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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce Funding to Increase Women’s Access to Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Programs in Southern Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    LAS VEGAS, NV – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced more than $700,000 in federal grant funding to increase women’s access to skills training in Southern Nevada to enhance their participation in construction apprenticeship programs. The funding, awarded to the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, will help recruit, train, and retain more women in their construction training programs. The funding comes from the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program, which supports programs that train women for union jobs and nontraditional occupations.
    “Apprenticeships are a great way for hardworking Nevadans of all walks of life to build opportunity and access good-paying, union jobs,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This grant will allow Southern Nevada Building Trades to expand their apprenticeship programs, and will help more women, especially women of color, build union careers and provide for their families. I’ll always fight to make sure Nevada’s workers have everything they need to build the infrastructure of the future.”
    “Skills training programs and apprenticeships open the door to good-paying jobs without having to get a four-year college degree, and I’m working to make these opportunities available to more Nevadans,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding are being awarded to the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union to expand access for more women in their apprenticeships programs. I’ll keep working to support Nevada’s workforce and economy.”
    “We are proud to be awarded the first federal grant in the history of the Southern Nevada Building Trades through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) program,” said Vince Saavedra, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades.“This $710,000 award will help us launch stipend programs for childcare, transportation, and create other critical support services, removing barriers for women to join and thrive in the union trades. With major projects like Brightline West, the Athletics Stadium, and others on the horizon, growing our skilled workforce is more important than ever. This grant is just the beginning as we continue to work to expand access to union apprenticeships and build a stronger future for all.”
    Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have been working to support Nevada’s workers and ensure they have access to the training they need. Earlier this year, both senators announced that they secured nearly $16 million in federal funding for community projects to bolster workforce development in critical sectors throughout the state, including mental health care, nursing, and education. They also announced the delivery of federal funding they secured for workforce development to fill in-demand jobs in Southern Nevada. Senator Rosen recently announced $4 million to support registered apprenticeships and skilled workforce development in Northern Nevada and introduced legislation to bolster the housing construction workforce and a bill to provide Nevadans skills training in high demand fields like manufacturing, construction, and IT.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville: “Daylight Saving Time should be a thing of the past.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – As Alabamians changed their clocks today, U.S. Senator Tuberville (R-AL) continued his push for Congress to pass the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent and end the outdated practice of adjusting our clocks twice a year. Senator Tuberville released a video today emphasizing the need to move forward with this legislation and advocating for the many health benefits of “locking the clock.”
    “Alabamians have made it clear that springing forward and falling back should be a thing of the past,” said Senator Tuberville. “Centuries ago, a time change might have made sense, but it doesn’t today. An additional hour of sunshine in the evenings during cold winter months would be welcome news for folks on their way to work and kids on their way home from school. It just makes sense to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, and I will keep fighting to get it across the goal line.”
    Senator Tuberville has helped introduce the Sunshine Protection Act in both Congresses since taking office at the urging of countless Alabamians who are tired of changing their clocks twice a year.  The U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act on March 15, 2022, by unanimous consent, but then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not bring it up for a vote in the House of Representatives before the 117th Congress ended, requiring it to be reintroduced again in the 118th Congress.
    The Alabama Legislature passed a bill to permanently implement DST year-round in 2021, but legislation must first be passed at the federal level in order for the state law to take effect.
    Watch the full video here.
    WATCH:
    Tuberville: Let’s Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
    Tuberville Urges Congress to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
    Tuberville: Daylight Saving Time Bill Passes Senate 
    Tuberville Pushes to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent 
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: Kristi Noem Confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    01.25.25

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to serve as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. 

    “Congratulations to Secretary Noem on her confirmation,” said Hoeven. “We need to stop the illegal immigration crisis caused by the Biden administration’s refusal to enforce our laws. As the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Noem is committed to working with us to secure the border and keep Americans safe.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Releases Statement on Fort Riley Troops Deployed to the Border

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Fort Riley, Kansas – Today, Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. released the following statement after the announcement that Kansas troops from Fort Riley will be deployed to the southern border:
    “My heart is with Kansas families and loved ones as soldiers from Fort Riley are sent to protect and secure our borders. Kansans and Americans across the country extend our deepest gratitude to them for keeping us safe. Under the previous administration, over 2 million known illegal alien gotaways entered our country – something that should have never happened, and compromised our national security. 
    President Trump is determined to stop the dangerous flow of fentanyl, cartels, and unvetted illegal immigrants coming into the United States and will protect our homeland. Thank you to these brave men and women for their selfless service to our great nation. Laina and I are praying for a safe and quick return home,” Senator Marshall, M.D. said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Joins Fox News Live to Discuss President Trump’s All-Star Cabinet, the Laken Riley Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Fox News Live to discuss President Trump’s all-star Cabinet nominees, the Senate confirming Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, the Laken Riley Act, and troops – including soldiers from Fort Riley, Kansas – being sent to help secure the border.
    Last night, Senator Marshall voted to confirm Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Senator Marshall has met with Noem, Rollins, Hegseth, RFK, Jr., and Gabbard and believes they are the best picks to carry out President Trump’s America First agenda. Senator Marshall also voted yes on the Laken Riley Act which passed both the House and Senate and is expected to hit the President’s desk in the coming days.
    [embedded content]
    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview. 
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include:
    On Kristi Noem, President Trump’s nominee for DHS Secretary:
    “It’s important to remember why this is so important to get these nominations across the finish line. President Trump is writing…200 executive orders. We need people like Kristi Noem to go down there and secure our border. The President ran on prosperity and security…Kristi is tough as nails. She’s South Dakota tough, and she’s also very gentle and compassionate as well. So she’s going to do a great job as Secretary of DHS. She’s going to make your family safe and secure. Remember, Kristi was the first governor to send her own National Guard troops…to help secure the border.” 
    On Brooke Rollins, President Trump’s nominee for USDA Secretary:
    “You’re going to love Brooke Rollins. She’s going to give agriculture a strong, strong voice. This is a young lady from Glen Rose, Texas, a small town. She grew up in agriculture. She grew up in 4H and FFA. She brought her old high school agriculture teacher to the hearing, as well as all of her FFA leadership. And that’ll mean a lot to those folks in agriculture, where her ties really are. She’s going to be a strong, strong voice there in the President’s Cabinet for agriculture and rural America. Don’t forget, 90% of rural America supported President Trump.”
    On Senate confirming Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense:
    “Like President Trump just said it is all about winning. It’s the final score that does matter. And all that matters is we got Pete Hegseth across the finish line. I think this is so important. Pete will never bow to the national military and trillion-dollar industrial complex. Pete is going to focus on those soldiers on the frontline, like my own son. He’s going to focus on the morale within the military, as well as recruiting. And again, he’s not going to bend the knee to that National Military Industrial Complex. I’m glad we got him across the finish line. I wish we didn’t have to wake JD up, or he could have finished tucking his kids in bed. But JD did get to come in, and I think a little drama that’s okay. All that matters is we win.” 
    On RFK, Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard:
    “I talked to Bobby again yesterday. We’ve had a lot of conversations. I think he’s winning people over. I think the big deal about Bobby is he has an army of people across the country that support him…We have a chronic disease epidemic in this country. 60% of Americans have a chronic disease. When I was growing up, it was 6% now it’s 60% I look forward to working with Bobby and Dr. Oz to make America healthy again.” 
    “I love Tulsi Gabbard. She’s not an insider, she’s not a spy, she’s not a spook. All she’s about is transparency. I think that she’s going to err on the side of sharing more information with Congress and more information with Americans. I believe in Americans. I believe that they can handle the truth. I think as we start releasing the JFK files, RFK, Martin Luther King files, as we start releasing more of the Fauci COVID files, she’s going to be critically important to make sure that we get all the information out there. Tulsi is going to do a great job as well. She’s tough as nails as well.”
    On the Laken Riley Act:
    “The President and Republicans ran on securing the border, making your family secure. So this is a great legislation. What it does if you’re an illegal alien in this country and you break a law, it requires the local police to hold that person until ICE gets there. And if that would have happened before, it would have saved Laken Riley’s life. We can never bring Laken back. But this certainly honors her life and will prevent future murders like we saw in her situation. So it’s a great first step. We need to get Kristi across the finish line so she can get down there and really secure the borders.” 
    On troops being sent to secure the border:
    “I wanted to say thanks to all the troops that are going down there. President Trump’s goal is to have zero gotaways. I know troops from my home in Fort Riley, Kansas, are going down there to help secure the border. So thanks to them and all their families making this sacrifice. Thanks for helping make America safe again.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with King Abdullah II of Jordan

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today, President Donald J. Trump held a call with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, in which King Abdullah congratulated President Trump on his inauguration. President Trump thanked King Abdullah for his longtime friendship, and the two leaders discussed the importance of regional peace, security, and stability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Announces $985k To Replace The Purgitsville Bridge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    November 01, 2024
    Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $985,320 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to replace the Purgitsville Bridge in Purgitsville, West Virginia. Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) technology will be used to replace and modernize the bridge to ensure it is able to avoid deterioration and safety concerns.
    “This bridge has transported generations of West Virginians safely to their destinations and I could not be more pleased the DOT is investing more than $985K to make long-needed repairs to it,” said Senator Manchin. “With this federal investment, we are making sure West Virginians can continue to get where they need to go, effectively and efficiently. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to bolster our transportation infrastructure across the Mountain State.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Funding to Help Minnesota Families and Seniors with Heating Costs Ahead of Winter

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
    Increased heating assistance was made possible by the Biden-Harris infrastructure law, which both Senators supported
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN), announced over $112 million in federal funding to help families and seniors pay for energy costs this winter. The funding was made possible in part through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both Klobuchar and Smith helped pass.
    “As Minnesota prepares for winter, families shouldn’t have to choose between heating their homes or buying other necessities,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will help families and seniors across our state pay their energy bills and keep their homes warm.”
    “As the temperature starts to drop in Minnesota, everyone should be able to heat their homes and stay warm,” said Smith. “For low-income families, high energy prices can force an impossible choice between heating their homes and other essentials like rent, food, or medicine. I’m proud of our work to secure this funding, which will help families in Minnesota afford their heating costs and utility bills in the coming winter months.”
    “LIHEAP is essential to families who live on a limited income,” said Denise Stewart, Executive Director of Lakes and Pines Community Action Council, a non-profit serving Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties. “In today’s economy with the rising cost of energy, housing and food, meeting basic needs is increasingly difficult. LIHEAP allows families and seniors to stay warm in our extremely cold winter months and frees up household funds to ensure other basic needs are met.”
    The funding is issued through the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides families with payment assistance to support their home energy needs. LIHEAP can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient and mitigate energy emergencies during disasters and extreme weather.
    Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance can visit www.energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at 1-866-674-6327. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Scott on Communist China’s Inhumane Foreign Adoption Ban

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours

    Nov 1, 2024 | Press Releases

    U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person and virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of…

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    Rubio Demands Biden-harris Admin Stop Importation of Slave-made Pharmaceuticals

    Oct 31, 2024 | Press Releases

    Despite the passage of the Rubio-led Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in 2021, a recent report has revealed that two Xinjiang-based pharmaceutical entities continue to exploit American laws for profit. To uphold the UFLPA, the U.S. Food and Drug…

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    ICYMI: Rubio: Cancel Trade Benefits for Offshoring

    Oct 31, 2024 | Press Releases

    Cancel Trade Benefits for Offshoring U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) October 31, 2024 Newsweek Last month, President Donald Trump made waves by threatening to impose a tariff on John Deere for moving production to Mexico…. [A]s I said in my own letter to John Deere…

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    Rubio, Scott Urge Biden-Harris Admin to Address IV Fluid Shortage

    Oct 31, 2024 | Press Releases

    Hurricane Helene significantly damaged North Carolina’s Baxter International IV fluid manufacturing plant. Baxter is responsible for producing more than half of the country’s IV fluid supply. This closure has strained the medical community, leading to delays in…

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    Rubio, Franklin, Colleagues Demand Compensation for Agricultural Land

    Oct 30, 2024 | Press Releases

    Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought high winds, flooding, and damage across Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the total crop and infrastructure losses range from $1.5 to $2.5 billion. The State of Florida has requested…

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    Rubio, Scott Support Seminole Tribe’s Major Disaster Request

    Oct 28, 2024 | Press Releases

    Due to Hurricane Milton’s impact on the Seminole Tribe of Florida, their communities, and property, the tribe requested a major disaster declaration to assist in their response and recovery efforts.  U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a…

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Secures $47 Million Federal Grant for Mercer County to Replace 100-Year-Old Lincoln Avenue Bridge in Trenton

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    NEWARK N.J. –  Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced $47 million in federal funding to replace the nearly century-old Lincoln Avenue Bridge in Trenton, New Jersey. This funding was awarded to Mercer County through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Bridge Investment Program (BIP). Senator Booker strongly advocated for Mercer County’s grant application, providing letters of support for three consecutive years, including in January of this year.
    This grant is part of a new round of funding through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will build, repair, and modernize regionally significant bridges in 19 states. The FWHA announced nearly $635 million total for 22 small and medium-sized bridge projects with the funding for the Lincoln Avenue Bridge being the fourth largest award in this announcement.
    The County’s Lincoln Avenue Bridge Replacement Project will include the construction of a new bridge over Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Rail Line, an inactive rail yard, and Assunpink Creek, which is a tributary of the Delaware River. The bridge, which was built in 1931 and has served Trenton’s communities for decades, is now close to structural failure and in need of urgent replacement.
    “The Lincoln Avenue Bridge has served Trenton’s residents for generations but has now reached the end of its lifespan,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to have helped secure this unprecedented $47 million investment to replace this century-old bridge, and ensure everyone in Mercer County has access to safe and reliable infrastructure for years to come.”
    “I am so excited to announce this significant investment from the Biden-Harris Administration to improve the Lincoln Avenue Bridge,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “This funding will improve the safety, reliability, and durability of the Lincoln Ave bridge, which thousands of Trentonians cross daily, whether to get to work, pick up their kids, run to the grocery store, attend school, or meet up with friends. I’m incredibly grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration, Secretary Buttigieg, Mercer County, and the City of Trenton for their partnership.”
    “I want to thank Senator Booker and Congresswoman Watson Coleman for partnering with us to procure the largest infrastructure grant in Mercer County history. For nearly a century The Lincoln Avenue Bridge has tied together neighborhoods in our Capital City, and by replacing the aging structure we ensure that this corridor remains safe and accessible to Trenton residents for generations to come. We’re excited to kick off another major public works project for Mercer County, and we look forward to using local labor to build under a Project Labor Agreement,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.
    “The DOT’s Bridge Investment Program funding is essential for advancing the Lincoln Avenue Bridge project,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. This funding will not only enhance accessibility and safety for our community, but will also ensure that our infrastructure is equipped to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. We are grateful for this investment in our Capital City.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Calls on EPA to Ban Use of Paraquat to Protect Farmworkers and Rural Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and his Senate colleagues sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging the agency to ban the use of paraquat, a highly toxic pesticide linked to severe health risks, including Parkinson’s disease and various forms of cancer.
    “Paraquat is a highly toxic pesticide whose continued use cannot be justified given its harms to farmworkers and rural communities. We write to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the use of paraquat in the United States,” the Senators wrote. 
    “Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, thyroid cancer, and other health harms such as kidney, liver, and respiratory damage, and reproductive harm, including neurodevelopmental impact on developing fetuses. In rural areas, exposure to paraquat and other pesticides during pregnancy can increase the risk of leukemia,” the Senators continued.  
    There has been a global movement away from paraquat, with over 70 countries—including China, Brazil, and members of the European Union—banning its use. Additionally, data from the EPA indicates that the majority of U.S. farmers do not rely on paraquat for their crops.
    Given the documented health hazards associated with paraquat, the case for its ban is clear. The EPA must prioritize the safety and well-being of farmworkers and rural communities, who should not be subjected to preventable health harms.
    “We urge you to protect the health of farmworkers and rural residents by banning paraquat,” the Senators concluded. 
    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
    To read the full text of the letter, click here.
    Earlier this month, 47 Members of Congress sent a letter to the EPA, also urging a ban on paraquat.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leader McConnell Comments on Gov. Beshear’s Call to Abolish Electoral College

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    LOUISVILLE, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement regarding Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s comments today in support of abolishing the Electoral College:
    “I wish I could say I’m surprised by Governor Beshear’s latest calls to abolish the Electoral College – but I’m not. Democrats’ disregard – and borderline disdain – for the constitutional guardrails that safeguard our political system has lurked below the surface of their rhetoric for a long, long time.
    “No institution is too dear if it stands between a Democrat and their progressive ‘reforms’ to ‘preserve democracy’ – the standard euphemism for partisan power grabs on the Left. Those genuinely concerned about the future of our country should call for strengthening our constitutional guardrails, not obliterating them.
    “At its core, the Electoral College protects Americans from the whims of the majority, something I’m familiar with in the Senate. It’s what makes our democracy, and our sprawling nationwide elections, feasible. And it’s what compels presidents to govern nationally rather than pandering to the interests of New York and California. Without it, no presidential candidate would ever travel to a small state in Middle America, like Kentucky.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, Calls Out Biden-Harris Administration’s Blatant Discrimination Against Starlink Internet Access 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    November 1, 2024

    Washington, D.C—Today, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in calling out the Biden-Harris administration for spreading misinformation about broadband connectivity in the U.S. in a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In their letter, the senators highlight how this administration is intentionally excluding from data on connectivity millions of households that rely on wireless and satellite technologies, particularly in our nation’s most rural and hard-to-reach areas, including many in Wyoming.

    “Many households across Wyoming rely on wireless and satellite technologies for connectivity in the most rural parts of our state, yet this administration’s decision to play politics continues to push our goal of bridging the digital divide further out of reach,” said Lummis. “By unnecessarily picking winners and losers, this administration has sabotaged bipartisan programs best equipped to provide connectivity to underserved areas and perpetuates misinformation about broadband in rural communities.”

    The Biden-Harris administration’s prioritization of politics over sound broadband policy has sabotaged the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was intended to help more Americans connect to high-speed internet.

    Read the full letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Senators Call for Review of ICC Prosecutor’s Decision to Apply for Arrest Warrants for Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Timing of Misconduct Allegations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

    WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) sent a letter to the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the governing body of the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling for an investigation into misconduct allegations against Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan that seem to implicate his decision to apply for arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

    First, in a potential violation of international law, Prosecutor Khan failed to properly engage with the State of Israel during his investigation and abruptly canceled a meeting between the Prosecutor’s office and Israeli representatives and then announced the application for arrest warrants. Second, several media reports, including an October 25, 2024 Associated Press story, found the warrant applications were announced around the same time that Prosecutor Khan was accused of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct. This raises the possibility that the Prosecutor was influenced by extraneous factors. If the allegations against Prosecutor Khan are true, the Senators have asked the ASP to hold a vote to remove him from his position.

    The Senators wrote, “First, Prosecutor Khan did not comply with the law when he applied for arrest warrants against Israeli government officials… we received notification that members of Prosecutor Khan’s team were scheduled to meet with legal representatives for the State of Israel on May 20 in Israel. To our astonishment, however, members of the Prosecutor’s office never boarded the plane to Israel and the meeting was abruptly canceled just a few hours before it was to take place… Prosecutor Khan’s abrupt cancelation and his announcement of an application for arrest warrants on that same day have always been perplexing, and stand in stark contrast to the assurances we received from his office that there would be meaningful consultations with Israel, as required by the letter and spirit of the Rome Statute.”

    They continued, “Second, in addition to these legal concerns regarding Prosecutor Khan’s application for warrants against Israeli officials, there is a cloud hanging over the Prosecutor and his office. It has come to light recently through numerous media reports—particularly an Associated Press (AP) story dated October 25, 2024—that allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Prosecutor Khan emerged earlier this year, around the time he decided not to send his team to meet with Israeli legal representatives and announced a warrant application instead… If the allegations are substantiated, we urge the Assembly to take all necessary steps available under its authority—up to and including holding a vote for his removal—and to consider the implications on the investigations led by Prosecutor Khan. Transparency is of utmost importance regarding the allegations against Prosecutor Khan. We urge the body to take this seriously.”

    They concluded, “Any action by the Court regarding arrest warrants for Israeli officials without the benefit of a completed investigation into the serious allegations hanging over Prosecutor Khan would cast doubt on the Court’s actions, and jeopardize the credibility of the ICC more broadly. We urge you to consider seriously the concerns we have raised.”

    To read the full letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden Announce $10.1 Million Federal Investment for Tualatin Mountain Forest Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    November 01, 2024
    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is awarding $10,180,000 to boost the Tualatin Mountain Forest Project through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Legacy Program.
    This new federal funding from the historic Inflation Reduction Act—the largest investment ever to tackle climate chaos—builds off the $3.63 million award Merkley and Wyden announced for the project earlier this year. The Tualatin Mountain Forest Phase 3 project promotes sustainable forest management, climate resiliency, conservation efforts, watershed health, and recreation activities for this economically and ecologically significant forestland in Multnomah County. 
    “Oregon’s forests must be conserved to ensure our lands remain healthy, well-managed, and accessible to Oregonians, visitors, and future generations,”?said Merkley, who serves as chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the U.S. Forest Service?and secured these funds in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill.?“I’ve long championed the Forest Legacy Program to boost vital conservation activities like the Tualatin Mountain Forest Project. This over $10 million in federal funding is essential to conserving the Tualatin Mountain Forest for generations to come, and I will keep fighting to ensure the federal government does its part to create and conserve healthy, resilient forests across our state and nation.
    “Oregonians treasure our opportunities across the state to enjoy the outdoors, and preserving forests in a balanced fashion plays a pivotal role in that dynamic,” said Wyden. “I’m glad the Tualatin Mountain Forest Project has earned these additional federal investments that I worked to secure. And I’ll keep battling for similar federal resources throughout our state.”
    The latest award to the Tualatin Mountain Forest Project is a part of more than a $265 million investment by the Forest Service to conserve nearly 335,000 acres of ecologically and economically significant forestlands across the nation. This latest round of funding is going toward 21 projects in 17 states to conserve working forests that support rural economies. In 2024 alone, the Forest Service has invested nearly $420 million to conserve more than 500,000 acres through the Forest Legacy Program.
    Information about the Tualatin Mountain Forest Phase 3 award can be found below: 
    Located 17 miles outside Portland, the Tualatin Mountain Forest (TMF) Phase 3 will be managed as a research forest and will benefit nearby disadvantaged communities and Portland Metro Area’s recreation economy by creating new public access to over 20 miles of existing trails. TMF will serve as a national model of an actively managed research forest balancing financial productivity, carbon sequestration, healthy watershed, public access, recreation, and diverse plant and wildlife communities, including Oregon’s diminishing oak woodlands.
    “Through this U.S. Forest Legacy Program grant, we’re one step closer to ensuring that this remarkable landscape remains a resilient and accessible natural resource for all—protecting critical wildlife habitat, water quality, and expanding equitable recreation opportunities,” said Kristin Kovalik, Oregon Program Director for Trust for Public Land. “TPL is grateful for Senators Merkley and Wyden’s continued support in conserving working forests that are essential to the livelihoods of timber-dependent communities and critical for environmental sustainability.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford Demands Answers from DHS Over Taxpayer-Funded Billboard Advancing Progressive Open-Border Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas following a politically charged billboard from the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman that seems to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s progressive border agenda. Lankford serves as the lead Republican on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management.
    This billboard was first shared by Bill Melugin on X.
    “The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has consistently told Congress that it has limited funding and resources for immigration enforcement, and this billboard raises serious concerns around an already-troubled office’s use of taxpayer resources. This matter highlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued efforts to handcuff the DHS’s interior enforcement mission and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) efforts to carry out that mission,” Lankford wrote in the letter.
    “Since the Biden-Harris Administration took office, CBP has encountered over 8.7 million migrants at the southern border. This number does not include the hundreds of thousands of got-aways the CBP has seen but has not apprehended… The recent billboards DHS funded for OIDO raise serious concerns about whether the office is operating in an ‘independent’ and ‘neutral’ manner. These billboards can easily be read as undercutting ICE enforcement efforts and creating a mechanism for illegal immigrants in ICE custody to be released through OIDO’s advocacy,” Lankford continued.
    Read the full letter HERE or below.
    Dear Secretary Mayorkas:
    I write today to raise concerns about a recent billboard from the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO). The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has consistently told Congress that it has limited funding and resources for immigration enforcement, and this billboard raises serious concerns around an already-troubled office’s use of taxpayer resources. This matter highlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued efforts to handcuff the DHS’s interior enforcement mission and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) efforts to carry out that mission. To better understand OIDO’s work right now, I ask that DHS brief my staff on OIDO’s budget and work.
    Since the Biden-Harris Administration took office, CBP has encountered over 8.7 million migrants at the southern border. This number does not include the hundreds of thousands of got-aways the CBP has seen but has not apprehended. ICE has only removed fewer than 500,000 aliens from the United States under this Administration. Rather than focusing on bolstering this interior enforcement mission, the Biden-Harris Administration has sought to handcuff ICE by implementing enforcement priorities that prevent the arrest of illegal aliens who are unlawfully present in the US, by quietly canceling thousands of cases through the Doyle Memorandum, and by regularly asking Congress every year to cut ICE’s detention beds. These policies further cripple our interior enforcement and tell the world there are no consequences for overstaying a visa or being unlawfully present in the United States.
    The Homeland Security Act requires that the Immigration Detention Ombudsman carry out its work through “independent, neutral, and confidential process[es]’ and centers the Ombudsman’s work on addressing misconduct that may arise in DHS detention facilities. The current Ombudsman has previously spoken out against ICE’s detention of illegal aliens, and the Ombudsman has previously worked for organizations that have raised questions around how many detention beds ICE operates and raised concerns around the “intrusiveness” of ICE detention and the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program.
    The recent billboards DHS funded for OIDO raise serious concerns about whether the office is operating in an ‘independent’ and ‘neutral’ manner. No one wants the constitutional rights of any individual violated. However, these billboards can easily be read as undercutting ICE enforcement efforts and creating a mechanism for illegal immigrants in ICE custody to be released through OIDO’s advocacy. As noted above, OIDO’s mission under the HSA is one of monitoring, not of advocacy and release from detention. Given this, I ask that OIDO brief our staff on its work. In addition, I ask following questions:
    Please provide any personnel-related documents relating to the Ombudsman’s appointment and prior engagement with ICE.
    Has OIDO’s work resulted in the release of any illegal immigrants from ICE custody? If so, please provide reporting justifying each release from ICE custody.
    How many billboards has OIDO funded, and where are they located? How were these billboards funded? Please provide a copy of each billboard that OIDO has posted.
    How did OIDO determine the location of each billboard?
    Did the content for these billboards go through an interagency review and clearance process? If so, please provide a description of each agency which reviewed the billboards and its concurrence/non-concurrence.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving your response by not later than November 15, 2024.
    In God We Trust,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Larson, DeLauro Announce $250,000 To Prevent Pollution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    November 01, 2024

    EAST HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) announced the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) has been selected to receive $250,000 in federal grants to provide technical assistance to help Connecticut businesses develop and adopt pollution prevention practices in local communities.
    CT DEEP will partner with the Toxic Use Reduction Institute at University of Massachusetts Lowell to identify safer cleaning and sanitizing products for craft beverage manufacturers in Connecticutto reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, solid and hazardous waste, water pollution and toxic chemicals. CT DEEP will also continue to work with other New England states to offer the BetterBev recognition program, which incentivizes businesses to carry out pollution reduction measures. Facilities in or adjacent to communities with environmental justice concerns will be prioritized.
    “We won’t achieve our climate goals unless everybody is involved in the fight, but small businesses often face greater barriers to making the upfront investments for cleaner practices. By providing direct technical support to Connecticut’s local craft beverage manufacturers, this $250,000 in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help small business owners across our state adopt more sustainable, cost-effective practices that reduce harmful emissions, strengthen our economy, and safeguard the health of our communities for generations to come,” said Murphy.
    “This investment in greener craft breweries and wineries will help them be even more successful as environmental stewards. With greater technical aid, beverage businesses can expand consumer appeal by reducing pollution and protecting natural resources. It’s a boost for our economy and environment,” said Blumenthal.
    “Addressing pollution at the source is key to protecting community health and taking on the threat of climate change,” said Larson. “I have been proud to work with the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation to deliver federal funding for projects to combat pollution and ensure all communities have access to clean air and water. This funding will support ongoing work at the state and local level to invest in innovative solutions that protect our environment, combat pollution, and help reduce energy bills.”
    “Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CT DEEP can bolster its work with businesses across our state to reduce pollution,” said DeLauro. “These funds will help drive economic growth and ensure Connecticut leads the way in combatting pollution. The climate crisis is here, and it is an existential threat. We must do all we can to reduce pollution and protect our planet for generations to come.”
    “Every community deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment—and pollution prevention grants help achieve that by reducing waste at the source. By adopting smarter and innovative practices that limit the use of toxic materials and conserve resources, these investments are helping our partners to support New England businesses to cut costs, grow sustainably, and protect the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, together we’re creating lasting benefits for local economies and ensuring that environmental progress and economic growth go hand in hand and reach all communities, including those that need it most. That’s Investing in America.”
    EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. In total, EPA has announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. This includes any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
    Between 2011-2022, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in 31.9 billion kWh in energy savings, eliminated 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saved 52 billion gallons of water, reduced 1 billion pounds of hazardous materials, and saved businesses more than $2.3 billion.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Congressional Delegation Announce $39 Million In Clean Ports Investments To Reduce Emissions, Improve Public Health In Southern Connecticut

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    November 01, 2024

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Friday joined U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) to announce that the Connecticut Port Authority and Gateway Terminal, in partnership with the New Haven Port Authority, have been selected to receive nearly $40 million in total through EPA’s Clean Ports Program to support the deployment of zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure.
    “Our ports are the driving force behind Connecticut’s blue economy, but the diesel-powered equipment we use to move goods through them is polluting nearby communities and taking a toll on public health. By replacing aging, polluting equipment with cleaner, zero-emission alternatives, this $39 million in federal funding will help keep ports in New Haven and New London running smoothly while improving quality of life, creating good-paying jobs, and moving us closer to achieving our climate goals,” said Murphy.
    “This milestone investment will make our ports cleaner and healthier – using zero-emission equipment. Stopping air pollution while modernizing and enhancing port facilities is a gigantic win for both our environment and economy. Communities around the ports will have better air and jobs,” said Blumenthal.
    “The redevelopment and modernization of State Pier New London in 2019 dramatically increased its square footage and weight bearing capacity, with an eye to both increased cargo activity, as well as wind turbine assembly.  With this $5 million new federal investment funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, the pier can now install zero-emission power equipment so that docked ships can power onboard services. This upgrade will keep New London State Pier competitive with the maritime industry and protect water quality in the Thames River,” said Courtney.
    “I am pleased to announce that Gateway Terminals and the Connecticut Port Authority will receive vital grant funding that will reduce diesel emissions, lower health risks and noise pollution for port workers and near-port communities, and decrease pollution in the Long Island Sound,” said DeLauro. “In New Haven, Gateway Terminal will be using this funding to replace four aging diesel-powered cranes with all-electric machines, deploy 10 all-electric tractors for terminal drayage services, and install solar infrastructure.  These efforts will reduce their reliance on the electric grid and the need for fossil fuel dependency while greatly improving air quality for residents of the City.”
    The grants are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel air pollution from U.S. ports and near surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs that help America’s ports thrive.
    The Connecticut Port Authority has been selected to receive an anticipated $5,357,103 to acquire a mobile shore power unit and install supporting shore power infrastructure at the New London State Pier. The project will reduce diesel emissions by providing power to vessels at berth, enabling docked marine vessels to connect to the local electric grid to power onboard services instead of running their diesel engines, thereby decreasing health risks and noise pollution for port workers and the near-port communities. The State Pier was recently upgraded to enable it to serve as a marshalling port for offshore wind facility operations. CPA will engage stakeholders in New London to increase public awareness education, and ongoing communication. A workforce training program developed in coordination with unions and other stakeholders will help prepare the local labor force to fill high-quality jobs created by this project.
    Enstructure New Haven Holdings’ Gateway Terminal, in partnership with the New Haven Port Authority in Connecticut, has been selected to receive an anticipated $34,032,340 for the purchase and deployment of zero-emission cargo handling equipment with supporting charging infrastructure, as well as rooftop solar generation and battery energy storage systems to supplement grid power for the mobile equipment. The project also includes scrapping several pieces of diesel-powered cargo handling equipment to reduce air pollution at the port and in the surrounding area. Training on the all-electric equipment will be provided to the existing workforce, and the community will be engaged in project implementation and in sourcing workers for new good-paying jobs. Gateway recently joined Green Marine, a voluntary environmental benchmarking and continuous improvement program, which requires participants to annually measure, certify and publish their performance indicators, including emissions reduction and community relations.
    EPA’s Clean Ports Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.  Disadvantaged communities will benefit from cleaner air and access to high quality jobs that will be created to operate zero emissions technologies at ports.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Connecticut Delegation Announce $77.8 Million In Home Energy Assistance Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    November 01, 2024

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Friday joined U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04) and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn-05) to announce Connecticut will receive $77,834,656 from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help reduce heating costs for low-income families in Connecticut ahead of the winter season. This is the first allocation of LIHEAP dollars this season.
    “For too many families in Connecticut, falling temperatures mean having to choose between heating your home or putting food on the table. This $77.8 million in LIHEAP funding will help ease that burden for households feeling the strain of rising energy costs this winter, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll keep working with our delegation to ensure Connecticut families continue to have the support they need so they don’t have to make those difficult choices,” said Murphy.
    “This home heating aid is desperately needed by families who face a frigid winter without fuel for basic warmth,” said Blumenthal. “With $77.8 million, many families will be assured this basic necessity. Every day, I see and speak to people struggling to make ends meet and worrying about financial hardships and challenges. I’ll fight for more federal support for LIHEAP and other programs that help them with essential needs.”
    “As we approach the winter months, we must ensure all families are able to heat their homes without breaking the bank,” said Larson. “Thanks to the steadfast leadership of Rep. Rosa DeLauro on the Appropriations Committee, I am thrilled to join the entire Connecticut delegation to announce $77.8 million in new funding to help families afford their energy bills. We will continue to work together to ensure Connecticut residents can get the assistance they need this season.” 
    “There’s no question high energy costs are pinching homeowners’ wallets. As we head into the colder months, this $77 million federal investment in heating and energy assistance will bring welcomed relief to Connecticut residents,”  said Courtney. 
    “High costs are spreading families thin,” said DeLauro. “No family should have to choose between keeping their home warm during the colder months, keeping their lights on, or putting food on the table. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I secured $77.8 million for the program to help Connecticut’s families keep warm this season. Every family deserves warmth. I am committed to ensuring no household goes cold this winter.”
    “Too many families have to worry about rising energy costs that make it increasingly difficult to pay their heating bills and keep their children warm in the coming months,” said Himes. “LIHEAP offers a lifeline to struggling Americans to ensure every home offers a reprieve from our cold New England winter. I am proud to help deliver nearly $78 million to Connecticut in federal funding, including over $4 million from President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”
    “LIHEAP is a lifeline for many families faced with rising heating costs. I am delighted $77.8 million is coming back to Connecticut to help families stay warm this winter,” said Hayes. “This assistance will help to ease the burden of high heating costs. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for additional funding for this vital resource, which lowers utility costs and prevents shut offs across Connecticut.”
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced the release of $3.6 billion in LIHEAP funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three territories, and more than 125 tribes. This amount includes the regular block grant appropriation and an additional $100.1 million appropriated from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 
    Connecticut was awarded a total of $77,834,656 to assist low-income families ahead of the winter season. This includes:
    $73,556,784 from the regular LIHEAP block grant funding
    $4,273,891 in funding appropriated for FY2025 from IIJA and $3,981 in LIHEAP dollars the state returned in FY23

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Urge Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office to Address Concerns with the Compensation Process, Help New Mexicans Get the Relief & Compensation Needed to Recover

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) sent a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office and the FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office to address concerns from New Mexicans about the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office.  
    Created by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act in 2022 – legislation championed and passed by N.M. Congressional Democrats – the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is responsible for processing New Mexicans’ claims that arose from the wildfire. Since the devastating wildfire, the N.M. Delegation has secured a total of $3.95 billion in federal funding for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire recovery. 
    “The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in New Mexico. The fire and subsequent flooding displaced thousands of our constituents for months, wiped away generations of history, and uprooted families from their communities. And yet, over two years later, many New Mexicans continue to wait for the relief and compensation they are owed by the federal government,” the lawmakers wrote to Jay Mitchell, FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office, and Michael Plostock, FEMA Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office.  
    “After a significant delay in getting the Claims Office fully staffed and operational, and after further delays in dispersing funds, improvements to the Claims Office’s processes and best practices are still sorely needed. While we are encouraged by recent changes within the Claims Office, we have continued to hear concerns from our constituents about their experience with the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office,” the lawmakers continued.  
    “The Claims Office must process claims faster, communicate with claimants on a regular and consistent basis, and pay fair compensation. We also ask that processes and formulas reflect unique aspects of New Mexico such as adobe, historic structures, and subsistence living where large cache of food are kept in freezers,” the lawmakers further continued. 
    To address these concerns and ensure that victims of the fire have all the information and tools they need to get compensation from the Claims Office, the lawmakers requested that Directors Mitchell and Plostock answer the following questions: 
    1. How is the Claims Office working to more consistently communicate with claimants through proactive communication and responding to claimant inquiries in a timely manner? 
    2. How is the Claims Office working to speed up the review of total loss claims in a way that ensures these claimants receive full compensation for culturally and structurally unique buildings, such as adobe? 
    3. How many claimants have total home losses? Of those, how many have been compensated to date (broken down between partial and full compensation)? And of those who lost homes, how many of those are living in a new home or are in the building process? 
    4. What steps is the Claims Office taking to ensure that claimants who do not possess traditional mortgage documentation or property deeds receive compensation quickly? 
    5. What are the policies and processes in place to ensure that claimants can retain their assigned navigator if they so choose? 
    6. When using standard rate calculators and tools from the insurance industry, how is the Claims Office working to make changes and updates to maximize the amount of compensation claimants are awarded? 
    7. How is the Claims Office working to reduce the amount of tax documentation required from claimants, rather than add to it, particularly in total loss, complex, and small business claims?  
    8. How is the Claims Office ensuring equity in food loss payments? If changes to Claims Office compensation policy are needed, is the Claims Office committed to updating policy such that claimants are not paid less than they would have previously received, and is the Claims Office committed to updating previously closed claims with the adjusted increased compensation?  
    9. How is the Claims Office ensuring equity in hourly labor rate reimbursement for repairs? 
    10. How is the Claims Office working to help claimants understand the review decisions by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)? Does the Claims Office include the SME reports with annotated decisions in Letter of Determination?  
    11. How is the Claims Office working to reduce the number of separate assessments claimants are required to have on the same property? 
    12. When will the erosion estimate process be finalized? 
    13. How is the Claims Office working to ensure that business loss claimants can receive updates and work on their claims from any office location? 
    The text of the letter is here. 
    In September, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández secured an extension to the period that victims may file claims with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office to December 20, 2024. 
    Last year, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández introduced the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Extension Act, legislation that would extend the period a victim can file a claim with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Visits Public Housing Development to Discuss Weatherization, Highlights Weatherization Installer Apprenticeship

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Berlin, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visited a multi-unit public housing development undergoing weatherization installations to improve energy efficiency and lower monthly costs. During a tour of the complex, Shaheen discussed the benefits of weatherization with residents, as well as participants in the Tri-County Community Action Program’s Registered Apprenticeship for weatherization installers, which is the first of its kind in New Hampshire. As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion for weatherization assistance nationwide, including more than $18 million for New Hampshire. You can find photos from the event here.
    “Weatherizing homes is one of the best things we can do to reduce monthly energy costs, all while making progress toward our climate goals and keeping Granite Staters safe from extreme temperatures,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to have secured funding for New Hampshire’s weatherization efforts through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is supporting this new apprenticeship program to expand the weatherization workforce. I’ll keep working in Congress to find ways to upgrade our infrastructure while saving money for Granite State households.”
    Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funding helps homes become more energy efficient through measures like installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems and updating electrical appliances. For every dollar invested by WAP, $4.50 is generated in combined energy savings and non-energy benefits such as improved health and job creation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition to saving families money, energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. If you think you may be eligible for WAP funding, apply through your local Community Action Agency at CAPNH.org and check out Senator Shaheen’s recently updated Federal Energy Guide for more ways Granite Staters can save money on their utility bills.
    As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, including $18 million for New Hampshire. Shaheen has long-championed the  Weatherization Assistance Program to lower energy costs for low-income families in New Hampshire, as well as the State Energy Program, which assists states with the development of energy efficiency renewable projects. Last year, Shaheen helped introduce the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, a bipartisan bill that would strengthen the Weatherization Assistance Program and increase the number of homes the program is able to serve. Shaheen also introduced the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act, legislation to ensure that annual funding for weatherization and the State Energy Program is released to states as quickly as possible.
    In response to a shortage of weatherization installers in New Hampshire, Tri-County Community Action Program (TCCAP) launched an apprenticeship program to train new workers in the field. TCCAP’s program is supported by Training and Technical Assistance funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is the first program of its kind in New Hampshire.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Bipartisan Colleagues Call on Mark Zuckerberg to Remove and Prevent Ads for Illicit Drugs on Meta Platforms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    **Shaheen is building on her Cooper Davis Act and leading the push to crack down on drug trafficking through social media**
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, is leading a bipartisan letter with U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) calling on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to take action to remove and prevent advertisements for illicit drugs on all Meta platforms. The letter builds on Shaheen and Marshall’s bipartisan Cooper Davis Act to hold social media companies accountable for reporting to law enforcement illicit drug and opioid activities occurring on their platforms. 
    In part, the Senators wrote: “The United States is in the midst of a drug epidemic, with more than 100,000 Americans dying from overdoses last year, and an alarming amount of these drugs are sold online. It is crucial that everyone work to ensure these illegal drugs are found and taken off the streets. Therefore, we call on Meta to improve its human automated advertising review and content moderation to address these failures that are placing lives at risk.”
    According to a Wall Street Journal report from earlier this year, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found that Meta has run hundreds of advertisements on Facebook and Instagram that steer users to online marketplaces for illegal drugs. The Shaheen-led letter urges Zuckerberg to support the Cooper Davis Act and work as quickly as possible to prevent further harm.
    The Senators continued: “When presented with these disturbing findings, Meta took down some advertisements off its platforms. However, Meta’s refusal to prevent illicit drug advertisements, while accepting advertisement payments that are harming families and in clear violation of Meta’s policies, is particularly alarming. Surely, this is not what Meta means when it states its ‘mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.’”
    Text of the letter can be found here.
    Shaheen has spearheaded crucial legislation, led efforts and secured funding to stem the opioid epidemic. Earlier this week, the Senator held a roundtable with the Youth CAN coalition leadership team and community partners to discuss the organization’s work to prevent youth substance misuse in New Hampshire. Last month, Shaheen introduced the bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to strengthen efforts to address the substance misuse disorder crisis that is impacting communities across the nation by establishing a new grant program.
    The Cooper Davis Act would require social media companies and other communication service providers to turn over information relating to illicit online fentanyl activity to federal agencies to combat the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit and controlled substances occurring on their platforms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Joins Call for POTUS to Engage on Stalled U.S.-China Adoptions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    November 1, 2024

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

    Dr. Rand Paul Joins Call for POTUS to Engage on Stalled U.S.-China Adoptions

    103 members of Congress amplify adoptive families’ plea to Biden: ‘Your leadership could be life altering for these families’

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) to urge President Biden to stand up for families navigating the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) decision to end intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties. Representatives Erin Houchin (R-IN-9) and Val Hoyle (D-OR-4) are co-leading the bipartisan effort, which garnered a total of 103 bicameral signatories, in the House of Representatives.

    “We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made,” the lawmakers wrote, noting approximately 300 children in the PRC – some with various health conditions – are already paired with families in the United States. 

    “The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” they continued. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.”

    Dr. Paul and his colleagues also acknowledged the PRC may complete adoptions for families in some countries, per a State Department notice last week. They called on President Biden to ensure such an action would pertain to the United States, too.

    Read the full letter HERE. Cosigners include Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Files Bipartisan, Bicameral Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Restore Federal Accountability in Wrong-House Raid Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    November 1, 2024

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), alongside Representatives Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Nikema Williams (D-GA-5), Thomas Massie (R-KY-4), and Dan Bishop (R-NC-8) filed a bipartisan, bicameral amicus brief, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Martin v. United States and address the alarming gap in federal accountability created by the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling in this case.

    This case centers around a mistaken, forceful raid by federal agents who entered the wrong home in the early hours of the morning. The family inside was jolted awake by a flashbang grenade exploding within their walls. This raid left the family not only traumatized but physically harmed. Despite the evident toll on these innocent individuals and the assault that they suffered, the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling currently bars them from any avenue for recourse under the FTCA, even though Congress designed this law in the wake of several wrong house raids to ensure accountability for federal overreach. This brief asserts that the Eleventh Circuit’s interpretation of the FTCA contradicts the FTCA’s legislative intent and threatens Americans’ protections against federal overreach.

    “Congress specifically designed the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to ensure that individuals harmed by government overreach—such as the wrongful raiding of an innocent person’s home—have a means of recourse. By blocking Trina Martin’s right to seek redress, the Eleventh Circuit’s decision not only undermines Congress’ intent and the FTCA’s fundamental purpose but also establishes troubling precedent that places government actions beyond accountability, compromising Americans’ rights. We must ensure that when the government makes a mistake, citizens can hold it accountable and seek justice. This case is a critical step in preserving that protection,” said Dr. Rand Paul.

    “Through the Federal Tort Claims Act, Congress provided a remedy for federal wrong-house raids, but the Eleventh Circuit has taken it away,” explained Patrick Jaicomo, a Senior Attorney at the Institute for Justice, which represents the innocent family. “The brief filed by members of Congress today confirms the availability of that federal remedy, and that the constitutional role of the courts is to enforce—not revoke—the remedy Congress has provided.”

    In Martin v. United States, the Eleventh Circuit ruled that victims of the wrong-house raid could not recover damages due to the Supremacy Clause, despite the FTCA’s purpose to hold federal law enforcement accountable for wrongful actions. Congress introduced the FTCA’s law enforcement provision specifically to protect citizens harmed in cases like these, yet the Eleventh Circuit’s stance nullifies that protection, leaving innocent citizens vulnerable.

    The Supremacy Clause was intended to assert the primacy of federal statutes—not to obstruct claims explicitly permitted by Congress. The bipartisan, bicameral brief makes it clear that if the Eleventh Circuit’s interpretation is upheld, it will fundamentally undermine the FTCA’s role in federal accountability, allowing agents to act with impunity and without fear of recourse from innocent citizens.

    By granting review and overturning the Eleventh Circuit’s decision, the Supreme Court would reinforce the FTCA as Congress intended—empowering Americans to hold federal agents accountable for intentional harms, particularly in cases like these that carry such personal and constitutional significance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 11/1/2024 Blackburn, Ernst Fight to Protect Americans and Deport Illegal Immigrants Convicted of Sex Crimes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After a shocking report revealed that tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with sexual assault convictions are in the country, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and 18 of their colleagues in introducing a bipartisan bill that will allow America to deport sexual offenders currently in the country and block those seeking to enter:
    “Led by Border Czar Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris administration has left our southern border wide open to dangerous criminals and national security threats,” said Senator Blackburn. “Our Be GONE Act would ensure that illegal immigrants who commit sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence are deported to keep American citizens safe.” 
    “These violent criminals never would have entered America in the first place if we had real border security, but now that they’re in our communities, they need to BE GONE,” said Senator Ernst. “Since Border Czar Kamala Harris won’t protect this country, then I will. My legislation will combat sexual violence by ensuring predators are identified, stopped, and deported.”

    BE GONE ACT:

    Specifically, the Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants (BE GONE) Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to include sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as crimes that are defined as “aggravated felonies.”

    CO-SPONSORS:

    The BE GONE Act is co-sponsored by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R- S.C.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Rubio Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Redesignate The Houthis As A Foreign Terrorist Organization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to redesignate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). As the Houthis, backed by Iran’s regime, continue to escalate their attacks in the Middle East, this designation would impose meaningful costs on the Houthis and help limit their ability to commit acts of terrorism. Both senators have been outspoken in their strong support for this redesignation. They were joined by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). 
    “Since the misguided revocation of the Houthis’ FTO designation in 2021, the Houthis, backed by the Iranian regime, have only escalated their efforts to destabilize the Middle East,” wrote the Senators. “These actions include firing drones and missiles against Israel that have killed civilians, disrupting international shipping by targeting commercial vessels, directly attacking U.S. forces, and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Yemen.”
    “Relisting the Houthis as an FTO would make individuals or entities providing material support to the group liable for criminal prosecution and considered Tier III terrorists subject to sanctions and a travel ban, open up economic tools to target the Houthis’ weapons procurement networks and manufacturing capabilities, provide a legal right of action to U.S. victims of Houthi terrorism, and ban Houthi members from obtaining a visa or entering the United States,” they continued. “We therefore urge you to immediately restore the designation of the Houthis as an FTO, which would enable the United States to better target the group’s assets and financial support and hold the group accountable for committing terrorism against the United States, Israel, and our partners and allies throughout the region.”
    The full letter can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight to counter Iran’s destabilizing actions in the Middle East and protect U.S. national security. Last month, she joined a bipartisan letter calling on the administration to ensure Iran’s regime cannot benefit from the petroleum trade. Senator Rosen introduced bipartisan legislation to counter space threats posed by Iran and called on the Biden Administration to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets held in Qatar following Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack on Israel. She also helped introduce the bipartisan Solidify Iran Sanctions Act to make the Iran Sanctions of 1996 permanent, allowing the President to impose sanctions on Iran’s energy sector.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cardin, Grassley Urge President Biden to Raise U.S.-China Adoption Cases with Beijing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging continued advocacy on behalf of American families navigating the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) recent decision to discontinue intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties. U.S. Representatives Erin Houchin (IN-09) and Val Hoyle (OR-04) co-led this bipartisan letter, which secured 103 bicameral signatories.
    On August 28th, 2024, the PRC ended its foreign adoption program, four years after the country suspended the program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawmakers expressed concern for the adoptive children that remain in the PRC, many with health conditions, who were already paired with families in the United States, as well as for the American families who have been devasted by the announcement.
    “We express our concern for the vulnerable children in the PRC who have been matched with a permanent and loving home but remain separated from their prospective adoptive families,” wrote the lawmakers. “We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made.”
    “The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” continued the lawmakers. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.”
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below.
    Dear President Biden,
    We write to you on behalf of hundreds of American families who have been left in a state of uncertainty about the completion of their adoption from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) following its announcement that as of August 28, 2024, foreign adoptions from the country will no longer proceed. Likewise, we express our concern for the vulnerable children in the PRC who have been matched with a permanent and loving home but remain separated from their prospective adoptive families. We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made.
    The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) concluded in 1993, with several objects to ensure that the best interests and rights of the child are recognized and safeguarded in international law. 1 The United States and the PRC are parties to the Convention and up until the COVID-19 pandemic, have collaborated successfully to work towards permanency for over 82,000 children in the PRC.2 Roughly three-hundred children in the PRC, many of whom have medical and emotional needs, have been matched with an adoptive family in the U.S. in accordance with the Convention. Yet, the PRC appears to be going back on its commitment to these families.
    The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need. While these families have waited for years for their adoptions to be completed, they have become deeply bonded with their adoptive children. Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.
    We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department of State to seek written clarity on the PRC’s end to international adoptions and unite these families. That said, our understanding is that the policy decision was made at top levels within the PRC, necessitating your direct intervention. We believe that the adoptions of children who have already been matched with an adoptive family in accordance with the convention should be allowed to be completed. According to a notice sent on October 25, 2024, by the Department of State to adoption service providers, we understand that the PRC may be continuing to process intercountry adoptions for families from other countries. Our hope is that American families will be provided the same opportunity and that the PRC’s participation in the Convention is not going to end with heartbreak for families who won’t ever be united with their adoptive child, and with vulnerable children left without the loving home that they knew they had. Your leadership could be life altering for these families.
    Thank you for your attention to our correspondence. We hope that our plea for the families and children that have been matched is well received and that you will act to ensure the United States is dedicated to seeing that the commitment made to these families is fulfilled.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Supports Noem Confirmation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed, by a vote of 59-34, Kristi Noem to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
    “The previous Administration’s open-border policies exacerbated the crisis at our southern border, bringing in record numbers of illegal crossings in the last four-year span.  Blocking the flow of illegal immigration was one of the top voting priorities for millions of Americans, including Idahoans.  Kristi Noem has demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing resources to stop the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.  She will streamline functions at DHS to bring public security back to the forefront of the Department’s activities, secure our nation from hostile threats and expeditiously provide appropriate disaster assistance where needed.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Votes Against Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) voted against confirming South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Senator Rosen met with Governor Noem earlier this month and strongly opposed the Trump Administration’s plans to carry out mass deportations. She also emphasized the importance of protecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients.
    “Nevada is the proud home of countless law-abiding immigrants looking for a better future and making contributions to our state and our economy. We also have thousands of DACA and TPS recipients who deserve a permanent solution that provides them peace of mind and a pathway to citizenship,” said Senator Rosen. “The Trump Administration has already taken shameful actions to try to eliminate automatic citizenship of children born here to immigrant parents, target sensitive locations like schools and churches, and start to carry out mass deportations. I voted against Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security because I believe she will take actions that will hurt families in my state. I’ll keep fighting back against the Trump Administration’s actions that negatively impact Nevadans.”
    Senator Rosen has been outspoken in her opposition to mass deportation, and her strong support for DACA and TPS recipients and their families. Earlier this year, she applauded the extension of TPS status for immigrants from El Salvador and Venezuela, after calling on the Biden Administration to continue to protect displaced Salvadorans. She has also raised concerns over the significant application delays impacting DACA recipients, and gave a floor speech urging her Senate colleagues to take immediate action to permanently protect Dreamers, while simultaneously continuing to work to pass comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins’ Statement on Confirmation of Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued a statement following her vote to confirm Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security.

    “Our nation is currently facing serious threats on multiple fronts, including at our northern and southern borders. Mexican drug cartels, especially, are using the chaos at the southern border to facilitate their drug and human trafficking operations and to flood our nation with fentanyl and other illegal drugs. As Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem understands that what happens at the southern border has repercussions for communities all over the United States, including here in Maine. I support her nomination because we need to secure our borders and stem the flow of fentanyl that is destroying lives across our country.”

    MIL OSI USA News –