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  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Statement on Government Funding Vote

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)

    September 25, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) issued the following statement after voting against another bloated government spending bill:

    “This Continuing Resolution continues a broken process. It extends the Biden-Harris administration’s reckless spending. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should be embarrassed that he refused to call for even a single vote on an appropriations bill before yet another shutdown faceoff. We must return to regular order and get this runaway spending under control.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Horsford Introduces Bill to Make Healthcare More Affordable for Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-04)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Dependent Income Exclusion Act of 2024 to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for families with dependents who are working part-time, attending school, or enrolled in job training programs. The bill would adjust the household income calculation used to determine eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, which would ease financial burdens and expand health coverage. 

    “While I’ve worked to lower prescription drug costs and expand healthcare tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act, families in Nevada and across the country continue to face unacceptably high health insurance costs,” said Congressman Horsford. “This bill will help parents and guardians and make healthcare more affordable and attainable by easing the unintended costs on families with working children. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Health, I will continue to push for policies that expand access to affordable, quality healthcare to all families.”

    “Congressman Horsford is a champion of hardworking families and making health care affordable,” said Brad Woodhouse, Executive Director of Protect Our Care. “The Dependent Income Exclusion Act will ensure that families with children who pick up a part-time job or enroll in a job training program aren’t penalized by having to pay more for their health care. This bill demonstrates how Democrats are working tirelessly to give families more room to breathe and to ensure that people can afford the health care they need to thrive.”  

    The Dependent Income Exclusion Act would address the healthcare affordability gap by allowing families to exclude a portion of their dependents’ income from the modified adjusted gross income used to determine eligibility for premium tax credits. Specifically, this exclusion applies to dependents under the age of 18 or those under 24 who are part-time students, apprentices, or participants in job training programs. The excludable income is capped at 15 percent of the filer’s income. 

    By expanding the availability of premium tax credits, this legislation will allow previously ineligible families to access ACA subsidies and increase the credit for those who already qualify. The bill aims to ensure that families with young adults working toward a brighter future—whether through education, apprenticeship, or job training—aren’t penalized when it comes to affordable healthcare access. 

    The bill is supported by Protect Our Care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Democrats Hold Hearing Highlighting Underwood Resolution Condemning Project 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

    WASHINGTON — Yesterday, House Democrats held a hearing on Project 2025’s impacts on American families, highlighting House Resolution 1386, Rep. Lauren Underwood’s (IL-14) resolution to officially condemn Project 2025 and the sweeping harm that it would do to our democracy.

    Project 2025, otherwise known as the Presidential Transition Project, is a 900+ page “playbook” for the first 180 days of an incoming Trump administration. It is a step-by-step guide for dismantling critical agencies that serve Americans, restructuring the executive branch, and installing Trump loyalists and operatives at nearly every level of government.

    If enacted, Project 2025 will radically alter the lives of every American.

    The blueprint would strip away fundamental freedoms, destroy checks and balances on presidential powers, and lead to rising costs on health care, child care, housing, groceries, and gas. 

    Project 2025 would:

    • End Social Security and Medicare as we know it, forcing hardworking Americans to work longer for less.
    • Devastate working families across America, raising costs, lowering wages, destroying our environment, and dismantling access to health care.
    • Remove protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, raise prescription drug prices, ban Medicare from negotiating lower drug costs, and put a new tax on health insurance for people who get coverage at work.
    • Criminalize abortion nationwide, restrict access to birth control, and even ban fertility services like IVF.
    • Allow government agents to monitor pregnancies to potentially prosecute parents if they miscarry.
    • Cut school meals for kids, end Head Start for preschoolers, slash public school funding, and fire teachers across the country.
    • Raise costs and slash investments for working families to give huge new tax breaks to billionaires, CEOs, and the biggest corporations.
    • Threaten America’s national security and our ability to compete across the globe.
    • Destroy fundamental checks and balances on Presidential powers.

    At the hearing, Underwood said, “As one of the only nurses in Congress, to me, Project 2025’s direct attacks on our health care are some of the most alarming parts of this 920+ page document.

    This plan is extreme in the truest sense of the word. It calls to eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions like myself, proposes new taxes on people who get their health coverage from work, and would cause the cost of prescription drugs to skyrocket. 

    To put it simply: Donald Trump’s Project 2025 will make more Americans sick and leave them without the coverage they need to take care of themselves and their families. 

    Few people understand these threats better than our providers, and I am so pleased to be joined today by a fellow Registered Nurse, Vicki Gonzalez. Vicki has been an RN since 1986. For the past 20 years, she has worked as a wound and ostomy nurse at one of our nation’s largest hospitals, Jackson Memorial in Miami. Vicki has seen firsthand how the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid have brought high quality, affordable care to so many people who previously couldn’t afford to go to the doctor, and instead ended up deathly sick in the emergency room. And Vicki knows how dire it would be for these people to once again have to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need.” 

    To view Underwood’s full remarks visit this link. Full text of House Resolution 1386 can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Mast Reintroduce Bipartisan Forage Fish Conservation Act to Protect Marine Ecosystem and Fishing Economy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Mast (R-FL) today introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen key protections for fisheries and promote responsible management of forage fish. The Forage Fish Conservation Act improves protections for forage fish – including herring and shad – that support marine ecosystems as well as other recreationally and commercially important species such as tuna, salmon, and cod. These populations have experienced substantial decline because of human activity, which threatens the viability of marine ecosystems as well as opportunities for recreational fisherman. Currently, there are few management measures in place to address this decline.

    “Safeguarding fish stocks from further decline is critical to protecting marine ecosystems and strengthening coastal economies,” said Dingell. “This legislation’s science-based conservation framework for forage fish will both help promote sustainable fisheries and preserve marine wildlife for the enjoyment of future generations.”

    “On the Treasure Coast we know firsthand how irresponsible management of our marine ecosystem devastating ripple effects on our environment can have, food supply, fishing industry and overall economy,” Mast said. “This is important and bipartisan sustainability legislation that will help protect our coastal health, environment and economy.”

    The bill is endorsed by the National Audubon Society and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

    “Forage fish are essential for seabirds, larger fish, marine life, and our economy,” said Romaric Moncrieffe, marine conservation policy manager for the National Audubon Society. “This legislation builds on nearly 50 years of successful fisheries management to protect these small but important fish.”

    “The Forage Fish Conservation Act seeks to strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Act by prioritizing the protection of forage fish, which are crucial for sustaining recreationally important fish populations, and ensuring that fisheries management supports vibrant fishing communities and a healthy marine ecosystem,” says Joel Pedersen, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We thank Representative Dingell and Representative Mast for their commitment to bolstering our coastal economies and ecosystems.”

    The Forage Fish Conservation Act builds upon the successes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary federal law governing marine fisheries management. To improve the conservation of forage fish and strengthen the marine ecosystem, the legislation:

    1. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop a science-based definition for forage fish in federal waters with advice from the fisheries councils;
    2. Assesses the impact a new commercial forage fish fishery could have on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem prior to the fishery being authorized;
    3. Account for predator needs in existing management plans for forage fish;
    4. Specifies that managers consider forage fish when establishing research priorities;
    5. Ensures scientific advice sought by fishery managers includes recommendations for forage fish;
    6. Conserves and manages river herring and shad in the ocean; and
    7. Preserves state management of forage fish fisheries that occur within their jurisdiction.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wasserman Schultz, Owens Introduce Bill to Protect Rights of Crime Victims, Prevent Repeat of Epstein Impunity

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

    “Courtney Wild and other victims of Jeffrey Epstein have been wrongly denied standing to invoke their rights. This legislation would fulfill the original intent of the CVRA and prevent such gross miscarriages of injustice from being repeated,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Crime victims deserve dignity and adequate support rather than further victimization at the discretion of federal prosecutors. Based on cases like Courtney’s, this bill is necessary to ensure there is no ambiguity in the law and all crime victims are afforded the rights they have always deserved.”

    Washington DC – Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Burgess Owens (UT-4) introduced the bipartisan Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act to ensure victims of crime are treated with dignity, have the support they need while navigating criminal proceedings, and avoid further victimization.

    The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act was spurred by Wild’s lawsuit that asserted the rights of victims who fell prey to Jeffrey Epstein and were kept in the dark as federal prosecutors hashed out a secret and shockingly lenient plea deal. Wild fought in court for over 10 years before a Federal District Court finally declared that her rights, and the rights of other victims were violated under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA). However, in April 2020, the Eleventh Circuit of Appeals rejected her lawsuit, in part because the federal government never filed charges against Epstein, so due to ambiguities in the law, the CVRA was never triggered.

    This legislation would empower the Attorney General to implement the necessary reforms to ensure that all crime victims are afforded their rights under the CRVA. These reforms include the clarification that victims have the right to be informed by federal prosecutors of any plea or pretrial agreement that could impact their ability to secure justice and requiring the court to order a remedy if a victim’s rights have been violated, among other reforms. 

    U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21) and Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined as original cosponsors.

    The following organizations have endorsed this legislation: Courtney Wild (survivor-advocate), Brad Edwards, and Paul Cassell (Wild’s Lawyers); Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), Victims’ Rights Law Center (VRLC), National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), and the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI). 

    “Courtney Wild and other victims of Jeffrey Epstein have been wrongly denied standing to invoke their rights. This legislation would fulfill the original intent of the CVRA and prevent such gross miscarriages of injustice from being repeated,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Crime victims deserve dignity and adequate support rather than further victimization at the discretion of federal prosecutors. Based on cases like Courtney’s, this bill is necessary to ensure there is no ambiguity in the law and all crime victims are afforded the rights they have always deserved.”

    “The Courtney Wild case exposed glaring gaps in our justice system—a web of legal loopholes and procedural barriers that prevent victims from sharing their voices and downplays the horrors they’ve faced, particularly when powerful people are involved. Thanks to Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s tireless advocacy for this bipartisan effort, we can ensure that no victim is forced to navigate the justice system in silence again,” said Rep. Owens

    “Jeffrey Epstein’s victims were kept in the dark as a sweetheart deal was hashed out, allowing a prolific sexual predator to go free with just a slap on the wrist. This bill ensures a more victim-centered process so that such a miscarriage of justice never happens again,” said Rep. Frankel.

    “As the co-founder of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am proud to support this legislation. It is imperative that we make necessary reforms to the Crime Victims Rights Act to ensure that victims receive the support they deserve and have their voices heard in the justice system,” said Rep. Costa.

    “The current CVRA leaves most victims without legal representation and without any real recourse or remedy for injustice. This amendment is crucial for the advancement of victim’s rights in the United States,” said Courtney Wild, survivor-advocate.    

    “We are extremely grateful for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Congressman Burgess Owens’s (R-UT) leadership on the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This bill would ensure the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) provides equitable and meaningful rights to survivors of crime,” said Bridgette Stumpf, co-founder and executive director of Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC). “Additionally, this bill would ensure consistency in how victims experience the criminal legal system and strengthen access to independent crime victims’ counsel–creating an environment of accountability within the criminal process.” 

    “The National Center for Victims of Crime proudly fought side by side with then-Senator Biden to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 30 years ago. It is now our privilege and honor to stand with two incredible Representatives, Rep. Schultz and Rep. Owens, as they take up the battle for victims through the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act. This crucial act expands VAWA and VOCA in protecting victims’ dignity, not only by ensuring that crime victims’ rights are enforced, but also by providing accountability and remedies when those rights are violated. We thank Rep. Schulz and Rep. Owens for their work on this crucial bill, and we commit to advocating for and serving victims across the nation. Only when victims’ rights are automatic and unquestioned will our victory be achieved,” said Renee Williams, Esq., executive director of the National Center for the Victims of Crime (NCVC).  

    “The Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victims’ Rights Act is an incredible step forward in protecting the rights of federal victims of crime.  NOVA commends Ms. Wild for courageously advocating for federal victims of crime to be treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity throughout the criminal justice process. We thank Ms. Wild and U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Burgess Owens (R-UT) for championing this landmark bill,” said Claire Ponder Selib, Executive Director, National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA).

    “Twenty years ago the CVRA was passed with the intention of making crime victims meaningful participants in criminal justice by ensuring that they have rights from the time of their victimization and that they have access to attorneys at no cost to help protect those rights. We are so grateful to Representative Wasserman Schultz for continuing to push to make these promises a reality,” said Meg Garvin, Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute. 

    Read the entire bill here. A one-pager on the bill is available here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Lamborn Votes to Avert Government Shutdown

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug Lamborn (5th District of Colorado)

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Doug Lamborn joined his House Republican colleagues in passing H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions for Fiscal Year 2025, by a vote of 341-82. This legislation prevents a government shutdown while authorizing the appropriate federal funding for defense, disaster relief, and more. 

    “I am pleased to see this continuing resolution passed,” said Congressman Lamborn. “Now more than ever, we cannot afford to shut down the government. Failing to properly fund critical defense operations emboldens our adversaries and endangers our national security. We will still continue to advocate for conservative priorities as the 118th Congress comes to a close. It remains imperative that reckless spending in Washington is avoided.” 

    H.R. 9747 will extend funding at current FY 2024 levels through December 20, 2024. In light of recent events, the bill also appropriates an additional $231 million to the Secret Service to ensure they have the resources and manpower to protect all major candidates, including former Presidents. This funding is contingent on the timely transmission of a Mission Assurance Report from Secretary Mayorkas regarding the attempted assassination of President Trump.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Keeps Gov’t Open, Touts Bipartisan Wins

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 9747 to keep the federal government open and working for the American people.

    “Despite partisan fear-mongering, House Republicans have kept the government funded, open, and working for the American people. While others bicker and play politics, I stay focused on delivering real results for Suffolk County, including securing over $150 million in federal funding for our communities,” said LaLota. “Since taking office, I’ve been proud to rank among the most productive freshman members, passing more bills than 97% of my peers—eight bipartisan bills and 20 amendments through the House. These efforts include protecting the Long Island Sound, addressing the fentanyl and sanctuary city crises, and supporting our small businesses and veterans. My commitment is to put the American people first and improve the quality of life for everyone in Suffolk County.”

    To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

    Background:

    LaLota has consistently and successfully voted to keep the government open, funded, and working for the American people.

    Since being sworn into office, LaLota has passed eight of his bills through the House, each of which has earned bipartisan support:

    • H.R. 3511 – Service Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act
    • H.R. 4424 – Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act
    • H.R. 4669 – DOE & SBA Research Act
    • H.R. 5441 – Long Island Sound Restoration & Stewardship Reauthorization Act
    • H.R. 5717 – No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act
    • H.R. 7105 – Women-Owned Small Business Certification & Opportunity Expansion Act
    • H.R. 7987 – Plain Language in Contracting Act
    • H.R. 8663 – DETECT Fentanyl & Xylazine Act

    Through the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills, LaLota secured over $150 million in federal funding that will directly benefit Suffolk County, including millions in Community Project Funding for infrastructure projects, water quality improvements, and wastewater treatment in each of the First Congressional District’s Towns.

    H.R. 9747 would extend current government funding through December 20th, 2024, extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, ensure working families have access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, guarantee Veteran, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits continue, provide an additional $231 million for the Secret Service for protective operations for Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees in the 2024 Campaign and activities related to National Special Security Events and provide the agency with flexibility to quickly obligate funds for protective operations, and allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flexibility to quickly obligate funds provided by the CR for the Disaster Relief Fund to respond to disasters.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scholten Celebrates Muskegon Heights’ Assistance to Firefighters Grant Totaling Over $65K

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

     WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03) is proud to announce Muskegon Heights will receive over $65K in an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant will help equip the department with the necessary tools, training, and personnel to maintain emergency preparedness.

    “When West Michiganders are in crisis, our fire departments are often the first to respond,”  said Scholten. “We are so fortunate to have our brave firefighters supporting our community through natural disasters and other emergencies. These investments will ensure the Muskegon Heights Fire Department is at peak preparedness and equipped with the most up-to-date, lifesaving technologies.”

    “We express our deepest gratitude for Congresswoman Scholten’s continued support of the City of Muskegon Heights and for her assistance with securing the AFG Grant for the Muskegon Heights Fire Department,” said Muskegon Heights Fire Chief Shawn Roberson.  “Her dedication to improving our community and ensuring the safety of its residents is truly commendable. We are grateful for her unwavering support.”

    “I want to commend our Muskegon Heights Firefighters who took the initiative to research, prepare, and submit this grant,” said Muskegon Heights Mayor, Bonnie McGlothin. “The new exhaust system is needed and will contribute to the overall health and safety of our firefighters. In the past 18 months, the City has purchased several new fighting apparatuses and increased the staffing of its full-time professional firefighters.  This is another step in our commitment to provide our firefighters with the equipment and training they need to keep our community safe.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Team Maryland Looks to the Future of the Chesapeake Bay After Current Multi-State Agreements Expire in 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, and Glenn Ivey met Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol with senior representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of the Interior and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to discuss planning for the next stage of the Chesapeake Bay program and restoration efforts. This is a critical time for the Bay and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which was signed in 2014. Many of the goals and outcomes for the Bay had a target of 2025. As this date approaches, the Chesapeake Bay Program is determining how best to meet these goals and outcomes, incorporate new science and strategies, and strengthen the multi-state partnership.

    At the meeting, members of the Maryland delegation heard from key federal agency and state leaders working towards the next stage of the agreement. Leading the discussion was Adam Ortiz, who serves as the Administrator for EPA Region 3, which governs the Mid-Atlantic Region. In this role Administrator Ortiz is deeply involved in EPA’s role in the Chesapeake Bay Program. The delegation also heard from Department of Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Matt Strickler, who serves at the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principal’s Staff Committee Chair. In 2022, the Chesapeake Executive Council tasked its Principal’s Staff Committee with making recommendations for the future of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program’s work. Representing senior state leadership was Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, who directs Maryland’s role in the multi-state partnership and has deep expertise in the stakeholder community.

    The planning effort marked a milestone this summer when the Chesapeake Bay Program Beyond 2025 Steering Committee released its Beyond 2025 Draft Report and invited public feedback.

      

    “Team Maryland will always fight for the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and its restoration is a model for regional, multi-jurisdictional landscape stewardship. It is a model for other regions and other environmental protection efforts at many scales – and it is not simple,” said Senator Cardin. “As the Chesapeake Bay program is recalibrated for the next phase of action, we are committed to securing additional federal resources. We have high expectations for future results.”

    “We have a responsibility to protect the Chesapeake Bay – our people, our economy, and our environment depend on it. That’s why we’ve fought to deliver major federal investments to improve the Bay’s health – and while we know they’re making a real difference, the watershed states have more work to do to reach our restoration goals. As we near the Bay Agreement’s 2025 benchmark, we must take stock of the challenges faced in meeting its goals and work together to drive further progress toward a healthier Chesapeake Bay,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “I’ve been proud to work with our delegation to support the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries throughout my career – especially in the past decade since we secured the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement,” Congressman Hoyer said. “I was pleased our delegation could meet with our partners in federal and state government to discuss the progress we’ve made toward fulfilling the various goals we laid out in that agreement and to assess the important work that remains. The Chesapeake Bay is the beating heart of Maryland and a true national treasure, and we will continue working to preserve it for generations to come.”

    “Ten years ago, we set aggressive but necessary goals to restore and protect our treasured Chesapeake Bay, which has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach from every level of government,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “As we approach our deadline, we must ensure we are leveraging new technologies and sciences and collaborating with our other watershed states as effectively as possible. I appreciated this opportunity to come together and discuss our long and short-term strategies, especially as my own time in office draws to a close.”

    “Today’s discussions provided an opportunity to reaffirm our collective vision for the future of the Chesapeake Bay. It is imperative that the next phase of watershed restoration is centered around achieving goals and outcomes that reflect the current, best available science to ensure the health of our communities, the vitality of our region and a sustainable future for Bay ecosystems and natural resources. We look forward to sustained collaboration with federal, state and local government partners as we continue to support Beyond 2025 planning,” said Congressman Sarbanes.

    “Marylanders across our state depend on a healthy Chesapeake Bay — the largest estuary in the United States — for food, recreation, and to make a living,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “Continued collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels is vital to ensure this national treasure flourishes and effective restoration and conservation projects are enacted throughout the Bay and its ecosystem,” he concluded.

    “Team Maryland is united in our efforts to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, a treasured natural resource and cornerstone of our local ecosystem,” said Congressman Raskin. “I’m grateful to our EPA and Maryland state government partners for their continued collaboration with the Maryland Congressional delegation to preserve the Bay for generations to come.”

    “Protecting the Chesapeake Bay is everyone’s responsibility.  We are grateful for our longtime Maryland advocates now on the federal and state level, Adam Ortiz, and Josh Kurtz, respectively.  Local, state, and federal partnerships can help keep our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, available for all to appreciate and partake in.  Crabbing, fishing, sailing and otherwise being active in and around its shores are activities we want to cherish well into the future and our actions today will make sure that our kids and grandkids can benefit from the Bay in their tomorrow’s,” said Congressman Ivey.

    EPA Region 3 Administrator, Adam Ortiz

    “The Moore-Miller administration thanks the Maryland congressional delegation for their continued strong leadership on the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Their efforts have resulted in improvements in water quality and the health of the ecosystem,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “It was an honor today to discuss our plans to focus our work post-2025 on rebuilding habitat, creating resiliency in the face of climate change, and charting a new future for the Chesapeake Bay.”

          

    The Chesapeake Executive Council consists of the governors of the six watershed states, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It establishes the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay.

    The Principals Staff Committee (PSC) acts as the policy advisors to the Executive Council, accepting items for Council consideration and approval, and setting agendas for Council meetings. Individual members of the PSC arrange and provide briefings to their principals, the Agreement signatories. The PSC also provides policy and program direction to the Management Board.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Firearms Office Encourages Firearms Safety This Hunting Season

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 26, 2024

    The Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable hunting season and reminds everyone that a secure firearm is a safe firearm. 

    “A successful hunt starts with safety,” SFO Deputy Commissioner and Chief Firearms Officer Murray Cowan said. “Respect your firearm, respect wildlife, and respect the environment. Hunting is not just about the harvest; it is about preserving the balance of nature and returning home safely.”

    When transporting your firearms, ensure they are not loaded, are kept out of sight, locked securely in a case, or otherwise rendered inoperable (using a trigger lock or cable, or the bolt is removed), and that they are stored separately from live ammunition. Do not leave firearms unattended in your vehicle, and if you must, conceal them and do so briefly while the vehicle is kept within eyesight. 

    When hunting, ensure you have a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and Hunting and Fishing Licence (HAL) and be mindful of the training that came with those licences. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, always control its muzzle, know your target and what’s beyond it, be aware of your surroundings, and always get permission to access private land. 

    The SFO is proud of its ongoing relationship with Métis Nation Saskatchewan (MN-S) to advance firearms safety and training for Métis citizens in the province. 

    “Our partnership with Métis Nation Saskatchewan is being built on trust, respect and a shared vision for the heritage of Saskatchewan,” SFO Commissioner Robert Freberg said. “Together, we are honouring traditional knowledge, while empowering meaningful, long-lasting collaboration, standing as a testament to the power of unity and mutual respect in shaping a brighter future for the province.”

    The agreement signed last year outlines specific areas they will collaborate on and ensures funding for a community educator position within MN-S, who will work to educate their community members about firearms safety and storage, licensing and hunting. Thanks to this partnership, the SFO was invited to attend Back to Batoche this summer, where staff had the opportunity to provide firearms knowledge to festival attendees. 

    The SFO is also pleased to report that the new Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory is yielding positive results.

    Since becoming operational, the lab has completed over 100 firearms examinations for police agencies in Saskatchewan, and it has been able to create linkages from crime scenes in Saskatchewan to others in Canada and the United States. The reduced wait times for forensic testing has also positively impacted prosecutions and court timelines, as tests that would have taken months to complete are now being completed before first court appearances occur. 

    The SFO is committed to its role in enhancing public safety through community outreach and education, promoting safe firearms use and ownership, and advocating for the proud and longstanding heritage of responsible firearms stewardship in Saskatchewan.                                                                                  

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Orders in Council

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    HONOURABLE MR. AMERY

    236/2024

    CRIMINAL CODE (CANADA) (section 672.38) – Effective October 25, 2024, reappoints Maryann Chichak as a member of the Criminal Code Review Board for a term to expire on October 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. ELLIS

    237/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming sections 3(e), 7, 8(b) and (c), 16, 19, 45, 46(a) and 47 of the Police Amendment Act, 2022 in force on March 1, 2025.

    238/2024

    POLICE ACT (section 61(1)) as amended by Police Amendment Act, 2022 (section 46(a)) – Makes the Police Governance Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MR. GLUBISH

    239/2024

    ALBERTA RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ACT (section 7); Alberta Research and Innovation REGULATION (section 3) – Appoints James Keirstead and Rhea Solis to the board of directors of Alberta Innovates, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2026; appoints Carissa Browning, David Edmonds, Kim Moody and Janet Riopel to the board of directors of Alberta Innovates, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HNOURABLE MR. HORNER

    240/2024

    CREDIT UNION ACT (section 8) – Reappoints Laurene Beloin as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2026; reappoints Camille Bérubé, nominated by Credit Union Central Alberta Limited, as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; appoints Harpreet Kohli as a director of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. JEAN

    241/2024

    MINES AND MINERALS ACT (sections 5 and 11) – Transfers the administration and control of the mines and minerals and the pore space of certain provincial Crown lands to the Crown in right of Canada to be set aside for the use and benefit of the Lubicon Lake Band #453.

    242/2024

    RESPONSIBLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT (section 11) – Effective October 21, 2024, appoints Andrew MacPherson to the roster of hearing commissioners of the Alberta Energy Regulator for a term to expire on October 20, 2029.

    HONOURABLE MRS. LAGRANGE

    243/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Louise Sharon Mosier as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists.

    244/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Tammy McCorkell as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Elaine Maria Andrews, to succeed Terence Bunce, and Nickolletta Adriane Sandie, to succeed Wilma Slenders, as public members to the council of the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists, each for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    245/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Bob Sprague as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Optometrists for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    246/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Kenneth Letander and Nicola von Hoensbroech as public members to the council of the Alberta College of Pharmacy, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Larry Loven, to succeed Irene Elizabeth Pfeiffer, as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Pharmacy for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    247/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Laura Mae Delfs as a public member to the council of the Alberta College of Social Workers.

    248/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Gail Hufty as a public member to the council of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Sean Cameron Melrose, to succeed Tamara Jones, as a public member to the council of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    249/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Wilma Slenders, to succeed Tongjie Zhang, as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Dental Assistants for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    250/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Munira Peermohamed as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Denturists for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    251/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Tamara Jones, to succeed Elaine Maria Andrews, as a public member to the council of the College of Alberta Psychologists for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    252/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Laura Mae Delfs, to succeed Patricia Pelton, as a public member to the council of the College of Chiropractors of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    253/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Kenneth Hawrelko as a public member to the council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Patricia Pelton, to succeed Nickolletta Adriane Sandie, as a public member to the council of the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    254/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Louise Sharon Mosier as a public member to the council of the College of Dietitians of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    255/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Tongjie Zhang as a public member to the council of the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    256/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints William Gaudette as a public member to the council of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Irene Elizabeth Pfeiffer as a public member to the council of the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    257/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Appoints Mohammad Sajid Khan and Patricia Palechuk as public members to the council of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta, each for a term to expire on September 24, 2027; effective October 9, 2024, appoints Alissa Harding, to succeed Jennifer Carscallen, as a public member to the council of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    258/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Jennifer Carscallen as a public member to the council of the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    259/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, appoints Terence Bunce as a public member to the council of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta for a term to expire on October 8, 2027.

    260/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Munira Hanifmohamed Peermohamed as a public member to the council of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta.

    261/2024

    HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT (section 13) – Effective October 9, 2024, rescinds the appointment of Larry Loven as a public member to the council of the College of Respiratory Therapists of Alberta.

    HONOURABLE MR. LOEWEN

    262/2024

    PUBLIC LANDS ACT (section 7) – Transfers the administration and control of certain public land to the Crown in right of Canada in full settlement of the Lubicon Lake Band #453 land settlement claim.

    HONOURABLE MR. MCIVER

    263/2024

    MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT (section 125) – Makes the Order Annexing Land from the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 to the City of Cold Lake.

    264/2024

    SAFETY CODES ACT (section 65) – Makes the Certification and Permit (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MR. NALLY

    265/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming section 5 of the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on October 20, 2024.

    266/2024

    LAND TITLES ACT (sections 213 (as amended by section 5(11) of Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024) and 214) – Makes the Tariff of Fees Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MR. NEUDORF

    267/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaiming sections 1, 2(2) to (7) and (9), 4 and 6 of the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on the date of issue of the Proclamation.
     

    GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION ACT (Schedule 13.1, section 6) – Makes the Utilities Consumer Advocate Amendment Regulation.

    269/2024

    UTILITY COMMODITY REBATE ACT (section 10) – Makes the Utility Commodity Rebate Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MRS. SAWHNEY

    270/2024

    POST-SECONDARY LEARNING ACT (sections 44 and 56) – Effective September 29, 2024, reappoints Daniel Hugo as a member of The Board of Governors of NorQuest College for a term to expire on September 28, 2027.

    271/2024

    POST-SECONDARY LEARNING ACT (sections 44 and 56) – Appoints Rana Atta as a member of The Board of Governors of Olds College for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. SCHOW

    272/2024

    TRAVEL ALBERTA ACT (section 4) – Reappoints Juanita Marois as a director of the board of Travel Alberta for a term to expire on September 24, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MR. SIGURDSON

    273/2024

    LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY DIVERSIFICATION ACT (section 33) – Makes the Domestic Cervid Industry (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation.

    HONOURABLE MS SMITH

    274/2024

    ALBERTA INVESTMENT ATTRACTION ACT (section 5) – Appoints Ian Gunn as a member of the board of directors of Invest Alberta Corporation for a term to expire on January 30, 2027.

    HONOURABLE MS SMITH

    HONOURABLE MR. LOEWEN

    HONOURABLE MR. AMERY

    275/2024

    PROCLAMATION – Proclaims certain provisions of the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 in force on the date of issue of the Proclamation and October 15, 2024.

    Orders in Council can now be viewed on the King’s Printer website at: https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/507.cfm

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada launches Framework for Autism in Canada, Canada’s Autism Strategy, and National Autism Network call for applications

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, and those who care for them.

    September 26, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Canada, including people with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and those who care for them.

    The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, tabled the Framework for Autism in Canada (Framework) in Parliament today. The Framework outlines principles and best practices to guide national autism policy, programs and activities in Canada. It leverages the Government of Canada’s leadership role to advance best practices that support Autistic people of all ages, their families and caregivers.

    The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) also launched Canada’s Autism Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy is a multi-year action plan that supports federal implementation of the Framework. It outlines federal-specific short- and medium-term initiatives and builds on existing programs and measures to address key priority areas. The Strategy is intended to be updated on a regular basis, as the needs and priorities of Autistic people of all ages living in Canada evolve over time.

    Through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial working group, these were developed collaboratively with Autistic people, their families, caregivers, provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations and other stakeholders. Implementation will require coordinated efforts across governments in Canada, as well as many partners, organizations, and individuals whose work touches on autism-related initiatives. The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories to advance the needs of Autistic people in Canada.

    Lastly, we officially launched the process for the creation of a National Autism Network today. The Network is intended to bring together the skills and resources of autism organizations and stakeholders, including people with living experience, to support the implementation of activities guided by the Framework and Strategy. We invite eligible organizations to respond to the call for applications for the Network by November 25, 2024.

    This sets out a vision to improve screening, diagnosis and services across Canada; strengthen economic inclusion; enhance data collection, public health surveillance and research; increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance; and facilitate access to evidence-informed autism resources and tools.

    • Autism (also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Autistic people may communicate and connect with other people differently, have sensory processing differences, or focus intensely on certain interests or activities. Autistic people may also have other physical, intellectual, learning, or mental health conditions which can introduce further complexities and challenges.  

    • It is estimated that 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 years have been diagnosed with autism in Canada. The Government of Canada is exploring options to measure and report on autism in adults living in Canada. This information will build the evidence base required to inform public health actions aimed at improving the health and well-being of Autistic people across the life course.

    • Since 2018, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have invested approximately $88 million in research on autism. This research is increasing our understanding of autism and guiding the development of innovative tools and more effective ways to support people on the autism spectrum and their families.

    • Budget 2021 provided PHAC with $15.4 million over two years to work collaboratively with provinces, territories, families and stakeholders toward the creation of an autism strategy. 

    • In 2022, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) published an assessment report on autism highlighting gaps in knowledge regarding the needs and outcomes of Autistic adults, including quality of life, activities of daily living, loneliness, and mental health. 

    • The Framework is aligned with other disability related activities, such as the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which was released on October 7, 2022. The DIAP is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion, which embeds disability considerations across Government programs while identifying targeted investments in key areas to drive change. 

    • The National Autism Network will be a non-profit organization, working independently from the Government of Canada to share their skills, knowledge and resources, supporting key autism priorities and providing a forum for ongoing engagement on federal policies and programs. The Network will work directly with provinces and territories on specific initiatives at the provincial/territorial level and coordinate and integrate autism investments, while bringing together the knowledge and experience of local autism organizations, partners and the perspectives of those with living experience. It will also lead targeted national public awareness campaigns and provide sustained, accessible and culturally relevant resources (available online and elsewhere) to support Autistic people in Canada, their families and caregivers.

    • PHAC hosted two national conferences on autism in November 2022 and August 2024. The first, to bring together people from across Canada to identify potential short-, medium- and long-term priorities for action under an autism strategy and the second, to discuss the Framework’s five priority areas and the actions needed to advance them.

    • The Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023. This legislation outlines a commitment for the development of a framework designed to support Autistic people in Canada, their families, and caregivers. 

    Matthew Kronberg
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
    Minister of Health
    343-552-5654

    Media Relations
    Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada
    613-957-2983
    media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Chief Mountain port of entry closes for the season

    Source: Government of Canada News

    September 26, 2024             Calgary, Alberta             Canada Border Services Agency

    The Chief Mountain port of entry is closing for the season on September 30, at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST). It will reopen in the spring of 2025.

    Due to its high elevation and harsh winters, Chief Mountain only operates from May to September.

    Travellers can use the Carway port of entry, Del Bonita port of entry or Coutts port of entry as an alternative during the seasonal closure.

    Chief Mountain is located along Alberta’s Highway 6 on the boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park. At 1,722 meters, it has the highest elevation of all border crossings in Canada and has long been considered one of Canada’s most scenic ports of entry.

    For additional information, visit the Border Information Services online or call 1-800-461-9999.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 

    The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister discussed regional and global issues, the Summit of the Future, as well as the upcoming ASEAN-UN Summit in October, in Vientiane. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine.

    The Secretary-General and Prime Minister Mustafa discussed the war in Gaza, the urgent need for an agreement on an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages as well as the post war perspective.  The Secretary-General also expressed concerns about the tense situation in the occupied West Bank.
     
    They further spoke about the UN support to the Palestinian people, including the irreplaceable role played by UNRWA in Gaza and across the region.
     
    They reaffirmed their shared commitment towards ending the occupation and achieving a viable two-State solution, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of Israel and Palestine, in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions and prior agreements.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Registration is now open for DBS Virtual Conference 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Registration is open for DBS Virtual Conference 2024. The free conference will provide essential insight into the current and future safeguarding landscape.

    The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has opened registration for the annual free-of-charge conference which open to all with an interest in safeguarding. Taking place on Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October, the virtual conference will cover a different safeguarding theme each day and will welcome an exciting variety of keynote speakers, workshops, panel and round table discussions.

    DBS supports employers to make safer recruitment decisions by processing and issuing criminal record checks and by maintaining the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists. Led by subject experts, the 3-day conference will stream a series of informative webinars and live panel discussions to support safeguarding professionals with best practice knowledge and guidance, and will feature question-and-answer opportunities with a range of speakers.

    The themes of this year’s conference will include:

    • Tuesday 15: Technology and Innovation and the future of safeguarding

    • Wednesday 16: Information Sharing and the importance in safeguarding
    • Thursday 17: Rehabilitation of Offenders (ROA) – balancing safeguarding with individuals rights to rehabilitation

    As the conference is set to be hosted online, recordings will be made available afterwards. If delegates are interested in the event but are unable to attend on the day, it is recommended to still register to access any recordings.

    Register for the conference here and follow DBS’ LinkedIn

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Groupama Group 2024 half-year results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income) of €12.0 billion, up +8.7%

    • Growth in property and casualty insurance (+5.0%)
    • Increase in premium income in health and protection insurance (+10.0%)
    • Strong growth in the savings and pensions business (+20.7%)
    • Insurance revenue (IFRS 17) of €7.9 billion

    Net income of €398 million

    • Economic operating income of €409 million, impacted by events in New Caledonia and by a better understanding of the seasonality effect
    • Fairly moderate weather loss experience
    • Combined non-life ratio of 95.9%

    Strong solvency ratio of 190% without transitional measure 

    • Solvency ratio of 249% with transitional measure on underwriting reserves
    • Group’s IFRS equity of €9.3 billion
    • Contractual services margin of €3.6 billion

    The Board of Directors of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles met on 26 September 2024, under the chairmanship of Laurent Poupart, and approved the Group’s combined financial statements for the first half of 2024. The half-year financial statements underwent a limited review by the statutory auditors.

    Activity (insurance premiums and other income)

    As at 30 June 2024, Groupama’s combined premium income stood at €12.0 billion, a +8.7% increase from 30 June 2023. The increase came from property and casualty insurance (+5.0%), health and personal protection insurance (+10%), and savings and pensions (+20.7%).

    Groupama premium income as at 30 June 2024

    in millions of euros 30/06/2024 Like-for-like change (%)
    Property & casualty insurance 6,470 +5.0%
    Health & personal protection 3,690% +10.0%
    Savings & pensions 1,734 +20.7%
    Financial businesses 120 +16.3%
    GROUP TOTAL 12,014 +8.7%

    In France

    Insurance premium income in France as at 30 June 2024 amounted to €10.3 billion, up +8.8% compared with 30 June 2023.

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €5.3 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +4.6% compared with 30 June 2023. All segments were up, including agricultural (+5.0%), home insurance (+3.9%) and motor insurance (+1.7%).

    The health and personal protection business continued to grow (+9.4%) to €3.5 billion as at 30 June 2024, driven by individual health insurance (+5.5%) and growth in group insurance (+15.9%).

    In savings and pensions, premium income increased significantly (+24.7%) to €1.5 billion as at 30 June 2024 thanks to strong inflows from unit-linked products. Unit-linked products accounted for more than 60% of premium income in individual savings and pensions.

    Abroad

    Over the first half of 2024, business reached €1.6 billion, up +7.6% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with 30 June 2023, mainly from the sustained business growth in Hungary (+14.2%) and Italy (+6.1%).

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €1.1 billion as at 30 June 2024, up +7.2% compared with the previous period. This increase was due to the growth in home insurance in particular (+15.1%), mainly in Hungary and Greece, motor insurance (+5.5%) in Hungary and Italy, and good performance in business and local authorities casualty insurance (+13.5%).

    Health and protection businesses grew significantly (+22.0%) to €195 million, benefiting from the growth of the group health and personal protection segments (+42.3%), particularly in Romania and Bulgaria. 

    Premium income in savings and pensions was stable (-0.3%), with strong growth in unit-linked products (+24.8%) mitigating the decline in euro funds (-33.8%).

    Financial businesses

    The Group’s premium income was €120 million, including €116 million from Groupama Asset Management and €4 million from Groupama Epargne Salariale.

    Results

    The Group’s economic operating income amounted to €409 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €612 million as at 30 June 2023.

    It came from property and casualty insurance for €181 million (€378 million as at June 30, 2023) and health and protection insurance for €68 million (€182 million as at June 30, 2023). The non-life combined ratio stood at 95.9% as at 30 June 2024, up +4.2 points compared with 30 June 2023. This increase was largely due to the cost of the events in New Caledonia in May and June 2024 as well as the recognition of a seasonality reserve, making it possible to better capture the effects of seasonal fluctuations. Weather claims remained at a fairly moderate level, comparable with the level at the end of June 2023. The operating costs ratio was virtually stable at 28.7% as at 30 June 2024.

    Economic operating income in savings and pensions was €208 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €57 million as at 30 June 2023. It benefited from the result of the switch of the share reinsured by Groupama Gan Vie to CNP Retraite in the PREFON Retraite reinsurance treaty, effective 1 January 2024.

    Economic operating income amounted to +€20 million from financial businesses and -€68 million from the Group’s holding company business as at 30 December 2024.

    The transition from economic operating income to net income includes non-recurring items, in particular the realisation of capital gains or losses, the change in the fair value of financial assets, and financing expenses. Overall, the Group’s net income amounted to €398 million as at 30 June 2024 compared with €447 million as at 30 June 2023.
      

    Balance sheet

    Group’s equity totalled €9.3 billion as at 30 June 2024 compared with €9.9 billion as at 31 December 2023. This change was mainly due to the redemption in May 2024 of perpetual subordinated bonds issued in 2014 for €871 million, partially offset by the positive contribution of the result. Note that the perpetual subordinated debt issued in early July 2024 for €600 million is not included in the 2024 half-year financial statements.

    The Group’s contractual service margin, which represents the deferred future profits of outstanding contracts in savings and pensions and long-term protection, calculated discounted, was stable at €3.6 billion as at 30 June 2024.

    As at 30 June 2024, the Solvency 2 ratio, without transitional measure on underwriting reserves, was 190%. The 7-point decrease in this ratio compared with end-2023 was mainly due to the redemption of subordinated bonds issued in 2014, mitigated by the result over the period. The perpetual subordinated debt issued at the beginning of July 2024 is not included in the ratio as at 30 June 2024. Including the transitional measure on underwriting reserves, authorised by the ACPR, the ratio was 249%.

    The Group’s financial strength is highlighted by Fitch Ratings, which confirmed in March 2024 the IFS Groupama’s rating of ‘A+’ with a ‘Stable’ outlook.

    Group Communications Department

    For the financial statements as at 30/06/2024, the Group’s financial information consists of:

    • this press release, which is available on the website groupama.com,
    • Groupama Group’s half-year financial report, which will be filed with the AMF on 30 September 2024 and posted on the groupama.com website on the same day. The English version will be available on 22 October 2024.

    About Groupama Group

    For more than 100 years, Groupama Group has based its actions on timeless, humanist values to enable as many people as possible to build their lives in confidence. It relies on humane, caring, optimistic and responsible communities. The Groupama Group, one of the leading mutual insurers in France, carries out its insurance and service business activities in ten countries. The Group has 12 million members and customers and 31,000 employees throughout the world, with premium income of €17.0 billion.

    Appendix: Groupama key figures

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income)

    € million 30/06/2023
    pro forma*    		 30/06/2024 Change **
    as %
    > France  9,507 10,339 +8.8%
    Property & casualty insurance 5,102 5,335 +4.6%
    Health & personal protection 3,195 3,495 +9.4%
    Savings & pensions 1,210 1,508 +24.7%
    > International & Overseas 1,445 1,555 +7.6%
    Property & casualty insurance 1,059 1,135 +7.2%
    Health & personal protection 160 195 +22.0%
    Savings & pensions 227 226 -0.3%
    Total Insurance 10,952 11,894 +8.6%
    Financial businesses 103 120 +16.3%
    Groupama premium income 11,055 12,014 +8.7%

    * Based on comparable data
    ** Change on a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis

    Net income

    € million 30/06/2023 30/06/2024
    Insurance – France
    Insurance – International    		 545
    71    		 396
    62
    Financial businesses 15 20
    Holding companies -19 -68
    Economic operating income 612 409
    Recurring financial margin -69 31
    Others -96 -43
    Net income 447 398

    Balance sheet

    € million 31/12/2023 30/06/2024
    Group’s IFRS quity 9,862 9,280
    Subordinated debts 3,009 2,140
    – equity instrument  871 –
    – financing debts 2,138 2,140
    Contractual services margin 3,649 3,638
    Total balance sheet 91,949 88,587

     

    Main ratios

      30/06/2023 30/06/2024
    PAA combined ratio 91.6% 95.9%
      31/12/2023 30/06/2024
    Solvency 2 ratio (with transitional measure*) 267% 249%
    Solvency 2 ratio (without transitional measure*) 197% 190%

    * transitional measure on underwriting reserves

    Insurer Financial Strength rating – Fitch Ratings

      Rating Outlook
    Groupama Assurances Mutuelles and its subsidiaries A+ Stable

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AUKUS meeting announces progress on nuclear reactor training

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    AUKUS nations will work closely together to boost global security, following the conclusion of a landmark meeting in London.

    Defence Secretary John Healey with his US and Australian counterparts at the Old Royal Naval College.

    Hundreds of Australian defence and civilian personnel will be upskilled in nuclear reactor expertise in 2025 by specialist Royal Navy engineers. The first such course concluded earlier this month, with 250 personnel learning the skills necessary to own, operate, maintain, sustain and regulate a nuclear-powered submarine.

    The UK Defence Secretary committed to more UK-delivered training courses as the trilateral Defence Ministers AUKUS meeting concluded in London. John Healey hosted his Australian and US counterparts at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich – the site of the Royal Navy’s initial nuclear reactor training more than 60 years ago.

    The United Kingdom and the United States are strengthening superiority in the maritime domain by integrating Sting Ray torpedoes onto P-8A submarine-hunting aircraft. The Sting Ray counters deep diving and conventional submarines, and this move has the potential to boost lethality and stockpile resilience across the AUKUS nations.  

    UK Defence Secretary John Healey said:

    “These are serious times, with threats increasing across the globe. Our defence partnerships have never been more important. I am pleased to confirm further skills and capability agreements with our AUKUS partners today.

    “Our government will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Australian and the US partners, with new UK leadership in AUKUS and a commitment to boost jobs and growth.

    “It has been an honour to host my counterparts in London for this landmark meeting.”

    The progress by Australia to build their own nuclear-powered submarine workforce was furthered by Australian personnel last month when they participated in the maintenance of a nuclear-powered attack submarine – the USS Hawaii – for the first time in Australia.

    A trilateral statement issued following today’s meeting underlined the security partnership’s continued commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is secure and stable. It said the countries will continue to work to uphold the rules-based international order where human rights and the rule of law are respected, and states can make sovereign choices free from coercion.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Works to Secure Support for Renewable Fuel Infrastructure, Expand Access to Biofuels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – As the deadline to extend the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) rapidly approaches, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is demanding certainty for consumers, biofuel producers, and retail store owners by requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) keep the program operational.
    She partnered with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and led three of their colleagues in urging the USDA to extend the HBIIP with Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds. The senators emphasized the program has been an essential tool for helping retail store owners purchase the infrastructure necessary to provide higher blends of biofuels at the pump, which will only become more critical as year-round, permanent sales of E15 are expanded across the nation.
    “Since its inception in 2020, HBIIP has been vital in expanding access to higher blends of biofuels like E15, E85, and B20 for customers. Through a cost-share approach, HBIIP has helped fuel retailers invest over $77.8 million in biofuel-related infrastructure projects, leading to an estimated 1.2 billion-gallon increase in annual biofuel sales,” wrote the senators. “However, access to these higher blends of renewable fuel can only occur if the proper infrastructure is in place at our gas stations, truck stops, and heating fuel facilities, a gap HBIIP has and will continue to help bridge. As the final quarter ends on September 30, 2024, we strongly encourage the USDA to allocate CCC funds to sustain this essential program.”
    “By continuing to invest in renewable fuel infrastructure, we can drive further adoption of higher blends of biofuels, which boosts skilled job opportunities in rural communities, protects the environment by reducing emissions, and adds value to the crops grown by producers across the country,” concluded the senators.
    Read the full letter here.
    Background:
    Ernst was instrumental in creating and maintaining HBIIP as part of her commitment to invest in renewable fuel infrastructure, rural job opportunities, and hardworking farmers. She introduced the Biofuel Infrastructure and Agricultural Production Market Expansion Act, which would provide resources to retailers for purchasing more compatible biofuel infrastructure.
    More broadly, Ernst has also been a strong advocate for homegrown, Iowa biofuels, including by calling on the White House to make E15 available year-round and country-wide, adhere to the GREET model to provide domestic producers with a seat at the table, amend its harmful decision to set the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels well below industry production capacity, raise Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels, and issue timely guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CORRECTION: The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and Union of Comoros Strengthen Partnership with New EUR 330 Million Framework Agreement and Food Security Facility

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    JEDDAH, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, September 26, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and the Union of Comoros have signed a new EUR 330 Million Framework Agreement, reinforcing their strong partnership. The agreement was signed by ITFC’s CEO, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Comoros’ Minister of Finance, Budget, and Banking Sector, and IsDB Governor, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdourazak, during his visit to ITFC’s headquarters in Jeddah.

    The new 3-year Framework Agreement builds on the success of the previous EUR 330 million agreement, which achieved 83% of its target. It will focus on key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and SME support, aiming to mobilize trade financing and enhance economic development in Comoros. Since 2008, ITFC has approved over US$ 712 million in financing for Comoros, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the country’s growth.

    Commenting on the signing, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of ITFC said, “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with the Union of Comoros through this new framework agreement, which reflects our shared commitment to fostering sustainable economic development. By focusing on key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and SME development, we aim to support the country in achieving its long-term goals under the Emerging Comoros Plan. Our efforts, including the newly signed Food Security Facility, demonstrate our dedication to addressing critical needs such as food security while empowering key industries to drive growth.”

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and Banking of the Union of Comoros, Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdourazak, also commented: “I am proud and optimistic to sign today this framework agreement between the Union of Comoros and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). This agreement marks a key milestone for the development of vital sectors such as energy, agriculture, and SMEs, the driving forces of our economy. In addition, ITFC signed a EUR 20 Million Food Security Facility in favor of the Union of Comoros and with two local banks, BDC and AFG Bank, as Executing Agencies, to support the continuous supply of essential foodstuffs at affordable prices to address food security challenges in the country. The Government of Comoros remains firmly committed to the priority programs and projects of the “Plan Comores Émergents”. Finally, on behalf of the Comorian Government and on my behalf, I would like to warmly thank ITFC for its ongoing support and look forward to strengthening our collaboration.” 

    ITFC’s broader support for Comoros includes capacity-building initiatives, such as the Reverse Linkage Project with Morocco for the sustainable tourism sector, and the equipment of the Central Vanilla Buying and Marketing Center under the Aid for Trade Initiative for the Arab States (AfTIAS 2.0) program. These efforts underline ITFC’s commitment to fostering sustainable development through integrated trade solutions.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Chief Mountain Entry Point Closes for the Season

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    September 26, 2024 Calgary, Alberta Canada Border Services Agency

    The Chief Mountain entry point will close for the season on September 30th at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST). It will reopen in spring 2025.

    Due to its high elevation and harsh winters, Chief Mountain is only open from May to September. Travelers can use the entry points of Carway, of From Bonita or of Coutts during the seasonal closure.

    Chief Mountain is located along Alberta Highway 6, on the edge of Waterton Lakes National Park. At over 1,722 metres above sea level, Chief Mountain is the highest of all Canadian border crossings and has long been considered one of the most scenic in the country.

    For more information, contact the border information service online or call 1-800-461-9999.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canadian Armed Forces establishes new Cyber Command

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    September 26, 2024 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan officially announced the creation of Canadian Armed Forces Command (CAFCYCOM).

    The creation of CAFCYCOM represents a significant milestone for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). A dedicated and unified cyber command reflects the critical role of cyber in modern operations and demonstrates Canada’s commitment to operating in the cyber domain.

    This new command will be led by Major General Dave Yarker, who will be responsible for cyber operations and sustainment, management and development of the cyber force. Since 2010, Major General Yarker has held key staff and liaison positions with allies and partner agencies, as well as unit and formation level command positions. Major General Yarker was appointed Commander, Joint Force Cyber Component in 2022.

    The CAF, through CAF Cyber Command, continues to develop and enhance its capabilities in offensive and defensive cyber operations in close collaboration with the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE). The CAF and CSE have a long-standing partnership in the development of advanced technical and specialized capabilities to provide intelligence in support of military operations. Over the past decade, this partnership has evolved to include collaboration in the areas of cyber security and defensive and offensive cyber operations.

    The creation of the CAF Command is also part of similar investments made by Canada’s key partners and allies in NORAD, the GP5 alliance, and NATO. By strengthening its cyber capabilities, Canada is ensuring greater interoperability with its allies, is better equipped to counter the full range of cyber threats, and advances NATO mission goals and objectives.

    Quotes

    “The new Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command demonstrates to our allies, partners and adversaries Canada’s continued commitment to operating in a challenging cyber domain. By strengthening our resilience, defence and response capabilities in the cyber domain, and working closely with our partners and allies, we can detect, denounce and defend against cyber threats and cyber actors targeting Canada and our interests.”

    The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

    “Through CAF Command, the Department of Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces will continue to develop and scale offensive and defensive cyber operations capabilities in close collaboration with the Communications Security Establishment. This initiative supports cyber operations at the tactical and strategic levels. The new organization will focus resources to advance existing cyber activities in terms of operations, personnel, policy and capabilities.”

    General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff

    “I would like to congratulate MGen Yarker on assuming his role as Commander of the newly established Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command. He brings considerable knowledge, experience and leadership demonstrated throughout his military career to the benefit of CAFCYCOM, the Defence Team and all Canadians.”

    Stephanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence.

    “Creating a decisive advantage in the cyber domain requires speed, trust, agility and unity of action, and I am proud to have been appointed to lead the organization that will strive to deliver these decisive advantages.”

    Major-General Dave Yarker, CAF Cyber Commander

    “CSE has been a vital partner of the CAF since its inception. Working together is a natural for us, and it will be no different for CAF Cyber Command. That is why we are combining our already world-class foreign cyber operations capabilities to protect Canada in a complex world. At a time when we face cyber warfare even in peacetime, this partnership will benefit Canadians and Canada’s allies, and give us all greater visibility into the evolving threats we navigate every day.”

    Caroline Xavier, Chief of the Communications Security Establishment Canada

    Quick Facts

    COMCYBERFAC will be the single authority of the DND/CAF for cyber operations, responsible for the maintenance, management and development of the cyber force.

    COMCYBERFAC consists of cyber forces, including signals intelligence and joint electronic warfare, and will be capable of conducting and supporting a range of cyber tasks.

    In addition to being an integral part of Canada’s defence and serving our interests, the creation of CYBERCOMFAC will help the CAF achieve the previous commitments to NATO and the cyber and defence components of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

    CYBERCOMFAC will support the CAF’s transition to a pan-domain battlespace for greater agility and responsiveness to malicious cyber activities.

    Since 2010, Major General Yarker has held a variety of key staff and liaison positions with partner and allied agencies, as well as unit and formation level command positions. He was appointed Commander, Joint Force Cyber Component in 2022.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    Simon Lafortune Press Attaché and Communications Advisor Office of the Minister of National Defence Email: Simon.Lafortune2@forces.gc.ca

    Media Relations Department of National Defence Telephone: 613-904-3333 Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pioneer of Change: America Reyes Wang Makes NASA Space Biology More Open

    Source: NASA

    4 min read

    America Reyes Wang, the lead of the the Space Biology Biospecimen Sharing Program at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, stands beside a spacesuit display.
    Photo courtesy of America Reyes Wang

    As humans return to the Moon and push on toward Mars, scientists are ramping up research into the effects of space on the body to make sure astronauts stay healthy on longer missions. This research often involves spaceflight studies of rodents, insects, and other models in orbiting laboratories such as the International Space Station. However, space-related biological samples are difficult to get, meaning that researchers who want to study space biology are frequently out of luck.

    America Reyes Wang, a KBR employee and the lead of the Space Biology Biospecimen Sharing Program at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, oversees the team that has changed that. Birthed from an initiative first pioneered in the 1960s, the Biospecimen Sharing Program collects samples and data from NASA non-human space biology studies and makes them available in the public, open NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR). 

    To derive the most benefit from the precious few biology studies taking place in space, Reyes Wang arranges collaborations on space biology dissections with NASA-funded researchers so that her team can collect and preserve unutilized biospecimens for others to use. Outside researchers can request the samples to study in person by writing and submitting proposals. Once analyzed, researchers share their data back with the NASA OSDR for other investigators to access and study.

    The ethos of open science is central to Reyes Wang’s approach to her work. “The samples that we work with are so precious,” she said. “To me, it’s a no-brainer — why not share what we can share?”

    America Reyes Wang wears personal protective equipment (PPE) while working on an activity for NASA’s Biospecimen Sharing Program.
    Photo courtesy of America Reyes Wang

    Reyes Wang aspired to work in the scientific or medical field from a young age, driven by her desire to help people. Her father, who was born in El Salvador and dreamed of being an astronaut after watching the 1969 Moon landing, inspired Reyes Wang to fall in love with space. She also credited her Salvadoran and Mexican family with teaching her the value of understanding different experiences. 

    “To me, being Hispanic, especially as a Latina in STEM, means recognizing and building upon the hard work and sacrifices of those who came before me, as well as extending a helping hand to those around me for the betterment of us all,” Reyes Wang said. “It also means enjoying and sharing our vibrant cultures.” 

    As a student at Stanford University, Reyes Wang conducted neurobiology research with rodents, but assumed she would have to choose her love of biology over her love of space. The field of space biology allowed her to combine those interests. Having quietly dreamed of working for NASA for years, she was also thrilled to find that she could work on NASA missions as a space biologist.

    If we want to keep up with the pace of humanity’s aspirations to travel further and for longer … open science is one of the best tools we have for achieving those dreams.

    America Reyes Wang
    Biospecimen Sharing Program Lead

    Reyes Wang first found a role supporting NASA as an experiment support scientist for the agency’s Rodent Research Program. While she no longer facilitates research on the International Space Station in her current position, she uses her scientific expertise and collaborative outlook to guide the Biospecimen Sharing Program in a direction that will most help advance science. 

    Despite space biology’s status as a relatively niche field, Reyes Wang has noted its tremendous impact on the biological sciences, medicine, and technology as a whole. For example, spaceflown biological samples are often used to investigate diseases that affect people on Earth. Reyes Wang’s involvement in accelerating these studies captures her long-held desire to help people.

    “Open science gives the world an opportunity to get these important answers much more quickly,” Reyes Wang said. “If we want to keep up with the pace of humanity’s aspirations to travel further and for longer, we need to pick up the pace when it comes to getting the answers, and I think open science is one of the best tools we have for achieving those dreams.”

    By Lauren Leese Web Content Strategist for the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Stennis Completes Key Test Complex Water System Upgrade

    Source: NASA

    For almost 60 years, NASA’s Stennis Space Center has tested rocket systems and engines to help power the nation’s human space exploration dreams. Completion of a critical water system infrastructure project helps ensure the site can continue that frontline work moving forward.
    “The infrastructure at NASA Stennis is absolutely critical for rocket engine testing for the agency and commercial companies,” said NASA project manager Casey Wheeler. “Without our high pressure industrial water system, testing does not happen. Installing new underground piping renews the lifespan and gives the center a system that can be operated for the foreseeable future, so NASA Stennis can add to its nearly six decades of contributions to space exploration efforts.”
    The high pressure industrial water system delivers hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per minute through underground pipes to cool rocket engine exhaust and provide fire suppression capabilities during testing. Without the water flow, the engine exhaust, reaching as hot as 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit, could melt the test stand’s steel flame deflector.
    Each test stand also features a FIREX system that holds water in reserve for use in the event of a mishap or fire. During SLS (Space Launch System) core stage testing, water also was used to create a “curtain” around the test hardware, dampening the high levels of noise generated during hot fire and lessening the video-acoustic impact that can cause damage to infrastructure and the test hardware.
    Prior to the system upgrade, the water flow was delivered by the site’s original piping infrastructure built in the 1960s. However, that infrastructure had well exceeded its expected 30-year lifespan.
    Scope of the Project
    The subsequent water system upgrade was planned across multiple phases over a 10-year span. Crews worked around ever-changing test schedules to complete three major projects representing more than $50 million in infrastructure investment.
    “Many people working the construction jobs for these projects are from the Gulf Coast area, so it has created jobs and work for the people doing the construction,” Wheeler said. “Some of the specialty work has had people coming in from all over the country, as well as vendors and suppliers that are supplying the materials, so that has an economic impact here too.”
    Crews started by replacing large sections of piping, including a 96-inch line, from the 66-million-gallon onsite reservoir to the Thad Cochran (B-1/B-2) Test Stand. This phase also included the installation of a new 25,000-gallon electric pump at the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility to increase water flow capacity. The upgrades were critical for NASA Stennis to conduct Green Run testing of the SLS core stage in 2020-21 ahead of the successful Artemis I launch.
    Work in the A Test Complex followed with crews replacing sections of 75-inch piping from the water plant and installing several new 66-inch gate valves. 
    In the final phase, crews used an innovative approach to install new steel liners within existing pipes leading to the Fred Haise Test Stand (formerly A-1 Test Stand). The work followed NASA’s completion of a successful RS-25 engine test campaign last April for future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. The stand now is being prepared to begin testing of new RS-25 flight engines.
    Overall, the piping project represents a significant upgrade in design and materials. The new piping is made from carbon steel, with protective linings to prevent corrosion and gate valves designed to be more durable.
    Importance of WaterIt is hard to overstate the importance of the work to ensure ongoing water flow. For a typical 500-second RS-25 engine test on the Fred Haise Test Stand, around 5 million gallons of water is delivered from the NASA Stennis reservoir through a quarter-of-a-mile of pipe before entering the stand to supply the deflector and cool engine exhaust.
    “Without water to cool the deflector and the critical parts of the test stand that will get hot from the hot fire itself, the test stand would need frequent corrective maintenance,” Wheeler said. “This system ensures the test stands remain in a condition where continuous testing can happen.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS co-ordinates Golden Week plans

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired an inter-departmental working group meeting to instruct various departments to better prepare for receiving visitors during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7.

    According to the Immigration Department’s (ImmD) estimate, around 7.01 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during Golden Week this year, among which 5.98 million are expected to pass through land control points.

    In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, it is estimated that about 1.23 million passengers will visit Hong Kong during Golden Week.

    The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will peak on October 1.

    The Chief Secretary urged various departments to actively co-ordinate and consolidate supporting services of boundary control points (BCPs), traffic and public transport, promptly respond to various emergency situations and strengthen information dissemination.

    The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Customs, Police, the ImmD and other departments will be activated from September 28 to October 7 to monitor the real-time situation at various control points.

    The command centre will maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities and take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs to ensure the smooth operation of the land control points.

    The Security Bureau will also activate the Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre in a timely manner to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate inter-departmental follow-up action where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies.

    Police will arrange sufficient manpower to implement corresponding crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements to ensure that all celebrations will be conducted in a safe and orderly manner. 

    The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic condition and public transport services of different districts, including various BCPs and major stations.

    Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk and representatives of relevant bureaus attended the meeting.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Kennedy introduce National Wildlife Refuge Week resolution celebrating wildlife refuges’ value to local communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced a resolution yesterday designating the week of October 13-19 2024, as National Wildlife Refuge Week. 

    The resolution celebrates the diversity of ecosystems and wildlife found in our national wildlife refuges and the many recreational activities that they support, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. Since President Theodore Roosevelt created the first U.S. national wildlife refuge in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has served a critical role in wildlife conservation. The national wildlife refuges have been strong drivers of economic growth for local communities across the country, generating billions of dollars each year. 

    “For more than 100 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has protected our wildlife and ecosystems in Delaware and across the nation while strengthening local economies,” said Senator Coons. “Wildlife refuges like Bombay Hook and Prime Hook, which collectively cover more than 10,000 acres, maintain a healthy ecosystem, local aesthetics, and recreational opportunities in the First State. I am proud to lead the bipartisan National Wildlife Refuge Week resolution alongside Senator Kennedy as we continue to support and conserve biodiversity.”

    “Louisiana is home to more than 23 refuges that help protect our state’s unique species and make us the sportsman’s paradise,” said Senator Kennedy. “This Wildlife Refuge Week, I am grateful for the opportunity to promote America’s natural environment as we preserve these ecosystems for future generations to revel in and enjoy.”

    With more than 572 refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and five marine national monuments – located in every state and territory of the United States – the National Wildlife Refuge System contributes more than $3.2 billion to local economies annually and supports more than 41,000 jobs.

    In addition to Senators Coons and Kennedy, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

    The text of the resolution is available here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Moolenaar Introduce Bill to Revoke Capital Gains Rate for Investments in Communist China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Rubio, Moolenaar Introduce Bill to Revoke Capital Gains Rate for Investments in Communist China

    Sep 26, 2024 | Press Releases

    Many Wall Street financial firms choose to invest in Communist China, pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into enterprises that maintain Communist China’s military, rely on slave labor, and violate trade rules to dismantle American businesses and jobs. This benefits neither the American people nor the American economy, and threatens U.S. national security. 

    Nonetheless, the U.S. tax code rewards these investments with a generously low capital gains tax rate.

    U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) introduced the bicameral Patriotic Investment Act to prevent the U.S. tax code from rewarding investments in Communist China.

    • “The Capital gains tax rate was meant to encourage investment in American innovation, not fund an oppressive communist regime, but Wall Street continues to give money to our adversaries and reap rewards from the American tax system. Enough is enough. My Patriotic Investment Act will level the playing field and ensure that our tax code no longer encourages investments that undercut American businesses and workers.” – Senator Rubio
    • “For too long, Americans investing in China’s military-industrial complex have been given unfair tax breaks that allow them to profit from funding our adversary. That’s wrong and Senator Rubio and I are introducing this legislation to put a stop to this special treatment. Our nation’s tax code should be incentivizing investment in the United States, not collaboration with the CCP.” – Congressman Moolenaar

    Specifically, this bill would encourage divestment from Chinese securities by removing  the beneficial capital gains tax rate for these investments. Chinese investments would instead be taxed at the highest income rate. This increased rate would only apply to financial gains that accrue in the future, not gains that have already accrued. Companies and individuals would have six months to divest after passage of the Patriotic Investment Act, and they would be given the ability to spread tax payments over three years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Expansion of IVF Coverage for Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    For years, the Senator has led the charge to ensure IVF treatment is covered for more Americans Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, which Republicans blocked just last week, would enshrine this expansion in law

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—author of the Right to IVF Act and the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act—applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will, for the first time ever, offer multiple plans with comprehensive IVF coverage to the entire federal workforce and their families, no matter their zip code. The FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program in the world, covering more than 8 million employees, retirees, family members and others.

    “I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this decisive action that I’ve called for to ensure all federal employees have access to IVF coverage—because everyone deserves the ability to access the fertility treatment they need to build their families, no matter where they live.

    “While this is welcome news, any future President could reverse this decision—so it’s critical we permanently protect and expand access to IVF nationwide and ensure no patient or doctor is criminalized simply for trying to start or grow their family. Last week, the Senate had the opportunity to do just that. But when it came time for Senate Republicans to put their votes where their mouths are and help pass my Right to IVF Act, the same Republicans claiming to ‘support IVF’ blocked it and made sure this expansion—and the other common sense IVF protections in the bill—would not be enshrined in federal law.

    “Struggling with infertility is painful enough without the GOP’s hypocrisy, and I won’t stop working until every American in every state can access IVF and experience the joys of parenthood if, when and how they want to.”

    In April, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11)—led 176 of their colleagues in urging OPM to help ensure all insurance carriers in FEHB program to cover IVF medical treatments and medications in plan year 2025.

    Last week, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—led Senate Democrats in trying to pass the Right to IVF Act for the second time, comprehensive legislation led by Duckworth that would require all health insurers to cover IVF. This renewed effort by Senate Democrats came after Donald Trump claimed he wanted IVF to be covered and represented a second chance for Senate Republicans to actually do something that would make it easier for Americans struggling with infertility to access IVF. Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked the legislation for the second time in just a few months.

    Senator Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act also includes the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, legislation the Senator has led for years that would require carriers to cover IVF and ART and would give the OPM one year to implement its requirements from the date of enactment.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Statement on Senate Passage of Continuing Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024, keeping our government open and sparing working families the pain of a shutdown:

    “Today’s vote is good for working families, our economy and our entire nation because it prevents another damaging, needless MAGA shutdown that only hurts our servicemembers, Veterans and taxpayers.

    “The House GOP’s efforts to include partisan poison pills and bring our nation to the brink of a shutdown have failed, proving once again that bipartisanship is the only way to move forward. I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner ahead of the December funding deadline to pass the critical appropriations bills that our nation needs to keep our government fully funded and working for working families.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Moran, Boozman, Klobuchar Launch Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—U.S. Senator and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently launched the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation industry and renewable fuels.

    “As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things we can do is make aviation more sustainable by increasing the use and supply of American-grown, American-made sustainable aviation fuel,” said Senator Duckworth. “To help us do just that, I’m proud to join Senators Moran, Klobuchar and Boozman in launching the Senate’s first-ever Sustainable Aviation Caucus. With this new caucus, I look forward to continuing our work to protect and grow American SAF production for use around the world, while also reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our domestic farmers and economy.”

    “As the aviation industry strives for lower emissions and cleaner energy sources, the development and utilization of sustainable aviation fuel will be a critical element,” said Senator Moran. “To help spur development, I am launching the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus. The caucus will work together to find ways to promote technologically innovative solutions to create a sustainable aviation industry and increase our nation’s competitiveness in the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel.”

    “I’m pleased to join this initiative to promote education and policies that support sustainable industry practices,” said Senator Boozman. “I look forward to working with leaders of the caucus and stakeholders to advance measures that continue to advance aviation in an environmentally sound manner.”

    “Airlines across the country are committed to developing technologies to reduce carbon emissions from air travel,” said Senator Klobuchar. “The expanded use of sustainable aviation fuel will create jobs in rural areas, bolster our national security, and slash carbon emissions. This caucus aims to promote data, research, and innovation in sustainable aviation to ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in this field.”

    Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Earlier this year, she helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act which would help accelerate the production and development of SAF through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers.

    Last year, Duckworth introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023 which would identify the standards required to meet the definition of SAF at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, the Senator created a pilot project in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to promote the use of SAF at military installations and will continue to increase these efforts to expand the use on biofuels whenever possible.

    Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL) also created the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus for members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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    MIL OSI USA News –