Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. —  Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined over 100 lawmakers in demanding President Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum immediately cease any plans to open new offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. federal waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, and in the Eastern Gulf. The lawmakers warned that opening these untouched coastlines to new offshore drilling would devastate coastal economies, jeopardize our national security, ravage coastal ecosystems, and put millions of Americans’ health and safety at risk, hurting people across the political spectrum.

By reversing long-standing legal protections for vulnerable coastal waters, new offshore leases would cause significant environmental damage to communities already reeling from natural disasters and recent oil spills. Oil spills not only cause irreparable environmental damage, but also suppress the value of coastal homes, harm tourism economies, and weaken coastal infrastructure. Already, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forced to respond to over 150 oil and chemical spills each year. One disastrous spill can cost taxpayers billions in lost revenue, cleanup costs, and ecosystem restoration.

These threats of expanded oil drilling come as the Administration already dismantled NOAA’s oil spill prevention and response programs, as almost 30 percent of the team in charge of addressing oil spills has been laid off or took early retirement. The Emergency Response Division team and the oil spill program are slated to lose half their funding from the Administration’s proposed FY 2026 budget.

“This is a matter of national consequence for coastal communities across the country, regardless of political affiliation. It puts our economies, national security, and our most vulnerable ecosystems at severe risk,” wrote the lawmakers. “… Expanded oil and gas leasing poses risks to the health and livelihoods of our constituents, jeopardizes our tourism, fishing, and recreation economies, and threatens the marine life that inhabits our coastlines.”

“The United States already leads the world in oil and gas production. The industry currently holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering over 12 million acres of federal waters — yet fewer than 500 of those leases are actively producing oil and gas,” continued the lawmakers. “There is no justification for opening vast swaths of our oceans to leasing when existing leases remain largely unused, while imposing mounting environmental and economic costs on coastal communities.”

Additionally, the Department of Defense (DOD) previously warned that oil and gas leases in portions of the Eastern Gulf would impact areas critical to our military readiness, including for military training and testing opportunities and assets. DOD has also signaled that parts of the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas are “not compatible with oil and gas activities and infrastructure.”

The lawmakers condemned the potential expansion of offshore drilling while the Administration simultaneously curtails offshore wind and clean energy development. This year, the Trump Administration has withdrawn all outer continental offshore wind leases, rescinded all designated Wind Energy Areas, and eliminated $679 million in offshore-wind-related port infrastructure funding, including over $426 million for Humboldt Bay offshore wind infrastructure.

Specifically, the lawmakers demanded that President Trump and Secretary Burgum:

• Halt any steps toward new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic, Pacific, off the coast the Arctic and Bering Sea coasts of Alaska, and the Eastern Gulf.
• Limit offshore drilling, consistent with previous statutory and agency protections.
• Prioritize coastal resilience, including expanded storm-surge and flood protection, restoration of wetlands and sand dunes, and early-warning systems, so that communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Alaska, and beyond are better protected.
• Restore a credible pathway for offshore wind and other clean-energy projects by rescinding the OCS wind-leasing withdrawal and rescinded WEAs, enabling science-based projects that support jobs and coastal economies.

“Our coastal communities, fishermen, small business owners, Tribal Nations, tourism operators, and families cannot be sacrificed in the name of short-term drilling booms,” concluded the lawmakers. “Opening new offshore lease areas while cancelling clean energy progress is potentially illegal, a failure of leadership, and a dereliction of the public trust.”

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. —  Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined 213 House Democrats on a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, demanding that she utilize the Congressionally authorized SNAP contingency fund to provide food assistance to hungry Americans as the Republican shutdown approaches its second month.

SNAP benefits were made available to eligible individuals in October, but due to the Agriculture Secretary’s unwillingness to use her statutory transfer authority along with the roughly $5 billion SNAP contingency fund to deliver benefits in November, 42 million American seniors, veterans and families with children risk not being able to keep food on their table.

The letter, signed by virtually every member of the House Democratic Caucus, comes as families, food banks, and farmers face rising costs and potential food shortages due to inflationary tariffs, increasing wealth inequality and reluctance by Trump administration officials to exercise its legal authorities to ensure that SNAP operations continue through November. 

The lawmakers state, “USDA’s shutdown plan acknowledges that ‘Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds…’ USDA still has significant funding available in SNAP’s contingency reserve – which Congress provides precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits… Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits.”

They continue, “There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people.”

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. —  Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joined Senator Adam Schiff,  Senator Alex Padilla and 27 members of the California congressional delegation in urging the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Inspector General to launch an independent investigation into the unlawful termination of $7.6 billion in grants to California and other states targeted for their perceived lack of support for President Trump.  

The cancelling of these funds threatens thousands of jobs across energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors and could pass higher energy costs along to California residents.

“DOE does not have the authority to ignore the law, and Congress did not provide DOE with the discretion to terminate awards based on nebulous new criteria created by the Secretary years after enactment of the statute that funded and provided direction for these projects,” wrote the lawmakers. 

In a letter to DOE’s Acting Inspector General Sarah Nelson, the lawmakers note that no state was hit harder than California. Out of the 321 terminated awards, DOE cancelled 79 awards in California, totaling more than $2 billion of federally funded projects. Among the projects was a backup battery power for a children’s hospital in Madera and an award worth $1.2 billion for the ARCHES hydrogen hub which had garnered bipartisan public support. 

“These 321 grant project terminations will have real effects on affordability for our constituents and on the nation’s competitiveness. In the last year, electricity prices have increased twice as fast as the overall cost of living. Secretary Wright and the Trump administration’s decision to take $7.56 billion in energy projects offline is going to further constrain supply and send Americans’ electric bills through the roof,” the lawmakers continued. 

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

San Francisco – Today, ten Democratic Members of Congress representing the Bay Area released a joint video message calling on President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans to end their weeks-long government shutdown and return to Washington to do their jobs.

The video features Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) and Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), John Garamendi (CA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), and Ro Khanna (CA-17).

Together, the lawmakers highlight the real-world consequences of the Republican shutdown—from rising health care premiums to delayed services that millions of working families rely on.

The Members’ message underscores that the ongoing shutdown, now in its fourth week, is a deliberate act of obstruction by Donald Trump and House Republican Leadership—putting families, federal employees and the economy at risk.

The video is available to be viewed HERE.

The video is also available for download HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on Mayor Daniel Lurie’s announcement that the federal government called off a planned deployment in San Francisco:

“Mayor Lurie has demonstrated exceptional leadership in his steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of San Franciscans.

“In his handling of a potential federal deployment in our city that resulted in the President calling off the operation, Mayor Lurie has underscored that public safety must be driven by local priorities, respectful of our values and communities.

“I salute Mayor Lurie for standing up for our City and reinforcing San Francisco’s strength, optimism and recovery.”

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Congressman Russell Fry (R-S.C.), and House Republicans’ sophomore class to discuss how the Democrat party over-promises and under-delivers. Leader Scalise also highlighted one year of promises made, promises kept thanks to President Trump and congressional Republicans.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Excerpts from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On one year since President Trump’s historic election:“We celebrate that a year ago today, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. And when he ran, he ran on very specific things, not socialism. Seven out of seven swing states rejected that form of socialism that has now taken over the Democrat Party. What President Trump and House Republicans ran on was delivering results for American families. We said we would secure the border. We actually delivered on that in record time. We said we would prevent a tax increase on anybody, every American, no matter what income level you were at, you were facing a tax increase… We said we wouldn’t do it.“The Democrats bragged that they were going to raise your taxes. The American people decided that – not New York City – the American people, a year ago, decided they didn’t want a tax increase, and we followed through on that by preventing the largest tax increase on American families. Also, by delivering no tax on tips, no tax on overtime for seniors, 85% of whom will not have to pay taxes on their Social Security income when you factor in the deduction. We delivered on that. Every Democrat, by the way, voted no because Democrats don’t want hardworking Americans to keep more of their money. They want socialism.”On the radical direction of the Democrat party under Zohran Mamdani and the hollow promises of socialism:“Let’s think about those hollow promises that Zohran Mamdani talked about last night. Can anybody wait to see what those free buses are going to look like? I’m sure they’re going to be incredibly safe and clean when you ride the free buses. Can anybody wait to see what those government-run grocery stores are going to look like? Shelves unstocked, expired food… That’s what socialism does. Socialism always over-promises and under-delivers. But should we be surprised? That’s what Democrats up here in Washington have been doing for years. Does anybody remember the Inflation Reduction Act? Yes, that was a Democrat-created product that ushered in record levels of inflation. Where was the inflation reduction? They have no problem lying to the American people. Does anybody remember, by the way, the Affordable Care Act? Yes, that was Democrats only creating current healthcare law. The law of the land in healthcare today is Democrat-only-created Affordable Care Act that’s anything but affordable. All we’ve seen is 80% increases in costs for families, record profits for insurance companies, but 80% increases on families. Democrats have never had a problem lying to the American people, over-promising to the American people, and never delivering the goods.“You contrast that with Republicans. Again, a year ago today, we ran on very specific things, and we’ve already, working with Donald Trump, ushered in a new level of American greatness…“We’re going to keep delivering wins for the American people, and Democrats will continue to give the hollow promises of socialism that come along with the failures of socialism that it truly delivers for people. Yeah, people in New York, when they realize how bad socialism is, they can just leave like they’ve been doing years. They can move to states like Florida, to Texas. They can even come to Louisiana. But if they ruin America, if they’re able to take hold with socialism in America, where else are people going to go? There is no plan B to this great United States of America, and we’re not going to let socialism take over in this great country.”On Democrats imposing suffering on millions of Americans to appease their Trump-hating base:“All we’re seeing during this shutdown is Democrats scared to death of the Mamdani wing of the party. They’ve said it. Some of them said it out loud, but they have exercised it in their votes. They voted time and time again to keep the government shut down, knowing they’re inflicting suffering and pain on the American people, admitting that they’re using that suffering to try to get leverage. They still can’t tell you what the leverage is for. Leverage for what? To go boast to the socialist Mamdani wing of their party that they’re fighting Donald Trump, who was elected not by the people of New York or New Jersey or Virginia, but by a majority of Americans, 77 million Americans, seven out of seven swing states running on very specific things that that President, Donald Trump, and this Republican majority have continued to deliver on.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and House Committee on Education and Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) to discuss Democrats voting against food assistance for millions of Americans, federal employees receiving a paycheck, and benefits for women, infants, and children in need. Leader Scalise emphasized the need for Senate Democrats to vote for House Republicans’ clean CR and reopen the government.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. 
Excerpts from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On Democrats catering to their far-left, radical party:“Let’s remember when the Senate votes today, they’re not voting on some big, massive omnibus bill, a bill that resolves all of our differences. If you’re one of these Democrats, and it only takes five to get this government back open, and you’re struggling with the decision: do you offend your far-left radical base, it’s about to elect the new leader of their Democrat Party in Mamdani in New York, or do you stand up for the tens of millions of people around the country who are actually suffering? And if you vote yes today, are you giving anything up?“What’s in that bill? A clean continuing resolution that violates any of your principles? There’s nothing. Again, that bill does not solve our differences. That bill just keeps the lights on. That bill just allows federal workers to get paid for the work that they’re doing – those that have to show up and work and keep our airports open. The air traffic controllers who are working under high incredible stress in a normal time so that planes can land and take off safely with 150 plus people on each one of those planes without worrying about the stress that as soon as they get off the job, they’ve got to go do a second shift as an Uber driver because they can’t put food on the table because Democrats shut down the government. Hopefully, they weigh that when they cast their vote today.”On Democrats voting against funding SNAP and WIC programs and paying servicemembers:“We see every day, of course, unfortunately, more and more consequences to the suffering Democrats are causing. We know on the SNAP program, 42 million people. And yes, the courts are trying to work with the White House to find ways to move some other money around. But as we know, even if they’re able to move money around, it doesn’t make that program whole. The only way to make the SNAP program whole is by Democrats opening up the government. It’s real straightforward. You vote yes or no. You vote yes because you want to put food on the table for 42 million low-income families. But if you vote no, maybe because you’re afraid of some radicals in Portland or San Francisco or New York City, when you vote no, you are taking food off the table for 42 million low-income people, the least among us who need that help.“6.7 million going without the Women, Infant, and Children program funding. WIC program is really, really important, again, to very low-income people who need that help. Democrats have no problem shutting off that funding, causing that suffering, and to use their term, because they think they’re getting some leverage. We still don’t know what the leverage is for. They’re trying to leverage the American people, and they can’t even articulate what it is they want. Yeah, a $1.5 trillion wishlist of crazy items like free health care for illegals, gutting a rural health care fund. Is that really the leverage they want to use the American people for and deny the WIC funding?“Two million people in the military, two million servicemembers [at risk of] going without pay. What do they say to them? Oh, gee whiz. They were so afraid of Mamdani in New York that they couldn’t vote to pay our men and women in uniform who are keeping our country safe, risking their lives while their families are wondering if they’re going to be able to put food on the table. What a profile in courage. It’s gutless. 700,000 federal employees without pay, 670,000 federal workers furloughed, 5.9 million households at risk of losing their home heating services under the LIHEAP program.”On labor unions and airlines supporting House Republicans’ clean CR:“We all know all the different groups that have come out over and over. They’ve not said, let’s pass some big sweeping omnibus bill. They’ve just said, pass the clean CR that the House passed over a month ago. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, American Federation of Government Employees, Teamsters, Coalition of Airlines Pilots Association, Association, Airlines’ Association, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, Southwest Airline Pilots. Additionally, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines have all called for the same thing – is for the Democrats in the Senate to pass the clean CR. The message couldn’t be clear. Their mission can’t be more direct. You just show up today and do your job and vote, yes. It doesn’t solve all of our differences. It just gives us a few more weeks to start negotiating our differences on so many things, but while not holding the American people hostage. End this madness, Democrats. Open up the government.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) appeared on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria to discuss the Democrats holding Americans hostage to placate their radical base. Leader Scalise also highlighted Republicans’ work to lower premiums and the historic trade deals President Trump has secured.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview. 
Excerpts from Leader Scalise’s interview:On Senate Democrats selling out American families to appease their far-left, radical base:“Look, this shutdown by Democrats have caused already dramatic pain to real families, and it’s going to get worse. You see the SNAP benefits: that’s 42 million people that are going to be going without food because Democrats are just angry at the election of Donald Trump. Donald Trump is delivering on all the things he said he would do. The far left has gotten even more nutty. You look, they’re about to elect Mamdani as the mayor of New York City, an avowed socialist Marxist. That’s where their party is going, and that’s who Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are trying to appease. They don’t care about the American people. They’ve said they know they’re inflicting suffering on families. Democrats have said that openly, and they said they don’t care, they just want leverage. They can’t say what they want leverage for. That’s really the worst part of this. They’re hurting families knowingly, and Democrats still want to keep this going. I don’t think it’s sustainable because the American people have figured it out. They’re disgusted by it.”On House Republicans working to lower health care premiums:“We had a provision called cost-sharing reductions in the reconciliation bill. It passed the House. It was scored by the CBO to lower premiums by 11% on families. You would get 11% lower premium in your renewal if you’re a family under our bill. Democrats are the ones who went and fought it in the Senate. They had it removed in the Senate. Democrats have never cared about lowering premiums. But those good ideas are still out there. PBM reform is something we had passed last year. We have other ideas, too. Pulling together health savings accounts, small businesses pulling together to lower premiums. Again, every time we’ve come together, all of our committees of jurisdiction, we’ve put ideas on the table that focus on lowering premiums, and Democrats have never wanted to be a part of that conversation, unfortunately.“They named it the Affordable Care Act. You should always watch when Democrats name something, the Inflation Reduction Act. Remember that under Biden? Inflation Reduction Act dramatically increased inflation. The Affordable Care Act is unaffordable health care for families. And by the way, it’s broken up the doctor-patient relationship. So all these states that want more bailouts, insurance companies that are seeing record profits, and want more bailouts. Interesting that the Democrat Party is the one fighting to get those bailouts to those insurance companies while families pay more in premiums.”On President Trump’s leadership in stark contrast to President Biden:“I think if you look at what the President has done with tariffs, it’s helped America get better deals overall and be treated fairly. There are a lot of countries, friend and foe alike, who have not treated America fairly in trade deals. China has been the worst offender because they manipulate their currency. They do a lot of other things, steal intellectual property. But even our friendly nations have had the same problems. And so what President Trump has done with tariffs so far is open up markets. A lot more American goods are available now in other countries because of these tariffs. And then we’re ultimately getting to a stabilized, I think, level where you’re seeing, look at Asia. I mean, it wasn’t just China. China was massive, not only for what it meant for critical minerals, what it meant for our farmers, for soybeans, the fentanyl agreement. But there were other Asian nations, too, that he got deals with.“He’s working on European deals to get better deals, Canada, Mexico. This President doesn’t rest. He’s amazing at how much he delivers for the American people. Oh, and by the way, he’s working on global peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine, in Russia. That’s what President Trump does. He delivers on what he said he would do. And sadly, the left is going nuts because of that. They don’t want to celebrate success for America and the rest of the country is watching in disbelief at the meltdown of the Democrat Party.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) to discuss the blatant lies Chuck Schumer is spreading to deflect blame for shutting down the government. Leader Scalise noted that while Democrats try to blame Republicans and refuse to reopen the government, the pain American families are facing will only get worse.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks.
Excerpts from Leader Scalise’s remarks:On Chuck Schumer’s lies about health care costs:“Over the weekend, Chuck Schumer tweeted out, ‘Republicans have done everything in their power to raise your health care costs and kill SNAP for millions of hungry Americans.’ Now, Chuck Schumer knows good and well what he said there is not only misleading, it’s patently false.“Let’s start with the first half of what he said there, raising health care costs. Who is the party that’s done that? The health care law of the land, and not sure if Chuck Schumer has been updated on the law, but Obamacare is the law of the land in health care. And we can all go look at the votes going back the last 10 years. It’s been partisan votes all the way through for Obamacare. They called it, as the Speaker said, they named it the Affordable Care Act. It’s been anything but.“Costs for families are up over 80% in their premiums because of Obamacare. And what have they tried to do over and over again? They’ve tried to mask the cost. They haven’t tried to work with Republicans to fix it. They’ve tried to mask the cost, hundreds of billions of dollars of bailouts to insurance companies, not helping families get better options. Democrats have never cared about that. And in fact, when we, as we pointed out multiple times, passed provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, the cost-share reductions that were scored by CBO to lower premiums by double digits for families, it passed the House, and it was Democrats who worked overtime to get that removed in the Senate. They are still bragging about it today on the Democrat Budget Committee’s website that they removed a provision that would have lowered premiums for families.“So who is it that’s raising costs for families? Of course, it’s been Democrats every step of the way, and the only thing scored by CBO to reduce premiums on families that have passed either House, the Democrats worked overtime to get that removed.”On Schumer’s lies about SNAP: “The other half of that, [Schumer] talks about SNAP. And of course, we know there have been votes in the House and Senate to save the SNAP program from cuts, from being zeroed out. It’s called the clean CR. Passed the House with Republican-only votes, primarily with Democrats uniting to try to kill it. But luckily, we have the majority in the House, and you go over to the Senate, and we know they have a 60-vote requirement, and Democrats have over and over and over again voted in lockstep with Chuck Schumer to block SNAP benefits. There is a vote you can go look at, every day that they’ve taken that vote, that would have opened the government, fully funded SNAP, or shut it down. And it’s Republicans who are voting yes, and it’s Democrats who are voting no. Chuck Schumer has been leading that charge. And then he votes no to kill the SNAP program, to create tremendous uncertainty, to create millions of hungry Americans, to use his own word. Chuck Schumer has voted to put those millions of hungry Americans in that situation. And then he walks out to the microphone, as the Speaker said, and then he tries to blame it on somebody else.”On Democrats diverting blame for the shutdown Democrats caused:“It is votes in Congress that have caused a government shutdown. That’s why we’re here. You either vote yes to open the government or you vote no to keep it shut down. And the votes are public record. And the same people that are voting to shut down the government, to deny food to families, are then walking out and trying to lie to the American people and blame somebody else for their actions. The American people won’t have it. The American people will not be lied to. It’s time that Chuck Schumer and his Democrat colleagues end this madness. Let’s open the government back up again and get to a negotiation on the differences we have.”