NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Announces Town Halls in Washington and Columbia Counties

    US Senate News:

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

    February 03, 2025

    Senator’s upcoming open-to-all town halls will be on Saturday, Feb. 15

    Portland – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold town halls on Saturday, Feb. 15 in Washington and Columbia counties.

    Heading into these two town halls on Feb. 15, Wyden has held 1,103 open-to-all town halls in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. 

    “Oregonians deserve and expect elected officials to come to them in their communities to voice their opinions, ask how they can make our state and country stronger, and question me directly in an open-to-all town hall,” Wyden said. “That’s why I’ve had more than 1,100 town halls. And given everything going on back in Washington, DC with a new Congress and administration, these upcoming town halls are especially timely.”

    The schedule for the town halls on Saturday, Feb. 15 is as follows:

    • Washington County, Noon, Poynter Middle School, 1535 NE Grant St., Hillsboro
    • Columbia County, 3:30 pm, Scappoose Middle School, 52265 Lower Columbia River Hwy. (Hwy 30), Scappoose

    Doors will open 30 minutes before for attendees. For everyone’s security, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town hall.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Leads Colleagues in Calling for Reinstatement of Inspectors General Fired by President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led a group of 38 colleagues in a letter to President Trump, strongly condemning the President’s recent decision to remove Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies, and demanding their immediate reinstatement. The IGs who were removed included 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, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Social Security Administration, and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. In the letter, the senators assert that President Trump’s actions violated the law and threaten the independence of these non-partisan watchdogs. Peters helped lead the Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act, which was signed into law in 2022 as part of the FY 2023 national defense bill, to require a President to provide a 30-day notice and substantive reasons for removal in writing to Congress before an Inspector General can be removed.  
    “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,” the senators wrote. “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.”  
    “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,” wrote the senators. “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 IGs 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.”    
    In addition to Peters, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators 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), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), 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), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and John Fetterman (D-PA). 
    The full text of the letter can be found 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. 
    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins 28 Colleagues in Demanding Answers and Action from HHS Officials on Disruption to Head Start Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and 27 of their colleagues today in issuing a letter to Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Dorothy A. Fink, M.D., and Acting Director of the Office of Head Start, Captain Tala Hooban, expressing concern about the acute financial impacts and lingering uncertainty faced by Head Start programs across the country as a result of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo that imposed a government-wide hiring freeze.  
    While the White House later clarified that Head Start would not be targeted by the funding freeze and the OMB later rescinded memo, Head Start programs were temporarily unable to access the Payment Management System (PMS) to access their allocated federal funds. As a result, Head Start programs nationwide have not had funding disbursed in a timely manner—imperiling their ability to pay staff and keep educational and child care programs up and running.  
    “Head Start programs cannot pay their teachers and staff and continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and awards,” wrote the Senators. “This will impact children, families, and communities across the country, particularly the rural communities where these programs represent a large share of the child care options.” 
    “Even if this issue extends beyond the Office of Head Start, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure these programs receive transparent and frequent communication on the progress of their funds being released. Head Start programs operate on razor-thin margins and cannot survive without timely intervention. Children, families, employees, and educators all depend on these critical federal funds,” the Senators continued.  
    In addition to Sens. Welch and Kaine, the letter was signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.),  Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.).  
    The full text of the letter is available here and below.  
    Dear Acting Secretary Dr. Fink and Acting Director Captain Hooban: 
    We are writing today to raise ongoing, urgent concerns experienced by Head Start programs in our states and across the country. These concerns include (1) a lack of clarity on the status of renewals and notice of awards in the February 1st grant cycle, (2) delays in processing reimbursements through the Payment Management System (PMS), and (3) a lack of clear communication with grantees throughout this confusing time.  
    We request your immediate action and assurance on the following: 
    All requests for disbursements of funds submitted through PMS to be promptly processed to allow all Head Start programs to draw down federal funds; 
    Programs on the February 1st grant cycle will be notified of their renewal or notice of award before the deadline to ensure no lapse in funding or program operations; and  
    Transparent and consistent communication with Head Start programs to address the ongoing challenges.  
    Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has provided critical early childhood education and comprehensive services to nearly 40 million low-income young children and their families in communities across the nation. Today, Head Start programs are supported by 250,000 staff to serve nearly 800,000 children across the nation. Head Start’s comprehensive services ensure children receive age-appropriate health care, dental care, immunizations, and health insurance, and they provide referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support. For the last several years, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to recognize this longstanding federal program’s important work by providing increased appropriations.  
    Since the morning of Tuesday, January 28th, the Head Start community has faced immense uncertainty and disruptions by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo (M-25-13), directing federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” While the Trump Administration later clarified that Head Start would not be the target of the funding freeze many Head Start programs across the country were unable to access the PMS to draw down federal funds. PMS was reinstated, but programs across the country have not had funding disbursed in a timely manner. 
    Head Start programs cannot pay their teachers and staff and continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and awards. This will impact children, families, and communities across the country, particularly the rural communities where these programs represent a large share of the child care options.  
    Even if this issue extends beyond the Office of Head Start, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure these programs receive transparent and frequent communication on the progress of their funds being released. Head Start programs operate on razor-thin margins and cannot survive without timely intervention. Children, families, employees, and educators all depend on these critical federal funds.  
    Once these issues are resolved, we request you provide responses to the following questions: 
    What factors contributed to delayed disbursements to Head Start programs through the Payment Management System? What steps will be taken to ensure such delays will not occur in the future? 
    How many Head Start programs were impacted by this delay and what were the immediate consequences on operations and services for children and families? 
    What factors led to the lack of communication about grant renewals and awards for the February 1st cycle? What steps will be taken to ensure timely notices in the future? 
    We thank you for your quick attention to this matter.  
    Sincerely, 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Rosen Statement on Trump’s Attempt to Get Rid of USAID

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement after President Trump’s unlawful attempt to eliminate the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and place the independent agency’s functions under the U.S. State Department.
    “President Trump’s attempt to dismantle USAID without Congressional approval is illegal, and it will weaken America’s national security,” said Senator Rosen. “USAID does critical work to develop and strengthen U.S. partnerships that protect our nation, including through addressing conflicts and stopping the spread of pandemics around the world. Make no mistake, ceding America’s global leadership is a gift to Vladimir Putin and the Chinese Communist Party, who will use this opportunity to attempt to take our place on the world stage. I will continue working with colleagues to stop the reckless shuttering of USAID and ensure that U.S. influence remains strong.”
    Earlier this week, Senator Rosen joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an explanation of recent troubling developments at USAID, including reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, American citizens’ data, and classified spaces.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Leads Letter to HHS Officials Demanding Answers and Action on Disruption to Head Start Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a group of his colleagues in issuing a letter to Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Dorothy A. Fink, M.D. and Acting Director of the Office of Head Start Captain Tala Hooban expressing concern about the acute financial impacts and lingering uncertainty faced by Head Start programs in Virginia and across the country as a result of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo that imposed a government-wide hiring freeze.

    While the White House later clarified that Head Start would not be targeted by the funding freeze and the OMB later rescinded memo, Head Start programs were temporarily unable to access the Payment Management System (PMS) to use their allocated federal funds. As a result, Head Start programs nationwide have not had funding disbursed in a timely manner – imperiling their ability to pay staff and keep educational and child care programs up and running.

    “Head Start programs cannot pay their teachers and staff and continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and awards,” wrote the senators. “This will impact children, families, and communities across the country, particularly the rural communities where these programs represent a large share of the child care options.”

    “Even if this issue extends beyond the Office of Head Start, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure these programs receive transparent and frequent communication on the progress of their funds being released. Head Start programs operate on razor-thin margins and cannot survive without timely intervention. Children, families, employees, and educators all depend on these critical federal funds,” the senators continued.

    In addition to Kaine, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

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

    Dear Acting Secretary Dr. Fink and Acting Director Captain Hooban:

    We are writing today to raise ongoing, urgent concerns experienced by Head Start programs in our states and across the country. These concerns include (1) a lack of clarity on the status of renewals and notice of awards in the February 1st grant cycle, (2) delays in processing reimbursements through the Payment Management System (PMS), and (3) a lack of clear communication with grantees throughout this confusing time.

    We request your immediate action and assurance on the following:

    • All requests for disbursements of funds submitted through PMS to be promptly processed to allow all Head Start programs to draw down federal funds;
    • Programs on the February 1st grant cycle will be notified of their renewal or notice of award before the deadline to ensure no lapse in funding or program operations; and
    • Transparent and consistent communication with Head Start programs to address the ongoing challenges.

    Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has provided critical early childhood education and comprehensive services to nearly 40 million low-income young children and their families in communities across the nation. Today, Head Start programs are supported by 250,000 staff to serve nearly 800,000 children across the nation.[1] Head Start’s comprehensive services ensure children receive age-appropriate health care, dental care, immunizations, and health insurance, and they provide referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support. For the last several years, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to recognize this longstanding federal program’s important work by providing increased appropriations.

    Since the morning of Tuesday, January 28th, the Head Start community has faced immense uncertainty and disruptions by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo (M-25-13), directing federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” While the Trump Administration later clarified that Head Start would not be the target of the funding freeze[2], many Head Start programs across the country were unable to access the PMS to draw down federal funds. PMS was reinstated, but programs across the country have not had funding disbursed in a timely manner.

    Head Start programs cannot pay their teachers and staff and continue normal operations without the assurances of payment processing and notices of grant renewals and awards. This will impact children, families, and communities across the country, particularly the rural communities where these programs represent a large share of the child care options.

    Even if this issue extends beyond the Office of Head Start, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure these programs receive transparent and frequent communication on the progress of their funds being released. Head Start programs operate on razor-thin margins and cannot survive without timely intervention. Children, families, employees, and educators all depend on these critical federal funds.

    Once these issues are resolved, we request you provide responses to the following questions:

    1. What factors contributed to delayed disbursements to Head Start programs through the Payment Management System? What steps will be taken to ensure such delays will not occur in the future?
    2. How many Head Start programs were impacted by this delay and what were the immediate consequences on operations and services for children and families?
    3. What factors led to the lack of communication about grant renewals and awards for the February 1st cycle? What steps will be taken to ensure timely notices in the future?

    We thank you for your quick attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine & Heinrich Unveil Legislation to Terminate President Trump’s Sham Energy Emergency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, unveiled legislation to terminate the national energy emergency President Donald Trump declared to benefit Big Oil. The legislation is privileged, meaning that the Republican Senate will be required to vote on this proposal in the next two to three weeks.

    “The United States is producing more energy than at any other point in history. So why would Donald Trump spend his first day in office declaring a national energy emergency, and then halt crucial investments from the Inflation Reduction Act that are creating jobs, lowering energy costs, and supporting American leadership in the clean energy industries of tomorrow?” said Kaine. “Because Trump will do anything for Big Oil. I’m proud to introduce legislation to terminate this sham emergency, which is nothing more than a shameless power grab to suspend environmental regulations and make it easier for massive fossil fuel corporations to take Americans’ private property for their own gain.”

    “While Donald Trump focuses on repaying the corporate polluter executives who donated to his campaign, it is the American people who will pay the price of his sham ‘energy emergency.’ His autocratic and unlawful attacks on clean energy investments will kill American jobs, raise costs on families, weaken our economic competitiveness, and erode American global energy dominance. Trump should end his destructive crusade on clean energy and start putting the interests of working people first,” said Heinrich.

    In the hours following his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Trump signed a slew of executive orders, including the national energy emergency order, to withdraw support for renewable energy—despite its benefits to America’s economy and environment—and grant his administration new powers to promote fossil fuels at the cost of bedrock environmental laws. Specifically, the emergency will benefit Big Oil by giving his unelected cabinet officials the power to oversee the accelerated approval of fossil fuel projects, including oil drilling rigs and pipelines, and explore the use of eminent domain to take Americans’ land for the “siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation” of non-solar and non-wind-related energy production.

    Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Introduces Bipartisan Bills to Improve Fire Mitigation and Resiliency Efforts

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla Introduces Bipartisan Bills to Improve Fire Mitigation and Resiliency Efforts

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Southern California recovers from devastating fires, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts. The package includes the Wildfire Emergency Act, to support forest restoration, wildfire mitigation, and energy resilience; the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, to authorize the removal of trees or other vegetation within existing electrical utility corridors; and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act, to further incentivize homeowners to proactively protect their homes from disasters.

    The package of bipartisan bills comes as Southern California begins the recovery from one of the worst natural disasters in state history. The Palisades and Eaton fires have burned over 57,000 acres and destroyed over 16,200 structures, claiming the lives of at least 29 victims.

    “The devastating fires in Southern California are a harsh reminder of the importance of proactive fire mitigation efforts to keep families and homes safe,” said Senator Padilla. “As these disasters become more frequent and more extreme, we need to find smarter solutions to strengthen fire resilience across the country. From expediting the removal of hazardous fuels near power lines, to supporting our wildland firefighting forces, to hardening homes and energy facilities, these commonsense bills would help reduce the threats of catastrophic fires to California communities.”

    “Montanans see firsthand the effects that catastrophic wildfires have on our communities. These bipartisan bills will streamline forest management processes to mitigate the root causes of wildfires, improve community and home hardening efforts, and support our brave firefighters. I’ll work every day for more solutions to keep our state safe,” said Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), co-lead of the Wildfire Emergency Act and the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act.

    “This commonsense legislation takes a critical step toward empowering individuals and communities to better protect themselves from the devastating effects of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene,” said Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-lead of the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. “By excluding qualified catastrophe mitigation payments from income tax, we are incentivizing property owners to make the necessary improvements that reduce damage and save lives. This proactive approach to disaster preparedness not only helps families rebuild faster but strengthens our resilience in the face of future disasters.”

    “We have seen how natural disasters have devastated communities around the country, and we must ensure we have the resources and programs in place to respond. Homeowners should not face additional taxes for wanting to protect their homes and our bipartisan legislation will provide the needed tax relief to help affected Americans recover from these disasters,” said Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), co-lead of the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act.

    “Louisianans understand the impact of devastating storms, but with the help of state and local programs, we have tools to rebuild and return to wholeness,” said Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), co-lead of the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. “If communities need tax relief, let’s give it to them!”

    Wildfire Emergency Act

    This sweeping legislation, co-led by Senator Daines, would reduce the threat of destructive wildfires through forest restoration, firefighter training, energy resilience retrofits, and wildfire-hardening home modifications in low-income communities. This bipartisan bill would take numerous steps to ensure that the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are better able to mitigate the risk and impact of wildfires. 

    Specifically, the legislation would:

    • Provide the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) with a pilot authority to leverage private financing to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. The USFS would be able to expand up to 20 existing collaborative forest restoration projects using this pilot authority.
    • Authorize funding for programs to expand the forest conservation and wildland firefighting workforce.
    • Establish an energy resilience program at DOE to ensure that critical facilities remain active during wildfire disruptions, authorizing up to $100 million for necessary retrofits.
    • Expand an existing DOE weatherization grant program to provide up to $13,000 to low-income households to make wildfire-hardening retrofits, such as ember-resistant roofs or gutters.
    • Expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment on the ground, such as sensors or cameras, as well as the use of space-based observation.
    • Establish a prescribed fire-training center in the West and authorize grants to support training the next generation of foresters and firefighters.
    • Authorize up to $50 million to support community grants of up to $50,000 for locally focused land stewardship and conservation.

    A one-pager on the bill is available here.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act

    This bill, co-led by Senator Daines, would allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees and other vegetation near power lines on federal forest lands without requiring a timber sale, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires through easier material removal. The legislation advanced last year through the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources as part of the Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2023.

    Three of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California history — the 2017 Thomas Fire, the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2021 Dixie Fire — were started by electrical equipment. Together, these wildfires burned more than 1.2 million acres, destroyed more than 15,000 homes, and killed 87 people.

    Currently, the USFS allows utility companies to cut down trees and branches in existing utility corridors, but some forest managers interpret the law to forbid removal of the material off the land. This creates uncertainty and can lead to an unnecessary buildup of dead, dry fuels directly under utility lines. This bill would help reduce the risk of wildfires on forest lands by ensuring the clearing of existing corridors and give certainty to utilities.

    The legislation would also require any utility that sells marketable forest products from hazardous trees removed near power lines to return any proceeds to the USFS.

    A one-pager on the bill is available here.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act

    This bipartisan legislation, co-led by Senators Tillis, Cassidy, and Schiff would provide a tax exemption on payments from state-based programs for homeowners to proactively harden their homes against natural disasters.

    Specifically, the bill excludes from gross income calculations any qualified catastrophe mitigation payment made under a state-based catastrophe loss mitigation program. Qualifying payments are defined as any amount received and used for improvements to an individual’s property for the sole purpose of reducing the damage that would be done by a windstorm, earthquake, flood, or wildfire.

    California, North Carolina, and Louisiana are among the states that provide funding to homeowners who take steps to protect their homes from natural disasters. These improvements can include removing trees, bushes, and other fire-prone vegetation close to homes that contribute to wildfires, strengthening foundations to protect against earthquakes, and installing fortified roofs to withstand hurricanes.

    However, homeowners are currently required to pay federal taxes on these payments, unnecessarily limiting money available for critical disaster-related upgrades. This fix will bring parity to the tax treatment of disaster mitigation efforts and ensure taxpayers are able to put the full amount of these payments toward securing their homes.

    Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) are cosponsoring the legislation.

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    Senator Padilla has long been a leader in strengthening the federal and state response to wildfires. Last month, Padilla introduced another package of three bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire resilience and rebuilding efforts through legislation including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, the Fire Suppression and Response Funding Assurance Act, and the Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act. His legislation to strengthen FEMA’s wildfire preparedness and response efforts, the FIRE Act, became law in 2022.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Luján in the News Standing Up for New Mexicans, Holding the Trump Administration Accountable for Chaos and Confusion

    US Senate News:

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

    Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) has been actively engaging in critical Senate hearings, holding nominees accountable to protect essential services and programs for New Mexicans and every American. Throughout these hearings, Senator Luján has emphasized the importance of nominees serving the public interest, rather than furthering political agendas.

    As a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation, and the Senate Committee on the Budget, Senator Luján has been at the forefront of pressing key nominees on their positions on working for the American people and upholding the law.

    RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearing

    In the nomination hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Lujánquestioned Mr. Kennedy on his understanding of the importance of Medicaid and pressed Mr. Kennedy for his commitment to protect Medicaid from cuts. Mr. Kennedy did not commit to not cutting Medicaid if asked to by the President.

    • NBC News – It’s ‘clear’ that RFK Jr. would be a ‘rubber stamp’ on Trump’s policy decisions: Democratic senator.

    Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joins Meet the Press NOW after pressing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his Senate confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

    • US News & World Report – 5 Key Takeaways From RFK Jr.’s First Senate Confirmation Hearing

    Kennedy Struggles on Medicare and Medicaid Questions: “President Trump has asked me to make it work better,” Kennedy said. “Most Americans are not happy with it. The premiums are too high, the deductibles are too high, and everybody’s getting sick or too much money is going to the insurance industry.” Democratic Sen. Ben Luján of New Mexico responded by citing statistics from state polling showing high levels of satisfaction with Medicaid.

    • Reuters – Kennedy says he will finalize rules that increase diversity in clinical trials

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the top U.S. health agency, told U.S. senators during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he would finalize regulations aimed at increasing the participation of diverse patient populations in clinical trials. Asked by Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan whether he would commit to finalizing the guidance on clinical trial diversity mandated by Congress, Kennedy replied, “Yes.”

    • The Daily Beast – RFK Jr. Completely Fumbles Basic Facts in Confirmation Hearing

    Kennedy also missed big when Sen. Ben Ray Lujánasked him to estimate how many babies are born in the U.S. each year on Medicaid. Kennedy, after conceding he had no clue, estimated 30 million. That is about eight times more than the overall number of births the U.S. had in total in 2023. About 1.4 million of those were on Medicaid, Luján informed Kennedy.

    Howard Lutnick Confirmation Hearing

    In the nomination hearing for Howard Lutnick to become Secretary of Commerce, Senator Luján questioned Mr. Lutnick on whether he would commit to not cutting funding that has been awarded to connect thousands of New Mexicans to the internet. Despite Mr. Lutnick’s acknowledgement of the importance of broadband buildout, he would not commit to maintaining crucial support for broadband.  

    • NPR – Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary is Howard Lutnick. Here’s what to know

    Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., asked: “If President Trump asks you to cut infrastructure funding as passed by this Congress in a bipartisan way … will you oppose that?” “I work for the president,” Lutnick said.

    • Roll Call – Commerce pick Lutnick defends tariffs, funding freeze

    Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., tried to pin Lutnick down on whether he would withdraw funding allocated by law if Trump asked him to. “I work for the President of the United States, and I’m here to execute his policies,” Lutnick said. “I think he agrees that broadband internet to America is important and that, efficiently, we deliver.” “I’ll slow down — if the President asked you to cut an infrastructure program, would you cut the program?” Luján asked. “We have a responsibility to communicate to each other for the people that we work for, it’s not just that you work for Donald Trump, sir. You work for the American people if you get this position.”

    • Politico – Frustration over Trump funding freeze dominates Lutnick confirmation hearing

    Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) asked him if he’d stop infrastructure money passed by Congress if he was ordered to. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) pressed if he would heed an unconstitutional order from Trump.“We’re asking simple questions. We had an incredible conversation in the office … a very respectful one,” a visibly frustrated Luján said. “It’s not just that you work for Donald Trump. Sir, you work for the American people.”

    Russel Vought’s Chaos and Confusion

    Senator Luján was joined by Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with Budget Committee Democrats, to call out the threat of Russell Vought’s nomination to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Russell Vought would add to the Trump administration’s unprecedented chaos and confusion. Reporting shows that he worked behind the scenes to orchestrate the halt to all federal funding including grants and loans, upending trillions of dollars and creating cruel and unnecessary chaos for childcare centers, firefighters, domestic violence shelters, law enforcement, health care providers, seniors and veterans, and American families.

    • Roll Call – Vought nomination advances despite Democrats’ boycott

    Senate Budget Committee Republicans approved Russ Vought’s nomination to serve as President Donald Trump’s budget director on Thursday, overcoming the absence of Democrats on the panel who boycotted the markup.

    • Albuquerque Journal – Senate Democrats boycott Trump’s budget office director pick in wake of attempted funding freeze

    After an attempt this week by President Donald Trump’s budget office to freeze federal funding to determine if it aligned ideologically with his priorities, Senate Democrats, including Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, boycotted a budget committee vote for the president’s budget office pick, Russell Vought. Although the OMB memo has been rescinded, White House officials have said Trump’s executive order related to the Monday memo is still in effect, causing “more confusion, more chaos,” Luján said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Foreign Relations Committee Democrats To Secretary Rubio: Any Effort To Merge USAID Into The State Department Requires Congressional Approval, And Unauthorized Access Of USAID Classified Data Compromises Our National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    February 03, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday joined Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and his Democratic colleagues on the Committee in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio declaring that any effort to merge USAID into the State Department requires Congressional approval, as well as demanding an explanation of recent developments at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, American citizens’ data and classified spaces.  

    “Congress established the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency, separate from the Department of State, to ensure that we can deploy development expertise and U.S. foreign assistance quickly, particularly in times of crisis, to meet our national security goals,” wrote the lawmakers. “For this reason, any effort to merge or fold USAID into the Department of State should be, and by law must be, previewed, discussed, and approved by Congress.”

    “We received reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, including classified spaces,” continued the lawmakers. “The potential access of sensitive, even classified, files which may include the personally identifiable information (PII) of Americans working with USAID, and this incident as a whole raises deep concerns about the protection and safeguarding of matters related to U.S. national security.”

    “We request an immediate update about the access of USAID’s headquarters, including whether the individuals who accessed the headquarters were authorized to be there and by whom, whether all individuals who accessed classified spaces have active security clearances at the appropriate level, what they were seeking to access, if any PII of American citizens was breached, and whether any review is underway regarding potential unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information and classified materials,” concluded the lawmakers.

    U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) also signed the letter.

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below.

    Dear Secretary Rubio:

    Congress established the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency, separate from the Department of State, to ensure that we can deploy development expertise and U.S. foreign assistance quickly, particularly in times of crisis, to meet our national security goals. For this reason, any effort to merge or fold USAID into the Department of State should be, and by law must be, previewed, discussed, and approved by Congress. Congress has also made clear that any attempt to reorganize or redesign USAID requires advance consultation with, and notification to, Congress.

    Consistent with past precedent, we expect and welcome the Department of State’s and USAID’s engagement on any proposed organizational reforms, and other matters implicating congressional requirements

    While we continue to welcome such engagement, we write with deep concern about this weekend’s developments at USAID’s headquarters.

    We received reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, including classified spaces. While some of the individuals purported to have security clearances, it is unclear whether those who accessed secure classified facilities had proper clearance or what they were seeking to access. We understand that the security guards present at the facility were threatened when they raised questions. As members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we had not been notified of any such visit to USAID by DOGE or other agency officials. Following this incident, the senior management of the Office of Security, which secures USAID personnel and facilities and safeguards national security information, were placed on administrative leave. The potential access of sensitive, even classified, files, which may include the personally identifiable information (PII) of Americans working with USAID, and this incident as a whole, raises deep concerns about the protection and safeguarding of matters related to U.S. national security.

    We request an immediate update about the access of USAID’s headquarters, including whether the individuals who accessed the headquarters were authorized to be there and by whom, whether all individuals who accessed classified spaces have active security clearances at the appropriate level, what they were seeking to access, if any PII of American citizens was breached, and whether any review is underway regarding potential unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information and classified materials.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Recognizes Celma Silveira of Atkinson as January’s Granite Stater of the Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Celma Silveira of Atkinson as January’s Granite Stater of the Month. Celma has offered free house cleanings to cancer patients and disabled veterans across New Hampshire.

    After she and her son experienced domestic violence and homelessness, Celma started cleaning homes to earn money, which eventually grew into her business, Cleaning by Celma. Years later, Celma has successfully grown and expanded Cleaning by Celma and it now serves an array of clients. Inspired to give back to her community, Celma partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a national non-profit organization, to provide free cleanings for cancer patients, and Celma donates cleanings to disabled veterans as well. Celma makes sure every recipient of a donated cleaning comes away with the comfort and relief that a clean home can provide. Celma’s dedication to helping Granite Staters who are struggling is a beautiful example of the Granite State spirit of going above and beyond to uplift others.

    Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

    To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below.

    I am honored to recognize Celma Silveira of Atkinson as January’s Granite Stater of the Month. Celma regularly helps Granite Staters in need by providing them free house cleanings.

    Celma started her small business, Cleaning by Celma, after she and her son experienced domestic violence and homelessness. After spending time in a shelter for survivors of domestic violence, she started cleaning homes to earn money to support herself and her son, and eventually started her own cleaning business. Celma faced challenges both big and small while starting her own business, but she has successfully grown and expanded it over the years and now enjoys a healthy base of clients. 

    And while her business has blossomed, Celma has also always made sure that she supports Granite Staters in need. She has partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a national nonprofit organization, to provide house cleaning to cancer patients, and in her own time, Celma donates house cleanings to disabled veterans. When Celma first meets the recipients of one of her donated cleaning services, she takes care to ensure that their biggest concerns are addressed and that they come away with the comfort and relief that a clean home can provide. Celma believes that every person has goodness in their heart and wants to spread her own goodness by providing these cleanings.

    Celma’s dedication to helping Granite Staters who are struggling is a beautiful example of the Granite State spirit of going above and beyond to uplift others. Her passion for sharing her work with her community is why I am proud to name her January’s Granite Stater of the Month.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Urges Trump to Halt Planned Tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Citing Likelihood of Increasing Energy and Food Prices for Families in the Middle of Winter

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are sending a letter to President Donald Trump urging him not to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada, the Granite State’s largest trading partner, and Mexico. Sweeping tariffs would dramatically increase costs for families in New Hampshire and around the nation. Home heating oil is New Hampshire’s largest import from Canada, and these tariffs are estimated to drive up energy prices for families in the middle of winter. It would also increase costs for essential items like groceries, housing, cars and more. Click here to read the full letter.

    In part, the delegation wrote: “During your campaign, you promised to ‘bring down the price of everything.’ Despite that promise, sweeping tariffs would be a tax on Americans that raises the cost of everything from cars and gas to housing and groceries. Tariff costs would be passed on to our consumers and businesses through higher costs for goods and services.”

    They continued: “For the more than 350,000 households in New Hampshire who rely on heating oil, propane and wood to keep their homes warm and comfortable, adding these costs would be particularly cruel in the middle of a winter that has seen recent temperatures reach 20 below zero. Home heating oil is New Hampshire’s largest import from Canada, not because we don’t produce enough in the United States, but because it makes logistical and economic sense. The National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI), which represents wholesale and retail liquid heating fuel distributors throughout the Northeast, estimates that tariffs could increase heating costs by at least $375 per winter for a home in New Hampshire.”

    They concluded: “These taxes would raise families’ grocery bills, too. The type of broad tariffs you’ve proposed could raise food costs by $200 per year for the average household. That’s because the U.S. imports 38 percent of our fresh vegetables, 60 percent of our fresh fruit, and more than 99 percent of our coffee. This is the last thing families need when they’re already struggling with record high prices for eggs or coffee […] We urge you to focus on bringing down prices and reconsider the wisdom of placing sweeping tariffs on imports that would raise prices for our constituents.”

    Earlier this year, Shaheen introduced new legislation with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) to shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States. The Senators’ legislation would keep costs down for imported goods by limiting the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—which allows a President to immediately place unlimited tariffs after declaring a national emergency—while preserving IEEPA’s use for sanctions and other tools. 

    After the November election, a multitude of business leaders verified that, if the President placed sweeping tariffs as promised, they’d be forced to raise prices on consumers. The CEO of Best Buy said, “the vast majority of that tariff will probably be passed on to the consumer as a price increase.” The CFO of Walmart said, “there will probably be cases where prices will go up for consumers.” The CEO of Columbia Sportswear said, “we’re set to raise prices” and “it’s going to be very, very difficult to keep products affordable.” The CEO of AutoZone said, “if we get tariffs, we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer.” The President of a Texas-based Lipow Oil Associates  said, “The prices at the pump are going to go up.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Yorkers Will Feel The Freeze: Gillibrand, AG James Sound The Alarm On Disastrous Ramifications Of What A Trump Administration Federal Funding Freeze Could Mean For New Yorkers’ Safety And Economic Well-Being

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and New York State Attorney General Tish James sounded the alarm on the disastrous ramifications of President Trump’s ongoing attempts to freeze grants and loans disbursed by the federal government. A federal funding freeze would severely harm New Yorkers, from aid to seniors to funds to address food insecurity and homelessness to critical money for law enforcement.

    “The chaos, uncertainty, and disorder fueled by the Trump administration is wreaking economic havoc on families and communities across New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “A government funding freeze would put both the public safety and well-being of New Yorkers at risk. The Trump administration seems intent on harming New York families. While so much remains in question from this past week, it is imperative that everyone know what is at stake for our city, state, and nation.”

    “The public servants who go to work every day to care for New Yorkers and keep them safe rely on federal funds to do their jobs,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “This administration is putting New Yorkers in danger by pushing massive cuts to resources that support our most vulnerable communities and public safety efforts statewide. I am leading a coalition of attorneys general to end this destructive policy, and I thank Senator Gillibrand for her partnership as we fight to protect these funds that keep our communities safe.”

    “From our non-profits to our public schools, Trump’s reckless funding freeze would have devastating consequences for New Yorkers, particularly with regard to low-income students and the innumerable programs and services they rely upon,” said New York State Senator John Liu. “It’s politics at its worst that puts partisanship before the wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us who depend on federal aid to access essential support services.”

    “The ill-conceived White House budget freeze continues to cause great fear, uncertainly, and worry for tens of thousands of community-based nonprofit organizations nationwide — as well as for the tens of millions of the most vulnerable Americans whom we collectively serve,” said Joel Berg, CEO of the nonpartisan nonprofit organization Hunger Free America. “Any threats to nutrition assistance programs are especially counterproductive, undermining the Administration’s claim that it wants to improve public health.” 

    “The chaos and confusion caused by the Trump Administration’s freeze on contacts is having an immediate and harmful effect on older New Yorkers and family caregivers” said Allison Nickerson Executive Director of LiveOn NY. “Federal programs, like Meals on Wheels and housing assistance, provide life-sustaining support and relief to older adults who are already struggling to make ends meet. Older New Yorkers and citizens across the country expect their government to support them, not pull the rug out from under them. LiveOn NY is grateful Senator Gillibrand continues to fight for the fundamental services that New York’s older adults rely on every day.

    While some federal programs are still accessible for the moment, others have been suspended, such as select United States Department of Justice grants. A federal funding freeze has the potential to block billions of dollars in federal grants for New York State. For example: 

    Federal Counter-Terrorism Funding

    1. $290M was allotted to New York for State Fiscal Year 2025.

    Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels

    1. $66M was awarded to New York State-based entities in FY2024 for senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels.
    2. These grants include HHS’ Older Americans Act Title III Part C Nutrition Services and HHS’ Nutrition Services Incentives Program.

    Homeless Shelters

    1. $368M was awarded to New York State-based entities in FY2024 to fund homeless shelters, including $227 million for entities in New York City. 
    2. These grants include programs HUD’s Continuum of Care Program and HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant Program.

    Food Banks

    1. $15M was awarded to New York State-based entities in FY2024 for programs that distribute food to people in need, such as food banks. 
    2. The funding was awarded through USDA’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

    Disability Programs

    1. $60B in Medicaid grant funding was awarded to New York State in FY2024.
    2. On top of Medicaid, New York State-based entities were awarded $70 million in federal grants for programs, research, and services benefiting people with disabilities in FY2024.
    3. This includes at least $9 million for entities in New York City.

    FEMA Assistance to Firefighters

    1. $13.6M in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants was awarded to New York municipalities and fire departments in FY2024 to help recruit and train firefighters.
    2. $17.8M in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) was awarded to New York municipalities and fire departments in FY2024 to help purchase firefighting vehicles and equipment. 
    3. Since FY2023, the FDNY has been awarded over $2M in AFG funding.

    FEMA Port Security Grant Program

    1. $14.1M was awarded to New York State in FY2024. 
    2. This included $3.8M for the FDNY,$6.6M for the NYPD, and $880K for the Port Authority.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley Call for Reinstatement of Inspectors General Illegally Fired by Trump

    US Senate News:

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

    February 03, 2025

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are demanding the immediate reinstatement of Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies, in a letter to Donald Trump strongly condemning his recent decision to remove them from their crucial posts. 

    The IGs who were removed included 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, as well as 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 the letter, which Wyden and Merkley sent with 30 colleagues, the senators underscored that Trump’s actions violated the law and threaten the independence of these non-partisan watchdogs.   

    “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,” the senators wrote. “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.” 

    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,” wrote the senators. “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 IGs 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.”   

    Full text of the letter is here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Grassley Bipartisan Resolution Designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced the Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month. The resolution raises awareness of the dangers of stalking and highlights the need for law enforcement to prevent this predatory behavior. Approximately 1 in 3 women in the U.S. have experienced stalking at some point in their lives. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) lead a companion resolution in the House of Representatives.

    “As a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the serious emotional and physical toll stalking can take on victims,” said Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan resolution raises awareness about the dangers of stalking, the need to protect victims, and the resources available to help survivors.”

    “Far too many Americans have suffered physical and psychological trauma as a result of stalking. I’m glad to join my colleagues in raising awareness of this terrible crime and highlighting the essential work of advocates, law enforcement and service workers who support victims and survivors,” said Grassley.

    “The severity of stalking cannot be understated—this dangerous and repugnant crime has resulted in severe physiological and physical trauma and it is imperative that we provide the necessary resources to protect victims from these heinous acts,” said Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan National Stalking Awareness Month resolution promotes awareness about stalking and recognizes the need to prevent this crime while continuing efforts to safeguard our communities from such threats.”

    “Stalking is a serious crime that imparts unimaginable physical and psychological distress on its victims. No one should have to fear for their safety or for the safety of their loved ones, but it’s estimated over 13 million people are stalked in the United States every year. On top of this, we know stalking is a significant risk factor for intimate partner homicide,” said Dingell. “We recognize National Stalking Awareness Month to educate the public about the dangers of stalking, reaffirm our commitment to survivors, and continue working to identify new ways to keep communities safe.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Shaheen, Booker, and Foreign Relations Committee Democrats to Secretary Rubio: Unauthorized Access of USAID and Dismissal of Personnel Compromises our National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), members of SFRC, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an explanation of recent developments at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, American citizens’ data and classified spaces.

    “Congress established the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency, separate from the Department of State, to ensure that we can deploy development expertise and U.S. foreign assistance quickly, particularly in times of crisis, to meet our national security goals,” wrote the lawmakers. “For this reason, any effort to merge or fold USAID into the Department of State should be, and by law must be, previewed, discussed, and approved by Congress.”

    “We received reports that individuals who identified themselves as working for the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE) accessed USAID’s main headquarters, including classified spaces,” continued the lawmakers. “The potential access of sensitive, even classified, files which may include the personally identifiable information (PII) of Americans working with USAID, and this incident as a whole raises deep concerns about the protection and safeguarding of matters related to U.S. national security.”

    “We request an immediate update about the access of USAID’s headquarters, including whether the individuals who accessed the headquarters were authorized to be there and by whom, whether all individuals who accessed classified spaces have active security clearances at the appropriate level, what they were seeking to access, if any PII of American citizens was breached, and whether any review is underway regarding potential unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information and classified materials,” concluded the lawmakers.

    The full letter is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Successfully Presses Secretary of the Army Nominee Driscoll to Pledge He Will Reject Unlawful Order from President Trump, Calls Out His Lack of Qualifications

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    January 31, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Yesterday, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—successfully pressed President Trump’s Secretary of the Army nominee Daniel Driscoll to pledge that he would refuse to obey an illegal order from President Trump, such as following through on the President’s dangerous freeze and withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in grants awarded to the Department of Army. Mr. Driscoll stated that he “would only follow lawful orders.” Duckworth’s full remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.

    “I was distinctly unimpressed and disappointed with the lack of preparation Mr. Driscoll brought to our personal meeting earlier this month and I had hoped that he would take the time to do his homework before today’s confirmation hearing,” said Duckworth. “While I remain dissatisfied by Mr. Driscoll’s utter lack of qualifications to lead an organization as big and complex as the Army, I hope, for the sake of our Soldiers, that his improved preparation for this hearing is a sign that he takes seriously the incredible responsibility inherent in being Secretary of the Army. We ask our troops to operate at the highest possible level and it would be an insult to our brave Soldiers to confirm someone who does not meet that same standard to lead them.”

    Duckworth underscored her concerns with Mr. Driscoll’s lack of preparedness for their meeting ahead of the hearing and offered him another chance to prove his qualifications to lead the largest and most complex branch of our Defense. Duckworth pressed Mr. Driscoll to answer basic questions, including naming the components and elements of force posture. This comes after Duckworth also pressed Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth on his lack of qualifications during his confirmation hearing, in which he could not correctly name a single nation that is a part of ASEAN. Duckworth’s full remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.

    Duckworth is a proven leader and fierce advocate for our servicemembers, Veterans and their families. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was signed into law, Duckworth secured several important provisions that support our servicemembers and their families, enhance strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, improve logistics to bolster readiness and energy resiliency as well as continue to restore American competitiveness. 

    During Secretary Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, Duckworth demonstrated some of the areas where he lacks the experience or knowledge that a serious Defense Secretary nominee should have, grilling him on basic questions that he failed to answer. She asked him if he ever led an audit. He would not confirm. She asked him to describe at least one of the main international security agreements a Secretary of Defense is responsible for leading. He could not name any. She asked him to name at least one nation that is a part of ASEAN, an organization with several member states who have mutual defense treaties, alliances or enhanced defense cooperation agreements with the U.S. None of the three countries he named were correct.

    Duckworth then delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor slamming Hegseth for his lack of experience and qualifications to lead the Department of Defense. Speaking next to a framed copy of the Soldier’s Creed—a copy that hangs over her desk in the Senate and hung above her bed during her recovery at Walter Reed Medical Center after the helicopter she co-piloted was shot down—Duckworth underscored that it is insulting to ask our servicemembers to train and perform to the absolute highest standards when the Senate confirms a Secretary of Defense who is wholly unprepared and unqualified to lead them in any way.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen, Colleagues in Reintroducing Legislation to Help Support Public Education for Low-Income Children and Those With Learning Disabilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    January 31, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 14 other U.S. Senators in reintroducing the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers (PACT) Act to help put Congress on a fiscally responsible path to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis. These programs, which respectively support public education for children in low-income areas and education for individuals with learning disabilities, have been chronically underfunded since their inception, leaving our public schools, students and teachers at a disadvantage.

    “When we invest in education and prioritize students across our nation—regardless of zip code—we’re really investing in their future as much as our country’s future,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud to help reintroduce the Keep Our PACT Act to help provide countless teachers, school districts and young people a fairer, more equitable shot at reaching their full potential. Every child deserves the chance to succeed.”

    “Our nation’s children are the future. Every student, including students with disabilities, should have equal access to a quality education, regardless of their family’s income or where they live,” said Senator Durbin. “I’m joining my colleagues in reintroducing the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers (PACT) Act to ensure the federal government upholds its promise to fund schools, as well as Title I and IDEA programs, that serve our nation’s most vulnerable students.”

    “Every child – no matter their zip code – deserves access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to succeed,” said Senator Van Hollen. “But too many children still don’t have that opportunity because the federal government has never lived up to its commitment to fully fund Title I and IDEA – the federal programs designed to keep our promise to all students, including those facing the greatest challenges. The Keep Our PACT Act will ensure the federal government finally makes good on its obligation to invest in a first-rate education for all our students.”

    Duckworth and Durbin have worked hard to help ensure that every child in our country has access to a quality public education. In December, Duckworth and Durbin announced over $4 million in funding to help educators across Illinois increase the math proficiency of their students, and they also announced over $7 million in funding to help prepare young Illinoisans to succeed in high-demand careers.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Joins Fischer in Reintroducing Bipartisan Legislation to Help Address Freight Fraud

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    January 31, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—helped reintroduce bipartisan legislation alongside U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) aimed at addressing freight fraud. The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act would help provide the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with the tools needed to protect consumers from fraud by scammers in the interstate transportation of household goods.

    “Bad actors are constantly developing new ways to defraud hardworking Americans, so it’s critical we keep our legislation up to speed so we can protect our constituents from the latest scamming techniques,” said Senator Duckworth. “Moving is stressful enough without worrying about whether your movers are actually scammers trying to steal your money and belongings. I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan legislation alongside Senator Fischer to help ensure FMCSA has the tools it needs to shield American consumers from these thieves.”

    “We cannot allow bad actors in the shipping and moving industry to violate consumer trust and harm our nation’s supply chain,” said Senator Fischer. “Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation will give the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration the tools they need to hold these thieves accountable. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to get our bill signed into law.”

    Freight fraud, particularly in the household goods sector, is a growing problem that continues to undermine the integrity of the shipping and logistics industry. The bipartisan Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act seeks to help address the issue of household goods fraud by empowering FMCSA with the tools it needs to combat fraudulent actors in the shipping industry. Duckworth is an advocate for stronger consumer protections—in 2023, she and several Senate colleagues called on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to improve their oversight over financial firms offering “buy now, pay later” products to ensure they comply with consumer protection laws.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Statement on Trump’s Dangerous Attack on USAID

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 01, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—released the following statement after President Donald Trump took several actions to freeze funding and operations at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) this week, an agency that is critical to advancing American interests and supporting millions across the globe:

    “Donald Trump’s attack on USAID will have devastating, far-reaching consequences at home and abroad. Injecting this deliberate chaos into such a core agency will not only jeopardize the safety and well-being of innocent people around the world who rely on USAID for critical humanitarian assistance, but it will also undermine the United States’ global standing, our interests and national security.

    “Make no mistake: this short-sighted agenda is yet another illegal power grab by Donald Trump—and Americans will undoubtedly feel the ramifications as bad actors in the PRC and Russia step in to fill the leadership vacuum that Trump so foolishly created this week. In addition to saving lives, American aid encourages contributions from other international partners, ultimately improving global stability.

    “I strongly oppose any effort to dismantle USAID as an independent agency. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I’ll continue to do everything in my power to hold the Trump Administration accountable, help repair the damage already done and ensure those most in need across the globe know that not all Americans have abandoned them.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: King Seeking to Modernize, Streamline Drug Testing Protocols for Better Patient Outcomes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation with eight of his colleagues to fast-track and modernize prescription drug testing protocols which will in turn improve patient outcomes. The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 (FDAMA) is a bipartisan effort to reduce ineffective animal testing and expedite scientific innovation. In 2022, President Biden signed FDAMA 2.0 into law removing the longstanding requirement that investigational new drugs (INDs) undergo mandatory animal testing before human clinical trials. Instead, the law provided FDA and drug developers the option to use advanced, non-animal methods such as cell-based assays, organ chips, computer modeling, and bioprinting. 

    However, the FDA has yet to update its regulations leaving numerous FDA regulations that continue to require animal testing against the law. The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 seeks to resolve this by mandating the FDA to update its regulations within 12 months of the bill’s enactment. By fully implementing FDAMA 2.0, drug development can be both more humane and more efficient, ultimately leading to faster and more reliable treatments for patients. An astonishing 90-95% of drugs that pass animal tests go on to fail in human clinical trials, wasting precious time for patients. 

    “Maine people deserve a modern FDA that approves prescription drugs in an efficient and safe manner consistent with the law,” said Senator King. “The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 will ensure that the American people have access to more reliable treatments, with renewed confidence in their governmental agencies that have long been bogged down with red tape and bureaucratic inefficiencies. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for prioritizing people over politics in Maine, and across the country.”

    In addition to King, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rand Paul (R-KY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Kennedy (R-LA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Roger Marshall (R-KS).

    Senator King has consistently worked to increase transparency of prescriptions drugs. Last year, he introduced bicameral legislation to prohibit direct-to-consumer drug advertising of pharmaceutical drugs in the first three years after the drug receives Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Additionally, Senator King has introduced legislation to prohibit pharmaceutical drug manufacturers from claiming tax deductions for consumer advertising expenses.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Statement On Trump Administration Forcing Out Multiple DOJ And FBI Officials

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    January 31, 2025

    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Trump Administration reportedly purged multiple Justice Department and FBI officials involved in Donald Trump’s prosecution and the prosecution of January 6 rioters:

    “The Trump Administration’s purge of dozens of DOJ and FBI officials involved in investigating Donald Trump and the January 6 rioters is a major blow to the FBI and Justice Department’s integrity and effectiveness. This is a brazen assault on the rule of law that also severely undermines our national security and public safety. Unelected Trump lackeys are carrying out widespread political retribution against our nation’s career law enforcement officials. President Trump would rather have the FBI and DOJ full of blind admirers and loyalists than experienced law enforcement officers.”

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Visits El Valor Children And Family Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    January 31, 2025

    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited El Valor Cantu Children & Family Center in Little Village to meet with staff members and families impacted by recent overreaching executive orders from the Trump Administration.

    El Valor serves more than 4,000 children, adults with disabilities, and their families annually. Durbin met with leadership staff at the center to discuss the recently announced federal grant funding freeze, the impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, and other executive orders from the administration, and their effects on the El Valor community.

    “Earlier this week, President Trump threw America into chaos when he abruptly announced a freeze on trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans that so many Americans depend on, including at Head Start centers like El Valor,” said Durbin. “This, along with continued threats of ICE action in our city, has deeply impacted communities here in Chicago. I was grateful to meet with staff at El Valor to hear their concerns, and I’ll continue working to ensure Chicagoans are safe and receiving the services and funding they deserve.”

    “We thank Senator Durbin and Clerk Valencia for visiting our program, allowing them to see and hear firsthand from our families about the impact of our services. A funding pause affects not only our program but many others like it, making it harder for working families to provide for their loved ones. We greatly appreciate our civic leaders for hearing our concerns and advocating for our community as we navigate challenges from the current administration,” said El Valor President & CEO Rey B. Gonzalez.

    “It’s important for all of us to see the direct impact the impulsive decisions the Trump Administration is making has on our communities. I’m grateful to Senator Durbin for coming to sit with our children, families and communities to hear directly from those who suffer the consequences when those who are supposed to lead choose politics over people. Thank you to everyone at El Valor for continuing to show up and serve, uplifting our neighbors by doing the work,” said Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia.

    El Valor offers dual language instruction, mental health services, and parental support, and 70 percent of its funding comes from federal sources—with Head Start funding making up the majority. This week, Head Start grantees across the state were frozen out of the payment management system that allows them to collect reimbursements and pay staff and rent. Some Head Start centers in Illinois had to send employees home for the day and shutter doors because they could not make payroll.

    This week, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about the impact this federal funding freeze is already having, reading messages from impacted constituents who rely on federal funding to support critical programs and medical research. 

    Last month, as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Durbin held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.” The hearing examined the consequences of mass deportations, as well as stressed the need to shift congressional efforts toward sensible solutions that bring order to the border and provide a path to citizenship to longtime residents with no serious criminal convictions.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján: Trump Tariffs Will Hit New Mexico Families, Increase Everyday Prices

    US Senate News:

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

    Reporting Shows Tariffs Could Lead to Cost Increase for Gas, Groceries

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on President Trump’s announcement to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% tariffs on China:

    “From the price at the pump to the cost of groceries, President Trump’s tariffs will leave New Mexico families footing the bill. The Trump Tariffs will drive up costs for groceries, gas, cars, and electronics that Americans depend on. At the same time President Trump is pushing a tax scam that benefits the wealthiest Americans, working families will be forced to pay the price. 

    “The Trump Tariffs will result in tariffs against American products, putting American jobs, businesses, and industries at risk. These tariffs will weaken the economy, raise prices for everyday families, and hurt the American people. Republicans and Democrats, and all Americans, should be concerned that the Trump administration is needlessly threatening the economy that we worked hard to rebuild and grow.   

    “My colleagues and I remain committed to combating the fentanyl crisis, and I have long called for increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl and save lives, but these tariffs will not accomplish that.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Calls on Trump to Rescind Executive Orders Still Blocking Billions for Communities Across America

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    After rescinding disastrous OMB memo directing a blanket federal funding freeze, Murray demands Trump revoke orders blocking billions of dollars for critical infrastructure projects across America, key national security initiatives, and more

    Murray: “Yesterday, because the American people spoke up loud and clear, Donald Trump retreated from his devastating blanket funding freeze. But make no mistake: there is still far too much chaos on the ground and Trump is still blocking billions of dollars for communities across the country through his Executive Orders.”

    ***VIDEO HERE***

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on President Trump to swiftly rescind the directives included in a variety of executive orders he signed on his first day in office that are still in effect and still blocking billions of dollars in resources for communities across America—even after Trump rescinded his administration’s disastrous OMB memo in the face of public outcry, which created a blanket federal funding freeze.

    Speaking on the Senate floor, Senator Murray said:

    “Over the last few days, the American people have felt the painful consequences of Trump’s disastrous funding freeze.

    • Seniors who count on Meals on Wheels have wondered whether they’d have dinner this week.
    • Head Start teachers in red states and blue states panicked over whether they’d have the funds needed to keep their doors open and take care of kids.
    • Disaster relief for people who have endured the unimaginable and been knocked off their feet was thrown into jeopardy.
    • Grant programs to help firefighters do their jobs, combat the fentanyl crisis, get families health care, and so much more were, in an instant, at risk of evaporating into thin air.
    • I heard from a Tribe in my state concerned they’d have to lay off hundreds of staff providing essential services for the Tribe—that could mean putting everything from providing health care to housing in jeopardy—because of the President’s freeze.
    • A shelter for homeless youth in my state still can’t access its HUD funding and is staring down a $3 million deficit—forcing them to hold an emergency board meeting to figure out what, if anything, they can now do.
    • Hospitals in my state are worried that programs which are appropriately focused on someone’s gender or race are in jeopardy—like how pulse oximeters don’t work as well on dark skin, so they need other pathways to be found.

    “The chaos and confusion—the needless stress and distraction—are the result of having a president who is more focused on the billionaires who now fill his administration, than the plight of regular people all across the country.

    “Yesterday, because the American people spoke up loud and clear, Donald Trump retreated from his devastating blanket funding freeze.

    “But make no mistake: there is still far too much chaos on the ground and Trump is still blocking billions of dollars for communities across the country through his Executive Orders.

    • We’re talking about critical funding to rebuild roads and bridges, resources that are already creating thousands of good-paying new clean energy jobs in every state in the country, and critical global investments that help keep America safe.
    • That is completely unacceptable.

    “So, today, I am calling on President Trump to take four simple, commonsense steps:

    1. He needs to ensure every last dollar—down to the last penny—that was caught up by his disastrous blanket funding freeze gets out the door.
    2. He needs to rescind his executive orders that are still, at this very moment, ripping funding away from American families and communities.
    3. He needs to withdraw Russ Vought’s nomination to oversee our nation’s budget. It is clear the person who masterminded so much of this chaos doesn’t belong anywhere near the Office of Management and Budget.
    4. And finally, President Trump needs to abandon, once and for all, his illegal scheme to skirt around our laws and block funding that American workers and families are counting on.

    “I am not asking a lot here: ensure every dollar held up by the illegal freeze is restored, stop the ongoing effort to block funding, withdraw the mastermind of this chaos, and simply follow the law.

    “The American people deserve better than the catastrophe we have witnessed this week, and they deserve to know that the investments Trump is currently holding up—to rebuild the highway they drive to work on or lower their energy costs, and so much more—will make it out the door.

    “If the President is so intent on opposing funding for infrastructure projects and good-paying American jobs, he needs to sit down at the negotiating table and make his case to Congress. I will not let the President rip up the Constitution or rip money away from our communities.”

    ____________________________________________________

    LAST WEEK: within his first hours in office, President Trump signed a number of executive orders that illegally block funding that was signed into law to rebuild America’s infrastructure, lower families’ energy costs, create new, good-paying jobs, strengthen our national security, and more.

    ON MONDAY NIGHT: Trump expanded his funding freeze dramatically when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a sweeping, illegal memo directing a near-blanket freeze on virtually all federal funding, with carveouts for Social Security, Medicare, and “assistance provided directly to individuals.” Senator Murray immediately wrote a letter to OMB alongside House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) raising alarms about the sweeping directive and calling the acting director to restore funding, as the law requires.

    ON TUESDAY: Senator Murray joined millions of Americans in decrying the chaos and pain President Trump’s freeze caused—as reports poured in from across the country about how it risked shuttering Head Start programs, cutting off disaster relief, jeopardizing cancer research, and much more. The White House, in trying to clarify the scope of the memo, instead created more chaos, confusion, and headaches for the American people.

    ON WEDNESDAY: Senator Murray again slammed Trump’s devastating freeze cutting off funding families count on—noting that even programs the administration said were back online were, in fact, still shuttered, and she called on Trump to stop withholding funding. Then, facing nationwide backlash, President Trump had his OMB revoke its memo. But President Trump vowed to keep his freeze of hundreds of billions of dollars in funding tied up by his executive orders in place—and his aides continued their vows to block more funding signed into law.

    RIGHT NOW: President Trump continues to hold up vast swaths of funding implicated by his illegal executive orders—and chaos and confusion pervade over whether funding implicated by his now-rescinded OMB memo has been fully restored.

    His executive orders direct agencies to, among other things, halt disbursement of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, foreign development assistance, and virtually any funding his administration deems “woke.”

    President Trump’s ongoing freeze is holding up funding Congress delivered—often on a bipartisan basis—to:

    • Rebuild America’s roads and bridges.
    • Connect families to high-speed internet access.
    • Upgrade transit and transportation infrastructure.
    • Lower Americans’ energy costs.
    • Create new, good-paying clean energy jobs.
    • Strengthen America’s national security.
    • Much more.

    President Trump must rescind his executive orders—and stop blocking funding the American people are counting on. His failure to do so will:

    • Kill good-paying American jobs.
    • Delay—or altogether scrap—infrastructure projects all across the county.
    • Raise American families’ energy costs.
    • Create more chaos, confusion, and uncertainty that hurt families, businesses, small businesses, and local organizations and governments.
    • Gut efforts to tackle the climate crisis and ensure every American has clean air and water.
    • Halt work cleaning up Superfund sites contaminated with hazardous waste and substances.
    • Undermine our national security and credibility on the world stage.
    • Much more.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Court Blocking Trump’s Devastating Funding Freeze

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on a federal district court ordering a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s federal funding freeze:

    “Today, the court affirmed what we’ve long known: the President does not have the power to rip funding that is law away from the American people.

    “People in every corner of the country have felt the painful consequences of Trump’s disastrous funding freeze—and we are going to keep fighting to make sure funding to rebuild our roads and bridges, invest in families, create good paying jobs, and so much more gets out the door as the law requires.”

    In its order, the court noted that:

    • “The Executive’s action unilaterally suspends the payment of federal funds to the States and others simply by choosing to do so, no matter the authorizing or appropriating statute, the regulatory regime, or the terms of the grant itself. The Executive cites no legal authority allowing it to do so; indeed, no federal law would authorize the Executive’s unilateral action here.”
    • “Congress has not given the Executive limitless power to broadly and indefinitely pause all funds that it has expressly directed to specific recipients and purposes and therefore the Executive’s actions violate the separation of powers.”
    • “The Executive Branch has a duty to align federal spending and action with the will of the people as expressed through congressional appropriations, not through ‘Presidential priorities.’”
    • “Federal law specifies how the Executive should act if it believes that appropriations are inconsistent with the President’s priorities–it must ask Congress, not act unilaterally.”

    Senator Murray has consistently raised alarm bells over President Trump and his top advisors’ ongoing efforts and plans to block funding Congress has provided from making it out to American families, businesses, and communities. Last week, she grilled President Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, on his loud declarations that President Trump should unilaterally hold up funding—and his refusal to commit to Congress to follow the law. She called out President Trump’s unlawful executive orders holding up funding for infrastructure, national security programs, good-paying clean energy jobs and innovations, and much more—and released a fact sheet detailing how his orders violate the law and the constitution. On Monday night, after OMB issued its sweeping memo freezing trillions of dollars in funding for America, Senator Murray and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro sent a letter to Acting OMB Director Matthew J. Vaeth raising the alarm on President Trump’s unlawful executive orders and the new memoranda. She joined colleagues hours later for a press conference highlighting the mass panic and confusion the memo was already creating for families and communities in every part of the country. On Wednesday, Senator Murray spoke at a press conference hammering how badly Trump’s actions are hurting their states—and working people all across the country. On Thursday, she called on Trump to rescind his executive orders still blocking billions of dollars in funding for communities across America after Trump revoked his disastrous OMB memo that ordered a blanket funding freeze.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Blasts Treasury Secretary Bessent for Granting Elon Musk and DOGE Access to Government Payment Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    “It is extraordinarily dangerous to meddle with the critical systems that…ensure that tens of millions of Americans receive their Social Security checks, tax refunds, and Medicare benefits.” 

    “This astonishing mismanagement – turning over the federal government’s entire payment system and sidelining the most senior career official responsible for managing it…could trigger a global financial crisis.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (BHUA) and member of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), Scott Bessent, with extreme concern following reporting that, in one of his first acts as Secretary, Elon Musk and his associates were given “full access” to the federal government’s critical payment systems, which includes the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans.

    The New York Times reported that, even before President Trump’s inauguration, Mr. Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began demanding access to the sensitive payment systems that are used by the federal government to disburse trillions of dollars every year and are essential to preventing a default on federal debt. Controlling these systems could allow the Trump Administration to “unilaterally”—and illegally—cut off payments for millions of Americans, putting at risk the financial security of families and businesses based on political favoritism or the whims of Mr. Musk and those on his team who have worked their way inside.

    “The public depends on the integrity of those systems, which control the flow of over $6 trillion in payments to American families, businesses, and other recipients every year,” wrote Senator Warren. Given the highly sensitive nature of the information in these systems, control over them is typically limited to a small number of career officials. 

    Reporting by the Washington Post indicates that Secretary Bessent also personally sidelined David Lebryk, a key official responsible for managing the extraordinary measures the Treasury is taking to avoid a default on U.S. debt. Mr. Musk and his team repeatedly pressured Mr. Lebryk to give them access to the payment systems, as part of the Trump administration’s plan to control spending in alarming and potentially unlawful ways. Rather than protecting the integrity and function of the payment system, Secretary Bessent reportedly bent to pressure from the White House, ultimately forcing him out. The move risks a global financial meltdown that would cost trillions of dollars and millions of jobs. 

    The loss of Mr. Lebryk’s expertise comes at a time when the Treasury is already taking extraordinary measures to prevent a catastrophic debt default. “The Fiscal Assistant Secretary – unlike the amateurs you have empowered in forcing him out – was well-prepared to manage these kinds of crises,” said Senator Warren. 

    “The American people deserve answers about your role in this mismanagement, which threatens the privacy and economic security of every American,” concluded Senator Warren. 

    Senator Warren asked Secretary Bessent to provide clarity on his role in providing Mr. Musk and his team access to Treasury payment systems, along with his role in ousting Mr. Lebryk from the Treasury Department, by February 7, 2025. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Wyden Press RFK Jr. to Resolve Conflicts of Interest Ahead of Committee Vote

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 03, 2025

    As HHS Secretary, RFK Jr. would have authority to influence anti-vaccine lawsuits in which he or his immediate family have an interest

    RFK Jr.’s updated ethics agreement states that he will pass personal stake in WisnerBaum lawsuits to adult son

    “Your involvement and financial interests in vaccine litigation are broad and extensive…You cannot credibly serve as Secretary without clearly and fully addressing these conflicts.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr., Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, pressing him to urgently resolve his serious conflicts of interest before the committee vote Wednesday morning.

    “What is clear is that your involvement and financial interests in vaccine litigation are broad and extensive. It seems possible that many different types of vaccine-related decisions and communications—which you would be empowered to make and influence as Secretary—could result in significant financial compensation for your family,” wrote the lawmakers. “You cannot credibly serve as Secretary without clearly and fully addressing these conflicts.”

    Senators Warren and Wyden demanded that RFK Jr. commit to recusing himself from all vaccine-related communications and decisions and from all matters related to HHS-regulated entities involved in litigation that he or his family have an interest in. The lawmakers also asked him to commit to not litigate vaccine-related cases, represent parties in VICP-related cases, or have a financial interest in such litigation for at least 4 years after leaving office. The lawmakers also requested additional information regarding cases in which RFK Jr. served as an attorney of record.

    In RFK Jr.’s original ethics agreement, submitted on January 21st, he disclosed to the Senate Finance Committee that he maintains an agreement with the law firm WisnerBaum in which he refers cases to the firm and receives 10% of the funds awarded in successful cases — earning him roughly $2.5 million in just the past three years. Some cases he has referred have involved anti-vaccine claims, including an ongoing case against the HPV vaccine Gardasil. In his original ethics agreement, RFK Jr. confirmed that he would maintain this arrangement while serving as HHS Secretary.

    “As Secretary, you would have the power to strengthen plaintiffs’ hand in the litigation to increase their chances of winning. By using your authority and bully pulpit as Secretary to sway the outcome of the litigation and secure a big judgment or settlement, you would increase the chances of a large payout for yourself,” wrote the lawmakers.

    During RFK Jr.’s Senate Finance Committee hearing on January 29th, Sen. Warren pressed him on his conflicts of interest, specifically pushing him to commit to not take any compensation from any lawsuits against drug companies — such as the Gardasil case — while serving as Secretary and for four years afterwards. While RFK Jr. refused to commit during the hearing, he agreed to amend his flawed ethics agreement following further pressure from Senate Democrats, recognizing that his personal stake in WisnerBaum cases posed a serious conflict of interest.

    “Our concerns have only grown since your initial disclosures to the Finance Committee,” wrote the lawmakers. As Sens. Warren and Wyden note in their letter, recent developments have raised further questions since RFK Jr. submitted his initial ethics agreement, including:

    • In RFK Jr.’s amended ethics agreement, he revealed that he would divest his interest in the cases he refers to WisnerBaum to his “non-dependent, adult son” — who appears to be Connor Kennedy, a current employee of WisnerBaum.
    •  The Finance Committee identified at least five additional cases related to Gardasil litigation in which RFK Jr. appears to be an attorney of record, which were not disclosed. When asked, he did not directly acknowledge the omission or provide clarity — and did not further clarify in his updated ethics agreement.
    • In his initial ethics agreement, RFK Jr. described his arrangement with WisnerBaum, stating that he receives 10% of fees awarded in contingency fee cases referred to the firm where he is not an attorney of record. In written responses to the Finance Committee, RFK Jr. revealed that he referred “hundreds of cases” to WisnerBaum to which the 10% referral fee agreement applies — without providing any clarity about which cases and which vaccines may be involved.
    • In response to additional questions from the Finance Committee, RFK Jr. refused to commit to recusing himself from numerous HHS, FDA, and CDC decisions and communications related to Gardasil that could potentially influence the outcome of vaccine litigation in which he has an ongoing financial stake.

    “The arrangement outlined in your Ethics Agreement Amendment is plainly inadequate, as it would appear to allow an immediate family member to benefit financially from your position as Secretary,” wrote the lawmakers. “We cannot trust that your disclosures to the Finance Committee are accurate and complete based on the apparent omissions and lack of transparency surrounding how many cases you have referred to WisnerBaum and which specific vaccines are involved.”

    Senator Warren led the charge in exposing and highlighting RFK Jr.’s dangerous conflicts of interest, first raising the issuein his January 29th Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing and continuing to pressure him for further clarity. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board agreed with Senator Warren, writing: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday to root out corruption between industry and government. Yet the man who wants to be the nation’s Secretary of Health and Human Services refused to rule out personally making money from lawsuits against drug makers. This ought to be disqualifying.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall, Risch Reintroduce Bill to Expand Prohibitions on Use of Foreign Assistance Funding for Abortions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D., and James Risch (R-ID) introduced the American Values Act, legislation to permanently enact and expand existing prohibitions on the use of U.S. foreign assistance to pay for the performance or promotion of abortion services overseas.
    “As an OBGYN who delivered thousands of babies, I will always fight for our unborn children, both at home and abroad,” Senator Marshall said.  “I’m proud to join Senator Risch in introducing this crucial legislation to protect life and promote true American values abroad.” 
    “American foreign aid should always be used in a way that is in line with American values – and that means that no foreign assistance funds should ever be used to perform or promote abortion services,” said Senator Risch. “I’m proud to introduce the American Values Act with my colleagues to hold our government accountable to this standard and protect the sanctity of life across the globe.”
    If enacted, this legislation would:
    Clarify that existing prohibitions on the use of U.S. foreign assistance to pay for the performance or promotion of abortions, forced sterilizations, or biomedical research relating to abortions or forced sterilizations shall apply to all assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act;
    Permanently enact long-standing appropriations restrictions on the use of foreign assistance funds to lobby for or against abortion;
    Permanently enact long-standing appropriations restrictions on the provision of foreign assistance funds to organizations that support or participate in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization; and
    Permanently enact long-standing appropriations restrictions on the use of funds made available to the Peace Corps to pay for abortions.
    Full text of the American Values Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Statement on DOGE Commission’s Reported Access to Sensitive U.S. Treasury Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    02.02.25
    Cantwell Statement on DOGE Commission’s Reported Access to Sensitive U.S. Treasury Systems
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released this statement regarding reports that Elon Musk and his DOGE team gained access to sensitive Treasury data including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems:
    “Congress needs an explanation as to why the head of a private data management corporation and his volunteer team needed access to this system in the middle of the night. We need to know why they want to access the system, what they intend to do with our data, and whether there are any safeguards in place. This threatens the privacy and funds owed to every American taxpayer and Social Security recipient. Congressional Republicans cannot continue to turn a blind eye as to how their own constituents’ private financial records are handled.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Warner Slams Trump Tariffs for Raising Costs on Virginia Families

    US Senate News:

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

     WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released a statement after President Trump signed executive orders to tax goods from Canada, Mexico and China, jacking up the costs for American families:

    “President Trump ran for president on a platform of lowering prices, but tariffs do the opposite. These tariffs could cost a typical family $1200 per year. They’re going to make it more expensive for Americans to buy anything from cars and phones to tomatoes and gas – as much as 50 cents per gallon in some parts of the country. We need a targeted response to combat cheating by China – not these across-the-board tariffs, including on our allies, that will increase prices and kill American jobs.”

    MIL OSI USA News –