NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Provision Banning Taxpayer Funding of ‘Gender Transition’ Surgeries Included in Senate’s Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after his Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act, a bill that would prohibit federal funding from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from going towards gender transition procedures at any age, was included in the Senate Finance Committee’s legislative text for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

    “No American taxpayer should have to fund radical gender transition surgeries, and I am proud that my bill to prohibit federal dollars from funding these dangerous procedures has been included in the Senate’s One Big Beautiful Bill,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I will continue to fight alongside President Trump to protect our most vulnerable and ensure taxpayer dollars are no longer used to advance the far left’s woke agenda.”

    Background:

    A recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) review of gender dysphoria medical interventions “highlights a growing body of evidence pointing to significant risks—including irreversible harms such as infertility—while finding very weak evidence of benefit.”

    Nearly 30 states have laws or policies that limit access to gender transition procedures for minors, including Texas. Texas prohibits health care providers from prescribing, administering or dispensing hormone or puberty blocking medications or providing gender transition surgeries to minors. Other countries have begun putting limits on these procedures over concerns about the long-term effects. In 2024, NHS England began limiting access to puberty blockers as “routine treatment” for children under 18. Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have also limited access to these procedures for minors.

    The Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act, which was cosponsored by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), would prohibit CHIP and Medicaid federal funds from being used to provide gender transition procedures at any age. It makes exceptions for those needing puberty blocking drugs or medical procedures for medically necessary reasons, including medically verifiable sex development disorders or injury from previous gender transition procedures.

    This bill builds on President Trump’s Executive Order, signed on January 28, 2025, which called for cutting federal funding for gender transition procedures for minors and directs federally run insurance programs, including Medicaid, to stop covering these services.

    The legislation aligns with language included in the House’s version of Pres. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd Joins Peters, Colleagues to Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Critical Drug Supply Chains & Mitigate Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in reintroducing the bipartisan Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug (RAPID) Reserve Act to help increase supply chain resiliency for critical generic drugs and their key ingredients by bolstering supply reserves and domestic production capacity through federal contracts. The RAPID Reserve Act would help reduce drug shortages, enhance preparedness, and mitigate national security threats from U.S. overreliance on China for critical medications and their key ingredients. 

    “For far too long, America has faced a drug shortage that not only threatens patients’ health but poses a national security risk by forcing us to rely on Communist China’s supply chains for essential medications. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan RAPID Reserve Act to bring drug manufacturing back to the U.S., prioritize sufficient medication reserves, and support increased production in emergencies to reliably meet patient demand,” said Senator Budd.

    “Every American should be able to get the medicine they need when they need it.  Increasing domestic and reliable manufacturing capacity for our critical, lifesaving medications is essential to addressing drug shortages that can compromise patient care. This bipartisan bill will help ensure Americans receive the essential medications they need while strengthening our ability to respond to future public health crises,” said Senator Peters.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    The RAPID Reserve Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award contracts to quality manufacturers of critical generic drug products who are based in the United States or in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in order to maintain reserves of critical medications and their key ingredients while building the capacity to surge production when needed. Through these contracts, which would prioritize domestic manufacturers, the RAPID Reserve Act would help strengthen vulnerable supply chains by ensuring that when there is a disruption in supply, manufacturers can draw on reserves and surge production to meet demand.   

    Senators Budd, Peters, Blackburn, and Kaine have also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency examine underutilized domestic manufacturing capacity and federal efforts to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities.  

    The RAPID Reserve Act is supported by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), and Phlow. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd Joins Peters, Colleagues to Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Critical Drug Supply Chains & Mitigate Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in reintroducing the bipartisan Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug (RAPID) Reserve Act to help increase supply chain resiliency for critical generic drugs and their key ingredients by bolstering supply reserves and domestic production capacity through federal contracts. The RAPID Reserve Act would help reduce drug shortages, enhance preparedness, and mitigate national security threats from U.S. overreliance on China for critical medications and their key ingredients. 

    “For far too long, America has faced a drug shortage that not only threatens patients’ health but poses a national security risk by forcing us to rely on Communist China’s supply chains for essential medications. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan RAPID Reserve Act to bring drug manufacturing back to the U.S., prioritize sufficient medication reserves, and support increased production in emergencies to reliably meet patient demand,” said Senator Budd.

    “Every American should be able to get the medicine they need when they need it.  Increasing domestic and reliable manufacturing capacity for our critical, lifesaving medications is essential to addressing drug shortages that can compromise patient care. This bipartisan bill will help ensure Americans receive the essential medications they need while strengthening our ability to respond to future public health crises,” said Senator Peters.

    Read the full bill text HERE.

    Background

    The RAPID Reserve Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award contracts to quality manufacturers of critical generic drug products who are based in the United States or in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in order to maintain reserves of critical medications and their key ingredients while building the capacity to surge production when needed. Through these contracts, which would prioritize domestic manufacturers, the RAPID Reserve Act would help strengthen vulnerable supply chains by ensuring that when there is a disruption in supply, manufacturers can draw on reserves and surge production to meet demand.   

    Senators Budd, Peters, Blackburn, and Kaine have also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the agency examine underutilized domestic manufacturing capacity and federal efforts to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities.  

    The RAPID Reserve Act is supported by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), and Phlow. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $6.2 million in storm mitigation funding for Baton Rouge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $6,173,205 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for East Baton Rouge Parish.

    “Louisianians are all too familiar with the threats that strong winds pose to their communities during disasters. This $6.2 million will help East Baton Rouge Parish fortify the Baton Rouge City Hall to better withstand gusts during future storms,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $6,173,205 to East Baton Rouge Parish to retrofit windows in the Baton Rouge City Hall to withstand stronger winds during severe weather.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $6.2 million in storm mitigation funding for Baton Rouge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $6,173,205 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for East Baton Rouge Parish.

    “Louisianians are all too familiar with the threats that strong winds pose to their communities during disasters. This $6.2 million will help East Baton Rouge Parish fortify the Baton Rouge City Hall to better withstand gusts during future storms,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $6,173,205 to East Baton Rouge Parish to retrofit windows in the Baton Rouge City Hall to withstand stronger winds during severe weather.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Joins Wyden, Ocasio-Cortez to Demand Answers from Palantir About Plans to Build IRS “Mega-Database” of American Citizens

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Right-Wing Aligned Tech Company Is Assisting Trump in Likely Mass Violations of Privacy Act and Tax Privacy Laws

    Washington (June 17, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), today joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and seven other Members of Congress in questioning Palantir about reports that Palantir is helping the IRS to build a government-wide, searchable, “mega-database,” connecting sensitive tax and other data the government holds about American citizens. Building such a database likely violates multiple federal laws limiting the accessing and sharing of Americans’ private information, including the Privacy Act and tax privacy laws. 

    “The unprecedented possibility of a searchable, ‘mega-database’ of tax returns and other data that will potentially be shared with or accessed by other federal agencies is a surveillance nightmare that raises a host of legal concerns, not least that it will make it significantly easier for Donald Trump’s Administration to spy on and target his growing list of enemies and other Americans,” the members wrote to Palantir CEO Alex Karp. 

    The letter is cosigned by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). 

    Sections 6103 and 7213A of the tax code protect tax returns and return information from unauthorized access or disclosure, with criminal penalties for violations, the members pointed out, while the Privacy Act of 1974 requires detailed transparency and procedural steps for accessing and combing government data about Americans. Contractors like Palantir are not exempt from those laws. 

    “The IRS hiring Palantir to help it establish a ‘mega-database”’ of government-held personal data, including sensitive taxpayer data, for seamless processing for a limitless number of purposes blatantly violates the notice, transparency, and procedural requirements of the Privacy Act,” the members wrote. “As you should be aware, contractors are explicitly covered by many of the Privacy Act’s requirements.”

    The full scope of Palantir’s work for the Trump Administration is unclear, but publicly available contracts indicate its tendrils are reaching nearly every corner of the federal government. The Department of Defense recently awarded Palantir a $795 million contract – which could increase to $1.3 billion – to lead data fusion and artificial intelligence programs throughout the U.S. military. The Trump Administration has deployed Palantir’s Foundry software at the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health.

    The company is reportedly helping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement combine data sets in order to speed up deportation of immigrants. Trump’s deeply unpopular deportations have included raids on hotels and construction sites and U.S. citizens being wrongly targeted in order to meet arbitrary quotas set by the White House. 

    The members requested Palantir answer the following questions: 

    • Please provide a list of all current Palantir contracts with the United States government. For each contract, please provide the following information: the dollar value of the award, the agency that awarded the contract, the name of the Palantir software or product being deployed as part of the contract, and a detailed description of the services being performed as part of the contract.
    • Has Palantir sought or received assurances from the U.S. government that its executives, board members, and employees will not be held responsible for violations of federal law, including the internal revenue code?
    • Has Palantir provided insurance coverage or commitments to pay legal costs and fines to any of its executives, board members, or employees in connection with the company’s work for the U.S. government or any foreign government.
    • What services, features, or assistance, if any, has the Trump Administration requested and Palantir declined to provide, due to concerns related to privacy, civil liberties, or potential violations of federal, state, or international law.
    • Is Palantir aware of the requirements placed on agencies and contractors by the Privacy Act of 1974?  Have you advised the government of those requirements, or offered to assist in their compliance?  Do you believe the government is currently satisfying its requirements under the Privacy Act? 
    • Does the company have a “red line” for potential violations of human rights, U.S. law or international law by the Trump Administration that would result in Palantir terminating its services for the U.S. government?
    • How many Palantir employees have quit since January 20, 2025, citing the company’s work for the Trump Administration?

    Read the full letter to Palantir here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Whitehouse & Colleagues Mark 13 Years of DACA & Urge Trump Administration to Resume Processing Applications for ‘Dreamers’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Marking the 13th anniversary of the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and their Senate colleagues urged U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing applications for the DACA program following the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to narrow the nationwide injunction to Texas.

    Currently, more than 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.  Since DACA was established on June 15, 2012, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA and the program has allowed young people to contribute their talents to the United States and their communities.  DACA recipients contribute an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power and $40 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    Reed and Whitehouse support legislation to offer legal pathways for Dreamers. 

    In the letter to USCIS Acting Director Alfonso-Royals, the 41 U.S. Senators began: “Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States.”

    “Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately,” the senators continued.

    The senators further elaborated on the Fifth Circuit’s decision to limit the injunction, writing, “Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, nearly three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.”

    “We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible,” the senators concluded.

    In addition to Reed and Whitehouse, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear Acting Director Alfonso-Royals:

    Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States. Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately.

    In 2001, the Dream Act was introduced on a bipartisan basis to provide a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children but remained vulnerable to deportation. Since that time, the Dream Act has been introduced in every Congress. It has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate with bipartisan majority votes, but no version has yet to be signed into law. In response to bipartisan pressure to protect Dreamers until Congress acted, the Obama Administration implemented DACA through a policy memorandum in 2012.

    Since 2012, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA. Many DACA recipients report that deferred action—and the accompanying employment authorization —allowed them to apply for their first job or move to a higher-paying position more commensurate with their skills. Since its establishment, DACA recipients have contributed an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power, and $40 billion dollars in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen halted the DACA program and enjoined USCIS from approving any new DACA applications nationwide. While the program was enjoined, USCIS has continued to accept and hold initial applications, and in 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published the DACA Final Rule, codifying the 2012 memorandum establishing DACA into regulation. Over 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.

    On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision limiting Judge Hanen’s injunction to Texas. Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.

    We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Whitehouse & Colleagues Mark 13 Years of DACA & Urge Trump Administration to Resume Processing Applications for ‘Dreamers’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Marking the 13th anniversary of the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and their Senate colleagues urged U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing applications for the DACA program following the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to narrow the nationwide injunction to Texas.

    Currently, more than 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.  Since DACA was established on June 15, 2012, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA and the program has allowed young people to contribute their talents to the United States and their communities.  DACA recipients contribute an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power and $40 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    Reed and Whitehouse support legislation to offer legal pathways for Dreamers. 

    In the letter to USCIS Acting Director Alfonso-Royals, the 41 U.S. Senators began: “Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States.”

    “Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately,” the senators continued.

    The senators further elaborated on the Fifth Circuit’s decision to limit the injunction, writing, “Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, nearly three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.”

    “We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible,” the senators concluded.

    In addition to Reed and Whitehouse, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    Full text of the letter follows:

    Dear Acting Director Alfonso-Royals:

    Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States. Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately.

    In 2001, the Dream Act was introduced on a bipartisan basis to provide a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children but remained vulnerable to deportation. Since that time, the Dream Act has been introduced in every Congress. It has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate with bipartisan majority votes, but no version has yet to be signed into law. In response to bipartisan pressure to protect Dreamers until Congress acted, the Obama Administration implemented DACA through a policy memorandum in 2012.

    Since 2012, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA. Many DACA recipients report that deferred action—and the accompanying employment authorization —allowed them to apply for their first job or move to a higher-paying position more commensurate with their skills. Since its establishment, DACA recipients have contributed an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power, and $40 billion dollars in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen halted the DACA program and enjoined USCIS from approving any new DACA applications nationwide. While the program was enjoined, USCIS has continued to accept and hold initial applications, and in 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published the DACA Final Rule, codifying the 2012 memorandum establishing DACA into regulation. Over 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.

    On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision limiting Judge Hanen’s injunction to Texas. Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.

    We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Senate Approves Reed’s Bill to Reign in Abusive Mortgage “Trigger Leads” & Cut Down on Unwanted Spam Calls, Texts and Emails

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Buying or refinancing a home can be a fraught and stressful experience, and now the U.S. Senate is one step closer to making it a little easier by preventing your personal information from being sold and triggering a title wave of unsolicited spam credit offers.

    In an effort to give prospective homebuyers more control over their personal information and crackdown on unfair and deceptive lending practices, the U.S. Senate passed the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (S.1467) to dramatically reduce spam calls, texts, and emails from irresponsible players in the mortgage industry.

    The bipartisan bill, led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), would halt the misuse of mortgage “trigger leads” – which occur when a consumer’s credit inquiry “triggers” the sale of their information to third-party lenders and businesses.  When a mortgage lender runs a credit check during the process to buy a home, it appears on the consumer’s credit report. The major credit reporting bureaus (including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) may then sell that information to other lenders or brokers, which then use it to contact consumers unprompted, often in a predatory manner, to solicit business.

    According to the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) president Jim Nabors: “It is not unusual for bank customers to receive 100+ misleading texts, phone calls and emails within the first 24 hours of applying for a mortgage and the passage of this bill will go a long way in relieving this burden to homebuyers.”

    Prospective homebuyers who are bombarded by these kinds of solicitations typically have no idea their information was sold without their consent.

    The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act would limit the ability of credit reporting bureaus to sell trigger leads to mortgage brokers and lenders when the bureaus learn that a consumer has applied for a mortgage. This legislation would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to include specific restrictions on the use of trigger leads in the residential mortgage lending space, with very limited exceptions for institutions that a consumer currently knows and trusts.

    “Buying a home is already a complex and stressful process. Consumers should not have their private information sold to spammers who then target them with unsolicited, predatory offers.  Passing this bill is a smart, bipartisan solution to halt abusive trigger leads,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. “This is a rare data privacy win.  The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act will put consumers back in the driver’s seat and help cut down on the spam.  It will help reduce predatory practices and provide much needed relief from unwanted industry calls, texts, and emails.”

    “Unsolicited phone calls caused by trigger leads have become an intolerable nuisance to many Tennesseans,” said Senator Hagerty. “I’m pleased that the Senate has passed this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will protect Americans’ data and help reduce endless spam calls.”

    This bill would prohibit credit reporting bureaus from selling a trigger lead unless a mortgage broker or lender certifies to the bureau that they already have a deep financial relationship with the consumer, such as an existing mortgage loan or a deposit account.  Trigger leads would also be permitted if a consumer affirmatively opts in to receiving them.

    There are currently eight states — Rhode Island, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin – that restrict the use of trigger leads in some fashion, and Idaho (new law effective July 2025) and Arkansas (new law effective August 2025) have also recently passed trigger lead laws that will soon take effect.

    Cosponsors in the U.S. Senate include Senators: Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tom Tillis (R-NC), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tina Smith (D-MN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), James E. Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Tommy Tuberville, Tommy (R-AL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Jim Banks (R-IN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Hoeven (R-ND), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Rick Scott (R-FL).

    At the federal level, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act is supported by a broad coalition of consumer advocacy groups and financial trades, including the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Independent Community Bankers of America, the American Bankers Association, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, the Broker Action Coalition, Community Home Lenders of America, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), the Consumer Federation of America, Americans for Financial Reform, and others.

    Identical bipartisan legislation (H.R.2808) has been introduced in the House by Congressman John Rose (R-TN-06) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) and has support from over 80 cosponsors.  On June 10 it was unanimously advanced by the House Financial Services Committee to the full House for debate and consideration.  The bill must be approved by both chambers of Congress before it can be sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Senate Approves Reed’s Bill to Reign in Abusive Mortgage “Trigger Leads” & Cut Down on Unwanted Spam Calls, Texts and Emails

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Buying or refinancing a home can be a fraught and stressful experience, and now the U.S. Senate is one step closer to making it a little easier by preventing your personal information from being sold and triggering a title wave of unsolicited spam credit offers.

    In an effort to give prospective homebuyers more control over their personal information and crackdown on unfair and deceptive lending practices, the U.S. Senate passed the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (S.1467) to dramatically reduce spam calls, texts, and emails from irresponsible players in the mortgage industry.

    The bipartisan bill, led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), would halt the misuse of mortgage “trigger leads” – which occur when a consumer’s credit inquiry “triggers” the sale of their information to third-party lenders and businesses.  When a mortgage lender runs a credit check during the process to buy a home, it appears on the consumer’s credit report. The major credit reporting bureaus (including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) may then sell that information to other lenders or brokers, which then use it to contact consumers unprompted, often in a predatory manner, to solicit business.

    According to the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) president Jim Nabors: “It is not unusual for bank customers to receive 100+ misleading texts, phone calls and emails within the first 24 hours of applying for a mortgage and the passage of this bill will go a long way in relieving this burden to homebuyers.”

    Prospective homebuyers who are bombarded by these kinds of solicitations typically have no idea their information was sold without their consent.

    The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act would limit the ability of credit reporting bureaus to sell trigger leads to mortgage brokers and lenders when the bureaus learn that a consumer has applied for a mortgage. This legislation would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to include specific restrictions on the use of trigger leads in the residential mortgage lending space, with very limited exceptions for institutions that a consumer currently knows and trusts.

    “Buying a home is already a complex and stressful process. Consumers should not have their private information sold to spammers who then target them with unsolicited, predatory offers.  Passing this bill is a smart, bipartisan solution to halt abusive trigger leads,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. “This is a rare data privacy win.  The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act will put consumers back in the driver’s seat and help cut down on the spam.  It will help reduce predatory practices and provide much needed relief from unwanted industry calls, texts, and emails.”

    “Unsolicited phone calls caused by trigger leads have become an intolerable nuisance to many Tennesseans,” said Senator Hagerty. “I’m pleased that the Senate has passed this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will protect Americans’ data and help reduce endless spam calls.”

    This bill would prohibit credit reporting bureaus from selling a trigger lead unless a mortgage broker or lender certifies to the bureau that they already have a deep financial relationship with the consumer, such as an existing mortgage loan or a deposit account.  Trigger leads would also be permitted if a consumer affirmatively opts in to receiving them.

    There are currently eight states — Rhode Island, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin – that restrict the use of trigger leads in some fashion, and Idaho (new law effective July 2025) and Arkansas (new law effective August 2025) have also recently passed trigger lead laws that will soon take effect.

    Cosponsors in the U.S. Senate include Senators: Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tom Tillis (R-NC), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tina Smith (D-MN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), James E. Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Tommy Tuberville, Tommy (R-AL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Jim Banks (R-IN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Hoeven (R-ND), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Rick Scott (R-FL).

    At the federal level, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act is supported by a broad coalition of consumer advocacy groups and financial trades, including the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Independent Community Bankers of America, the American Bankers Association, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, the Broker Action Coalition, Community Home Lenders of America, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), the Consumer Federation of America, Americans for Financial Reform, and others.

    Identical bipartisan legislation (H.R.2808) has been introduced in the House by Congressman John Rose (R-TN-06) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) and has support from over 80 cosponsors.  On June 10 it was unanimously advanced by the House Financial Services Committee to the full House for debate and consideration.  The bill must be approved by both chambers of Congress before it can be sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján, Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration to Resume Processing DACA Applications

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to urge the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, following a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that limited a nationwide injunction to Texas.

    The senators began by highlighting the popular support for providing Dreamers a pathway to citizenship, writing:“Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States.”

    The senators continued by making their request, writing:“Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately.”

    Sunday, June 15 marked the thirteenth anniversary of President Obama establishing the DACA program via policy memorandum in 2012. Since then, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA, empowering recipients to bolster their careers and contribute an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power and $40 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen halted the DACA program and enjoined USCIS from approving any new DACA applications nationwide. While the program was enjoined, USCIS has continued to accept and hold initial applications, and in 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published the DACA Final Rule, codifying the 2012 memorandum establishing DACA into regulation. More than 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.

    On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision limiting Judge Hanen’s injunction to Texas.

    The senators further elaborated on the Fifth Circuit’s decision to limit the injunction, writing: “Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, nearly three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.”

    The senators concluded: “We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible.”

    The letter is led by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    The text of the letter is here and below:

    Dear Acting Director Alfonso-Royals:

    Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute every day to this great nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States. Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately.

    In 2001, the Dream Act was introduced on a bipartisan basis to provide a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children but remained vulnerable to deportation. Since that time, the Dream Act has been introduced in every Congress. It has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate with bipartisan majority votes, but no version has yet to be signed into law. In response to bipartisan pressure to protect Dreamers until Congress acted, the Obama Administration implemented DACA through a policy memorandum in 2012.

    Since 2012, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA. Many DACA recipients report that deferred action—and the accompanying employment authorization — allowed them to apply for their first job or move to a higher-paying position more commensurate with their skills. Since its establishment, DACA recipients have contributed an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power, and $40 billion dollars in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes.

    In 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen halted the DACA program and enjoined USCIS from approving any new DACA applications nationwide. While the program was enjoined, USCIS has continued to accept and hold initial applications, and in 2022, the Department of Homeland Security published the DACA Final Rule, codifying the 2012 memorandum establishing DACA into regulation. Over 100,000 initial DACA applications are pending with USCIS.

    On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision limiting Judge Hanen’s injunction to Texas. Pursuant to the order, in Texas, DACA must resume as a limited program providing protection from deportation for current DACA recipients, but without access to work authorization or driver’s licenses as part of those renewals. This order went into effect on March 11, giving USCIS the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas. However, three months later, USCIS has not made any public announcement on whether new DACA applications will be processed; nor has the agency begun processing initial applications that have been pending with the agency for years.

    We urge you to begin processing these DACA applications immediately, consistent with the Fifth Circuit decision and existing regulations, and to ensure Dreamers eligible to file initial DACA applications can do so as soon as possible.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Withdraw Military Forces from Los Angeles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty troops to American cities without the request of state or local leaders.

    The letter comes after Trump’s unprecedented move to federalize and deploy the California National Guard without the consent of the California Governor and mobilize U.S. Marine Corps elements, deploying approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles amid unrest created by the President’s indiscriminate and intentionally inflammatory immigration enforcement raids across the region. The first 200 Marines arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building on Friday, marking the first time in over 30 years that the Marines have been deployed in the United States.

    Trump deployed these military personnel without the request or support of Governor Gavin Newsom, manufacturing a crisis and repeatedly escalating the conflict in order to create a spectacle. The federalizing of California’s National Guard marked the first time the Guard had been deployed without a Governor’s consent since 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson federalized the Alabama National Guard to protect civil rights protesters in Selma.

    “We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders,” wrote Heinrich, Luján, Padilla, and the entire Democratic Senate Caucus. “This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.”

    The senators slammed the deployment of military personnel as an abuse of power that undermines state and local leadership, interferes with critical law enforcement operations, and wastes military resources and taxpayer dollars. They also expressed concern for the dangerous precedent Trump’s misguided deployment of military forces could set for mobilizing military personnel to other cities across the country.

    “For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order,” continued the senators. “Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request for such federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

    “We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor,” concluded the senators. “Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.”

    The Trump Administration has repeatedly utilized excessive force and aggressive tactics in its immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and across the country. This pattern of unnecessary violence was evident on Thursday when Padilla was forcibly removed from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s press conference,thrown to the ground, and handcuffed after simply trying to ask a question.

    The legality of Trump’s federalizing of California’s National Guard without the Governor’s consent is currently being disputed in federal court. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a stay to pause a lower court’s ruling, which had returned command of the California National Guard to Governor Newsom.

    The district court ruled that the President did not follow the statutorily mandated procedure necessary to deploy the National Guard and ordered him to return control of the Guard to California. The Court ruled that Trump violated the 10th Amendment and 10 USC § 12406, the provision that authorizes the President to federalize the Guard in the event of insurrection or rebellion. The court held that California was also likely to prevail on the merits of its suit — there was no rebellion or insurrection, and local, county, and state law enforcement were fully capable of enforcing the law.

    “At this early stage of the proceedings, the Court must determine whether the President followed the congressionally mandated procedure for his actions. He did not. His actions were illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith,” wrote the court.

    “We’re talking about the president exercising his authority, and the president is, of course, limited to his authority,” the court continued.“That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George. It’s not that a leader can simply say something, and it becomes it.”

    In addition to Heinrich, Luján, and Padilla, the letter to President Trump was signed by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.),  John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear President Trump,

    We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders. This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.

    For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order. Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request for such federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

    We are particularly concerned by the precedent that this ill-conceived deployment of military personnel to Los Angeles sets for other cities and states. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guards when operating within state borders. As Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said last year when serving as Governor of South Dakota, “If Joe Biden federalizes the National Guard, that would be a direct attack on states’ rights.”

    We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor. Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Blue-Collar Wage Growth Sees Largest Increase in Nearly 60 Years Under Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    In President Donald J. Trump’s first five months in office, real wages for hourly workers have seen their largest increase under any administration in nearly 60 years — and we’re just getting started with pro-growth, pro-prosperity policies that finally put America First.
    Blue-collar workers have seen real wages grow almost two percent in the first five months of President Trump’s second term — a stark contrast from the negative wage growth seen during the first five months of the Biden Administration.
    “The only other time it has been this high … was during President Trump’s first term,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in an interview with the New York Post.
    The New York Post notes: “Since Richard Nixon in 1969, Trump has been the only president to record positive growth for blue-collar workers in his first five months. He also achieved 1.3% in his first term … The recovery from a 1.7% decline recorded in Biden’s first five months, as inflation outpaced earnings, suggests a shift in economic conditions for this financially stressed segment of the workforce.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Blue-Collar Wage Growth Sees Largest Increase in Nearly 60 Years Under Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    In President Donald J. Trump’s first five months in office, real wages for hourly workers have seen their largest increase under any administration in nearly 60 years — and we’re just getting started with pro-growth, pro-prosperity policies that finally put America First.
    Blue-collar workers have seen real wages grow almost two percent in the first five months of President Trump’s second term — a stark contrast from the negative wage growth seen during the first five months of the Biden Administration.
    “The only other time it has been this high … was during President Trump’s first term,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in an interview with the New York Post.
    The New York Post notes: “Since Richard Nixon in 1969, Trump has been the only president to record positive growth for blue-collar workers in his first five months. He also achieved 1.3% in his first term … The recovery from a 1.7% decline recorded in Biden’s first five months, as inflation outpaced earnings, suggests a shift in economic conditions for this financially stressed segment of the workforce.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: Implementing the General Terms of the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    IMPLEMENTING A HISTORIC TRADE DEAL: Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order implementing American commitments under the General Terms of the United States-United Kingdom Economic Prosperity Deal.
    This historic trade deal provides American companies unprecedented access to British markets while bolstering U.S. national security.
    The deal will include billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially for beef, ethanol, and certain other American agricultural exports.
    The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminate against American products, hurt the U.S. manufacturing base, and threaten our national security.
    The U.S. and UK will negotiate preferential treatment outcomes for UK pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients contingent on the findings of a Section 232 investigation.
    The U.S. and UK have also committed to adopting a structured, negotiated approach to addressing U.S. national security concerns regarding sectors that may be subject to future Section 232 investigations and UK compliance with certain supply chain security standards.
    This Executive Order addresses automobiles, aerospace, and steel and aluminum.
    For automobiles, the Order provides that the first 100,000 vehicles imported into the U.S. by UK car manufacturers each year will be subject to a total tariff rate of 10% (7.5% plus 2.5% most-favored-nation rate) and any additional imported vehicles each year will be subject to the automobile Section 232 tariff rate of 25%.
    Additionally, automotive parts that are products of the UK and are for use in UK vehicles will be subject to a total tariff rate of 10%.

    For aerospace, the Order provides that certain UK products will no longer be subject to tariffs, thus strengthening aerospace and aircraft manufacturing supply chains.
    For steel and aluminum articles and their derivatives, the Order provides that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative, will establish tariff-rate quotas for UK products consistent with the General Terms of the Economic Prosperity Deal and pursuant to certain principles outlined in the Order. Products outside those quotas or that do not meet certain requirements will remain subject to existing Section 232 tariffs.
    Today’s action strengthens our bilateral relationship with the UK and sets the tone for other trading partners to promote reciprocal trade with the United States.
    ADVANCING RECIPROCAL TRADE: This U.S.-UK trade deal will usher in a golden age of new opportunity for U.S. exporters and level the playing field for American producers.
    On April 2, 2025, Liberation Day, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all countries to address unfair trade practices that have contributed to America’s trade deficit in order to better protect American workers, manufacturers, and our national security. 
    In 2024, the U.S. total goods trade with the UK was an estimated $148 billion.
    The UK average applied agricultural tariff was 9.2%, while the U.S. average applied agricultural tariff (prior to April 2) was 5%.

    On April 18, President Trump had a call with Prime Minister Starmer to discuss our bilateral trade relationship.
    On May 8, President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this historic Economic Prosperity Deal.
    USHERING IN A NEW ERA OF PROSPERITY: Since Day One, President Trump has challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that disadvantage our workers and businesses and contribute to our historic trade deficit.
    President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people, enhancing market access for American exporters and lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers to protect our economic and national security.
    The Economic Prosperity Deal with the United Kingdom is a critical step toward promoting reciprocal trade with a key ally and partner.
    President Trump: “The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers.”
    “The UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminated against American products.”
    “This is now turning out to be, really, a great deal for both countries.”

    Prime Minister Starmer: “This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. It’s going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Holds Hearing Examining FY26 Budget Request for Military Construction and Family Housing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Chairman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, held a hearing examining the fiscal year 2026 budget request for military infrastructure and family housing. As a critical force enabler, these projects support everything from infrastructure tied to new weapons platforms to quality-of-life facilities like hospitals, schools and housing. Chairman Boozman emphasized the need to deliver timely, high-quality facilities on schedule and within budget, and expressed his hope that future budget requests reflect efficiencies that lower the cost of individual projects.
    Chairman Boozman delivered the following opening statement, lightly edited for clarity and length:
    Good morning, and the subcommittee will come to order.
    First, I would like to welcome Ranking Member Ossoff and congratulate him on the birth of his second daughter, Lila.  I look forward to working with you on the subcommittee.
    We meet today to discuss the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for military construction and family housing for the Department of Defense.
    I would like to begin by recognizing today’s panel. Today we will hear from representatives of all the military services as well as the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
    This year’s MILCON request is $18.9 billion, a figure we only recently received due to significant delays in delivery of the budget to Congress. We on the subcommittee look forward to receiving the justification books and related exhibits, which still have not been delivered but are expected later this month.
    From the data currently available, we know this request is an increase of $1.4 billion over the fiscal year 2025 enacted levels. While I am encouraged to see another year of growth in the MILCON request, I remain concerned that we’re not necessarily buying more, we’re simply paying more.
    Some of these budget numbers are staggering.
    Not that long ago hitting the $100 million mark on a single project was significant—now it has become routine. Increments, once the exception, are increasingly the norm, accounting for nearly $6 billion in this year’s request. That’s more than 40 projects so costly they require incremental funding over multiple years. 
    That may seem normal now, but this was not always the case.
    Multi-billion-dollar recapitalization efforts, combined with the increasing complexity of facilities needed to support today’s weapons systems, are resulting in larger and more complex projects.
    At the same time, inflation and other economic pressures continue to escalate costs. This trajectory is not sustainable and future budget requests cannot continue absorbing these rising costs.
    To that end, I am encouraged by the conversations taking place within the Department that are examining the full range of factors—policies, procedures, regulations and laws—that affect MILCON and its associated costs. Some of these are established by Congress, others stem from DoD policy, and some may be self-imposed. 
    As such, the effort required to drive meaningful changes will vary. But I’m hopeful that these discussions will lead to thoughtful analysis, honest dialogue, and ultimately, real improvements in the efficiency of the MILCON process. 
    Some of this will require close collaboration between Congress and the Department, and I’m committed to being a partner in that effort.
    There will always be factors beyond your control, which makes managing the areas you can control all the more critical. 
    The recent injunction reinstating Project Labor Agreement requirements is a clear example of how external influences can introduce uncertainty and added costs into the MILCON process, costs that are especially difficult to anticipate given how long the current planning, programming and budgeting cycle takes.
    I hope one outcome of the ongoing review directed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense is a faster timeline from project inception to final delivery.
    As a critical force enabler, MILCON supports everything from infrastructure tied to new weapons platforms to quality-of-life facilities like hospitals, schools and housing. We owe it to the servicemember, and the taxpayer, to deliver timely, high-quality facilities on schedule and within budget, and I hope that future budget requests reflect efficiencies that lower the cost of individual projects. 
    I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today and continuing the dialogue and work needed for a successful MILCON program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warnock Statement on Medicaid Provisions in Washington Republicans’ Spending Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Warnock Statement on Medicaid Provisions in Washington Republicans’ Spending Bill

    Senate Finance Republicans released the core text of their spending bill that will cut healthcare for millions of Americans
    As written, the GOP proposal will kick over 1.2 million Georgians off Medicaid 
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Let me be clear: people on Medicaid are working; these work reporting requirements are nothing more than a cynical ploy to fund a tax cut for the ultra-wealthy”
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after Senate Republicans published text of their spending bill and its cuts to the Medicaid program.“Senate Republicans just released legislation that prioritizes billionaires over working families. They are raising premiums for over 1.2 million Georgians and using bureaucratic tricks to kick millions off Medicaid. Let me be clear: people on Medicaid are working; these work reporting requirements are nothing more than a cynical ploy to fund a tax cut for the ultra-wealthy. Georgia tried to institute reporting requirements and ended up spending five times more on administrative costs than health care costs. Now, Senate Republicans are trying to implement the failed Georgia model nationwide, because their goal is not to get people to work, it’s to kick people off Medicaid. My constituents want folks in Washington to make it easier to pay their grocery bill and lower the cost of living, not take away their health care.”
    “This is a moral fight, and I will continue to stand up on behalf of ordinary people.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Reports of USPS Reversing Decision, Rosen, Cortez Masto Send Letter Demanding USPS Recommit to Keeping Local Mail in Nevada

    US Senate News:

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

    Last Year, Senator Rosen Led The Bipartisan Effort To Keep Postal Operations In Nevada And Stop USPS Relocation Of Local Letter Mail Processing To California
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) sent a letter to Acting U.S. Postmaster General Doug Tulino and the Board of Governors demanding that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recommit to keeping local letter mail processing in Nevada. Despite announcing last year that local first-class letter mail would continue to be processed in Reno in response to a Rosen-led bipartisan push, the USPS has removed the press release containing the announcement from their website, and Nevadans have reported seeing local, first-class letter mail being processed out of state.
    “On April 23, 2024, USPS officially announced its decision to proceed with its misguided plan to downsize and relocate outgoing mail processing operations from Reno, Nevada to Sacramento, California. After immense pushback from members of Congress, local officials, and the public, USPS agreed to keep local, first-class letter mail processing operations in Reno rather than moving forward with its plan to send local letter mail out of state to Sacramento and back again,” wrote the Senators. “In an August 2024 press release that has since been taken down from the USPS website, USPS officials announced that ‘[t]here will be no change to the location for canceling certain origination mail in Reno. In simpler terms, outgoing single piece mail will continue to be processed at its current location.’”
    “We are therefore alarmed to hear concerns from Nevadans that local, first-class letter mail processing operations may indeed move out of state,” they continued. “As such, we would like for the Postal Service to reaffirm its commitment to the public to not proceed with its original misguided plan, and provide us with the official USPS policy at the Reno facility with respect to local, first-class letter mail processing.”
    Senator Rosen led the fight to protect local postal operations and both Senators have consistently pushed back against the Postal Service’s misguided plan. Last year, Senator Rosen introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Cortez Masto to stop USPS from implementing its plan to relocate outgoing mail processing from Reno to Sacramento. Senator Rosen also held a press conference with Governor Joe Lombardo in May of 2024 to reaffirm their strong, bipartisan opposition to the proposed downsizing and relocation of outgoing mail processing by the United States Postal Service. 
    The full letter can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Combat National Security Threats from China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is cosponsoring legislation to counter threats to U.S. national security posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Countering Chinese Espionage Reporting Act would direct the Attorney General to prepare a report on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts to combat threats from China and espionage in the United States, so that the federal government can better form a fact-based, up-to-date strategy to contain and confront China.
    China poses one of the greatest threats to the United States’ national security and economy. In February 2023, the United States Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had traveled through American airspace for several days — an apparent act of Chinese provocation. It was also revealed last year that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has secretly been operating “service centers” across America — raising questions about China’s surveillance efforts in our country. Additionally, China has leveraged much of its legal system to steal American intellectual property. It leads America’s adversaries as the top thief of United States’ intellectual property (IP). According to the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property, the CCP has stolen IP that is estimated to cost the United States from $225 billion to $600 billion every year.
    “For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has consistently worked to undermine our national security, weaken our economy and steal intellectual property,” said Senator Angus King. “The first step in combatting any threat is to ensure we have a clear understanding of the facts. The bipartisan Counting Chinese Espionage Reporting Act would be a commonsense, invaluable step forward in countering these serious threats posed by Chinese agents. By using our own intelligence and annual reporting from the Department of Justice, we can better protect our communities and companies from foreign bad actors.”
    The Countering Chinese Espionage Reporting Act would:
    Direct the U.S. Attorney General, in coordination with other relevant government agencies, to prepare an annual report on the DOJ’s efforts to counter threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
    Specifically, the report would include details pertaining to:
    The theft of American intellectual property (IP) and research
    Threats from non-traditional collectors, such as researchers in laboratories, at universities and at defense industrial base facilities
    An accounting of DOJ resources dedicated to combating threats from the CCP
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Alongside the Maine delegation he urged the DOJ to crackdown on illegal Chinses-owned marijuana operations in Maine. In the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), he secured a key provision requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit yearly reports focused on deterring hostility from adversaries like China and Russia. During hearings, Senator King has been a vocal advocate for strengthening the United States’ deterrence strategy to defend itself from multiple forms of Chinese aggression.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Hassan and Wyden Introduce Legislation to Help Keep Open Labor and Delivery Units in Rural and Underserved Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Pension, and Labor Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently introduced legislation to address the rising trend of labor and delivery unit closures in rural and underserved areas. These closures, primarily in rural hospitals and hospitals that provide care in underserved areas, have led to a scarcity of critical obstetric care in these communities and have significant consequences for expectant parents, newborns, and families.
    “All families deserve access to safe, quality maternal care, regardless of where they call home,” said Senator Hassan. “The alarming trend of maternity ward closures in rural New Hampshire and rural America puts mothers and babies at risk by forcing them to travel hours for basic care. Right now, my Republican colleagues are pushing forward a bill to give corporate special interests and billionaires a tax break paid for by taking health coverage away from millions of people – which will also harm rural hospitals’ ability to keep their doors open as patients lose access to care. I urge my colleagues to instead support commonsense legislation to help give rural hospitals the resources that they need to support labor and delivery units, and to help ensure that families in our rural communities can access the life-saving care they deserve close to home.” 
    Between 2012 and 2022, approximately one-quarter of all rural hospitals stopped providing obstetrics services, impacting 267 communities nationally. This trend of closures is caused by several overlapping challenges, including the high fixed operating costs of these units, low volumes of births, and difficulties in attracting and retaining OB-trained clinical staff, all of which are made worse by inadequate reimbursement for labor and delivery services. 
    Senator Hassan’s legislation, titled the Keep Obstetrics Local Act (KOLA), would increase Medicaid payment rates for labor and delivery services for eligible rural and high-need urban hospitals, provide “standby” payments to cover the costs of staffing and maintaining an obstetrics unit as well as payment adjustments for labor and delivery services at hospitals with low birth volumes and require all states to provide postpartum coverage for women in Medicaid for 12 months, among other steps. The proposal makes sure that hospitals are required to use these additional resources to invest in the maternal healthcare needs of the local communities they serve.
    “As a partner of North Country Healthcare, the Valley Birthplace at AVH fully supports this proposed legislation to best ensure the health and well-being of mothers in Coos County,” said Michael Peterson, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Androscoggin Valley Hospital. “As the only labor/delivery unit in Northern New Hampshire, we regularly see first-hand how critical it is that maternal health not be compromised. Equally important is making sure that such a vital service can continue to be funded in an environment that continues to be economically-challenged.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Legislation to Lower Cost of Critical Care for Opioid-Use Disorder 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in introducing the Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency (MORE) Savings Act, legislation to make it easier for individuals struggling with an opioid-use disorder (OUD) to access evidence-based treatment. The Senators’ legislation would eliminate costs for opioid treatment and recovery support services for people with private insurance plans and for people enrolled under a new Medicare pilot program, while increasing federal funding for Medicaid treatment programs. 
    Senators Welch and Blumenthal are joined on the legislation by Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). 
    “The opioid crisis is hurting families and communities across the country. In Vermont, opioid overdose deaths have skyrocketed nearly 500% in the past decade. We urgently need to find solutions that make it easier and more affordable for those in crisis to get the addiction care they need,” said Senator Welch. “The MORE Savings Act breaks down barriers to the cost of care and medication to help more Americans recover from opioid-use disorder.”  
    “Opioid use disorders upend lives and can lead to tragic, heart-breaking deaths. Individuals struggling with these disorders need and deserve access to affordable, quality treatment and support. This critical legislation draws on proven strategies in the fight against addiction to promote prevention and treatment efforts,” said Senator Blumenthal. “By removing costly insurance barriers and bolstering Medicaid programs with increased funding, the MORE Savings Act ensures that those battling an opioid use disorder have access to the resources necessary to start and continue on the road to recovery.” 
    “No New Mexican should be forced to choose between getting treatment and paying the rent,” said Senator Heinrich. “I’m proud to support the MORE Savings Act to break down cost barriers to proven, life-saving care and help more people with opioid use disorder start their path to recovery.” 
    “Every day, more than 115 Americans lose their lives to opioid overdoses. As addiction continues to devastate families in New Mexico and across the country, we must ensure that cost is never a barrier to treatment,” said Senator Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency Savings Act— to make treatment more affordable and accessible, so more Americans have the chance to recover.” 
    “The opioid epidemic has devastated families across the country. Cost should never be a barrier to getting addiction treatment. By eliminating the cost of care and medication, the MORE Savings Act would help more Americans break free from addiction and prime their road to recovery,” said Senator Klobuchar. 
    The MORE Savings Act works to provide affordable access to OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery support. Specifically, the legislation requires individual and group health insurance plans to cover prescription drugs and recovery services with no cost-sharing—including copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance—and creates a pilot program to eliminate Medicare cost-sharing for OUD treatment and behavioral health services. The legislation also provides increased funding for Medicaid programs to provide prescription drugs and behavioral health services to better treat individuals struggling with an OUD.  
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 
    Senator Welch has led his colleagues in a series of substance use disorder research, treatment, and prevention efforts. This Congress, Senator Welch reintroduced his bipartisan, bicameral Overcoming Prevalent Inadequacies in Overdose Information Data Sets (OPIOIDS ACT) to confront the devastating opioid crisis and give state and local governments additional tools to address the opioid epidemic in their communities. In 2023, Senator Welch’s bipartisan Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act was signed into law by President Biden. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Democrats should be more open about their faith, Senator Coons tells Jesuitical podcast

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Jesuitical, a podcast from America Media hosted by Ashley McKinless and Zac Davis, for an in-depth interview on Friday. Senator Coons reflected on his Protestant upbringing, expressed his belief that Democrats should be more open about sharing their faith in public life, and shared his thoughts on the election of the first American pope. 

    You can listen here. 

    Key excerpts:

    Early faith and upbringing 

    McKinless: You went to do relief work in Kenya when you were younger, you ended up going to Yale Divinity School. So what was the movement within you that led you to really own your own faith and want it to inform your professional life?

    Senator Coons: As a junior in college, I went to Kenya, and it was a program run by St. Lawrence University. The man who ran it… was the son of missionaries in Kenya, had grown up in Kenya. And the most powerful experience for me was the hospitality of the families I lived with. I lived with several different families in different parts of Kenya, who by our estimation, by an American estimation, were desperately poor. And by their estimation, were blessed and were rich, and really showed me in their prayer. And we went to church together.

    I still remember being at a church service in Ngong, a suburb of Nairobi. And it went on for four hours with great enthusiasm and great jubilation and parading and marching through town and music. 

    …. And so I’d have to say the time that I spent, first in Kenya, then in South Africa… set me to questioning and thinking about my priorities and my values.

    Why Democrats aren’t open about their faith

    Davis: Wanna move a little bit to some of the writing you’ve done about the need for Democrats to talk more openly about their faith. Forty percent, according to a Pew study of Democrats or people who lean democratic, are religiously unaffiliated. And I think most people, in the – at least in the popular imagination, sort of see the Republican Party having sort of a, they’re much more comfortable talking about their faith openly.

    Why do you think that is?

    Senator Coons: … I do think that Pew study about people who are unaffiliated, I think there is a much higher percentage of people I serve with who are Democrats, who are spiritual, who were raised in a specific faith tradition, but who do not publicly affiliate with it, but for whom the reason they went into elected service in the first place, was the view of neighbor, of service, of the importance of humility, of the urgency of acting for others and with others. Many of them, and I’m not going to start naming specific colleagues, but when I told them that tomorrow, this Tuesday, there’s a Pentecost witness, a moral witness against the consequences of the budget, the bill that the Republican majority is trying to move through, number of them said, ‘oh, that’s really good, that’s really interesting, I really support that.’

    I’m also a member of two different prayer groups here. One is explicitly bipartisan, the chaplain convenes and runs it, and it’s about equal numbers, Democrat and Republican. And the other is just Democrats, and it’s mostly focused on racial justice and inequality issues. But there’s many more elected Democrats in the Senate who are regular participants in a prayer breakfast or a reflection group or a spirituality group than you might imagine, given the popular understanding.

    How faith informs Democratic values

    McKinless: One thing that as Catholics we often say is that neither party can hold the fullness of Catholic teaching and to oversimplify things a bit, the Republican Party has been the one that embodies the church’s teaching on life issues and the Democratic Party on economic justice issues. And it seems like often one of those is seen as like optional in the national conversations of that being economic justice because there are different ways to pursue that and then life issues are more cut and dry. I’m curious how you think about that divide?

    Senator Coons: Pope Francis, when he came and addressed Congress, laid that out as clearly as one could have. I thought that was a remarkable address. It was powerful.

    … But he also talked about climate change, welcoming the migrant, the immigrant, economic injustice, wealth and poverty, the importance of organized labor, if I remember correctly. You know, I mean, he really spoke across the entire arc of the church’s teachings. And I often say that the gospels are neither a Democrat nor a Republican document. There’s no clear, thou shalt cut taxes, thou shalt give healthcare to all. I mean, it doesn’t say anything like that.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead Of GENIUS Act Vote, Durbin Highlights President Trump’s Shady Use Of Cryptocurrency For His Own Benefit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 16, 2025

    Durbin: If the Senate passes the GENUIS Act, it would give Congress’ blessing for President Trump & his family to further enrich themselves with little protection for consumers

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning President Trump’s use of cryptocurrency ahead of the Senate vote on the GENUIS Act this week. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted that President Trump’s level of corruption is unprecedented.  

    “Throughout his first term, President Trump was officially skeptical of crypto. In a social media post from July 11, 2019, the President said, ‘I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air. Unregulated cryptoassets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity.’ But once the President figured out how to personally make billions off crypto scams, he changed his tune,” said Durbin.

    Three days before he took office for his second term, President Trump launched his memecoin—a novelty item, similar to baseball cards or Beanie Babies, that holds no intrinsic value. Memecoins are risky and highly volatile. Despite the risks, many investors purchased President Trump’s memecoin, and in the first few weeks after its launch, the President profited up to $100 million in trading fees while more than 200,000 investors lost money. Then, President Trump auctioned off access to himself by hosting a “crypto gala.” The President made a whopping $148 million just off this dinner from the top 220 investors willing to pay for face time with the President. But nearly half the “winners” of the memecoin dinner competition were still “losers.” About 95 attendees suffered a net $8.95 million loss from purchasing President Trump’s memecoin. And in total, 764,000 investors lost money to President Trump’s memecoin scam. 

    “But his corruption does not stop there. His family started its own crypto firm, World Liberty Financial, and in March, they launched their own stablecoin right as the Senate was working on the GENIUS Act, legislation to regulate the stablecoin market. Conveniently, this legislation allows the President and his family to continue owning and issuing stablecoins,” said Durbin.

    Durbin continued, “Passing the GENIUS Act could help the stablecoin market grow 10-fold over the next three years to a $2 trillion market. I will vote ‘no’ when it comes up this week. We prohibit congress from [issuing] cryptocurrency, why do we have two different standards? I think the answer is obvious. If the Senate passes this legislation tomorrow, it would give Congress’ blessing forPresident Trump and his family to further enrich themselves with very little protection for consumers. President Trump’s crypto dealings reportedly account for nearly 40 percent of his net worth… In just a few months, the Trump family has pulled in approximately $1 billion from crypto.”

    Tomorrow, the Senate is scheduled to vote on passage of the GENUIS Act without a single vote on amendments.

    Durbin concluded, “This is shameful, it’s corrupt, especially since we could have stopped this from happening if we had conducted an open amendment process like Leader Thune promised… I filed an amendment to crack down on crypto ATM operators who have been scamming seniors out of their life savings. My amendment would have created guardrails to prevent crypto ATM fraud… Instead, the GENIUS Act will allow crypto scammers to continue [to scam] at the expense of unsuspecting Americans and to the enrichment of the President and his family.”

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

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

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

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Speaks About The Politically Motivated, Targeted, & Deadly Shooting Of Elected Officials In Minnesota

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 16, 2025

    In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also called on his colleagues from both sides of the aisle to speak out and condemn these violent acts

    WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the politically motivated, targeted, and deadly assassination and assassination attempt of elected officials in Minnesota this weekend and called on his colleagues from both sides of the aisle to speak out and condemn these violent acts.

    “Over the weekend, while most of the country slept, a gunman targeted two Minnesota state legislators in their homes. He pretended to be a police officer, and he gunned down Democratic state legislator John Hoffman and his wife. Fortunately, they survived and are recovering from surgery and reportedly in stable condition. We pray for State Senator Hoffman and his wife’s full recovery,” Durbin said. “Then the gunman attacked another Democratic state legislator with over 20 years of service, Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark. She and her husband leave behind two children. These killings are not only horrifying for Minnesota, but a tragedy for America. This heinous act of political violence defies American values and democracy.”

    Durbin continued, “Unfortunately, we have seen a disturbing increase in political violence in recent years, seemingly as part of a misguided and sickening attempt to strike fear and intimidation in the hearts of the American people and those who are engaged in public service. Violence and hate have no place in America. Leaders on both sides of the aisle must speak out and condemn these violent acts. I have said this repeatedly, it bears repeating: political violence from the right or the left is never—never—acceptable and is never the answer.”

    Durbin then spoke out against the radical language we see online and even from some of his Senate colleagues. One Republican Senator tweeted a picture of the Minnesota shooter, and wrote, “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.” He tweeted another picture of the shooter, and wrote, “Nightmare on Waltz Street,” an apparent attempt to blame Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the shooting. Another Republican Senator tweeted about the shooting, “The degree to which the extreme left has become radical, violent, and intolerant is both stunning and terrifying.”

    “To attempt to politicize this tragedy is absolutely unacceptable. This rhetoric from elected officials is beyond dangerous and incites even more violence. It is reprehensible, and it must be called out—on both sides of the aisle—both sides of the aisle,” Durbin said. “Because in the land of the free and the home of the brave, everyone should feel safe expressing their political views—and we must never do so in a way that condones violence or intimidation.”

    Durbin concluded, “I pray for Minnesota during this heartbreaking time and vow to continue to denounce and combat political violence of any kind.”

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

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

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

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to Discuss Conflict in Middle East, Budget Reconciliation, GENIUS Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, the ongoing negotiations of the budget reconciliation package, and final passage of the GENIUS Act.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    Partial Transcript

    Hagerty on Trump preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon: “It’s not surprising. President [Donald] Trump has been entirely clear this entire period that Iran needs to come to the table, that he will not allow them to have a nuclear weapon. Yet what does Iran do? Continues to tap the ball. They go past the 60-day window that they’d been given, and they continue to advance their nuclear program. It’s no surprise that Israel has taken the action that they have, Maria. I think they have no choice. This is an existential decision on behalf of [Israel Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. He cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon because Iran’s been very clear: death to Israel and also death to America. We have to take them at their word. This regime has been nothing but using every tactic in the book to, basically, buy more time to ‘negotiate’ while, in the background, they continue to develop this weapon. This capability is something we can’t let them finalize. President Trump has been, again, extraordinarily clear. He will not let that happen.”

    Hagerty on the U.S. standing with Israel: “I think President Trump has been very clear. He’s not for these forever wars that go on. I agree with that. At the same time, he’s also been very clear that we stand with Israel. I think most people in America feel the same way. I think President Trump has a spectrum of options before him. I’m not going to get ahead of him and try to predict what he might do, but I’ll say this: Israel’s doing an incredible job. Their intelligence has been impeccable, and I think the Iranians need to wake up and realize they’re on their back foot. They’re on their back heel, and they need to get to the table quickly to get this resolved because they are not winning.”

    Hagerty on China supporting Iran’s terror regime: “They have been supporting Iran, Maria, over time. If you think about it, who’s been buying this illicit oil? Iran’s been evading sanctions. How? They’re selling their oil to China. China’s been providing the funds. The funds have been used, therefore, to build up Hamas, to build up Hezbollah, to build up Houthis. It’s Iranian technology, Iranian knowhow, that’s being used, along with Iranian funds, which are being, basically, funneled from China through Iran, back into these zones of terror. China needs to bring this to a complete halt. They need to join us, and we need to see this come to an end.”

    Hagerty on the ongoing budget reconciliation negotiations: “There’s a lot in that that, I think, is going to be refined. There’s going to be more deficit reduction orientation in what the Senate is working on right now. I’m not going to get in the middle of negotiations, but just take SALT, for example, the state and local tax exemption. It came over from the House with a $40,000 exemption per year. The Senate’s come back with a $10,000 exemption. That’s a negotiation that’s underway. Again, I’m not going to try to get ahead of the negotiators, but this is what’s going to take place. This is how it gets done here in Washington. Overall, though, I’d say this: we have to keep in mind that to not address this, to not address the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, would deliver north of $4 trillion of tax increases to the American people. The White House budget model predicts that there would be a six percent decline in GDP next year, were that to happen. We’re not going to let that happen either, Maria. So, we’re in the process of fine-tuning. Everybody wants this to be as conservative as it can be, but also, it’s imperative that we get this passed and passed quickly, so the capital expenditure plans can firm up, so that the investments that we want to see happen in America do begin to get plans. The 2026 is the best year we’ve seen on record.”

    Hagerty on SALT provisions: “I think you look at the Senate, we don’t have a SALT constituency in the Senate. We don’t have [Republican] senators from California, New York, Illinois. We’re trying to address this, but we’re trying to do this in a fiscally responsible manner. Again, we’re in the middle of a negotiation. [Representative] Mike [Lawler] is at $40,000, the U.S. Senate right now is at $10,000. Again, I’m sure Mike will be clear in his point tomorrow, but we’re in the middle of a negotiation. We’ll see where it lands.”

    Hagerty on the IRA subsidies: “I think they’re going to be scrutinized very, very carefully, Maria. I understand the arguments that is that certain companies are relied, to their detriment, on the tax subsidies that were there, but I think we’re going through this with a fine-tooth comb. Certainly, we don’t want to see anymore new utilization of these types of tools, and I think they’re trying to minimize the disruption in the damage that might have occurred from those companies that have already relied upon it and started projects.”

    Hagerty on final passage of the GENIUS Act: “I’m very enthusiastic about the stablecoin legislation that I’ve led. We’ve been working on this for months. We have a strong bipartisan product. We will deliver that midday today. We’ll have it ready, and I think it’s got a tremendous amount of input from the industry, from my colleagues here. We’ve involved the administration. I think we’re going to have a great product that actually sets the stage for moving into a modern-day payment system into the 21st century. Getting us off the old system that was designed in the 1970s and eighties, making the dollar the key element in the digital arena. And frankly, it will stimulate more demand for U.S. treasuries. It will strengthen the dollar’s position as a reserve currency. We’re going to see that advance in a way that, again, takes a lot of friction out of an old, clunky system, reduces counterparty risk, reduces currency risk, and will bring a lot of working capital back to the companies that need it and back into the economy. With respect to the [Securities and Exchange Commission], I couldn’t ask for a better partner than [SEC Chairman] Paul Atkins. He’s doing a terrific job already. We’re going to be working arm-in-arm to try to help advance the entire cryptocurrency industry, the entirety of this industry, that’ll keep us on the cutting edge of the 21st century. As you mentioned, I want to make my state a hub. We’ve got Bitcoin miners there. We’ve got Bitcoin Park there. We had the great Bitcoin Conference there that President Trump attended. That’s where he announced that he would be firing [Former SEC Chairman] Gary Gensler. I think that received great applause, and I think everybody’s extremely happy to see someone, strong conservative, hard-nosed fellow, like Paul Atkins, coming into office. I’m looking forward to working, arm-in-arm, together with him.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Democratic HELP Members Demand Hearings on Impacts of Republican Budget Bill on Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Lawmakers: “Failure to hold hearings and a markup on this reconciliation bill before it is considered on the Senate floor would be an abdication of our duty to the American people.”
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined every Democratic member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to demand Senate hearings to examine the disastrous impact of the Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill on the health and well-being of the American people and markup this legislation before it reaches the Senate floor.
    “We are deeply concerned that if these policies were signed into law they would create a national health care emergency,” the lawmakers wrote. “Not only would millions of Americans lose their health insurance and tens of thousands of our constituents die as a result of the House-passed reconciliation bill, the cost of prescription drugs would go up for seniors, hospitals and community health centers in rural and underserved areas would close or shut down access to services that patients rely on, and nursing homes would be made less safe.”
    The lawmakers continued: “Regardless of your views on the merits of these policies, we hope you agree with us that the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has a solemn responsibility to hold extensive hearings on the impact these policies would have on the health and well-being of the American people and our entire health care system.” 
    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of the Republican budget stated the legislation would result in 16 million Americans losing health insurance and increase our national debt by $2.4 trillion.  
    Nearly 80 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) nationally. Medicaid covers the care for over 60% of all nursing home residents.
    The Republican budget proposal calls for extreme Medicaid cuts of more than $700 billion, which would take away people’s health benefits; make it harder for them to see their health care providers; and prevent seniors from getting nursing home care.
    The Senate now must consider the House-passed budget. Hickenlooper has already voted against the Republican budget resolution on the Senate floor twice and offered amendments to prevent cuts to Medicaid. He will vote against the proposal again when it comes to the Senate.
    Read the full letter HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Lays Out Six “Big Beautiful” Options to Save Tens of Billions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) rolled out six proposals for the One Big Beautiful Bill based on her decade of work to make Washington Squeal, reduce reckless spending, and save taxpayers’ money.
    Ernst’s proposals would save tens of billions of dollars by eliminating bogus payments, snapping back SNAP overpayments, ending unemployment for millionaires, defunding welfare for politicians, stopping subsidies for union bosses, and selling vacant buildings.
    Here is some of the coverage of the proposals:
    Fox News | Republican senators roll out DOGE budget proposals for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
    “While a $9.4 billion rescissions package, a formal request from the executive branch to codify its DOGE cuts, is in the works, proponents of the Senate DOGE package say their total estimated savings would accentuate that and also surpass it in value.”
    National Review |Ernst Pushes Plan to End Food Stamp Overpayments to Cut Spending in ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill
    “Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) is rolling out a series of measures to cut spending in the GOP’s ‘big, beautiful,’ bill including a proposal for ending mismanagement in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.”
    New York Post | Sen. Joni Ernst pushes to ban taxpayer-funded union time in One Big Beautiful Bill Act
    “Sen. Joni Ernst wants to tweak the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act to eliminate the longstanding practice of taxpayer-funded union time. Approximately $160 million of your money went toward fed workers’ union time as of 2019, the last time such data was available, and Ernst (R-Iowa) has been on a quest for more recent information.”
    Breitbart | Sen. Joni Ernst Aims to Stop Fraudulent Payments as Pay-For in Big Beautiful Bill
    “The Hawkeye State senator, as the chair of the Small Business Committee, aims to have her bill, the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act, as a pay-for in Trump’s marquee bill to stop fraudulent and improper federal payments. The legislation could have a significant effect, as more than $160 billion in improper payments occurred in fiscal year 2024.”
    The six proposals are:
    Saving billions in bogus payments
    Snapping back overpayments
    Ernst’s Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act strengthens the integrity of the important Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by identifying all errors, clawing back overpayments, and holding states with high payment inaccuracies accountable.
    In 2023, there were approximately $10.73 billion in overpayments. However, the true cost is unknown because errors totaling $56 or less are excluded.
    Ending unemployment for millionaires
    Eliminating welfare for politicians
    The ELECT Act eliminates the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which utilizes tax dollars to fund presidential campaigns.
    This fund has been dipped into previously to reduce spending. Last year, $320 million was allocated to Secret Service and $25 million was given to the Department of Justice.
    Ending the absurd practice of taxpayer-funded union time
    Ernst’s Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallet Act ends the absurd policy of taxpayer-funded union time which allows federal employees to engage in union activities when they are supposed to be serving the American people.
    It cost taxpayers at least $160 million per year according to the most recent report from 2019.
    Selling vacant buildings
    Ernst has exposed how it costs billions every year to maintain thousands of vacant government buildings and empty offices.
    Selling just a handful of these buildings would generate hundreds of millions of dollars.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Sanders as Cosponsor of No War Against Iran Act 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Israel’s military strikes against Iran, which threaten to further destabilize the Middle East and draw the United States into yet another military conflict, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in introducing the No War Against Iran Act to prohibit the use of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran absent specific Congressional authorization. The bill contains an exception for self-defense as enshrined in the War Powers Act and applicable U.S. law. 
    Joining Senators Welch and Sanders on this legislation are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). 
    “Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund another reckless, open-ended conflict instigated by Prime Minister Netanyahu,” said Senator Welch. “War has badly damaged this region. Millions of civilians face acute hunger and need lifesaving aid in Gaza right now. Netanyahu just upended U.S.-led negotiations to limit Iran’s nuclear program in favor of recklessly escalating tensions. Congress needs to listen to the American people, as our founders intended, before getting involved.” 
    “Netanyahu’s reckless and illegal attacks violate international law and risk igniting a regional war. Congress must make it clear that the United States will not be dragged into Netanyahu’s war of choice,” said Senator Sanders. “Our Founding Fathers entrusted the power of war and peace exclusively to the people’s elected representatives in Congress, and it is imperative that we make clear that the President has no authority to embark on another costly war without explicit authorization by Congress. Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions more dollars and lead to even more deaths, more conflict, and more displacement. I will do everything that I can as a Senator to defend the Constitution and prevent the U.S. from being drawn into another war.” 
    “The Constitution is clear: Congress decides when our country goes to war, not the President or the Netanyahu government,” said Senator Warren. “The Trump administration must prioritize de-escalation to prevent this spiraling into a war that jeopardizes U.S. troops and destabilizes the Middle East.” 
    “As strikes between Israel and Iran continue, we need de-escalation and restraint from all sides. Trump’s reckless decision to abandon the JCPOA nuclear agreement, cheered on by Netanyahu, helped bring us to this dangerous moment. This bill makes clear: the President cannot launch another war in the Middle East without Congressional authorization. It’s long past time for Congress to reassert its constitutional role and prevent another disastrous conflict,” said Senator Merkley. 
    “Instead of bringing wars to an end, Trump is facilitating them — leading to civilian deaths and threatening American lives in the region. Only the Congress has the constitutional power to declare war, and President Trump must not drag us further into this conflict without Congressional approval,” said Senator Van Hollen. 
    “Our Constitution and laws give Congress, not the President, the exclusive powers to authorize military force and declare war. Congress must reassert that authority so that we are not drawn into a catastrophic regional war that would further imperil the safety of American citizens and forces, the stability of Middle East, and the lives of innocent civilians,” said Senator Markey. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Condemns Republicans’ Egregious Attacks on Health Care, Clean Energy, and Children in Senate Finance Reconciliation Text

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (June 16, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans released the Senate Finance portion of their reconciliation bill text.

    “Tonight, Senate Republicans released bill text that would take from children and families, make the biggest cuts to health care in United States history, and forsake the future of our planet – all to give tax breaks to billionaires. Millions of children would lose the Child Tax Credit. Cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act would force hospitals and nursing homes to cut back services or close, and millions of Americans would need to travel further, wait longer, and pay more for their health care. 

    “Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are doubling down on egregious attacks on the historic investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, threatening hundreds of thousands of jobs and hundreds of billions in investments in our communities. Instead of helping to lower energy costs and reduce pollution, Republicans are continuing their vendetta against wind and solar energy – the cheapest and cleanest sources of electricity – to pad the pockets of their Big Oil and Gas Buddies.

    “Republicans do not have to pass this Big, Ugly Bill. There is no need to force people out of work, rip people’s health care away from them, or steal from our future. Republicans must stand up and say no to this Big Billionaire Boondoggle.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Meets with Local Iowa Leaders

    US Senate News:

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

    RED OAK, Iowa – Over the past few weeks, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has met with local leaders representing cities and chambers of commerce across Iowa to discuss their top priorities.
    Ernst’s discussions included the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, the Quad Cities Chamber, and the City of Cedar Rapids.
    “Whether traveling River to River or in meetings with constituents, hearing directly from folks at home about the issues that matter most to them is essential to my efforts to bring Iowa common sense and values to Washington,” said Senator Ernst. “From my work to resolve Urbandale’s ZIP code boundary dispute and standing up for the National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City to unleashing small business innovation as Chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, I will always bring Iowans’ concerns to the highest levels.”

    Ernst meets with leaders from the City of Bondurant.
    Download photos from more of her meetings here.
    See what local leaders are saying about Ernst’s work for Iowans:
    “For 70 years, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce has descended upon our nation’s capital to share our primary concerns, priorities, and political positions,” said Chris McGowan, President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. “With this in mind, we are here this week, with over 40 Siouxland business leaders, to advocate for our tri-state community with our federal elected officials, including United States Senator Joni Ernst.”
    “Strong businesses create strong communities. The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce met with the Iowa delegation to underscore the importance of certainty to guarantee investment in our communities,”said Molly Grover, President of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re here with our community leaders from the public and private sector to advocate for a robust business climate conducive to economic job growth and development as well as a more vibrant and prosperous Dubuque.”
    “We are incredibly grateful for Senator Ernst’s support for Iowa, including to create high-quality jobs and a stable tax base,” said Hollie Zajicek, Director of the Economic Development Director for the City of Norwalk and Commissioner of the Greater Des Moines Sister Cities Commission. “I remember working with Senator Ernst years ago when she was the auditor for Montgomery County. I’m proud to say she’s the same person now that she was then; genuine, kind, hardworking, brave, and always doing the right thing for taxpayers, the great state of Iowa, and our amazing United States of America. We look forward to her continuous work to put Iowans first for many years to come.” 
    “We greatly appreciate discussing the issues that are most important to our community with Senator Ernst and her staff while in Washington, D.C.,” said Bob Andeweg, Mayor of the City of Urbandale.“The Senator has a proven track record of not only listening to our needs and concerns but taking action to address them and serve Iowans. Look no further than her work to resolve the ongoing ZIP code boundary dispute in Urbandale. She has been a leader in resolving this issue to get our residents the timely and efficient mail service they need.”
    “It was an honor to join Senator Ernst in Washington, D.C., and advocate alongside fellow Chamber leaders and city officials on key issues impacting the Des Moines region,” said Tiffany Menke, President of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. “For Urbandale, one of the most pressing concerns is the ZIP code boundary challenge, which affects everything from business perception to service delivery. We’re grateful for Senator Ernst’s openness to hearing our concerns and her ongoing commitment to supporting Iowa’s local economies through responsive, informed policymaking.”
    “The Partnership trip provides an opportunity for us to come together and advocate for the issues we see as most impactful to Central Iowa,” said Doug Elrod, Mayor of the City of Bondurant. “Senator Ernst takes the time to dig in and understand these, along with the specific issues which are important for Bondurant.  We feel she knows our community and has been with us along our journey. We are thankful to the Senator and her team for their service to Central Iowa and Bondurant!”
    “Meeting with Senator Ernst and her staff in Washington, DC is a critical opportunity for our members and community stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. “These visits strengthen our advocacy efforts and reinforce our shared priorities, which is why we place such a strong emphasis on being present and engaged in our nation’s capital.”
    “We were proud to represent Cedar Rapids in Washington, D.C. this week, meeting with members of our federal delegation and key administration officials to advocate for critical infrastructure and economic development projects,” said Tiffany O’Donnell, Mayor of the City of Cedar Rapids. “We explored targeted grant opportunities and strengthened federal partnerships to help turn today’s conversations into tomorrow’s benefits for our community. We also expressed our appreciation for Senator Ernst’s continued support in advancing important projects like our Flood Control System and 8th Avenue Bridge replacement.”

    MIL OSI USA News –