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  • MIL-OSI USA: Moran: Kansas Veterans may be Impacted by VA Electronic System Failure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – was alerted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of a problem with an electronic fax system that resulted in 875 files sent to the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System from community care providers to go missing.

    These files dated as far back as June 11, 2024, and contained medical documentation, care referrals, authorizations for care and other information needed for the coordination of veteran health care.

    “I have asked VA to quickly review every file and take all appropriate actions to mitigate patient harm that has or may result from this system failure,” said Sen. Moran. “I have also asked VA to quickly review each of the other 27 health care systems across the Veterans Health Administration that use this same electronic fax system in order to identify similar issues and assist any patients whose care has been negatively impacted. My office will remain in contact with VA until the full scope of this problem is known and all necessary corrective actions are taken.”

    Any veteran concerned this issue may have caused a delay in their care should contact their VA care team. If a veteran needs further assistance, they should reach out to Sen. Moran’s office here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Media roundtable with Governor Macklem

    Source: Bank of Canada


















  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Polk County, Joins First Lady of the United States Jill Biden in Asheville as Unprecedented Response to Helene Continues

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Polk County, Joins First Lady of the United States Jill Biden in Asheville as Unprecedented Response to Helene Continues

    Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Polk County, Joins First Lady of the United States Jill Biden in Asheville as Unprecedented Response to Helene Continues
    mseets

    Today, Governor Cooper visited Green River Cove in Polk County to assess storm damage to the Green River and surrounding areas, meet with local officials and speak with those impacted by the storm. In the afternoon, the Governor joined First Lady of the United States Jill Biden at a World Central Kitchen site in Asheville where they packed and served food and thanked volunteers. This morning, the Governor signed Senate Bill 743 into law, which allocates more than $600 million in Helene disaster relief and recovery funds.

    “Today I traveled to Green River Cove in Polk County to survey storm damage and meet with local officials and then helped with relief efforts in Asheville alongside First Lady Jill Biden,” said Governor Cooper. “Folks on the ground in western NC are working hard to help communities build back from this storm and get help to those in need. I’m thankful for our federal, state, local and volunteer partners who are pitching in as we continue our recovery efforts.”

    The Green River and other waterways in Western North Carolina sustained significant damage from Helene, affecting surrounding homes, communities and businesses. The World Central Kitchen works to provide fresh meals to communities impacted by natural disasters and other crises.

    This week, Governor Cooper recommend an initial $3.9 billion package to the General Assembly to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and farms damaged during the storm. Initial damage estimates are $53 billion, roughly three times Hurricane Florence estimates in 2018 and the largest in state history. The funding put forward by legislative Republicans this week represents just 1/6 of this recommendation and included no funds for small business grants and other key needs. The Governor urged legislators to return in November and pass a more comprehensive package.

    “Western North Carolina needs significant investments to recover fully from the worst storm our state has ever seen. Legislators have taken a small step here and should follow it with a more comprehensive package to help families, businesses and communities build back stronger,” said Governor Cooper.

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    Over 1,700 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.

    FEMA Assistance

    Approximately $168.4 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 226,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Over 7,100 people have been helped through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance. Nearly 5,900 registrations for Small Business Administration Loans have been filed.

    Nearly 1,700 FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,750 responders from 39 state and local agencies have performed 153 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, approximately 4,200 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Some roads are closed because they are too damaged and dangerous to travel. Other roads still need to be reserved for essential traffic like utility vehicles, construction equipment and supply trucks. However, some parts of the area are open and ready to welcome visitors which is critical for the revival of Western North Carolina’s economy. If you are considering a visit to the area, consult DriveNC.gov for open roads and reach out to the community and businesses you want to visit to see if they are welcoming visitors back yet.

    NCDOT currently has approximately 1,400 employees and 900 pieces of equipment working on thousands of damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Ninety-eight storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. This number is expected to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.

    Volunteers and Donations

    If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.

    For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc.

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 25, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Missoula man admits embezzling approximately $390,000 from credit union, swapping real money for fake currency

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MISSOULA — A former Missoula credit union employee accused of embezzling approximately $390,000 from the vault and swapping the real money with fake funds admitted to a theft charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    The defendant, Edward Arthur Nurse, 35, of Missoula, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with theft from credit union. Nurse faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release.

    U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Feb. 25, 2025. Nurse was released pending further proceedings.

    In court documents, the government alleged that from about July 2023 to June 2024, Nurse embezzled from his employer, Park Side Credit Union in Missoula. In June 2024, an employee discovered $340,000 in cash in the credit union’s vault had been replaced with fake funds from a company that provides fake currency as props for movies and entertainment productions. Nurse was identified as a potential suspect because his primary role was managing and balancing money in the vault. In the previous seven months, financial records showed cash deposits totaling $117,751, with each deposit for more than $10,000, into Nurse’s bank account. In addition, financial information from a local casino reflected that from March 2024 to May 2024, Nurse put more than $56,000 in cash into the business and cashed out slightly more than $8,000.

    After the credit union discovered the thefts, Nurse claimed to an FBI special agent that he did not usually carry much cash and, aside from a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada, he had not made any recent large purchases or cash deposits. The investigation determined that during the first six months of 2024, Nurse had purchased $410,000 in fake currency from a prop money company and had the money delivered to a post office box in Nurse’s name. The credit union was later informed that approximately $50,000 in fake money had been received by the Federal Reserve in July 2024. Those funds were returned and determined to be fake bills from the prop money company.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI with assistance from the Missoula Police Department, conducted the investigation.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Department of Education Awards $1.9 Million to Turtle Mountain Community College

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Education announced an award of $1,922,389 to Turtle Mountain Community College for a research and development infrastructure project. Specifically, this project will improve research and development activities, including infrastructure, faculty development, and undergraduate research opportunities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada invests $9.4 million to drive innovation and economic growth in Surrey

    Source: Government of Canada News

    PacifiCan funding will help three local businesses expand operations, create quality jobs and reach new markets

    October 25, 2024 – Surrey, British Columbia – PacifiCan

    Surrey is one of British Columbia’s fastest growing cities, home to innovative businesses and ambitious entrepreneurs with exciting plans for the future. PacifiCan will soon open its headquarters in Surrey, expanding the agency’s presence and impact in this growing economic hub and the broader Mainland Southwest Region. PacifiCan is committed to partnering with businesses and community leaders in the Fraser Valley and across B.C. to realize their ambitions.

    Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced $9.4 million in PacifiCan funding to help three Surrey-based businesses grow locally and compete globally.

    Minister Sajjan made the announcement while visiting Nanak Foods Inc., an innovative food manufacturer receiving $5 million in funding through PacifiCan’s Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program. Nanak is North America’s largest and leading manufacturer of specialty dairy-based, South Asian-inspired foods. Nanak’s paneer cheese product incorporates whole milk from B.C. cows, benefiting local dairy farmers.

    PacifiCan’s investment will allow the company to increase production of paneer cheese by expanding its operations with new equipment. The funding announced today will allow Nanak to scale-up locally, create jobs and accelerate global sales of its signature product.

    Minister Sajjan also announced funding for two other Surrey-based businesses, one through PacifiCan’s BSP and the other through the Jobs and Growth Fund. Dr. Ma’s Laboratories, a natural health product manufacturer, is receiving over $3.1 million in funding to scale up operations and create new jobs. LED Smart is receiving over $1.2 million to continue to innovate in the design of its horticulture lighting system and increase production to meet global demand.

    More details about the projects and companies receiving funding can be found in the backgrounder.

    The investments announced today are expected to help create more than 190 jobs, grow the Surrey and regional economy, and bring more made-in-B.C. products to global markets.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Government of Canada invests $9.4 million to drive innovation and economic growth in Surrey

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Surrey is one of British Columbia’s fastest growing cities, home to innovative businesses and ambitious entrepreneurs with exciting plans for the future.

    Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced $9.4 million in PacifiCan funding to help three Surrey-based businesses grow locally and compete globally.

    The projects announced today are:

    Business Scale-Up and Productivity Program

    Dr. Ma’s Laboratories

    $3,166,000

    Funding will enable Dr. Ma’s Laboratories, a natural health product manufacturer, to scale up its operations by installing new automated equipment and hiring more staff. Dr. Ma’s provides natural health brands with the production space and in-house resources required to create their unique vitamins and supplements. From product research to manufacturing capabilities to packaging, Dr. Ma’s provides brands with end-to-end production services. PacifiCan’s investment will allow the company to grow local production and meet global demand for natural health goods.

    Nanak Foods Inc.

    $5,000,000

    Funding will allow Nanak Foods Inc. to increase production of its paneer cheese product by expanding its operations with new equipment. The company is North America’s largest and leading manufacturer of specialty dairy-based, South Asian-inspired foods. Nanak’s paneer cheese product incorporates whole milk from B.C. cows, benefiting local dairy farmers. PacifiCan’s investment will help Nanak scale-up locally, create jobs and accelerate global sales of its signature product. 

    Jobs and Growth Fund

    LED Smart

    $1,275,000

    Funding will help LED Smart continue to innovate in the design of its horticulture lighting system, Grow3, and increase production to meet growing global demand. This energy-efficient technology replicates sunlight to produce high-quality crops in greenhouses and vertical farms. PacifiCan’s investment will allow LED Smart to enhance its software, adapt Grow3 for mass production and create high quality jobs in British Columbia.

    Related products

    Haley Hodgson
    Senior Communications Advisor
    Office of the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
    haley.hodgson@kpc-cpr.gc.ca

    Follow PacifiCan on X and LinkedIn

    Toll-Free Number:     1-888-338-9378
    TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired):     1-877-303-3388

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Sandy Lake First Nation Opens Doors and Access to Modernized Health Services

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 25, 2024 — Sandy Lake First Nation, Treaty 5 Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada and Sandy Lake First Nation

    Sandy Lake First Nation, with funding support from Indigenous Services Canada, is bringing a new era of modern health services to its community as the Sandy Lake Community Health Center opens its doors today, serving the health needs of the over 2,600 residents living on reserve in the remote, fly-in Northern Ontario community. Over 1,765 square metres, the facility will ensure that more Sandy Lake residents are able to access health services in their community, reducing health outcome disparities and enabling them to get healthcare when and where they want.

    The Community Health Center provides the expanded space, services, and technology required to meet the growing needs of the community. Replacing a smaller, aging health centre and health professional accommodations, the new Centre brings the community’s health services together under one roof. It houses the community’s primary health care services, dental care, vision care, and addictions treatment services. The building is equipped with modern technology that supports its operations onsite as well as telemedicine to deliver health services remotely. The funding will also improve access to diverse healthcare services. The new build includes two detached apartment buildings—with 10 units each—to house nursing staff and health care professionals visiting the community to provide care.   

    Indigenous Services Canada provided over $50 million to support this community-led project. Through this investment, the community is now better equipped to meet the health needs of residents.

    Additional multimedia

    Quotes

    “The Sandy Lake Community Health Center brings us together in one place where our culture and traditions are intertwined with modern medical services. The Centre is a new, spacious facility that improves access to health services for everyone in our community. I am grateful to all who helped create this new space, which will be used for healing, wellness, and recovery. The Health Center will be a cornerstone of our community. It ushers in improved health care for the people of today and for generations to come.”

    Chief Delores Kakegamic
    Sandy Lake First Nation

    “Supporting First Nations to develop modern, culturally appropriate, in-community health facilities is an important step in closing the health care gap. Congratulations to Sandy Lake First Nation and the project team for their work and dedication to see the Sandy Lake Community Health Center open its doors.”

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services

    Quick facts

    • Sandy Lake First Nation, located in Treaty 5 territory, is a remote, fly-in First Nation in Northern Ontario, approximately 222 km northwest of Red Lake, Ontario.

    • The Sandy Lake Community Health Center is a modern 1,765 square metre facility with improved accessibility designed to meet the needs of flow and functionality for health care delivery and includes:

      • primary facility;
      • two resident apartment buildings with ten units each;
      • new storage garage;
      • back-up generator; and
      • bulk fuel storage and distribution system.       

    • The Health Centre is designed to reduce environmental impacts through increased energy efficiency, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and built with sustainable materials.

    • The former community health centre and health professional accommodations will be re-purposed by the community to run additional health programming and administration.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Councillor Cynthia Fiddler
    Sandy Lake First Nations
    807-738-2403

    Jennifer Kozelj
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
    jennifer.kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

    ISC Media Relations
    819-953-1160
    media@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Stay connected

    Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

    Twitter: @GCIndigenous
    Facebook: @GCIndigenous
    Instagram: @gcindigenous

    You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steil Demands Answers on Whether Temporary Residents Can Vote in Wisconsin

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

    Janesville, WI (October 25, 2024) – Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, which oversees federal election law, yesterday sent a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission demanding clarification whether Limited Term and Non-Domiciled ID cards – which are only issued to temporary visitors – can or cannot be used as proof of residency for voter registration purposes. Rep. Steil is also requesting that the Wisconsin Elections Commission provide immediate guidance to municipal clerks on this issue. 

    Excerpts and highlights from the letter below:

    “… I write today seeking immediate clarification whether the Limited Term and the Non-Domiciled Identification (“ID”) cards can be used as an acceptable proof of residency for voter registration purposes. 
     
    “Limited Term and Non-Domiciled ID cards are only issued to individuals who are temporary visitors. To protect the integrity of Wisconsin’s elections, Wisconsin law prohibits individuals from voting if they are present only for temporary purposes. Such individuals should not be voting in our elections or deciding the future of our State. 
     
    “An elector’s residence is defined by their domicile. In other words, the elector’s ‘habitation must be fixed, without any present intent to move, and to which, when absent, the person intends to return.’ In that same vein, Wisconsin law prohibits individuals from becoming a resident if they are present only for temporary purposes. These provisions exist to ensure only permanent residents of Wisconsin can vote in Wisconsin’s elections rather than any temporary visitor. 
     
    “As such, it would appear contrary to Wisconsin law for these IDs to serve as valid proof of residency to register to vote in Wisconsin. 
     
    “Media reports have indicated that your office has failed to give direction on how to handle these applications. Americans deserve confidence in our elections, and clear rules and guidance can help improve that level of confidence. Inaction from your office risks ineligible persons being registered to vote and exposes clerks to undue criticism on an issue that could have been avoided.” 

    CLICK HERE to read the full letter. 
     
    NOTE: Wisconsin law requires every eligible voter to be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old who has resided in an election district or ward for 28 consecutive days before an election. Eligible individuals are required to provide proof of identification and residency in order to register to vote. Proof of identity can be satisfied with a valid driver license or ID card issued by Wisconsin. For proof of residence, any individual who is issued a Limited Term or Non-Domiciled ID card has been classified as a Temporary Visitor and is thus ineligible to register to vote. 

    Wisconsin municipal clerks approached the Wisconsin Elections Commission for guidance on this issue, but it was not provided. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kites in the Classroom: Training Teachers to Conduct Remote Sensing Missions

    Source: NASA

    3 min read

    The NASA Science Activation program’s AEROKATS and ROVER Education Network (AREN), led by Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) in Wayne County, MI, provides learners with hands-on opportunities to engage with science instruments & NASA technologies and practices in authentic, experiential learning environments. On July 25, 2024, the AREN team held a four-day virtual workshop: “Using Kites and Sensors to Collect Local Data for Science with the NASA AREN Project”. During this workshop, the team welcomed 35 K-12 educators and Science, Technology, Education, & Mathematics (STEM) enthusiasts from across the country to learn about the AREN project and how to safely conduct missions to gather remote sensing data in their classrooms.

    Teachers were trained to use an AeroPod, an aerodynamically stabilized platform suspended from a kite line, in order to collect aerial imagery and introduce their students to topics like resolution, pixels, temporal and seasonal changes to landscape, and image classification of land cover types. Educators were also familiarized with safe operation practices borrowed from broader NASA mission procedures to ensure students in the field can enjoy experiential education safely. The AREN team will also meet with workshop participants during follow-up sessions to highlight next steps and new instrumentation that can be used to gather different data, help broaden the educators depth of understanding, and increase successful implementation in the classroom.

    “This session has been very helpful and informative of the program and the possible investigations that we can conduct. The fact that it can connect hands on experiments, data analysis, and draw conclusions from the process is going to be a fantastic learning experience.” ~AREN Workshop Participant

    The AREN project continually strives to provide low cost, user-friendly opportunities to engage in hands-on experiential education and increase scientific literacy. The versatility of the NASA patented AeroPod platform allows learners to investigate scientific questions that are meaningful to their community and local environment. Learn more about AREN and how to implement AREN technologies in the classroom: https://science.nasa.gov/sciact-team/resa/

    AREN is supported by NASA under NASA Science Mission Directorate Science Education Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) Solicitation NNH15ZDA004C Award Number NNX16AB95A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn

    Kite with Aeropod for Collecting Data

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Autumn Leaves – Call for Volunteers

    Source: NASA

    3 min read

    The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is calling on volunteers of all ages to help students and citizen scientists document seasonal change through leaf color and land cover. The data collection event will support students across North America, Latin America, Central America, and Europe, who are working together to document the seasonal changes taking place from September through December – see Figure. The observations will also provide vital data for GLOBE students creating student research projects for the GLOBE 2025 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS). The project is part of GLOBE’s Intensive Observation Period (IOP), which collects data during a focused period to assess how climate change is unfolding in different regions of the world.

    Figure. Locations Green-Down observations being entered into the GLOBE database.
    Figure credit: GLOBE

    Green down is the seasonal change when leaves change from green to brown and then fall to the ground. During green-down data collection, volunteers take regular, daily photos of trees to document the transition in color. Regular observations of land cover and tree height capture the broader changes happening around the tree.

    By gathering this data, you can provide important information about when a single tree changes ahead of or behind the others in your region. When this data is paired with satellite observations, researchers gain a much stronger picture of how seasonal and climate variations impact the life cycles of plants and animals.

    The GLOBE European Phenology Campaign has created materials to assist educators in these efforts. This includes a series of YouTube videos that volunteers can use to select a tree for the phenology project, estimate tree height, and assess land cover. In addition, volunteers can refer to the green-down protocol for guidance at the beginning of the survey. Educators can learn more about the importance of the green-down study by registering as a GLOBE Educator at the GLOBE “Create an Account” website.

    GLOBE students have been collecting seasonal variability in plant and animal data for decades. This work will augment global databases to help students, educators, and scientists around the world study climate change.

    These observations are taking place around the world. This IOP is being conducted in conjunction with the GLOBE North America Phenology Campaign and the European Phenology Campaign, which focus on monitoring and reporting of cycles in plants and animals to help validate the timing of changes in growing season and habitat. The work is also being conducted in conjunction with the Trees Within LAC Campaign, which is collecting information about tree species and their dynamics over time. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Challenge to the Constitutionality of Solitary Confinement of Children in Juvenile Justice Settings

    Source: US State of California

    The Justice Department filed a statement of interest yesterday in a lawsuit brought in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois alleging that conditions in a juvenile detention facility violate the Constitution. The statement explains that the 14th Amendment protects children from illegitimate or excessive use of isolation in juvenile justice and adult correctional settings. It further explains how placing children in isolation seriously harms them, and how a lack of access to essential services while in isolation exacerbates that harm.

    “The federal government recognizes that children are developmentally and constitutionally different than adults and that excessive isolation causes children unique and significant harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Harmful conditions of confinement, including isolation, undermine the very purpose of the juvenile justice system, which is to provide children with rehabilitative treatment so they may return to their communities as productive, law-abiding citizens. State and local institutions must ensure that children in institutions are safe from harmful conditions that violate their constitutional rights and undermine that purpose. We are committed to enforcing this obligation.”

    Plaintiffs in J.B.H. v. Knox County allege that the Mary Davis Detention Home (MDH) in Knox County, Illinois, routinely subjects children, including children with mental health conditions and histories of trauma, to prolonged periods of harmful isolation in violation of the Constitution. While in isolation, MDH allegedly deprives children of basic needs, such as education, mental health services, sleep and human contact, exacerbating the harm that children suffer.

    Over the past year, the Justice Department secured a settlement agreement with Connecticut to address unconstitutional conditions for children in the Manson Youth Institution, issued a findings report regarding conditions at five post-adjudication facilities for children in Texas and opened an investigation of conditions at nine juvenile justice facilities in Kentucky. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work protecting children’s rights in the juvenile justice system is available at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-juveniles.

    For more information on the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. Complaints about unlawful confinement practices may be reported to the Civil Rights Division through its internet reporting portal at civilrights.justice.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Georgia Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for $30M COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme and Firearms Charge

    Source: US State of California

    A Georgia woman was sentenced yesterday for her role in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL) out of tens of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Tyshion Nautese Hicks, 32, of Vienna, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. Hicks’ total sentence includes a penalty of three consecutive years in prison, imposed yesterday in relation to a separate charge of illegal possession of a machine gun prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

    According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from March 2020 through November 2022, Hicks and her co-conspirators caused more than 5,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims to be filed with the GaDOL, resulting in at least $30 million in stolen benefits.

    “In one of the largest COVID fraud schemes ever prosecuted, the defendant and her coconspirators filed more than 5,000 fraudulent COVID unemployment insurance claims using stolen identities and unlawfully obtained more than $30 million in benefits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In doing so, the defendant and her co-conspirators exploited a program designed to alleviate pandemic-related economic hardship to enrich themselves at the expense of federal taxpayers. Yesterday’s sentence underscores the department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who steal from the public fisc.”

    To execute the scheme, Hicks and others created fictitious employers and fabricated lists of purported employees using personally identifiable information (PII) from thousands of identity theft victims and filed fraudulent unemployment insurance claims on the GaDOL website. The co-conspirators obtained PII for use in the scheme from a variety of sources, including by paying an employee of an Atlanta-area health care and hospital network to unlawfully obtain patients’ PII from the hospital’s databases, and by purchasing PII from other sources over the internet. Using victims’ PII, Hicks and her co-conspirators caused the stolen UI funds to be disbursed via prepaid debit cards mailed to addresses of their choice, many of which were in and around Cordele and Vienna. Hicks additionally paid a local U.S. Postal Service (USPS) carrier to unlawfully divert mail containing debit cards loaded with over $512,000 in fraud proceeds to her and coached another co-conspirator on how to create her own fictitious employer account via Facebook Messenger.

    In February, Hicks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Seven of Hicks’ co-conspirators have previously pleaded guilty or been sentenced in the investigation.

    “Tyshion Nautese Hicks and her co-conspirators used the stolen PII of unwitting victims to file numerous fraudulent claims for UI benefits with the Georgia Department of Labor,” said Special Agent in Charge Mathew Broadhurst of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Southeast Regional Office. “We will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to safeguard UI benefit programs for those who need them.”

    “The sentence received by the defendant is the outcome of IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to defraud various agencies by filing fraudulent claims using another person’s identifying information,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office.

    “Postal Inspectors will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable for engaging in fraudulent schemes to manipulate the COVID-19 program for their own financial gain,” said Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division. “The sentencing should serve as a deterrence and shows that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.”

    “Yesterday’s sentencing underlines our commitment to holding those who exploit federal relief programs for personal gain accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the USPS Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). “As proven in this case, our criminal investigators along with our law enforcement partners will work together and diligently pursue anyone who attempts to exploit programs created to help legitimate people and businesses affected by the global pandemic.”

    “Hicks chose to commit fraud, further depleting limited funds designated to help individuals struggling to survive during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Frederick D. Houston of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Atlanta Field Office. “She and her co-conspirators also stole the personally identifiable information, caring only about self-enrichment, not the lives adversely affected. This case signifies our commitment to protect citizens and businesses from fraud and identity theft. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse these programs.”

    “Homeland Security Investigations will aggressively pursue those who exploit unemployment benefits meant for those in need, ensuring that justice is served, and resources are preserved for legitimate claimants,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta Office.

    “Yesterday’s sentencing sends a clear message that those committing fraud will be held accountable,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). “DHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize protecting our country from these kinds of schemes.”

    DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, USPS-OIG, USPIS, USSS, HSI, and DHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Lyndie Freeman, Siji Moore, Matthew Kahn, and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the fraud case.

    On May 17, 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Illinois Business Owner Indicted for Tax Crimes

    Source: US State of California

    A federal grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment yesterday charging an Illinois business owner for not paying employment taxes, not filing business tax returns, wire fraud and making false statements on a loan application.

    According to the indictment, Steven Cordell, of Chicago, was the owner and operator of Starfish Transportation Inc., which provided transportation services to students in the Chicago area. He was allegedly responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS each quarter. For certain quarters from 2018 through 2024, Cordell allegedly withheld taxes from employees’ wages, as required, but did not pay over the full amount withheld to the IRS.

    The indictment further alleges that Cordell submitted on his business’s behalf false applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program, two programs created to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In both, he allegedly submitted unfiled tax returns and provided false financial data. In addition, Cordell allegedly did not disclose that Starfish Transportation had received a PPP loan on the CERTS grant application, as required. The indictment alleges that Cordell received $247,822.51 in fraudulent PPP loans and $598,574.21 in fraudulent CERTS grants.

    Finally, the indictment alleges Cordell intentionally did not file corporate income tax returns for Starfish Transportation for 2019 through 2023.

    In total, Cordell is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $600,000.

    If convicted, Cordell faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for filing a false loan application, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for not paying employment taxes and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each charge of failure to file returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Regina Jeon and Thomas Flynn of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tennessee Business Owner Convicted of $35M Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury convicted a Tennessee business owner yesterday for fraudulently billing federal health care programs approximately $35 million for medically unnecessary injections, which were administered over the course of approximately eight years to a population of opioid-dependent patients.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Kestner, 72, of Nashville, at various times owned, operated, and managed pain clinics in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia, which were ultimately branded under the name Pain MD. The trial evidence proved that Kestner, who is not a physician, pressured nurse practitioners and physician assistants employed by clinics in the Pain MD network to provide multiple back injections to many, if not most, patients who came to Pain MD seeking opioid treatment. Witnesses testified that patients who refused to accept regular injections risked being turned away from Pain MD and suffering withdrawals from their opioid medication.

    The evidence further demonstrated that the injections were uniformly billed as Tendon Origin Insertion injections (TOIs), even though almost none of these patients were diagnosed with pain in their tendons, and in many cases, it would have been medically impossible to administer TOIs with the equipment available to the practitioners. Nevertheless, Kestner relentlessly pressured the providers at his clinics to administer and bill for injections.

    The evidence also demonstrated that, to keep billings up, Kestner sent regular emails ranking the practitioners’ “production” against one another, criticizing providers for “below average” performance, and otherwise making providers feel they would lose their jobs or let down their clinic staff if they did not perform an increasing number of injections. He ignored repeated notices — including a lawsuit — from insurance companies alerting him that his clinics were billing these injections improperly. Through these practices, Pain MD became Medicare’s single highest biller of TOI procedures in the country, outranking the next highest biller by approximately eightfold.

    The jury convicted Kestner of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and 12 counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Kim R. Lampkins of the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.

    HHS-OIG, DCIS, VA-OIG, and TBI are investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief James V. Hayes and Trial Attorney Victor Yanz, with the assistance of Assistant Chief Kate Payerle, all of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in Prince George’s County, Maryland

    Source: US State of California

    The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Prince George’s County, Maryland, during the early voting period and on Election Day.  

    The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the department also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order.

    The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Act and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Pursuant to the Voting Rights Act, Prince George’s County must provide voting materials and assistance in both English and Spanish.

    Complaints about any possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s internet reporting portal at www.civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents for language minority voters and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foreign National Convicted of Conspiring to Export US-Made Drill Rigs to Iran in Violation of US Sanctions Laws

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury convicted Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, yesterday of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), attempted unlawful export of goods from the United States to Iran without a license, attempted smuggling goods from the United States, submitting false or misleading export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    “The defendant schemed to unlawfully export U.S.-origin mining drills to Iran, while deceiving his employer into believing that they were being sent to Iraq,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This conviction affirms the Justice Department’s resolve to disrupt and hold accountable those who evade our sanctions against Iran, wherever in the world they may be.”

    “As this verdict makes clear, no matter how hard you try to obfuscate your scheme to send restricted U.S. items to Iran, we will work tirelessly to bring your conduct to light and ensure you face justice,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). “We take action whenever we uncover attempts to evade our sanctions, especially when those efforts are designed to support adversaries like Iran.”

    “Efforts to conceal impermissible transactions and circumvent imposed sanctions represent a threat to both the United States economic and national security interests,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida. “Today’s verdict demonstrates our collective resolve to hold those who violate regulatory restrictions accountable for their criminal conduct.”

    According to evidence presented at trial, Assi was a Middle East-based salesman of a multinational heavy machinery manufacturer with a U.S.-based subsidiary and production plant located in northern Florida. Assi conspired with individuals affiliated with Sakht Abzar Pars Co. (SAP-Iran), based in Tehran, Iran, to export U.S.-made heavy machinery indirectly to Iran without first obtaining the required licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

    Assi and his Iranian co-conspirators orchestrated the scheme by locating an Iraq-based distributor to serve as the forward-facing purchaser of two U.S.-origin blasthole drills from the U.S. subsidiary of Assi’s employer. The drills are a type of heavy machinery used to create holes in the ground that are then filled with controlled explosives for mining.

    Assi facilitated the sale of the drills and attempted to export them to Iran and used freight forwarding companies to ship the heavy equipment from the U.S. to Turkey. In doing so, Assi concealed any Iranian involvement in the transaction from his employer, claiming the drills were ultimately destined for use in Iraq. But in truth, Assi intended for his Iranian co-conspirators to transship or reexport those items from Turkey to Iran, in circumvention of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

    In furtherance of the conspiracy, Assi concealed his activities with his Iranian co-conspirators by causing false information to be entered into the Automated Export System (AES), a U.S.-government database containing information about exports from the United States. The U.S.-based plant hired a U.S. freight forwarder to arrange the drill’s export from the United States to Iraq. As part of the shipping process, the freight forwarder submitted information to AES about the shipment, including the ultimate consignee’s name and the ultimate delivery destination. Assi misled his employer by claiming that the Iraqi distributor was the ultimate consignee, and that the ultimate delivery destination was Iraq. In fact, Assi knew that his coconspirators in Iran were the true intended recipients, and Iran was the ultimate intended delivery destination.

    In furtherance of the illicit transaction, Assi and his coconspirators caused the transfer of approximately $2.7 million from Turkey to pass through the United States.

    Sentencing for Brian Assi is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.

    The BIS is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Grogan and Harley W. Ferguson for the Northern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: World Bank/IMF Development Committee selects Elisabeth Svantesson, Sweden’s Minister for Finance, as New Chair

    Source: Government of Sweden

    World Bank/IMF Development Committee selects Elisabeth Svantesson, Sweden’s Minister for Finance, as New Chair – Government.se

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    Press release from Ministry of Finance

    Published

    The World Bank Group and IMF member states have selected Sweden’s Minister for Finance, Ms. Elisabeth Svantesson as chair of the joint World Bank Group and IMF Development Committee for a term of two years

    The Development Committee is the World Bank Group and IMF’s highest advisory body for development issues. It is the first time a Swedish national and the first time that a European Minister for Finance holds this prestigious role. Ms. Svantesson will succeed Mr. Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs of United Arab Emirates who has chaired the Development Committee since October 2022. 

    Minister Svantesson is a senior politician who prior to serving as Minister for Finance has held the office of Minister for Employment and was a member of the Swedish Parliament for 16 years. Minister Svantesson has also been a doctoral student and a teacher in economics at Örebro University. During the Swedish EU presidency in 2023 Minister Svantesson chaired the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the European Union. 

    “I am honored to have been selected as Chair. The Development Committee is an important arena for international economic cooperation and there are many issues on the agenda that will shape this cooperation for years to come. During my chairpersonship I hope to positively contribute to international economic collaboration by leading the Development Committee in an inclusive, constructive, and efficient manner,” says Minister for Finance Elisabeth Svantesson.

    “We are very pleased that our Governors have selected Elisabeth Svantesson to chair the Development Committee,” says World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. “With countries around the globe facing unprecedented challenges, Minister Svantesson’s background in finance, politics, and education will serve the Committee well. I look forward to working with Minister Svantesson to help us deliver innovative solutions for our partner countries,” says Banga.  

    Press contact

    Background Development Committee

    The Committee’s mandate is to advise the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the Fund on critical development issues and on the financial resources required to promote economic development in developing countries. Over the years, the Committee has interpreted this mandate to include trade and global environmental issues in addition to traditional development matters.

    The Committee has 25 members, usually Ministers of Finance or Development, and who represent the full membership of the Bank and Fund. They are appointed by each of the countries, or groups of countries, represented on the Boards of Executive Directors of the Bank and Fund. The Chair is selected from among the Committee’s members and is assisted by an Executive Secretary who is elected by the Committee.

    The Development Committee meets twice a year; in the spring and in the fall at the time of the joint Bank-Fund Annual Meetings. Its meetings are held in tandem with the meetings of the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) of the Fund.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Delaware Resident Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Wilmington, Del. – Alfred E. Daking, Jr., an 81-year-old former Delaware resident currently serving a federal prison sentence in an unrelated case, was charged on October 22, 2024, with possession of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware.   

    According to the indictment, on an unknown date, Daking buried material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in his parents’ then backyard in New Castle County, Delaware.  Later, while serving a sentence in federal prison on an unrelated case, Daking told a fellow inmate that he had buried an ammunition can containing video footage in his parents’ backyard.  Daking also gave that inmate a hand-drawn map of the backyard depicting the location that the ammunition can was buried on the property.  Per the hand-drawn map, law enforcement searched and located an ammunition can buried underground.  Both the ammunition can, and its contents were wrapped in plastic. Inside the can, law enforcement found three videocassettes and an 8mm film containing CSAM. One of the videocassettes contained a latent fingerprint that matched Daking.

    U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “For years the defendant hid evidence of his victimization of children.  Today’s indictment demonstrates the commitment of my office, and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from predatory individuals like this defendant.  We will never stop working to uncover evidence of sexual exploitation and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.”

    The FBI investigated this case, with the assistance of New Castle County Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare and Trial Attorney Angelica Carrasco of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are assigned to prosecute this case.

    The U.S Attorney’s Office and the FBI are seeking to identify additional victims of Daking’s.  If you, your family member, or anyone that you know had contact with Daking and would like to provide additional information, please contact the FBI Baltimore Field Office at 410-265-8080.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware.  Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.

    An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Global Anti-Racism Champions Awards

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    These phenomenal civil society leaders demonstrate extraordinary courage, strength, leadership, and commitment in the fight against racism and discrimination worldwide. This year’s Global Anti-Racism Champions from Bolivia, Ghana, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, and North Macedonia share their advice for creating a better world.

    The six awardees this year include:
    Dintie Sule Tayiru:  A human rights advocate for the Fulbe community from Ghana
    Elvis Shakjiri:  A Roma human rights activist from North Macedonia
    Urmila Chaudhary:  A Dalit and labor rights activist from Nepal
    Tanya Duarte:  An Afro-Mexican feminist and anti-racism activist from Mexico
    Tomasa Yarhui Jacomé:  An Indigenous political leader and human rights advocate from Bolivia   
    John Leerdam:  A Black Dutch activist and former parliamentarian from the Netherlands  

    To learn more, visit https://www.state.gov/garc2024/

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
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    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
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    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAQ7m_gNMVY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The results of the work of the Bank of Russia Basic Department at the HSE for the past academic year have been summed up

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    On October 23, the results of the work were summed up Basic Department of the Bank of Russia at the Higher School of Economics for the 2023/24 academic year. The event was opened by Andrey Afonin, Director of the Bank of Russia University.

    He emphasized that over three years of operation, the basic department has become the Bank of Russia’s center of competence in one of the country’s leading universities. The regulator’s employees teach courses and supervise projects; this year, a joint master’s program “Information Security in the Credit and Financial Sphere” was launched – the first such initiative in the history of the Bank of Russia, it was prepared over the course of two years.

    Andrey Afonin reported that more than 40 employees of the Bank of Russia will teach at the HSE this academic year.

    According to the curator of the basic department, advisor to the Chairman of the Bank of Russia Ksenia Yudaeva, the transfer of knowledge to HSE students is a contribution to public welfare, part of the mission of the Bank of Russia. Teachers contribute to a better understanding of its policy, the development of financial literacy, and the reduction of inflation expectations. Students are taught to conduct research and engage in practical activities using data and building theoretical models.

    “It is important that our staff at the Higher School of Economics not only teach, but also conduct research,” added Ksenia Yudaeva.

    First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Vadim Radaev told the event participants that there are more than 60 basic departments operating at the university.

    “Their level of activity varies, and your department is one of the most active at the moment,” he noted. “You have many courses and projects, you collaborate with different departments – the faculties of economic sciences, world economy and world politics, MIEM, and now also with the faculty of computer science, the Institute of Media. What you do is impressive.”

    According to the First Vice-Rector, this work is important for the university and for the students to whom the Bank of Russia employees transfer their competencies.

    The event participants also discussed current issues in modern education, including the use of online technologies.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strengthening self-governance, Anishinabek-led education

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 25, 2024 —North Bay, Ontario — Kinoomaadziwin Education Body and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

    The Kinoomaadziwin Education Body (KEB) and the Government of Canada are taking important steps to strengthen education self-governance and support better education outcomes for Anishinabek First Nations students.

    Today, KEB Vice-Chairperson Lise Kwekkeboom, alongside Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced new funding of more than $20 million per year to support education infrastructure and governance. This means that Anishinabek Education System (AES) participating First Nations will be able to make sure their schools are in the best shape to support students.

    This funding will help ensure communities, including approximately 2,000 students, have the resources they need to succeed while remaining connected to Anishinabek culture and language. Communities know what their kids need, and this funding will ensure they can execute that for the next generation.

    Working collaboratively based on the affirmation of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership is key to achieving reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

    Quotes

    “We are excited to gain access to funding that will assist Anishinabek Education System First Nation communities in self-governance of education for their students. While this funding is an amazing step forward in supporting communities to take control of their own education, we look forward to continuing to work with Canada on how we continue supporting our First Nations in language, culture and academic learning, improving and promoting student success and wellness whether they attend First Nation schools or within the provincial education systems.”

    Lise Kwekkeboom
    Director of Education, Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Secretary, Kinoomaadziwin Education Body

    “The Anishinabek Education System First Nations have been largely operating and supporting their education system though programs and services funding. The increased allocation of governance funding creates more opportunities for the First Nations to hire key education positions and to utilize all programs and services funding for initiatives that directly benefit Anishinabek students.”

    Nancy O’Donnell
    Kinoomaadziwin Education Body, Director of Education

    “All kids deserve a worldclass education, and Indigenous communities know best how to deliver that for their students. This federal funding will support and improve self-governing education. In partnership with Kinoomaadziwin Education Body, we are making sure that Anishinabek Education System (AES) schools are in the best shape to support 2000 students.”

    The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
    Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

    Quick facts

    • The Kinoomaadziwin Education Body serves 23 of the 39 Anishinabek First Nations in Ontario.

    • The funding provided to the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body is the result of new fiscal policy approaches applied to education sectoral self-governments under Canada’s collaborative self-government fiscal policy, which was co-developed with First Nations partners and implemented in 2019 to better reflect the costs of self-government.

    • Education sectoral self-government agreements provide Indigenous governments with the ability to establish an education system that meets the needs of students in participating communities and is reflective of the educational and cultural priorities of these communities.

    • Strengthening self-governing education aligns with Canada’s efforts to achieve the objectives set out in Article 14 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Bahoz Dara Aziz
    Director, Communications and Issues Management
    Office of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
    Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
    bahoz.daraaziz@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
    819-934-2302
    RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Eva Brown
    Communications Manager
    Kinoomaadziwin Education Body
    705-333-9732
    Eva.Brown@a-e-s.ca

    Stay connected

    Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

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    You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.cirnac.gc.ca/RSS.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Appoints Jessica J. Waggoner as District Attorney for the 7th Judicial District

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis appointed Jessica J. Waggoner as the District Attorney for the 7th Judicial District. This appointment is effective Friday, November 1, 2024, and fills a vacancy created by the resignation of District Attorney Seth Ryan. 

    Ms. Waggoner is currently an Assistant District Attorney in the 7th Judicial District Attorney’s Office where she has worked since 2008. Her practice consists of criminal prosecution. Previously, she was an Associate Attorney at Wilderson, O’Hayre, Dawson & Norris, P.C. (2005-2007) and Associate Attorney at Fleming & Kidney, LLC (2004-2005). She earned her B.A. from Western State College in 2000 and her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2002. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Completes International Physical Protection Advisory Service Mission in the Republic of the Congo

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts completed today the first International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission to the Republic of the Congo. The mission, conducted at the request of the Government of the Republic of the Congo, took place from 14 to 25 October 2024.  

    Hosted by the Nuclear Regulatory Cell of the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Promotion of Indigenous People of the Congo, the five-person mission team reviewed the security of radioactive material, associated facilities and activities in the country. The scope of the mission also included a review of the legislative and regulatory framework for the security of radioactive material.

    The Congo uses nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes in various sectors, including industry, health, mining, education and environment.

    The IPPAS team peer reviewed the country’s implementation of the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), which the Congo acceded to in 2021 and ratified its amendment in 2023, and of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.

    The IPPAS team, led by Frédéric Mariotte from France, included experts from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Jordan, as well as one IAEA staff member. The team held discussions with the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Promotion of Indigenous People, the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization and Local Development, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Innovations, and the Ministry of Health and People.

    The team observed that the nuclear security regime in the Congo is in the early phase of establishment. The team provided recommendations and suggestions to support the Congo in developing, enhancing and sustaining nuclear security.

    Heather Looney, Head of the Nuclear Security of Materials and Facilities Section of the IAEA ‘s Division of Nuclear Security, said that the IPPAS mission to the Congo comes amid the national authorities’ efforts to develop and implement all necessary elements required to fulfill their responsibilities in the area of nuclear security. “We trust that the findings of the IPPAS mission will inform the country’s plans to enhance the national nuclear security regime.”

    “The Republic of Congo has welcomed the IPPAS Mission and believes that the recommendations made will help the country improve and enhance its nuclear security regime,” said M. Gaspard Liyoko Mboyo, President of the Nuclear Regulatory Cell. “We thank the IAEA for its continuous assistance to the Republic of Congo.”

    Background

    The mission was the 105th IPPAS mission conducted by the IAEA since the programme began in 1995.

    IPPAS missions are intended to assist States in strengthening their national nuclear security regime. The missions provide peer advice on implementing international instruments, along with IAEA guidance on the protection of nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities.

    During missions, a team of international experts observes a nation’s system of physical protection, compares it with international good practices and makes recommendations for improvement. IPPAS missions are conducted both on a nationwide and facility-specific basis.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Senior U.S. Marines Visit Ishigaki

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    OKINAWA, Japan  –  

    Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander U.S Marine Corps Forces Pacific, joined Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, during a recent trip to Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan October 23, 2024.

    During the visit, Glynn and Turner met with Marines from the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, who are participating in Exercise Keen Sword 25; and Japan Ground Self Defense Force service members stationed in Ishigaki. Glynn and Turner met with JGSDF leadership to address current security concerns and continued support to the defense of Japan.

    “The strength and depth of integration between US Marines and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in the Sakishima Islands is impressive,” said Glynn. “The training demonstrated capabilities that affirm should a crisis occur; we will effectively respond in mutual support of the Alliance and Japanese people.”

    This is the first time the Commander of Marine Corps Forces Pacific has visited the Sakishima Islands and marks a significant milestone in the U.S.-Japan Alliance.

    III Marine Expeditionary Force provides the United States with a forward-deployed force in readiness in the Pacific theater. It is a globally responsive, expeditionary, and fully scalable Marine Air-Ground Task Force, capable of deploying forces for operations ranging from crisis response to combat operations.

    For more information on this visit, please contact the III Marine Expeditionary Force Communication Strategy and Operations at IIIMEFmedia@usmc.mil.

    Questions regarding Keen Sword 25 should be directed to the Combined Joint Information Bureau at indopacom.yokota.usfj.mbx.j021@mail.mil.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Cortez Masto Announce More Than $300,000 in Funding for Nevada to Help Law Enforcement Fight Drug Trafficking 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    LAS VEGAS, NV – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced that Nevada will receive $340,000 in federal funding to help law enforcement crack down on illicit drug trafficking and address regional drug threats. The funding comes from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program, which coordinates and supports federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies’ efforts to seize illicit drugs like fentanyl, prevent and reduce violent crime associated with drug trafficking, enhance data sharing, and dismantle money laundering organizations. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto were both part of a bipartisan group of Senators who pushed for funding for the HIDTA Program last year.
    “Drug trafficking fuels Nevada’s fentanyl crisis and destroys families, which is why we need to ensure law enforcement has all the resources needed to crack down on the flow of illicit drugs in our state,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce Nevada is receiving more than $300,000 in federal funding to help support our law enforcement’s important work in addressing drug trafficking in our state. I’ll always work across the aisle to ensure Nevada law enforcement has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe.”
    “Nevada’s HIDTA program and law enforcement officers work every day to keep Nevadans safe,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This funding is an important step to make sure our state has the resources it needs to combat drug trafficking. I will continue working on both sides of the aisle in the Senate to support Nevada’s law enforcement and get dangerous drugs off our streets.”
    Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have consistently worked across the aisle to support law enforcement and stop the flow of illicit drugs. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen signed a letter to Appropriators requesting HIDTA be funded at the highest level possible for Fiscal Year  2025. Both Senators announced more than $3.4 million for Nevada Law Enforcement to address the overdose epidemic and illicit drug trafficking. Senator Rosen’s bipartisan END FENTANYL Act was signed into law to help crack down on drug smuggling by requiring the Customs and Border Protection Commissioner to update its drug interdiction guidance to ensure it is up to date. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have also pushed for additional funding to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Murphy & Blumenthal Lead Colleagues in Asking Administration to Carefully Assess Proposal to Address Submarine Production Delays

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in asking the Biden Administration to address funding shortfalls for submarine programs as they consider funding levels for Fiscal Year 2025. In two separate letters to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young and Department of the Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the lawmakers also urged the Administration to carefully assess the merits of the proposed Shipbuilder Accountability and Workforce Support (SAWS) agreement—which would restructure how the Navy pays for submarines—as a potential solution to address delays and get the programs back on track.

    While Congress has invested over $2.3 billion between 2018 and 2023 and an additional $3 billion this year as part of a national security supplemental in the nation’s submarine industrial base, the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs face significant delays and are expected to be over budget. The on-time completion of Virginia-class submarines, which are built in Virginia and Connecticut, is especially critical to the fulfillment of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) trilateral partnership, through which the United States will sell at least two submarines to Australia to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific.

    In their letter to OMB Director Young, the members wrote, “The United States’ submarine programs provide our nation an undersea advantage that is critical to our national security… Based on the information available so far, the Shipbuilder Accountability and Workforce Support (SAWS) agreement strikes us as a promising approach to ensure our submarine industrial base rises to the occasion, accelerates submarine production, and fully meets the critical and building demand on U.S. shipyards… We request that you give all due consideration to this initiative, while ensuring it includes the accountability and leverage measures necessary to ensure our federal investments in submarine production go as far as possible in getting these critical programs on track.”

    In their letter to Secretary of the Navy Del Toro, the members wrote, “It is our understanding that over months of conversation Pentagon leadership, the Navy, and industry reached an agreement to maximize use of taxpayer funding for construction of the next tranche of Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarines – including by raising wages to attract and retain America’s skilled and organized shipyard workforce, addressing rising costs, and advancing much-needed infrastructure investments, all to improve program reliability and schedule.”

    “We therefore urge more consistent communication with Congress and with OMB so that all parties clearly understand the Navy’s position on SAWS and overall plans to get our nation’s submarine production on track,” they continued. “It is critical that our submarine programs be on schedule and on budget.”

    In addition to Kaine, Murphy, and Blumenthal, the letters were signed by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Mark R. Warner (D-VA).

    The letter to OMB is available here. The letter to the Navy is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Maine Delegation Statement on the First Anniversary of Lewiston Shooting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden today released the following statement on the first anniversary of the Lewiston shooting that took place on October 25th, taking the lives of 18 innocent people:

    “One year ago, the unthinkable happened in Lewiston when a gunman opened fire at a bowling alley and restaurant — shaking the community and Maine to its core,” said the Delegation. “For days, families sheltered in their homes as law enforcement worked to track down the shooter. We are thankful for the diligence and bravery that put an end to this nightmare and allowed our state to begin working through the agony and devastation. But the seats at the kitchen table remain empty, with 18 Mainers absent from the lives of their friends and families. Others injured on that horrific day are still recovering from their wounds. As we continue to process the pain, we renew our commitment to helping one another, to remembering the victims and the lives forever changed that day, and to healing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Announces More Than $53 Million for Freight Rail Upgrades in Rural Maine

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Maine Department of Transportation has been awarded $53,313,091 for freight rail upgrades to enhance safety, speed, and reliability along two Eastern Maine Railway mainlines in Penobscot, Aroostook, Washington, and Piscataquis counties. This funding will also be used to rehabilitate currently dormant tracks to provide a connection to the One North Bio-Industrial Park in Millinocket. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. Eastern Maine Railway and One North will contribute the 20 percent non-federal match required for this project, for a total project cost of more than $66.6 million.

    “This investment will make critical safety and reliability upgrades to enhance freight rail service in rural Maine,” said Senator Collins. “Repairing and expanding our state’s rail network will strengthen economic opportunities and support jobs throughout the state by connecting our rural communities to national and global markets.”

    The grant will support substantial improvements across 140 miles of rail, including the installation of over 86,000 new crossties and more than 108,000 tons of ballast, replacement of jointed rail with continuously welded rail, installation of Equipment Defect Detectors, and upgrading seven highway grade crossings. By rehabilitating yard tracks and other improvements in the Industrial Park, this project will support the Maine forest products industry and new and sustainable industries in the Katahdin Region.

    According to the FRA, the CRISI Program aims to invest in a wide range of projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability, and to mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger and freight rail chokepoints to support the more efficient movement of both people and goods.

    Since joining the Appropriations Committee in 2009, Senator Collins has helped secure over $1 billion in competitive transportation grants for the State of Maine.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff Announce $22 Million in Federal Funding to Further Close Digital Divide Across Georgia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff Announce $22 Million in Federal Funding to Further Close Digital Divide Across Georgia

    Funding will help create programs for working Americans to access laptops and tablets, connecting millions of households to more economic and educational opportunities
    Provisions in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law were based on Senator Reverend Warnock’s Device Access for Every American Act 
    The new funding seeks to make it easier for working families to keep up with the shift to a 21st century digital economy, schooling, and more
    4.4 million households with students lack consistent access to a computer
    ICYMI from May 2024: Touting Continuing Benefits of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Reverend Warnock, Commerce Secretary Raimondo Celebrate New Jobs at Norcross Manufacturing Facility
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “It is not enough to just put fiber cables in the ground. We need to make sure our communities have the devices, resources, training, and low costs that will allow Georgians participate and thrive in our increasingly digital economy”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced $22,455,639 in federal funding for Georgia to create digital literacy programs, expand community access to computers and tablets, lower costs to get connected, and more. These funds were based in part on provisions from Senator Warnock’s Device Access for Every American Act that he successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Eligible uses include funding for digital literacy programs, partnerships with providers to improve internet affordability, and support for community anchor institutions like libraries, schools, community centers, and religious institutions to help connect, train, and educate communities in all aspects of digital connectivity and digital services. The grant will be distributed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to the state. This funding also allows Georgia to begin implementation of its digital equity plans.

    “I am proud to have secured provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make this federal funding possible and help close the digital divide for communities across Georgia–particularly in our rural and underserved communities that for too long have been left behind,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “It is not enough to just put fiber cables in the ground. We need to make sure our communities have the devices, resources, training, and low costs that will allow Georgians participate and thrive in our increasingly digital economy, and this multi-million dollar grant will do just that by creating digital literacy programs, expanding community access to computers and tablets, lowering costs to get connected, and more.”

    “Our historic bipartisan infrastructure law continues to deliver for Georgia, including historic Federal funding Senator Warnock and I have delivered to surge broadband connectivity across our state. Today’s announcement is another major next step toward ensuring every Georgia family, business, and farm has high-speed Internet,” said Senator Ossoff. 

    The growing need for reliable Internet connectivity and access to connected devices was exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced millions of Americans to shift to digital platforms for school, work, and other daily activities. But the evolving 21st century economy and technological revolution is only continuing these trends. Having a reliable broadband connection is increasingly as necessary as having running water or reliable electricity. However, many households struggle to keep up due to the lack of access to connected devices and the cost of acquiring them. Nationwide, 40% of working adults do not own a desktop or laptop computer. Additionally, 4.4 million households with students lack consistent access to a computer, making it difficult for these students to participate in class and complete schoolwork.

    Senator Warnock has been a champion for strengthening broadband access for Georgians across the state. In May 2024, Senator Warnock hosted Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo at Georgia-based OFS Fitel to uplift more $1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding coming to Georgia for broadband expansion to close the digital divide in communities across the state. Senator Warnock also led an effort urging the FCC to expand the E-Rate program, which would allow schools and libraries to provide Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators. Additionally, in 2022 Senator Reverend Warnock hosted FCC Chair Rosenworcel in Jackson County to discuss the need for better broadband service in rural communities. Senator Warnock has also worked with Senator Luján to urge the FCC to prevent digital discrimination by facilitating equal access to broadband internet through its rulemaking process. Additionally, in a recent Senate Commerce committee hearing, Senator Warnock called out Congress’ inaction on funding the Affordable Connectivity Program and how a funding lapse would be detrimental to the more than 23 million Americans who depend on it, which includes 720,000 Georgians.

    MIL OSI USA News –