Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded Pembroke Telephone Cooperative, based in Pembroke, Giles County, Virginia, a $700,000 grant for an Outlying Areas Broadband project. This funding will support installation of a fiber network that serves broadband to 74 homes and 15 businesses and community anchor institutions. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Rural communities are working to improve local access to broadband.

“This ARC grant for $700,000 helps Pembroke Telephone Cooperative deliver broadband access to underserved areas of Giles County.”

BACKGROUND

In partnership with the Giles County Board of Supervisors, Pembroke Telephone Cooperative has developed a plan to achieve universal coverage of high-speed fiber-to-the-home infrastructure.

This project will support 110,880 feet of fiber network construction.

In November 2025, Congressman Griffith celebrated federal approval of Virginia’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, which puts rural Virginia communities in better position to receive federal funding for increased broadband access.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Members Urge State Department to Take Immediate Action to Evacuate U.S. Citizens Abroad

“The early failures of the Trump Administration to provide protection for American citizens abroad are inexcusable”

“(T)he failure to adequately protect (embassy staff) from this war shows blatant disregard for them and for the U.S. citizens they help to serve” 

Text of Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON – This week, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and the entire Massachusetts delegation pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain the Trump administration’s “complete failure” to evacuate U.S. citizens — including Massachusetts residents — from the Middle East following the administration’s starting a reckless war in Iran.

“The early failures of the Trump administration to provide protection for American citizens abroad are inexcusable,” wrote the lawmakers. “We urge the State Department to take immediate action to support the evacuations of American citizens and provide protection for personnel in U.S. embassies throughout the Middle East.” 

Following the administration’s joint strikes with Israel against Iran on February 28, the State Department put out an alert on March 2 for U.S. citizens to “DEPART NOW” from over a dozen countries in the Middle East “due to serious safety risks.” By the time the Department issued the evacuation order, much of the region’s airspace was already fully or partially closed, significantly limiting options for U.S. citizens to evacuate. 

Despite the evacuation warnings, the Trump administration appears to be leaving Americans on their own to scramble to get to safety. It was not until several days into the war and after Iran had conducted multiple retaliatory strikes against nine countries in the region that the White House announced it was working to evacuate Americans. The administration went on to issue “confusing signals” about whether U.S. citizens can get help. 

On March 3, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem tweeted that it was “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.” The State Department posted later that afternoon that the government was “actively securing military aircraft and charter flights for American citizens who wish to leave the Middle East.” 

Yet, multiple reports indicate that when Americans called the number that the State Department directed them to for departure assistance for at least several hours after this announcement, they received a message stating: “Please do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation at this time. There are currently no United States evacuation points.”

“Up to one million U.S. nationals are reportedly living in the Middle East, and the Trump administration’s failures to prepare to evacuate them after the administration and Israel launched a war against Iran puts these citizens’ lives at risk,” wrote the lawmakers. “Additionally, the Trump administration and State Department appear ill-prepared for attacks targeting U.S. embassy personnel, despite the administration having spent months planning Operation Epic Fury.”

On March 3, President Trump admitted the administration had no evacuation plans for Americans abroad because “it all happened very quickly.”

“(T)his debacle is a predictable consequence of the Trump administration’s dismantlement of the State Department,” noted the lawmakers. 

In July 2025, the State Department fired over 1,300 employees, including over 1,100 civil servants and nearly 250 foreign service officers as part of its reorganization directed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Department also recalled almost 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and senior embassy posts across the world in December 2025. This included the ambassador to Egypt, who has not yet been replaced, and is one of the countries from which Americans have been urged to evacuate. The U.S. also has no confirmed ambassadors in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Algeria, Libya, and Iraq. 

The Trump administration also appears unprepared to protect and evacuate U.S. embassy staff. The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was reportedly hit by multiple drone strikes that “caus(ed) part of its roof to collapse,” and the U.S. consulate in the United Arab Emirates also reportedly was struck by a drone in its parking lot. Officials also reportedly “expect() the U.S. death toll to rise, and that some of those deaths could be the result of Iran’s targeting of embassies.” 

“(These challenges) raise serious concerns about the Trump administration and State Department’s failure to adequately plan to protect State Department employees…the failure to adequately protect them from this war shows blatant disregard for them and for the U.S. citizens they help to serve,” wrote the lawmakers. 

“Americans abroad rely on the State Department when they need help overseas — particularly when the United States has started a war that could result in a diplomatic and national security quagmire,” concluded the lawmakers. 

The coalition pressed Secretary Rubio and the State Department for real plans to help American citizens evacuate the Middle East, as well as to explain any involvement it had in the planning for Operation Epic Fury and what steps it took to prepare for evacuating American citizens from the region and to protect U.S. embassy personnel, within one week, by March 12, 2026. 

Text of the letter can be accessed here.

Congresswoman Pressley strongly condemns Trump’s waging war against Iran and sacrificing the lives of U.S. servicemembers and Iranian civilians.

Yesterday, Rep. Pressley voted YES in favor of the War Powers Resolution to stop Trump’s war in Iran and affirm the constitutional power of Congress to authorize a war. She delivered a floor speech yesterday making an appeal to Trump and her colleagues to end this war, spare the servicemembers and Iranian children who stand to be harmed, and consider the lives already lost in the U.S. and Israeli government’s attacks.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after the House considered resolutions regarding military action in Iran:

“Iran has been the largest state sponsor of terrorism globally and a significant destabilizing force in the Middle East for decades. However, that does not give Donald Trump the authority to launch a war of choice. The Constitution mandates that the president must receive Congressional authorization before engaging in acts of war, except in very limited circumstances. To date, I have seen no evidence that there was an imminent threat against our country. That is why I voted for the war powers resolution today which would have stopped Trump’s illegal war.

“Republicans killed the resolution, greenlighting the war and putting American servicemembers in harm’s way. Meanwhile, this war is costing at least $1 billion every day. That is billions of dollars that could go towards affordable health care and housing. I refuse to support this war.”

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

Full Text of Bill (PDF)

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Ro Khanna (CA-17) reintroduced the Save Medicare Act. This bill renames so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans, prohibits private insurers from using “Medicare” in plan titles or advertisements, and imposes significant fines for any insurer that engages in this deceptive practice. 

Many cable news watchers get inundated with commercials for private healthcare plans during the open enrollment period. Because of that, Reps. Schakowsky, Pocan, and Khanna previously filmed a video explaining why Medicare Advantage is not Medicare.

“Let’s be clear: Medicare Advantage is not Medicare. These private insurance plans use Medicare’s trusted name while too often denying medically necessary care, restricting providers, and overcharging taxpayers by billions. That is unacceptable. We have seen insurers exploit the system to boost profits at the expense of seniors,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “This crucial legislation will end deceptive marketing and ensure beneficiaries understand the difference between Traditional Medicare and private insurance plans. Seniors deserve transparency, accountability, and the full benefits they have earned.”

“Only Medicare is Medicare. It is one of the most popular and essential services the government provides,” said Congressman Mark Pocan. “Private, so-called ‘Medicare’ plans run by private insurers undermine traditional Medicare and create confusion. They often leave patients without the benefits they need while overcharging the federal government for corporate profit. This bill makes clear what is – and what is not – Medicare, and ensures this essential program will continue to serve seniors and other Americans for generations to come.”

“It’s time to be honest about Medicare Advantage,” said Congressman Ro Khanna. “It’s a private insurance program that too often boosts profits by limiting coverage, while the name itself misleads seniors into thinking it’s traditional Medicare. That’s wrong. This legislation will stop private insurers from cashing in on the Medicare name. We should be working to protect and expand real Medicare instead.”

The Save Medicare Act will eliminate the confusion private insurers have relied upon for years to enroll unsuspecting seniors, and restore true Medicare as the primary health plan older Americans rely on. 

Co-sponsors include: Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Grace Meng (NY-06), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)

Endorsing organizations include: Center for Health and Democracy, Just Care USA, Social Security Works, Physicians for a National Health Program

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, delivered the following remarks on the House floor opposing H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026 (Click here to watch on YouTube):

“Mr. Speaker, this Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill fails to address the dangerous and illegal activity from DHS agents that Minnesotans have witnessed during Operation Metro Surge. 

“Our neighbors were racially profiled and detained without cause. Peaceful demonstrators were threatened and harassed. American citizens were assaulted, kidnapped from their homes, and even killed in our streets.

“Democrats are calling for common sense reforms to protect our communities and our rights. We want ICE and Border Patrol agents to follow the same rules as our local law enforcement: identify yourself, use body cameras, get a real judicial warrant to enter homes, and establish a policy for the use of force. We want their aggressive operations to be prohibited at our schools, our houses of worship, and our polling places. And when DHS agents engage in illegal or dangerous behavior, we want independent investigations to hold them accountable.

“I will not vote for more funding for ICE or CBP until this Congress includes those reforms.

“Republicans should allow a vote on Ranking Member DeLauro’s bill that would separate ICE, Border Patrol, and Secretary Noem’s office while we negotiate reforms. It would fund the law-abiding components of DHS, like the Coast Guard, FEMA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA. 

“CISA works to protect our critical infrastructure, our emergency communications systems, and our election systems. In Minnesota, we learned that the hard way when Saint Paul suffered a major cyber-attack last summer. It took weeks to recover. That is why I am puzzled why Republicans would cut $268 million from CISA in this bill. We should be increasing money for cyber-security -not reducing it.

“I urge my colleagues to vote no. I yield back.”

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 – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today passed Congressman Tom McClintock’s H.R. 7640, the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act. 

The bill asserts federal supremacy over enforcement of immigration law by pre-empting so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions from interfering with local enforcement of immigration law.  It allows local jurisdictions in “sanctuary” states to work directly with federal law enforcement agencies to uphold immigration laws, protects local law enforcement officers from being sued or harassed by “sanctuary” jurisdictions, and re-directs federal law enforcement funds from “sanctuary” jurisdictions to those cooperating with federal agencies.  It also give victims of criminals released by “sanctuary” jurisdictions the right to sue for damages caused by those releases.

“All of the local sheriffs in my district want desperately to cooperate with ICE to enforce our immigration laws, but the State of California forbids them from doing so,” said Rep. McClintock. “My bill will allow them to work directly with the federal government to keep their counties safe and to receive the funds that would otherwise go to “sanctuary” jurisdictions. 

“Democrat-run sanctuary jurisdictions protect criminal illegal aliens and threaten public safety. Rep. McClintock’s Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act is commonsense legislation that will rein in sanctuary policies across the country and help keep Americans safe,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan. 

After passing in committee, the bill will move to passage on the House Floor. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Linda Sánchez (CA-38) introduced a Resolution of Inquiry (ROI) demanding that the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) turn over all records related to the IRS’s illegal sharing of private taxpayer information with immigration enforcement.

This resolution requires Treasury and DHS to provide a full account of how this data-sharing agreement was carried out and whether federal privacy laws were violated. The agencies would be required to turn over the records within 14 days of adoption of the resolution.

For decades, federal law has made clear that taxpayer information is confidential and can’t be used for unrelated enforcement purposes. This agreement between Treasury and DHS raises serious concerns about opening the door for sharing confidential tax records, including those filed by immigrants who pay into the system using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), to be used against them for immigration enforcement.

The resolution focuses on the “Memorandum of Understanding for the Exchange of Information for Nontax Criminal Enforcement” between Treasury and DHS and seeks all related documents that show how taxpayer information was requested, accessed, or shared under that agreement, along with any safeguards that were supposed to protect confidentiality.

“Last week, a court confirmed that the Trump administration illegally provided confidential taxpayer data to DHS, violating the law over 42,000 times. Trump officials’ willingness to so brazenly violate people’s basic privacy protections demonstrates that everyone’s tax data is at risk. Americans deserve answers about how this happened, the full extent of this arrangement, and what’s going to be done to prevent it from happening again. It is beyond the pale that Democrats are the only ones calling for oversight and accountability for this breach of data and trust,” said Congresswoman DelBene.

“I introduced this resolution because I won’t allow confidential taxpayer information to be weaponized to fuel Trump’s personal national police force,” said Congressman Gomez. “When immigrants are told to file their taxes, follow the law, and contribute to this country, they shouldn’t have to fear that the same information they provided in good faith will be handed over and used against them for an immigration raid. We aren’t going to stand by and allow our tax system to be hijacked and turned into an arm of Trump’s anti-immigrant deportation machine.”

“The Trump administration believes it can ignore the law and secretly pass along private taxpayer information,” said Congressman Sánchez. “Illegally using sensitive taxpayer data to advance the president’s cruel, anti-immigrant agenda is a blatant and dangerous abuse of power. Congress must investigate, determine the full extent of what was shared and hold those responsible for this breach accountable.”

The introduction of the resolution comes ahead of IRS CEO, Frank Bisignano, testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee and follows ongoing litigation over the legality of the IRS–DHS data-sharing agreement.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), André Carson (IN-07), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) led a bipartisan letter along with 31 of their colleagues urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to fill vacant positions on National Institutes of Health (NIH) advisory councils, which are essential for approving billions in medical research funding. The failure to appoint new members to these councils could stall the final approval of research grants and delay critical medical research.

“These advisory councils play a critical role in funding medical research, serving as the final arbiter after NIH study sections review grant applications. The current understaffing of NIH advisory councils will imperil medical research and harm the health of Americans for generations,” the lawmakers wrote to Kennedy.

Secretary Kennedy is required by law to appoint members to the NIH advisory councils. In 2025, HHS rescinded the nominations of candidates who had been successfully vetted in 2023 and 2024. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, only one vacancy across 24 NIH advisory councils has been filled.

When understaffed, NIH advisory councils are unable to approve grants for lifesaving medical research, directly harming the health of the American people. During the largest measles epidemic in 25 years, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases advisory council is staffed at only 33 percent capacity.

“Leaving these pivotal research institute advisory councils understaffed will severely disrupt medical research, harming millions of Americans and imperiling our economy and global standing. We implore you to immediately return the vetted nominees to their research institutes,” the lawmakers continued.

In 2026, many advisory council members’ terms are set to expire, exacerbating understaffing and leaving critical NIH research centers without any advisory council members. Critical research on heart disease, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and mental health will be directly impacted.

“These advisory council members play a crucial role in allocating billions of dollars of funding for medical research, improving the country’s health and serving as a core driver of economic growth in many states. To continue to be a world leader in biomedical innovation, we need these critical scientists and public policy collaborators,” the lawmakers added.

The full letter can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence & Special Operations, pressed Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on following the law, defending the Constitution, and whether servicemembers should follow unlawful orders.

Under questioning from Crow before the House Armed Services Committee, Colby declined to answer outright.

Last year, Congressman Crow, along with five other Democratic lawmakers with military or national experience, filmed a video reminding troops of their oaths to the Constitution. In response, President Trump called for his arrest, prosecution, and execution, and pressured both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia to harass and intimidate Crow with bogus investigations. The Department of Justice tried but failed to convince a grand jury to bring criminal charges against Crow and the other veteran lawmakers.

You can watch the full exchange here.

Congressman Jason Crow: I’ll start with some very simple [questions]. You’re the senior policy official within the Pentagon, correct?

Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby: Yeah, I think that’s fair to say.

Crow: So you’re familiar with the Uniform Code of Military Justice?

Colby: I would say I’m obviously familiar with it in generic terms.

Crow: And you’re not a lawyer, but you’re familiar with it?

Colby: I went to law school, but I’m not a lawyer.

Crow: Okay, so you know how the law works. You are familiar with the Law of Armed Conflict.

Colby: Again, I’m not an expert. I’m not, you know, in an official capacity, I’d want to be careful.

Crow: But you’re familiar with the Law of Armed Conflict.

Colby: Yeah, sure.

Crow: Okay. And so, you know that Congress’s job is to conduct oversight of the executive branch, correct?

Colby: Certainly.

Crow: And that includes a responsibility to make sure that laws are being followed, is that right?

Colby: Yes, I think so.

Crow: Okay. Do our soldiers get trained on the Law of War?

Colby: My understanding is that they do.

Crow: Our servicemembers get trained on the Law of War.

Colby: I’m not an expert on that, but that’s my understanding.

Crow: Do you believe that it’s possible for an order to be unlawful? Illegal?

Colby: I mean, yes, of course.

Crow: So, there is a difference between lawful orders and unlawful orders?

Colby: Yes.

Crow: And you’re a very bright person. You’ve studied history, you know history well, I’ve read a lot of your stuff. You’re familiar that there has been an American military history, instances of unlawful orders being given, correct?

Colby: Absolutely.

Crow: And servicemembers refusing to abide by those lawful orders, is that correct?

Colby: Yes. I’m not familiar with specific incidents when you’re getting to that level of specificity, 

Crow: But there have been?

Colby: Yeah, I imagine.

Crow: So is it a problem for somebody to say that a servicemember shouldn’t follow an unlawful order?

Colby: Sir, this is not a matter I’ve been involved in, but I think there’s a difference between recognizing those circumstances and taking action designed to [inaudible].

Crow: It’s pretty simple. It’s a pretty simple question. You said that there’s a difference between lawful and unlawful orders. You said that you’re familiar with the Law of Armed conflict. You admitted that it’s the duty of this body to conduct oversight, and to make sure that laws are being followed. You said that you’re familiar with U.S. military history, and that there have been unlawful orders given in our history. And then you’re also familiar that servicemembers have also refused to abide by those unlawful orders. So why can’t you just say that service members shouldn’t follow unlawful orders?

Colby: Sir, I think that’s a different step to talk about…

Crow: Seems like a pretty logical step to me.

Colby: …that’s not I mean, we can refer to the Office of General Counsel if you want to get into a legal matter that’s starting.

Crow: It’s not a legal matter. It seems like a pretty, for the senior official at the Pentagon, responsible for establishing policy for our Department of Defense, it seems like a pretty basic thing to say, given what you just acknowledged and what we just walked through, that servicemembers shouldn’t follow illegal orders.

Colby: Well, I take the Law of Armed Conflict and ensuring that we’re being lawful and moral in our conduct very seriously, but I’m also, one thing that is not always reported in the public, I’m very conscious of what my responsibilities are and what they’re not. And so if you like, I can get you an answer on that point, happy to do so.

Crow: I think it’s a problem that you can’t state the obvious here. And I think moral clarity is important as a leader, and I think your lack of willingness to be morally clear, and what is a pretty basic question, given what I asked you, is a real problem. Let me just pivot for a minute to Operation Epic Fury. You were involved in briefings in advance of the commencement of that operation, correct?

Colby: Can you be specific?

Crow: You were aware of the operation before it started, correct?

Colby: Yes.

Crow: Did the administration brief private sector officials, oil and gas executives, companies, businesses with interests in the Middle East before that operation commenced on Friday?

Colby: I’m not sure, Congressman. I can get an answer back to you then.

Crow: I will follow through. I want a commitment because it came to light after Venezuela that the administration actually briefed private sector companies, energy companies, before that operation, before briefing Congress. Right now, there are thousands of Americans stranded because there’s no evacuation plan. I would like to know whether the administration took the time to brief private companies and executives, but didn’t take the time to brief this oversight body, and also make plans to evacuate civilians, and our constituents before setting off a regional war.

Colby: Well, sir, I’ll get an answer for you.

Crow: Thank you, I yield back.

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