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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Court Ruling Blocking Click-To-Cancel Rule, Schatz, Kennedy Introduce Legislation To Stop Deceptive Subscription Business Practices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – Following a ruling from a federal court that blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule that was set to go into effect on Monday, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the Unsubscribe Act. The bipartisan bill would require companies to be more transparent about their subscription-based business models and make it easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions once their free or reduced-price trial period has ended.

    “Our bill will require companies to be more transparent about their business model and make it easier for consumers to avoid costly, automatic monthly charges they never intended to make,” said Senator Schatz. “The subscription-based business model is exploding, and it’s largely because of the deceptive practices that some companies use to lure and trap in customers. When people sign up for a free trial, they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops just to cancel their subscription before being charged.”

    “The average American is all too familiar with the headache of running around in circles to cancel a subscription before their free trial expires. Our common-sense Unsubscribe Act would make sure companies are upfront about automatic charges and make it easier to cancel subscriptions without the convoluted song-and-dance routine,” said Senator Kennedy.

    From video streaming and news to food delivery and fashion, subscription-based services have become a key part of today’s economy. A major driver of their growth is the use of free or low-cost trial offers to attract new customers. These trials give users a chance to explore the service at little to no cost before committing to a paid subscription. Unfortunately, in order to retain customers, some subscription providers rely on deceptive marketing, confusing contracts, and restrictions that make it difficult for customers to cancel their subscriptions.

    The Unsubscribe Act would:

    • Require sellers to provide customers with a clear understanding of all the terms of the contract and obtain the customer’s express and informed consent;
    • Require sellers to provide a simple means of canceling the subscription, which the customer can complete in the same way in which the original contract was entered into;
    • Require sellers to provide a clear notice to consumers when their free or reduced-cost trial is complete and before charging for the full-cost subscription;
    • Disallow automatic transfer to a contract beyond the preliminary period; and
    • Require sellers to periodically notify the customer of the terms of the contract and the cancelation mechanism.

    Companion legislation is set to be introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

    “Too many consumers are lured in by free trials, only to get trapped in confusing billing cycles and cancellation mazes. The Unsubscribe Act is about fairness—it puts the burden back on companies to be honest, clear, and accountable. If a business has to trick people into staying, it does not deserve their money,” said Representative Takano.

    The Schatz-Kennedy legislation is supported by Consumer Action, Truth in Advertising, the National Consumer League (NCL), Public Citizen, and Consumer Federation of America.

    “Reining in subscription traps is a massively popular and nonpartisan issue,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at NCL. “Passing the Unsubscribe Act is critical to protecting consumers from these predatory practices.”

    “Consumers deserve safeguards to prevent them from being trapped into paying for a service they no longer want with no straightforward way to cancel a subscription. With this week’s win by conservative big business interests in the courts against the FTC, Senator Schatz’s Unsubscribe Act is even more critical. We applaud this sensible measure to protect the public and hope it swiftly becomes law,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen.

    The full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Trump Admin Is Withholding Approx. $20M From WA For The 2025 Wildfire Season. Cantwell: “Why Aren’t We Releasing The Funds?”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    07.10.25

    The Trump Admin Is Withholding Approx. $20M From WA For The 2025 Wildfire Season. Cantwell: “Why Aren’t We Releasing The Funds?”

    During a potentially dire PNW wildfire season, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget claims they are still “evaluating” resources already set aside for the region; Funding being withheld could be spent NOW on firefighting training & equipment, forest management, & landscape restoration

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz about why the Trump Administration is withholding an estimated $20 million from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the 2025 firefighting season and future fire seasons.  

    President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not disbursed over $280 million in FY25 State, Private, and Tribal Forestry (SPTF) program funds. This includes grants to states to help train and equip state, local, and volunteer emergency responders and firefighters with the tools and resources they need to put wildfires out safely and quickly. This includes funding for fire academies, personal protection equipment, fire pumps, hoses, nozzles, and other safety gear. Nationally, state, local, and volunteer fire departments respond to roughly 80% of all wildfires each year. Last year DNR, along with local first responders, successfully kept over 93% of fires in Washington state at 10 acres or less.

    Funds from the SPTF can also be used for hazardous fuels work on non-federal land in the wildland urban interface (WUI), to recover land that has been burned, and for forest health management.

    “So where is the resource for the state? I think it’s a budget that’s already been approved. So why aren’t we releasing the funds that go to the community so that they can best prepare for this fire season?” Sen. Cantwell asked during a committee hearing this morning.

    “We are evaluating that right now. We’ve had a lot of feedback from the State Foresters. We’re working with OMB on that question right now, looking at that issue. So, we have not made a determination yet, but that’s something that is being evaluated,” Schultz responded.

    Sen. Cantwell: “So when do you expect that to go out?”

    Schultz: “We expect there probably to be [a] determination in the next several weeks, would be my expectation […] But we don’t– again, we can’t commit that that’s for sure going to go out yet. That’s still under discussion.”

    Sen. Cantwell: “We want to follow the normal process so that the Forest Service is working with others to get the resources into those communities and do the work that they need to do.”

    Last year, DNR received $20,509,589 of SPTF funding and is expecting a similar allocation this year. If FY25 is not apportioned and distributed by the U.S. Forest Service by Sept. 30, DNR may have to reduce Fire Academy Training sessions, which could result in 400 wildland firefighters not receiving training. Also, DNR may not be able to provide financial assistance for hazardous fuels reduction for non-federal lands in the WUI.

    Wildfire risk is above normal for the entire state of Washington, according to the National Interagency Fire Center’s forecast for July through September 2025, with the high risk predicted to persist in Eastern and Central Washington through October.

    The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is currently at Preparedness Level 3 (out of 4 possible levels), with five large wildfires burning in the state. So far this year the department logged 667 wildfires and 16,465 acres burned.

    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s questioning of Schultz is HERE; a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Urges Support of Tennessean Whitney Hermandorfer, Trump’s Nominee to be Judge on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    Hermandorfer is the first judicial nominee in President Trump’s second term
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support the nomination of Whitney Hermandorfer, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Remarks as prepared for delivery:
    Thank you, Mr. President.
    I urge my colleagues to support the confirmation of Whitney Hermandorfer, who President Trump has nominated to be a Judge on the Sixth Circuit.
    This is a defining moment for the second Trump Administration. Ms. Hermandorfer is the very first judicial nominee to come before the Senate. 
    She will set a benchmark of excellence for future judicial nominees — indeed, President Trump could not have made a better choice.
    Ms. Hermandorfer is eminently qualified, graduating first in her law school class, then clerking on the District Court for D.C., the D.C. Circuit, and not once – but twice – at the Supreme Court of the United States.
    Whitney served as the lead strategist and advocate for the State of Tennessee, representing the Volunteer state in its most complex and important cases. And – unsurprisingly to those who know her – she distinguished herself in that role. 
    Ms. Hermandorfer has the experience and the demeanor that our very best judges possess, along with a genuine humility, kindness, and infectious optimism.
    Most importantly, Ms. Hermandorfer will faithfully discharge the solemn duties of a judge.
    She will interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning.
    She will administer justice without fear or favor.
    She will rule without preference to the poor or rich, weak or powerful. 
    She will protect the precious rights recognized in the Constitution, and safeguard the delicate separation of powers our Founders established.
    Whitney Hermandorfer is an outstanding nominee —any delay in confirmation deprives our courts of the very best and brightest our nation can offer.
    I urge my colleagues to support her nomination on today’s procedural vote, and encourage this body to quickly proceed to her confirmation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: We Have Secured Huge Wins for Kansas Farmers and Ranchers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Talk About the Plan to Ban U.S. Farmland Purchases by China and Key Wins in the Reconciliation Bill
    Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Tammi Arender on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to discuss the importance of protecting American farmland from hostile foreign nations like China and the major wins for farmers and ranchers in the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill.
    Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks.
    On the necessity of preventing China from buying American farmland:
    “Tammi, it’s great to be with you, and for the last several years, we’ve been trying to scream as loud as we could that China’s buying more and more farmland in America. And it’s not just the quantity, it’s where they’re purchasing it. If you could imagine, Whiteman Air Force Base is where those B2 bombers took off and took out the Iranian nuclear facilities. The Chinese have purchased land next to that base. Same way at Fort Riley – at many of the military bases, the Chinese have purchased property.
    “And beyond that, it’s the Chinese owning a significant part of Smithfield and Brazilian JBS, the meatpacking industry as well. So what we announced yesterday, the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who by the way is doing an incredible job, is that she’s now going to be on CFIUS. This is the committee on foreign land purchases by foreign entities. So she’ll be at that level, and then trying to decide if someone that China or their proxies are here, trying to buy land in America, that she’ll get to decide that is a national security issue. The bottom line: food security is national security.”
    On whether there will be any retaliatory measures taken by China:
    “Think about this – you and I, your listeners, we cannot go to China and purchase land. We cannot go to China and make a pork processing plant. So I think it’s fair. You know, President Trump talks about fair and reciprocal trade agreements. And by the way, there’s a lot that states can do. State Governors in their legislatures can do this. Already in Arkansas, Governor Huckabee Sanders is actually buying back this land that the Chinese have purchased. And not only has she banned future purchases, but she’s actually forcing them to sell land as well – sometimes the states can move a little bit quicker than the federal government can.”
    On what the One Big Beautiful Bill will do for farmers and ranchers:
    “Tammi, I’m so proud we did almost a whole farm bill within this reconciliation bill. We allocate $50 billion more for crop insurance as well as the Title I funding. We increased the reference prices, so we funded that for the next five years, and we’ll take that off the table as we go forward with the rest of the Farm Bill. The crop insurance is the backbone of every Farm Bill.
    “But beyond that, even more, I think about beyond the reference prices… we also got the 199A pass-through for all those folks, farmers that are part of co-ops, we got that taken care of. Bonus depreciation, writing off interest, all those things are so important to go buy this million-dollar combine in today’s world, to be able to write that off with bonus depreciation is a big game changer.
    “We doubled the death tax exemption to over $30 million, so we doubled the tax exemptions so you don’t have to sell a fourth of your farm to pass it on to future generations as well. And don’t forget, we got 45Z done in this as well. I think the 45Z market for taking commodities turning into jet fuel, I think that could be bigger, maybe four or five times bigger than the entire ethanol industry right now. So huge, huge wins for farmers. So proud of the work we got done.”
    On what can be added to the next Farm Bill:
    “There’s a lot of division up here right now. My friends across the aisle are upset that we went forward with that. And I’m sorry, but we give them every chance a year or two to get it finished. I wish we could, but I hope so. I think even next week, we’re going to be working with Secretary Kennedy and Rollins and talking about soil health. And love to come back and talk about that. And part of improving soil health is going to cost money. If you want to go into regenerative agriculture in your first year or two, your crop, maybe your production, goes down. So we’re trying to work on a farm bill, especially the Conservation component. There’s great opportunity there, and we’ll hopefully sort it out this fall.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Welch Lead Colleagues in Calling Out Trump Administration’s Hypocrisy Over Accepting Qatari Plane Amid National Security Probe Into Foreign Aircraft Imports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led Senate colleagues, including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), in demanding that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick provide clarification of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft given that the Trump administration has accepted and plans to import an aircraft from Qatar.
    Specifically, the Senators press Secretary Lutnick whether the aircraft being acquired by President Trump from Qatar will be evaluated as part of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing national security investigation into the import of commercial aircraft.
    “We write to request clarification regarding the scope of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft and jet engines, and parts for commercial aircraft and jet engines, initiated on May 1, 2025,” wrote the Senators.
    “In light of this, we ask whether the aircraft reportedly being acquired by President Trump from Qatar will be evaluated as part of the Department’s ongoing investigation,” continued the Senators. 
    “Given President Trump’s repeated emphasis on curbing foreign influence in U.S. supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign-owned assets, it would be inconsistent for a high-profile foreign acquisition of this nature to go unexamined, especially as the Department of Commerce is actively analyzing the national security implications of such imports,” the Senators concluded. 
    The full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Lutnick,
    We write to request clarification regarding the scope of the Department of Commerce’s ongoing Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft and jet engines, and parts for commercial aircraft and jet engines, initiated on May 1, 2025.
    This investigation, initiated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, purportedly aims to assess whether these imports threaten the national security of the United States. In recent days, you have indicated that the Department expects to complete its investigation soon. Given the significance of this investigation—and its potential implications for trade policy and national security—it is essential that the process be conducted transparently.
    In light of this, we ask whether the aircraft reportedly being acquired by President Trump from Qatar will be evaluated as part of the Department’s ongoing investigation. While the aircraft is understood to be a Boeing 747-8 jetliner originally manufactured in the United States, its recent use by a foreign government and its reentry into the U.S. as a privately acquired aircraft raise serious national security concerns. It also raises questions about how such a case is categorized under the Section 232 framework.
    The aircraft, reportedly valued at $400 million, would represent one of the largest foreign gifts ever accepted by a former U.S. president—or by the U.S. government more broadly—if acquired at little or no cost. This transaction potentially conflicts with the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, as well as the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act. Members of Congress have written to the Department’s Inspector General and introduced a resolution and legislation addressing these concerns. While these constitutional and statutory questions are significant and pressing, we raise a different query. Specifically, we seek clarity on whether and how this transaction is being considered and factored into the Department’s ongoing national security investigation into the import of commercial aircraft.
    Given President Trump’s repeated emphasis on curbing foreign influence in U.S. supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign-owned assets, it would be inconsistent for a high-profile foreign acquisition of this nature to go unexamined, especially as the Department of Commerce is actively analyzing the national security implications of such imports. The public deserves clarity on whether and how this transaction will be factored into your department’s review.
    Accordingly, we request answers to the following:
    Will the Boeing 747-8 previously owned by the Qatari royal family and gifted to President Trump be considered within the scope of the Department’s ongoing Section232 into the national security implications of imports of commercial aircraft?
    If not, what criteria or exemptions govern that determination?
    Does the aircraft’s prior foreign government ownership affect its classification or relevance under the investigation?
    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your commitment to completing this important review in a transparent manner.
    Sincerely, 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Sends Letter to Pentagon & Defense Health Agency Advocating for Fort Leonard Wood’s Community Hospital

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara and Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Dr. David J. Smith, urging them to protect Fort Leonard Wood’s newly built hospital, the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH). 
    Senator Hawley wrote, “In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.”
    He continued, “As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.”
    Senator Hawley is following up on a letter he sent to Dr. Smith on May 13, 2025, in which he outlined his concerns over potential reductions to the hospital’s funding, personnel and services. 
    Read the full letter here or below. 
    Dr. Steve FerraraActing Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health AffairsOffice of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000
    Dr. David J. SmithActing Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Acting DirectorDefense Health Agency7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101 Falls Church, VA 22042
    Dear Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Smith,
    I write to follow up on my letter to Dr. Smith of May 13, 2025 concerning the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) at Ft. Leonard Wood. Thank you for your June 16, 2025 response—it provided some helpful information, but did not allay my concerns regarding the future of GLWACH.
    In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.
    As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.
    I therefore request that you provide me with written answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:
    1. Does DHA intend to reduce the funds, personnel, or other resources available to GLWACH?
    2. Does DHA intend to change the care or services provided by GLWACH? 
    3. Can DHA commit to maintaining GLWACH’s current scope of care, including its Surgery, Emergency Room, OBGYN, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Allergy and ENT Services departments?
    4. What effects will recent or planned changes to DOD’s resourcing model for direct care—including a potential shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model—have on GLWACH and Ft. Leonard Wood?
    5. Does DHA have a plan to solicit and consider input from the Army, local community members and groups, and other stakeholders before it makes changes to the resourcing or management of GLWACH?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Sends Letter to Pentagon & Defense Health Agency Advocating for Fort Leonard Wood’s Community Hospital

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara and Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Dr. David J. Smith, urging them to protect Fort Leonard Wood’s newly built hospital, the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH). 

    Senator Hawley wrote, “In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.”

    He continued, “As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.”

    Senator Hawley is following up on a letter he sent to Dr. Smith on May 13, 2025, in which he outlined his concerns over potential reductions to the hospital’s funding, personnel and services. 

    Read the full letter here or below. 

    Dr. Steve Ferrara
    Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
    Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness
    4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000

    Dr. David J. Smith
    Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Acting Director
    Defense Health Agency
    7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101 Falls Church, VA 22042

    Dear Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Smith,

    I write to follow up on my letter to Dr. Smith of May 13, 2025 concerning the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) at Ft. Leonard Wood. Thank you for your June 16, 2025 response—it provided some helpful information, but did not allay my concerns regarding the future of GLWACH.

    In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.

    As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.

    I therefore request that you provide me with written answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:

    1. Does DHA intend to reduce the funds, personnel, or other resources available to GLWACH?

    2. Does DHA intend to change the care or services provided by GLWACH? 

    3. Can DHA commit to maintaining GLWACH’s current scope of care, including its Surgery, Emergency Room, OBGYN, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Allergy and ENT Services departments?

    4. What effects will recent or planned changes to DOD’s resourcing model for direct care—including a potential shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model—have on GLWACH and Ft. Leonard Wood?

    5. Does DHA have a plan to solicit and consider input from the Army, local community members and groups, and other stakeholders before it makes changes to the resourcing or management of GLWACH?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Sends Letter to Pentagon & Defense Health Agency Advocating for Fort Leonard Wood’s Community Hospital

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Stephen Ferrara and Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Dr. David J. Smith, urging them to protect Fort Leonard Wood’s newly built hospital, the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH). 

    Senator Hawley wrote, “In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.”

    He continued, “As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.”

    Senator Hawley is following up on a letter he sent to Dr. Smith on May 13, 2025, in which he outlined his concerns over potential reductions to the hospital’s funding, personnel and services. 

    Read the full letter here or below. 

    Dr. Steve Ferrara
    Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
    Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness
    4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000

    Dr. David J. Smith
    Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and Acting Director
    Defense Health Agency
    7700 Arlington Blvd., Suite 5101 Falls Church, VA 22042

    Dear Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Smith,

    I write to follow up on my letter to Dr. Smith of May 13, 2025 concerning the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) at Ft. Leonard Wood. Thank you for your June 16, 2025 response—it provided some helpful information, but did not allay my concerns regarding the future of GLWACH.

    In recent weeks, members of my staff have received credible reports that DHA continues to consider major changes to the resourcing of GLWACH. I am particularly worried about the implications of DHA’s shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model, which I understand could considerably shrink the amount of funding provided to GLWACH.

    As I wrote to Dr. Smith last month, significant reductions to GLWACH funding, personnel, or services would degrade the healthcare of thousands of servicemembers and their families, as well as imperil the ability of Ft. Leonard Wood to support its critical military functions.

    I therefore request that you provide me with written answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:

    1. Does DHA intend to reduce the funds, personnel, or other resources available to GLWACH?

    2. Does DHA intend to change the care or services provided by GLWACH? 

    3. Can DHA commit to maintaining GLWACH’s current scope of care, including its Surgery, Emergency Room, OBGYN, Labor and Delivery, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Allergy and ENT Services departments?

    4. What effects will recent or planned changes to DOD’s resourcing model for direct care—including a potential shift to the Capitated Accountability Readiness Evaluation (CARE) model—have on GLWACH and Ft. Leonard Wood?

    5. Does DHA have a plan to solicit and consider input from the Army, local community members and groups, and other stakeholders before it makes changes to the resourcing or management of GLWACH?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Invites Trump “Border Czar” to Participate in Multnomah County Town Hall

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    July 10, 2025
    If Tom Homan wants to visit Portland for an honest, local discussion on immigration, Wyden says he should hear from Oregonians directly in community gathering.
    Washington, D.C. – Amid reports that Trump-designated “border czar” Tom Homan wants to visit Portland, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today invited the administration official to participate in the senator’s open-to-all Multnomah County town hall next month if he truly cares about local feedback on immigration policy featuring masked and unidentified agents snatching people off the streets.
    “I would certainly welcome your participation at my next Multnomah County town hall, which I am working to schedule next month, so you can hear directly from Oregonians,” Wyden wrote Homan, Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations. “I have held more than 1,100 town halls in all of our state’s 36 counties, and these town halls provide Oregonians the opportunity to ask questions and share their views.  Participating in one of these town halls would be helpful as you shape immigration and border security policies back in Washington D.C.”
    Wyden noted in his letter that in his town halls since Trump took office in January and in other settings in rural, suburban and urban parts of the state, Oregonians have expressed serious concerns about the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to immigration policy.
    “In these few short months, Oregonians have seen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detaining and deporting key members of our community, essential workers and entrepreneurs, without due process and in defiance of court orders,” Wyden wrote. “In our universities and colleges, students have seen their visas revoked without warning, disrupting their education and valuable research contributions.  They have seen immigrant laborers with appropriate documentation stopped and questioned by federal agents on their way to work.  All across the state, our immigrant communities have stated their justifiable concerns with seeking out healthcare, attending school, and requesting the support of law enforcement out of fear that masked and unidentifiable people claiming to be federal agents may target them.”
    He also wrote that he has heard throughout the year from Oregon employers across several sectors—agriculture, healthcare, childcare, technology, and more—about the Trump administration’s hostile approach to immigrants and foreign-born students and workers has driven out talented and skilled professionals to seek opportunities outside of the United States. 
    “As a result, many critical positions remain unfilled at these companies and organizations, whose work support and sustain our state and national economies,” Wyden wrote. “As my constituents know, I have regularly voted for billions of dollars to enforce a secure border and have worked across the aisle on comprehensive immigration reform, all while pushing for a humane approach to immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and visitors from around the world.  Oregonians share those goals, but they do not want to see federal agents and their military suppressing free speech and assembly, ICE and private contractors mistreating immigrants, and their leadership in D.C. wasting their taxpayer dollars detaining and deporting families who present no threat to public safety.” 
    The entire letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Invites Trump “Border Czar” to Participate in Multnomah County Town Hall

    US Senate News:

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

    July 10, 2025

    If Tom Homan wants to visit Portland for an honest, local discussion on immigration, Wyden says he should hear from Oregonians directly in community gathering.

    Washington, D.C. – Amid reports that Trump-designated “border czar” Tom Homan wants to visit Portland, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today invited the administration official to participate in the senator’s open-to-all Multnomah County town hall next month if he truly cares about local feedback on immigration policy featuring masked and unidentified agents snatching people off the streets.

    “I would certainly welcome your participation at my next Multnomah County town hall, which I am working to schedule next month, so you can hear directly from Oregonians,” Wyden wrote Homan, Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations. “I have held more than 1,100 town halls in all of our state’s 36 counties, and these town halls provide Oregonians the opportunity to ask questions and share their views.  Participating in one of these town halls would be helpful as you shape immigration and border security policies back in Washington D.C.”

    Wyden noted in his letter that in his town halls since Trump took office in January and in other settings in rural, suburban and urban parts of the state, Oregonians have expressed serious concerns about the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to immigration policy.

    “In these few short months, Oregonians have seen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detaining and deporting key members of our community, essential workers and entrepreneurs, without due process and in defiance of court orders,” Wyden wrote. “In our universities and colleges, students have seen their visas revoked without warning, disrupting their education and valuable research contributions.  They have seen immigrant laborers with appropriate documentation stopped and questioned by federal agents on their way to work.  All across the state, our immigrant communities have stated their justifiable concerns with seeking out healthcare, attending school, and requesting the support of law enforcement out of fear that masked and unidentifiable people claiming to be federal agents may target them.”

    He also wrote that he has heard throughout the year from Oregon employers across several sectors—agriculture, healthcare, childcare, technology, and more—about the Trump administration’s hostile approach to immigrants and foreign-born students and workers has driven out talented and skilled professionals to seek opportunities outside of the United States. 

    “As a result, many critical positions remain unfilled at these companies and organizations, whose work support and sustain our state and national economies,” Wyden wrote. “As my constituents know, I have regularly voted for billions of dollars to enforce a secure border and have worked across the aisle on comprehensive immigration reform, all while pushing for a humane approach to immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and visitors from around the world.  Oregonians share those goals, but they do not want to see federal agents and their military suppressing free speech and assembly, ICE and private contractors mistreating immigrants, and their leadership in D.C. wasting their taxpayer dollars detaining and deporting families who present no threat to public safety.” 

    The entire letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Invites Trump “Border Czar” to Participate in Multnomah County Town Hall

    US Senate News:

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

    July 10, 2025

    If Tom Homan wants to visit Portland for an honest, local discussion on immigration, Wyden says he should hear from Oregonians directly in community gathering.

    Washington, D.C. – Amid reports that Trump-designated “border czar” Tom Homan wants to visit Portland, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today invited the administration official to participate in the senator’s open-to-all Multnomah County town hall next month if he truly cares about local feedback on immigration policy featuring masked and unidentified agents snatching people off the streets.

    “I would certainly welcome your participation at my next Multnomah County town hall, which I am working to schedule next month, so you can hear directly from Oregonians,” Wyden wrote Homan, Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations. “I have held more than 1,100 town halls in all of our state’s 36 counties, and these town halls provide Oregonians the opportunity to ask questions and share their views.  Participating in one of these town halls would be helpful as you shape immigration and border security policies back in Washington D.C.”

    Wyden noted in his letter that in his town halls since Trump took office in January and in other settings in rural, suburban and urban parts of the state, Oregonians have expressed serious concerns about the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to immigration policy.

    “In these few short months, Oregonians have seen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detaining and deporting key members of our community, essential workers and entrepreneurs, without due process and in defiance of court orders,” Wyden wrote. “In our universities and colleges, students have seen their visas revoked without warning, disrupting their education and valuable research contributions.  They have seen immigrant laborers with appropriate documentation stopped and questioned by federal agents on their way to work.  All across the state, our immigrant communities have stated their justifiable concerns with seeking out healthcare, attending school, and requesting the support of law enforcement out of fear that masked and unidentifiable people claiming to be federal agents may target them.”

    He also wrote that he has heard throughout the year from Oregon employers across several sectors—agriculture, healthcare, childcare, technology, and more—about the Trump administration’s hostile approach to immigrants and foreign-born students and workers has driven out talented and skilled professionals to seek opportunities outside of the United States. 

    “As a result, many critical positions remain unfilled at these companies and organizations, whose work support and sustain our state and national economies,” Wyden wrote. “As my constituents know, I have regularly voted for billions of dollars to enforce a secure border and have worked across the aisle on comprehensive immigration reform, all while pushing for a humane approach to immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and visitors from around the world.  Oregonians share those goals, but they do not want to see federal agents and their military suppressing free speech and assembly, ICE and private contractors mistreating immigrants, and their leadership in D.C. wasting their taxpayer dollars detaining and deporting families who present no threat to public safety.” 

    The entire letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/10/2025 Blackburn Introduces Legislation to Reduce Air Traffic Controller Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Control Tower Continuity Act to help reduce the current air traffic controller shortage in the United States. This legislation would give the U.S. Secretary of Transportation the authority to exempt exceptional individuals over the age of 61 from the mandatory air traffic controller retirement age to prevent flight delays, cancellations, and potential safety concerns:

    “Healthy and skilled air traffic controllers should not be forced to retire at age 61,” said Senator Blackburn. “As the United Staes faces a shortage of air traffic controllers, Americans are forced to endure delays, cancellations, and safety concerns. The Control Tower Continuity Act would empower healthy and experienced air traffic controllers to work beyond the current mandatory retirement age to address air traffic controller shortages.”

    BACKGROUND

    • Air traffic controller staffing has been an issue faced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for years.
    • The FAA is short about 3,000 air traffic controllers across the nation.
    • The current mandatory retirement age for air traffic controllers is 56, and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation has the authority to exempt “exceptional” individuals until age 61.
    • U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has expressed interest in using his authority to exempt individuals until age 61.

    THE CONTROL TOWER CONTINUITY ACT

    • The Control Tower Continuity Act would allow the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to exempt air traffic controllers from thas e mandatory retirement age past the age of 61 as long as they meet relevant medical standards, providing more flexibility during times of air traffic controller shortages.
    • Under this legislation, air traffic controllers over the age of 61 would be required to update their medical certifications every six months, as opposed to every year.

    Click here for bill text.

    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Demands Trump Administration Release $7 Billion In Federal Funding For Schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Withheld Funding Will Force Schools To Cancel Free And Affordable After-School Care For Low-Income Kids And Other Critical Programs 

    Last Year, New York State Received $464 Million From These Federal Programs 

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference demanding that the Trump administration release $7 billion in federal funding for schools nationwide. The administration is currently withholding the resources, which fund before- and after-school programs, professional development for teachers, STEM education, accelerated learning courses, college and career counseling, and school-based mental health services. Last year, this federal funding amounted to 13.5% of total K-12 funding for New York. Gillibrand sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and OMB Director Russell Vought demanding answers on how long the administration plans to withhold this funding and when, if ever, they will release it. 

    “President Trump is once again playing games with our kids’ futures,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The funds he is withholding go toward commonsense programs that help our kids thrive in school and prepare to get good-paying jobs in the future. They pay for before– and after-school programs that let parents stay in the workforce and professional development programs that make sure teachers are using cutting-edge strategies to reach students. Losing this funding will be catastrophic for our schools, our kids, and our families. The Trump administration must release these funds immediately.” 

    Among others, the following grant programs are having their disbursements withheld by the Trump administration:  

    • Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants, which support professional development and other activities to improve the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders, including reducing class size. New York State received almost $126 million from this grant program last year.
    • 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which support high-quality before- and after-school programs focused on providing academic enrichment opportunities for students. New York State received over $102 million from this grant program last year.
    • Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, which provide flexible funding for school districts for a wide range of activities, including supporting STEM education, accelerated learning courses, college and career counseling, school-based mental health services, and improving school technology, among many others. New York State received over $107 million from this grant program last year.

    The letter was also signed by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Representatives Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03).

    The full text of the letter is available here or below: 

    Dear Secretary McMahon and Director Vought:

    As members of the New York congressional delegation, we write to respectfully raise urgent concerns regarding the Department of Education’s decision to withhold nearly $7 billion dollars in already enacted federal funding for Fiscal Year 2025 that states, local governments, and schools across the country rely on to provide critical resources and services to millions of students.

    On June 30th, state educational agencies were informed that the following five grant programs authorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act1 and one program sixth under the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act would not receive their anticipated disbursements on July 1st:

    1. Migrant Education Program (Title I, Part C) – State Grants: Funds support migratory children in reaching challenging academic standards and graduating from high school.

    2. Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (Title II, Part A): Funds support increasing student achievement by improving the quality and effectiveness of educators and underserved students’ access to effective educators.

    3. English Language Acquisition State Grants; Title III, Part A: Funds help students learn English and meet challenging state academic standards.

    4. Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program (Title IV, Part A): Funds support improving student academic achievement, including by providing students with access to a well-rounded education, improving school conditions for student learning, and improving the use of technology.

    5. Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV, Part B): Funds provide academic enrichment opportunities such as literacy and other educational services during non-school hours (e.g., through after-school or summer programs) for students and families—particularly those in underserved and low-performing schools.

    6. Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants (including Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education State Grants): Funds support adult education and literacy services programs locally, including workplace literacy services; family literacy services; English literacy programs and integrated English literacy-civics education programs.

    The funds currently being held up by review were not only approved by Congress in the FY24 appropriations law, but they were also extended under the FY25 full-year continuing resolution that President Trump signed into law. While summer programming can continue because New York public schools are funded through August, this reckless delay of over $400 million dollars 2 , which accounts for 10% of federal K-12 funding in New York is alarming local educators and program directors throughout the state. It is also disrupting school and district planning, jeopardizing programming for millions of students, and could result in layoffs and program cancellations.

    Based upon a recent survey from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 926 Boys & Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, and more than 220,000 kids – including over 2,700 youth and teens in New York – will lose access to healthy meals, meaningful mentorship, and safe spaces during the most vulnerable hours of the day. It would also mean the loss of over 5,900 jobs at Boys & Girls Clubs around the country, specifically more than 182 youth development professionals in New York, that are currently operating current summer learning camps and fall learning programs.

    In response to informal outreach from congressional offices, states, and stakeholders, the Department of Education has directed all questions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the source of the delay. However, this attempt to redirect inquiries does not abdicate the Department of its statutory obligation to distribute authorized and appropriated funds in a timely manner. As highlighted in a recent article from the non-partisan Learning Policy Institute3 , the Administration’s withholding of these funds appears to violate both the Impoundment Control Act and the plain language of the FY25 appropriations law.

    Accordingly, we respectfully request the Department of Education and Office of Management and Budget to respond to the following questions:

    1. As of July 1st, current withholding of funds appears to violate the Impoundment Control Act. What legal justification is the Department and OMB relying on to delay disbursement of these formula grant funds, despite clear statutory direction?

    2. Are the Department and OMB aware of the service interruptions for students and educators in New York as funds are being reviewed?

    3. What communication has been shared with state educational agencies to help them and their partners navigate this period of uncertainty, especially regarding staffing and programming for September?

    4. When does the Administration anticipate it will have completed its review and will release the enacted funding to states to use for the school year starting next month? Or does the Administration plan to submit a request to Congress to rescind this enacted funding?

    The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and ensure equal access to education. Delaying congressionally approved funding deeply undermines that goal and threatens to widen existing opportunity gaps particularly for English learners, low-income families, and communities of color.

    We urge you to disburse all $6.9 billion dollars currently being reviewed and provide immediate clarity to states, districts, and community partners who are now facing chaos in their planning and programming. Our students deserve better.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Hickenlooper Honors John Stulp on Senate Floor

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Hickenlooper: “John was a good man, a great man by any measure. Certainly, he was defined by his unwavering commitment to his family, his neighbors, his friends, and his home state of Colorado. He was the essence of a public servant.”
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor in memory of John Stulp, a former advisor to Hickenlooper when he was Governor of Colorado and a leader in the Colorado agricultural and water community.
    “John’s reputation for patient consensus-building is well known throughout our state and trusted throughout our state,” said Hickenlooper on the Senate floor. “We finalized the state’s first-ever Water Plan in November 2015. It certainly would have never happened without his prodigious efforts. He created a framework that will evolve as our state’s climate and demographics continue to evolve. More importantly, in the process, he created an ecosystem, a network of relationships that crossed geographic and political boundaries. And that is one of his many great legacies – his many legacies – that he leaves to Colorado.”
    As Governor of Colorado, Hickenlooper appointed Stulp to serve as his top water policy advisor. Stulp led the creation of the Colorado Water Plan, which was finalized in November 2015. Stulp also served as Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture under Governor Bill Ritter and was a former Prowers County Commissioner, a State Board of Land Commissioner, a State Wildlife Commissioner, and a member of the State Board of Agriculture.
    Hickenlooper continued: “If I did believe in gradations of ‘goodness,’ John and Jane Stulp would be at the top. Even with all the great contributions he made to our state, John’s goodness – I think – is what I will miss the most.”
    To download a full video of Hickenlooper’s remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks is available below:
    “I rise today to honor my great friend John Stulp.
    “John passed away this past Monday, July 7th. He was with his family in Lamar, out on the Eastern Plains – a place that he loved more than anything.
    “John was a good man, a great man by any measure. Certainly, he was defined by his unwavering commitment to his family, neighbors, his friends, and his home state of Colorado.
    “He was the essence of a public servant. 
    “His list of contributions to our state is impressively long.
    “He served as Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture during my predecessor Bill Ritter’s governorship. I appreciate Governor Ritter introducing me to him, discovering him for me.
    “John Stulp was a former Prowers County Commissioner – a Democrat commissioner in a county that’s not well known for Democratic commissioners. He was also a former State Board of Land Commissioner, a State Wildlife Commissioner, and a member of the State Board of Agriculture.
    “And, in John’s mind, above all of that, he was a dryland wheat farmer and a cow-calf rancher from Southeast Colorado.
    “John’s reputation for patient consensus-building is well known throughout our state and trusted throughout our state.
    “In 2011, I was the newly-elected governor and Colorado had already experienced a couple years of drought.
    “2011 and 2012 were bad years for drought, and I was convinced that we needed a blueprint – a plan of some sort – to address the gap between the state’s projected growth and its future water supply. To make sure that we had the supply that could match our needs.
    “I recruited John to serve as my top water policy advisor. We made it a cabinet-level position, he came to all our cabinet meetings. He was our ‘Water Czar.’
    “And it was clear to me that we’d be hard pressed to find anyone that could do the work he did.
    “John understood the agricultural community in Colorado better than almost anyone.
    “Maybe that’s why when I first approached him with the idea of a state-wide water plan, he wasn’t immediately convinced – actually he was far from it. He was, I would say, more than skeptical.
    “He knew how hard it would be to map Colorado’s water supply, to chart a plan to conserve water that we might need in the next 50 years, and to get everybody at the table. And in Colorado we talk about how ‘whiskey is for drinking but water is for fighting.’
    “He didn’t think it was a smart idea for me politically as a new governor, to take on an issue that had the potential to be so divisive. 
    “But, he understood that we couldn’t let our rivers and farms at risk of running dry – and that we needed him, Colorado needed him.
    “And he set aside his reservations. Then he rolled up his sleeves and he went to work. He and James Eklund and a lot of other people. It was remarkable to watch them.
    “He criss-crossed the state, hosting roundtables, talking with farmers, listening to stakeholders, really hearing them. Trying to resolve the issues and trying to align their self-interest. 
    “John poured his heart and soul into that plan.
    “And, in the end, John accomplished what, well I think even he previously believed would not be possible.
    “We finalized the state’s first-ever Water Plan in November 2015. It certainly would have never happened without his prodigious efforts.
    “He created a framework that will evolve as our state’s climate and demographics continue to evolve.
    “More importantly, in the process, he created an ecosystem, a network of relationships that crossed geographic and political boundaries. And that is one of his many great legacies – his many legacies – that he leaves to Colorado. 
    “Certainly his family is his greatest legacy, but he did a lot for the ability of Colorado’s future and water.
    “You know, when you travel a lot with someone, you spend a lot of miles with them, and you stay at their home, you share their food, you meet their neighbors, you get a real sense of their ‘goodness.’ 
    “I’m not sure there are gradations of ‘goodness,’ but I have traveled long distances with John Stulp, and I’ve stayed at his home in Prowers County where he and his remarkable wife Jane would cook up a barbecue and get me together with some of their neighbors. 
    “He even loaned my son Teddy a .410 shotgun so he could learn how to shoot.
    “If I did believe in gradations of ‘goodness,’ John and Jane Stulp would be at the very top.
    “Even with all the great contributions he made to our state, I think John’s goodness – the pureness and the deepness of his heart – is what I’ll miss the most.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Blasts Republicans for Refusing to Fix the Provision in Their Tax Bill that Limits the Wagering Loss Deduction

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    FTP for TV stations of her remarks is available here.

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) called out Senate Republicans for refusing to pass her bipartisan fix to the provision in the Republican budget bill that limits the wagering loss deduction. Cortez Masto took to the Senate floor to ask unanimous consent to pass her Facilitating Useful Loss Limitations to Help Our Unique Service Economy (FULL HOUSE) Act, but a Republican senator objected because he was unable to attach his own unrelated amendment.

    “It is a shame that we cannot pass this commonsense S.2230 [FULL HOUSE Act] because Republicans want to weigh it down with unrelated measures that they voted to support,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This is a Republican piece of legislation that is actually causing people to pay taxes on money they lost. It makes no sense. And that’s all this is, is to try to fix it…So I’m disappointed, but I am not done.”

    The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reformed the way wagering losses are taxed, but allowed taxpayers to deduct 100% of gambling losses from their annual taxes. Republicans’ billionaire giveaway bill that they passed last week changed the tax code to only allow a 90% deduction on gambling losses. As a result, people could be forced to pay taxes on money they don’t have, causing irreparable harm to Nevada’s gaming industry, tourism industry, and overall economy. Cortez Masto’s bill would restore the 100% tax deduction on gambling losses.

    Read the full bill here.

    Senator Cortez Masto is a champion of Nevada’s tourism and gaming economy. In the American Rescue Plan, Senator Cortez Masto secured $3 billion in funding to assist states with their economic recovery and their vital tourism industries, including Nevada. She also delivered resources to the state’s businesses and secured flexibility for the gaming industry. She has been a Senate leader in passing the seven-year reauthorization of ‘Brand USA’, which is a public-private partnership that enhances tourism and job creation across the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PASSED: Cortez Masto’s Bipartisan Bill to Help Americans Recover from Natural Disasters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Passage of this bipartisan legislation comes as Texas and states across the U.S. experience devastating flooding. In Nevada, wildfires have already burned over 60,000 acres this year.

    Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev), John Kennedy (R-La.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) passed their bipartisan bill to provide relief for impacted taxpayers in states that have issued state-level disaster declarations. The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act allows the IRS to postpone filing deadlines for taxpayers affected by state declared natural disasters, instead of only presidentially declared federal disasters. The legislation passed the House earlier this year and now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. 

    Each year, states across the country declare emergencies for events like floods and wildfires. Currently, 21 counties in Texas are under a state-level disaster declaration, but only one county has received a federal disaster declaration. Since January of 2024, the state of Nevada has also issued numerous county disaster declarations following wildfires. But, under current law, families impacted by floods and fires in areas with a state-level disaster declaration are not eligible for any tax relief because the disaster was not also declared by the President of the United States. Cortez Masto’s legislation will change that, ensuring that everyone impacted by fires, floods, and storms gets the tax relief they need.

    “A natural disaster is devastating for anyone. Impacted taxpayers should not have to worry about whether their state’s natural disaster has been recognized by the President for them to receive the support they deserve,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that anyone impacted by state-level emergencies can have some peace of mind when filling their taxes.”

    The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would now allow a governor of a state or territory to request the IRS extend federal tax filing deadlines in the event of a state declared emergency or disaster. The legislation would also expand the mandatory federal filing extensions from 60 to 120 days. 

    This bill is just a piece of Senator Cortez Masto’s efforts to ensuring Nevadans have access to resources in the face of natural disasters. Cortez Masto has worked to deliver funding to help improve the resiliency of state infrastructure and has led legislation protect electric grids at military bases and rural water utilities from the effects of extreme weather. She also secured key provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which provided billions to fund wildfire prevention efforts in Nevada.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Releases Statement on NEA Shamefully Cutting Ties with the ADL 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    July 10, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement today about the outrageous decision by the National Education Association (NEA) to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over their support for Israel.
    “I find it deeply troubling that the National Education Association (NEA) has chosen to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism, discrimination, and hate crimes across America. At a time when we’re witnessing alarming rises in antisemitic incidents nationwide, our educational institutions should be strengthening – not weakening – their partnerships with organizations committed to protecting Jewish Americans and combating hatred. The NEA should be reminding educators and students alike that Israel was the victim of an unprovoked terrorist attack by Hamas, and that antisemitism has no place in our educational system.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Our Shoreline Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Digital Coast Act, to help coastal communities better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels, and plan for future development. The bill reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Digital Coast Program, which Baldwin and Murkowski previously spearheaded to reestablish the program in 2020.
    “The Great Lakes are essential to the Wisconsin way of life and our economy, but make no mistake – they face some serious and unique challenges, and our local communities need tools and information to address them, keep families safe, and support our local businesses,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to once again work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to support our local coastal communities and ensure they have the resources and data they need to prepare for disasters, keep our water clean and safe, and make smart planning decisions for the future.”
    “As we confront the escalating impacts of climate change, it is crucial our coastal communities remain equipped with the tools and data they need to adapt and thrive,” said Senator Murkowski. “The Digital Coast Program has proven to be a vital resource in this effort, providing essential information and support for our local leaders to make informed decisions.”
    NOAA currently assembles and hosts the Digital Coast Project, a collaborative online database of the most up-to-date coastal information and makes it available to both the public and private sectors. Digital Coast also provides tools for coastal communities to decipher and use the high-tech mapping data to make accurate decisions and smart investments in coastal communities.
    The Digital Coast Act reauthorizes the program and ensures that communities will continue to have the data to make smart choices for economic development, shoreline management, and coastal restoration. The bill supports further development of the current project, including increasing access to uniform, up-to-date data, to help communities get the coastal data they need to respond to emergencies, plan for long-term coastal resilience, and manage their water resources.
    Companion legislation was introduced yesterday in the U.S. House by Representatives Dave Min (D-CA-47) and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01).
    “From extreme weather to competing demands for coastal property, our coastal communities need the best available resources to respond to the mounting threat of climate change,” said Congressman Min. “NOAA’s Digital Coast Program provides essential research and data to address the adverse effects of the climate crisis, all while creating thousands of high tech jobs around America. I’m proud to be leading the charge to protect Orange County’s beautiful coastline.”
    “Virginia’s First District is home to vibrant coastal communities that rely on cutting-edge data and resources to thrive, especially in the face of challenges such as extreme weather and aging infrastructure,” said Congressman Wittman. “I’m proud to help introduce the Digital Coastal Reauthorization Act alongside Rep. Dave Min, legislation that will reauthorize NOAA’s Digital Coast program. This vital program collects and distributes data that will help mitigate future weather-related issues and provide communities with the tools they need to expand and plan for the future.” 
    “Digital Coast represents the best of government at work,” said Sue Schwartz, FAICP, President of the American Planning Association. “It’s innovative, collaborative, efficient, bipartisan, and cost-effective; all while helping local communities make better decisions about how to tackle tough coastal challenges. Planners benefit from access to critical data that shapes the insights they bring to residents and local leaders. The American Planning Association strongly supports the reauthorization of this vital resource for protecting and planning our communities.” 
    “NOAA’s Digital Coast provides a one-stop shop for the data, tools and training that coastal managers and researchers use to learn and do their jobs. As a collaboration between the federal government and partner organizations and used extensively by the public and private sectors, Digital Coast is government at its most effective,” said Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of Coastal States Organization.?“The Digital Coast Act will ensure this important resource for all communities is authorized and funded for the next 5 years.”?  
    “The Digital Coast Program empowers coastal states with the tools and data they need to address real-world challenges—from flooding and hurricanes to smart growth and resource management,” said Ken Nelson, National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) President. “Continued federal support is vital to strengthening the geospatial foundation that drives both our economy and our national preparedness. Reauthorizing the Digital Coast Act ensures coastal communities have the high-quality data they need to plan, protect, and prosper.” 
    “To make sure that people can enjoy everything our coasts have to offer, coastal managers need to have the right tools, data and training. The Digital Coast partnership provides those products and services,” said Stephanie Bailenson, US Federal Water Policy Team Lead at The Nature Conservancy. “We’ve seen in our work across the country how Digital Coast helps coastal communities address storms and flooding while strengthening local economies. We’re happy to see the sponsors of the partnership’s reauthorization bill demonstrate the continued bi-partisan support for the partnership.”
    “The provisions of the Digital Coast Reauthorization will modernize the Digital Coast program and provide for the continuation of a sustainable program to utilize geospatial technologies to map and monitor the coastal waterways of the United States, providing an invaluable benefit to the public, and to the professionals whose charge is to protect their health, safety, and welfare,” said Timothy W. Burch, PLS, Executive Director of National Society of Professional Surveyors. 
    “The Digital Coast Program is a balanced approach to environmental protection and economic development in our valuable coastal areas.? This bill reauthorizes and modernizes a successful program that utilizes the talent of the private sector and intergovernmental agencies by providing data and services that are essential to the economic engine that is coastal America, while conserving it’s precious natural resources through geospatial data and related activities,” said John Palatiello, Founder of US Geospatial Executives Organization (U.S. GEO).
    “The Digital Coast Partnership Advocacy Coalition commends Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for introducing the Digital Coast Reauthorization Act. The Coalition also wishes to thank Representatives Dave Min (D-CA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) for their leadership in introducing the companion bill in the House. The strong bipartisan support for this measure is a demonstration of its broad appeal and value to the nation’s communities. By consolidating coastal data from a variety of sources in one place and making it publicly accessible, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Digital Coast program is helping the coastal management community better plan for storms, flooding, natural disasters, and other challenges that impact vulnerable coastal and Great Lakes communities. Data included in the Digital Coast ranges from surveying, mapping, geospatial, economic, demographic and ecosystem data to satellite imagery. In addition to making this data publicly available online, the Digital Coast provides a wide array of visualization and prediction tools that dramatically improve the effectiveness and efficiency of coastal management projects around the country. Over the next 15 years, NOAA predicts a 411 percent return on investment from the Digital Coast program. In addition to the return on investment, the Digital Coast has played a significant role in protecting communities and natural resources from damaging natural disasters. Furthermore, 75 percent of Digital Coast users surveyed by NOAA indicated that their projects would not have been possible without the Digital Coast. By having bipartisan and bicameral introduction of the Digital Coast Reauthorization Act, we deeply appreciate your recognition of the numerous benefits the Digital Coast can provide to coastal communities and those working to make them more resilient,” said John “JB” Byrd, Coordinator, Digital Coast Partnership Advocacy Coalition. 
    “As our coastlines and beaches bear the brunt of extreme weather events, flooding, chronic erosion, sea level rise, and other hazards, coastal communities need every tool at their disposal to make informed decisions and plan for a safer, more resilient future,” said Emma Haydocy, Senior Manager of Coasts and Climate Initiative at the Surfrider Foundation. “NOAA’s Digital Coast program makes invaluable data accessible to the American public in light of these challenges, and reauthorizing and expanding this program will help safeguard vital coastal resources throughout the U.S. for years to come.”
    The legislation is endorsed by Coastal States Organization, American Planning Association, Association of State Floodplain Managers, National Association of Counties, National Society of Professional Surveyors, U.S Geospatial Executives Organization (U.S. GEO), Surfrider Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, National States Geographic Information Council, National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, Quantum Spatial Inc., Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, and Digital Coast Partnership Advocacy Coalition.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Questions President Trump’s NOAA Administrator Nominee on Putting Facts and Science First

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    Dr. Neil Jacobs was involved in the 2019 “Sharpiegate,” when President Trump altered a hurricane map to falsely show Hurricane Dorian hitting Alabama, contradicting official forecasts

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, questioned Dr. Neil Jacobs, President Trump’s nominee to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), about his commitment to telling the truth during emergencies.

    Dr. Jacobs, who previously served as acting NOAA Administrator during President Trump’s first term, had defended the president’s dissemination of inaccurate weather information during a severe weather emergency. The Committee hearing came in the wake of deadly flooding in New Mexico and Texas, which claimed three lives in Ruidoso.

    MSNBC – All in With Chris Hayes: Trump’s Pick to Lead NOAA Faces Senate

    WATCH: Chris Hayes Highlights Senator Lujan’s Questioning of Dr. Neil Jacobs

    Washington Post – Trump’s NOAA pick stands by budget cuts, calls staffing ‘a top priority’

    “When Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) asked whether Jacobs believed Americans should have to pay for access to the best forecasting data, he answered no.”

    ABC News – Senate considers Neil Jacobs, ‘Sharpiegate’ scientist, as NOAA administrator

    “When asked by Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM, on Wednesday whether he would “make the same decision again,” Jacobs replied, “There’s probably some things I would do differently.”

    The Hill – Amid bipartisan concern, NOAA nominee pledges to make Weather Service staffing a ‘top priority’

    “Asked by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) whether he would “sign off on an inaccurate statement due to political pressure in the same event,” Jacobs said no.”

    An excerpt of the exchange is available HERE and below: 

    Sen. Luján: September 1, 2019, when you were NOAA’s acting administrator, President Trump erroneously tweeted Alabama had been hit hard by Hurricane Dorian. 

    Shortly after, the National Weather Service Birmingham office issued the accurate statement, “Alabama will not see any impacts from Dorian.”

    Three days later, President Trump went on TV and displayed a weather map altered with a black Sharpie line to show that Dorian would hit Alabama.

    Two days after that, you helped draft a release rebuking the Birmingham NWS, and repeating President Trump’s baseless claims that Hurricane Dorian could impact Alabama.

    You told the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General in their investigation that you “definitely felt like our jobs were on the line,” and while you did not like it, you would make the same decision again to edit a less inflammatory statement as the least bad option. Dr. Jacobs, do I have it right? Is that correct?

    Dr. Jacobs: That is what the report found.

    Sen. Luján: You would do nothing differently?

    Dr. Jacobs: There are probably some things I would do differently, and a lot of this that I did after that, I guess, to change any potential future outcome.

    Sen. Luján: I just had constituents die in New Mexico and constituents in Texas. Would you sign off on an inaccurate statement due to political pressure in the same event, yes or no?

    Dr. Jacobs: No.

    Sen. Luján: I appreciate that very much.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Defends Religious Freedom in Football Game Prayer Case

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led an amicus brief today to protect Americans from religious discrimination by state governments. Senator Lee filed the brief to defend free speech and religious observance from infringement by government entities as part of the case Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Association.

    “When the government blocks Christian schools from praying before their own football games, something is very wrong,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Even after the Supreme Court has repeatedly warned about the dangers of expansive definitions of government speech, some lower courts are creating new loopholes and ignoring protections for freedom of speech and religion. This overstep represents a serious danger to even private expressions of faith, and must be overturned. I pray the Supreme Court grants this case, corrects the lower court’s error, and upholds the First Amendment.”

    Joining Senator Lee in filing the amicus brief are U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Tim Scott (R-SC), as well as U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO), John McGuire (R-VA), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Keith Self (R-TX), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).

    Background

    Cambridge Christian School was set to play another Christian high school in the Florida state football championship game. Both schools wished to begin their game with prayer over the loudspeaker, but the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) refused their request – despite allowing it three years prior.

    The FHSAA originally argued that the prayer might have been viewed as a government endorsement of religion. After realizing that defense failed under controlling precedent, they changed their tune. The FHSAA now argues that the prayer would have qualified as “government speech,” giving them the right to deny the request. The Eleventh Circuit accepted this argument despite countless instances of private, non-government speech occurring over the loudspeaker at these football games.

    The court essentially backdoored in a new way to silence Americans by allowing the government to reclassify speech whenever it sees fit.

    The Establishment Clause, Free Speech Clause, and Free Exercise Clauses are meant to work together to prevent the government from impinging on freedom of religion. But actors who are hostile to religion exploit the government-speech doctrine to undermine the constitutional rights of religious persons and groups. As Justice Samuel Alito has noted, that doctrine is “susceptible to dangerous misuse” and courts “must exercise great caution before extending government-speech precedents.” This decision by the Eleventh Circuit is one of those dangerous extensions.

    Senator Lee’s amicus brief argues:

    • The Eleventh Circuit erred in its application of the government-speech doctrine, thus creating a loophole for government to stifle private speech.
    • The Eleventh Circuit’s misclassification of the speech of private actors as government speech would (a) chill otherwise protected speech, and (b) cause confusion as to what is and is not government speech.  
    • The Supreme Court should adopt an analytical framework to resolve these types of disputes.

    Read the full text of the amicus brief here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Taxpayer-Funded Benefits Are for American Citizens — Not Illegals

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    Today, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the Administration is taking the biggest step in more than 30 years to protect taxpayer-funded benefits for American citizens — NOT illegal aliens. The move, which preserves roughly $40 billion in benefits for American citizens, overturns decades of bureaucratic defiance and builds on President Trump’s executive order directing an END to the subsidization of open borders.
    Under President Trump, hardworking Americans will no longer be forced to front the cost of benefits for illegals:
    The Department of Health and Human Services is restricting illegal aliens from 13 additional public programs, including Head Start, health workforce scholarships and loans, mental health and substance abuse support, family planning, and more.
    The Department of Education is ending free tuition for illegal aliens at post-secondary career and technical education programs.
    The Department of Agriculture is restricting illegal aliens from federally funded food assistance programs.
    The Department of Labor is barring illegal aliens from accessing federal workforce development resources and grants.
    The Department of Justice is closing longstanding loopholes that have allowed illegal aliens to access taxpayer-funded benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Statement on House Passage of Republican’s Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    The budget will increase prices for Coloradans, strip health care from 17 million Americans, increase the deficit, and give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after the House voted to pass the Republicans’ extreme budget reconciliation bill.

    “House Republicans – including our colleagues from Colorado – didn’t need to do this.

    “Excessive tax cuts for the wealthy few are NOT worth mortgaging our future economy, sacrificing health care for 17 million Americans, and forfeiting our clean energy dominance.

    “The choice should have been clear.”

    The Republicans’ reconciliation bill includes a $3 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. It pays for those tax cuts by taking healthcare away from 17 million Americans, forcing rural hospitals in Colorado to close their doors, gutting clean energy investments, and ballooning our national debt by trillions of dollars.

    On Tuesday, Hickenlooper voted NO on the Senate budget resolution after Republicans voted down critical Democratic-led amendments to prevent cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and Inflation Reduction Act clean energy funding.

    Yesterday, while the House considered the legislation, Hickenlooper held a statewide press conference with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen to call on House Republicans to reject the extreme legislation and highlight the harm it will cause Colorado.

    The bill now heads to President Trump to be signed into law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Speaks on the Anniversary of Vermont Floods 

    US Senate News:

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

    Welch’s Disaster AID Act filed on the anniversaries of Vermont’s July 2023 and July 2024 floods    
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) commemorated the anniversaries of the July 2023 and July 2024 floods today from the Senate Floor. Senator Welch also urged Congress to take up his Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization (AID) Act, new legislation filed this morning that would cut red tape at FEMA and empower state and local governments to access recovery assistance when it is needed. The Disaster AID Act will support hazard mitigation efforts, make the delivery of disaster aid more efficient and effective, provide technical assistance to small towns, and expedite funding for disaster response. 
    “We had back-to-back floods in 2023 and 2024, doing about a billion dollars-worth of damage. By the end of last year, every county in Vermont—all 14 counties—were hit by flooding. That billion dollars in damages affected homes, it affected businesses, it affected farms,” said Senator Welch. “We’re far from alone in Vermont in having suffered enormous damage from wild weather events… This type of wild weather event can hit any one of our states at any time of its own choosing, and all of our states have been affected at one time or another.”  
    “So, my hope is that we can come together as a Congress to fix FEMA so that its capacity to help our communities—when they have been hurt so hard through no fault of their own—that they’ll be able to get the capacity to make decisions, act, and get their community back on its feet.” 
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 

    Over the course of consecutive summers in July 2023 and July 2024, Vermont experienced severe storms which caused catastrophic flooding, washouts, and mudslides. Homes, farms, businesses, and public infrastructure were destroyed, and communities were left reeling. In the immediate aftermath of the destruction, FEMA provided lifesaving on-the-ground assistance, working with local organizations and the state. In the long-term, however, FEMA’s response has not met the needs of communities.    
    Many of Vermont’s towns operate with limited resources and lack the administrative capacity needed to navigate the complex web of federal disaster assistance—especially in the aftermath of a brutal flood. FEMA has failed to provide necessary support and burdensome FEMA policies have slowed or blocked communities from accessing federal funds. Towns were not empowered to capitalize on their understanding of conditions on the ground. To make matters worse, under the Trump Administration, communities must now contend with uncertain federal funding streams, including for reimbursement of projects already approved and under way.   
    Last week, Senator Welch visited with Vermonters in communities across the state that were impacted by the July 2023 and July 2024 floods—including in Killington, Ludlow, Weston, Barre and Montpelier.  He will travel across northern Vermont in the coming weeks. 
    Senator Welch has been outspoken in opposing any attempt by the Trump Administration to dismantle FEMA. Earlier this year, Senator Welch published a guest essay in The New York Times entitled: “Don’t Kill FEMA. Fix It.” In his piece, Senator Welch outlined why President Trump’s actions to undermine and potentially dissolve FEMA are misguided—but also committed to working to reform the agency’s long-term recovery process.   
    In December 2024, Senator Welch helped shape and pass a comprehensive disaster aid package, which delivered more than $100.4 billion of relief for states like Vermont recovering from climate disasters. The disaster aid package contained many of Senator Welch’s top priorities for the State: dedicated help for Vermont’s flood-impacted farmers, flexible spending through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief fund, money for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and support for businesses, among many other important provisions.    
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Schatz champion Unsubscribe Act to make canceling unwanted subscriptions easier

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today introduced the bipartisan Unsubscribe Act of 2025, which would require a simple cancellation process for all subscriptions.

    “The average American is all too familiar with the headache of running around in circles to cancel a subscription before their free trial expires. Our common-sense Unsubscribe Act would make sure companies are upfront about automatic charges and make it easier to cancel subscriptions without the convoluted song-and-dance routine,” said Kennedy.

    “The subscription-based business model is exploding, and it’s largely because of the deceptive practices that some companies use to lure and trap in customers. When people sign up for a free trial, they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops just to cancel their subscription before being charged. Our bill will require companies to be more transparent about their business model and make it easier for consumers to avoid costly, automatic monthly charges they never intended to make,” said Schatz.

    The Unsubscribe Act would:

    • Require sellers to clearly explain the terms of a contract to customers and obtain their express and informed consent.
    • Require sellers to provide a simple way to cancel the subscription, which the customer can complete in the same way in which they entered the original contract.
    • Require sellers to clearly notify consumers when their free or reduced-cost trial is complete and before charging for the full-cost subscription.
    • Disallow automatic transfer to a contract beyond the preliminary period. 
    • Require sellers to periodically notify the customer of the terms of the contract and the cancelation mechanism.

    Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) will introduce the companion bill in the House of Representatives.

    “Too many consumers are lured in by free trials, only to get trapped in confusing billing cycles and cancellation mazes. The Unsubscribe Act is about fairness—it puts the burden back on companies to be honest, clear, and accountable. If a business has to trick people into staying, it does not deserve their money,” said Takano. 

    The full text of the Unsubscribe Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on Putin: “We need to cut off his sale of oil.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here. 

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor: 

    “Now, regardless of how you feel about the war in Ukraine, I think most fair-minded people can agree on two things. Number one: Vladimir Putin, who runs Russia—not the people of Russia, but their leadership—is a thug. He’s a pirate. He has blood under his fingernails. He can’t be trusted.

    “The second thing that I think most fair-minded Americans can agree on is that we would all like to see the war ended. . . . I think Ukraine is willing to negotiate a reasonable settlement, but it takes two to tango, and we are not going to have a settlement until President Putin decides it is in his best interest to stop the war. “Not in Russia’s best interest because I don’t think he cares about his people. I think the war will stop when Putin thinks it is in his best interest. 

    “And I don’t think he is going to think it is in his best interest until he feels the pressure, Mr. President, because dealing with Putin is like dealing with most tyrants: It is like hand-feeding a shark. You can’t reason with them. You have to make them feel the pain. 

    “A lot of people think of Russia and think of Putin as this gigantic country with a lot of wealth and power, and that is not really the case. Yes, they have nuclear weapons, but, actually, the Russian economy is pretty small. . . . The Russian economy is only about $2 trillion. New York state, in America, has a bigger economy than Russia, and I think we need to keep that in mind.

    “Russia’s economy is also not terribly diversified. It is mostly oil. . . .  Number one: The price of oil is down. We know that. Number two: Russia is spending all of its money fighting the war with Ukraine, which has hurt other parts of its economy.

    “The point I am trying to make, Mr. President, is: When you are dealing with a tyrant like Putin and you are trying to bring him to the negotiating table, what you have to do is get him down and choke him. And the way to get President Putin down and choke him is through his cash flow. Putin—and, remember, I am not talking about the good people in Russia. I am talking about their leadership. I am talking about Vladimir Putin, the thug. 

    “Putin is only able to prosecute his war through cash flow generated by his sale of oil. That is the only way. Without that cash flow from oil, he can’t continue. We need to cut off his money. We need to cut off his sale of oil.

    “Now, we already have sanctions on Russia, and Europe has sanctions on Russia, but Russia has figured out how to evade those sanctions and continue to sell its oil. For example, India is buying a lot of Russia’s oil. China is buying a lot of Russia’s oil, but we can stop that.

    “We have a bill—87 of us have signed on— that would apply what is called secondary sanctions on Russia. Our bill would not only sanction Russia and its sale of oil, but it would sanction everybody who buys Russian oil, a big difference.

    “It would say to those who want to buy Russian oil: If you want to buy Russian oil, have at it—knock yourself out—but you are not going to be able to do business with America, and you are not going to be able to use the American dollar, which is the world’s currency, to do business in America. It will put Putin on his knees within three months, and he won’t have any choice but to come to the bargaining table.

    “Now, President Trump has been very patient. President Biden wasn’t patient; he was giving. I remember when President Biden said to Putin: Well, you know, we don’t want you to go into Ukraine, but if it is just a little excursion, it might be okay. I remember that. What do you think Putin did? Do you remember hand-feeding a shark? He went right into Ukraine.

    “President Trump, on the other hand, has really tried to be rational and negotiate with Putin and say: Look, we need to have an amicable solution to satisfy both sides. Ukraine is willing. Putin has done nothing but embarrass our president and our country.

    “The time has come to put Russia on its knees. I hate to see it for the Russian people, but the time has come to put Putin on his knees. Get him down and choke him. The only way you are going to do that is to cut off his cash flow. And the only way you are going to cut off his cash flow is to cut off his oil sales because that is at least a third—and probably 40%—of his money.

    “We have no choice. Otherwise, this war could go on forever.

    “Now, we have the bill locked, loaded, and ready to go. We are waiting for President Trump to give us the high sign because we want to stay together. The president is the one who is trying to negotiate the peace, but I hope President Trump will seriously consider letting us pull the trigger because it is the only thing—it is the only thing—that is going to get Vladimir Putin to the table.

    “I wish the world weren’t like that. There are just some people—I don’t know why. If I make it to heaven, I am going to ask. But there are some people in this world, they are not sick; they are not misunderstood; they are not mixed up. It is not really that their mom or daddy didn’t love them enough. They are just bad people. They are. And some of them run countries, and one of them is Vladimir Putin. So, let’s go do what we have to do.”

    Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Introduces Bill to Ban Radical Gender Ideology in Schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Say No to Indoctrination Act to codify President Trump’s executive order preventing taxpayer dollars from funding radical gender ideology in K-12 schools.

    “Schools should prepare our children for the future, not promote radical gender ideology,” said Risch.“The Say No to Indoctrination Act puts an end to woke education practices in K-12 schools and makes President Trump’s common-sense policy permanent.”

    Senator Risch’s bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and has received support from Concerned Women for America and American Principles Project.

    “Children should not be radicalized, indoctrinated or taught gender ideology in public elementary or secondary schools funded by federal tax dollars,” Crapo said. “This legislation places commonsense guardrails around the use of these dollars in public education, which will ensure schools are providing foundational instruction in subjects like mathematics and reading rather than divisive concepts of gender ideology.”

    “For far too long, radical left-wing ideology has preyed on K-12 students in our nation’s school systems. It’s high time we put a stop to these woke lesson plans that take advantage of children and undermine parental rights. I am proud to join Senator Risch and my colleagues to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding public schools that teach gender ideology,” said Budd.

    “As American students lag behind globally in math, reading, and writing, the last thing our taxpayer-funded teachers and schools should be doing is teaching radical leftist nonsense like so-called gender theory,” said Marshall. “I’m proud to support this legislation to codify President Trump’s executive order, and ensure our children’s education is focused on meaningful, future-ready skills, not woke ideology.

    “Parents send their kids to school to learn the skills they need to succeed later in life, not to be indoctrinated with radical gender ideology. There are only two genders—male and female, and not a single penny of federal funds should go to schools that teach anything different,” said Schmitt.

    “Our children go to school to be educated, not indoctrinated,” said Tuberville. “I’ve always said that education is the key to unlocking opportunity. But under Joe Biden, Democrats turned our children’s classrooms into woke propaganda HQ. Schools should focus on teaching kids to read, write, and do math. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Say No to Indoctrination Act to get woke politics out of the classroom.”

    The Say No to Indoctrination Act codifies the Executive Order President Trump issued on January 20, 2025, declaring that no taxpayer dollars be sent to K-12 schools that teach or promote radical gender ideology.

    Risch has long fought to eradicate radical gender ideology. In May, Risch introduced the Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act, which would prohibit Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plans from covering gender transitions for minors. Risch also introduced the Dismantle DEI Act to codify President Trump’s executive order terminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs and initiatives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Mullin tells Fox News: Trump Worked with Congress Every Single Day to Secure Our Borders in His OBBB

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    ICYMI: Mullin tells Fox News: Trump Worked with Congress Every Single Day to Secure Our Borders in His OBBB

    Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined a special edition of Fox News’ Hannity with guest host, Kellyanne Conway. The senator called out the outrageous silence from Democrats as attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have skyrocketed 690 percent since January. He also detailed how President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ (OBBB) is vital to deliver his promises on border security.

    Sen. Mullin’s full interview can be found here.

    On how the left’s rhetoric is inspiring attacks against ICE:

    “It was a coordinated attack. They were in tactical gear. They had devices that would block the signal of cell phones so they couldn’t be tracked. When the police responded, they ambushed them, that’s a coordinated attack. Now, if this was any other situation, Democrats would be out there, at the very least, would be calling for gun control. They have said absolutely nothing. Why? Because they’re the ones that have fanned the flames for this to happen. They’re the ones that’s literally calling on blood. Axios put out that a Democrat politician is calling for those to ratchet up their activities and spill blood when it comes to defending against ICE…”

    “It’s actually very disturbing, because this is their base, and this is where the Democrat Party has went. They have built their base off anger and fear.”

    On the highlights of the OBBB’s border security measures:

    “The wall that President Trump started building in 2017, as 45 [45 POTUS], it was done by executive orders. But what happened when [President] Biden came in is they immediately started tearing it down and selling the material for pennies on the dollar.” 

    “What we did on the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ is we made it into law, not an executive order, so the next president can’t simply stop. We funded it, fully funded $46 billion to finish a wall the entire southern border. Now that’s huge. We also funded 10,000 new ICE agents. Now it’s not just ICE, but it’s ICE and other agencies that are able to do the same thing. Border agents and ICE, they’re two separate different things, border patrols our border ICE can actually go into the interior and actually arrest people that are here illegally, but they have different entities that we worked closely with Secretary Noam to make sure we had it right. Then they increase the amount of judges we have to speed through these individuals that claimed asylum…”

    “At the same time, we also we have to remember that the drugs and the trafficking isn’t just coming across land, it’s actually coming across the sea too. So we have to work with our Coast Guard. We put in $24 billion to upgrade the Coast Guard. Sometimes they are overlooked. They need new vessels, they need new aircraft, they need new infrastructure. So, President Trump put a heavy emphasis, and he worked with Congress every single day to make sure that we are secured on our southern and northern border.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Curtis Introduce Bill to Counter Chinese Sabotage of Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

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

    Bipartisan legislation aims to protect Taiwan’s undersea communication cables against “gray zone tactics” used by China
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Curtis (R-UT), members of the Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act. This bipartisan bill would protect Taiwan’s critical communications infrastructure and deter malicious “gray zone” activities by the Chinese Communist Party. The cables—critical for global communication and commerce—have repeatedly been targeted by China for undercover sabotage to undermine Taiwan’s security and sovereignty.
    “The Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing efforts to target Taiwan’s undersea cable infrastructure don’t just threaten Taiwan’s national security, but connectivity and communication around the world,” said Senator Rosen. “Senator Curtis and I are introducing this bipartisan legislation to bolster collaboration between our two nations in order to protect these underground cables and impose sanctions on any adversary that targets this critical infrastructure. I will continue to push back on China’s growing aggression, and its attempts to undermine democracy.”
    “We can’t stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables,” said Senator Curtis. “By improving systems and increasing cable resiliency, our bipartisan legislation sends a clear message: the United States stands with Taiwan and our allies in defending shared infrastructure, sovereignty, and freedom.”
    Senator Rosen has prioritized strengthening the U.S.–Taiwan partnership and defending Taiwan against growing threats from the Chinese Communist Party. She introduced and helped pass into law via the annual defense bill the bipartisan Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act to enhance joint cyber defense efforts, and she led the introduction of the bipartisan TAIWAN Security Act to bolster defense and supply chain cooperation. She has also been a consistent leader in pushing back against authoritarian influence more broadly.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Blasts Trump Administration Over Budget Cuts Kneecapping Wildfire Preparedness in Oregon

    US Senate News:

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

    July 10, 2025

    Senator cites concerns he’s heard at briefings in Southern Oregon and statewide

    Video can be found here

    Washington, D.C. – Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today demanded answers from the Trump Administration about how its proposed U.S. Forest Service budget cuts, funding and hiring freezes and recent reorganization of federal wildland firefighting will undermine Oregon’s preparedness for this fire season. 

    “Instead of moving quickly, you all have trotted out another new and described ‘improved’ reorganization in the middle of a very dangerous fire season,” Wyden said to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. “Nobody in my home state said we need to have the Forest Service less involved in fighting fires, but that is the net effect of your organizational plan.”

    In February Trump issued an illegal, blanket freeze on previously approved federal funding for critical programs, including those that help Western states prepare for fire season. During the hearing, Wyden reiterated warnings from fire officials in Southern Oregon, where he heard firsthand accounts of how Trump’s staffing and funding cuts are starving Oregon’s communities of the resources they need to prepare for and respond to fires.

    After ordering the funding freeze, Trump also issued an Executive Order to reorganize the national wildland firefighting apparatus within the Department of the Interior, but the agencies have not shared their plans for doing so with Congress, or how it will hurt states like Oregon.

    At today’s hearing, Wyden also warned that starving federal agencies of the resources they need and intentional mismanagement of forests and public lands is setting the stage to justify future selloffs of public lands. Wyden cited extreme public backlash over the Republicans’ scheme to sell off public lands under their budget bill earlier this month, which forced Senate Republicans to back off their proposal.

    Wyden has been a longtime champion of sustainable forestry and common-sense policies to reduce the risk of wildfire.  In June, Wyden led colleagues in introducing the bipartisan National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 that would invest in hazardous fuels management to reduce the risk of blistering infernos by increasing the pace and scale of prescribed burns during cooler, wetter months. Wyden also has advocated for repairing and updating critical infrastructure for disaster response, announcing over $80 million for infrastructure repairs and $9.7 million for rural airports across Oregon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Congressional Delegation Introduces Congressional Review Act to Repeal BLM’s Harmful Land Use Plan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak and Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the Biden administration’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. The introduction follows the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) determination that the plan qualifies for repeal under the CRA. 

    “North Dakotans saw the Biden administration’s plan for what it was: A backdoor attempt to shut down responsible energy development on federal lands. It would crush coal production, close off millions of acres to leasing, and devastate jobs and communities across our state,” said Rep. Fedorchak. “This legislation overturns this harmful rule and restores common sense for North Dakota’s landowners and energy producers. We need energy policy that embraces innovation, not one that caters to out-of-touch activists at the expense of our energy security and economic strength.” 

    “The Biden Administration’s Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan for North Dakota represented another assault upon our state’s economy and energy producers,” said Senator Cramer. “Washington bureaucrats targeted our coal, oil, and natural gas reserves by blocking producers’ ability to develop them, ignoring the state’s input, clear text of federal law, and countless court precedents. Thankfully, the Trump administration is taking a new direction. This resolution under the Congressional Review Act is another tool at our disposal to get rid of this disastrous rule.” 

    “The RMP for North Dakota is an egregious example of the Biden administration’s overreaching Green New Deal agenda. This rule would lock away vast oil and gas acreage and nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage in our state, undermining our energy security and economic resilience,” said Senator Hoeven. “The CRA resolution we’re introducing will roll back this harmful policy, ensuring North Dakota remains a powerhouse for our nation, while helping the U.S. to become truly energy dominant.” 

    In the final days of the Biden administration, the Bureau of Land Management adopted the RMP for North Dakota, significantly constraining the state’s ability to access and develop its mineral resources. The plan prohibits coal leasing on over four million acres, or nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage. It also blocks 213,000 acres, or 44 percent of federally owned fluid mineral acreage, to future development. Throughout the drafting process, the state of North Dakota and theCongressional delegation expressed opposition to the draft RMP before the BLM finalized it. 

    In February 2025, the North Dakota delegation sent a letter to GAO asking the Comptroller General of the U.S. Gene Dodaro to “conclude the CRA applies to the North Dakota RMP, including specifically that GAO determine it is subject to CRA’s submission requirements and subject to review by Congress.” 

    North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong said, “We appreciate Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak for introducing the CRA joint resolution, which is the cleanest, fastest way to overturn the Biden administration’s disastrous plan. Instead of destabilizing the electric grid, raising consumer costs and making our nation less safe like the Biden plan threatened to do, North Dakotans deserve a Resource Management Plan that encourages responsible development of U.S. energy resources and supports our communities. The state stands ready to work with our delegation to repeal the RMP and replace it with a plan that protects states’ rights and recognizes our unique concerns about mineral ownership.” 

    Alison Ritter, Executive Director of the Western Dakota Energy Association, stated, “The Western Dakota Energy Association thanks our Congressional Delegation for introducing this Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the anti-energy Resource Management Plan (RMP) President Biden imposed upon North Dakota. Rescinding this plan is key to unlocking North Dakota’s full energy potential, while also protecting good-paying jobs, sustaining strong local economies, and preserving responsible access to the vital resources that power our nation.”  

    Ron Ness, President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, added, “As part of former President Biden’s over-reaching regulatory agenda, the BLM proposed a Resource Management Plan which was nothing but a transparent anti-energy power grab. The North Dakota Petroleum Council thanks Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak for introducing this Congressional Review Act resolution that would force the BLM to simply respect the rule of law.” 

    CLICK HERE to read the CRA. 

    MIL OSI USA News –