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Category: US Senate

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth at Unite for Veterans Rally: “Veterans Keep This Nation Strong, and We Deserve Better than Trump”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    June 10, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – At today’s “Unite for Veterans” rally on the National Mall, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered impassioned remarks slamming Donald Trump for using our nation’s heroes as political pawns, firing them by the thousands and making it harder for them to access the quality care and benefits they’ve earned. In her speech, the Senator drew from her personal experience serving in the military to call on her fellow Veterans to continue their lifelong mission of keeping this nation strong by pushing back against Trump’s cruel, anti-Veteran agenda. Photos of the event can be found on Duckworth’s website, and video of Duckworth’s remarks can be found in the rally’s livestream.
    Key Quotes:
    “America is what it is today because of the blood our brothers and sisters shed in combat zones. Our children grow up with the rights they deserve because of the sweat that’s poured down our faces, everywhere from the dust of Fallujah to the jungles of Vietnam. Our sacrifices were the currency we paid to defend America’s freedoms. And even as I stand here on titanium legs, with my wheelchair by my side, I wouldn’t take back those sacrifices for a second. Because America is worth it. As flawed as she may be, she is worth it.”
    “We’re here because we refuse to see the democracy that we fought so hard for get dismantled. Because we refuse to let the health care that our buddies earned be gutted. And because we refuse to let thousands of Veterans who chose to continue serving this nation as federal workers be fired for no apparent reason…It’s a middle finger to our heroes. It’s a slap in the face to the sacrifices they’ve made. It’s bullshit, frankly…We’ve come together this afternoon because even if we’re no longer wearing the uniform, we are always wearing the flag on our shoulder, facing forward. We’re here because we’re not afraid to call out wrongs that need to be righted—or to call out wannabe kings that need a history lesson.”
    “Personally, I’m tired of a guy who was never brave enough to serve claiming that the America that some of our buddies died for isn’t already great. And it pisses me off that a man who cried “bone spurs” when his nation need him the most—a five-time-draft-dodging coward who calls fallen servicemembers “suckers and losers”—it pisses me off that that guy would use our heroes as political pawns to get elected, then screw them over so badly once he took office. If you’re pissed off too…if you think Veterans deserve better than to be fired by the thousand…if you think our buddies deserve more than to have their health care ripped away because Trump wants to put another dollar in a rich guy’s pocket…Well then I need you by my side.”
    Senator Duckworth’s remarks as prepared can be found below:
    Hello everyone!
    First off, let me say a huge thank you to everyone who made this afternoon possible.
    I’m honored to get the chance not only to speak today in my capacity as a Senator, but also to listen, as one of you, as a Veteran.
    Because I may currently be a Member of Congress, but in my heart, first and foremost, I will always be an Army grunt. And I’m damn proud of that.
    I’m here today because I love this nation. I know the same is true for all of you.
    But I’m also here because I’m sick of politicians promising to look out for Veterans when they’re on the campaign trail, then abandoning them when they take office. I’m sick of military families being treated like props.
    And I’m sick of people in power wrapping themselves in the flag with their left hand, then with the other, signing off on orders that sell out our heroes to line their own pockets. You deserve better. You’ve earned better.
    After all, since the first shots rang out at Lexington and Concord…Since the Tuskegee Airmen took to the skies to defend a nation that still wouldn’t let them sit at the same lunch counter as their white peers…Since our warriors landed on the beaches of Normandy, on this very day, 81 years ago…Those who’ve worn the uniform have defied the odds to define America at its best.
    America is what it is today because of the blood our brothers and sisters shed in combat zones.
    Our children grow up with the rights they deserve because of the sweat that’s poured down our faces, everywhere from the dust of Fallujah to the jungles of Vietnam. Our sacrifices were the currency we paid to defend America’s freedoms.
    And even as I stand here on titanium legs, with my wheelchair by my side, I wouldn’t take back those sacrifices for a second.
    Because America is worth it. As flawed as she may be, she is worth it.
    I know some of us here hung up our uniforms long ago. But looking out at you all, I see a group who recognizes that in this perilous moment for our country, our mission today is not too different than what it was when we served: To protect our democracy. To defend our freedoms. To keep our nation as strong as she should be.
    That is why each of you took off work… travelled from every pocket of this country… and showed up in this heat today. Not because it was easy—it’s never easy. But because we love this country enough to try to shape it for the better, even when the road ahead is hazy. Even when the task ahead is daunting.
    We’ve come together this afternoon because even if we’re no longer wearing the uniform, we are always wearing the flag on our shoulder, facing forward. We’re here because we’re not afraid to call out wrongs that need to be righted—or to call out wannabe kings that need a history lesson.
    We’re here because we refuse to see the democracy that we fought so hard for get dismantled. Because we refuse to let the health care that our buddies earned be gutted. And because we refuse to let thousands of Veterans who chose to continue serving this nation as federal workers be fired for no apparent reason.
    Employees who include folks working at the Veterans Crisis Line, for God’s sake…The Veterans working there are doing some of the toughest work imaginable to support our heroes in their absolute darkest hour.
    These are the people this Administration has kicked to the curb over the past few months. That should tell you everything you need to know about how the guys in power actually feel about our Vets.
    Let’s be clear: The only reason they’re doing all this is to try to find enough loose change behind the couch cushions so that they can give even bigger tax breaks to the rich guys they pal around with on the golf course.
    Let me say that another way: They care more about making sure billionaires can buy yet another private jet than ensuring our Veterans have access to the benefits and care they’ve earned. They care more about stroking Donald Trump’s ego to the tune of a 30-million-dollar birthday parade than spending that money to provide child care for military families. Or to save Veterans’ jobs. Or to better their health care.
    So let’s call this what it is: It’s a middle finger to our heroes. It’s a slap in the face to the sacrifices they’ve made. It’s bullshit, frankly. And every one of us who has served should feel insulted. I certainly do. I’d bet some of you do, too.
    But the important thing now is to channel our outrage into action.
    A couple months after my Black Hawk was shot down in Iraq, a U.S. Senator named Dick Durbin walked into my Walter Reed hospital room and gave me his phone number, saying to call him any time if I or any of the other patients around me needed some help.
    He…well, I’m not sure he thought I would take his words quite so literally. I called him…a lot. I called him way, way too much. I was the highest-ranked amputee on the ward at the time, so I felt responsible for the men and women around me.
    So I kept on ringing up a United States Senator to help me help these folks get their pay… get their benefits… even to help get that one elevator in the hospital working better. At that point, I was so early in my recovery that I could barely sit up for 15 minutes at a time. But when Dick looked at me, he saw past the wounds…saw past the wheelchair.
    He saw a Soldier in search of her next mission. Recognizing long before I did that just because I could no longer fly Black Hawks for the Army didn’t mean that I couldn’t find a new way to serve my nation.
    And he said the words that changed my life. He told me that I could best help the Veterans around me by running for Congress myself.
    I thought he was nuts. But it turns out, he was right. So all these years later, I’m asking each of you to take on a new mission, too.
    Because personally, I’m tired of a guy who was never brave enough to serve claiming that the America that some of our buddies died for isn’t already great.
    And it pisses me off that a man who cried “bone spurs” when his nation need him the most—a five-time-draft-dodging coward who calls fallen servicemembers “suckers and losers”—it pisses me off that that guy would use our heroes as political pawns to get elected, then screw them over so badly once he took office.
    If you’re pissed off too…if you think Veterans deserve better than to be fired by the thousand…if you think our buddies deserve more than to have their health care ripped away because Trump wants to put another dollar in a rich guy’s pocket…Well then I need you by my side.
    I need you to think of today not just as a singular moment, but as the start of our new collective mission: A mission to stand up for the buddies we served with. To do right by the warriors who came before us.
    And to look out for all those men and women still serving.
    Those young Soldiers and Sailors, those Marines and Airmen and Coasties, who are ready to sacrifice everything at the drop of a hat if the drums of war start beating again like they did for many of us when we were still in uniform.
    Look, I get how in this moment, it’d be easy to feel defeated…to want to tune out rather than turn on the news. But now more than ever, we can’t let ourselves become disengaged. Because there’s too much at stake to get discouraged. The reality is, there will always be people in big fancy buildings who try to use their power to only look out for themselves.
    But there are three things I know: First, the power of the people is always greater than the people in power. Second, those of us here today have never been too scared to take on a tough mission, especially when it means protecting the democracy we’ve fought so long to defend. And third, we Veterans sure as hell would never leave a comrade behind—whether that was one of our buddies on the battlefield or, now, one of the folks getting fired or left without care from the VA.
    So if we want tomorrow to be better than yesterday, we have to come together. We have to recognize that our voices do still matter. Then we’ve got to use those voices to speak out. Even if—especially when—anyone tries to silence us.
    Because we Veterans have always been the ones helping keep this nation as strong as she should be. This moment is no exception.
    And along the way, you have my word that I’ll be right there with you. That I am one of you. And that I will always live by the Soldier’s Creed: never, ever leaving you behind.
    It’s an honor to call myself part of this team—and to have you as my partners on the front lines.
    Thank you.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Cassidy Call for End to Biden-Era FEMA Policy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in sending a letter to David Richardson, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), calling for an end of the Biden-era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, which caused flood insurance premiums to skyrocket.
    “Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system,” said the Senators.
    “The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike,” continued the Senators.
    Sens. Tuberville and Cassidy were joined by Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in sending the letter. 
    Read full text of the letter below or here. 
    “Dear Acting Administrator Richardson,
    We write to draw your urgent attention to the increasingly untenable flood insurance premiums paid by American homeowners as a result of the Biden era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We respectfully ask for your leadership to halt further premium increases under Risk Rating 2.0 and implement much needed transparency from FEMA.
    On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 13990, directing every federal agency to target and modify Trump era regulations under the auspice of combating climate change. A few months later, Biden signed EO 14030, requiring agencies to integrate up-to-date flood risk considerations into federal actions. Collectively, both of these EOs laid the groundwork for FEMA’s implementation of a new rating system known as Risk Rating 2.0, which was enacted on October 1, 2021.  
    Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system. According to a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, premiums on primary residences under Risk Rating 2.0 are subject to a maximum 18 percent increase each year until such premiums reflect “the full risk loss of the insured property,” as determined by FEMA.
    Families in the following Republican states are especially hard-hit.
    Louisiana:
    It is estimated that 80 percent of Louisiana NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    In 2023 alone, the average flood insurance premium in our state jumped by 234 percent, forcing more than 52,000 Louisianans—many of them seniors on fixed incomes—out of the program.
    Coastal parishes, which depend on flood insurance to secure mortgages and rebuild after storms, are now facing premiums that exceed 2 percent of median household income—a threshold that federal guidance deems “cost prohibitive.”
    West Virginia:
    It is estimated that 83% of West Virginia NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in West Virginia by ~176%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~600 West Virginians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Texas:
    It is estimated that 86% of Texas NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Texas by ~53%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~26,300 Texans have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Alabama:
    It is estimated that 79% of Alabama NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Alabama by ~106%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~1,200 Alabamians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Mississippi:
    It is estimated that 84% of Mississippi NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Mississippi by ~103%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~2,200 Mississippians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Rural and low-income homeowners, along with high-risk coastal areas, are being priced out at far higher rates than urban or wealthier communities. In ten states, full risk NFIP premiums today exceed 2 percent of median household income.  This undermines home values, depresses property tax revenues, and ultimately inflates federal disaster assistance costs when uninsured homeowners cannot rebuild.
    The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike.
    The President has long championed policies that reduce federal overreach and protect everyday Americans from burdensome costs. To limit the damage caused by this harmful Biden era policy, we urge you to:
    Direct FEMA to terminate the Risk Rating 2.0 pricing methodology. 
    Require FEMA to publish all actuarial inputs and outputs of future flood insurance premium increases exceeding the 5% statutory minimum so stakeholders can verify fairness and accuracy.
    Restore targeted affordability measures for coastal, low income, and historically underinsured communities—ensuring NFIP remains accessible to those who need it most.
    Time is of the essence. Each month that Risk Rating 2.0 continues unchecked, more families are forced to abandon their insurance coverage, neighborhoods face economic strain, and entire communities risk collapse after the next disaster. We respectfully urge you to act now—before further harm is done—to protect vulnerable Americans, preserve homeownership, and ensure the NFIP fulfills its mission as Congress intended.
    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
    Sincerely,”
    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: Tuberville Speaks with U.S. Navy Secretary and U.S. Marine Corps Commandant

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to receive an update on U.S. Naval operations. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville spoke with Secretary of the Navy John Phelan about the implementation of AI in shipbuilding. Additionally, he spoke with General Eric Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps, about the mistreatment of an Alabama constituent.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.
    ON IMPLEMENTING AI IN SHIPBUILDING
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a quick statement, Secretary Phelan. Everything we read obviously is China’s using AI on almost everything that they do. They can build a bridge in three months that takes us three years. I’m sure ship building is part of that. And your travels, hopefully, we’re getting into that. I don’t know how far and how impressed you have been with that. Any thoughts?”
    PHELAN: “So, Senator, thanks for that. We’re slowly adapting and getting there. I think that there is more that we need to do, and we’re focused in the public shipyards trying to get that done. You know, I saw at Fincantieri (Marine Group), actually, they have these 3D goggles where you can actually look at where they’re welding and how it matches up, versus the blueprint to make sure that they’re not off because the precision of this manufacturing is incredibly intense. I mean, these are very complicated things. So, we’re getting there, and I think implementing AI even just basically digital twinning of projects there are a number of things we have to do to get in and done that I think will speed up construction, make design faster. We spend way too much time in requirements and design. This needs to move much, much quicker. So, streamlining that, I think, will be helpful as well.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Just what I read, it looks like we’re just falling farther and farther behind, you know, the Chinese, and we can’t deal with that too much.”
    ON MISHANDLING INVESTIGATION OF ALABAMA MARINE
    TUBERVILLE: “General Smith, I’d like just to make a statement here and discuss [with] you about a constituent matter. Normally, this would be handled in the emails and conversations between our staffs. And after more than seven months of headquarters of the Marine Corps being evasive and unresponsive to my questions, here we are. A little over two years ago, we had an F-35 crash in Charleston, South Carolina. The pilot, an Alabama constituent who entered service from my state, had been selected for a very important command and was in the process of converting from another aircraft and staying current for his new job.”
    “This mishap got a lot of attention because the pilot ejected, the aircraft continuing to fly for an extended period of time before it eventually hit the ground. Of course, there was no way for the pilot to know that this would happen. If he had, he would have remained in the aircraft. What the pilot knew at the time was that the weather was bad. He had no visual reference with the ground and his primary and secondary instruments had completely failed. Disoriented by the cascading failures and [being] low to the ground he ejected.”
    […]
    “It is important to emphasize that all information on this mishap and the investigation had been available to headquarters of the Marine Corps for more than eight months by this point, and it was also available when this family was moved across the country. During the video call relieving him, this marine was told by the deputy commandant for aviation that ‘you’ve done nothing wrong, you’re doing a great job.’ But the commandant had decided ‘you could not stay in command.’ I wonder what the reasons were for this erratic and hasty decision. The officer who conducted the command investigation inappropriately offered his opinion.”
    […]
    “General Smith, I’d like you to get answers to these questions I’ve been asking since October. I’d prefer it to happen through normal means instead of a hearing. But I am chairman of the subcommittee on personnel, and we can arrange that. But to Tre and Jess Del Pizzo and their family, thank you for your many years of service and sacrifice to this great nation. I think you deserve much better here. There is no excuse to treat a Marine and his family this way. So, I look forward to hearing from you, General Smith. 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 Marshall Applauds FBI for Stopping Potential Billion-Dollar “Agroterrorism” Event Against Kansas’ Wheat Crops

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington –U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today issued a statement applauding the FBI’s recent arrest of two Chinese nationals, with alleged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ties, who were caught smuggling the fungus Fusarium Graminearum into the United States. This fungus can cause ‘head blight’, which devastates wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops, and has caused billions of dollars in economic losses globally. When ingested, the toxins can cause liver damage, vomiting, and reproductive defects in both humans and livestock.
    “I want to thank FBI Director Kash Patel for saving Kansas’ economy and America’s food supply from potential ruin. Kansas, the largest wheat producer in America, faces the constant threat of wheat scab, a devastating disease that could wipe out a major portion of both Kansas’ and the United States’ economy,” said Senator Marshall. “I have long maintained that food security is national security, and the FBI’s arrest of two individuals with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party only reinforces the critical need to protect American agriculture from foreign influence, interference, and ownership.”
    Background:
    Senator Marshall previously introduced the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act, which would help prevent improper foreign interference and disruption to the U.S. agriculture industry.
    Senator Marshall has also continuously spoken out against the lies around COVID-19, both from China and the Biden-Harris Administration.  
    In 2024, Senator Marshall joined fellow Kansas U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (R-Kansas-01) in demanding that he stand up against a proposal before the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Council that would alter governance and leadership arrangements at the FAO, strengthen China’s position in the organization, and weaken American agricultural leadership on the world stage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FOLLOWING HIS PUSH, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES EPA RELEASES $1.75 MILLION IN FED FUNDING TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER FOR 40,000 IN ONTARIO & WAYNE COUNTIES

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Earlier This Spring, Schumer Called On EPA To Release $1.75M In Fed Funding He Secured For Canandaigua To Upgrade Drinking Water System To Remove Toxic Chemicals Linked To Liver And Kidney Damage And Cancer

    Canandaigua Had All Its Paperwork In Order For Months But Red Tape At The EPA Had Been Holding Up Progress, But Now Thanks To Schumer’s Push, Construction Can Begin As Planned

    Schumer: Fed $$ On The Way For Clean Water Across Ontario & Wayne Counties

    After calling on the EPA to cut through the red tape for the City of Canandaigua to install crucial equipment to remove disinfection by-product (DBP) chemicals from drinking water, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced the EPA has heeded his calls and released federal funding for the city to begin construction. Schumer explained the City of Canandaigua will remove disinfection by-product (DBP) chemicals – which have been linked to health issues including liver and kidney damage and cancer – from the water supply that over 40,000 New Yorkers across Ontario and Wayne Counties rely on.

    “Access to clean water and modern water-sewer systems are fundamental, and soon thousands more families from Canandaigua to Walworth will have access to cleaner drinking water. I was proud to secure $1.75 million in federal funding so Canandaigua can upgrade its drinking water system and eliminate harmful chemicals that have been linked to liver and kidney damage and cancer. When I heard the final agreement still hadn’t been signed, I pushed the EPA to release these funds ASAP so construction can start soon,” said Senator Schumer. “Now, this federal funding can start flowing to boost public health for over 40,000 New Yorkers across Ontario and Wayne Counties while creating good-paying jobs. I will always fight to keep New York’s drinking water clean and our communities safe and healthy.”

    Now that the EPA has signed off on the final agreement and released this federal funding, the City of Canandaigua can begin construction as planned. The city needed the EPA to sign off on the final agreement for construction to move forward, but had previously faced weeks of delays.

    Disinfection by-products (DBP) have recently been found in excess of the maximum contaminant level established by the EPA in the water of systems that have purchased the city’s water. Schumer secured $1.75 million in federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act to enable the City of Canandaigua to install a new aeration system into its three water storage tanks that will eliminate the DPA chemicals. This system will specifically integrate aerators and mixers into the city’s water storage tanks to eliminate the harmful DBPs from the drinking water supply. These DBPs are formed when disinfectants, like chlorine, react with naturally occurring substances in the water which have known toxicity and carcinogenic impacts that have been linked to liver and kidney damage and cancer.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: America’s Job Creators Back the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    Small business owners say taxes are their biggest worry right now — but help is on the way.
    In fact, small business owners overwhelmingly back the historic tax relief in President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, according to new polling:
    By a four-to-one margin, small business owners support extending the Trump Tax Cuts by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill.
    71% of small businesses support maintaining and expanding the small business tax deduction (which the One Big Beautiful Bill does).
    70% of small businesses say they’re likely to expand or reinvest in their business, boost worker wages or benefits, hire more employees, or increase charitable giving if the Trump Tax Cuts are extended.
    64% of small businesses say they’re likely to delay expansion, get a loan, reduce inventory, reduce employees, or reduce hours or wages if the Trump Tax Cuts expire.
    63% of small businesses say No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime will make it easier to hire workers.
    Las Vegas Review-Journal: The big beautiful tax bill will bolster small business
    “While there are numerous provisions in this bill that would support America’s small businesses, the update to Section 199A, the qualified business income deduction, would allow small businesses to thrive. This deduction is crucial for small businesses, allowing owners to deduct qualified business income. For many small businesses, this deduction has enabled them to remain afloat despite challenging market conditions.”
    Inc.: Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Offers a Big Tax Win for Small Businesses
    “Among its many provisions are an increased tax deduction for qualified business income at pass-through companies; a higher deduction for state and local taxes; and the extension of various other corporate and individual tax cuts that President Trump passed during his first term, which are otherwise set to expire at the end of this year. The total tax cut included in the bill is estimated to be around $4 trillion.”
    National Federation of Independent Business: One Big Beautiful Bill Act is one of the most pro-small business pieces of legislation in recent history
    “The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) supports the One Big Beautiful Bill Act because it is one of the most pro-small business pieces of legislation in recent history. The bill prevents a massive tax hike on over 33 million small business owners, while also providing a tax cut for most small business owners.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Durbin Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Runaway and Homeless Youth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Dick Durbin (D-IL), introduced the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025.  This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide community-based programs with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-3).

    “Having a caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, and study is crucial for any young person’s development,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan legislation would support young people who run away, are forced out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families, by extending basic social services to these most vulnerable youth in our communities.”

    “Every child deserves a safe home, but far too many children are experiencing homelessness, are being forced out of their homes, or are escaping a dangerous environment,” said Senator Durbin. “The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, which funds key federal programs that address housing insecurity, will help children find a safe, comfortable home when they need it most.”

    “As the number of homeless and runaway youth increases, we must increase our federal efforts to assist and protect these youth who are particularly susceptible to trafficking,” said Representative Bacon. “This bill provides agencies with the means to support youth who are in vulnerable positions and gives them the resources to address these problems.”

    “As policymakers, we can expand opportunities for youth who don’t have a safe place to call home and put them on the path to stability,” said Representative Bonamici. “The bipartisan update to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act strengthens services and programs for youth experiencing homelessness and victims of trafficking. I thank my cosponsors and hope we can pass this bill soon and create a better future for these youth.”

    “No kid should ever be homeless in America, yet over 2 million kids experience homelessness each year. It’s a national disgrace,” said Representative McGarvey. “I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to provide the resources young people need to find stable housing, get back on their feet, and build a prosperous future.”

    Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Peter Welch (D-VT) also joined as original cosponsors of the legislation.

    The landmark Runaway and Homeless Youth Act was first passed by Congress in 1974, providing nationwide support to address youth and young adult homelessness. This reauthorization would expand protections to youths who are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and would authorize funding for local programs to help provide transitional housing, street outreach, and crisis intervention programs to address the needs of homeless and runaway youth.

    Specifically, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025 would:

    • Reauthorize, modernize, and increase authorization levels for programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act;
    • Create a new Prevention Services Program that would make additional resources available to organizations providing counseling, mediation, and other services aimed at preventing youth from running away or becoming homeless;
    • Increase annual competitive grants for rural youth demographics from $100,000 to $200,000;
    • Require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a national estimate of the prevalence of homeless youth every three years; and
    • Increase the allowable length of stay in the Basic Center Program from 21 days to 30 days.

    “Preble Street has been serving more youth experiencing homelessness than ever. These young people have been through traumatic events and are the victims of a wide variety circumstances outside of their control.  To break the devastating cycle of youth homelessness, our responsibility – as an agency, as a state, and as a nation – is to ensure that there is an integrated system of care and safety for these young people. The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025 provides critical support for the services and resources that will help us to end youth homelessness. As a strong advocate for Maine’s vulnerable youth, Senator Collins’ understands that by investing in solutions, we can ensure a safe, stable, and independent future for all of our young people,” said Mark R. Swann, Executive Director, Preble Street in Portland, Maine.

    “RHYA programs prevent trafficking, identify survivors, and provide services to runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth. Through the excellent work of local street outreach, shelter, transitional living programs, and maternity group homes, these vital programs help homeless youth and parents access housing, education, employment, personal savings, and family reconnection services. The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act provides critical infrastructure for our nation’s most vulnerable children and youth who struggle to survive from day to day avoiding the predation of human traffickers, and criminal gangs. Reauthorization of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Trafficking Prevention Act will ensure that a bulwark continues to stand between these children and the cold hard realities of the streets,” said Chris Bicknell, Executive Director, New Beginnings in Lewiston, Maine.

    “We applaud our congressional champions for reintroducing the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. Young people across the country continue to face limited access to safe housing, education, and living-wage employment. This critical legislation strengthens and expands the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program to meet the urgent needs of today’s youth, while continuing its powerful legacy. It also reflects what we know to be true: ending youth homelessness is a key strategy to preventing human trafficking. Every young person deserves safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive—and this bill brings us one step closer to that vision,” said Darla Bardine, Executive Director, National Network for Youth.

    “Senator Susan Collins has long been a champion for young people experiencing homelessness. We applaud her leadership in introducing the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act and in establishing the HUD Homeless Youth Demonstration Projects, two critical efforts that strengthen the systems meant to protect and uplift opportunity youth. For five decades, Sasha Bruce Youthwork has been on the front lines serving young people and families in crisis, and we are proud to honor Senator Collins at our Colors of Resilience celebration for her unwavering dedication to this work,” said Deborah Shore, Founder & Executive Director, Sasha Bruce Youthwork.

    A complete list of organizations endorsing the bill can be read here.

    The complete text of the bill can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 10th, 2025 Heinrich, Wicker, Stansbury, Ciscomani Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Combat the Syphilis Epidemic, Protect Mothers and Infants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Roger Wicker (R- Miss.), and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) introduced the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act, legislation to protect pregnant mothers and infants by requiring the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary to issue guidance to states on best practices for screening and treatment of congenital syphilis under Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Indian Health Service (IHS).
    In 2023, the New Mexico Department of Health reported a 20 percent increase in cases of congenital syphilis in New Mexico (91 cases). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks New Mexico as the state with the highest rate of congenital syphilis and the second highest rate of primary or secondary syphilis. On October 17, 2024, New Mexico Department of Health issued a renewed Public Health Order to increase awareness of syphilis and increase screening of both adults ages 18-50 and pregnant women to decrease rates of syphilis in all regions of New Mexico.
    Nearly eradicated in the U.S. during the 1990s, syphilis is treatable as it continues to be highly sensitive to penicillin. However, rates of infection are on the rise over recent years as the CDC reports infections are at their highest levels since the 1950s. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium that produces sores on the infected person. When left untreated, the infection can invade multiple systems in the body and cause life-threatening damage to organs. For pregnant women, congenital syphilis occurs when a mother passes the infection to her fetus.
    “We must do more to help stop the increase of babies born in New Mexico with congenital syphilis. My Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act will help us improve screening and treatment to protect pregnant mothers and babies in New Mexico from this fully treatable condition,” said Heinrich.
    “The syphilis epidemic has impacted many Mississippians, and I am working to protect mothers and children from this disease. The Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act will expand access to life-saving screening and treatment for congenital syphilis,” said Wicker.
    “We must do everything we can to protect mothers and their infants,” said Stansbury. “Congenital Syphilis is treatable, and it is critical HHS provides treatment, support, and education. I am proud to sign on to the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act so women and babies in New Mexico get the care and treatment they deserve.” 
    “As rates of congenital syphilis continue to rise in Arizona’s newborns, we must ensure that our mothers, families, and healthcare professionals have access to information, treatment, and solutions they need to address this highly preventable disease,” said Ciscomani. “Information saves lives and I am proud to co-lead the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act to promote and expand access to screenings and treatment for syphilis to ensure that mothers, pregnant women, and babies are as healthy as possible.”
    Specifically, the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act requires the HHS to issue guidance to state Medicaid agencies, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Indian Health Service (IHS) on actions states may take to improve access to syphilis screening for pregnant mothers and infants, best practices for physicians treating cases of congenital syphilis, strategies for increasing access to telehealth services, and increasing access to treatment in the third trimester and at delivery.
    The legislation is endorsed by the Navajo Birthworker Collective, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), March of Dimes, the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
    “The Navajo Birthworker Collective supports the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act because our communities deserve access to timely screening and treatment to protect the lives and health of our mothers and babies,” said Amanda Singer, Doula, CLC, Executive Director of the Navajo Birthworker Collective.
    “Congenital syphilis is a national public health crisis—and it’s a crisis we can prevent. This bill ensures that every state has the tools and guidance needed to detect and treat syphilis in pregnancy. No woman or baby should suffer or die from a disease we have the power to stop,” said the National Coalition of STD Directors.
    The text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Banks Introduce Legislation to Address Excessive Executive Pay Within Federal Home Loan Banks System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the Curbing Unreasonable Remuneration at Banks (CURB) Act. This bipartisan legislation grants the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency the authority to set reasonable compensation levels for senior executives. 
    “While the Federal Home Loan Bank system has continued to fail to meaningfully invest in affordable housing and community development, it pays its executives millions each year,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan legislation gives the Federal Housing Finance Agency more oversight over FHLBanks executives’ compensation to help make sure the system delivers for working families.”
    “Federal Home Loan Banks exist to help Americans buy homes, not to pad the pockets of executives,” said Senator Banks.“This bill keeps FHLBs on mission and empowers President Trump and FHFA Director Pulte to eliminate excessive pay and waste of government resources.”
    Over the years, the Federal Home Loan Banks’ mission of supporting affordable housing and community lending has taken a back seat to incentivizing profit-driven behavior. As government-sponsored enterprises, FHLBs operate with public backing, including access to low-cost borrowing through government-implied guarantees and exemption from income tax, which gives them a unique responsibility to prioritize their mission and the public interest. However, a 2023 report from the FHFA indicated that executives earned bonuses tied to financial performance metrics that did not advance affordable housing goals. The CURB Act direct the Federal Housing Finance Agency to oversee and establish more reasonable salaries and bonuses.
    Full bill text can be found here.
    Throughout her time representing Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has made reforming the Federal Home Loan Banks a cornerstone of her work. In April, Cortez Masto introduced the Federal Home Loan Banks’ Mission Implementation Act, which would ensure the FHLBanks are re-focused on their mission to support housing finance and community development. In Congress, Senator Cortez Masto has also highlighted the fact that Nevada has been treated unfairly by the system, and she has sought additional investment in Nevada by the FHLBank of San Francisco resulting in the first-in-the nation targeted Affordable Housing Program for the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Celebrates the Anniversary of DACA and Vows to Protect Dreamers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    FTP for TV stations of her remarks is available here.
    Cortez Masto shared the stories of two Dreamers who wrote her letters about their love for this country and their concern about their uncertain futures.
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) took to the Senate floor today to mark 13 years since the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She promised to continue working to protect immigrants who were brought to this country as children and who have only ever called the United States home.
    Below are her remarks as delivered:
    Mr. President, in five days we will celebrate 13 years since President Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. DACA has proven to be an overwhelming success, allowing Dreamers who have only ever known the United States as their home to continue contributing to our economy and our communities.
    DACA protects immigrants who came to the United States as children from deportation, and it authorizes them to legally work. Nevada and every state in the country has benefitted from DACA. We’re a better, stronger country because of this program.
    In my home state, nearly 136,000 U.S. citizens live with at least one family member who is undocumented. And 10,730 people in Nevada are DACA recipients. And we know – no matter what President Trump and others say – that our immigrant communities are a critical part of what makes our country great.
    I know that. My grandfather was from Chihuahua. Crossed the border, served in our military, and became a United States citizen.
    The Dreamers I know in my community have gone to college, they’ve become part of our workforce, they pay billions of dollars in taxes, and they are woven into the fabric of every community in Nevada and across this country. Dreamers contribute $810 million each year to our economy in Nevada alone!
    They love this country, and it is their home.
    As we celebrate the 13th anniversary of DACA, we must remember that the young people who became the first DACA recipients are now in their 30’s and 40’s. They have the responsibilities that all American adults have: maintaining their careers, caring for elderly relatives, paying bills and mortgages, and yes, putting food on the table for their families.
    But their ability to remain in the only home they’ve ever known is in jeopardy thanks to this administration’s threats to end DACA.
    President Trump tried to terminate DACA entirely in his first term, but he was stopped by the courts.
    Now, immigrant families across the country are once again bracing for their lives to be turned upside down on any given day because of threats of mass deportations and further attacks on the program.
    I can’t even imagine how exhausting it must be to spend so many years in fear and limbo, especially for Dreamers who have done everything right, who know this country as their only home, who want to be the future leaders, who want to be part of our communities, who want to be our doctors and our teachers – to know that they’re always concerned about that opportunity for their future. And they have, for the last 13 years, been met with endless delays and politics and people playing with their lives for some sort of political game.
    Not only that, but immigrant communities are being demonized and they’re facing threats because of politicians stoking hate and division in our communities. People who have lived here their whole lives and contribute to our country are now being told by those politicians they don’t belong.
    Here’s the other thing: I know in my state, they’re being demonized and called out by these politicians as criminals and drug traffickers and rapists. Well, I invite any of those politicians to come into my state and meet with my Dreamers. And I challenge anyone in this country who knows these families and who knows these Dreamers to stand by them. Because right now, they are under attack.
    This isn’t something that’s happening out of sight or behind closed doors – it’s happening in our neighborhoods every single day. These Dreamers have families who are a crucial part of our communities. You know them. We know them. We have families, many of them have spouses and children who are U.S. citizens, and they just want to be able to live normal lives and contribute and continue to pay taxes and be part of our jobs and economy and expanding this economy and this country.
    I will tell you, over the years, my office has received stacks of letters from Nevadans who have been impacted by DACA about the importance of the program for them and their families. I want to share just a couple of those stories and those letters with you.
    I received a letter from a 10-year-old girl who was born in North Las Vegas. Her father is a Dreamer who has lived in the United States since he was 7 years old. Her father always dreamed of becoming a doctor, but for much of his career, he was denied opportunity after opportunity.
    That changed when he became a recipient of DACA and was able to get a good job, buy a home for his family, and give his kids a better life. But every day, his daughter lives in fear that her father, who has worked hard in America all his life, could get deported back to Mexico – and that she and her siblings would have to live in a country whose language they don’t even speak.
    She said, “I would love for the government to see that my daddy and all Dreamers like him only want to be good citizens and have a better future.” She hopes to be a pediatrician one day and serve her community just like her dad always dreamed.
    The second letter I want to share with you I received from a young woman whose parents brought her to Nevada when she was just two years old. When she turned 18, she was excited to start working so she could earn a living for herself. But as an undocumented Dreamer without a Social Security number, she couldn’t apply for the jobs her peers were getting.
    She writes, “I am as much a citizen as them. I can do all that they are able to do. I have witnessed several individuals around my age waste their potential. They have everything they could possibly receive and choose not to take advantage.”
    I will tell you, Dreamers jump at every opportunity to create a better life for themselves than their parents had. I will tell you, these Dreamers do not run afoul of the law. I will tell you, these Dreamers do everything they possibly can to prove why they want to live here and be a crucial part of our communities. But all the while, they live in fear that their family could be torn apart by our broken immigration system that we have an obligation to fix.
    DACA has been an essential way to provide stability for Dreamers and their families.
    But in my state and across this country, Dreamers haven’t been able to apply for new DACA protections.
    Nearly half of Nevada’s Dreamers are eligible for DACA. But unfortunately, thousands of Dreamers in my state are currently vulnerable because this administration is refusing to accept their DACA applications.
    And now, it’s in direct defiance of a court order. In March of this year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump administration must start accepting new DACA applications. Because that is the law. But months have gone by, and we haven’t seen any progress.
    Yesterday, my staff learned for the first time that one single new application that had been processed and accepted. Just one. Well, while one is better than zero, I will say this administration has a lot of work to do to follow the law and accept more applicants into the DACA program.
    I am so pleased that my colleagues and I are here today to keep the pressure on, to make sure this administration follows the law – but also to appeal to our Republican colleagues. It is time we come together and work together to put Dreamers and their families on a pathway to citizenship.
    These Dreamers are as American in their hearts as you and I. Our country is better with them in it. And as we celebrate the 13th anniversary of DACA, I remain committed to working with anyone who is willing to protect them and do the same.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH Director Commits to Providing Detailed List of Total Staff Reductions at NIH By End of Day; Senator Murray Grills Director on Cuts to Clinical Trials, Grant Terminations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Blast Director Bhattacharya for Terminating Thousands of Active NIH Grants, Upending Research, Threatening Patient Treatment
    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s exchange with Bhattacharya***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya at a Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for NIH. Senator Murray secured a commitment from Dr. Bhattacharya to provide a detailed list of total staff reductions across NIH—by Institute, Center, and Job Function—under the Trump administration by the end of the day. Senator Murray also grilled Dr. Bhattacharya on the abrupt termination of at least 160 clinical trials and the delay and freezing of grant funding, which is disrupting lifesaving research across the country.
    In her opening comments, Vice Chair Murray said:
    “I am extremely proud of the work that I’ve done on a bipartisan basis to strengthen our investments in NIH, to support lifesaving research, and to really maintain American leadership in biomedical innovation. I’m not going to mince words today about how that progress is now being unraveled.
    “What the Trump administration is doing to NIH right now is, frankly, catastrophic. Over the past few months, this administration has fired and pushed out nearly 5,000 critical employees across NIH, prevented nearly $3 billion dollars in grant funding from being awarded, and terminated nearly 2,500 grants—totaling almost $5 billion dollars for lifesaving research that is ongoing—that includes clinical trials for HIV and Alzheimer’s disease.
    “Across the country, including in my home state of Washington, research institutions have been waiting for months to receive funding for grants they’ve already been awarded. Meanwhile, NIH is cutting down on grant awards—with thousands of fewer research grants this year, and almost 15,000 fewer next year if the administration has its way.
    “Because, to pile on to this destruction, you and the President are requesting that we now slash NIH’s budget by 40 percent, or $18 billion dollars. I cannot fathom to what end. The Trump administration is already systematically dismantling the American biomedical research enterprise that is the envy of the world—throwing away billions in economic activity in every one of our states, and jeopardizing the lifesaving work of researchers across the country.
    “This budget proposal would effectively forfeit our leadership in research innovation and competitiveness to China. It would mean we depend on China for the latest treatments for devastating diseases.
    “No one in America wants us to do less cancer research. No one is asking you to make it harder to research Alzheimer’s disease. And no one is asking you to cut lifesaving clinical trials.
     
    “We are hearing this from the experts themselves. You just received a letter signed by hundreds of your own staff who believe this administration’s actions risk breaking NIH and the lifesaving work it does. I really hope you heed their warning, and it should go without saying, but I expect none of them to face retaliation for raising those concerns.
    “Everyone on this dais wants NIH to succeed. And you’re going to need to see some major changes from what you are doing right now to get us back on the right path.”
    [STAFF PUSHED OUT ACROSS NIH]
    Senator Murray began her questioning by following up on points she raised on a phone call with Dr. Bhattacharya last week, and that her staff has been asking for answers to for months: “We spoke on the phone last week, I appreciate that, I want to follow up on those questions and what I’ve been trying to get answers from you for months. You told me 25 staff have been fired from the NIH Clinical Center out of the 1,445 who have been fired across the entire agency. But that does not include staff leaving after being offered buyouts or threatened with future layoffs. I want to know, what is the total number of employees who left the Clinical Center and the entire agency as a result of the Trump Administration’s personnel actions in total?”
    “The numbers I have in front of me are for the Reduction in Force, that’s the 25 I mentioned in our conversation. We’ll get those numbers for the retirements to you,” said Dr. Bhattacharya.
    “Well, I told you I was going to ask for this [information] over the phone, I requested this multiple times, how come you do not have that for us today?” said Senator Murray.
    “My misunderstanding, I thought you were asking for the Reduction in Force numbers,” said Dr. Bhattacharya.
    “No. I was being very clear,” said Senator Murray. “I want to know, by the end of the day, can I have a detailed list of reductions in staff by Institute, by Center, by job function—not just the RIFs, but total staff reductions. Can I have that by the end of the day?”
    “Yes,” Dr. Bhattacharya committed.
    “Okay. Those are really basic questions, and I want to see that by the end of today,” Senator Murray said.
    [GRANT CANCELLATIONS FOR CLINICAL TRIALS]
    Senator Murray continued her questioning by asking Dr. Bhattacharya about NIH cuts to, and termination of, hundreds of clinical trials over the past few months: “Now I am also particularly concerned, as I told you, about cuts to clinical trials—which are harming patients’ care nationwide, and the chance for better treatments and cures. NIH has now terminated at least 160 clinical trials. In addition to terminating grants, you are also delaying grant awards and freezing, or significantly delaying, institutions from being able to draw down their grant funding, which is disrupting clinical trials—to say nothing of other research that it is now threatening. How many clinical trials across the country have been impacted by the grants you have terminated, frozen, or delayed?”
    “Senator, I don’t have the number for the specific numbers of trials,” Dr. Bhattacharya replied. “We’ve worked to make sure that no patients enrolled in the clinical trials are, have any delay in their care as a result of the—in 2020, the NIH terminated a very large number of clinical trials.”
    “Well I’m asking you about today, under your direction,” SenatorMurray said.
    Dr. Bhattacharya responded, “I don’t have specific numbers, and a lot of that is subject to negotiations. I’ve set a process where people can appeal for, if there’s any decisions made regarding grant pauses and terminations and we’re actively working to make sure that that appeals process is going. The numbers are in flux, and I’m happy to get some of those numbers to you later.”
    Senator Murray said, “Well we do know that patient care is being impacted, at your own Clinical Center and in more than 100 clinical trials in the country.”
    “On May 30th, you terminated a 23-year research effort to develop an HIV vaccine, just as scientists, including at the Fred Hutch Center in Seattle, are on the cusp of a functional cure for HIV. Terminating those HIV vaccine trials now cuts off access to treatment for 6,000 patients in the network. You canceled a clinical trial evaluating new evidence-based interventions for Type 2 Diabetes in rural communities in Appalachia. You terminated a clinical trial studying immunotherapy in combination with monoclonal antibodies to treat women with recurrent ovarian cancer. That is what has already happened. So now you are coming to us today, proposing to cut NIH funding by 40 percent next year. Tell us how many fewer clinical trials would you fund in the next fiscal year with a budget cut of $18 billion dollars from NIH?” Senator Murray asked.
    “Senator, can I just address HIV, because I am absolutely committed—in 2019, President Trump issued a challenge for us to eliminate the threat to HIV in this country,” Dr. Bhattacharya said. “And we’ve had a 22 percent reduction in HIV transmission since then. We now have the technological tools to do that, and I’ve been working on developing a program to actually implement this vision, so we can use—”
    “But you did terminate the HIV research at Fred Hutch that, again, was on the cusp of a treatment for 6,000 patients nationwide. You did do that?” Senator Murray pushed back.
    “I don’t—I’d have to get back to you on that,” Dr. Bhattacharya replied.
    “You did do that,” SenatorMurray said.
    “Senator, I think we actually have now the chance, with the existing technologies, Lenacapavir and other treatments, to actually address—” Dr. Bhattacharya hedged.
    “I’m delighted to hear that, but I’m just telling you what clinical trials have been terminated and I’m asking you this because we have to write an appropriations bill,” SenatorMurray replied.“How many fewer clinical trials will you fund in the next fiscal year with an $18 billion dollar cut? That’s your budget request.”
    “Senator, the budget request is a work of negotiation between Congress and the administration. President Trump has issued a letter to Secretary Kratsios committing the United States to be the leading nation—” dodgedDr. Bhattacharya.
    “Well you’re not answering the question. We need to know how many fewer clinical trials, can you get that number back to me please? You’re asking for a budget, we’re trying to figure out what that will fund. That’s our job,” SenatorMurray said.
    “The number depends on what the requests we get for proposals from all across the country. The budget itself would be dependent on what you all do, as well as what the administration does,” Dr. Bhattacharya responded.
    Senator Murray pressed, “Well I know, but we are trying to write a budget with the knowledge that you have, with the request that you have, I’m asking a question, how many fewer clinical trials—we need an answer back to that.”
    Dr. Bhattacharya again said, “It’s hard to give an answer back to that because I don’t know what the proposals are going to be.” To which Senator Murray replied: “You came here today to ask for a budget that reduces NIH significantly. I would expect as Director, you would know the impacts of that. We need to know what the impacts are in order to fund that budget.”
    “Senator, I mean it’s hard to say what the researchers of the country are going to do in response, for a hypothetical budget—” repliedDr. Bhattacharya.
    “Would you say there’s going to be MORE clinical trials under that? Under an $18 billion dollar, 40 percent cut?” Senator Murray asked.
    “It seems unlikely,” Dr. Bhattacharya admitted. “But I will say this, that the budget itself is a negotiation between the administration and Congress. Congress allocates the funds. I am absolutely committed to making sure that, whatever the allocation goes, that we address the health—
    “You are asking us for a significant reduction. It will impact the health of the United States of America. This committee has an obligation to know how you are spending that money,” Senator Murray concluded.
    ___________________________________
    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.
    In particular, Senator Murray has been leading the charge against the Trump administration’s efforts to gut lifesaving research at NIH and push out nearly 5,000 NIH skilled scientists, grants administrators, and other employees at the agency. Senator Murray released a statement decrying the Trump administration’s all-out assault on the NIH upon meeting with Bhattacharya in February, and at his nomination hearing in March, she pressed Mr. Bhattacharya on the Trump administration’s efforts to cut billions from biomedical research through an illegal cap on indirect costs, and their unprecedented halt on NIH Advisory Council Meetings, among other issues.
    When the Trump administration attempted to illegally cap indirect cost rates at 15 percent, Senator Murray immediately and forcefully condemned the move, led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in a letter decrying the proposed change, and introduced amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution to reverse it, which Republicans blocked. Murray has led Congressional efforts to boost biomedical research. Previously, over her years as Chair of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secured billions of dollars in increases for biomedical research at NIH, and during her time as Chair of the HELP Committee she established the new ARPA-H research agency as part of her PREVENT Pandemics Act to advance some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. Senator Murray was also the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which delivered a major federal investment to boost NIH research, among many other investments. 
    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On One-Year Anniversary of Expiration of RECA, Luján, Heinrich, Leger Fernández, Vasquez, Advocates Hold Press Call Highlighting Need to Reauthorize and Strengthen RECA

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    Washington, D.C. – Today, on the one-year anniversary of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) expiring due to Congressional Republican inaction, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), issued the following statements highlighting the urgent need to reauthorize and strengthen RECA. The lawmakers underscored the critical importance of delivering long-overdue justice to Americans harmed by nuclear testing and uranium exposure.
    Despite the Senate passing RECA reauthorization twice with bipartisan support, House Republicans failed to act before the law expired during the 118th Congress. Senator Luján also secured the public support of then-President Joe Biden during a visit to New Mexico.
    “In New Mexico and across the country, thousands of Americans sacrificed in service to our national security. Exactly one year after House Republicans failed to reauthorize RECA, far too many families are still waiting for the justice they are owed. Letting this program expire is a disgrace to the victims and their loved ones who have suffered the consequences of radiation exposure,” said Luján. “One year is far too long to deny compensation to those who are sick and dying from exposure caused by our own government. This Congress, I’m proud to once again lead legislation to extend and expand RECA. I’m hopeful the Senate will once again pass this critical legislation, and I urge Speaker Johnson to finally do right by these victims and bring it to the House floor.”
    “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.”
    “It’s been a full year since RECA expired. A year of silence, sickness, and suffering that House leadership has ignored,” said Leger Fernández. “We know what justice looks like: it’s bipartisan, it’s passed the Senate, and it includes every community harmed by radiation—from the uranium miners in Shiprock to the downwinders in southern New Mexico. Speaker Johnson must let us vote. The longer he waits, the more people suffer.”
    “The failure to reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act leaves many New Mexicans who continue to suffer from the legacy of nuclear testing and uranium mining without the support they urgently need. Speaker Johnson’s inaction denies justice to downwinders, Tribal nations, and rural communities. Our people are still sick — and they’ve been ignored once again,” said Vasquez. “I’ll keep fighting to reauthorize and expand RECA so these families get the compensation and recognition they deserve.”
    “The bomb was detonated at Trinity 80 years ago this July. The people of New Mexico have never been acknowledged or taken care of by their own government who willfully and negligently overexposed them to radiation and caused irreparable harm,” Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. “It has now been one year since RECA expired. We continue to bury our loved ones on a regular basis and then someone else is diagnosed. It is time the people of New Mexico receive justice. Speaker Johnson must do the right thing and allow a vote to reauthorize and expand RECA. Waiting is not an option nor a solution. We will continue this fight until we see the justice we so deserve.”
    “Since the RECA bill expired on June 10th, 2024, many of our uranium miners have passed away with no compensation or apology for their sacrifices from the government,” said Loretta Anderson, RECA Advocate. “The RECA bill must be reauthorized to honor our Cold War Veterans, the Uranium Miners, and Downwinders here in New Mexico.”
    Since being elected to Congress, Senator Luján has played a leading role in advancing legislation to strengthen the RECA program. He has introduced RECA legislation in every Congress since being elected in 2008.
    In January, Senator Luján reintroduced the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act alongside Senators Hawley and Heinrich to compensate Americans exposed to radiation by government nuclear programs. 
    In 2023, Senator Luján led a bipartisan coalition of Senators to pass RECA as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the most significant Congressional action in decades to strengthen the program. Republican leadership ultimately blocked its inclusion in the final NDAA bill despite bipartisan support. 
    In March 2024, the Senate passed Senator Luján’s legislation to extend and expand the RECA program with strong bipartisan support. This included support from then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. After RECA legislation passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support, Senator Luján led a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately act to pass RECA. After months of inaction by Speaker Johnson, Senator Luján held a bipartisan, bicameral press conference in September 2024 with RECA advocates, urging Speaker Johnson to allow a vote on the Senate-passed RECA legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WTAS: Praise for Ernst Work to Codify Trump Effort to Eliminate Improper Payments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is earning sweeping praise for her new bill that will save taxpayers tens of billions annually. The bill will effectively eliminate improper payments across the federal government by codifying one of the Trump administration’s largest cost savings actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    Before any government expenditure can go out the door, the Delivering On Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act requires the Department of Treasury to have a description of the payment, link it to a budget account, and crosscheck the payment against government databases to ensure accuracy and eligibility. In Fiscal Year 2024, more than $160 billion in fraudulent and improper payments occurred.
    Here is some of the praise for the bill:
    “The Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act is an extremely critical step towards codifying the policies in President Trump’s Executive Order. Before DOGE, taxpayer dollars have been the subject of waste and abuse. This legislation is as commonsense as it is bipartisan as it brings much-needed accountability by mandating that each agency undergoing review by the Treasury Department will have to report key financial information, thus ensuring fiscal responsibility and ending improper payments,” said Greg Sindelar, America First Policy Institute President & Chief Executive Officer.
    “Senator Ernst’s DOGE in Spending Act is a great step in assisting Congress in its work to analyze and track spending. It’s crucial that we respect taxpayers’ dollars and help drive down the costs that have led to billions in mismanagement and led to record inflation under the previous administration. Congress and the President must know where taxpayer funds are going to make coherent budgets and to execute the laws properly,” said Daniel Garza, The LIBRE Initiative President.
    “Congress and the President need to know where taxpayer funds go to make coherent budgets and to execute the laws properly. Senator Ernst’s DOGE in Spending Act would shine more light on federal spending so Congress can continue what’s working and change what isn’t,” said Kurt Couchman, Americans for Prosperity Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy.
    “The Delivering on Government Efficiency in Spending Act will require the Treasury Department to make all federal payments public and searchable. The increased spending transparency will help identify and eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. Taxpayers are grateful to Sen. Ernst for her continued leadership in holding the federal government accountable, and there should not be any objections from members of Congress to this commonsense legislation,” said Tom Schatz, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste President.
    “Under President Trump’s leadership, the DOGE effort has uncovered an unprecedented level of waste, fraud, and abuse. But there’s one big problem with DOGE’s work: Most of its work can be undone by a future president with the stroke of a pen. To make President Trump’s DOGE reforms permanent, Congress must act. Fortunately, under the leadership of Senator Joni Ernst, the Senate DOGE Caucus is doing precisely that, through the Delivering On Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act. If passed, the DOGE in Spending Act would help prevent future fraudulent and improper payments by providing the Treasury Department with the information needed to end improper payments, stop fraudsters, and protect American taxpayers. At the end of the day, the DOGE in Spending Act is just common sense,” said Tarren Bragdon, Foundation for Government Accountability President and CEO.
    “Open the Books has previously reported massive instances of wasted money that could have been avoided had federal agencies been in communication with the Do Not Pay system at Treasury. This legislation would mark a major step in curing that, too. The Delivering on Government Efficiency in Spending Act will improve transparency for taxpayers and accountability across federal agencies; it’s a no-brainer for passage,” said John Hart, Open the Books CEO.
    “Heritage Action strongly supports The Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act to implement fiscal accountability within the federal government,” said Ryan Walker, Heritage Action Executive Vice President. “Each year the government loses billions in hard-earned taxpayer dollars to fraud. This DOGE-inspired legislation codifies the Trump executive order to ensure U.S. dollars are not improperly spent or lost, that waste is reduced, and we can accurately track federal spending. Heritage Action applauds Republican lawmakers for pushing this Act, and urges Congress to quickly codify this commonsense legislation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton Introduces Bills to Increase Penalties on Violent Rioters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353June 10, 2025
    Cotton Introduces Bills to Increase Penalties on Violent Rioters 
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the No Visas for Violent Criminals Act and the Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness and Threats Act. Together, the pair of bills would stiffen punishment for violent rioters by establishing and increasing mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenders and by requiring deportation within 60 days of any non-citizen convicted of a criminal offense during a protest.
    “Rioters of any immigration status who assault ICE officers and engage in acts of violence should face stiff consequences. My bills make clear that Americans will not tolerate lawless rioting in support of illegal immigration,” said Senator Cotton.
    Text of the No Visas for Violent Criminals Act may be found here.
    Text of the Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness Act may be found here.
    The No Visas for Violent Criminals Act would immediately terminate any visa and require deportation within 60 days of any non-citizen convicted of:
    Any offense involving the obstruction of highways, roads, bridges, or tunnels.
    Any offense related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest.
    Any offense involving the defacement or destruction of federal property.
    The Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness Act would:
    Increase the maximum punishment for participating in a riot from five to ten years.
    Establish a mandatory minimum of one year for an act of violence as part of a riot.
    Establish a mandatory minimum of one year and eliminate the maximum penalty for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer or uniformed service member.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Democrats Fight Back with Bill to Reverse Trump, Hegseth Ban on Transgender Service Members in the Military

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 10, 2025
    Fit to Serve Act would enhance national security, prohibit Trump, Hegseth from attacking members of the military based on gender identity
    Text of Bill (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the top Democrat for the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, introduced the Fit to Serve Act, a bill to support our military readiness and national security by prohibiting discrimination against transgender service members. 
    Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), all also members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined as co-sponsors of the bill. 
    Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, led the introduction of the bill in the House of Representatives with Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). 
    In January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender individuals joining and continuing to serve in the military. The Department of Defense (DoD) is forcing service members in active-duty to self-identify for voluntary separation by June 6, 2025; service members in the Reserves have until July 7, 2025. 
    Banning transgender service members undermines our military’s readiness. The administration’s actions hurt our national security and dehumanize the thousands of transgender service members who have made meaningful contributions to our armed forces.
    While the ban continues to be litigated in federal court, the Supreme Court has allowed the DoD to begin to implement the ban, threatening the careers of thousands of service members who serve as test pilots, Navy divers, intelligence analysts, weapons specialists, combat aviators, and other critical national security roles. The ban also threatens to waste billions of taxpayer dollars invested in training these troops, who have spent decades in the military, deployed multiple times, and commanded large numbers of troops. 
    Former Pentagon officials have testified that allowing transgender service members to openly serve “fosters openness and trust among team members, thereby enhancing unit cohesion” and that “transgender service members who meet the standards required for their positions serve effectively and contribute positively to unit readiness.”  To ensure the United States can continue to benefit from the service of transgender individuals, who have raised their hand to defend and protect their country and meet the same rigorous standards as their peers, the Fit to Serve Act prohibits DoD from: 
    Banning transgender service members from the military; 
    Prescribing qualifications for service on the basis of gender identity; 
    Denying necessary health care for service members on the basis of gender identity; 
    Forcing a service member to serve in their sex assigned at birth; or 
    Otherwise discriminating against service members on the basis of gender identity.
    “We recruit and train the best and bravest to protect our country – losing highly qualified service members, who meet strict standards to join the military, makes us less safe,” said Senator Warren. “While Trump plays politics with our troops, I’m fighting back to make clear that anyone who is qualified to serve should be able to regardless of who they are.”
    “Banning transgender Americans from serving in our military, and forcing current service members to quit serving, is a cruel attack on the very people who have dedicated their lives to defending our country,” said Senator Booker. “Transgender service members meet the same rigorous standards as their peers and have served our country with honor for years. The Fit to Serve Act is critical legislation to prevent the Department of Defense from discriminating against our troops on the basis of gender.”
    “If you are willing to risk your life for our country and you can do the job, it shouldn’t matter if you are gay, straight, transgender, Black, white or anything else,” said Senator Duckworth. “Every transgender servicemember earned their role through rigorous training and is more qualified to serve in those roles than Pete Hegseth is to be Secretary of Defense. I’m proud to join Senator Warren and my Democratic colleagues in working to reverse the Trump Administration’s offensive transgender military ban, which is disruptive to our military, hurts readiness and not only does nothing to strengthen our national security—it actively makes things worse.”
    “Attacking people based on who they love or how they identify does nothing to make America safer. Our LGBTQ+ servicemembers put their lives on the line to keep our nation safe, and I’m always going to have their backs,” said Senator Fetterman. “Since day one, I’ve called on Secretary Hegseth to reverse course, and he’s failed to act. Now, I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce legislation to end this disgraceful, illegal ban.”
    “Transgender service members serve our country honorably, dedicating their lives to protecting our nation,” said Senator Hirono. “Yet, Trump continues attacking the transgender community, disrespecting these individuals, discriminating against them, and undermining our military readiness. By prohibiting this discrimination on the basis of gender identity, this legislation will help to ensure transgender individuals who are qualified to serve may do so.”
    “Every willing and qualified American deserves the chance to serve and defend our country, and many transgender individuals have done so for years with dignity and honor. This legislation will ensure these patriots can continue to serve freely and openly, now and in the future,” said Senator Van Hollen.
    “As President Trump continues to denigrate and target transgender servicemembers, we must stand up for what is right and what makes our military strongest,” said Senator Kim. “We cannot build a united, incomparable force by alienating brave Americans ready and proud to serve their nation. This legislation honors our transgender troops’ service and anyone who is willing to put their life on the line for our freedoms and serve our nation in uniform.”
    “The persistent dehumanization of trans people by the Trump administration hurts many and helps no one. Trans members of the military – just like anyone else in service – have dedicated their lives to public service, and, in return, this administration dismisses them from service,” said Senator Ed Markey, “I am proud to stand with my colleagues to say this is wrong. Trans rights are human rights.”
    “Service members sign up to protect our country with patriotism and bravery,” said Senator Merkley. “Banning highly-skilled transgender service members endangers the safety and security of our nation, and takes us backward in our march towards equality.”
    “There’s no reason other than blatant discrimination for trans service members to be barred from serving in our military,” said Senator Schatz. “If someone is willing and meets the high standards to serve, they should be allowed to – it’s as simple as that.”
    “Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people in the military puts Americans’ safety last,” Senator Wyden said. “Fitness for military service has nothing to do with how a person identifies. The Fit to Serve Act will keep our military strong by ensuring that anyone who can do the job can join and serve.”
    This bill is endorsed by the following organizations: Human Rights Campaign, Minority Veterans of America, SPARTA, Out in National Security, Advocates for Trans Equality, Modern Military Association of America, National Women’s Law Center, and National Center for LGBTQ Rights.
    “Transgender servicemembers are trusted and effective warfighters. At a time when the United States faces growing threats around the world, banning them from the All-Volunteer Force will make Americans less safe,” said Luke Schleusener, CEO of Out in National Security (ONS), a professional association for LGBTQIA+ people across the national security enterprise. “This legislation underscores that the fight to honor the service of thousands of transgender Americans in uniform—and to strengthen America’s national security—is far from over.” 
    “The Fit to Serve Act is a necessary step to ensure our military reflects the values it claims to defend—honor, courage, and integrity. Banning transgender troops based on prejudice weakens our national security, erodes morale, and wastes taxpayer dollars. Transgender service members have always served with pride, even when denied recognition, and they deserve to serve openly in our armed forces and for leadership that is rooted in facts—not fear. This bill sends a clear message: Patriotism isn’t defined by gender identity, but by the selfless act of serving one’s country,” said Lindsay Church, MVA (Minority Veterans of America) Executive Director. 
    “The Fit to Serve Act is vital to stop the current unnecessary and cruel purge of trans troops, which weaponizes a gender dysphoria diagnosis. It would ensure our leaders cannot turn their backs on those fully capable and willing to serve, for no reason other than discrimination,” said Cathy Marcello, Modern Military Association of America’s Interim Executive Director. “The policy’s vague wording of ‘exhibits symptoms of gender dysphoria’ will undoubtedly be misused against anyone who military leadership wants to push out, similar to the ways Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was used to target individuals.
    “Trangender service members have already taken an extraordinary step most Americans never will: volunteering to risk their lives in defense of our nation. These thousands of patriots have already served openly and honorably around the world for nearly a decade, meeting the same standards as everyone else. Suddenly separating them and finding and training replacements will cost taxpayers billions over decades — while destroying the careers and livelihoods of thousands of military families and leaving units with critical operational and talent gaps.
    “Despite three federal courts deeming the policy unconstitutional and top military leaders noting no evidence of negative impacts of open trans service, the executive and judicial branches have failed to protect these service members. They are already experiencing the first steps of a novel and undignified separation process. We are truly thankful that Senators Warren, Duckworth, Gillibrand, Baldwin, Markey, Wyden, Hirono, Merkley, Fetterman, Van Hollen, Sanders, Kim, Booker, Schatz, and Smith are addressing this injustice by introducing the Fit to Serve Act to codify what so many of us know to be true: transgender service members are fit for service and don’t deserve to live with the uncertainty of ever-changing executive orders and litigation with each new administration.”
    “The Fit to Serve Act is a declaration that we will not stand by while our courageous troops are under political assault. Transgender servicemembers meet the same rigorous standards, deploy worldwide, put in the same hard work and demonstrate the same dedication as any of their colleagues. They have valiantly embraced the weighty responsibility of protecting our country and should not have their careers arbitrarily ended. Instead, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are taking away their jobs, cutting off their health care benefits, and disregarding the immense sacrifices these servicemembers and their families have made. It’s a slap in the face to all who serve and puts our military readiness at risk. We thank Sen. Warren for introducing this important legislation, and we urge every Member of Congress to support it and uphold this nation’s promise to support all of our servicemembers,” said Jennifer Pike Bailey, Government Affairs Director of the Human Rights Campaign. 
    “We are grateful to lawmakers for standing up for our nation’s troops and ensuring that every American has an equal opportunity to serve. Military service is about whether you can do the job, not who you are,” said Shannon Minter, Legal Director, National Center for LGBTQ Rights (NCLR). 
    “Transgender people have long served in our military with honor, integrity, and courage. Efforts to ban them from service undermine the humanity and contributions of those who have risked their lives for our country,” said Gaylynn Burroughs, vice president for education and workplace justice at the National Women’s Law Center. “We strongly support the Fit to Serve Act and applaud Senator Warren’s leadership in defending the rights and dignity of trans service members. Everyone, regardless of who they are, deserves the right to work with dignity and without fear of harassment or other forms of discrimination, including in the military.”
    “SPARTA Pride supports the Fit To Serve Act introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren that aims to prohibit discrimination in the military on the basis of gender identity. This legislation represents a critical step toward ensuring that all who are willing and able to serve their country can do so with dignity, authenticity, and fairness—regardless of their gender identity,” said SPARTA Pride.
    “The United States military is as diverse as our country, and trans people have always been a part of the military, serving honorably and meeting the same rigorous standards as their peers. For nearly a decade, trans servicemembers have been able to serve in the military openly and authentically as themselves,” said Olivia Hunt, Advocates for Trans Equality Director of Federal Policy. “Trump’s ban on trans servicemembers betrays the trust of the thousands of trans people who have come out and transitioned while serving, with the full support of their unit members and chain of command. It also jeopardizes their access to critical benefits such as healthcare, education, and retirement, essential for their well-being and stability. We applaud Senator Warren and her cosponsors for introducing this important legislation and joining us in standing up for servicemembers.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Review NIH Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    [embedded content]
    Click here or on the image above to watch Chairman Capito’s opening remarks from the hearing. 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), chaired a hearing with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to review the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.  
    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Capito as prepared for delivery: 
    “Good morning. Dr. Bhattacharya, congratulations on your new role as Director of the NIH. Thank you for appearing before the subcommittee today to discuss how the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal will continue efforts from NIH to reduce illness, enhance health and lengthen the lives of all Americans. 
    “My home state of West Virginia is faced with many complex health challenges. I know that if we work together, make wise investments and focus on what really matters, we can create positive momentum towards eliminating those challenges. 
    “Fostering NIH collaboration with smaller and rural states is critical, and one of the strengths of the NIH IDeA Program. This program provides funding to 23 states—including West Virginia—that historically have received little to no federal research funding.  
    “The IDeA program and other NIH funding streams have been instrumental for Marshall University, West Virginia University, and other institutions in my state in developing world-class research in neuroscience, cancer, stroke, vision, and addiction science. 
    “Researchers throughout West Virginia are making significant contributions to biomedical research in areas ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease to substance use disorders. 
    “I look forward to hosting you in West Virginia soon to see first-hand all of the amazing research being done across the state. 
    “This will be a challenging year for appropriations, yet supporting biomedical research is a priority for me and has long been a bicameral, bipartisan priority for Congress.
    “The United States leads the world in biomedical innovation and I, along with many of my colleagues on this committee, think it is important America remains the leader in biomedical innovation and research. Investing in biomedical research has proven to save lives while exponentially strengthening the U.S. economy. I look forward to hearing from you how this budget request would continue to advance this critical research and innovation.
    “The NIH is a driver of economic growth, funding more than $94.58 billion in national economic activity last year.
    “In West Virginia, NIH supported over 700 jobs and $147 million in economic activity in 2024 alone.  
    “For almost a decade, this committee has supported research toward the goal of finding treatments and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. This goal is very personal to me since both of my parents lived with and eventually succumbed to the disease.  
    “These investments have allowed NIH to fund research into a wide variety of potential causes of the disease, and build evidence for prevention based on a healthy lifestyle. NIH-funded research on the amyloid protein led to the development of FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs in 2023 and 2024 to slow progression of the disease.  
    “All of this research is important, and I look forward to working with you to continue robust and diversified Alzheimer’s disease research. 
    “NIH-funded research is also behind many of the more than 600 new cancer treatments that the FDA has approved over the last 20 years. 
    “As a lead sponsor of the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, I look forward to hearing about your priorities and advancements to combat cancer and grow our clinical trial networks – especially among children. 
    “Although we are making positive strides, substance abuse remains an issue in my state. I look forward to hearing more from you about how combining the National Institute on Drug Abuse into a new National Institute on Behavioral Health will enable that important work to continue.
    “I have heard from many University leaders – from schools ranging in size, location, and subject – about the impact of changes being implemented at NIH. These institutions are the reason America has kept the edge in biomedical innovation.
    “As with any change in leadership, there seems to be a heightened sense of concern and confusion that diverting resources from research will result in a less healthy America. And I hope today we can work to come to a better understanding. 
    “We have a difficult task ahead of us this year, but it is my hope that we will come together, just as we have done in prior fiscal years, to use our limited resources in the most efficient and effective way to support the health and well-being of all Americans. 
    “Dr. Bhattacharya, I look forward to your testimony.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Condemns Comey’s Death Threat Against President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution condemning former FBI Director James Comey for inciting violence against President Donald Trump in a recent social media post. In response to Comey’s reckless threat on the President’s life, the resolution condemns his incitement of violence, bars Comey from future employment by the federal government, and calls for investigations by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security into Comey’s threats. The resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), and a companion resolution was led by Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Laurel Lee (R-FL) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “For the former FBI director to be amplifying threats against the President of the United States is disgraceful,” said Senator Mike Lee. “President Trump has been targeted in two assassination attempts and wounded in one, which killed Corey Comperatore. Congress should unite to condemn Jim Comey in the strongest terms.”
    “As violent riots rage across Los Angeles, it has never been more important to have leaders in Washington that are prepared to defend the rule of law and uphold our shared values,” said Rep. August Pfluger, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. “James Comey’s reckless incitement of violence is another reminder of how dangerous it is when former public officials prioritize politics over the values our nation was founded upon. This bicameral resolution demands the accountability and transparency the American people deserve, ensuring Comey never again holds a position of public trust.”
    “For years, we’ve heard accusations from the Left about so-called dangerous rhetoric. But now, former FBI Director James Comey—the same official who helped launch the discredited Russia collusion hoax —is engaging in rhetoric that carries an implicit threat against President Trump. As a former federal prosecutor and judge, I take this very seriously. James Comey should never again hold a position of public trust in the United States Government, and we formally urge the Department of Justice to investigate whether his conduct violates applicable laws. The American people deserve equal justice—not selective outrage. If we are to preserve the rule of law, then even those who once led law enforcement must be held accountable.” – Representative Laurel Lee
    Resolution
    A resolution condemning James B. Comey, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for inciting violence against President Donald J. Trump.
    Whereas James B. Comey, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (in this preamble, referred to as the ‘‘FBI’’), on May 15, 2025, posted an image on Instagram depicting the numbers ‘‘86 47’’ with the cryptic caption ‘‘cool shell formation’’; 
    Whereas this message promotes violence against the sitting President of the United States, Donald J. Trump; 
    Whereas Mr. Comey posted this to his public Instagram account during President Trump’s first overseas trip to the Middle East, jeopardizing his security and invigorating the enemies of the United States abroad;
    Whereas it is indefensible and inexcusable to issue a call for violence against the President of the United States; 
    Whereas Mr. Comey exhibits a clear desire to undermine President Trump; Whereas there have been multiple assassination attempts against President Trump; 
    Whereas former public officials owe a special duty of care not to use their past positions and influence accrued through public service to threaten the lives of their political opponents; and 
    Whereas Congress must hold Mr. Comey accountable for his violations of the public trust and preserve the rule of law to protect our institutions from those that seek to sow discord and promote violence against their political opponents: 
    Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 
    (1) unequivocally condemns James Comey’s ap3 parent incitement of political violence against President Trump; 
    (2) urges the relevant authorities to take every relevant action to ensure that Mr. Comey is never again permitted to serve as an employee of the Federal Government; and 
    (3) requests that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security conduct a full and comprehensive investigation of Mr. Comey’s attempts to incite violence against the President, and release the findings to the relevant committees of Congress and the public.
    Read exclusive coverage from The Daily Signal here.
    See the official resolution text here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Discusses Unleashing American Energy for Strengthening American Diplomacy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed the role of American energy production in international diplomacy. Ricketts underscored the importance of energy production for success in the competition with Communist China.
    “Last month, I hosted a bipartisan tabletop exercise with Senator Coons, simulating a Communist Chinese energy quarantine of Taiwan,” said Ricketts. “That exercise confirmed one of Taiwan’s biggest vulnerabilities, which is energy insecurity. But it’s not just about Taiwan, this is something that applies to all our allies in the region, who are nearly just as vulnerable in relying on seaborne energy imports in such a crisis… The most immediate answer to this problem for us is to increase our exports of LNG. We are the world’s top exporter with clean and reliable gas, it’s already helping our allies replace coal, reduce their emissions, and increase their energy resilience.”
    Click here to watch more.
    The hearing considered the nominations of Jacob Helberg, to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment; Paul Kapur, to be Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs; Andy Puzder, to be Ambassador to the EU; Benjamin Black, to be CEO of DFC; and Howard Brodie, to be Ambassador to Finland.
    BACKGROUND:
    Earlier this month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue conference with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Last month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation trip to Taiwan and the Philippines with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ted Budd (R-NC). Senators Ricketts and Coons are working as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia Subcommittee to support our allies and partners in the region against Communist China’s aggression, including conducting a recent tabletop exercise and introductions of the PORCUPINE Act and COUNTER Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW: Report Shows Republicans’ Bill Will Terminate Health Insurance for Over 250,000 Wisconsinites

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report was released showing that 258,396 Wisconsinites will have their health care terminated under Republicans’ House-passed budget bill to gut Medicaid and dismantle key parts of the Affordable Care Act to pay for tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans. Nationwide, 16 million Americans’ care is in jeopardy, including over 8.5 million Americans who rely on Affordable Care Act coverage and 7.4 million Americans on Medicaid.
    “Republicans’ plan is simple: gut benefits for working Americans so that the wealthiest Americans and big corporations can get richer. My phones have been ringing off the hook from Wisconsinites who are terrified their health care coverage is on the chopping block, and now we see just how many of our neighbors are in jeopardy,” said Senator Baldwin. “If Republicans get their way, 250,000 Wisconsinites will lose their coverage as health care costs are jacked up on thousands more. We should be working to make sure more people have health care and lowering costs – not taking it away from the elderly, the disabled, and hardworking families. We’re making sure Americans know who will pay the price so Donald Trump and Republicans can give handouts to billionaires.”
    The Republicans’ plan includes changes to the Medicaid program designed to kick eligible Americans off their health care, with a new report today showing an estimated 148,254 Wisconsinites would lose their Medicaid benefits. The Republican plan would also allow the enhanced Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits, which save Americans on average $700 each year on their coverage, to expire, jacking up the cost of coverage and putting insurance out of reach for 110,142 Wisconsin families. Senator Baldwin leads legislation to make these tax breaks for working families permanent. 
    In Wisconsin, over 1.2 million are enrolled in Medicaid. About 1 in 3 children in both Wisconsin’s rural and metro communities have Medicaid coverage. Severe cuts to Medicaid will also jeopardize rural hospitals and clinics’ ability to keep their doors open. Over 12 million rural Americans rely on Medicaid for health care.
    Senator Baldwin has been leading the charge to fight back against cuts to Medicaid. This year, Senator Baldwin has made eleven stops on her “Hands Off Medicaid Tour,” holding roundtable discussions statewide calling out Republicans’ plan to slash Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. During each stop, Senator Baldwin heard directly from Wisconsinites who depend on Medicaid and highlighted the dire consequences cuts to the lifesaving program would mean for them and their loved ones.
    Full report is available here with a breakdown by Congressional District available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Condemns Trump Administration for Dismantling CDC’s Independent Panel of Vaccine Experts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement after HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is made up of medical and public health experts — including pediatricians, epidemiologists and geriatricians — who make recommendations about who should get certain vaccines, including the schedule for childhood vaccinations:
    “Secretary Kennedy’s unfounded, personal anti-vaxxer views are hazardous to public health and he is making this reckless move based on ideology and conspiracy theories, not sound evidence.  The Trump Administration is removing trusted, accomplished, independent experts on ACIP and will likely replace them with ideologues who parrot Kennedy’s misconceptions and conspiracy theories about vaccines.  This move is sure to increase vaccine-preventable outbreaks and endanger people’s lives.  The most vulnerable Americans, including unvaccinated infants, immunocompromised individuals, and older Americans are most likely to suffer from this ill-conceived directive.
    “I urge my Republican colleagues to speak up on behalf of their constituents and work with Democrats to hold this Administration accountable for breaking its promises and degrading public health.”
    The CDC recently reported that routine childhood vaccinations in America have prevented over 1.1 million deaths, more than 500 million cases of illness and over 32 million hospitalizations over the past 30 years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Condemns Trump’s Deployment of U.S. Marines Into Los Angeles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC—Today, after President Trump ordered more than 700 active-duty U.S. Marines into Los Angeles against the will of the California governor and Los Angeles mayor, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:
    “I am gravely troubled by President Trump’s order to deploy active-duty U.S. Marines into an American city against the will of its governor and mayor.
    “Let me clear: the ongoing violence in Los Angeles is unacceptable. Public safety and law enforcement are paramount, and LA’s state and local law enforcement must continue working to restore peace.
    “But the president is forcibly overriding the authority of the governor and mayor and using the military as a political weapon. This unprecedented move threatens to turn a tense situation into a national crisis.
    “Since our nation’s founding, the American people have been perfectly clear: we do not want the military conducting law enforcement on U.S. soil.
    “President Trump must stop testing the boundaries of the executive branch’s power and attempting to use the military domestically. Every American, regardless of their politics, should reject the idea of a U.S. president deploying active-duty forces against the will of state and local leaders. The President must immediately cease this reckless operation and place the well-being of our nation above his own political ambitions.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Republican Colleagues Demand End to Biden-Era Flood Insurance Premiums

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) led the charge of nine Republican Senators in demanding the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finally end the Biden era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, which caused flood insurance premiums to skyrocket.
    “Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system,” said the senators.
    “The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike,” continued the senators.
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Justice (R-WV), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and John Cornyn (R-TX).  
    Read the full letter here or below:
    Dear Acting Administrator Richardson,
    We write to draw your urgent attention to the increasingly untenable flood insurance premiums paid by American homeowners as a result of the Biden era policy, Risk Rating 2.0, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We respectfully ask for your leadership to halt further premium increases under Risk Rating 2.0 and implement much needed transparency from FEMA.
    On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 13990, directing every federal agency to target and modify Trump era regulations under the auspice of combating climate change. A few months later, Biden signed EO 14030, requiring agencies to integrate up-to-date flood risk considerations into federal actions. Collectively, both of these EOs laid the groundwork for FEMA’s implementation of a new rating system known as Risk Rating 2.0, which was enacted on October 1, 2021.  
    Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system. According to a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, premiums on primary residences under Risk Rating 2.0 are subject to a maximum 18 percent increase each year until such premiums reflect “the full risk loss of the insured property,” as determined by FEMA.
    Families in the following Republican states are especially hard-hit.
    Louisiana:
    It is estimated that 80 percent of Louisiana NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    In 2023 alone, the average flood insurance premium in our state jumped by 234 percent, forcing more than 52,000 Louisianans—many of them seniors on fixed incomes—out of the program.
    Coastal parishes, which depend on flood insurance to secure mortgages and rebuild after storms, are now facing premiums that exceed 2 percent of median household income—a threshold that federal guidance deems “cost prohibitive.”
    West Virginia:
    It is estimated that 83% of West Virginia NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in West Virginia by ~176%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~600 West Virginians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Texas:
    It is estimated that 86% of Texas NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Texas by ~53%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~26,300 Texans have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Alabama:
    It is estimated that 79% of Alabama NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Alabama by ~106%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~1,200 Alabamians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Mississippi:
    It is estimated that 84% of Mississippi NFIP policyholders experienced monthly premium increases in 2025 as a result of Risk Rating 2.0.
    As of August 2023 (the latest available FEMA data), Risk Rating 2.0 would increase annual NFIP premiums for homeowners in Mississippi by ~103%.
    Over the last 12 months, ~2,200 Mississippians have left the NFIP as a result of premium increases.
    Rural and low-income homeowners, along with high-risk coastal areas, are being priced out at far higher rates than urban or wealthier communities. In ten states, full risk NFIP premiums today exceed 2 percent of median household income.  This undermines home values, depresses property tax revenues, and ultimately inflates federal disaster assistance costs when uninsured homeowners cannot rebuild.
    The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike.
    The President has long championed policies that reduce federal overreach and protect everyday Americans from burdensome costs. To limit the damage caused by this harmful Biden era policy, we urge you to:
    Direct FEMA to terminate the Risk Rating 2.0 pricing methodology. 
    Require FEMA to publish all actuarial inputs and outputs of future flood insurance premium increases exceeding the 5% statutory minimum so stakeholders can verify fairness and accuracy.
    Restore targeted affordability measures for coastal, low income, and historically underinsured communities—ensuring NFIP remains accessible to those who need it most.
    Time is of the essence. Each month that Risk Rating 2.0 continues unchecked, more families are forced to abandon their insurance coverage, neighborhoods face economic strain, and entire communities risk collapse after the next disaster. We respectfully urge you to act now—before further harm is done—to protect vulnerable Americans, preserve homeownership, and ensure the NFIP fulfills its mission as Congress intended.
    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: Corps Awards More than $23 Million Contract for Garrison Dam Spillway Rehabilitation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    06.05.25
    BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has awarded a $23.8 million contract for dredging and placement of riprap protection as part of the Garrison Dam Spillway Rehabilitation project. The project is estimated to be completed in April 2028.
    “The Garrison Dam is crucial infrastructure in our region, and vital to ensuring that we have a reliable water supply for communities and agriculture, as well as recreation and tourism. At the same time, it’s a key component to controlling Missouri River water levels and protecting communities from flooding. This federal contract will help advance rehabilitation of the spillway, which is an important component to ensuring the dam’s long-term integrity,” said Hoeven.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Condemn Provisions on GOP Tax Plan that Would Eliminate Gun Safety Measures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement condemning provisions in the Republican tax plan that would weaken gun safety measures that have been in place since 1934 by eliminating registration and ownership requirements for gun silencers under the National Firearms Act, increasing danger for law enforcement officers while saving gun manufacturers millions in unpaid manufacturer taxes:
    “The Republican tax plan being pushed through Congress not only cuts critical services Virginians rely on in order to give huge tax breaks to billionaires, but it also makes our communities less safe by weakening gun safety measures on silencers. Part of the reason that these registration and ownership requirements exist is because silencers, like the one that was used in the Virginia Beach mass shooting, make it harder for law enforcement to locate and respond to an active shooter. Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities, and we will oppose this disastrous bill when it comes to the Senate floor.”
    A gun silencer, also known as a suppressor, is attached to the barrel of a firearm in order to curb its sound, muzzle flash, and kickback. A silencer poses great danger to the public and makes it more difficult for law enforcement officers to detect the location of and respond to an active shooter. A silencer also diminishes the effectiveness of gunshot detection technology that relies on audio sensors to record the sound, time, and location of loud noises. A gun silencer was used in the Virginia Beach mass shooting on May 31, 2019. Law enforcement has historically supported silencer regulations because silencers make it harder, if not impossible, to figure out where the shooter is in an active shooter situation.
    Sens. 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 strip health insurance from more than 262,000 Virginians, 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 raise the deficit by $3.8 trillion, eliminate a program allowing Americans to file federal taxes for free, and raise taxes on minimum-wage workers while giving the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Advances Ranching, Grasslands Priorities with USDA Under Secretary Nominee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    06.06.25
    Senator Urges Nominee to Ensure USFS Works with North Dakota Ranchers on Grazing Access, Wildfire Management & Pest Control
    WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven advanced key priorities for North Dakota ranchers with Michael Boren, the nominee to serve as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment. In this role, Boren will oversee the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which includes the national grasslands in North Dakota. Accordingly, Hoeven urged Boren to work with him on:
    Ensuring access to USFS lands for multiple use, including grazing and energy production.
    Hoeven stressed to Boren that section line rights-of-way are critical for enabling ranchers to access their cattle in the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

    Coordinating with local ranchers and rural fire departments on wildfire management, including protecting against impacts from controlled burns on federal lands.
    Better management of pests on USFS lands, such as prairie dogs and noxious weeds.
    Hoeven and Boren discussed the need for adequate buffers on federal lands to help prevent damage to private and state-held lands.
    Hoeven previously worked with USFS Deputy Chief Chris French on efforts to address noxious weeds on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands and urged Boren to maintain these efforts.

    “North Dakota is home to the largest national grasslands in the country, with the USFS managing more than a million acres of land in our state. That creates real challenges that require the federal government to work cooperatively with our local stakeholders, including our ag and energy producers,” said Hoeven. “In both the committee hearing and my meeting with Michael Boren, we drove home the importance of ensuring access to the grasslands for our grazers. Fair grazing agreements are essential, as is access through section lines to ensure ranchers can actually get to their cattle. At the same time, we’ve seen poor land management on federal acreage impacting private and state lands through the spread of noxious weeds, uncontrolled prairie dog colonies and wildfires. I appreciate Mr. Boren’s commitment to work with us on these critical issues.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Helps Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Restore Pensions of Delphi Salaried Retirees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 06.09.2025
    Michigan is Home to More Than 5,800 Delphi Retirees

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped reintroduce the Susan Muffley Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation would restore the pensions of more than 21,000 Delphi salaried retirees – including over 5,800 Michiganders – and provide payback for the past 15 years. Peters has been a consistent advocate of the legislation and supporting Delphi retirees. 
    “Every Michigander deserves the retirement benefits they earned during their career,” said Senator Peters. “The Susan Muffley Act is a bipartisan solution that would finally restore the benefits that the over 5,800 Delphi retirees in Michigan were promised and worked their whole lives to secure. I’ve been a proud cosponsor of this commonsense bill and will continue working to see it passed into law.”
    Named in honor of the late wife of a Delphi salaried retiree, the Susan Muffley Act of 2025 would restore the pensions of those who lost their earned benefits.
    If enacted, the Susan Muffley Act of 2025 would ensure Delphi salaried retirees receive payment covering the pension benefits they should have received over the past 15 years, with 6 percent interest added to account for the delay. The legislation would also fully restore their pensions going forward.
    Peters has long fought to protect Michiganders’ hard-earned benefits and ability to retire with dignity and security. Peters cosponsored and helped pass the Social Security Fairness Act to ensure public sector workers receive their full Social Security benefits. Peters also championed the Butch Lewis Act, signed into law in 2021, which would address multi-employer pension plans facing insolvency without sacrificing workers’ benefits. Additionally, Peters is also a proud cosponsor of, and has urged Congress to pass, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen the federal laws that protect workers’ right to form a union to collectively bargain for better wages and benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins 32 Colleagues in Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, recently joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and 29 of his colleagues in filing an amicus brief in a key case, Oregon v. Department of Homeland Security, challenging the Trump Administration’s abuse of emergency powers to impose tariffs. The brief opposes the Administration’s request for a stay of a recent court decision that struck down these tariffs.  Vermont was a part of the twelve-state coalition that filed this legal challenge.  
    In May, the U.S. Court of International Trade held that the Trump Administration lacked authority to issue the challenged tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—a statute that no president prior to President Trump has ever tried to use to impose tariffs. The Senators’ amicus brief argues that a stay should be rejected.   
    “Granting a stay will cause irreparable harm to constituents of Amici, particularly thousands of small and medium-sized businesses that will continue to be harmed if the President persists in collecting the unlawful IEEPA tariffs,” wrote the Senators. “Small businesses do not have cash-on-hand or capital reserves to pay the increased tariffs, nor can they quickly adapt to them by modifying supply chains. If they cannot pass on the tariff costs to consumers—which would create additional harms for Amici’s constituents—many face letting employees go or filing for bankruptcy. Even a few weeks of additional tariffs means small businesses will suffer irreparable harm.”  
    “The powers to impose tariffs and regulate international trade were given to Congress for a reason,” continued the Senators. “Absent authorization from Congress to impose tariffs and approval to enter binding, durable trade agreements, it is contrary to the public interest for the President to arrogate Congress’s power to himself.”  
    “Further, the broad-based tariffs, which include extensive levies on treaty allies Japan, Canada, and members of the NATO alliance, undermine U.S. national security by weakening U.S. alliances,” concluded the Senators. “Amici regularly interact with U.S.-allied leaders who want to work with the U.S. on security and economic matters; IEEPA tariffs have been raised as one of the foremost irritants and obstacles to maintaining strong partnerships with the U.S. Multiple allied governments, including Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, have threatened retaliation targeting American exports and American companies—further compounding the economic harm to Amici’s constituents. Denying a stay will ensure the Administration cannot continue to usurp powers granted to Congress, and it will promote U.S. national security and economic interests.” 
    In addition to Senators Welch, Shaheen, Wyden, and Schumer, the letter was cosigned by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Angus King (I-Maine), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). 
    Read and download the full amicus brief. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Hawley Lead Bipartisan Bill to Raise the Federal Minimum Raise

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee,today joined Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in introducing the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to raise 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, health care, and education has skyrocketed, leaving millions of full-time workers struggling to make ends meet. 
    “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.” 
    “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.    
    Senator Welch has championed efforts in the Senate to boost the minimum wage and help more Vermonters make ends meet. In April, Senator Welch cosponsored the Raise the Wage Act, bicameral legislation to ensure American workers make a living wage, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality by raising the minimum wage to $17 for all workers by 2030. The bill would also gradually eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with disabilities.  
    Last Congress, Senator Welch joined colleagues in introducing the PRO Act to protect the right to unionize and stop predatory behavior from companies trying to hinder workplace organizing. Senator Welch also supported the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Cassidy, colleagues urge FEMA to end unaffordable Risk Rating 2.0 program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and seven Republican colleagues in sending a letter to acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Richardson urging the agency to end the Biden administration’s failed Risk Rating 2.0 program.
    Under Risk Rating 2.0, an estimated 80 percent of Louisiana National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders experienced monthly flood insurance premium increases in 2025.
    “Since the Biden Administration’s rollout of Risk Rating 2.0, premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) increased in every state. By FEMA’s own estimates, 77 percent of all NFIP policies now pay more than under the old system,” the senators wrote.
    “The lack of transparency surrounding Risk Rating 2.0 is beyond troubling. FEMA has never allowed for meaningful public comment nor has it published the underlying data or assumptions used to justify the steep premium increases and refuses to disclose its actuarial model. Without transparency, communities cannot plan mitigation projects, lenders cannot accurately underwrite mortgages, and citizens cannot appeal punitive rate increases. Worse still, rising costs encourage policy lapses—shifting risk back to taxpayers when disasters strike,” they continued.
    “Each month that Risk Rating 2.0 continues unchecked, more families are forced to abandon their insurance coverage, neighborhoods face economic strain, and entire communities risk collapse after the next disaster,” the lawmakers added. 
    Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) also joined the letter.
    Background:
    In 2023, Kennedy introduced the Risk Rating 2.0 Transparency Act, which would require FEMA to publish an explanation of how the agency is determining flood insurance prices under Risk Rating 2.0. 
    In 2023, Kennedy also introduced the Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which would cap annual flood insurance premium increases.
    In 2024, Kennedy spoke in the Senate Banking Committee about FEMA’s dishonesty concerning the Risk Rating 2.0 program, noting that the agency “said a million people of the 5 million people [who hold NFIP policies] will see their rates go down. I haven’t talked to a single person who’s seen their rates go down.”
    The full letter is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Shaheen, Schumer Lead Amicus Brief Supporting Oregon Attorney General Rayfield Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    June 10, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today led their colleagues in filing an amicus brief in Oregon v. Department of Homeland Security, a key case led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield challenging the Trump Administration’s abuse of emergency powers to impose tariffs.
    The brief—which Wyden spearheaded with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)—opposes the Administration’s request for a stay of a recent court decision that struck down these tariffs.  
    “Donald Trump has been abusing the law on trade since Day One, and the result has been trade chaos that is raising prices and costing American jobs,” said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “I stand with AG Rayfield and Oregonians to tell the court that Congress never intended the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to be a blank check to tax everything Americans buy. The faster these tariffs are struck down and Congress restores its authority over trade and tariffs, the better it will be for American families.”
    “Trump’s illegal and chaotic tariffs are harming American consumers and businesses, leaving them to foot the bill for Trumpflation’s rising prices,” Merkley said. “While Trump is doing all he can to make life more expensive for families across the country, we’re fighting back against the Trump tariff wrecking ball with every tool at our disposal.”
    “Trump’s tariffs make everything more expensive for all of us – from the food you buy at the grocery store to your monthly utility bill, most Oregonians cannot afford $3800 a year for these tariffs,” Rayfield said. “Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley’s support in this case further illustrates how the president is misusing his emergency powers.”
     In May, the U.S. Court of International Trade held that the Trump Administration lacked authority to issue the challenged tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—a statute that no president prior to President Trump has ever tried to use to impose tariffs. The Senators’ amicus brief argues a stay should be rejected.  
    “Granting a stay will cause irreparable harm to constituents of?Amici,?particularly thousands of small and medium-sized businesses that will continue to be harmed if the President persists in collecting the unlawful IEEPA tariffs,” the senators wrote. “Small businesses do not have cash-on-hand or capital reserves to pay the increased tariffs, nor can they quickly?adapt to them by modifying supply chains.??If they cannot pass on the tariff costs to consumers—which would create additional harms for?Amici’s constituents—many face letting employees go or filing for bankruptcy. ?Even a few weeks of additional tariffs means small businesses will suffer irreparable harm.” 
    “The powers to impose tariffs and regulate international trade were given to Congress for a reason,” the senators continued. “Absent authorization from Congress to impose tariffs and approval to enter binding, durable trade agreements, it is contrary to the public interest for the President to arrogate Congress’s power to himself.” 
    “Further, the broad-based tariffs, which include extensive levies on treaty allies Japan, Canada, and members of the NATO alliance, undermine U.S. national security by weakening U.S. alliances,” the senators concluded. “Amici? regularly?interact?with U.S.-allied leaders who want to work with the U.S. on security and economic matters; IEEPA tariffs have been raised as one of the foremost irritants and obstacles to maintaining strong partnerships with the U.S. ?Multiple allied governments, including Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, have threatened retaliation targeting American exports and American companies—further compounding the economic harm to?Amici’s?constituents. ?Denying a?stay will?ensure the Administration cannot continue to usurp powers granted to Congress, and it will promote?U.S. national security and economic interests.” 
    The full amicus brief is here.
    The amicus brief was signed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Warner (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Edward Markey (D-MA). 

    MIL OSI USA News –