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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 10th, 2025 Heinrich Presses USDA Secretary on Threats to Public Health and Safety Following DOGE Actions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins on the harmful impacts of the “Department of Government Efficiency’s” (DOGE) actions on the United States Forest Service (USFS). The letter stresses the USFS’ operational failures that are occurring due to new layers of red tape required by DOGE, such as accumulating garbage at recreational sites and a lack of firefighting equipment in preparation of wildfires.
    “I write to express deep concern regarding the devastating impact of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) actions at the United States Forest Service (USFS). New layers of red tape installed by DOGE have created dysfunction, confusion, and uncertainty at the agency,” Heinrich began. “Elon Musk and DOGE promised to make government more efficient and to root out waste. Instead, their actions have made the agency less efficient, and as a result, critical supplies are missing and garbage is piling up across the National Forest System.” 
    USFS manages more than 30,000 recreation sites around the country. Recreation on the National Forest System draws in 160 million visitors annually, which contributes over $13 billion to the economy and supports more than 160,000 jobs. As a result of President Trump’s Executive Order 14222, DOGE is now required to approve new or extended contracts at the Forest Service, even for routine activities or critical supplies.
    Heinrich continued, “Contracts for janitorial services that previously received approval in mere days are now reportedly taking a month or longer to complete. The delay has led to garbage piling up at recreation sites and toilets going uncleaned or unemptied. The threat to public health and safety from contracting delays is not limited to custodial services. The additional levels of review mandated by DOGE have also reportedly slowed down or halted wildfire preparedness efforts, including the acquisition of firefighting equipment and helicopters.”
    “Despite your assurances, it is clear that massive staff reductions, coupled with operational delays at USFS, have left the agency ill-prepared to meet the many challenges brought on by the summer months,” Heinrich pressed, citing Rollins’ recent comments at an event with Secretary Burgum, where she expressed that her agency is taking the fire season very seriously, and that federal wildland firefighters are ready to respond. 
    Heinrich concluded the letter by requesting detailed answers from Rollins on the Forest Service’s current contracting and procurement procedures, including approval timelines, personnel involved, and the status or justification for contract modifications, terminations, or denials related to firefighting and support services.
    Read the full letter here and below:
    Dear Secretary Rollins:
    I write to express deep concern regarding the devastating impact of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) actions at the United States Forest Service (USFS). New layers of red tape installed by DOGE have created dysfunction, confusion, and uncertainty at the agency. Elon Musk and DOGE promised to make government more efficient and to root out waste. Instead, their actions have made the agency less efficient, and as a result, critical supplies are missing and garbage is piling up across the National Forest System.
    As you know, USFS manages more than 30,000 recreation sites around the country where Americans hike, bike, picnic, camp, fish, and engage in other recreational activities. Nearly 160 million people visit the National Forest System annually. A visit to our public lands not only improves visitors’ physical and mental health, but also provides access to cultural and heritage opportunities that build community and a sense of national pride. The economic benefits associated with the National Forest System are equally as pronounced. Outdoor recreation on the Nation Forest System alone contributes over $13 billion to the economy and supports more than 160,000 jobs. Despite the clear benefits of a fully-functioning USFS, DOGE has undermined the agency at every turn and prevented USFS from carrying out its core responsibilities.
    According to a recent report, USFS has suffered significant operational failings since DOGE personnel arrived at the agency. New processes instituted by DOGE have led to lengthy approval times for contracts, significantly diminishing the agency’s ability to meet basic functions and needs. Contracts for janitorial services that previously received approval in mere days are now reportedly taking a month or longer to complete. The delay has led to garbage piling up at recreation sites and toilets going uncleaned or unemptied.
    The threat to public health and safety from contracting delays is not limited to custodial services. The additional levels of review mandated by DOGE have also reportedly slowed down or halted wildfire preparedness efforts, including the acquisition of firefighting equipment and helicopters. Firefighting operations are extremely equipment intensive and must often set up in remote locations. Operational flexibility and contracting speed are therefore critical to successful firefighting efforts and public safety.
    You appeared with Secretary Burgum at an event last month and said, “[w]e are taking this fire season very seriously, and our federal wildland firefighters are prepared to respond.” Despite your assurances, it is clear that massive staff reductions, coupled with operational delays at USFS, have left the agency ill-prepared to meet the many challenges brought on by the summer months.
    In light of these concerns, I request responses to the following questions by June 24, 2025:
    1. According to recent reporting, the process for getting new procurements or contracts approved has changed several times. Please describe in detail the process for getting new procurements approved at the agency. In responding to this question, please include the following:
    a. The amount of time typically needed to receive approval.
    b. How many personnel are required to approve procurements or contracts related to routine equipment replacement or maintenance.
    c. Whether the approval chain includes the General Services Administration or other personnel outside the Forest Service.
    2. Please describe in detail the process for getting modifications to existing contracts approved.
    a. The amount of time typically needed to receive approval.
    b. How many personnel are required to approve procurements or contracts related to routine equipment replacement or maintenance.
    c. Whether the approval chain includes the General Services Administration or other personnel outside the Forest Service.
    3. In February 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14222 establishing requirements for new and existing contracts.9 Please provide the following information:           
    a. The EO states, “[e]ach Agency Head, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, shall conduct a comprehensive review of each agency’s contracting policies, procedures, and personnel.  Each Agency Head shall complete this process within 30 days of the date of this order and shall not issue or approve new contracting officer warrants during the review period, unless the Agency Head determines such approval is necessary.” Have you completed this process? Did you determine any contract approvals were necessary during the review period?                b. The EO states, “[f]ollowing the review specified in subsection (c) of this section, and prior to entering into new contracts, each Agency Head shall, in consultation with the agency’s DOGE Team Lead, issue guidance on signing new contracts or modifying existing contracts to promote Government efficiency and the policies of my Administration. The Agency Head may approve new contracts prior to the issuance of such guidance on a case-by-case basis.” Did you approve any new contracts or modifications prior to the issuance of guidance? 
    4. Please provide a list of all Department contracts for goods and services DOGE has identified for termination or renegotiation. In responding to this question, please provide the following information:
    a. A description of each contract DOGE has identified for termination or renegotiation and the current status.
    b. DOGE’s justification for terminating or renegotiating the contract.
    5. Since January 20, 2025, has the Department terminated or recompeted any contract for goods and services? If so, please provide the following information for each contract terminated or recompeted:
    a. A description of the contract terminated or recompeted.
    b. The reason the Department terminated or recompeted the contract.
    6. Since January 20, 2025, has the Department entered into any new contracts for goods and services? If so, please provide detailed information.
    7. Since January 20, 2025, has the agency received any complaints from staff about lengthy times to get janitorial services contracts approved or awarded? If so, please explain.
    8. DOGE reportedly denied funding to continue using smoke detection devices called “sniffers.” The agency also reportedly got rid of support for a platform used by firefighters to acquire equipment and track critical supplies.10 Are these reports accurate? If so, please explain your rationale.
    9. Is DOGE approval required each time contracted fire aviation assets are mobilized for water or fireretardant drops?
    10. Is DOGE approval required for each contract for locally-owned equipment that the Forest Service can mobilize through individual contracts with farmers and ranchers, such as bulldozers and backhoes?
    11. Is DOGE approval required for fire camp contractors, such as caterers, medical personnel, or providers of portable toilets and showers?
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my staff at (202) 224-4971.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 10th, 2025 Heinrich Marks One-Year Since RECA Expired, Demands Congress Reauthorize & Expand RECA to Give Nuclear Radiation Victims Compensation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined the New Mexico Congressional Delegation and Tina Cordova, Co-Founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, to mark the one-year anniversary since the Radiation Exposure Compensation (RECA) Reauthorization Act, legislation to compensate Americans exposed to radiation by government nuclear programs, expired after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives failed to reauthorize RECA in June 2024.
    Heinrich has reintroduced legislation to extend and expand RECA since his first Senate term, starting in 2013.
    “In the year since the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expired, thousands of Americans lost compensation for health conditions caused by radiation exposure on behalf of our national security. And thousands of additional victims, victims who were never adequately compensated under the original bill, lost their chance to finally be included,” said Heinrich. “Our federal government has a moral responsibility to support Americans that helped defend our country– and it has a moral responsibility to include all people who were exposed. That begins with reauthorizing RECA and amending it to include those who have been left out for far too long. To the families impacted: keep telling your stories. Keep raising your voices. Together, that’s how we’ll reintroduce RECA, and it’s how we will make it the law of the land.”
    In January, Heinrich joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), along with U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) to reintroduce their Radiation Exposure Compensation (RECA) Reauthorization Act to compensate Americans exposed to radiation by government nuclear programs.
    Despite the Senate passing this bill last Congress, the House of Representatives failed to pass RECA reauthorization before its expiration deadline in June 2024. 
    Last fall, Heinrich joined Luján and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and advocates and survivors who traveled all the way across the country from New Mexico for a press conference calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on a Senate-passed bill that would strengthen RECA.
    Heinrich also pressed Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately take up the Senate-passed and fully comprehensive RECA extension in a bipartisan, bicameral letter.
    In March 2024, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to reauthorize and expand RECA. Later that day, Heinrich secured Senate passage of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and expand RECA to compensate individuals exposed to radiation while working in uranium mines or living downwind from atomic weapons tests.
    Heinrich’s remarks from today, as prepared for delivery, are below:
    It’s been one full year since the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expired.
    And not only have thousands of Americans lost compensation for health conditions caused by radiation exposure on behalf of our national security. 
    But thousands of additional victims, victims who were never adequately compensated under the original bill, also lost their chance to finally be included.
    These victims include Tularosa Downwinders who were exposed to the Trinity Test in New Mexico;
    All of the uranium workers who were exposed to radiation in service to our nation’s defense, not just the miners; 
    And all Americans who were directly impacted by our nation’s nuclear testing program, across the country and around the world. 
    Those Americans include people like my father. When he served in the Navy, my dad witnessed two above-ground nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands.
    It was only later in life that we began to understand how much his health challenges were tied to those tests.
    Our federal government has a moral responsibility to support Americans that helped defend our country– and it has a moral responsibility to include all people who were exposed. 
    That begins with reauthorizing RECA and amending it to include those who have been left out for far too long. 
    To the families impacted: keep telling your stories. Keep raising your voices.
    Together, that’s how we’ll reintroduce RECA, and it’s how we will make it the law of the land.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Video: Kaine Delivers Opening Remarks at SASC Navy Posture Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF KAINE’S EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE HERE.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), delivered opening remarks at the SASC hearing on U.S. Navy posture. During his remarks, he discussed his concerns about President Trump and Secretary Hegseth activating thousands of National Guard members and 700 Marines in California—over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass—in response to immigration protests.

    “I have a lot of experience in dealing with the [National] Guard as a former mayor and governor,” said Kaine. “The genius of the Guard is that it is a partnership between the President and the Governors and Guardsmen and women… The President’s decision to deploy thousands of Guardsmen and women to quell protests in Los Angeles—without a request by the California Governor and in fact, over the objection of the California Governor—is nearly unprecedented.”

    Kaine continued, “We are in very, very dangerous territory. I think my colleagues and I are right to be concerned about this. The American public is concerned about this.”

    “To deploy active duty Marines to quell civilian protests is, in my view, very, very dangerous,” said Kaine. “It’s dangerous beyond the escalatory effects that both the Governor and Mayor of Los Angeles are warning us about. If we screw up the balance of how we use the Guard or how we use the military in the instance of civilian protests that local law enforcement can handle, we will regret that for a very, very long time.”

    “Many Americans are worried now that if they express dissenting voices to policies and the Administration, they’re concerned that the military may be deployed against them,” Kaine continued. “We’re coming up on the commemoration of 250 years of American democracy. It’s on the shoulders of this generation to decide whether the commemoration will be a celebration or a requiem or a wake or a coronation. We need to make it a celebration, and for that, we need brave and patriotic citizens who are willing to, without fear, exercise rights that were guaranteed to them from the very first days of this country.”

    Then, Kaine rebutted comments from his colleague erroneously comparing Trump’s decision to activate the National Guard in California to President Dwight Eisenhower’s activation of the Arkansas National Guard to ensure the integration of Central High School in Little Rock.

    “The issue is not is there lawless behavior that can be controlled by local law enforcement. You either believe in a federal system or you don’t where a Governor requests the National Guard or doesn’t, and you either believe in a civilian military division or you don’t,” Kaine said.

    “Senator Cotton brings up the example of Little Rock. President Eisenhower, Republican President, did federalize the Guard in that instance. Why? Because it was the Governor that was violating federal law. There is no suggestion that Governor Newsom is violating federal law. In fact, he said, arrest me if I’m violating the law—and yesterday, the chief border agent for the United States said there is no cause to arrest you. You are not violating federal law,” said Kaine.

    Kaine continued, “The right balance in this instance is to let a local official—mayor, governor—seek assistance if they need it. If the President decides if more assets are needed, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion if he sent in federal law enforcement—FBI, DEA. We’re having this discussion because the President in an unprecedented way, without a request and over the objection of the local elected leadership decided to send in the United States military.”

    Kaine also raised concerns about the Trump Administration’s failure to submit a full budget request; delays with naval shipbuilding programs, including Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines and amphibious assault ships; and the lack of the nomination from the Administration for a new Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). He also expressed his commitment to continuing to work with the Department of the Navy and other services on the implementation of provisions from the Brandon Act, which he helped get signed into law to make it easier for servicemembers to access mental health care.

    “The Navy does remain the finest maritime force in the world, but it’s struggled to grow and maintain the fleet… Many vessels—aircraft carriers, multiple destroyers and frigates, and some of the air platforms—are behind schedule,” Kaine said. “In particular, the Virginia-class fast attack subs and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, which are so critical and prioritized very highly by all of you, are delayed and face budgetary challenges… We need to do more. I continue to believe that the most significant challenge we have is a workforce challenge.”

    “The Brandon Act was passed by this body a number of years back—named after a young sailor, Brandon Caserta, who died by suicide in Norfolk,” said Kaine. “There were a lot of challenges and problems with, frankly, lack of access to mental health services, and it was a pivotal step toward improving access to mental health services, not just for the Navy, but everybody in the service. The implementations across the Armed Services—we’ve seen fits and starts, but some critical gaps in effectiveness, fragmented implementation, undefined procedures for mental health requests, lack of policies tailored toward the National Guard and Reserves… I would really love your help working to continue to implement this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley, Welch Introduce Legislation to Increase Federal Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour

    US Senate News:

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

    Tuesday, June 10, 2025

    Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Higher Wages for American Workers Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and allow the federal minimum wage to increase with inflation in subsequent years. When adjusted for inflation, the current federal minimum wage is lower than at any point since the 1940s. Meanwhile, the cost of housing, healthcare, and education has skyrocketed, leaving millions of full-time workers struggling to make ends meet.

    “For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline. One major culprit of this is the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with the economic reality facing hardworking Americans every day. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages,” Senator Hawley said.  

    “We’re in the midst of a severe affordability crisis, with families in red and blue states alike struggling to afford necessities like housing and groceries. A stagnant federal minimum wage only adds fuel to the fire. Every hardworking American deserves a living wage that helps put a roof over their head and food on the table–$7.25 an hour doesn’t even come close,” said Senator Welch. “Times have changed, and working families deserve a wage that reflects today’s financial reality. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to raise the minimum wage nationwide to help more folks make ends meet,” Senator Welch added.
     
    If signed into law this year, the Higher Wages for American Workers Act would:

    • Increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour starting in January 2026.
    • Allow the federal minimum wage to increase with inflation in subsequent years.

    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Leads New Hampshire Delegation in Announcing 14th Experience New Hampshire Reception in Washington, DC

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) in announcing that the New Hampshire State Society Event, “Experience New Hampshire,” will return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The New Hampshire Congressional delegation and other members of Congress will attend the event, which exhibits Granite State businesses and their first-class products in the U.S. Capitol. This year’s event marks the New Hampshire State Society’s 14th year hosting the reception.
    “From our world-famous maple syrup to tourism in the White Mountains, Experience New Hampshire showcases the businesses, institutions and entrepreneurs that make the Granite State a uniquely wonderful place,” said Senator Shaheen. “By allowing businesses to share their products and services and to connect with industry leaders and policymakers, the reception puts New Hampshire on the map. I’m thankful to the New Hampshire State Society for their work year after year to make this event possible.”
    “Experience NH provides an opportunity to showcase some of the many small businesses, vendors, foods, and artists that make our state so great,” said Senator Hassan. “I look forward to Experience NH every year and I appreciate all those who are joining for this year’s celebration and helping bring our Granite State spirit to Washington.”
    “By highlighting our state’s small businesses and their unique products and services, Experience New Hampshire brings Granite State culture to our nation’s capital,” said Congressman Pappas. “In New Hampshire, small businesses are the fabric of our communities, economy, and way of life. I am once again thrilled to join our federal delegation in welcoming guests to this popular event, and I look forward to seeing fellow Granite Staters and their small businesses in D.C.”
    “New Hampshire is home to the best of America,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. “I’m proud to partner with New Hampshire’s federal delegation and the New Hampshire State Society to help bring a taste of the Granite State to Congress and connect New Hampshire businesses and innovators with legislators and leaders in our nation’s Capitol.”
    Some participating businesses this year will include Echo Farm Puddings, Contoocook Creamery, Shire’s Naturals, Concord Regional Technical Center, the New Hampshire Maple Producers, SkiNH, The Spicy Shark and more.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $2.4 million for flood mitigation in Jefferson, Bossier Parishes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,390,437 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana flood mitigation.
    “Floods have brought untold pain and suffering to the people of Louisiana, and our communities are working hard to avert future flooding. This $2.4 million will help Jefferson and Bossier Parishes floodproof their communities and prevent costly damage in the years ahead,” said Kennedy.
    The FEMA aid will fund the following:
    $1,202,160 to Jefferson Parish for the elevation of four flood-prone structures. 
    $1,128,189 for Bossier Parish to reduce flooding in the Lucky Estates subdivision by improving drainage with new culverts, storm drainpipes and barriers, along with road work, excavation and landscaping. 
    $60,088 to Jefferson Parish for management costs associated with structure elevation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Applauds Marine Corps for Audit Success and Recruiting Wins

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: June 10, 2025
    WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran and long-time advocate for financial accountability within the Department of Defense, commended the United States Marine Corps for successfully passing its audit for the second consecutive year.
    Watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks here.
    “I got my start in public service as a county auditor, so this is really exciting stuff for me. The Marine Corps has achieved a clean audit – not once but twice – which is very, very good. It proves really that success is possible when you have really good leadership that prioritizes it,” said Ernst.
    Ernst also highlighted how the Navy and Marine Corps met their recruiting goals for Fiscal Year 2024 and touted her SERVE Act, which would help strengthen the pipeline for young Americans to enter military service.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WTAS: Small Businesses Support Ernst’s Work to Fuel Innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – As part of her River to River tour across Iowa, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) met with small businesses in Iowa City to discuss how her INNOVATE Act will help usher in a Golden Age in America by reforming the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to fuel innovation and supply vital technology to the industrial base.
    Ernst spoke with the group about how her bill will expand opportunities in the heartland and ensure that truly small businesses and startups are able to bolster America’s competitiveness and technological leadership.
    Download more pictures here.
    After the event, the INNOVATE Act earned high praise from attendees:
    “Senator Ernst understands the importance of the SBIR/STTR program to Iowa’s biotech entrepreneurs and to the long-term economic growth of our state,” said Jessica Hyland, Executive Director, Iowa Biotechnology Association. “The SBIR/STTR program plays a critical role in growing Iowa’s biotech ecosystem. The funding helps to grow and scale companies developing new cures, better crops, new energy sources, innovative materials and foods, while creating new jobs for Iowans. The reauthorization of these vital programs produce an outsized return on investment to the economy and provides crucial capital to these early-stage companies. We applaud Senator Ernst for her leadership, her vision and her commitment to ensuring that Iowa and America leads the world in innovative biotechnology breakthroughs.”
    “On behalf of America’s Cultivation Corridor, I would like to thank Senator Ernst for hosting today’s INNOVATE Act roundtable,” said Billi Hunt, Executive Director, America’s Cultivation Corridor. “It was an important opportunity to hear directly from innovators here in her own backyard about the value programs like SBIR bring to our innovation ecosystem. I am proud to support the INNOVATE Act to ensure SBIR is focused on America’s best innovators and well-defined deliverables. Iowa has long been a leader in innovation, with strengths in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and financial services. These sectors give us a unique perspective on how innovations can successfully reach commercialization.”
    The INNOVATE Act has already earned widespread support and continues to earn additional high marks.
    “The INNOVATE Act represents a powerful framework for how the US government can stimulate impact-oriented innovation,” said Will Dickson, Chief Commercial Officer, Canopy Aerospace. “It’s no secret the small businesses move more quickly and take more risks than established businesses; harnessing this capability is critical to maintaining US global technological competitiveness in the coming decades. As a next-gen materials development company that is hyper-focused on ensuring that our innovations cross the valley of death, we believe reforming SBIR to focus on outcomes versus ‘neat research’ is the best use of the authority.”
    “The INNOVATE Act of 2025 represents a committed Congressional focus to streamlining investment in domestic innovation, ensuring that defense-application small businesses, such as Ursa Major, are enabled and empowered to apply impactful technological advances to further national security priorities,” said Ben Nicholson, Chief Business Officer, Ursa Major.
    “Vita has benefited greatly from the SBIR program, and passing Sen. Ernst’s INNOVATE Act will create meaningful improvements to “America’s seed fund” and will make sure it is viable for years to come,” said Caleb Carr, President and CEO, Vita Inclinata Technologies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Establish Senate NATO Observer Group

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group (SNOG), recently introduced bipartisan legislation to establish the Senate NATO Observer Group as a new body within the Senate dedicated to addressing and advising on matters related to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This initiative underscores the Senators’ commitment to strengthening the vital transatlantic alliance and ensuring robust Congressional oversight and engagement on NATO-related issues.
    The Senate NATO Observer Group will serve as a crucial forum for addressing NATO matters that span the jurisdictions of multiple Senate committees. Its core functions will include advising the Senate on issues related to NATO, particularly concerning NATO enlargement. The group will also facilitate close interactions between the executive branch, the Senate, NATO, member countries, and candidate countries during negotiations on NATO enlargement.
    “As the global landscape continues to evolve, the importance of NATO to American security and global stability cannot be overstated,” said Senator Tillis. “Establishing the Senate NATO Observer Group will enhance our ability to proactively engage with our allies, address challenges, and ensure that the U.S. remains a strong and reliable partner within the alliance.” 
    “Now more than ever, it’s imperative that the United States work closely with NATO to respond to global threats, including Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine,” said Senator Shaheen. “This legislation to make the Senate NATO Observer Group permanent will enshrine bipartisan focus and support for NATO within the Senate. I am pleased to support this effort and make the Senate NATO Observer Group a permanent convener for conversation between the Senate and NATO Allies to strengthen transatlantic bonds.”
    Senators Tillis and Shaheen re-established the Senate NATO Observer Group in 2018 and have led bipartisan efforts in the Senate in support of the transatlantic Alliance. The group aims to monitor various aspects of the NATO alliance, including defense spending, military capabilities, counter-terrorism efforts, enlargement, and the ability to address unconventional warfare threats. 
    During the 119th Congress, the Senate NATO Observer Group will operate as established by the Majority and Minority Leaders in the Congressional Record. This bipartisan legislation would require that, beginning with the 120th Congress, the Majority and Minority Leaders will each appoint no more than seven Senators to the Group within 60 days of the first session convening. Each leader will also appoint one co-chairperson from their respective appointees. 
    The bill also authorizes co-chairs and one designated staff member to engage in foreign travel for official purposes, provided such travel is authorized by the other co-chair. The Office of Interparliamentary Services of the Senate will provide administrative support and protocol functions to the Group. 
    The Senate NATO Observer Group will be required to submit an annual report to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and the Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. This report will detail the Group’s activities during the preceding fiscal year, including travel, legislative efforts, and public diplomacy initiatives. 
    Read the bill HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Leads Legislation to Protect Idahoans from Payment Scams

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–Citing more than $63 million in reported losses in Idaho to payment scams in 2024, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) introduced the bipartisan Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payments Scams (TRAPS) Act, which would create a task force to combat the growing issue of payment scams.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported losses to fraud have soared 25 percent over the last year to $12.5 billion nationwide.
    U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) are co-sponsors of the legislation.
    “Criminals continue to target vulnerable Americans through creative ways to trick them out of their hard-earned money,” said Senator Crapo.  “We can–and should–better equip law enforcement and regulators with the tools to go after scammers and prevent scams before they happen.”
    “The evolving sophistication of financial scams emphasizes the urgent need for unified and proactive defense,” said Senator Warner.  “The TRAPS Act will bridge the gap between law enforcement, regulators and the financial industry in order to better protect Americans’ financial welfare and hold those who prey on hard-working individuals accountable.”
    “Combatting the global rise in fraud starts with making certain federal regulators and law enforcement agencies are coordinating effectively to address these threats,” said Senator Moran.  “Establishing a task force to promote inter-agency cooperation on preventing payment scams and other fraud is yet another step in protecting the financial security of Kansans.”
    “Scams and financial schemes continue to debilitate Americans’ pocketbooks and funds, especially our seniors who work hard their entire lives to build savings,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.  “The Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payments Scams (TRAPS) Act better equips law enforcement and regulators to fight back and provide much-needed protection for fraud victims, and helps prevent scams before they happen.”
    “Fighting cyber and financial crime is a priority for the Idaho Department of Finance, and Sen. Crapo’s TRAPS Act is an important step for creating strategies to address the growing threat electronic payment scams pose to Idahoans and Americans,” said Idaho Department of Finance Director Patti Perkins.
    Payment scams occur when a scammer induces a victim, usually under false pretenses of romance or investments, to voluntarily send them money.  Crapo’s legislation would bring together industry, law enforcement, financial regulators and telecommunication regulators to decide best practices for identifying and preventing future scams.
    Specifically, the TRAPS Act would:
    Create a task force, chaired by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and composed of the prudential regulators, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Justice and representatives from industry. 
    Direct the task force to examine the payments landscape and compile a report to recommend legislative and regulatory changes, including best practices to coordinate state, local and federal efforts.
    Require the task force to update the report annually for three years.
    The TRAPS Act is supported by AARP, Early Warning Services, Electronic Transactions Association, GoWest Credit Union Association, American Bankers Association, Consumer Bankers Association, National Bankers Association, the Defense Credit Union Council and America’s Credit Unions.
    “Scams don’t originate on payment platforms, and this legislation is a critical step in protecting consumers and preventing scams by bringing together regulators, law enforcement, industry leaders and consumer advocates to help strengthen our nation’s scam prevention infrastructure,” said Cameron Fowler, CEO, Early Warning Services, the company behind Zelle.  “Protecting consumers, small businesses and community financial institutions is essential to preserving trust in our financial system.  Early Warning thanks Senators Mike Crapo, Mark Warner, Jerry Moran and Raphael Warnock for their leadership in introducing and sponsoring this proposal.  Criminals are constantly evolving how they scam American consumers, small businesses and financial institutions.  Combating these criminals demands a united front from government, law enforcement and the private sector.”
    “Consumer Bankers Association deeply appreciates Sen. Crapo’s leadership to address the growing fraud and scams crisis.  A whole-of-government approach is critically important to make a meaningful difference toward protecting the hardworking Americans we’re all working to serve,” said Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Lindsey Johnson.  “This legislation would convene a comprehensive group of financial regulators along with multiple industry sectors to get the root of the problem and propose solutions.”
    “We thank Senator Crapo and the bill’s co-sponsors for their leadership and commitment, not just to credit union members, but to all consumers and the long-term integrity of our financial system,” said Troy Stang, President and CEO, GoWest Credit Union Association.  “The TRAPS Act reflects the credit union movement’s deep-rooted priority: protecting the safety and security of our members and communities.  This legislation is a smart, holistic approach to identifying and seeking solutions to actively combat and put a stop to the fraud that is eroding the financial security of Americans.”
    “Fighting fraud and scams is a priority shared by the payments industry, policymakers and law enforcement,” said Jodie Kelley, CEO, Electronic Transactions Association.  “We applaud Sen. Crapo’s TRAPS Act as it brings together the key players needed to help address this common goal.”
    Bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Presses VA to Reinstate Contract Helping Veterans with Cancer Care in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska

    US Senate News:

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

    June 10, 2025

    Senator: “Cancelling this contract is mindless and cruel in equal measure for America’s veterans who deserve far better in return for their service to our country.”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reverse its recent decision unilaterally ending a contract for the Cancer Registry Services to provide staffing and resources essential to maintain and operate VA’s Cancer Registry database services in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. 

    “This database is key to spotting trends across cancer patients, and allows our medical community to develop better guidelines to diagnose, treat, and beat cancer,” Wyden wrote in his letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Cancelling this contract is mindless and cruel in equal measure for America’s veterans who deserve far better in return for their service to our country.  The VA must use every tool at its disposal to support our veterans battling cancer, and I call on the VA to reinstate this contract immediately.” 

    Wyden’s letter following up on concerns he raised in February about the VA recklessly ending hundreds of contracts notes that cancer registries help capture the complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status for cancer patients across the United States. 

    “Approximately two million cases of cancer are likely to be diagnosed in the United States this year alone, and our veterans experience certain types of cancer at higher rates than the general population due to toxic exposures in military service,” Wyden wrote. “In fact, more than 16% of new cancer diagnoses in veterans are rare cancers, and more than 450,000 veterans are receiving cancer care at a VA hospital or facility.”

    The senator added that the Cancer Registry Services contract was part of Congress’ direction to the VA to increase cancer reporting and collaboration with states.

    “The contractor you have terminated so rashly was responsible for the monthly review of disease and pathology reports, radiology reports, treatment logs, and other computerized methods to identify reportable cancer cases,” Wyden wrote. “By terminating this contract, you have prevented the VA cancer registry from reporting accurate and timely data that would help cancer surveillance and shape our medical community’s response to veterans battling cancer.  Interruptions in data collection and reporting will delay our medical community’s ability to recognize emerging cancer trends and treatment gaps, which will worsen outcomes for veterans and Americans battling cancer nationwide. 

    The entire letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Urges Trump to Stop Plan to Eliminate Funds that Target Fentanyl Trafficking

    US Senate News:

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

    June 10, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged Donald Trump to stop his administration’s plans to eliminate funds used by law enforcement to crack down on fentanyl trafficking and dismantle major criminal organizations in Oregon and across America. 

    For more than three decades, the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) has been a vital law enforcement entity to counter organized crime and major drug trafficking by coordinating among dozens of agencies. Despite the critical role the OCDETF plays in providing investigatory and prosecutorial support, coordination, and information sharing  to local, state, and federal law enforcement to stop transnational criminal organizations, including those using the Interstate 5 corridor in Oregon and the West Coast to smuggle fentanyl into U.S. communities, Trump has proposed zeroing out funding for OCDETF in his fiscal year 2026 budget request. 

    In a letter to Trump, Wyden said, “Defunding law enforcement in this manner will make it easier for major drug trafficking organizations to continue to transit fentanyl, methamphetamine, counterfeit prescription medication, and other illicit drugs into Oregon communities.”

    Earlier this month, a drug trafficking leader in Lane County, Ore., was sentenced to federal prison for possessing 384 pounds of methamphetamine in a case the OCDETF successfully investigated. This follows the 2020 success of a OCDETF investigation that led to the dismantling of a major transnational drug trafficking and money laundering organization active in the Portland metropolitan area, as well as significant arrests and drug seizures as transnational criminal organizations use the Interstate 5 corridor as a primary route to traffic drugs like fentanyl into communities.

    “OCDETF-led interagency coordination is critical to unite federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to effectively disrupt the operations of major transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels that have expanded operations across the country in recent years. Given this record of success, it is astonishing that you have proposed zeroing out funding for this crucial law enforcement entity,” Wyden said in the letter. “

    “OCDETF provides critical support to our public safety mission by bringing together agencies and resources to help protect our communities from cartel-driven drug dealing organizations,” said Stephen Gunnels, Deschutes County District Attorney. “It is extremely important that we keep the pressure on these deadly criminal enterprises.”

    “OCDETF is a critical funding mechanism for large multi-agency, multi-state cases and allows for collaboration with local law enforcement that would otherwise not be possible,” said Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. “Losing this funding would severely hamper many drug teams, including ours at the Bend Police Department, and prevent us from doing large scale investigations necessary to protect the public.” 

    The text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Calls for Clearer Crypto Regulations Following Discussion with the Honorable Brian Quintenz

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with President Trump’s nominee to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Brian Quintenz. They discussed how both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC share enforcement responsibilities but lack clear jurisdictional boundaries, which has created confusion for innovators and entrepreneurs. While the SEC determines which products fall under its purview, the CFTC has mainly focused on fraud cases involving crypto. Senator Tuberville and Mr. Quintenz agreed that Congress must provide clearer regulatory guidance to foster compliant innovation and protect investors in the digital asset space.

    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Quintez, thank you for being here today.”

    QUINTENZ: “Thank you, Senator.”

    TUBERVILLE: “It’s good to see you and your family. Thank you for your willingness to serve. You know, for the last four years, the Biden administration led an attack on cryptocurrencies and digital assets. It was obvious to all of us—I think you know that better than anybody. One of the ways they did this was by attacking leaders in the digital asset industry, like yourself. I’m glad to see that today we live in a new world with the most pro-crypto President and administration that we have seen. I’m eager to see you lead the CFTC as we enter the Golden Age of American innovation and prosperity, and I look forward to supporting your nomination.

    When you came by my office prior to this hearing, we discussed how you were debanked because of your leadership and stance on digital assets. For years, my Democrat colleagues said that this was not happening. Obviously, it was. You were even sent a letter informing you that you were being debanked. 

    Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask for unanimous consent that the letter dated July 7, 2023, from UBS to Mr. Quintenz be entered into the record. Thank you. Mr. Quintenz, would you like to discuss this letter and the broader Biden administration attack on crypto?”

    QUINTENZ: “Thank you very much, Senator. I was very disappointed to receive that. First of all, I’d like to say that the relationship manager and financial advisor mentioned in that letter is a trusted family friend, and I don’t hold this against him at all. I think the only reason why this would happen is because of pressure from the regulators to debank a disfavored industry. You know, these were accounts that were set up for my children to receive $100 worth of stock from their grandparents for Christmas, so I don’t want to also overemphasize the pain that this caused me. But I think it is endemic of what happened during the last administration that I do not think represented American values. And I know from personal experience that there were investments that our firm was trying to make into small teams. And our firm couldn’t even send them a check because they couldn’t open a bank account because they were in the crypto industry. I believe legal businesses deserve access to legal services, and I’m glad that is starting to change.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. That was a pretty tough time, and I understand what you were going through. We’re all curious about the growth of prediction markets. Can you talk about the benefits of the markets and how various businesses and industries can use them for risk management when they otherwise may not have access to appropriate hedging tools?”

    QUINTENZ: “Thank you, Senator. When I was at the Commission, I read the law, and the law was clear: the Commodity Exchange Act recognizes that an event posing financial, commercial, or economic consequences is a commodity. I think the reason The Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000—which was passed into law by President Clinton—did that was because it recognized that events posed risks to individuals, small businesses, and large firms in the same way that exposure to physical commodity prices does. These risks have been hedged in various capacities for a long time, but traditionally it’s been through large Wall Street firms using very complicated products where there isn’t much transparency about how they operate or a clear market trading mechanism to create clarity around that. With the way this innovation is evolving, there are going to be many new methods for individuals to hedge risks they otherwise couldn’t. The innovation can be targeted to a specific event, so they don’t have to rely on some other generic form of hedging that may not correlate to that risk.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Can you discuss the regulatory and enforcement clarity between the SEC and the CFTC as it relates to crypto, and what further congressional actions need to be taken?”

    QUINTENZ: “Thank you, Senator. From my experience at the CFTC and afterward, the agencies either share jurisdiction over the crypto spot markets or enforce markets through enforcement actions. However, it has really been the SEC’s decision to determine which products or securities they carve out and take into their own jurisdiction. Unfortunately, I believe there has been a lack of clarity offered to the marketplace, innovators, and entrepreneurs about how they could build something that complies with the law or how to build something within the SEC’s jurisdiction that follows the rules. Both agencies have experience in crypto enforcement, but for the CFTC, it has mostly confined itself to fraud cases—standard Ponzi schemes, which aren’t necessarily about people using cryptocurrency but rather about using cryptocurrency as a tool for investments and then stealing people’s money. So, to the extent that new clarity can be added to enable innovators and entrepreneurs to build compliantly, I think that is a critical issue for Congress to consider.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey to File Amendment to Strip Republican Proposal to Ban AI Regulation by States from Reconciliation Package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (June 10, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today announced plans to file an amendment to the Senate reconciliation bill to block Republicans’ attempt to prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for the next 10 years.

    “Despite the overwhelming opposition to their plan to block states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next decade, Republicans are refusing to back down on this irresponsible and short-sighted provision,” said Senator Markey. “I plan to file an amendment to strip this dangerous provision from Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ Republicans should be prepared to vote on this outrageous policy and explain to their constituents why they are preventing their state leaders from responding to the harms caused by this new and evolving technology.”

    Last week, Senator Markey convened a virtual roundtable with advocates to discuss the impacts this ban would have on communities across the country. On June 3, Senator Markey delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing the provision in the House-passed reconciliation bill that would prevent states from regulating AI for the next ten years. Senator Markey is the author of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Civil Rights Act, the most comprehensive AI civil rights legislation introduced in Congress. The legislation would put strict guardrails on companies’ use of algorithms for consequential decisions, ensure algorithms are tested before and after deployment, help eliminate and prevent bias, and renew Americans’ faith in the accuracy and fairness of complex algorithms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: Modern, Cost-Effective Weapons Systems Should be Deployed in Red Sea, Future Conflicts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke with Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and raised the importance of properly funding cutting-edge directed energy programs — the class of weapons systems that use electromagnetic energy, such as high-energy lasers. Calling it the “weapon of the future,” he received commitment from Secretary Phalen to advocate for an increase in the directed energy budget.  

    “It’s unclear in the budget where the directed energy money is if it’s in there. Those missiles that we’re using in the Red Sea to knock down $20,000 Yemen drones cost $4 million apiece. Directed energy is an incredibly important priority. The prior administration grossly underfunded it. I hope this administration will pay attention. This is cost-effective and it’s the weapon of the future. Mr. Secretary, are you going advocate for directed energy and see an increase in that budget,” asked Senator King.

    “Yes, senator. I think it’s very important. Our capability, and as you mentioned, it’s a cost-effective one. We continue to be working very hard with the one system we have been testing live right now that appears to be working well, so we continue to work on that. So, yes,” replied Secretary Phelan.

    Senator King also touted Bath Iron Works’ (BIW) role in helping construct the U.S. Navy’s Guided-Missile Destroyer (DDG) ships. Earlier in their exchange, Senator King thanked Secretary Phelan for his visit earlier this year to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) to discuss the strategic value of developing a strong workforce and expanding shipbuilding in the U.S. to stay ahead of foreign adversaries.

    “I want to thank you for your visits to the Portsmouth naval shipyard and Bath Iron Works, particularly for the time you took to talk with the men and women on the deck plates, the people who are out there doing the work. It meant a lot to those people, it meant a lot to the workforce, and the fact that you took the time to do that, I think is exemplary. The other thing I want to note at the beginning, we always get in these hearings and there’s a lot of criticism and harsh questions. I want to compliment the Navy for the performance in the Red Sea. It’s the longest protracted naval battle since World War II, and the Navy has performed extraordinary well. I’ve had briefings both in this committee and the Intelligence Committee about the work that has been done under very difficult circumstances, so I think that should be acknowledged in a hearing like this. I should also note some of the workhorses in the Red Sea are DDGs, which are — I visited a government facility some years ago that had a spot on the map of the whole world of all the U.S. Assets, and DDGs were all over that map. Truly the workhorse of the Navy,” said Senator King.

    As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Senator King has previously spoken up about the emerging threats of Russia and China’s development of “nightmare weapon” hypersonic missiles, which he has described as “strategic game-changers.” He previously urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies and encouraged the (DoD) to reevaluate its acquisition process of defense technologies. Additionally, Senator King has been a steady voice on the need to address the growing nuclear capacity of our adversaries.

    The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) is a key economic driver in Maine, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security. After calls from Senators King and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the U.S. Department of Defense exempted the shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze. The Senators, alongside Sena too Susan Collins (R-ME), once again called on the Administration to process PNSY civilian hires to support the work of the Shipyard. Earlier this year, Senator King visited the Shipyard with Navy Secretary Phelan to highlight the Shipyard’s role in supporting U.S. national security and the need to bolster the Shipyard’s workforce to meet workload demand.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Meets With Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce in his Washington office to discuss economic development and infrastructure investment in Central Illinois.  During the meeting, Durbin and the local leaders spoke about the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, which Durbin has helped secure more than $247 million in federal funding to complete.  Durbin also responded to the organization’s concerns that the Trump Administration will continue to delay or slash federal grants that have helped support the state’s education programs, airport renovations, and infrastructure upgrades for waterlines, emergency services, and the electric grid.

    “Rightfully, local leaders with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce are concerned about the future of federal funding for local projects and priorities in Central Illinois,” said Durbin.  “While the Trump Administration is a force of chaos and uncertainty, I will continue to be a voice for Illinoisans and securing the resources our state needs to thrive.”

    Photos of the meeting are available here.

      

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Charleston Native Joins Boozman’s Washington Staff

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—River Valley residents who contact U.S. Senator John Boozman’s Washington, D.C. office may now wind up interacting with an acquaintance from their own community. Charleston native Katie Gage recently joined the senator’s staff on Capitol Hill as a press assistant.

    “It is an honor to join Senator Boozman’s team and contribute to the work he is doing on behalf of Arkansans. I’m excited to support the senator’s communications efforts and help share the stories and priorities that matter most to the people of our state,” Gage said.

    “Katie has already shown her strong commitment to public service during her time as an intern, and I am excited to have her back on the team. Her energy and passion for Arkansas will be a great asset to my staff as we reflect Natural State priorities and values in the nation’s capital,” Boozman said. 

    Senator Boozman welcomes Charleston High School graduate to his Washington team.

    In the press assistant role, Gage supports the senator’s communications efforts by assisting with media outreach, drafting press materials and helping develop messaging that highlights Senator Boozman’s priorities and legislative work. She also contributes to internal communications.

    Gage is a 2021 graduate of Charleston High School and a 2025 graduate of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in legal studies. She is the daughter of Misty Hiatt and Trey Gage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Ahead of 13th Anniversary of DACA, Rosen Slams Trump’s Attacks on Dreamers, Calls for Permanent Protections on Senate Floor

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Senator Rosen Urged Her Colleagues to Pass a Bipartisan Solution That Gives DACA Recipients a Pathway to Citizenship and Keeps Families Together
    Watch Senator Rosen’s Full Remarks HERE.
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) took to the Senate floor to mark the thirteenth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and deliver a forceful defense of Nevada’s Dreamers in light of the Trump Administration’s attacks on immigrant communities across the country. Senator Rosen reaffirmed her commitment to do everything in her power to protect the more than 12,000 DACA recipients in Nevada who know no other home but the U.S., and she condemned Donald Trump’s repeated efforts to dismantle the program.
    Senator Rosen also criticized Washington’s long-standing failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform, calling it unacceptable that DACA recipients continue to live in fear and uncertainty. She urged her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stop using Dreamers as a political football and take immediate action to pass legislation that provides permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship.
    Below are excerpts of Senator Rosen’s floor remarks:
    As we approach the thirteenth anniversary of DACA, I rise today in strong support of this program and the thousands of Nevadans who rely on it.
    My state of Nevada is home to more than twelve thousand DACA beneficiaries who know of no other country as their own. 
    They grew up in our communities and contribute to our nation and our economy.
    They are our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. 
    Many of them are now even raising their own families here – sending their kids to school, taking them to soccer practice, and going to the park on weekends.
    But Washington has failed them. 
    What started out as a temporary program – meant to protect Dreamers while Congress worked to pass a more permanent solution – has turned into a decades-long lifeline for so many. 
    Washington’s gridlock and its inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers has left them to depend on DACA.
    It has also opened the door to attacks from the Trump Administration and right-wing extremists…
    During his first term, Donald Trump rescinded DACA and threw this critical program into a tail-spin… leaving the future of Dreamers and their families to depend on court case after court case.
    Can anyone in this chamber imagine the stress, the fear, the uncertainty they have had to endure all of these years not knowing if they’d be separated from their families or not?
    In his second term, Trump has been relentless in attacking and separating hardworking, law-abiding immigrant families… increasing fear and worry in our immigrant communities, including DACA recipients. 
    If DACA were to end, millions of Dreamers across our nation would be at risk of having to leave the only country they’ve ever known… the only place they’ve ever called home.
    Parents would face separation from their children, leaving families forever traumatized.
    And our economy and communities would gravely suffer.
    And just imagine the message we would be sending….
    Nevadans who have done everything right since they arrived in our state… Nevadans who were brought here as kids through no fault of their own, and who followed the rules when the government asked them to, followed the rules… Nevadans who have graduated college, Nevadans who have served in the military, and started businesses in our communities… Nevadans who are currently protected… could now lose the only life they have ever known.
    So, Mr. President, it’s past time that politicians in Washington stop using Dreamers as a political football and finally pass a law that permanently protects them.
    These hardworking Americans deserve to have peace of mind… and they deserve a life without fear.
    I want Dreamers to know they have allies in their corner. 
    As Nevada’s Senator, I’ll do everything in my power to protect all of our communities and keep families together.
    Since Day One in the Senate, I’ve been pushing my colleagues to come together in a bipartisan way to pass a permanent solution… one that gives Dreamers permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship. A pathway to citizenship now, while we continue to work on comprehensive immigration reform that this country so surely needs. 
    This shouldn’t be a partisan issue… and as long as I’m in the Senate, I won’t stop fighting for it.  
    I want everyone to know that in the meantime, I will continue to do everything in my power to protect DACA and the thousands of Nevadans who rely on it. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Congratulates EPA Deputy Administrator on Senate Confirmation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    June 10, 2025

    Washington, D.C.— Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed David Fotouhi as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    “Congratulations to David Fotouhi on becoming deputy administrator of the EPA,” said Lummis. “David is a champion for commonsense environmental regulations and rolling back Green New Scam policies that burdened Wyoming and the west. I look forward to partnering with him to deliver real results for the Cowboy State.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 06.10.2025 Sens. Cruz, Rosen Introduce Bill Expanding Fellowship Opportunities for Servicemembers Leaving Active Duty

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jacky Rosen (D- Nev.) introduced the SkillBridge Congressional Fellowship Act of 2025. This legislation allows servicemembers transitioning out of active duty to complete congressional fellowships through the Department of Defense’s (DoD) SkillBridge program, allowing them to begin exploring post-service careers in public service and policy. 
    Sen. Cruz said, “Each year, thousands of servicemembers leave active duty with a desire to continue serving their country outside of military service. Meanwhile Congress would benefit greatly from individuals with firsthand military and operational experience. This bill provides opportunities for those servicemembers to evaluate a legislative career path, and more broadly what a career in politics or policy would entail, while allowing them to serve in Congress. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation swiftly.”
    Sen. Rosen said, “Our service members sacrifice so much to keep us safe, and it’s our duty to do everything possible to help them transition back to civilian life. I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to expand opportunities for service members to continue in public service after their military career by making it easier to take part in congressional fellowships. I’ll always support our nation’s service members and veterans.”
    Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. John McGuire (R-Va.-05).
    Read the full text of the bill here.
    BACKGROUND
    This bill will:
    Grant eligibility for service in member offices, leadership offices, and committees.
    Limit participation to one fellow per office.
    Require approval from both the servicemember’s chain of command and the congressional host.
    Standardize onboarding covering ethics, Hill procedures, and the legislative process.
    Mandate formal notification procedures to DoD legislative affairs.
    Allow for a maximum fellowship duration of 180 days.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine: New Report Shows Over 302,000 Virginians Will Lose Health Insurance Under GOP Tax Plan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after a new Joint Economic Committee (JEC) report found that an estimated 302,608 Virginians would lose their health insurance under President Trump and Republicans’ tax plan:
    “This new report estimates that the Trump tax plan would cause over 302,000 Virginians, including low-income children and people with disabilities, to lose their health insurance—all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. That’s over 302,000 Virginians who will be forced to forgo a trip to the doctor’s office or get the critical medication they need. These cuts will have long-term, negative consequences for the health and wellbeing of our communities and our already overburdened health care system. We are committed to doing everything we can to stop this bill that will do real harm to communities across Virginia and the country.”  
    According to the JEC, an estimated 136,583 Virginians would lose coverage under the Affordable Care Act, and 166,025 Virginians would lose coverage under Medicaid. This JEC report is based off of the latest numbers available, including from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s recent analysis of the Republican tax bill.
    Warner and Kaine have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia families if Republicans in Congress continue to insist on gutting vital programs in order to pay for tax breaks for the richest Americans. The senators have noted that the GOP bill would cut SNAP benefits for more than 204,000 people in Virginia, raise energy costs for Virginia households, and jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs. The bill would also explode the deficit, eliminate a program allowing Americans to file federal taxes for free, raise taxes on minimum-wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut, eliminate gun safety measures, and make it harder for federal judges to hold government officials accountable when they act lawlessly.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Introduces Trump’s Nominees Andy Puzder, Jacob Helberg

    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 Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, introduced Andy Puzder, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, and Jacob Helberg, President Trump’s nominee to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Remarks as prepared for delivery:
    Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen, thank you for holding today’s hearing.
    It is my honor to introduce two of my good friends this morning:
    Mr. Andy Puzder—President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the European Union; and,
    Mr. Jacob Helberg—President Trump’s nominee to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.
    Let me first speak to Andy’s qualifications.
    Andy is a patriot whose highly accomplished career in business, law, and public policy makes him an excellent candidate for this ambassadorial role.
    Andy is widely recognized for his leadership as the former CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s.
    During his tenure, he led the company through a significant turnaround, growing CKE’s role as a major player in the global fast-food industry.
    Under Andy’s leadership, CKE expanded to over 3,800 restaurants across 45 states and 40 foreign countries, with more than 115,000 employees worldwide.
    His experience navigating international markets and cross-border business challenges gives him a practical, hands-on understanding of global commerce—an asset of particular relevance to a diplomatic post in Brussels that is focused on transatlantic economic relations.
    Yet his qualifications extend beyond the boardroom.
    Andy is a seasoned attorney, a published author, and a deeply respected voice in national debates over public policy.
    He has also been a vocal advocate for pro-growth economic policies, regulatory reform, and other efforts to strengthen American competitiveness in global markets—issues that are central to the ongoing relationship between the United States and the European Union.
    As the nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the EU, Andy brings with him not only decades of executive leadership, but also a clear understanding of how economic policy affects real people, businesses, and international relationships.
    At a time when transatlantic cooperation faces both opportunities and challenges—from trade and technology to security—his experience and know-how will be critical to furthering ties between the United States and Europe in support of President Trump’s agenda.
    Let me now turn to Jacob Helberg, a nominee whose vision, intellect, and tenacity make him uniquely qualified for the role of Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.
    His nomination comes at a pivotal moment.
    From economic coercion to critical mineral choke points to energy issues and the weaponization of advanced technologies, the challenges posed by adversaries to our nation are urgent and complex.
    To meet these challenges, we need fierce advocates for American competitiveness like Jacob at the State Department.
    Over the years I have known Jacob, I have found that he is a true visionary, with a rare ability to take big, strategic ideas and turn them into meaningful action.
    I remember when Jacob came by my office shortly after being nominated and I commented that his nomination was likely very unwelcome news in Beijing—and for good reason.
    Jacob’s ideas and publications have helped reframe how policymakers view China’s predatory trade practices and the strategic dimensions of emerging technologies in AI, space, and robotics.
    Jacob is a public servant, whose work as a commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has driven U.S. policy toward a safer and more prosperous future.
    And Jacob is an internationally recognized leader, whose Hill and Valley Forum has become a preeminent venue for bringing Washington policymakers and Silicon Valley innovators together to address important economic and national security issues—the same issues that Jacob will tackle if confirmed as Under Secretary.
    At a time when authoritarian regimes like China exploit economic tools and emerging technologies to undermine our national interests, Jacob’s nomination reflects the urgent need for strategic, tech-savvy leadership of U.S. foreign policy.
    Jacob will bring to the role of Under Secretary not only a profound understanding of the global economy, but also a powerful grasp of the digital battlegrounds where this century’s great power competition is playing out.
    I have no doubt that Jacob will serve with integrity, focus, and a determination to strengthen America’s hand on the world stage.
    Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to introduce my friends Andy and Jacob this morning.
    I would also like to extend my regards to Ben Black, nominated to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, whose expertise in investment and development will be instrumental in advancing our nation’s global economic interests.
    We need these highly qualified leaders on the frontlines of American diplomacy, and I urge my colleagues to support their nominations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement Mourning Passing of Former Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    NEWARK, N.J. – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:
    “I am deeply saddened by the news of former Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes’ passing. He was a true champion for all New Jerseyans, dedicating his life’s work to the improvement of our shared communities. Brian’s legacy is one of service, investing in the infrastructure that moves our state and the programs that serve our neighbors. I send my sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know Brian.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Navy Secretary Declares Support for Legislation to Guarantee the Military’s Right to Repair Its Own Equipment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 10, 2025
    Secretary Phelan: “I am a huge supporter of right to repair.”
    Chairman Wicker: “I look forward to working with my two colleagues on a workable solution.”
    Video of Exchange (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Navy Secretary John Phelan told U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) that he is a “huge supporter of right to repair” and expressed support for a bill guaranteeing the military can repair its own equipment and requiring contractors to offer repair materials for a fair and reasonable price.
    Defense contractors have a history of sneaking fine print into contracts that limits troops’ ability to repair equipment at crucial moments. These restrictions also mean that the U.S. government often has to cover the cost of sending a contractor to the field to perform even minor fixes or has to ship equipment back to the U.S. for repairs. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that flying a contractor out for maintenance can add up to as much as $1.2 million in travel costs. In Okinawa, Japan, Marines were forced to send engines in need of repair back to contractors in the U.S., turning the repair into a lengthy process that could have been completed more quickly on-site by Marines. 
    Secretary Phelan stated that the Navy’s current repair rules “make no sense” and agreed the money wasted on travel costs for contractors could be better spent training service members on how to fix equipment themselves. Secretary Phelan highlighted additional examples of instances in which contractor-imposed repair restrictions have hurt readiness: in one instance, six out of eight ovens on a 5,300-person aircraft carrier were not working, and instead of having a service member fix them, they had to wait for a contractor to fly out. Secretary Phelan also noted that, because of repair restrictions, an elevator outage requires five contractors to fly out just to diagnose the issue.
    “It is crazy. We should be able to fix this,” said Secretary Phelan.
    Asked by Senator Warren, Secretary Phelan said he supports a bill to help the services better negotiate for repair rights at a fair and reasonable price. Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) expressed interest in the bill, stating, “I look forward to working with my two colleagues on a workable solution, particularly since the Secretary is so supportive of that concept.”
    “This is an opportunity to stand up for our sailors and Marines as well as for the taxpayers, and I look forward to working with [Secretary Phelan]…[t]o make sure that our service members have the tools they need to be able to repair their own equipment,” concluded Senator Warren.
    In a recent Fox News op-ed, Senators Warren and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) underscored how right to repair restrictions imposed by defense contractors hurt the military’s ability to respond to threats and called for every service of the military to follow Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s lead and ensure the military has the right to repair the equipment it owns. The senators also announced an upcoming new bipartisan bill to make securing the right to repair at a fair and reasonable price the policy across all of the military services. During the hearing, Secretary Phelan expressed support for this legislation.
    Transcript: Hearings to examine the posture of the Department of the Navy in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense ProgramSenate Armed Services CommitteeJune 10, 2025
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, for years, giant defense contractors have been sneaking fine print into contracts that prevent sailors and Marines from maintaining their own equipment. These restrictions increase costs, they hurt readiness, and they make a lot of money for the contractors. 
    During your confirmation process, Secretary Phelan, you committed to explore how to “best leverage right to repair and technical data rights within acquisition contracts to enable organic repair capacity.” I wrote it down. So, I want to make sure that that maintains as a priority. 
    Marines in Okinawa, Japan, had to send back engines to contractors in the U.S. for repairs, a process that took months, when the Marines could have done it themselves onsite, but they had to do that because that is what the contract said, and when it’s a ship, the United States government actually foots the bill to send the contractor out to sea. GAO found that travel costs to have a contractor complete repairs for one order on the USS Montgomery in Singapore would cost about $1.2 million. That’s just for the travel costs. 
    So, Secretary Phelan, would you agree that the Navy could be using those millions of dollars to train service members on the skills they need so they can fix their own equipment, rather than spending that money to fly contractors to provide tech support?
    Secretary John C. Phelan: Senator, thank you for the question. I know it’s very important to you. What we do makes no sense to me. Okay, and so I am a huge supporter of right to repair. I went on the Ford carrier. They had eight ovens. This is a ship that serves 15,300 meals a day. Only two were working. Six were out. And I said, “You’ve got 5300 people on the ship. You’re telling me someone can’t fix an oven. We got a lot of engineers.” We can, but we need to wait for the contractor to get out. I asked the question about our elevators. If an elevator goes out, what happens? We’ve got to call Huntington. They’ve got to call the four other people. They have to come out and diagnose the problem, and then they’ll fix it. It is crazy. We should be able to fix this. And my other hot button, which I know is another one of yours and this committee’s, is IP and our intellectual property rights. We end up paying for a lot of things that we don’t control, and we need to change that. And so contracting in general is something we’re looking at very hard, and we need to really try to ensure going forward we control our IP and we have the ability to fix things, because if we’re in a fight, how do we not? How do we fix it then?
    Senator Warren: You have this so right. The importance, not only of doing it on a day-by-day basis, but you need all of that muscle memory of how to fix things in case you’re under much more adverse circumstances and don’t have time to let something lie there unused while you try to fly in somebody from halfway around the world. 
    So, let me just make sure I’ve got you on the record here. Do you agree that the Navy needs to negotiate for comprehensive repair rights so that contractors cannot find shady ways both to insist on their ability to do the repairs, but also to keep the data that you need away from you so that you can’t do it yourself?
    Secretary Phelan: Senator, I agree, we need to repair the right to repair our ships. How we specifically go about that, I need to look at and understand better. But trust me, you and I are simpatico on this.
    Senator Warren: Okay, and then I will ask you, while we’re being so simpatico here, let me ask you one more: Do you support Congress passing a law that will help you negotiate repair rights at a fair and reasonable price? 
    Secretary Phelan: Yes, I do. 
    Senator Warren: Okay. I really do appreciate this, you know, and so do 70% of voters, according to recent polling. And this is why Senator Sheehy and I are introducing the Warrior Right to Repair Act to make sure that every service follows the Army’s lead of securing repair rights and requiring contractors to offer those rights at fair and reasonable prices. This is an opportunity to stand up for our sailors and Marines as well as for the taxpayers, and I look forward to working with you. I know that Senator Sheehy does as well. And we want to work with all of our colleagues to make sure that our service members have the tools they need to be able to repair their own equipment. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Chairman Roger Wicker: Thank you, Senator Warren. Secretary Phelan, have you had a chance, or has your team had a chance, to look at the specifics of the language of the Warren-Sheehy bill that has been referred to?
    Secretary Phelan: I have not, Senator. 
    Chairman Wicker: Okay, will you please do that, and comment about the specifics on the record? It would be very helpful to us.
    Secretary Phelan: Absolutely. 
    Chairman Wicker: Thank you. And I look forward to working with my two colleagues on a workable solution, particularly since the Secretary is so supportive of that concept.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Slams Trump Administration’s Request to Rescind Over $9 Billion in Federally Appropriated Funds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) tonight took to the Senate floor to slam the Trump Administration’s reckless request to rescind $9.4 billion in Fiscal Years (FY) 2024 and 2025 Congressionally-appropriated funds, which provide vital support to Americans through public broadcasting and radio networks and promote U.S. global leadership.  
    In his remarks, Senator Welch emphasized how rescinding these funds will put American lives at risk, damage security alliances and global partnerships, and erode Congress’s constitutional authority over appropriations. 
    “The President likes to talk about his historic mandate. He did win—it was 2 million votes out of 152 million cast. It was a small margin of victory, the smallest by a Republican presidential candidate since the 1900s. My point here is not so much the size of the ‘mandate.’ Whatever the ‘mandate,’ a President should embrace the responsibility that he or she has to the entire country, and that includes folks who didn’t vote for him,” said Senator Welch.  
    “I do not believe even those who did were voting to risk their lives and their children’s lives by cutting funds to stop the spread of Ebola, or measles, or West Nile virus. This wasn’t a mandate to shut down programs to defend democracy where it’s under assault. This was not a vote to withdraw from UNICEF. This was not a vote, necessarily, to turn our back on the world’s refugees, including in particular, Afghan refugees who saved lives of our men and women in uniform.” 
    Senator Welch concluded: “Of course, Article I gives to the Congress the power to tax and the power to spend. And it is absolutely essential we do that carefully and wisely because our constituents are the ones who are going to pay the bill through taxes we assess, and they are the ones who are going to receive the benefits through appropriations we make. But to abdicate that power—which is essentially what this rescission would accommodate for the executive—is to turn over that power to the President. And it’s not just a matter of it being this President—it’s any President. In order for us to meet our responsibilities, we have to adhere to our constitutional responsibility under Article I. We are the ones who are subject to the will of the people—in the House every two years, in the Senate every six years—to account for how we tax and how we spend. Let’s not dodge by delegating that power to the executive.” 
    Watch Senator Welch’s full speech below: 
    The following programs would be eliminated or drastically reduced if the Trump Administration’s request for recissions are approved: 
    A cut of $1.1B for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 
    A cut of $500 million for Global Health Programs, for activities to protect child and maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases.  
    A cut of $800 million for assistance for refugees, like those fleeing genocide in Darfur and Burma. 
    A cut of $83 million for programs to support democracy, through organizations like the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and Freedom House, which have always received strong bipartisan support.  
    A cut of $1.65 billion for the Economic Support Fund, which funds economic assistance for Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, and scores of other programs that combat corruption, transnational money laundering and terrorist financing, human and wildlife trafficking, and that build markets for U.S. exports.     
    A cut of $460 million for assistance for Georgia, Armenia, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the other former Soviet Republics.  
    A cut of $496 million for international disaster assistance that provides life-saving aid for victims of natural and man-made disasters, from earthquakes and hurricanes to armed conflicts. 
    A cut of $202 million for specialized agencies, including for the United States’ contribution to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). 
    Senator Welch has been a leading voice in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s unlawful efforts to dismantle vital programs and terminate billions of dollars in life-saving aid. Following the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE’s, unlawful firings of over 5,500 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees, Senator Welch demanded answers from the State Department on DOGE’s actions that directly violate funds appropriated by Congress through the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Department of State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act.   
    In April, Senator Welch spoke on the Senate Floor on how President Trump’s January 20th Executive Order suspending admission to the United States for Afghan refugees has left vulnerable families stranded and abandoned thousands who face persecution. In his remarks, the Senator urged Congress to expedite the resettlement of Afghan refugees, many of whom worked with, and for, the U.S. government, our diplomats, and our intelligence officers.   
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Condemns Trump Federalizing of National Guard After Indiscriminate ICE Raids in Los Angeles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla Condemns Trump Federalizing of National Guard After Indiscriminate ICE Raids in Los Angeles

    WATCH: Padilla calls Trump’s cruel immigration enforcement an attempt to “distract from his failed agenda”WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, spoke on the Senate floor to blast President Trump for manufacturing a crisis by launching indiscriminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Los Angeles and deploying the National Guard and active-duty servicemembers to the region. Padilla slammed President Trump for scapegoating immigrants to distract from his failed policies, including Republicans’ billionaire-first budget reconciliation bill that would cut critical services like health care and nutrition for millions of working families across the country.
    Despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections, Trump federalized California’s National Guard without the request and support of the Governor for the first time since 1965. Padilla emphasized that this unprecedented move from President Trump was designed to “create chaos, in order to escalate tensions in the region and to create a pretext for more extreme actions in the future.”
    Padilla urged Californians to exercise their First Amendment rights to peacefully protest President Trump’s abuse of the armed forces and ignorance of due process, but he stressed that violence and vandalism have no place in these protests.
    Key Excerpts:
    “It’s not a coincidence, after one of the most embarrassing weeks, to be sure, of the Trump presidency, as the public has continued to learn the truth about the budget reconciliation bill that would cut health care for so many working families across the country in order to pay for further tax breaks for the most wealthy in America.”
    “Just as he’d done so many times before, when things are going bad, when all else fails, what does he do? Classic Trump playbook: he turns to scapegoating immigrants, and he decided that this was the time to launch indiscriminate ICE raids throughout the Los Angeles region, clearly not just targeting criminals, but so many others. ICE raids in workplaces in an attempt to manufacture a crisis.”
    “Let’s be clear: what you’re all seeing on the news about the Los Angeles region right now is a crisis that Donald Trump has created, and he’s doing it to distract from his failed agenda.”
    “Let’s not give the President what he wants. There’s two things he wants. He either wants us to be quiet and go away and let him continue to overreach and abuse his power. We will not stand for that. We have First Amendment rights, and so let’s peacefully protest. Second, for those who think this is an opportunity to exploit and to turn violent, to vandalize, that’s exactly what Donald Trump wants: any excuse, large or small, to continue to escalate his use of force. Let’s not give him that.”
    “To the rest of the country, I urge you to see this for what it is, because when the headline turns on Donald Trump, Donald Trump turns on the American people.”
    Senator Padilla has been outspoken in slamming the Los Angeles ICE raids and Trump’s misguided mobilization of the National Guard and U.S. Marine Corps. Yesterday, Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded answers from top Trump Administration officials regarding the arrest and detention of David Huerta, President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California and SEIU-United Service Workers West. Padilla has joined national and local TV and radiobroadcasts in the past few days to condemn the Trump Administration’s ICE raids across Los Angeles and President Trump’s ensuing unprecedented deployment of California’s National Guard and Marines to the region.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Bicameral Bill to Repeal the Gun Industry’s Legal Liability Shield

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 09, 2025
    Legislation would give victims of gun violence their day in court & enable them to hold manufacturers accountable for negligence
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – During Gun Violence Awareness Month, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) and more than 80 Members of Congress in introducing the bicameral Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety. The bill would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed by Congress in 2005, which gives the gun industry a unique and unjustifiable legal liability shield that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits. 
    “The needless gun violence that too many Illinoisans—and Americans across the country—experience is heartbreaking and not reflective of the kind of future my daughters or any of our young people deserve,” Duckworth said. “That’s why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, that will hold gun manufacturers accountable and bring justice to grieving families. I’ll never stop working for commonsense gun safety reforms.”
    “It’s unconscionable that the gun industry is shielded from the consequences of negligent behavior that would result in liability if this were any other product,” said Durbin. “Gun dealers and manufacturers do not deserve special treatment, and certainly not at the expense of the communities that are plagued by gun violence. By repealing this unjustifiable legal liability shield, this bill will allow victims of gun violence to seek justice and have their day in court.”
    When Congress passed PLCAA, its supporters argued that it was necessary to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits, and that victims of gun violence would not be shut out of the courts. In reality, numerous cases around the nation have been dismissed on the basis of PLCAA, even when the gun dealers and manufacturers acted in a fashion that would qualify as negligent if it involved any other product. Victims in these cases were denied the right to even discover or introduce evidence. This legislation allows civil cases to go forward against irresponsible bad actors.
    In 2005, the National Rifle Association (NRA) identified PLCAA as their “number one” legislative priority, and the NRA celebrated the passage calling it the “most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years.” Letting courts hear these cases would provide justice to victims and their families, while creating incentives for responsible business practices that would reduce injuries and deaths. Effectively, the gun industry would once again be subject to the same laws as every other industry, just as it was prior to 2005.
    The legislation is endorsed by Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Newtown Action Alliance and Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.
    In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the legislation is also co-sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-District At Large), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), David Scott (D-GA-13), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02).
    Full text of the bill is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Warren and Colleagues Demand Investigation After Uncovering DOGE Employee Gained Access to Sensitive Education Department Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 09, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and fellow Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to open an investigation into new information obtained by her office revealing that DOGE may have gained access to “two of [Federal Student Aid] FSA’s internal systems: Financial Management System (FMS) and Partner Connect,” in addition to sensitive borrower data. Following DOGE’s “takeover” of ED, the Senators opened an investigation into the matter. In response, ED disclosed that DOGE supported a review of FSA’s contracts, and to conduct this review, ED granted “one employee [] read-only access” to two of FSA’s internal systems, which both hold sensitive personal information for people on Title IV loan and grant programs. 
    “Because of the Department’s refusal to provide full and complete information, the full extent of DOGE’s role and influence at ED remains unknown,” wrote the Senators. “This lack of clarity is not only frustrating for borrowers but also dangerous for the future of an agency that handles an extensive student loan portfolio and a range of federal aid programs for higher education.”
    ED also disclosed that it had since “revoked” that employee’s access to both of those systems. Alarmingly, ED did not indicate why the DOGE employee’s access had been revoked, whether this employee has retained access to any other ED databases and what actions the Department has done to ensure that student loan borrowers’ sensitive information would not be released or misused. The Senators are requesting that the ED OIG conduct a review to determine whether ED adhered to the Privacy Act and also determine the impact of DOGE’s new plans to consolidate Americans’ personal information across government databases.
    In addition to Duckworth and Warren, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    Full text of the letter is available below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:
    Dear Acting Inspector General Rocque:
    Earlier this year, we opened an investigation into the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) infiltration of the Department of Education (ED or the Department). Our investigation revealed some new information about the scope of DOGE’s access to the Department’s internal databases. For example, ED informed us that “one employee had read-only access to two of [Federal Student Aid] FSA’s internal systems:” Financial Management System (FMS) and Partner Connect. However, ED refused to provide us other key information, including which DOGE employees had access to sensitive Education Department data, whether access to borrowers’ data, in particular, was granted, and what safeguards had been implemented to protect this sensitive ED data.
    We write to refer these findings to your office and, given the Department’s failure to provide full information in response to our inquiries, request that the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED OIG) conduct a review to determine whether DOGE and ED may have compromised sensitive data or violated the agency’s procedures and responsibilities to protect sensitive data from misuse and unauthorized access. Furthermore, given new reporting that DOGE plans to consolidate Americans’ personal information across government databases, we request that you evaluate the impact this action will have on students’ and educators’ privacy and provide recommendations for safeguarding this data in light of these new threats.
    In Response to Congressional Requests, ED Has Refused to Provide Key Information About DOGE’s Takeover
    In February 2025, DOGE initiated a “takeover” of the Education Department, “gain[ing] access to federal student loan data, which includes personal information for millions of borrowers.” Initial reporting raised potential privacy concerns given the federal student loan database stores borrowers’ Social Security numbers, income information, and other personally identifiable information. Indeed, one ED employee worried that DOGE would “use information from the national student loan database to target Americans, push career employees out and hamper the federal government’s ability to collect on federal loans.” Soon afterwards, we opened an investigation into the matter. Throughout the course of this investigation, ED revealed a limited set of new information about the extent of DOGE’s access to ED’s internal databases, but refused to disclose whether and to what extent DOGE had access to student loan borrowers’ data, specifically.
    In its February 18, 2025 response, the Department disclosed that DOGE “support[ed] a review of the Department and Federal Student Aid (FSA) contracts to identify possible efficiencies.” To conduct this review, ED granted “one employee [] read-only access” to two of FSA’s internal systems, FMS and Partner Connect, which both hold information on Title IV loan and grant programs. ED also disclosed that it had since “revoked” that employees’ access to both systems. However, the Department did not indicate why the DOGE employee’s access had been revoked, whether this employee has retained access to any other ED databases, and what actions the Department has done to ensure that sensitive information would not be released or misused. ED refused to answer any of these questions in our February 26, 2025 follow-up letter, citing “ongoing litigation.”
    ED further refused to disclose any information about the scope of DOGE’s access to sensitive student borrower data, including whether or not DOGE was granted access to the National Student Loan Data System or any other database that holds sensitive federal student loan borrower data. ED also did not answer any of our questions about how it intends to safeguard personal student loan borrower data or other financial data, given DOGE’s interventions. The Department refused to provide any identifying information about or an exact number of employees “who have been granted access to Department information technology and data systems,” potentially including student borrower data. And, when pressed about discrepancies in how these employees were reportedly onboarded, ED remained silent. In short, these responses failed to diminish our concerns about borrowers’ privacy and whether the Department may have violated the law or the federal government’s procedures in handling this data.
    Request for a Review by the ED OIG
    Because of the Department’s refusal to provide full and complete information, the full extent of DOGE’s role and influence at ED remains unknown. This lack of clarity is not only frustrating for borrowers but also dangerous for the future of an agency that handles an extensive student loan portfolio and a range of federal aid programs for higher education.
    Additionally, DOGE is now reportedly “leading an effort to link government databases” across federal agencies, consolidating all of Americans’ segregated records in one large “data trove.” This consolidation threatens the privacy of millions of students, educators, and student loan borrowers across the country whose information is on file at ED. Furthermore, this initiative “would break a longstanding covenant between the federal government and the U.S. public rooted in privacy laws — that Americans who share their personal data with official agencies can trust that it will be secured and used only for narrow purposes.”
    Accordingly, we request that you conduct a review as to whether ED adhered to the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, and “all applicable laws and regulations concerning management of borrower data” and institutional data when it allowed DOGE access to its databases. We are concerned that ED undermined its own mission to “protecting student privacy” in its collaboration and arrangements with DOGE. This review would be consistent with your office’s mission to promote “integrity of the Department’s programs and operations” and “identify[] … abuse[] and criminal activity involving Department funds, programs, and operations.”
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
    Sincerely,
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen, Klobuchar and Colleagues in Pressing Administration for Answers on Cancelled Protected Status for Afghans Living in U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 10, 2025
    Decision could endanger thousands of Afghans, including many who supported U.S. efforts during the war in Afghanistan
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04) in leading 96 of their colleagues in pressing for answers from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State around the decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals living in the United States. The lawmakers’ letter, sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, notes the devastating impact of this decision, including on the many Afghans who supported the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan and who face significant danger upon their return.
    “We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions,” the lawmakers wrote.
    They go on to note, “The Secretary of Homeland Security ‘may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.’  This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.”
    “The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls,” they stress.
    The lawmakers close the letter urging the Administration to reverse course and seeking the following information:
    Any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023. 
    Details on how the Administration made the determination that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security” and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are.
    A description the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS.
    Any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan.
    The steps being taken to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan
    Duckworth has been an outspoken leader in calling for the protection of our Afghan allies who’ve aided the United States during the war in Afghanistan. During July of 2021, after learning of and encountering problems with the efficiency of employment verification for applicants in the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, Duckworth wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin asking them to take immediate action to fix the problem. By the fall, DoD responded to Duckworth’s request to confirm they have taken steps to in line with her suggestions to improve the process through Project Rabbit, a program designed to simplify the employment verification process for Afghan employees who have applied for a SIV.
    In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, U.S. Senators Van Hollen (D-MD), Klobuchar (D-MN) and U.S. Representative Ivey (D-MD-04), the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Alsobrooks (D-MD), Baldwin (D-WI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Coons (D-DE), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Fetterman (D-PA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Heinrich (D-NM), Hirono (D-HI), Kaine (D-VA), Kelly (D-AZ), Kim (D-NJ), King (I-ME), Markey (D-MA), Padilla (D-CA), Reed (D-RI), Rosen (D-NV), Sanders (I-VT), Schiff (D-CA), Smith (D-MN), Warner (D-VA), Warnock (D-GA), Welch (D-VT) and Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Ansari (D-AZ-03), Balint (D-VT-At-Large), Bell (D-MO-01), Beyer (D-VA-08), Budzinski (D-IL-13), Carbajal (D-CA-24), Carter (D-LA-07), Casten (D-IL-06), Castro (D-TX-20), Chu (D-CA-28), Clarke (D-NY-09), Cleaver (D-MO-05), Courtney (D-CT-02), Dean (D-PA-04), DeGette (D-CO-01), DelBene (D-WA-01), Elfreth (D-MD-03), Evans (D-PA-03), Fields (D-LA-06), Garcia (D-CA-42), García (D-IL-04), Garcia (D-TX-29), Goldman (D-NY-10), Gomez (D-CA-34), Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Hayes (D-CT-05), Jackson (D-IL-01), Jayapal (D-WA-07), Johnson (D-GA-04), Johnson (D-TX-32), Kaptur (D-OH-09), Keating (D-MA-09, Kelly (D-IL-02), Kennedy (D-NY-26), Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Landsman (D-OH-01), Larson (D-CT-01), Latimer (D-NY-16), Levin (D-CA-49), Lieu (D-CA-36), Lofgren (D-CA-18), Lynch (D-MA-08), McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), McClellan (D-VA-04), McCollum (D-MN-04), McGovern (D-MA-02), Meeks (D-NY-05), Mfume (D-MD-07), Moulton (D-MA-06), Norton (D-DC-At-Large), Olszewski (D-MD-02), Pallone (D-NJ-06), Panetta (D-CA-19), Peters (D-CA-50), Raskin (D-MD-08), Sánchez (D-CA-38), Scanlon (D-PA-05), Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Sherman (D-CA-32), Sorensen (D-IL-17), Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Swalwell (D-CA-14), Titus (D-NV-01), Tlaib (D-MI-12), Tokuda (D-HI-02), Tonko (D-NY-20), Vargas (D-CA-52), Veasey (D-TX-33) and Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12).
    The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below.
    Dear Secretary Noem and Secretary Rubio:
    We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions.
    The Secretary of Homeland Security “may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.” This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS. In September 2023, the U.S. extended and redesignated TPS for Afghanistan. The Administration’s decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan negatively impacts approximately 9,000 Afghan nationals.
    In your announcement, you state that “there are notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.” But you also concede that threats of violence and terrorism, as well as humanitarian concerns, remain. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP. According to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls. Women and girls are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women’s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk.
    We are also deeply concerned about the State Department Human Rights Report finding that widespread arbitrary and unlawful killings against officials associated with the pre-August 2021 government have occurred. Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. military should not be put in harm’s way because they supported the U.S. in its fight against the Taliban. This would be a betrayal of those who bravely served alongside our servicemembers for nearly two decades.
    Afghan civilians still face devastating humanitarian and economic conditions. Over half of the population in Afghanistan needs urgent humanitarian assistance. Human Rights Watch reports that in 2024, 12.4 million people were facing food insecurity and 2.9 million were at emergency levels of hunger. The World Bank also found that in Afghanistan, as of May 2025, “per capita income has stagnated, while poverty and food insecurity remain pressing challenges, exacerbated by high unemployment and restrictions on women’s economic participation.” 
    The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls.
    In August 2021, Americans welcomed Afghan nationals at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia with open arms, and we refuse to turn our backs on them now. We strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan and ask that you respond to the following requests no later than two weeks of receipt of this letter:
    Please provide any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023.
    The TPS termination announcement stated that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.” Please provide additional details on how the Administration made this determination and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are.
    Describe the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS.
    Please provide any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan.
    What steps are you taking to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan?
    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and we hope to receive your responses soon.
    Sincerely,
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Lead Illinois Colleagues in Condemning Trump’s Termination of Digital Equity Program, Blocking Illinoisans’ Access to Reliable Internet

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 09, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 12 of their Illinois delegation members in criticizing the Trump Administration’s cancellation of the Digital Equity Act Competitive Grants Program. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Members urged the Trump Administration to reinstate the program that was terminated last month. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) was in the process of implementing a Digital Equity Capacity Grant under this program, which would have provided more than $23.7 million to Illinois organizations across the state to equip households and residents with the skills, resources and tools needed to use high-speed internet and fully participate in Illinois’s economy.
    “This is not a, ‘woke handout based on race.’ This is help for households with the highest need based on historic and ongoing barriers to getting online, such as living in a rural area,” the Members wrote. “This not only includes racial and ethnic minorities, but also, Veterans, people with disabilities, rural residents and older adults (ages 60 years or older). Nearly 80% of Illinois residents belong to at least one of the categories of individuals the law is designed to assist,”
    “Without these funds, programs that help job seekers create a resume to apply for jobs, help farmers use data to optimize crop and livestock production, help seniors pay their bills online and speak with their healthcare providers and help entrepreneurs to develop a website would be slashed.”
    Along with Duckworth and Durbin, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Representatives Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17).
    The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below.
    Dear Secretary Lutnick,
    We strongly object to May 9, 2025, termination of Digital Equity Act (DEA) funding and request that the U.S. Department of Commerce reinstate this funding immediately.
    Under the Constitution, Congress makes spending decisions.
    Congress recognized that broadband access and digital literacy are increasingly critical for employment, education, healthcare and participation in the broader economy. Accordingly, in a bipartisan manner, Congress provided $2.75 billion for the states to help ensure that all households have the technology, skills and capacity to access and benefit from the digital economy. Illinois has been awarded $23.7 million through the Digital Equity Capacity Grant, and organizations working throughout our State have also been awarded grant funds for multi-state Digital Equity Competitive Grant projects.
    This is not a, “woke handout based on race[.]” This is help for households with the highest need based on historic and ongoing barriers to getting online, such as living in a rural area. This not only includes racial and ethnic minorities, but also, Veterans, people with disabilities, rural residents and older adults (ages 60 years or older). Nearly 80% of Illinois residents belong to at least one of the categories of individuals the law is designed to assist.
    Without these funds, programs that help job seekers create a resume to apply for jobs, help farmers use data to optimize crop and livestock production, help seniors pay their bills online and speak with their healthcare providers and help entrepreneurs to develop a website would be slashed.
    Additionally, investments in digital skill building and device access generates a significant return on investment for Americans and U.S. businesses. According to a report from the National Skills Coalition, people who qualify for jobs that require at least one digital skill earn, on average, 23% more than those working in jobs that require none. This represents an increase of $8,000 per year for an individual worker. The impact on wages is even higher for jobs that require more digital skills. Businesses that can hire job seekers with more skills up front must therefore invest less in upskilling them.
    We urge you to reverse course and reinstate this critical funding.
    Sincerely,
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –