Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Golden lauds NOAA for hiring Mainer as ‘Fisherman in Residence’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — In a letter to top leaders at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) lauded the recent creation of the position of “Fisherman in Residence” and the appointment of Mainer Dustin Delano to the post. 

Delano, of Friendship, is a fourth-generation lobsterman and leading advocate for Maine’s seafood harvesters. Thanks to his experience, knowledge and the respect of his peers, Delano has held positions on the board of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association and the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. He also helped create the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association in 2023. 

As Fisherman in Residence, Delano is tasked with strengthening communications between fishermen and NOAA, making federal fishery management processes more accessible and responsive to fishermen, and enhancing decision-making frameworks so they reflect industry realities and support balanced outcomes, among other responsibilities. 

“Mr. Delano is a perfect fit for the position,” Golden wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. Neil Jacobs. “[His] exemplary record as a fisherman and advocate for the marine resources economy speaks for itself. I applaud NOAA for identifying the need for a real harvester, not another bureaucrat, to have a seat at the table and to provide input and clarity on fisheries issues.”

Golden, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC), voiced his support for the Fisherman in Residence as other Democrats on the committee launched unfair attacks against Delano. HNRC Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Maxine Dexter (OR-03) questioned Delano’s fitness for the position in a letter earlier this week. They insinuated he had “conflicts of interest” because of his fishing experience and advocacy for Maine harvesters — even though that experience was the very reason he was appointed to the post.

Huffman and Dexter “seem to believe that the only place for people with real-world harvesting experience is at the receiving end of government regulations, not in the rooms where those decisions are made,” Golden wrote. He noted that Delano is a contractor under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, a law designed to allow people with relevant experience outside of government to bring their expertise to bear in temporary posts.

“Good policy and regulations must not be created in a vacuum, and those who are being regulated must have a real voice in the process,” Golden said. “I am confident the creation of the Fisherman in Residence will give voice to harvesters, and I applaud NOAA for taking this proactive step to bring fishermen into the fold.”

Click here to view Golden’s full letter. 

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Huffman, Heinrich, Markey Lead 60 Lawmakers in Condemning Trump’s Plans to Sell Off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

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

March 03, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) led 60 members in the House and Senate in condemning the Trump administration’s plans to auction off sacred and sensitive lands within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas companies.

The administration’s push comes despite two failed lease sales that exposed drilling in the Refuge as an economic fantasy. The first sale in 2021 generated less than one percent of projected revenue, while the second in 2025 received zero bids. Today, no oil company holds leases on the Coastal Plain of the Refuge. Major companies, including Chevron and BP, have abandoned their Arctic Refuge interests entirely, in some cases paying millions to walk away. Every major bank in the United States and Canada has refused to finance Arctic Refuge drilling, citing no real industry interest, extreme costs, remoteness, and decades-long bipartisan opposition.

“These outcomes were not anomalies but rather reflect a clear and consistent lack of market interest in Arctic drilling,” the lawmakers wrote. “As a Goldman Sachs analyst previously observed, ‘there is almost no rationale for Arctic exploration.’”

The Coastal Plain provides critical habitat for polar bears and the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which Alaska Native and Indigenous communities, particularly the Gwich’in people, depend on for subsistence. The lawmakers added, “Even preliminary activities, such as seismic exploration, risk causing lasting damage to this remote and highly sensitive landscape.”

Republicans have repeatedly tried to use Arctic drilling to help offset tax breaks for the wealthy. Trump’s first billionaire giveaway — the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — mandated lease sales in the Arctic Refuge that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would generate $1.8 billion. Those projections proved wildly inaccurate. The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill repeated the same scheme anyway, requiring more lease sales to pay for tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy.

“Taken together, these facts underscore a fundamental reality: oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Refuge has failed to generate meaningful revenue, failed to attract industry participation, and failed to demonstrate any realistic prospect of benefiting American taxpayers,” the lawmakers wrote.

Read the full letter here.

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Committee Democrats Probe New “Fisherman in Residence” Role at NOAA

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

March 02, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) demanded transparency from the Commerce Department on the appointment of Dustin Delano as “Fisherman in Residence” at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including his suspected conflicts of interest.

Transparency regarding this position is critical to the continued success of marine fisheries nationwide. The United States is the gold standard for healthy, sustainable fisheries that support 2.1 million jobs, contribute $319 billion to the U.S. economy, and provide American families with a healthy, affordable protein source. Conservation-focused, science-based fisheries policy developed in close collaboration with the fishing industry and local stakeholders supports fishing communities across the country.

“For the sake of the 2.1 million jobs that rely on healthy, sustainably managed fisheries, we seek full transparency regarding the role of “Fisherman in Residence,” the lawmakers said.

“It is our understanding that Mr. Dustin Delano has been appointed as “Fisherman in Residence” at NOAA. As such, we assume he is a NOAA employee, has been drawing a federal paycheck, and is advising on fisheries policy within NOAA. However, it is clear from his Facebook posts and other public activities that he continues to serve as an industry association advocate on matters before NOAA, raising questions about his impartiality and ability to serve in the best interests of the American people and fishing communities across the country,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers noted his continued roles with organizations that are heavily impacted by NOAA regulations and policies, including as Chairman and Chief Strategist of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). “Mr. Delano’s non-government roles and professional work involve representing fishermen in litigation and advocacy that directly implicate NOAA and the regulated industries and stakeholders before it.” They cited evidence that suggests “Mr. Delano may be working inside NOAA on the very matters he was and continues to advocate for on behalf of NEFSA,” particularly a Facebook post in which Delano said he couldn’t testify at an International Trade Commission hearing on deregulatory actions favored by the industries he is working for.

“If Mr. Delano’s job at NOAA is enough to bar him from testifying, it should also bar him from secretly shaping internal agency action that affects the same interests he represents outside government. Unfortunately, without documented recusals and enforced screening, the public has no way to know whether NOAA’s decisions are being made on the merits or because of insider influence to benefit industries and the officials potentially benefiting from their success,” they write.

The lawmakers are requesting documentation by March 16, 2026, including:

  • All financial disclosure reports and related records filed by Mr. Delano
  • All documents or communications referring or relating to Mr. Delano, and involving any Department of Commerce or NOAA ethics officials, including: any deadline extension requests, reviews, or decisions about his financial disclosures as well as any ethics training, onboarding, and conflict of interest compliance materials provided to him
  • All official calendars, schedules, meeting invitations, agenda entries, and other scheduling records maintained by or for Mr. Delano in his official capacity as a Department of Commerce or NOAA employee

Read the full letter here.

Background

Last year, the Department of Commerce cancelled the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), limiting the ability of fishing communities to provide equal input in NOAA’s policy decisions. In lieu of MAFAC, NOAA appointed Dustin Delano – an industry insider – as the “Fisherman in Residence,” a singular position responsible for representing the diverse fishing communities and sectors across our country.

This is the latest in a string of investigations launched by Natural Resources Committee Democrats into whether federal employees in the Trump administration are complying with federal ethics laws governing conflicts of interest, impartiality, and outside activities, and whether ethics screening controls have been adequately implemented and enforced. The members have launched investigations into:

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Frankel Statement on U.S. Strikes Against Iran

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Frankel Statement on U.S. Strikes Against Iran

West Palm Beach, FL, February 28, 2026

“The Iranian regime and its proxies have wreaked murderous havoc across the region—targeting U.S. servicemembers, Israel, and other allies, while advancing dangerous missile and nuclear programs that threaten global security,” said Rep. Frankel. “This threat must be eliminated, and President Trump should come to Congress to consult Members on his Administration’s objectives and plans moving forward. I am keeping our allies and our brave military in my thoughts as events unfold.”

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Bergman, Schrier Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Forest Health, Enhance Wildfire Resilience and Recovery

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

Last week, Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), introduced the bipartisan Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) Support Act of 2026. This bill would strengthen Washington State’s wildfire resiliency and the national reforestation pipeline by formalizing the United States Forest Service’s RNGR program. 

“Healthy forests are an irreplaceable piece of our rural communities, our economy, and our environment,” said Rep. Bergman. “That’s why I’m proud to help introduce the RNGR Support Act – a common-sense, bipartisan effort to strengthen America’s reforestation pipeline and expand nursery capacity, including supporting critical facilities like the J.W. Toumey Nursery right here in Michigan’s First District. This legislation will help ensure our states, tribes, and private partners have the resources they need to restore and sustain our forests for generations to come.”

“As our forests face unprecedented threats brought on by wildfires, drought, and disease, we must take action to strengthen and streamline our national reforestation efforts,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “By codifying the Forest Service’s RNGR program, we can build a robust and effective national reforestation pipeline that supports the long-term health of our forests and public lands and improves our wildfire resilience.” 

The RNGR program plays an integral role in addressing increased nursery demand for information regarding the implementation of native species in restoration, reforestation, and conservation projects across the country. While currently underfunded, the existing RNGR program provides crucial information and assistance and, as such, contributes to long-term goals such as sustainability in our nation’s forests, increased timber production, and improved air and water quality. 

The RNGR Support Act would formally authorize the RNGR program and provide it with its own budget line item and funding. Taking this step will solidify the program’s footing and allow it to focus on technical and financial assistance to nurseries, research projects, and provide compelling and accessible online resources.   

“The USDA Forest Service Reforestation, Nursery, and Genetic Resources Program (RNGR) represents a key but under-resourced program for providing technical training, coordination, and support to state, private, and tribal nursery efforts,” said George Geissler, Washington State Forester. “The RNGR Support Act will provide additional funding and resources for the RNGR Program while creating opportunities for state, private and tribal nurseries to apply for infrastructure improvements to help these nurseries across the country produce enough seedlings to adequately address the nation’s reforestation needs, while ensuring the seed and seedling supplies are genetically suited to meet the needs of a changing climate.” 

“Post-wildfire areas make up the vast majority of today’s reforestation need. Without timely intervention, these areas are at a heightened risk of conversion and repeated high-severity fire, threatening watersheds, wildlife, and communities. It’s time to scale the full restoration pipeline, not just the planting—from seed collection to seedling cultivation, site prep, and everything in between,” said Rebecca Turner, Chief Policy and Partnerships Officer at American Forests. “The RNGR Support Act strengthens a critical piece of the pipeline by lifting up and leveraging state, Tribal, and private nurseries and increasing coordination across boundaries. American Forests commend Reps. Schrier and Bergman for championing this issue and for their commitment to the long-term health of our nation’s forests.”

The RNGR Support Act of 2026 is endorsed by the Puget Sound Partnership, National Association of State Foresters, American Forests, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, American Forest Foundation, National Association of Forest Service Retirees, National Alliance of Forest Owners, Carbon 180, and American Chestnut Foundation.

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Congressman Aderholt Statement on Iran

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Haleyville, Ala — Today, Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) released the following statement after President Trump launched an attack early Saturday to target the Iranian regime.

“To call the current Iranian regime brutal would be an understatement. For nearly 50 years, its leaders have called for ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’ They are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members, including the 241 U.S. Marines murdered in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, as well as many other Americans killed directly and through their terrorist proxies. The current leadership has also suppressed and killed thousands of Iran’s own people simply for seeking a voice in their government. I stand with President Trump in leading America to take decisive action to restore stability to a region that has lacked it for far too long. The time for the people of Iran is now. May God bless our armed forces and the United States of America.”

In addition to serving as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, he is also a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

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MATSUI LEADS BIPARTISAN LETTER URGING INTERIOR TO DELIVER ON REFORESTATION STRATEGY

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), and Russ Fulcher (R-ID) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to develop a comprehensive strategy to reforest DOI-managed lands and address a growing reforestation backlog driven by wildfire, drought, insects, and disease.

“We strongly urge you to develop a comprehensive reforestation strategy for Department of Interior managed forests as an integral component to accomplishing President Trump’s public land management goals for strengthening wildfire response, post-wildfire recovery, and active forest management,” wrote the lawmakers. “Without timely reforestation, these scarred landscapes can be highly susceptible to flash flooding, impacting the public health and economic stability of nearby communities.”

To better address reforestation gaps, the Members request that DOI:

  1. Conduct a department-wide assessment of reforestation needs and ability to meet those needs.
  2. Enter a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Forest Service to share resources and expertise.
  3. Prioritize reforestation efforts through the Administration’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission and address the multi-million-acre reforestation backlog.

“Importantly, forest restoration, which can include pre-wildfire reforestation site preparation done in conjunction with active forest management, can also save tax-payer dollars,” the lawmakers added.

When wildfires rip through public lands, they do not just burn trees. They leave behind vast stretches of scorched hillsides where the roots that once held soil in place are gone.

Reforestation is the work of restoring those forests by growing and replanting native trees so the land can recover. But extreme heat, drought, insects, and disease are preventing many areas from regenerating on their own, leaving millions of acres at risk of staying barren for decades.

That has real consequences for families. When heavy rains come, burn scars can trigger flash flooding, debris flows, and landslides that threaten homes and roads, while also contaminating drinking water. This letter calls on Interior to appropriately treat reforestation like the public safety recovery work that it is.

Read the full letter HERE.

Congresswoman Matsui has long championed forest resilience and restoration as essential to protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire and accelerating recovery after disasters strike. More information on the Congresswoman’s record on a broad range of environmental issues can be found HERE.

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Pingree Statement on Trump’s War in Iran

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

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on President Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran:

“Early this morning, President Trump launched a major attack on Iran and openly called for regime change—without consulting Congress and without seeking authorization from the American people’s elected representatives. That is a flagrant violation of the Constitution and a dangerous escalation that puts American service members, civilians in the region, and global stability at grave risk.

Republicans will inevitably try to downplay this action as something short of war. The President himself makes clear that is false. In his own words: ‘The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war.’ When a president acknowledges casualties and calls it war, Congress cannot pretend otherwise.

The consequences are already unfolding. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes across the region. A U.S. Navy base in Bahrain has been hit. Airspace over the UAE and Qatar has been shut down. Iran-allied militias in Iraq have announced they will begin attacking American bases. Israelis are racing to bomb shelters. Civilians in Tehran are fleeing their homes. This is not a limited operation—this is a war, and it is spreading by the hour.

The President took this country into that war based on claims his own intelligence community has not confirmed. The New York Times reports this morning that Trump’s central assertions about Iran’s nuclear program—that it had restarted, that Iran had enough material for a bomb within days, that it had missiles capable of reaching the United States—are either false or unproven. We were told similar things before Iraq. We know how that ended. The American people are still living with the consequences of wars launched without accountability or an endgame. We cannot repeat those mistakes. 

My colleagues have introduced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution, and Democrats were already planning to force a vote the moment Congress reconvenes next week. Speaker Johnson should call the House back to Washington immediately to take up that vote. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority, halt unauthorized military action, and make clear that no president—of either party—has the power to drag this nation into war alone.”

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Rep. Mike Kelly announces opening of 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

BUTLER, PA — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced the launch of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for high school students across Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District.

The annual competition, officially sanctioned by the U.S. House of Representatives, provides high school students the opportunity to showcase their artistic talent on a national stage. The winning artwork from PA-16 will be displayed in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., from June 2026 through May 2027.

“I am always impressed by the creativity and talent of students throughout our district,” said Rep. Kelly. “The Congressional Art Competition gives young artists the opportunity to have their work recognized at the national level. I encourage every high school in PA-16 to participate.”

Students in grades 9–12 who live in or attend school in Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District are eligible to submit original two-dimensional artwork. Accepted mediums include paintings, drawings, photography, computer-generated art, collages, prints, and mixed media.

The submission deadline for artwork and required entry forms is April 10, 2026.

Students may submit entries individually and attend the district Art Show with their families, or art teachers may submit artwork as a group and attend as a class.

The PA-16 Congressional Art Show and Awards Reception will be held on April 24, 2026. Additional details will be provided to participating students and schools.

To assist schools and students, Rep. Kelly’s office is offering to coordinate artwork pickup from participating schools throughout the district.

Educators and students seeking additional information are encouraged to contact the PA-16 district office at 724-282-2557 or email Julie.Swartfager@mail.house.gov.

WATCH: Rep. Kelly opens the 2026 Congressional Art Competition with a message for students, teachers, and parents.

To learn more about the competition, visit Kelly’s website here.

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Meeks, Smith, Himes, McCollum, DeLauro Send Letter to Iran Briefers Demanding Direct Answers on U.S. Military Operations Against Iran

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

Washington, DC — Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Rosa DeLauro; Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee; and Betty McCollum, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, sent a letter to top Trump administration officials set to brief Congress today.

The letter, addressed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe; and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, asked for direct and comprehensive answers on critical questions concerning ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran.

A PDF of the full letter can be found here.

“A number of our brave service members have already lost their lives in this conflict, and the American people are entitled to clear answers including why this conflict began, what objectives justify continued military engagement, and what guardrails are in place to prevent a broader or protracted regional war.

“Tomorrow, your classified briefing to Members of Congress regarding ongoing military operations must address strategy, intelligence, legal justification, and long-term consequences in concrete terms. Congress has a constitutional responsibility in matters of war and that requires complete and candid information.

“Accordingly, during the briefing tomorrow, we ask that you directly address the following: 

  1. Imminent Threat Justification.  What is the Administration’s legal justification for initiating hostilities? What specific, imminent threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or vital national interests formed the basis for initiating this war?
  2. Strategic Objectives and Victory.  What are the defined U.S. objectives in this conflict, what conditions would constitute mission success, and under what circumstances would operations cease?  Will this require American ground troops fighting in Iran?
  3. Regime Change.  With the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, who is in control of the country today and who does the Administration expect to control key state institutions at the end of this conflict?
  4. Nuclear Security.  Who currently controls Iran’s nuclear facilities and materials, and what safeguards are in place to prevent diversion or proliferation, or complete loss of control?
  5. Strait of Hormuz and Maritime Security.  What is the long term risk to access to, and through the strait for commercial traffic? If oil flows do not resume shortly, it will have impact on Americans’ electric bills and gas bills in addition to global energy markets.
  6. Costs and Impacts on Munitions Inventories.  What are the costs associated with this operation?  What are current U.S. munitions inventories in the region and globally? What is the impact of continued operations on overall U.S. contingency requirements?…”