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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, Former ACIP Member from WA State Raise Alarm Over Purge of Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    NEW: Kennedy’s new CDC panel includes members who have criticized vaccines and spread misinformation

    ***WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE; DOWNLOAD HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual press conference on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s unprecedented decision on Monday to fire every single member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Dr. Helen Chu joined Senator Murray for the press conference, a professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who was a member of ACIP until Monday—when she was fired by Secretary Kennedy alongside the entire panel of experts. Senator Murray and Dr. Chu laid out just how unprecedented and unthinkably dangerous this move is, and what it means for the future of vaccine policy and public health.

    On Wednesday, RFK Jr. announced eight new appointees to ACIP, including Dr. Robert Malone, a close adviser to RFK Jr. who downplayed the deaths related to one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in years, and Vicky Pebsworth, who is listed as a board member and volunteer director for the National Vaccine Information Center, a group that is notorious for spreading vaccine misinformation.  

    “RFK Jr. took a dangerous, practically unthinkable step to undermine public health and vaccine confidence—he fired every single member of CDC’s vaccine advisory panel,” said Senator Murray on today’s press call. “And he is already packing the panel with people who advocated letting COVID rip through communities, who serve as board members of vaccine disinformation groups, who promoted conspiracies and quack treatments for COVID and measles—and he is just getting started! It is really just about impossible to underscore how reckless and unprecedented this is. I mean, even some Republicans who voted for him—only did so after he convinced them he wouldn’t go this far. Of course they should have known better—I even warned them! You can’t trust this guy, he has a long history of attacking science and vaccines at every turn, he’s not going to give up that crusade when you give him tremendous power to wage it. But they ignored the obvious warnings—and now here we are. Let’s be clear, RFK Jr. is not just crossing a red line for public health, he is sprinting into dangerous, uncharted territory in support of totally deranged conspiracies, and he is dragging us all along with him. He is putting our communities—and our families—in harm’s way.”

    “The means by which vaccines are recommended for use in the United States is a careful, deliberate and rigorous process that has been in place for over 60 years. ACIP is widely regarded as the international gold standard for vaccine decision-making. Other countries have, in the past, considered the United States as a model to guide their own vaccine policies because they could be sure decisions were unbiased and based on evidence. But that may no longer be the case,” said Dr. Helen Chu, a professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Until Monday, Dr. Chu was also a member of ACIP until Secretary Kennedy abruptly dismissed the entire Committee this Monday. “We cannot dismantle a system that has allowed for open, evidence-based dialogue among experts, that has supported transparent, clear decision-making.  We cannot replace it with a process driven by one person’s beliefs. In the absence of an independent unbiased ACIP, we can no longer trust that safe and effective vaccines will be available to us and the people around us. I worry about the health and safety of people in our country—and the future of our public health infrastructure.”

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

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

    In particular, Senator Murray has been leading the charge against the Trump administration’s efforts to gut lifesaving research at NIH and pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH skilled scientists, grants administrators, and other employees at the agency. When the Trump administration attempted to illegally cap indirect cost rates at 15 percent, Senator Murray immediately and forcefully condemned the move, led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in a letter decrying the proposed change, and introduced amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution to reverse it, which Republicans blocked. Murray has led Congressional efforts to boost biomedical research. Previously, over her years as Chair of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secured billions of dollars in increases for biomedical research at NIH, and during her time as Chair of the HELP Committee she established the new ARPA-H research agency as part of her PREVENT Pandemics Act to advance some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. Senator Murray was also the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which delivered a major federal investment to boost NIH research, among many other investments. 

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

    “I am here today to sound the alarm for public health, and to sound it as loud as I possibly can. Because this week, RFK Jr. took a dangerous, practically unthinkable step to undermine public health and vaccine confidence. He fired every single member of CDC’s vaccine advisory panel. Every. Single. One.

    “And he is already packing the panel with people who advocated letting COVID rip through communities, who serve as board members of vaccine disinformation groups, who promoted conspiracies and quack treatments for COVID and measles—and he is just getting started! It is really just about impossible to underscore how reckless and unprecedented this is.

    “I mean—even some Republicans who voted for him—only did so after he convinced them he wouldn’t go this far. Of course, they should have known better—I even warned them! You can’t trust this guy. He has a long history of attacking science and vaccines at every turn—he’s not going to give up that crusade when you give him tremendous power to wage it. But they ignored the obvious warnings. And now here we are.

    “Let’s be clear, RFK Jr. is not just crossing a red line for public health, he is sprinting into dangerous, uncharted territory in support of totally deranged conspiracies, and he is dragging us all along with him! He is putting our communities and our families in harm’s way.

    “Here’s what everyone needs to know. The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel has a simple, important job. Look at the data. Look at the science. And make recommendations on the vaccines FDA has approved as safe and effective.

    “That work has serious repercussions. These recommendations impact public confidence and trust in our vaccines. These recommendations are trusted by health care providers as they talk to patients and discuss their personal health decisions.

    “And these recommendations affect whether health plans—including Medicare and Medicaid—are required to cover vaccines at zero cost to patients or insurance companies can force Americans to foot the bill for vaccines that keep them safe or parents get guidance about which vaccines their children should receive and when.

    “Guess what happens when vaccines become more expensive for patients? Guess what happens when Trump’s highest-ranking health official ignores the facts and tells people our vaccine experts can’t be trusted? Guess what happens when RFK Jr. packs the CDC advisory committee wall-to-wall with his favorite anti-science grifters and conspiracy pushers?

    “Fewer people are going to get vaccinated. This is not rocket science.

    “Maybe they think—because of RFK’s Jr.’s disinformation—that measles isn’t a big deal. Maybe they think—incorrectly—that it’s safer to get whooping cough than the vaccine. Maybe they just can’t afford it anymore—because the vaccine they wanted to protect their family is no longer covered by insurance.

    “Whatever the reason, the result is going to be the same. Diseases we can fight—diseases we can prevent—spreading like wildfire through our communities, through our schools, through our nursing homes. Kids are going to be hospitalized, even killed, all because one conspiracy theorist thinks he knows better than qualified medical experts, and centuries of research.

    “We’ve already seen an historic measles outbreak on RFK Jr.’s watch. His response to it has been a complete disaster, promoting quack cures and spreading lies about vaccines, as cases skyrocket.

    “And, if RFK Jr.’s flood of disinformation is allowed to drown out real science, it’s not just going to be measles—we are going to see a full parade of horrors come raging back.

    “We have to speak up. And we have to make sure we are countering nonsense with reality with facts. We have to make sure parents get the message: that vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving.

    “And so, I am using my megaphone today, to not just raise the alarm, but to raise up the voice of an expert who knows the science of vaccines and who knows the stakes of this moment.

    “I’m pleased to be joined by one of the CDC advisory members RFK Jr. is trying to silence through firing: UW’s own Dr. Helen Chu. Thank you all for joining this call today.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Protests in Response to Immigration Arrests in Spokane

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the immigration protests in Spokane last night, sparked by the detention of two immigrants seeking asylum whose work visas were abruptly revoked on Friday:

    “It’s totally wrong to abruptly detain legal asylum seekers at their check-in appointments without any justification—we’re talking about people who were following the legal process, contributing to their communities, and pose no threat to public safety. As I’ve said time and again, diverting law enforcement resources away from fighting violent crime to round up immigrants who are working and going through the legal process is nothing but a cruel waste of taxpayer dollars that makes all of us less safe.

    “The Trump administration is intentionally provoking chaos, terror, and disorder in our communities by bringing in federal agents to grab people off the streets. I stand with the citizens of Spokane who are peacefully speaking out against these egregious abuses of our immigration laws, and those who are mounting challenges in the courts.

    “I will always support people exercising their First Amendment right to peaceful protest and I urge anyone taking part in protest activities to remain calm and never resort to violence, which only plays into the Trump administration’s hands.

    “The Trump administration needs to let local law enforcement do their job—federal troops should never be deployed over the request of state and local officials to escalate situations that local police are already effectively managing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Forceful Senate Floor Speech, Senator Murray Slams Trump Administration for Aggressively Detaining Senator Padilla at Public Press Conference

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to respond to U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) being tackled, handcuffed, and violently removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference this afternoon.  

    Senator Murray’s full remarks on the Senate floor, as delivered are below:

    “Mr. President, I come to the floor this afternoon, to the United States Senate, a place where people are elected by their constituents to come here to be their voice, every one of us. Republican, Democrat, elected by the people who we represent, to come here and be their voice and to do the job.

    “What is that job? To make sure that we are being their voice and speaking out for them, and part of that has to be asking questions. Part of that has to be demanding accountability. That has to be getting information so we can do the best job possible.

    “It is unacceptable that a United States Senator, in his own home state, elected by millions of people, went to ask a question for his constituents, to get an answer, and was brutally thrown to the ground and handcuffed.

    “That is wrong, and I cannot believe that we don’t have Senators on both sides of the aisle calling this out as outrageous.

    “This is what a democracy is about, Mr. President. Mr. President, it is about us coming to the United States Senate, speaking out, asking questions, getting information, so we can be their voice.

    “What happens when that voice is stifled? What happens when that voice is thrown to the floor and handcuffed? Our democracy is lost.

    “Mr. President, I have been here more than 32 years. I have come to this floor often to speak out, to be angry, to be a voice for my people. I have never come this close to having tears in my eyes, as I speak to both sides of this aisle, about this horrendous incident that occurred.

    “We are a democracy, but we can lose that democracy. It can be gone, unless all of us speak out and forcibly reject what happened to a United States Senator.

    “And to send the message that in this democracy it is just, it is right, it is part of our responsibility to speak up, to ask questions, and to be able to have the knowledge we need to represent the people that we come here for.

    “We use our voices, Mr. President. We use our votes, Mr. President, to be a part of this democracy. Not violence.

    “When violence is done by someone representing this administration, in a forceful way, against a United States Senator, how does any one of us go home and tell our constituents that they can be part of a democracy, speak out about what they believe in?

    “This is so wrong. This is so wrong.

    “Mr. President, I hope others speak up and speak out, and as a voice we say we want our democracy to succeed, and in order to succeed we need to be able to use our voices and to use our votes and to ask questions without being forcibly thrown to the ground, without being arrested by speaking up.

    “I say to the entire country, we have a democracy. We will lose it if we can’t use our voices. We will lose this democracy. None of us should be silent. None of us.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: We Are Going to Prevent the Largest Tax Increase in American History

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Discuss the Reconciliation Benefits for Farmers and Ranchers
    Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Suzanne Alexander on RFD-TV to discuss President Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ and how it will help farmers and ranchers by preventing the largest tax increase in American history and allocate $100 billion to crop insurance and Title One funding.

    Click HERE or on the image above to watch the full interview.
    On how the OBBB presents the largest tax increase in American history:
    “… This bill is going to prevent the largest tax increase in American history. This is going to mean $1,000 a month of Americans getting to keep their own hard-earned money. Look, it is tense up here in its own world, but I just never seen the Republican caucus so together, and this is a Republicans only exercise right now. The Democrats will not support these tax cuts.”
    On what the OBBB will do for farmers and ranchers:
    “I’m just so, so proud of what we’ve done on the agriculture portion of this, first of all, $50 billion for crop insurance, $50 billion for the Title One programs, the ARC and the PLC, and that’s mandatory spending … over the next 10 years, you put those together, there’s $100 billion that we’re going to help with crop insurance and the Title One funding.
    “But you know, first and foremost, farmers are businessmen and women, right? So, making these Trump tax cuts permanent, and I’m talking about bonus depreciation, and 199A – your listeners know exactly what I’m talking about – Those are very important.
    “There’s also a tax credit called 45Z, which is vitally important to rural America. This is how we’re going to take soybeans or corn and turn it into jet fuel. But we need a tax credit to get that, to get that industry up and going as well. So those are just a few examples of how this is going to help American farmers and rural America.”
    On protecting Medicaid and Medicare for rural Americans:
    “Well, look, we’re going to protect Medicaid. We’re going to make it better. We want to strengthen it for those who need it the most. And like you said, I know as much about a rural hospital as anybody does up here. They’re actually much more dependent upon Medicare, but Medicaid has a little bit of influence, so we’re going to do our best to make sure there’s a carve-out to protect those rural hospitals. There aren’t that many of them; the critical access hospital system is much different; they’re guaranteed a Medicare Plus rate as well. So, we’ll do our very best.
    “But the very best thing we could do for those hospitals is give them a strong agricultural economy. Hospitals are a reflection of the economy. They don’t drive the economy. So anything we can do to help the American farmer is going to help those hospitals as well.”
    On strengthening SNAP and making it better for those who need it most:
    “Look, we’ll probably not go quite as deep with this as maybe the House did, but 80, at least 70% of Americans want some type of work requirements. And that’s what our focus will be is a work requirement. We have 7 million healthy American men out there, working age, who are not working. 7 million of them. And they’re on Medicaid and they’re on food stamps – let’s help those people find a job. I hear there are a lot of jobs in rural America, so if you don’t have a job, we’ll train you up. We’ll get you out there working on the pipeline or the oil field or out there on some of these farms as well.”
    “… I don’t want anyone to go to bed hungry – we’re not going to let that happen. But on the other hand, it would be good for the health of these people who can work, to get them back and work. And again, I think 70% of Americans generally support these, some type of work requirements if you’re on government aid.”
    On the next steps for the OBBB:
    “Look, we’re still in the seventh inning here. It’s the seventh inning stretch when we get pen to paper by this weekend, I think the real debates will start next week, as we start trying to move, you know, a million dollars here and a million dollars there. But I just want everyone to rest assured, I’m going to be out there speaking for rural America – speaking for agriculture, protecting 45Z, protecting crop insurance, protecting these reference prices, [and] trying to grow the rural American economy as well.
    “So, I just can’t emphasize enough, I was just with the President, I think it was last Thursday, I was at the White House again yesterday, that this President has the back of farmers and ranchers, and we’re going to do everything we can to make them successful as well.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Calls for Full Funding of Federal Programs to Prevent Kansas Water Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund a suite of federal programs that help Kansas communities tackle water shortages, improve water quality, and ensure long-term drought resilience. 
    “Every Kansan deserves access to clean, safe drinking water,” said Senator Marshall. “I have spoken with community leaders across Kansas who are dealing with aging water and wastewater infrastructure. Federal resources are essential to help these communities modernize their water systems, ensuring they can reliably serve residents and businesses now and into the future.” 
    “The State Revolving Loan Fund Program is an essential tool in helping Kansas communities maintain and repair aging infrastructure in their drinking water and wastewater treatment systems,” said Leo Henning, Deputy Secretary and Director of Environment for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. “This critical funding is not a federal handout, as it provides reliable assistance through low-interest loans that are repaid. Funding is then redeployed to new communities for new projects, but without continued federal funding, Kansas could not maintain these programs or meet Kansas’s increasing infrastructure needs in the face of rising construction costs.  This funding must be continued to provide this vital lending hand to Kansas communities.” 
    “In a nation characterized by its vast geographic diversity, rural areas often confront unique challenges that hinder their economic growth and development,” said Carey Spoon, Executive Director of the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission. “Continued federal funding is paramount for improving local infrastructure in these economically depressed regions. Such support is not merely an investment in bricks and mortar; it is a commitment to the empowerment and upliftment of communities that have faced ongoing socio-economic difficulties. The importance of continued federal funding for local infrastructure improvements in rural, economically depressed regions cannot be overstated. Such initiatives not only address immediate infrastructural deficiencies but also lay the groundwork for sustainable economic development and enhanced quality of life for residents. It is imperative that we prioritize these investments, recognizing their potential to transform lives and communities for the better.” 
    “The SRF program through KDHE provides low interest revolving loans for water and wastewater infrastructure capital projects,” said Brad Mears, Executive Director of Kansas Municipal Utilities. “Both water and wastewater are capital intensive services which provide and protect quality of water in Kansas.  With aging infrastructure, the need for this low interest loan program is great.  This funding program allows for the maintenance of reasonable rates for water and wastewater programs.” 
    Background:

    Senator Marshall’s FY2026 Appropriations Requests for Water Infrastructure in Kansas include:

    A Language Submission on Water Challenges and Rescue Projects to the Senate Appropriations Committee, acknowledging the persistent water supply challenges facing central and western Kansas and emphasizing the critical role that water reuse projects play in supporting drought-affected regions.

    This request reinforces that addressing water shortages is a top priority for Kansas communities, strengthens the case for federal investment, and builds the legislative record for future policy efforts 

    Full funding for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Grant Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to local governments, water districts, tribes, and irrigation authorities for the planning, design, and construction of water recycling and reuse projects in Kansas. 

    Robust funding for numerous programs, including:

    Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), which helps Kansas communities finance upgrades to public water systems, ensuring safe and compliant drinking water for residents. 

    Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), which provides low-interest loans to Kansas communities for wastewater infrastructure projects that protect and improve surface water quality. 

    Rural Community Assistance Partnerships (RCAPs), which deliver technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support to rural Kansas communities to help them plan, finance, operate, and maintain safe drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste systems. 

    The USDA Rural Development Water & Waste Disposal Program, which offers long-term, low-interest loans and grants to rural communities for the acquisition, construction, or improvement of drinking water systems, sanitary sewage, solid waste disposal, and stormwater draining infrastructure 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Introduces Resolution Recognizing Black Contributions to Music

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a resolution celebrating the contributions of Black Americans to the musical heritage of the United States and designating June as Black Music Appreciation Month. In addition, the resolution recognizes the lack of access to arts education and training for Black students and calls for greater access to music education. U.S. Representatives Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), and André Carson (D-IN-07) introduced a resolution in the House recognizing June as Black Music Month.

    “America’s music history has long been defined by Black music, but Black singers, songwriters, and musicians rarely get the recognition they deserve for their contributions and art,” said Senator Booker. “This resolution honors Black musicians from Aretha Franklin to Kendrick Lamar, along with so many others who have made an invaluable impact on our cultural history. I’m pleased to stand alongside my colleagues to recognize these artists and also recommit ourselves to expanding access to music education for children across the nation.” 

    “Black music is the soul of American music, shaping our culture in indelible and immeasurable ways. Black Music sets the rhythm of Black life and has shared our story, our joys, and our struggle with the world. Black Music Month is an important opportunity to support music and arts education, including for diverse communities, and connect Black music to the wider story of Black history, including as we celebrate Juneteenth this month. I am proud to introduce our resolution in the House with Congressman Meeks and Congressman Carson and to join with Senator Booker in announcing our resolutions,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

    “To African American communities, music is more than just entertainment, it is a force of identity, healing, and resistance,” said Congressman Meeks. “I am honored to represent a district that has been home to musical legends such as Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald. African American music is woven into the DNA of this nation—it tells our stories, preserves our struggles, and celebrates our triumphs. We must continue celebrating Black music and its cultural impact worldwide.”

    “Black music has always been more than entertainment. It’s a pathway for truth, resistance, and cultural pride,” said Congressman André Carson. “From the rhythms carried by our ancestors to the beats of hip hop transcending through today’s movements, Black music has always told our story when words alone did not suffice. This Black Music Month, we honor the genres we birthed and the voices that continue to inspire justice, joy, and speak truth to power across the world.”

    The resolution is endorsed by the following organizations: A Cuthbertson Consulting, Cold Narly Generation LLC, Conn Selmer, JazzSLAM, League of American Orchestras, Music Education Consultants, Inc., Music Travel Consultants, National Association for Music Education, National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music, NAMM, National Concerts, Ohio Music Education Association, New Jersey Music Educators Association, Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, and TeachRock.

    “Regardless of our socio-economic backgrounds or geographic location within the US, the impact and contributions of Black music is woven into the fabric of our nation. Our music is not just important because of the uniqueness of the art form, but the nurturing provided by those who first introduced the melodies, rhythms, and phrases to us as young music learners in elementary schools, and with our local communities far and wide. The economic impact to small towns and big cities which embrace the expression of this music in houses of worship and entertainment venues contributes and builds local legacies enabling us to preserve, embrace, and expand these gifts for the next generation of music makers, consumers, and admirers.  By supporting and exploring the contribution of Black Music making, we can provide a richer experience which recognizes and celebrates the vital contributions of all those who create and offer this art to our communities, enhancing everyone’s understanding and appreciation for cultural history through the arts,” said NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley, Chair of Berklee’s Music Education Department.

    “The New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) proudly supports Senator Cory Booker’s resolution recognizing June 2025 as Black Music Month. Black musicians and composers have shaped every facet of America’s musical heritage. We recognize the urgent need for greater access to high-quality, culturally relevant music education for Black students, an issue highlighted in this important resolution. NJMEA remains committed to fostering inclusive music programs and expanding access to high-quality music education so that all students can see their identities, cultures, and experiences reflected in the music they study and perform,” said NJMEA President, David Westawski.

    “June is Black Music Month, created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to honor the dynamic artistic narrative that chronicles the aspirations, achievements, innovations, and resilience of generations of Americans past and present, from the deep south field hollers that resonate from six score years ago to the electrifying blues, jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop born in the crucible of today’s largest urban centers, with the voices and rhythms that will carry us into the future. It was in April of 1979 that WBGO signed on the air as Newark Public Radio, a fact that inextricably binds our story to the profound legacy of music created out of the richness of the African American experience. Black Music represents extraordinary value and significance in New Jersey’s artistic and cultural heritage, and it provides the foundation for our representation as the world’s foremost jazz media organization. It is, in fact, the impact that Black artists have had on the world of music that makes WBGO possible. Black music is not just a genre; it is a gift to the world. WBGO is proud to support Senator Cory Booker’s efforts to celebrate this monumental inheritance, not just for one month, but for every day of our existence,” said WBGO President and CEO, Steven A. Williams.

    “The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society is in full support of the Black Music Month Resolution by Senator Cory Booker. Preserving the culture of Black Music is very important because every genre of music has been influenced by Black Music. It’s more important today than ever before to educate the history of Black Music. The impact of Black Music Culture is not only in America, but all over the world,” said the Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society President and CEO, Perry Thompson.

    The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Signs Into Law Fischer’s Resolution to Overturn California’s Unrealistic EV Mandate, Protect Truckers and Consumers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, President Donald Trump signed into law U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) resolution of disapproval to repeal California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT). Fischer’s resolution nullifies California’s unrealistic and stringent emissions requirements for heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel engines, which would have dictated emission policies for the entire country. 

    “I’ve been clear from the start—one state should not dictate emission policies for the entire country. California’s ACT regulation would have increased costs on American consumers and crippled the truck manufacturing industry nationwide by overloading companies and truckers with expensive, heavy-handed requirements. My commonsense resolution keeps government overreach at bay, protects consumers, and supports America’s free markets. I’m grateful President Trump signed it into law,”     Fischer said.  

    Background:

    Fischer 

    introduced the resolution of disapproval in April, and the U.S. Senate passed the resolution last month. Fischer also spoke on the Senate Floor to highlight the necessity in overturning the waiver and stopping one state from dictating emission policies for the entire country.

    California’s ACT would have required manufacturers of trucks, from class 2b to class 8, to meet zero-emission regulations by 2025. Under the regulation, manufacturers would have to sell an increasingly larger percentage of zero-emission vehicles between 2024 to 2035. Additionally, the ACT would require fleet owners with more than 50 vehicles to submit a one-time report on their existing operations.

    Fischer’s now signed-into law resolution nullifies California’s ACT rule that requires manufacturers to increase the sales of zero-emission trucks. The rule was part of California and the Biden administration’s continued effort to ban gas-powered vehicles and mandate more expensive zero-emission vehicles.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Peters Secures Army Corps Commitment to Prioritize Timely Completion of Soo Locks Construction

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – During a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) secured a commitment from key U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials to prioritize the timely completion of the ongoing Soo Locks construction project. In his questioning, Peters emphasized the importance of this critical project for U.S. economic and national security.  

    “To put things into perspective, just a six-month unscheduled outage at the Soo would result in an estimated 11 million jobs lost and a $1.1 trillion hit to the economy. I think that’s a classic definition of critical infrastructure,” said Senator Peters during the hearing. “The bottom line is, we need a second Poe-sized lock to alleviate this risk, and I’ve been leading the charge with a lot of my colleagues for quite some time.” 

    In response, Mr. D. Lee Forsgren, Acting Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army (Civil Works) said, “As you so articulately laid out, it is the backbone of the economy of this country, and we cannot afford as a nation to let that happen. I commit we will be looking at ways forward to enhance that system.” 

    To watch the full video of Senator Peters’ questioning, click here.

    Peters also applauded the $264 million included in the 2025 Army Corps Work Plan and Budget Request, which he recently led the bipartisan Michigan delegation in advocating for. This funding would allow the USACE to award the final remaining contracts needed to finish the project at their current cost.  

    “It was great to see the funding in the work plan allowing us to hit those final three options,” said Lt. Gen. William H. Graham, Jr., Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “We’re never going to get better prices than what we had locked in to finish those last three options up at the Soo. I’m heading up there in a few weeks to make sure that there are no surprises up there and that the team on the ground has everything they need to continue to deliver, and I think we’re on track for 2030, which is exciting.” 

    Peters has prioritized securing the funding necessary to build a new Poe-sized Lock at the Soo Locks. In 2024, he toured the ongoing construction project after helping to secure $257.4 million for the project in government funding legislation. In January 2022, Peters helped to secure $479 million for modernizing the Soo Locks through the bipartisan infrastructure law. In December 2022, he helped pass the bipartisan Water Resources and Development Act as part of the annual national defense bill, including needed funding flexibility for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to keep the New Lock at the Soo project on schedule. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, King Announce USS Gravely to Visit Eastport for Fourth of July Celebrationbl

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Eastport will receive a port visit during the city’s 2025 Fourth of July celebration. The U.S. Navy has committed to sending the guided missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107), which has a crew complement of approximately 330 sailors.

    USS Gravely is a battle-tested warship and recently saw action in the Red Sea.

    “We are grateful to the U.S. Navy for honoring the State of Maine with this port visit during Eastport’s Fourth of July celebration,” said Senators Collins and King. “The arrival of the USS Gravely will give Mainers a special opportunity to meet the sailors bravely serving our country. It’s an honor to welcome these servicemembers to our state as we mark Independence Day, and we thank the Navy for making this visit possible.”

    The Eastport Fourth of July parade and festival is the largest in the state and draws thousands of Maine people every year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Senate Speech, Warren Condemns Assault of Senator Alex Padilla: “Trump is Making This Nation Look More and More Like a Fascist State”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    June 12, 2025

    Warren calls on Republicans to join Democrats in demanding investigation into the incident

    “If this is how federal agents treat a United States senator who peacefully asks questions of this administration, then we all have to ask: how far will they go? How violent will they get?” 

    Video of Floor Speech (YouTube)

    Washington, D.C. — Following the violent assault on U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) spoke out on the Senate Floor.

    “This is a horrifying moment in our nation’s history,” said Senator Warren. 

    During Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference, Senator Padilla identified himself, saying, “I am Senator Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary.” In response, he was shoved to the ground and eventually pinned down and handcuffed. 

    Senator Warren called out ICE’s recent excessive use of force and aggressive detention tactics, saying “what happened to Senator Padilla, today, is happening every day all across this country, every day. DHS agents are throwing people to the ground and violently handcuffing them while they are not resisting, detaining them for exercising their First Amendment rights of free speech.” 

    “Every day Donald Trump is making this nation look more and more like a fascist state,” Senator Warren continued. 

    Senator Warren called for Republicans to join Democrats in demanding a bipartisan investigation into the incident. 

    Transcript: Floor Speech on Assault on Senator Alex Padilla
    U.S. Senate Floor
    June 12, 2025

    As Delivered

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: This a horrifying moment in our nation’s history. Today, United States Senator Alex Padilla was violently removed from a public briefing for asking questions on behalf of the people he represents. People in California who deserve answers about the brutal crackdown on protesters. 

    I’ve watched the video, as many of you have as well. Let me just describe what it shows. 

    Officers pushed Senator Padilla backwards out of the room as he said the words, “I am Senator Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary.” He was then shoved to the ground. When the Senator complied with the officers and went on his knees, he was forcibly pinned onto his stomach. He was ordered to put his hands behind his back. He can be heard on the video saying he is trying to comply with their orders. Officers then put handcuffs on the senator while he was lying on the ground. His staff was then told to stop recording the handcuffing. 

    He was put in handcuffs for asking a simple question. 

    He was put in handcuffs for doing his job as a United States Senator. 

    He was put in handcuffs for standing up for the Constitution of the United States. 

    He was put in handcuffs for representing the people of California. 

    Now, if you’re not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to suppress free speech, then just watch the video. Watch the video. 

    If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to undermine the foundations of our democracy. Watch the video. 

    If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are hell bent on punishing people with differing opinions than those of the President, then watch the video. 

    And here is the really chilling part. 

    Make no mistake, what happened to Senator Padilla, today, is happening every day all across this country, every day. 

    DHS agents are throwing people to the ground and violently handcuffing them while they are not resisting, detaining them for exercising their First Amendment rights of free speech. 

    Every day Donald Trump is making this nation look more and more like a fascist state. 

    If this is how federal agents treat a United States senator who peacefully asks questions of this administration, then we all have to ask: How far will they go? How violent will they get? 

    I know my Republican colleagues can see what happened today was wrong. But will any Republican senator speak up for our democracy? 

    They know Senator Padilla’s character. 

    They know that Senator Padilla is a kind man. A man who is concerned for his children. A man who is concerned for his home. A man who has dedicated his life to public service. A man who is a patriot. 

    Where are our Republican colleagues? 

    Where is the Republican Senate? 

    Where are you? Stand up and speak out. 

    This is a continuation of what we’ve been seeing, intimidate every other check on presidential power in this country. 

    Fire the civil service. 

    Get rid of those people. 

    Threaten to imprison judges. 

    Criminally charge House members who try to visit an ICE facility. 

    Arrest senators who ask questions. 

    This is not a drill. This is an assault on our democracy. 

    I am calling on my Republican colleagues to join us in demanding a bipartisan investigation into this incident. 

    What happened at this press conference was disgraceful. It was un-American. And every member of the United States Senate should condemn it and condemn it now. 

    Mr. President, I yield the floor. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Grills Treasury Secretary Bessent on Trump’s Trade War: “Vermonters call it pretty painful as a way to run their business.” 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today grilled Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump Administration’s reckless trade policies, which are raising costs for Vermont businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and families. Senator Welch pressed Secretary Bessent on how President Trump’s unpredictable economic policies have wrought instability for Vermonters in every corner of the Green Mountain State. 
    Senator Welch asked Secretary Bessent: “Let me ask you this: predictability. The Trump tariff timelines—February 1: Executive Order, 10% on China, 25% on Mexico, and Canada. February 3: 30-day pause on 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. February 10: 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. March 4: an additional 10% on China, 25% on Mexico, and Canada. This goes on and on—22 different tariffs. And it looks like the President wakes up, kind of checks his mood, and changes the tariff regime. 
    “I’ve talked to manufacturers where they’ve had products coming to a port, and if they arrive Monday, they’re cool. If they arrive on Wednesday, it’s going to cost them another $75,000. Just in terms of implementation, 22 different tariffs over the course of a few months.” 
    Secretary Bessent responded: “I’m just saying, Senator, if you’re familiar with game theory, it’s called ‘strategic uncertainty,’ and it’s also called ‘negotiations.’ Thirteen days ago, on a Friday, President Trump threatened the E.U. with 50% tariffs. The E.U. was not negotiating in good faith. Within ten hours, we had calls from five European leaders and a call with Ursula Vanderlinden. So, you may call this a flip-flop, I call this a negotiating strategy, and this is the way negotiating strategies works.” 
    Senator Welch: “Vermonters call it pretty painful as a way to run their business.” 
    Watch the full exchange between Senator Welch and Secretary Bessent below: 

    Senator Welch opposed Secretary Bessent’s nomination. In his confirmation hearing, Senator Welch pushed Bessent to avoid protectionist trade policies. The Trump Administration has since imposed sweeping global tariffs and waged an all-out trade war with our closest trade allies, including Canada, Mexico, and the EU. 
    Senator Welch has been a leading voice in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s deeply misguided and disastrous economic policies. Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. This week, Senator Welch welcomed Steve Wright, President and General Manager of Jay Peak Resort to the Senate for a forum on the impact of tariffs and President Trump’s trade war, highlighting the detrimental impact the Trump Administration’s rhetoric toward Canada has had on businesses in Vermont. 
    Senator Welch is a cosponsor of a bipartisan resolution to repeal the tariffs on Canada, a bipartisan bill to restore congressional tariff authority, a bill to restrict the Executive Branch’s authority to impose tariffs through the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, and a bill to exempt small businesses from the April 2nd global tariff Executive Order. Senator Welch also led a bipartisan resolution to end President Trump’s ruinous global tariffs.      
    Last month, Senator Welch joined a bipartisan delegation and traveled to Ottawa to meet with Canadian dignitaries, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, to discuss bipartisan support for a U.S.-Canada partnership and their commitment to a strong trading relationship between the United States and Canada. The Senator has hosted roundtables in Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, Manchester, and virtually to hear concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian leaders impacted by the trade war.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Alsobrooks Urge Army to Take Action to Keep Outdoor Recreation Sites Open

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the first day of summer approaches, recreation sites across the country managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) face reduced hours or full closures due to a U.S. Department of Defense hiring freeze. The freeze was signed on February 28 and restricts the Army Corps from hiring the seasonal staff needed to safely manage boat ramps, campgrounds, and swimming areas. The Army Corps has requested Secretary Driscoll use his waiver authority to allow seasonal hires. Without it, Army Corps recreation sites will be closed or have reduced access at the time they are used the most. 

    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Commanding General of the Army Corps Lt. Gen. William H. “Butch” Graham highlighting the need for immediate action to address the staffing shortfalls. Specifically, it urges the Army to approve a waiver request from the Army Corps allowing it to bring on seasonal workers. Under current policy, the Secretary of Defense has authorized Service Secretaries to grant waivers for positions essential to public safety.

    “Every year, outdoor recreation contributes more than $1 trillion to the economy and supports over 5 million jobs,” the senators wrote. “Limiting access to Army Corps recreation sites hampers this economic engine and has adverse impacts on communities who depend on the reliable summer influx of visitors. However, this is about much more than merely the economic implications. Outdoor recreation is a way for people to engage with nature, spend quality-time with family, and boost their physical and mental health.”

    If the waiver authority is not utilized, several Army Corps managed recreation areas in North Dakota will be partially or fully closed for the summer season due to staffing shortages. This includes the East Totten Trail and Wolf Creek at Lake Sakakawea, Beaver Creek and Hazelton at Lake Oahe, and East Astabulta Crossing, Eggerts Landing, and West Ashtabula Crossing at Lake Asthabula.

    Click here for the letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Leader Schumer, Wyden, Merkley Release Data Detailing Hundreds of Rural Hospitals Across U.S. at Risk Due to Republican Health Care Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Over 300 Rural Hospitals at Disproportionate Risk of Closure, Conversion, or Service Reductions
    Lawmakers Also Provided Data to President Trump, Leader Thune, and Speaker Johnson in Letter
    Letter and Data | Sheps Response
    Washington (June 12, 2025) – Following House Republicans’ passage of a bill that would impose the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history, slashing funding for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1 trillion and triggering more than $500 billion in Medicare cuts, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, released detailed data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill concluding that Republican health care cuts could place over 300 rural hospitals across the U.S. at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions. The data is based on financial indicators including: share of Medicaid patients served, previous years of negative total margins, and data modeling on future financial distress.
    The lawmakers also sent the data in a letter to President Trump, Leader John Thune, and Speaker Mike Johnson, writing, “Addressing the crisis in rural health care access is a national, bipartisan priority, and it should be bipartisan to not worsen that crisis. However, if your party passes these health care cuts into law, Americans in rural communities across the country risk losing health care services and jobs supported by their local hospitals. We urge you to read the attached report and reconsider your position. It is not too late to stop these cuts. Billionaire tax breaks are not worth the cost to American lives and livelihoods.”
    The response from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill states, “Substantial cuts to Medicaid or Medicare payments could increase the number of unprofitable rural hospitals and elevate their risk of financial distress. In response, hospitals may be forced to reduce service lines, convert to a different type of health care facility, or close altogether.” The data shows the following regarding at-risk rural hospitals:
    Over 338 rural hospitals are at particular risk of closure, conversion, or service reduction from substantial health care cuts because the hospitals either take a high relative share of Medicaid patients, or have experienced 3 years of negative total margins, or both. This includes 33 hospitals in Louisiana, 35 hospitals in Kentucky, and 21 hospitals in Oklahoma.
    In Alaska, 4 rural hospitals – more than 40 percent of rural hospitals with available data – serve high concentrations of Medicaid patients.
    In West Virginia, nearly a quarter of rural hospitals are serving high concentrations of Medicaid patients, and 15 percent of rural hospitals are at the highest relative risk of financial distress.
    In Alabama, 8 rural hospitals – nearly 20 percent of rural hospitals with available data – are in the highest relative risk category of financial distress.
    In Tennessee, 9 rural hospitals – or 18 percent of rural hospitals in the state with available data – have experienced 3 years of negative total margins, and 9 rural hospitals are at highest relative risk of financial distress.
    In the face of these Republican cuts, a majority of adults living in rural areas are concerned that health care cuts will “negatively impact hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers in [their] community.” Rural hospitals are struggling; in 2023, there were 50 fewer rural hospitals than in 2017, and a lack of health care access in rural America is contributing to worse health outcomes. Faced with additional cuts to their revenue, many rural hospitals may be forced to stop providing certain services, including obstetric, mental health, and emergency room care, convert to clinics or standalone emergency centers, or close altogether. Rural hospitals are often the largest employers in rural communities, and when a rural hospital closes or scales back their services, communities are not only forced to grapple with losing access to health care, but also with job loss and the resulting financial insecurity.
    “If Republicans plan to pass drastic cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and effectively repeal the Affordable Care Act, communities should know exactly what they stand to lose,” said Senator Markey. “These health care cuts won’t just kick millions off their insurance. These cuts will plunge hospitals across the country into financial chaos, and as this data demonstrates, hundreds of rural hospitals across the country may be forced to stop providing care, limit their services, or close altogether. If hospitals close, many rural communities will lose the biggest employer they have. Seniors, the disabled, and pregnant people will have to travel farther to access care. Families will lose access to care. People will die. The more information we have about this bill, the worse it seems. No life or job is worth a yes vote on this big billionaire bill. We must make sure every American can see how Republicans are willing to pay for billionaire tax breaks with people’s lives, and we must defeat this ugly bill.”
    “As this report proves, the Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Betrayal’ is a matter of life and death for millions of Americans. The cruel and far-reaching cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are putting hundreds of rural hospitals at risk of closure, limiting services, or mass layoffs,” said Leader Schumer. “Rural Americans already face more obstacles to getting healthcare and many are the lifeblood and major employers of their communities, all of which Republicans are risking to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”
    “As I hold town hall meetings in each of Oregon’s 36 counties, I frequently hear about struggles folks have in accessing health care in their communities. This isn’t a red state or blue state issue. Medicaid helps every state – especially rural communities,” said Senator Merkley. “More than 300 rural hospitals will be at risk of shutting down – in Oregon and across the country – if Republicans betray middle class families and make these drastic cuts to Medicaid, all so that billionaires can pay less in taxes. This is the Republican plan: families lose, and billionaires win.”
    The lawmakers sent a letter to the Sheps Center director on June 4, 2025, requesting the Center’s expert analysis of how this bill will impact rural hospitals and the communities they serve, particularly inquiring about which rural hospitals in the country treat the highest share of Medicaid recipients; how many rural hospitals are currently in financial distress or at risk of closure; and if the health care cuts in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill were to become law, would the rural hospitals with the highest share of Medicaid recipients or that are currently in financial distress face risk of closure or have to reduce services.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Luján Condemns Forcible Removal and Manhandling of Senator Padilla 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    WATCH Senator Luján’s Floor Speech here.
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) took to the Senate floor to deliver remarks condemning the forcible removal of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) by federal agents at a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
    “Mr. President, back down. Back off. You are wrong. Will someone here have the backbone to tell the President of the United States, you crossed the line? Stop it,” said Senator Luján. “And as a Latino United States Senator, for this to happen to another Hispanic here, there are several of us that are Hispanics here, Democrats and Republicans. Speak up.”
    “I hope by tonight, every Democrat and Republican member of this body has the courage to say something. This has gone too far. It’s not right,” continued Senator Luján.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Scores Run to Power GOP to Fifth Straight Win

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) scored a run to fuel Republicans’ 13-2 victory at last night’s Congressional Baseball Game. The GOP team defended their title for the fifth year in a row.
    The Iowa delegation showed up in full force with Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) playing alongside Ernst.
    “Nationals Park is no Field of Dreams, but Randy, Mariannette, and I still brought our A-game to represent Iowa last night and help Team GOP deliver another blowout victory,” said Ernst. 
    Click here for more photos of Senator Ernst.
    Watch Senator Ernst score a run here.
    “We actually were able to see Joni Ernst out throwing a couple of balls, hitting a couple of balls of course, as well, but she actually had a dress on and full heels. And that’ll show you a [woman] can for sure compete with all the congressmen out here. And it’s really so awesome. I need to figure out what kind of shoes she was wearing. You got to walk a mile in a woman’s shoes.”
    Watch Senators Ernst and Schmitt’s interview with Fox News here.
    Watch Senator Ernst’s interview with Newsmax here.
    Ernst serves as a pinch hitter and runner for Team GOP and is one of two senators on the Republican team.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Declares June ‘Fidelity Month’ to Celebrate Family Values

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution designating June as ‘Fidelity Month’ to celebrate faith, family values, and patriotism. The resolution recognizes the national strife resulting from declining traditional values and serves as a rededication to these principles for the wellbeing of the American people.
    “America’s success hinges on the values of faith, family, and patriotism,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Celebrating Fidelity Month this June, we stand against a tide of moral relativism, a culture which increasingly revolves around serving one’s self, rather than our duty to others. Loving families and faithful marriages must be a guiding star for our society and a cornerstone of our communities.”
    “Fidelity Month is an invitation to our fellow Americans to rededicate themselves to core principles that were once, and can again be, sources of our nation’s unity and strength: fidelity to God; fidelity to spouses and children; fidelity to our country and communities.” – Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and founder of Fidelity Month.
    “At a time when America’s moral fabric is fraying and too many voices denigrate the very values that once bound us together, Fidelity Month is a timely and essential initiative. Faith, family, and patriotism are not relics of the past — they are the pillars of any flourishing civilization. I wholeheartedly support this effort to call Americans of every background to renew their dedication to these enduring truths. Without such fidelity, freedom itself becomes fragile.” – Andrew T. Walker, Ph.D., Fellow, The Ethics and Public Policy Center
    Resolution
    Supporting the designation of June as Fidelity Month for the purpose of rededicating the United States to the values of faith, family, and patriotism. 
    Whereas a recent opinion poll of Americans showed support for traditional values has significantly declined; 
    Whereas a majority of Americans no longer view values like faith, family, patriotism, or being involved in the community as very important; 
    Whereas these values used to unite Americans; 
    Whereas the decline in these values has corresponded with a rise in crime, drug abuse, alienation, and family disintegration; 
    Whereas fidelity means dedication to faith, spouses and families, and country and communities; 
    Whereas citizens of all faiths can join in recommitting the United States to fidelity; 
    Whereas John Adams, a founding father of the United States, said, ‘‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’’; 
    Whereas survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family, and patriotism; and 
    Whereas it is fitting to observe one month each year to rededicate the United States to its core values: Now, therefore, be it 
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that June should be designated as Fidelity Month for the purpose of rededicating the United States to the values of faith, family, and patriotism.
    See the official resolution text here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley-Wyden Report Exposes How Organ Procurement Organizations Game the System, Fail to Adequately Address Conflicts of Interest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), current Ranking Member, released the results of their bipartisan investigation into nonprofit Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO), which are responsible for obtaining donated organs for transplant and research in the United States. 
    The senators’ staff report reveals additional transparency is needed to strengthen the integrity of the organ procurement network and ensure the health and safety of organ donors and recipients. The investigation confirms the senators’ long-standing concerns, outlining examples of abuse to boost performance ratings and inadequate efforts by OPOs to identify and resolve conflicts of interest.  
    Building on their nearly two decades of work to bring accountability to the organ donation system, Grassley and Wyden launched their investigation in the 118th Congress. As of 2024, 170 million Americans are registered organ donors. Since 1988, nearly 1.1 million life-saving transplants in the U.S. have been made possible from more than a half-million organ donors.  
    “As millions of American families know first-hand, the organ donation system is a matter of life and death. It’s critical to restore integrity to this system and to strengthen the public’s trust in it. Our investigation uncovered clear examples of OPOs exploiting a loophole in direct opposition to congressional intent. We also uncovered OPOs’ failure to clearly and effectively address conflicts of interest. Together, we are working to ensure the stewardship of precious organs is transparent, accountable and effective in order to save lives,” Grassley said. 
    “Americans expect the national organ transplant system to be fair and efficient so as many patients as possible receive the life-saving donation they need,” Wyden said. “Organ procurement organizations are a key link in this chain, and this investigation demonstrates there’s still more work to be done to improve the system. I look forward to building on our work to make the organ procurement network accountable and successful on behalf of American families who are counting on a transplant.” 
    Full text of the investigative report and records can be found HERE.   
    In the course of its investigation, staff reviewed internal research protocols and conflicts of interest documents produced by seventeen OPOs, including One Legacy, Donor Alliance, LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, Indiana Donor Network, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, Mid-America Transplant, New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network, LifeBanc, Lifeline of Ohio, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Midwest Transplant Network, Versiti Wisconsin, LifeShare Network, Gift of Life Donor Program, Tennessee Donor Services and New Mexico Donor Services. 
    Pancreata Loophole:
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can re-certify OPOs if they meet certain standards. However, CMS has never decertified an OPO, allowing organizations to face little-to-no consequences for underperformance. To enhance accountability, CMS released a final rule in 2020 to update OPOs’ performance metrics. 
    The rule created a loophole allowing pancreata recovered for research to be counted toward recertification, without clear verification the organs were actually used to advance research. Since the CMS rule was finalized five years ago, pancreata recovered for research by OPOs has increased more than four-fold, without a matching increase in researchers’ demand. 
    Grassley and Wyden have sounded the alarm on the pancreata loophole for over three years, beginning with an April 2022 letter to then-Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra and CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure. 
    The investigation also found serious concerns regarding OPOs’ relationships with third-party research clearinghouses and biobanks. After handing over procured pancreata to third party research arrangements, OPOs had little-to-no ability to verify the organs were utilized for research or that the research conducted was appropriate. OPOs surveyed by the senators reported an 850% increase in pancreata recovered for research without reporting a clear and corresponding research benefit. 
    This undermines HHS oversight and allows underperforming OPOs to inflate their performance at the cost of critically ill patients. The loophole directly violates congressional intent, including the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004.  
    Conflicts of Interest:
    Grassley and Wyden asked eight OPOs to disclose their conflicts of interest policies. Their investigation found CMS does not require uniform conflict of interest policies and procedures, which caused key differences between conflict of interest definitions, as well as who is covered under conflict of interest policies. 
    Despite overwhelming evidence OPOs should address allegations of conflicting business and financial relationships, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is not required to collect details on financial relationships, board member compensation or affiliated businesses. The investigation also found that OPTN and its former sole contractor, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), failed to act following formal complaints about financial conflicts of interest. 
    Recommendations:
    CMS should clarify the requirements and expectations of OPOs reporting pancreata to be counted toward certification or recertification, to ensure OPOs are following the law and congressional intent.
    CMS should further clarify OPO conflict of interest policies to make clear that OPO governing boards and medical advisory boards, as well as CMS surveyors, monitor actual and potential conflicts.
    OPOs should clearly define policy coverage, scope of conflicts and disclosure procedures.
    OPOs should ensure board involvement, oversight and recording.  
    Background: 
    Grassley and Wyden have long sounded the alarm regarding conflicts of interest within the transplant system. In 2020, they wrote to HHS saying, “OPOs have greater financial incentives to focus more on tissue recovery compared to their incentives to recover lifesaving organs.”   
    A 2022 Senate Finance Committee hearing and staff report highlighted a 2012 case involving the Alabama Organ Center (AOC) and its Executive Director who, according to a whistleblower complaint, participated in a “money laundering” scheme and violated AOC’s own “Standard Operating Procedure.” Following multiple apparent financial conflicts between OPOs and outside entities, Grassley and Wyden sent a letter in 2023 requesting answers on certain OPOs’ financial interests and business relationships.   
    Grassley and Wyden are also the authors of bipartisan Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, which marked the first reforms to the U.S. organ donation system in nearly 40 years. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Critical Juvenile Justice Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today introduced the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDPA) Reauthorization Act to reauthorize key delinquency prevention programs and bolster federal protections for incarcerated minors.
    “Kids in our juvenile justice system ought to be treated fairly and given the tools they need to succeed,” Grassley said. “Our bipartisan bill builds off decades of work to strengthen the core tenets of this critical program, and I thank Senator Whitehouse for his continued partnership to protect and improve outcomes for at-risk youth.” 
    “Senator Grassley has been a steadfast partner in strengthening protections for kids in the justice system. I’m proud to continue our bipartisan work to equip state and local communities with resources to keep kids out of the juvenile justice system and to give young people a better chance to get their lives on track after getting out,” Whitehouse said.
    The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act would:
    Reauthorize the Charles Grassley Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program through 2030. This program:
    Empowers local stakeholders to better meet their communities’ needs,
    Improves the effectiveness of State Juvenile Justice Advisory Groups, and
    Strengthens federal protections for kids in the justice system.

    Renew the Youth PROMISE Grants and the Tribal Youth Program to support at-risk or delinquent youth at the local level.
    Download bill text HERE.
    Background:
    In 2018, Grassley and Whitehouse championed the first reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in nearly 16 years. Their landmark legislation made significant updates to the 1974 law, including measures to expand program oversight, promote screening for mental illness and substance abuse, prohibit the shackling of pregnant youth in juvenile detention, ensure the separation of juvenile and adult offenders and provide detained children access to adequate legal representation.
    Last year, Grassley joined Iowans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of JJDPA and was honored by Iowa youth for his work to reform the juvenile justice system.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Watchdog Confirms Grassley Oversight: Biden-Harris Gave Suspected Terrorists Protected Status through Afghan Evacuee Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) today issued a report confirming Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) longstanding concern that the Biden-Harris administration failed to properly vet all Afghan evacuees after the U.S.’s botched withdrawal from the region. 
    According to the DOJ OIG report, 55 Afghan evacuees with hits on the terrorist screening database were encountered by U.S. officials. Of those, at least 21 were added to the database after entry into the United States and an additional two evacuees were already on the database prior to entry into the country. As of July 2024, eight evacuees in the United States remained on the terrorist watchlist with four of them subject to active FBI investigation. Notably, last year, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan evacuee, was arrested for planning an Election Day terrorist attack on behalf of ISIS.
    “I’ve sounded the alarm about the need to thoroughly vet Afghan evacuee applicants since August 2021. The Biden-Harris administration, my Democrat colleagues in Congress and many in the media were quick to dismiss glaring red flags that a nonpartisan national security analysis now confirms,” Grassley said. “As if it wasn’t already obvious, the Biden-Harris administration endangered American lives by allowing suspected terrorists to enter the United States and roam free for years. My oversight of this matter will continue.”
    Read the full DOJ OIG report HERE.
    Background:
    While the previous administration left key allies stranded, refused to thoroughly vet evacuees and ignored congressional inquiries, Grassley spearheaded dogged congressional oversight. Further, Grassley took steps to protect Afghan allies and hold the administration accountable for an Afghan evacuee charged with the Election Day terror plot.
    After calling out then-FBI Director Christopher Wray’s failed leadership – including the Bureau’s inability to vet Afghan evacuees – Grassley urged FBI Director Kash Patel to release updated data on national security concerns posed by some Afghan evacuees. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Support Grows for AI Whistleblower Protection Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) welcomed growing support for his AI Whistleblower Protection Act from leading whistleblower and AI groups. This week, 22 groups, including the National Whistleblower Center, sent a letter backing Grassley’s legislation to Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.), whose committee has jurisdiction over the legislation. 
    Grassley’s bill provides explicit whistleblower protections to those developing and deploying AI. Currently, AI companies’ alleged use of restrictive severance and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) create a chilling effect on current and former employees looking to make whistleblower disclosures to the federal government, including Congress.   
    “Transparency brings accountability. Today, too many people working in AI feel they’re unable to speak up when they see something wrong. Whistleblowers are one of the best ways to ensure Congress keeps pace as the AI industry rapidly develops. We need to act to make these protections crystal clear, and I’m proud to see so many groups supporting my legislation to increase accountability and protect AI whistleblowers,” Grassley said. 
    The groups highlight the importance of whistleblowers as increased use of AI brings potential misuse, ethical lapses and unintended consequences.  
    “Employees and industry insiders—rather than regulators—have consistently been among the first to warn about risks of the technologies they’re building. In Silicon Valley, engineers have exposed powerful AI models released without proper safeguards, former staff have surfaced data on youth digital harms, and researchers have stepped forward when serious risks were ignored. Their disclosures—often about conduct that was dangerous but not yet illegal—gave the public and policymakers the evidence needed to act,” the groups wrote. 
    In their letter, the groups state some employees may be deterred from reporting issues due to fear of retaliation or professional repercussions. In June 2024, over a dozen current and former employees from leading AI companies publicly stated that confidentiality agreements and fear of retaliation prevented them from raising legitimate safety concerns. 
    “Congress has the opportunity to protect individuals who come forward in good faith and to reinforce the principle that safety, ethics, and accountability must accompany innovation … [t]he AI Whistleblower Protection Act helps ensure that those working to develop and deploy AI systems are not punished for acting in the best interest of the public. Strong whistleblower protections are a cornerstone of responsible governance and essential to guiding AI development in a way that upholds our shared democratic values,” the groups continued. 
    In addition to the National Whistleblower Center, the letter was signed by the Americans for Responsible Innovation, Center for Democracy & Technology, Center for Humane Technology, Center for Youth and AI, CoFund, Demand Progress, Design It For Us Coalition, Encode AI, Government Accountability Project, National Consumers League, National Decency Coalition, National Employment Law Project, NoSo November, Psst.org, Public Knowledge, Secure AI Project, The Anti-Fraud Coalition, The Tech Oversight Project, The Signals Network, Working Partnerships USA and Young People’s Alliance. 
    Download the groups’ letter HERE. Download text of the bill HERE. 
    Background:
    Last year, Grassley sent a letter to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman raising concerns about the alleged use of illegally restrictive NDAs, as well as the company’s employment, severance and non-disparagement agreements. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Judiciary Committee Unanimously Advances Bipartisan Bill to Combat Online Child Sex Abuse Material

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously voted to advance the bipartisan STOP CSAM Act to crack down on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. 
    “The STOP CSAM Act takes direct aim at the terrible spread of online child sexual abuse material – and gives law enforcement and victims stronger tools to fight back. I was glad to move it out of the Judiciary Committee and anticipate the committee will have future opportunities to mark up additional legislation in this space,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said.
    The Grassley-backed bill, led by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), would promote greater transparency in the tech industry and empower victims to seek justice against culpable platforms. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) cosponsor the legislation. Read the full bill text HERE.
    The Judiciary Committee additionally voted to advance the following nominations:
    Stanley Woodward, Jr., to be Associate Attorney General, by a vote of 12-10; 
    Elliot Gaiser, to be an Assistant Attorney General, by a vote of 12-10; 
    Joseph Edlow, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, by a vote of 12-10; 
    John Squires, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by a vote of 20-2; and 
    Ronald A. Parsons, Jr., to be U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, by voice vote.
    A recording of the executive business meeting can be found HERE.
    Read Grassley’s opening statement HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Welcomes Eielson AFB Announcement on Microreactor Pilot Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.12.25
    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the United States Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) Notice of Intent to Award the microreactor pilot project at Eielson Air Force Base (AFB). This announcement clears the way for the DAF and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to prepare an environmental analysis.
    Microreactors are small nuclear reactors that can be transportable, offering operational flexibility that can benefit remote and rural communities. Senator Murkowski is a long-time advocate of microreactor technology, providing support for small modular and microreactors through her work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Energy Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). She has also worked to secure key policy provisions to advance innovative energy technologies through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and in her capacity as a senior member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
    “This announcement, though long-delayed, is a very welcome development and brings us one step closer to having this critical next generation of clean, baseload energy technology to help power our communities,” said Senator Murkowski. “Microreactors have the potential to provide safe and affordable energy to remote rural areas, which is why I’ve been spearheading investment in this technology in Congress for years.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Delegation Introduce Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.12.25
    Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), introduced the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act to direct a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach). This exchange would resolve conflicts that exist between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program (the “Program”) goals for federal habitat conservation of surface lands impacted by EVOS and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) promises to Chugach for economic development of subsurface rights under these same lands. 
    The land exchange directed by this legislation would require Chugach to trade 231,000 acres of subsurface estate (under surface fee and conservation easements on surface land owned by the federal government) for 65,403 acres of fee simple land owned by the federal government. Most of the lands that would be exchanged were identified in the Chugach Region Land Study and Report to Congress from December 2022.  Congress directed the study in Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9; 133 Stat. 614) which Murkowski authored.
    “The effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on Native people in the Chugach region are still felt –environmentally, socially and economically. We must continue to take steps to move forward with recovery and that includes fulfilling the promises of ANCSA to Chugach, the Alaska Native Regional Corporation,” Senator Murkowski said. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation, which is a “win-win” for Chugach and the federal government’s EVOS program goals.”
    “In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill, Chugach Alaska Corporation not only had to deal with the devastating environmental consequences for the region, but also misguided federal restrictions on their ability to develop resources on their lands,” said Senator Sullivan. “Senator Murkowski, Congressman Begich and I are reintroducing legislation to amend ANCSA—as has been done many times throughout history—and facilitate a commonsense land exchange already studied extensively by BLM and the Forest Service. Our legislation will help address the evolving needs of Prince William Sound communities and create economic opportunities and cultural benefits for thousands of Alaska Native shareholders in the Chugach region, as intended under ANCSA.”
    “This land exchange corrects a decades-old misstep that has kept Chugach shareholders from fully benefiting from their own land and resources. With this legislation, we’re protecting our resources while restoring the rights of Alaska Native landowners,” said Congressman Begich. “I am proud to lead this legislation in the House and look forward to working with the delegation to continue restoring Alaska’s right to self-determination and ensuring responsible stewardship of our state’s resources.”
    “We are deeply grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Representative Nick Begich for their unwavering leadership and advocacy on behalf of Chugach and our people and communities,” said Sheri Buretta, Chairman of the Chugach Board. “Their decision to reintroduce this legislation underscores the significance of this exchange resolving long-standing split-estate conflicts in the region — not only for our corporation, but for the broader public interest, the State of Alaska, and the federal government. Chugach stands ready to work in close partnership with Congress, federal agencies, and all stakeholders to help advance this process. Our commitment to cooperation is rooted in a shared vision of responsible stewardship, economic opportunity, and enduring respect for our connection to these lands that have sustained our people for millennia.”?
    BACKGROUND:
    On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill discharged approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil (enough to fill 17 Olympic-sized swimming pools) into Prince William Sound and adjoining waters in Alaska. It was one of the most environmentally damaging disasters in world history.
    The Chugach Region experienced great social and economic harm from the oil spill. Government recovery efforts, though well-intentioned, also had negative impacts and did not always include the voices of the Alaska Native people who have stewarded these lands for millennia. Thirty-five years later, the people and the environment are still recovering.
    Through Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act of 2019 (sponsored by Murkowski; Public Law 116-9), Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and in consultation with Chugach Alaska Corporation, to conduct a study and provide a report to Congress assessing the social and economic impacts of the EVOS Trustee Council’s Program on Chugach, Chugach lands, and on the Chugach Region. The study was also required to identify sufficient acres of accessible and economically viable federal land that could be exchanged with Chugach.
    Under the Program, the Trustee Council used funds acquired from the companies responsible for EVOS to purchase fee title to 134,121 acres of surface estate lands, and purchased conservation easements on an additional 66,073 acres of surface estate lands, from four of the five Village Corporations in the Chugach Region that had been conveyed to them under ANCSA. Chugach was not a party to any of these acquisitions but owns the subsurface, or mineral estate, for all of the lands in which interests were acquired by the federal government from the Village Corporations under the Program.
    Some surface lands and conservation easements on surface lands acquired by the federal government under the Program went into the state and federal park systems, but most went into the Chugach National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
    The EVOS Program lands (fee surface estate lands and conservation easement lands) are subject to restrictions on any surface development that is inconsistent with maintaining their wilderness characteristics. Therefore, Chugach is effectively prohibited from taking any steps to develop its subsurface interests and needs alternative lands to realize the meaningful economic benefits promised in ANCSA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Speaks Out Against Trump Nominees Claiming A Public Official May Defy A Court Order During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    June 12, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke out against Trump nominees continuing to claim there are instances when a public official may defy a court order during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting. Specifically, Durbin spoke about comments made by Stanley Woodward, Jr., nominated to be Associate Attorney General, during his nomination hearing.
    Key Quotes:
    “I think this is relatively new to this Committee—the line of questioning about the Executive Branch defying or following court orders.”
    “I think the most direct statement… to the merits of the issue was from Senator Kennedy of Louisiana, who came in and made it clear in his mind at that time that it is unequivocally the responsibility of people to follow a court order. You can appeal it, as long as the law allows, and you can criticize it within the bounds of legal ethics, but it is a court order, and it needs to be followed. We’ve tried to ask that question consistently of all nominees, so that we understand they share Senator Kennedy’s belief and my belief.”
    “During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Woodward was asked whether Executive Branch officials may lawfully defy a court order multiple times, by multiple Senators, giving different answers to each one of them.”
    “He told Senator Kennedy he would not advise a client to refuse to follow a court order. Shortly after, [he told] Senator Schiff, ‘it depends.’”
    “In answers to written questions to clarify this once and for all, Mr. Woodward did nothing to clarify his stance, writing that ‘generally’ he would advise a client to comply with court orders. ‘Generally’?”
    “Failing to commit unequivocally to following federal court orders should disqualify any nominee before this Committee—whether he is a Republican or Democrat.”
    “Mr. Woodward is nominated to be the number three official at the Justice Department… I think that answer should have been clear… there was an equivocation, which I cannot explain. It is inconsistent with what Senator Kennedy established as a standard and one that I share.”
    Video of Durbin’s statement in Committee is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s statement in Committee is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s statement in Committee is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Presses Attorney General On Ed Martin’s Planned Partisan Weaponization Of Justice Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    June 12, 2025
    After his failed nomination to be U.S. Attorney for DC, Ed Martin was installed in various Justice Department roles and has publicly vowed to target Trump’s enemies
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi on Ed Martin’s stated plans to abuse his positions at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help President Trump’s friends and punish his perceived enemies.
    After Mr. Martin’s failed nomination to be U.S. Attorney for D.C. was withdrawn, President Trump appointed him to serve in non-Senate-confirmed positions like Pardon Attorney and Director of the Weaponization Working Group. He is the first political appointee to ever hold the role of Pardon Attorney.
    Durbin began by citing concerning comments by Mr. Martin at a DOJ press conference on May 13 and subsequent interview with Tucker Carlson, writing: “Following his disgraceful tenure as Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Mr. Martin apparently plans to continue his misconduct in his new roles at DOJ… These statements are a brazen admission that Mr. Martin plans to systemically violate the Justice Manual’s prohibition on extrajudicial statements by shaming uncharged parties for nakedly partisan reasons.  This plan clearly violates Mr. Martin’s obligations under the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibit prosecutors from ‘mak[ing] extrajudicial comments which serve to heighten condemnation of the accused.’ Weaponizing DOJ in this manner will further undermine the public’s trust in the department in irreparable ways.”
    Durbin continued by highlighting several abuses of power by Mr. Martin since becoming Pardon Attorney, writing: “As the first political appointee to ever hold this position, Mr. Martin has overseen pardons of numerous Trump supporters and donors. Last month President Trump pardoned nursing home executive Paul Walczak for tax fraud just three weeks after Walczak’s mother paid $1 million to attend a Trump fundraiser. He pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, conservative reality television stars and ‘vocal supporters of President Trump,’ for bank fraud and tax evasion. The President pardoned Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola electric vehicle company, after Milton donated nearly $2 million to the Trump campaign last year. He also pardoned former Republican Congressmen Michael Grimm for tax fraud and former Republican Governor John Rowland for public corruption. In the aftermath of these scandalous pardons, Mr. Martin tweeted: ‘No MAGA left behind.’”
    Durbin then cited Mr. Martin’s personal advocacy for pardoning violent insurrectionists, writing: “Mr. Martin has also personally advocated pardoning Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and others who were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in planning and instigating the violence against law enforcement on January 6, 2021. These 11 individuals already received commutations of their sentences from President Trump on January 20, 2025, despite showing no remorse for their crimes. No developments in the four months since their commutations justify any consideration of their pardon applications, yet Mr. Martin has fast-tracked them for consideration by the White House immediately after their submission.”
    Durbin then renewed two delinquent oversight requests from letters sent to Attorney General Bondi regarding the pardons of January 6th insurrectionists and the presidential pardon power.
    Durbin concluded with a request for memoranda, correspondence, and other records authorizing Mr. Martin to pursue these plans and their legal justification.
    For a PDF copy of the letter to Attorney General Bondi, click here.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Demands Trump Restore Full $1 Billion In Federal Funding For Youth Mental Health Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Funding Allowed Schools To Hire Mental Health Professionals, Including Counselors And Social Workers 

    The Grant Programs Received Major Funding In 2022 Legislation Passed After Deadly Mass Shootings in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX

    New York State Faces Loss Of Almost $50 Million In Funding 

    ***A Full Recording Of The Press Conference is Available HERE***

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference calling on the Trump administration to restore federal funding for two grant programs that support mental health services in schools. The grant programs received $1 billion in funding as part of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), legislation passed in the wake of deadly mass shootings at the Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo and at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. 

    In addition to gun safety measures, BSCA included major funding for mental health programs, including the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program and the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program. These two grants aim to address concerns of a growing student mental health crisis, and they were slated to provide $1 billion in funding over five years to help schools and school districts hire and expand the workforce of school-based mental health professionals. 

    In late April, the Trump administration announced that it was cutting off the funding for these two programs. This decision impacts almost $50 million in funding for schools and school districts in New York State.

    “Congress dedicated $1 billion in funding for school-based mental heath programs with bipartisan support as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Now, President Trump is unilaterally stopping these grants and threatening nearly $50 million that New York schools are owed and plan to use to hire counselors, social workers, and other critical staff. This decision will hurt our students, and I am calling on the Trump administration to immediately reverse it. I encourage my colleagues to do the same.” 

    Specifically, the Trump administration’s decision will endanger: 

    • $8 million in Central New York
    • $7.1 million in the Finger Lakes
    • $12.1 million in the Southern Tier
    • $9.6 million in Western New York
    • $3.1 million on Long Island
    • $4.6 million in NYC
    • $4.7 million in the Hudson Valley
    • $600,000 in the Mohawk Valley

    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to the Secretary of Education is available here or below: 

    Dear Secretary McMahon,

    I write to you with grave concern over the administration’s reports of terminations of youth mental health grant funding to school districts in New York. The Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (MHSP) and School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (SBMH) programs have benefitted not only New York but countless states across the country in urban and rural settings alike. I wrote to you about these terminations on May 9, 2025, and received an unsatisfactory response from your office on May 30, 2025. Both MHSP and SBMH programs play a vital role in addressing the shortage of school-based mental health professionals. Furthermore, they do not undermine standards for fairness, merit, and excellence in education as asserted in your response sent on May 30, 2025. 

    Your response to my earlier letter indicated that both the MHSP and SBMH programs would end at the end of the grants’ current budget periods. This outcome would harm both the students and mental health professionals who benefit from these programs. The demand for behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse disorder services is projected to increase in the coming years. By 2037, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of 113,830 psychologists, 50,440 psychiatrists, and 39,710 school counselors. The MHSP and SBMH programs directly address this shortage, and discontinuing these programs will negatively impact current and future students.  

    These funding streams were intended to create a workforce development pipeline for school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Thousands of students have benefited from the mental health care they received because of these programs. There are also hundreds of future mental health professionals in New York alone who benefit from these programs. However, with current grants set to expire soon, successful programs, like those in Lyons Central School District and the Seneca Falls Central School District, that have built mental health professional pipelines for students in high-need school districts could see their momentum stopped in its tracks. Hundreds of future mental health professionals, who are sorely needed across New York, stand to lose the support of innovative programs that serve my constituents and their families.

    I am concerned that the Department is disrupting grant funding that truly represents how the government can address the direct needs of our taxpayers and their families. These programs work, and New York students deserve their continued benefits.

    I request your response to the following questions by no later than June 4, 2025:

    1.         Will the Department commit to answering the nine questions from my original letter sent May 9, 2025, most of which were unaddressed in your response dated on May 30, 2025? 

    2.         How did each MHSP and SBMH grant that received a non-continuation notice violate Federal civil rights law?

    3.         What are the Department’s plans to recompete its mental health program funds in the next grant cycle, including the grant application and selection criteria for the upcoming cycle?

    4.         How will the Department address service disruptions for New York students after the expiration of this funding?

    5.         Explain how the Department plans to address mental health workforce shortages stemming from the disruption of this funding.

    6.         Have New York mental health and education stakeholders been engaged? Please provide a detailed explanation of your engagement processes with stakeholders.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Introduces the Open America’s Waters Act to Repeal Jones Act, Boost Coastal Trade

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Open America’s Waters Act today to deregulate America’s coastal trade and alleviate the energy crisis by repealing the outdated Jones Act. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “Outdated regulations from the Jones Act have deepened the energy crisis and heightened prices for Americans on goods from our own country,” said Senator Mike Lee. “American producers have been forced into dangerous workarounds like importing their energy resources from Russia. The Open America’s Waters Act will cut this 105-year-old red tape to alleviate the energy crisis, bring prices down for Americans, and protect our national security from adversarial nations.”
    “The Jones Act is outdated in a global economy. It enriches a very small special interest at the expense of every consumer in America,” said Rep. McClintock. “Repealing this restrictive and counterproductive law is vital for the new golden age that President Trump has envisioned.” 
    Background:
    The Open America’s Waters Act would repeal the Jones Act, an outdated and particularly demanding regulation on America’s coastal trade. The Jones Act requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel that was constructed and registered in the U.S., and is both owned and primarily crewed by U.S. citizens. 
    While these requirements were originally touted in 1920 as necessary for America’s national security, they have actually endangered it by severely limiting access to critical energy sources and incentivizing American companies to contract with adversarial nations in their efforts to comply with its stipulations. Additionally, the elevated costs associated with compliance result in higher prices for Americans on goods produced in their own country.
    Attempts to comply with the Jones Act have forced American producers to choose expensive and even politically risky transportation options. For example, cattle ranchers in Hawaii have opted for expensive planes rather than boats to transport cattle to the mainland. Puerto Rico imports jet fuel from Venezuela – benefitting the human rights-violating Maduro regime – rather than nearby Gulf Coast refineries. And because there are no compliant specialty carriers capable of transporting LNG or propane gas, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico have had to import LNG from adversarial Russia.
    The Open America’s Waters Act would repeal the outdated Jones Act regulations to cut red tape for American producers, improve national security by disincentivizing contracts with adversarial nations, and bring down prices for American consumers.
    The Open America’s Waters Act would:
    Repeal the 105-year-old Jones Act regulations requiring all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel: (1) Constructed in the U.S., (2) Registered in the U.S., (3) Owned by U.S. Citizens, and (4) Primarily crewed by U.S. citizens.
    Read the full text of the legislation here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Introduces AI Legislation to Foster Development & Strengthen Professional Responsibility

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    June 12, 2025

    Washington, D.C.— Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) today introduced the Responsible Innovation and Safe Expertise (RISE) Act of 2025, clarifying that when professionals—such as physicians, attorneys, engineers, and financial advisors—use AI systems in their practice, they retain the legal duty to exercise due diligence, verify the system’s outputs, and stand behind the advice they deliver.

    “Wyoming values both innovation and accountability; the RISE Act creates predictable standards that encourage safer AI development while preserving professional autonomy,” said Lummis. “This legislation doesn’t create blanket immunity for AI – in fact, it requires AI developers to publicly disclose model specifications so professionals can make informed decisions about the AI tools they choose to utilize. It also means that licensed professionals are ultimately responsible for the advice and decisions they make. This is smart policy for the digital age that protects innovation, demands transparency, and puts professionals and their clients first.”

    Background: 

    • This is the first targeted liability reform legislation for professional-grade AI.
    • AI is transforming professional industries including medicine, law, engineering, and finance, with these tools increasingly being utilized in critical decision-making processes that impact millions of Americans.
    • Current liability rules create barriers to innovation by exposing AI developers to legal risk, even when their tools are used responsibly by trained, licensed professionals in their areas of expertise.
    • Developers face a patchwork of state-by-state liability standards, creating legal uncertainty that discourages investment in professional-grade AI.
    • Developers may claim safe-harbor immunity only if they publicly release a model card and key design specifications so that physicians, attorneys, engineers, and other professionals can understand what the AI can and cannot do before relying on it for decisions that affect millions of Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Varney & Co. on Fox Business to Discuss Illegal Immigration, Sanctuary City Legislation, CCP Influence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty

    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business to discuss Democrats supporting illegal immigration for political power, his legislation to withhold funding from sanctuary cities, and the Chinese Communist Party’s malign influence on the United States.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*

    Partial Transcript

    Hagerty on Democrats supporting illegal immigration: “What they’re not saying is what’s so obvious to all of us. They’re creating these sanctuaries as magnets. They want these magnets to attract illegal aliens. They want these illegal aliens, because why? They want to increase the count for the census. So, they can get more congressional districts and more electoral votes in their states. That’s precisely what’s happening. That’s why we should outlaw this. We should not allow the counting of illegal aliens in the census for allocating congressional seats and electoral votes. They know that. But that’s exactly why they’re using this as a magnet, and they’re not cooperating with federal law. You’ve seen the chaos in the streets. You’ve got illegal aliens running around with flags of other countries and burning the American flag. These are criminals that are disrespecting the United States of America. And I think we need to make it clear the United States is not a sanctuary nation, nor are any of these cities allowed to be sanctuary cities.”

    Hagerty on his legislation to withhold funding from sanctuary cities: “Well, here’s what you can do, and I’m doing it today: I’m bringing out legislation that will stop the flow of community development block grants to these sanctuary cities. If you’re a sanctuary city, we’re going to withhold the funding for community development block grants. They’ll start to see it when on the Appropriations Committee and the Banking Committee, we’re able to put pressure on the funding of these cities that seem to rely so much on the federal [dollar]. Yet, they want to act as if they’re independent at the same time.”

    Hagerty on the CCP’s malign influence within the U.S.: “It is strong, but what’s happening to us is very strong, and we need to wake up to it. The most recent case of agroterrorism, very deeply concerning, bringing in bio-terrorism material here that could destroy crops in America. You think about a spy balloon that was floated over our country. I think the worst defense of all is the fact that China continues to send fentanyl and fentanyl precursors into the United States through Mexico, through their partners there. And they launder the money from these Mexican partners, or these other cartels from Venezuela, you name it. The crime that’s being fueled here in America has fingerprints of the CCP all over it. And if you think about what’s happening on our campuses, Confucius institutes, the attempts, basically, to indoctrinate young people. You think about the content on TikTok here in America versus what kids see in China. They see educational programming in China. On TikTok here, something very, very different. So, it’s deeply concerning and something that we ought to acknowledge as a nation and address.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Graham: Russia Sanctions Bill Aims to Change Putin’s Calculus, Protect World Order

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

    Russia sanctions bill aims to change Putin’s calculus, protect world order

    By Senator Lindsey Graham

    Fox News

    June 12, 2025

    https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/sen-lindsey-graham-russia-sanctions-bill-aims-change-putins-calculus-protect-world-order

    President Donald Trump is making an earnest and sincere effort to secure a ceasefire and an eventual just and honorable end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

    He and his team have engaged Russia’s Vladimir Putin in order to find that pathway forward, but it is clear the only pathway Putin is interested in is military operations in Ukraine and eventually, beyond.

    As a result, the coming days will be extremely consequential for the Kremlin and those who are propping up Putin’s war machine. Additional action from both Europe and the United States is inevitable.

    The Russia-Ukraine war has garnered global attention, not only because of its barbaric nature but also the consequences to world order.

    We have been working with the White House since day one in drafting this package. We now have over 84 Senate cosponsors and 70 House cosponsors of legislation to enact hard-hitting sanctions and tariffs on Russia and its financial backers.

    It is clear to me and virtually every sponsor of the Russia sanctions bill that the way we deal with Putin will either encourage or deter bad actors.

    The purpose of this legislation is to break the cycle of China — a communist dictatorship — buying oil below market price from Putin’s Russia, which empowers his war machine to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians.

    This bill would end that cycle.

    China is watching the United States’ resolve regarding Putin’s effort to dismember Ukraine and possibly other sovereign nations. It is not my goal to humiliate Russia, but it is my goal to make sure that China sees the outcome of this conflict and feels that its efforts to take Taiwan by force would not be in the People’s Republic’s best interest.

    It is also very important that we let Iran and other aggressive nation states know that the price for disrupting world order, seizing other nation’s land and trying to dominate their neighbors is not worth it.

    I have been incredibly impressed with Europe’s recent resolve, both in toughening sanctions and investing in their military. Europe is answering President Trump’s call to increase defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product.

    As a result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO is bigger and tougher than ever. However, it is important that we continue to act decisively to end this war not only soon, but in the right way.

    Unfortunately, the more we engage Putin, the more aggressive he gets. It’s time to change the game.

    New European sanctions on Russia’s energy and banking sectors were released this week, and they are more hard-hitting than ever. This package also singles out Chinese business entities for their financial support of the war and recommends lowering the price that Europe pays for Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel, in order to drive down Russian revenues that allow Putin’s bloodbath to continue.

    As to the Russia sanctions bill in the U.S. Congress, overwhelming support continues to build. Our goal is to give President Trump more leverage to end this war quickly.

    This bicameral, bipartisan bill is simple – and we’ve made some important changes.

    1. If a country doesn’t do business with Russia, the sanctions and tariffs don’t apply.
    2. If a country does business with Russia, but they also help Ukraine militarily and economically, there’s a 270-day exception on sanctions and tariffs being imposed. There will be additional waivers as well, including a presidential waiver for sanctions and other measures that mirrors language used in the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) signed into law by President Trump in 2017.
    3. If a country buys cheap Russian oil and gas and other products and doesn’t help Ukraine, they are screwed. That is the price for propping up Putin’s war machine.

    The United States and our allies have paid a price in the past to maintain freedom and order, and we shall again.

    Republican Lindsey Graham represents South Carolina in the United States Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –