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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Risch to introduce Stand with Israel Act to combat UN’s persecution of Israel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and colleagues in announcing their intent to introduce the Stand with Israel Act to combat the United Nation’s (U.N.) persecution of Israel. The legislation would block any U.S. dollars from going to the U.N. if it downgrades Israel’s status in any way, such as preventing Israel from having certain voting powers, access to committees or other roles within the organization.
    “The U.N. has failed to pass any resolution to condemn the October 7 terrorists, yet the Palestinian delegation has tried to delegitimize Israel by introducing radical resolutions. Even though the U.N.’s policies often run against American interests, we remain its biggest funder. We shouldn’t send American tax dollars to groups that demonize our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East while elevating terrorist-sympathizers and the Palestinian Authority,” said Kennedy.
    Last month, Kennedy criticized the Palestinian Authority for introducing a U.N. resolution that would reward terrorism. The resolution would have supported an end to Israel’s presence in the West Bank, sanction Israeli officials and block other countries’ arms transfers to Israel. The U.N. General Assembly adopted the one-sided resolution without U.S. support. 
    “Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic. That said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the U.S. must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all I can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences,” said Risch. 
    The legislation is the companion to the House of Representative’s bipartisan H.R. 9394, which Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) introduced. 
    Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) also cosponsored the legislation.
    Full text of the Stand with Israel Act is available here.  
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chehalis To Be Site of 60,000-Square-Foot Upcycling Plant Thanks to $10M Federal Investment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    10.22.24

    Chehalis To Be Site of 60,000-Square-Foot Upcycling Plant Thanks to $10M Federal Investment

    CleanFiber facility will turn upcycled cardboard into home insulation, expected to support 40 local full-time jobs; DOE grant is first of its kind awarded in WA under program that helps former coal communities

    EDMONDS, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced a major federal investment that will help create new jobs in Chehalis. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) has selected CleanFiber’s Chehalis location to receive $10 million to establish a 60,000-square-foot production facility that will turn recycled cardboard into carbon-storing insulation for homes.

    “This planned new manufacturing plant is a triple win for the region: it will deliver good new manufacturing jobs, produce energy-saving advanced insulation, and reduce waste by upcycling local materials,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Supporting well-paying jobs in transitioning communities is a key requirement we included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and this announcement shows the federal government is betting on Chehalis to be an engine of revitalization in Southwest Washington.”

    The facility is expected to produce enough advanced insulation to weatherize more than 10,000 homes a year and will support 40 full-time employees. 

    Building the facility will require approximately 33 full-time local contractors during the construction phase to provide civil work, electrical, engineering, fire protection and insulation, mechanical work, and pipefitting. All contractors will be paid at or above the prevailing wage and CleanFiber will help create apprenticeship opportunities by engaging contractors with structured apprenticeship programs.

    Once the facility is operational, CleanFiber expects to hire approximately 40 full-time employees. All hires will receive competitive wages and full benefits packages. The company plans outreach to disadvantaged and displaced coal workers, and will develop partnerships with state and local organizations (such as WorkSource Washington, the Washington State Labor Council, and the Pacific Mountain Workforce Board) to recruit from those populations. CleanFiber also pledges to remain neutral during any union organizing campaigns at their facility.

    CleanFiber’s Chehalis plant is one of 14 projects announced today by DOE to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing in 15 coal communities across the United States. This is the first grant to a project in Washington state under the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Program.

    The program was created and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that Sen. Cantwell helped craft in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, before passing the full Senate. Each project further positions the United States to win the competition for manufacturing in the 21st century and strengthen our national security by building supply chains for existing and emerging technologies in America, built by American workers with American materials.

    CleanFiber is also building a sister plant in Ennis, Texas.

    The projects, led by small-and medium-businesses in communities with de-commissioned coal facilities, were selected to address critical energy supply chain vulnerabilities. Sen. Cantwell was a strong supporter of the landmark BIL, which provided historic investments to revitalize communities in Washington state. The Senator’s CHIPS & Science Act also included provisions focusing on rural economic development, notably the recently announced Recompetes grant for the Olympic Peninsula.  Overall the CHIPS & Science Act has led to resurgence of American manufacturing, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and spurred over $230 billion of investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Democrats Send Amicus Brief Urging Federal Court to Protect Access to Emergency Abortions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    10.22.24

    Cantwell, Democrats Send Amicus Brief Urging Federal Court to Protect Access to Emergency Abortions

    Members ask the Ninth Circuit to affirm that under federal law, hospitals participating in Medicare must provide emergency stabilizing treatment to patients, including abortion care when necessary; Ninth Circuit Court received the case after the Supreme Court dismissed it in June

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 258 other Members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, two consolidated cases concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) under consideration by the en banc Ninth Circuit. EMTALA is a federal law that requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide necessary “stabilizing treatment” to patients experiencing medical emergencies, which can include abortion care.

    After the Dobbs decision in 2022, a draconian anti-abortion law in Idaho went into effect that makes it a felony for a doctor to terminate a patient’s pregnancy unless it is “necessary” to prevent the patient’s death. The United States sued the State of Idaho, arguing that the state’s law is preempted by EMTALA in those circumstances in which abortion may not be necessary to prevent imminent death, but still constitutes the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient’s emergency medical condition. The district court agreed; it held that in those limited, but critically important situations, EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion as an emergency medical treatment. Idaho Republicans appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court, which lifted the injunction and took the case in January—in March, Sen. Cantwell and 257 other Members filed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to affirm the district court decision. In June, the Supreme Court dismissed the case but without a ruling on the merits, sending the case back to the Ninth Circuit Court and reinstating the district court’s injunction.

    In their brief in support of the Justice Department, the lawmakers ask the Ninth Circuit to uphold the district court’s ruling. They argue that the congressional intent, text, and history of EMTALA make clear that covered hospitals must provide abortion care when it is the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient’s emergency medical condition, and that EMTALA preempts Idaho’s abortion ban in emergency situations that present a serious threat to a patient’s health.

    In their brief in support of the Justice Department, the lawmakers ask the Ninth Circuit to uphold the district court’s ruling. They argue that the congressional intent, text, and history of EMTALA make clear that covered hospitals must provide abortion care when it is the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient’s emergency medical condition, and that EMTALA preempts Idaho’s abortion ban in emergency situations that present a serious threat to a patient’s health.

    “[T]he 99th Congress passed EMTALA to ensure that every person who visits a Medicare-funded hospital with an ‘emergency medical condition’ is offered stabilizing treatment,” the Members write in their amicus brief. “Congress chose broad language for that mandate, requiring hospitals that participate in the Medicare program to provide ‘such treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical condition.’… That text—untouched by Congress for the past three decades—makes clear that in situations in which a doctor determines that abortion constitutes the ‘[n]ecessary stabilizing treatment’ for a pregnant patient, federal law requires the hospital to offer it. Yet Idaho has made providing that care a felony, in direct contravention of EMTALA’s mandate.”

    Importantly, the Members note that in this case, “respecting the supremacy of federal law is about more than just protecting our system of government; it is about protecting people’s lives. If this Court allows Idaho’s near-total abortion ban to supersede federal law, pregnant patients in Idaho will continue to be denied appropriate medical treatment, placing them at heightened risk for medical complications and severe adverse health outcomes… And health care providers, unwilling to let Idaho’s law override their medical judgment regarding their patients’ best interests, will continue their exile from Idaho, creating maternity-care ‘deserts’ all over the state.” The Members point to numerous reports of OB/GYNs leaving Idaho en masse since the state’s abortion ban went into effect—Idaho has since lost fifty-five percent of its maternal-fetal medicine specialists and three rural hospitals have shut down maternity services altogether.

    “These are not hypothetical scenarios. Because Idaho’s abortion ban contains no clear exceptions for the “emergency medical conditions” covered by EMTALA, it forces physicians to wait until their patients are on the verge of death before providing abortion care. The result in other states with similar laws has been ‘significant maternal morbidity,’” write the Members, pointing to harrowing reports of pregnant women with severe health complications being denied necessary abortion care, including an Idaho woman who was flown to Utah for an abortion while hemorrhaging, leaking amniotic fluid, and terrified that she would not survive to care for her two other children. “Federal law does not allow Idaho to endanger the lives of its residents in this way.”

    In their brief, the Members also clarify that the references to “unborn child” in EMTALA were intended to expand hospitals’ obligations with respect to providing stabilizing treatment—not contract them or take away the obligation to provide abortion care in certain circumstances.

    The Members’ brief also counters an argument from Idaho and its amici that the Supremacy Clause does not apply in this case because EMTALA was passed using Spending Clause authority, and therefore acts only as a condition on Medicare funding. The Members make clear that all laws passed by Congress are entitled to preemption—regardless of their source of constitutional authority—and states cannot pass laws that make it impossible for private parties to accept federal funding, inhibiting the purpose of the federal law. 

    “Because EMTALA requires abortion when necessary to stabilize a patient with an emergency medical condition, Idaho’s near-total abortion ban is preempted to the extent that it prevents doctors from providing that care,” the Members write. “This Court should reject Appellants’ novel theory that EMTALA is not entitled to preemptive effect because it was enacted pursuant to Congress’s spending power.  Under the Supremacy Clause, all ‘the constitutional laws enacted by congress,’ constitute ‘the supreme Law of the Land,’. As the Supreme Court has repeatedly held, the principle of federal supremacy applies to laws passed pursuant to Congress’s spending authority no less than it does to laws effectuating other enumerated powers.”

    “In sum, EMTALA plainly requires hospitals that participate in the Medicare program to provide abortion care when, in a doctor’s medical judgment, it constitutes the ‘[n]ecessary stabilizing treatment’ for a patient’s ‘emergency medical condition.’”

    The lawmakers conclude by asking the Ninth Circuit to affirm the district court’s decision that EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion care when it is necessary as emergency medical treatment.

    In the Senate, the amicus brief was signed by 48 U.S. Senators: Schumer, Murray, Wyden, Durbin, Baldwin, Bennet, Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Butler, Cantwell, Cardin, Carper, Casey Jr., Coons, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Hassan, Heinrich, Helmy, Hickenlooper, Hirono, Kaine, Kelly, King Jr., Klobuchar, Luján, Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Padilla, Peters, Reed, Rosen, Sanders, Schatz, Shaheen, Sinema, Smith, Stabenow, Tester, Van Hollen, Warner, Warnock, Warren, Welch, and Whitehouse.

    In the House, the brief was signed by 211 U.S. Representatives.

    The lawmakers’ amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be read in full HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 10.22.2024 Cruz, Lankford Challenge Biden-Harris Administration’s ‘Gender Identity’ Guidance Targeting Women, People of Faith

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    ASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra about new guidance from HHS that compels speech, targets the ability of federal employees to practice their faith, and endangers women.
    In the letter, the senators wrote, “We write out of deep concern over Guidance you issued entitled ‘Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants.’… According to the Guidance, failure to use the preferred names and pronouns an individual asks to be addressed with ‘contribute[s] to an unlawful hostile work environment.’ Notably, your Guidance states that the Department cannot ‘require a legal change of name or gender marker, medical certification, or other documentation.’ In other words, anyone can change their names and pronouns and compel coworkers to use that name or pronoun, or face disciplinary action.
    “Perhaps more egregious than the Guidance’s position on compelled speech related to pronoun usage is the policy on bathroom, locker room, and lactation room usage. According to the Guidance, HHS will ‘ensure there are no barriers to equally accessing restrooms, locker rooms, lactation rooms, or other personal care spaces.’… Including lactation rooms in this same Guidance is blatantly offensive—males cannot breastfeed their children, and claiming to be female does not change that reality. The only reason for including this in the Guidance is to continue to push a radical agenda in every facet of the federal workplace.”
    Sens. Cruz and Lankford were joined by Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in signing the letter.
    Read the full letter here or below:
    Dear Mr. Secretary:
    We write out of deep concern over Guidance you issued entitled “Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants.” This Guidance denies science, compels speech, jeopardizes the ability of federal employees to practice their faith without fear of retaliation, endangers women, and further erodes the American people’s trust in public institutions. We urge you to reverse course and rescind this Guidance.
    According to the Guidance, failure to use the preferred names and pronouns an individual asks to be addressed with “contribute[s] to an unlawful hostile work environment.” Notably, your Guidance states that the Department cannot “require a legal change of name or gender marker, medical certification, or other documentation.” In other words, anyone can change their names and pronouns and compel coworkers to use that name or pronoun, or face disciplinary action. The Guidance also stipulates that training on this guidance will be included in “all new employee training.” It also says additional trainings regarding gender identity will be made available, and that “specialized training” may be deemed necessary “for particular offices or Department-wide.” There is no mention anywhere in the Guidance about accommodations for those with religious or conscience objections to the compelled use of incorrect pronouns.
    In addition to violating extremely clear, long-standing Supreme Court precedents on compelled speech, reaffirmed as recently as 303 Creative v Elenis, this also violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In forcing employees to choose between deeply held religious beliefs or losing their job, HHS is creating a hostile work environment for employees.
    Perhaps more egregious than the Guidance’s position on compelled speech related to pronoun usage is the policy on bathroom, locker room, and lactation room usage. According to the Guidance, HHS will “ensure there are no barriers to equally accessing restrooms, locker rooms, lactation rooms, or other personal care spaces.” The Guidance notes that, “HHS will not condition this access on an employee having undergone or providing proof of gender-affirming surgeries or other medical procedures.” Further, if any employees are made uncomfortable by having to share bathrooms, locker rooms, or lactation rooms with individuals using the wrong space, they will be directed to use other facilities, because “employees will not be barred from using the restroom consistent with their gender identity.”
    Given the Guidance’s stipulation on not requiring any evidence of gender dysphoria or gender transition procedures, women could be forced to be exposed to fully male anatomy in the bathroom or in the locker room. This creates a hostile work environment for women who may have no other option than using the facilities at work. A female employee who has used a women’s restroom for more than a decade will be told that she has to find a new option for a restroom if she is uncomfortable with a biological male in her restroom. Women deserve better. Including lactation rooms in this same Guidance is blatantly offensive—males cannot breastfeed their children, and claiming to be female does not change that reality. The only reason for including this in the Guidance is to continue to push a radical agenda in every facet of the federal workplace.
    Finally, the Guidance’s denial of science—and incorporation of that denial into the hiring, firing, and promotion process—raises questions about the work and research being done through the HHS. Gender is not, as the Guidance erroneously asserts, “a social construct of identities, norms, behaviors, and roles that vary between societies over time.” There are only two sexes: male and female. Research by the HHS at taxpayer expense should not be done in contravention of that scientific and self-evident fact.
    HHS is rapidly losing the confidence of the American people over the last three years. According to Pew Research polling, in 2020, HHS had a favorable/unfavorable rating of 73/19. In 2023, that favorability metric had plummeted to 55/30. By rejecting science and diving deeper into the culture wars, HHS risks further undermining faith in critical public institutions. We urge you to rescind this Guidance, and request answers to the following questions no later than October 30.
    In your response to a Finance Committee question for the record, you stated that this Guidance does not change any religious protections for employees, but you did not answer whether there was a specific exemption process in place for this guidance. What exemption process is HHS providing to employees and managers being required to follow or implement this guidance based on religious or conscience objections?
    Please provide detailed account of the exemption process; how HHS is ensuring employees are aware of this process; if individuals have to apply for an exemption; and how many individuals have received exemptions.
    The Guidance requires managers who become aware of “derogatory remarks or demeaning behaviors” to “take appropriate steps to immediately and effectively stop these activities.”
    Is an employee’s refusal to use preferred name or pronouns considered “derogatory remarks or demeaning behavior?”
    What does HHS consider “appropriate steps?”
    How many HHS employees have faced employment consequences of any type for not abiding this guidance?
    The Guidance refers to updating websites, policies, programs, trainings, and publications to “replace gendered language with gender-neutral and gender-inclusive language.”
    Please provide detailed accounts of how many hours have already or will be used on this, the total cost of updating training materials, and any other expenses incurred as a result of this change.
    Will information pertaining to male and female specific medical issues—including testicular or ovarian cancer, maternal health, etc.—also be changed to gender neutral language?
    The Guidance creates an “LGBTQI+ Coordinating Committee.”
    Who will determine the members of this committee?
    What funds will be used to pay for the activities of this committee?
    Will there be a member on this committee dedicated to ensuring the protection of employees with religious and conscience objections?
    On what statutory authority does HHS base this Guidance?
    We look forward to your prompt response.
    Sincerely,
    /X/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio, Lee Announce $6 Million for Pittsburgh International Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey

    Funding will help improve the terminal building

    Airport Terminal Program funding comes from infrastructure law

    With this funding, Pittsburgh International Airport has received more than $129 million in federal funding since the start of 2021

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Summer Lee (D-PA-12) announced that Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is receiving $6,000,000 in competitive grant funding to modernize and rehabilitate the terminal. This funding comes from the Airport Terminal Program (ATP), which was created by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to revitalize the Nation’s aging airports.

    “Pittsburgh International Airport is an essential connection between the region and the world, and it’s critical that the terminals are safe and can meet passenger needs. This investment from the infrastructure law will support ongoing efforts to modernize the airport by replacing floors, bulkheads, and decades-old moving walkways,” said Senator Casey. “I will always fight for investments that boost Southwestern Pennsylvania’s economy and keep the region moving.”

    “Pittsburgh’s airport should reflect the grit and resilience of the city it serves and this $6 million investment helps make that happen. Upgrading parts of the terminal that have been in place for over 30 years will help bring our airport back up to speed, create jobs, and ensure it serves both the community and travelers with true Pittsburgh pride,” said Senator Fetterman.

    “The Infrastructure Law is still at work in Western PA, this time bringing home $6 million more for the Pittsburgh International Airport terminal updates,” said Congressman Deluzio. “The airport is not only a place where people catch flights: but it’s also a workplace, employer, and economic hub. We need to make sure it works as smoothly as possible, and that we help out airport be the best it can be. I’m proud federal funding from the Infrastructure Law is a part of that effort.”

    “Today’s announcement of $6 million in federal funding for Pittsburgh International Airport is a big win for the people of Pittsburgh and the hardworking travelers who rely on safe, accessible, and efficient airports. This investment is about putting people first by creating good-paying jobs, ensuring smoother and safer travel experiences, and revitalizing a space that millions pass through each year. It’s also a commitment to the growth and well-being of our community, helping Pittsburgh remain a hub of opportunity and progress for all who live, work, and visit here,” said Congresswoman Lee.

    The funding for Pittsburgh International Airport will support the Terminal Modernization Program, which includes installing new flooring, restoring columns and bulkheads, and replacing 32-year-old moving walkways in the concourses. Since the infrastructure law was passed, millions of dollars have been allocated to PIT. In June 2024, Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio, and Lee announced $20.6 million for PIT to support their ongoing terminal improvement project. In February 2024, the Members announced $5.3 million in new infrastructure funding to fund a component of the 700,000 square foot landslide terminal construction. PIT has received a total of $129,706,728 since the start of 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Fetterman, Boyle, Evans, Scanlon, Parker Announce $27.5 Million for Philadelphia International Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey

    Funding will be used to upgrade terminals, including modernizing HVAC and electrical systems

    With this funding, PHL has received more than $347 million in federal funding since the start of 2021

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5), Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), and Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2) and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced that Philadelphia International Airport is receiving $27,500,000 in new federal infrastructure funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This funding comes from the Airport Terminal Program (ATP), which was created by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to revitalize the Nation’s aging airports.

    “Philadelphia International Airport serves as a vital transportation and economic gateway to the rest of the Commonwealth and the world,” said Senator Casey. “This investment from the infrastructure law will help modernize the airport by upgrading HVAC and electrical systems in Terminals D and E. I will always fight for investments that boost Southeastern Pennsylvania’s economy and keep the region moving.”

    “It’s investments like this that help keep Philadelphia a world-class city with world-class infrastructure. This $27.5 million for terminal energy upgrades guarantees that the commonwealth’s largest airport stays efficient, resilient, and ready for the future. That’s how we keep Philly competitive and connected,” said Senator Fetterman.

    “I’m pleased to see another $27.5 million in federal funding that I voted for coming to Philadelphia! The airport has also received other federal funding for improvements through the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and this will all benefit people traveling from and to our area, along with our local economy,” said Congressman Evans.

    “I’m proud to see PHL earning the competitive grants we authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, bringing good jobs to our region as PHL upgrades its terminals.” said Congresswoman Scanlon. “Modernizing our region’s airport infrastructure will improve air travel for passengers and position our local economy for success in an increasingly competitive global economy.”

    “It is tremendous news that our Philadelphia International Airport will be receiving $27.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration to help with important HVAC and energy efficiency projects,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Every single federal grant or funding allocation coming into Philadelphia is because of the hard work of all our federal partners, including Senator Casey and every member of our delegation, along with the support of the Biden-Harris administration.  It’s another step forward for Philadelphia, and we are profoundly grateful.”

    The funding for Philadelphia International Airport will support improvements to the existing upper levels of portions of Terminals D & E that have reached the end of their useful lives, including HVAC and electrical efficiency upgrades and improvements. PHL has received a total of $374,545,577 in federal investments since the start of 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Fetterman Announce More Than $3 Million for Harrisburg International Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey

    Funding will help improve the terminal building by replacing escalators and renovating bathrooms

    Airport Terminal Program funding comes from infrastructure law

    With this funding, Harrisburg International Airport has received more than $63 million in federal funding since the start of 2021

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) announced that Harrisburg International Airport is receiving a total of $3,088,114 in new federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to modernize and rehabilitate the terminal. The awards, made possible by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), will support airport terminal improvement by replacing escalators and renovating bathrooms.

    “Improving the passenger experience in our airports is critical to keeping our Commonwealth moving. This grant from the infrastructure law will help modernize Harrisburg International Airport by replacing escalators and renovating bathrooms throughout the terminal,” said Senator Casey. “I will keep pushing for investments in our Commonwealth’s infrastructure that improve Pennsylvanians’ travel experiences and boost our economy.”

    “Every dollar counts when it comes to keeping our airports modern, safe, and accessible. Renovating restrooms might not be glamorous, but it’s a vital investment in making sure every traveler gets the best experience in our state capital,” said Senator Fetterman.

    This funding comes from the Airport Terminal Program (ATP), created by IIJA to revitalize aging airports across the Nation. Harrisburg International Airport is receiving $2,449,089 to replace escalators in the terminal. Additionally, the airport is receiving $639,025 to renovate the terminal’s bathrooms. Since the infrastructure law was passed, millions of dollars have been allocated to Harrisburg International Airport. In February 2024, Senators Casey and Fetterman announced $7.5 million to improve passenger safety by replacing jet bridges.

    Harrisburg International Airport has received $63,299,831 in federal funding since the start of 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: October 21st, 2024 Heinrich Highlights $2.5 Million for Mobile Training Unit to Connect Rural New Mexicans to In-Demand Careers in the Skilled Trades, Participates in Training Demo with U.A. Local 412

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    PHOTOS & VIDEO
    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, highlighted more than $2.5 million he has secured through the Appropriations process for the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 412 (U.A. Local 412) to operate a mobile training unit that provides pre-apprenticeship training to New Mexicans living in rural and Tribal communities. 
    The mobile training unit is creating more pathways to in-demand careers in the skilled trades and has already trained dozens of New Mexicans in Española, Taos, Las Vegas, Mora, Raton, and Santa Fe. Heinrich also participated in a training demonstration with U.A. Local 412 leadership and apprentices who are learning skills in the plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC trades.

    U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) participates in a training demonstration with the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 412 (U.A. Local 412), October 21, 2024.
    “Thanks to our Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act, New Mexico is experiencing a manufacturing and clean energy renaissance that is creating new high-quality careers New Mexicans can build their families around,” said Heinrich. “I’m focused on expanding pathways to skills training and apprenticeships that connect New Mexicans to careers in their own communities. This is how we can address workforce shortages, grow the middle class, and strengthen our economy.”
    Heinrich-Secured Federal Investments for the Mobile Training Unit:
    The U.A. Local 412 Mobile Training Unit was initially paid for by an Economic Development Administration (EDA) Good Jobs Challenge Grant, as part of a $6.4 million award to the Northern N.M. Workforce Integration Network. The Good Jobs Challenge funds were authorized by the American Rescue Plan, the critical economic recovery legislation that Heinrich was proud to pass in 2021. 
    Through his work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich has further supported the U.A. Local 412’s workforce development efforts by securing more than $2.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bills. These awards helped the union secure the equipment and staffing they need to train New Mexicans for jobs in the skilled trades, including specialized training needed to fill the many new, well-paying jobs being created by the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. 
    Heinrich is currently fighting to pass the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bills, which include an additional $870,000 CDS award that he secured within the Senate Appropriations Committee-passed Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Bill to sustain the U.A. Local 412’s mobile training unit’s operations past the original EDA funding, and to expand its reach to new communities including Grants, Gallup, Silver City, and Zuni Pueblo. 
    Heinrich’s Longtime Support for Workforce Training and Apprenticeships:
    Heinrich has long championed proven workforce training programs like U.A. Local 412’s apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs that are growing the middle class, creating and connecting New Mexicans to high-quality careers they can access in their communities, and continuing New Mexico’s leading role in the clean energy transition that is being built by union workers in the skilled trades. 
    Last week, Heinrich hosted a “Pro-Worker, Pro-Business Opportunities” roundtable to talk directly with New Mexicans about how federal legislation he helped pass into law, like the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Law, is creating careers in high-demand sectors and strengthening New Mexico’s health care, early childhood education, and skilled trades workforce.  
    Last year, Heinrich introduced the bipartisan Apprenticeship Pathways Act, legislation to create pathways to careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeship programs for occupations with high need, including the building trades, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, and early childhood education. Earlier this year, Heinrich introduced the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act, legislation to strengthen the pipeline for careers in New Mexico, address rising workforce shortages, and grow the state’s economy through quality pre-apprenticeship programs. 
    Last year, Courtenay Eichhorst, Business Manager of U.A. Local 412 and President of New Mexico Building Trades, testified about the importance of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships during a hearing that Heinrich convened as the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee on “Job Training for the Clean Energy Transition.” 
    Eichhorst said during that JEC hearing, “In addition to our ‘gold standard’ apprenticeship programs, the UA and other Building Trades’ unions are also increasingly investing in pre-apprenticeship programs that can be designed to help prepare high school students or individuals from underrepresented communities for a career in the trades. These programs help fill the role that used to be filled by the ‘shop classes’ that were found in high schools but have become increasingly rare. Pre-apprenticeship programs also focus on the ‘soft skills’ that are necessary for success in any industry, such as showing up on time and other work etiquette.”
    Earlier this year, also in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bills, Heinrich secured $1,200,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the SMART Local Union No. 49 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee to enhance and expand specialized HVAC apprenticeship training. 
    In March, Heinrich introduced the Providing Resources and Opportunities for Health Education and Learning (PRO-HEAL) Act, legislation that will tackle the health care provider shortage in New Mexico and nationwide by expanding pathways to high-quality, in-demand health care careers that medical professionals can access in their communities. Specifically, the PRO-HEAL Act addresses medical provider shortages by incentivizing states and institutions of higher education to expand or create health care provider pipeline programs, particularly in underserved and rural communities. The legislation is inspired by the success of the Combined BA/MD Degree Program at the University of New Mexico, where over 65% of students who have graduated from their program practice medicine in New Mexico.    
    Last year, Heinrich introduced the Pathways to Health Careers Act, legislation that reauthorizes and modernizes the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program to help address health care shortages in New Mexico and across the country and create pathways to high-quality, in-demand health care careers. The HPOG program has a proven track record of successfully educating workers for jobs in the health care industry, while also providing career coaching, job placement, and a mix of other support services. The Pathways to Health Careers Act would restart and expand the HPOG Program, providing $425 million to make HPOG available nationwide from FY2024 through FY2028 and includes set asides for Tribes and U.S. Territories.  
    In 2021, Heinrich introduced the Championing Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in Technology (CHANCE in Tech) Act, legislation to create earlier pathways to high-paying careers in the information technology (IT) industry. Heinrich previously introduced similar bipartisan legislation in 2019 with former Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell, Kilmer Announce $51M Federal Grant to Repair Hood Canal Bridge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Hood Canal Bridge is a vital link between Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas & helps more than 30,000 daily commuters avoid a 100-mile detour around Puget Sound
    As the longest floating saltwater bridge in the world, the structure is deteriorating in the harsh marine environment
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) , Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06) announced that the Washington State Department of Transportation will receive $51,125,917 in federal funds to repair the Hood Canal Bridge.
    The funding comes from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program, which provides grants to nationally and regionally significant transportation projects to improve the country’s freight network.
    “The Hood Canal Bridge is an absolutely critical connection for people and businesses on the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas,” said Sen. Murray. “This is a piece of infrastructure that must remain safe and reliable so people can get to where they need to go—whether that’s work, a doctor’s appointment, or anything else. With thousands of travelers relying on this bridge just about every day, I’m proud to have worked together with Senator Cantwell and Representative Kilmer to ensure we bring these federal dollars home to replace outdated portions of this bridge.”
    “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Hood Canal Bridge will receive the repairs it needs to continue providing a vital connection between Kitsap, Jefferson, and Clallam Counties, with more than 30,000 crossings per day. Without this bridge, drivers would need to take a 100-mile detour around Puget Sound. And if the bridge’s retractable span were to fail, submarines and other vessels would be cut off from Naval Base Kitsap – Bangor,” Sen. Cantwell said. “This bridge is critical to the quality of life for residents and our national security.”
    “The Hood Canal Bridge is often a lifeline for folks on the Olympic Peninsula, enabling them to get where they need to go,” said Rep. Kilmer. “This federal funding is a major step toward improving the safety and reliability of the bridge, helping ensure that it will remain open, accessible and resilient for years to come. And with federal support it means this project can move forward without the costs falling solely on the backs of taxpayers in our state. That’s a win-win.”
    This project will replace over 3,400 linear feet of the western half of the bridge including the replacement of 55 reinforced concrete crossbeams and 216 prestressed concrete girder lines and the placement of nearly 4,800 cubic yards of concrete. Preliminary design work is scheduled to begin in November 2025, with project completion scheduled for June 2027. The project’s total budget is $85.2 million.
    The Hood Canal Bridge links the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, allowing over 30,000 motorists to get to and from work each day. As the longest floating bridge in the world over saltwater, this unique structure sits in a harsh marine environment that’s deteriorated its condition over the past 40 years. Currently, vehicles that can cross the bridge are weight-restricted at 17,000 lbs per axle or less, and overweight vehicles are forced to drive nearly 100 miles around Puget Sound.  If the bridge’s condition goes unaddressed, further deterioration and restrictions would have severe impacts on commerce and the livelihood of those who depend on the bridge every day.
    The Hood Canal Bridge also crosses a channel used by U.S. Navy submarines to reach the Pacific Ocean from Naval Base Kitsap -Bangor. Should the bridge’s retractable span become unusable, those vessels would be cut off from the base.
    Sen. Murray, as a senior appropriator and then Assistant Majority Leader, helped secure $3.2 billion for the INFRA grant program in advance appropriations in addition to the $4.8 billion funded through the Highway Trust Fund when she helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for a total of $8 billion over five years. 
    Sen. Cantwell authored the INFRA Grant Program in the FAST Act of 2015, to provide grants to nationally and regionally significant freight and highway projects. This grant program was the first discretionary grant program to focus on improving the multimodal freight network and addressing freight bottlenecks. In 2022, as chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sen. Cantwell helped secure $8 billion over five years for the INFRA Grant Program as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a 78 percent increase in funding. Additionally, in August 2024, Sen. Cantwell wrote a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of the Hood Canal Bridge project’s INFRA grant application. The State of Washington has received 11 INFRA Grants, for a total of $532,300,108 since the start of the program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Kaleidoscope Factory

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Kaleidoscope Factory of Pocahontas County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
    “Woodworking, like a kaleidoscope, is an art that celebrates transformation – with each cut and carve, new beauty emerges,” said Ranking Member Ernst. “The Kaleidoscope Factory reveals fresh perspectives with every twist, uncovering the hidden potential in every piece of wood.”
    In 1997, Leonard Olson received his first kaleidoscope as a gift, sparking a lifelong passion for woodworking. He began making them on his own and opened Kaleidoscope Factory in Pomeroy, Iowa in 2004. In 2014, Leonard moved Kaleidoscope Factory to downtown Pocahontas.
    After Leonard passed away in 2019, his sisters, Lois Hessenius and Margaret Egli, kept the business running while other family and friends stepped up to help craft a variety of products like kaleidoscopes, toy trains, and puzzles. Kaleidoscope Factory partnered with the Pocahontas County Economic Development Commission to install life-sized kaleidoscopes throughout the community. This past April, Kaleidoscope Factory celebrated its 20th anniversary.
    Stay tuned as Ranking Member Ernst recognizes more Iowa small businesses across the state with her Small Business of the Week award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Young Urge President Biden To Protect Undersea Cables From China, Russia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 21, 2024

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Monday led 6 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to President Biden expressing concerns about the security of the global network of undersea communications and energy cables upon which American workers and businesses rely.
    More than 95% of international internet traffic travels via these undersea cables, resulting in trillions of dollars in financial transactions each day. The locations of these cables are often openly published to prevent accidental damage.
    As American companies look to expand and invest in this critical infrastructure, it is imperative that the United States has a complete understanding of existing vulnerabilities, especially those that impact our economic and national security.
    “America’s adversaries have been developing their capabilities to attack or disrupt critical undersea infrastructure. There is a long tradition, dating back well over a century, of belligerents attacking their opponents’ underwater communications lines in the first phase of a conflict,” the senators wrote. “Given these threats and challenges, it is imperative that the United States undertake a review of existing vulnerabilities to global undersea cable infrastructure, including the threat of sabotage by Russia as well as the growing role of the People’s Republic of China in cable laying and repair. If we are truly to deepen vital commercial and security relationships with willing partners and allies, this must be a national priority.”
    U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) also signed the letter.
    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
    Dear Mr. President: 
    We write to you to express our concern about the security of global undersea communications and energy cables, especially those that impact America’s economic and national security and that of our allies and partners. As you are well aware, more than 95% of international internet traffic travels via undersea cables, including trillions of dollars in financial transactions each day. Moreover, the exact locations of most of these cables are openly published in order to reduce the likelihood of accidental damage from ships’ anchors or fishing activities. Internet and telecommunications providers, including American firms, intend to invest billions of dollars in expanding the global network of undersea communications cables. Additionally, energy transmission cables are proliferating as governments look to new sources of electricity generation. 
    America’s adversaries have been developing their capabilities to attack or disrupt critical undersea infrastructure. There is a long tradition, dating back well over a century, of belligerents attacking their opponents’ underwater communications lines in the first phase of a conflict. For example, in both World Wars, Britain’s first naval actions were to cut the telegraph cables connecting Germany to the Americas, and in 1918 a German U-boat severed lines connecting New York to both Nova Scotia and Panama. In addition to this kind of overt, kinetic attack, the nature of undersea infrastructure increases the feasibility of gray zone actions with plausible deniability. It is difficult to distinguish between an accident and a deliberate action on the seabed, and more difficult still to confirm who conducted such an action. On top of this, because this infrastructure is privately owned by commercial enterprises, repairs are the responsibility of these private companies, which are likely not prepared to maintain them under wartime conditions and are likely to seek the most cost-effective repair and maintenance options—even if that option is owned or operated by a foreign adversary or strategic competitor. 
    Given these threats and challenges, it is imperative that the United States undertake a review of existing vulnerabilities to global undersea cable infrastructure, including the threat of sabotage by Russia as well as the growing role of the People’s Republic of China in cable laying and repair. If we are truly to deepen vital commercial and security relationships with willing partners and allies, this must be a national priority. We respectfully request that you provide responses to the following questions and direct senior administration officials to brief Members of Congress, including members of relevant committees of jurisdiction, on your plans and the resources and authorities needed to carry them out.
    What is your Administration’s overall strategy to guarantee the security of America’s undersea infrastructure and to promote the security of that of our allies and partners? 
    The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 established the Cable Security Fleet (CSF). If authorized and sufficiently funded, what would be your assessment of the ideal size of the U.S.-flagged and -operated cable laying and repair vessel fleet to ensure sufficient cable repair capacity during a conflict or national emergency? How can the United States work with trusted allies and partners for additional capacity to support the expansion and repair of trusted undersea cable networks? 
    What is the Administration’s strategy to encourage other nations to choose trusted suppliers in their selection of undersea cable manufacturers, particularly in any nation of concern or which may be vulnerable to coercion or covert action by America’s adversaries? 
    How is the Administration working with the private sector to ensure that commercial enterprises’ investments in undersea cables align with U.S. national security priorities? 
    How do you intend to protect the physical security of undersea cables in the open ocean, including through any interpretation of customary international law? 
    How is the Administration working multilaterally to collectively enhance security and monitor potential threats to undersea infrastructure, including through NATO, the Quad, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity? 
    Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. As Congress works to continue its oversight of national security, it is vital that we understand the current state of the information backbone of our economy and efforts to protect it. 
    Sincerely, 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Meeting with DOT Secretary Nominee Sean Duffy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Sean Duffy, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT):
    “I’m glad I could meet with Mr. Duffy today and discuss my priorities when it comes to our nation’s transportation system and transit infrastructure. Washington state has benefitted in a major way from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the vast array of federal infrastructure programs I help fund each year through the regular appropriations process.  I will be keeping a close eye to make sure Mr. Duffy faithfully executes the law and delivers the resources communities across Washington state are counting on for everything from building bridges to expanding our public transit.  
    “There are massive infrastructure investments in my state with huge economic benefits that depend on DOT meeting its legal obligations, including the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project that is a huge deal for folks in Southwest Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest economy.
    “It is critical that we have a Secretary of Transportation who will follow the law and work productively with senators on both sides of the aisle on the transportation needs and challenges our states are facing.
    “We also spoke about aviation safety and working together to make sure FAA has the resources and staffing it needs to conduct proper oversight—including overseeing the continued implementation of Boeing’s comprehensive action plan to ensure that horrifying safety lapses, like the door plug incident we saw last January, never happen again.”
    Senator Murray played a key role in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as Assistant Majority Leader, and as a longtime member—and now Vice Chair—of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and former chair of the Transportation appropriations subcommittee, Senator Murray has fought successfully over the years to boost investment in a wide range of transportation and infrastructure grant programs that benefit Washington state. Last Congress, as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray wrote and passed the transportation appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024, which was signed into law last March. The annual legislation funds the Department of Transportation and critical grant programs that benefit Washington state enormously, including RAISE—which Senator Murray established in 2009. Senator Murray is now working to negotiate government funding bills, including the transportation funding bill, for fiscal year 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Exempt All VA Employees From Hiring Freeze

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Senators to Trump: Exempt entire VA immediately
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) joined SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of 23 other Democratic senators calling on President Trump to put veterans first and immediately exempt all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees from the hiring freeze he issued on Monday. In their letter to Trump, the senators stressed concerns about the negative impact the hiring freeze will have on the delivery of veterans’ health care and benefits nationwide – if not quickly reversed.
    “As written, this Memorandum could dramatically impair the ability of veterans across the country to get the care and benefits they desperately need,” the senators wrote. “It could also delay or deny various other services across VA – from burial services to job training to assistance for homeless veterans to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. That is why it is imperative for you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to this hiring freeze for VA so it can continue to deliver on its sacred mission for veterans.”
    The group of Democratic senators also underscored that despite assurances of exemptions, they have heard from employees on the ground that the hiring freeze will extend to certain positions promised to be exempt: “In your Memorandum, little detail is provided to understand the scope of its exemptions. And despite assurances that VA benefits would be exempt, we have become aware the hiring freeze will extend to the Veterans Benefits Administration – a decision that will dramatically impact the processing of disability claims, growing the backlog and making it more difficult for veterans to access their earned benefits, including those promised in the PACT Act.”
    The senators pressed Trump for scaling back on VA employees, rather than continuing efforts to address chronic workforce shortages Congress has implemented over the last few years: “Instead of building upon those efforts, one of your first actions was to stop them entirely, and to issue new directives to VA personnel across the country to not only leave vacancies unaddressed, but to revoke job offers that have already been made. That is a betrayal of trust to veterans on day one of your Administration, and it is a betrayal of trust to prospective VA employees intent on serving veterans – an action that will undoubtedly have long-term impacts on VA’s ability to effectively recruit and retain the physicians, nurses, and other critical positions that make VA the preferred option for care for veterans.”
    In addition to Murray and Blumenthal, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
    In addition to the Senate Democrats’ letter to Trump, a group of House Democrats led by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) are sending a letter today calling on Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter to also exempt all VA employees from the hiring freeze.
    The full text of the senators’ letter is available here and below.
    Dear President Trump,
    We write with urgent concerns about the Presidential Memorandum issued on January 20, 2025, which instituted an immediate hiring freeze, with few exceptions, across the federal civil service. Veterans have earned and deserve the best quality health care and benefits possible. Delivering on that sacred promise starts with ensuring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has the appropriate personnel in place to serve them. As written, this Memorandum could dramatically impair the ability of veterans across the country to get the care and benefits they desperately need. It could also delay or deny various other services across VA – from burial services to job training to assistance for homeless veterans to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. That is why it is imperative for you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to this hiring freeze for VA so it can continue to deliver on its sacred mission for veterans.
    In your Memorandum, little detail is provided to understand the scope of its exemptions. And despite assurances that VA benefits would be exempt, we have become aware the hiring freeze will extend to the Veterans Benefits Administration – a decision that will dramatically impact the processing of disability claims, growing the backlog and making it more difficult for veterans to access their earned benefits, including those promised in the PACT Act. Additionally, there is no explicit exemption for employees serving the more than 9.2 million veterans enrolled in VA health care.
    Veterans deserve the best care possible from the best medical professionals in the country. To deliver on that obligation, VA continues to utilize various hiring authorities and incentives provided by Congress to address chronic medical workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas. Instead of building upon those efforts, one of your first actions was to stop them entirely, and to issue new directives to VA personnel across the country to not only leave vacancies unaddressed, but to revoke job offers that have already been made. That is a betrayal of trust to veterans on day one of your Administration, and it is a betrayal of trust to prospective VA employees intent on serving veterans – an action that will undoubtedly have long-term impacts on VA’s ability to effectively recruit and retain the physicians, nurses, and other critical positions that make VA the preferred option for care for veterans.
    Mr. President, to prevent the delay or denial of life-saving services and benefits for our nation’s heroes, we urge you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to VA personnel from your hiring freeze. Thanks largely to the PACT Act and the leadership of the Biden Administration, VA is providing more care and more benefits to more veterans than at any time in its history. We are hopeful to work with you to build upon our nation’s promise to these men and women, but we also vow to fight every effort that dishonors their service and reneges upon that sacred promise.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Meeting with Energy Secretary Nominee Chris Wright

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Chris Wright, President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE):
    “From the Hanford site to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Department of Energy has a huge footprint in Washington state—I expect to work productively with any Secretary of Energy, so I was glad to meet with Mr. Wright today to discuss my priorities and the crucial role DOE plays in my home state.
    “I fight every year, with every administration, to make sure the Hanford cleanup stays on track—and in our meeting today I made clear that supporting the tank waste mission at Hanford will require significant funding increases, which I’m committed to securing through the appropriations process. I spoke with Mr. Wright about the importance of upholding the holistic agreement and working with me to ensure that Hanford gets the funding it needs to stay on track with its essential cleanup mission.
    “I pressed Mr. Wright on whether he would commit to upholding the law and ensuring that all funding passed by Congress is used in line with Congressional intent—including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which are absolutely essential to ensuring the United States can stay ahead of our adversaries when it comes to energy production and manufacturing. These laws are already contributing in a major way to Washington state’s economy and clean energy future—it is absolutely critical that awarded, committed, and obligated funding is released in a timely manner for these projects in Washington state and across the country.  
    “While we disagree on plenty, if Mr. Wright is confirmed, I hope and expect that we will work together and keep open lines of communication to ensure that we continue to make progress at Hanford, invest in the future of American energy, and stay ahead of our adversaries.”
    As a longtime appropriator and now the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray has long worked to boost funding for the Department of Energy’s critical mission, including negotiating and getting signed into law a strong, bipartisan energy funding bill for Fiscal Year 2024 that strengthened investments in cutting-edge scientific research and grid security, and protected critical funding to propel renewable energy research and climate projects.
    Senator Murray has worked tirelessly to support Hanford workers and ensure the federal government lives up to its cleanup obligations at Hanford throughout her time in Congress—beating back efforts by multiple administrations to underfund Hanford cleanup. As Appropriations Chair in the last Congress, Murray secured a record $3.035 billion for the Hanford cleanup—$191.4 million above the fiscal year 2023 funding level—in the fiscal year 2024 government funding package she negotiated and passed, which was signed into law last March. With significant input from Senator Murray, the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 requested $3.108 billion for Hanford cleanup—a $72.2 million increase above the record funding level enacted in the FY24 package. In December 2023, Murray’s Beryllium Testing Fairness Act, to help Hanford workers suffering from toxic beryllium exposure, was signed into law by President Biden.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan Highlights Work to Advance Priorities of Alaska Native People at Annual AFN Convention

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
    10.18.24
    ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), addressing the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) annual convention today, spoke about the progress that has been made to advance the interests of Alaska Native people at the federal level in the past year, and highlighted work he is doing with Alaska Native communities to address challenges facing rural Alaska, like the devastating crash of salmon runs in parts of the state, limited access to affordable housing, the youth mental health crisis, and the disturbingly high rates of drug overdose deaths driven by fentanyl.
    [embedded content]
    Senator Sullivan discussed his work with the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) to secure the renewal of Alaska whaling captains’ quota at the recent International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Peru; a new Alaska Salmon Research Task Force report created by his 2022 legislation; his team’s relentless efforts that led to a comprehensive ban on Russian seafood imports; and his efforts to address the Department of the Interior’s dismal implementation of his 2019 legislation to deliver Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans the land allotments they are due.
    Finally, Sen. Sullivan also emphasized the legacy of patriotism of Alaska Native people and the critical ongoing military build-up taking place across Alaska.
    Below is a full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s remarks.
    It’s an honor for me to be here today. AFN is certainly one of the highlights of the year for me, and for my wife, Julie, who is here in the audience today. I always look to her for my strength. She’s having a great time with her cousins and buying Christmas gifts for our family and friends.
    By the way, we are always amazed by the incredible crafts and artwork on display throughout the convention hall. To all of our skilled artisans, I want you to know I’ve just introduced two new pieces of legislation that I worked with many of you on to protect your rights as Alaska Native artists—and the next generation—to continue the centuries-old practice of using natural materials, like walrus ivory and bird feathers, in your artwork.
    That should be a no-brainer and we’re going to try and get a law passed to make sure that happens.
    I want to thank AFN leadership: Ana, Joe, and a big congratulations to Ben Mallott. We are excited about Ben’s strong leadership and his great experience with AFN. Ben, we are 100% behind you and think you’re going to do a great job here.
    And, of course, I know Julie Kitka has gotten a lot of accolades, and she deserves every single one of them. On the Senate floor back in D.C., I regularly give a speech about a special Alaskan, who we call the “Alaskan of the Week.” I try to get this every week. By the way—[there are] a lot of folks from our Alaska Native community who have been our “Alaskan of the Week.”
    So recently I gave a speech about Julie as our “Alaskan of the Week,” about her great service, and in that speech, I usually love to brag about that person, that Alaskan. But Julie Kitka, always humble, stressed that the great successes of AFN throughout her tenure were accomplished because of partnerships with all of you. She actually said when we were writing the speech, “Nothing I did was ever done alone.”
    Partnership is such a great leadership model. So, Julie Kitka, one more time—thank you for your great leadership. You’ve done such a great job.
    Alaska Travels
    As I always do, my Julie and I spent this past summer traveling to many rural Alaska communities including Saint Paul, Kotzebue, we were up on the Yukon, we were in the Ahtna region, to Nuiqsut and Utqia?vik. As always, we learned so much in our roundtable discussions, especially from our elders.
    We saw beautiful dancing. I tried to dance a little bit myself. That’s always embarrassing. We ate delicious food, met new friends and reconnected with old ones. So, again, to everybody that we were with—and it was with a lot of folks that summer—thank you for the warm, wonderful hospitality that we experienced literally everywhere we went. It is such a blessing of our Native communities.
    And as part of these travels, we were honored to attend Nalukataq in Utqia?vik.
    It’s magic when the whole community comes out to celebrate a cultural practice—subsistence whaling in this case—that Inupiat whalers have sustainably conducted for thousands of years.
    International Whaling Commission Meeting
    And this year, like six years ago, these same whaling captains were able to successfully renew—through very hard work—their quota at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Peru.
    That is a big deal and deserves a round of applause. A really big deal. This has been a top priority of mine as your senator. As we know, success is never guaranteed at these International Whaling Commission meetings. The IWC has not always been a friend of our Alaska whaling captains. So before the big IWC meeting that was in Brazil in 2018 and in Peru this year, we all came together and put together a strategy with our whaling captains.
    We met with the U.S. State Department and NOAA to ensure the United States, as a country, had a coordinated strategy to make sure our Alaska Native whaling captains were able to get their IWC quota. That was part of the strategy. Both in 2018 and this past year in 2024, I hosted a reception in the U.S. Capitol. Here’s some photos from that.
    The goal of this reception was to invite the ambassadors, particularly from the countries that have not been friends of Alaska Native whaling, because we need their votes at this international convention. So if you see here at this convention, at one point, both in 2018 and in 2024, I looked across the reception area and literally every whaling captain had a Latin American ambassador with their arm around him.
    This is great lobbying on behalf of the IWC. And it worked! It worked because in Peru, just last month, our Alaska Whaling Eskimo Commission leaders were able to secure the first automatic quota renewal in IWC history. That is a giant triumph for Alaska Natives.
    In that regard, I want to do a big shout-out to AEWC Chair John Hopson Jr., the dynamic father-son duo of Crawford Patkotak, vice chair of the AEWC, and Josiah Patkotak, his son, the mayor of the North Slope Borough, and so many others. They all made it happen again. The children of the North Slope will look back at what the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has achieved in the last 6 years and they will be grateful for decades to come.
    Salmon
    These whaling quotas are the kind of successes we can achieve when we unite behind a common mission.
    It’s more challenging, but this is also the approach I’m taking—working with so many of you—to address our salmon crisis.
    As you all know, we’ve had another banner year in terms of the strength certain salmon runs, like the Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run. But in the Yukon and Kuskokwim and other Interior rivers throughout our state, the runs have once again crashed. Representative Peltola talked very passionately about this yesterday, and our congressional delegation has always worked together to focus on these very important issues.
    I mentioned this to all of you before, but I’ll do it again. Over three decades ago, I was introduced to what salmon means to Native culture and people through my amazing wife Julie and her family’s fish camp near Hess Creek on the Yukon River. As a family, we have so many amazing memories and experiences at Julie’s family’s fish camp, particularly with our three daughters.
    And I know so many people have the same memories, learning how to head and gut and strip and smoke salmon on the banks of the Yukon, learning about their culture, about sharing, about family, about working together, about their heritage. When the Kings are running on the Yukon, it’s the most spiritual place in the world. When the fish aren’t running, and when the smoke houses are empty, it feels like something is very wrong with the universe.
    We experienced that feeling at Julie’s family’s fish camp this summer. We’re all worried—desperately worried—that a whole generation of children will miss out on this vital experience. It is soul wrenching.
    So here’s what I’m working on with all of you and, of course, with our congressional delegation.
    Alaskans can agree—we need to identify and address research prioritization gaps with comprehensive data and the best scientific minds, including Indigenous communities, to figure out the causes of these devastating salmon declines.
    That’s what my bill—the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act—does. This bill was passed into law. And here’s what it does. It brings the best minds in the world—state, federal, university, Indigenous, tribal—to figure out what is happening. It includes a specific working group focused on the Yukon and Kuskokwim.
    By the way, it probably doesn’t surprise you, but this bill was my wife Julie’s idea. And the Task Force report was just recently completed. This was required by the law. It’s at my booth and if you want a copy, we would love for you guys to take a look at my booth here at AFN. I want to thank so many in our Alaska Native community who took part in this Task Force and the research and the hard work of this report.
    This is what the Task Force recommends as we move forward. They call it “Gravel to Gravel,” “G to G,” which is a strategic approach that coordinates research where individual projects, regardless of whether they are led by state and federal, university, tribal or NGOs, will share information with other projects on what is happening to our salmon.
    With this critically important report now completed, my team and I will be working with all of you to build a comprehensive, well-funded salmon research program at the federal level on the goal that we all share: Achieving greater abundance and stability in our salmon stocks all across Alaska.
    Now, this won’t happen overnight, but you have my commitment that we will continue to work our hearts out on getting our salmon back in our rivers for our children, and our children’s children.
    We have to get to the bottom of this and address it. I certainly am committed to working with all of you on this.
    Another thing I know we can unite on in terms of a goal with regard to fisheries—which we’re able to achieve recently—is making sure that Russia can no longer flood America’s domestic markets with their cheap, unsustainable fish.
    After a long battle with the Biden administration, I was able to finally get them to ban Russian fish from coming into our country. When the Russians tried to circumvent this ban by sending their fish through Communist China, we shut down that loophole too. This will help all of our coastal communities, many of which are Native communities, and our Alaska fishermen.
    The Russian oligarchs say they’re in a war with Alaska’s fishermen. Well, we’re finally fighting back.
    This includes banning unsafe and often illegal Russian and Chinese trawlers who are likely contributing to depleting our own salmon runs here at home. I’m now pressing leaders from around the world—from Japan, to Canada, to Europe—to ban these fish.
    The world should want Freedom Fish from Alaska, not Communist Fish from China or Russia!
    Report on Children
    Now I want to turn to an incredibly important theme this year: Our Children, Our Future Ancestors. I really want to thank the commissioners, like Gloria O’Neil and Don Gray, and all of those who worked on “The Way Forward: Report of the Alyce Spotted Bear & Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children.”
    To Gloria’s point during that last session, we certainly want to follow up with the work Gloria and others did in that important report. We don’t want to let that report go onto a shelf and collect dust. That report was spearheaded by legislation that Senator Murkowski wrote, that I co-sponsored. And, as Gloria and Don said, we know that the statistics are not great. As a matter of fact, they’re horrible.
    Too many Alaska Native children are experiencing poverty and abuse. Too many are in the juvenile justice system. Too many are experiencing mental health challenges.
    There have been many reports throughout the decades on the well-being of Alaska Native people. Gloria mentioned that in her comments just a few minutes ago. 30 years ago, if you look at this report my mother-in-law, Mary Jane Fate, worked on—the 1994 report that was also mandated by federal legislation. When she testified before Congress, she stated:
    “Today we find ourselves in a crisis situation. The outrageous school dropouts, high unemployment, hopelessness, and other tragic and sad endings such as the highest rates of suicides and accidents amongst our youth.”
    That was 30 years ago. The situation then was dire and still is if you look at the report that Gloria and Don just authored. But here’s the thing. We cannot lose hope. This is our youth, and we must recognize that there has been progress in the last 30 years since that last report, particularly significant improvement in education, in life expectancy, and in rates of poverty.
    So we must do more working together, and again, I want to thank Gloria and Don for their leadership.
    Mental Health
    One of the key issues in their report is resiliency. We need that, among all Alaskan kids, among all American kids. In that regard, mental health is key.
    As outlined in “The Way Forward” report, 31 percent of Alaska Natives told researchers: “My mental health is poor most of the time or always.” 21 percent of youth in the report said they had been bullied on social media or through texts.
    I know social media can be a great positive for many, particularly for those who live in Rural Alaska. But as we’re building out our historic broadband infrastructure in Rural Alaska, we need to understand that there is a very strong correlation between declining mental health and increasing social media use for all young Alaskans and for all young Americans.
    I have been very focused on this issue and can report important progress back in D.C. A few months ago, the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act—of which I am an original cosponsor—passed the Senate with over 91 votes. “KOSA,” as we call it, gives parents significantly more control over what their kids are allowed to see online and limits harmful and addictive content that kids are bombarded with online.
    This is a good start, but we must do more to protect our children. We can have the strongest economy in the world, the best quality of life in the world, but none of that means anything if so many of our kids are depressed or considering ending their lives because of what they’re consuming online. We have to get started on this important issue.
    One Pill Can Kill
    Another issue that I’m very focused on that relates to our youth—this is a huge one—is the deadly fentanyl crisis that’s hit our state very hard, especially among our youth.
    The new numbers for 2023 just recently came out. Take a look at these slides. These numbers are shocking! The number one cause of overdose deaths in Alaska—particularly among our young people—are fentanyl overdoses, up roughly 45% from just last year. By the way, in other areas across the country these numbers are dropping dramatically. But in our state, they are continuing to surge. To surge!
    Alaska Natives account for 33% of drug overdose deaths from fentanyl last year. Our kids need to be educated about this lethal drug. That’s why my team and I, working with schools and organizations across the state, have launched the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign.
    What is it? It’s educating our youth that even a tiny, tiny bit—look at how small that is on a pencil tip—a tiny bit of fentanyl can be lethal. They need to know the drugs they buy on the streets or from friends, including marijuana, can be laced with fentanyl and can kill you. They need to know that one pill can kill.
    I would very much like to partner with AFN and other Native organizations across Alaska on this campaign. You can find information about it on my website and at my booth downstairs. But here’s the bottom line: If we can save even one young Alaskan’s life with this campaign, then it will be worth it.
    Housing
    Now, as you all know, raising healthy families with healthy children requires safe, affordable housing. Let’s face it, in pretty much every part of Alaska, especially Rural Alaska, we don’t have that.
    Last August, I hosted the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in Alaska. A number of you were there at our roundtable that was focused on the outrageously high cost of housing in rural Alaska.
    The Secretary of HUD, she runs a big bureaucracy back in D.C. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for HUD’s recommendations on how to reduce the federal red tape that is a part of the problem of the high cost of housing in Rural Alaska. But here’s the deal. We shouldn’t have to wait. We can do so much of this ourselves.
    I’ve seen incredible innovation in housing during all of my travels throughout Rural Alaska. Last summer, Julie and I saw how Native leaders in Huslia and Hughes were building affordable, beautiful housing—just like in this photo—at much more competitive costs.
    These great leaders in our state weren’t waiting for the D.C. bureaucrats to give them permission to build. I’ll never forget in 2018, when I was in Holy Cross, talking about housing with World War II veteran Luke Demientieff and his son Leonard, a Vietnam veteran. Both are master carpenters. Leonard shared with me some wise words from an elder who had been looking out at the vast expanse of an Alaskan forest. This elder said, “There’s a house in the woods. You just have to go get it. You have to build it.”
    In other words, this community wasn’t waiting for the federal government to act. They got a sawmill and they started building. That is the kind of can-do spirit we need as Alaskans to address this housing shortage.
    Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Allotments
    I think a number of you know that in my AFN remarks, I like to always talk about—and I certainly don’t have to remind all of you—about Alaska Native Veterans incredible patriotic history of military service to our country. Already this morning, I’ve seen several Alaska Native veterans. If you’re a veteran or a family member of a veteran, could you please stand or raise your hand to be recognized by this audience?
    You all know this, but it bears repeating: Generation after generation, Alaska Native people have served our country in the military at higher rates than any other ethnic group in America. That is what I call special patriotism, particularly when they were still facing shameful discrimination back home.
    Alaska Vietnam veterans really got hit hard. They were serving their country when, let’s face it, a lot of Americans were avoiding service. They came home, and because they were Vietnam Vets, many were treated disgracefully.
    This happened to my good friend Bill Thomas who said one day he was fishing in Haines, the next day he was in bootcamp at Fort Lewis, and then sent to the jungles of Vietnam.
    Nearly two years later, after his combat tour, Bill was flown to California, dazed, the smell of jungle still on his skin, fear still in his gut. On the way to being discharged, he had to drive past a group of protestors, yelling despicable things at him.
    On top of that, Bill, like so many other Alaska Native Vietnam veterans missed the deadline to apply for their Native allotment—the one that they were legally entitled to but missed because they were serving their country in a war overseas. His story was not unique.
    So working with many of you here—I see Benno Cleveland and others—I was able to pass my Vietnam Veterans Allotment Act in 2019 that righted this injustice. That is now the law. It gave our Alaska Native Vietnam veterans the ability to apply for a Native allotment.
    Unfortunately, the implementation of this bill has been dismal, despite Secretary Haaland’s commitment to me on making this a priority of hers.
    In the past four years, the Department of Interior has only certified 38 Alaska Native Vietnam-era [Veteran] allotments out of the over 2,000 Alaska Native Vietnam veterans who were eligible for this. That’s a disgrace and time is running out.
    That’s why I’ve introduced a new bill to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Allotment Program for five more years, and importantly, to expand the lands available, particularly in Southeast, where we have such a high number of Vietnam veterans and where it’s been very challenging for our Vietnam veterans to get land close to their home.
    Here’s the challenge on my bill, and I’m going to need AFN’s help on this one: Every radical Lower 48 environmental group is going to come out and try to kill my bill. They don’t want Alaska Natives to have their own land and they certainly don’t want to honor our Vietnam veterans’ heroic service. We all need to fight back against them. Our cause is just. Our cause is so very just on this bill.
    I’m hoping that AFN and others—I’ve asked the Alaska Native Brotherhood, the Alaska Native Sisterhood—we can all work together and support my bill and continue to bring justice to our Alaska Native Vietnam veterans.
    Vietnam Veterans Resolution
    Finally, as it relates to our Vietnam veterans, like Bill Thomas and Benno and so many others, I was recently able to pass a Senate resolution—which, by the way, passed in the Senate unanimously—commending our Vietnam veterans for their courage and sacrifice. The resolution urges the President, on behalf of the Congress, to formally acknowledge the widespread mistreatment of our Vietnam veterans when they came back home.
    It offers a long overdue apology, and it calls for increased education in our schools, for our children, to learn about and understand and respect the courage and sacrifice of these heroes during the Vietnam War.
    Kake and Angoon
    There is another apology that I want to mention. This one also relates to our military. I think many know that I deeply respect our military. Last February, I retired from the Marines Corps after 30 years of service.
    But that doesn’t mean our military is perfect. No organization is perfect.
    I believe that in instances where our country has fallen short of our ideals and has harmed our own citizens, then an apology can be the right thing to do and it’s an important gesture for reconciliation.
    The egregious and unwarranted U.S. military assaults on the Alaska Native people of Kake and Angoon in the late 1800s is such a case.
    When Dr. Rosita Worl brought these historic wrongs to my attention, and mentioned the Tlingit people’s decades-long pursuit of recognition and an apology, I told my team in the Senate that we would work tirelessly with Alaska Native leaders to press this issue at the highest levels of the United States Navy and the Pentagon until these communities received an appropriate apology. That’s what we were able to do.
    Last month, some of you may have seen it, hopefully some of you were there, the U.S. Navy held a ceremony to present the apology in Kake—an official ceremony. There will be another ceremony in Angoon in a few days. Julie and I will be looking forward to attending.
    I am hopeful that these recognition ceremonies will help provide healing and importantly, show our youth that our country is so strong that it can admit its mistakes to become even stronger.
    Arctic and National Security
    Finally, let me turn to an issue that I have heard about from so many of you in your communities and where I want to compliment our brave Alaska-based military.
    We all know it’s becoming an increasingly dangerous world. We are in a new era of authoritarian aggression with dictators in Beijing, Moscow, Iran and North Korea on the march and working together. As Alaskans, we are on the front lines of this new Cold War. We’ve seen this with dramatically increased joint Chinese and Russian patrols in the air and on the seas, near our shores and our skies. You’ve seen these photos—Chinese bombers, Russian subs, Russian fighters near our aircraft. Very aggressive. Our military here has done a great job of protecting our country, just like Alaska Natives have done over the decades.
    Throughout history, our Alaska Native people have courageously served and defended our country. Think about it: the Alaska Territorial Guard, the Eskimo Scouts, the Tlingit code talkers. And of course, as I mentioned earlier, the super high number of Alaska Natives who serve their country in uniform. I’m absolutely confident that with this strong legacy of patriotism and service and a continued build-up of our own military here in Alaska, which I am very focused on, we as a country and as a state will once again prevail over these authoritarian dictatorships.
    Internships
    So let me end with one final plea. It’s related back to the theme of our youth and the theme of this conference. It’s just a pitch from my office. We have a very robust internship program. Representative Peltola yesterday mentioned one young Alaska Native leader, Sam Hiratsuka, who started in my office as an intern. He rose in my office, then went to Mary’s office, and just two days ago, was the youth speaker at the AFN Elders and Youth Conference. Sam is doing a great job and is showing the next generation of leaders how to lead.
    So here’s my pitch: We need more interns, Alaska Native interns. I have information at my booth, and I urge all of you to spread the word.
    We need our Alaska Native people working on Native issues in all branches of our federal government. It’s a great experience for them. They are the future, and we want to encourage that kind of service. With that, to the leadership of AFN, to Julie, and others, thank you again. My Julie and I are very honored to be here.
    We always love coming to AFN. Thank you, everybody.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Congratulates Distinguished Alumni, Faculty of UMaine School of Forest Resources

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: October 19, 2024

    Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos
    Orono, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at an event for alumni and friends of the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources (SFR). At the event, awards were presented to distinguished alumni and faculty of the SFR.
    “UMaine’s School of Forest Resources has long been a leader in forest innovation, and I’m proud to support their efforts, which are critical to Maine’s economy and environment,” said Senator Collins. “This event was a wonderful opportunity to recognize the contributions of Dr. Fernandez, Dr. Gardner, and all the SFR alumni and faculty who have helped to advance forest research and education, strengthening both our state and this vital industry.”
    The SFR presented Dr. Ivan Fernandez (UMaine Ph.D. ’81) with their 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Douglas Gardner (UMaine B.S. ’80) was also recognized for his retirement from the SFR faculty. Senator Collins received an honorary SFR Distinguished Alumni Award for her continued support for forest resource research and innovation at the University.
    In the past three funding cycles, Senator Collins has secured more than $40 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for forest resource-related projects at the University of Maine. This includes funding for the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, the Forest Biomaterials Innovation Center, the Sawmill Training and Education Center, and the Soil Testing Service Lab.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Speaks at 11th Annual March Against Domestic Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: October 19, 2024

    Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos
    Orono, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke at the 11th annual March Against Domestic Violence, which began at the steps of Fogler Library at the University of Maine and continued on to the University Field House. The theme for this year’s March, which comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, was “ending domestic violence in our communities.”
    “The annual March Against Domestic Violence serves as an important reminder of the work we need to do to protect vulnerable individuals, as domestic violence continues to affect too many families in our state,” said Senator Collins. “I will continue to support and author legislation to strengthen protections for survivors, and I thank everyone involved in organizing this event for their dedication to this critical issue.”
    The march is hosted by the Maine Business School (MBS) and organized by MBS Professor Nory Jones. In addition to Senator Collins, speakers at the event included UMaine Dean Robert Dana, Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard Diane Dunn, Executive Director at Partners for Peace Amanda Cost, Deputy UMaine Title IX Coordinator Heather Hogan, and Director of Development and Engagement at Partners for Peace Casey Faulkingham, who read the names of the 15 people who died in Maine as a result of domestic violence this year.
    Senator Collins was a co-sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022, which expanded protections and services for domestic violence survivors and their children. She was also a co-author of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which helps ensure that abusers do not have access to firearms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Lansing,  MI

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    UAW Local 652Lansing, Michigan
    5:31 P.M. EDT
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, everybody.  Hey.  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon, everyone.
    Oh, it’s good to be in the house of labor.  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  Good afternoon.
    Ben, I want to thank you for your leadership.  I just said to him, I mean, what a leader he is.  You know, I just — first of all, it’s so good to be in the house of labor, and it’s so good to be with people who understand the dignity of work and fight for it every day.  And it’s not an easy fight, but it’s a good fight.
    And I thank you for all that you do, Ben, and everybody who is here.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you. 
    So, it’s wonderful to be back in Michigan and to be with so many incredible leaders, including, of course, Representative Slotkin.  Where is she?  She’s — there you are.  (Applause.)  Who we must elect to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)  And we will.  I’m counting on that.
    State Senator Hertel, let’s send him to the United States House of Representatives.  (Applause.)  There you are.
    And a special thanks to the brothers and sisters of United Auto Workers.  Thank you for all that you are, all that you do, and the warm welcome.  (Applause.) 
    And, of course, for generations in Lansing and across our country, union members have helped lead the fight for fair pay, better benefits, and safe working conditions, and every person in our nation has benefited from your work. 
    You know, everywhere I go, I tell people, you may not be a union member, but you better thank unions — (applause) — for the five-day work week, for sick leave, for paid family leave and vacation time, because we are all clear: Collective bargaining benefits our entire nation — our entire nation.  (Applause.) 
    Because here’s the deal.  When union wages go up, everybody’s wages go up.  When union workplaces are safer, everyone’s workplace is safer.  So, thank a union.  (Applause.)  Thank a union. 
    And the bottom line is when unions are strong, America is strong.  Unions have always fought to make our nation more equal, more fair, and more free.  And in this election, everything we have fought for, for years in this movement — in this movement, for unions and for labor, is on the line. 
    And I’m about to talk about it in real terms because we always have real talk with each other, and your members can afford nothing less, which has been why I appreciate your leadership. 
    This election is about two very different visions for our nation: one that’s trying to take us backward — him — and ours that is about moving forward and about the future.  (Applause.)  We fight — we fight for a future where we protect the freedom to organize, where we understand the importance of collective bargaining. 
    You know, I sometimes say to young people — and, by the way, have you noticed how, when you look at the polling, younger workers coming into the workforce, they get it and they understand the power and the nobility of unions. 
    And I always say to people, look, here’s the thing about collective bargaining.  Everybody should want that, when there’s a negotiation, the outcome would be fair.  Right?  Who’s going to argue with that?  Everybody should want that — that there will be a fair outcome in a negotiation. 
    All right.  So, if we start from there — we’re all reasonable people — then let’s think about it.  If you’re talking about the worker, the one worker trying to negotiate against the corporation, is that outcome going to be fair? 
         AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  No.
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No.  The disparity in power is too great.  So, collective bargaining, it’s a simple, simple and important point.  You let the workers organize so that the collective, together, who have the same concerns, the same issues, can be banded together to have equal power in a negotiation, because the whole point is the outcome of the negotiation should be fair.  That’s what collective bargaining is about.  That’s what unions are about.  (Applause.)
    It’s about basic fairness, and it’s about the dignity of work, understanding all workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  That’s what we’re talking about when we talk about this movement and the strength of the movement and the importance of keeping it going. 
    We talk about, then, our knowledge about the importance of building a future where we tap into the ambition of the American people, where we build what I call an “opportunity economy” — right? — so every American has an opportunity to own a home, to buy a car, to build wealth, to start a business.
    And I will always — it is my pledge to you — put the middle class and working people first.  I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from.  (Applause.)  I will never forget where I come from.  I know where I come from.
    Hard work is good work.  Hard work is good work and must receive the value to which it is due, which means understanding the value of the worker.  (Applause.) 
    And we know we cannot have a strong middle class without American manufacturing.  Over the last three and a half years, we brought manufacturing back to America, creating 730,000 manufacturing jobs — (applause) — with your help — with your help.  We announced the opening of more than 20 new auto plants in the United States, and we did it by investing in American industry and American workers.  (Applause.)
    And I will make sure America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.  (Applause.) 
    So, under my plan, it’s about investing in the industries that built America, like steel, iron, the great American auto industry.  And we will ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs, from advanced batteries to electric vehicles, are not just invented but built right here in America by American union workers.  (Applause.)  Because it is they and you who have proven how to get the job done.  (Applause.)
    And as part of that vision, we will invest in manufacturing communities like Lansing.  We will retool existing factories, hire locally, and work with unions to create good-paying jobs, including, by the way, jobs that do not require a college degree. 
    And I’mma tell you why.  And I’mma tell you why, because I’m really clear that a college degree is not the only measure of the skills and experience of the qualified worker, and we need to understand — (applause) — we need to understand that. 
    In fact, it is my pledge that, as president, I’m going to do a critical assessment of federal jobs to look at those that don’t require a college degree so we can start talking about good jobs based on the skill and experience of the worker and not random measures of who can do what.  And I plan on, then, challenging the private sector to do the same.  (Applause.)
    And we will importantly protect the pensions of union workers and retirees.  (Applause.)  Again, it’s about the dignity of work, which includes the dignity of retirement.  After a lifetime of working hard, let’s talk about the dignity of retirement, the dignity of aging. 
    And that’s why, as attorney general, I sued the big banks to return hundreds of millions of dollars to workers and their families after their pensions were mismanaged.  This is not new to me.  I’ve done that work. 
    As a United States senator, I pushed for legislation to rescue workers’ pensions without cutting the benefits that workers had earned. 
    And, as vice president, I worked alongside then-Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and we, for a year, worked on what we needed to do with the federal workforce, which was in our direct power, to increase the ability for collective bargaining and to ensure that they have all the resources they need to grow in terms of organizing. 
    As vice president, I also helped to do the long overdue work to protect the pensions of more than 1 million union members.  And yesterday, I announced the protection of the full earned pension benefits of more than 22,500 union workers and retirees in Michigan under the Detroit Carpenters’ Pension Fund.  (Applause.) 
    Because, again, just to put a fine point on it, when it comes to your pension or Social Security or Medicare, these are retirement benefits you have earned.  This is not about a giveaway.  You’ve earned it.  And it must be protected, and it must be respected — after decades of hard work, that you receive it.  And honoring these benefits must be an ironclad commitment.  (Applause.)
    Now — now let’s talk about, you know, the guy on the other side.  Let’s talk about Donald Trump for a minute.  Shall we?  So —
         AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Booo —
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And because he has a very different view.  Now, in all seriousness, he has a very different view of workers, of hard work, of the dignity of work.  You guys — we know it.  We know it. 
    He tries to, you know, do his rhetorical thing at — at rallies like he understands what it means to earn a living.  No, you understand what I’m saying.  He pretends that he understands workers and the hard work and the battle workers face every day to get their due wages and benefits. 
    Well, we’re not falling for the okey-doke, because we know — we know what he has said, and we know what he has done.  (Applause.)  He who called Social Security a Ponzi scheme.  He called it a Ponzi scheme.  He recommended we raise the retirement age to 70.  Can you imagine, if you are required to work to 70?  He who intends to cut Social Security and Medicare?
    You know, we know how many people — their only source of income is their social security check.  Talk about — right? — is the value about dignity in retirement, dignity in aging.  And remember, he was the only one — he said he was going to be the only one who could bring back America’s manufacturing jobs.  You know how he talks.  (Deepens voice.)  “I’m the only one,” right?  (Laughter.)  You know how he talks.  (Laughter and applause.) 
    And then, because we’re too busy watching what he’s doing to hear what he’s saying, we know America lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs when he was president — okay? — including tens of thousands of jobs right here in Michigan.  And those losses, we know and we’ll note, started before the pandemic — okay? — making Donald Trump one of the biggest —
         AUDIENCE:  Losers!
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — losers of manufacturing jobs in American history. 
    And his track record for the auto industry was a disaster.  He promised workers in Warren that the auto industry would — I’m going to quote — “not lose one plant” under his presidency.  Then American automakers announced the closure of six auto plants when he was president, including General Motors in Warren and Stellantis in Detroit.  Thousands of Michigan autoworkers lost their jobs.
    And if he wins again, we can expect there would be more of the same, because we know what he has done.  And we know that we’re going to focus on the work, not the words, when it comes to Donald Trump, and we know where he took us the last time.
     And check this out.  Donald Trump’s current running mate — because you know the job was open, right?  (Laughter.)  You know, like, when people go for an interview — especially the young people, they’ll go for an interview, and they’ll sit down and they’re in the interview, and they’ll say, “Why is the job open?”  (Laughter.)  Well, we know why that job was open.  (Laughter.)
    So, Donald Trump’s running mate recently suggested that if they win, they would threaten the Grand River Assembly plant right here in Lansing —
         AUDIENCE:  Booo —
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — the same plant that, with your help, our administration protected earlier this year, saving 650 union jobs.  (Applause.)  Right? 
    And I do believe some of the union workers from Grand River are here with us today.  So, you know what I’m ta- — (applause) — so, you know I’m talking about.  You know what I’m talking about.  And Trump’s running mate called your jobs “table scraps,” right?
    So, let me just say — needless to say — I will always have your back — (applause) — and will keep fighting to make sure that you keep your jobs right here in Lansing and keep these most noble and important jobs for America’s strength.  That’s the work you all do. 
    You know, Donald Trump, he also promised that he was going to stop offshoring.  Remember that?  Then he cut taxes for corporations that shipped 200,000 jobs overseas during his presidency — cut the taxes for those corporations — okay? — and awarded nearly half a trillion dollars in federal contracts to companies that were offshoring jobs.  Okay?  Follow the money.
    He gave your tax dollars to companies that were sending your jobs overseas.  And we got to get the word out to all of the brothers and sisters in labor to remind them of what this dude does — right? — what he actually does.  (Applause.)
    Because, make no mistake, Donald Trump is no friend to labor. 
         AUDIENCE:  No!
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He is no friend to labor, and we’ve got to listen to what he says.  Know that — you know that famous saying: Listen when people tell you who they are. 
    In fact, can we roll the clip?  (Laughter.)  Let’s see.  There we —
    (A video clip is played.)
         AUDIENCE:  Booo —
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right?  Right.  Right.
     So, of course, that last bit, he was talking about Shawn Fain, who — who represents nearly a million active and retired autoworkers.  Okay?  So, that’s about a million autoworkers, active and retired. 
     Donald Trump — listen to his words: He’s saying that autoworkers are essentially engaged in child’s play, that children could do it.  Listen to what he says. 
    I’m telling you, he — you know, he’s got his club, and I’m going to tell you, union workers are not part of his club.  Let’s be clear about that.  No matter what he does at his rallies, let’s be clear about that, right?
    He thinks that the value of your work is essentially meaningless.  That’s what he’s saying, to compare it to child’s work? 
    When we here know the work you do is complex.  You do it with great care.  You work hard.  You are highly skilled.  You are highly trained.  And the best autoworkers in the world is who you are — the best in the world — (applause) — the best in the world.
     And the fact is, Donald Trump’s comments are the talk of someone who has had everything handed to him. 
    AUDIENCE MEMBER:  That’s exactly right.
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I know it’s right.  (Laughter.)  It is — I know.  It is. 
    This man, you know, who never had to work a job that came with calloused hands or an hourly wage — right? — someone who got handed $400 million on a silver platter and did what with it?  Filed bankruptcy six times.  (Applause.)  Come on.  Come on. 
    He will never understand the life of a United Auto Worker — he will never understand that — people who work hard for everything they have, who take great pride in a job well done, who understand what it represents to their family and the future of their family.  Again, I go back to the dignity of hard work. 
    So, let us be clear.  Donald Trump’s insults to American workers is not exclusive to that video.  Okay?  So, that was just a moment.  Kind of think of it as the commercial break in my speech.  (Laughter.)
    But his comments are not only that, because Donald Trump has been a union buster his entire career.  He has called union leaders, quote, “Dues Sucking” people.  Okay?  He said that he supports so-called right-to-work laws, quote, “100 percent.”  Okay?  He bragged and joked with a billionaire buddy about mass firing striking workers and lowered labor standards and made it easier for companies that break the laws to get federal contracts. 
    Donald Trump encouraged automakers of Michigan so they could pay their workers less — encouraged them to move so they could pay their workers less.  Okay?  And when the UAW went on strike to demand the higher wages you deserve, Donald Trump went to a nonunion shop and attacked the UAW.  He said striking and collective bargaining don’t make, and I’m going to quote, “a damn bit of difference.” 
    So, here’s the bottom line, Donald Trump’s track record is a disaster for working people.  And he is, I believe, an existential threat to America’s labor movement.  And everything he intends to do, if he is reelected, is also spelled out in that Project 2025. 
    So, to read it and to know it is to know he intends to launch a full-on attack on unions and the freedom to organize.  Okay?  He will ban public-sector unions, roll back workplace safety protections.  Read it when you have some time.  Google it, everybody who’s watching.  Look, mak- — he will make it easier for companies to deny overtime pay for workers and appoint a union buster to run the Department of Labor.  Be sure of that.  Be sure of that. 
    So, to all the friends here, I say what you already know.  It’s time to turn the page.  (Applause.)  Let’s just turn the page.  (Applause.)  Turn the page.  (Laughs.)  Because America is ready to chart a new way forward, and we are not —
         AUDIENCE:  Going back!
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)
    AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, we are not going back.  We’re not going back.  We’re not going back.
    AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back because, as UAW always does, we are going to push forward.  We are going to push forward. 
    And it all comes down to this.  Look, you all have taken time out of your busy lives to be here this afternoon, and we are all here together because we know the stakes in this election are so high. 
    We are all here together because we love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country.  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, the expression of the love of our country, to fight for our ideals.  And that’s what this is about. 
    This is not, at the end of the day, a fight against something; this is a fight for something.  (Applause.)  This is a fight for something, including the fight to realize the promise of America.  After all, that’s what unions have always done.  It’s about understanding the promise of America, which has to include the promise that we should make to the workers of America.
     So, we have 18 days to get this done.  It’s not a lot of time.  Okay?  And we know this is going to be a tight race until the very end.  We are the underdog.  But make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win, I’m telling you.
    It’s going to be hard work, but we like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.) 
    And ultimately, we will win because we know what we stand for.  (Applause.)  And when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  Right?We stand for opportunity.  We stand for dignity.  And we stand for the future.  (Applause.)
    And so, I’ll close by saying, and when we fight —
         AUDIENCE:  We win!
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.
     God bless you.  God bless America.  (Applause.)
                                   END                 5:57 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Vice President Kamala  Harris

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Tonight, Doug and I are praying for all those who were killed or injured in the collapse of the ferry dock walkway on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, as well as their family members and loved ones. Our Administration is in close touch with state and local officials, and we have offered any federal support the community might need. As always, we are deeply grateful for the heroism of our first responders. Even in the face of this heartbreak, we will continue to celebrate and honor the history, culture, and resilience of the Gullah-Geechee community.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Collins, King Bill Designates October 20th as Early Childhood Literacy Awareness Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) today are recognizing the lifelong impact childhood literacy programs have on the success of Maine children and their communities. In a bipartisan resolution unanimously agreed to by the Senate, October 20th, 2024, has been designated as National Early Childhood Literacy Day. Senators Joe Manchin (I-W.V.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) are also co-sponsors of the resolution.
    “Fostering literacy in early childhood is crucial for preparing students in Maine and across the country for a lifetime of reading and learning,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan resolution seeks to ensure that students from all social and economic backgrounds have access to programs that promote childhood literacy and language development.”
    “Fostering a love for reading at a young age helps open young minds to new worlds and ideas, and is also important for early childhood development,” said Senator King. “When we invest in literacy programs and reading skills at a young age, we are setting our children up for continued success both in and out of the classroom. Good readers are good thinkers, and I am committed to advocating for literacy awareness along with the resources that strengthen Maine communities. I am proud to once again co-lead on this resolution recognizing the importance, enjoyment and direct impact of childhood literacy.”
    “I am so grateful for the efforts of Senators Collins, King, Capito and Manchin for their resolution designating October 20, 2024, as National Early Childhood Literacy Awareness Day. Highlighting the importance of literacy from the very start of a child’s life has great benefit, in particular for our most vulnerable populations,” said Cristina Salois, M.S.Ed., Chair of the Maine Head Start Directors Association. “The resolution applauds the daily work that communities, educators and families do each day to ensure that all children have opportunities to participate in literacy activities and to enjoy books. These efforts result in long-lasting positive impacts. Head Start has a long history of family partnership and community collaboration in efforts to build strong language and literacy foundations for our children. Thank you, Senators, for supporting the precious gift we can give to all children — a lifelong love of reading and books.”
    “On behalf of all the members of The LITEArary Society, I would like to thank Senator Manchin, as well as Senator Capito, Senator Collins and Senator King for introducing a resolution to designate October 20, 2024 as National Early Childhood Literacy Awareness Day. This bipartisan resolution will raise awareness about early childhood literacy issues at the national level and encourage greater support to help children achieve reading proficiency-one book at a time. I am incredibly grateful for the extraordinary support of the Senators again this year to make this very special day, a reality,” said Rania Zuri, Founder and CEO of The LiTEArary Society, Inc., an entirely youth-led 501 (c)(3 ) nonprofit organization with the mission of ending book deserts for disadvantaged preschool children.
    Senators Collins and King have been steadfast champions of childhood education and literacy programs for Maine children, and have previously co-sponsored this resolution.
    Read the full resolution here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Casey, Wyden Slam McDonald’s for Squeezing Customers with Excessive Price Increases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    October 22, 2024

    “Corporate profits must not come at the expense of people’s ability to put food on the table.”

    Text of Letter (PDF) 

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), wrote to President and Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s, Chris Kempczinski, pushing for more information on McDonald’s pricing decisions as fast food prices continue to increase, outpacing inflation and squeezing customers. 

    “While McDonald’s is not the only fast food restaurant that has increased prices significantly in recent years, its dominant market position as the largest fast food chain in the United States has an outsize impact on American consumers. While working families are trying to make ends meet, McDonald’s and its corporate counterparts have continued to grow their profits,” wrote the senators.

    Earlier this year, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger attempted to blame the company’s menu price increases on inflationary pressures and input costs, but the data tells another story. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, fast food prices have consistently outpaced inflation, and since 2020, overall inflation has increased by 20 percent, while McDonald’s has increased its menu prices for several items substantially more. McDonalds net annual income rose by over 79 percent – nearly $8.5 billion, from 2020 to 2023.

    While McDonald’s was raising prices, the company also spent nearly $4 billion on stock buybacks in 2022 and $3 billion in 2023. The company also benefits from a tax loophole that favors buybacks. This prioritizes Wall Street shareholders over investments in McDonald’s own business and workers. 

    As American consumers have begun taking their business elsewhere, the company has promised to take a “forensic approach” to evaluating high prices.

    “Corporate profits must not come at the expense of people’s ability to put food on the table,” concluded the senators. “As we seek to investigate and understand the increased consumer costs in the economy, we hope McDonald’s will help us to understand why its prices have risen so high.”

    As a champion for American consumers and a secure and healthy economy, Senator Warren has engaged in oversight of corporations that unfairly exploit consumers. She has also been calling for more competition and stronger enforcement of antitrust laws to bring down prices for families: 

    • In October 2024, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) wrote to Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan, on reports of widespread price gouging in states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and on the need for a federal price gouging ban to complement state-level efforts.
    • In October 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) wrote to the CEOs of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and General Mills, pressing their executives on the companies’ pattern of profiteering off consumers, both through “shrinkflation” and dodging taxes on the profits they made from that price gouging.
    • In September 2024, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Representative Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) demanded answers from 13 corporate landlords operating in Massachusetts as to whether they are using RealPage’s algorithm to raise rents for families.
    • In August 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) sent a letter to Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO of Kroger, raising concerns about Kroger’s use of Electronic Shelving Labels (ESLs) to potentially surge grocery prices and exploit consumers.
    • In May 2024, while chairing a Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy hearing, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) called out giant corporations for hiking up food prices while raking in record profits, and urged action to promote competition and bring down costs.
    • In May 2024, Senator Warren and Rep. Jim McGovern led a group of lawmakers in a letter to President Joe Biden, urging the Biden administration to use its executive authority to take action to lower food prices. 
    • In May 2024, during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs, Senator Warren called out food industry price gouging and urged action to combat unfair pricing practices.
    • In April 2024, Senator Warren (D-Mass.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) wrote to DoorDash and UberEats, the two largest delivery platforms, calling out their use of hidden junk fees.
    • In March 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.) led a group of 14 lawmakers in a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan urging the agency to revive enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), a critical tool to promote fair competition in the food industry. 
    • In February 2024, Senator Warren joined Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in introducing the Shrinkflation Prevention Act to crack down on corporations that deceive consumers by selling smaller sizes of their products without lowering prices.
    • In February 2024, Senators Warren, Baldwin, Casey, and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) reintroduced the Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2024, which would protect consumers and prohibit corporate price gouging by authorizing the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce a federal ban against grossly excessive price increases.
    • In February 2022, at a hearing, Senator Warren called out corporations for abusing their market power to raise consumer prices and boost profits.
    • At a January 2022 hearing, Senator Warren pressed Fed Chair Jerome Powell on the role of corporate concentration in driving up prices for consumers during his renomination hearing to be Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
    • In a New York Times op-ed published in April 2020, Senator Warren urged Congress to focus on cracking down on price gouging in its ongoing effort to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Wyden, Blumenthal, Porter Call on DOJ to Prosecute Tax Prep Companies for Illegally Sharing Sensitive Personal and Financial Taxpayer Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    October 22, 2024

    Treasury, IRS assessment confirm 2023 Congressional investigation finding that companies broke the law by sharing sensitive data with Big Tech firms. 

    Tax prep companies potentially face billions of dollars in criminal liability. 

    “DOJ has the sole authority to enforce the criminal statute on behalf of the millions of taxpayers harmed by this unauthorized disclosure of their sensitive personal and financial data.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), along with Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.) wrote to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging the investigation and prosecution of major tax preparation companies for illegally sharing protected and sensitive taxpayer information with Big Tech firms. 

    Last month, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) released an audit report confirming that four online tax preparation companies broke the law by sharing legally protected and sensitive taxpayer information with Big Tech firms without taxpayer consent.  Specifically, the report found that consent statements being used by the tax prep companies did not clearly identify the intended use of taxpayer data, a violation of Treasury regulations. The IRS agreed with TIGTA’s assessment. The report confirms November 2022 investigative reporting by the Markup and the results of a July 2023 Congressional investigation, led by Senator Warren, which found that the improper sharing of sensitive taxpayer personal and financial information by TaxSlayer, H&R Block, TaxAct, and Ramsey Solutions with Meta and Google appeared to be illegal. 

    Tax prep companies used pixels, computer code that tracks a user’s website activity, to obtain sensitive personal and financial information, including approximate income and refund amounts, for millions of taxpayers who filed their taxes online with these companies. Meta then used that information for advertising and to train its AI algorithm. 

    TIGTA conducted a detailed review of four tax preparation companies, and found that the companies did not obtain proper taxpayer consent for the release of their information. 

    “We write to urge you to investigate and prosecute the criminal behavior of major tax preparation companies identified in our investigation and confirmed by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Internal Revenue Service,” wrote the lawmakers. The penalties for these violations can include $1,000 per violation and up to 1 year in prison. TIGTA itself notes that it “reports potential criminal violations directly to the Department of Justice when TIGTA deems that it is appropriate to do so.” 

    The IRS recently announced the expansion of the highly successful Direct File program to 24 total states, making 30 million taxpayers eligible to file for free, securely, and directly with the IRS. However, many taxpayers still rely on private tax prep companies. 

    “Accountability for these tax preparation companies – who disclosed millions of taxpayers’ tax return data…is essential for protecting the rule of law and the privacy of taxpayers,” concluded the lawmakers. 

    Senator Warren has been at the forefront of holding tax prep firms and Big Tech accountable for their behavior, and pushed for an easy and free IRS Drect File program:

    • In May 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tom Carper (D-Del.), along with Representatives Don Beyer (D-Va.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) led over 130 lawmakers in sending a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, applauding the successful pilot of the Direct File program, and urging them to make it permanent and expand its functionality and scope.
    • In June 2023, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tom Carper (D-Del.), along with Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), and Don Beyer (D-Va.) led a coalition of 99 Democratic lawmakers in sending a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel and Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo, applauding the IRS’ announcement of a pilot  of a free tax filing tool next year. 
    • In April 2023, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tom Carper (D-Del.) led their colleagues in sending a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel urging the agency to simplify the tax process and broaden access to free e-filing options.
    • In April 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel about the IRS’s failed Free-File partnership with private tax preparation software companies and called on the agency to implement a direct E-File program that will be truly free and easy for millions of Americans. 
      • Commission Werfel agreed with Senator Warren that the gap between the 70% of taxpayers that Free File is supposed to serve and the 2% it actually does is “massive.”  When Senator Warren pointed out that tax prep companies are instead pushing alternative services that should be free, are marketed as free, but are not, Commissioner Werfel also agreed that “the whole process needs to be improved,” that taxpayer rights have been violated, and the IRS has an obligation to make “the tax system easier for taxpayers to navigate.”
    • In March 2023, Senators Warren and Angus King (I-Maine) wrote a letter with 19 other senators to the Internal Revenue Service and Secretary Yellen expressing strong support for Secretary Yellen’s directive for the IRS not to raise audit rates for small businesses or households making under $400,000 annually. 
    • In December 2022, Senators Warren and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) sent letters to tax preparation companies H&R Block, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer, plus big tech firms Meta, and Google, amid reports that the tax preparation companies have been secretly transmitting individual taxpayers’ sensitive financial information to Meta and Google.
    • In July 2022, Senator Elizabeth Warren led 22 of her colleagues in introducing the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2022 to simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans by lowering costs, eliminating red tape for all taxpayers, and saving them hours and hundreds of dollars. 
    • During an exchange of the United States Senate Finance Committee in June 2022, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen agreed with Senator Elizabeth Warren on the need to create a free tax filing system that actually works for Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Helps Secure Over $500,000 in Federal Funding for Workforce Development Facility in Western Kentucky

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) will award $509,000 to the Murray-Calloway Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA) through the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program. Today’s funding will support the development of a skills training and workforce development facility for underemployed and unemployed workers in the community, which will help boost the earning potential of program participants and address worker shortages in the region.

    This federal funding is made possible through a DRA assistance program, which is funded by the FY2023 government funding bill and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

    Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, advocated for DRA funding in both the annual appropriations process and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Senator also wrote a letter to Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chair of the Delta Regional Authority, in support of this project.

    “Last year’s government funding bill, as well as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide big investments for Western Kentucky’s communities, including assistance for Murray and Calloway counties’ first workforce development facility. This project will help hardworking Kentuckians get back to work in their communities while addressing the growing needs of job creators in the Commonwealth. I was proud to support funding for this project and I’ll continue to do what I can to ensure federal resources go toward Kentucky’s communities that need them most,” said Senator McConnell.

    “MCIDA is thrilled to receive today’s award, which will allow our team to continue expanding this impactful workforce program through the construction of a permanent facility. Our community is thankful for Senator McConnell’s help in bringing home today’s federal grant, and we’re grateful for all he has done to support Western Kentucky over the years,” said Executive Director of the Murray-Calloway Industrial Development Authority Mark Manning.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Announces $44 Million to Develop Carbon Storage Hub for West Virginia, Surrounding States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

    October 22, 2024

    Charleston, WV– Yesterday, Senator Joe Manchin III (I-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced an award of more than $44 million from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management for the development of a carbon storage hub in Marshall County that will serve West Virginia and surrounding states. This funding was made possible by Chairman Manchin’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    “West Virginia has always been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge energy technologies,” said Chairman Manchin. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Mountain State will continue to lead the way by advancing innovative carbon storage infrastructure to help reduce emissions. This new technology will support critical industries in our state and create good paying jobs in the region.” 

    This location was chosen due to its proximity to projects planned as part of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub that Chairman Manchin led a ribbon cutting for in August.

    To learn more about the project, click here.

    To learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, click here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar and Colleagues Release Report on Vote Counting Process for the November Election

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    Democratic Senators Warn Americans To Be On Alert Against Efforts To Undermine Public Confidence In Election Results
    READ THE REPORT HERE
    WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released a report summarizing for the American people what to expect on Election Day and encouraging voters to cast their ballot.
    With the general election well underway in every state across the country, Senate Democrats have a clear message for the American people, which is to vote and cast their ballot as early as possible. As significant numbers of Americans choose to vote by mail, the report explains why it’s still possible that, in some states, the outcome might not be known on November 5th, in part because states differ in whether they allow mail-in ballots to be processed ahead of Election Day and whether ballots must be received by Election Day or postmarked by Election Day. The report also makes clear that voter intimidation is illegal and federal law prohibits coercing or threatening anyone in order to interfere with their right to vote.
    A copy of the report can be found HERE.
    “The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and we must do everything we can to protect it and uphold the integrity of the election process. That means pushing back on efforts to sow chaos during election season. As this report explains, it also means making sure that Americans know that it is possible that the outcome in some states will not be known on November 5th. While some states have expedited their counting requirements since 2020, we should be prepared to be patient about results in places where counting ballots may take longer. Americans should keep making their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Klobuchar.
    “Just like 2020, Donald Trump and his allies continue to refuse to commit to accepting the results of the election if he loses while pushing dangerous and divisive rhetoric to sow discord and undermine confidence in our election process. Americans losing faith in the results of our elections doesn’t just risk another January 6th but puts our very democracy at risk,” said Leader Schumer. “Senate Democrats remain committed to ensuring all Americans can vote without fear or intimidation.”
    “As Donald Trump bets on chaos, division, and lies to fuel his campaign and get back into the White House, it’s on us to see through his fearmongering and stand up for our democracy. So vote early, vote by mail, vote in person—but vote. The future of our country depends on us rejecting fear and misinformation and making our voices heard,” said Murphy.
    “Former President Trump’s dangerous rhetoric threatens to further divide our country and sow real potential for violence like we saw up close on January 6, 2021. Our elections are the foundation of American democracy. Protecting them should be the top priority for everyone who cares about the future of our country. Election officials, courts, and elected leaders must be accountable for upholding that principle,” said Heinrich.
    “There is no greater responsibility, or honor, as an American than exercising your right to vote. Our free, fair voting systems and our peaceful transitions of powers are two of the hallmarks that have separated America from authoritarianism for centuries now—and that will carry on far beyond this November, despite Donald Trump’s desperate, sad attempts to sow seeds of chaos and distrust in our electoral processes. The most powerful defense against creeping autocracy in America is to make our voices heard at the ballot box—because carrying out our most sacred duty as citizens is the best way we can ensure remain a government of, by and for the people,” said Duckworth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: DOE Awards $48.6 Million in Support of Project Tundra

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    10.22.24

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded more than $48.6 million in support of Project Tundra, a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) effort led by Minnkota Power Cooperative. The funding is being awarded to the DCC East Project in Grand Forks.

    “North Dakota has always been a leader in energy innovation and now with Project Tundra, we’re leading the technology development of carbon capture and storage on a traditional coal-fired power plant,” said Hoeven. “Project Tundra is vital to the future of our lignite industry, and will help ensure we have the reliability and affordability of coal-fired electric power today and for future generations.”

    Hoeven has worked to advance Project Tundra to provide a way forward for the state’s coal-fired electric industry. Last year, Minnkota and Hoeven announced that Project Tundra had entered its final stage of development as new affiliates, including TC Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kiewit, were added to build the project.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Helps Secure $20 Million to Rehabilitate & Preserve Highway 52

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    10.16.24

    BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced a $20 million award to the North Dakota Department of Transportation for the Freight Reliability and Preservation Project on US 52. Specifically, the project will restore roughly 45 miles of existing asphalt pavement from west of Drake to Fessenden, consolidate access points at the intersection of US 52 and North Dakota Highway 3 (ND 3) in Harvey, add acceleration and deceleration lanes at existing at-grade railroad crossings as well as add turn lanes at critical intersections from seven miles south of Portal to Carrington. 

    “The funding we worked to secure will support much needed rehabilitation and enhancements for US 52,” said Hoeven. “This major highway is essential to North Dakota and this award will help expand access with greater safety across the state.”

    Earlier this year, Hoeven led the North Dakota congressional delegation in making the case for funding the project to the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, stressing the benefits to freight transportation, while reducing congestion and improving safety.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Royal Oak,  MI

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Royal Oak Music TheatreRoyal Oak, Michigan
    3:59 P.M. EDT
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Well, we are here in Michigan, just left Pennsylvania.  And then after Michigan, we’ll be on our way to Wisconsin. 
    And I will mention a couple of things that have just recently come up — for example, that my opponent, Donald Trump, does not believe we should raise minimum wage.  And I think everyone knows that the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, which means that the person who is working a full day and working full weeks will make $15,000 a year, which is essentially poverty wages. 
    So, there is a big difference between Donald Trump and me on a number of issues, including this, where I absolutely believe we must raise minimum wage and that hardworking Americans, whether they’re working at McDonald’s or anywhere else, should have at least the ability to be able to take care of their family and take care of themselves in a way that allows them to actually be able to sustain their needs.
    The other issue that has come up recently has been the issue of what we are seeing, again, about Donald Trump just being, frankly, hostile to the whole notion and importance of Social Security.  There are many seniors in our country that Social Security is their only form of income.  And now an independent agency has reviewed Donald Trump’s theory about Social Security and his policies and has indicated that his policy would actually render the Social Security fund empty, essentially, in six years.
    Again, if you look at it from minim- — minimum wage to Social Security, Donald Trump clearly does not understand the needs of working people.  With Social Security be- — being rendered insolvent in six years, what that would mean for the seniors of America is catastrophic. 
    And then, lastly, on the issue of contraception, I’m very pleased that our administration today announced a rule that would essentially allow folks to get contraception over the counter.  And as we know, my policy is about making sure that Americans have what they need in terms of their reproductive health.  And Donald Trump, you just look at his plan 20- — his Project 2025 would actually restrict access to contraception, which would just contribute to the public health crisis he’s already created.
    I’ll take any questions.
    AIDE:  We’re going to start with Erica Green at the New York Times.
         Q    Madam President — Vice President, sorry.  Keeps happening.  Could you please speak to your — your messaging today —
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.
         Q    — particularly as you go through the suburbs?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.
         Q    You’re trying to reach swing voters.  Among them are women —
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yep.
         Q    — white women who voted for Donald Trump in the last two elections.  Can you talk about your messaging to them and what you’re hoping will break through to them?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, today, I am spending the day with former Congresswoman Liz Cheney.  We are traveling to three states to talk with all Americans about what is at stake in this election, but doing it through the lens of a very important point, that what is at stake in this election is so fundamental that it really does cross partisan lines.
    We are talking about whether you will have a president of the United States who takes seriously their duty and their oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States.  And there is a clear distinction here, which is that I will and he will not, as evidenced by many statements he has made, including his intention to be a dictator on day one, his intention to weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies. 
    And then you just look at what the people who know him best and worked with him in the Oval Office and the White House have said about him, which is he is unfit to serve and would be dangerous if he were president again.  And he, even by the former chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, has been called a “fascist to his core.”  I am quoting.
    So, what we are talking with folks about today is what I’ve been talking with folks about since I’ve been on the campaign trail these last 70-odd days, which is this is a choice for the American people, and it is a choice between whether we’re going to chart a new way forward that turns the page on the division, the hate, the chaos of Donald Trump. 
    But also, and maybe even more fundamentally, do we have a president of the United States who stands behind the seal of the president of the United States taking seriously their oath and their duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States and abide by the rule of law?
    And so, I’m out here talking with folks to remind them of what’s at stake.  And I’m very pleased and honored that so many people are showing up to these events to have this conversation, because I think they know, regardless of who they voted for in the last election and the party with which they’re registered to vote, on some issues, we just have to all be Americans and put party aside.
    AIDE:  We’re going to go to Colleen at the AP.
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi. 
    Q    Hi, Madam Vice President.  Do you think that Republican voters — in specific, women voters — will be more likely to vote for you because of the fall of Roe?  And are the Republican votes key to winning the (inaudible) states?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I look at what happened in the midterms and in special elections to guide my thinking about this issue.  And what we saw is, in so-called “red” states and so-called “blue” states, when the issue of the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body is on the ballot, the American people vote for freedom regardless of the party with which they’re registered to vote.
    And I do believe it is such a fundamental issue, which is understanding you don’t have to abandon your faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling women what to do with their body.  So, I do believe it is a compelling issue, especially when we consider the fact that, for so many of us, our daughter is going to have fewer rights than their grandmother. 
    And America’s strength — one of the attributes of our progress has been the expansion of rights, not the restriction of rights.  And that’s what we’re seeing happen, and it has happened because Donald Trump created this situation when he hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended.
    AIDE:  We have time for one more.  Andrea at Reuters, are you here?
         Q    Yeah.  Hi.  So, Elon Musk is giving away a million dollars a day to voters who sign a petition.  Do you have concerns about that in ter- — in the context of law, you know, the sort of legal framework around elections? 
    And secondly, a Reuters investigation has shown something like 300 cases of political violence already in the run-up to the election.  Can you just address what can be done and what the federal government can do to push back against that?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, on the first point, I think people are looking into that.
    On the second point —
         Q    When you say “people,” do you mean the U.S. government?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I mean I hear that folks are looking into it, just based on the stuff you all are reporting.  (Laughs.)
    On the second point, there should be no place in America where we are seeing political violence.  And, sadly, we have seen, if we just look back to January 6th, when that occurred in a way that was most shocking and brought on because, of course, of Donald Trump, who incited a mob — a violent mob that attacked the United States Capitol, wherein over 140 uniformed law enforcement officers were injured and some were killed and where Donald Trump has still yet to acknowledge the travesty of that day and the political violence that occurred that day.
    So, I will say and repeat what I think most people understand: In America, in a democracy, we should have no room for nor should we ever condone any form of political violence.  In a democracy, people will debate, people will disagree, but not resort to violence.  And everyone should speak out about that, including and especially anybody who’s running for president of the United States.
    AIDE:  Thank you, Madam Vice President.
         Q    Thank you.
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Thank you all.
                            END                     4:07 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Leads Senators In Demanding Answers From Pfizer, Eli Lilly On New Telehealth Platforms Amid Concerns Of Inappropriate Prescribing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    10.22.24
    In Letters to Pfizer and Eli Lilly, Durbin, Sanders, Welch, and Warren request details about whether the companies’ new advertising & telehealth schemes create conflicts of interest that steer patients toward particular medications
    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the CEOs of Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly demanding answers about the pharmaceutical companies’ recent move to establish new direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth platforms.  These new arrangements steer patients toward particular medications and create the potential for inappropriate prescribing that can increase spending for federal health care programs. 
    As Durbin notes in his letters, federal law, specifically the Anti-Kickback Statute, prohibits the willful payment of remuneration to induce patient referrals for Medicare or Medicaid-covered services or goods.  Durbin requested additional information about the nature of Pfizer and Eli Lilly’s contracts with their chosen telehealth platforms, including the characteristics of the medical evaluation and whether the telehealth providers are pressured to prescribe Pfizer or Eli Lilly medications.
    Along with Durbin, the letters were also signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) .
    “Pfizer recently launched a new telehealth platform, PfizerForAll, that links patients interested in receiving specific medications with a health care provider who can virtually prescribe that medication…  We write to learn more about the financial relationship between Pfizer and its chosen telehealth prescribers, given the potential implications for the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS),” the Senators began their letter to Pfizer.
    The United States is one of only two countries in the world that permit DTC advertising of prescription drugs, in part because this practice has been shown to increase patient demand for advertised drugs and the likelihood of a patient receiving a prescription for that drug.  Pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, spend an estimated $6 billion annually on DTC advertising to boost patient demand for medications.  As a result, a small number of prescription drugs advertised on television accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s overall spending on prescription drugs between 2016 and 2018. 
    The Senators continued their letter, expressing his concern that Pfizer and Eli Lilly’s new telehealth platforms may be pressuring health care providers into prescribing their medications, which could violate federal law. 
    “The launch of Pfizer’s new telehealth platform, similar to an existing platform for the virtual prescribing of Nurtec, raises questions about the nature of Pfizer’s relationship with its hired telehealth prescribers and the potential for inducement of prescriptions payable by federal health care programs,” the Senators wrote in their letter to Pfizer.
    “After describing Pfizer’s medications and the benefit they can have for patients, Pfizer’s telehealth platform provides a link for patients to ‘talk to a doctor now’ and fill prescriptions via an online pharmacy.  This creates the impression that any patient interested in a particular medication can indeed receive it with just a few clicks, and the appearance of Pfizer’s approval that these chosen telehealth providers can ensure a patient receives the given medication,” the Senators wrote.
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG) has been wary of telehealth platforms, issuing a Special Fraud Alert in 2022 to warn health care practitioners of specific risks of schemes involving telehealth platforms that “intentionally paid physicians … kickbacks to generate … prescriptions for medically unnecessary … medications, resulting in submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare [and] Medicaid.”  HHS OIG listed limited interaction with the purported patient, limited opportunity to review the patient’s medical records, and/or a directive to prescribe a preselected item, regardless of clinical appropriateness as potential fraudulent aspects of telehealth platforms’ arrangements with prescribers.
    In their letter to Pfizer, the Senators points to a specific example of PfizerForAll engaging in behavior that HHS OIG warned about.
    “The nature of the PfizerForAll platform appears to reflect many aspects of the HHS OIG warning for potential fraud.  Unsurprisingly, a patient coming straight from Pfizer’s website to a telehealth appointment with a prescriber chosen by Pfizer is overwhelmingly more likely to ask for Pfizer’s medication.  Further, that prescriber may have an incentive to prescribe such medication, whether or not it is medically necessary or clinically appropriate.  Payments by Pfizer hold the potential to induce specific actions of the prescribing pen,” the Senators wrote.
    The Senators continued, “These concerns are underscored by statements by Pfizer’s chosen prescribing contractor—Populus—for its Nurtec migraine medication.  Populus’ co-founder claimed in reporting by STAT News that more than 90 percent of eligible patients receive a prescription for the brand of drug whose marketing they clicked on, further adding, ‘We’re driving prescriptions.’  Similarly, UpScriptHealth has advertised job openings to prescribers with the statement, ‘on average, providers can complete 6-10 visits an hour’ and by defining ‘a completed visit is either an approval or denial of prescription request,’ which raises concerns about the adequacy of the provider’s patient engagement, quality of medical review, and expected outcomes.”
    The Senators concluded their letters to both Pfizer and Eli Lilly by requesting details about how the companies run their telehealth platforms and if patients are receiving adequate care rather than a hastily written prescription to a heavily-advertised medication produced by the pharmaceutical company.
    Today’s letters are Durbin’s latest action in cracking down on excessive prescription drug advertising that can harm patients and increase prescription drug costs.  Last November, Durbin took to the Senate floor to request unanimous consent for his bipartisan Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce excessive spending on medications.  Durbin also introduced the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Online Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect public health and close regulatory loopholes by having the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) address false and misleading prescription drug promotions by social media influencers and telehealth companies. 
    In May, Durbin chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.”  The hearing examined prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families.
    In his role as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Durbin also supported the advancement of a package of bills, which were reported unanimously out of Committee in February 2023, to lower prescription drug prices.  The package included Durbin’s Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act, which establishes an interagency task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and FDA for purposes of sharing information and providing technical assistance with respect to patents.
    A copy of the letter to Eli Lilly is available here.
    A copy of the letter to Pfizer is available here and below:
    October 21, 2024
    Dear Mr. Bourla:
                Pfizer recently launched a new telehealth platform, PfizerForAll, that links patients interested in receiving specific medications with a health care provider who can virtually prescribe that medication.  This manufacturer-sponsored arrangement appears intended to steer patients toward particular medications and creates the potential for inappropriate prescribing that can increase spending for federal health care programs.  We write to learn more about the financial relationship between Pfizer and its chosen telehealth prescribers, given the potential implications for the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). 
                Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs has been shown to increase both patient demand for specific medications and the likelihood of a patient receiving a prescription for that drug.  Pharmaceutical manufacturers like Pfizer spend an estimated $6 billion annually in DTC advertising to boost patient awareness and demand for advertised medications.  The U.S. is one of only two developed countries in the world that permits such health claims.  The American Medical Association has stated, “direct-to-consumer advertising inflates demand for new and expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate.”
                A recent study found that more than two-thirds of drugs advertised on television were considered “low added value.”  This creates concern for taxpayers, as a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the small number of prescription drugs advertised on television accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s overall spending on prescription drugs between 2016-2018.  For example, these DTC advertisements helped to balloon Medicare spending on Pfizer’s Xeljanz to more than $886 million in 2022.
                Telehealth can help to address barriers to care, including by expanding access for patients facing transportation barriers, helping to overcome stigma, and identifying providers when there may be workforce shortages.  But those important aspects of care can be undermined without comprehensive services that ensure a thorough patient evaluation and follow-up, especially if there is any appearance of a conflict of interest for the treatment provider.
    The launch of Pfizer’s telehealth platform, similar to an existing one for the virtual prescribing of Nurtec, raises questions about the nature of Pfizer’s relationship with its contracted telehealth prescribers and the potential for inducement of prescriptions payable by federal health programs.  The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG) warns, “as a physician, you are an attractive target for kickback schemes because you can be a source of referrals for … health care … suppliers.”  OIG adds, “many … companies want your patients’ business and would pay you to send that business their way.”
                After describing Pfizer’s medications and the benefit they can have for patients, Pfizer’s telehealth platform provides a link for patients to “talk to a doctor now” and fill prescriptions via an online pharmacy.  This creates the impression that any patient interested in a particular medication can indeed receive it with just a few clicks, and the appearance of Pfizer’s approval that these chosen telehealth providers can ensure a patient receives the given medication. 
    In 2022, the HHS OIG issued a Special Fraud Alert to notify health care practitioners of the specific risks of schemes involving telehealth platforms that “intentionally paid physicians … kickbacks to generate … prescriptions for medically unnecessary … medications, resulting in submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare [and] Medicaid.”  According to the HHS OIG, fraudulent aspects of these arrangements for prescribers may include: limited interaction with the purported patient, limited opportunity to review the patient’s medical records, and/or a directive to prescribe a preselected item, regardless of clinical appropriateness.
    The nature of the PfizerForAll platform appears to reflect many aspects of the HHS OIG warning for potential fraud.  Unsurprisingly, a patient coming straight from Pfizer’s website to a telehealth appointment with a prescriber chosen by Pfizer is overwhelmingly more likely to ask for Pfizer’s medication.  Further, that prescriber may have an incentive to prescribe such medication, whether or not it is medically necessary or clinically appropriate.  Payments by Pfizer hold the potential to induce specific actions of the prescribing pen. 
    These concerns are underscored by statements from Pfizer’s chosen prescribing contractor—Populus—for its Nurtec migraine medication.  Populus’ co-founder claimed in reporting by STAT News that more than 90 percent of eligible patients receive a prescription for the brand of drug whose marketing they clicked on, further adding, “We’re driving prescriptions.”  Similarly, UpScriptHealth has advertised job openings to prescribers with the statement, “on average, providers can complete 6-10 visits an hour” and by defining “a completed visit is either an approval or denial of prescription request,” which raises concerns about the adequacy of the provider’s patient engagement, quality of medical review, and expected outcomes.
    To better understand the nature of Pfizer’s relationship with contracted telehealth prescribers, we request written responses to the following questions by November 25, 2024:
    1.       Do Pfizer’s DTC advertisements for certain medications, including commercials on television or promotions on social media, direct consumers to PfizerForAll or the Nurtec/Populus page?
    1.       How much has Pfizer spent on such advertisements in the most recent six-month period for which data is available?
    2.       How much has Pfizer spent on disease awareness, continuing medical education activities, medical publications, patient advocacy/engagement, or other health promotion directed at prescribers or consumers for diseases related to medications listed on PfizerForAll or the Nurtec/Populus page in the most recent six-month period for which data is available?
    2.       Are any forms of insurance excluded from eligibility or participation with PfizerForAll or the Nurtec/Populus page?  Please list which types of insurance are not eligible to participate.
    3.       Does Pfizer direct, encourage, or educate UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care providers to prescribe Pfizer’s medications?
    4.       Did Pfizer share, consult, or communicate with UpScriptHealth or Populus in creating the “discussion guide” for patients to speak with their Pfizer-linked telehealth provider?
    5.       What is the average duration of the virtual health care visit between an UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care provider and a patient who is connected to them via Pfizer’s website? 
    1.       After initially filling out information, are such visits always conducted via a video platform, or are there other options available?
    6.       Do UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care providers always review the medical history and records of a patient who is connected to them via Pfizer’s website?  If so, please describe in detail how those records are accessed.
    7.       How does Pfizer set the compensation paid to its telehealth partners?  Please provide a copy of the terms of agreement between Pfizer and UpScriptHealth, and between Pfizer and Populus.
    1.       Is Pfizer paying fair market value for the services of UpScriptHealth or Populus?
    2.       Does Pfizer make a bonus payment to UpScriptHealth or Populus based on the number of prescriptions written, including refills?
    3.       Does Pfizer contract with UpScriptHealth or Populus to furnish a certain number of prescriptions for certain medications?
    4.       Would the UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care provider have actual or constructive knowledge that a patient was referred to them via Pfizer’s telehealth platform?
    5.       What metrics does Pfizer use to evaluate the performance of its contracts with UpScriptHealth and Populus and affiliated health care providers?
    8.       What data is being provided by UpScriptHealth or Populus to Pfizer as part of these agreements?  Please list all fields or categories of data being provided to Pfizer, including patient information, consumer behavior information, and marketing outcomes information.
    9.       What role, if any, does Pfizer play in collecting, defraying, or otherwise interacting with the co-pay that is associated with the provider consultation on Pfizer’s telehealth platforms?
    10.   Based upon prescribing or claims data that Pfizer has access to, how many prescriptions for a Pfizer medication have UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care providers written in the most recent 30-day period for which Pfizer has available information?
    11.   What percentage of consumers who meet virtually with an UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care provider receive a prescription for a Pfizer medication?
    1.       What percentage of such consumers receive a prescription for a medication manufactured by another brand-name company?
    2.       What percentage of such consumers receive a prescription for a generic medication?
    3.       What percentage of such consumers receive no prescription?
    12.   How much revenue has Pfizer generated from these telehealth platforms in the most recent 30-day period for which Pfizer has available information?
    13.   Outside of the contract terms with UpScriptHealth or Populus, please provide a list of all payments by Pfizer to each health care provider that is linked to via PfizerForAll over the past 12-month period, including for “speaking,” “consulting,” or other goods, fees, or services.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter.  We look forward to your response. 
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Announces New Investment at John Glenn Columbus International Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced a new $8.5 million investment for the John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The investment will be used to acquire five passenger boarding bridges and associated ground power units.

    “Ohio airports are vital infrastructure supporting travel and commerce in our state,” Brown said. “These investments will enhance operations at John Glenn Columbus International Airport and improve travel for Ohioans.”

    The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration awarded these investments as a part of its FY 2025 Airport Terminal Program. The Airport Terminal Program is made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Brown helped write and pass.

    MIL OSI USA News –