NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan Announces 2025 Military Service Academy Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

    01.24.25

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today announced the names of 37 young Alaskans he nominated to the U.S. Military Service Academies. Sen. Sullivan made his selections with the help of an Academy Review Board, comprised of eleven members from across Alaska, many of whom are service academy graduates. The board reviewed applications, interviewed each of the applicants, and made recommendations to the senator.

    “It is a highlight of my job to nominate young Alaskans to our nation’s prestigious military service academies,” said Sen. Sullivan. “These students, from across Alaska and with diverse backgrounds, show the incredible ways our young people are involved in our communities, schools, churches, and homes. They are not only hard workers, but well-rounded, caring individuals who have a desire to serve others. My board and I are so pleased to get to know them better and provide them this opportunity to compete to attend an academy.”

    “I also want to thank the dedicated members of the review board for volunteering countless hours of their own time to strengthen this process. We hope to see more applications next year and encourage young Alaskans to research the academies and the programs they offer.”

    Members of the Alaska congressional delegation work closely with one another to maximize the opportunities for Alaska men and women to receive nominations to the academies. The nominations allow the applicants to compete for appointments to the academies. Appointments are offered individually by the academies.

    Senator Sullivan’s Class of 2029 U.S. Military Service Academy nominees are as follows:

     

    U.S. Air Force Academy:

    Sara Baisden, Kenai

    Alexander Borke, Anchorage

    Landon DeGraaf, Anchorage

    Kydan Echard, Military Dependent

    Rylan Forth, Anchorage

    Alexander Gilley, Ketchikan

    Noah Hall, Military Dependent

    Casey Knapp, Juneau

    Mona Koko, Anchorage

    Landon Luebke, Eagle River

    Donovan Mahoney, Eagle River

    Emma Marsh, Anchorage

    Grayson McDowell, Wasilla

    Christian Mills-Price, Wasilla

    Joshua Nelson, Anchorage

    Thomas Owens, Anchorage

    Joshua Pak, Anchorage

    Madeline Rancourt, Chugiak

    Lars Robinson, Anchorage

    Katelinn Satterfield, JBER

    Lydia Schwartz, Soldotna

    Inca Shannon, North Pole

    Dylan Skaggs, Fairbanks

    Cole Smith, Eagle River

    Jacob Strausbaugh, Soldotna

    Uno Tate, Military Dependent

    U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:

    Rylan Forth, Anchorage

    Bethany Gravel, Anchorage

    Carvin Hass, Juneau

    Carter Johnson, Military Dependent

    Gordon Macko, Military Dependent

    Donovan Mahoney, Eagle River

    Grayson McDowell, Wasilla

    Ethan Morico, Anchorage

    Joshua Nelson, Anchorage

    Thomas Owens, Anchorage

    U.S. Military Academy:

    Tyler Drake, Anchorage

    Kydan Echard, Military Dependent

    Mona Koko, Anchorage

    Emma Marsh, Anchorage

    Grayson McDowell, Wasilla

    Kai Miner, Anchorage

    Joshua Nelson, Anchorage

    Thomas Owens, Anchorage

    Joshua Pak, Anchorage

    Lars Robinson, Anchorage

    Colton “Oscar” Savala, Wasilla 

    Lydia Schwartz, Soldotna

    Abigail Smith, Military Dependent

    Uno Tate, Military Dependent

    Bryce Watts, Military Dependent

    U.S. Naval Academy:

    Sara Baisden, Kenai

    Rylan Forth, Anchorage

    Bethany Gravel, Anchorage

    Noah Hall, Military Dependent

    Malia Iloilo, Anchorage

    Mona Koko, Anchorage

    Emma Marsh, Anchorage

    Christian Mills-Price, Wasilla

    Ethan Morico, Anchorage

    Joshua Nelson, Anchorage

    Thomas Owens, Anchorage

    Joshua Pak, Anchorage

    Madeline Rancourt, Chugiak

    Lydia Schwartz, Soldotna

    Uno Tate, Military Dependent

    NOTE: The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination for their application.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Supports Texas’ Request for Reimbursement of Border Security Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the State of Texas has asked the federal government to reimburse the State for taxpayer dollars spent to secure the Texas-Mexico border through Operation Lone Star:

    “No state has had to bear the brunt of the Biden-Harris border crisis more than Texas, and under the leadership of Governor Abbott, the State of Texas launched a historic border mission to protect Texans—and all Americans—and defend our southern border.”

    “Texas taxpayers who have been financing Operation Lone Star for four years cannot be forgotten. I will fight to include funds in Congress’ reconciliation legislation to reimburse Texas for its historic efforts to secure the border as a result of the Biden administration’s complete and total absence and dereliction of duty.”

    “I am glad that our country is back under the strong leadership of President Trump, who has already taken action to begin securing the border and enforcing federal immigration law.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Meets with Energy Secretary Nominee Chris Wright

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met today with Chris Wright, whom President Trump has nominated to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. Please see photo below.

    This image is in the public domain, but those wishing to do so may credit the Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

    Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Budget Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Commercial Driver’s License Reforms  

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently (LICENSE) Act to help ease supply chain challenges by increasing the number of truck drivers in the U.S. The bill builds on waivers the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    “Wyoming relies on America’s truck drivers to deliver goods to folks and small businesses throughout our rural state,” said Lummis. “Streamlining commercial driver’s licensing and cutting this burdensome red tape will ensure the people in the Cowboy State can rely on deliveries so they get the resources they need. I’m proud to work with Senator Kelly to reform the licensing process for America’s truckers.”
    “Arizona’s economy relies on the commercial drivers who work hard to keep goods moving across the nation,” said Kelly. “I’m glad to work with my colleague Senator Lummis to cut red tape, support the trucking industry, and ensure the federal government is doing everything it can to strengthen our economy and lower costs for families in Arizona.” 
    “When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provided flexibility on several regulatory requirements during the COVID-19 public health emergency, drivers and motor carriers gained new operational efficiencies without compromising safety,” said American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Regulatory & Safety Policy Dan Horvath.  “The LICENSE Act leverages the lessons learned during the pandemic and makes permanent two commonsense waivers that were reissued numerous times since 2020 to reduce administrative burdens for Americans pursuing rewarding careers in the trucking industry. The incorporation of these waivers into law by enactment of the LICENSE Act will provide certainty to the trucking industry and strengthen our supply chain by permanently removing these unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.  This represents an important step toward making it more efficient and simpler for drivers to obtain their CDLs while keeping our roadways safe.”
    “During the past several years that these waivers have been in effect, they have proven that they strike the appropriate balance between maintaining high safety standards while making it easier for aspiring truck drivers to obtain their CDLs.  That’s why DOT reissued them multiple times throughout the pandemic.  Now it is time to provide certainty to the trucking industry by making these effective waivers permanent,” said Wyoming Trucking Association President & CEO Kevin Hawley.  “The LICENSE Act would make a commonsense change to streamline the arduous process for obtaining a CDL, removing unnecessary burdens on our drivers and supply chain.  We commend Senator Lummis for once again standing up for truckers, helping more people to obtain good-paying jobs, and growing Wyoming’s economy.”
    “The LICENSE Act streamlines the CDL testing process by allowing states to test applicants regardless of their residency or training location,” said Ryan Streblow, President and CEO of the National Tank Truck Carriers. “This efficiency is a commonsense solution that aims to address tank truck workforce shortages and strengthen our supply chain.”
    “CVTA members are pleased to see swift reintroduction of the LICENSE Act,” said Danny Bradford, Chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA). “This bill reduces bureaucratic barriers that delay new drivers from receiving their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). We urge Congress to quickly pass this bill as part of an agenda to unleash record growth in the U.S. economy.”
    The LICENSE Act will:
    Expand CDL Testing: State and third-party examiners would be authorized to administer both the CDL skills and knowledge tests, speeding up the licensing process without compromising safety.
    Provide Flexible Supervision for CLP Holders: Licensed drivers accompanying commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders could move to the sleeper berth of the truck, recognizing that many CLP holders have already passed their road tests and are waiting on their official CDL.
    Streamline Testing Across States: States would be allowed to administer driving skills tests to applicants from other states, making it easier for future truckers to complete testing close to home.
    The LICENSE Act is endorsed by: 
    The Agricultural & Food Transporters Conference (AFTC), the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Automobile Carriers Conference (ACC), the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), the Government Freight Conference (GFC), the Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC), the Moving and Storage Conference (MSC), the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)
    To read the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Issues Statement of Support for Trump National Security Nominee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    January 24, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement after meeting with former Representative Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence.
    “President Trump has made shoring up our national security his top priority, and we have a responsibility to get his nominations through the senate quickly so his administration is well-equipped to protect the American people,” said Lummis. “I served with Tulsi in the House of Representatives, and I have no doubt she will play a pivotal role in restoring American global dominance.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Helps Lead Legislation to Award Congressional Gold Medals to “Miracle on Ice” Olympic Hockey Team

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined a bipartisan coalition in introducing the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, legislation that seeks to honor members of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team and their historic victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.  
    In February 1980, the United States Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 in the semifinals of the 1980 Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Lake Placid, New York. Team USA, comprised of 20 amateur collegiate hockey players, defied expectations by defeating the four-time Olympic champion Soviet Union team in a game referred to as the “Miracle on Ice.”  
    “This bill recognizes the players of the 1980 U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey Team, whose hard-earned victory against the Soviet Union shocked the world and brought our nation together during a challenging time in our history,” said Senator Peters. “To this day, the ‘Miracle on Ice’ serves as a reminder to all Americans that when we work together with a common goal, we are capable of great things.” 
    Team USA went on to secure the Olympic gold medal win, defeating Finland by a score of 4-2. Two Michiganders were members of the 1980 U.S. Men’s Hockey Team:  
    Ken Morrow: Defensemen Ken Morrow was born in Flint and grew up in Davison. Following his Olympic gold medal win, Morrow joined the New York Islanders and helped his team win the Stanley Cup in his first NHL season. Morrow and the Islanders went on to win the Stanley Cup again in the next three seasons, 1981, 1982, and 1983. He officially retired from Hockey in 1989 and was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.  
    Mark Wells: Center Mark Wells grew up in St. Clair Shores. Wells’ two-year professional career included stints on NHL Minor League Teams, including the Flint Generals. He returned to Michigan after his retirement from hockey, where he lived until his death in May 2024. The ice rink at the St. Clair Shores Civic Center was renamed after Wells in 2014. 
    The Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act will award three Congressional Gold Medals to members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, which will be displayed at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Minnesota, and the Lake Placid Olympic Center in New York.  
    The “Miracle on Ice” came at a pivotal time in American history, amid growing pressures of the Cold War and increased tensions with the Soviet Union. Team USA’s victory was viewed as a moment of American patriotism, and their story continues to inspire the new generations of Americans today.  
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Firefighters With Service-Related Cancers

    US Senate News:

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

    Padilla, Schiff Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Firefighters With Service-Related Cancers

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — As thousands of firefighters work around the clock to combat the ongoing Southern California fires, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to expand access to federal support for families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last year.
    Currently, firefighters are only eligible for support under the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program for physical injuries sustained in the line-of-duty or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11 related illnesses. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would ensure that families of firefighters and other first responders across the country are eligible to receive similar benefits under the federal PSOB program. The bill would also extend disability benefits in cases where these first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer. 
    “Firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line without a second thought to protect California communities from the devastating Southern California fires,” said Senator Padilla. “When they sacrifice their lives or face severe disabilities due to service-related cancers, we have a shared duty to help get their families back on their feet.”
    “Our first responders risk everything for us – from the front lines of wildfires to the unseen lines of duty that keep our communities safe. When they lose their lives to service-related cancers, their families deserve the full measure of support they’ve earned. No one who has lost so much should be left to face hardship alone,” said Senator Schiff.
    “As we are seeing in California and throughout the country, our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, often exposing themselves to carcinogens that can have lethal long-term effects. It’s unacceptable that firefighters who succumb to cancer from work-related exposure or become permanently and totally disabled don’t receive the same treatment as others who die in the line of duty,” said Senator Klobuchar. “That’s why I’m working with Senator Cramer to ensure that firefighters get the support they deserve. Our bipartisan legislation will honor the memory and sacrifice of St. Paul Fire Department Captain Mike Paidar and so many others who risk their lives in service of their communities.”
    “Our first responders epitomize courage and selfless sacrifice, confronting both the immediate perils of their duty and lingering health risks associated with their service,” said Senator Cramer. “The exposure to dangerous carcinogens happens on our behalf. When these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, their families should not bear these burdens alone.”
    The PSOB program provides benefits to the survivors of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders who are killed as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. The program also provides disability benefits where first responders become permanently or totally disabled. The Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance (PSOEA) program, a component of the PSOB program, provides higher-education assistance to the children and spouses of public safety officers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The PSOB and PSOEA programs are administered by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
    This Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act is also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jim Justice (R-W.V.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    The bill is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association.
    Senators Padilla and Schiff have fought relentlessly to get Southern Californians desperately needed disaster relief aid. In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Schiff led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration to expedite timely relief to Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters. Additionally, Padilla introduced a package of critical bipartisan bills to strengthen fire resilience and rebuilding efforts, including legislation to permanently increase wildland firefighter pay.
    Last week, Padilla delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging his Republican colleagues and President Trump to provide essential disaster recovery aid to California without conditioning it on the passage of partisan legislation. He also questioned Secretary of the Interior nominee Doug Burgum and Budget Secretary nominee Russell Vought on their support for fire aid, securing their commitment to not politicize disaster relief resources or funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: January 24th, 2025 Heinrich Hosts Congressional Briefing Highlighting Advancements and Job Creation in the Electric Vehicle Supply Chain

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    PHOTOS

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, hosted a congressional briefing on developments in manufacturing electric vehicles and their supply chains in the United States, from batteries to electric school buses.

    PHOTOS: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, hosts a congressional briefing on the electric vehicle manufacturing supply chain, January 23, 2025.

    Panelists from the Zero Emission Transportation Association Education Fund, Impact Clean Power Technology, SA, and GreenPower Motor Company shared their perspectives on the incredible growth in EV-related investments over recent years and business partnerships that are diversifying domestic supply chains away from foreign entities of concern, including from China, driven by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.

    “For the last few years, the United States has taken industrial policy seriously. We need to do that because China and other competitors, for years and years, have been taking industrial policy seriously. If we want to control our own supply chains, we need pro-growth tax policies that support those things,” said Heinrich. “There is no question that globally, the electrification of transportation is a consistent phenomenon. The real question for us as a nation, I think, is, do we want to lead this transition? Do we want to compete with our global competitors and be successful, or are we going to cede that leadership to other spaces?”

    “In my view, when you’re winning, keep winning,” Heinrich continued. “Keep the things that are actually moving factories to the United States. What I’ve experienced in the just the few years since we created the Inflation Reduction Act is new manufacturing plants opening in the state of New Mexico and existing manufacturing plants expanding. The supply chains that everybody complained about, saying ‘we don’t have control of those supply chains,’ let’s build those supply chains here. We should be banding together with our allies to control our own supply chains and to build good jobs here and to compete effectively — not just to compete, but to win this race for the future of transportation and energy.”

    Heinrich’s Longtime Leadership on Electric Vehicles

    Heinrich is a staunch advocate for federal investments that make electric vehicles more affordable and accessible for working families as well as electric vehicle charging stations more available for New Mexicans.

    In 2022, Heinrich helped author and pass into law the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which has created a manufacturing renaissance throughout the country and established New Mexico at the center of the nation’s clean energy future. Heinrich marked the two-year anniversary of the legislation being signed into law in August, highlighting how its incentives have expanded and spurred a number of new clean energy projects across New Mexico.

    Last August, at an event in Albuquerque, Heinrich was joined by Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Gabriella Duran-Blakey and Mom’s Clean Air Force – an organization dedicated to protecting children from air pollution and climate change – to announce nearly $7 million in Infrastructure Law funding to help APS replace older, diesel school buses with 20 new electric school buses. This investment comes from the EPA Clean School Bus Program, which Heinrich helped establish. The investment will help APS save money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses.

    Last year, Heinrich and the New Mexico Congressional Delegation also welcomed nearly $68 million in competitive federal grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program to build major new electric vehicle charging networks throughout New Mexico. The largest portion of that funding will allow the New Mexico Department of Transportation to contract with a private partner, TeraWatt Infrastructure, to build the I-10 Electric Corridor, which will be the nation’s first network of high-powered charging centers for heavy-duty electric trucks. As part of this network, TeraWatt will build two electric vehicle charging centers for medium-and heavy-duty commercial vehicles conducting routes along Interstate 10 (I-10), located in unincorporated Hidalgo and Doña Ana Counties, near Lordsburg and Vado, N.M. The entire route will extend along the I-10 highway from the San Pedro ports in Southern California to the El Paso, Texas border region.

    Last year, Heinrich also welcomed guidance from the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that significantly expanded access to the 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit. The 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit was increased through the Inflation Reduction Act and provides billions of dollars for alternative refueling infrastructure investments such as in-home EV chargers, zero-emission truck stops, public chargers, and adding zero-emission refueling to warehouses.

    Heinrich has also led successful efforts to call on the U.S. Postal Service to substantially increase their efforts to electrify the next generation of mail delivery vehicles. With funding that Democrats delivered in the historic Inflation Reduction Act and a commitment from the Biden administration, the next generation of mail delivery vehicles in America will now be 75% battery electric vehicles, and 100% electric starting in 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Support First Responders with Service-Related Cancers

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and 26 of their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers. Currently, firefighters are only eligible for support under the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program for physical injuries sustained in the line-of-duty, or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11 related illnesses.

    The Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act would expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and first responders who pass away from cancer caused by carcinogenic exposure during their service. The bill would also extend disability benefits in cases where these first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer.

    “Our first responders put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep our communities safe, and in the face of this work, are often exposed to harmful carcinogens that have led to long-term and devastating diagnoses,” Sen. Warner said. “It is wholly unacceptable that firefighters who have gotten sick due to the job do not receive the same benefits as all those who die in the line of duty. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that these heroes receive the benefits they deserve.”

    The PSOB program provides benefits to the survivors of fire fighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders who are killed as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. The program also provides disability benefits where first responders become permanently or totally disabled. The Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance (PSOEA) program, a component of the PSOB program, provides higher-education assistance to the children and spouses of public safety officers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The PSOB and PSOEA programs are administered by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would ensure that firefighters and other first responders across the country are eligible to receive similar benefits under the federal PSOB program.

    Joining Sens. Warner, Klobuchar, and Cramer in introducing this legislation are Sens. Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jim Justice (R-WV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). 

    The legislation is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), as well as the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI); Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA); Fraternal Order of Police (FOP); International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA); Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs); National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO); National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF); National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC); National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC); and Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.

    Text of the legislation is available here.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Daines, Thune, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Give Small Business Permanent Tax Break

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Thune (R-SD), and 32 Republican colleagues reintroduced the Main Street Tax Certainty Act to make the 20 percent pass-through business tax deduction permanent. Should these tax cuts expire, small businesses will face an immediate and massive tax hike.
    “The small businesses that drive our communities should have certainty about their taxes,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Passing this law makes sure they do.”
    “As the son of a contractor, I’ve seen firsthand the hard work it takes to keep a small business flourishing- especially as Americans are still grappling with the effects of Joe Biden’s inflation. It’s absolutely crucial that we pass this legislation to prevent a 20 percent tax increase for hardworking Montanans and I’ll keep fighting for ways to support Montana small businesses, which provide the majority of jobs in our state,” said Senator Daines.
    “Small businesses are the economic engine that drive growth and jobs in South Dakota and across our country. This legislation is critical to permanently extending a key provision from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and ensuring our small businesses and farms and ranches are not hit with a crippling tax hike at the end of 2025,” said Senator Thune.
    The Main Street Tax Certainty Act is supported by the National Association of Manufactures and NFIB.
    Cassidy, Daines, and Thune were joined by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tim Scott (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Katie Britt (R-AL), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Hoeven (R-ND), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Todd Young (R-IN), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Jim Banks (R-IN) in introducing the legislation.
    Background:
    The 20 percent small business deduction, section 199A, was created as a part of President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts to level the playing field between small businesses and large corporations. Without Congressional action, 9 out of 10 small businesses will be hit with a massive tax hike when this deduction is set to expire at the end of 2025.
    Recently, a new study from Ernst and Young (EY) highlighted the economic activity supported by this small and family-owned business tax deduction, including 2.6 million jobs and $325 billion of the GDP.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces $77.4 Million for Louisiana in Hurricane Ida, Laura, Gustav Relief

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    Grant Awarded
    Recipient
    Project Description

    $2,239,178.51
    State of Louisiana Facility Planning and Control
    This grant will provide federal funding to for damages as a result of Hurricane Gustav.

    $4,844,146.76
    Society of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Lake Charles
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs as a result of Hurricane Laura.

    $2,715,104.07
    Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office
    This grant will provide federal funding for emergency protective measures as a direct result of Hurricane Laura.

    $1,261,152.09
    Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    This grant will provide federal funding for temporary generators as a result of Hurricane Laura.

    $1,201,967.76
    Louisiana Children’s Medical Center
    This grant will provide federal funding for management costs as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $1,239,840.00
    Jefferson Parish
    This grant will provide federal funding for emergency protective measures as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.

    $4,397,467.19
    Grand Isle Independent Levee District
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $1,247,038.20
    Westwego Housing Authority
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $1,433,322.00
    New Orleans Sewerage and Water
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to Carrollton Water Plant Buildings as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $7,330,270.95
    Terrebonne Parish
    This grant will provide federal funding for debris removal operations as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $1,599,782.40
    Office of Risk Management 
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to Pan American Stadium as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $1,628,520.51
    Grand Isle Independent Levee District
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.

    $1,004,551.91
    Ochsner Clinic Foundation 
    This grant will provide federal funding for emergency protective measures as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.

    $23,362,422.08
    Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    $19,913,859.54
    Terrebonne Parish School Board
    This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to South Terrebonne High School as a direct result of Hurricane Ida.

    $1,943,642.58
    Livingston Parish
    This grant will provide federal funding for management costs as a result of Hurricane Ida.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis Statement on President Trump’s Visit to WNC

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis released the following statement on President Donald J. Trump’s visit to Western North Carolina to survey the devastation left behind by Helene: 

    “President Trump’s visit is a welcome display of leadership as Western North Carolina recovers from damage and devastation left behind by Helene. Although I was unable to attend due to the Senate being in session, I want to thank him for traveling to North Carolina to witness the damage firsthand. Throughout the transition, both President Trump and Vice President Vance repeatedly reached out to me to check in on how Western North Carolina was doing. That is a testament to how high of a priority the recovery and rebuilding process is for them. Under President Biden, FEMA’s failure to act and communicate swiftly put vulnerable families at risk with freezing temperatures outside. Despite our continued pressure, FEMA made little progress in providing direct housing solutions for those most affected by Helene. Things will be changing under President Trump, and his visit shows his Administration is committed to the people of Western North Carolina as he promised during the campaign. I look forward to working with the Trump-Vance Administration to ensure that every available federal resource is deployed and that red tape preventing families from accessing housing is eliminated.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Colleagues Reintroduce FARM Act to Add Ag Secretary to CFIUS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    01.24.25

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) in reintroducing the bipartisan, bicameral Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act, to permanently add the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the governmental body that oversees the vetting process of foreign investment and acquisition of American companies. Currently, CFIUS does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry when reviewing foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses.

    “Our foreign adversaries are buying up American farmland and threatening American food security,” said Senator Hoeven. “We must have stronger supervision of foreign investments that affect the American food supply, and this bill will help achieve that by adding the Agriculture Secretary to CFIUS. This is a logical step to protect our essential food infrastructure and ensure North Dakota and our country remains a leader in agriculture.”

    “Over the last decade, we’ve seen a surge of American farmland purchases from our foreign adversaries,” said Senator Tuberville. “These foreign investments are now reaching every piece of the very large puzzle that makes up our agriculture industry, from farming and processing to packaging and shipping. Food security is national security, and we cannot allow our adversaries to have a foot in the door to our critical supply chains. We must prioritize oversight of foreign investment in our food supply chains, especially from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. This starts with giving the agriculture community a permanent seat at the table on CFIUS. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, I will keep fighting to secure our ag supply chains so that our agriculture community can continue to put food on the table for American families.” 

    “Pennsylvania is home to about 50,000 farms and the farmers who power them already face enough challenges to stay competitive. They shouldn’t also have to compete with foreign adversaries buying up American farmland,” said Senator Fetterman. “America’s farms are critical infrastructure, and CFIUS exists to protect our critical infrastructure from foreign threats. So, adding the Secretary of Agriculture is just plain common sense. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: foreign adversaries have no business owning American farmland. This bill makes that clear and I’m proud to partner with my colleague to get it done.”

      Joining Hoeven, Tuberville and Fetterman in reintroducing this legislation are Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Katie Britt (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Secures Commitment from Ag Secretary Nominee Brooke Rollins to Advance Key Priorities for North Dakota Producers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    01.24.25

    Senator Calls on Rollins to Help Strengthen Farm Safety Net & Quickly Implement Disaster Assistance, Visit North Dakota to Learn About Grand Farm Firstha

    WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven discussed with Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of Agriculture, critical priorities for farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses. Hoeven outlined a broad range of efforts to strengthen U.S. agriculture and secured commitments from Rollins to work with him on:

    • Passing a strong farm bill that makes needed investments in the farm safety net.
    • Implementing and quickly delivering the $33.5 billion in disaster assistance that he worked to secure for producers in the year-end funding legislation.
      • The assistance package addresses losses from both natural disasters and challenging markets and has funding specifically set aside for livestock losses due to wildfire.
    • Ensuring access for agriculture producers to U.S. Forest Service lands in North Dakota, including for grazing on the national grasslands.
    • Improving access to foreign markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
    • Visiting North Dakota to learn firsthand about precision agriculture efforts in the state, including the partnership between Grand Farm, North Dakota State University and the Agricultural Research Service.

    “Unlike the consolidation we’ve seen in many industries, U.S. farms and ranches still largely consist of small, family-owned operations. That’s a real benefit to our nation, and in order to maintain it, we need to help producers recover from recent hardships and ensure the farm safety net works when needed most,” said Hoeven, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “With her long personal and professional connection to agriculture and rural America, Brooke Rollins understands the needs of our farmers and ranchers. I appreciate her commitment to work with me on passing the strongest possible farm bill and to get assistance out to producers quickly and efficiently. I look forward to working with her on these key priorities and to her visit in North Dakota, so she can see firsthand the incredible work our state is doing on precision ag, including at Grand Farm and NDSU.”

    Keeping the Farm in the Farm Bill

                After helping secure a one-year extension of the farm bill in the year-end legislation, Hoeven continues working to pass a farm bill that addresses producers’ needs and ensures the farm safety net works when needed most. These priorities include:

    • Enhancing crop insurance, the primary risk management tool for many producers.
      • Improving the affordability of higher levels of coverage, consistent with Hoeven’s FARMER Act, will better enable producers to weather natural disasters and reduce the need for future ad-hoc disaster assistance.
    • Improving the counter-cyclical safety net, including the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.
      • Hoeven stated that reference prices need to reflect market realities and the cost of production that farmers are currently facing.
    • Ensuring adequate access to credit by including his legislation to modernize Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits as part of the Farm Bill.
    • Strengthening livestock disaster programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP).
      • This aligns with legislation Hoeven sponsored last Congress to better align coverage between LFP and ELAP and make these improvements permanent.
    • Making programs voluntary and farmer-friendly, instead of one-size-fits-all.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: March for Life: A Moral Responsibility to Protect the Most Vulnerable Among Us

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–On the 52nd Annual National March for Life, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) reaffirmed his commitment to pro-life policies and announced efforts he has undertaken to protect life so far in the 119th Congress.

    “Life is a precious gift from God,” said Crapo.  “Protecting the rights of the unborn is paramount in fostering the respect for human life from the moment of conception.  We have a moral responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us.”

    To protect the right to life, Senator Crapo has:

    • Signed a letter to President Trump asking him to reinstate certain pro-life policies implemented during his first term.  Specifically, the letter asks the Trump Administration to restore the Protect Life Rules to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding abortions in the U.S. and abroad.  Additionally, the letter calls for the reinstatement of conscience protection regulations rolled back by the previous Administration.
    • Co-sponsored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to mandate appropriate medical care for any child who survives an attempted abortion and penalize the intentional killing of a born-alive child.  The Senate failed to adopt the procedural motion to vote on the bill. 
    • Co-sponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to cover the cost of abortions.  This measure would make permanent the restrictions on federal funding of abortions outlined in the Hyde Amendment.

    Senator Crapo recently received an A+ on the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s 118th Congress scorecard.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Introduces Pro Life Legislation for March for Life

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    Bills would ban federal tax dollars from subsidizing abortion at home and abroad, repeal law used to target Pro Life activists
    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced a trio of bills to prevent federal tax dollars from funding or subsidizing abortions in the United States and across the world, in honor of the 2025 March for Life in Washington, DC and state capitals around the country: the Abortion is not Health Care Act, the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act, and a repeal of the FACE Act.
    “In our quest to build a society where every precious human life is protected, we cannot allow the tax dollars of American families to be used against the most vulnerable people in our country and across the word: the unborn.” said Senator Lee. “I am also introducing legislation to repeal the FACE Act, which was used by Joe Biden to imprison Pro Life activists, now officially pardoned by President Trump.”
    The Abortion is not Health Care Act would end the tax deductibility of abortions and clarify that this gruesome practice is not health care. Currently, the IRS categorizes an abortion as “medical care” and allows tax benefits to flow to this practice, subsidizing the killing of hundreds of thousands of unborn children each year. This bill would amend Section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit elective abortion expenses from being considered eligible for a medical expense deduction.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Hagerty (R-TN), Daines (R-MT), Cramer (R-ND), Blackburn (R-TN), Hawley (R-MO), and Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
    Supporting groups include Students for Life Action, Concerned Women for America, Eagle Forum, Heritage Action
    For a one-pager, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.
    The Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts would end the preferential tax treatment of abortion in health savings accounts. Current law allows individuals to use tax-advantaged funds from health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible savings accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs), and retiree health accounts for the “medical expense” of abortion. This legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to explicitly prevent abortions from getting a special tax advantage through the use of these accounts.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Hagerty (R-TN), Daines (R-MT), Cramer (R-ND), Blackburn (R-TN), Hawley (R-MO), and Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
    Supporting groups include Students for Life Action, Concerned Women for America, Eagle Forum
    For a one-pager, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.
    The Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act would ensure that our foreign aid is not funding or promoting abortions overseas. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan first instituted the Mexico City Policy, prohibiting the availability of family planning foreign assistance funds to organizations that provide or promote abortions or advocate to change abortion laws in a foreign country. Since then, the policy has been alternately rescinded and reinstated with changing administrations.
    The Trump Administration rebranded this policy as the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA) policy and applied it to all global health assistance, foreign nonprofits, and NGOs. This bill would permanently codify an expanded version of the PLGHA policy into law, capturing all assistance provided to foreign or domestic nonprofits, NGOs, and multilateral organizations. With President Biden having rescinded the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy in 2021, American citizens may be complicit in overseas abortions under the guise of “foreign assistance.” Congress must ensure this cannot be the case now or ever again. Doing so would affirm the dignity of unborn human lives everywhere and save countless lives across the globe.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Scott (R-SC), Budd (R-NC), Cramer (R-ND), Kennedy (R-LA), Johnson (R-WI), Young (R-IN), Fischer (R-NE), Ricketts (R-NE), Cornyn (R-TX), Banks (R-IN), and Tuberville (R-AL).
    Supporting groups include CatholicVote and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
    For a one-pager, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.
    The FACE ACT is a federal law designed to protect access to abortion facilities. While FACE also includes protections for churches, these are duplicative of other federal and state laws and have never been enforced. President Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice used the FACE Act to legally harass peaceful pro-life activists while simultaneously stonewalling good faith efforts by members of Congress to conduct even elementary oversight of the law. While President Trump has pardoned activists imprisoned by the Biden administration, a full repeal of the FACE Act will prevent future administrations from unjustly using this law for the purpose of political persecution.
    Cosponsors include Sens. Hawley (R-MO) & Wicker (R-MS)
    Supporting organizations include Thomas More Society, Family Research Council, Students for Life Action, Catholic Vote, Susan B. Anthony List, Live Action, and Citizens for Renewing America.
    For one-pager, bill text, click HERE.For bill text, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Carson Lead Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Designating January as Muslim-American Heritage Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative André Carson (D-IN-07) led colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing January as Muslim-American Heritage Month and celebrating the achievements of Muslims living in the United States. The resolution highlights the incredible contributions Muslim Americans have made across multiple sectors of society—from medical professionals to entrepreneurs, to faith leaders, athletes, and public servants—to help build a better nation. 
    The resolution further notes the religious discrimination experienced by Muslim Americans and stresses the “need for public education, awareness, and policies that are culturally competent when describing, discussing, or addressing the impacts of being Muslim American in all aspects of the society of the United States.”
    “Muslim Americans have contributed to every facet of American life, and I am proud to introduce this resolution designating January as Muslim-American heritage month, said Senator Booker. “Currently, over 3 million Muslims are living in the United States, and this resolution pays tribute to their incredible impact and celebrates their rich heritage. In addition, I am committed this month, and every month, to working together to combat the continued prejudice and discrimination the Muslim community faces.”
    “Islamophobia thrives in ignorance,” said Congressman Carson. “The American people are too often exposed to anti-Muslim rhetoric instead of the truth: that Muslim Americans are valued members of our community. By sharing stories of Muslim heroes, we can help debunk stereotypes and encourage individuals of all faiths to discover the many values we have in common.”
    “Our country is made stronger by the contributions and achievements of Muslim Americans,” said Senator Durbin. “But we cannot forget that the Muslim American community continues to face discrimination and threats because of their identity.  I hope this resolution serves as both a tribute to the community and a recommitment to standing with them in efforts to build a more welcoming and equitable nation.”  
    “I join in celebrating Muslim American Heritage Month as we take January to uplift Muslim American communities across our nation,” said Senator Kim. “Diverse voices, heritages, and stories make us who we are, forever contributing to our national tapestry and writing our American story. I hope we come together to reflect on our country’s foundational value: freedom of religion – while accepting all faiths by uplifting communities like the Ummah, our diversity remains one of our nation’s greatest strengths.”
    “Virginia is home to so many Muslim Americans, and they continue to enrich our communities,” said Senator Kaine. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution to acknowledge Muslim Americans’ contributions and achievements by recognizing January as Muslim American Heritage Month.”
    “Muslim-Americans make invaluable contributions to the success of California, which is proudly home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the country,” said Senator Padilla. “I’m glad to join Senator Booker in introducing this resolution to promote greater awareness and appreciation of Muslim-American Heritage Month, as we work toward dismantling prejudice and fostering a more inclusive society for all.”
    The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
    The full text of the resolution can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 01.24.2025 Sen. Cruz Files Amicus Brief in State Sovereignty Energy Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) filed an amicus brief supporting the State of Texas in the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court cases of NRC v. Texas and ISP v. Texas. The cases before the Court involve the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) authority to license a consolidated interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas, a decision challenged by the state of Texas and Governor Abbott. The nuclear fuel facility will be located directly on top of the Permian Basin, which stretches across Southwest Texas and Southeast New Mexico.
    Upon filing the amicus brief, Sen. Cruz said, “The Permian Basin is our nation’s leading oil and gas-producing region and a critical pillar of America’s energy security.
    “I support Attorney General Ken Paxton in opposing the NRC’s federal overreach and will keep fighting to ensure West Texas remains the energy powerhouse it is today.”
    Sen. Cruz was joined by Sen. John Cornyn, Reps. Jody Arrington (R-Texas-19), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas-28), August Pfluger (R-Texas-11), and Ronny Jackson (R-Texas-13) in filing the amicus brief.
    Read the amicus brief for NRC vs. Texas and ISP v. Texas here.
    BACKGROUND
    The NRC issued a license to ISP to construct and operate an interim storage facility designed to hold up to 5,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The facility would temporarily store the waste from various nuclear reactors across the United States. Texas argues that the NRC’s actions exceed its statutory authority under federal law, specifically the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982, which governs the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and prioritizes permanent geologic repositories over temporary facilities.
    The Court’s review of the case will address fundamental questions about the scope of the NRC’s authority and the balance of power between state and federal governments. This decision will have far-reaching implications in balancing power between states and federal agencies in regulating hazardous materials.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Announces Subcommittee Assignments for 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced his subcommittee assignments for the 119th Congress. He will serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Seapower, which oversees Navy and Marine Corps planning, operations policy, and programs. He will also serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations (SFRC) Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women’s Issues. Kaine previously served as Chair of both subcommittees in the 118th Congress.
    “I’m excited to serve as Ranking Member of the SASC Subcommittee on Seapower and SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. The United States is facing a growing number of global challenges, and both of these subcommittees are critical to ensuring we can tackle them head-on. China is far outpacing U.S. shipbuilding production, and one of my top priorities this year as Seapower Ranking Member is to make reforms to address construction and maintenance delays and get our naval programs back on track. As Ranking Member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I’m also excited to work with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, including on priorities like how to address migration, counter narcotics smuggling, and advance democratic institutions and the rule of law across the hemisphere. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both subcommittees.”
    In addition to the Subcommittees on Seapower and Western Hemisphere, Kaine will serve as a member of:
    Subcommittee on Readiness Management Support (SASC)
    Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (SASC)
    Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism (SFRC)
    Subcommittee on the State Department and USAID Management, International Operations and Bilateral International Development (SFRC)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Statement on Passing of Close Friend & Mentor Henry Marsh

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement regarding the passing of his friend and mentor Henry Marsh:

    “My heart is heavy with grief and full of gratitude that I had the chance to know Henry Marsh—a truly exceptional person. A born-and-raised Richmonder who become active in the civil rights movement before he even graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School, Henry never waited even for a moment to do all he could to serve and improve his community. After he graduated from Virginia Union University, earned a law degree from Howard University, and answered the call to serve in the United States Army, he returned home to work as a civil rights lawyer—tackling crucial cases relating to desegregation and equality in employment. He then made history as Richmond’s first African American mayor. As a former mayor myself, I know how tough that job is and have the deepest appreciation and admiration for how well he did it. And he didn’t stop there—he went on to serve in the Virginia Senate and later as a commissioner of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Any single one of Henry’s accomplishments would be enough cause to be proud, but he never stopped looking for new opportunities to serve. I’m honored to have called him a friend and mentor and would never have been elected to any office if it weren’t for him. I will be praying for his family and all who knew and loved him.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Statement on Passing of Close Friend & Mentor Henry Marsh

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement regarding the passing of his friend and mentor Henry Marsh:

    “My heart is heavy with grief and full of gratitude that I had the chance to know Henry Marsh—a truly exceptional person. A born-and-raised Richmonder who become active in the civil rights movement before he even graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School, Henry never waited even for a moment to do all he could to serve and improve his community. After he graduated from Virginia Union University, earned a law degree from Howard University, and answered the call to serve in the United States Army, he returned home to work as a civil rights lawyer—tackling crucial cases relating to desegregation and equality in employment. He then made history as Richmond’s first African American mayor. As a former mayor myself, I know how tough that job is and have the deepest appreciation and admiration for how well he did it. And he didn’t stop there—he went on to serve in the Virginia Senate and later as a commissioner of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Any single one of Henry’s accomplishments would be enough cause to be proud, but he never stopped looking for new opportunities to serve. I’m honored to have called him a friend and mentor and would never have been elected to any office if it weren’t for him. I will be praying for his family and all who knew and loved him.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Announces Appointment to Key Senate Armed Services Subcommittees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced her appointment to key subcommittees for the 119th Congress as a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee:
    Chair, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
    Member, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
    Member, Subcommittee on Airland
    “Serving on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee for the past 12 years has been one of my most solemn and critical responsibilities as a Senator. I look forward to taking the mantle again this year as Chair, where I will work with Senator King and our subcommittee members to ensure that the United States maintains a safe, effective, and credible nuclear deterrent.
    I will also continue my work on the important Readiness and Airland Subcommittees, and remain committed to ensuring that our military is fully equipped to face current and future threats,” said Senator Fischer.
    The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces has jurisdiction over two combatant commands: U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), which is based at Offutt Air Force Base in Sarpy County, Nebraska, and U.S. Space Command.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CNBC: Democratic lawmakers ask regulators to look into Donald and Melania Trump meme coins

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    January 23, 2025

    Two senior congressional Democrats have asked multiple regulators to look into the propriety of meme coins issued by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.

    Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jake Auchincloss, both of Massachusetts, raised issues regarding the first couple using their respective offices for enrichment, along with the potential for “rug-pull” scams similar to what has happened with the other such tokens, as well as possible conflicts of interest.

    “We write with deep concern about the decision by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to launch two meme coins, $TRUMP and $MELANIA, that allow them to earn extraordinary profits off his Presidency,” the pair said in a letter obtained by CNBC.com.

    “These coins do not create new faster, cheaper, and safer payments rails. These coins do not help people borrow more affordably. They do not improve the financial system in any way for consumers,” they added.

    The digital tokens have already generated billions of dollars on paper for the Trump family.

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Jeff Cox, Mackenzie Sigalos
    Source: CNBC

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CBS News: Big banks hiked interest rates on borrowers but not for savers, senators say

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    January 23, 2025

    As interest rates climbed, major banks charged borrowers more for mortgages and auto loans, yet never increased payouts to savers, despite telling lawmakers they would do so, say two U.S. senators in letters to seven CEOs, shared exclusively with CBS News.

    In March 2022, the Federal Reserve started raising the federal funds rate, with banks following suit by hiking rates for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. But those increases were not matched with high interest rate payouts on savings accounts at banks including Bank of America, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, according to the lawmakers.

    “This tactic — charging borrowers more, paying savers a little, and pocketing interest paid by the Federal Reserve — has enabled U.S. banks to rake in record profits of $1 trillion and JPMorgan alone to make record profits of $49.6 billion in 2023,” according to Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), the authors of the letters. Meanwhile, “savers have struggled to keep up with inflation,” they added.

    JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and his counterparts at half a dozen other financial institutions testified before the Senate Banking Committee in September of 2022 that their respective banks expected to increase rates for savers, albeit at a slower pace. While interest rates on the accounts JPMorgan keeps at the Fed rose from 3.15% to 4.65%, JPMorgan’s customers continue to earn .01% on their savings, the lawmakers stated. 

    …

    Read the full article here.

    By:  Kate Gibson
    Source: CBS News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: TIME: Warren’s Plan for Musk to Cut U.S. Spending

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    January 23, 2025
    If Elon Musk is serious about cutting government waste, fraud, and abuse, he may find help in an unusual place: Elizabeth Warren.
    While many Democrats in Congress want nothing to do with the billionaire who spent a fortune to help elect Donald Trump, the Massachusetts Senator says she wants to find common ground with Musk in his new role leading the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a letter she sent him Thursday morning, Warren proposed 30 recommendations for eliminating $2 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, according to a copy of the letter obtained by TIME. The list includes several of the progressive icon’s long-held policy fixations: renegotiating Department of Defense (DOD) contracts that independent analysts have found waste billions each year; reforming the Medicare Advantage insurance program and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower costs of prescription drugs; and closing tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthiest earners.
    It’s not clear how Musk will respond—but he’s in need of suggestions. Earlier this month, he walked back his pledge of finding $2 trillion in federal savings. That may be due to political constraints. Because Trump vowed on the campaign trail not to touch Medicare and Social Security, and Republicans refuse to cut military spending, DOGE will have to find less conventional ideas to fulfill Musk’s budget-slashing fantasy. 
    For years, Democrats and Republicans alike have wanted to curb wasteful government spending. While much of Washington recoils at Trump’s disruptive, norm-shattering second-term agenda, some see an opportunity for strange bedfellows to emerge. “In the interest of taking aggressive, bipartisan action to ensure sustainable spending, protect taxpayer dollars, curb abusive practices by giant corporations, and improve middle-class Americans’ quality of life,” Warren writes to Musk, “I would be happy to work with you on these matters.”
    …
    Read the full article here.
    By:  Eric CortellessaSource: TIME

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall, Tuberville, and Colleagues Introduce the FARM Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D., Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Fetterman (D-PA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act. 
    The FARM Act will permanently add the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS), the governmental body that oversees the vetting process of foreign investment and acquisition of American companies, a move to prevent improper foreign interference and disruption to the U.S. agriculture industry.
    “Food Security is National Security, it’s high time that we start recognizing this before it is too late,” said Senator Marshall. “The Secretary of Agriculture needs a seat at the table to help the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States vet foreign agricultural investments like land. This committee currently does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry, the FARM Act changes that.”
    “Over the last decade, we’ve seen a surge of American farmland purchases from our foreign adversaries,” said Senator Tuberville. “These foreign investments are now reaching every piece of the very large puzzle that makes up our agriculture industry, from farming and processing to packaging and shipping. Food security is national security, and we cannot allow our adversaries to have a foot in the door to our critical supply chains. We must prioritize oversight of foreign investment in our food supply chains, especially from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. This starts with giving the agriculture community a permanent seat at the table on CFIUS. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, I will keep fighting to secure our ag supply chains so that our agriculture community can continue to put food on the table for American families.”
    “Pennsylvania is home to about 50,000 farms and the farmers who power them already face enough challenges to stay competitive. They shouldn’t also have to compete with foreign adversaries buying up American farmland,” said Senator John Fetterman. “America’s farms are critical infrastructure, and CFIUS exists to protect our critical infrastructure from foreign threats. So, adding the Secretary of Agriculture is just plain common sense. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: foreign adversaries have no business owning American farmland. This bill makes that clear and I’m proud to partner with my colleague to get it done.”
    Two previous AG secretaries under Democrat administrations have expressed support for making the Secretary of Agriculture a permanent member of CFIUS. U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) reintroduced the bipartisan, companion legislation in the House of Representatives. 
    “America’s agricultural industry is no exception to the increasing national security threats our country faces,” said Rep. Jackson. “Biden’s failed leadership allowed unchecked foreign influence, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party, to interfere with and attempt to control our food supply chain. Representing Texas’s top agricultural-producing district, I am committed to ensuring our nation’s food production remains free from foreign manipulation. This is why I am proud to reintroduce the FARM Act, putting America first and ensuring that our agricultural industry remains robust, secure, and free from foreign interference. Thank you to Senator Tuberville for leading companion legislation in the Senate, and we hope this bipartisan legislation, which is crucial to our food security, will move forward quickly to President Trump’s desk.” 
    Read the bill HERE.
    BACKGROUND:
    Over the past few years, the United States has experienced a rapid increase in foreign investment in the agricultural sector, particularly from China. Growing foreign investment in agriculture and other essential industries, like health care and energy, threaten our country’s national security. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate AG Committee, Senator Tuberville has been sounding the alarm about foreign ownership of American farmland and other elements of our food supply chain.
    According to USDA data from December 2023, foreign investors own approximately 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land. This represents an increase of over 1.5 million acres in one calendar year. Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land increased modestly from 2012 to 2017 at an average increase of 0.6 million acres per year. However, since 2017, this number skyrocketed to an annual average of 2.6 million acres annually. Additionally, between 2010 and 2021, entities or individuals from China increased their ownership of U.S. agricultural land more than twentyfold, from 13,720 acres to 383,935 acres. Alabama has the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned agricultural land in the United States, with 2.2 million acres, most of which is forestland.
    CFIUS is authorized to oversee and review foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses as it relates to national security. Currently, the Committee does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry when reviewing foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses. 
    Specifically, the FARM Act would:
    add the Secretary of Agriculture as a member to CFIUS;
    protect the U.S. agriculture industry from foreign control through transactions, mergers, acquisitions, or agreements; designate agricultural supply chains as critical infrastructure and critical technologies,
    and require a report to Congress on current and potential foreign investments in the U.S. agricultural industry from USDA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens Marshall, Welch, McCormick, Fetterman and Reps. Thompson, and Schrier Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Whole Milk Access To All Schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D., Peter Welch (D-VT), Dave McCormick (R-PA), and John Fetterman (D-PA), as well as U.S. Representatives G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Kim Schrier (D-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation that amends the Richard Russell National School Lunch Act to allow schools participating in the program to serve whole and reduced milk as part of the National School Lunch Program. 
    The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) reports that nearly 90% of Americans do not meet their daily dairy intake recommendations, and includes Calcium and Vitamin D as nutrients of public health concern, which milk is an excellent source of. This legislation expands healthy milk options in schools to improve our students’ nutrition intake and will be a critical step in improving child nutrition health outcomes.
    “Whole and reduced fat milk should never have been excluded from the National School Lunch Program. Now, 13 years after its removal, nearly 75% of children do not receive their recommended daily dairy intake. I believe in a healthier future for America, and by increasing kids’ access to milk in school cafeterias, we will help prevent diet- related diseases down the road, as well as encourage nutrient-rich diets for years to come. Whole milk is an excellent source of 13 essential nutrients for students and adults alike in building strong bones. Plus, it tastes good,” said Senator Marshall.
    “Milk provides growing kids with key nutrients they need. Dairy is also an important part of Vermont’s culture and local economy, which is why our bipartisan bill to expand access to whole milk in our schools is a win for Vermont’s students and farmers. This bill helps provide our next generation grow stronger and helps dairy farmers do what they love–feed our communities,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Marshall and Representative Thompson on this legislation, which will allow our schools to provide students with the healthy, high-quality, and locally-produced whole milk Vermont’s dairy farms have produced for generations.”
    “The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act puts milk back in schools that our growing kids actually want to drink,” said Senator McCormick. “Pennsylvania’s dairy farmers supply this country with an abundant source of milk year-round. Allowing schools to serve whole milk and reduced-fat milk, in addition to low-fat and fat-free milk, in the lunchroom is just commonsense. I’m proud to support our dairy farmers and our students by supplying them with the essential nutrients found in milk to learn and grow.”
    “Kids need wholesome, nourishing food to grow strong and stay healthy, and whole milk is packed with the nutrients they need. Let’s give them the option to enjoy it again in schools—it’s good for them, they’ll actually drink it, and it supports our farmers. This bill is a simple solution that benefits everyone,” said Senator Fetterman.
    “Federal policy, based on flawed, outdated science has kept whole milk out of school cafeterias for more than a decade,” said Rep. Thompson. “Milk provides 13 essential nutrients that supplement growth and health, two key factors contributing to academic success. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 provides schools the flexibility they need to offer a variety of options, while supporting students and America’s hard-working dairy farmers.”  
    “As a pediatrician, I know how important a balanced and nutritious diet is for children’s health, well-being, and development,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “A healthy diet early in life leads to proper physical growth and improved academic performance, and can set the foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits. Milk is a significant part of many children’s diets and contains essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. This bill simply gives schools the option of providing the types of milk most kids prefer to drink. ”
    “IDFA thanks Reps. G.T. Thompson (R-PA-15) and Kim Schrier (D-WA-8), Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA) and David McCormick (R-PA) and scores of other co-sponsors for their bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would allow schools to provide the nutritious milk options that children prefer. Whole milk provides them with milk’s 13 essential nutrients for growth, development, healthy immune function, and overall wellness. A wide majority of parents and medical and nutrition professionals know that offering whole milk increases school meal participation, reduces food waste, and provides nutritionally valuable school meals for children and adolescents.” Michael Dykes, CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association said. 
    “NMPF commends Reps. Thompson and Schrier, and Senators Marshall, Welch, McCormick, and Fetterman for their leadership in boosting students’ access to crucial nutrition with their Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Just last month, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reaffirmed that most Americans under-consume nutrient-dense dairy.  This much-needed bill lets schools offer students the healthful milk options that they are most likely to drink by permitting the serving of nutritious reduced fat and whole milk varieties, critically addressing kids’ under-consumption of milk’s essential nutrients. NMPF is ready to work with the bill’s bipartisan sponsors to move this commonsense, widely supported solution across the finish line this year,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation
    Background: 
    In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which amended nutrition standards in the School Lunch Program. Among the changes, the law mandated that flavored milk must be fat-free within the program.
    In May of 2017, the USDA announced a rule that allowed schools to receive waivers for low-fat (1%) flavored milk, rather than only fat-free.
    Last Congress, the Whole MIlk for Healthy Kids Act passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support (330-99). 
    Leading nutritionists have found that whole dairy fats have no negative effect on a diet, and may even reduce risk of heart disease.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Announces Bipartisan Legislation To Address Shortage Of Affordable Child Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    As of 2018, 64% Of New Yorkers Lived In A Child Care Desert  
    Legislation Would Provide $100 Million In Federal Funding To Develop The Child Care Workforce, Build New Child Care Facilities 
    Today U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to discuss her bipartisan legislation to address the nationwide shortage of affordable child care. Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers live in communities that lack adequate access to child care, a share higher than in all but 4 states. Gillibrand’s bill would provide $100 million in federal funding over 5 years for states to build or expand child care facilities and to help train a robust child care workforce. 
    “Access to quality, affordable child care is a necessity for working parents, but a dire shortage of facilities and workers has made it inaccessible for millions of New Yorkers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to help recruit, train, and retain child care workers and to build or expand child care facilities in communities that need them. I am committed to working across the aisle to get this done.” 
    The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would address the shortage of affordable child care and qualified child care professionals by providing competitive workforce development grants and facilities grants to states. Flexible workforce development grants can be used for a wide range of job training activities, such as offering scholarships or tuition subsidies; paying for the purchase of textbooks, equipment or other required educational materials; or covering other education and referral costs necessary to increase labor participation in the state’s child care sector. Facilities grants would fund the construction, expansion, or renovation of child care facilities.
    Prioritized projects would be ones that expand access to child care in child care deserts – areas where the number of children under the age of five is more than three times the number of slots with local child care providers who are licensed by the state. Under this definition, 64 percent of New Yorkers live in a child care desert, including 73 percent of those in rural areas. Herkimer, Lewis, Wyoming, Oswego, and Jefferson counties face especially extreme shortages. 
    The legislation is led by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Introduce Legislation to Support First Responders Diagnosed with Occupationally-Connected Cancers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress established the Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program in 1976 to provide monetary benefits to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders who become permanently disabled or pass away due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. While the program recognizes those who made the ultimate sacrifice due to 9/11-related cancers, it does not cover first responders who lose their lives due to other service-related cancers. 
    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced legislation to ensure all first responders who die or become disabled due to service-related cancers are covered under the PSOB program. 
    The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act is built on data indicating elevated cancer risks faced by first responders. A 2011 study by the State University of Buffalo and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health revealed significantly higher rates of brain cancer and Hodgkin’s lymphoma among law enforcement officers as compared to the general population. The bill aims to recognize these occupational risks as inherent to service, thereby categorizing cancer-related fatalities as line-of-duty deaths under the PSOB program.
    “Our first responders epitomize courage and selfless sacrifice, confronting both the immediate perils of their duty and lingering health risks associated with their service,” said Cramer. “The exposure to dangerous carcinogens happens on our behalf. When these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, their families should not bear these burdens alone.”  
    “As we are seeing in California and throughout the country, our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, often exposing themselves to carcinogens that can have lethal long-term effects. It’s unacceptable that firefighters who succumb to cancer from work-related exposure or become permanently and totally disabled don’t receive the same treatment as others who die in the line of duty,” said Klobuchar. “That’s why I’m working with Senator Cramer to ensure that firefighters get the support they deserve. Our bipartisan legislation will honor the memory and sacrifice of St. Paul Fire Department Captain Mike Paidar and so many others who risk their lives in service of their communities.”
    “As Fire Chief of the Fargo Fire Department, I wholeheartedly support the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, reintroduced by Senators Kevin Cramer and Amy Klobuchar,” said Fargo Fire Chief Steven Dirksen. “This crucial legislation extends benefits for service-related cancers to first responders nationwide, recognizing the risks faced by those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.”
    “Firefighters face danger every time they leave the fire station and face a significantly greater risk of being diagnosed with this devastating illness,” said Bismarck Rural Fire Chief Dustin Theurer. “This key legislation is crucial to support the men and women in the fire service and their families.”  
    The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act was reported unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last Congress.
    This legislation has garnered the endorsement of leading public safety organizations, including the International Association of Fire Fighters, Fraternal Order of Police, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Congressional Fire Services Institute, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, National Fire Protection Association, and Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
    Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
    Click here for bill text. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer to Serve as Chair of Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) announced U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) will serve as Chairman of the Airland Subcommittee for the 119th Congress.
    The subcommittee oversees the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, giving Cramer direct nexus to North Dakota’s Air Force bases in Grand Forks and Minot. The subcommittee also oversees the National Guard and Reserve. North Dakota has nearly 4,000 Guard soldiers and airmen dispersed across the state in units such as the 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment out of Grand Forks and the 119th Air Wing “Happy Hooligans” in Fargo.
    “You couldn’t exaggerate the importance of the Armed Services Committee’s Airland Subcommittee right now,” said Cramer. “It has a central role in ensuring our national defense, and of course North Dakota’s robust defense ecosystem is full of Air Force and Army capabilities directly under the Airland Subcommittee’s jurisdiction. North Dakota’s B-52 bombers, the RQ-4s, the MQ-9s, the UH-60s, and the UH-72 aircraft are all legacy contributions that are mightily important to our first constitutional responsibility, the common defense of the nation. There are future platforms on the horizon requiring great stewardship. I’m really looking forward to leading this important subcommittee and ensuring our servicemembers and our country are properly equipped to address our most pressing threats from our adversaries, and they are a growing group.”
    Cramer will also serve on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittees on Strategic Forces, Readiness, and Emerging Threats and Capabilities.
    More information can be found here on the SASC website.

    MIL OSI USA News –