Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

April 22, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) reintroduced the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act, which would prohibit offshore drilling along the Southern California coast, as a part of a larger initiative to ban offshore drilling in sensitive areas and protect our vibrant coastal communities.

Rep. Levin’s bill, The Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act, would prevent new leasing for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas along the Southern California coast, from San Diego to the northern border of San Luis Obispo County.

Rep. Levin introduced this bill along with:

• Rep. Huffman’s (D-CA) West Coast Ocean Protection Act
• Rep. Pallone’s (D-NJ) Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act
• Rep. Castor’s (D-FL) Florida Coast Protection Act
• Rep. Carbajal’s (D-CA) California Clean Coast Act
• Rep. Panetta’s (D-CA) Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025
• Rep. Magaziner’s (D-RI) New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025
• Rep. Ross’ (D-NC) Defend our Coast Act

These bills would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any oil and gas lease leases or any other authorizations along the entire coast of California and in other coastal areas across the country. Together, these bills will protect valuable ecosystems and the economic viability of communities concerned about oil spills.

“I’m joining my colleagues to permanently protect our beautiful coasts and put a stop to offshore drilling in sensitive areas,” said Rep. Mike Levin. “These bills take a vitally important step in protecting our communities from the consequences of offshore drilling, especially as the Trump Administration attempts to unleash drilling on our coastline in San Diego and Orange County. The Administration wants to risk disastrous environmental impacts on our beaches, threatening our coastal economy and way of life to line the pockets of oil executives. I’m proud to join my colleagues in the California Delegation and across the country in taking a stand against offshore drilling nationwide.”

Rep. Levin has advocated extensively for a ban on offshore drilling. In November 2024, Rep. Levin sent a letter to the Biden Administration that resulted in the withdrawal of future oil and natural gas leasing in sensitive coastal areas across the country, including in Southern California. In January 2025, the Trump Administration once again opened these areas to drilling and has taken measures to expand offshore drilling and roll back environmental regulations
                          

“The Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act will protect our environment, economy, climate, and way of life from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development. The 2021 Amplify Energy Oil Spill off Orange County showed the damage that offshore drilling can inflict on coastal ecosystems and marine wildlife and triggered beach and fishery closures that disrupted southern California’s tourism-based economy. The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support these and other bills to permanently prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters,” said Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager, Surfrider Foundation.

“Southern California’s coastal communities depend on thriving oceans and wildlife, and they know all too well the devastating costs of offshore spills, busted pipelines, and oil-covered beaches,” said Joseph Gordon, Oceana Campaign Director. “Oceana commends Congressman Levin for reintroducing this important legislation that would permanently protect the Golden State’s beloved southern coast from the dangers of oil and gas drilling and spilling. This bill is part of a state and national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling.” 

“The Surf Industry Members Association is proud to support the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act. Our coastline is not just a vital economic engine—it’s the heart of our culture and way of life for millions across the region. Prohibiting new offshore oil and gas leasing in Southern California is a critical step to protect our waves, our marine ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them. We urge Congress to pass it to ensure a clean, thriving ocean for generations to come,” said Vipe Desai, Executive Director, Surf Industry Members Association

“This administration is determined to sell off our oceans to pad Big Oil pockets. Permanently protecting the waters off southern California puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and ecosystems have a chance to thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).  “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to set us back on track to tackle climate change and protect our ocean from an industry that only cares about its bottom line.”

This legislation is endorsed by organizations including: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Earthjustice, Oceana, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Surf Industry Members Association, Food & Water Watch, Peace Boat US, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Hispanic Access Foundation

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Washington, DC — Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) led 25 members of Congress urging the administration to lower prices at the gas pump by allowing the nationwide sale of E-15 this summer. The bipartisan letter asked President Donald Trump to extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to permit the sale of ethanol blends up to 15 percent from June 1 through September 15, 2025 and engage directly with requests from eight Midwestern states, including Nebraska, to maintain uniform access to ethanol blends.

In the letter the members wrote:

“To safeguard our energy supply, we must preserve the home-grown, affordable option higher ethanol blends provide. The administration’s efforts to unleash American energy independence is a long-term goal but can begin in the short term with preserving flexibility in our domestic energy production and supply through this emergency waiver.”  

“Extending the nationwide sale of E15 can again bolster our nation’s energy resilience by adding billions of gallons of ethanol to the nation’s fuel supply, lowering the cost of gas for American families at a time when prices are already too high. As affirmed when you first allowed for year-round E15 in 2019, and those approved for the summers afterward, the sale of higher blends of biofuels during the summer months supports the domestic fuel supply, reduces consumer costs, and promotes American biofuels and agriculture feedstocks.”

Read full text of the letter here.

BACKGROUND:
Congressman Smith first introduced a bill to approve year-round sale of E15 in 2015.

On February 6, 2025, Smith and Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) led nearly 30 colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to EPA  Administrator Lee Zeldin. The letter emphasized the important role of the American biofuels industry in maximizing energy abundance and affordability while encouraging the EPA to issue timely and science-driven guidance to fulfill the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

On February 13, Smith and Craig introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act to enable the year-round, nationwide sale of E15. Read more about the bipartisan, bicameral legislation here.

On March 11, Smith led a bipartisan press conference highlighting grassroots support for eliminating restrictions on E15 sales.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), released the following statement on the Administration’s decision to cut more than 400 grants funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF):

“I am deeply concerned by the Trump Administration’s decision to once again slash National Science Foundation (NSF) support for science, this time terminating more than 400 research and STEM education grants. The NSF has spent decades working to diversify our STEM workforce and support cutting-edge research that ultimately improves the lives of Americans. Its efforts to broaden participation in science have empowered our nation to become the global leader in research and innovation, leading to major discoveries and advancements in health care, manufacturing, national security, and other fields.

Under this administration, our scientific research community has already faced illegal funding freezes and staffing cuts, with detrimental consequences. Terminating federal grants supporting this work will cause even more chaos and confusion at the NSF and research institutions across the country. Opportunities are being ripped away from our most promising young minds, and the uncertainty of federal support for research and development means we will lose our top talent to other countries or careers, stunting American research and innovation for generations to come. 

Experts, not political agendas, should guide scientific research. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, I expect the NSF to meet its statutory obligations, restore this federal funding, and allow valuable research and STEM education projects to continue without political pressure.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

April 23, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) led 39 House Democrats in a letter to Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Lisa McMahon demanding DOE immediately restore shuttered Office for Civil Rights (OCR) hubs and fulfill its statutory civil rights mandate.

“While slashing the Department’s workforce has impacted every aspect of the Department’s role, OCR was particularly hard hit,” the lawmakers wrote. “At the time of these terminations, OCR had 550 employees, at least 243 of whom have reportedly been put on administrative leave or terminated. These terminations, and the shuttering of offices across the country, will make the Department less able to protect vulnerable students against harassment and civil rights violations.”

The OCR is the core federal body that protects students’ right to equal access to education. OCR lawyers and staff are responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination brought by students when they are discriminated against by schools based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age. They also develop regulations and policy guidance to support these protections and provide technical assistance to schools attempting to protect their students’ rights. OCR administers the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), a biennial survey of early education and K-12 local education agencies and schools on enforcing civil rights protections in their districts.

In March, reports indicate DOE enacted significant staffing cuts to OCR, and closed OCR hubs in Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.

In addition to Reps. Casten, Moore, Beyer, and Hayes, the letter was signed by Barragan, Cherfilus-McCormick, Chu, Clarke, Danny Davis, Espaillat, Evans, Friedman, Goldman, Huffman, Ivey, Jonathan Jackson, Julie Johnson, Keating, Krishnamoorthi, Landsman, Lynch, Mannion, McCollum, Meng, Moulton, Nadler, Panetta, Peters, Pocan, Ramirez, Ruiz, Sanchez,  Schakowsky, Simon, Tlaib, Torres, Vargas, Veasey, and Williams.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Secretary McMahon:

The staffing cuts to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Education and the closure of OCR hubs in Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, clearly compromise the Department’s ability to fulfill its statutory civil rights mandate. We demand an immediate restoration of these staff and offices to fulfill the Department’s congressionally directed responsibilities.

The Department of Education was established with the express purpose to strengthen the Federal commitment to ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual, as well as to increase the accountability of Federal education programs to the President, the Congress, and the public. The Office for Civil rights was explicitly established within the Department to ensure that all schools receiving federal funds abide by federal civil rights laws.

The OCR, established by the Department of Education Organization Act in 1979, provides an invaluable service to students nationwide, protecting their equal access to education. OCR lawyers and staff are responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination brought by students, when they are discriminated against by schools based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age. They also develop regulations and policy guidance to support these protections and provide technical assistance to schools attempting to protect their students’ rights.

OCR also administers the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), a biennial survey of early education and K-12 local education agencies and schools on enforcing civil rights protections in their districts. The data collected through the CRDC informs the investigation and enforcement work OCR conducts when it receives specific complaints from students and the regulations and guidance that the Department of Education promulgates. This data is critical to help the Department of Education and lawmakers understand trends in discrimination and school climate.

No student should be unsafe in school and OCR is a key component of keeping our students safe. 

OCR provides a crucial safeguard when state and local education agencies are unable or unwilling to protect their students, and robust funding for their work is more critical than ever. In 2023 OCR received over 19,000 individual complaints from students who alleged discriminatory treatment by their publicly funded schools. 

This broke the 2022 record and is more than double the number of complaints received in 2021. Eliminating staffing and closing the hubs flies in that face of the transparently increasing demand.

Despite the increasing number of complaints, OCR was already underfunded and understaffed and closing these regional offices will worsen the situation and further jeopardize the office’s vital work. As of 2023, OCR had eighteen percent fewer staff than in 2016, and OCR was recently further diminished by the widespread layoffs that hit the Department in March 2025. While slashing the Department’s workforce has impacted every aspect of the Department’s role, OCR was particularly hard hit. At the time of these terminations, OCR had 550 employees, at least 243 of whom have reportedly been put on administrative leave or terminated. These terminations, and the shuttering of offices across the country, will make the Department less able to protect vulnerable students against harassment and civil rights violations.

After meeting with House Members who expressed concern with the unlawful dismantling of the Department of Education, you tweeted, “[our] collective goal should be to support students, not the broken bureaucracy.” OCR’s role is to do just that – guaranteeing students equal access to education, but firing these staff just contributes to broken bureaucracy. The legacy of Ruby Bridges demands that we have a successful and robustly staffed OCR.

To better understand the Trump Administration’s plans regarding the Department of Education, please respond to the following questions:

1. Please describe in detail how the proposed OCR hub closures and staffing reductions will improve its authorized and funded activities, and how it will enhance the educational climate and well-being of students across the country.
2. What impact, if any, does the Administration estimate these closures and terminations will have on the number, type, depth, or length of investigations at the Office of Civil Rights? How did you arrive at these estimates?
3. How were the Office for Civil Rights offices in Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco chosen for closure? How did the Department assess the impact of these office closures on the work of the Office of Civil Rights prior to initiating these terminations?
4. Please provide a justification for whether or not these closures include any reprogramming or transfer of funds.
5. How will these office closures impact the process by which students, families, and teachers report allegations of civil rights violations in schools? How will any new processes be communicated to these groups?

We are deeply concerned that these actions are a de facto violation of the Department’s legislative mandate, urge you to reemploy OCR staff and reopen essential OCR regional offices nationwide. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Rep. Larsen Statement on Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

Trahan Nominates Third District Students to Service Academies

Lowell, April 23, 2025

LOWELL, MA – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) hosted a ceremony to nominate students from across the Third District to United States Service Academies. The event was held at Dracut’s Harvey J. Gagnon Harmony Hall.
“It’s one of my greatest honors and most serious responsibilities to nominate outstanding young men and women from our district to our nation’s service academies,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “These students are driven by something bigger than themselves – by a desire to serve, to lead, and to contribute to the common good. Their commitment to country and community inspires hope for the future of our armed forces and our nation.”
This year, Trahan nominated students from across the Third District to the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Nominees include:
West Point:

Savannah Liles, Littleton, Littleton High School
Gavin Datta, Acton, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School
Harold Nerrow, Concord, Concord-Carlisle High School, Villanova University
Samuel Richenburg, Haverhill, St. John’s Prep
Tait O’Koniewski, Lawrence, Austin Preparatory School
Hieu-Shawn Phan, Methuen, Northeastern University – Liberty Battalion Army ROTC
Private First Class Pearl Kalungi, Lowell, United States Army
Thomas Collins, Tyngsborough, Tyngsborough High School
Raily Romano Hidalgo, Haverhill, Haverhill High School

Naval Academy:

Thomas Livens, Carlisle, Lawrence Academy
Lincoln Green, Concord, Concord-Carlisle High School
Yazmin Jenkins, Lowell, Greater Lowell Technical High School
John James Rubera, Haverhill, Haverhill High School
Eliot Hong, Billerica, Shawsheen Valley Technical High School

Air Force Academy:

Charles Stone, Concord, Concord-Carlisle High School
Darro Sieu, Billerica, Billerica Memorial High School

Merchant Marine Academy:

Gunnar Lyons, Concord, Concord-Carlisle High School

The student nominees were interviewed and recommended by volunteer members of Trahan’s Service Academy Board, which is composed of academy alumni, veterans, and community leaders. Current board members include:

Pat Wojtas: A United States Air Force veteran, Pat was the first woman in Massachusetts to be commissioned to the Air Force through the ROTC program at UMass Amherst. She is currently a member of the Chelmsford Select Board.
Leanne Collazo: A retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and West Point graduate, Suzanne was a UH-60 pilot and Battalion Commander.
John Moses: A United States Army veteran, John has been an active member of the Afghan Evac community since the start of evacuation in August 2021. He is currently a member of the Chelmsford School Committee.
Harold Naughton Jr.: A Major in the United States Army Reserve, Harold previously represented the 12th Worcester District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
David Cote: A United States Marine Corps veteran and graduate of the United States Naval Academy, David leads The Summit Project, a veteran-focused nonprofit that sustains the memories of post-September 11th servicemembers who were killed in action. In 2011, he was named the Military Times Marine of the Year.
Paulette Joyce: A retired Westford teacher, Paulette advocates for veterans following the passing of her husband, United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Fred Joyce.

More information on the military service academy nomination process can be found HERE.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s move to significantly reorganize the Department of the Interior:

“On Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend, the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittees received a letter from the Department of the Interior related to a Department-wide reorganization to consolidate administrative and support services. The letter does not include any detail about changes to organizational structure, funding flows, staffing, or any other functions, and the Trump Administration has not yet agreed to provide any further information. The letter states that the first phase of the reorganization would start within 48 hours—on Easter Sunday.

“It is unacceptable for the Administration to unilaterally overhaul agency structure and funding through a hasty, mid-year shuffle—especially when the fiscal year 2025 Appropriations bill clearly maintains the Department’s longstanding operations and organization. The services it seeks to move from each individual bureau to the department level—like hiring seasonal park rangers, engaging with communities around specific public lands, conducting fair and cost-effective bidding for major construction projects, and overseeing grants tied to program-specific eligibilities—form the operational backbone of each bureau and reflect their distinct missions and authorities. Making such broad-sweeping changes without conducting detailed organizational research, evaluating consequences, planning a transition, or consulting Congress is reckless.

“Given the Administration’s ongoing illegal funding freezes, assault on the federal workforce, haphazard cancellation of building leases, and other efforts to throw agencies into total chaos and paralyze the federal government, we cannot take any such reorganization as a serious attempt to improve efficiency. We demand that the Department of the Interior halt implementation of this large-scale reorganization and propose such changes in the President’s budget request for full examination and final determination by Congress.”

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