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  • MIL-OSI Security: Connecticut Man Arrested for Felony Civil Disorder and Other Charges During January 6 Capitol Breach

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

               WASHINGTON — A Connecticut man has been arrested for civil disorder during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

               James Roe Cleary, 56, of Waterford, Connecticut, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder.

               In addition to the felony, Cleary is charged with misdemeanor offenses of simple assault, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

               The FBI arrested Cleary today in Waterford, and he will make his initial appearance in the District of Connecticut.

               According to court documents, Cleary was identified in open-source and video footage near the opening of the Lower West Terrace Tunnel on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., during a period of intense fighting between rioters and police. The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on that day.

               It is alleged that Cleary moved towards the mouth of the Tunnel as intense physical clashes continued between police guarding the Tunnel entrance and rioters trying to force their way through the entrance. By approximately 4:26 p.m., Cleary positioned himself at the mouth of the Tunnel, where he quickly moved his body towards the interior of the Tunnel and made a swiping motion at the head of a police officer. Police body-worn camera shows that roughly ten seconds later, Cleary helped to pull a rioter out of the Tunnel. He then returned to the mouth of the Tunnel and allegedly made another swiping or grabbing gesture with his hand toward police officers.

               Court documents say that at about 4:27 p.m., a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer was pushed to the ground, and rioters attempted to pull the officer’s body out of the Tunnel and into the mob. Cleary was filmed on body-worn camera allegedly clambering across the bodies of a fallen rioter and the downed officer and grabbing a baton on the ground. Cleary then quickly handed the baton off to another rioter in the mob and then returned to the front of the Tunnel.

               At about 4:28 p.m., Cleary helped pull a second rioter out of the Tunnel who had been filming and become trapped and moved north alongside the Capitol building and stood beneath a window as rioters began to break the glass panes. Video footage and images showed that Cleary remained near the window and watched as rioters passed furniture through the broken window to other rioters closer to the mouth of the Tunnel.

               While standing near the broken window, Cleary grabbed and shoved an individual carrying camera equipment. Open-source video showed Cleary leaving the immediate area shortly afterward.

               This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

               This case is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

               In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

               Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

               A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oregon Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses, Traveling to Engage in Sexual Activity with a Minor

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that CANYON BEASLEY, 21, of Gresham, Oregon, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses, including traveling to Connecticut to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

    Beasley was arrested on September 30, 2024.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman in Portland, Oregon, and was ordered detained.  A detention hearing is scheduled for October 29 in New Haven.

    As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Beasley and a minor victim in Connecticut engaged in an online relationship, communicating through Snapchat, TikTok, and through text messaging, for more than a year, and exchanged sexually explicit images through these online platforms.  In June 2024, Beasley traveled to Connecticut to engage in sexual activity with the minor victim.

    The complaint charges Beasley with production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years of imprisonment; receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; and traveling to engage in sexual activity with a minor, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

    U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Cheshire Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo.

    This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

    To report cases of child exploitation, please visit http://www.cybertipline.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC Extends Comment Period on Request for Information on Deposits

    Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

    CategoriesBusiness, Commerce, MIL-OSI, United States Federal Government, United States Government, United States of America, US Commerce, US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC, US Federal Government, US Insurance Sector, USA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Media Advisory: FDIC Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee to Meet Next Week

    Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

    On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 9:00 am ET, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg will host a meeting of the FDIC Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee (SRAC).

    The SRAC provides advice and recommendations to the FDIC on a broad range of policy issues regarding the resolution of systemically important financial institutions.  The meeting will facilitate discussion on the FDIC’s resolution authority, granted under the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, to manage the orderly resolution of large, complex financial institutions whose failure could threaten U.S. financial stability.

    WHO:
    FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg
    Senior FDIC Leadership
    Advisory Committee Members

    WHAT:
    Meeting of the FDIC Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee

    WHEN:
    Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

    WHERE:
    FDIC – 550 17th St, NW, Washington, DC

    HOW:
    The meeting will be open to the public, limited only by the space available on a first-come, first served basis.

    It will also be available via live webcast.

    ###

    MEDIA CONTACT: 
    Julianne Breitbeil 
    JBreitbeil@FDIC.gov 
    202-340-2043

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Introduces New Bill to Examine Risks of AI in National Defense Systems, Strengthen U.S. Ethical Tech Leadership 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), member of the Senate Commerce Committee,introduced the Artificial Intelligence Weapons Accountability and Risk Evaluation (AWARE) Act, legislation to bolster the U.S. Department of Defense’s ethical technology leadership and transparency regarding AI-enabled defense systems. The legislation requires the Pentagon to report to Congress on risk assessments of the use of AI in our defense systems, including the accuracy, cybersecurity and privacy risks, and potential for civilian harm. These risk assessments must also include what AI systems have been exported to, or used by, foreign entities. 
    “We know that AI-enabled weapons are exacerbating harm to civilians in warzones, and without effective oversight these systems could dangerously reshape our future. The United States has an obligation as a leader in AI innovation to also lead in AI ethics. We must be ready to answer questions about accuracy, security, privacy, and harm when we use AI-enabled weapons—and we need better data to do that,” said Sen. Welch. 
    The AWARE Act will: 

    Create a risk assessment process that minimally evaluates the following criteria: bias, bias towards escalation, dependability, cybersecurity, privacy, and risk of civilian harm; 
    Apply the aforementioned risk assessment to any AI-enabled weapons, targeting, or decision support systems (that directly support weapons or targeting systems); 
    Require the Department of Defense to conduct an annual risk assessment of all covered systems, and conduct a new risk assessment when there are technology procurements, the weapons review process is initiated, or there is an update to an underlying AI model;  
    Catalogue the covered technologies and assessment outcomes in a risk ledger that is unclassified to the extent possible but may include a classified appendix; 
    Annotate which of these technologies have been exported, shared, or used by a foreign person or government; and 
    Report to Congress annually on the progress of implementing this Act, the ledger itself, and a report on the findings. 

    The AWARE Act is endorsed by Access Now, Brennan Center for Justice, and Public Citizen. 
    “The lack of transparency in the military’s use of AI poses significant risks to human rights,” said Willmary Escoto, U.S. Policy Counsel at Access Now. “The AWARE Act addresses this by establishing risk assessments for AI-enabled systems, ensuring that factors like bias and the potential for civilian harm are evaluated before and after deployment. Access Now fully supports its passage and commend Senator Welch for prioritizing this issue.” 
    “The Department of Defense has committed billions of dollars to military applications of AI that implicate who or what the government targets with lethal force, and Congress and the public have the right to know basic facts about how these technologies work, whether they are effective, and what safeguards are in place,” said Amos Toh, senior counsel of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. “The AWARE Act is an important first step towards dismantling excessive secrecy about military grade AI that has grievous consequences for life and liberty.” 
    “A reckless rush to develop and deploy autonomous weapons—with the capacity to deliver lethal force without any specific human approval—risks sparking a new global arms race for a dangerous and untested set of technologies that could inflict enormous harm on civilians. Sen. Welch’s legislation is a common sense and much needed measure to ensure the Pentagon gives Congress the basic information it needs to oversee AI weapons policy,” said Rob Weissman, Co-President of Public Citizen. 
    Learn more about the AWARE Act. 
    Read the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Highlights Stamford’s Kibu As “Innovator Of The Month”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 08, 2024

    HARTFORD–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Tuesday that Kibu, a disability provider platform based in Stamford, was named “Innovator of the Month.” Kibu provides high-impact online content to support and empower people with disabilities, including classes in fitness, life skills, community engagement and professional development. The company also connects disability providers with tools for data management, note taking, and attendance.

    “Our communities are strongest when every person has the resources to achieve their full potential. Kibu’s online platform is transforming lives by breaking down barriers for people with disabilities, helping people become more independent, and giving service providers the tools they need to make a real impact. I’m proud to recognize Kibu’s important contributions to fostering a more inclusive future for our state, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish,” said Murphy.

    “Kibu is built on the belief that innovation starts with understanding the unique challenges that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face every day. By providing tools that empower both individuals and organizations, we’re helping to create a future where technology closes gaps, rather than creating them. It’s exciting to be innovating right here in Connecticut, where the community and ecosystem truly support the growth of businesses that make an impact,” said Daniel Caridi, CEO of Kibu.

    Daniel Caridi began volunteering for this community shortly after graduating college in 2019, formally launching the Kibu platform in 2022. Today, Kibu works with disability providers across 26 states.

    Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies—the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Daily Press Briefing – October 8, 2024

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

    Department Press Briefing with Spokesperson Matthew Miller, at the Department of State, on October 8, 2024.

    ———-
    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 http://www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Unprecedented peril: disaster lies ahead as we track towards 2.7°C of warming this century

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Newsome, Associate Professor in Global Ecology, University of Sydney

    You don’t have to look far to see what climate change is doing to the planet. The word “unprecedented” is everywhere this year.

    We are seeing unprecedented rapidly intensifying tropical storms such as Hurricane Helene in the eastern United States and Super Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam. Unprecedented fires in Canada have destroyed towns. Unprecedented drought in Brazil has dried out enormous rivers and left swathes of empty river beds. At least 1,300 pilgrims died during this year’s Hajj in Mecca as temperatures passed 50°C.

    Unfortunately, we are headed for far worse. The new 2024 State of the Climate report, produced by our team of international scientists, is yet another stark warning about the intensifying climate crisis. Even if governments meet their emissions goals, the world may hit 2.7°C of warming – nearly double the Paris Agreement goal of holding climate change to 1.5°C. Each year, we track 35 of the Earth’s vital signs, from sea ice extent to forests. This year, 25 are now at record levels, all trending in the wrong directions.

    Humans are not used to these conditions. Human civilisation emerged over the last 10,000 years under benign conditions – not too hot, not too cold. But this liveable climate is now at risk. In your grandchild’s lifetime, climatic conditions will be more threatening than anything our prehistoric relatives would have faced.

    Our report shows a continued rise in fossil fuel emissions, which remain at an all-time high. Despite years of warnings from scientists, fossil fuel consumption has actually increased, pushing the planet toward dangerous levels of warming. While wind and solar have grown rapidly, fossil fuel use is 14 times greater.

    This year is also tracking for the hottest year on record, with global daily mean temperatures at record levels for nearly half of 2023 and much of 2024.

    Next month, world leaders and diplomats will gather in Azerbaijan for the annual United Nations climate talks, COP 29. Leaders will have to redouble their efforts. Without much stronger policies, climate change will keep worsening, bringing with it more frequent and more extreme weather.

    Bad news after bad news

    We have still not solved the central problem: the routine burning of fossil fuels. Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases – particularly methane and carbon dioxide – are still rising. Last September, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere hit 418 parts per million (ppm). This September, they crossed 422 ppm. Methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas, has been increasing at an alarming rate despite global pledges to tackle it.

    Compounding the problem is the recent decline in atmospheric aerosols from efforts to cut pollution. These small particles suspended in the air come from both natural and human processes, and have helped cool the planet. Without this cooling effect, the pace of global warming may accelerate. We don’t know for sure because aerosol properties are not yet measured well enough.

    Other environmental issues are now feeding into climate change. Deforestation in critical areas such as the Amazon is reducing the planet’s capacity to absorb carbon naturally, driving additional warming. This creates a feedback loop, where warming causes trees to die which in turn amplifies global temperatures.

    Loss of sea ice is another. As sea ice melts or fails to form, dark seawater is exposed. Ice reflects sunlight but seawater absorbs it. Scaled up, this changes the Earth’s albedo (how reflective the surface is) and accelerates warming further.

    In coming decades, sea level rise will pose a growing threat to coastal communities, putting millions of people at risk of displacement.

    Accelerate the solutions

    Our report stresses the need for an immediate and comprehensive end to the routine use of fossil fuels.

    It calls for a global carbon price, set high enough to drive down emissions, particularly from high-emitting wealthy countries.

    Introducing effective policies to slash methane emissions is crucial, given methane’s high potency but short atmospheric lifetime. Rapidly cutting methane could slow the rate of warming in the short term.

    Natural climate solutions such as reforestation and soil restoration should be rolled out to increase how much carbon is stored in wood and soil. These efforts must be accompanied by protective measures in wildfire and drought prone areas. There’s no point planting forests if they will burn.

    Governments should introduce stricter land-use policies to slow down rates of land clearing and increase investment in forest management to cut the risk of large, devastating fires and encourage sustainable land use.

    We cannot overlook climate justice. Less wealthy nations contribute least to global emissions but are often the worst affected by climate disasters.

    Wealthier nations must provide financial and technical support to help these countries adapt to climate change while cutting emissions. This could include investing in renewable energy, improving infrastructure and funding disaster preparedness programs.

    Internationally, our report urges stronger commitments from world leaders. Current global policies are insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

    Without drastic changes, the world is on track for approximately 2.7°C of warming this century. To avoid catastrophic tipping points, nations must strengthen their climate pledges, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

    Immediate, transformative policy changes are now necessary if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

    Climate change is already here. But it could get much, much worse. By slashing emissions, boosting natural climate solutions and working towards climate justice, the global community can still fend off the worst version of our future.

    Thomas Newsome receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is immediate past-president of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society and President of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.

    William Ripple receives funding from the CO2 Foundation and University of Oregon donor Roger Worthington.

    – ref. Unprecedented peril: disaster lies ahead as we track towards 2.7°C of warming this century – https://theconversation.com/unprecedented-peril-disaster-lies-ahead-as-we-track-towards-2-7-c-of-warming-this-century-240549

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bhutan’s king is set to visit Australia for the first time. Here’s why thousands will line the streets to see him

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tashi Dema, PhD Candidate in Language and Politics, University of New England

    Deki, a 23-year-old resident of the remote town of Armidale, NSW, has been sleepless with excitement since the Bhutanese embassy in Canberra announced an upcoming visit from Bhutan’s fifth monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

    King Jigme Khesar will be visiting from October 10 to 16. It will be his first time in Australia, as well as the first ever visit from a Bhutanese head of state.

    According to Bhutan’s ministry of foreign affairs and external trade, the king will meet with Australian government officials, business leaders and the Bhutanese community during his trip. Audiences with the king are scheduled in Sydney on October 12, Canberra on October 13, and Perth on October 16.

    Deki will be travelling to Sydney by train on October 11 with about 60 people from Armidale’s Bhutanese community. The journey will take more than eight hours. Some residents will fly on the morning of October 12.

    The Armidale residents have practised dances to present to the royal entourage. Their enthusiasm is palpable. With more than 35,000 Bhutanese people living in Australia, the embassy received an overwhelming number of registrations for the royal audience.

    Chhimi Dorji, president of the Association of Bhutanese in Perth, said many Bhutanese residents applied for leave the moment the royal visit was announced. He said the community’s overwhelming excitement signifies a deep love and respect for the king.

    A deep reverence for the king

    Devotion to the king is ingrained in Bhutanese society; he is even considered a sacred figure. This love and respect stems from a view of the monarchy as a symbol of pride and unity.

    My ongoing research on language and politics in Bhutan – as well as the many years I spent working there as a journalist – has revealed a genuine admiration for the king among the public. Research participants in rural Bhutan told me politicians should learn from the king in order to serve their people.

    In 2008, King Jigme Khesar facilitated Bhutan’s transition from an absolute monarchy to a democratic constitutional monarchy. As party politics fragmented the small nation and divided people along party lines, the monarchy was seen as a beacon of hope.

    The Bhutanese public’s devotion to its king defies theories which claim that the concept of the monarchy more broadly is becoming obsolete.

    Serving the people

    One reason King Jigme Khesar is so revered is because of his role in helping to build and advance Bhutan. During the pandemic, he was hailed for implementing pandemic response strategies and for visiting every nook and corner of the country to comfort citizens.

    He has also implemented programs that provide important public services. For instance, Desuung, a volunteer training program that started in 2011, delivers volunteers for a variety of projects such as disaster operations and charity events. Another national service program, Gyalsung, was started this year.

    Currently, the king is planning to develop the world’s first mindfulness city in Gelephu – a southern plain in Bhutan spanning more than 1,000 square kilometres – with hopes to attract foreign investment and encourage emigrated Bhutanese people to return.

    Ahead of the royal visit, Sydney resident Tshering Palden said he and his children were clearly excited to greet King Jigme Khesar.

    Besides other things, I am excited to hear about the developments around Gelephu Mindfulness City and how Bhutanese living abroad like me can be part of His Majesty’s brain child and the long-term nation building […]

    Foreigners are also intrigued and very interested to know about the project and ask us a lot about it.

    The Australian dream

    As a landlocked country that really only made itself known to the world in 1999 (after internet and television were finally introduced), Bhutan is something of an enigma.

    It is touted as the world’s happiest country, largely due to its uptake of a unique metric called “gross national happiness” in the 1970s. In 1972, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (King Jigme Khesar’s father) proclaimed the country’s gross national happiness was an even more important measure of progress than gross domestic product (GDP).

    Today, however, the tiny Himalayan country of about 800,000 people faces an existential crisis due to widespread unemployment and huge numbers of youth and young professionals moving overseas for a better future.

    Australia remains a top destination for Bhutanese residents – and currently has more Bhutanese diaspora than any country in the world. Bhutan is also said to be Australia’s 14th largest source country for international students.

    But despite living so far away, Bhutanese diaspora in Australia remain deeply rooted to their identity, culture and devotion to the monarchy. Most of them still celebrate the king’s birthday on February 21 each year, as well as Bhutan’s National Day on December 17.

    Meanwhile, Deki – who has portraits of Jigme Khesar in her home in central Bhutan – says being able to meet the king will be a “dream come true”.

    Tashi Dema does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Bhutan’s king is set to visit Australia for the first time. Here’s why thousands will line the streets to see him – https://theconversation.com/bhutans-king-is-set-to-visit-australia-for-the-first-time-heres-why-thousands-will-line-the-streets-to-see-him-239932

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 08.10.2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    8 October 2024 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 08.10.2024

    Espoo, Finland – On 8 October 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

    Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*
    XHEL 1,654,395 3.98
    CEUX 694,799 3.98
    BATE – –
    AQEU – –
    TQEX – –
    Total 2,349,194 3.98

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 25 January 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to return up to EUR 600 million of cash to shareholders in tranches over a period of two years. The first phase of the share buyback program started on 20 March 2024. On 19 July 2024, Nokia decided to accelerate the share buybacks by increasing the number of shares to be repurchased during the year 2024. The post-increase repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 22 July 2024 and end by 31 December 2024 with a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 600 million for all purchases during 2024.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 8 October 2024 was EUR 9,341,100. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 159,517,605 treasury shares.

    Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

    On behalf of Nokia Corporation

    BofA Securities Europe SA

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

    Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 40 803 4080
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nasdaq Resumes Trading in BAIYU Holdings, Inc.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Nasdaq Stock Market® (Nasdaq: NDAQ) announced that trading will resume in BAIYU Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: BYU) at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 9, 2024. Trading in the company’s stock was halted on September 5, 2024 at 7:50 p.m. Eastern Time.

    For news and additional information about the company, please contact the company directly or check under the company’s symbol using InfoQuotesSM on the Nasdaq® Web site.

    For more information about The Nasdaq Stock Market, visit the Nasdaq Web site at http://www.nasdaq.com.

    Nasdaq Media Contact:
    Sophia Weiss
    Sophia.Weiss@nasdaq.com

    NDAQO

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Calls on Administration To Take Action To Address Shortage Of IV Solutions Caused by Hurricane Destruction

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and administration officials to use all appropriate authorities to resolve the national shortage of intravenous (IV) solutions caused by the halt in production at the North Carolina IV fluids manufacturing plant hit by Hurricane Helene. Klobuchar also warns that another plant in Daytona Beach, Florida that manufactures IV solutions could also become compromised by fast-approaching Hurricane Milton, exacerbating the existing shortage. 
    “Flooding from Hurricane Helene compromised the safe operations, inventory, raw materials and roadway access at Baxter International’s intravenous (IV) solution plant in Marion, North Carolina,” wrote Senator Klobuchar. “The plant – the largest manufacturing facility of IV solutions in the country – has been forced to cease production. This dangerous situation may be further exacerbated by fast-approaching Hurricane Milton, which may affect the operation of a Daytona Beach, Florida IV solutions plant.” 
    “To address the potentially life-threatening shortage of IV solutions, I urge the Department of Health and Human Services to use all of its available authority to mitigate this devastating situation which threatens patient care, the work of medical and provider staff, and our emergency response readiness,” Klobuchar continued. “In addition to using your authority to address this shortage as quickly and safely as possible, I urge you to coordinate with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to prevent the distribution of counterfeit IV solutions.”
    Klobuchar has been a national leader in efforts to address prescription and over-the-counter drug shortages.
    In June, Senator Klobuchar chaired an Antitrust Subcommittee hearing titled “Strengthening U.S. Economic Leadership: The Role of Competition in Enhancing Economic Resiliency.” The hearing focused on the danger of consolidation in critical supply chains, which can make the country vulnerable to disruptions and supply shortages that can endanger U.S. economic resiliency and national security.
    In July 2023, Klobuchar, and Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) bipartisan legislation to prevent and mitigate drug shortages was passed out of the Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on a bipartisan vote of 17 to 3. The Drug Shortage Prevention Act would require manufacturers of over-the-counter and prescription medicines to notify the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) when they are unlikely to meet demand. The legislation also requires drugmakers to provide information about their suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients and in-process materials to the FDA.
    In 2012, Klobuchar and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) led the Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, which Collins also cosponsored. This bipartisan legislation was signed into law as part of the Food & Drug Administration Safety & Innovation Act of 2012 (FDASIA). The Klobuchar law allows the FDA to require drug manufacturers to report to the FDA six months in advance if any supply or manufacturing disruption could lead to a prescription drug shortage. The law also created the Drug Shortage Prevention Task Force and requires the FDA to submit a report to Congress every year on drug shortages. In 2023, the number of new drug shortages tracked by FDA was 33, compared to a peak of 251 new shortages during 2011, before Klobuchar’s 2012 bill was passed into law giving FDA more tools to prevent shortages.
    The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
    Secretary Becerra,
    As you know, Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction and flooding across much of the southern United States. This natural disaster has caused widespread disruption to vital services across the region and country. Notably, flooding from Hurricane Helene compromised the safe operations, inventory, raw materials and roadway access at Baxter International’s intravenous (IV) solution plant in Marion, North Carolina. The plant – the largest manufacturing facility of IV solutions in the country – has been forced to cease production. This dangerous situation may be further exacerbated by fast-approaching Hurricane Milton, which may affect the operation of a Daytona Beach, Florida IV solutions plant. 
    To address the potentially life-threatening shortage of IV solutions, I urge the Department of Health and Human Services to use all of its available authority to mitigate this devastating situation which threatens patient care, the work of medical and provider staff, and our emergency response readiness. 
    As you know, the Baxter facility is responsible for the manufacture of approximately 60 percent of IV fluids and peritoneal dialysis solutions available to health care providers in the United States. As a result of Hurricane Helene, hospitals, dialysis centers, and other health care providers around the country—including many in Minnesota—are already being forced to ration these basic, but life-saving supplies. This means many patients have no choice but to delay starting dialysis, delay elective care, or potentially receive suboptimal treatments. Hospitals and health providers are now canceling elective surgeries, such as cardiovascular and other surgical operations, and canceling organ transplants. 
    In addition to using your authority to address this shortage as quickly and safely as possible, I urge you to coordinate with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to prevent the distribution of counterfeit IV solutions. Steps must be also taken to ensure that companies advertising or selling FDA-approved IV solutions do not engage in price gouging or other illegal practices. I also urge the administration to implement strategies outlined in recent federal supply chain and manufacturing resilience assessments to mitigate any supply and distribution disruptions.,, Today, few companies in the United States make IV solutions, with a majority share flowing from a single plant. No single entity should be responsible for such a large proportion of fundamental medical supplies on which the health of our nation depends.
    Thank you for your continued efforts as we recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene and for your attention to this urgent matter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Leads Bicameral Amicus Brief to Overturn FHWA’s Unlawful Emissions Rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    BISMARCK, N.D. – In November 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) adopted a final rule requiring state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the highway system and set declining targets. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led a bipartisan Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the rule. The resolution passed the Senate in April 53 to 47, reiterating Congress’ opposition to FHWA’s overreach. In a speech on the Senate floor, Cramercommitted to leading an amicus brief in support of overturning the rule in court.
    Shortly after the rule was finalized, 21 state attorneys general, including North Dakota, filed litigation challenging the regulation. The U.S. District Court found the Biden administration rule to be illegal, but FHWA appealed the decision to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and it remains under further consideration. 
    Cramer and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, led their colleagues in filing a bicameral amicus brief requesting the Appeals Court uphold the District Court decision from April, vacating the rule. 
    The brief argues Congress debated and rejected granting FHWA the authority to issue GHG performance measure rules and the FHWA then intentionally misconstrued Congressional intent to justify its improper exercise of authority. It also argues the rulemaking is not consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions paring back Executive Branch overreach, and FHWA is bypassing principles of federalism to further its own policy agenda.
    “Congress considered, and ultimately rejected, providing [FHWA] with the authority to issue a GHG performance measure regulation, but [FHWA] contorted ancillary existing authorities to impose one anyway,” the members argued. “In doing so, [FHWA] impermissibly usurped the Legislative Branch’s authority and promulgated the GHG performance measure without statutory authority delegated by Congress.
    “Put simply, when [FHWA] established a GHG performance measure regulation, it exceeded the powers Congress authorized. And it did so both at the expense of separation of powers and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act,” continued the members. 
    Additional cosigners of the amicus brief include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO-6), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rick Crawford (R-AR-1), Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.
    Click here for the amicus brief.
    Cramer also penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal highlighting FHWA’s lack of statutory authority to issue the rule, and stressed its unworkable nature for rural states. In November 2023, Cramer introduced a bipartisan amendment (#1241) to the bipartisan Transportation Appropriations bill, which would have defunded the proposed rule. While the amendment was germane and bipartisan, Democrats in the Senate demanded a 60-vote threshold to ensure its defeat. Cramer also questioned FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt during EPW hearings in June 2023 and September 2022. In October 2022, he sent a letter to FHWA Deputy Administrator Stephanie Pollack voicing strong opposition to the agency’s proposal to implement a GHG emissions performance measure.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Microsoft Releases October 2024 Security Updates

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Microsoft released security updates to address vulnerabilities in multiple products. A cyber threat actor could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system.

    CISA encourages users and administrators to review the following and apply necessary updates:

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bob Dean Jr. and Affiliated Corporate Entities Agree to $8.2M Consent Judgment to Resolve Allegations of Financial Misconduct Stemming from Evacuation of Nursing Homes During Hurricane Ida

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Bob Dean Jr. and several companies that he owned and operated have agreed to an $8.2 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they violated the National Housing Act of 1934 (NHA), by misappropriating and misusing the assets and income of four nursing homes in Louisiana before and after Hurricane Ida’s landfall in August 2021. The four nursing homes, all of which were owned and operated by Dean and his companies, and had loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), are Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Houma; Maison De’Ville Nursing Home in Harvey; Maison Orleans Healthcare in New Orleans; and West Jefferson Health Care Center in Harvey.

    The FHA, part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides mortgage insurance on loans that cover residential care facilities, such as nursing homes, pursuant to the NHA. To encourage lenders to make loans to such facilities, FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses that result from borrowers defaulting on their mortgage loans. To obtain such FHA-insured loans, loan recipients must enter into regulatory agreements with the FHA that provide, among other requirements, that the assets and income of an FHA-insured nursing home may only be spent on goods and services that are reasonable and necessary to the operation of the nursing home. The NHA permits the United States to recover twice the amount of any assets and income of FHA-insured nursing homes that were improperly distributed or misspent.

    In 2023, the government filed a complaint against Dean and his corporate entities alleging that they misspent the nursing homes’ assets and income. The United States alleged that in the five years leading up to Hurricane Ida, Dean funneled money that should have been used to prepare an evacuation site for nursing home residents to his personal bank accounts, leaving his nursing homes — and, more importantly, the nursing homes’ residents — unprepared for a hurricane. As a result, when Hurricane Ida made landfall in August 2021, the residents of Dean’s nursing homes had to ride out the storm in an overcrowded and ill-prepared industrial warehouse Dean owned through a corporate entity. The United States alleged that at Dean’s evacuation center, his nursing homes’ residents languished in squalor and did not receive adequate care, leading to the Louisiana Department of Health evacuating the nursing home residents from Dean’s warehouse and revoking Dean’s nursing homes’ licenses. The United States further alleged that, following the hurricane, Dean did not use the homes’ income and assets solely to operate or maintain the nursing homes, but instead to purchase personal goods and services, including antiques, firearms and cars.

    “This settlement demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to holding accountable those who put their own financial gain over the needs of our nation’s seniors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take action to protect the integrity of federal programs designed to ensure that nursing home residents, who are among our most vulnerable citizens, receive appropriate care.”

    “As the residents of Louisiana well know, hurricanes and natural disasters can devastate people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr for the Middle District of Louisiana. “Nursing home operators like Mr. Dean have an obligation to protect their residents during such events, particularly if they are going to rely on federal programs to support or sustain their businesses. This settlement will ensure that those individuals charged with caring for our community’s most vulnerable residents take seriously their duty to have proper safeguards and plans in place to avoid tragedies like the one we saw in Independence, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida.”

    “Nursing home providers have obligations to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents entrusted to their care,” said HUD General Counsel Damon Smith. “Owners of FHA-insured nursing homes should be on notice that we will hold them accountable when we learn of allegations that they have failed to meet those obligations.”

    “By the time Hurricane Ida bore down on the vulnerable nursing home residents at properties operated by Mr. Dean, he illegally skimmed funding from those facilities and failed to maintain sanitation and adequately equip the warehouse he designated as the evacuation site,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “He unfairly enriched himself while residents under his charge endured horrid conditions including insufficient food and medical care. HUD OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold accountable those who misappropriate funds at the expense of vulnerable populations.”

    The Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the case, with substantial assistance from HUD and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Christopher Reimer and Samuel Robins of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Davis Rhorer Jr. and Chase Zachary for the Middle District of Louisiana handled the matter.

    The United States’ complaint stemmed from an investigation that the Justice Department initiated as part of its Elder Justice Initiative, which supports the efforts of state and local prosecutors, law enforcement and other elder justice professionals to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, with the development of training, resources and information. Learn more about the Justice Department’s Elder Justice Initiative at http://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

    The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Earth Information Center at the Smithsonian

    Source: NASA

    NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, preview the agency’s new Earth Information Center exhibit on Monday, Oct. 8, 2024. This new exhibit is the Earth Information Center’s second physical location.
    The exhibit at the Smithsonian includes a 32-foot-long, 12-foot-high video wall displaying Earth science data visualizations and videos, interpretive panels showing Earth’s connected systems, information on our changing world, and an overview of how NASA and the Smithsonian study our home planet. It opens to the public Tuesday, Oct. 8, and will remain on display through 2028.
    Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF Growing Convergence Research awards advance innovation across disciplines

    Source: US Government research organizations

    The U.S. National Science Foundation Growing Convergence Research (NSF GCR) awards are fostering deep integration across disciplines and pushing the boundaries of current research paradigms. The awards bring together experts from multiple science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields to tackle complex challenges across various topics, including national security, energy and STEM education.  

    “These awards require that researchers work across traditional disciplinary boundaries and leverage the expertise of different fields to drive innovation and discovery,” said Alicia J. Knoedler, head of the NSF Office of Integrative Activities. “Learning and practicing collaboration between and among disciplines are critical skills that investigators and teams need to develop. NSF’s investments through these awards reinforce the importance of capacity building to perform convergence in research and training.”  

    The NSF GCR program supports high-risk, cutting-edge research and helps to cultivate a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists. Projects are inspired by a societal grand challenge or a fundamental research question at the forefront of STEM. By growing novel collaborations and cross-disciplinary training, these awards will empower researchers to think outside the box and develop innovative approaches to scientific inquiry. This advances the frontiers of knowledge and paves the way for breakthroughs that can benefit society. 

    The awardees and short descriptions are listed below:  

    • Rooted in Nature: Bioinspired Design of Sustainable Seeding Methods to Improve Forest Regeneration – University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, Syracuse University and The Pennsylvania State University 

      Forest regeneration is essential for combating climate change. Challenges like limited seed availability and time-consuming seedling cultivation hinder forest restoration efforts. This project will integrate expertise in material science, engineering, ecology and other areas to create biodegradable, self-burying seed carriers for efficient, lower-cost aerial seeding. The researchers will investigate seed carrier designs applicable to different ecosystems. The team will also develop new ways of evaluating and improving the effectiveness of the seeding techniques. This research will boost forest restoration, providing economic advantages and enhancing ecological resilience. 
       

    • Non-Equilibrium Electrochemical Plasma Catalysis for Distributed Electrified Ammonia Synthesis – Princeton University, Duke University and Rutgers University–Newark 

      Ammonia is a fuel for green power generation and a medium for energy storage and transport. It is also vital to food production as a key agricultural fertilizer. Traditional ammonia synthesis is energy-intensive and produces carbon dioxide. It also relies on fossil fuels and high-pressure catalysis. This project aims to advance the development of new electrified reactors that produce green ammonia with renewable electricity from atmospheric nitrogen and water. These reactors can help decarbonize chemical plants and address challenges in renewable energy storage. The project team will use novel integration across disciplines to create a nonequilibrium electrochemical plasma catalysis system for ammonia synthesis from water, nitrogen and electricity. Its success will be an innovation in nonequilibrium green chemical manufacturing. 
       

    • Engineering, SocioEconomic and Environmental Convergence of Ocean Wave Energy Research for Remote Coastal Communities – University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Virginia Tech, East Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

      In some rural coastal and island areas, electricity must be transported over long distances, and the supply is less robust, creating a challenge that hinders socioeconomic growth. Ocean waves along U.S. coastlines offer abundant energy resources, and over 200 concepts have been proposed for generating electricity from wave energy. Researchers from this project will examine which of the proposed concepts are most practical for island and coastal communities from engineering and socioeconomic perspectives. They will validate the most promising concepts through community engagement and ocean tests. The project integrates engineering, environmental and social sciences experts and an external advisory board with community end users and commercial developers to implement a convergent, community-engaged approach to this research challenge. 
       

    • Mineral Detection of Dark Matter – Virginia Tech, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and University of North Florida 

      Dark matter plays an important role in the formation of galaxies and the universe’s evolution, but it has proven very difficult to detect directly. This project will integrate engineering, physics, geoscience and materials science to establish whether evidence of interactions between dark matter and ordinary matter can be found through “mineral detection.” Researchers will explore whether crystals in rocks can be used to look for evidence of interactions with dark matter over geological timescales. The team aims to develop a new path for advancing understanding of what dark matter is. 
       

    • Towards a Physics-Inspired Approach to Computation on Encrypted Data – Boston University, University of Central Florida and Cornell University 

      Harnessing the wealth of electronically stored data for applications with societal value raises security and privacy concerns that are likely to hinder progress and return on investment in an artificial intelligence-powered economy. This project will combine ideas and tools from physics, mathematics and computer science to explore a new paradigm for circuit obfuscation in cryptography and establish the security and efficiency of encrypted operator computing. The research team aims to accelerate the development of trusted, low-overhead tools that enable computation directly on encrypted data so that, for example, confidential data can be shared with an untrusted party who can extract insights from the data without having access to the unencrypted data. 
       

    • The Other Plastic Problem: Quantifying and Predicting Impacts of Plastic Additives Across Levels of Biological and Social Organization – Duke University and The Pennsylvania State University 

      Plastic pollution is widespread and harms various species. One major gap in knowledge is the combined biological impact of the many chemicals added to plastics to tailor their properties. Plastic additives are chemicals that are included within plastic polymers to enhance function. These additives include over ~10,000 chemicals and include known endocrine disruptors, pro-inflammatory agents and mutagens. Addressing this research challenge requires integrating expertise across molecular and cell biology, environmental chemistry and toxicology, materials science, policy and other fields. This project will allow an integrated research team to develop and employ novel approaches for analyzing the effects of plastic additives on cells, organisms and ecological communities; ground-truth product use and additive exposures; and evaluate mitigation strategies. The project also aims to engage stakeholders to reduce plastic pollution and empower underrepresented students in STEM to take action. 
       

    • GCR: Towards a Convergent Understanding of the Dynamics of Uncertainty in Individuals and Groups with a Focus on STEM Education – Tufts University 

      Developing a systematic understanding of how people manage ambiguity, uncertainty and confusion (AU&C) is a complex challenge. This project integrates social sciences, data sciences and engineering to build new capabilities for studying AU&C management in the context of STEM learning. This will allow researchers to understand how to enable students to productively engage with AU&C in STEM. The research team will develop novel methods for collecting and analyzing student data using a multimodal approach, including behavioral, linguistic and physiological sensing. Using these methods, researchers will investigate the individual and group dynamics of AC&U within STEM learning environments, with the long-term goal of producing new educational practices that embrace complexity and uncertainty. In this, the project aims to bridge the disconnect between how science is taught and the practice of STEM professionals. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NSF congratulates laureates of the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Two researchers used fundamental knowledge of the physical properties of materials to create key innovations that make artificial intelligence work

    The U.S. National Science Foundation congratulates John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton for their Nobel Prize in physics. Their research and innovations helped make possible “machines that learn” — artificial neural networks with the ability to store and reconstruct information and recognize complex patterns within data.

    NSF supported their pioneering work in the 1980s, which helped create the foundation for the AI revolution of today, including Hopfield’s seminal 1982 paper “Neural networks and physical systems with emergent collective computational abilities.” Hopfield and Hinton’s multiple breakthroughs, achieved independently, used fundamental concepts and methods from physics to develop new computer technologies that mimic an organic brain’s ability to process information through memory and learning. 

    For example, Hopfield created a computer model of a neural network of interconnected nodes that could influence one another, akin to the physical interactions between atoms in magnetic materials. Hinton expanded on Hopfield’s network by using statistical methods traditionally used to determine the properties of systems with many elements — like the temperature of a gas made of many molecules. Named after 1800s physicist Ludwig Boltzmann, who studied statistical and probabilistic properties of such systems, Hinton’s “Boltzmann machine” was an early example of a computer model that can generate probability-based solutions and be trained to recognize new information and how it is similar or different from existing information.

    “The laureates brought their understanding of the fundamental physical workings of nature into a new realm and created an entirely new foundation that has led to what we now call AI — perhaps the greatest innovation of our generation,” says NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “Beyond their scientific breakthroughs, they have also provided invaluable training for many students, who now carry on their legacy as innovators and leaders in the U.S. scientific enterprise.”

    Select NSF awards supporting Hopfield or Hinton

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Air Transport Members Receive Essential Support Through IAM Disaster Relief Program Following Hurricane Beryl   

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    After Hurricane Beryl caused devastation earlier this year, IAM Air Transport members, especially those from IAM Local 2198 in Houston, have found hope through the IAM Disaster Relief Program. 

    The hurricane profoundly impacted the Gulf Coast communities. Among those affected were IAM members who have received crucial assistance in navigating the aftermath of this natural disaster.

    The IAM Disaster Relief Program highlights the union’s dedication to prioritizing the well-being and needs of its members, particularly during crises.

    “The IAM Disaster Relief Program stands as a pillar of support for our members during their most challenging times,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Richie Johnsen. “Our swift action following Hurricane Beryl’s impact demonstrates our commitment to every member.”

    IAM Air Transport leadership continues to take a proactive role in leading efforts to swiftly coordinate with Locals to ensure that members impacted by natural disasters are promptly informed about and provided access to the support services offered by the IAM Disaster Relief Program. 

    “The IAM’s proactive approach in reaching out to its members and providing immediate assistance exemplifies the organization’s dedication to serving and supporting its community,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “This program will remain a vital resource for affected IAM members, ensuring they receive the help they most need.”

    In the event of a disaster, it requires the collective effort of many moving pieces and people, including IAM staff, Locals, Districts, and the work of the IAM Retirees and Membership Assistance Department, to organize and provide support programs for our members. They play a vital role in ensuring that all members are well-informed about the array of available programs aimed at providing assistance during challenging times.

    If you’re an IAM member and suffer property damage from a natural disaster, you can apply for assistance from the IAM Disaster Relief Fund here.

    To address urgent needs, the IAM encourages its members impacted by the hurricane to apply for support through the IAM Disaster Relief Fund. This fund is specifically designed to provide assistance during natural disasters, helping members and their families navigate hardships.

    Apply for assistance here.

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Advises Changes to the Executive Government Organization Act

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 8, 2024

    Manitoba Government Advises Changes to the Executive Government Organization Act

    Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt has been named acting minister of education and early childhood learning in addition to her current role, Premier Wab Kinew announced today. 

    “Minister Schmidt is a high performer who I know will do great work for Manitoba students,” said Kinew. “I look forward to Minister Altomare’s return and in the meantime, Manitoba parents can trust our government to continue investing in schools and kids’ futures.”  

    Schmidt will perform ministerial duties on behalf of Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Nello Altomare, who will temporarily be away from work for medical reasons, noted the premier. 

    Additionally, Mike Moyes, the member of the legislative assembly for Riel, was appointed as the legislative assistant for both environment and climate change, and education and early childhood learning. 

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Skye projects success with Islands Programme funding

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Scottish Government has recently informed two Skye projects of their success in securing financial support from the Islands Programme (IP) that will enable major essential infrastructure improvements in Staffin and to Community and Public Access Improvements on routes at key locations across Skye.

    The Highland Council led on a bid for passing place improvements at Claggan Road, Neist Point and Glen Brittle (Fairy Pools) and £350k was awarded from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme which supports delivery of the National Islands Plan.

    Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: “The Highland Council are delighted that the Scottish Government has awarded much needed funds via the Islands Programme (IP) to essential projects that will improve routes that have seen an increase in road use capacity over the years, causing significant disruption.  The funds give the Council the opportunity to extend passing places and create new ones in parts of the road network that are now used more frequently by motorhomes, tour buses and visitors to the Island.

    “The focus of the Islands Programme funding on passing places allows the Council to fully utilise its Roads Maintenance Programme, which along with support from local Members disaggregated budgets, demonstrates the partnership commitment to continuing to improve the road network for all users.”

    The £350k awarded to the Community and Public Access Improvements project will be used for the following projects-

    • Claggan Road – Extending the length of existing passing places and provision of new passing places – total project cost £150k. This cost is in addition to the works planned within the 2024/25 Roads Maintenance Programme for statutory works for which £130k has been allocated.
    • Neist Point – Extending the length of existing passing places and provision of new passing places.
    • Glen Brittle – Extending the length of existing passing places and provision of new passing places – total project cost £150k. This cost in addition to the allocation from the 24/25 Roads Programme of £240k to manage & maintain the road as is.

    Staffin Community Trust were also successful in their application to the Islands Programme, to support the new Staffin Harbour major regeneration.  They were awarded £409,258 to deliver new onshore facilities at Staffin Harbour.

    Skye and Raasay Area Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said:  “I am pleased to see support given to key projects on Skye, including the newly purchased and community owned Staffin Harbour, in the northeast of Skye, which is currently undergoing a major transformation with an investment of more than £2million since 2022 – which has included the construction of a 3,000sq onshore hardstanding area, an upgraded access road and the provision of electricity for the first time.

    “The Islands Programme funding awarded to the Staffin Community Trust will enable the construction of much needed onshore facilities, such as businesses units available for rent, harbour facilities with income generating toilets and showers and the purchase of a new telehandler to enable sustainable community management at the new harbour, safeguarding and creating employment alongside wider socio-economic benefits to the local community via spend locally.”

    This project is broken down in three elements:

    • Civils works related to construction of seven new business units. Seven business tenants will be renting the harbour units / workshops from Staffin Community Trust, creating new employment and business opportunities in Staffin.
    • Civils works and construction of Harbour Facilities Building with WCs, showers, office / retail and solar PV. Staffin Harbour Facilities Building will provide a main base and real economic benefit through revenue generating opportunities for the community including the use of fee-paying showers and WCs, and a retail / office space within the new property.
    • Purchase of a telehandler to support sustainable community-run boat lifting service and harbour operations. The telehandler will be playing a crucial role in the community management of Staffin Harbour and generating a revenue by supporting a storage service, the delivery of supplies and launching and recovering smaller boats/yachts.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Highland Council supporting World Mental Health Day (10 October 2024)

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    This year’s World Mental Health Day – due to take place on Thursday, 10 October 2024 – aims to highlight what can be done to prioritise mental health in the workplace.  The day is observed each year to raise awareness of mental health and encourage people to reach out for help.

    The Council aims to reduce stigma around mental health and provide appropriate support to staff through a range of resources.

    This support and intervention aims to give staff the confidence to discuss mental health openly in the workplace, manage their own mental health and wellbeing and, provide appropriate support to others when required.

    Although stress is not a mental health condition, it may be a symptom of something else and may lead to a mental health issue if not managed appropriately.  Managing stress is a key part of creating a mentally healthy workplace.

    World Mental Health Day aims to get us all talking openly about mental health, mental illnesses and the treatment and preventions that are available to us all.

    Chair of the Corporate Resources Committee, Cllr Derek Louden, commented:  “By supporting and recognising World Mental Health Day, we are able to increase our understanding of Mental Health and its impact on our lives. We are all experiencing additional stresses and uncertainty because of global factors, including the cost of living crisis.  This means many of us across Highland are likely to be feeling the effects of reduced Mental Health.

    “Taking care of our mental health is as important as looking after our physical health and there are many resources available to the public which can help manage emotional wellbeing and which address dealing with issues such as isolation, sleep disturbance, and anxiety; they also provide short and valuable techniques to help everyone take care of their mental health, in addition to staying physically fit.”

    Visit the World Mental Health Day official website and take the opportunity to talk about any problems this World Mental Health Day.

    If you, or someone you care for, is in immediate danger call 999.  If the crisis is not life threatening, call NHS 24 on 111 or speak to your GP.  There are other services you can contact 24 hours a day for support:

    • Samaritans – 116 123 (calls are free and do not show on a phone bill)

    • Breathing Space – 0800 83 85 87.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Early Learning and Childcare consultation

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Highland Council’s Early Learning and Childcare Consultation is now live, and we want to hear from those living across Highland. The survey is open until Monday 28 October 2024 and can be filled out here.

    The survey is about Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) services, and includes questions for families who:        

    • are currently using ELC,
    • have used ELC in the past,
    • are not currently using any ELC services.

    Those who have already contributed to the survey from the North area do not require to resubmit, your feedback will be considered, however it does offer the opportunity for those from the North area that may have missed out at the beginning of the summer to contribute now.

    Co-chomhairleachadh Tràth-ionnsachaidh is Cùraim-chloinne

    Tha Co-chomhairleachadh Tràth-ionnsachaidh is Cùraim-chloinne Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd a-nis beò, agus tha sinn airson cluinntinn bho dhaoine a tha a’ fuireach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Tha an t-suirbhidh fosgailte gu Dihaoine 4 Dàmhair 2024 agus faodar a lìonadh an seo.

    Tha an t-suirbhidh mu sheirbheisean Tràth-ionnsachaidh is Cùraim-chloinne (TIC), agus tha ceistean ann do theaghlaichean:

    • a tha a’ cleachdadh TIC an-dràsta,
    • a tha air TIC a chleachdadh roimhe,
    • nach eil a’ cleachdadh seirbheisean TIC sam bith an-dràsta.

    Chan fheum muinntir na Sgìre a Tuath an t-suirbhidh a lìonadh a-rithist ma tha iad air a lìonadh mar-thà. Ach, tha cothrom ann dhaibhsan nach do lìon an t-suirbhidh as t-samhradh, freagairtean a thilleadh a-nis.

    8 Oct 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN ANNOUNCES C.A.R.E.S. VAN SCHEDULE FOR HUDSON VALLEY HALLOWEEN AND FALL EVENTS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Ryan (New York 18th)

    Congressman Pat Ryan Announces C.A.R.E.S. Van Schedule for Hudson Valley Halloween and Fall Events

    Ryan’s Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van will bring assistance with federal agencies to Halloween and fall community events across NY-18

    WASHINGTON, DC  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan announced the schedule of Halloween and fall community events that his mobile office, the Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van will visit across the Hudson Valley. Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van, staffed by his team of highly-trained caseworkers, brings direct assistance with federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the IRS, and more to Hudson Valley families right in their own community. The C.A.R.E.S. Van has become a staple at community events and celebrations since its unveiling in June 2023.

    “There’s nothing like families and neighbors coming together to celebrate the perfect fall day in the Hudson Valley,” said Congressman Ryan. “I’m proud that the C.A.R.E.S. Van is bringing the direct, one-on-one assistance that Hudson Valley families deserve right to these community events across the Hudson Valley. My team goes that extra mile to cut through bureaucratic red tape and get Hudson Valley families the benefits they’ve earned with the C.A.R.E.S. Van. If you need help navigating anything from IRS returns to Social Security, or just want to join my team and neighbors from across the Hudson Valley for these family-friendly celebrations, hope you’ll be at one of the events!”

    Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van assists constituents of NY-18 in accessing earned benefits, such as Veterans’ Affairs benefits and Social Security, federal grant funding, passports and visas, immigration and naturalization services, and resolving issues with federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service. 

    This summer, Congressman Ryan launched a specialized C.A.R.E.S. Van series that connected Hudson Valley seniors directly with one-on-one assistance from the Social Security Administration, Center for Medicare, and dozens of community partners as well as his team of expert caseworkers who assisted with federal agencies. Over the summer, Ryan also utilized the Van to deliver help with veterans services and federal agencies like assistance accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, requesting military medical records, obtaining lost military awards, and more directly to veterans at veterans service organizations (VSOs) throughout the Hudson Valley.

    In March, the C.A.R.E.S. Van completed its first district tour, visiting every one of the 82 cities, towns, and villages in NY-18 in under 10 months. During the first district tour, the Van reached over 1,500 constituents and logged 3,341 miles to bring assistance directly to Hudson Valley families where they are at. The Van has been critical in assisting Ryan’s team in securing nearly $24 million in casework assistance for NY-18 constituents.

    In November, the C.A.R.E.S. Van was utilized to bring assistance from the Social Security Administration back to Ulster County for a one-day senior resource fair organized by Congressman Ryan’s Office. The Van also made multiple stops at veterans service organizations in every county of NY-18 during Congressman Ryan’s Veterans Week of Action, for events that delivered specialized assistance directly to Hudson Valley veterans and honored their service. 

    Congressman Ryan mobilized the C.A.R.E.S. Van to assemble a coalition of community partners to deliver flood recovery resources during on-site events in communities impacted by last July’s devastating flooding.

    The C.A.R.E.S. Van has also been used by Congressman Ryan to partner with other offices and organizations, such as the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, for specialty events.

    Congressman Ryan has prioritized increasing the responsiveness and accessibility of these services. The C.A.R.E.S Van will visit every municipality in the district over the course of the next year, ensuring that every constituent has direct and easy access to vital federal services. 

    The schedule for the C.A.R.E.S. Van’s Halloween and fall community events is as follows and updates will be provided via social media. 

    WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9:

    11:00AM – 2:00PM

    Human Services Trunk-or-Treat

    Kingston Plaza 

    151 Plaza Road

    Kingston, NY 12401

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19:

    11:30AM – 1:00PM

    Middletown Recreation Pumpkin Party in the Park 

    Fancher – Davidge Park

    130 Lake Avenue

    Middletown, NY 10940

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26:

    12:00PM – 5:00PM

    Walktoberfest Farmers and Makers Market

    87 Haviland Road

    Highland, NY 12528

    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27:

    1:00PM – 3:00PM

    Town of Poughkeepsie Trunk-or-Treat

    Stanley Still Park

    80 Jackson Road

    Town of Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

    THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31:

    6:00PM – 8:00PM

    City of Newburgh Trunk-or-Treat

    Liberty and Grand Streets

    Newburgh, NY 12550

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DURING SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN SECURES MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR HUDSON VALLEY VETERANS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Ryan (New York 18th)

    Ryan delivered $595,316 for Mental Health America of Dutchess County to save lives by boosting its suicide prevention services and increasing mental health resources for Hudson Valley veterans

    During Suicide Prevention Month, Congressman Pat Ryan Secures Mental Health Resources for Hudson Valley Veterans

    Ryan delivered $595,316 for Mental Health America of Dutchess County to save lives by boosting its suicide prevention services and increasing mental health resources for Hudson Valley veterans

    POUGHKEEPSIE, NY –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan secured $595,316 for Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHADC) to save lives by investing in its suicide prevention and mental health services for Hudson Valley veterans. The funding will support MHADC’s comprehensive veteran suicide prevention programming that provides veterans with direct assistance from specialists, access to therapeutic activities and mental health resources, as well as a full-spectrum of support services. Ryan, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, delivered the funding during National Suicide Prevention Month and has fought for funding for veteran suicide prevention programs since his time as Ulster County Executive. The federal funding awarded to Mental Health America of Dutchess County is from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants (SSG Fox SPGP.)

    “MHADC’s veterans program saves lives – period,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Every day, we lose more than 17 heroes to suicide – we should not lose even one. I know that MHADC is right with me in saying that we will not rest until we end the suicide and mental health crisis facing our veterans. I’m proud that these funds will deliver the support and services that every veteran deserves.”

    “MHADC is excited to have our SSG Fox SPGP renewed for a third year,” said Alyssa Carrion, Director of Veterans Programs at Mental Health America of Dutchess County. “The funds provided by this grant provide suicide prevention services for the Veterans of Dutchess and Orange Counties.  We provide yoga, art, equine, music, reiki, and meditation services for our enrollees, as well as access to TISA funds for emergency situations.  This grant has made an amazing difference in the lives of our local Veterans and we are thrilled to continue for a third year.”

    “We are overwhelmed and so grateful to receive our third year of funding through the SSG Fox SPGP,” said Dr Lisa Connolly, Psy.D., LMHC, Chief Operating Office of Mental Health America of Dutchess County. “Our MHA’s Veterans’ Program has done so many worthwhile and incredibly creative endeavors with this funding. Thank you so much for entrusting us, and we promise to continue to meet and exceed all your expectations.”

    The VA’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants directs funding to community-based suicide prevention efforts and increases accessibility to VA support and resources through community-based organizations. 

    Mental Health America of Dutchess County’s SSG Fox SPGP’s program provides veterans with direct assistance from program specialists and connects them with the specific supportive services they need. The program offers unique opportunities and therapeutic approaches including equine, art, and music therapy to keep veterans active and engaged. Additionally, the program assists veterans with Temporary Income Support Assistance and VA benefits and healthcare assistance. 

    MHADC’s other veterans programs offer a full spectrum of services to uplift Hudson Valley veterans, including:

    • Vet2Vet is funded by the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans’ Peer Services Project. Services include support groups, short-term care management, recovery groups, referrals for specialized care, benefits claims assistance, educational information, and free social events and supportive networks.Advocacy
    • The HERO Program that tackles veteran homelessness and includes funding for emergency housing for veterans and their families.
    • The Veterans Employment Training & Transitions Assistance Program (VET-TAP) assists veterans in gaining fulfilling employment, including resume building, job hunting, job applications, and interview preparation. The program also offers local Veterans the opportunity to obtain licenses and certifications in various fields. 

    According to the VA’s 2023 National Veteran Suicide Precention Annual Report, the U.S. loses over 17 veterans per day to suicide. The Report also found that suicide was the 13th leading cause of death among veterans in 2021 and the American Psychological Association notes that veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than nonveteran adults.

    Congressman Ryan graduated from the United States military Academy at West Point in 2004 and is the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in Congress. He served two combat tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army. As Ulster County Executive, Ryan fought for funding for the The Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Projects, a peer-to-peer program that supports veterans living with PTSD, TBI, addiction, and mental health challenges. 

    Ryan serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is a member of the House Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. Ryan has pushed for significant legislation to address the suicide and mental health crisis in the veteran and military servicemember communities, including the Veterans’ Sentinel Act, the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act, and the Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act as well as resolutions to bring awareness to the crisis including Recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag and Expressing support for the designation of September 22 as “National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day.”

    Ryan has fought for federal funding for organizations that support Hudson Valley veterans, including delivering $1 million for the Rumshock Veterans Foundation’s Veterans Village Project that is currently constructing affordable housing for homeless veterans in Orange County. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Molinaro To Host Third Pinning Ceremony In Sullivan County For Vietnam War Veterans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19)

    Liberty, NY – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today announced he will host another pinning ceremony for Vietnam War veterans on Tuesday, October 15 from 3pm to 4pm in Sullivan County. Rep. Molinaro held pinning ceremonies in Greene County and Broome County in August. 

    Rep. Molinaro will present veterans with a pin recognizing their service. This event is open to all Vietnam War veterans, their families, and anyone who would like to pay respect to our veterans. In order to be recognized for your service, veterans must RSVP here or call Rep. Molinaro’s Leeds Office at (518) 625-2100 to sign up.

    Rep. Molinaro said, “After two successful pinning ceremonies, I’m honored to be hosting another ceremony to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of our Vietnam War veterans. When these soldiers returned home, many were met with animosity and protests, so I’m glad to hold a service and thank these courageous vets for their service to our country.” 

    Details for the event can be found below:

    Date: Tuesday, October 15

    Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm

    Location:

    Sullivan County Government Center Front Lobby

    100 North Street

    Monticello, NY 12701

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Honors Eastern Idaho Hospital Volunteer with Spirit of Idaho Award

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Boise, Idaho–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) honored Iona resident Phyllis Scheffler with the Spirit of Idaho Award.  Scheffler has served as a volunteer at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) for more than 40 years, completing more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service. 

    “Phyllis deserves to be recognized for her exemplary service to the people of Idaho,” said Crapo.  “Her unwavering selflessness exemplifies the difference volunteerism can make.  Through her time at EIRMC, Phyllis has comforted and assisted patients, guests and staff, providing expert knowledge only first-hand experience can provide.  Rightly so, she is a cherished member of the community and thoroughly deserves this recognition.”

    The Spirit of Idaho Award honors the acts of service by Idahoans for their commitment to improving their community and serving their fellow citizens.  Crapo has presented more than 600 Spirit of Idaho Awards since the first presentation in Twin Falls in November of 2000.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Finalization of New Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, Announcement of Over $75 Million in New Funding to Help Remove Lead Pipes in Illinois

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    October 08, 2024

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—co-founder of the U.S. Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. In addition to the LCRI, EPA also announced that Illinois will receive $75,558,000 in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk.

    “Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Duckworth. “We’ve been working hard in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and $75 million in new funding for Illinois to replace lead pipes will help us make it a reality while preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect. This is a win-win for all Americans.”

    “The newly finalized Lead and Copper Rule Improvements is nothing short of historic.  For decades, we have understood the severe risks of lead exposure, which have disproportionally harmed low-income families and communities of color.  Today, EPA has made a commitment to Americans to replace all lead pipes over the next ten years because everyone deserves to have safe, clean drinking water,” said Durbin.  “We have a monumental task ahead of us in replacing lead service pipes in Illinois, particularly in Chicago, but I’m encouraged by this significant step by the Biden-Harris Administration to support states in lead pipe remediation and look forward to supporting this plan in Congress.”

    The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Illinois has reported more than 667,000 lead service lines (LSLs) and another almost 820,000 service lines of unknown material, which the newly announced funding will help remove. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells. 

    Duckworth has led the charge in the U.S. Senate to remove lead drinking water pipes across the country. Her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which was included in the BIL, is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead pipe replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, is helping rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems.

    Last month, Duckworth called on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of LCRI. In May, Duckworth announced over $240 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund investment to help Illinois identify and replace lead service lines and prevent lead poisoning among our state’s children and families—funding that comes directly from Duckworth’s DWWIA—and in August she and Durbin announced more than $1 million to address lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities in Illinois.

    Following the 2016 report of lead in Chicago’s drinking water, Durbin and then-Rep. Duckworth urged EPA to use its full authority and resources to address the issue, including reviewing the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and immediate notification of lead contamination. In March 2021, Durbin and Duckworth sent a letter to EPA urging it to update the LCR.

    Duckworth, Durbin and Sen. Booker, members of the Senate Lead Taskforce, led 87 of their colleagues supporting EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) and urging for more community protections and expedited removal of all lead pipes. Last March, Durbin and Duckworth sent letters to five Medicaid managed care companies (MCOs) in Illinois, urging them to address lead poisoning risks to children in Chicago by preemptively sending drinking water test kits, water filters, home visitors, and educational materials to all enrolled children in the city.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Delivers Critical Federal Funding to Strengthen Public Safety, Community Development and Energy Resilience in Southwestern New Mexico

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    LORDSBURG, N.M. – On Monday, October 7, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) spent the day meeting with officials from Lordsburg and Deming to deliver critical funding for southwestern New Mexico’s communities. Vasquez secured federal investments for the Luna County Mobile Command Center, Lordsburg Community Center and the Southline Transmission Project to strengthen public safety, community development and energy resilience. 

    “After listening to constituents and local leaders, I’m proud to deliver these investments to ensure the safety, well-being and future prosperity of our communities,” said Vasquez. “From improving public safety with the Luna Mobile Command Center, to providing a hub for families in Lordsburg, to modernizing our energy infrastructure with the Southline Transmission Project, we are building a stronger, more resilient New Mexico. In Congress, I’ll continue to fight for the federal support our district deserves to grow and thrive.”

    Vasquez secured $500,000 for the Luna Mobile Command Center Project, a crucial investment in public safety that will directly support law enforcement and first responders. The new command center will ensure that emergency personnel have access to better equipment and communication tools to respond swiftly and effectively. This project underscores Vasquez’s commitment to strengthening public safety initiatives, ensuring that local agencies are fully equipped to protect the community and manage emergencies with the highest level of coordination and efficiency.

    “We are so appreciative of Representative Gabe Vasquez, who has always been a good neighbor. I’ve seen him down here countless times and he is always in contact with us. And when it comes to public safety, this is not just a county mobile command unit for the county, but also for state police and Deming police. Without this funding from Representative Vasquez, we could not afford something like this. When you get $500,000, it just shows you the tremendous support we’ve got from Representative Vasquez,” said Luna County Manager Chris Brice.

    “I am really appreciative that Luna County was awarded $500,000 to help provide upgrades for law enforcement and the incident command unit. It’s time for an upgrade, and I appreciate Congressman Vasquez for getting this money down to Luna County,” said Luna County Commissioner Ray Trejo.

    In Lordsburg, Vasquez also delivered a $500,000 check for the renovation of the Lordsburg Community Center, a key investment in supporting families and strengthening rural communities. The renovated center will provide expanded recreational opportunities for local families and youth, offering a safe and welcoming space for children. It will also serve as a hub for community gatherings and events, creating new opportunities for residents to come together. This project reflects Vasquez’s commitment to enhancing quality of life in rural New Mexico. 

    “I want to commend Representative Gabe Vasquez and the City of Lordsburg for taking the initiative to make some community improvements here. In rural New Mexico it seems like we are always forgotten. When we have someone like Representative Vasquez looking out for our small community, we know that we’ll see some economic growth here,” said Hidalgo County Manager Tisha Green.

    Vasquez was also joined by leaders for the Southline Transmission Project to highlight a significant step forward for New Mexico’s clean energy future. Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Southline Transmission Project has been chosen as one of five recipients as part of a $1.5 billion commitment to improve the electric grid nationwide. With this funding, Southline will construct the second phase of its project to deliver 1,000 megawatts of new capacity between Hidalgo County and Las Cruces, lowering utility bills for New Mexicans. As one of his first acts in office, Vasquez wrote to DOE in support of the Southline Transmission Project to bring high-paying jobs to rural communities and invest in New Mexico’s renewable energy future.

    “I’m very appreciative of Representative Vasquez and our Congressional Delegation for doing the work to bring money back to rural New Mexico. The Transmission Siting and Economic Development grant program is going to create great economic opportunities for the city of Lordsburg and the residents of Hidalgo County through infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization and entrepreneur training. We’re excited to have this here in Lordsburg and ready to get started,” saidEmily Gojkovich, Lordsburg Economic Development Specialist.

    Since serving New Mexico in Congress, Vasquez has been fighting for our district’s fair share of funding. Each year, Congress is responsible for passing Appropriations legislation to fund federal agencies. After hearing directly from constituents about what the federal budget should prioritize, Vasquez submitted 15 proposals for Community Project Funding each year on an array of issues ranging from supporting families to public safety investments to infrastructure improvements. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Votes to Pass Bipartisan Spending Bill to Fund Government, Avert Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 25, 2024, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) voted to pass a bipartisan spending bill to keep the government funded through a continuing resolution.

    “The bipartisan spending bill ensures the federal government can continue providing essential services to every corner of New Mexico. From wildfire response to veteran support to nutritional assistance for families, we are protecting the programs that our communities depend on,” said Vasquez.“This bill is just the start—we must continue to work towards a long-term funding solution that provides stability for our government, our economy and the people we serve. Americans deserve a government that doesn’t jump from crisis to crisis.  I remain committed to coming to the table to work with my colleagues across the aisle to keep the government open.”

    The continuing resolution would protect the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to fight wildfires and prioritize fire suppression efforts, while extending the deadline for Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance. It also extends the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s authority to provide benefits to those who have had their SNAP benefits stolen to ensure all New Mexicans still have access to the full SNAP benefits they need.

    The resolution also grants emergency funding for the Department of Defense to use funds for military construction projects and provides critical funding to the Secret Service to protect presidential candidates. 

    Vasquez will continue fighting for additional disaster aid to ensure New Mexicans affected by natural disasters receive the funding and support they deserve. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –