Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13), sent a letter to District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson of Gwinnett County, Randy McGinley of Newton County, and Alisha Johnson of Rockdale County, expressing his commitment to criminal justice reform across Georgia and extending a strong hand of support at the federal level. The letter follows on the heels of the recently redrawn congressional lines for the thirteenth district.

“Ensuring a fair, equitable, and effective criminal justice system requires a strong collaborative approach from all levels of government—including local, state, and federal,” said Congressman David Scott. “Promoting evidence-based reforms to address pressing issues like recidivism, over-incarceration and substance abuse have a proven track record of keeping communities safe. Recognizing rehabilitative justice initiatives, such as accountability courts that provide individuals with second chances, highlight the need for such reforms. I look forward to cultivating this partnership with Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County DAs to secure federal resources and keep our communities safe.”  

The Georgia Justice Project expressed their support for the letter, with Policy Director Wade Askew stating, “Since 1988, Georgia Justice Project has stood alongside those impacted by the criminal legal system, seeking to reduce the number of Georgians under correctional control and remove barriers to reentry. We envision a system in which healing and wholeness are centered, true second chances are offered, and community investment leads to public safety for all. We support Congressman David Scott’s efforts to reduce recidivism, promote accountability courts, and end over-reliance on incarceration, and we are grateful to partner with prosecutors across the state who share this vision.”

Congressman Scott has consistently collaborated with local district attorneys’ in Fulton, Cobb, Henry, Clayton, and Douglas County to address recidivism, over-incarceration, and the need for comprehensive criminal justice reform. In 2023, he led a letter to each Atlanta-area DA urging them to expand accountability courts to reduce recidivism rates and address the growing backlog of cases. The congressman has also secured tens of millions in federal funding to assist local law enforcement and the communities they serve.  

The text of the letter can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13) issued the following statement regarding House Republicans’ budget resolution that would increase the poverty rate for tens of millions of working people while giving a $2 trillion tax giveaway to corporations and the wealthiest Americans.

“Make no mistake, House Republicans’ budget reconciliation proposal would provide tax breaks for the rich at the expense of crucial nutrition and health programs meant to help working-class American families,” said Congressman David Scott. “Slashing food assistance in SNAP by $230 billion will reduce access to meals for the nearly 514,000 Georgia households that rely on the program to put food on the table. It will also bring uncertainty to millions of U.S. households, including those with young children, who will lose access to ACA, Medicaid, and CHIP services. I will oppose any effort to reduce benefits or gut funding to these vital programs.”

To pay for their massive tax giveaways, House Republicans plan to take away lifesaving health care, increase the cost of essentials like food and housing, and decimate services working families count on. In Georgia’s 13^th district, this budget would hurt:

·         111,000 people who receive health coverage under the Affordable Care Act and would see their average premium go up by $480 per year—a 59% increase. Many families would face even steeper consequences. A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 would see health insurance costs increase by $15,868 per year — a 220% increase.

·         126,935 people on Medicaid who will be at risk of losing their health care, including more than 85,000 kids under the age of 19 and 8,676 seniors over 65.

·         families struggling to put food on the table, as it threatens 35,969 children, seniors, veterans, and working parents who count on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13) reintroduced legislation to permanently extend federal scholarship funding for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in food and agriculture fields at 1890s colleges and universities. This bill ensures Congress will continue to support and prioritize the nineteen 1890 Institutions in light of dangerous funding cuts.

“The food and agriculture sector has a significant impact on everyday life for millions of Americans, and maintaining a strong agriculture workforce is critical in protecting our food supply,” said Congressman David Scott. “Unfortunately, for centuries, African Americans have been systematically left out of academic opportunities in the food and agricultural sectors. Bringing a diverse range of talented and creative minds into the industry is vital to a healthy and growing workforce. As a proud graduate of Florida A&M University, one of the nineteen 1890 colleges, I know the value these institutions hold and the importance of funding this great student scholarship program on an ongoing, permanent basis.” 

The 1890 Institutions are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that are partners in the U.S. Land-Grant system and were established to support the education of African American students in agriculture and mechanical arts. Scholarships for Students at 1890 Institutions support the recruitment, retention, and training of undergraduates—encouraging students to complete degrees in food and agricultural sciences. Congressman Scott was proud to secure $80 million for these scholarships in the 2018 Farm Bill.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that approximately 58,000 high-skilled jobs open each year in the food and agricultural sector, some of which, such as veterinarians, food scientists, and agribusiness managers, require graduate degrees. However, only around 35,000 new graduates in the U.S. with food and agricultural sciences degrees are currently available to take these jobs.

To reduce the food and agriculture workforce deficit and help African American students complete their degrees, the 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities Scholarship Act provides $25 million annually for Scholarships for Students at 1890 Institutions on a permanent basis and expands funding to be used for graduate degrees in food and agricultural sciences.

The text of the bill can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in reaction to senior Trump Administration officials jeopardizing national security:

“Secretary Hegseth must be removed from his position for recklessly sharing target and weapons information outside of secure channels and endangering the lives of our men and women in uniform.

“It is simply unfathomable that this country’s top military and intelligence officials and the Vice President of the United States were discussing classified details of an active military operation over a non-secure messaging platform. After questioning two of those involved in the incident – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe – it is clear that they do not take the intelligence community and their vital work seriously. In any normal administration, such a breach would be met with swift action, including removing those involved from their positions. At the very least, the administration should launch a thorough investigation into the communications methods being used to share information among senior officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Director Ratcliffe and Director Gabbard. Instead, President Trump is standing by his appointees and refusing to hold them accountable.”

“As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I have grave concerns about the security of our nation and the safety of U.S. intelligence sources around the world, in the hands of this group of individuals. The fact that none of those involved in this incident have offered their resignation or have been fired is outrageous.”

On Wednesday, March 26, Quigley questioned Directors Gabbard and Ratcliffe during the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence’s Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment Hearing. Video of his questioning is available HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in reaction to the resumption of hostilities in the Israel-Hamas conflict:

“This week, Prime Minister Netanyahu resumed airstrikes in Gaza, shattering the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Nearly 600 Palestinians were reportedly killed over 72 hours, with hundreds more injured. Over the past nearly 60 days of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, 25 living Israeli hostages and eight dead hostages were finally returned to their families and hundreds of aid trucks entered Gaza. The path forward was clear: A second phase of the agreement where all remaining hostages were released and an end to the war was negotiated, followed by a final phase focused on Gaza’s reconstruction. 

“Hamas is an evil terrorist organization that cynically exploits civilians and has little to no regard for life – even the lives of other Palestinians. While Israel has the indisputable right to defend itself against Hamas, the way it conducts this war is important. Resuming the conflict, rather than continuing negotiations and reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement, only makes Israel and Israelis less safe. Israel and Hamas cannot return to their previous state of war that resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, the displacement of millions, and a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Though hostilities have resumed, it is imperative that all parties return to the negotiating table immediately. We must find a path to a lasting peace that ensures the release of the remaining hostages, security for Israelis and Palestinians, and lays the groundwork for a two-state solution.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, sent a letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian requesting answers in regard to GSA’s recent termination of federal government leases across Illinois. As of March 6, 2025, GSA, in conjunction with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claims to have terminated 793 federal leases across the country—24 of which are in Illinois. These abrupt lease terminations have left impacted agencies in the dark and created alarm and confusion for federal workers.

The lawmakers wrote, “The Trump Administration has made clear its intent to reduce GSA’s footprint by selling half of the buildings owned by the federal government and terminating half of the leases used by federal agencies nationwide. However, the lack of transparency around these actions and DOGE’s influence in the process of lease terminations is troubling. The ‘wall of receipts’ touted on the DOGE website is not an adequate source of information. The so-called department has acted carelessly, terminating leases recklessly and without proper consultation with the agencies involved or consideration for the workers, constituents, and communities impacted by these decisions.”

“GSA and DOGE terminated 24 leases in Illinois, claiming an alleged ‘savings’ of $15 million. We are concerned about the impact these lease terminations may have on Illinoisans’ ability to access critical federal services. For example, the closure of a Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Rockford, Illinois, could make it difficult for seniors and people with disabilities to schedule appointments or apply for retirement and disability benefits, as the next closest SSA office is more than a 30-minute drive away. In addition, DOGE reportedly is pressuring the SSA to reduce its 1-800 phone services, which would exacerbate the difficulty seniors and people with disabilities would face in claiming their benefits,” the lawmakers continued. 

Several Department of Labor (DOL) office leases in Illinois also were terminated, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office in Naperville, Illinois, and the Wage and Hour Division office in Springfield, Illinois. These closures will make it more difficult for Illinoisans to report workplace incidents and file confidential complaints against employers who violate wage and child labor laws, as well as health and safety standards. Further, the termination of the Small Business Administration (SBA) office lease in Springfield, Illinois, along with a March 6, 2025, announcement that SBA plans to relocate its Chicago regional office, could leave Illinois without an SBA office at all. This decision would complicate Illinois small businesses’ ability to access SBA loan programs, disaster recovery loans, and federal contracts crucial to their livelihoods.

In addition to Durbin and Duckworth, the letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17). 

The Congressional delegation requested GSA respond to a number of outstanding questions by April 4, 2025. 

A copy of the full letter is available here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) co-signed a letter with Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), and 21 other Members of Congress urging the Trump administration to reverse its recent announcement to shut down six regional offices in the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of General Counsel. Region V Office, which would be closed, serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The Office of General Counsel protects patients from fraud and bad actors, and retrieved more than $3.4 billion to the federal government and individuals from civil health care fraud settlements and judgments.

“The planned shutdown of more than half of the regional offices would leave only four offices to serve a country of over 330 million people and directly undermine HHS’s capacity to improve America’s health and effectively safeguard taxpayer dollars,” members wrote in the letter. “In addition to being a shortsighted effort that will severely hinder HHS’s ability to fulfill its mission, the planned office closures stand in direct opposition to the Trump Administration’s purported focus on combatting ‘waste, fraud, and abuse.’

“We therefore urge you to reconsider this plan to shutter vital regional offices, including the Region V office in Chicago, and instead work towards ensuring all offices remain fully operational and adequately resourced to do their jobs,” members continued in the letter. “The American people deserve better than this. If you are truly committed to improving the efficiency of our health care system, making America healthy, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, we hope you will prioritize the enforcement of our nation’s health laws and the standards that help ensure the safety and dignity of our nation’s most vulnerable.”

Read the full letter here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Today, Representative Jack Bergman took part in a hearing by the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, underscoring the need to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List. Expressing his strong support for H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, Rep. Bergman highlighted the Great Lakes Region’s overwhelmingly successful efforts in recovering the once-endangered species, and he emphasized the critical need to now return wolf management efforts to individual state wildlife agencies.

Rep. Bergman stated, “The gray wolf has made a remarkable comeback in the Upper Peninsula, and the data confirms it. Yet, local, state, and tribal wildlife officials remain unable to manage wolf populations due to Washington’s failure to adapt to changing conditions on the ground. The needs and circumstances of Michigan aren’t the same as those of other states, but rigid, one-size-fits-all federal regulation continues to ignore that. The people of Michigan – not bureaucrats in Washington or federal judges thousands of miles away – know what’s best for our state. I’m proud to support the Pet and Livestock Protection Act to return wolf management to the states, where it belongs.”

In 2020, the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under President Trump delisted the gray wolf across the lower 48 states based on the best available science and data. However, in 2022, a federal judge in California vacated this rule. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2020 Department of the Interior final rule which delisted gray wolves in the lower 48 states and ensures this rule can’t be overturned through judicial review.

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the wolf population has surpassed 760 and has been steadily rising for over a decade. While this recovery marks a conservation success, it has also led to a rise in wolf encounters among UP residents. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act is a science-based solution that empowers states to manage their wolf populations effectively without unnecessary federal interference.

Watch the full video of his remarks here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Last week, Representatives Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Protect Postal Performance Act, to prevent the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from downsizing facilities in underserved areas, provide more oversight over modifications to delivery schedules, and increase public transparency on proposed changes. The legislation is co-led by Representatives Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Jared Golden (ME-02), and Chris Pappas (NH-01).

“For those in Michigan’s First District and other rural areas, timely mail service is essential. Whether it’s for bills, medications, or other vital resources, their mail service must function properly and efficiently. They deserve a system that works, not one plagued by unnecessary delays due to poor decision-making. The Protect Postal Performance Act aims to put the needs of rural America ahead of the ill-conceived plans of bureaucrats. I’m proud to lead this with Congresswoman Budzinski to ensure accountability and transparency in the postal service,” Rep. Bergman stated.

“My constituents in Central and Southern Illinois are already facing delays in service and the Postmaster General’s plans to downsize USPS would only worsen the situation—leading to more missed paychecks, late bills, and even delays in essential medications,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I was proud to bring forward bipartisan legislation to push back on this misguided effort that could further impact poor delivery rates for rural Americans. This bill not only seeks to prevent further deterioration in service but also ensures more transparency in USPS reforms while safeguarding local postal jobs.”

“Concerns about the Delivering for America’s potential impact on consumers are consistently raised by stakeholders across the board, including the Postal Regulatory Commission in its Advisory Opinion. The Protect Postal Performance Act goes a long way to preserve rural communities’ access to reliable mail service. This bill rightfully places additional safeguards on USPS for changes that seek to restructure its rural processing and delivery network, ensures transparency in decision-making, and expands opportunities for public engagement. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Budzinski in a bipartisan manner to continue this fight,” Rep. Hageman added.

“For years, Postal Service leadership has made explicit choices to lengthen delivery times, abruptly close rural post offices, and ignore inquiries from concerned citizens and lawmakers. Congress must act to hold the agency accountable. Our bill is a collection of simple, realistic reforms to make future decision making more transparent and ensure the Postal Service no longer neglects rural America. I’m proud to help lead this important mission with Congresswoman Budzinski and Maine’s dedicated postal employees,” Rep. Golden remarked. 

“New Hampshire seniors, families, and businesses rely on the U.S. Postal Service for their medications, mail, and packages. USPS must take actions that will improve service – not make it worse,” said Rep. Pappas. “By preventing harmful facility downsizing and strengthening on-time deliveries, this bipartisan legislation would safeguard mail service for communities across New Hampshire. I’ll continue to support efforts that strengthen transparency, protect our postal workers, and improve mail service.”

The Protect Postal Performance Act is endorsed by the United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA).

“UPMA is grateful for the bipartisan efforts of Rep. Budzinski, Rep. Hageman, Rep. Golden, Rep. Bergman and Rep. Pappas in Congress to protect the workers of the postal service from service cuts that would negatively impact the quality of mail delivery received by the American people. The Protecting Postal Performance Act will help ensure evidence, data, and sound management practices lead the USPS’s strategy going forward and will ensure that any changes to retail and postal facilities in the future are fully vetted. Sound financial management of the Postal Service means a sustainable postal service – and UPMA will be a partner in ensuring that the organization follows the data to be the best service provider to the American people,” said Tony Leonardi, National President United Postmasters and Managers of America.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

This week, Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Scott Peters (D-CA-50) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen transparency and accuracy in improper payment reporting that will reduce waste and fraud.

The Improper Payments Transparency Act (H.R. 1771) would direct the President’s budget request to Congress to include the amounts and rates of improper payments at each executive agency, year-over-year trends, a detailed explanation of trends, and a summary of any corrective actions taken to address improper payments. Including this key data in the budget would correct the gaps in improper payment reporting, which in turn would streamline funding to essential government programs and reduce wasteful use of taxpayer dollars.

“I’m proud to join Rep. Yakym in introducing this vital legislation to rein in out-of-control spending of taxpayer dollars in Washington. To get our country back on a fiscally responsible track and ensure Americans are keeping more of their hard-earned money, we must quickly eliminate waste within the federal government. The Improper Payments Transparency Act is a great step in the right direction, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join this effort,” Rep. Bergman stated.

“Government waste and fraud continue to drain taxpayer dollars at an alarming rate, undermining public trust and fiscal responsibility. I’m proud to reintroduce this common sense, bipartisan bill to increase transparency and combat improper payments,” Rep. Yakym said. “The American people deserve full transparency and accountability in how their hard-earned money is spent, and this legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds.”

Rep. Panetta added, “Over the past two decades, the federal government has made more than $2.8 trillion in improper payments, errors that waste taxpayer dollars and undermine public trust. Our bipartisan Improper Payments Transparency Act would ensure the President’s annual budget request provides detailed reporting on these payments, giving Congress and the American people a clearer picture of where and why these mistakes happen.  This is the right way to go about increasing transparency and by shedding light on improper payments, we take another step toward responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds.”

“According to the Government Accountability Office, federal agencies have made $2.8 trillion in improper payments since 2003. Some have used this to claim we spend trillions on fraud and justify firing inspectors general who do real oversight. In reality, many improper payments happen because well-meaning doctors miscode services when submitting mountains of paperwork to Medicare, or because a Social Security beneficiary didn’t receive their check in the correct amount. We do need government efficiency, but we need to do it in a way that is within the bounds of the law. The Improper Payments Transparency Act will ensure future Presidents’ budget requests include more detail on what is actually happening with improper payments — so Congress can start doing its job,” Rep. Peters concluded.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

Background:

Since 2003, the federal government has made $2.8 trillion in improper payments. In Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), 14 federal agencies reported a total of $236 billion in improper payments across 71 government programs, leading to reduced funding to programs and people in need.

Improper payment reporting requirements are severely lacking. In FY 2023, GAO identified eight programs as susceptible to significant improper payments that were required to report improper payment estimates but did not do so. GAO also found that 10 of the 24 largest executive branch agencies did not fully comply with reporting criteria as governed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Payment Integrity Information Act. Not every government program is required to report estimated improper payments each year. By law, agencies make the determination for their own programs in accordance with guidance from the OMB.