Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Democratic Leaders Demand Reversal of Unlawful EEOC Commissioner Firings

The Trump Administration is signaling that civil rights will no longer be protected by the federal government.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) made the following statement on the House Floor during today’s debate on H. Res. 755 – Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors:

“Madam Speaker,

Today is a sad day for this body, for the voters who sent me here last November, and for our Nation.

Benjamin Franklin cautioned when asked what he had given us, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Today we take a step further toward losing the Republic that our Founding Fathers envisioned by engaging in activity that they specifically warned against – the misuse of the Constitutional power of impeachment for one party’s political gain.

Our Constitution is the very foundation of our Republic. Its assurance of self-determination has been the shining beacon by which our Nation has chartered its course over the last two centuries. From a new democratic experiment struggling to survive to the greatest Nation on Earth, America has been powered over the years – not by Government – but by the ingenuity, the bravery, and the faith of its people, confident in their place as one Nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

And so it is “We the People” who determine our President, not “We the Judiciary Committee,” or “We the Congress.” The Constitution is clear – it is only when we see clear proof of the impeachable offenses outlined in Article II, Section 4 – treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors – that we are to challenge the decision of the voters, break the figurative glass, and pull the emergency rip-cord that is impeachment. We do not have that proof today.

Thomas Jefferson said, “I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.”

But rather than educate, this majority has chosen today to obfuscate with hearsay, innuendo, and speculation.

And when history looks back on this shameful period for this House, it will judge it for what it truly is – the ugly hijacking by the Majority of our Constitution and the powers it so solemnly entrusts to us to engage in a blatantly political process designed to finally achieve what they could not achieve at the ballot box: the removal of a duly elected president.

Compelled by my sworn duty to uphold this Constitution and for the people, I vote no on impeachment today.

I yield back.”

Video of Congressman Cline’s remarks can be found here. The video was taken from www.house.gov/watch-houselive and is available for reuse.

Congressman Ben Cline was sworn in as the new Congressman for the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in January of 2019. He was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates prior to his election last November. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) released the following statement on the House Judiciary Committee voting today to advance Articles of Impeachment to the full House of Representatives.

“It is a sad day in America, as Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have failed the American people by voting out two unproven Articles of Impeachment against the President after only 3 days of hearings and no fact witnesses. No matter how hard they try, they cannot show that the President committed high crimes or misdemeanors as required by Article 2 Section 4 of the Constitution. Instead, the evidence shows four facts that will never change: both President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky have said there was no pressure on the July 25 call, there was no conditionality of aid in the call summary, the Ukrainians were not aware that aid was withheld when the presidents spoke, and Ukraine still received aid and a meeting with President Trump without taking any action. The claim that the President abused his power has not been proven. In fact, the only abuse of power I have seen is by Speaker Pelosi and her caucus as they try to remove the duly elected President from office and overturn the will of 60 million Americans.”

“The Articles also argue that the President has obstructed Congress. The Majority suggests that because President Trump has sought judicial review regarding his claims of executive privilege involving the possible testimony of his closest advisors, he has circumvented the law and Congress. We live in a country where the Rule of Law still exists, and to claim that availing himself of the courts is the equivalent of obstruction of Congress is ridiculous.”

“This partisan impeachment circus has been flawed from the very beginning. At every turn, both Congressional Republicans and President Trump have been denied fairness and due process. While transcripts of the testimony in the Intelligence Committee were eventually made public, most Judiciary Committee members were not able to watch the hidden proceedings, question witnesses, or ensure the accuracy of the transcripts we were provided. We learned that Chairman Schiff at times ordered witnesses not to answer Republican questions, lied about his contact with the whistleblower, and surreptitiously obtained phone records of Members of Congress and the press. Hearsay, speculation, and inferences are not enough to remove a sitting President, and for all of these reasons, I could not support these partisan Articles of Impeachment.”

Congressman Ben Cline was sworn in as the new Congressman for the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in January of 2019. He was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates prior to his election last November. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) released the following statement after holding his nineteenth town hall meeting.

While running for Congress, Cline assured voters that he would hold a town hall in each of the Sixth District’s nineteen counties and independent cities prior to the end of his first year in office.

After holding his first town hall in Roanoke City, Cline regularly held such forums throughout the District, and fulfilled his promise this week in Waynesboro, Virginia.

“Being accessible to the citizens of the Sixth District is one of my most important responsibilities as Congressman,” Cline said. “I always appreciate the opportunity to hear from constituents about the issues that matter most to them. Whether it’s about jobs and the economy, trade and foreign affairs, or transportation and I-81, I want to do the best job I can representing the views of the residents of the Sixth District. I look forward to holding additional town halls in the future and continuing to meet with the hard-working people of Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District.”

Congressman Ben Cline was sworn in as the new Congressman for the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia in January of 2019. He was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates prior to his election last November. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt with their two children.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Sessions (32nd District of Texas)

WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Chairman Pete Sessions (TX-17) and Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume (MD-7) continue their bipartisan oversight of the Department of Defense’s personnel vetting practices. The lawmakers remain concerned about delays and issues with the National Background Investigation Service (NBIS) program. In a letter to the U.S. Government and Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro, they requested a GAO review of NBIS citing longstanding concerns about missed deadlines and cost overruns associated with developing a modernized security clearance vetting system that facilitates appropriate and secure access to our nation’s most sensitive materials.

“The Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce remains concerned with the status of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) personnel vetting practices, especially given the ongoing problems with the National Background Investigation Service (NBIS) program, overseen by DOD’s Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA),” wrote the lawmakers. “We are further concerned that national security personnel are not undergoing all required record checks, non-sensitive personnel have not been enrolled in a continuous vetting system, and there are indications that there are challenges implementing continuous vetting across the federal government.”

In 2015, cybersecurity incidents on information technology (IT) systems that supported personnel vetting compromised the data of more than 22 million federal employees and contractor personnel. Subsequently, DOD established NBIS to replace and improve upon the compromised IT systems. However, GAO has repeatedly reported on significant delays with NBIS’ system and included the government-wide personnel security clearance process on its High-Risk List. In June 2024, the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce held a hearing to examine how DOD has fallen short in its mission to modernize the IT infrastructure of NBIS. At the hearing, lawmakers expressed bipartisan concern about the continued delays with the NBIS system and potential cascading effects on our nation’s national security.

“Continuous vetting involves reviewing the background of a covered individual through automated record checks in various areas, including criminal records, terrorism, and financial issues, during an individual’s period of eligibility.  Unfortunately, these changes have not occurred as planned due to continued NBIS delays,” continued the lawmakers in their letter to GAO.  “Given the importance of a timely, accurate and comprehensive personnel vetting process, we request that GAO conduct a review on continued NBIS development and continuous vetting.”

Read the letter to Comptroller General Dodaro here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Sessions (32nd District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) released the following statement regarding the passage of the American Relief Act of 2025:

Congressman Sessions said, “Today, I voted YES for the American Relief Act of 2025. This bill was supported by President Trump and PASSED. From the outset, I made it clear that I would only support a Continuing Resolution that includes vital assistance for our agricultural community. This legislation delivers on that promise by supporting farmers and ranchers, providing critical disaster relief for those impacted by recent hurricanes, and ensuring government funding through March 14, when President Trump will be in office. These three priorities were my focus going into these discussions, and I am pleased we were able to address these essential needs of the American people. I look forward to getting back to work in the 119^th Congress.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Sessions (32nd District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, DC–Today, Chairman James Comer (KY-01) announced Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) will continue to serve as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. This is a role that Chairman Sessions held during the 118th Congress.

Congressman Sessions said, “I am excited to continue serving as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In the 118th Congress, we conducted thorough oversight, auditing the Department of Defense, exposing waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars, and working across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions. In this Congress, we will build on that momentum to ensure that the federal government is accountable, efficient, and works for all Americans.”

“Representative Pete Sessions is a proven leader who will continue to lead our efforts to make the federal government more efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable to the American people. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, he has been at the forefront of our oversight of the federal government’s disaster responses and administration of taxpayer dollars. I look forward to continue working with Representative Pete Sessions to ensure Americans’ investment in government is stewarded wisely,” said Chairman James Comer (KY-01)

Last Congress, the Subcommittee on Government Operations held many hearings including:

Where Do We Go From Here? Examining a Path Forward to Assess Agencies’ Efforts to Prevent Improper Payments and Fraud

Assessing the Federal Government’s Response to the 2023 Maui Wildfires

Oversight of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

What We Have Here…is a Failure to Collaborate: Review of GAO’s Annual Duplication Report

Please Leave Your Message at the Tone: Addressing Post-Pandemic Backlogs and Delays at Federal Agencies

Tracking the Postal Service: An Update on the Delivering for America Plan

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Sessions (32nd District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) released the following statement about his bill, H.R. 7524, the GSA Technology Accountability Act, becoming law. This new law, which received broad bipartisan support in Congress, ensures GSA is held accountable to Congress and the American people in how it spends taxpayer dollars on technology projects and initiatives.

Congressman Sessions said, “I am proud that my common-sense legislation, the GSA Technology Accountability Act has been signed into law. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, I found that there is insufficient transparency in the General Services Administration regarding technology projects. This legislation will allow the House Oversight Committee to conduct appropriate oversight, rein in what for too long has been an unaccountable organization that seemingly thought it could play by its own rules, and protect both GSA agency customers and American taxpayers. The GSA Technology Accountability Act is big win for government accountability!”  

The GSA Technology Accountability Act requires the GSA Administrator to submit an annual report to Congress regarding each project funded by the Citizen Services Fund and some projects funded by the Acquisition Services Fund. Right now, there is no transparency into how these funds, which are the primary source of funding for TTS projects and initiatives, are allocated.  This bill expands oversight capabilities and includes several measures to ensure GSA provides information about funded projects and explanations for the basis of projects as well as timelines and potential reimbursements.

Read the bill text here.