NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Celebrates Famed American Cyclist Greg LeMond as He Receives Congressional Gold Medal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Senator Cortez Masto helped pass legislation to award former Reno resident Greg LeMond a Congressional Gold Medal

    Washington, D.C. – Following the 2020 passage of the Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal Act, supported by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D-Nev.), Greg LeMond was today awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States Congress. The ceremony was hosted by Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson.

    “I’m thrilled that Nevada’s own Greg LeMond – an icon to cycling fans worldwide – has been recognized for not only his contributions to the sport, but to his community,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Exemplifying both Nevadans’ independence and a devotion to community, he has contributed his time and effort to so many important causes, from childhood sports to victims of sexual assault to those suffering from childhood illnesses. Greg is the model for what the Congressional Gold Medal should stand for.”

    BACKGROUND:

    Gregory James LeMond was born in California but raised near Reno, Nevada, where he spent much of his time outdoors. He attended Earl Wooster High School in Reno. At age 18, he became the youngest cyclist in the history of the sport to be selected for the United States men’s Olympic team. Greg first competed in the Tour de France in 1984, finishing third, deputizing himself to boost his teammates toward victory. In the 1986 Tour de France, he defeated the field by more than three full minutes, becoming the first American and the first non-European to win cycling’s most prestigious race. In 1987, while recovering from a broken wrist and collarbone, Greg was tragically shot during a turkey hunting accident, leaving him in intensive care and requiring the removal of over 40 shotgun pellets from his abdomen. Following multiple surgeries, Greg mounted a comeback, winning the 1989 Tour de France by eight seconds in the closest finish in the history of the Tour. Greg went on to win a third Tour de France victory in 1990.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Cut Down on Medicare Waste, Fraud, Abuse

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the Medicare Transaction Fraud Prevention Act which will use predictive modeling to cut down on the waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare system while also protecting people’s privacy and access to care.

    “New technologies allow for innovative ways to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and safeguard taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill takes a common-sense approach to protecting seniors and Medicare as a whole by identifying possible fraudulent activity while also providing appropriate privacy protections, human review, and protection of the benefits that seniors have paid into and deserve.”

    “Artificial intelligence has set our nation at the precipice of the next great American revolution, and harnessing AI’s power to identify potential waste, fraud, and abuse will help strengthen the Medicare system for those who depend on it and ensure our taxpayer dollars are being well spent. I’m glad to lead this bipartisan bill to utilize cutting edge technology to help America’s seniors and protect Medicare benefits,” said Senator Schmitt.

    The Medicare Transaction Fraud Prevention Act would create a pilot program for testing a risk-scoring algorithm to provide oversight of payments for durable medical equipment and clinical diagnostic laboratory tests under the Medicare program. The predictive algorithm would assign a risk score to transactions, which would then be sent for review to the Inspector General’s office. High risk scores would be assigned to claims billed at a rate or style deemed irregular. This would allow human inspectors to prioritize reviews of transactions most likely to be fraudulent. Medicare beneficiaries can opt-in to the program, so Medicare payment data is only obtained by the pilot with consent.

    Senator Hassan is working to cut waste, fraud, and abuse and save taxpayer dollars. In April, in her role as Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, Senator Hassan helped lead a hearing focused on ways to use artificial intelligence and data to improve government efficiency.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Scott, Cassidy, Paul Release Legislative Package Empowering Independent Workers to Access Portable Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy M.D. (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) unveiled a legislative package modernizing federal labor law to empower 27 million independent workers to access portable workplace benefits, like health care and retirement. The package will also provide consistency and clarity in how an independent contractor is defined, making it easier for workers to find jobs that allow for flexibility and independence. 
    “Empowering our workers with modern tools and flexible opportunities is essential for strengthening our economy and ensuring they can succeed in today’s dynamic job market. The Modern Worker Empowerment Act reflects our commitment to innovation, flexibility, and growth for all Americans,” said Senator Scott. 
    “Outdated labor laws should not prevent workers from receiving health care or saving for a secure retirement,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Modernizing our federal labor laws ensures all independent workers can access workplace benefits without losing their flexibility to work how and when they want.” 
    “The Association Health Plans Act gives small businesses and individuals the leverage to negotiate collectively for lower health insurance and lower drug prices. Additionally, the CBO previously estimated that 400,000 uninsured would gain coverage under AHPs and over 3 million people would switch coverage to AHPs,” said Dr. Paul.
    The vast majority of independent workers prefer alternative work arrangements to traditional [“9 to 5”] employment, and 80 percent of these workers would like access to workplace benefits. Yet decades-old federal labor and employment laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, prevent independent workers from accessing common workplace benefits. 
    The legislative package includes:  
    Cassidy’s Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act: Establishes a safe harbor under federal law for companies that would like to voluntarily provide benefits.
    Applies to any benefit or protection commonly provided to full-time employees, such as retirement and health care benefits. It also applies to emerging models where firms may pay into portable accounts, or any combination of those arrangements. 

    Scott’s Modern Worker Empowerment Act: Gives workers clarity and consistency by instituting a single employment test under federal law.  
    Paul’s Association Health Plans Act: Increases affordable health coverage options to millions of self-employed Americans and employees of small businesses by amending the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to give small business employees, sole proprietors, and gig workers the ability to aggregate together and access health insurance through Association Health Plans (AHPs). 
    Cassidy’s Independent Retirement Fairness Act: Empowers independent workers to participate in retirement plans, like pooled employer plans and single employee pension IRAs, that are already available under federal law. (Note: legislative text will be available shortly on the HELP Committee website)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand, Warren Demand Answers About Trump Administration Cuts to Agencies That Protect Seniors From Frauds And Scams

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024
    This week, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Elizabeth Warren, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, demanded answers from the Trump administration on the impact of federal cuts to agencies that protect seniors from financial frauds and scams. The senators’ letter follows the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report detailing the need to enhance protections against frauds and scams through coordination among federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Treasury Department, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Reserve, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
    Even after the release of GAO’s report, the Trump administration has continued efforts to gut these agencies. For example, in April, the administration fired about 1,500 CFPB employees—or almost 90% of the agency’s staff. The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) has also attempted to harass public servants throughout the federal government into leaving their jobs, decreasing personnel at the very agencies that GAO agrees are needed to protect older adults.
    “GAO’s report detailed the need to enhance our nation’s response to scams, including through better coordination among federal agencies. Despite that need, President Trump allowed an out-of-touch billionaire to slash the very agencies that protect Americans from scams, including millions of older adults,” the senators wrote. “We ask GAO to examine the impact of these severe cuts on the ability of the federal government to address frauds and scams, and to carry out the recommendations in GAO’s report.”
    American consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. Older Americans alone lost a record $4.8 billion to scammers last year, according to the FBI.
    The full text of the letter can be found here or below.
    Dear Mr. Dodaro,
    We write today to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) follow up on its report, Consumer Protection: Actions Needed to Improve Complaint Reporting, Consumer Education, and Federal Coordination to Counter Scams (GAO-25-107088). GAO’s report detailed the need to enhance our nation’s response to scams, including through better coordination among federal agencies. Despite that need, President Trump allowed an out of touch billionaire to slash the very agencies that protect Americans from scams, including millions of older adults. We ask GAO to examine the impact of these severe cuts on the ability of the federal government to address frauds and scams, and to carry out the recommendations in GAO’s report.
    American consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, and scams can have a particularly devastating impact on the mental and financial health of older adults. Older adults are more likely to have accumulated savings and housing wealth, making them targets for scammers who “steal everything,” and leave the older adults “emotionally and financially ruined.” One older adult testified about a scam that cost her late husband his job, his self-confidence, and forced him to ration his medications – setbacks that contributed to his declining health. Another older adult testified that she could not repair her home, afford air conditioning, and had to turn off her refrigerator and stove after losing $39,000 in a scam. Even as elder scams are devastating, they are also difficult to investigate because of their global nature. Frequently, such scams combine the efforts of overseas criminal organizations with operatives in the United States.
    In April 2025, GAO released a report, Consumer Protection: Actions Needed to Improve Complaint Reporting, Consumer Education, and Federal Coordination to Counter Scams, that highlighted the scope of scams and the weaknesses in the federal government’s efforts to combat them. The report included several recommendations for the federal government, such as the need for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to lead an effort to develop a national strategy to counter scams. Many of the recommendations made it clear that agencies such as FBI, the Department of Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Reserve, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will need to work together to find solutions. The interagency cooperation envisioned by GAO’s report will require federal agencies that are well resourced and staffed with the proper expertise.
    Although there is a need to enhance our nation’s response to scams, President Trump has empowered efforts to decimate the very agencies leading the response. On January 20, 2025, President Trump established the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). The initial head of the DOGE, Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, does not need to worry about his basic needs and lives a life of unfettered influence and power. Yet, Mr. Musk and his cronies at the DOGE set a goal of cutting $1 trillion from agencies that serve working class Americans, older adults, and people with disabilities. Efforts by the DOGE include attempts to harass public servants throughout the federal government into leaving their jobs. DOGE efforts also include drastic cuts at agencies with a role in addressing scams, such as the CFPB, which has been subjected to mass firings. Consequently, we seek GAO’s assistance in understanding how DOGE’s actions affect key agencies’ efforts to address frauds and scams in general and implement GAO’s report recommendations in particular.
    We understand that the DOGE’s efforts are ongoing and its efforts at the FBI, FTC, CFPB, the Department of Treasury, and the Federal Reserve may not be completed for many months. We also understand that GAO may receive some insight into the impact of DOGE’s actions at the five agencies when the agencies submit an action plan to Congress and GAO as part of the formal “180-day Letter” process that is in place for GAO recommendations to federal agencies. Therefore, we ask that GAO defer any work until it receives and initially analyzes the action plans from agencies that were targeted by the recommendations.
    Once the agency action plans have been received and analyzed by GAO, and the DOGE’s efforts are sufficiently completed, we request that GAO examine and report on the following issues:
    1. In its April 2025 report, GAO identified five key agencies that play a role in addressing frauds and scams. Since January 20, 2025, how has the ability of the five agencies to address frauds and scams been impacted by firings, resignations, buyouts, agency restructurings, and other actions undertaken by the Trump Administration and the DOGE?
    a. What changes have occurred at the five agencies a year or less following the actions taken by the Trump Administration and the DOGE, and what, if any, observable impact have those changes had on efforts to address frauds and scams?
    b. What impacts may the changes have over multiple years on the five agencies and their efforts to address frauds and scams?
    2. GAO’s April 2025 report included 16 recommendations for the federal government to improve its response to frauds and scams. How have the changes implemented by the Trump Administration and DOGE impacted the ability of the five agencies identified in the April 2025 report to implement GAO’s recommendations? Further, if efforts are made to reverse the changes at any of the five agencies, please describe the success of those efforts. Please include any barriers the agencies have faced to restaffing and restoring efforts to combat frauds and scams.
    We appreciate your attention to this request. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ranking Member Gillibrand’s staff with the Senate Special Committee on Aging or Ranking Member Warren’s staff with the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation and Toxins While Serving in Nevada

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced a bill to ensure servicemembers and veterans who served at classified locations within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) since 1951 are able to prove that they served there, and can finally get the PACT Act benefits they deserve following exposure to radiation and toxins. 
    From the 1950s through the 1990s, the NTTR – and the Nevada Test Site contained within it – conducted over 900 explosive nuclear weapons tests and other dangerous, toxic activities. Currently, due to issues with the classified nature of their location while serving, veterans who served at the NTTR are unable to prove their service there to the VA and, therefore, are unable to receive care and benefits connected with exposure to radiation and toxins from burn pits. The Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act would help to correct a historic wrong and inequity by officially recognizing the risk that veterans assumed during their service at the NTTR, and other Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities, where DOE employees are already automatically presumed to have been exposed, while the servicemembers who served alongside them are not. Senator Rosen also worked to secure commitments from multiple high-ranking military officials to address this care gap.
    “Veterans have been exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals as a result of their selfless service to our nation, and the least we can do is ensure they get the treatment they need,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m introducing this bill to recognize the radiation and toxic exposure experienced at the Nevada Test and Training Range so our veterans can access the care and benefits they deserve. It is unconscionable that one U.S. government agency deems portions of the range as contaminated and their personnel exposed, while another U.S. government agency does not. I’ll continue working to make sure we take care of our veterans and their loved ones.”
    “As a nation, it is our obligation to take care of all veterans once their service has ended,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This is especially true for veterans of the Nevada Test and Training Range, who faced toxic exposure daily as part of their duties and should have parity with their civilian counterparts. I will continue to push for these brave men and women to receive the care and benefits they’re due.”
    “Today, after decades of denial by our own government, the veterans who were exposed to toxic radiation and materials on the Nevada Test and Training Range are closer than ever to getting the recognition and benefits they’ve earned,” said Dave Crete, Chairman of The Invisible Enemy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans who have experienced toxic exposure at the Nevada Test and Training Range. “We thank Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for making the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act a legislative priority in the U.S. Senate, and all of our allies in Congress who are dedicated to righting this wrong, and securing justice for the brave men and women who risked their lives and lost their lives fighting this invisible enemy.”
    The FORGOTTEN Veterans Act would: 

    Classify the Nevada Test and Training Range as contaminated.
    Require the Department of Defense (DOD) to document all exposures, including those that occur domestically, into the servicemember’s Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, so it can be seen by the VA when servicemembers transition to civilian life, while still protecting the classified nature of the location of their service. 
    Require the Secretary of the Air Force to identify all those who served within the NTTR since January 27, 1951, establish a process for servicemembers and veterans to provide proof of their assignment within the NTTR, and make all efforts to identify individuals, without requiring them to submit evidence of their stationing.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for DOD personnel who served at any Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities – such as those within the NTTR – where DOE employees have a presumption of exposure and are covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. One such DOE-covered facility within the NTTR is the Tonopah Test Range, which is both a DOE and DOD installation. 
    Add service at military installations within the NTTR to the list of recognized “radiation-risk activities” under VA law, dating back to January 27, 1951, including veterans who participated in the development, construction, operation, or maintenance of military installations at NTTR—beyond just nuclear test observers.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for veterans who served on or above NTTR, easing the burden of proof in VA claims.
    Expand presumptive conditions for service connection by adding lipomas and tumor-related conditions to the list of automatically presumed service-connected illnesses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation and Toxins While Serving in Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced a bill to ensure servicemembers and veterans who served at classified locations within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) since 1951 are able to prove that they served there, and can finally get the PACT Act benefits they deserve following exposure to radiation and toxins. 
    From the 1950s through the 1990s, the NTTR – and the Nevada Test Site contained within it – conducted over 900 explosive nuclear weapons tests and other dangerous, toxic activities. Currently, due to issues with the classified nature of their location while serving, veterans who served at the NTTR are unable to prove their service there to the VA and, therefore, are unable to receive care and benefits connected with exposure to radiation and toxins from burn pits. The Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act would help to correct a historic wrong and inequity by officially recognizing the risk that veterans assumed during their service at the NTTR, and other Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities, where DOE employees are already automatically presumed to have been exposed, while the servicemembers who served alongside them are not. Senator Rosen also worked to secure commitments from multiple high-ranking military officials to address this care gap.
    “Veterans have been exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals as a result of their selfless service to our nation, and the least we can do is ensure they get the treatment they need,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m introducing this bill to recognize the radiation and toxic exposure experienced at the Nevada Test and Training Range so our veterans can access the care and benefits they deserve. It is unconscionable that one U.S. government agency deems portions of the range as contaminated and their personnel exposed, while another U.S. government agency does not. I’ll continue working to make sure we take care of our veterans and their loved ones.”
    “As a nation, it is our obligation to take care of all veterans once their service has ended,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This is especially true for veterans of the Nevada Test and Training Range, who faced toxic exposure daily as part of their duties and should have parity with their civilian counterparts. I will continue to push for these brave men and women to receive the care and benefits they’re due.”
    “Today, after decades of denial by our own government, the veterans who were exposed to toxic radiation and materials on the Nevada Test and Training Range are closer than ever to getting the recognition and benefits they’ve earned,” said Dave Crete, Chairman of The Invisible Enemy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans who have experienced toxic exposure at the Nevada Test and Training Range. “We thank Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto for making the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act a legislative priority in the U.S. Senate, and all of our allies in Congress who are dedicated to righting this wrong, and securing justice for the brave men and women who risked their lives and lost their lives fighting this invisible enemy.”
    The FORGOTTEN Veterans Act would: 
    Classify the Nevada Test and Training Range as contaminated.
    Require the Department of Defense (DOD) to document all exposures, including those that occur domestically, into the servicemember’s Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, so it can be seen by the VA when servicemembers transition to civilian life, while still protecting the classified nature of the location of their service. 
    Require the Secretary of the Air Force to identify all those who served within the NTTR since January 27, 1951, establish a process for servicemembers and veterans to provide proof of their assignment within the NTTR, and make all efforts to identify individuals, without requiring them to submit evidence of their stationing.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for DOD personnel who served at any Department of Energy (DOE) Covered Facilities – such as those within the NTTR – where DOE employees have a presumption of exposure and are covered under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. One such DOE-covered facility within the NTTR is the Tonopah Test Range, which is both a DOE and DOD installation. 
    Add service at military installations within the NTTR to the list of recognized “radiation-risk activities” under VA law, dating back to January 27, 1951, including veterans who participated in the development, construction, operation, or maintenance of military installations at NTTR—beyond just nuclear test observers.
    Establish a presumption of toxic exposure for veterans who served on or above NTTR, easing the burden of proof in VA claims.
    Expand presumptive conditions for service connection by adding lipomas and tumor-related conditions to the list of automatically presumed service-connected illnesses.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Kaptur Statement on DOE Failure to Comply with Basic Spending Transparency Requirements As Highlighted in New GAO Report

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, DC — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development issued the following joint statement in response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issuing areport that finds the Department of Energy (DOE) is not in compliance with required reporting to help ensure transparency in spending.

    “This GAO report exposes a troubling failure by the Department of Energy to meet even the most basic budgeting responsibilities. Nearly a decade after Congress required forward-looking energy planning, DOE still hasn’t delivered — and now the Trump administration wants to do away with this basic good government requirement altogether. With nearly $50 billion in taxpayer funds at stake, this lack of accountability is unacceptable. At a time of fierce global competition, we can’t afford a Department flying blind. DOE must stop stonewalling and immediately implement GAO’s recommendations — as mandated by law — to deliver the transparency, accountability, and planning the American people deserve and that this administration has promised but routinely failed to deliver.”

    The fiscal year 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act required the Secretary of Energy to submit a future-years energy program (FYEP) alongside DOE’s annual budget justifications, starting with the fiscal year 2014 request and continuing each year thereafter.

    However, GAO found that DOE has failed to fully comply with this statutory requirement, offering no justification for its ongoing noncompliance. The Department’s FYEP submissions have been incomplete and inconsistent, and it lacks both a finalized strategic plan and the necessary budgeting processes to generate accurate estimates.

    Congress mandated this investigation in the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development bill. In a striking acknowledgment of this failure, the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal attempts to eliminate the reporting requirement altogether—undermining its own claims of promoting efficiency and exposing a broader disregard for transparency and fiscal accountability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: At HELP Markup on CDC Nominee, Senator Murray Slams Secretary Kennedy for Record Measles Outbreak, Highlights Republicans’ Refusal to Conduct Oversight

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: At HELP Hearing, Senator Murray Presses CDC Nominee on Commitment to Scientific Integrity, Vaccine Access, as RFK Jr. Fires ACIP Members, Pushes Vaccine Conspiracies

    Senator Murray, along with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), authored the PREVENT Pandemics Act that made the CDC Director a Senate confirmed position for the first time starting this year

    ***WATCH HERE: Murray remarks at HELP markup on measles outbreak***

    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup to advance the nomination of Susan Monarez, PhD to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Committee, spoke forcefully about how measles cases in the U.S. have reached a 33-year high, and yet our conspiracy-minded Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has only doubled down on his dangerous anti-vaccine activism, and the Republican leadership of the HELP Committee is refusing to exercise any serious oversight of the measles crisis or other public health disasters the Trump administration is fanning the flames of.

    At the markup, the HELP committee voted 12-11 to send Dr. Monarez’s nomination to the Senate floor—Senator Murray voted against advancing her nomination.

    The CDC Director is a Senate-confirmed position for the first time this year thanks to a provision in Senator Murray’s bipartisan PREVENT Pandemics Act, which she negotiated and passed with former Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) in 2022.

    Senator Murray’s full remarks at the HELP markup, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “I think it’s really important as we consider a CDC nominee today, we talk about the real elephant in the room.

    “Because we could actually have the best CDC director in the world, and it wouldn’t change the fact that we have a person leading HHS who is an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist—and a Committee that I fear is failing to do its bipartisan, public oversight of public health disasters.

    “Measles cases are at a record 33-year high. They have not been this high since before we eliminated the disease in 2000.

    “And now we are over 1,200 cases—that is really, we believe, also an undercount.

    “But instead of pounding the pavement to encourage people to get vaccinated—the single most effective protection against measles, as you know—RFK Jr. has been firing every single member of the CDC vaccine advisory panel, and he loaded it up with his favorite vaccine skeptics, so they can pursue debunked conspiracies.

    “And I am concerned because this Committee, it feels like, has all but abandoned serious oversight of this crisis. We haven’t had a hearing on the record-breaking number of measles outbreaks.

    “Or a hearing on how the CDC vaccine panel is now stacked with people who are actually not unvetted, and all the previous board members—every single one of them—was removed with no credible explanation.

    “So, I really believe we need public oversight.  

    “I really do hope that Dr. Monarez will defy my expectations, I hope she will stand up for science, and put public health first.

    “But again, I have hoped that for others, and here we are today. So, I just want to express my disappointment, and real feeling that this committee should have oversight and do hearings before it’s too late to do anything all.

    “And I would just say, my door is open to everyone. I think that we do need to work together and try and repair some of the harm that this anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists are doing to our country right now, and I hope that you take that into consideration.”

    _______________

    At her nomination hearing last month, under Senator Murray’s questioning, Dr. Monarez admitted she agreed with Senator Murray that the eight new members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP)—which Secretary Kennedy handpicked after firing every member of the Committee for no reason—should go through a thorough ethics review process before participating in ACIP meetings. At the hearing, Senator Murray also raised alarm over Secretary Kennedy bringing Lyn Redwood in to the ACIP meeting to give a presentation on thimerosal in vaccines, and pressed Dr. Monarez on how changes to the ACIP recommendation could force families to pay out of pocket for vaccines, or forgo vaccination altogether. Senator Murray has been speaking out for weeks against Secretary Kennedy’s reckless decision to fire the entire slate of ACIP members without cause—holding a press call with Dr. Helen Chu of Washington state, one of the 17 ACIP members who was fired, and calling on Secretary Kennedy to reinstate the ACIP members he fired and ensure any new members undergo appropriate vetting.

    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.

    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress against RFK Jr.’s dismantling of HHS and attacks on America’s public health infrastructure, raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans’ health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Remarks at “Children’s Congress” Hearing on Type 1 Diabetes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on accelerating research and a cure for Type 1 diabetes—the annual “Children’s Congress”—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered opening remarks underscoring the importance of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Special Diabetes Program and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biomedical research enterprise threatens to unravel decades of progress and set back hope for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

    “Thank you again Chair Collins for again convening this really important, impressive hearing to talk about the NIH Special Diabetes Program’s critical work that supports life-changing research for millions of people who are living with Type 1 Diabetes, and in particular, to hear from all the kids and young adults who are living with Type 1 diabetes who came all the way here today to talk about why this program matters.

    “I know all of you have traveled from all over the country, I don’t think anybody made it here from Washington state, it’s a long trip—oh in the back, awesome! Great to see you! I want you to know that your voices make a huge difference in making sure that Congress takes action to treat and, eventually, cure Type 1 diabetes. It’s important that all of us understand your experiences with diabetes, which is of course, what this hearing is all about.

    “And of course—it is important that we improve our understanding of this disease itself, which is what the NIH Special Diabetes Program is all about.

    “This program has a great history of accomplishment: getting new artificial pancreatic devices to market, bringing us a new medication to delay Type 1 diagnoses, and improving care for patients with serious complications, and more breakthroughs that we all know are just around the corner.

    “This work is life-changing. Which is why I do want to really express my concern today about the fact that the Trump administration is terminating or freezing more than 260 grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    “The care and research that people are counting on is really in jeopardy, and your voices are important today.

    “Four of those cancelled NIDDK grants are in my home state of Washington—including a clinical trial looking at blood pressure in 200 hemodialysis patients, and a grant to train the next generation of researchers.

    “And I know that at Columbia University, President Trump terminated funding for research on how Type 1 diabetes affects bone strength in kids.

    “I don’t think anyone here needs us to explain why that’s so important, we need to strengthen bones and avoid fractures—so everyone can run, and play, and compete in sports, and live life to its fullest.

    “So, I want to be clear here today: Trump does not get to decide funding for diabetes. Congress does. And I know members on both sides of the aisle are committed to making sure we maintain strong investments in this work.

    “But we need more than just talk right now, we need to stand up and reject what is happening right now to biomedical research at NIH. And I know that my colleagues understand that as well.

    “So again, I really want to thank all of you for being here today. Because when it comes to defending this research, when it comes to pushing back against these kinds of cuts and funding freezes that we are seeing—the most effective tool we have is our voices—like the advocates in this room. The strongest way all of you can push back is by speaking out, just like you are doing today, sharing your stories, which are so important, and making sure everyone knows what is at stake.

    “And I know that with the incredible advocates like all of you, we are going to keep making progress, and we’re going to keep investing in life-changing research, and—eventually—cure Type 1 diabetes.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Announce over $21 Million in Federal Funding for Virginia Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $21,254,275 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at ten airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

    “We are thrilled to announce this funding for Virginia’s airports,” the senators said. “This investment is a major win for Virginia’s travelers and communities and will help to ensure our airports are safer, more efficient, and ready to meet growing demand in the years to come.” 

    The funding is broken down as follows:

    • $6,000,000 to the Peninsula Airport Commission to reconstruct 6,500 feet of existing paved taxiways at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport;
    • $5,927,653 to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission through grants to rehabilitate existing runway and taxiway at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport;
    • $4,000,000 to the Capital Region Airport Commission for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at Richmond International Airport;
    • $1,699,218 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority to upgrade and replace existing security equipment at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport;
    • $1,229,342 to the City of Lynchburg to rehabilitate runway at Lynchburg Regional Airport;
    • $750,000 to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to construct a new hangar for aircraft storage at Orange County Airport;
    • $600,000 to the County of Halifax to reconstruct runway lighting at William M. Tuck Airport;
    • $164,000 to the Dinwiddie County Airport and Industrial Authority to expand the terminal apron to allow for a wider variety of aircrafts at Dinwiddie County Airport;
    • $107,112 to the County of New Kent to remove trees obstructing operations at New Kent County Airport;
    • $76,950 to the Tazewell County Airport Authority to remove trees obstructing operations at Tazewell County Airport; and
    • $700,000 to the Commonwealth of Virginia to update Virginia’s existing airport system plan.

    Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Sens. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last month, the senators announced over $5 million in federal funding, building on more than $12 million for improvements to Virginia’s airports announced in January of this year. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding for revitalizations efforts, and in September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Announce Over $21 Million in Federal Funding for Virginia Airports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $21,254,275 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at ten airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

    “We are thrilled to announce this funding for Virginia’s airports,” the senators said. “This investment is a major win for Virginia’s travelers and communities and will help to ensure our airports are safer, more efficient, and ready to meet growing demand in the years to come.” 

    The funding is broken down as follows:

    • $6,000,000 to the Peninsula Airport Commission to reconstruct 6,500 feet of existing paved taxiways at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport;
    • $5,927,653 to the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission through grants to rehabilitate existing runway and taxiway at Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport;
    • $4,000,000 to the Capital Region Airport Commission for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at Richmond International Airport;
    • $1,699,218 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority to upgrade and replace existing security equipment at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport;
    • $1,229,342 to the City of Lynchburg to rehabilitate runway at Lynchburg Regional Airport;
    • $750,000 to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to construct a new hangar for aircraft storage at Orange County Airport;
    • $600,000 to the County of Halifax to reconstruct runway lighting at William M. Tuck Airport;
    • $164,000 to the Dinwiddie County Airport and Industrial Authority to expand the terminal apron to allow for a wider variety of aircrafts at Dinwiddie County Airport;
    • $107,112 to the County of New Kent to remove trees obstructing operations at New Kent County Airport;
    • $76,950 to the Tazewell County Airport Authority to remove trees obstructing operations at Tazewell County Airport; and
    • $700,000 to the Commonwealth of Virginia to update Virginia’s existing airport system plan.

    Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Last month, the senators announced over $5 million in federal funding, building on more than $12 million for improvements to Virginia’s airports announced in January of this year. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding for revitalizations efforts, and in September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Keeps Sounding the Alarm on Health Care Emergency Worsened by Trump Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, July 9 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today delivered remarks on the impact of the Republican reconciliation bill — which passed the Senate by one vote and will throw nearly 17 million Americans off the health care they have.

    There is no question that cybersecurity and protecting the privacy of Americans’ health care records are important issues that we need to deal with. 

    But, Mr. Chairman, let me be very clear. That is not the issue that is right now on the minds of the American people. What people are worried about is the catastrophic impact that the reconciliation bill that was passed last week will have on the health and well-being of the American people. And that is the issue that I’m going to be focused on today. 

    That legislation, passed by one vote here in the Senate, will be making the largest cut to Medicaid in American history to pay for the largest tax break for billionaires in American history. 

    At a time when our current health care system is broken, dysfunctional and cruel — 85 million today are uninsured or underinsured. This bill will make a horrible situation even worse. 

    This legislation will cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1.1 trillion. 

    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that this bill, along with the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, will cause 17 million people to lose their health insurance. 

    Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and health care economists at the University of Pennsylvania have found that these health care policies would cause over 50,000 people in our country to die unnecessarily every year. That’s what happens when you can’t get to a doctor. 

    I am delighted that one of the lead researchers of this report, Dr. Alison Galvani, is here with us today to talk more about that study.

    Mr. Chairman: it is not rocket science. You’re a doctor, you know this. If people don’t have access to health care, if they can’t get to a doctor when they need to, people will suffer and tens of thousands will die. It happens today and it will only get worse. 

    Make no mistake about it: This bill is a death sentence for working-class and low-income Americans. 

    Further, as a result of this bill, more than 300 rural hospitals are now at risk of closing down altogether or substantially reducing their services. That is not my estimate. That’s what the Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina recently estimated. 

    And we are already beginning to see the devastating impact this bill will have on rural America: The Curtis Medical Center in Southwest Nebraska has already announced that it will be shutting down because it cannot withstand the cuts to Medicaid contained in this bill. 

    It’s not just rural hospitals that are now in crisis as a result of this legislation.

    According to a recent survey from the American Health Care Association, as a result of this bill, 27% of nursing homes have indicated that they will be forced to close their doors and 58% will have to reduce staff. And it’s not just nursing homes. 

    Health care researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University have found that this bill will be a disaster for community health centers. 

    They have estimated that as a result of the passage of this bill, over 40% of community health center sites will shut down. Today, there are over 15,000 community health center clinics throughout America. This could result in the shutting down of some 9,000 of them. 

    And it’s not just community health centers, it’s not just nursing homes and it’s not just individuals. 

    This legislation will substantially increase the uninsured rate in every state in this country. 

    As a result of this bill, the uninsured rate in my own state of Vermont would go up from 3.3% to 6%.

    In Louisiana, the Chairman’s state, the uninsured rate will go up from 6.7% to 12.4%.

    In Florida, the uninsured rate will go up from 10.4% to 18.8%.  

    In Texas, the second largest state in this country, the uninsured rate will go up to 20% — in the United States, in the richest country in the history of the world.

    Mr. Chairman, this is an issue that needs to be explained to the American people, and I look forward to discussing it with all of our panelists. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Padilla, Booker in Cosponsoring New Bill to Require Immigration Officers to Display Clear Identification 

    US Senate News:

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

    Welch also joined letter to DHS requesting information about ICE’s use of unidentified plainclothes agents 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in cosponsoring new legislation to require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025 would strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability of the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate and alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities across the nation.  
    Under the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda, civil immigration enforcement operations have increasingly involved Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers engaging with the public while wearing unmarked tactical gear, concealing clothing, and face coverings that obscure both agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government officials. 
    This lack of transparency endangers public safety by causing widespread confusion and fear, especially in communities already subject to heightened immigration scrutiny. It also increases operational and safety risks for law enforcement personnel by creating an opportunity for immigration enforcement impersonators and compounding uncertainty in high-stress situations. Clear, consistent, visible identification helps reduce miscommunication during enforcement encounters, strengthens officer credibility, and improves public cooperation, all of which are vital to mission success.  
     “Public safety requires trust. When federal immigration agents are in plainclothes and unidentifiable, it threatens that public safety, undermines trust in government, and can even lead to escalating violence,” said Senator Welch. “This is about accountability and transparency.” 
    The VISIBLE Act would place a critical check on the government’s power, ensuring basic transparency safeguards that protect public trust and legitimacy in immigration enforcement operations. Specifically, the VISIBLE Act: 

    Requires immigration enforcement officers — including DHS personnel such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents detailed to immigration operations, and deputized state or local officers — to display clearly legible identification, including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number, in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing; 

    Prohibits non-medical face coverings (such as masks or balaclavas) that obscure identity or facial visibility, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; and 

    Requires DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations, report annually to Congress on compliance, and investigate complaints through its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 

    The bill does not apply to covert or non-public facing operations, nor does it prohibit face coverings when necessary for officer safety. It also does not apply to enforcement actions conducted solely under criminal authority. 
    The VISIBLE Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The bill is endorsed by the ACLU and Public Counsel. 
    Learn more about the VISIBLE Act. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 
    Earlier this week, Senator Welch joined Senator Padilla and 12 of their colleagues in criticizing ICE for engaging in counterproductive, theatrical enforcement activities — including raids on courthouses and restaurants — and requesting information from the agency on its mask and uniform policies. The Senators argued that these tactics are designed to sow fear and chaos and that allowing masked, plainclothes officers to engage in public raids creates situations where bad actors can commit crimes while claiming to be ICE agents. 
    In addition to Sens. Welch and Padilla, the letter was signed by Senators Blumenthal, Booker, Hirono, Schiff, Smith, Van Hollen, Wyden, Murray, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). Read the full text of the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville to ICE Agents Being Violently Attacked: “If you need to defend yourself, shoot back.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the Radical Democrats who are violently attacking ICE agents.
    Excerpts from Sens. Tuberville and Scott’s interview can be found below or on YouTube or Rumble.
    KUDLOW: “I want to get down to the point. You’ve got people shooting at ICE agents and Border Patrol agents, right? And cops in general. And according to the Daily Caller and according to Axios and some other sources now, the Democratic Party—the people at the bottom and the constituencies and so forth at the grassroots—are urging their leaders to urge this kind of violence. In fact, they’re telling their leaders to take a shot in order to show their resistance to Trump. This is insanity. In America, we don’t shoot cops, Senator Tuberville. What you have to say about this?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, first of all, it was a disaster what the Biden administration did for four years—open borders, it was insane. Senator Scott and I went down several times. You can’t put a number on what it is number one, gonna cost the American taxpayers over the next years to get all these illegals back out of the country. But the law and order in this country—and Rick will talk about this too—is vital. You can be educated, you can have money, you can have everything you want as an American citizen—if you don’t have safe streets and neighborhoods, you don’t have anything. And so, we have to take our country back. The Democrats did this on purpose. It was all by design. They want to run over our law and order. They want social justice people running our police departments. That’s not gonna happen. I’m all for ICE. If you need to defend yourself, shoot back. Do not take this from these people. Do not take it from the Democrats. We have to take our country and neighborhoods back.”
    KUDLOW: “Yeah. If you need to defend yourself, shoot back. That has to happen, Senator Scott. And you know, we had Tom Homan on just at the top of the show. A terrific man, really. A great patriot doing the job. We can’t let up. They’re crazy—they’re crazy people shooting now. They’re crazy people who illegally walked into this country. And they’re murderers. And they’re rapists, sex traffickers, drug traffickers. That battle’s not over yet, Senator Scott. We’ve got a lot of work to do. You all just put $175 billion dollars for it into the One Big Beautiful Bill. This has got to change.”
    SCOTT: “But, it’s like who do these Democrats represent? They’re insane. I mean, they represent actual criminals. People that are selling drugs to our kids to kill them. People that have murdered and raped people—[the Democrats are] out trying to make sure they don’t go to jail. And then the people that are trying to put them in jail, they wanna kill them, these ICE agents and Border Patrol. These Democrats have gone crazy, but this is—as Coach Tuberville said—this is all designed by the Democrats. They wanted to change this country by opening up the border to criminals and drug traffickers and terrorists, and they’ve done it. Donald Trump has got his work cut out for him, but he’s gonna do it. We’re gonna clean up this country.”
    KUDLOW: “You know, Senator Tuberville, I got a guy up here in New York. Trump calls him ‘Mamdani the Commi.’ This guy wants the city to run grocery stores. He wants to defund the police, and he’s a tremendous antisemite. Hates Jewish people. He claims he’s not gonna let ICE into his sanctuary city. I mean, he’s a Democrat. Okay? This is insanity. Utter insanity. The Democrats have been the stupid party. This makes them even stupider.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Well, you know, he’s showing his stripes. And I don’t think this will fly, even with the people in New York. You never know. But at the end of the day, the guy is truly a communist. He believes in the government taking care of everybody, and that doesn’t work in the greatest country ever. You can just go to Venezuela, some of the other countries. If he does win, you can sack the bats in New York, Larry. We will take you in Alabama in a heartbeat. We’ll put you a TV studio up, and we’ll let you preach the gospel from the State of Alabama.”
    KUDLOW: “You know I love the gospel, Senator. You got me there. Senator Scott, you know it too. Gentlemen, you’re both terrific. Thank you so much for coming on. Appreciate it very much.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: EPW Favorably Reports NRC and EPA Nominees, Approves GSA Resolutions at Business Meeting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a business meeting to consider the nominations of Usha-Maria Turner to be Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs and David Wright to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and 32 Committee Resolutions to approve prospectuses from the General Services Administration (GSA).

    Both nominations were favorably reported by the EPW Committee, and the GSA resolutions were approved by voice vote. The nominations head to the full U.S. Senate for consideration. 

    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.

    “I want to thank everybody for attending today’s business meeting to vote on the nominations of David Wright to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Usha-Maria Turner to be EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs.

    “I will support both of these nominees this morning.

    “As our nation’s independent nuclear safety regulator, the NRC is critically important to our energy future. Congress directed the NRC to be more efficient and we expect the NRC, under the leadership and direction of the Chair and the Commission, to accelerate this work.

    “Through Chairman Wright’s leadership, the NRC has taken some initial, positive steps. The Commission updated its Mission Statement, reduced the timeframe to approve new nuclear licenses, and is addressing unique regulatory challenges with new reactor designs.

    “I will work in a bipartisan manner to hold the Commission, including Chairman Wright, accountable to expedite their efforts while maintaining their focus on ensuring nuclear safety.

    “In response to questions for the record I submitted jointly with Ranking Member Whitehouse, Chairman Wright affirmed that he is committed to preserving the NRC’s independent authority to license and oversee the civilian use of nuclear material. I appreciate that commitment and will support Chairman Wright’s nomination.

    “I will also vote for Usha-Maria Turner to lead the EPA’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs.

    “Her experience in energy and environmental regulatory affairs makes her well prepared to represent the EPA around the world and with our Tribal partners. I urge my colleagues to support these nominations.

    “I also encourage my colleagues to support the 32 GSA resolutions that authorize important repair and alternation projects and leases across the country.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Introduces Bill to Eliminate Challenges to Countering China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact:     Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    July 9, 2025

    Cotton Introduces Bill to Eliminate Challenges to Countering China 

    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today introduced the Necessary Environmental Exemptions for Defense Act, legislation that would establish environmental waivers for commercial projects deemed necessary to counter the Chinese Communist Party by the Secretary of Defense.

    “Current environmental laws put our readiness to counter Communist China at risk and waste taxpayer dollars on projects that stall out and die on the vine. This bill will create jobs, better arm and prepare our soldiers, and spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently,” said Senator Cotton.

    Text of the Necessary Environmental Exemptions for Defense Act may be found here.

    The Necessary Environmental Exemptions for Defense Act would:

    • Establish a waiver for activities related to countering the threat of Communist China.
    • The waivers would apply to regulations under the:
      • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
      • Endangered Species Act (ESA)
      • Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
      • Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPA)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Expresses Condolences For The Lives Lost And Those Impacted By The Flooding In Central Texas

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    July 08, 2025

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today shared his condolences for the lives lost and those impacted by the flash floods that devastated Central Texas this past weekend and thanked the first responders and volunteers who have worked around the clock to save lives.

    “I know I speak for millions of Americans when I say we are heartbroken over the flash floods that devastated Central Texas this past weekend. Early Friday morning, while most were fast asleep, a foot of rain fell onto Texas Hill Country. This deluge flowed into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise by 26 feet in 45 minutes,” Durbin said. “Near the Guadalupe, a girl’s sleepaway camp, Camp Mystic, which had been there for 99 years, was all but destroyed by the floods. Already, Camp Mystic has confirmed that 27 of their campers and counselors died in that flood. I send my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those campers and counselors.”

    Durbin continued, “Tragically, the flooding in Texas continues to take lives. More than 100 people have perished, and that number is expected to grow, sadly, in the coming days. In the midst of this disaster, I am heartened by the kindness and courage shown by the first responders and volunteers. Twenty separate agencies, at every level of government, have come together to help save lives. At Camp Mystic, counselors, many of whom had just graduated from high school, risked their own lives to save younger campers. We will never forget their bravery.”

    Durbin concluded, “This disaster has impacted people of both political [parties]— Republicans and Democrats and Independents as well… I would hope that the Senate and the House would stand together, Democrats and Republicans, and say we’re going to be there for the victims of this disaster. I pray that we find the missing loved ones and that we take the necessary steps to stop another tragedy like this from occurring.”

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Slams Republicans’ So-Called “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Which Slashes Health Care Coverage For 17 Million Americans To Provide Massive Tax Breaks For Billionaires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    July 08, 2025

    Durbin voted against final passage of the bill last week

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will slash Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, and Medicare coverage for 17 million Americans to provide massive tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. During his speech, Durbin underscored the dangers of this Republican bill, which was signed into law by President Trump on the Fourth of July.

    “Americans across this nation overwhelmingly opposed this bill—and for good reason. This bill signed by the President on the Fourth of July was the largest cut to health care and the largest cut to nutrition assistance in history, slashing more than $1 trillion from health care programs like Medicaid and $200 billion from SNAP. Seventeen million Americans will lose their health insurance, health insurance premiums will rise for another 20 million families, and three million people will have food taken off the table, including kids, seniors, and veterans… Why would the government do these things to so many innocent people? In this case, very simply, to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and big corporations with the richest Americans seeing $400,000 back in their pockets every year because of this legislation,” said Durbin.

    More than 300 rural hospitals may be forced to close because the Republican bill cripples the Medicaid program that keep our rural hospitals and their communities afloat. Illinois hospitals at risk of closing includes HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, Illinois, where Medicaid pays for 53 percent of hospitalizations; St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois, where Medicaid pays for 42 percent of hospitalizations; and OSF St. Clare Hospital in Princeton, Illinois, where Medicaid covers 45 percent of hospitalizations.

    Durbin continued, “Aside from hospitals, this bill will also have major consequences on American energy… This bill kills solar, wind, and EV tax credits enjoyed by companies and consumers alike, all but ceding the future of electricity to China and risking billions of dollars of investments in renewable energy, ironically mostly in Republican states. And while working families grapple with the consequences of these cuts, they’ll also see their family home expenses increase by $1,000 a year—utility bills are going up because of this bill.”

    During his floor speech, Durbin highlighted a constituent, Isaiah Rogers, who will be impacted by the Republican bill. Isaiah is a 61-year-old man who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. As a result of his diagnosis, he has not been able to return to his job trimming trees and has been working small side jobs. Medicaid pays for Isaiah’s doctors’ visits and insulin. A single father without a high school degree, he’s concerned the bill’s cuts and changes to Medicaid will result in him losing his health coverage.

    Durbin continued, “And if Isaiah loses Medicaid, he’ll no longer be able to afford his insulin and other medications, and he may face a diabetic complication or even suffer a stroke. What would that mean for his 12-year-old son? It’s unconscionable to think the other party would pull-the-plug on life-saving health coverage and deny food from our most needy children—but that’s exactly what they voted for.”

    Durbin then highlighted Democrats’ efforts to push back on the bill. Over the course of 27 hours, Senate Democrats forced votes on a slew of amendments to put Republicans on-notice and show their constituents how they’re betraying them. It was the longest vote-a-rama in Senate history.

    “It [the amendments] included Republicans voting against: Nursing home care and home health aides, food assistance for children and veterans, protections for Medicaid, clean energy jobs… and an expansion of the Child Tax Credit… all to give billionaires another tax cut instead. In the end, three sensible Senate Republicans looked at this ugly betrayal of a bill and agreed that they couldn’t be part of the process. I commend them, but sadly, it wasn’t enough. And who swooped in to cast the decisive vote? Vice President Vance… This Vice President cast the deciding vote that will be painful for so many families across America.”

    Durbin concluded, “As the effects of this bill take shape and slither their way through our communities, my Republican colleagues will have to look their constituents in the eye and explain their votes. They will have to explain to the farmer who now must drive 50 miles to the nearest hospital why they voted to shut his community’s hospital doors. They will have to explain to the grandmother in a nursing home why her care is being slimmed down because of cuts to Medicaid, and they will have to explain to the young mother who is preparing to have a baby why there is no longer a maternity ward in her county. This bill flies in the face of American values that we celebrate on the Fourth of July. The other party has a lot of explaining to do and the American people are going to face the consequences.”

    The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that Senate Republicans’ proposal will cost $4.45 trillion, but despite the price tag, the legislation primarily helps billionaires at the expense of American working families. In fact, this legislation provides a huge, permanent tax cut of nearly $350,000 for multimillionaires and billionaires while people earning $40,000 a year will see a comparatively meager average tax decrease of $442 per year.

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Holds RECA Victory Rally to Celebrate Justice for Victims of Radioactive Waste

    US Senate News:

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

    Tuesday, July 08, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) led a RECA victory rally in St. Louis to celebrate new funding for radioactive waste survivors in Missouri and other states. His announcement comes after a two-year battle that resulted in theRadiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) expansion in the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which President Trump signed into law last week.

    The Senator’s expansion provision revives RECA for survivors, allows tens of thousands of new claimants to receive life-saving assistance—including those across Missouri—and protects the program for years to come. For two years,Senator Hawley has led the fight to secure funding for survivors of nuclear contamination across the country, passing a reauthorization bill through the Senate in July 2023 and March 2024. 

    “It wasn’t just the people of Missouri who had waited for seventy years to have justice done. It was the people of the Navajo Nation; It was the people of Utah; It was the people of New Mexico; It was the people of Idaho; It was the uranium miners and atomic veterans from all over the country, who have been waiting for decades for the federal government to finally own up to what it had done,” Senator Hawley said. “RECA is the government saying, ‘what we did was wrong. Lying to you was wrong, and we are finally going to make it right.’”

    Displaying the nationwide impact of the legislation, Senator Hawley was joined at the RECA victory rally by Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren; Missouri RECA activists Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel; New Mexico downwinders Maggie Billman and Laura Greenwood; Arizona downwinder Sherrie Hanna; Keith Kiefer of the National Association of Atomic Veterans, and many more.

    Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren thanked Senator Hawley in his remarks for leading the fight in Congress to obtain compensation for radiation victims in Missouri and across the nation.

    “Senator Hawley, thank you to you and your team and your constant willingness to champion on behalf of all of America. Especially people that have sacrificed so much for this country. So on behalf of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people, I want to say thank you,” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 8th, 2025 Heinrich Welcomes High-Speed Internet Access for Rural Communities in Cibola and McKinley Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, welcomed the completion of three broadband projects that have connected more than 500 rural locations to high-speed internet in Cibola and McKinley counties. This was made possible by $6,800,000 secured by Heinrich in the American Rescue Plan. 

    “I’m proud to welcome $6.8 million from legislation I helped pass into law to connect New Mexicans living in Cibola and McKinley counties to high-speed internet,” said Heinrich. “This funding will connect New Mexicans in rural areas to careers they can build their families around, help local small businesses boost their sales online, and provide the next generation with the tools they need to succeed in their education and beyond.”   

    All projects provide broadband speeds of 100/100 mbps download/upload to customers in Cibola and McKinley counties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER APPLAUDS FOUR UPSTATE NY PROJECTS ADVANCING IN NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION “INNOVATION ENGINES” COMPETITION CREATED IN HIS CHIPS & SCIENCE LAW

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Schumer Says Projects Range From University At Buffalo AI Research To Rochester’s Laser Lab To Cornell’s New Technology For Upstate Dairy Farmers And FuzeHub’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Initiative; All To Spur New Innovations And Good-Paying Jobs Across Upstate NY

    In 2024, Schumer-Supported And Binghamton University-Led Battery Hub Won Inaugural NSF Engines Competition, And Now More NY Projects Compete In Second Year Of CHIPS & Science Law Created Program

    Schumer: Upstate NY Projects One Step Closer To Major Fed $$ To Boost American Innovation And Jobs!

    U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today applauded four New York projects have advanced to the next round of consideration as semifinalists for federal investment through the National Science Foundation’s Regional “Innovation Engines” Competition (NSF Engines), which was created by his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law.

    The four proposals include projects ranging from the University of Rochester’s effort to develop cutting-edge laser technology, to the University at Buffalo-led AI for Health Equity, to Cornell University leading sustainable dairy innovation, to FuzeHub strengthening Upstate NY’s microelectronics manufacturing. 

    Schumer said NSF will now conduct final assessments of these four projects in NY, along with a total of 29 teams across the country, to select finalists that will receive awards of up to $160 million in federal investment from the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law. Nearly 300 letters of intent from across the country were submitted for this second round of NSF Engines funding, a group that has now been narrowed down to the 29 semifinalists, including the four New York proposals. You can read more about this year’s competition here.

    “I created the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program in my bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law with Upstate NY’s world-renowned universities and innovation ecosystem in mind. I’m proud to see four Upstate NY-based proposals advanced to the semifinalist round of consideration for major federal funding that will boost Upstate NY as the heart of American innovation and job creation,” said Senator Schumer. “From Buffalo pioneering the next generation application of AI for health and Cornell discovering new technology to help our Upstate dairy farmers to Rochester powering the future of laser development and FuzeHub supporting Upstate NY’s buildout of a global semiconductor hub, this investment is establishing Upstate New York as a world leader in developing technology of the future, all while creating good-paying jobs, jobs, jobs. More federal support will translate to more research and development, company investment and expansion, and jobs across Upstate New York, keeping America at the cutting-edge of innovation.”

    More details on the four New York-based proposals named semifinalists, all of which Schumer has advocated for the NSF to select, can be found below:

    • The University of Rochester’s proposal, officially named “STELLAR: Advancing Laser Technologies in the Rochester NY/Finger Lakes Region,” is focused on establishing a diverse coalition of partners in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region to accelerate laser discovery, technological advancement, education, and company creation, drive manufacturing and boost workforce development in order to help recapture U.S. national competitiveness and strengthen our security. The STELLAR Engine will foster laser-oriented workforce development, particularly in underserved communities in Rochester and rural communities in the Finger Lakes, accelerate use-inspired R&D, entrepreneurship, and regional business development that will create jobs, build a laser science and technology talent pipeline, bolster the supply chain, and grow and sustain the region’s economy.
    • The University at Buffalo’s proposal, officially named “AI for Health Equity,” will work to utilize artificial intelligence to develop cutting-edge health care solutions, further highlighting Western New York’s leadership in building an AI innovation ecosystem, something Schumer has actively pushed for. The project aims to boost new start-up companies and help partners commercialize AI technology centered on health and wellness. This new technology will aid health care providers and serve as personal assistance to community members. Eventually, the project will expand so that its technology can serve communities beyond Western NY and across the country.
    • Cornell University’s proposal, officially named “Sustainable Utilization of Scalable Technologies & Advanced Innovation for NetZero NY (SUSTAIN Dairy),” aims to reduce waste, create new dairy products, and develop new rural and workforce development opportunities. It is one of five projects in this round that is focused on agriculture and the only project focused on dairy. This proposal aims to develop a holistic, science-based framework for achieving net zero by 2050 from farm to fork through an advanced dairy innovation ecosystem. With dairy manufacturing and family farms scattered throughout rural New York, achieving place-based innovation that builds community wealth is vital for the future success of Upstate New York.
    • FuzeHub’s proposal, officially named “A Materials Innovation Engine for Manufacturing Sustainability,” will work to mitigate the negative impacts on the environment from manufacturing industries by replacing toxic or scarce components with advanced materials. FuzeHub competed last year for this award as well and was asked to resubmit.

    In 2024, Schumer helped the Binghamton University-led Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine win the esteemed competition in its inaugural year, bringing $15 million in federal funding immediately, with up to $160 million total over the life of the program from the NSF to supercharge growth and cutting-edge research in battery development and manufacturing in Upstate NY.

    Schumer created the NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines Program in his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law as a program that falls under the newly created NSF Directorate of Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships. Schumer proposed the creation of this new Directorate originally in his bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, with a focus on delivering investment in research, workforce training, and entrepreneurship in key technology areas like AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, climate-smart research, advanced materials, and more. The NSF Regional Innovation Engines program catalyzes and fosters innovation ecosystems across the United States to promote and stimulate economic growth, job creation, and spur regional innovation.

    Each NSF Engine can receive up to $160 million over 10 years; actual amounts will be subject to a given NSF Engine’s status and overall progress, as assessed annually. The teams selected in this recent announcement submitted full proposals this past spring and are now eligible for final awards later this year after NSF conducts live, virtual assessments of the semifinalist teams. NSF anticipates announcing the final list of NSF Engines awards in early 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Recognize Remotely Piloted Aircraft Crew Service in Combat Operations

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the 119th Air Wing “Happy Hooligans” in Fargo operating MQ-9 Reapers and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing in Grand Forks flying RQ-4 Global Hawks, North Dakota plays a critical and growing role in operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and is on the forefront of the next generation of technology.

    Despite flying and conducting missions in combat zones, RPA crews do not have a formal combat identifier in their records due to their remote operational environment. Without this important distinguishment, RPA crew members who are transitioning to other military careers or leaving the service may face barriers to timely, high-quality mental health care services.

    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), introduced the bipartisan Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act. The bill will establish a status identifier for RPA crews who conduct combat operations to provide them with the recognition and access to services they deserve.

    “Now more than ever, military missions use airborne ISR platforms to meet our national security objectives,” said Cramer. “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crews, including Fargo’s Happy Hooligans and the airmen from the 319th at Grand Forks, often play an integral role in achieving high-stakes, mission-critical objectives. The CARE for RPA Crews Act recognizes the accomplishments of RPA crews and identifies the appropriate resources to keep our airmen fit for duty.”

    “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crew like those at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada perform combat operations but have no status identifier in their records for having done so, making it challenging to receive the support and care they deserve once they transition,” said Rosen. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to establish a status identifier for these crews in order to help improve the recognition they’ve earned and to ensure their future care. I’ll always fight to support Nevada’s servicemembers.”

    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Recognize Remotely Piloted Aircraft Crew Service in Combat Operations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the 119th Air Wing “Happy Hooligans” in Fargo operating MQ-9 Reapers and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing in Grand Forks flying RQ-4 Global Hawks, North Dakota plays a critical and growing role in operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and is on the forefront of the next generation of technology.
    Despite flying and conducting missions in combat zones, RPA crews do not have a formal combat identifier in their records due to their remote operational environment. Without this important distinguishment, RPA crew members who are transitioning to other military careers or leaving the service may face barriers to timely, high-quality mental health care services.
    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), introduced the bipartisan Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act. The bill will establish a status identifier for RPA crews who conduct combat operations to provide them with the recognition and access to services they deserve.
    “Now more than ever, military missions use airborne ISR platforms to meet our national security objectives,” said Cramer. “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crews, including Fargo’s Happy Hooligans and the airmen from the 319th at Grand Forks, often play an integral role in achieving high-stakes, mission-critical objectives. The CARE for RPA Crews Act recognizes the accomplishments of RPA crews and identifies the appropriate resources to keep our airmen fit for duty.”
    “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crew like those at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada perform combat operations but have no status identifier in their records for having done so, making it challenging to receive the support and care they deserve once they transition,” said Rosen. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to establish a status identifier for these crews in order to help improve the recognition they’ve earned and to ensure their future care. I’ll always fight to support Nevada’s servicemembers.”
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Recognize Remotely Piloted Aircraft Crew Service in Combat Operations

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the 119th Air Wing “Happy Hooligans” in Fargo operating MQ-9 Reapers and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing in Grand Forks flying RQ-4 Global Hawks, North Dakota plays a critical and growing role in operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and is on the forefront of the next generation of technology.

    Despite flying and conducting missions in combat zones, RPA crews do not have a formal combat identifier in their records due to their remote operational environment. Without this important distinguishment, RPA crew members who are transitioning to other military careers or leaving the service may face barriers to timely, high-quality mental health care services.

    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), introduced the bipartisan Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act. The bill will establish a status identifier for RPA crews who conduct combat operations to provide them with the recognition and access to services they deserve.

    “Now more than ever, military missions use airborne ISR platforms to meet our national security objectives,” said Cramer. “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crews, including Fargo’s Happy Hooligans and the airmen from the 319th at Grand Forks, often play an integral role in achieving high-stakes, mission-critical objectives. The CARE for RPA Crews Act recognizes the accomplishments of RPA crews and identifies the appropriate resources to keep our airmen fit for duty.”

    “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crew like those at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada perform combat operations but have no status identifier in their records for having done so, making it challenging to receive the support and care they deserve once they transition,” said Rosen. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to establish a status identifier for these crews in order to help improve the recognition they’ve earned and to ensure their future care. I’ll always fight to support Nevada’s servicemembers.”

    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Boozman Honor the Yell County Wildlife Federation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353July 8, 2025
    Cotton, Boozman Honor the Yell County Wildlife Federation 
    Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) today introduced a resolution honoring the Yell County Wildlife Federation, the oldest conservation group of its kind in Arkansas.
    In part, the resolution states:
    “The Senate honors the past and present members of the Yell County Wildlife Federation for their service to the people and State of Arkansas.”
    Text of the resolution may be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Boozman Honor the Yell County Wildlife Federation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact:     Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    July 8, 2025

    Cotton, Boozman Honor the Yell County Wildlife Federation 

    Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) today introduced a resolution honoring the Yell County Wildlife Federation, the oldest conservation group of its kind in Arkansas.

    In part, the resolution states:

    “The Senate honors the past and present members of the Yell County Wildlife Federation for their service to the people and State of Arkansas.”

    Text of the resolution may be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Boozman Honor the Yell County Wildlife Federation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact:     Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    July 8, 2025

    Cotton, Boozman Honor the Yell County Wildlife Federation 

    Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) today introduced a resolution honoring the Yell County Wildlife Federation, the oldest conservation group of its kind in Arkansas.

    In part, the resolution states:

    “The Senate honors the past and present members of the Yell County Wildlife Federation for their service to the people and State of Arkansas.”

    Text of the resolution may be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch, Crapo, Hagerty, Introduce Legislation to Exclude Illegal Immigrants from Electoral College, Congressional District Count

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) led their colleagues in introducing the Equal Representation Act. 

    The legislation would ensure that only legal citizens are counted in determining Congressional districts and Electoral College map that determine presidential elections. Counting illegal immigrants toward voter apportionment dilutes the rights of Americans and creates a perverse incentive for open borders to boost the relative political power of states that court non-citizens.

    “Democrats are undermining the rights of U.S. citizens by encouraging illegal immigrants to enter our country and skew congressional redistricting for political gain,” said Risch. “The Equal Representation Act requires that the Census Bureau include a citizenship question ensuring American values and voices take priority.”

    “Only U.S. citizens should be included in Census Bureau counts to apportion congressional and Electoral College representation,” said Crapo. “This vital reform would prevent states like California and New York from padding their population totals with those here illegally to tip the scales and boost their political power in Washington, D.C.”

    “It is unconscionable that illegal immigrants and non-citizens are counted toward congressional district apportionment and our electoral map for the presidency, which also heavily skews the seat count in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Hagerty. “While people continue to flee Democrat-run cities, desperate Democrats have back-filled the mass exodus with illegal immigrants so that they do not lose their seats in Congress or their electoral votes, hence artificially boosting their political power and in turn diluting the power of other Americans’ votes. I’m pleased to lead my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation that would require a citizenship question on the census and will ensure that only citizens are counted in congressional redistricting.”

    The Equal Representation Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

    The Equal Representation Act would:

    • Require the Census Bureau to include a citizenship question in future censuses to provide a greater understanding of the U.S. population and delineate citizens and non-citizens for apportionment purposes;

    • Prohibit the counting of non-citizens for congressional district and Electoral College apportionment; and

    • Require the Census Bureau to publicly report on certain demographic data.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Lankford Delivers Major Victory for Charitable Giving with Key Tax Provision in One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
    WASHINGTON, DC — US Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Chairman of the Senate Values Action Team and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, secured an important policy provision for charitable giving in the One Big Beautiful Bill that passed the Senate and was signed into law last week. Lankford led efforts to restore and make permanent a tax deduction for non-itemizers up to $2,000 per couple. This change will enable more Americans to support churches, charities, and nonprofits that serve the most vulnerable.
    The provision restoring the non-itemizer deduction has earned strong support from leading charitable, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations nationwide, including the Charitable Giving Coalition, Faith and Giving, Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), the Nonprofit Alliance, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Association of Art Museum Directors, the National Council of Nonprofits, the League of American Orchestras, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, Philanthropy Southwest, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), Mental Health Matters (MHM), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), United Philanthropy Forum, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
    “Permanently restoring and expanding the charitable deduction is a powerful policy change that will encourage additional giving,” said Brian Flahaven, Chair of the Charitable Giving Coalition. “Continuing to strengthen the charitable deduction in the Senate bill sends a clear message that encouraging private philanthropy is a national priority. The Coalition is immensely grateful to Senators James Lankford, Chris Coons, and our other bipartisan Senate champions for their unwavering commitment to America’s charities and the communities they serve.”
    “Faith and Giving is deeply grateful to Senator Lankford, Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo, and their colleagues for including a more robust charitable deduction for non-itemizers in the reconciliation package,” said Brian Walsh, Executive Director of Faith and Giving. “Giving by individuals is the financial lifeblood of many thousands of American faith-based organizations. Yet since 2018 giving to religion has fallen billions of dollars short of keeping pace with inflation. The temporary non-itemizer deduction incentivized substantial additional giving in 2020 and 2021. This larger and permanent non-itemizer charitable deduction will help stimulate even more giving by lower- and middle-income taxpayers to congregations and other faith-based organizations across the country.”
    “To honor and incentivize American generosity are among the most consequential investments we can make as a nation. Private giving fuels so much of what makes life good and beautiful in our communities – from education, arts, and the great outdoors to houses of worship that nurture faith, family, relationships and character,” said Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO). “Private giving also undergirds virtually every effort to give a hand-up to the hurting – both via financial support and, critically, in building communities of supporters whose hearts and volunteer service follow their giving. This is truly America at her best.”
    “The Nonprofit Alliance applauds the strong bipartisan support for the Charitable Act and Senator Lankford’s leadership on this important legislation to establish a permanent charitable deduction of up to $2,000,” said Shannon McCracken, President and CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance. “While giving from itemizers has continued to increase over the last several years, smaller contributions from everyday givers have declined. It is critically important to democratize giving and engage more Americans in the act of giving to support and sustain organizations across diverse cause areas – and the Charitable Act does that.”
    “Since the temporary charitable deduction for non-itemizers was allowed to expire in 2022, the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Fundraising Effectiveness Project has reported a sustained decline in gifts from small donors, with a drop of 8.9% in 2024 alone,” said H. Art Taylor, President and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. “This trend of continued reliance solely on large-dollar donors is unsustainable for a healthy, resilient, charitable sector. A permanent charitable deduction for non-itemizers will help reverse this decline by empowering and incentivizing everyday Americans to give, ensuring that charitable giving remains broad-based, diverse, and reflective of all communities. On behalf of our more than 26,000 fundraising professional members that raise more than $115 billion annually for charities, we thank Senator Lankford and our other bipartisan Congressional champions for their leadership in championing the original Charitable Act to restore this proven giving incentive.”
    “The Association of Art Museum Directors thanks Senator Lankford for his tireless work to restore a meaningful tax incentive for all Americans to be generous,” said Christine Anagnos, Executive Director of the Association of Art Museum Directors. “Donations to art museums make possible free and reduced admissions, educational programs, and a host of community services. The permanent reestablishment of a significant tax deduction for gifts made by people who do not itemize will encourage the participation of donors from every economic and demographic category and ensure that charitable service extends to every sector.”
    “Nonprofits are the backbone of this country, providing critical support to improve local communities and save live,” said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. “These vital organizations are led by our neighbors who step up to fill the gaps unmet by government or the private sector. On behalf of the National Council of Nonprofits’ network of more than 33,000 nonprofit organizations, I applaud Senator Lankford’s leadership in enacting a universal charitable deduction to provide the American people with a new way to support the essential work of nonprofits and their ability to serve local communities.”
    “Charitable giving provides essential support for the live performances and educational programming provided by orchestras and nonprofit arts organizations nationwide,” said Simon Woods, President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras. “We are grateful to Senator Lankford for his leadership in advancing the permanent non-itemizer charitable deduction, which will fuel increased generosity by today’s donors and incentivize future generations to invest in the work of the nonprofit sector.”
    “We applaud Senator Lankford and his colleagues for including a permanent, non-itemizer charitable deduction in their reconciliation package,” said Michael Kenyon, President and CEO of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners. “The deduction would be paid for by a modest floor on the itemized charitable deduction that will ensure all taxpayers are incentivized to give money away. We encourage Congress to ensure this increased and permanent deduction is included in the final version of the bill as we know once a donor starts to support a cause or organization, they are much more likely to continue giving in the future, instilling a habit of philanthropy that will drive more dollars to charity for years to come from a new generation of givers.”
    “The charitable deduction for non-itemizers is a vital step toward strengthening philanthropy by providing tax incentives that can help reverse declines in charitable giving and engagement,” said Tony Fundaro, President and CEO of Philanthropy Southwest. “Members of Philanthropy Southwest continue to face unprecedented needs in their communities, and the inclusion of this provision in the tax bill encourages giving at all levels, empowering more Americans to support nonprofits tackling our most pressing challenges. We are grateful to Senator Lankford for championing generosity in our communities, his leadership on the Charitable Act, and his commitment to supporting the charitable sector.”
    “I thank Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo for including a non-itemizer charitable deduction in this legislation, and I greatly appreciate the work of leaders like Senator James Lankford and Senator Chris Coons to urge that this common-sense provision be made more robust and permanent,” said Michael Martin, President and CEO of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). “America is well-served by supporting habits of giving among all taxpayers—regardless of whether they itemize on their tax forms or not.”
    “I commend the efforts of policymakers who recognize the importance of making the charitable deduction permanent for non-itemizers,” said Dan Cosgrove, President and CEO of Mental Health Matters (MHM).“Encouraging generosity across all taxpayers strengthens our communities and fosters a culture of giving that benefits everyone. This provision ensures that acts of charity are rewarded, regardless of tax filing status, promoting fairness and compassion in our tax system.”
    “For more than a century, the charitable deduction has played a vital role in encouraging Americans to support the missions of schools, colleges, universities, and charitable organizations across the nation,” said Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). “Yet, access to this incentive has long been limited to those who itemize their tax returns. The Senate’s proposal in the budget reconciliation bill to make the charitable deduction available to all taxpayers is a transformative step. If enacted, we believe that it would broaden participation in giving and strengthen the capacity of institutions to fund scholarships, support students, advance research, and serve their communities. We commend Senator James Lankford for his leadership and thoughtful engagement in making this a priority in the reconciliation bill, and we thank Senator Chris Coons and the bipartisan coalition of more than 20 Senators and 60 House members who continue to champion charitable giving as a cornerstone of civic life.”
    “As a proud partner in advocating for this critical policy, United Philanthropy Forum and our network of nearly 100 philanthropy-serving organizations have long championed modernizing giving incentives,” said Deborah Aubert Thomas, President and CEO of the United Philanthropy Forum. “Making the deduction permanent will create lasting pathways for everyday Americans to invest in the nonprofits that anchor their communities—from food banks to youth programs to places of worship. We thank Senator Lankford and colleagues for their leadership in ensuring that charitable giving remains a cornerstone of American civic life and accessible to all.”
    “Southern Baptists generously give to support missions, ministries, and most importantly, the works of their local church in commitment to the Great Commission,” said Brent Leatherwood, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. “Recognizing the importance of charitable giving, Southern Baptists have consistently called for the government to implement policies that incentivize charitable giving to fuel these services. The ERLC is grateful for Senator Lankford’s tireless effort to enact a robust universal charitable deduction to encourage all taxpayers, including those that do not itemize their returns, to give generously.”
    “The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities is deeply grateful to the Senate for including an increase to the universal charitable deduction in the current reconciliation bill,” said the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. “Our faith calls us to give — and our students learn to live generously by seeing that even small gifts can make a lasting difference. A universal charitable deduction doesn’t just support Christian higher education — it fosters a culture of generosity that supports communities. By expanding this deduction and ensuring inclusion in the final bill, the Senate is helping to sustain faith-based higher education for the next generation.”
    Background
    Lankford remains the leading voice in the Senate working to protect and expand charitable giving. In 2023, he introduced the bipartisan Charitable Act with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) to restore and strengthen the non-itemized deduction for charitable contributions, allowing all taxpayers to deduct donations regardless of whether they itemize.
    He also introduced the Safeguarding Charity Act to protect the independence of tax-exempt organizations from burdensome federal regulations. The bill clarifies that tax-exempt status does not constitute federal financial assistance, shielding churches, nonprofits, and private schools from costly and unnecessary government overreach.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish A Combat Identifier for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Crew, Improving Services And Recognition

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the bipartisan Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act to establish a status identifier for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) crew who conduct combat operations, to help increase their access to mental health services and give them proper recognition. Creating a status identifier will provide them with the recognition and access to services they deserve, which have long been overlooked and out of reach. Nevada’s Creech Air Force Base is one of the highest operational tempo RPA installations throughout the Air Force. 
    Currently, RPA crews fly combat missions from the United States, but they have no identifier in their records for combat operations performed because they are not physically located in a combat zone. If a crew member decides to change career fields within the military or leave the service, there are often barriers for the member to receive the appropriate mental health services for those exposed to a combat environment because they lack a combat status identifier. This makes it difficult for members to receive prompt mental health care while in service or through the VA once they separate, despite the continuing mental health impacts of these operations.
    “Remotely Piloted Aircraft crew like those at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada perform combat operations but have no status identifier in their records for having done so, making it challenging to receive the support and care they deserve once they transition,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to establish a status identifier for these crews in order to help improve the recognition they’ve earned and to ensure their future care. I’ll always fight to support Nevada’s servicemembers.”
    “Now more than ever, military missions use airborne ISR platforms to meet our national security objectives,” said Senator Cramer. “Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) crews, including Fargo’s Happy Hooligans and the airmen from the 319th at Grand Forks, are an integral part of the nation’s Joint Force. The CARE for RPA Crews Act recognizes the accomplishments of RPA crews and identifies the appropriate resources to keep our airmen fit for duty.”

    MIL OSI USA News –