Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led an amicus brief in support of the defense of New York Attorney General Tish James in the face of a blatantly biased and political prosecution by the Department of Justice, which is heeding the lawless demands of a president bent on vengeance, not justice. The amicus brief follows her indictment by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) filed the following amicus brief in support of New York Attorney General Tish James, who has been unjustly indicted in Eastern District of Virginia, by an unqualified pawn of President Trump, following pressure from the Trump administration and the president to go after his perceived “political enemies.”

In September, President Trump, on Truth Social, called Tish James, “guilty as hell” and said that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”. This statement is clear evidence of the vendetta President Trump holds after AG James led an investigation of the then-former president’s company, the Trump Organization, leading to a civil fraud judgment against Trump last year. Just over two weeks after his Truth Social post, AG James was indicted in Virginia. Leader Schumer and Leader Jeffries are writing to the court to strongly concur with AG James’s lawyers’ argument that this case is threadbare on the merits and a biased political persecution.

“Donald Trump has corruptly weaponized the criminal justice system into his own personal retribution service, and he continues to disgrace the presidency and the country by violating the law with reckless abandon,” said Leader Jeffries. “The prosecution of Attorney General Tish James has no legitimate basis in law or fact and was brought by a woefully incompetent political hack. The American people are not fooled by Trump’s shameful attempt to bend the Department of Justice to his will. It will not stand.”

“This political witch hunt is an unfortunate representation of the Trump administration – vindictive, contemptuous of the rule of law, and corrupt,” said Leader Schumer. “After one U.S. attorney rejected this case, Trump handpicked an unqualified crony to go forward with the investigation and prosecution. This is not justice – it’s revenge. Every American – and court of law – should soundly reject this alarming lurch into authoritarianism and President Trump’s clear decision to use the Justice Department as his own partisan attack dog. No one is above the law. And no one should be able to pervert it for their benefit.”

The full amicus brief can be seen here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

November 14, 2025 | Press Releases

Watch the Video Here
SARASOTA — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today released the latest installment in his ongoing Veterans History Project Series, honoring the military service of constituents from Florida’s 17th District. This interview features Master Sergeant Glenn Ackerman, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from 1986 to 2006. 
Born and raised in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, Ackerman joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Yorktown High School in 1986. He completed Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base and Technical Training at Lowry Air Force Base. During the first few years of his service, Ackerman was assigned to Osan Air Force Base in South Korea, followed by Lindsey Air Station in Germany, Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana, and McChord Air Force Base in Washington.
It was at McChord where Ackerman realized his goal of becoming an Airlift Loadmaster, piloting the C-141B and later the C-17A aircraft. As an Airlift Loadmaster for the 4th, 8th, and 21st Airlift Squadrons, MSgt Ackerman provided support to Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, and Allied Force. His final assignment came with the 86th Air Mobility Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in Germany where he led rapid-deployment teams to facilitate Air Mobility Operations as part of the Global War on Terror.
For his service to the United States, MSgt Ackerman was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and other campaign and service-related decorations honoring his dedication and excellence. 
“I am grateful to Master Sergeant Glenn Ackerman for his decades of service to our country in the United States Air Force,” said Rep. Steube. “As a fellow veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I thank him for sharing his experiences as an Airlift Loadmaster, providing critical support to our troops and allies around the world. His distinguished service offers a new generation of Americans an inspiring example of courage and patriotism to follow.”
Please click here to watch the full interview.
Be sure to check Congressman Steube’s YouTube channel in the future for upcoming interviews.The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.Initially started in 2000, the Veterans History Project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of the United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from the veterans and better understand their service. Researchers, scholars, and educators rely upon VHP collections as a primary source. The oral histories, photographs, manuscripts, and other original materials supplement historical texts and valued cultural resources. Veterans from all branches and ranks of the United States military who served in World War I through the more recent conflicts are eligible to participate. For more information on the VHP, please visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/.If you live in Florida’s 17th Congressional district, please visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp to participate.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) pressed National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Acting Administrator Sean Duffy, to provide detailed answers on reported consolidation and reorganization activities at the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland. In their letter, the delegation members highlighted Goddard’s legacy of groundbreaking achievements over the years – including its leadership in the development of GPS technology as well as the Hubble and James Webb telescopes – and expressed grave concern that recent operational changes will impact its research capabilities, undermine Goddard’s workforce, and threaten to drive top scientists to space programs abroad. The lawmakers requested answers to a series of questions around recently reported changes and urged acting Administrator Duffy to safeguard Goddard’s status as a world-leading space and earth science institution by keeping its workforce stable and sustaining its world-class research capacity.

“The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland is the premiere Space and Earth Science research center in the world. Goddard’s research and innovation has helped us answer questions about our planet, the Sun, the solar system, and the Universe. The dedicated civil servant scientists, engineers, and contractors who work at Goddard’s facilities from Greenbelt, to the Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops, Virginia, to the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas have pushed scientific boundaries. Decades of pathbreaking work mean that today, the Global Positioning System (GPS) that we all rely on daily for navigation, the satellites that help us map fires for large scale firefighting, and telescopes in outer space are all being operated by the experts at the Goddard Space Flight Center. We urge you to support the patriotic Americans that do this essential work on behalf of our country and the world and ensure that they have the resources they need to lead the United States to new frontiers,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Unfortunately, actions taken during the last nine months threaten the workers at Goddard and their ability to lead the world in this science and exploration. Between unnecessary voluntary separations, deferred resignations, reductions in force, and other pressure, thousands of civil servants and contractors are no longer working at GSFC,” they continued. “Other countries with space programs from our political allies to our adversaries have been recruiting our top scientists and researchers with massive salaries, research budgets, and the promise of stability. Where the US has considered stepping back, China has made clear they are eager to step in. We can and must re-invest in the people and centers that make America the global space leader and that starts with Goddard.

“To that end, we have heard from employees and read reports about activities taking place on the Greenbelt campus that have raised questions among the workforce about the motivations and timing of building consolidations and such moves may affect institutional research capabilities,” the lawmakers wrote, going on to list a series of questions for the acting Administrator’s response regarding the building consolidations, the impact on the Center’s technological capabilities, plans to ensure readiness for future scheduled missions, and the number of employees tasked with carrying out these operational changes during the government shutdown, among others.

The lawmakers’ questions follow:

1.      When did NASA finalize plans to consolidate buildings on Goddard’s Greenbelt campus and what is the justification for the GSFC Greenbelt campus consolidation?

• Was a cost/benefit analysis performed before finalizing any plans? If so, please provide any such analysis.
• How much is Goddard expecting to save in utility and deferred maintenance costs by the consolidation?
• How much will the consolidation cost?
• How do the moves align with the 20-year master plan for the GSFC Greenbelt campus?

2.      What facilities changes have taken place at GSFC Greenbelt campus in 2025? Please include a list of affected buildings and explanation of the changes.

• What facilities changes have taken place at GSFC since October 1, 2025?
• What is the justification for moves occurring since October 1, 2025, during the lapse of appropriations?
• Are any further moves planned for 2025?
• If so, when are they expected to start?

3.      Have any technological capabilities been impacted by moves at Goddard’s Greenbelt campus?

• If yes, what capabilities?
• Has any operable equipment been modified, recycled, or destroyed?
• What plans does NASA have for the Goddard ElectroMagnetic Anechoic Chamber (GEMAC) that had been housed in Building 19?
• Have any capabilities necessary for the completion of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope been impacted, including by the closure of the propulsion laboratory in Building 11?
• How is Goddard going to mitigate these losses for design and construction of future missions?
• Please provide all analysis performed by NASA to determine what technological capabilities Goddard will require going forward to execute future missions, such as the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

4.      How many civil servants at NASA Goddard have been called back to campus since October 1, 2025, during the lapse of appropriations for the purposes of packing up their offices or laboratories?

Text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Acting Administrator Duffy:

The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland is the premiere Space and Earth Science research center in the world. Goddard’s research and innovation has helped us answer questions about our planet, the Sun, the solar system, and the Universe. The dedicated civil servant scientists, engineers, and contractors who work at Goddard’s facilities from Greenbelt, to the Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops, Virginia, to the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas have pushed scientific boundaries. Decades of pathbreaking work mean that today, the Global Positioning System (GPS) that we all rely on daily for navigation, the satellites that help us map fires for large scale firefighting, and telescopes in outer space are all being operated by the experts at the Goddard Space Flight Center. We urge you to support the patriotic Americans that do this essential work on behalf of our country and the world and ensure that they have the resources they need to lead the United States to new frontiers.

The Space program in the United States has always been driven by curiosity and ambition to discover more about ourselves and the galaxy around us. From Project Mercury, our first human spaceflight program, to the Artemis Campaign that seeks to establish a sustained American presence on the Moon, Goddard has been involved at every turn. Scientific instruments developed at GSFC have been sent to every planet in our solar system. The Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, two of the most significant technological advancements in space imaging in human history, were developed and continue to be operated out of Goddard. This historic work provides the foundation for upcoming missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which will serve to advance American leadership and global understanding of deep space, dark energy, and the search for planets capable of sustaining life.

Unfortunately, actions taken during the last nine months threaten the workers at Goddard and their ability to lead the world in this science and exploration. Between unnecessary voluntary separations, deferred resignations, reductions in force, and other pressure, thousands of civil servants and contractors are no longer working at GSFC. Other countries with space programs from our political allies to our adversaries have been recruiting our top scientists and researchers with massive salaries, research budgets, and the promise of stability. Where the US has considered stepping back, China has made clear they are eager to step in. We can and must re-invest in the people and centers that make America the global space leader and that starts with Goddard.

To that end, we have heard from employees and read reports about activities taking place on the Greenbelt campus that have raised questions among the workforce about the motivations and timing of building consolidations and such moves may affect institutional research capabilities.

We believe that any consolidation on the Greenbelt campus must sustain the world-class capabilities of Goddard for future science and exploration missions and comply with all applicable laws. Because we lack clarity as to what moves are currently taking place on campus, what technological capabilities are being impacted, and what these changes mean for the workforce, we request you provide answers to the following questions by November 17, 2025.

1.      When did NASA finalize plans to consolidate buildings on Goddard’s Greenbelt campus and what is the justification for the GSFC Greenbelt campus consolidation?

• Was a cost/benefit analysis performed before finalizing any plans? If so, please provide any such analysis.
• How much is Goddard expecting to save in utility and deferred maintenance costs by the consolidation?
• How much will the consolidation cost?
• How do the moves align with the 20-year master plan for the GSFC Greenbelt campus?

2.      What facilities changes have taken place at GSFC Greenbelt campus in 2025? Please include a list of affected buildings and explanation of the changes.

• What facilities changes have taken place at GSFC since October 1, 2025?
• What is the justification for moves occurring since October 1, 2025, during the lapse of appropriations?
• Are any further moves planned for 2025?
• If so, when are they expected to start?

3.      Have any technological capabilities been impacted by moves at Goddard’s Greenbelt campus?

• If yes, what capabilities?
• Has any operable equipment been modified, recycled, or destroyed?
• What plans does NASA have for the Goddard ElectroMagnetic Anechoic Chamber (GEMAC) that had been housed in Building 19?
• Have any capabilities necessary for the completion of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope been impacted, including by the closure of the propulsion laboratory in Building 11?
• How is Goddard going to mitigate these losses for design and construction of future missions?
• Please provide all analysis performed by NASA to determine what technological capabilities Goddard will require going forward to execute future missions, such as the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

4.      How many civil servants at NASA Goddard have been called back to campus since October 1, 2025, during the lapse of appropriations for the purposes of packing up their offices or laboratories?

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sam Graves (6th District of Missouri)

WASHINGTON, DC – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06) statement on the House’s approval of legislation to end the federal government shutdown:

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Miami, FL – The office of Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation and member of the Defense Subcommittee on House Appropriations, presented the Congressional Veteran Commendation to the following local veterans in Miami-Dade County for their distinguished service to our country: Navy Petty Officer Alejandro Sanchez and Army Staff Sergeant Frank Torres III.

Navy Petty Officer Jonas Kukelhan, who currently serves at U.S. Southern Command in Doral and regularly volunteers with the Miami-Dade Military Museum, was recognized with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for his outstanding service and leadership.

“It meant a great deal to recognize these outstanding hometown servicemembers and patriots with the 2025 Congressional Veteran Commendation.

 Through my work in Congress, I have been a tireless champion for our veterans and troops – from securing a 3.8% pay raise and protecting U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Miami-Dade, to advancing 139 new housing units for our servicemembers and supporting legislation that expands care and benefits for veterans and their families. Our gratitude can never be enough for their service and sacrifice to our country. May God continue to bless America and our brave men and women who answered the call to serve.

A special thank you to Florida State Representatives Alex Rizo and Omar Blanco, as well as the Town of Miami Lakes Council Members, for their leadership and support.”

The Congressional Veteran Commendation is a nominations-based program designed to recognize the wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement of veterans residing in Florida’s 26th Congressional District. Each one of these veterans will be interviewed, and their wartime collection will be added to the Veterans History Project, sponsored by the Library of Congress.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after voting to reopen the government:

“No shutdown has ever achieved anything, and this one was a colossal failure. All Democrats did was hold hostage the livelihood of Americans, using them as leverage to protect their political survival. 

After nearly two months of the longest Democrat-led shutdown in history, costing our country $11 billion, thousands of flight disruptions, and missed paychecks and benefits, the American people are exactly where we started, but with billions wasted, families hurt, and safety compromised.

This shutdown was not only irresponsible but also dangerous. Air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and thousands of other crucial federal workers were forced to work without pay or furloughed, jeopardizing the safety and security of America.

After 42 days, a couple of Senate Democrats finally came to their senses and passed a clean Continuing Resolution, the same solution House Republicans sent to the Senate back in September to keep the government open.

I voted to reopen the government to restore regular order and get back to serving the American people. This ensures that vital benefits, such as WIC and SNAP, reach low-income families, and that servicemembers and federal workers, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, receive their long-overdue back pay. It also allows furloughed employees, such as those at the U.S. agency who oversee the country’s nuclear stockpile, to safely and responsibly resume critical operations.

In addition, I supported passage of three Fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills –– Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch — that deliver for our veterans, servicemembers, and their families; support our farmers and growers; strengthen our national security; and ensure that America’s most vulnerable continue to have access to nutritious food.”

Here are some of the highlights:

 Supporting our veterans and veterans’ and military families

• $50M for Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF-S) facility upgrades in Key West,to enhance the capabilities of our southernmost military bulwark against illegal narcotics.
• $115.1B for veterans’ medical care.
• $52.6B to implement that PACT Act and provide health care for veterans exposed to environmental hazards during their service, including burn pits.
• $263.7B for Veterans benefits, including disability compensation programs, education benefits, and vocational rehabilitation and employment training.
• $80M for Veteran Cancer Research going to the Neurology Centers of Excellence.
• $42M for the prevention, diagnoses, and treatment of PTSD going to the National Center for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
• $4.5B to improve the housing and quality of life of servicemembers and their families.
• $1.9B for military family housing.
• $1.3B for barracks, dorms, and other unaccompanied housing.
• $1.3B for quality of life facility improvements to include hospitals, schools, child development centers, fitness centers, dining facilities, and mess halls.
• $3.5B for programs to prevent veteran homelessness.
• $659M for the Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program.
• $702M for Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program case management.
• $276M for the Grant and Per Diem Program.
• $173M for the Veterans Justice Outreach Program and Legal Services for Veterans grants.

 Provides for our farmers and growers

• $1.4B for the Farm Service Agency to provide local support for our nation’s farmers and ranchers.
• $1.8B for the Agricultural Research Service to ensure that we maintain competitive edge in agricultural production and innovation.
• $1.2B for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to protect U.S. agricultural health from pests, diseases and invasive species.
• $79.8M for citrus health activities and multi-agency coordination efforts to support Florida’s citrus industry.
• Language regarding pasteurized orange juice and Brix levels.
• $109M for rural broadband grants and loans for the most hard-to-reach areas.

 Ensure that low-income families have access to nutritious food

• $107B in mandatory funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• $8.2B for the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Countering our adversaries

• Provides additional resources for the Farm Services Agency to improve the tracking system of foreign-owned land and maintains the Secretary of Agriculture’s position on the Committee on Foreign Investment to protect our farmland from being bought by our adversaries.
• Provides the Food and Drug Administration with the resource and new authorities needed to crack down on the illegal importation, distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes from China and other countries.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Naples, FL – The office of Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation and member of the Defense Subcommittee on House Appropriations, presented the Congressional Veteran Commendation to the following local veterans in Collier County for their distinguished service to our country: Army and Marine Corps Colonel Martin B. Spann, Marine Corps Master Sergeant Gerald Van Hecke, Army Specialist Jairo Restrepo, and Air Force Airman 2^nd Class Michael Victor Ricci Jr.

“My team proudly recognized these exceptional patriots for the 2024 and 2025 Congressional Veteran Commendations alongside the Collier Veterans community.

With 17,000 veterans in Florida’s 26^th District, and over 20,000 veterans in Collier County alone, I’m proud to represent the most veteran-friendly county in Florida, and to work directly with our local veterans to deliver results – from working towards $9 million for a new Veterans Community Center to advancing legislation that expands care and benefits. I remain committed to being a tireless champion in ensuring our distinguished veterans receive all the support they deserve.

I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to Golden Gate Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7721 Commander Mike Ricci and former Commander Dr. J.B. Holmes, as well as our Collier County Commissioners Daniel Kowal, Burt Saunders, and Rick LoCastro for their exceptional leadership.

God bless our veterans and troops.”

The Congressional Veteran Commendation is a nominations-based program designed to recognize the wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement of veterans residing in Florida’s 26th Congressional District. Each one of these veterans will be interviewed, and their wartime collection will be added to the Veterans History Project, sponsored by the Library of Congress.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Hialeah, FL — Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation and member of the Defense House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined the City of Hialeah Veterans Day Ceremony to remember and honor veterans who have served and are currently serving our country.

 “It was an honor to join the City of Hialeah to pay tribute to our veterans, their families, and the community for their service and sacrifice on Veterans Day.

As Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I have delivered for our servicemembers and veterans – from securing a 3.8% pay raise and protecting U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Miami-Dade, to supporting legislation that expands care and benefits for veterans and their families.

I commend Mayor Jacqueline Garcia-Roves and the City of Hialeah for their steadfast leadership and commitment to honoring and supporting our nation’s heroes.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Doral, FL — Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation and member of the Defense House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined the City of Doral Veterans Day Ceremony to remember and honor veterans who have served and are currently serving our country.

“It was a privilege to join our veterans, their families, and the Doral community to pay tribute to their service and sacrifice on Veterans Day.

In my role as Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I have delivered for our servicemembers and veterans – from securing a 3.8% pay raise and protecting U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Miami-Dade, to advancing 139 new housing units for our troops right here in Doral, and supporting legislation that expands care and benefits for veterans and their families.

I’m especially grateful to Mayor Christi Fraga and the City of Doral for their leadership and unwavering support for our veterans.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) released the following statement on voting against a spending bill that will raise health care costs for South Texas families by failing to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits:

“Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House, yet wasted weeks doing nothing to end a government shutdown which continues to hurt hundreds of thousands of South Texas families. I refuse to abandon the 60-year-old couple in my district who earns $82,800 a year and will see their health insurance premiums increase by $16,639, or 280 percent, if the ACA tax credits are allowed to expire. Any deal to reopen the government should have addressed the skyrocketing health care premiums for the nearly 130,000 people in the 34th Congressional District of Texas, who depend on this tax credit to afford the care they need.  

“Congress needs to do the work our constituents sent us to Washington to do; I’m ready to work in a bipartisan way to resolve the health care crisis, but not at the expense of South Texans. It’s past time Republicans get serious about putting ‘America First’ as they so eagerly claim. Without an honest negotiation with Democrats, Republicans are once again placing working Americans last.”

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