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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Leger Fernández Welcome $8.6 Million Federal Investment for New Mexico’s Digital Equity Plan

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    Multi-Million Dollar Investment Made Possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
    Santa Fe, N.M. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) welcomed $8,673,975 to implement key digital equity initiatives in New Mexico. This funding comes from the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, one of three Digital Equity Act grant programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Senator Luján and Representative Leger Fernández helped pass into law.
    This funding is part of the “Internet for All” initiative, a key component of the Biden-Harris administration’s “Investing in America” agenda. New Mexico will use this funding to implement its digital equity plan, which outlines how the state will empower individuals and communities with the tools and skills necessary to benefit from meaningful access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service. 
    “In today’s world, a reliable broadband connection is not a luxury, but rather a necessity for everyday life,” said Luján. “This more than $8.6 million investment by the NTIA will deliver critical broadband connection and boost digital literacy in communities across New Mexico. I’m proud to have helped deliver this funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will continue to work to close the digital divide once and for all.”
    “We know in New Mexico that we are all connected by history, family, culture and herencias. However, in today’s world, we need to also be connected digitally. When we invest in digital equity, we are investing in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for every family across New Mexico regardless of their income or background,” said Leger Fernández. “This $8.6 million in investments made possible by our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help bridge the digital divide, making sure that our rural, Tribal, and communities of opportunity can fully participate in today’s economy.”
    This approval is from the first funding round of the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, which made available more than $800 million for states, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and Native Entities to apply for grants to implement their digital equity plans. These plans were developed under the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program. Awards of funding will require additional review and approval of State-submitted documentation.    

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Leads Senate Colleagues in Urging Stellantis to Keep Its Promises to UAW Autoworkers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) led a group of 21 colleagues in urging Stellantis to keep promises it made to its autoworkers. In a letter to Stellantis CEO Carlos Taveras, the senators expressed the need for the automotive manufacturing company to honor the collective bargaining agreement signed last year with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and deliver on its commitments to strengthen and expand good-paying union jobs in America.
    “We are writing to express our growing concerns about the failure of Stellantis, under your leadership, to honor the commitments it made to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in last year’s collective bargaining agreement,” wrote the senators. “We urge Stellantis not to renege on the promises it made to American autoworkers and to provide details on the timelines for these investments.”
    In the contract ratified last year, Stellantis committed to: 
    Make nearly $19 billion in new investments and product commitments in the U.S.
    Continue to manufacture the Dodge Durango in Detroit through 2025.
    Manufacture the next generation Dodge Durango in Detroit starting in 2026.
    Re-open the plant in Belvidere, Illinois that was “indefinitely idled” last year.
    Establish a parts and customer care Mega Hub in Belvidere.
    Instead, Stellantis has taken actions that undermine the obligations made to the UAW and leave “behind thousands of American workers who built the company into the auto giant it is today,” wrote the senators. These actions may include plans to move production of the next generation Dodge Durango out of the U.S. and into “low-cost” countries like Mexico, as well as delaying planned investments to reopen and expand the Belvidere assembly plant. 
    This year, Stellantis has spent over $8 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to benefit its wealthy executives and stockholders. During the first six months of this year, Stellantis has generated over $6 billion in profits, making it one of the most profitable auto companies in the world. The company has also benefited from billions of dollars in financial assistance from American taxpayers and the federal government. In July, the Department of Energy announced Stellantis would receive nearly $335 million in federal dollars to support Belvidere Assembly Plant’s conversion to electric vehicle production.
    “We believe that if Stellantis can afford to spend over $8 billion this year on stock buybacks and dividends, it can live up to the contractual commitments it made to the UAW,” wrote the senators. “This is especially true given the billions of dollars in financial assistance American taxpayers have spent to support your company and the enormous sacrifices autoworkers have been forced to make over many decades.”
    Joining Peters on the letter are Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D- CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Tina Smith (D-MN).
    Peters grew up in a union household, where his mother was a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) steward and his father was a member of the National Education Association (NEA). Peters is a proud cosponsor of and has urged Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen the federal laws that protect workers’ right to form a union freely and fairly. During UAW negotiations last year, Peters met with United Auto Workers (UAW) members in Lansing to show his support and discuss priorities that are important to autoworkers. Peters also joined UAW members on the picket line across Michigan as they negotiated for better wages, benefits, and job security. Following the UAW’s historic contracts last fall, Peters led his colleagues in sending a letter to 13 non-unionized automakers urging them not to illegally block UAW unionization efforts at their manufacturing plants. Peters was joined by UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English as his guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address earlier this year.
    Text of the letter can be found here and below.
    Dear Mr. Tavares:
    We are writing to express our growing concerns about the failure of Stellantis, under your leadership, to honor the commitments it made to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in last year’s collective bargaining agreement.
    In that contract, ratified by UAW members, Stellantis committed to “establish long-term stability and job security” for its workforce. The agreement includes nearly $19 billion in new investment and product commitments in the United States, including promises to:
    · Re-open the plant in Belvidere, Illinois that was “indefinitely idled” last year;
    · Establish a parts and customer care Mega Hub in Belvidere;
    · Continue to manufacture the Dodge Durango in Detroit through 2025; and
    · Manufacture the next generation Dodge Durango in Detroit starting in 2026.
    We are deeply concerned that Stellantis is not keeping the promises it made to strengthen and expand good paying-union jobs in America.
    Specifically, Stellantis is now delaying planned investments to reopen and expand the Belvidere assembly plant, leaving behind thousands of American workers who built the company into the auto giant it is today. We are also concerned with reporting that Stellantis is planning to move production of the next generation Dodge Durango out of the United States, after previously announcing layoffs that threaten the economic security and well-being of thousands of autoworkers. Moreover, Stellantis has stated publicly that it plans to source 80% of supply from “low-cost countries” like Mexico. By your own admission, Stellantis’s growth plan hinges on shifting “industrial production into cost competitive countries” like Mexico, where workers are making substandard wages. These actions violate the obligations Stellantis made to the UAW. We urge Stellantis not to renege on the promises it made to American autoworkers and to provide details on the timelines for these investments.
    This year, Stellantis has spent over $8 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to benefit its wealthy executives and stockholders. Last year, while blue collar auto workers in Belvidere were being laid off indefinitely, you were able to receive a 56 percent pay raise boosting your total compensation to $39.5 million, which made you the highest paid executive among traditional auto companies. During the first six months of this year, Stellantis has generated over $6 billion in profits, making it one of the most profitable auto companies in the world.
    We believe that if Stellantis can afford to spend over $8 billion this year on stock buybacks and dividends, it can and it must live up to the contractual commitments it made to the UAW. This is especially true given the billions of dollars in financial assistance American taxpayers have spent to support your company and the enormous sacrifices autoworkers have been forced to make over many decades.
    For example, the Department of Energy announced in July that nearly $335 million in federal dollars would be going to supporting Belvidere Assembly Plant’s conversion to electric vehicle production. With hundreds of millions of dollars of federal support going towards ensuring strong union jobs stay in the U.S., Stellantis must honor the promises it made to UAW workers and the Belvidere community.
    We urge you to deliver on the commitments you made to the UAW in your 2023 national agreement without further delay.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Boyle Lead Bicameral Letter Urging U.S. Department of Education to Support Borrowers While SAVE Student Debt Plan Undergoes Litigation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02) are leading a group of 65 lawmakers in a bicameral letter urging the U.S. Department of Education to take further steps to support borrowers affected by ongoing litigation over President Joe Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan for student loan repayment and to be prepared with a plan for all possible judicial outcomes. In their letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the lawmakers note that borrowers in the process of pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) have been particularly impacted by disruptions to their ability to complete the necessary payments to qualify for loan forgiveness.
    The lawmakers wrote, in part: “Eight million SAVE Plan participants are facing uncertainty after the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals halted implementation of the SAVE Plan. While we recognize the Department of Education’s efforts to avoid penalizing borrowers by putting their accounts into forbearance, we remain concerned about the numerous challenges borrowers continue to face.”
    The lawmakers continued: “In particular, for those borrowers in the process of pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), the current period of forbearance and accompanying disruptions in loan servicing create uncertainty for the status of their loan forgiveness eligibility and financial future. […] Unfortunately, our constituents report hearing conflicting information from servicers about whether any income-driven repayment plan applications are being accepted and processed. As a result, these borrowers are locked out of making progress toward the qualifying 120 monthly payments for PSLF eligibility even as they continue to serve our communities.”
    They concluded: “For these and other borrowers currently enrolled in the SAVE plan, we remain concerned about the importance of ensuring that all borrowers have adequate support and information to successfully navigate student loan repayment as litigation continues. The Department must also ensure that it has sufficient plans in place to facilitate a successful and immediate transition for affected borrowers should the final judicial ruling ultimately prevent implementation of the SAVE plan. The Department’s plans should include preparing the necessary guidance for borrowers, adjusting contracts and issuing new regulations as needed. Given the instability created by the court’s ruling and the resulting widespread impact on borrowers, it is clearly in the public’s interest for the Department to move quickly as possible to be prepared for any potential judicial outcome.”
    The letter is co-signed by 20 U.S. Senators and 45 U.S. Representatives.
    The full text of the letter can be found here.
    Senator Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to help students manage their debt and to make college more affordable, championing legislation to increase access to higher education for Granite Staters. Earlier this year, Shaheen reintroduced the bipartisan Student Protection and Success Act to address the mounting student debt crisis by increasing higher education institutions’ accountability for their students’ ability to repay their loans and requiring institutions to have a vested interest in the success of their students. She has previously introduced the Simplifying Access to Student Loan Information Act, which calls for the development of a central online portal to allow students to review all their public and private student loans, as well as repayment options, in one place. Shaheen has also previously introduced other legislation to aid undergraduate borrowers and successfully ushered her legislation with Senators Baldwin (D-WI), Braun (R-IN) and Fischer (R-NE) to combat student debt relief scams through Congress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shaheen led and supported numerous efforts to provide necessary relief to students and their families to afford college and other higher education opportunities. Shaheen is also helping to reintroduce legislation that would double the Pell Grant award and make college more affordable.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Awarded the National Guard Association’s Montgomery Medal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
    MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was awarded the Montgomery Medal from the National Guard Association of the United States (NAGUS). The Montgomery Medal recognizes individuals or organizations who provide outstanding support to the NGAUS. Senator Klobuchar is receiving the award for championing issues important to National Guardsmen and veterans, such as bolstering the “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” program, helping pass the historic PACT Act to ensure veterans exposed to toxic substances get the healthcare they need, and investments into the National Guard’s readiness and operational capabilities. At the presentation ceremony, NGAUS Minnesota Chapter President Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) 5 Brett Setterlund presented Klobuchar with the medal. Klobuchar, Minnesota National Guard Major General Shawn Manke, and CWO 5 Setterlund delivered remarks.  
    “It’s a privilege to receive the Montgomery Medal from the National Guard Association,” said Klobuchar. “The men and women of the National Guard put everything on the line when they put on the uniform, and we owe them a debt we can never fully repay. That’s why I’ve fought to provide them with the resources and support they need to keep our state and our nation safe.”
    Colonel Jamie Lindman read the following citation at the award ceremony:
    For her exceptional leadership, dedication, and unwavering support for the Minnesota National Guard, Senator Amy Klobuchar is awarded the Montgomery Medal. Her commitment to the welfare of Soldiers, Airmen, and their families is exemplified through her tireless advocacy and legislative achievements. Senator Klobuchar’s profound impact on the lives of National Guard members is evident in her comprehensive approach to support and promote our service. 
    She spearheaded the development of the “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” program, transforming it into a national model that provides crucial support to service members reintegrating into civilian life. Her advocacy for improving childcare access and championing PACT Act legislation to address toxic exposure demonstrates her commitment to enhancing the quality of life for military families. Senator Klobuchar’s leadership in modernizing the National Guard has been instrumental in securing advancements that enhance readiness and operational capabilities. From securing new aircraft for both the 148th Fighter Wing and 133rd Airlift Wings to advocating for infrastructure improvements at Camp Ripley Training Center, her efforts ensure the Guard remains a critical asset to our nation’s defense. Her dedication to fostering partnerships locally and globally strengthens the Guard’s capabilities and interoperability with international allies. Her support for initiatives like the State Partnership Program with Norway underscores her commitment to enhancing strategic military ties and improving readiness for joint operations. Senator Klobuchar exemplifies the values of service, leadership, and dedication and leaves an indelible mark on the Department of Defense, the National Guard Association of the United States, and the Minnesota National Guard.
    Read the full citation HERE.
    As a member of the National Guard Caucus, Senator Klobuchar is a leading advocate in the Senate for the National Guard.
    Since her election to the Senate, Klobuchar has fought to secure regular funding to extend and expand to the national level Minnesota’s pioneering Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon helps soldiers transition from military to civilian life through counseling and other services.
    In 2023, the United States Air Force announced that Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing was selected to receive eight new C-130J aircraft. Klobuchar worked across the aisle to help secure these aircraft for Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing. The 133rd also leads the nation’s longest continuous troop exchange with Norway, and our Croatia and Norway State Partnership Programs. All these partners benefit and embrace the 133rd’s tactical airlift mission.
    In 2022, provisions from Klobuchar’s Toxic Exposure Training Act to improve education and training for VA health care personnel passed as part of the bipartisan PACT Act.
    In 2019, Klobuchar introduced legislation that became law to ensure that children of Guard members and Reservists are identified as students of military families in school records. This requirement, which already applied to children of active-duty servicemembers, ensures that schools and teachers know which students have parents in the Guard and Reserves and help accommodate those needs.
    In 2017, Klobuchar introduced legislation to help reduce the cost of service for National Guard members and make a big difference for thousands of soldiers in the Minnesota National Guard by reducing the mileage that can be claimed on taxes from 100 to 50. In Minnesota, 30 percent of all National Guard members travel more than 50 miles for training and can be burdened with costly travel expenses simply for completing their required duty training each month. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Send Amicus Brief Urging Federal Court to Protect Access to Emergency Abortions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Members urge the Ninth Circuit to affirm emergency stabilizing treatment to patients, including abortion care when necessary
    Ninth Circuit Court received the case after the Supreme Court dismissed it in June
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with 258 other members of congress, submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit calling on the court to allow Medicare-funded hospitals to provide life-saving care that may include abortion care. The court is considering Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States which concern the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal law that requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide necessary “stabilizing treatment” to patients experiencing medical emergencies, which can include abortion care.
    “[T]he 99th Congress passed EMTALA to ensure that every person who visits a Medicare-funded hospital with an ‘emergency medical condition’ is offered stabilizing treatment,” wrote the lawmakers.
    “Congress chose broad language for that mandate, requiring hospitals that participate in the Medicare program to provide ‘such treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical condition.’… That text—untouched by Congress for the past three decades—makes clear that in situations in which a doctor determines that abortion constitutes the ‘[n]ecessary stabilizing treatment’ for a pregnant patient, federal law requires the hospital to offer it.”
    After the Dobbs decision in 2022, Idaho passed a law making it a felony for a doctor to terminate a patient’s pregnancy unless it is “necessary” to prevent the patient’s death. The Department of Justice sued the State of Idaho, arguing that the state’s law is preempted by EMTALA in those circumstances in which abortion may not be necessary to prevent imminent death, but still constitutes the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient’s emergency medical condition. The district court agreed; however, Idaho Republicans appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court. In March, Hickenlooper and 257 of his colleagues filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to affirm the district court decision. In June, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the Ninth Circuit Court and reinstated the district court’s injunction.
    In their brief, the lawmakers ask the Ninth Circuit to uphold the district court’s ruling. They argue that the congressional intent, text, and history of EMTALA make clear that covered hospitals must provide abortion care when it’s needed to stabilize a patient’s emergency medical condition, and that EMTALA preempts Idaho’s abortion ban in emergency situations that present a serious threat to a patient’s health.
    The full amicus brief is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Scott Urges FDA to Address Gene Therapy Priority Voucher Discrepancy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — In order to help increase treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD), U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) penned a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf raising concerns over how the FDA interprets “active ingredient” for awarding priority review vouchers, which could negatively impact drug development for rare diseases like sickle cell disease. Senator Scott was joined on the letter by Representative Danny Davis (D-Ill.).
    “We write regarding the administration of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Rare Pediatric Priority Review Voucher (PRV) program, particularly as it applies to innovative treatments like gene therapies,” Senator Scott and Representative Davis wrote.
    They continued, “However, we are concerned that FDA’s recent administration of the program may not be fulfilling the program’s promise, original vision, and intent. Specifically, we understand that FDA has made an initial decision to narrowly interpret the definition of “active ingredient” in the PRV statute, resulting in the unexpected denial of at least one pediatric PRV.”
    “However, the decision whether to narrowly or broadly interpret the definition of “active ingredient” for purposes of awarding a PRV is not so much a question of science as it is one of policy. Congress has not provided guidance as to how FDA should determine if two active ingredients in an ex-vivo gene therapy are the same or different, but the text of the statute and the legislative history make clear that Congress wanted to create an incentive to treat patient populations that might not warrant investment if left simply to ordinary market forces. By interpreting this statutory requirement in a narrower way than the statute requires – and one that flies directly against Congressional intent – we risk disrupting this delicate ecosystem, jeopardizing not only the availability of SCD treatments today, but also investments in complex and life-saving innovation for the future,” stated Scott and Davis.
    “We understand that FDA may be in the process of reconsidering its interpretation. This decision is critical for the future of rare disease drug development and rare disease patients, and we are grateful for the FDA’s close attention to this matter. We hope that you will keep these additional considerations in mind as you conduct your review,” they concluded.
    Read the full letter here!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours 
    Oct 25, 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 Senator Rubio’s eight regional offices a more convenient way to receive federal casework assistance.
    In-person Mobile Office Hours
    Tuesday, October 29, 2024

    Clay County
    9:30am – 11:00am EDT
    Fleming Island Library, Meeting Room
    1895 Town Center Blvd.
    Fleming Island, FL 32003
    Click Here

    Wednesday, October 30, 2024

    Miami-Dade County
    10:00am – 2:00pm EDT
    Milander Center
    4800 Palm Ave.
    Hialeah, FL 33012

    Friday, November 1, 2024

    Osceola County
    11:00am – 1:00pm EDT
    Kissimmee City Hall
    101 Church St.
    Kissimmee, FL 34741
    Click Here 

    Virtual Mobile Office Hours
    Monday, October 28, 2024

    Holmes County
    10:00am – 11:30am CDT
    Click Here

    Washington County
    11:30am – 1:00pm CDT
    Click Here

    Tuesday, October 29, 2024

    Santa Rosa County
    10:00am – 11:30am CDT
    Click Here

    Escambia County
    11:30am – 1:00pm CDT
    Click Here

    Seminole County
    1:00pm – 2:30pm EDT
    Click Here

    Thursday, October 31, 2024

    Okaloosa County
    10:00am – 11:30am CDT
    Click Here

    Walton County
    11:30am – 1:00pm CDT
    Click Here

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $400,000 IN FED FUNDING FOR BINGHAMTON’S KLAW INDUSTRIES

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    New EPA $$ Will Help KLAW Develop Tech To Reduce Waste Sent To Landfill With Automated Recycling System To Bolster Operations In The Southern Tier
    Schumer: KLAW Is The Success Story I Had In Mind When Establishing A High-Tech Incubator In Binghamton!
    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced $400,000 in federal funding for the Binghamton-based KLAW Industries to produce a robotic sorting system to improve recycling facilities in disadvantaged communities. The federal funding comes from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR).
    “KLAW Industries is exactly the kind of innovative company I had in mind when I joined with Binghamton University, New York State and Broome County to establish a high-tech incubator in the City of Binghamton. Today’s announcement of $400,000 in federal funding builds on the success of this innovative, homegrown business,” said Senator Schumer. “From incubator to their growing operation today, KLAW is paving the way to grow the region’s economy and make significant contributions in the material used in the concrete industry.”
    Schumer added, “With these funds, KLAW will be able to advance its glass sorting capabilities by creating a state-of-the-art robotic sorting system to improve both the processes at glass recycling facilities, and the number of facilities they can service. That means more glass material kept out of landfills, more material flowing to their Binghamton facility to help them grow! Once again, the Southern Tier is proving to be a leader, and I am thrilled that these funds are flowing to the Southern Tier.”
    “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the EPA in identifying impactful end uses for our recycled materials. This achievement would not have been possible without the invaluable support of the City of Binghamton and Broome County, who have played a key role in bringing national recognition to the important work happening here,” said Jacob Kumpon, Co-Founder and COO of KLAW Industries. “The EPA SBIR Phase II award will significantly enhance KLAW’s capacity to process recycled materials, marking a critical step in our efforts to divert local waste from landfills. The Koffman Southern Tier Incubator has been instrumental in securing federal support for Binghamton, and we are especially grateful for Senator Schumer’s foresight in making the Koffman a reality”. 
    KLAW Industries is a Binghamton-based company that re-purposes contaminated glass, not suitable for recycling, that would otherwise be sent to a landfill, into a replacement for cement called Pantheon. The inclusion of this patent-pending material into concrete, reduces carbon emissions and the amount of waste sent to landfills. KLAW received an initial Phase I award of $100,000 earlier this year for “proof of concept” for their technology and was invited to apply for Phase II funding of $400,000 to further develop and commercialize the technology. The second phase of federal funding that Schumer announced today will help KLAW expand their operations on Griswold Street to develop technology that will create an autonomous robotic sorting system for recycling facilities. This will help KLAW find contaminated glass to make Pantheon and create more efficient recycling sorting methods in disadvantaged communities in Binghamton and beyond.
    After bringing federal officials to Binghamton to discuss plans with project leaders in 2013, Schumer helped secured $2 million in federal funding for the Koffman Southern Tier incubator in downtown Binghamton, which KLAW Industries is part of. With Schumer’s help, the incubator has grown to support hundreds of jobs and become a magnet for entrepreneurs from around the region, state, and country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Ernst Exposes Kamala Harris’ Empty Promises to Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, National Review broke down a new report commissioned by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, exposing Kamala Harris’ empty promises and radical agenda that has hurt American small businesses.
    In the report, Senator Ernst conducts a deep dive of the troubling trend of small businesses getting squeezed out of the federal marketplace, despite Kamala Harris’ claims otherwise.
    In August, Senator Ernst hosted an entrepreneur expo to bring hundreds of Iowa small business owners together to hear from speakers, join breakout sessions with federal agencies, and get small businesses back in the federal contracting game.
    Kamala Harris Hasn’t Delivered on Her Promises to Small Businesses, GOP Senate Report Claims
    By: Haley Strack
    Kamala Harris’s campaign promises to small businesses are more fiction than reality, according to a new report by the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
    Commissioned by ranking member Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), the report compares Harris’s campaign aspirations for small businesses with the work she’s done in the past three and a half years as vice president.
    Although Harris’s website says that she will “increase the share of federal contract dollars going to small businesses,” since Harris has been vice president, the number of small businesses contracting with the federal government has steadily decreased. In 2020, the number was 94,044; in 2021, it was 88,790; in 2022, it was 85,014; and in 2023, it was at its lowest, 84,053. The federal government has seen about a 50 percent decrease in its small-business vendors since 2008.
    “Despite declining engagement, the reported government dollars allocated to remaining small businesses is increasing,” the report says. “Since FY 2015, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has reported yearly increases in government-wide small business spending. These awards totaled $90.7 billion in FY 2015, $100 billion in FY 2016, $105.7 billion in FY 2017, $120.8 billion in FY 2018, $132.9 billion in FY 2019, $145.7 billion in FY 2020, $154.2 billion in FY 2021, $162.9 billion in FY 2022, and $178.6 billion to small businesses in FY 2023. This trend seems to indicate a willingness within the USG to award contracts to small businesses. In reality, it signals an unhealthy consolidation within the federal supplier base and an entrenchment of established contractors capturing a growing market share of overall small business dollars, to the detriment of new and emerging firms seeking to capture the same market share.’
    Harris plans to increase the deduction on start-up expenses, and has promised to secure 25 million new small business applications if she becomes president. But Harris’s expanse of government programs for small businesses isn’t enough to offset the harm inflation has imposed upon those businesses, the report suggests.
    “Kamala Harris claims to be a friend to mom-and-pop shops, but she has delivered nothing but price hikes and miles of red tape,” Ernst said. “She loves to talk about creating an opportunity economy, but the only opportunities are for those aligned with the Green New Deal agenda, including Chinese manufacturers. Unlike Kamala Harris, I have worked to enact real solutions to make life easier for job creators and expand opportunities for the heartland to contract with the federal government and reverse the troubling trend of small businesses getting squeezed out of the marketplace.”
    The Biden-Harris Small Business Administration announced in September that it would accept applications for Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) licenses and Community Advantage (CA) SBLC licenses, programs the administration said would prioritize “reducing climate change.”
    “The levers of government should never be used to pick winners and losers based on political priorities. Instead of wasting tax dollars on another Green New Deal program, the SBA needs to prioritize lowering costs for the millions of small businesses struggling from the Biden-Harris 20 percent inflation price hike,” Ernst said in a statement.
    Meanwhile, Ernst has proposed the Accountability and Clarity in Contracts to Engage Small Business Suppliers, which she says will make federal contracting opportunities accessible for small businesses, and “ensure the participation of a broad spectrum of small businesses across all industries.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Announces Grant Funding for Two West Virginia Railway Projects

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on both the Senate Appropriations and Commerce Committees, announced a two grant awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program for West Virginia railway updates.
    These grants, which were made possible through provisions included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that Senator Capito helped negotiate and craft, will provide funding for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of railroads, as well as bridge repairs and renovations.
    “Maintaining and ensuring safe railways is an important part of our state’s infrastructure, which is why I worked to increase this critical infrastructure grant program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” Senator Capito said. “These grants will provide critical funding to projects that aim to modernize our railways and bridges, ensuring we are prepared for the future. West Virginia continues to see the benefits of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with more economic growth and opportunities, and these grants are just another example.”
    Individual award details listed below:
    $22,796,000 IIJA CRISI grant funding to Winchester & Western Railroad Acquisition, LLC (Martinsburg, W.Va.) for final design and construction activities to rehabilitate segments of the Winchester & Western Railroad mainline in West Virginia and Maryland to eliminate all remaining legacy rail and old tie structure. The project will enhance safety, efficiency, and resiliency as the project will return the line to a state of good repair.
    $6,912,000 IIJA CRISI grant funding to Cathcart Rail, LLC for a project that will complete final design and construction activities to repair two bridges on the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad (BIP) in West Virginia and Ohio. Specifically, the project addresses structural deficiencies in the historic B&O Sixth Street Railroad Bridge that spans Parkersburg, W.Va. and Belpre, Ohio, including cross tie replacement, stringer/floor beam repair, bracing and timber replacement, and replacing stones under bearings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Blumenthal Call on Dept. of Justice to Investigate Elon Musk’s Cash Sweepstakes to Swing-State Voters

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today wrote to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Department of Justice to investigate whether Elon Musk, through his political action committee America PAC, has violated federal campaign finance law by providing cash rewards to individuals in seven swing states if they sign a petition that requires them to be registered to vote.  
    Section 10307(c) of Title 52 of the U.S. Code states it is illegal if an individual “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting.” Earlier this week, CNN reported the Department had warned Musk and his super PAC that his actions may be in violation of the law. 
    “Musk’s reward scheme appears to violate federal campaign finance law. It is explicitly designed to induce people to register to vote. Moreover, the Department of Justice’s own Election Crimes Manual states that a violation of federal campaign finance laws can occur when ‘cash’ or ‘lottery chances’ are ‘intended to induce or reward the voter for engaging in one or more acts necessary to cast a ballot,’” the lawmakers write.  
    “There is no place for vote buying in our democracy. As the Department has recognized, voting should never ‘degenerate into a spending contest, with the victor being the candidate who can pay the most voters’…” the lawmakers conclude.“…Permitting this scheme to proceed without consequences makes a mockery of democracy and the law. We urge you to investigate whether Elon Musk’s cash prizes are prohibited payments for voter registration and take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, if his actions prove to be illegal.” 
    Read the letter below and download it here: 
    Dear Attorney General Garland,
    As you know, Elon Musk has been providing cash rewards to voters in seven states if they sign a petition related to his political action committee—America PAC. Individuals must be a registered voter, or register to vote, to qualify for his financial giveaways, which include payments of $47, $100, and a $1 million daily lottery. Campaign finance law states it is illegal if anyone “pays or offers to pay…either for registration to vote or for voting.” 
    Musk’s reward scheme appears to violate federal campaign finance law. It is explicitly designed to induce people to register to vote. Moreover, the Department of Justice’s own Election Crimes Manual states that a violation of federal campaign finance laws can occur when “cash” or “lottery chances” are “intended to induce or reward the voter for engaging in one or more acts necessary to cast a ballot.” 
    There is no place for vote buying in our democracy. As the Department has recognized, voting should never “degenerate into a spending contest, with the victor being the candidate who can pay the most voters.” According to public reports, the Department warned America PAC this week that the petition lottery may be in violation of federal law. If so, permitting this scheme to proceed without consequences makes a mockery of democracy and the law. We urge you to investigate whether Elon Musk’s cash prizes are prohibited payments for voter registration and take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, if his actions prove to be illegal. 
    Sincerely, 
    Senator Peter Welch 
    Senator Richard Blumenthal 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Comments on Hegseth Nomination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement today on the nomination of Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense:
    “The most consequential cabinet official in any Administration is the Secretary of Defense. In the face of the gravest threats to U.S. national security interests since World War II, this position is even more important today.
    “Major adversaries are working closer together to undermine U.S. interests around the world. And America’s military capabilities and defense industrial capacity are increasingly insufficient to deter or prevail in major conflict with China or Russia, especially given the real risk of simultaneous challenges from other adversaries like Iran or North Korea.
    “Stewardship of the United States Armed Forces, and of the complex bureaucracy that exists to support them, is a massive and solemn responsibility. At the gravest moments, under the weight of this public trust, even the most capable and well-qualified leaders to set foot in the Pentagon have done so with great humility – from George Marshall harnessing American enterprise and Atlantic allies for the Cold War, to Caspar Weinberger orchestrating the Reagan build-up, to Bob Gates earning the wartime trust of two Commanders-in-Chief, of both parties.
    “Mere desire to be a ‘change agent’ is not enough to fill these shoes. And ‘dust on boots’ fails even to distinguish this nominee from multiple predecessors of the last decade. Nor is it a precondition for success. Secretaries with distinguished combat experience and time in the trenches have failed at the job.
    “Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.
    “Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been.
    “The United States faces coordinated aggression from adversaries bent on shattering the order underpinning American security and prosperity. In public comments and testimony before the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Hegseth did not reckon with this reality.
    “President Trump has rightly called on NATO allies to spend more on our collective defense. But the nominee who would have been responsible for leading that effort wouldn’t even commit to growing America’s defense investment beyond the low bar set by the Biden Administration’s budget requests.
    “In his testimony before the Committee, Mr. Hegseth provided no substantial observations on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines against a Chinese attack, or even whether he believes the United States should do so. He failed, for that matter, to articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing with the gravest long-term threat emanating from the PRC.
    “Absent, too, was any substantive discussion of countering our adversaries’ alignment with deeper alliance relationships and more extensive defense industrial cooperation of our own.
    “This, of course, is due to change. As the 29th Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegseth will be immediately tested by ongoing conflicts caused by Russian aggression in Europe and Iranian-backed terror in the Middle East. He will have to grapple with an unfinished FY25 appropriations process that – without his intervention – risks further harming the readiness of our forces.
    “By all accounts, brave young men and women join the military with the understanding that it is a meritocracy. This precious trust endures only as long as lawful civilian leadership upholds what must be a firewall between servicemembers and politics. The Biden Administration failed at this fundamental task. But the restoration of ‘warrior culture’ will not come from trading one set of culture warriors for another.
    “The single most important way for Secretary Hegseth to demonstrate his professed devotion to America’s warfighters will be to equip them – urgently – to deter aggression… and rebuild the defense industrial capacity to restock the depleted arsenal of democracy. In this cause, he will find willing partners on the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, which will expect and receive his candid testimony.
    “I wish Secretary Hegseth great success, and I look forward to working closely with him to restore American hard power. Every member of the uniformed services will be looking to him for decisive, principled, and nonpartisan leadership.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy in The Hill: Biden admin threatens safety of key military base to appease UN activists

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in The Hill questioning the Biden-Harris administration’s decision to allow the United Kingdom to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Kennedy argued that this deal jeopardizes the safety of a key base on the island of Diego Garcia and benefits the Chinese Communist Party. 

    Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

    “The importance of the base at Diego Garcia cannot be overstated. Diego Garcia is one of the only bases in the world where our military can reload submarines. The base also houses several Navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft that we use to carry out missions around the world. These key missions have made it a top target of Chinese Communist Party spies.

    “Today, we know our assets on Diego Garcia are secure because the Chagos Islands are a British territory. The United Kingdom controls the island of Diego Garcia and the surrounding water to protect our shared missions.

    “Our secure arrangement, however, just imploded. The United Kingdom announced that it will turn over control of the Chagos Islands to the island nation of Mauritius.”

    . . .

    “This decision wasn’t about righting the wrongs that the United Kingdom supposedly committed against the people of Chagos, though. Chagossians consider themselves an indigenous people. The Chagos Islands and Mauritius—which are more than 1,200 miles apart—speak different versions of Creole and have no shared pre-colonial historic ties. They are, for all practical purposes, strangers.”

    . . .

    “President Biden and Vice President Harris either truly believe that the government of Mauritius has the ability and the courage to stand up to China to ensure the security of Diego Garcia, or they withheld their objections to avoid being criticized by woke United Nations activists if they stood up for the American people’s best interests.”

    . . .

    “The American people deserve to know why President Biden and Vice President Harris allowed this irreversible deal to move forward. Congress must hold the Biden-Harris administration accountable for this short-sighted and dangerous decision. 

    “So, I repeat: Why? Why put American interests at risk? Why help the Chinese Communist Party?”

    Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch’s Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution for ‘Bat Week’—Celebrated October 24-October 31—Flies Through Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – During ‘Bat Week,’ U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vt.) in celebrating the Senate’s passage of their bipartisan, bicameral resolution supporting the federal designation of ‘Bat Week’ for the week of October 24 to October 31, 2024. The resolution emphasizes the importance of conserving bat species and habitats to the environment, national economies, and public health, and calls on Congress to continue working to defeat White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that threatens bats’ key role as pollinators and pest control for agriculture. The bipartisan resolution was passed with bipartisan, unanimous support. 
    “In Vermont and across the country, bats have a significant impact on the health of our environment. But as a result of White-nose Syndrome, more than half of Vermont’s bat species are now endangered, threatening the benefits bats provide to our ecosystems, our farms, and our nation,” said Sen. Welch. “Encouraging national observance of ‘Bat Week’ will revive efforts to conserve and protect of bats, their habitats, and their crucial role in Vermonters’ health.” 
    “From pollinating plants to controlling pests on our farms, bats play an important role in supporting agriculture and our environment. But bats across the country, including the ten different species found in Maryland, are at risk due to threats from climate change and disease. This resolution recognizes the importance of our native bat species and critical conservation efforts to protect them,” said Senator Van Hollen. 
    “In Vermont, we rely on bats to keep forests and fields pollinated and healthy for our environment and farms. Bats play a critical role in our ecosystem,” said Rep. Balint (VT-AL). “Unfortunately, a significant amount of Vermont’s bats species are endangered, posing risk to the environmental benefits bats provide. This resolution stands to highlight the importance of bats, support the work it takes to protect them, and advance Vermont’s values of conservation and a diverse ecosystem.” 
    Bats are present throughout the world and are the second-largest order of mammals with over 1,400 species. Bats play an important role in pollination and pest control, with recent studies estimating that bats save more than $1 billion annually in crop damage and pesticide costs in the United States corn industry.  
    These benefits are threatened by the spread of WNS, which has killed millions of bats in North America, including over 5.7 million bats in the northeastern United States since 2006. The disease has affected all six of Vermont’s cave bat species, and populations of cave bats have significantly declined since the disease was first reported in the state.  
    Read the full text of the resolution. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Vice President Kamala  Harris One Year After the Lewiston  Shootings

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    One year ago, an act of senseless violence carried out with a weapon of war took the lives of 18 loved ones and injured 13 others in Lewiston, Maine. Doug and I join all Mainers in remembering those who lost their lives on that fall night, standing with their families, and thinking of the survivors of this horrific mass shooting. In the 12 months since this tragedy took place at a local restaurant and a bowling alley, the Lewiston community has shown incredible unity, resilience, and strength. They have responded by reminding the nation of the unacceptable fact that far too many families have experienced the tremendous pain and trauma caused by the epidemic of gun violence. This is exactly why I have worked to take action to address this issue with the urgency it demands and keep our loved ones safe. With the help of gun violence survivors, families of those who have lost loved ones, young leaders, and local advocates, our administration fought to enact the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years. We expanded background checks, closed the gun show loophole, made the largest investment in youth mental health in history, supported the implementation of red flag laws across the country, and invested in community violence intervention. Additionally, we launched the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, an office that I am proud to oversee. Following the tragic shooting in Lewiston, this office coordinated the first-ever federal interagency response – listening to survivors’ needs and ensuring victim services are tailored to meet them. While we have made critical progress, there is still work to do to keep our kids and communities safe. I continue to call on Congress to pass universal background checks, red flag and safe storage laws, a ban on bump stocks, and a renewal of the assault weapons ban. In the meantime, I will continue our work to save lives and ensure that every person in our nation can live free from violence, fear, and hate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: N.M. Delegation Announces Over $3 Million for Tribal Communities to Address Opioid Use Disorder

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are announcing $3,068,909 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Tribal communities to serve individuals with opioid use disorder and co-occurring substance use disorders by funding culturally specific and evidence-based treatment, including medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD). These HHS Tribal Opioid Response Grants are being awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  

    “Tackling the opioid crisis with the urgency it demands means expanding our approach. That includes everything from providing improved access to the lifesaving medication used to treat opioid use disorder to empowering local communities to develop treatment programs that are grounded in their distinct experiences and cultures. I’m proud to welcome over $3 million for Tribal communities to do exactly that,” said Heinrich. “I won’t stop fighting to eliminate barriers to lifesaving medication and help New Mexicans get the care they need.” 

    “Far too many across our Tribal lands have seen firsthand how the opioid epidemic has devastated our communities,” said Luján, a member of the Indian Affairs and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees. “This $3+ million in federal funding will deliver critical treatments and medications to address opioid use disorder in our Tribal communities. Throughout my time in Congress, I have secured millions to expand opioid use disorder treatments, introduced bipartisan legislation to increase investments in substance misuse prevention, and called for an increase in funding in our nation’s response to the opioid use disorder epidemic. I am proud to welcome this funding alongside our Congressional delegation and will keep fighting to expand addiction treatment services and protect the health of our Tribal brothers and sisters.” 

    “For far too long, opioid addiction has ravaged our Tribal communities, and the need for culturally specific treatments is critical,” said Leger Fernández. “This funding will help provide life-saving treatment, tailored to the needs of Native communities, so that we can address the opioid crisis head-on. By combining evidence-based practices with the cultural knowledge of our Tribes, we can offer real hope and healing. I will continue to fight for more resources and support to make sure every New Mexican has access to the care they need to recover and thrive.” 

    “Culturally informed care is vital to addressing the opioid crisis in every community that is suffering,” said Stansbury. “This $3 million investment will help Tribal communities take care as they see fit, as they know what is best for their communities. I will continue to fight for more funding and tools to solve this crisis so New Mexicans can not only recover from addiction but thrive in life.” 

    “New Mexico’s Tribes and Pueblos have long faced significant challenges in combating the opioid crisis. I’m proud to welcome these funds to provide critical resources to help address opioid addiction head-on,” said Vasquez. “Supporting culturally specific and evidence-based treatments ensures that we’re not only tackling the crisis but also providing Indian Country with the tools they need to better support recovery. I’m committed to securing more funding and resources to combat this crisis and save lives.” 

    Recipient  Award Amount 
    Albuquerque Area Indian Health  $1,478,168 
    Pueblo of Pojoaque  $250,000 
    Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Inc.  $250,000   
    Santo Domingo Tribe  $295,107 
    Ohkay Owingeh  $250,000 
    Nambe Pueblo Governor’s Office  $295,634 
    Taos Pueblo  $250,000 

    The N.M. Delegation has continuously worked to make opioid use disorder treatments more readily available. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall on Fox Business: President Trump’s Cabinet Must Be Confirmed ASAP

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined Fox Business: The Bottom Line to discuss the Senate’s imminent vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, the determination of the Republican-led Senate to confirm President Trump’s Cabinet and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s upcoming Senate confirmation hearings.
    Senator Marshall sits on both the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committees, both of which will be holding hearings next week to consider the nomination of RFK Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Senator Marshall has met with both Hegseth and RFK Jr. and believes they are the best picks to carry out President Trump’s America First Agenda at the DOD and HHS.

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
    Highlights from Senator Marshall’s interview include:
    On Pete Hegseth being confirmed as Secretary of Defense, other Trump nominees on deck:
    “I’m sure optimistic. [Pete Hegseth is] on second base right now. He passed the procedural vote with one vote to spare. So I’m very optimistic. And I just want to emphasize why this is important. President Trump is issuing all these executive orders. We need these nominees then get in there to do the job and execute those orders. So we need Pete to jump in there. He’s going to do a great job recruiting, a great job with the morale, and just rewarding people for their merit, as opposed to anything else.”
    “[Democrats have] resorted to character assassination…But regardless, I think that once we get Pete across the finish line, Kristi Nome is on deck, she’s going to step up. I expect her to get across pretty easily, as you mentioned. Sean Duffy is there in the hole waiting as well. So I think we’re in good shape.”
    On GOP-led Senate’s determination to confirm President Trump’s Cabinet:
    “We’re willing to stay here and punish the Democrats. The good news is we had them kicking and screaming, so we’re over the target. We’re all committed to staying here this weekend. They can try to slow things down, and as long as they keep jamming us, we’re just going to stay up here and keep working away. I don’t think we’ll have to get to those recess appointments, but if necessary, we will. I’m really optimistic, if we just keep plugging away here, we’re going to get them all across the finish line.”
    On Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s upcoming Senate confirmation hearing:
    “Look, he has an army of people behind him. I mean, just a groundswell of people out there. 77 million…people voted for President Trump, and one of the reasons was because of Bobby Kennedy Jr….I think that the American public is going to carry Bobby through that nomination process. He’s brilliant. He’s going to do a great job- all those things. And I think when people just listen to his heart, that he loves this country, that he wants to make America healthy again, and he knows how to do it, so I expect that groundswell of support to get him over the finish line.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NBC News: Democratic senators slam McDonald’s for menu price hikes they say have outpaced inflation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    October 22, 2024
    Three Democratic senators are asking McDonald’s about its menu price hikes in recent years, arguing that the increases are higher than they should be – even with inflation and rising operating costs.
    In a letter sent late Monday afternoon, Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Ron Wyden of Oregon demanded that McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski explain the chain’s pricing decisions.
    “McDonald’s own reports indicate that the company’s price increases may be outstripping inflation,” read the letter, which was shared first with NBC News. 
    …
    Read the full story here.
    By:  Elizabeth ChuckSource: NBC News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Verge: Democrats want DOJ to prosecute tax prep companies for privacy violations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    October 22, 2024
    A group of Democratic lawmakers are urging the Justice Department to prosecute tax prep companies accused of improperly sharing user information with Meta and Google through their advertising pixels.
    Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), are calling on the DOJ to take action against tax prep companies that they say failed to protect taxpayer privacy. In a new letter shared exclusively with The Verge, the lawmakers advance their previous calls for law enforcers to investigate these companies.
    …
    Read the full story here.
    By:  Lauren FeinerSource: The Verge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bloomberg Law: Democrats Urge Biden: Fix Migrant Work Permit Backlog This Year

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    October 23, 2024
    Congressional Democrats Tuesday pressed the Department of Homeland Security to clear a backlog of 1.4 million work permit applications for migrants before the end of the year.
    Despite several policy changes to address wait times at US Citizenship and Immigration Services, more than 900,000 immigrants seeking their first work permits and half a million more looking to renew the documents remain “at the mercy of USCIS’s bureaucratic processing delays,” according to a letter from 70 House and Senate Democrats led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
    Many temporary visa holders and people with humanitarian protections like asylum seekers must apply for Employment Authorization Documents before they can legally work in the US. Lawmakers urged the administration to act before Biden leaves office at the beginning of next year.
    …
    Read the full story here.
    By:  Andrew KreighbaumSource: Bloomberg Law
    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 10.23.2024 Sen. Cruz Honored for Major South Texas Victory, Awarded Key to the City of Laredo

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    Laredo, TEXAS – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, was honored today by the city of Laredo and awarded the Key to the City for his leadership in streamlining the presidential permitting process and securing presidential permits to build and expand four major international bridges in South Texas, including two in Laredo.
    Upon receiving the Key to the City, Sen. Cruz said, “I am honored and humbled to receive the Key to the City—an incredible distinction from an amazing place in Texas. I have to say I love South Texas, I love the city of Laredo, it is an incredible hub of commerce and port to the entire world. My passion, my number one priority is jobs, jobs, jobs, and that means fighting for the people of Laredo, fighting for the people of South Texas, to have more jobs, and better jobs, and higher wages.
    “I will say, over the past several years, I’ve been proud to work very closely with Mayor Treviño, and very closely with my friend Congressman Henry Cuellar, and County and business leaders, fighting for jobs here in Laredo and throughout South Texas. We worked together on expediting the permitting of four bridges here in South Texas: two in Laredo, one in Eagle Pass, and one in Brownsville. All four of those bridges were delayed by bureaucratic roadblocks coming from the Biden-Harris White House. A delegation from the city of Laredo asked me to help, asked me to lead the effort to get this done. I told them I’d be proud to do so, and we were able to draft legislation, bipartisan legislation, and pass it through the Senate with bipartisan support. I worked hand in hand with Congressman Cuellar, we passed it through the House with bipartisan support. It was signed into law in December of last year, and just a few months ago those permits were granted.”
    BACKGROUND
    Last year, Sen. Cruz authored and secured into law a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 to streamline the presidential permitting process for new and expanded bridges across the Rio Grande in Webb, Cameron, and Maverick Counties. The language required the State Department to submit for approval and the White House to approve or deny the permits for these projects in 60 days respectively. Sen. Cruz was joined by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Monica de la Cruz (R-Texas), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) in working to secure this provision.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Shaheen Call on Navy to Protect Employee Pay and Benefits at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of the Navy urging the branch to reconsider the Office of Civilian Human Resources’ (OCHR) decision to review and modify civilian workforce position classifications across four public shipyards, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In their letter to Secretary Carlos Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Senators noted that the review could result in civilian employees losing pay and benefits as well as negatively impact efforts to eliminate submarine maintenance backlogs.

    “Should OCHR’s review result in position description demotions and salary decreases for a significant population of technical professionals, it would cripple efforts to staff and support the needs of the Navy,” the Senators wrote. “We, therefore, ask for your support in protecting our shipyard employees by reconsidering OCHR’s directive and by engaging with OPM to find a position that both maintains the integrity of the Federal and Department of Navy Classification Programs while protecting the wages and benefits of our valued workforce.”

    “Today’s security environment requires the United States to have a combat-credible undersea fleet to maintain a competitive edge over our adversaries.  The overwhelming production capacity of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia’s steady production progress toward fifth generation submarines, and growing cooperation between these authoritarian regimes will create additional demands on the U.S. submarine force. Meanwhile, the U.S. submarine industrial base continues to face maintenance shortfalls at our four public shipyards that affect the Navy’s ability to get boats back into the fleet on time. Reducing these maintenance backlogs is contingent on a robust, well-trained shipyard workforce,” the Senators concluded.

    The complete text of their letter can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Meets with Drug Enforcement Administration Leaders in NH

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    BEDFORD – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan visited the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s New Hampshire office on Tuesday, where officials briefed her on current drug trends across the state and the agency’s strategic partnerships with local communities. 

    During her visit, Senator Hassan toured the facility’s temporary on-site laboratory, which supports the DEA Manchester District Office’s response to local drug threats. She was also briefed on plans for a new regional DEA laboratory in Londonderry that will serve the New England region when it opens in 2026, accelerating the testing of drug evidence and strengthening investigations across the region.

    “The dedicated law enforcement agents at DEA are working tirelessly to keep deadly drugs like fentanyl out of New Hampshire communities,” said Senator Hassan. “I will continue to work to ensure that our law enforcement partners have the resources and tools that they need to protect our neighborhoods and combat drug trafficking across the Granite State and the country.”

    Senator Hassan has led efforts to stop drug trafficking and support communities devastated by the fentanyl crisis. In September, Senator Hassan reintroduced bipartisan legislation to curb the spread of rapidly evolving synthetic drugs by allowing the DEA to restrict and penalize substances that have a substantially similar chemical structure and effect on the body as fentanyl. In April, Senator Hassan and colleagues’ FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which targets the illicit fentanyl supply chain and will impose sanctions on fentanyl traffickers, was signed into law. Senator Hassan also developed and help pass into law the END FENTANYL Act, which helps Customs and Border Protection crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the border.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Establishes & Funds Scientific Consortium in Washington State, Expanding NASA Footprint in PNW

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray wrote and passed the funding bill that provided the resources for this award and directly authored the provision to establish the BioS-ENDURES Consortium

    Seattle, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced a $2.5 million NASA award to establish a scientific consortium based at the University of Washington in partnership with Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The award was funded through a provision in the Fiscal Year 2024 government spending bill authored by Senator Murray to establish a consortium within the Biological and Physical Sciences—and resulted in the establishment of the Biology in Space: Establishing Networks for DUrable & REsilient Systems (BioS-ENDURES) Consortium. The BioS-ENDURESConsortium will focus on innovation, acceleration, and implementation of space biology specific knowledge and technology centered on human-plant-microbiome relationships to enable a durable human presence in low Earth orbit and beyond.  

    “As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am writing our funding bills to invest in Washington state’s growing innovation economy,” said Senator Murray. “By establishing this scientific consortium here in Washington state, we are laying the groundwork to bring even more private and federal investment to our state’s growing aerospace industry. If we want to maintain our competitive edge, we have to stay at the forefront of scientific discovery—and this federal research partnership will help us do that. Investing in scientific discovery is an investment that pays off—this is a next chapter in a story of inquiry, invention, innovation, exploration, and discovery of new frontiers.”

    “The University of Washington is excited to have this opportunity to contribute to the development of new capabilities that will enable a sustainable human presence in space,” said Mari Ostendorf, Vice Provost of Research, University of Washington. “This consortium enables new partnerships and brings together investigators who have a long history with NASA and space applications with researchers who have deep expertise in human/animal, plant, and microbial biology. This research will push the boundaries of our scientific understanding to reveal new biological mechanisms that will address both sustainability and risk mitigation needs in space. We look forward working with WSU, PNNL, and NASA, as well as with other industry and science partners to accelerate space technology.”

    “This represents an exciting opportunity for the state of Washington to continue building our capacity for critical research to understand and improve human-plant-microbial systems for space habitation,” said Dr. Michael Wolcott, Interim Vice President of Research at Washington State University. “This work will have a direct contribution to humankind’s ability to travel—and live—in space. WSU is thrilled to be part of this collaborative effort with our colleagues at the University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and looks forward to continuing this work with NASA.”

    “Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is thrilled to join forces with the University of Washington and Washington State University in the BioS-ENDURES consortium,” said Malin Young, Associate Laboratory Director, Earth and Biological Sciences. “Together, we’re harnessing our cutting-edge life science capabilities to help NASA achieve its mission of establishing a sustainable and lasting human presence in low Earth orbit, on the Moon, on Mars, and beyond.”

    A more thorough understanding is needed of mechanisms underlying responses to space-relevant stressors (ionizing radiation, microgravity, circadian disruption, abiotics, and biotics) to both humans and plant food sources and what role microbiomes may play in shaping those responses.  Human/animal, plant, and microbial biologists will work together to ensure an integrated view of the space flight biosphere by enhancing data acquisition, modeling, and testing.

    Human/animal, plant, and microbial biologists will work together to ensure an integrated view of the space flight biosphere by enhancing data acquisition, modeling, and testing. BioS-ENDURES has three thrust areas focusing on the effects of spaceflight stressors: 

    • Develop monitoring capabilities to measure underlying molecular status (biomarkers) of humans, animal models, plants and their associated microbial communities.
    • Build models to predict human-plant-microbe robustness and interactions among organisms in space.
    • Validate and apply understanding of human and plant health, including promoting beneficial human-plant-microbe interactions, to enhance health in space.

    The BioS-ENDURES Consortium is built upon a collaboration between the University of Washington, Washington State University, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and science and industry advisory boards. Consortium members will partner closely with NASA to align work with current and projected needs. Funding from NASA will support proof-of-principle demonstration projects each year to advance the science of the three thrusts, annual symposia tracks (some full consortium, some with tighter focus), and costs of physical testing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Cotton, Colleagues to DOJ and FTC: Systemic, Weaponized Leaks Violate Ethics Rules

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) demanded an investigation into systemic media leaks in a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz and Federal Trade Commissioner (FTC) Inspector General Andrew Katsaros. These leaks, all to the same media outlet, resulted in negative headlines about the Biden-Harris administration’s antitrust targets and potentially violated ethics rules.
    “These leaks result in negative headlines about the administration’s targets while the targeted companies have no way to respond, as they haven’t yet seen the potential lawsuits. Both DOJ and FTC have ethics rules that prohibit leaking civil cases before the cases are filed,” wrote the senators. 
    Read the full letter here or below: 
    Dear Inspectors General Horowitz and Katsaros,
    We write asking you to investigate whether the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have violated their own ethics rules by systematically leaking potential antitrust cases to a specific media outlet.
    Since 2023, Bloomberg News has broken the news in at least twelve instances that DOJ or FTC was “preparing” or “poised” to take legal action before a lawsuit was filed. Indeed, the same journalist reported on eleven of these cases. This pattern strongly suggests that certain officials at DOJ and FTC are intentionally publicizing legal action days or weeks before filing.
    These leaks result in negative headlines about the administration’s targets while the targeted companies have no way to respond, as they haven’t yet seen the potential lawsuits. Both DOJ and FTC have ethics rules that prohibit leaking civil cases before the cases are filed.
    Bloomberg News reporting DOJ and FTC antitrust actions before the filing of a lawsuit

    January 23, 2023: DOJ Poised to Sue Google Over Digital Ad Market Dominance
    February 23, 2023: DOJ Preps Antitrust Suit to Block Adobe’s $20 Billion Figma Deal
    May 15, 2023: Amgen’s $28 Billion Horizon Deal Faces Unexpected FTC Hurdle
    June 29, 2023: Lina Khan Is Coming for Amazon, Armed With an FTC Antitrust Suit
    October 16, 2023: Real Estate Brokers Pocketing Up to 6% in Fees Draw Antitrust Scrutiny
    February 20, 2024: FTC, States to Sue Over Kroger-Albertsons Deal Next Week
    March 20, 2024: Justice Department to Sue Apple for Antitrust Violations
    April 10, 2024: Nippon Steel Bid to Buy US Steel Gets Extended Antitrust Review
    April 17, 2024: Tapestry’s $8.5 Billion Capri Deal Faces Planned FTC Lawsuit
    May 22, 2024: US Justice Department to Seek Breakup of Live Nation-Ticketmaster
    July 10, 2024: FTC Preparing Suit Against Drug Middlemen Over Insulin Rebates
    September 23, 2024: Visa Faces Justice Department Antitrust Case on Debit Cards

    These leaks aren’t just unethical, but they harm these companies’ employees, shareholders, and others. If the companies have engaged in wrongdoing, by all means the government should try them in a court of law. But the Biden-Harris administration shouldn’t try them in the liberal media. These leaks appear to be simply one more instance of this administration weaponizing the administrative state against politically disfavored opponents and critics, much like DOJ investigating parents at school-board meetings or the FTC targeting Elon Musk and Twitter for insufficient censorship of conservatives.
    We urge you to investigate promptly these systematic, unethical, and potentially illegal leaks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Investing in Flood Prevention Infrastructure Works. Here’s What We Are Doing.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) penned an op-ed in The Advocate highlighting a new report showing flood mitigation investments reduce storm damage and the billions of dollars he’s secured for Louisiana from his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to do so. 
    “The best way to recover from a storm is never to flood at all. A recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report confirmed this, finding that for every dollar spent on federal flood mitigation projects, communities see a return of $2 to $3 in reduced damages. This reality resonates deeply for many families in Louisiana and across the country,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. 
    “In my time in Congress, I have been a vocal advocate for federal investment in flood mitigation, working to secure billions of dollars for projects that protect communities and reduce the economic burden of disasters. The funding secured through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a game-changer,” continued Dr. Cassidy.
    This op-ed comes on the heels of a critical report Cassidy released this morning detailing the current state of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the issues that led to skyrocketing premiums for millions of homeowners.
    “As the new CBO report shows, investment in flood mitigation pays off — again and again. The IIJA provided billions of dollars to reduce the risk of flooding, and much of this money is heading to Louisiana. It’s a good start, but NFIP reform must come next,” concluded Dr. Cassidy. 
    Read the full op-ed here or below. 
    Investing in Flood Prevention Infrastructure Works. Here’s What We Are Doing.
    By: Senator Bill Cassidy
    October 24, 2024
    As hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Francine floods homes and communities across the East Coast, Americans are focused on two questions: How do we help those affected to recover and how do we prevent this from happening again?
    The best way to recover from a storm is never to flood at all. A recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report confirmed this, finding that for every dollar spent on federal flood mitigation projects, communities see a return of $2 to $3 in reduced damages. This reality resonates deeply for many families in Louisiana and across the country.
    In my time in Congress, I have been a vocal advocate for federal investment in flood mitigation, working to secure billions of dollars for projects that protect communities and reduce the economic burden of disasters. The funding secured through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is a game-changer. The findings of this CBO report show us this is the right strategy.
    The IIJA allocated over $5.5 billion for disaster mitigation, coastal restoration, and flood risk reduction efforts. In Louisiana alone, it has already delivered hundreds of millions in coastal resiliency grants alone.
    Last month, I announced Louisiana will receive a fresh $206 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance program. This funding will go toward projects across Louisiana, from Gretna’s green infrastructure network — set to receive $51.8 million — to elevation projects in St. John the Baptist Parish and Livingston Parish totaling $27.1 and $11.8 million, respectively.
    In 2023, Louisiana secured over $207 million from FEMA in Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities grants. These funds have gone toward a variety of projects, from $19 million for hardening and hurricane-proofing Jefferson Parish’s power grid to $4.5 million for residential mitigation programs in Lafayette Parish. The result: stronger resilience for Louisianans as we confront future storms.
    Three years in, we have made historic investments in flood infrastructure, providing resources to communities across Louisiana and the country to build stronger, more resilient systems. These efforts not only safeguard communities to prevent catastrophic flooding, they reduce the need for costly recovery efforts and alleviate the pressure on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which has struggled to stay solvent.
    I have repeatedly highlighted the urgent need to reauthorize — and more importantly, reform — the NFIP in a series of speeches on the Senate floor. Skyrocketing flood insurance premiums due to Risk Rating 2.0 are leaving families in Louisiana and other flood-prone areas behind. Flood insurance costs impose an unsustainable financial strain placed on both homeowners and the program itself.
    At my request, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on NFIP reform in January, featuring testimony from locals speaking to the program’s challenges. The principles can be stated simply: Make the program affordable to the homeowner, accountable to the taxpayer and sustainable for the future.
    This isn’t just a Louisiana issue, as the devastation of Hurricane Helene has demonstrated. Flooding is a national problem. Forty-four states have had over $50 million in total NFIP claims since 1978. Thirteen states have had more than $1 billion in NFIP claims during that same timeframe. So, I’m confident we can build the big coalition needed to enact this vital legislation.
    As the new CBO report shows, investment in flood mitigation pays off — again and again. The IIJA provided billions of dollars to reduce the risk of flooding, and much of this money is heading to Louisiana. It’s a good start, but NFIP reform must come next.
    Background
    In January, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on NFIP at the request of Cassidy. The hearing highlighted the urgent need for Congress to act and featured a Louisiana witness. Cassidy also participated in a roundtable hosted by GNO, Inc. and the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance before introducing the bill to hear from community leaders and advocates on the issue.
    Cassidy traveled St. Bernard Parish last year to talk with residents about their flood insurance premiums, resulting in the second episode of his series Bill on the Hill.
    Over the last several months, Cassidy has delivered a series of speeches on the Senate floor calling for action on NFIP. Most recently, he demanded that Congress reauthorize and reform the program just before its authorization expired at the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Announces $49.7 Million to Upgrade WV’s Drinking Water, Wastewater Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $49.7 million for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in West Virginia. This funding was made available through this year’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

    “A central aspect of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering the resources our states need to improve and expand their drinking water and wastewater systems, which was commissioned through diligent efforts at the Environment and Public Works Committee. Through that process, we made certain our states maintained the flexibility they need to address the issues most important to their residents, providing a significant boost to our communities and the services they rely on. I’m pleased to see these resources heading our way to further upgrade our local infrastructure and provide safe, clean water for West Virginians,” Ranking Member Capito said.

    BACKGROUND:

    From April 2021: EPW Committee Ranking Member Capito applauded passage of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA 2021), legislation she introduced and co-wrote along with Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the EPW Committee.

    The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA) makes significant investments in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) grant and loan programs, including the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, or SRFs, and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) that are vital to support our nation’s water infrastructure. The legislation was enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Colleagues Announce Intent to Introduce Stand with Israel Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and more than half of the Senate Republican Conference announced their intent to introduce the Stand with Israel Act when the Senate and House reconvene in November.

    The legislation, which is led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), would cut off U.S. funding to United Nations (UN) agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. This is companion legislation to bipartisan House bill HR 9394 led by Congressman Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).

    “The UN and its agencies have increasingly become a platform for anti-Israel forces to target the world’s only Jewish state. At the same time, countries like Iran and Russia have been free to maintain their status while launching ballistic missiles at their neighbors. If this ridiculous project to downgrade the membership of Israel—a free, democratic country and rightful member state—moves forward in the UN, the U.S. has no choice but to finally withdraw all support from a failed institution,” Senator Capito said.

    “Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic,” Ranking Member Risch said. “That said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the U.S. must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all we can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences.”

    BACKGROUND:

    • Reports indicate that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will attempt to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN.
    • The PA is able to do this after the UN General Assembly passed a biased resolution, which enhanced the PA’s status at the United Nations on May 10, 2024.
    • The Stand with Israel Act would cut off U.S. funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. The bill is modeled after the current prohibition of funding to any UN entities that elevate the status of the PA to a member state.
    • Senator Capito has supported other efforts to hold the UN accountable for targeting the State of Israel, including a joint statement in response to anti-Israel efforts at the recent UN General Assembly.
    • Senator Capito also joined a December 2023 letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres after the UN’s failure to condemn and investigate Hamas’s acts of sexual violence on Oct. 7.

    Text of the Stand with Israel Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from President Joe  Biden on World Polio  Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    The United States is proudly a leader and core strategic partner in the world’s quest to eradicate polio and because of our efforts, the world has a historic window of opportunity to end polio for good. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to secure a polio-free future.
    Through our leadership in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, our sustained commitment to ending polio has resulted in 20 million people walking today who otherwise could have been paralyzed. We have reduced the number of children paralyzed by 99.9 percent and vaccinated over 3 billion children against polio. However, polio persists in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
    If high vaccination rates against polio are not achieved and maintained, including amidst instability, conflict, and misinformation mounting around the world, the risk of polio outbreaks will rise even in places long considered polio-free, like we’ve recently seen in New York, London, and Ukraine as well as in Gaza, where all parties must ensure the safe and effective implementation of the polio vaccination campaign that is urgently needed throughout Gaza.
    In order to achieve the goal of eradicating polio, the world must rally together. Delivering a polio-free world with stronger health systems and communities is not only the right thing to do for humanity, but a smart investment in the health of future generations and our collective global health security. Together, we can make it a reality.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Statement On Cooper’s Mishandling of Disaster Recovery Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis responded to Governor Roy Cooper’s request for the N.C. General Assembly to cover a $175 million shortfall in the budget of the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) on recovery efforts for Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Florence (2018). These funds were originally provided to the State of North Carolina by the federal government as part of disaster assistance packages funded and passed by Congress. 

    For the last six years, Tillis has pressed the Cooper Administration on the slow pace of spending on recovery and rebuilding efforts for Matthew and Florence. As recently as May of this year, Senator Tillis once again pressed NCORR Director Laura Hogshead for answers on the rebuilding process. 

    Nowhere in Hogshead’s response from June 2024 did she indicate that NCORR was facing such a massive shortfall of the funding originally allocated by Congress. Instead, she stated: “NCORR stands prepared to complete the homes of its current applicants and to respond quickly to any future disasters.”

    In 2022, the Office of Inspector General released a report finding that NCORR could not provide reasonable assurance that $2.5 million of the $5.4 million of federal assistance reviewed by the Inspector General was spent properly.   

    In response to the NCORR’s fiscal mismanagement, Senator Thom Tillis issued the following statement: 

    “For the last six years, I have been warning that Governor Cooper and NCORR were dropping the ball on distributing disaster relief to victims. NCORR’s last-second announcement of a staggering $175 million shortfall for Matthew and Florence recovery confirms those concerns were justified. It is scandalous that the Cooper Administration has failed thousands of North Carolina families, many of whom are still living in hotel rooms and still have no relief from storms that hit our state as long as eight years ago. Instead of working to actually fix this problem, it seems the Governor’s office has always been more focused on attacking anyone who drops a hint of criticism over their failure to get assistance to disaster victims. 

    “All this makes it much more difficult for North Carolina’s Congressional leaders to secure needed federal assistance for Helene victims when our colleagues look at the Cooper Administration’s failure to get federal assistance in the hands of Matthew and Florence victims. 

    “The next Governor must turn the page on the systemic incompetence and mismanagement of North Carolina’s disaster rebuilding efforts: the thousands of families who lost their homes to Helene certainly deserve better. While the NCGA is right to provide NCORR with some funding to keep operations running, state and federal leaders need to hear directly from Director Hogshead and Governor Cooper on how this appalling failure occurred on their watch, and there must be serious systematic changes to ensure North Carolina has a disaster office that is able to properly take care of disaster victims.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –