Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

06.11.21

Ensures Access to Care & Saves Local Jobs

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) announced, after months of work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Harmon Memorial Hospital in Hollis, Oklahoma has received an extension of their designation to continue to serve the community as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). In March, Lankford, Inhofe, and Lucas sent a letter to then-Acting CMS AdministratorLiz Richter to push for Harmon Hospital to remain a critical access hospital.  

“After months of calls, emails, and letters, I was elated to finally get the sign off from CMS that Harmon Hospital has received the vital extension that we requested for the entire community,” said Lankford. “Without the critical access designation, the city of Hollis and Harmon County would be dangerously far from emergency health services and nearly 100 people would lose their jobs. Oklahoma rural hospitals provide critical care to thousands of people who are loved by our families and essential to our economy.  We must work to protect each one.” 

“I am glad to hear that Harmon Hospital in Hollis, Oklahoma will be able to continue to operate as a Critical Access Hospital,” Inhofe said. “The CAH designation keeps rural hospitals going, helping ensure that individuals in communities like Hollis are able to get necessary care. I remain committed to ensuring Harmon’s ability to serve continues for years to come.”

“I am extremely grateful of CMS’ decision to extend the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation to Harmon Memorial Hospital. Oklahoma’s rural hospitals, including Harmon Memorial Hospital, provide critical care to those who call rural Oklahoma home. While many Oklahomans live in close proximity to some of Oklahoma’s largest hospitals, Oklahoma’s rural communities often rely on the accessibility of the state’s rural hospitals, including CAHs, who are often the sole community health care provider in the county. As more and more rural hospitals close across the country, we must ensure that we keep Oklahoma’s rural hospitals open, ensuring our rural communities have convenient, affordable, quality access to health care,” said Lucas. “I thank the efforts of CMS in ensuring Harmon Memorial Hospital remains a critical access hospital, and I look forward to working with the Agency and hospital leaders to make sure our rural communities in Oklahoma continue to have access to the essential services these hospitals provide.”

“The community of Hollis and health care professionals at Harmon Memorial Hospital are grateful for the efforts of Senators Lankford and Inhofe and Congressman Lucas in helping us receive an extension of our Critical Access Hospital designation.  Oklahoma is blessed to have elected officials who are so engaged,” said Steve Hartgraves, CEO Harmon Hospital.

Earlier this year, Lankford introduced a bipartisan Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, which would support financially vulnerable rural hospitals facing risk of closure. The legislation would update Medicare’s CAH designation so more rural hospitals can qualify for this financial lifeline and continue to serve their communities with quality, affordable health care services.  

The Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act would support and stabilize rural hospitals by providing flexibility around the 35-mile distance requirement and enabling states to certify a hospital as a “necessary provider” in order to obtain CAH designation. This authority ended in 2006, but this bill would reopen this financial lifeline for certain rural hospitals that serve a low-income community, are located in a health professional shortage area, and that have operated with negative margins for multiple years.  

 

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Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

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Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

‘The Biden administration is in the business of appeasing adversaries like Russia, state sponsors of terrorism like Iran, and Iran’s terrorist proxies like Hamas’ 

WASHINGTON — On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 22 of his Republican colleagues in introducing the Iran Nuclear Treaty Act. This bill will give the American people a proper constitutional check by requiring that the president submit to Congress any renewed nuclear deal with Iran as a treaty. The Iran Nuclear Treaty Act would strengthen the role Congress plays by ensuring the advice and consent of the Senate is taken into account for a new nuclear agreement, as well as prevent waiving, suspending, reducing or limiting the application of sanctions on Iran before the Senate has concurred.

The text of the bill can be found here.

Joining Johnson is Senator Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cruz (R-Texas), Rubio (R-Fla.), Braun (R-Ind.), Cotton (R-Ark.), Crapo (R-Idaho), Hoeven (R-N.D.), Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Lee (R-Utah), Lummis (R-Wyo.), Moran (R-Kan.), Sasse (R-Neb.), Scott (R-Fla.), Scott (R-S.C.), Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tillis (R-N.C.), Young (R-Ind.), Boozman (R-Ark.), Marshall (R-Kan.), Ernst (R-Iowa), and Daines (R-Mont.).

Senator Johnson said:

“President Reagan was right when he said you achieve peace through strength. Unfortunately, our adversaries understand the Biden administration will chart the same weak and disastrous course as President Obama. It’s clear the Biden administration is in the business of appeasing adversaries like Russia, state sponsors of terrorism like Iran, and Iran’s terrorist proxies like Hamas. Instead of addressing the threats these actors pose, the administration will coddle the Iranian regime and ignore its malign activity throughout the region. Any potential agreement with Iran involves risks that affect our entire nation. It is critical to the security of America and to world peace that any deal Biden negotiates with Iran be deemed a treaty requiring approval by the U.S. Senate.”

Senator Risch said:

“The Iranian regime presents a significant and enduring challenge to United States’ national security interests. While negotiators gather in Vienna, Iran continues to develop ballistic missiles, attacks American troops and diplomats in Iraq, funds Hamas’ attacks against Israel, facilitates Houthi aggression in Yemen, and enables the Assad regime’s continued atrocities in Syria. The path to a lasting Iran policy that best serves the needs of the American people must pass through the Senate for its consent and ratification.”

Senator Crapo said:

“The 2015 JCPOA was poorly-negotiated and failed to permanently end Iran’s nuclear program or address its malign influence and terrorist proxies in the Middle East.  Iran’s influence continues to prop up global terrorist groups that are a direct threat to the United States and its regional allies. The American people widely disproved of the agreement, and Congress was never consulted on ways to strengthen our nation’s side of the deal, which gave the Iranian regime a green light to continue its nuclear arms race and financial support of violent activities across the globe. Congress must be able to provide advice and consent on any similar agreements.”

Senator Marshall said:

“Repeating Obama-era efforts to lift sanctions on Iran and rejoin the disastrous Iran Nuclear Deal without approval from Congress will give a free pass to the worlds leading state-sponsor of terrorism for their recent attacks their proxies have waged against Israel. President Biden should work with Congress to  hold the Iranian regime accountable for its action and immediately end negotiations with Iran. Sanctions relief will only contribute to more terror attacks against America and its allies, as well as the continued development of Iran’s nuclear program.”

Senator Lummis said:

“President Obama’s and President Biden’s efforts to unilaterally enact a treaty allowing Iran to enrich uranium is not only dangerous for Iran’s neighbors, but for the U.S., as well. Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Any actions we take to address its nuclear ambitions should have the approval of the U.S. Senate, just like any other treaty.”

Senator Hoeven said:

“Iran must not be allowed to realize its nuclear ambitions, as it remains one of the largest sponsors of terrorism and represents an existential threat to our close ally Israel. Our legislation would ensure any new agreement with Iran is subject to Senate review, a critical step in maintaining the pressure needed to hold the Iranian regime accountable and protect our allies.”

Senator Rick Scott said: 

“Every day that Biden continues his feeble attempts to re-enter the failed Iran nuclear deal, American national security suffers. Iran is clearly our adversary and can’t be trusted. This legislation puts American interests first by mandating that President Biden receives the approval of the Senate before taking any action related to the disastrous Iran nuclear deal.”

Senator Lee said: 

“The executive branch should not be allowed to dangerously and unconstitutionally circumvent the Senate’s treaty ratification process and make substantial shifts in U.S. policy with major adversaries, including in the case of JCPOA or any successor agreement with Iran. Sen. Johnson’s bill makes a strong statement that the JCPOA, any successor agreement, or any actions on sanction relief with Iran constitute a treaty and therefore must come to the Senate for ratification, reasserting the Senate’s rightful powers.”

Senator Hyde-Smith said: 

“If President Biden’s short-changed defense budget is any indication of his approach to our national security, then the Senate must assert its constitutional advice and consent duty when it comes to dealing with Iran and its nuclear ambitions.  This legislation would ensure this administration cannot unilaterally renew the disastrous Obama-Iran Nuclear Deal, which just furthered Iran’s destructive influence over its adversaries and our allies.”

Senator Cruz said: 

“The Biden administration knows their reckless rush to dismantle sanctions on Iran is unjustifiable, so instead of being transparent and working with Congress, the Administration has chosen instead to freeze out Congress. In the process, the Administration is eroding the Senate’s constitutional authority to advice and consent to treaties by signaling that it will not submit the disastrous Iran nuclear deal to the Senate, just like the Obama administration, because they knew it faced majority bipartisan opposition. I urge my colleagues to remedy the harm done to the balance of powers and join me and Sen. Johnson in urging President Biden to submit the JCPOA to Congress.”

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Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

Writes to U.S. Capitol Police about security footage showing unauthorized access into the Capitol 

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent a letter to the acting chief of U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Yogananda Pittman requesting information regarding unauthorized access to the Capitol through the upper west terrace doors on January 6. Senator Johnson’s office has reviewed security footage showing a 14-minute period in which approximately 309 unauthorized individuals gained access to the Capitol.  

Senator Johnson asked whether USCP agrees with this assessment and whether it still believes that approximately 800 unauthorized individuals entered the Capitol on January 6.  If those estimates are accurate then as much as 38 percent of the total amount of unauthorized individuals in the Capitol gained entry through the upper west terrace doors.  

Senator Johnson is asking for the requested information no later than June 24, 2021.

“The American people deserve an accurate and complete understanding of what happened on January 6,” Johnson writes. “To provide that historical record, it is important that all aspects of that day—from the peaceful protests on the Ellipse to the acts of violence in and around the Capitol—are fully and fairly examined.”

The full letter can be found here and below.

 

June 10, 2021  

Ms. Yogananda D. Pittman

Acting Chief of Police

U.S. Capitol Police

Washington, D.C. 20515

 

Dear Acting Chief Pittman:

                Thank you for continuing to provide my office access to U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) security camera footage of the interior and exterior of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021.  The purpose of this review is to document exactly what happened at the Capitol on January 6 to provide an accurate and complete historical account.  In particular, my office is reviewing security footage to determine, among other things, the main entry points into the Capitol, how people gained entry into the Capitol, when and where violence occurred both inside and outside the Capitol, and the full spectrum of behavior displayed by individuals on January 6.

                I write today to request information about what happened at a specific location.  Over the span of a 14-minute period, approximately 309 unauthorized individuals entered the Capitol on January 6 through the upper west terrace doors.  At approximately 2:26 p.m. on January 6, a security camera showed a male inside the Capitol attempting to open one of the upper west terrace doors to exit the building.  This unauthorized individual, who was by himself at the time, walked through a narrow hallway to the double doors and attempted to exit through the left door by pushing the door’s crash bar.  The door did not open and the individual turned around and walked back through the hallway and away from the doors.  Approximately seven minutes later, at 2:33 p.m., security footage showed five unauthorized individuals walking down the same hallway, past a police officer.  The security footage, which did not include audio, appeared to show the police officer gesturing toward the doors as these individuals walked past him.  Once at the double doors, one of the five individuals pushed the left door’s crash bar and this time, it opened.  All five individuals exited the building at approximately 2:33 p.m. 

As the fifth individual exited through this left door of the upper west terrace doorway, it remained ajar for a moment allowing people from the outside of the building to gain entry into the Capitol.  At 2:34 p.m., as people began to enter through this door, the police officer who was in the vicinity of this door one minute earlier, walked into another hallway away from this door and out of the view of the security camera.  At 2:35 p.m., five police officers who were not wearing riot gear or carrying any protective equipment, such as shields, arrived at this doorway.  As soon as these officers approached the doorway, they appeared to form a thin line across the narrow hallway, blocking people from continuing to enter the building at this location.  About a minute later, four unauthorized individuals, including two people wearing helmets, pushed past the officers’ line and a surge of people entered the building walking past the officers.  These police officers did not appear to take any further action to stop or block people entering the building until a few minutes later.

                At 2:40 p.m., the same five police officers once again approached the same upper west terrace doorway and formed a line stopping the surge of people.  For the next several minutes, it appeared that the officers and the people gathered in the doorway exchanged words.  Without any audio, it is unclear what was said, but it did not appear that either the police officers or the individuals closest to the doorway were aggressive or violent.  At 2:42 p.m., it appeared that at least one individual in the crowd outside of the doorway began to push people toward the doorway causing the individuals closest to the doors to move toward the officers.  The officers took a step back, but still maintained the integrity of their line for another two minutes.

                At 2:44 p.m., around the time that Ashli Babbitt was shot, security footage showed one of the five police officers at this upper west terrace doorway looking over his shoulder toward the interior of the Capitol building.  At that point, this officer appeared to say something to another officer standing in front of him.  Both officers, followed by their three other colleagues, appeared to slowly retreat from the doorway, allowing a surge of people to, once again, enter the building.

                Security footage then showed an increase of law enforcement officers outside of the building directly in front of this doorway.  At 2:47 p.m., law enforcement closed these doors.  Over the span of this 14-minute period, it appeared that approximately 309 unauthorized individuals entered the Capitol through the upper west terrace doors.  USCP estimated at least 800 unauthorized individuals entered the Capitol on January 6.  If that estimate is accurate, it appears this doorway was the entry point for as much as 38 percent of that total. 

                The American people deserve an accurate and complete understanding of what happened on January 6.  To provide that historical record, it is important that all aspects of that day—from the peaceful protests on the Ellipse to the acts of violence in and around the Capitol—are fully and fairly examined.  In order to ensure the most accurate understanding of what occurred at the upper west terrace doors on January 6, I ask that you please provide the following information by no later than June 24, 2021:

 

1. Do you agree with the assessment above that on January 6, 2021, starting at 2:33 p.m. at the upper west terrace doors, approximately 309 unauthorized individuals gained entry into the Capitol at this location?  If not, please provide the number of individuals that entered the building at this location.
2. Does USCP still believe approximately 800 unauthorized individuals entered the Capitol on January 6?   If that estimate is not correct, what is the current estimate and why has it been revised?
3. In order to fully understand what happened at the upper west terrace doorway, it is important to hear from the officers that were present at that location.  Have these officers filed detailed reports of this incident?  Has USCP conducted transcribed interviews with them?   If so, I request copies of these reports and transcribed interviews.  If not, I respectfully ask for the opportunity to interview these officers. 
4. Does USCP know why at approximately 2:26 p.m. an individual could not open the left door at the upper west terrace entrance, but seven minutes later, at 2:33 p.m., another individual could open that same door?  Does USCP have any indication that this door was locked at 2:26 p.m. and then unlocked by 2:33 p.m.?
5. Please produce security footage of the interior and exterior cameras located near the upper west terrace doors from 2:20 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. on January 6, 2021.

 

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Ron Johnson

United States Senator

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Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

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Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

Sen. Marshall Announces Grant to Improve Sexual Assault Examinations