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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Diversity of Ownership in Broadcast Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reintroduced the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service (VOICES) Act to increase diversity of ownership in the broadcasting industry by encouraging investment in women and minority-owned stations. 

    “Millions of Americans get their news everyday through TV and radio. When broadcasters reflect the people they serve, it helps elevate different perspectives and stories that may not yet have been told,” said Senator Peters. “That’s why I am proud to again lead the Broadcast VOICES Act to encourage more investment in minority-owned stations and boost diversity in American television and radio.”

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act would: 

    • Reestablish a Minority Tax Certificate Program to incentivize capital investment in women and minority-owned stations, as well as investment in the sale of stations to women and minority purchasers, throughout the broadcast industry. 
    • Establish a tax credit for broadcast owners who donate their stations to train individuals in the management and operation of broadcast stations.
    • Require annual reports from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on ways to increase diversity in the industry.

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV).

    First established in 1978, the Minority Tax Certificate Program provided a tax incentive to those who sold their majority interest in a broadcast station to individuals with diverse backgrounds. From 1978 to 1995, the program was highly effective in leveling the playing field for underrepresented broadcasters, increasing diverse ownership in broadcast stations by more than 550 percent. Despite this success, Congress repealed the program in 1995.

    However, a 2023 report found that among the approximately 1,760 full-power commercial broadcast television stations in the United States, only 5 percent were owned by women and less than 4 percent by minorities. Further, it found that women owned only 10 percent of FM broadcast radio stations, and minorities owned less than 3 percent of those stations. 

    By reinstating this historically effective tax certificate, the Broadcast VOICES Act would help bring more women and people of color into station ownership while also assisting with access to capital. Peters has consistently led this legislation. 

    The Broadcast VOICES Act is supported by the National Urban League, National Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council, League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Hispanic Federation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Diversity of Ownership in Broadcast Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reintroduced the Broadcast Varied Ownership Incentives for Community Expanded Service (VOICES) Act to increase diversity of ownership in the broadcasting industry by encouraging investment in women and minority-owned stations. 

    “Millions of Americans get their news everyday through TV and radio. When broadcasters reflect the people they serve, it helps elevate different perspectives and stories that may not yet have been told,” said Senator Peters. “That’s why I am proud to again lead the Broadcast VOICES Act to encourage more investment in minority-owned stations and boost diversity in American television and radio.”

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act would: 

    • Reestablish a Minority Tax Certificate Program to incentivize capital investment in women and minority-owned stations, as well as investment in the sale of stations to women and minority purchasers, throughout the broadcast industry. 
    • Establish a tax credit for broadcast owners who donate their stations to train individuals in the management and operation of broadcast stations.
    • Require annual reports from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on ways to increase diversity in the industry.

    Peters’ Broadcast VOICES Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV).

    First established in 1978, the Minority Tax Certificate Program provided a tax incentive to those who sold their majority interest in a broadcast station to individuals with diverse backgrounds. From 1978 to 1995, the program was highly effective in leveling the playing field for underrepresented broadcasters, increasing diverse ownership in broadcast stations by more than 550 percent. Despite this success, Congress repealed the program in 1995.

    However, a 2023 report found that among the approximately 1,760 full-power commercial broadcast television stations in the United States, only 5 percent were owned by women and less than 4 percent by minorities. Further, it found that women owned only 10 percent of FM broadcast radio stations, and minorities owned less than 3 percent of those stations. 

    By reinstating this historically effective tax certificate, the Broadcast VOICES Act would help bring more women and people of color into station ownership while also assisting with access to capital. Peters has consistently led this legislation. 

    The Broadcast VOICES Act is supported by the National Urban League, National Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council, League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Hispanic Federation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on the FY26 Defense Budget with Senior Pentagon Leadership

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    Watch Video Here

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing to receive testimony from the Pentagon’s senior leaders on the department’s fiscal year 2026 budget.

     

    In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker praised President Trump’s “peace through strength” leadership and Secretary Hegseth’s achievements in implementing that agenda at the Pentagon. The chairman also noted that maintaining the national defense budget at $893 billion, even with an additive $150 billion from defense reconciliation, would result in United States military spending falling far below 3 percent of GDP by 2029.

     

    Read Chairman Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.

     

    The committee convenes this morning to hear testimony concerning the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request. I welcome Secretary Hegseth, Chairman Caine, and Acting Comptroller MacDonnell.

     

    As we review the past five months, the president and the Department of Defense have much to be proud of. The administration has largely succeeded in refocusing the Pentagon on warfighting.  Our recruitment numbers have dramatically improved.  That is a very important achievement and one we will continue to celebrate.

     

    The U.S. military has played a significant supporting role in the president’s wholesale success at our southern border.  He has achieved operational control over the situation – a position the vast majority of Americans support.

     

    In Operation Rough Rider, the president imposed costs on the Houthis.  The operation was well executed by our service members, and it appears to have achieved its stated objectives for now.  Similarly, the president has relentlessly struck al-Qaeda and ISIS terrorists.  Those strikes have helped to open up space for diplomatic breakthroughs in Syria, and they have prevented significant external attacks that could have emanated from Somalia.

     

    Unfortunately, the Axis of Aggressors is resilient.  It is hell-bent on challenging American global leadership.

     

    It is clearer than ever that Vladimir Putin is uninterested in President Trump’s and President Zelenskyy’s offers for real peace negotiations.  The Europeans are heeding the president’s call to re-arm, but we are in a tenuous period: A precipitate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Europe could undo all that progress.

     

    In Asia, the Chinese Communist Party continues its campaign of aggression against its neighbors and still displays open ambitions to retake Taiwan.  Secretary Hegseth recently made this crucial point in an important speech in Shangri-La. He said, “China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia.”  He is right.  China intends to use military force to achieve Xi Jinping’s goals.

     

    Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the Ayatollah is hiding as his regime crumbles.  He still refusing to negotiate.

     

    In short, this is the most dangerous national security moment since World War II.  Unconstrained, aggressive dictators are on the move.  And, importantly, the character of warfare is rapidly changing.  That is a dangerous combination. We cannot have an American-led Golden Age of peace and prosperity if we fail to navigate these historic security challenges.

     

    President Trump is actively working to protect American interests against four main adversaries: Xi Jinping and his Chinese Communist Party, Vladimir Putin’s militarized Russia, Kim Jong Un’s North Korea, and the Ayatollah’s religious fanatics, including his web of terrorists. Our commander-in-chief deserves a military capable of maintaining deterrence and applying force when necessary to protect U.S. interests – as he has done in Yemen.  I regret to say that this fiscal year 2026 budget request will not deliver that military.

     

    When Secretary Hegseth testified before this committee in his confirmation hearing, he made the correct point that spending less than 3 percent of GDP on defense would be, and I quote, “very dangerous.” What we have in front of us is an inadequate budget request with precious little detail and no follow-on data about fiscal years 2027, 2028, or 2029. We must assume – and, in fact, we have heard – that OMB intends to maintain defense spending at $893 billion across the four years of this administration.  Even with a one-time $150 billion reconciliation infusion, this would leave us at 2.65 percent of GDP by 2029 – below the 3% of GDP, and well below the 5% of GDP that we really really need. Clearly, such a budget plan would allow the military balance to continue – as it has been, to tilt away from the United States and toward Communist China. Communist China has increased its budget by over 7% each year for the past decade.

     

    I know the secretary fought for a stronger fiscal year 2026 discretionary request, but we need to acknowledge that a flat fiscal year 2026 budget is what OMB delivered.  I expect we will spend today reviewing the numerous significant holes in this request – gaps that will make it much more difficult for President Trump to equip our service members and for his advisors to develop credible military options.

     

    Across the budget, we see significant holes: shipbuilding, tactical fighters, basic maintenance money, and more – all insufficient.  The budget seems to be written as if there are many items in the reconciliation package that simply are not in that bill.  This is confusing, because the text of the reconciliation bill has been public for quite some time. Chairman Rogers, of the House, and I worked closely with the executive branch on the contents of the package.  This budget threatens to undermine the good work we have done together on that bill, and it leads me to question whether some officials in the administration plan to ignore congressional intent.

     

    I believe ignoring congressional intent would be a wrong-headed decision for the United States of America. We all work for the American people and share largely identical goals when it comes to deterring Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and other threats.  We need to work much more closely together on investment strategies and actions necessary to rebuild our industrial base.  The president and the Congress want action on reindustrialization.  We want to rebuild the Arsenal of Democracy.  We need action on industrial base integration, streamlined weapons sales, and cooperation with our allies and partners.  We agree on fundamentally changing the way the DOD budgets and handles acquisition.  Now, we need to agree on providing the men and women of the Department of Defense with the resources they need to do their jobs. We have no time to waste, and we must commit to continued collaboration now.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Wicker Applauds Olivia Trusty on Confirmation to the FCC

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., released the following statement on the U.S. Senate’s vote to confirm former Senator Wicker staffer, Olivia Trusty, to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission.

    “Congratulations to Olivia Trusty on her confirmation to serve as an FCC commissioner. I have worked with Olivia for over seven years, and can attest that she is one of the most knowledgeable and capable leaders in her area of expertise. When I became Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I was fortunate that Olivia agreed to join my committee staff.  When I became the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, I knew she was the person I wanted to handle the cyber portfolio. I have seen Olivia assist Senators in advancing initiatives that made Americans more connected, more secure, and fall squarely within the FCC’s jurisdiction.

     

    She helped pass legislation to improve broadband maps and ensure that broadband funds are directed where they are most needed.  She brought us closer to getting every American connected to high-speed internet. Her work has also contributed to national security. Olivia was instrumental in advancing legislation to protect our domestic networks from communications equipment manufactured by foreign adversaries. Commissioner Trusty has also been a leader on spectrum policy, an area that bridges both technology and national security. She has collaborated across the Commerce and Armed Services Committees to find common ground between commercial and federal interests. Olivia’s work has proved that the U.S. can maintain our leadership without risking national security or public safety.

     

    The United States is fortunate that Olivia has chosen to be a public servant and work for the American taxpayer. It has been my privilege to witness Olivia’s leadership over the years. She has skillfully and thoughtfully handled some of the most complex challenges facing our nation. I applaud President Trump for nominating one of the most talented individuals to have worked on my team. While I will miss her on my staff, I am confident she will succeed in her role as an FCC commissioner.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Highlights Tax Priorities in Senate’s One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today released the following statement on his tax priorities included in the Senate Finance Committee’s legislative text for the Senate’s version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:  

    “The One Big Beautiful Bill presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Congress to bend the spending curve, make key provisions of the Trump Tax Cuts permanent, and improve the lives of hardworking Texas families,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Under Chairman Crapo’s leadership, the Senate Finance Committee has worked around the clock to release this landmark legislation, marking an important step forward in our mission to deliver on President Trump’s mandate.”

    The Senate Finance Committee’s legislative text for the Senate’s version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act contains the following provisions championed by Sen. Cornyn, a senior member of the committee:

    • Includes his Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act, which would prohibit federal funding from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from going towards gender transition procedures at any age;
    • Includes a modified version of his Small Business Investment Act, which would make it easier for small and start-up businesses to access the financing they need to grow and succeed;
    • Cuts burdensome taxes and regulations of certain firearms and silencers;
    • Prevents a more-than $3,000 tax hike on the average Texas family;
    • Protects 547,000 Texas jobs from being lost;
    • Ensures more than 3.7 million Texas households’ child tax credit is not cut in half;
    • Shields more than two million Texas small business owners from a massive tax hike;
    • Makes sure more than 12 million Texas families’ standard deduction is not cut in half;
    • Establishes work requirements for able-bodied adults who are choosing not to work and do not have dependent children or elderly parents in their care;
    • And ensures no taxes on tips or overtime for millions of tipped and hourly workers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Previews Judiciary Hearing on Biden Cognitive Decline Cover-Up

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) previewed the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing he will co-chair tomorrow alongside Sen. Schmitt (R-MO) to investigate who was running the country during President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline while in office, the alleged cover-up by the mainstream media, the Biden family, and his inner circle, and the resulting constitutional questions. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

    “Tomorrow, I’ll be co-chairing, along with my colleague from Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt in the Senate Judiciary Committee, a hearing to delve into the constitutional implications of President Biden’s cognitive decline while in office.”

    “At that hearing, we’ll begin to address some of the many unanswered questions from this scandal, questions that are foundational to the functioning of our form of government.”

    “One of the aims of the hearing will be shining a light on what exactly went on at the White House during the Biden administration.”

    “From the Biden border crisis to the disastrous results from the withdrawal in Afghanistan, the American people were the ones who paid the price.”

    “And it’s now clear that for many months – no one knows exactly how long – the President was simply not up to the task.”

    “Whoever happened to be making those decisions and carrying out the duties of the Office of President was not somebody who was authorized by the Constitution or by a vote of the American people.”

    “The hearing we’ll hold tomorrow in the Judiciary Committee will examine in depth these constitutional questions and what happens when the President is no longer capable of performing the duties of his office.”

     “Who… is accountable when the cabinet fails to do its duty, when the Vice President fails to do her duty under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment? Are there penalties for failing to act?”

    “Why was the 25th Amendment not invoked, and what factors do we need to look at that may have played a role in congressional inaction?”

    “Most importantly, as part of our legislative responsibilities, should Congress consider amending the 25th Amendment further to further clarify responsibilities and protocols in case this disaster befalls our nation again?”

    “Those in authority derive their power from the consent of the governed, but during much of the last four years, we know that our country was largely led by unelected staff whose names are unknown by the American people.”

    “I look forward to tomorrow’s hearing examining these hard but existentially important questions that must be answered from this monumental scandal.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Questions Witnesses on Potential Crimes in Biden Health Cover-up

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) co-chaired entitled, “Unfit to Serve: How the Biden Cover-Up Endangered America and Undermined the Constitution,” he discussed with witness Theodore Wold, Visiting Fellow for Law and Technology Policy at the Heritage Foundation, the crimes potentially committed by Joe Biden’s Cabinet members and senior aides in their attempts to conceal the former President’s cognitive decline while in office, along with his use of an autopen. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

    On the President’s Use of an Autopen:

    CORNYN: “When talking about the autopen, there are really two issues: One is the mechanical use of an autopen in lieu of an actual signature by the President, but it seems to me that we’re confronted with the more important, or more fundamental issues is, did the President know that the autopen was being used for that purpose?”

    “What we’re confronted with here is really the capacity of the President of the United States to understand what he was supposed to be doing.”

    On Potential Crimes Committed During the Cover-up:

    CORNYN: “Some have suggested that there may be potential crimes committed by members of the Cabinet for failing to act, basically suborning perjury, forging government documents, impersonating a Federal officer, making false statements, conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of justice, wire or mail fraud – those are all statutes, criminal statutes, that are on the books.”

    “Do you think there’s any application of any of those criminal statutes to the circumstances of the Biden presidency and his incapacity, and the failure of those persons, only persons, authorized to question that incapacity under the 25th Amendment – the failure on their part to act?”

    WOLD: “I will say, the 25th Amendment, it’s a modern contrivance, but it still is consistent with American constitutional tradition, which it assumes that officers of the United States will act virtuously and morally.”

    “And the idea that members of the Cabinet would go to the length of avoiding the Oval Office so as to abdicate their responsibility to verify the appropriateness of the President’s acuity or the ability to authenticate actions taken by the President – if that’s not a constitutional scandal, honestly, I don’t know what would constitute such.”

    “There could be the potential for crimes, but moreover, the 25th Amendment can only function in its procedural mechanisms if people are actually willing to call a spade a spade.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Delivers Opening Statement at Biden Health Cover-Up Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today delivered the following opening remarks during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing he co-chaired, “Unfit to Serve: How the Biden Cover-Up Endangered America and Undermined the Constitution.” Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

    “Last June, the American public saw with their own eyes what many knew to be true but would not dare to admit publicly – our sitting Commander-in-Chief was suffering from severe cognitive decline.”

    “As we now know, there was a conspiracy to hide the President’s true condition by his family, by his staff, by the media, and many elected officials.”

    “This was a constitutional crisis bigger than President Biden, bigger than any single election, and one that cannot be absolved by the collective apology of the press and an election where the President’s party lost.”

    “We need to know who was in charge during the last months of the Biden administration. Was it his wife, his chief of staff, nameless others? None of these people were elected by the American people, nor were they authorized by the Constitution and laws of the United States to carry out the duties of the President of the United States.”

    “The 25th Amendment provides a roadmap for succession in instances of presidential incapacity. Section 4 gives the Vice President and a majority of the President’s Cabinet the authority to challenge the President’s ability to carry out the functions of his office, subject to a vote in Congress.”

     “But in this instance, the Vice President and the cabinet – the very ones authorized by the 25th Amendment to question the President’s capacity – they did nothing.”

    “Biden’s cabinet and the Vice President did not act in good faith. They acted in their political and personal self-interest.”

    “As a government, it is imperative that we have clear contingency plans when emergency strikes, and yes, it is an emergency when we have a sitting president who is unable to discharge the duties of that office.”

    “I will note that few of my Democratic colleagues are here today – thank you to Senator Welch from Vermont for being here – leaving us with no other option than to take the boycotting of this hearing as an admission of guilt for their role in this crisis.” 

    “It is not an overstatement to say that the future of our country could one day hinge on how we choose to act or not act on this very issue.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Fox, Cornyn Discusses Democrats’ Complicity in Biden Cognitive Decline Cover-Up

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – Today on Fox News’ America Reports, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) recapped the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing he co-chaired entitled, “Unfit to Serve: How the Biden Cover-Up Endangered America and Undermined the Constitution,” to investigate the alleged cover-up by the mainstream media, the Biden family, and his inner circle, including potential crimes committed by Joe Biden’s Cabinet members and senior aides in their attempts to conceal the former President’s cognitive decline while in office. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

    JOHN ROBERTS: “Democrats did not show up to your committee. You suggested that that was an indication they were complicit in the cover-up.”

    SEN. CORNYN: “Absolutely.”

     “We know that they were, because ultimately, they were the ones who persuaded President Biden not to run again. But that was only after it became obvious that he could not win again in a race against Donald Trump, so they replaced him with Kamala Harris.”

    “Those are the sorts of things that should have been done by the Cabinet and the Vice President, under the provisions of the 25th Amendment, when it’s clear the President lacks the mental capacity to do the job.”

    “Obviously, trying to prop up President Biden when he clearly wasn’t up to the job, which we saw during the debate with President Trump, was an attempt – a failed attempt – to hold on to political power, but they did that rather than serve the interests of the American people.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warnock, Marshall, Gallego Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Fatherhood Engagement, Improve Maternal Health Outcomes 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Warnock, Marshall, Gallego Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Fatherhood Engagement, Improve Maternal Health Outcomes 

    The Dads Matter Act of 2025 aims to improve maternal health outcomes through promoting fatherhood engagement
    Senator Reverend Warnock has worked to combat maternal mortality, promote healthy families
    Georgia has one of the highest rates of maternal deaths in the country
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Georgia’s maternal mortality rate is a crisis that we must address with every tool at our disposal. That includes redoubling our efforts to uplift the role of fathers in keeping their family healthy during pregnancy and early childhood”
    Senator Marshall: “Fathers play such a critical role in their households, and I am proud to support legislation that champions their role as providers, spouses, and caregivers”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve maternal health outcomes by promoting fatherhood engagement. The Dads Matter Act of 2025 would direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to raise awareness about father inclusion and engagement through a public awareness campaign and to provide state-level guidance aimed at strengthening the role of fathers in supporting healthy mothers and babies. Last Congress, Senator Warnock introduced a resolution to uplift fathers and their role in maternal health. TheDads Matter Act, co-led by Senator Marshall, builds on the resolution that passed the Senate and would direct HHS to raise awareness about father inclusion and engagement through a public awareness campaign and guidance to states. 

    “Georgia’s maternal mortality rate is a crisis that we must address with every tool at our disposal. That includes redoubling our efforts to uplift the role of fathers in keeping their family healthy during pregnancy and early childhood,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Now is the time to spread awareness about the critical role of fathers in improving maternal health outcomes and creating thriving families and communities.” 

    “As an OBGYN for more than 25 years, I know firsthand the challenges facing mothers, and how important a stable support system can be to both pediatric and maternal health outcomes,” said Senator Marshall. “Fathers play such a critical role in their households, and I am proud to support legislation that champions their role as providers, spouses, and caregivers.”

    “Too many women in Arizona die from pregnancy-related causes. This bill helps reverse this trend by recognizing that engaged fathers are part of the solution. When dads show up, maternal health outcomes are better, babies are healthier, and families are stronger,” said Senator Gallego.

    The Dads Matter Act of 2025 would: 

    • Direct HHS to carry out a public awareness campaign to increase awareness of the importance of father inclusion and engagement in improving overall health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. 
    • Direct HHS to issue guidance to states to encourage and incentivize maternity care providers to provide training and education to health care professionals about the benefits of including and engaging fathers in the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum process. 
    • Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report to Congress that describes the results and effectiveness of this legislation. 

    Organizations supporting the legislation include March of Dimes, the National Fatherhood Initiative, the What to Expect Project, and 4Kira4Moms. 

    “National Fatherhood Initiative® applauds Senators Warnock and Marshall for reintroducing bipartisan legislation that has the potential for long-term impact on our nation’s well-being. This bill leverages a golden moment by focusing on increasing father engagement during the perinatal period when parents are most highly motivated for the father’s involvement in his child’s life,” said Christopher A. Brown, president, National Fatherhood Initiative®. “Research shows that maternal and child health outcomes are enhanced when the father becomes engaged during and after the child’s birth. It also increases the chance that the father stays involved for the long haul. There’s no more cost-effective time to invest in the well-being of whole families.”

    “The science and research are clear: Not only are fathers biologically hard wired to be nurturers, but they’re the best and most effective champions of maternal and infant health. When dads are involved in pregnancy, postpartum and infant care, the risks from nearly all preventable and treatable complications – from preeclampsia to preterm birth to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders to sudden infant death are reduced. Breastfeeding rates soar, as does a baby’s development, future mental and behavioral health, success in school, and so much more. Yet for too long, we’ve sidelined fathers – in some communities, even seen them as part of the problem, not the solution they are. Excluded them from the conversation about our current maternal health crisis and from legislation intended to reverse it. That’s why the What to Expect Project and I are proud to support the Dads Matter Act, the first bill to address the measurable impact fathers have on maternal and infant health, safety, and wellbeing – and to improve awareness among health care providers and communities about the need to involve them. Because dads do matter. We’re grateful for the passionate leadership and tireless efforts and commitment from Senator Warnock, Senator Marshall, and Senator Gallego on behalf of all moms and dads,” said Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting and Founder of the What to Expect Project

    “We’re incredibly grateful to Senator Warnock, Senator Marshall, and Senator Gallego for their leadership on the Dads Matter Act. This critical legislation highlights the power of bipartisan collaboration in improving maternal health outcomes for all families. We believe that by empowering fathers, we can not only make our country safer for mothers and babies, but we can also strengthen our families,” said Charles Johnson, Founder & Board President, 4Kira4Moms

    “The Dads Matter Actis an important piece of federal maternal health legislation that brings awareness to the fact that maternal health is a fundamental human right not just a woman’s right. The Dads Matter Act will help enable education and training of fathers to be in service of mothers during their pregnancy journeys as a family! We are excited to help see this piece of legislation pass,” said Gabrielle Albert, Executive Director & Board Vice President & Secretary, 4Kira4Moms

    Senator Warnock has long championed legislation to combat maternal mortality and improve health outcomes for hardworking families. In 2022, Senator Warnock partnered with then-Senator Marco Rubio to pass the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, which provides federal funding to reduce maternal mortality and improve implicit bias training for providers to prevent maternal death. Senator Warnock also partnered with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) to introduce the Kira Johnson Act, legislation to provide funding to community-based organizations leading the charge to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women. Additionally, in 2023, Senator Warnock introduced a bipartisan bill with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to support efforts to collect and analyze maternal health data to prevent maternal deaths; the bipartisan Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act would reauthorize programs to preserve maternal health throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, and would address disparities in maternal health outcomes through data collection, analysis, and strategies for prevention. In 2023, Senator Warnock also traveled to North Georgia to hear from health care providers and Georgians at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville about the state’s maternal mortality crisis and why Congress must act to invest in better health care outcomes for women in Georgia and across the country. In 2024, Senator Warnock introduced a resolution designating January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day in order to raise public awareness about maternal health and promote initiatives to address and eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, Risch Celebrate Senate Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization

    US Senate News:

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

    June 18, 2025

    U.S. House of Representatives must act to fulfill federal responsibility for rural, forested counties in Oregon and nationwide

    Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., along with U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both R-Idaho, celebrated today’s unanimous Senate passage of their legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through Fiscal Year 2026.

    “This is a significant, encouraging and urgently needed step for Oregonians living and working in counties that have depended for decades on these federal investments for local schools, roads, law enforcement and more,” said Wyden, who co-authored the initial bipartisan SRS legislation in 2000.  “I’m glad the Senate has once again done the right thing by passing this bill in a timely fashion, and I strongly urge the House to act ASAP to reconnect this proven lifeline for rural communities in Oregon and nationwide.”

    “By passing our bipartisan bill, the Senate has taken critical action to provide reliable funding that is crucial to keeping schools and libraries open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural?communities safe,”?said Merkley.?“The House must not fail to act again and swiftly pass our bill to extend the SRS program so Oregon communities can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.”

    “In many rural counties in Idaho, the loss of resource revenue sharing from vast tracts of federally owned land inhibit counties’ ability to support local schools or even fund basic emergency services–including search and rescue,” said Crapo.  “The Senate’s unanimous passage of legislation to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program is a critical first step in meeting the federal government’s responsibility to rural communities containing tax exempt public lands.  Without SRS, many counties in Idaho and across the country will fall short of the financial means of providing for these integral community functions for local residents and visitors alike.  I urge the U.S. House of Representatives to move expeditiously on this legislation.”

    “Idaho counties rely on SRS funding for schools, road maintenance, and other essential services. Until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, this program must be reauthorized,” said Risch. “The federal government made a promise to rural communities, and I’m proud to see the Senate follow through.”

    The bill was led by Wyden, Merkley, Crapo and Risch. The measure was co-sponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan, R-Ala., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., John Curtis, R-Utah, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Rick Scott, R-Fla., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala., Jim Justice, R-W. Va., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

    Wyden, Merkley, Crapo and Risch introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress and the Senate unanimously passed it in November 2024.  It did not receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives before the end of the Congress.  The House must reauthorize the program as soon as possible to avoid a gap in funding for rural counties that rely on the program for much-needed services.

    The full text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murkowski Celebrates Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization in Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    06.18.25

    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today helped facilitate the Senate’s passage of legislation she is cosponsoring, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, by unanimous consent. Murkowski worked with the leaders of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee and her Democratic colleagues to secure passage of several bills, including this measure to provide critical relief to communities impacted by declines in timber receipts. SRS funds are used to support schools, roads, and additional municipal services. Senator Murkowski has consistently used her role on the ENR Committee to advocate for this legislation.

    “If you’re a city manager building a budget or a school administrator looking at new hires, you need financial certainty. That’s why renewing the Secure Rural Schools program before funding lapses has been one of my top priorities in this Congress, and today was a crucial step in that process,” Senator Murkowski said. “I hope my colleagues in the House will quickly pass this legislation to provide stability for Alaska’s schools and local governments.”

    Background

    The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was enacted in 2000 to assist communities negatively impacted by declining timber sale revenues. Payments to eligible communities may be used to support schools and roads, fire prevention, emergency services, and eligible lands projects. This reauthorization also makes permanent changes made via the 2018 Farm Bill and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help Resource Advisory Committees work more effectively.

    The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act renews the program through 2026. The measure now goes to the House for further consideration.

    The Forest Service controls 22 million acres of land in Alaska. That includes 17 million acres in Southeast and several million more acres in Southcentral. How much each eligible borough receives is based in part on how much federal forest land is located within its boundaries.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy backs McCormick, Fetterman resolution to condemn antisemitic violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and 33 bipartisan colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning the trend of political violence against Jewish people.

    “Attacking innocent people for their faith is an abhorrent betrayal of America’s fundamental principles. I’m sickened by the recent attacks on our Jewish community and stand firmly with my Senate colleagues in denouncing this vile, hateful ideology,” said Kennedy.

    The resolution recognizes and condemns the rise in attacks against Jewish individuals in the U.S., including the June 1, 2025, attack in Boulder, Colorado; the May 21, 2025, killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C.; and the April 13, 2025, arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home.

    “Antisemitism has no place is America. Since October 7, 2023, the Jewish community has faced unprecedented and persistent antisemitic hate and violence. This hatred cannot stand. Living in Squirrel Hill, right around the corner from the site of the devastating Tree of Life Synagogue attack in 2018, really brings this issue home for me. Protecting my friends and neighbors, and all Jewish people across the country, must be a national priority. I’m proud to team up with Senator Fetterman, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to unequivocally condemn the alarming surge in antisemitic hate across the country,” said McCormick.

    “Amid a despicable rise in antisemitism, including the hateful arson at Governor Shapiro’s home in Pennsylvania, the shocking violence in Boulder, and the deadly attack on the Israeli embassy staff in D.C., we are starkly reminded that silence is complicity. These appalling attacks on our Jewish communities are not isolated events. After eleven lives were stolen at the Tree of Life massacre in 2018, I’ve felt an even stronger moral obligation to confront antisemitism wherever it appears and stand united against hate,” said Fetterman.

    Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) also cosponsored the resolution. 

    The full resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy backs McCormick, Fetterman resolution to condemn antisemitic violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and 33 bipartisan colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning the trend of political violence against Jewish people.

    “Attacking innocent people for their faith is an abhorrent betrayal of America’s fundamental principles. I’m sickened by the recent attacks on our Jewish community and stand firmly with my Senate colleagues in denouncing this vile, hateful ideology,” said Kennedy.

    The resolution recognizes and condemns the rise in attacks against Jewish individuals in the U.S., including the June 1, 2025, attack in Boulder, Colorado; the May 21, 2025, killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C.; and the April 13, 2025, arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home.

    “Antisemitism has no place is America. Since October 7, 2023, the Jewish community has faced unprecedented and persistent antisemitic hate and violence. This hatred cannot stand. Living in Squirrel Hill, right around the corner from the site of the devastating Tree of Life Synagogue attack in 2018, really brings this issue home for me. Protecting my friends and neighbors, and all Jewish people across the country, must be a national priority. I’m proud to team up with Senator Fetterman, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to unequivocally condemn the alarming surge in antisemitic hate across the country,” said McCormick.

    “Amid a despicable rise in antisemitism, including the hateful arson at Governor Shapiro’s home in Pennsylvania, the shocking violence in Boulder, and the deadly attack on the Israeli embassy staff in D.C., we are starkly reminded that silence is complicity. These appalling attacks on our Jewish communities are not isolated events. After eleven lives were stolen at the Tree of Life massacre in 2018, I’ve felt an even stronger moral obligation to confront antisemitism wherever it appears and stand united against hate,” said Fetterman.

    Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) also cosponsored the resolution. 

    The full resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Secures Victory to Prevent Sexual Assault in the Military

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Published: June 18, 2025

    DoD has appointed an official to oversee sexual assault prevention and has already begun updating Senator Ernst.

    WASHINGTON – After years of her work, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, secured a key victory to prevent sexual assault in the military. She discussed with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth how the Department of Defense (DoD) has appointed Steve Erickson to oversee its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). Erickson has already begun updating Senator Ernst, so they can work together to end sexual assault in the military.
    During the hearing, Ernst also pointed out how Iran has American blood on its hands, including how it backed the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks that took the lives of 43 Americans. Ernst continued her calls for DoD to pass a clean audit by 2028.

    Watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks here.
    “Secretary Hegseth, I do want to thank you because we’ve had many discussions about this. You have appointed Steve Erickson as the Executor of Director of Force Resiliency, and he will oversee the Department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office…and he will directly report to you on the issue of sexual assault within our military. You’ve been very responsive on this issue, and I commend you for that. I have already received my first briefing by Mr. Erickson. To continue building on this progress, I’m going to hold quarterly meetings with the SAPRO, and we want to make sure that we continue the momentum that we are seeing within the Department on that,” said Senator Ernst. 
    “First of all, Senator, I want to thank you and other members of this committee for the work you’ve done on that issue. And I think in large part, and you’ll see this in this budget, we continue to fund the programs, which have seen efficacy. And so I think a lot of these were newer programs, new initiatives, new emphasis put in place that we have simply sought to maintain and accelerate, and you see that in that in this budget. And thankfully, we’ve seen this year sexual assault numbers decrease. One is too many, as we’ve said before, but a decrease is a good trend to see and we want to continue that,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Secures Victory to Prevent Sexual Assault in the Military

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    Published: June 18, 2025

    DoD has appointed an official to oversee sexual assault prevention and has already begun updating Senator Ernst.

    WASHINGTON – After years of her work, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, secured a key victory to prevent sexual assault in the military. She discussed with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth how the Department of Defense (DoD) has appointed Steve Erickson to oversee its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). Erickson has already begun updating Senator Ernst, so they can work together to end sexual assault in the military.
    During the hearing, Ernst also pointed out how Iran has American blood on its hands, including how it backed the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks that took the lives of 43 Americans. Ernst continued her calls for DoD to pass a clean audit by 2028.

    Watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks here.
    “Secretary Hegseth, I do want to thank you because we’ve had many discussions about this. You have appointed Steve Erickson as the Executor of Director of Force Resiliency, and he will oversee the Department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office…and he will directly report to you on the issue of sexual assault within our military. You’ve been very responsive on this issue, and I commend you for that. I have already received my first briefing by Mr. Erickson. To continue building on this progress, I’m going to hold quarterly meetings with the SAPRO, and we want to make sure that we continue the momentum that we are seeing within the Department on that,” said Senator Ernst. 
    “First of all, Senator, I want to thank you and other members of this committee for the work you’ve done on that issue. And I think in large part, and you’ll see this in this budget, we continue to fund the programs, which have seen efficacy. And so I think a lot of these were newer programs, new initiatives, new emphasis put in place that we have simply sought to maintain and accelerate, and you see that in that in this budget. And thankfully, we’ve seen this year sexual assault numbers decrease. One is too many, as we’ve said before, but a decrease is a good trend to see and we want to continue that,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch, Crapo Celebrate Senate Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) today celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage of their legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through Fiscal Year 2026.

    “Idaho counties rely on SRS funding for schools, road maintenance, and other essential services. Until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, this program must be reauthorized,” said Risch. “The federal government made a promise to rural communities, and I’m proud to see the Senate follow through.”

    “In many rural counties in Idaho, the loss of resource revenue sharing from vast tracts of federally owned land inhibit counties’ ability to support local schools or even fund basic emergency services–including search and rescue,” said Crapo. “The Senate’s unanimous passage of legislation to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program is a critical first step in meeting the federal government’s responsibility to rural communities containing tax-exempt public lands. Without SRS, many counties in Idaho and across the country will fall short of the financial means to provide for these integral community functions for local residents and visitors alike. I urge the U.S. House of Representatives to move expeditiously on this legislation.”

    Risch and Crapo are joined by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Az.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in cosponsoring the legislation.

    The legislation also authorizes retroactive payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Risch and Crapo introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress, and the Senate unanimously passed it in November 2024. It did not receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives before the end of the Congress. The House must reauthorize the program as soon as possible to avoid a gap in funding for rural counties that rely on the program for much-needed services.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch, Crapo Celebrate Senate Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) today celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage of their legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through Fiscal Year 2026.

    “Idaho counties rely on SRS funding for schools, road maintenance, and other essential services. Until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, this program must be reauthorized,” said Risch. “The federal government made a promise to rural communities, and I’m proud to see the Senate follow through.”

    “In many rural counties in Idaho, the loss of resource revenue sharing from vast tracts of federally owned land inhibit counties’ ability to support local schools or even fund basic emergency services–including search and rescue,” said Crapo. “The Senate’s unanimous passage of legislation to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program is a critical first step in meeting the federal government’s responsibility to rural communities containing tax-exempt public lands. Without SRS, many counties in Idaho and across the country will fall short of the financial means to provide for these integral community functions for local residents and visitors alike. I urge the U.S. House of Representatives to move expeditiously on this legislation.”

    Risch and Crapo are joined by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Az.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in cosponsoring the legislation.

    The legislation also authorizes retroactive payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Risch and Crapo introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress, and the Senate unanimously passed it in November 2024. It did not receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives before the end of the Congress. The House must reauthorize the program as soon as possible to avoid a gap in funding for rural counties that rely on the program for much-needed services.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons statement on United States v. Skrmetti

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld the State of Tennessee’s ban on youth gender-affirming care: 

    “Today, the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee state statute banning minors from accessing the gender-affirming hormone therapy that they, their parents, and their doctors all agree they need. These kids and their parents should have the same rights as anyone else – to make their own informed medical decisions and be treated equally under the law. Trans youth are some of the most vulnerable people in our country, more likely to commit suicide, to be depressed, to be bullied. Like all children, they deserve to live, to find a purpose, and to pursue happiness.

    “This comes as the Trump administration attacks trans Americans through executive orders, and Republicans in Congress try to use their tax bill to make changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act that will make it harder for vulnerable Americans to access healthcare. I’m proud to come from a state that trusts doctors and patients more than politicians and the government to make their own decisions about what’s best for their families.” 

    Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Schumer, Murray, Reed, Warner statement on President Trump’s actions in the Middle East

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – Ranking Senate Defense Appropriator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Senate Armed Services Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) today released the following statement as President Trump considers taking additional action in the Middle East:

    “Intensifying military actions between Israel and Iran represent a dangerous escalation that risks igniting a broader regional war. Iran poses a risk to the United States and our allies and must not be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon. The United States stands firm in our support for the continued defense of Israel, our partner and ally. Our commitment to Israel remains ironclad and we urge the administration to defend Israel against the barrage of Iranian airstrikes, including through the provision of additional air defense capabilities. We urge President Trump to prioritize diplomacy and pursue a binding agreement that can prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and reduce the risk to our diplomats, our service members, and the hundreds of thousands of Americans living in the Middle East.

    “As President Trump reportedly considers expanding U.S. engagement in the war, we are deeply concerned about a lack of preparation, strategy, and clearly defined objectives, and the enormous risk to Americans and civilians in the region. Iran has signaled that it would retaliate against American personnel if the United States participates in military strikes. More than 40,000 U.S. servicemembers are stationed in more than a dozen countries around the Middle East, all within striking distance of Iran and its proxies.

    “We are alarmed by the Trump administration’s failure to provide answers to fundamental questions. By law, the president must consult Congress and seek authorization if he is considering taking the country to war. He owes Congress and the American people a strategy for U.S. engagement in the region. We need a clear, detailed plan outlining the goals, risks, cost, and timeline for any proposed mission, as well as how he will ensure the safe evacuation of Americans in harm’s way all across the region. We demand immediate, detailed answers on these and other urgent matters to determine the way forward, including:

    1. What more needs to be done to resupply and bolster the defense of Israel and our interests in the region? What additional resources are required to maintain and supplement those defenses? 
    2. What is the Intelligence Community’s current assessment of Iran’s nuclear program, its leaders’ intent, and its capabilities? Following nearly a week of Israeli strikes, what remains of Iran’s conventional military capabilities and nuclear enrichment?
    3. What would be the objective of U.S. military intervention against Iran? President Trump has called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” – what does that mean?
    4. If there was a military intervention, what would be the estimated scope and duration of any such campaign? How many U.S. servicemembers would be involved? What resources and munitions would be required? What would such an operation cost?
    5. What would be the risk to U.S. forces across our bases in the region, both today and in the long term, and what steps is the administration prepared to take to protect our servicemembers?
    6. How many American citizens reside in Israel and surrounding countries, and what is the U.S. plan to facilitate evacuations?
    7. What constitutional or statutory authority would underpin this intervention?

    “Congress is an equal partner in preserving and defending U.S. national security around the world, and Congress has not provided authorization for military action against Iran – we will not rubberstamp military intervention that puts the United States at risk. Our foremost duty is to safeguard American citizens wherever they reside and to protect our troops serving on the front lines. The United States cannot sleepwalk into a third war in as many decades. Congress has a critical role to play in this moment.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Marshall Introduce Bill to Lower Costs and Improve Reliability of Freight Rail Service for American Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) reintroduced the Reliable Rail Service Act to help address the unreliable service and high costs of rail shipping for Wisconsin farmers and manufacturers. The legislation would strengthen our rail supply chain and ensure the largest freight railroads provide American businesses reliable services at reasonable rates so products can get to market more efficiently, and costs are lower for families. The Reliable Rail Service Act is supported by members of the agricultural industry, labor organizations, energy producers, and manufacturers who know firsthand how poor service, significant disruptions, and sky-high prices are impacting their businesses and prices for consumers.
    “Across the Badger State, our farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers rely on rail service to get their products to market and make ends meet,” said Senator Baldwin. “But when rail service is unreliable, it puts their livelihoods on the line, disrupts supply chains, and drives up costs for hardworking Wisconsin families. That’s why I am proud to work with my Republican colleague to once again introduce our Reliable Rail Service Act and help level the playing field for Wisconsin workers, grow our Made in Wisconsin economy, and keep costs down for consumers.”
    “Kansas’s farmers and ranchers depend upon reliable transport of their world-class goods to the rest of the country, and Class 1 railroads are not meeting expectations – this is a disservice to hard-working Kansans,” said Senator Marshall. “This bill lays out reasonable requirements for rail carriers to meet these important obligations, and I look forward to working with Senator Baldwin on getting this to the finish line.”
    Rail shippers including farmers, energy producers, and manufacturers continue to face poor service, significant service disruptions, and sky-high prices that are impacting communities and consumers, all while profits for the nation’s largest railroads are at record highs.
    The Reliable Rail Service Act takes a commonsense approach to addressing high costs and unreliable service by clarifying the “common carrier obligation,” which under current law requires rail carriers to serve the wider shipping public “on reasonable request.” Current ambiguity around this principle has contributed to insufficient rail services and exorbitant costs for American products to get to market. Clearly defining the “common carrier obligation” has taken on greater importance as the railroad industry faces consolidation and has undertaken Wall Street practices that reduce capacity on the rail network.
    The bill establishes specific criteria for the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to consider when evaluating whether carriers are meeting their common carrier obligation to give shippers much-needed certainty that is currently lacking.
    “For years, dairy processors have struggled to use America’s rail system because of lack of reliability and reduced service schedules. The Reliable Rail Service Act is commonsense legislation that will provide greater clarity to the railroad’s common carrier obligations and ensure that they provide more dependable service at sensible rates,” said Dr. Michael Dykes, President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “IDFA applauds Sen. Baldwin and Sen. Marshall for introducing this legislation to improve transparency in the rail industry and restore the balance between carriers and shippers so the U.S. dairy industry can move products more reliably by rail.”
    “Senators Baldwin and Marshall have proposed smart, and a much-needed reforms to help fix persistent freight rail service failures that are plaguing chemical manufacturers,” said Chris Jahn, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Chemistry Council. “If members of Congress are serious about bringing jobs back, leading global trade, and making more in America—not China—they should back this bill. We urge Democrats and Republicans to support this important legislation because it will help ensure that railroads deliver on their obligation to provide reliable service to U.S. manufacturers.”
    “IWLA strongly supports the Reliable Rail Service Act and thanks Senator Baldwin for reintroducing this important bill,” said Jay D. Strother, International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) President & CEO. “Clarifying the common carrier obligation is critical to ensuring that railroads provide consistent, fair, and timely service. This legislation gives the Surface Transportation Board the tools it needs to hold carriers accountable, enforce meaningful service standards, and support the 3PL warehouses that keep America’s supply chain moving.”
    “We applaud Senators Baldwin and Marshall for reintroducing the Reliable Rail Service Act to improve our nation’s freight rail network,” said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. “Unfortunately, America’s freight rail companies too often fail to provide the equal, timely, and affordable service required of them by federal law. Let’s hold railroads accountable and better serve the small businesses, farmers, and other customers who rely on freight rail to transport their goods.”
    “Clarification of the common carrier obligation has been needed for decades and this bipartisan bill provides STB with clear oversight rules to help address our nation’s freight railroad supply chain challenges and improve rail service for agricultural shippers,” said Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association. “NGFA members appreciate Senator Baldwin and Senator Marshall’s leadership in responding to rail service issues and for cosponsoring this legislation, which will help regulators respond to service disruptions that cause hardship for livestock producers, grain exporters, and grain processing facilities.”
    “The Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciates the work of Sen. Baldwin to address the definition of common carrier service obligation and increase the authority of the Surface Transportation Board to address agricultural rail needs,” said Brad Olson, President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. “Wisconsin farmers are dependent on the movement of agricultural goods by rail and we hope this increased authority will lead to greater efficiency within the rail industry.”
    The Reliable Rail Service Act is endorsed by the Agricultural Retailers Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Chemistry Council, American Forest & Paper Association, American Soybean Association, Consumer Brands Association, Essential Minerals Association, Freight Rail Customer Alliance, Glass Packaging Institute, Growth Energy, International Dairy Foods Association, International Warehouse Logistics Association, National Grain and Feed Association, National Industrial Transportation League, National Milk Producers Federation, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, North American Millers’ Association, Private Rail Car Food and Beverage Association, The National Grange, Western Coal Traffic League, American Cement Association, Recycled Materials Association, Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), National Farmers Union, Great Lakes Timber Professionals, American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED)-IBT, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC), Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Rail Conference, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, SEIU (NCFO), Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Division (SMART-MD), Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), Transportation Communications Union (TCU), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), and Transportation Trades Department (TTD).
    A one-pager on the legislation is available here. Full text of the legislation is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Blasts Defense Secretary for Presenting Incomplete FY26 Pentagon Budget

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) blasted the Department of Defense (DoD) for not presenting the committee with a full year 2026 fiscal budget that fully reflects the department’s funding priorities and needs. In an unprecedented move, the DoD is submitting its FY2026 budget in two pieces – the core budget that reflects no increase in spending, and an additional budget via the GOP reconciliation bill to make up the difference and match the threats facing the United States.

    In the conversation with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, King suggested that the DoD budget needs to be presented to the committee in its entirety to prevent a yearly partisan decision making process.

    “Let me talk about the budget. I don’t understand why the budget is coming to us in two pieces. Why not give us an honest base budget instead of putting a piece of it in reconciliation? As I understand it, OMB (the Office of Management and Budget) is saying we are going to have a flat defense budget for the next four or five years. Are we playing reconciliation every year from now on? Why not give us an honest budget telling us what your priorities are, and we can consider it. This committee always works on a bipartisan basis on the defense budget. We all want to see some increases in the defense budget, yet you are giving us this fake [version] — here is a piece of the project, here is another. In the base budget you are cutting ship building in half and saying, well we’re going to make it up in reconciliation. Are we going to have reconciliation every year? Which basically puts a significant part, 10% or 15% of the defense budget in a wholly partisan decision-making process, whereas in the history of this committee it has always been bipartisan. Why are we doing it this way,” asked Senator King.

    “Senator, from our view the budget number, $961 [billion], meets the requirements for threats we face,” responded Secretary Hegseth.

    “That’s not the number. The number is $892.6 [billion]. You’re adding reconciliation. That is my whole point. Why not give us a base budget of $961 [billion] or whatever the right number is? What you consider the right number and then we can operate and make our decisions? Why do it in this bifurcated way that really is fooling the American people about what the defense budget is,” Senator King questioned.  

    Secretary Hegseth replied,” We are not trying to fool anybody, sir. It is two bills, one budget. We’re working with OMB. I feel very comfortable with the number of $961 billion.”

    “That’s not my question. Why is it being done this way? Why is it being done this way? Why don’t you give us a straight up budget for the defense department? That is my question,” said Senator King.

    “Senator, this is a straight up budget for the defense department. It’s a 13% increase over what Joe Biden gave us,” responded Secretary Hegseth.

    Senator King replied, “It is not. It is a two-part defense budget. Part of it is in reconciliation instead of in the budget that is being presented to this committee. This committee only has a partial review of the budget. I don’t understand why we can’t have an honest, straight forward, budget instead of this son of OCO (overseas contingency operation), that you’re putting over on us.

    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King has long championed sound fiscal Defense funding for priorities in Maine and across the United States. Maine defense industries, University of Maine, and the Maine National Guard rely on annual funding levels and Defense Department budget details to plan investments and maintain their workforce. There is over $4 billion in defense business conducted annually in Maine impacting every county. Budget bills help these stakeholders with short-term and long-term forecasting and are economic drivers for the state of Maine.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Urges U.S. Senate to Reject the ‘Big Ugly Betrayal’ of Working Families That Cuts Medicaid Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Finance Committee released their portion of the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Reconciliation Bill,’ which U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) has dubbed a ‘Big Ugly Betrayal’ of working families. 

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities outlines how the Senate Republican version of the reconciliation bill, which requires just 50 votes to pass the U.S. Senate, would decimate family and state budgets.  It includes steeper cuts to Medicaid than the House bill, which would terminate health care coverage for 16 million people, raise health care costs across the board, and cut more than $1 trillion from America’s health care system in order to give tax breaks to billionaires.

    Today, Senator Reed issued the following statement:

    “Somehow, Senate Republicans took the House’s terrible bill and made it worse.  They are going to decimate our health care system in order to give bigger tax breaks to billionaires and corporations.

    “This deficit-shattering bill would take Medicaid from even more Americans who need it and inflict a heavier financial burden on patients, hospitals, and blue states.  Instead of shuttering hospitals, raising premiums, and making it harder for families to find a quality, affordable nursing home for their loved ones, Congress should be supporting access to essential health care for those who need it most.

    “While Medicaid and SNAP nutrition assistance are targeted for massive cuts, Big Oil gets a big handout.  Big Oil lobbyists were able to get their preferred industry-backed language in the bill that would solely benefit fossil-fuel companies at the expense of tax payers and clean energy.  This would be a job killer and a giveaway to polluters.

    “Gun lobbyists got a big gift in this bill too: Shockingly, it removes registration requirements not just for silencers but short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and other weapons too.

    “Notably, the Senate Republican bill would shift considerable new costs to states and localities, posing a serious risk to critical public services such as schools, health care, and transportation projects.

    “President Trump and Congressional Republicans are prioritizing tax cuts for the rich and powerful at the expense of average Americans.  Billionaires and corporations get tax giveaways while more Americans are being squeezed and living paycheck to paycheck.  Yet the bulk of the benefits here go to the wealthiest while the safety net and basic services for average Americans gets shredded.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Demanding Meaningful Stablecoin Guardrails, Reed Votes Against So-Called “GENIUS Act”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Citing a lack of consumer and taxpayer protections and serious crypto corruption and national security concerns, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) voted against the so-called GENIUS Act (S.1582), which passed the U.S. Senate on a vote of 68-30.

    The controversial bill places a government stamp of approval on “stablecoins,” which are crypto dollars that could be minted by big retailers, big tech companies, foreign companies, and even President Trump’s family. In a similar way that banks allow customers to send and receive money, stablecoins claim to do the same in a faster and cheaper way.

    Exposing taxpayers, consumers, and the financial system to high levels of risk, the GENIUS Act says that stablecoin companies would not need to comply with dozens of the same consumer protection laws that apply to similar firms and that help prevent scams and fraud.

    This legislation repeats some of the same mistakes that led to the 2008 financial crisis, fostered by the mistaken belief that stablecoin issuers are simple and safe companies that are unlikely to get into trouble and do not need significant regulation to protect customer funds.

    Rather than provide meaningful protections for consumers, the legislation weakens existing state laws on cryptocurrency to make it possible for stablecoin companies to operate with near-zero capital, meaning that companies could be unable to weather a financial crisis.  This leaves U.S. taxpayers exposed to bailouts if crypto markets crash.

    Furthermore, the bill makes it possible for stablecoin companies to avoid getting an independent audit and makes it virtually impossible for the government to revoke a stablecoin company’s charter, even if the company engages in fraudulent activity. And if a stablecoin company goes bankrupt, consumers must get in line to get their money back and hope that they will make a full recovery.

    The bill coincides with the launch of the Trump family’s own stablecoin venture called “USD1,” which has already been used by a foreign government to funnel at least $2 billion to the President.  The bill actually includes an express provision greenlighting the ability to name a stablecoin “USD,” as President Trump has done.

    Another beneficiary of this bill is Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin that is based in El Salvador and is used by North Korea, Russian arms dealers, ransomware attackers, the Iranian military, drug cartels, and many other criminal organizations.  Russia, Iran, and North Korea will continue to have venues to use dollar alternatives to bypass U.S. sanctions.

    The GENIUS Act allows Tether to operate freely in the United States with minimal oversight and without providing sufficient tools for the government to stop its abuse for weapons proliferation, war, human trafficking, scams, and other illegal activity.

    Senator Reed says that Congress should be fostering innovation while protecting consumers and national security, however unless these issues are fixed, the GENIUS Act would not balance these two important goals.

    “The so-called GENIUS Act is deeply flawed and doesn’t do enough to protect consumers, national security, and U.S. taxpayers.  Instead of strengthening consumer protections and building clear guardrails that prevent America’s adversaries from using stablecoins to their advantage, this bill greenlights President Trump using his office to line his own pockets while looking the other way at North Korea’s crypto abuses,” said Senator Reed.  “As the popularity of stablecoins continues to grow, we need to provide real guardrails and authorities for regulators.  Nevertheless, Senate Republicans have prioritized the wants of President Trump over the needs of American consumers.”

    Senator Reed has taken to the Senate floor twice recently to outline his concerns with the GENIUS Act, including in a speech Monday night. In remarks on the Senate floor last Thursday, Senator Reed called on Republicans to work across the aisle to better serve American consumers and strengthen crypto guardrails.

    The full transcript of those remarks follows:

    Mr. President, I rise today to discuss S. 1582, the so-called GENIUS Act.

    Several weeks ago, when the Majority Leader said we would have votes on amendments, I took him seriously and was one of the first to file. 

    We could have been voting on my amendments and those of my colleagues at any time in the last few weeks, but that hasn’t happened.  That is regrettable, because the GENIUS Act, as it is currently drafted, is fundamentally flawed. 

    The GENIUS Act exposes taxpayers, consumers, and the financial system to unacceptable risk.  And it creates venues for criminals, terrorists, and rogue governments to finance their illicit activities.  

    Among other things, this bill places the U.S. government’s stamp of approval on Tether—the world’s largest stablecoin, which is based in El Salvador and favored by North Korea, Russian arms dealers, ransomware attackers, the Iranian military, the drug cartels, and so many other criminal organizations. 

    It takes already weak state laws, makes them weaker, and applies them nationwide…making it possible for stablecoin companies to operate with near-zero capital and unable to weather a financial crisis.  It’s possible for stablecoin companies to avoid getting an audit.  It’s impossible for the government to revoke a stablecoin company’s charter—even if it turns out to be a Ponzi scheme or if an executive dips into customer funds.

    The GENIUS Act buys into the belief that the billionaires running the industry know what they’re doing and that the marriage of complex financial products and complex technology simply can’t fail.  The one thing the billionaires know how to do is protect their interests. 

    Not surprisingly this bill leaves open the door to bailouts, which we have seen time and time again for other lightly regulated nonbanks that got into trouble, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, AIG, and Bear Stearns. 

    When there is a run on a stablecoin…and there will be a run one day…the industry will run to the American taxpayer for a bailout, and the GENIUS Act paves the way for that to happen with no limits on the Federal Reserve’s authority to prop up the industry.

    Finally, this bill perpetuates Donald Trump’s naked corruption.  It actually greenlights the name of Trump’s stablecoin—USD1—and allows Trump’s hand-picked regulators to write the rules of the road governing his most recent business venture. 

    Mr. President, we need to provide real guardrails for financial regulators to protect consumers, real tools for national security agencies to address this new technology, and real authority for the government to intervene before a crisis gets out of hand. 

    Real guardrails and real tools . . .  not words on a page that give only the “aura” of regulation and protection with no teeth. 

    My amendments and those offered by colleagues on the both sides of the aisle would help provide these tools and authorities.  However, it appears that we won’t have the opportunity to consider a single one of them and fix this bill.

    I urge my colleagues to oppose this highly flawed bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 18th, 2025 Heinrich Raises Alarm About New Mexico Public Lands at Risk in Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member on the U.S. Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a list of public lands in New Mexico that are at risk of being sold off if Republicans’ reconciliation package becomes law. Senate Republicans’ reconciliation package mandates the unprecedented sale of two to three million acres of public land, including in both Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands.

    “Our public lands hold our shared identity: they are where we gather, fish, hunt, and hike. These lands house our collective history, support jobs, and sustain our rural economies. From the hiking trails near the Sandia Crest to the biking trails of the Monumental Loop to the lands surrounding the Santuario de Chimayo, these places are the anvil on which our identities are forged. We can’t let Republicans take them from us.

    “Republicans can’t fool us: their scheme to sell public lands has nothing to do with affordable housing or lowering costs for families. It’s a direct attack on every New Mexican, whether you have an elk tag, a fishing license, a backpack, a tent, a mountain bike, or a soft spot, special memory, or sacred connection to a particular place important to you, your family, and your ancestors.

    “Now is the time to raise your voices and join our fight to keep public lands in public hands – before we lose these lands forever.”

    The following list includes many, but not all, of the places in New Mexico at risk of being sold off if Senate Republicans’ reconciliation bill becomes law:

    BERNALILLO COUNTY

    • Manzanita Mountains Recreation Zone
      • Oak Flat
      • Pine Flat
      • Tunnel Canyon
      • Cedro Trailheads
    • Sandia Mountains
      • Forest Service Lands East of Sandia Crest
      • 10K Trail

    CHAVES COUNTY

    • BLM Land Surrounding Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

    CIBOLA COUNTY

    • Mount Taylor (Except Mines)
    • Lobo Canyon
    • La Jara Mesa
    • Zuni Canyon
    • Quartz Hill

    DOÑA ANA COUNTY

    • BLM Land Northeast of Las Cruces
    • Monumental Loop Mountain Biking Route

    EDDY COUNTY

    • La Cueva Trail System

    GRANT COUNTY

    • Fort Bayard Trail System
    • Little Walnut Trail
    • Dragonfly Trail

    LINCOLN COUNTY

    • Grindstone Canyon Loop Trail
    • Ski Run Road

    LOS ALAMOS COUNTY

    • St. Peter’s Dome Trail
    • Forest Service Land and Trails Around Pajarito Ski Area
    • Hiking Trails North and East of Los Alamos

    LUNA COUNTY

    • Little Florida Mountains, via Rockhound State Park
    • Florida Mountains Wilderness Study Area
    • Access to Cooke’s Peak WSA

    MCKINLEY COUNTY

    • Quaking Aspen Campground
    • Sixmile Canyon
    • The Hogback
    • Jagged Edge
    • Zuni Mountain Trail System

    OTERO COUNTY

    • Alamo Canyon trail
    • Dog Canyon Trail
    • Lower Karr Campground

    RIO ARRIBA COUNTY

    • Sombrillo Area of Critical Environmental Concern

    SAN JUAN COUNTY

    • Glade Run Recreation Area

    SAN MIGUEL COUNTY

    • Skyline Trailhead
    • Access to Pecos Wilderness

    SANDOVAL COUNTY

    • Ball Ranch/Espinosa Ridge Area of Critical Environmental Concern
    • Placitas Trailhead
    • Crest of Montezuma
    • Buffalo Tract
    • Strip Mine Trailhead

    SANTA FE COUNTY

    • Lands Between Santuario de Chimayo and Santa Cruz Lake
    • Diablo Canyon
    • Caja del Rio
    • Atalaya Trail
    • La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site
    • Borrego Mesa Trailhead and Campground

    SIERRA COUNTY

    • East Side of Caballo Lake

    SOCORRO COUNTY

    • The Box Recreation Area
    • San Lorenzo Canyon
    • Quebradas Backcountry Byway
    • Socorro Nature Area

    TAOS COUNTY

    • Lands Surrounding Historic High Road to Taos
    • Recreation Areas on Highway 64 Towards Angel Fire
    • Cabresto Lake and Access to the Latir Peak Wilderness
    • NMDGF Unit 49 Hunting Area

    VALENCIA COUNTY

    • Manzano Wilderness Study Area
    • Encino Trailhead
    • Trigo Canyon Trailhead

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Van Hollen, Davis Introduce Bicameral World Sickle Cell Awareness Day Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced a resolution to designate June 19, 2025 as “World Sickle Cell Awareness Day” to increase public awareness about sickle cell disease and the continued need for research, early detection, and effective treatments that lead to a cure. U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-12) will introduce companion legislation in the House.

    Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare, inherited disorder that causes a person’s red blood cells to become deformed and get stuck in their veins, blocking oxygen flow throughout the body. In the United States, 100,000 people are affected by SCD, including 1 in every 365 African-American births, and 1 in every 16,300 Hispanic-American births. Around the world, sickle cell disease affects millions of people, particularly in some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, South Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean basin. In countries with fewer resources, more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with sickle cell disease do not live to see adulthood. Despite being the most common inherited blood disorder in our country, research, treatment, and awareness efforts for the disease still lag far behind other chronic illnesses.

    “Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in our county, but despite its prevalence and severe health consequences, Americans battling sickle cell still face barriers to accessing care they need,” said Senator Booker. “We must continue allocating resources for research and treatment of this disease that primarily affects communities of color. I’m proud of the progress we have made over the past few decades in combating sickle cell, but know we must do more. I’m introducing a resolution to designate June 19 as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, and am committed to continuing to fight for improved, comprehensive, high-quality care for those diagnosed with sickle cell.”

    “Sickle cell disease has claimed the lives of too many people here in the U.S. and around the world far too soon, including a former staff member of mine, John Amara. With this resolution, we recognize all those we’ve lost to this terrible disease – and reinforce our commitment to working toward a better future for today’s sickle cell warriors and their families. We will not stop fighting to raise awareness, strengthen networks of care and support, and ultimately make sickle cell disease a thing of the past,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing June 19th as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day.  Considering the health difficulties that sickle cell disease creates for millions of individuals both in the United States and globally, we need to invest more resources in improving awareness, comprehensive care, better treatments, and new cures that are accessible for those sickle cell warriors suffering from this dreadful disease,” said Representative Davis.    

    To read the full text of the resolution, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Colleagues Urge Senate Leaders to Protect State and Local Pesticide Regulations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a group of 20 of his colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to oppose any efforts to limit existing state and local authority to regulate pesticides in the upcoming Farm Bill or any other legislation.  

    “More than thirty states and hundreds of cities and counties have adopted pesticide laws and ordinances to protect workers, children, rural communities, and wildlife. State and local governments have long acted to supplement federal pesticide laws to protect people from the serious health problems—including neurological and behavioral issues, cancer, and Parkinson’s Disease—that can be caused by unsafe exposure to pesticides,” the lawmakers wrote. “States and localities have implemented protective measures that fit their local needs, such as posting warnings when pesticides have been sprayed near schools and parks, protecting drinking water supplies, protecting and informing workers, and restricting the use of some pesticides on playgrounds. States and localities have also taken measures to protect endangered species that are especially susceptible to pesticides, like pollinators.”

    The lawmakers continued, “While federal regulations provide a base level of protection against the harms of pesticides, only localities and states are in the position to implement protective measures that are designed specifically to meet the needs of their citizens… Preempting these state and local laws prevents state and local officials from addressing local needs in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach.”

    The lawmakers also expressed strong opposition to any proposed legislation which would prohibit states from requiring manufacturers to disclose known risks about their pesticide products, such as carcinogenicity. 

    “Preemption proposals like these would eliminate laws that give consumers the ability to make informed decisions about using a pesticide product, based on the product’s risks to their health. These proposals would also take away consumers’ opportunity for redress if a manufacturer fails to issue warnings,” the lawmakers concluded. 

    The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    The Senators are joined by 133 state and local leaders and 187 organizations, who called on Congress to oppose federal pesticide preemption. You can read their letters here and here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Applauds Inclusion of SHORT Act in President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) applauded the inclusion of his Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act in the Senate reconciliation text. If signed into law, the legislation would remove the unconstitutional taxation, registration, and regulation of short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons under the National Firearms Act (NFA).
    “Short-barreled weapons are the weapons of choice for self-defense, and I am proud to have gotten the SHORT Act into the President’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’” said Senator Marshall. “‘Shall not be infringed’ is crystal clear, and the SHORT Act takes a step toward rolling back nonsensical regulations that the National Firearms Act has placed upon gun owners. The Biden-era abuses of the constitutionally protected rights of gun owners will be undone.”
    Additionally, using the NFA, the Biden Administration argued that people who own pistols with stabilizing braces own illegal short-barreled rifles. The ATF used that argument to facilitate a ban, forcing gun owners to violate their rule or participate in an unconstitutional registry titled “Amnesty Registration of Pistol Brace Weapons,” to keep their firearms. Eliminating unconstitutional and unnecessary restrictions, taxation, and registration placed on NFA firearms will ensure that the ATF does not enact any future version of this ban.
    To learn more, watch Senator Marshall’s interview with Newsmax – click here or on the image below to watch.
    Background
    Senator Marshall has introduced the SHORT Act in the 117th Congress, the 118th Congress, and the 119th Congress.
    In addition to removing the unconstitutional taxation, registration, and regulation of firearms, this legislation would also require the ATF to destroy all records relating to the registration, transfer, or manufacture of these NFA firearms, preventing the ATF from further harassing owners or confiscating these firearms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Applauds SCOTUS for Protecting Children from Mutilation and Sterilization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) praised the United States Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on dangerous puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children.
    “Today was not just a win for basic biology and common sense, but for human decency, sound medicine, and the dignity and safety of children everywhere,” said Senator Marshall. “As a doctor for over 25 years, I understand the gravity of these harmful so-called treatments radical activists have been pushing on children. They leave permanent scarring, sterilization, and other horrible side effects. Make no mistake, there’s more work to do, and I remain committed to eliminating taxpayer-funded transgender procedures on both minors and adults.”
    Senator Marshall’s legislation – the No Subsidies for Gender Transition Procedures Act – is the framework for the text in the President’s One Big, Beautiful Bill that would bar Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from covering gender-transition procedures (including surgeries and hormone therapy) for all ages. This provision would save taxpayers $2.5 billion over ten years and would prevent irreversible surgical interventions, which often lead to significant health complications, sterilization, and long-term medical costs.
    Background:
    Senator Marshall has long fought to protect the safety, health, and dignity of children from the pernicious forces of the radical left by:
    Introducing the Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors Act, which prohibits any person, or the minor in question, from engaging in interstate commerce to perform, attempting to perform, conspiring to perform, or providing a referral for any gender transition procedure, including surgeries, hormone treatments, and other therapies, on a minor.
    Bringing together a coalition to sound the alarm on the extreme gender ideology war being waged against America’s children and to talk about solutions, including the Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Introduces Legislation Mandating English Proficiency for Commercial Vehicle Operators

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) English Proficiency Act, which would require those applying to operate CMVs to be tested for English proficiency before receiving a CMV license.
    “Common sense would tell us that anyone driving on American roads, especially those operating large trucks and trailers, should be capable of understanding what the road signs say or how to communicate with police,” said Senator Marshall. “Kansans deserve to know that commercial operators are held to the highest safety standards. I am proud to introduce legislation that ensures those driving the largest vehicles on the road can understand the official language of America: English.” 
    U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) joined Senator Marshall in sponsoring the bill.
    “English proficiency for commercial truck drivers isn’t just practical, it can be a matter of life and death. The unwillingness of previous administrations to enforce this commonsense regulation undermines roadway safety and puts all drivers at risk,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “I’m proud to work with Senator Marshall to restore this critical safety standard. This legislation is a straightforward, sensible step that will make our roads and highways safer for everyone.”
    Under the bill, all CMV applicants will be tested on their ability to read and understand traffic signs, communicate in English with law enforcement, and provide and receive feedback and directions in English. Additionally, this bill prohibits these tests from being administered in languages other than English.
    This bill comes on the heels of President Trump’s executive order to enhance enforcement of English language requirements for drivers on the road and rescind Obama-era guidance relaxing the enforcement of these requirements.
    Click here to read the full text of the legislation. 

    MIL OSI USA News –