NewzIntel.com

Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Rochester, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Rochester Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 40,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 25,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In Rochester Area Alone

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Jordan Health’s Woodward Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Rochester hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    New York-based community health centers, like Jordan Health, that care for every patient who walks through their doors are estimated to lose $300 million annually as a result of this bill. The impact will vary by health center, but losses will range from 6 to 17%, depending on how many of their patients are covered by Medicaid or New York’s Essential Plan.

    Health centers already operate on a shoestring budget, and this kind of funding cut will have very serious consequences. Already, over 60% of health centers have less than 90 days of cash on hand, and more than 20 percent have reduced staffing or closed sites in the past year due to financial strain. Cuts of this magnitude will cause more closures, more staffing cuts, and reduced access for the 2.4 million patients that our New York community health centers serve.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    Gillibrand was joined by Jordan Health President and CEO Dr. Linda Clark and State Senator Jeremy Cooney.

    “Here are the facts: One in every eight people in New York State relies on a Community Health Center for care, and more than 60% of those people are covered by Medicaid, so nearly half of all health center funding comes from Medicaid,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “We’ve done the math – the proposals included in the House bill will cost New York’s community health centers $300M annually. If you limit access to Medicaid, you hurt Community Health Centers and the people they serve. That’s a fact.”

    “We are in a critical state when it comes to the proposed Medicaid program funding cuts and changes,” said Dr. Linda Clark, president and CEO of Jordan Health. “More than 70% of our patients are enrolled in a Medicaid program and depend on funding to cover the costs of their care. Access to high-quality healthcare is not a privilege it is a necessity and impacts our community as a whole.”

    “There is nothing big or beautiful about the Republican tax bill being discussed in Congress,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “Now more than ever, we need to stand up on behalf of our vulnerable populations and make it clear that cutting Medicaid is inhumane and unacceptable. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Gillibrand in pushing back against the President’s reckless policies and for defending the values that Rochesterians hold dear.”

    “Medicaid is a lifeline for countless working families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals in our community. The proposed GOP reconciliation bill represents a direct attack on their health, safety, and dignity,” said New York State Assemblyman Demond Meeks. “Cuts to Medicaid would mean fewer doctor visits, longer wait times for care, and the closure of community health centers that serve as the only option for many in underserved areas. This is not just bad policy—it’s a moral failure. I applaud Senator Gillibrand for taking a stand and bringing national attention to what these cuts would mean for real people. We must not allow partisan politics in Washington to strip away essential care from those who need it most.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Rochester, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Rochester Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care
    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 40,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 25,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In Rochester Area Alone
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Jordan Health’s Woodward Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Rochester hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.
    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.
    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.
    New York-based community health centers, like Jordan Health, that care for every patient who walks through their doors are estimated to lose $300 million annually as a result of this bill. The impact will vary by health center, but losses will range from 6 to 17%, depending on how many of their patients are covered by Medicaid or New York’s Essential Plan.
    Health centers already operate on a shoestring budget, and this kind of funding cut will have very serious consequences. Already, over 60% of health centers have less than 90 days of cash on hand, and more than 20 percent have reduced staffing or closed sites in the past year due to financial strain. Cuts of this magnitude will cause more closures, more staffing cuts, and reduced access for the 2.4 million patients that our New York community health centers serve.
    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”
    Gillibrand was joined by Jordan Health President and CEO Dr. Linda Clark and State Senator Jeremy Cooney.
    “Here are the facts: One in every eight people in New York State relies on a Community Health Center for care, and more than 60% of those people are covered by Medicaid, so nearly half of all health center funding comes from Medicaid,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “We’ve done the math – the proposals included in the House bill will cost New York’s community health centers $300M annually. If you limit access to Medicaid, you hurt Community Health Centers and the people they serve. That’s a fact.”
    “We are in a critical state when it comes to the proposed Medicaid program funding cuts and changes,” said Dr. Linda Clark, president and CEO of Jordan Health. “More than 70% of our patients are enrolled in a Medicaid program and depend on funding to cover the costs of their care. Access to high-quality healthcare is not a privilege it is a necessity and impacts our community as a whole.”
    “There is nothing big or beautiful about the Republican tax bill being discussed in Congress,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “Now more than ever, we need to stand up on behalf of our vulnerable populations and make it clear that cutting Medicaid is inhumane and unacceptable. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Gillibrand in pushing back against the President’s reckless policies and for defending the values that Rochesterians hold dear.”
    “Medicaid is a lifeline for countless working families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals in our community. The proposed GOP reconciliation bill represents a direct attack on their health, safety, and dignity,” said New York State Assemblyman Demond Meeks. “Cuts to Medicaid would mean fewer doctor visits, longer wait times for care, and the closure of community health centers that serve as the only option for many in underserved areas. This is not just bad policy—it’s a moral failure. I applaud Senator Gillibrand for taking a stand and bringing national attention to what these cuts would mean for real people. We must not allow partisan politics in Washington to strip away essential care from those who need it most.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Rochester, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Rochester Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 40,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 25,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In Rochester Area Alone

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Jordan Health’s Woodward Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Rochester hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    New York-based community health centers, like Jordan Health, that care for every patient who walks through their doors are estimated to lose $300 million annually as a result of this bill. The impact will vary by health center, but losses will range from 6 to 17%, depending on how many of their patients are covered by Medicaid or New York’s Essential Plan.

    Health centers already operate on a shoestring budget, and this kind of funding cut will have very serious consequences. Already, over 60% of health centers have less than 90 days of cash on hand, and more than 20 percent have reduced staffing or closed sites in the past year due to financial strain. Cuts of this magnitude will cause more closures, more staffing cuts, and reduced access for the 2.4 million patients that our New York community health centers serve.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    Gillibrand was joined by Jordan Health President and CEO Dr. Linda Clark and State Senator Jeremy Cooney.

    “Here are the facts: One in every eight people in New York State relies on a Community Health Center for care, and more than 60% of those people are covered by Medicaid, so nearly half of all health center funding comes from Medicaid,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “We’ve done the math – the proposals included in the House bill will cost New York’s community health centers $300M annually. If you limit access to Medicaid, you hurt Community Health Centers and the people they serve. That’s a fact.”

    “We are in a critical state when it comes to the proposed Medicaid program funding cuts and changes,” said Dr. Linda Clark, president and CEO of Jordan Health. “More than 70% of our patients are enrolled in a Medicaid program and depend on funding to cover the costs of their care. Access to high-quality healthcare is not a privilege it is a necessity and impacts our community as a whole.”

    “There is nothing big or beautiful about the Republican tax bill being discussed in Congress,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “Now more than ever, we need to stand up on behalf of our vulnerable populations and make it clear that cutting Medicaid is inhumane and unacceptable. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Gillibrand in pushing back against the President’s reckless policies and for defending the values that Rochesterians hold dear.”

    “Medicaid is a lifeline for countless working families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals in our community. The proposed GOP reconciliation bill represents a direct attack on their health, safety, and dignity,” said New York State Assemblyman Demond Meeks. “Cuts to Medicaid would mean fewer doctor visits, longer wait times for care, and the closure of community health centers that serve as the only option for many in underserved areas. This is not just bad policy—it’s a moral failure. I applaud Senator Gillibrand for taking a stand and bringing national attention to what these cuts would mean for real people. We must not allow partisan politics in Washington to strip away essential care from those who need it most.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Saranac Lake, Gillibrand Highlights The Critical Role Of Rural Health Care In Our Communities, Discusses How The “Big Beautiful Bill” Will Hurt North Country Hospitals And Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 44,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance In the 21st Congressional District

    SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Adirondack Medical Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt North Country hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    Gillibrand was joined by CEO of Adirondack Health Aaron Kramer and CEO of Hudson Headwaters Health Network Dr. Tucker Slingerland.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Earns Defender of Limited Government Award, Ranked as 5th Most Conservative Senator

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    June 16, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) today earned the “Defender of Limited Government Award” for her conservative, pro-Wyoming voting record by the Institute for Legislative Analysis. 
    The ranking was based on over 100,000 votes – the most expansive study performed on the U.S. Congress. According to the ranking, Senator Lummis is also the 5th most Conservative Member of the U.S. Senate. 
    “The people of Wyoming sent me to the U.S. Senate to champion limited government and conservative values – and I’ve stood firm in that mission every single day,” said Lummis. “I’m honored to accept this award from the Institute for Legislative Analysis and will continue the fight to shrink our government and defend our fundamental liberties.”
    “The Institute for Legislative Analysis is proud to recognize Senator Cynthia Lummis with our Defender of Limited Government Award,” said ILA CEO Ryan McGowan. “Senator Lummis ranks among the top ten U.S. Senators whose voting record most consistently aligns with the limited government principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Her record demonstrates strong leadership in lowering costs for working families by advancing policies that promote American energy dominance. We thank her for her dedication to fiscal responsibility and her commitment to ensuring prosperity for future generations.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Reintroduces Legislation to Ban Sanctuary Cities From Receiving Federal Subsidies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    Representative Ralph Norman is leading the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives

    WASHINGTON—Last week, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, reintroduced the No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation to amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to prevent sanctuary cities from receiving federal subsidies. Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC-05) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “Cities that encourage illegal immigration shouldn’t be rewarded with federal housing subsidies,” said Senator Hagerty. “The Trump administration has made it clear that illegal immigration will not be tolerated anywhere in the United States, and cities that defy American sovereignty will face the consequences. I’m pleased to reintroduce this legislation that prevents taxpayer dollars from flowing to sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce the law.”

    “It’s simple: if you’re going to ignore federal immigration law, don’t expect to get a dime of federal tax dollars,” said Congressman Norman. “Sanctuary cities are putting politics over public safety, and that’s unacceptable. This bill makes clear that cities choosing to harbor illegal immigrants at the expense of public safety will no longer receive taxpayer money.”

    Full text of the No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boston Globe: Warren, Markey call for probe into ‘escalating aggression’ by federal agents in immigration raids

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    June 12, 2025

    Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey have called for an investigation into the “increasingly aggressive and intimidating tactics” used by federal agents in immigration raids across the country, according to a letter sent Wednesday to the US Department of Homeland Security.

    “ICE’s escalating aggression is not making us safer,” read the letter, which was cosigned by all nine of the state’s representatives in Congress.

    US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are hiding their identities, targeting sensitive locations, inflicting physical harm and psychological terror, and “stoking fear,” the letter said.

    The seven-page letter comes amid several days of fiery protests in Los Angeles as immigration agents sweep job sites, factories, and graduation ceremonies.

    …

    Read the full story here.

    By:  Tonya Alanez
    Source: Boston Globe

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CBS News: Warren urges Trump to “abandon” DOGE’s “inefficient and harmful” agenda in new letter

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 12, 2025
    Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is urging President Trump to “reverse course” on the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to cut government spending and agencies, advocating instead that he implement her policy proposals to find savings, days after a split between Elon Musk and the president spilled into public view.
    “Although Mr. Musk and DOGE have failed at achieving their purported savings goals, you could choose to end this government waste while avoiding dangerous cuts to important federal Programs,” Warren wrote in a letter to Mr. Trump along with Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, the top Democrat on the House DOGE subcommittee. “You should learn from Elon Musk and DOGE’s mistakes, end your attacks on critical federal programs, and instead act on these recommendations.”
    The Democrats penned a letter to Mr. Trump outlining “DOGE’s failures,” along with recommendations that they said would save the U.S. more than $2 trillion over 10 years. The letter, obtained exclusively by CBS News, follows a letter Warren wrote to Musk in January, outlining the 30 recommendations.
    …
    Read the full story here.
    By:  Kaia HubbardSource: CBS News
    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The New York Times: Elizabeth Warren: Trump Is Right About This One Thing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    June 12, 2025

    It is possible that hell has frozen over. President Trump and I agree on something very important: Abolish the debt limit.

    The debt limit is a political tool that allows the minority party to threaten economic collapse, forcing Congress to negotiate its demands. It serves no other function. None. It has no impact on spending, and it doesn’t restrain the growth of the national debt.

    I’ve pushed publicly and privately, whether Democrats or Republicans have been in charge, to scrap the debt ceiling permanently. Now, with Mr. Trump’s support, our country could finally get rid of this form of brinkmanship that has, for decades, threatened the stability of our economy.

    …

    Read the full story here.

    By:  Senator Elizabeth Warren
    Source: New York Times

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement: “The U.S. Must Not Be Dragged into Netanyahu’s War Against Iran”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, June 16 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement amid Israel’s illegal, unilateral attacks on Iran:

    Netanyahu started this war with a surprise unilateral attack against Iran, which has already killed hundreds of people and wounded many more. This attack was specifically designed to sabotage American diplomatic efforts: Israel assassinated the man overseeing Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, despite the fact that further talks with the United States were scheduled for Sunday. Whatever you think of the corrupt and authoritarian Iranian regime, this attack clearly violates international law and the United Nations Charter. 

    The United States must not be dragged into another of Netanyahu’s wars — not militarily or financially. The U.S. Constitution is crystal clear: there can be no offensive use of military force — against Iran or any other country — without an explicit authorization from Congress. No such authorization exists, and any such involvement would be illegal. Congress must not yield on this issue of enormous consequence. 

    And let’s remember who Benjamin Netanyahu is: He is a war criminal under indictment by the International Criminal Court for the use of starvation as a method of warfare and directing attacks against the civilian population in Gaza. At this very moment, in Gaza, Israel continues to prevent the U.N. and other aid groups from delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid to starving civilians. In just the last two weeks, Israeli forces have killed hundreds of civilians trying to reach the few militarized aid distribution sites the Israeli government has permitted to operate. 

    Netanyahu’s illegal, unilateral attack on Iran is just his latest violation of international law. Under his extremist government, Israel is increasingly becoming a rogue state and a pariah among nations. The United States must not be a part of this war.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capitol Hill Touts Benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    Across Capitol Hill, members of Congress have been sharing with their constituents the benefits of President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill — which include the largest tax cut in history, higher wages and take-home pay, unprecedented spending cuts, border security, protecting Medicaid, modernizing air traffic control, and much more.
    Here are what some members of Congress are saying around the country:
    Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on FoxNews.com: How Senate Republicans are restoring rule of law and securing border for years to come
    “While Democrat allies riot in the streets, Republicans are standing up for what’s right. Today, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I released legislative text for my committee’s section of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ The Judiciary Committee’s provisions provide historic investments to strengthen our nation’s border security and immigration system, support local law enforcement and protect American families from violence like we’ve seen in Los Angeles. The costs of the judiciary section are offset by immigration application fees, which inject accountability into the immigration system.”
    Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) in Cowboy State Daily: Trump’s Border Triumph — Making America Secure Again
    “The Senate is currently developing President Trump’s comprehensive legislative package, known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, with the goal of passage by July 4th. This legislation contains several immigration measures that I believe are essential. The bill provides funding to help finish President Trump’s border wall, and gives Border Patrol and ICE agents the resources, technology, and personnel they need to carry out the mission … The American people were clear last November when they voted and told Washington, D.C. that it is time to fully secure our border and deport illegal aliens. These provisions give President Trump and his administration the resources they need to continue delivering on this mandate.”
    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) on FoxNews.com: Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill will keep our border the most secure it’s been in history
    “Our country stands at a crossroads. Thanks to President Donald Trump’s and Homeland Security Secretary Noem’s leadership, our border is secure. We can either capitalize on this success and give law enforcement the resources it needs to keep it secure by passing the One Big, Beautiful Bill, or we can let the sacrifice of our men and women on the ground be in vain.”
    Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) in The Hill: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers for America. Now the Senate Must Deliver Too.
    “The House of Representatives has delivered on the American people’s mandate by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in our nation’s history. This transformative package includes record levels of tax cuts, spending reduction, and border and national security investment. The ball is now in the Senate’s court and their mission is simple: move the One Big Beautiful Bill to the president’s desk as soon as possible.”
    Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) in the Ritzville Adams County Journal: One ‘Big, Beautiful, Bill Act’ is good for us
    “This legislation delivers on the promises made to the American people: to secure the border, cut taxes, unleash American energy and restore fairness to our economy. It reflects what voters demanded and what I pledged to deliver.”
    Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) in the Lexington Herald-Leader: Senate must pass Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
    “Last month, I voted to pass President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill. It was an easy vote. The president’s leadership produced a transformational legislative win that will deliver an across-the-board tax cut for families, small businesses, farmers and seniors. On top of tax relief for Kentuckians still rebounding from four years of runaway inflation under Joe Biden, we surge resources to help law enforcement seal the Southern border and provide $1.6 trillion in deficit reduction, all while strengthening Medicaid for Kentuckians who need it. That’s why my message to U.S. senators, especially from Kentucky, is very simple: pass the Big, Beautiful Bill, and send it to the president’s desk. Kentuckians can’t afford to wait, literally.”
    Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) in The Detroit News: One Big Beautiful Bill corrects nation’s course
    “After the last four years of chaos in America under the Biden-Harris administration — from our overwhelmed southern border to reckless binge spending driving up our national debt — we are one bad decision, or one failure to act, away from catastrophe. That’s why I supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will deliver middle-class tax relief, secure our borders, bolster our defense, and restore the kind of fiscal responsibility that northern Michigan families have practiced for generations. This bill will turn the tide against out-of-control spending and help rescue our economy.”
    Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Floridians benefit from Trump’s tax cuts. We can’t let Democrats take them away.
    “As Floridians begin to recover from the disastrous Biden administration, the last thing they need is a massive tax hike – but that’s exactly what will happen if Congress doesn’t act. That’s why Republicans are working to extend President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and ensure all Americans get the relief they deserve.”
    Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Sens. Ossoff, Warnock should support Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
    “Georgia’s Democratic U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock should not oppose President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ Act (OBBBA) … the most consequential piece of legislation of our generation. It is a legacy defining bill that I was proud to support when it passed the House of Representatives, advancing President Trump’s full domestic agenda that more than 77 million Americans overwhelmingly voted for back in November. That’s exactly why Ossoff and Warnock are going to fight this bill at every turn.”
    Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) on Indianz.com: Promises Made, Promises Kept
    “Last November, the American people gave their Representatives a mandate when they overwhelmingly voted for change. 77 million Americans made it very clear to us that they wanted a secure border, the resurgence of American energy dominance, lower taxes, a lethal military focused on warfighting instead of woke initiatives, and a more efficient federal government that roots out fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars — essentially the platform that President Trump ran on. Now, less than six months into the new Trump Administration, the United States House of Representatives has already delivered on these promises by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
    Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) on RealClearPolitics.com: A Big, Beautiful Win for America
    “The American Dream is back in reach and our nation is back on the path to prosperity, security, and sanity, thanks to the actions of the House of Representatives last week. With the House’s passage of President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ we’ve shown that it is possible to return common sense to our government, protect taxpayers, secure our borders, and chart a course for national Golden Age – all in one package.”
    Rep. Troy Downing (R-WY) in the Billings Gazette: We are staring down the barrel of a 26% tax increase
    “We are staring down the barrel of a 26% tax increase. If Congress does not take action to extend the President Donald Trump’s tax cuts by Jan. 1 of next year, the average Montana family of four will be out more than $1,400 per year … Put plainly, a vote opposing an extension of the TCJA is a vote to raise taxes — on the rich, on the poor, on you, on your neighbor, on family farms, on the coffee shop down the street. Republicans will prevent Democrats from walking America off a fiscal cliff and avoid this catastrophic tax hike that threatens the financial security of countless Montanans.”
    Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) in the Tallahassee Democrat: Floridians: Don’t let Washington raise your taxes while you’re not looking
    “Across Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, families have already been stretched thin by rising costs – at the grocery store, at the gas pump, and on their utility bills. The last thing they need is a tax hike. But unless Congress acts soon, that’s exactly what nightmare is coming … Preventing this tax hike should be a bipartisan priority. We owe it to the people we serve to protect and build on the progress our nation has made. Congress must act to make the TCJA permanent – to protect prosperity, promote growth, and preserve the American Dream for the next generation.”
    Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) in Newsweek: House Republicans Are Keeping Our Promises on Border Security
    “Americans are desperate to feel safe in our own neighborhoods, but time and time again dangerous illegal immigrants stole from, raped, assaulted, and killed innocent Americans. It is an honor to sit on the House Homeland Security Committee and help lead the charge to secure our borders and follow through on our public safety promises to our constituents. As a part of Congress’ reconciliation package, Homeland Republicans recently advanced recommendations for border security funding to protect Americans, including over $46 billion to complete the border wall system. This money will provide an additional 701 miles of primary wall, construction of 900 miles of river barriers, and even technology like sensors. A physical border is key to keeping the bad guys out.”
    Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) in the Times-Republican: Iowa families will benefit from President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’
    “The other week, my Republican colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives and I passed President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill.’ This legislation contains numerous provisions to put more money back in the pockets of Iowa families … President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ will finally give our families room to breathe again. Estimates suggest that families could see up to $13,300 more in take-home pay, with workers potentially gaining up to $11,600 in higher wages over four years. With provisions that end taxes on tips, overtime, and auto loan interest for American-made cars, working parents can be certain that the extra effort they’re putting in for their families will pay off.”
    Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) in the Park Rapids Enterprise: One Big Beautiful Bill Act helps families and small businesses
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act protects Medicaid for those who need and deserve it … It makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, which have been so beneficial for families and small businesses to grow and thrive, even during the uncertain economic times we experienced over the last several years. This bill permanently doubles the guaranteed standard deduction and expands it by $2,000 for every American family. It creates new tax relief for seniors by adding an additional $4,000 deduction for those aged 65 and over. It makes the 199A small business deduction permanent and expands it to 23% for the over 60,000 small businesses in CD7. It makes the doubled death tax exemption permanent and expands it for the nearly 30,000 farms in CD7, helping families pass down their life’s work to the next generation. It prevents the child tax credit from being cut in half and expands the credit to $2,500 to support 74,460 families in CD7. It eliminates tax on tips and overtime pay. And, it expands 529 education plans so families can make the right choices for them, including using 529s for K-12 education materials, universities or trade schools.”
    Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) in The Washington Times: One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides a flight path for a modern air traffic control system
    “This has been a difficult year for U.S. aviation, with a string of tragic crashes that have killed passengers and crew. Additionally, we have seen reports about failing technology that has caused repeated air traffic control outages and flight delays. Meanwhile, a shortage of certified air traffic controllers has put additional strain on our aviation system. President Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and House Republicans are saying ‘enough is enough,’ and we are doing something about it.”
    Rep. Mark Green (R-NC) on RealClearPolitics.com: ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Give Americans a Secure Border
    “The only way for us to make good on our promises to the American people is to codify President Trump’s agenda. Funding common-sense and effective border security measures through reconciliation is the first step.”
    Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) in The Hill: Investing in border security is a win for every American
    “Since President Trump entered office in January of 2025, our border security has increased, the flow of illegal drugs has dropped dramatically, and illegal border crossings have plummeted to levels not seen in modern history. The success of the Trump administration’s leadership at our borders cannot be underestimated. Now, Congress must do its job to enshrine into law the work of President Trump.”
    Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) on FoxNews.com: GOP fights to protect Medicaid for America’s most vulnerable while Democrats fearmonger
    “It is a top priority of House Republicans to eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse in the programs and safeguard expectant mothers, their children, low-income seniors and especially individuals living with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid coverage. Regrettably, Democrats continue to fuel the falsehood that 13 million individuals will lose healthcare coverage under OBBBA.”
    Rep. Mike Haridopolous (R-FL) in Florida Today: “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a win for Florida families, workers
    “America voted for change last November, and now we’re delivering it. Over the past four years, families have been hit with rising prices, shrinking paychecks, and a government that grew too big and too careless with your tax dollars. People are working harder than ever, but they’re falling behind. That’s not right, and that’s why my Republican colleagues and I in Congress are fighting hard to pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ This bill is about getting back to basics: Rewarding work, cutting waste, and putting American families first.”
    Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) in Newsweek: The Truth About the One Big Beautiful Bill—and What Democrats Don’t Want You to Know
    “Democrats have spent weeks fearmongering about so-called cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security in the One Big Beautiful Bill. Let’s be clear: those talking points are false, and they know it. What this bill actually does is protect and preserve these critical safety net programs for the people they were designed to serve—pregnant women, children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. It does so by taking on the real problem: waste, fraud, and abuse that have run rampant in our federal health programs for decades.”
    Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) in the Washington Examiner: The ‘big, beautiful bill’ protects Medicaid for those who need it
    “When I came to Congress, I promised the people of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District that I would pursue practical solutions to improve the lives of working families — without the drama, the headlines, or the politics. That commitment is reflected in the House’s recently passed “big, beautiful bill,” a practical, solutions-oriented piece of legislation that restores accountability to our safety net programs. Unfortunately, misinformation has clouded the bill’s intent, particularly when it comes to Medicaid. Let me set the record straight: This legislation does not cut Medicaid for those who truly need it. Instead, it strengthens the program for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities while rooting out waste and holding bad actors accountable.”
    Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) in the Washington Examiner: The ‘one big, beautiful bill’ will restore the American dream
    “Unfortunately, if Congress does not act, many of the provisions in TCJA will expire at the end of the year. If that happens, the average family in my district of West Tennessee will face a nearly 26% tax hike. A child inheriting the family farm could pay such steep estate taxes that he is forced to sell it. And a small business owner competing with larger corporations could see her taxes nearly double. These are not just numbers on a chart in Washington. These provisions affect each and every one of us. If they expire, the American dream could be unachievable for many of our citizens.”
    Rep. Tracey Mann (R-MO) in the Kansas City Star: Kansas deserves the gift of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill
    “I recently voted in the U.S. House of Representatives to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would provide working- and middle-class Americans with the largest tax cuts in history and make long overdue investments into our nation’s border security by funding the completion of the border wall. The legislation would equip Customs and Border Patrol with modern technology to assist with intercepting drug and human smuggling while increasing detention capacity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as it works to deport violent criminals and gang members who are in the country illegally.”
    Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) in the Pawnee Republican: Building Certainty for Small Businesses
    “For workers and entrepreneurs, few places are as ripe with economic opportunity as the United States of America. Our world-leading workforce, natural resources, educational institutions, rule of law committed to protecting capital investment, and unique features such as deepwater ports providing access to export goods and services to consumers across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans provide opportunities for American families with few rivals elsewhere around the globe. Despite these economic strengths, there is much we can improve. The federal government remains inefficient, and we must address issues such as our spending-driven budget deficit. Likewise, too many work-capable Americans remain on the sidelines despite millions of good jobs available in our economy. Efforts to address the waste, fraud, and abuse in federally funded programs are vitally important for the fiscal health of our country, as are expanded efforts to help sidelined Americans connect with good jobs. For this reason, the reconciliation bill passed by the House enhances accountability for state administration of federal benefit programs and improves incentives for beneficiaries to find meaningful work.”
    Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) on FoxNews.com: It’s time for Congress to deliver President Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ to his desk
    “Republicans have a historic opportunity to deliver America First tax reforms that reward hard work, bring jobs back home, expand opportunity, and most importantly, rebuild the American economy for hardworking families across our nation. President Donald Trump has been crystal clear about what he wanted Congress to deliver – 77 million Americans raced to the ballot box in support of his vision of lower taxes for those whose sweat moves our economy forward. Now, The One, Big, Beautiful Bill passed by the Ways and Means Committee delivers for those workers. It makes permanent the expiring provisions of the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts, provides additional tax relief to American families, and rewards those who manufacture more at home and hire more American workers. The additional tax relief includes eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay, and auto loan interest, and delivering tax relief for seniors. Now, Congress must not fail the American people.”
    Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) in Leader Publications: Empowering Hardworking Americans through one big beautiful bill
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents the culmination of each instructed committee’s plan to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington and make vital investments in our communities. In total, the bill would provide over $1.6 billion in savings, allowing the federal government to be better stewards of American tax dollars and put us back on the path to fiscal prosperity.  The cornerstone of the package is the permanent expansion of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which revitalized our economy, unleashing unprecedented job growth and higher wages for working families. Two years after being signed into law, real median household income increased by $5,000 and real wages rose by 4.9%, allowing families to pocket more of their hard-earned money. The reforms also incentivized businesses to invest more in the U.S., ending the decades-long trend of U.S. companies shipping operations overseas.”
    Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) in The Virginian-Pilot: Voting for spending bill kept my word to Virginians
    “Let me set the record straight: I kept my word. I fought for Virginians, and I voted to protect working families, strengthen our safety net, and invest in national security and economic opportunity. Before this bill even came to a vote, I raised my voice publicly to demand protections for the vulnerable. In April, I wrote to House leadership making clear that balancing the budget must not come at the expense of pregnant women, children, seniors or individuals with disabilities. I demanded reforms that would support patients, help new mothers and expand savings for working-class families. This bill delivers on that promise.”
    Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) in Goshen News: The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Explained
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill isn’t some bloated spending package. It doesn’t give any money to the Department of Education, HUD, or the EPA. What it does is straightforward: cut taxes, rein in federal spending, permanently secure the border, and reform welfare. When I’m meeting with Hoosier manufacturers and small business owners or chatting with friends at the grocery store, they’re clear about one thing: They’re taxed enough. And I agree. That’s why it makes the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent. That means bigger paychecks, more investment in America, and strong incentives for companies to stay in the U.S. rather than send jobs overseas.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Kicks Off Paris Air Show at SENEDIA Breakfast, Underscoring New England Businesses’ Importance to National Security and Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Paris, France) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees and the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed Granite State and other New England businesses to the Paris Air Show at the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA)’s New England Breakfast. A primary focus of Senator Shaheen’s bipartisan Congressional delegation to the Paris Air Show is to connect smaller, regional businesses with leaders in the aerospace and defense industries. Aerospace represents New Hampshire’s largest export sector, including over $30 million in exports in aerospace products to France last year. Click here to view photos of the event.

    “The Paris Air Show is the world’s largest, so it’s a great opportunity for American businesses to showcase their capabilities, connect with key players in the industry and strengthen relationships with partners,” said Senator Shaheen. “SENEDIA’s breakfast reception brought together a number of companies with business in New England to encourage additional engagement – supporting jobs back home and bolstering our national defense and security.” 

    First held in 1909, the Paris Air Show is the largest air show and aerospace-industry exhibition event in the world. Last year, Shaheen co-led the bipartisan Congressional delegation to the Farnborough Air Show with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Dingell Announce Legislation to Strengthen Home and Community-Based Services

    US Senate News:

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

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) announced the introduction of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act, legislation to provide dedicated Medicaid funds for home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults, children, and youth and adults with disabilities for two years. The HCBS Relief Act would decrease the need to move people into congregate settings and allow them to receive the services and support they need from their own homes. The bill is also designed to support service provider agencies and direct care workers who provide services in homes.

    Millions of Americans rely on HCBS for daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, meal preparation, taking medication, employment support, mobility assistance, and more. Chronic underfunding of Medicaid services has led to an impending crisis, forcing millions of people with disabilities and older adults into institutions.

    “Right now, millions rely on HCBS for basic everyday needs – help getting dressed, taking medications, preparing meals, and so much more,” said Senator Luján. “To support Americans who depend on home and community-based care, I’m proud to introduce my HCBS Relief Act. My bill would address chronic underfunding that has pushed families into crisis and forced many into institutions simply because they can’t access support at home.”

    “We know that the majority of individuals who require long-term care would prefer to receive it in their own homes and communities. No one should have to wait years to get the care they deserve, and no care worker should have to live below the poverty line to give this care,” said Representative Dingell. “Medicaid is the single largest payer of long-term care in our country. At a time when Medicaid is facing unprecedented, historic cuts, it’s more important than ever that we prioritize home and community-based services. This legislation will provide much-needed investment in our care workforce, making it easier for those who need care to get it, and supporting the caregivers doing this crucial work.”

    Last week, Senator Luján joined Senate Finance Committee Democrats at a press conference to announce the HCBS Relief Act and a series of additional proposals to strengthen the Medicaid program and empower federal watchdogs to take on fraud in the federal health care system. The press conference came as congressional Republicans continue to jam their reconciliation bill that rips away affordable health care from millions of Americans through the House and Senate behind closed doors.

    In the Senate, the HCBS Relief Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Full bill text of the HCBS Relief Act is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Padilla, Entire Senate Democratic Caucus Demand Trump Remove Military Forces from Los Angeles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 16, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined the entire U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty servicemembers to American cities.

    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 yesterday, 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 California 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.

    “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 the Senators. “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 consistently 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 U.S. Senator Alex 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.

    In addition to Senators Murphy 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.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), 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.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), 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.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement on Reversal of Biden Administration Anti-Dam Agreement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) released the following statement celebrating President Trump’s move to undo the Biden Administration’s flawed “Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative.”

    “President Trump is demonstrating once again his commitment to listening to the will of people on the ground and the sound science that backs the current state of the dams,” said Crapo.  “The Biden Administration’s controversial proposal was doomed from the start.  The flawed initiative ignored congressional authority over the dams, as well as the views and feedback of regional stakeholders and constituents in Idaho.  The path forward for a solution to salmon recovery must include a truly collaborative approach that involves all–including both public and private–stakeholders in the region.”

    Crapo is a co-sponsor of Senator Jim Risch’s (R-Idaho) S. 182, Northwest Energy Security Act, which would require the federal government to ensure the Lower Snake River dams remain operational and continue to support the region’s energy needs.

    On November 21, 2023, Crapo joined Risch and Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) in sending a letter to then-President Biden voicing severe concerns regarding the Administration’s efforts to breach the dams.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Government Watchdog Finds Trump Admin is Illegally Impounding Funding for Museums and Libraries Across America; Senator Murray Responds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on another Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision announced this morning, which concludes that President Trump is illegally impounding funding approved by Congress for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA):
    “Here again, it is clear as day President Trump is breaking the law to block funding Congress provided—in this case, we’re talking about investments in local museums and libraries in all fifty states.
    “President Trump may not like the fact that Congress has, on a bipartisan basis, invested in helping kids learn at their local library—but that does not change the fact that he himself signed these investments into law, and they need to start flowing immediately. The president’s funding freeze isn’t just illegal; every day it continues, it hurts real people and communities across our country who are suffering the consequences as investments they count on get choked off.”
    Presidents do not wield the power to unilaterally withhold or block investments that have been enacted into law through what’s known as “impoundment.” This foundational principle has been affirmed time and again. The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974 makes this plain and establishes limited procedures the president can and must follow to propose delaying or rescinding enacted funding. The Impoundment Control Act also charges the GAO with the responsibility of investigating and reporting to Congress when the president illegally withholds funding. In testimony to the Committee this spring, the GAO acknowledged that it has opened 39 impoundment investigations and counting. Today’s announcement follows the GAO’s first decision in May in one of its ongoing investigations, which concluded Trump is illegally impounding funding. The ICA also authorizes the Comptroller General to file suit when the president illegally impounds funding.
    IMLS was established and funded by Congress on a bipartisan basis to support museums, libraries, and similar entities in every part of the country through grants, research, and policy development. But earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order calling for IMLS to be eliminated, which was followed by grant cancellations, delays in allocating required funds, and nearly all of IMLS’ employees being put on administrative leave.
    In its decision today, the GAO concluded that:
    “IMLS has not responded to GAO’s requests for information regarding the potential impoundment of appropriated funds. Yet publicly available evidence, including sworn testimony, federal court cases, data on USAspending.gov, and information on IMLS’s website, indicates that IMLS withheld grant and other appropriated funds. Based on the available evidence and the lack of any special message pertaining to IMLS funds, GAO concludes that IMLS has violated the ICA by withholding funds from obligation and expenditure. GAO also concludes that IMLS violated the ICA by withholding funds that cannot be withheld under the ICA’s fourth disclaimer. …. The Constitution specifically vests Congress with the power of the purse, providing that ‘No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.’ The Constitution also gives Congress the exclusive power to legislate, and sets forth the procedures of bicameralism and presentment, through which the President may accept or veto a legislative bill passed by both houses of Congress, and Congress may subsequently override a presidential veto. This process does not grant the President the authority to pass his own laws or to ignore or amend a law duly enacted by Congress. …. If IMLS wishes to make changes to the appropriation provided to IMLS, it must propose funds for rescission or otherwise propose legislation to make changes to the law for consideration by Congress.”
    Since his first hours in office, President Trump has illegally blocked funding owed to communities across the country through a variety of different means. Senate and House Appropriations Committee Democrats have been tracking Trump’s illegal funding freeze and found that, as of June 3, President Trump is blocking at least $425 billion in funding owed to the American people.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Administration Allows VA Doctors to Deny Care to Unmarried Women and Democrats, Senator Murray Responds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, released the following statement on new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital guidelines from the Trump administration explicitly eliminating language requiring healthcare professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status, and allowing doctors and other medical staff to be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation or union activity:
    “Health care isn’t just a special privilege Trump gets to dole out to veterans who agree with the President—it’s a moral obligation our country owes to every single man and woman who serves in uniform. Anyone who doesn’t understand that has no business leading our armed forces in any way.
    “It’s outrageous that President Trump and Secretary Collins are effectively green-lighting discrimination against wide swaths of our veteran population and the doctors who serve them. Under Trump’s new rules, veterans can be blocked from getting care, and doctors can be barred from working at VA hospitals for the sole reason that they may be unmarried, belong to a union, are registered Democrats, or identify as gay or trans—it’s appalling and un-American. Servicemembers defend our country in uniform whether they’re Democrat or Republican, married or unmarried, they have already proven they are worthy of VA care.  They shouldn’t have to fight again when they’re home to get benefits they have earned.
    “President Trump is going out of his way to discriminate against veterans and ripping up the sacred contract we make with our veterans that we will take care of them when they come home, and that they are entitled to the best health care our nation has to offer. This is bigotry, plain and simple, and it cannot be allowed to stand—and I sincerely hope my Republican colleagues would agree.
    “It’s disgusting that this policy was ever allowed to go into effect, and I will not let it fly under the radar. This policy must be rescinded immediately—this administration is not immune to public pressure and now is the time for everyone to speak out.” 
    Senator Murray was the first woman to join the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the first woman to chair the Committee—as the daughter of a World War II veteran, supporting veterans and their families has always been an important priority for her. Senator Murray has been a leading voice in the Senate speaking out forcefully against President Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firing of VA employees and VA researchers across the country and Elon Musk and DOGE’s infiltration of the VA, including accessing veterans’ sensitive personal information.
    Last week at a hearing on veterans’ mental health, Senator Murray pressed administration officials on the importance of transparency and communication with Congress and how the Trump administration’s mass firings might undermine care for veterans who have dealt with sexual trauma. In February, Murray grilled Trump’s then-nominee for VA Deputy Secretary, Dr. Paul Lawrence, on the mass firings of VA employees and VA researchers. After pressing Doug Collins on EHR and protecting women’s access to VA health care, including lifesaving abortion care, at his nomination hearing, Senator Murray voted against Doug Collins’s nomination to be VA Secretary in early February, sounding the alarm over Elon Musk and DOGE’s activities at the VA and making clear that the Trump administration’s lawlessness is putting our national security and our veterans at risk.
    Recently, Senator Murray released a report on how Trump’s mass firings at VA are already hurting veterans’ services and health care in Washington state and across the country. Senator Murray and her colleagues have demanded that VA swiftly reverse moves to cut VA researchers, and have sent multiple letters pressing Secretary Collins to sever Elon Musk and DOGE’s access to any VA or other government system with information about veterans, and protect veterans, their families, and VA staff from unprecedented access to sensitive information.
    Last month, Senator Murray grilled Secretary Collins on how the Trump administration’s mass firing of VA employes is hurting veterans’ ability to get the health care they need—from jeopardizing VA research, to creating new risks around the deployment of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to additional VA Medical Centers, which the Trump administration is insisting on moving ahead with despite persistent and unresolved issues at the sites where it is currently deployed. Murray also pressed Secretary Collins on new policies the Trump administration recently rolled out that severely limit Congressional engagement with veterans and VA for no legitimate reason.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Help Launch State-of-the-Art Support Vehicle for Northern RI Firefighters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    ***WATCH FOOTAGE OF THE NEW AIR SUPPLY UNIT***

    LINCOLN, RI – Fire departments across northern Rhode Island have teamed up to acquire a new regional air/light unit that will help ensure firefighters can safely and effectively respond to a wide range of emergencies throughout their communities.

    After delivering a $586,363 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined state and local officials, Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh, and members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association to officially launch the new vehicle.

    “This new state-of-the-art vehicle will make it easier for our firefighters to safely and effectively respond to emergencies throughout our communities,” said Senator Reed.  “I am proud to help deliver critical resources and support for our firefighters.  They go above and beyond each day to serve and protect our neighborhoods, and they should have the best gear and technology available to stay safe in the line of duty.”

    “I’m very glad to join Senator Reed and our firefighters to officially launch this new state-of-the-art support vehicle,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “The residents of northern Rhode Island stand to benefit from our federal investment in this truck, which will better allow firefighters do their jobs safely and effectively.”

    “As a Woonsocket firefighter, I know firsthand how important it is for public safety personnel to have the proper equipment. Our lives, and the lives of the community members we’re responding to, are on the line,” said State Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), chair of the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing. “I was honored to be a sponsor of the legislative grant that helped support the purchase of this unit, and I thank my colleagues for backing it. I’m also very appreciative of Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who understand that to keep the public safe, we need to keep our first responders safe. Today is just one more example of how they consistently deliver for Rhode Island.”

    “This unique piece of equipment is set to immediately start serving 13 communities across northern Rhode Island. With this new, advanced vehicle, we will boost the capabilities of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association and better serve people across our region,” said Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh. “This achievement would not have been possible without the steadfast support of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and State Representative Stephen Casey.”

    The new state-of-the-art support unit replaces a shared vehicle that has over 300,000 miles and more than four decades of service providing regional assistance during emergencies. The Rhode Island congressional delegation delivered the federal AFG award for Limerock Fire Department and its neighboring partners in September 2022. In addition to the federal AFG award, the new air/light unit was also supported by a $50,000 legislative grant from the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

    An air/light unit is a critical piece of firefighting equipment that provides support and boosts safety by ensuring firefighters have the tools and equipment they need at the ready to respond to dangerous emergencies. The unit is used to refill Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders and provide portable enhanced lighting on scene.

    The Rhode Island fire departments and districts who will utilize this new unit are members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association, including: Central Falls, Chepachet, Cumberland, East Burrillville, Harmony, Harrisville, Lincoln, Manville, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Woonsocket. Collectively, these departments are staffed by nearly 500 firefighters and serve more than 460,000 Rhode Islanders.

    Thanks to the Rhode Island congressional delegation, Ocean State fire departments received a record-breaking amount of federal funding last year through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding, with a total of nearly $30 million for firefighters and first responders across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Help Launch State-of-the-Art Support Vehicle for Northern RI Firefighters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    ***WATCH FOOTAGE OF THE NEW AIR SUPPLY UNIT***

    LINCOLN, RI – Fire departments across northern Rhode Island have teamed up to acquire a new regional air/light unit that will help ensure firefighters can safely and effectively respond to a wide range of emergencies throughout their communities.

    After delivering a $586,363 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined state and local officials, Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh, and members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association to officially launch the new vehicle.

    “This new state-of-the-art vehicle will make it easier for our firefighters to safely and effectively respond to emergencies throughout our communities,” said Senator Reed.  “I am proud to help deliver critical resources and support for our firefighters.  They go above and beyond each day to serve and protect our neighborhoods, and they should have the best gear and technology available to stay safe in the line of duty.”

    “I’m very glad to join Senator Reed and our firefighters to officially launch this new state-of-the-art support vehicle,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “The residents of northern Rhode Island stand to benefit from our federal investment in this truck, which will better allow firefighters do their jobs safely and effectively.”

    “As a Woonsocket firefighter, I know firsthand how important it is for public safety personnel to have the proper equipment. Our lives, and the lives of the community members we’re responding to, are on the line,” said State Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), chair of the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing. “I was honored to be a sponsor of the legislative grant that helped support the purchase of this unit, and I thank my colleagues for backing it. I’m also very appreciative of Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who understand that to keep the public safe, we need to keep our first responders safe. Today is just one more example of how they consistently deliver for Rhode Island.”

    “This unique piece of equipment is set to immediately start serving 13 communities across northern Rhode Island. With this new, advanced vehicle, we will boost the capabilities of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association and better serve people across our region,” said Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh. “This achievement would not have been possible without the steadfast support of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and State Representative Stephen Casey.”

    The new state-of-the-art support unit replaces a shared vehicle that has over 300,000 miles and more than four decades of service providing regional assistance during emergencies. The Rhode Island congressional delegation delivered the federal AFG award for Limerock Fire Department and its neighboring partners in September 2022. In addition to the federal AFG award, the new air/light unit was also supported by a $50,000 legislative grant from the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

    An air/light unit is a critical piece of firefighting equipment that provides support and boosts safety by ensuring firefighters have the tools and equipment they need at the ready to respond to dangerous emergencies. The unit is used to refill Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders and provide portable enhanced lighting on scene.

    The Rhode Island fire departments and districts who will utilize this new unit are members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association, including: Central Falls, Chepachet, Cumberland, East Burrillville, Harmony, Harrisville, Lincoln, Manville, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Woonsocket. Collectively, these departments are staffed by nearly 500 firefighters and serve more than 460,000 Rhode Islanders.

    Thanks to the Rhode Island congressional delegation, Ocean State fire departments received a record-breaking amount of federal funding last year through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding, with a total of nearly $30 million for firefighters and first responders across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Launches “Share Your Story” Campaign to Highlight Impact of Prospect Medical Holdings on Health Care in Connecticut

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 13, 2025

    WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health Education, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Friday launched a campaign inviting people in Connecticut to share how Prospect Medical Holdings’ mismanagement of Waterbury Hospital, Rockville General Hospital, and Manchester Memorial Hospital have impacted their access to health care. Constituents are invited to visit tinyurl.com/shareyourprospectstory and submit testimonials.

    “When private equity moves in, hospitals, nurses, doctors, and patients regularly suffer. That’s exactly what’s happening in Connecticut due to Prospect Medical’s greed. Their takeover of 3 hospitals in Connecticut has depleted these health care facilities of the resources they need, only to provide company executives and shareholders with massive amounts of profit, all while putting patient care at risk and shorting our local communities of the benefits they were promised. Whether you’re a nurse at Rockville General, or a lifelong patient at Waterbury Hospital or Manchester Memorial, I want to hear your story. It was a mistake to let private equity control so much of our health care system, but it’s not too late for us to change course,” said Murphy.

    Murphy launched this share-your-story campaign to inform a forthcoming report on the harmful impact of private equity and profit-seeking in health care. Participants have the option to be kept anonymous.

    In March, Murphy hosted a roundtable with stakeholders on the same topic in Waterbury. Last year, Murphy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor on the role private equity has played in the commodification of health care at the expense of patients, doctors, nurses, and local communities. He also highlighted the case of Prospect Medical Holdings at a HELP hearing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, New England Colleagues Urge Coast Guard to Delay Removal of Navigational Buoys

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 13, 2025

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, today joined a bipartisan cohort of New England senators in urging the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to delay the removal of navigational buoys off the coast of New England so they can better engage with stakeholders and understand the impacts of the proposal. In a letter to Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday, the Senators ask for the USCG to extend the comment period for public input, undertake more extensive outreach and enhance the compilation of data before making any final decisions on the removal of the navigational buoys.

    The USCG launched the Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative in April 2025, a component of its broader Short-Range Aids-to-Navigation Modernization effort. This initiative proposed the discontinuation of 351 coastal buoys across New England (Maine accounts for the largest share at 145 buoys). In parallel, an additional 2,349 buoys and beacons are under review for future removal as part of the Harbor Buoy Modernization Initiative and the Shallow Water Level of Service Study (SWLOSS), scheduled for phased implementation from 2026 through 2029. In total, some 2700 buoys are up for consideration for removal along the New England coast.

    These efforts collectively represent a significant reconfiguration of the region’s maritime navigational infrastructure affecting both commercial and recreational mariners; despite the technical justifications for the initiative, the USCG approach has raised concerns throughout New England’s maritime community.

    “We write regarding our concerns with the First District Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative and related efforts. Principally, we have reservations about how this would affect the safety of mariners throughout District One, the timeline the agency is proposing and the sufficiency of the agency’s communications with stakeholders of the proposed changes. We understand the need to modernize the Aids-to-Navigation (ATON) system, and we commend the agency for proactively initiating a program to assess current systems and to propose appropriate changes. However, we urge the agency to slow down this effort to ensure that the agency understands the needs of the communities and mariners in our states. Therefore, we urge you to extend the public comment period and increase public and Congressional engagement as outlined in this letter,” the senators began.

    “We understand that Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC), Electronic Charting Systems (ECS) and smartphone navigation applications have changed many facets of navigation,” they continued. “However, prudent mariners continue to depend on non-electronic and traditional means of navigating, including charts and visual navigation aids like buoys and related ATON.”

    “With respect to the First District Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative, we are troubled that the current proposal would discontinue 916 buoys and beacons (309 Coastal and 607 Harbor buoys) in District One as soon as this year and into 2026. We appreciate the need to modernize, but the Coast Guard and other stakeholders need to maximize navigation safety utilizing all available means – electronic and visual. As you are well aware, mishaps continue to show the need for mariners to competently pilot their vessels, and effective coastal piloting relies on GPS, Radar and visual navigational aids including buoys, beacons, lights, ranges and lighthouses,” the senators concluded.

    U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) also signed the letter.

    Full of the text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    Dear Acting Commandant Lunday:

    We write regarding our concerns with the First District Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative and related efforts. Principally, we have reservations about how this would affect the safety of mariners throughout District One, the timeline the agency is proposing and the sufficiency of the agency’s communications with stakeholders of the proposed changes. We understand the need to modernize the Aids-to-Navigation (ATON) system, and we commend the agency for proactively initiating a program to assess current systems and to propose appropriate changes. However, we urge the agency to slow down this effort to ensure that the agency understands the needs of the communities and mariners in our states. Therefore, we urge you to extend the public comment period and increase public and Congressional engagement as outlined in this letter.

    We understand that Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC), Electronic Charting Systems (ECS) and smartphone navigation applications have changed many facets of navigation. However, prudent mariners continue to depend on non-electronic and traditional means of navigating, including charts and visual navigation aids like buoys and related ATON. Indeed, the agency’s regulations on ATON acknowledges that “The Coast Guard maintains systems of marine aids to navigation consisting of visual, audible, and electronic signals which are designed to assist the prudent mariner in the process of navigation.”

    With respect to the First District Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative, we are troubled that the current proposal would discontinue 916 buoys and beacons (309 Coastal and 607 Harbor buoys) in District One as soon as this year and into 2026. We appreciate the need to modernize, but the Coast Guard and other stakeholders need to maximize navigation safety utilizing all available means – electronic and visual. As you are well aware, mishaps continue to show the need for mariners to competently pilot their vessels, and effective coastal piloting relies on GPS, Radar and visual navigational aids including buoys, beacons, lights, ranges and lighthouses.

    Because the scope of the proposed effort is significant and will have a lasting impact, we request that the Coast Guard extend the comment period for public input on the District One initiative until September 1, 2025, undertake more extensive outreach and enhance the compilation of data on which the agency is relying.  Specifically, we request a dedicated public website on this initiative, an extension to the comment period, a briefing after the agency has winnowed its list of ATON to discontinue and a commitment to implement the District One ATON effort no earlier than October 1, 2026. The extension of the public comment period will allow the Coast Guard to conduct outreach, enhance public comment via additional means other than a single email address (e.g. a dedicated website) and allow mariners to practically consider these changes during peak recreational and commercial seasons.  Lastly, we also are seeking a delay in implementing the actual changes by approximately one year to allow for sufficient review and collaboration ahead of implementation.

    We appreciate your attention to this matter and request a follow-up discussion with you regarding this matter by June 26th, 2025.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Capito, Blunt Rochester,  Curtis Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Create Cybersecurity Office Related to Critical Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    Legislation would strengthen support of NTIA’s ongoing efforts to protect American technology infrastructure

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Shelley Moore Capito, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and John Curtis reintroduced their National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, a bipartisan bill to modernize and codify the NTIA’s work in cybersecurity.

    The NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development would be renamed the Office for Policy Development and Cybersecurity to better align with the agency’s 21st century mission of helping secure the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

    “America’s data security is national security. We need to modernize our agencies and departments to meet today’s cyber threats head-on,” said Hickenlooper, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security.

    “Cyberattacks and breaches of private data ultimately hurt American consumers, and as technology and the telecommunications industry continues to advance, so do the threats from hackers and bad actors. Provisions must be in place to strengthen NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development, and protect the private information of the public they serve. I’m proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation that takes necessary, proactive steps to develop cybersecurity guidance, identify potential vulnerabilities, and promote collaboration between the public and private sectors with the ultimate goal of protecting consumers,” Capito said.

    In recent years, the NTIA has increasingly adapted to better reflect the rising importance of cybersecurity to our critical infrastructure and daily functions. The senators’ bill would codify, strengthen, and provide Congressional guidance to NTIA’s ongoing cybersecurity activities, as well as outline responsibilities of an Associate Administrator.

    The redesignated office would be led by an Associate Administrator and be responsible for:

    • Developing cybersecurity policy as it relates to telecommunications, the internet, consumer software services, and public media
    • Creating guidance and support for implementing cybersecurity and privacy measures for internet and telecommunication companies
    • Promoting collaboration between security research and industry
    • Preventing and mitigating future software vulnerabilities in communications networks
    • Removing barriers for implementing, understanding, and investing in cybersecurity for communications and software providers
    • Providing technical assistance on cybersecurity practices to small and rural communications service providers

    In the House, a companion bill passed out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Hickenlooper and Capito originally introduced the legislation in the 117th Congress.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Announces the Filing of a War Powers Resolution to Prevent War with Iran

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, introduced a war powers resolution expressing concern about the escalating violence in the Middle East and its potential to pull the U.S. into conflict. The resolution will require a prompt debate and vote prior to using any U.S. military force against Iran.
    “It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States. I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict,” said Kaine. “The American people have no interest in sending servicemembers to fight another forever war in the Middle East. This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation’s men and women in uniform into harm’s way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress.”
    War powers resolutions are privileged, meaning that the Senate will be required to promptly consider and vote upon the resolution. The resolution underscores that Congress has the sole power to declare war, as laid out in the Constitution. The resolution requires that any hostilities with Iran must be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force, but would not prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack. The resolution will ensure a public debate and vote in Congress as intended by the framers of the Constitution.
    For years, Kaine has been a leading voice in Congress raising concerns over presidents’ efforts to expand the use of military force without congressional authorization. In 2017, Kaine wrote a piece in TIME warning of the consequences if President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran. In 2018, Kaine wrote a piece in The Atlantic warning that Trump was blundering toward war with Iran. In March 2020, Congress passed Kaine’s bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran without congressional authorization. In 2023, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation led by Kaine to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) and formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars.
    Text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wired: Senators Warn DOGE’s Social Security Administration Work Could Break Benefits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    June 11, 2025

    Democratic senators have concerns that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could break the Social Security Administration’s tech infrastructure.

    In a new letter addressed to SSA commissioner Frank Bisignano, senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden say that DOGE’s plans to “hastily upgrade” Social Security IT systems could disrupt the delivery of benefits or result in mass data losses. The warning comes after WIRED reported in March that DOGE officials were planning to rebuild SSA’s code base in a matter of months. The move, originally spearheaded by Steve Davis, one of Elon Musk’s key lieutenants and a leader at DOGE, could result in total system collapse, experts told WIRED at the time.

    …

    Read the full story here.

    By:  Makena Kelly
    Source: Wired

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Business Insider: Millions of student-loan borrowers are getting a ‘financial scarlet letter’ that could risk their home purchases and job prospects, Elizabeth Warren says

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    June 10, 2025

    Millions of student-loan borrowers could be facing a financial strain that will hinder their abilities to buy a house or get a new job, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.

    Ahead of a Tuesday meeting with Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s education secretary, Warren published a blog post — first viewed by Business Insider — detailing her concerns with the Trump administration’s move to restart collections on defaulted borrowers’ student loans.

    After Trump announced on May 5 that consequences for student-loan defaults would resume after a five-year pause — including garishment of wages and federal benefits — the New York Federal Reserve released a report that said 8.04% of borrowers moved into serious delinquency in the first quarter of 2025, putting them at greater risk of defaulting this summer.

    …

    Read the full story here

    By:  Ayelet Sheffey
    Source: Business Insider

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ABC News: Senate Democrats file bill to prevent ban on transgender military service

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 10, 2025
    Democratic lawmakers will submit a bill in the Senate on Tuesday that would reverse the Pentagon’s new ban on transgender military service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria who now face being forced out if they had not previously self-identified as transgender.
    The “Fit to Serve Act” would prohibit the Defense Department from banning transgender service members from serving in the military. If passed, the law would prevent the DOD from denying access to healthcare on the basis of gender identity, and it would also prohibit the military from forcing service members to serve in their sex assigned at birth.
    It would also make it illegal for the military to discriminate against service members on the basis of gender identity.
    …
    Read the full story here.
    By:  Luis MartinezSource: ABC News

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Calls for Bipartisan Investigation into Secretary Kennedy’s Vaccine Committee Firings at CDC

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, June 16 – After Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired every member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an unprecedented decision that will make it harder for Americans to access safe and effective vaccines, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), wrote a letter to HELP Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) calling for an immediate bipartisan investigation into these terminations and Kennedy’s efforts to mislead the American people about vaccine safety. 

    “Secretary Kennedy’s reckless decision to fire these non-partisan scientific experts and replace them with ideologues with limited expertise and a history of undermining vaccines will not only endanger the lives of Americans of all ages, it directly contradicts a commitment he made to you before he was confirmed that he would not make any significant changes to this important Committee,” Sanders wrote. 

    Sanders cited Cassidy’s own public remarks following the firings: “Now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.” 

    ACIP is a federal advisory group of medical and public health experts who make evidence-based recommendations on which vaccines should be administered to whom and when. Those recommendations guide coverage by private insurers, Medicaid, Medicare and other government programs.

    Last week, Secretary Kennedy gutted ACIP and has begun appointing replacements who include a former professor who made comparisons between the COVID vaccine and Nazi medical experiments, a board member of an anti-vaccine organization, and a private equity firm leader. Kennedy also replaced the official at CDC who oversaw ACIP, a 20-year veteran of the agency, with a scheduling staffer. 

    Sanders’ letter follows an emergency resolution passed last week by the American Medical Association urging the HELP Committee to investigate the firings. 

    “While Secretary Kennedy’s actions are deeply disappointing they are not surprising,” Sanders continued. “For decades, Secretary Kennedy has spread lies and dangerous conspiracy theories about safe and effective vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Unfortunately, since he has been confirmed I am very concerned that Secretary Kennedy is doubling down on his war on science and disinformation campaign that will lead to preventable illness and death.” 

    Read the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Durbin, 39 Senate Democrats in Pressing Trump Administration to Resume Processing DACA Applications 

    US Senate News:

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

    The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently limited a nationwide injunction to only Texas, giving the Administration the greenlight to resume processing initial DACA applications for all other states 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 39 Senate Democrats in urging 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 District Court’s injunction against DACA to only 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. 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 by reiterating their request, writing: “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.” 
    In addition to Senators Welch and Durbin, 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.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), 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.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed 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.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). 
    Read and download the full text of the letter. For a PDF of the letter to USCIS, click here. 
    Last week, Senator Welch joined his colleagues for a forum examining the Trump Administration’s attacks on constitutional rights that define our country and highlighted DREAMERS as a group threatened by Trump’s lawless rampage. This Congress, Senator Welch joined 26 of his colleagues in introducing The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025, legislation to provide unaccompanied children with legal representation for their court when they appear in proceedings before an immigration judge. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: TRUMP’S “BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL” COULD SPELL “BIG” ENERGY PRICE HIKES & “BIG” JOB LOSSES FOR BUFFALO; STANDING AT ONE OF WESTERN NY’S LARGEST HOME SOLAR INSTALLERS, SENATOR REVEALS HOW GOP PLAN…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Buffalo Clean Energy Biz Like Solar Liberty Were Boosted By Federal Clean Energy Incentives – But Now Face Major Issues For Future Of Business Under GOP Job-Killing Bill – And Families Who Tap These Programs To Lower Their Energy Bills In WNY Could Be Left High & Dry

    House GOP Rushed Trump’s Tax Giveaway To Billionaires, Gutting Fed Clean Energy Tax Credits That Lower Energy Costs and Boost & Local Jobs – Now Even House Rs Are Regretting It, Asking Senate GOP To Reverse Cuts They Voted For; Senator – With Impacted Buffalo Businesses, Families, Union Workers – Shows Local Impact Of These Cuts, Demands GOP Block It

    Schumer: ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Is A ‘Big, Bad Blow’ To Western NY Jobs, Families & Businesses

    Standing at Buffalo’s Solar Liberty, one of the largest solar installers in the region, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer warned how the GOP plan to kill clean energy tax credits could raise energy costs for Western NY families, slash local jobs, and devastate Buffalo’s clean energy businesses & manufacturers.

    Schumer explained these unpopular, job-killing cuts in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” have already created panic among House Republicans and companies, and even House Republicans who voted for this bill last month are now begging to save these tax credits. Schumer said Solar Liberty is just one of many local Buffalo businesses that could be decimated by this bill and demanded the GOP block these tax hikes that could devastate Buffalo families and small businesses.

    “Right now, we are at Defcon 1 for America’s clean energy future. Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ would deal a ‘big bad blow’ to Buffalo, raising families’ energy costs and killing good-paying local jobs. These federal clean energy investments have boosted Buffalo’s businesses, like Solar Liberty, which is helping families and businesses save on their monthly energy bills. The current GOP bill would decimate the programs these companies rely on, which will kill jobs and drive up energy costs for consumers,” said Senator Schumer. “It guts investment to bring clean energy manufacturing back from overseas and eliminates one of the most effective tax credits middle-class families use to lower their monthly energy bills and that Buffalo families use to help weatherize their homes to make them warmer in the winter, all to give bigger breaks to billionaires; It’s outrageous. America needs to be producing more energy, investing in making sure these jobs grow in places like Buffalo, not go back overseas. That’s why I’m demanding Republicans to stop this plan to gut America’s clean energy future and block these tax hikes that will hurt Buffalo families’ wallets and decimate jobs.”

    Schumer was joined by workers from leading clean energy company Solar Liberty, who said the elimination of these investments would be a massive blow to their businesses, employees, and customers. Buffalo’s Solar Liberty employs nearly 100 workers and has helped thousands of families and businesses across the Northeast install solar panels for over two decades, reducing their energy bills by hundreds or even thousands per year.

    Three years ago, new and expanded clean energy tax credits created in the Inflation Reduction Act expanded Solar Liberty’s ability to bring the manufacturing of solar energy parts back to Western New York. Solar Liberty is growing rapidly by building out community solar projects, partnering with schools and nonprofits to take advantage of new direct-pay credits, and expanding battery storage, now eligible for a 30% federal tax credit even when deployed without solar. These IRA-driven incentives have not only boosted deployment and manufacturing but are also helping underserved communities and energy transition hubs across Western New York access affordable, reliable, clean power.

    However, the House GOP bill would make it more difficult for both residents and businesses to work with Solar Liberty to install solar panels. Cutting the Residential Clean Energy Credit – which gives New York families a 30% discount on home energy improvements, like solar panels – would make the cost of installing solar panels skyrocket for hardworking families, gutting Solar Liberty’s main customer base. Schumer said if this bill passes, it will pull the rug out from under Solar Liberty just as it is growing, rendering their investments in Buffalo worthless and forcing them to lay off local workers.

    “Since 2005, the Federal Investment Tax Credit has supported 280,000 American jobs, strengthened energy independence, and delivered cost-saving solutions for millions of families and businesses,” said Adam Rizzo, President of Solar Liberty. “As energy demand accelerates, solar’s unmatched speed of deployment makes it one of the most effective tools we have to strengthen America’s energy future. We’re grateful to Senator Schumer for his steadfast support in advancing solar energy and helping drive this progress forward.”

    Brian Gould, retired Cheektowaga Police Chief, hired Solar Liberty to install solar panels with help from the Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit. Gould said the cost would have been prohibitive without these tax credits, but now he is saving over $1,000 every year on his energy bill. If these tax credits are repealed, the cost of making homes more energy efficient will skyrocket, and families like Gould’s would not have the support they need to bring their energy costs down. Thousands of families across New York State are waiting to see what the GOP does in Washington and are holding off on new clean energy installations, hurting companies like Solar Liberty and the thousands of workers in the clean energy industry. Singer Farm Naturals used the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit to install two solar arrays, cutting a significant portion of their upfront costs and lowering long-term energy expenses. Programs like this, along with USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, have been essential to keeping operating costs down — and are now under threat in the proposed federal budget.

    “As a homeowner who installed solar back in 2013, I know firsthand how important federal tax credits are in making clean energy affordable,” said Brian Gould, a residential solar customer. “Those incentives made it possible for me to go solar—and today, I save over $1,000 a year on my electric bills. The Inflation Reduction Act builds on that foundation, making it easier than ever for families to make the switch. These credits are helping more people access solar, lower their energy costs, and invest in a cleaner future. Rolling them back now would make home solar harder to afford and deny others the same opportunity I had to take control of my energy and support local jobs.”

    The GOP bill would kill clean energy incentives already benefiting hundreds of New York businesses with ongoing projects and the families who are using them to help improve their homes’ energy efficiency and lower their electric bills. Schumer specifically highlighted how the bill:

    • Eliminates the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit, which provides families in New York up to $3,200 to help weatherize their homes for better protection in the harsh winters and make improvements to their home’s energy efficiency, lowering their electric bills with qualifying items like doors, windows, better insulation and heat pumps, and more.
    • Eliminates the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which gives New York families a 30% discount on home energy improvements, like solar panels, heat pumps, or energy storage, that help lower energy bills and keep the lights on during power outages.

    It isn’t just solar that would be hurt; these cuts hurt businesses across the clean energy sector and its supply chains. Viridi Parente, a fast-growing company on Buffalo’s East Side, has added hundreds of good-paying jobs, growing the domestic battery manufacturing industry with support from clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Production tax credit. Viridi Parente helped breathe new life into the former American Axle Factory, which was once the beating heart of the community. However, if the GOP bill becomes law, it would be a major blow to Viridi Parente’s progress in growing the domestic battery manufacturing industry, gutting federal investment at a time when it is critically needed.

    Schumer said clean energy tax incentives have spurred a clean energy boom in New York State, and rolling them back would have devastating impacts. The Clean Economy Tracker estimates the Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives have spurred over $5 billion worth of investments in clean manufacturing in New York, creating over 7,200 jobs. Data from NERA Economic Consulting shows that repealing clean energy tax credits could cause New York to lose up to 20,300 jobs as clean energy projects are cancelled or scaled back, with a whopping nearly $3.5 billion hit to the state’s GDP, and New Yorkers paying up to $650 in higher energy costs each year by 2032 if these devastating cuts become law.

    Already, Republicans have shown doubts about the provisions in this bill. Earlier this month, thirteen House Republicans sent a letter to Senate Republican leaders urging them to scale back clean energy cuts in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” – the very bill their votes helped pass in the House.

    “The fight is far from over. House Republicans’ latest flip-flopping shows our pressure is working, and we have a real opportunity to get them to go back to the drawing board on this bill, and stop their attacks to totally eliminate these clean energy tax credits. And we are doing that by showing the real-world impacts, the jobs lost, and lives devastated by their brutal cuts,” added Schumer.

    Schumer said if this House Republican plan goes through, many of the clean energy projects spurred by the IRA could be forced to scale back or even stop, the workers building the future of American energy would be laid off, and projects that otherwise would have plugged into the grid will never come to fruition. That would impact both major NY employers and manufacturers in the clean energy, manufacturing, electric vehicle, battery, and research sectors, and also our small businesses and major economic projects slated to come to New York. Schumer said the House Republican bill would repeal the very parts of the Inflation Reduction Act that have helped companies grow in New York and spurred millions of investments, many of which are in Republican districts such as:

    • Eliminates the Clean Electricity Investment & Production Credits that support more cheap, clean electricity. With natural gas turbines on a five-year delay, the IRA’s clean electricity tax credits have ensured a robust buildout of wind and solar power while spurring demand for American-made energy products and helping keep electricity prices from increasing.
    • Sabotages the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit that has generated a more than five-fold increase in investment in manufacturing in the solar and EV supply chains, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and shifting these industries out of China to the U.S.
    • Eliminates the IRA’s Electric Vehicle Tax Credits that make it cheaper to buy new and used electric and plug-in hybrid cars, and has led to a massive onshoring of EV and battery supply chain manufacturing, undercutting China and bolstering American companies.
    • Eliminates the New Energy-Efficient Home Credit that makes it cheaper to build new, highly efficient and affordable homes, expanding the housing supply while reducing energy costs.
    • Eliminates the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit that supports American-made clean hydrogen, led by New York companies like Plug Power and Air Products, to be used for clean manufacturing and agriculture.

    Repealing the clean energy tax incentives would also be a disaster for America that Schumer said would cede energy manufacturing leadership to China, which already produces a significant amount of the world’s clean technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. If companies can no longer support clean energy manufacturing in the United States, they will bring these projects to America’s competitors, and jobs that would’ve otherwise been created in America will be created in countries like China. This will destabilize American supply chains and make American families and businesses reliant on China and other foreign countries for cheap energy.

    “We’re grateful to Senator Schumer for providing strong, common-sense leadership at a time when what we’ve fought so hard to deliver for working people is being threatened by this administration. Organized Labor has fought nationally for generational investments in clean energy and a green transition away from fossil fuels, and we’ve won many of those fights with Senator Schumer’s support. Now those wins are being threatened. The climate crisis is already making workers less safe on the job. From blistering farm fields to sweltering classrooms, workers will continue to suffer and die as long as the current President and Congress continue to deny scientific consensus and defund projects and programs that set us on an environmentally stable path. Working families in Buffalo know better than most the devastation of changing industry and the benefits of renewable energy sources for our communities. Corporate and political greed—lining the pockets of billionaires at workers’ expense—is unsustainable, and we’ll keep fighting it every step of the way forward,” said Buffalo Central Labor Council President Denise Abbott.

    “Clean Air members are working class people who have suffered the brunt of pollution from the burning of gas and coal for energy. Clean energy tax credits can lower our energy bills, reduce pollution protecting our health, and provide family- sustaining jobs. he house bill is a bad deal for the working class. We stand with Senator Schumer to ask that these clean energy credits be protected,” said Chris Murawski, Executive Director, Clean Air Coalition of Western New York.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Press White House to Resume Processing DACA Applications

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and his colleagues are urging the White House to abide by a court ruling and resume processing applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In a letter to Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Angelica Alfonso-Royals, the Senators highlight the popular support for providing Dreamers a pathway to citizenship and request that the administration comply with the recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to resume processing applications for DACA.

    Sunday, June 15th marks 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. 

    The Senators wrote, “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 concluded by reiterating their request, “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.”

    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.

    In addition to King, the letter is signed by Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators 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), 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), Jack Reed (D-RI), 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), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    Senator King is a strong opponent of the Trump Administration’s continued efforts to repeal protections for DACA recipients. He has repeatedly sought a legislative solution to provide stability for DACA recipients. He previously joined a group of his Senate colleagues in a letter urging former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to immediately take up the bipartisan House-passed American Dream and Promise Act, which would establish a path to citizenship for Dreamers and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). In addition, King led a bipartisan proposal with Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) that would have provided legislative protections for Dreamers.

    The full text of the letter can be found 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,1 and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States.2 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.3 In response to bipartisan pressure to protect Dreamers until Congress acted, 4 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.7 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. 11 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 –