasingly don’t find the value of a four-year degree,” said Marshall. “With a changing job market, our legislation will give Americans the chance to learn critical skills for a successful career. I look forward to getting the JOBS Act across the finish line with my colleagues.”

    “We’re so grateful that Senator Kaine has reintroduced the JOBS Act, and is willing to continue advocating for this important legislation which will re-skill and upskill our citizens who want to improve their income and the lives of themselves and their families,” said Virginia Community College System Chancellor David Doré. “Thousands of Virginians are eager to learn new skills to advance their careers and would benefit from being able to use Pell Grants to pay for high quality workforce training for in-demand jobs. We urge Congress to support Senator Kaine’s JOBS Act.”

    The JOBS Act would allow Pell Grants to be used for high-quality job training programs that are at least eight weeks in length and lead to industry-recognized credentials or certificates. Under current law, Pell Grants can only be applied toward programs that are over 600 clock hours or at least 15 weeks in length, rendering students in shorter-term high-quality job training programs ineligible for crucial assistance.

    Specifically, the JOBS Act would amend the Higher Education Act by:

    • Expanding Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in rigorous and high-quality, short-term skills and job training programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials and certificates and ultimately employment in high-wage, high-skill industry sectors or careers.
    • Ensuring students who receive Pell Grants are earning high-quality postsecondary credentials by requiring that the credentials:
      • Meet the standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), such as meaningful career counseling and aligning programs to in-demand career pathways or registered apprenticeship programs
      • Are recognized by employers, industry, or sector partnerships
      • Align with the skill needs of industries in the state or local economy
      • Are approved by the state workforce board in addition to the U.S. Department of Education
    • Defining eligible job training programs as those providing career and technical education instruction at an institution of higher education, such as a community or technical college that provides:
      • At least 150 clock hours of instruction time over a period of at least 8 weeks
      • Training that meets the needs of the local or regional workforce and industry partnerships
      • Streamlined ability to transfer credits so students can continue to pursue further education in their careers
      • Students with licenses, certifications, or credentials that meet the hiring requirements of multiple employers in the field for which the job training is offered

    The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dan Sullivan (D-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    The JOBS Act is supported by Advance CTE, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Business Roundtable, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA), Higher Learning Advocates (HLA), HP Inc., the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), Jobs for the Future (JFF), the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, NAF, the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), the National Skills Coalition (NSC), the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), Rebuilding America’s Middle Class (RAMC), and the Virginia Community College System.

    Full text of the bill is available here, and a summary of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Welch Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Support Maine’s Maple Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential (MAPLE) Act and the Supporting All Producers (SAP) Act, two bipartisan, bicameral bills to support the Maine maple industry. Senator Angus King is a cosponsor of both bills.

    “Maine is the third largest producer of pure maple syrup in the country, producing more than 575,000 gallons in a normal season, and bringing in more than $55 million to our state each year while supporting hundreds of local jobs,” said Senator Collins. “These bills support both local producers and consumers and make this market more accessible for all Mainers.” 

    The MAPLE Act would provide a new market for maple syrup producers while increasing seniors’ access to nutritious, locally sourced maple syrup products by adding maple syrup to the eligible products under the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). SFMNP gives low-income seniors access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs. In addition to Senator King, the bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and led in the House by Representatives Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) and Joe Courtney (D-CT-02).  

    The SAP Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to consult with maple producers when determining education and research priorities for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer), a competitive grant program supporting research and education related to maple syrup production and sustainability in the industry. The House version of the bill is led by Representatives Langworthy and Becca Balint (VT-At-Large). 

    The full text of the MAPLE Act can be read here.  

    The full text of the SAP Act can be read here.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Receives Fraternal Order of Police Advocacy Award

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video from the event.

    Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins was presented with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) National President’s Legislative Advocacy Award at a ceremony that took place at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington. The FOP recognized Senator Collins with this award for her more than two decades of work to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) with the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), which was signed into law last month. This is the first time the FOP has awarded a Legislative Advocacy Award. After the SSFA was signed into law, the FOP sent a letter on behalf of its more than 377,000 members to Senator Collins, thanking her for her leadership on the bill.

    “Receiving this award from the Fraternal Order of Police was a great honor, and I am thankful for the FOP’s steadfast support in the fight to repeal the WEP and GPO,” said Senator Collins. “Repealing these unfair provisions was a great victory for all public servants, including the brave men and women who make up our country’s law enforcement. In Maine and throughout the United States, we are fortunate to have so many law enforcement officers who are devoted to keeping our communities safe, and I was proud to lead the effort to restore their well-earned retirement benefits.”

    “Senator Collins, you have been the lead Republican in the Senate on this bill for more than 20 years and we so very grateful for your leadership and support. Your efforts finally paid off as you worked the bill through the Senate’s often arduous process. Your tenacity and commitment will change the lives of public employees and their families,” said FOP National President Patrick Yoes. “Because of your work, nearly three million law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and other public employees who earned themselves a Social Security benefit, only to see those benefits reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision, will finally begin to receive every penny that they earned.  Because of your work, families impacted by the Government Pension Offset which reduced or, in most cases, eliminated the survivor’s benefit received by surviving spouses, will finally be able to collect what they are owed. We owe you a debt of gratitude and are pleased to present you with the National President’s Legislative Advocacy Award.”

    The SSFA, which Senator Collins coauthored with former Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, restored the Social Security benefits for millions of public servants, including law enforcement officers, by repealing two provisions – the WEP and GPO – that unfairly reduced the Social Security benefits that public employees or their spouses have earned. Following the passage of the SSFA, Senators Collins and Brown sent a letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA) requesting that the SSA swiftly implement the Social Security Fairness Act.

    Senator Collins held the first Senate hearing on this policy in 2003 as Chair of the Senate Government Affairs Committee. She, along with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, first introduced the Social Security Fairness Act in 2005. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Create Atmospheric River Forecasting Program

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Create Atmospheric River Forecasting Program

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced bipartisan legislation that will reduce flood risks and bolster emergency preparedness by improving atmospheric river forecasting to more precisely predict the timing and location of these storms. The Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a forecast improvement program within the National Weather Service.

    The legislation was announced as major atmospheric river storms bring high winds and heavy rain and snowfall to California.

    Atmospheric rivers — often described as “rivers in the sky” that are hundreds of miles wide and can carry water vapor equivalent to multiple Mississippi Rivers — cause more than 80 percent of flood damage across the West. Climate change will only make these storms increasingly catastrophic: by 2090, atmospheric rivers are expected to cost $2.3 to $3.2 billion in annual damages and increase in width by nearly 25 percent. Over 50 atmospheric rivers made landfall across the West Coast from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.

    “For the past several years, California communities have witnessed firsthand the ongoing threat of destructive flooding caused by increasingly intense and frequent atmospheric river storms,” said Senator Padilla. “California has led the way in improving our understanding of these storms, and this bipartisan bill will strengthen forecasts to reduce flood risks while bolstering our water supply and drought resilience.”

    “With greater frequency, we are seeing that atmospheric rivers instill dangerous climate conditions that pose deadly threats to Alaska communities,” said Senator Murkowski. “While there are numerous atmospheric river observatories in the Lower 48, none are in Alaska. This bill ensures that all states along the West coast, including Alaska, have at least one atmospheric river observatory. Along with improved modeling, data collection, and risk communication, this legislation will help protect our communities and ultimately save lives across Alaska.” 

    “Atmospheric rivers are responsible for 30-50% of annual precipitation along the western U.S. and cause the majority of the flooding, with more than $1 billion in annual average flood damage in the western 11 states,” said Marty Ralph, Founding Director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “The introduction of this act is critically important to advance forecasts of atmospheric rivers to enable more flexible and resilient water management, improved warning around flooding and overall improvements to public safety. It will also enhance the opportunities for reservoir operators to safely implement Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at more reservoirs to save additional water after a storm for the dry summer, or release it to mitigate flood risk if an AR storm is predicted in the next few days.”

    Specifically, the Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act would direct NOAA to establish a standalone atmospheric river forecast improvement program that would:

    • Develop accurate, effective, and actionable storm forecasts and warnings in collaboration with public and private partners across the weather forecasting sectors;
    • Evaluate innovative observation tools and emerging technologies to improve atmospheric river analysis, modeling, forecasts, and warnings;
    • Authorize NOAA to procure equipment, aircraft, and personnel contracts to fully monitor atmospheric river events each winter; and
    • Improve atmospheric river hazard communication.

    The Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act is endorsed by the Association of California Water Agencies, Bay Planning Coalition, Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Contra Costa Water District, Covington Water District, Irvine Ranch Water District, Kings River Conservation District, the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, Orange County Water District, Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, San Diego County Water Authority, San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Sofar Ocean Technologies, Solano County Water Agency, Sonoma Water, Union Sanitary District, Valley Water, WindBorne Systems, and Yuba Water.

    Senator Padilla has fought consistently for California communities devastated by atmospheric river flooding. Last year, Padilla urged the Biden Administration to prioritize sustained federal investment in the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project to protect disadvantaged communities along the central coast of California. Padilla also introduced the Atmospheric Rivers Reconnaissance, Observation and Warning (ARROW) Act to bolster West Coast atmospheric river forecasting, which was passed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.

    Padilla has also championed funding for programs such as the Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) to improve U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir operations to increase water conservation and reliability at Lake Sonoma and Prado Dam, for example, while maintaining flood control and enhanced public safety during extreme precipitation events.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Introduces Bicameral Legislation to Ensure Access to Legal Counsel When Entering the United States

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Introduces Bicameral Legislation to Ensure Access to Legal Counsel When Entering the United States

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, introduced the Access to Counsel Act to ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can 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. U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

    The bill was introduced in conjunction with the NO BAN Act, legislation to prevent another Muslim Ban, which is led by Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28). Senator Padilla is cosponsoring the NO BAN Act.

    “In his first term, President Trump’s cruel and unlawful travel ban led to the detention of countless legally present noncitizens at airports and ports of entry while denying them their basic legal rights,” said Senator Padilla. “Now, with another executive order setting the stage for a new travel ban, the Access to Counsel Act is more important than ever. These important guardrails would prevent CBP from blocking noncitizens it has detained with lawful permission to be in the United States from calling a lawyer or a trusted contact.”

    “It was incredibly clear how critical this legislation was under the first Trump Administration, as he stripped basic civil rights away from individuals for reasons ranging from the color of their skin to the country of their origin. I remember rushing to my local airport and found a U.S. citizen woman waiting to welcome her husband who had been put on a plane back without being allowed to see an attorney, despite traveling on a valid visa,” said Representative Jayapal. “It is more important now than ever, under a second Trump Administration, that we codify the right to access counsel for detained persons who are legally allowed access to the United States. As we continue to see him scapegoat immigrants, we must protect people from unjust detention.”

    The previous Muslim Ban in Trump’s first term unleashed chaos at airports and ports of entry across the country. People from Muslim-majority countries, with lawful permission to enter, were detained for hours without food or water before being deported. These individuals were often pressured to sign documents that amounted to them giving up their legal status. In many cases, these individuals had no opportunity to see an attorney or call anyone for legal guidance. Since then, there have been numerous instances of individuals in California and across the country being denied access to legal counsel while detained for long periods despite having valid visas.

    Specifically, the Access to Counsel Act would:

    • Require the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that people with valid travel documents who present themselves at the border, airports, or other points of interaction can communicate with counsel and other interested parties if they are subjected to prolonged inspection by CBP. 
    • Allow counsel or a covered interested party the ability to advocate on behalf of the individual by providing information or documentation in support of the individual.
    • Invalidate any effort by CBP to persuade someone to relinquish their legal status if that person has been denied access to counsel.

    In the Senate, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

    The bill is also endorsed by American Immigration Lawyers Association, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Immigration Equality Action Fund, Kids in Need of Defense, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Partnership for New Americans, OneAmerica, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), and UnidosUS.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Doug Collins to Lead Veterans Affairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    02.04.25
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hoeven released the following statement after the Senate confirmed former Representative Doug Collins to serve as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
    “Congratulations to our newest Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins,” said Hoeven. “His experience as an Air Force Colonel and chaplain have prepared him to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. We appreciate his commitment to ensure that our veterans receive the recognition, benefits and high quality care they have earned. When we met, Secretary Collins also committed to help us advance upgrades for Fargo National Cemetery. He understands what it means to serve, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that our nation keeps its promises to our veterans.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at Executive Session to Vote on HHS Nominee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to vote on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

    As prepared for delivery:

    “We meet today to vote on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

    “Mr. Kennedy, if confirmed, will have the opportunity to deliver much needed change to our nation’s health care system.

    “He has spent his career fighting to end America’s chronic illness epidemic and has been a leading advocate for health care transparency, both for patients and for taxpayers.

    “Mr. Kennedy has also clearly responded to our questions during the rigorous due diligence process, his hearing, and in the course of answering over nine hundred questions for the record that were asked by Members of this Committee.

    “In response to Members of this Committee, Mr. Kennedy has even amended his ethics agreement, going beyond what is required by the Office of Government Ethics.

    “Mr. Kennedy has proven his commitment to the role of Secretary of HHS, and I will vote in favor of his nomination. 

    “I strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

    “With that, I recognize Ranking Member Wyden for his remarks.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo: Doug Collins Knows Firsthand the Issues Veterans Face

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed, by a vote of 77-23, Doug Collins to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

    “Idaho is home to veterans of many different backgrounds, from every branch of service and from various wars over the past few decades, including post-9/11 veterans.  It is imperative the next Secretary of the VA will fight tirelessly to appropriately honor their service and administer the benefits owed to them by their sacrifices.  His military service coupled with his political and professional work give him the tools necessary to solve complex problems, cut through red tape and get things done for those who have served our country.  Doug Collins knows firsthand the issues veterans face.  He will bring empathy and kindness to meeting their needs.  He has also committed to making the VA more user-friendly so veterans do not need to find outside help to navigate the Department’s bureaucracy.  I congratulate him on his confirmation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Confirms Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Senate confirmed Doug Collins as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs today by a vote of 77 to 23.  
    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who served with Collins in the House of Representatives for six years, introduced him at his confirmation hearing and celebrated the bipartisan passage of his nomination from the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Additionally, Cramer penned an op-ed in the Washington Examiner highlighting how Collins will restore America’s promise to veterans.
    “Doug puts our veterans first and fights for their access to timely and quality local healthcare,” said Cramer. “His commitment to the law and servant leadership is exactly what the Department of Veterans Affairs needs to stay on mission. I look forward to working with Doug in his new position.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Votes to Confirm Collins for VA 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 former Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Collins was confirmed by a vote of 77 to 23.

    “Supporting and ensuring timely medical care for our veterans is one of the most important promises our government makes to those who serve,” Senator Capito said. “Congressman Doug Collins’ passion and deep understanding of the issues facing veterans comes from his experience as a veteran himself. His background as a military chaplain, former congressman, and attorney uniquely qualify him to serve in this role and will be critical in delivering results and reforms in the department. I look forward to working with him and the Trump administration as we continue to improve the VA system and advance other efforts to ensure veterans in West Virginia and across the country receive the care and support they deserve.”

    Senator Capito previously met with Collins in December of 2024 to discuss his nomination and learn more about his vision to lead the department.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Reintroduces Legislation to Eliminate Federal Use of the Term “West Bank”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    February 4, 2025

    Cotton Reintroduces Legislation to Eliminate Federal Use of the Term “West Bank”

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria (RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria) Act, legislation to require all official U.S. documents and materials to use the historically accurate term “Judea and Samaria” instead of the “West Bank”. This bill would require the use of historically accurate terminology and align U.S. policy language with the geographical and cultural significance of the region. This legislation was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-New York).

    “The Jewish people’s legal and historic rights to Judea and Samaria goes back thousands of years. The U.S. should stop using the politically charged term West Bank to refer to the biblical heartland of Israel,” said Senator Cotton. 

    “The Israeli people have an undeniable and indisputable historical and legal claim over Judea and Samaria,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “By introducing the RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act and creating the Friends of Judea and Samaria Caucus, we are working to reaffirm Israel’s rightful claim to its territory. I am dedicated to working with President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and Ambassador Huckabee to support communities in the region while opposing the establishment of a hostile state that promotes terrorism in Judea and Samaria. I remain committed to defending the integrity of the Jewish state and fully supporting Israel’s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

    Text of the legislation may be found here. 

    Background:

    • In 1995, the Clinton administration changed longstanding U.S. policy and required “Made in West Bank” country-of-origin (COO) labels for Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria, even though the U.S. government treats these products as “articles of Israel” for trade purposes. 
    • In 2016, the Obama administration republished these labeling guidelines as part of a broader effort to oppose the Israeli government. 
    • The bill pushes back on attempts to undermine Israel’s sovereign territory. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, and Risch Push to Reauthorize Program Supporting Rural Counties in Oregon, Idaho and Nationwide

    US Senate News:

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

    February 04, 2025

    Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) said today that they along with U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) and 17 other Senate colleagues have reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) administered for counties hosting both U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management forested lands through Fiscal Year 2026. 

    “This is urgent business for the Oregonians living and working in counties that have long depended on millions of dollars from these federal funds for local schools, roads, law enforcement and more,” said Wyden, who co-authored the bipartisan SRS legislation in 2000.  “I’m glad this bill is being reintroduced right at the start of this new Congress in this bipartisan spirit, and I strongly urge our House colleagues to act with the same urgency and bipartisan ethic to reconnect this proven lifeline ASAP for rural communities in Oregon and nationwide.”

    “Our bipartisan bill provides reliable funding that is crucial to keeping schools and libraries open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural?communities safe,”?said Merkley.  “Congress must swiftly pass this bill to extend the SRS program so Oregon communities can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.” 

    “The SRS program is a vital lifeline for rural counties where federal lands generate insufficient revenue for important local services,” said Crapo.  “Failure to reauthorize the program puts most of Idaho’s counties in a precarious position with a lack of funding for schools, road maintenance, public safety, and search and rescue operations.  I urge both the Senate and House to take up this measure expeditiously, and remain committed to finding a viable long-term solution that provides more certainty to rural county governments in the future.”

    “Idaho’s counties rely on SRS funding for schools and road maintenance,” said Risch. “The federal government made a promise to rural communities, and until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, Congress has an obligation to fulfill that promise. Congress must immediately reauthorize SRS.”

    “Reauthorizing Secure Rural Schools for three years will help counties with large tracts of federal forests meet the needs of residents and visitors,” said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase.  “Without SRS, counties would face, on average, an 80 percent drop in resources for infrastructure improvement, education programs and forest health projects.  Many rural counties and school districts are already making difficult decisions due to a lack of funds. Counties applaud the leadership of Senators Crapo and Wyden and look forward to prompt passage of this vital legislation.”

    Additional co-sponsors of the bill include Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), John Curtis (R-Utah), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada).

    Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, and Risch introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress and the Senate unanimously passed it in November 2024.  It did not receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives before the end of the Congress.  The program needs to be reauthorized as soon as possible to avoid a gap in funding for rural counties that rely on the program for much-needed services.

    Congress enacted SRS in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands.  The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management administer the funds.  The totals are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county.  SRS payments are critical to maintain education programs for many rural counties that contain federal lands exempt from property taxes.

    Text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Hoeven Introduce CRA to Repeal Methane Tax Rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) in introducing a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal a rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) included in Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act that creates a new tax on natural gas production. The tax would increase our dependence on foreign nations for energy and cause higher energy costs for consumers. Last month, Senator Tuberville also joined U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in reintroducing legislation to repeal the Natural Gas Tax.

    “For the last four years, Americans have felt the impacts of Bidenflation from the gas pump to the grocery store,” said Senator Tuberville. “Democrats have shut down our offshore drilling and made us reliant on foreign adversaries for our energy without considering the impact that it has on Americans’ daily lives. The last thing hardworking Americans need right now are more taxes and higher prices. I look forward to seeing this disastrous methane tax overturned and working with President Trump to make America energy independent once again.

    Full text of the resolution can be read here.

    Also joining Senators Tuberville and Hoeven in introducing the resolution are U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Lee (R-UT), James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), James Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and John Barrasso (R-WY).

    BACKGROUND:

    For the last four years, Senator Tuberville has helped introduce numerous pieces of legislation pushing back against the Biden administration’s war on American energy, citing the impacts rising energy costs would have on hardworking Americans and Alabamians that work in the Gulf of America’s energy industry. Senator Tuberville has also been vocal about how increased energy costs cut into farmers’ bottom lines and the need to bring down energy costs so that we can preserve our small family farms.  

    MORE:

    Tuberville, Cruz Introduce Legislation Eliminating Natural Gas Tax, Bolstering American Energy Security 

    Tuberville, Cruz Introduce Legislation to Repeal Biden’s Natural Gas Tax for Unleashing American Energy

    ICYMI: Tuberville in Fox News: How Congress Can Reverse Biden’s Radical Energy Agenda

    Tuberville Blasts Biden Administration For Playing Politics With U.S. Energy

    Tuberville Applauds NOAA Decision Rejecting Biden Administration’s Rule Threatening Gulf’s Energy Sector

    Tuberville Continues to Fight Biden Administration’s Rule Threatening Gulf’s Energy Sector

    Tuberville Sponsors Legislation to Prevent Administration From Shutting Down Offshore Energy Development

    ICYMI: Tuberville and NOIA President Sound Alarm on Biden Rule Proposal Threatening Gulf’s Energy Sector

    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: February 4th, 2025 Heinrich Announces Appropriations Committee Assignments for 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Heinrich named Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced his assignments on the Senate Appropriations Committee for the 119th Congress. Heinrich’s positions on the Appropriations Committee allow him to directly advocate for and deliver investments that improve New Mexicans’ safety, well-being, and quality of life.

    “As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to New Mexico, helping to lower costs for working families, grow local economies, and create jobs New Mexicans can build their families around. Our appropriations bills are essential to New Mexico’s economy. They support our local law enforcement, fire departments, hospitals, schools, newborns, elders and veterans, and help keep communities safe across New Mexico.

    “I will stand up to anybody who tries to prevent investments I’ve secured from reaching New Mexicans. The Constitution is clear: the president cannot override, delay, or rescind Congress’s funding laws. Donald Trump’s attacks on federal funding for our state cannot stand.”

    Heinrich has been assigned to the following Senate Appropriations Subcommittees:

    • Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
    • Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
    • Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
    • Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
    • Legislative Branch Subcommittee

    Heinrich will be Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, which oversees the funding of:

    • Joint Committee on Taxation
    • Joint Economic Committee
    • Congressional Budget Office
    • Government Accountability Office
    • Architect of the Capitol
    • Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (Library of Congress)
    • Botanic Garden (Architect of the Capitol)
    • Capitol Police
    • Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress)
    • Copyright Office (Library of Congress)
    • Government Publishing Office
    • House of Representatives
    • John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, Training, and Development
    • Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
    • Library of Congress
    • Office of Compliance
    • Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
    • Office of the Attending Physician
    • Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund
    • Senate

    This will be Heinrich’s third Congress serving on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.

    Heinrich’s Committee assignments for the 119th Congress:

    In the 119th Congress, Heinrich is serving as Ranking Member for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee. The ENR Committee plays a critical role in setting national energy policies and managing our nation’s public lands within the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service. The Committee also oversees the U.S. Department of Energy and has jurisdiction over U.S. territories and nuclear waste policy.

    Heinrich will continue to serve on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee.

    Heinrich will also serve as Co-Chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus, the Senate Fusion Energy Caucus, the Bicameral Electrification Caucus, the International Conservation Caucus, and the Senate Outdoor Recreation Caucus. Heinrich will serve as a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force, National Service Congressional Caucus, Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus, and the Congressional Directed Energy Caucus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 4th, 2025 Heinrich, Daines Resolution Designating National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week Passes U.S. Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced that their bipartisan legislation designating this week, beginning February 3, 2025, as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week” passed the U.S. Senate. This week is dedicated to the recognition and support for the achievements of students pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities in Tribal Colleges and Universities.

    “I’m pleased the Senate passed my resolution designating this week as National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week. This resolution recognizes the vital role of Tribal colleges and universities in creating opportunities for the next generation of Tribal leaders, upholding Tribal educational sovereignty, and preparing Native students for careers they can build their families around in their home communities,” said Heinrich.

    “Our tribal colleges and universities play a vital role in Montana’s communities and provide incredible opportunities for higher education on or near Montana’s reservations,” said Daines. “I’m proud to introduce legislation so the hard work and great achievements of our Montana students, teachers and educational institutions can be recognized nationally.”

    Read the full text of the resolution here.

    The resolution was led by Heinrich and Daines. U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennett (D-Colo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) cosponsored the  resolution.

    MIL OSI USA News –