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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 – the countdown is on!

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester’s world beating Christmas Markets are back for 2024

    The countdown is on to Christmas in Santa’s favourite city with Manchester’s world-beating Christmas Markets set to return on the 8 November – Manchester’s very own Festive Friday – for a six-week seasonal run until Sunday 22 December.

    Now in their 26th year, Manchester’s Christmas markets continue to delight shoppers and visitors alike and are the stuff of Christmas legend, each year bringing millions of people into the city centre to fill up on the fantastic festive treats on offer and to soak up the glühwein and bratwurst-filled atmosphere of Christmas in the city.

    With well over two hundred stalls across nine sites throughout the city centre, there promises to be plenty on offer for seasonal shoppers of all ages and tastes to enjoy.

    This year sees the iconic wooden ski chalet market stalls take over King Street West, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange and Cathedral Gardens, as well as Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.

    The stalls will be open daily throughout the six-week run – which this year due to the way dates fall, includes seven weekends instead of the usual six. 

    Craft stalls and stalls selling seasonal goods will be open each day from 10 am – 8 pm, whilst food and drink stalls will be open from 11 am – 9 pm each day.

    The markets will wrap up for Christmas at 6 pm on Sunday 22 December, except for the food and drink stalls at Cathedral Gardens which will stay open until December 31.

    The city centre will of course also be looking its sparkly best for the Christmas season with the return of the Manchester Christmas lights trail – the perfect backdrop for those all-important Christmas selfies.

    Think giant walk-through baubles, a Manchester bee and of course Santa Claus himself, keeping a watchful eye on visitors young and old for his naughty and nice lists from on high in St Peter’s Square.

    For those who enjoy a seasonal skate, Skate Manchester’s covered ice rink will be back again this year in Cathedral Gardens from 8 November to January 1 with the covered ice-rink promising an unforgettable skating experience whatever the weather, amid twinkling lights, Christmas trees and a soundtrack of Christmas songs. 

    And of course, Christmas in Santa’s favourite city would not be Christmas without the family favourite now annual Manchester Christmas Parade, which will be making its heartwarming return to the city streets again this year. 

    Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson said: “Everyone knows by now that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year and Manchester is my favourite place in the world to be during the festive season. 

    “Christmas is going to be wonderful in Manchester this year, with enough seasonal stalls across the city in our best-ever Christmas Markets to make sure that everyone gets their Christmas wrapped before the big day.

    “And of course, Christmas in Santa’s favourite city simply would not be Christmas without the heart-warming event of the season, our magical Manchester Christmas Parade, which will be back again this year and promises to melt even the hardest of hearts. 

    “We’ve loved seeing how much our families enjoy it since our first Christmas Parade in 2022 and this year’s is going to be even more joyous and amazing – utterly unmissable!  Not long to wait now until all will be revealed!”

    More details about Skate Manchester here 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bay d’Espoir — Excessive speeder ticketed by Bay d’Espoir RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 48-year-old man was ticketed by Bay d’Espoir RCMP for excessive speeding on Monday, September 16, 2024.

    On Monday afternoon, just before 4:00 p.m., police observed a vehicle travelling 155km/h in an 80km/h zone on Route 360, south of Catbrook. A traffic stop was conducted. The driver was ticketed for speeding and was issued a licence suspension and the vehicle was seized and impounded.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador. We thank the public for continuing to report incidents of excessive speed, dangerous driving and crimes within their communities.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NECC Promotes Reserve Opportunities With New Recruiter

    Source: United States Navy Pacific Fleet 1

    by Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

    20 September 2024

    For Navy Reserve Lt. Sarah Hanzes, from Clanton, Alabama, the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) offers one of the most thrilling and rewarding paths a Sailor can take, especially within the Reserve. “Who wouldn’t want to get paid to go on small boats and fire machine guns as training?” she says with a laugh. But beyond the excitement of operating on the water, what truly motivates her is the ability to perform vital missions that have a direct impact on global maritime security—missions that showcase the unique strengths of NECC’s Sailors, especially in the Reserve.

    Hanzes knows firsthand the value of serving within the NECC enterprise. After five years as an active duty Surface Warfare Officer (SWO), she transitioned to the Navy Reserve in 2020 and found herself drawn to the NECC’s Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadrons (MSRON). “Being back on the water, doing real ‘Navy’ things—it gave me my fix,” she recalls. As part of an MSRON unit, she participated in high-stakes missions that few Reservists get to experience, providing security for U.S. Navy destroyers in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations and working alongside the U.S. Army and Air Force and the Djiboutian Coast Guard in joint and combined exercises. “As Reservists, we were at the tip of the spear. Everyone in my unit wanted to be there and was motivated, and that made a huge difference in the success of our deployment.”

    Her passion for NECC and the opportunities it offers now drives her work as a Navy Reserve officer recruiter, where she focuses on placing highly motivated active duty officers in NECC Reserve billets. “This is where the action is. NECC Reservists get to do some of the coolest jobs the Navy has to offer, and I want to show active duty Sailors how they can be a part of it.”

    Hanzes didn’t always envision a Navy career. Before joining, she was a high school physical education teacher and coach. But after hearing her father’s stories about his 30 years as a naval aviator and being encouraged by her husband, an active duty Army officer, she decided to serve her country. In 2015, at the age of 29, she entered Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, Rhode Island, and soon became a Surface Warfare Officer stationed in Hawaii.

    Her time on active duty was full of both adventure and challenges. She completed two division officer-tours on the USS Chafee (DDG 90) as Repair Officer and Anti-Terrorism Officer, working long hours and facing the unique obstacles of being part of a dual-military family. “It was challenging when my husband received orders to a different location, and we were geographically separated a few times,” she explains. These experiences eventually led her to seek a more flexible lifestyle, so she could continue serving while pursuing her love of teaching.

    When she transitioned to the Navy Reserve, NECC offered exactly the balance she was looking for. “I missed teaching, but I loved being a SWO. The Reserve gave me the best of both worlds,” she says. Joining MSRON 10 allowed her to stay connected to the operational side of the Navy, offering opportunities for real-world impact while fitting into her civilian life.

    In her current role as an officer recruiter, Hanzes is on a mission to educate active duty officers about the exciting opportunities the Reserve can offer, particularly within the NECC. “There’s a misconception that the Reserve does not conduct relevant ‘Navy’ training. But with the NECC, you’re out there doing the real thing—on the boats, firing weapons, supporting vital missions.”

    Her initiative focuses on placing the right officers with the right background, in NECC billets, especially those with prior security forces or SWO experience. She works closely with units to host prospective recruits during drill weekends and events, giving them firsthand exposure to NECC’s operational culture. “I want officers to see NECC is where they can thrive, doing the work they signed up for.”
    Her passion for recruiting comes from her own transition experience, which lacked the guidance she now provides. “There was no transition officer when I came off active duty, and I had so many light bulb moments that I wish I’d known sooner. I’m here to make sure others don’t face the same challenges.” In an effort to help future recruits, she created a SharePoint page to capture vital Reserve information, covering everything from how to search for billets to medical benefits and retirement options. “I love helping these officers map out their futures, showing them how the Reserve can offer flexibility, job stability, and exciting opportunities like NECC.”

    In addition to her work as a recruiter, Hanzes continues to teach elementary physical education at her daughter’s school, balancing her dual careers with a deep sense of pride. Her students have embraced her Navy role, sending care packages and staying connected during her deployments. “They’re the most awesome little patriots,” she says fondly.

    Looking back, her proudest moment as a Navy officer came during her last deployment with MSRON 10. “My Sailors were incredible. They worked hard, trained hard, and were always ready to say ‘yes’ when asked to go above and beyond. I’m so proud to have served with them.”

    As she looks toward the future, Hanzes is determined to continue changing the mindset of active duty Sailors about the Reserve. “The NECC is where you can do the most exciting and meaningful Navy missions, even as a Reservist. It’s where the action is, and I want to help others see that.”

    For Hanzes, professionalism boils down to communication and respect. “In both the Navy and civilian life, those are the keys to success. Rank doesn’t matter—it’s about how you treat people and how you handle your responsibilities.” Her hope is that, through her work, more Sailors will see the value and excitement of staying in the Navy through the NECC Reserve.

    If you are an active duty or reserve Sailor interested in applying to NECC, please contact COMNECC_LTLC_PAO@navy.mil for a link to our Reserve recruiting SharePoint page.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Rosendale Addresses National Security Threat at the Southern Border

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Matt Rosendale (Montana)

    Rep. Rosendale Addresses National Security Threat at the Southern Border

    Washington, September 20, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) took to the House floor to address the crisis at our southern border. He detailed how the open border is causing Americans to lose their lives due to fentanyl poisoning, how human trafficking is increasing at a disturbing rate, and how Congress can fix it through the appropriations process.

    Click the image below to watch the full speech:

    “Mr. Speaker, this wide-open border is a national security threat. It’s much more than a monetary problem that has been placed upon the taxpayers across the United States. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $150 billion to $500 billion a year is being taken out of the revenue that we should be spending on our veterans, that we should be spending on our own citizens, and it’s being spent on illegal immigrants as they come into our country.

    They want to have more opportunities for their family, for their children, for their grandchildren. We hear about the DREAMers. We hear about the DREAMers all the time. Well, guess what? The American children, the citizens, have dreams, too. My children have dreams of what they would like to accomplish in this country. My grandchildren have dreams of what they would like to accomplish, and what they see that this country could be. We are stripping away all of those dreams when we continue to leave this border wide open.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fitzgerald Co-Introduces Bill to Protect American Businesses from Russian Lawfare

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) co-introduced the Protecting American Businesses from Russian Litigation Act of 2024 to shield American businesses from frivolous Russian lawfare. The bill closes an existing loophole in federal law and amends Chapter 111 of Title 28 of the United States Code to ensure that U.S. persons are protected from lawsuits that result from good faith compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls.

    “Following Putin’s invasion into Ukraine, Russia has waged an aggressive campaign against American companies that withdrew their services from the country to comply with U.S. imposed sanctions designed to weaken the regime. Russian courts have wrongly awarded large claims against these companies, and Russian litigants have used these decisions as evidence to sue in U.S. Federal courts. This is wrong. Wisconsin businesses who distribute internationally should not be punished for good-faith compliance with U.S. sanctions. That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act, which will amend U.S. Code to shield U.S. persons from frivolous lawsuits for good faith compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls,” said Rep. Fitzgerald.

    BACKGROUND: In response to Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government imposed sanctions and export controls on Russia. To comply with these measures, U.S. companies wound down operations and ceased work in Russia. As a result, U.S. companies have been targeted by Russian litigants seeking damages and being awarded large and inflated claims by Russian courts against U.S. companies. These subjective decisions are then used as the basis for Russian litigants to seek significant damages under U.S. law – essentially functioning as a countersanction for Russia.

    American companies shouldn’t be punished for simply complying with U.S. sanctions and export controls. The Protecting American Businesses from RussianLitigation Act of 2024 will protect American companies and their interests so that they are not subject to litigation for good faith compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Fitzgerald’s Performance Over Politics Bill Passes in House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) issued the following statement after his bill, the Performance Over Politics Act, was passed on the House floor.

    “While shareholder engagement remains an important aspect of corporate governance, the consideration of shareholder proposals that deviate from the company’s strategic direction or long-term goals has transformed boardrooms into partisan platforms where political agendas overshadow sound financial management,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “In an effort to curb the growing politicization of shareholder meetings, I was pleased to see my legislation—Performance Over Politics Act—pass as part of the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act on the House floor today. My bill works in unison with the larger legislative package to counter the political ESG movement and strengthen our financial system.”

    The Performance over Politics Act permits issuers to set aside for three years resubmission of shareholder proposals that are substantially similar to proposals that received less than 10% of the vote once in the previous five years, received less than 20% twice in the previous five years, or received less than 40% three times in the previous five years. A 2009 study noted that costs directly incurred by companies due to such proposals were estimated at $87,000 per proposal, totaling $90 million annually. The goal of the bill is to respect the decisions of the majority of shareholders and encourage more rather than less public companies – and get politics out of the boardroom.

    This bill was passed as a part of H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Garcia’s Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Act Signed into Law, Protecting Benefits for 7 Million Veterans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mike Garcia’s (CA-27) legislation, H.R. 9468, the Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024, was officially signed into law, securing critical benefits for 7 million veterans. This legislation addresses the $2.883 billion budget shortfall at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ensuring that veterans’ benefits payments continue uninterrupted starting October 1st.

    “As soon as I heard about the VA budget shortfall, I made a commitment to the veterans of CA-27 that I would fix the problem and ensure they received their benefits on time. This legislation delivers on that commitment. We can’t afford to leave these heroes who answered their nation’s call to duty high and dry without the medical care and GI Bill benefits they earned,” said Rep. Garcia. “This is a big win for our veterans, but they should never have been put into this stressful position in the first place. It’s unacceptable that the VA’s gross incompetence risked breaking the government’s promise to our heroes. I’m proud to have led the effort to step in where the VA failed and fix this before it became a disaster.”
    Rep. Garcia’s legislation also implements strong oversight measures to identify the root cause of the shortfall and to prevent similar issues in the future. It mandates the VA to open its financial records to Congress and requires an independent investigation by the VA’s independent Inspector General to determine how such a large shortfall was allowed to occur.
    “We can’t afford to just give the VA a blank check and expect the root cause of the issue to be solved. This isn’t just about funding—it’s about fixing a broken system and ensuring that our veterans aren’t left behind because of bureaucratic failures,” said Rep. Garcia. “We owe it to them to honor their service and fulfill our country’s promise to them. We’ve made a commitment to these men and women, and we cannot afford to fall short..”
    Rep. Garcia’s Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act received strong bipartisan support in Congress and was swiftly signed into law by the President.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mann Increases Security Protection for President Trump, Senator Vance

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) voted to advance H.R. 9106, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024. The bill, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 405-0, establishes uniform standards for Secret Service protection of current U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents, and major candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. Rep. Mann released the following statement on the bill’s passage:

    “Audrey and I remain incredibly grateful that President Trump is safe and that no one was harmed in this weekend’s assassination attempt,” said. Rep. Mann. “These security failures have shown the nation that there is an obvious gap in the protection of major candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. Today’s vote assures concerned Kansans that every American running for these offices have the proper resources and security they need to remain safe and secure in their pursuits to serve the country. While President Trump’s perseverance is second to none, we must continue to get to the bottom of the massive security failures that allowed these attempts to take place to begin with and hold the responsible parties accountable.”

    In July 2024, Rep. Mann voted to establish The Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump. Following the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, Rep. Mann denounced hate and violence and challenged Washington Democrats to change their tone toward President Trump.

    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mann Blocks Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Mandate

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) voted to disapprove of the Biden-Harris Administration’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) tailpipe emissions rule that requires automobile manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants by nearly 50% in vehicle fleets modeled in the years 2027 through 2032. Under EPA’s estimation, the rule would require two-thirds of new cars in the United States to be electric by 2032. H.J. Res 136 passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 215-191. Rep. Mann, who cosponsors the legislation, released the following statement after the vote:

    “No matter how much the Biden-Harris Administration tries to deny its electric vehicle mandate, the archaic, bureaucratic rules and regulations speak for themselves,” said Rep. Mann. “Under EPA’s rules, automobile manufacturers will be bullied into producing more electric vehicles for the sake of meeting arbitrary quotas and standards set by the federal government. Rather than focus on reducing the record-high energy costs facing American families, the Biden-Harris Administration has again chosen to ignore the facts and focus on its radical climate agenda. Businesses should make production decisions that best meet the demand of consumers, business needs, and objectives, not the demands of Uncle Sam. Kansans who want to buy electric vehicles should be able to buy them because they want to, not because Vice President Harris and President Biden think it’s best.”

    Last week, Rep. Mann rejected EV tax subsidies that could benefit the Chinese Communist Party. In June 2024, Rep. Mann pressed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on the impact of the Biden-Harris Administration’s electric vehicle mandate on the wear and tear of U.S. roads and highways.

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    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN JONATHAN L. JACKSON to vote NO on The End-Woke Higher Education Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)

    The End-Woke Higher Education Act (H.R. 3724) enshrines White supremacy on College Campuses

    The End-Woke Higher Education Act (H.R. 3724) enshrines White supremacy on College Campuses.

    In 1507, professors at the University of Padua canceled student vacations for Carnevale, prompting students to stage the first recorded campus protest by rioting and destroying lecture halls. This event marked the beginning of a long tradition of campus free speech. From the Harvard Butter Rebellion of 1766 to Howard University Law School’s “stool-sitting technique” in 1943, student activism has played a crucial role in shaping America’s political discourse and advancing justice.

    This is why the First Amendment safeguards some of our most cherished rights as Americans. Any student who feels their First Amendment rights are being infringed upon can file a federal lawsuit against their public college or university. They can rely on over 200 years of precedent and case law that clarify how the First Amendment should be interpreted and enforced in such cases. These precedents specifically address the unique nature of colleges and universities as public entities that must uphold constitutional rights while ensuring safe learning environments for students.

    The End-Woke Higher Education Act (H.R. 3724) is an extreme MAGA Republican messaging bill that combines two measures and serves as a thinly veiled attack on Black students, Black history, and academic freedom in college curricula.

    The End-Woke Higher Education Act (H.R. 3724) is a controversial bill from extreme MAGA Republicans that combines two measures, targeting Black students, Black history, and academic freedom in college curricula. The Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2023 (H.R. 3724) introduces White supremacist ideology into the college accreditation process, compromising educational quality. Under this bill, accreditors cannot evaluate a school’s commitment to any ‘ideology, belief, or viewpoint,’ effectively barring support for diversity, equity, or inclusion. This aims to revert to a time when colleges did not prioritize recruiting and educating Black students, promoting homogenous White educational institutions.

    Additionally, The Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act (H.R. 7683) seeks to alter the First Amendment, creating a new framework to regulate speech and association rights. This could allow religious student groups to discriminate against Black students using student activity fees. If public colleges and universities restrict certain types of speech due to safety concerns, they could face hefty fines and potential loss of Title IV aid. This provision could enable extremist White Supremacist groups like the KKK, Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers to infiltrate college campuses and recruit impressionable students.

    Second, this bill introduces a “Prohibition on Litmus Tests” during the accreditation process for schools. Extreme MAGA Republicans aim to ensure that schools discriminating against Black students cannot lose accreditation for such practices. Conversely, the Department of Education could revoke an accreditor’s recognition if its standards for Black History are deemed “Critical Race Theory,” suggesting these standards force a university to adopt a “specific partisan, political, or ideological viewpoint or belief.”

    Additionally, one of the many harmful policies in H.R. 3724 is the so-called Equal Campus Access provision. This would allow religious student clubs to bypass nondiscrimination requirements that apply to other student clubs funded by student activity fees. Student groups are a vital part of the college experience, and if this bill becomes law, minority students would be forced to subsidize groups that discriminate against them.

    I will be voting NO on this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same. We have too much at stake to allow Extreme MAGA Republicans to inject far-right-wing conspiracy theories into our educational system.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Remarks by President  Biden and First Lady Jill  Biden Before Cabinet  Meeting

    Source: The White House

    11:37 A.M. EDT

    THE PRESIDENT:  Well, good morning.  I guess it’s still morning, isn’t it?  Yep.

    Before I begin this Cabinet meeting, I want to discuss very briefly the need for Congress to pass a continuing resolution.  It’s critical.  And we have 10 days for Congress to pass a short-term funding bill that gives them more time to deliver on our national defense, veterans, hardworking families — what we’ve already appropriated.  It’s important we get it done.

    And it’s the only path forward, b- — it’s by working across the aisle.  We got to have faith that our leaders will pull this together.  It’s really important.  It’s a — and — to fund the government. 

    And — and so, this Cabinet meeting comes at a time when we have four months left in the administration.  And we’re going to keep running through the tape because the vice president and I are determined to keep making sure that the democracy delivers what the American people are asking for and what we provided.

    That means continuing to implement the historic laws we’ve passed.  They’ve allowed us to invest in America, rebuild our infrastructure, and implement our historic laws. 

    So, we’re grateful that Jill is here today.  (Laughter.)  I heard that clapping — it wasn’t for me — when we came in.

    And here, across previous administrations, first ladies have attended these meetings and on — for specific reasons.  It’s the first time Jill has joined us.  And it goes to show how important the issue is, what she’s about to speak to, to both of us.

    Today, at the top of our meeting, Jill is going to give an update on the House initiative — White House initiative to fundamentally change the approach and fund — on how we approach and fund women’s health services.

    So, I’d like to turn it over to Jill and — for any comments she has. 

    THE FIRST LADY:  Thanks, Joe.

    THE PRESIDENT:  And it’s all yours, kid.

    THE FIRST LADY:  Thank you.

    You know, sometimes the White House surprises you.  When Joe became president, I knew I wanted to keep shining a light on the issues that I’d worked on for so many years: supporting military and veteran families, ending cancer as we know it with the Biden Cancer Moonshot, lifting up educators, and promoting free community college as a pathway to good-paying careers.

    But then last year, I learned about — more about gaps — huge gaps in our understanding of women’s health.  Our nation is home to the best health research in the world, yet women’s health is understudied and research is underfunded.  And we still know too little about how to affectively prevent, diagnose, and treat a range of health conditions in women, from heart disease to cancers.

    It was one of those moments where you can never see the world the same way again.  And I knew that I had to add this to my portfolio. 

    So, last November, Joe and I launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.  And what has never surprised me about the White House is that when you have a great team, which Joe has in all of you, you can bring about solutions quickly.

    I’m here, my first time at a Cabinet meeting, to thank you for the incredible progress we’ve made on women’s health research, all in less than a year.

    Joe directed federal departments and agencies to prioritize women’s health research and innovation, and you responded.

    In February, ARPA-H, the agency Joe created to pursue breakthrough health research, at lightning speed, launched its first-ever Sprint for Women’s Health.  The $100-million investment will fund innovations that will be life-changing for women.

    Then, a month later, NIH committed another $200 million to fund interdisciplinary women’s health research, for ex- — for example, looking at how menopause affects heart health, brain health, and bone health.

    In May, the Department of Defense and the VA launched a new joint effort to improve research for women in the military and for women veterans.

    On Monday, I’ll be at the Clinton Global Initiative to make a new announcement, and we will share more then.

    In June, the Department of Health and Human Services announced new funding to address the unique mental health and substance use treatment needs of women.

    Your agencies are strengthening standards so that when the government funds research, it includes women from the beginning.  That means making sure women are enrolled in clinical trials and that researchers design studies, analyze data, and report finding[s] in ways that improve women’s health.

    Joe’s executive order directed the most comprehensive set of actions that any president has ever taken to advance women’s health research.  And in his State of the Union Address, he asked Congress for $12 billion to secure the bold and transformative health discoveries we need.

    Our White House initiative has built momentum for health research focused on women, but we have to keep moving forward.  We have to keep wok- — working across government and the private sector to incentive innovative health research for women.

    It’s time to write a new story of health care in this country, one where women get the answers we need, where the United States continues to be home to the most cutting-edge research in the world, and where everyone can lead healthier lives.

    Thank you.  (Applause.)

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Mr. President, is it realistic to get to a ceasefire?

    Q    Mr. President, what do (inaudible)?

    (Cross-talk.)

    THE PRESIDENT:  On the peace process, we’re continuing to try to do what we’ve tried from the beginning to make sure that both the people in Northern Israel as well as Southern Lebanon are able to go back to their homes and go back safely.  And the secretary of State, the secretary of Defense, our whole team is working — the intelligence community — to try to get that done.  And we’re going to keep at it until we get it done.  But we’ve got a way to go.

    (Cross-talk.)

    Q    Is it realistic? 

    (Cross-talk.)

    THE PRESIDENT:  Shh.  Hey.

    Q    Is it realistic to get to a ceasefire deal, or have too many bad things happened that make it difficult?

    THE PRESIDENT:  If I ever said it’s not realistic, we might as well leave.

    A lot of things don’t look realistic until we get them done.  We have to keep at it.

    Thank you.

    11:45 A.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Highlights New Actions to Support Women’s Economic  Security

    Source: The White House

    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new resources to support women’s economic security and convening stakeholders to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to ensure that women age with the financial security that they deserve.
     
    Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, working age women’s labor force participation is the highest on record, the gender pay gap has narrowed, and the Administration is ensuring that women have access to good jobs and safe workplaces free from discrimination.  Still, women—and women of color in particular—experience workplace inequities throughout their lives, including as a result of discrimination, pay disparities, occupational segregation, and unpaid caregiving responsibilities.  These inequities can add up to millions of dollars lost over the course of a lifetime and contribute to a retirement savings gap between men and women.  While women typically retire with less savings than men, they are also living longer—thereby, experiencing more financial strain as they age.  
     
    The Council of Economic Advisers is releasing a new issue brief on the Economic Security of Older Women highlighting the economic challenges that compound over the course of a woman’s life and underscoring that women are more vulnerable to economic shocks.  The issue brief also highlights Biden-Harris Administration policies that have helped mitigate these challenges and ensure women’s economic security as they age.
     
    Since Day One, President Biden and Vice President Harris have fought to improve women’s economic security and protect and strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—lifelines for millions of women.  From lowering prescription drug costs for millions of seniors through the historic Inflation Reduction Act to issuing new rules to ensure that the financial advice that Americans get for retirement is in their best interest, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking action to support women’s financial security.  The Biden-Harris Administration is also closing gaps in women’s health research, ensuring that women enter retirement more securely, supporting families’ access to care, and protecting women from financial fraud and scams. 
     
    As part of the ongoing efforts to support women’s economic security, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing the following new actions:
     
    Supporting Employment Training and Housing for Seniors. The Department of Labor (DOL)—through the Senior Community Service Employment Program—is awarding more than $200 million in new grants to support training and employment for older adults.  Through these grants, participants—the majority of whom are women—are connected to jobs, gaining critical workplace skills and a pathway to financial stability.  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing nearly $3 million in funding for the Elder Justice Innovation Grants.  Because traditional emergency housing options often cannot meet the needs of older adults, older women experiencing abuse are often forced to return to unsafe environments; these funds will support emergency and transitional housing tailored to the needs of older women.
     
    Providing New Resources to Help Support Women’s Retirement Security.  HHS is announcing a new guide to services and resources—including tools for retirement planning and financial literacy—to assist women in planning for a healthy financial future in older age.  DOL is publishing resources to assist women navigating challenging retirement scenarios, including a new effort to educate attorneys and advocates on qualified domestic relations orders, a critical step in dividing a couple’s retirement assets in the event of a divorce.  The Department of Treasury is publishing a new issue brief on the unique challenges that many women face in retirement, and how the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of the SECURE 2.0 Act—including the Saver’s Match, emergency savings provisions, and expanded coverage for part-time workers—will help mitigate the gender retirement savings gap.  And the Social Security Administration is releasing a new resource for women and their families about how they can better access Social Security benefits and services.  

    Protecting Women’s Earnings and Savings.  The Consumer Protection Financial Bureau (CFPB) is announcing new efforts to help older women—who are more vulnerable to certain financial frauds and scams—protect their hard-earned savings.  Today, the CFPB spotlighted the legal challenges faced by surviving spouses—often women—who may be pursued for their spouse’s medical debt.  Some states have enacted laws making clear that surviving spouses are not responsible for their deceased partners’ debts, and others limit the circumstances in which a surviving spouse is responsible; however, the CFPB has found that debt collectors may try to capitalize on a surviving spouse’s vulnerabilities by attempting to collect their deceased spouse’s unpaid medical bills without real consideration of whether the surviving spouse actually owes the debt.  This follows the CFPB’s proposed rule earlier this year, announced by Vice President Harris, which proposed to remove medical bills from most credit reports, increase privacy protections, help to increase credit scores and loan approvals, and prevent debt collectors from using the credit reporting system to coerce people to pay.  The CFPB will also release a report on the barriers that older Americans face in banking that financial institutions must work to address, including loss of a spouse, cognitive challenges, and changes in health.  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is releasing a new resource highlighting enforcement activities and public education efforts to combat sex and age discrimination.
     
    Today’s announcements build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to help ensure women age with financial security, including—
     
    Lowering Health Care Costs for Women
     
    The President and Vice President believe that health care is a right, not a privilege, and have expanded health care to millions more Americans while lowering health care costs.  The Administration continues to build on, strengthen, and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act and has signed historic new laws to lower prescription drug costs and health insurance premiums.  The President’s prescription drug law, the Inflation Reduction Act, is directly benefiting women with Medicare, including nearly 30 million women enrolled in Medicare Part D.  These actions are especially important for women, who typically face higher health care costs than men and who are more likely than men to take less medication than was prescribed because of cost—with even greater disparities for women of color.  To help address these challenges, the Biden-Harris Administration is:

    • Lowering the Cost of Insulin.  The Administration is delivering on the President’s promise to lower health care costs by capping seniors’ insulin costs at $35 for a month’s supply.  As a result, all 3.4 million Medicare Part D enrollees who filled an insulin prescription in 2023 had their insulin costs capped at $35 per month, saving some seniors hundreds of dollars for a month’s supply and lowering costs for about 733,000 women enrolled in Part D and B.
    • Capping Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Costs. Under the President’s leadership, HHS is implementing a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for prescriptions drugs costs for Medicare Part D enrollees.  In 2025, when the cap goes into effect, nearly 19 million seniors and other beneficiaries are projected to save $400 per year on prescription drugs. 
    • Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs. For the first-time ever, the Administration announced new, lower prices for the first ten drugs selected for Medicare drug price negotiations, including for drugs that women disproportionately use.  For example, one of the first 10 drugs is Enbrel—an arthritis treatment; women comprise 72 percent of the enrollees who use Enbrel; a woman with Medicare who takes Enbrel and pays $1,777 today for a 30-day supply would pay only $589 to fill her prescription when the negotiated prices take effect—a 67% decrease in out-of-pocket costs.
    • Lowering the Cost of Health Insurance. Millions of women are saving an average of $800 on health insurance premiums thanks to the Administration’s expansion of the Premium Tax Credit.  This expansion has helped drive health insurance coverage to a record high, while the Affordable Care Act continues to ensure that insurance companies cannot charge women more just because of their gender.

    Supporting Women’s Financial Security

    The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that women are supported throughout their working lives—by ensuring access to high-quality jobs, robustly enforcing workplace antidiscrimination laws, and closing gender wage gaps—and as they enter retirement.  The Administration is working to ensure women’s financial security as they age by:

    • Safeguarding Social Security Equity and Efficiency.  Social Security is the bedrock of financial security for American seniors and for millions of Americans with disabilities.  President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security.  SSA also administers the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income and resources; older women are more likely than older men to rely on SSI, making up 64% of SSI recipients aged 65 or older.  To simplify and increase access for individuals, SSA announced the first phase of an online, streamlined SSI application; published three final rules simplifying how non-monetary support from friends and family is counted; and initiated efforts to expedite decisions for people with severe disabilities.  SSA has also deployed a targeted outreach strategy to ensure that beneficiaries are aware of the benefits SSA pays to widowed and divorced spouses and dependents of eligible workers—a population disproportionately comprised of older women.  To help ensure that all beneficiaries receive the benefits that they are entitled to, SSA is also translating more materials into more languages, improving access to interpretation services, and developed a Limited English Proficiency Toolkit.  The Biden-Harris Administration is fighting to ensure that SSA has the funding they need to continue administering these crucial programs.
    • Protecting Women’s Retirement Savings.  Earlier this year, DOL issued a final rule to close loopholes and ensure that the financial advice that Americans get for retirement is in their best interest.  DOL’s rule will protect the millions of Americans, including millions of women, who are diligently saving for retirement when they rely on advice from trusted professionals on how to invest their savings.  The rule will require trusted investment advice providers to give prudent, loyal, and honest advice, and prevent them from providing recommendations that favor the investment advice providers’ interests—financial or otherwise—at retirement savers’ expense.  These new safeguards will save tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per impacted middle-class saver.  The Administration is also implementing the SECURE 2.0 Act, which allows survivors of domestic abuse to elect to receive penalty-free distributions from an employer-sponsored retirement plan. 
    • Providing Housing Security for Vulnerable Women. The Department of Housing and Urban Development continues to support housing for older Americans, including through the Home Equity Conversion Mortgages for Seniors program, which allows seniors to withdraw a portion of their home equity for additional income, and the 202 program, which offers direct loans and capital for the provision of secure and supportive housing facilities for older persons.  These programs—which predominantly support older women— allow senior homeowners to age in place and help expand the supply of affordable housing by providing low-income older Americans with options that allow them to live independently but in an environment that provides support for daily necessities. 

    Supporting Families’ Access to Care

    The Biden-Harris Administration—through implementation of the President’s Care Executive Order—is working to ensure that older women have the support they need as they age as well as to care for the ones they love.  Even as older adults require care, they are also often the ones who provide it.  One in four older women provide some form of unpaid caregiving, and, without training and support, their health, well-being, quality of life, and financial future can suffer.  The Administration is supporting families’ access to care by:

    • Ensuring Safety and Quality Care in Long-Term Care Facilities. Adequate staffing is proven to be one of the measures most strongly associated with safety and good care outcomes.  To ensure safety and quality care, earlier this year, Vice President Harris announced that HHS finalized a rule to require all nursing homes that receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid to have 3.48 hours per resident per day of total staffing, including a defined number from both registered nurses and nurse aides.  This means a facility with 100 residents would need at least two or three registered nurses and at least ten or eleven nurse aides as well as two additional nurse staff (which could be registered nurses, licensed professional nurses, or nurse aides) per shift to meet the minimum staffing standards.  Many facilities would need to staff at a higher level based on their residents’ needs.  It will also require facilities to have a registered nurse onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide skilled nursing care, which will further improve nursing home safety.   And HHS released a new “know-your-rights” resource for women to ensure that women can access safe and culturally competent health care free from discrimination and with protections to their privacy. 
    • Supporting Family Caregivers. Through the American Rescue Plan, the Administration provided $145 million to help the National Family Caregiver Support Program deliver counseling, training, and short-term relief to family caregivers and other informal care providers.  HHS issued a report documenting actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to implement the first-ever National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers; these actions have created new initiatives that directly support family caregivers, strengthened existing programs, and improved coordination across the federal government to improve the lives of family caregivers.  HHS has also taken steps to support family caregivers’ access to training and beneficiary information during the hospital discharge planning process, published the Guiding and Improving Dementia Experience Model to support people living with dementia and their caregivers, and announced new funding opportunities to develop new approaches to support family caregivers.  HHS also published a guide to help older women find programs and services—such as respite care, support groups and individual counseling—to help them maintain their own health and well-being while being a caregiver for others.  And the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a program to provide mental health counseling services to family caregivers caring for our nation’s heroes.  
    • Investing in Care Infrastructure and Supporting Caregivers and Care Workers. The Administration is committed to raising the wages and quality of care worker jobs, and to investing in care infrastructure. In March 2024, SBA announced new funding opportunities to support small businesses in the child care sector as well as the creation of a child care business development guide, which will provide resources for child care businesses on starting and running a business throughout the business life cycle.  In addition, SBA is launching a lender campaign to highlight the resources SBA has available to support small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses, including child care businesses, and will discuss additional reforms to support the growth of child care capacity across the country.  The Administration is also taking steps to ensure Service members and military spouses—the vast majority of whom are women—have the support they need to care for themselves and their families while serving our country, including by strengthening hiring and retention of military spouses across the federal government, and expanding access to child care and other employment resources.  And the Department of Labor has published sample employment agreements so domestic home care, child care, and long-term care workers and their employers can help ensure all parties better understand their rights and responsibilities.

    Protecting Women from Financial Fraud and Scams

    The Biden-Harris Administration is working to protect the savings that older Americans have worked their entire lives to build. Each year, Americans over 60-years-old lose billions of dollars to scams.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other regulatory agencies are taking action to crack down on frauds and scams that too often target older Americans by—

    • Protecting Older Women from Financial Fraud. FTC is pursuing actions against scammers who target or disproportionately impact older adults in their schemes, including those who conduct prize, sweepstakes, and lottery scams; tech support scams; and family and friend impersonation.  Last year, FTC’s past enforcement efforts resulted in relief of more than $285 million to consumers.
    • Equipping Older Women with Tools and Resources to Protect Against Scams.  FTC chairs the Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group focused on expanding consumer education and outreach efforts; improving industry training on scam prevention; identifying innovative or high-tech methods to detect and stop scams; it has produced a report on what research shows are effective tactics in scam-prevention messaging.  And the CFPB has released resources to assist older adults—who are disproportionately women—navigate later-in-life challenges, such as resources to navigate critical financial moments after losing a spouse; tools to avoid financial exploitation; and information to help safeguard finances. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Connecticut Disaster  Declaration

    Source: The White House

    President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Connecticut Disaster Declaration

    Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Connecticut and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm, flooding, landslides, and mudslides from August 18 to August 19, 2024.

    The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven.

    Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

    Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

    Mr. Robert V. Fogel of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

    Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed. 

    Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen, Senate Colleagues Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Allocate Billions of Dollars for Veterans’ PACT Act Benefits, Heads to President’s Desk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement following the Senate passage of the bipartisan Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act, after it recently passed the House of Representatives. The legislation, which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law, provides nearly $2.9 billion in emergency funding for disability compensation, pensions, and readjustment benefits for veterans. Thanks to the Rosen-backed PACT Act, thousands of Nevada veterans and their families, and millions more across the country, are receiving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits they have earned. As more veterans file claims and receive their long-overdue benefits, supplemental funding was necessary. 
    “Thanks to the bipartisan PACT Act that I helped pass, millions of veterans across our nation are getting the VA benefits and health care they need and deserve,” said Senator Rosen. “As more claims are filed, we need more funding to ensure veterans continue having access to these benefits, and I’m proud that the Senate passed this bipartisan legislation to do so. I’ll keep working across the aisle to deliver for the men and women who have served in uniform.”
    Senator Rosen has been leading bipartisan efforts to support Nevada’s veterans. Earlier this year, she introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently maintain a helpline for veterans to obtain information and assistance with VA services. Senator Rosen secured funding to increase access to affordable housing for veterans, continue building Nevada’s first national veterans cemetery in Elko, and increase funding for veteran’s access to telehealth in the last bipartisan government funding package.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barrasso, Lummis Lead Bill to Bolster Security for Presidential Nominees in the Wake of Trump Assassination Attempts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    September 20, 2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the second assassination attempt on President Trump in just 65 days, Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis (both R-WY) joined Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) in leading 10 of their colleagues in introducing the Protect Our Presidents Act, which enhances U.S. Secret Service (USSS) protection for presidential nominees to the same level currently provided to a sitting U.S. president.
    “Our nation has witnessed two horrifying assassination attempts on President Trump,” said Barrasso. “We were merely inches away from a catastrophic event that would have changed the course of our history. This cannot happen again. The Protect Our Presidents Act will ensure all presidential nominees receive the same level of protection provided to the president. This will give law enforcement the resources they need to keep President Trump and all of the candidates safe.”
    “The two confirmed assassination attempts against former President Trump have made it abundantly clear that we need to shore up protection details for presidential candidates,” said Lummis. “What President Trump and his family have gone through in the last 65 days is unimaginable. No presidential candidate should fear for their safety or the wellbeing of their family. I am partnering with Senator Rick Scott to ensure President Trump and all future presidential nominees have the protection they need so they can focus on promoting their respective platforms, not fearing for their safety.”
    The Protect Our Presidents Act would:
    Require the USSS to provide presidential nominees the same level of protection provided to the president, as well as any necessary protective measures.
    The nominee may decline the increased protection if they so choose. 
    Mandate regular reporting: 
    The USSS must brief and report on the status of the presidential nominee’s protection to the Speaker of the House, the House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee every 15 days during a presidential election year.
    This report will include the threat level for each presidential nominee, the security measures being implemented, associated costs, the number of personnel permanently assigned to each protective detail, and any unmet security needs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Barrasso, Daines Team Up to Combat Workforce Housing Shortage at National Parks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Steve Daines (R-MT), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Parks respectively, and John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, have introduced bipartisan legislation to help combat the housing shortage that the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service and other land management agency employees are facing across the country. The Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act would authorize the NPS, U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to expand their authority to secure and build more workforce housing on or close to the federal lands. The legislation is especially needed in Maine; just months ago, a fundraiser was held in Bar Harbor to create additional housing for up to 300 seasonal workers at Acadia National Park.
    “Every corner of Maine and the country is being impacted by the housing crisis — and our National Parks are no exception,” said Senator King, Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee. “The lack of safe, quality housing that doesn’t break the bank has made it difficult for park employees, and those who are called to preserve our public lands, to live in the communities they serve. The bipartisan Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act is a commonsense step, that allows the National Park Service and Forest Service use new approaches and public-private partnerships to combat the housing shortage. While this bill won’t solve the shortage on its own, it is a key part of a wider strategy to support our Parks and Forest Service employees. Safe, quality, and affordable housing is critical to ensuring that our parks stay staffed and open, and that visitors fully appreciate ‘America’s Best Idea.’”
    “Wyoming is home to the most beautiful national parks in the country. We are blessed to host millions of visitors from across the country and around the world each year,” said Senator Barrasso, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “To continue to do so, employees of the National Park Service and the Forest Service need access to affordable and adequate housing on or near the lands where they work. Our bipartisan bill will help address the growing demand for housing by making it possible for these agencies to partner with the private sector to find solutions to the housing shortage.
    “This legislation will provide much-needed housing relief to Montanans who are living paycheck to paycheck and bearing the brunt of the Biden-Harris administration’s sky-high inflation,” said Senator Daines. “By prioritizing National Park Service workforce housing and supporting local gateway communities, we are one step closer towards addressing the housing shortage both in Montana and across the U.S.”
    Specifically the Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act would authorize:
    the National Park Service (NPS) to engage philanthropic partners to address workforce housing needs through matching grants and other cooperative efforts;
    the Secretary of the Interior to use income from rent for the development, construction, rehabilitation, and management of workforce housing;
    the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts for workforce housing within the private sector; and
    the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to hire to fill vacant positions at NPS and Forest Service units if government housing is not available.
    As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks and a lifelong advocate for conservation, Senator King has spent decades championing environmental stewardship and advocacy. Senator King was an active participant in discussions to ensure that the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument would not be designated against the will of local citizens. Prior to rising to the position of National Parks Subcommittee Chairman, Senator King also led the Great American Outdoors Act to address the $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks. For his continued leadership, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation “Hero” Award.
    Senator King has also long been committed to ensuring Maine people across the state can access safe and affordable housing, as well as working with his colleagues on creative solutions to combat the housing shortage. He introduced the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to create nearly two million new affordable homes across the country — including thousands in Maine. He also worked with his Republican colleagues to improve affordability of rural homes and farms through the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act of 2023 and the Farmhouse-to Workforce Housing Act. Additionally, he has worked to expand affordable workforce housing on Mount Desert Island to support the economic development surrounding Acadia National Park. Earlier this year, he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to expand affordable housing availability in Maine through redevelopment of historic buildings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Savings Accounts for People with Disabilities Unanimously Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey
    Casey created the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program in 2014 to allow people with disabilities to save money without losing eligibility for critical federal programs
    Three ABLE provisions that make the program more accessible and expansive are set to expire in 2025
    Casey’s ENABLE Act, which passed the Senate unanimously, would enshrine those provisions in law permanently
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, applauded the Senate’s passage of his bipartisan Ensuring Nationwide Access to a Better Life Experience (ENABLE) Act, which would extend three key provisions of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program. ABLE, created by Senator Casey in 2014, allows people with disabilities and their families to save and invest through tax-free savings accounts without losing eligibility for federal programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Three provisions that make the program accessible to more people with disabilities and make it easier for those in the program to save are set to expire in 2025. The bipartisan ENABLE Act, which Casey introduced alongside Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) earlier this year, would enshrine these provisions into law permanently.
    “For years, people with disabilities were barred from saving for the future, meaning they couldn’t save for a home, purchase needed assistive technology, or save for an accessible car. I worked to create the ABLE program to knock down those barriers, and ever since I’ve been working across the aisle to make sure the program is as effective as it can be,” said Chairman Casey. “Now that my bipartisan bill to prevent some key ABLE provisions from expiring has passed the Senate, it is on its way to ensuring that as many people with disabilities as possible across the country can continue to benefit from opening ABLE accounts.”
    People with disabilities are more than twice as likely to live in poverty compared to people without disabilities, yet households including a person with a work-limiting disability need, on average, 28 percent more income to obtain the same standard of living as people without disabilities. For a long time, this intersection of disability and poverty was made worse by asset limitations for federal assistance programs that many people with disabilities rely on. Senator Casey created the ABLE program to fix problem for more than 181,000 people with disabilities across the United States, who have saved approximately $2 billion since the program was created.
    Three key ABLE provisions are set to expire in 2025:
    ABLE to Work: A person with a disability who is employed can contribute an additional amount to his or her ABLE account. This additional contribution cannot be greater than either:
    the prior year’s federal poverty level for a one-person household ($15,060 in 2024), or
    the beneficiary’s yearly compensation.
    ABLE Saver’s Credit: A person with a disability who makes qualified contributions to their ABLE account can qualify for a nonrefundable saver’s credit of up to $1,000.
    529 to ABLE rollover: A person with a disability may rollover from a 529 education savings account to an ABLE account funds that are less than or equal to the annual ABLE contribution limit are not subject to income taxation.
    The ENABLE Act would make all three provisions permanent, enshrining expanded access to the ABLE program. The bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Markwayne Mulllin (R-OK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Thomas Carper (D-DE), Thomas Tillis (R-NC).
    As the lead sponsor of the ABLE Act, passed in 2014, Senator Casey has long been a champion of ABLE accounts. He introduced the ABLE Age Adjustment Act to extend the eligibility of ABLE accounts from those who acquired their disability before the age of 26 to the age of 46. At an Aging Committee field hearing in August 2022, Senator Casey uplifted the success of the ABLE program and pushed for his bill to expand the program to 6.2 million additional Americans, including more than one million veterans. Senator Casey’s bill passed in December 2022 and takes effect in 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Taiwan: Constitutional Court recognizes fundamental flaws in death penalty but fails to abolish it

    Source: Amnesty International –

    In response to a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Taiwan that found the death penalty constitutional for offences such as murder, E-Ling Chiu, Director of Amnesty International Taiwan, said:

    “Today’s decision is a small step for human rights in Taiwan. The Constitutional Court has recognized the fundamental flaws of the death penalty and strengthened human rights protections for those on death row. Yet the death penalty remains on the books for several offences. This marks a start in Taiwan’s journey towards abolition, and we must ensure it does not stop here.

    “We have long been concerned about the unfair proceedings that have resulted in the imposition of the death penalty in many cases in Taiwan. Today’s verdict acknowledges that the current procedures are not rigorous – the Taiwanese authorities must now amend the relevant provisions within the two-year timeframe given to ensure fundamental safeguards are put in place. But this does not go far enough.

    “It is also positive that the Constitutional Court determined that current provisions fail to protect from the death penalty people with mental disabilities who are not competent to stand trial or execution. However, it is regrettable that the judgment did not fully reflect safeguards under international law and standards and did not exclude those with mental and intellectual disabilities from the use of the death penalty completely.

    “Despite the progress made today, we are extremely worried that this decision effectively puts close to 40 people at risk of execution. We urge the government of Taiwan to immediately establish an official moratorium on executions as a first critical step. The death penalty is inherently cruel and does not make us safer.

    “As the global trend continues towards abolition, today’s decision stacks Taiwan against the majority of the world’s countries that have already fully consigned this punishment to the history books. The authorities of Taiwan must act to swiftly commute all death sentences, bring about reforms to the criminal justice system that prioritize the protection of human rights and abolish the death penalty once and for all.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB at #UNGA79: Strengthening the multilateral system, reinforcing investment in global health and climate finance

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • President Nadia Calviño leads EIB delegation to 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
    • The EIB will announce new initiatives on financing global health, and climate.
    • Multilateral Development Banks present latest climate finance effort of $125 billion.

    At the 79th United Nations General Assembly, European Investment Bank (EIB) President Nadia Calviño will join partners and global leaders to present new solutions and innovative financing approaches to tackle global challenges.

    The EIB initiatives include support for women’s health with the Gates Foundation, the launch of new investment plans to strengthen primary healthcare alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO). EIB President Calviño will be accompanied by Vice-Presidents Ambroise Fayolle and Thomas Östros. She will be meeting heads of United Nations agencies, Multilateral Development Banks and leading private sector figures to explore ways of deepening collaboration. 

    President Calviño said: “We are proud to contribute to the UN Summit of the Future to create and scale up solutions for today’s challenges, paving the way for a stronger, more inclusive and connected multilateralism. That’s what we are here to do – with a focus on high-impact investments outside the EU – we are announcing new projects and initiatives alongside our partners to deliver primary health care, women’s health, as well as stepping up finance for  climate action and resilience.” 

    Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) today announced that their global climate finance reached a record high of $125 billion in 2023. Mobilised global private finance nearly doubled to $101 billion compared to 2022. The combined total climate finance from the MDBs, including the European Investment Bank, is more than double the amount provided in 2019, when MDBs announced their ambition to increase climate finance volumes over time at the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit.

    Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle, responsible for Climate Action and Just Transition at the EIB, said: “The combined efforts from the world’s Multilateral Development Banks to deliver $125 billion in direct investments last year for climate action sends the strong message that the MDBs are working as a system to deliver and that the global community can count on MDBs, including the EIB, to accelerate global climate action. As the largest multilateral lender for climate action projects, the EIB will continue to support high impact operations such as breakthrough technologies, climate adaptation and a just transition for the most vulnerable to climate change. To make the green transition a success, we must make sure that climate action works for everybody.”

    On 23rd September, Multilateral Banks will also come together in New York on the margins of the United Nations for a high-level roundtable on the new Health Impact Investment Platform for primary healthcare financing co-hosted by the EIB and the World Health Organisation. The roundtable will spotlight country-level action to boost community based health and vaccination. The event will be livestreamed on EIB and WHO channels.

    Vice-President Thomas Östros, responsible for Health financing and Energy said: “Our collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic showed that we can achieve more when we work together. It also highlighted the need for greater collaboration to address current global health challenges and to prepare for potential future emergencies. In the coming days, we will announce new initiatives that I believe will significantly enhance the health of communities worldwide”.                                                        

    EIB at UNGA

    The EIB delegation will be participating in a number of events on the margins  of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA). President Calviño and Vice-President Fayolle will take part in a Project Syndicate event on Climate Finance on Sunday 22nd September which also includes Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados,  Gabriel Boric, President of Chile, Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil, Mafalda Duarte, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund and Mukhtar Babayev, President-Designate of COP29 and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan.

    A fireside chat on 23rd September 11.00 EDT between President Calviño and WHO Director-General Dr.Tedros Ghebreyesus will be livestreamed on UN and EIB channels, as part of the SDG Media Zone events.

    Media interviews

    For interview requests with members of the EIB delegation please get in touch with the .

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance.  EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Plenary round-up – September 2024 – 20-09-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament’s September 2024 plenary session took place as floods devastated many areas in central European Member States, leading Members to debate and adopt a resolution on the EU’s preparedness to act to tackle disasters exacerbated by climate change. The flooding also led to the postponement of the planned statement on the priorities of the Hungarian Council Presidency. During the session, Members debated a number of European Commission statements: on financial and military support to Ukraine; addressing migration and effective return; strengthening the role of the Digital Services Act in regulating social media platforms and protecting democracy online; as well as persistent antisemitism, hate speech and hate crime in Europe; and the EU response to the Mpox outbreak. Members further debated the outcome of the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, the state of the energy union, and the danger of criminalisation of environmental defenders. Members held debates on European Commission statements on external relations issues, including: on the war in the Gaza Strip and the situation in the Middle East, the situation in Venezuela, and the outcome of the G20 ministerial meeting in Brazil. Two debates followed Council and Commission statements: on the Hungarian ‘National Card’ scheme and its consequences for the Schengen area, and the Court of Justice of the EU ruling on the Apple State aid case.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Addressing illegal Turkish actions aimed at boosting occupation regime in northern part of Cyprus – E-001383/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations (UN) framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis.

    Türkiye is expected to actively support the negotiations on a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue within the UN framework[1].

    The EU has repeatedly called for the speedy resumption of negotiations and expressed its readiness to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, with all the appropriate means at its disposal.

    The EU coordinates with its Member States and works closely with partner countries on the Cyprus issue. The EU does not recognise the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and is bound by UN Security Council resolution 541[2]. The EU does not have information about any representation office of any Member States having been opened in the northern part of Cyprus.

    Concerning restrictive measures, under Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union[3], it is strictly the prerogative of the Council of the EU, through its Member States, to take, with unanimity, decisions to adopt, renew or lift sanctions regimes.

    The EU will continue to call on Türkiye to comply with its international obligations and with the EU values, as a candidate country for EU accession[4].

    The EU has actively and continuously expressed preoccupations to the members of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), at all levels[5]. The EU continues to call upon OTS members not to implement any decision which would allow for the so-called, internationally not recognised, TRNC to acquire observer status in the OTS.

    The EU remains fully committed to ensuring that the UN Security Council resolutions and generally recognised principles and norms of international law, particularly with respect to the sovereignty, independence and integrity of states, are fully upheld.

    The EU remains committed to defending its interests and those of its Member States as well as to upholding regional stability[6].

    • [1] https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/eb90aefd-897b-43e9-8373-bf59c239217f_en?filename=SWD_2023_696%20T%C3%BCrkiye%20report.pdf
    • [2] UN Security Council resolutions on Northern Cyprus (UNSC Resolution No 541 of 18 November 1983 and UNSC Resolution No 550 of 11 May 1984).
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/teu_2016/oj
    • [4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/07/27/varosha-declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union/
    • [5] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/cyprus-statement-spokesperson-observer-status-turkish-cypriot-secessionist-entity-organisation_en?s=230
    • [6] See footnote 1.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Consequences of suspension clauses for the survival of Air Austral – E-001703/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001703/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE), Julien Leonardelli (PfE), André Rougé (PfE), Pascale Piera (PfE), Thierry Mariani (PfE), Jordan Bardella (PfE), Hans Neuhoff (ESN), France Jamet (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Annamária Vicsek (PfE), Fabrice Leggeri (PfE), Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE), Angéline Furet (PfE)

    Air Austral is an airline based on La Réunion which connects the islands in the Indian Ocean – La Réunion and Mayotte – with continental France and Europe. It plays a crucial role in improving access, connections and integration in those European regions.

    The airline is currently at great risk, however. The suspension clauses imposed by the Commission are a major obstacle to the continued existence of Air Austral, particularly after COVID-19, as part of its medium-haul fleet remains grounded. Insisting on the clauses may spell the end of an airline that provides a public service.

    Does the Commission plan to relax the suspension clauses to allow Air Austral to get back in the skies?

    Submitted: 13.9.2024

    Last updated: 20 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Trans-European Transport Network and new coordinator’s calendar of activities – E-001705/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001705/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE)

    The Trans-European Transport Network includes the Atlantic corridor as a strategic corridor for the economic development and population fixation in my constituency, Galicia. Given this corridor’s strategic importance for the Euroregion and in linking the north-west of the peninsula with the rest of the Union and in view of both the continuous delays and its planned completion date of 2026, we at the BNG would like to stress how late this is.

    In view of this:

    • 1.Does the Commission plan to do anything to encourage the coordinator of the Atlantic corridor to submit the annual report and state of play regarding the Atlantic corridor to Galicia, as well as the guidelines for the preparation of the future work plan, already in 2024?
    • 2.What are the planned deadlines up to 19 July 2026 to ensure – in addition to the participation of the relevant stakeholders such as the local authorities and the business community – compliance with the timetable proposed in Decision (EU) 2024/2383, with a view to avoid isolating the Galician nation yet again from the rest of Europe in terms of infrastructure, logistics and its economy?

    Submitted: 13.9.2024

    Last updated: 20 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Closure of the Somport and Bielsa border crossings – P-001667/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001667/2024/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Rosa Serrano Sierra (S&D)

    Heavy rainfall in the Huesca and French Pyrenees has caused extensive damage to transport infrastructure. Some roads – such as the Somport and Bielsa border crossings – have had to be closed and will need to be repaired before they can be reopened.

    The Spanish authorities have expressed solidarity with their French counterparts and have stated that the priority should be to reopen the routes as soon as possible. France has announced, however, that the Somport crossing will be closed for 6 months, which would disrupt socio-economic development and the mobility of cross-border workers and tourists.

    The Commission recognises that the Member States are free to impose proportionate and justified restrictions on free movement.

    Bearing in mind that the priority should be to carry out the works as soon as possible to ensure that the border crossing is safe again, I would ask the following questions:

    • 1.Has an assessment of the damage been carried out to justify the closure time announced by France?
    • 2.How could the Commission help ensure that the works on the French side do not exceed the time strictly necessary to allow cross-border journeys to resume?
    • 3.If that justified period of time is exceeded, will the Commission demand that France reopens the crossing immediately?

    Submitted: 10.9.2024

    Last updated: 20 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Supporting young farmers – E-001493/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    To attract and sustain young farmers, supporting generational renewal in agriculture, is a high priority under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a number of tools and interventions available to achieve this objective.

    The legislation requires from Member States to dedicate an amount equal to at least 3% of their national direct payments envelope to supporting young farmers.

    Member States include in their CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) different tools (called interventions) to encourage and support young people into farming, such as: complementary income support for young farmers; setting-up grants; investment support with higher intensity rates of up to 80%; support for intergenerational exchange.

    The conditions and criteria for support are defined at the national level. The CPSs reflect the different approaches of Member States in providing support to young farmers through the combination of available tools, dedicated resources and prioritisation of support.

    To improve the consistency of EU and national actions, the Member States provide in their CPSs an overview of all (EU and national) interventions and policies related to young farmers.

    Potential new actions at EU level, will be discussed when preparing the legislative proposals that will accompany the proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework in 2025.

    According to targets set currently in the Member States’ CPSs, the CAP aims to help around 377 000 young farmers start farming over the 2023-2027 period, with a total budget of EUR 8.5 billion.

    The Commission launched an online dashboard to show the targets set at national level approved in the CSPs, as well as targets at EU level[1].

    • [1] https://agridata.ec.europa.eu/extensions/DataPortal/pmef_indicators.html
    Last updated: 20 September 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – The scourge of fentanyl and the increase in drug use – E-001422/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025[1] and its Action Plan[2] identify the EU drug policy priorities, including the reduction of the use of illicit drugs[3].

    The Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA[4] lays down minimum rules and penalties to combat drug trafficking. To effectively address synthetic drug threats, the 2023 EU Roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime[5] foresees forging alliances as an explicit action.

    Accordingly, on 7 July 2023 the EU joined the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, which deals with manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, detecting threats and patterns, and public health aspects.

    The EU4Health Programme[6] may support Member States’ actions to reduce damage to health due to illicit drug use and addiction.

    The Commission is working closely with Member States to ensure that fentanyl and other opioid medications are subject to strict regulatory controls.

    This includes the enforcement of rigorous prescription guidelines and monitoring systems to prevent overprescribing and to identify potential abuse[7].

    Furthermore, the Commission, in collaboration with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), is developing and promoting guidelines for healthcare professionals on the safe prescription and management of medications with high potential for misuse[8].

    Since 2 July 2024, the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA[9]) has reinforced health and security threat assessment capabilities and promotes evidence-based interventions to raise awareness on the adverse effects of drugs[10].

    To address the increasing availability of drugs to young people on social media platforms, the Commission developed a Knowledge Package on Combating Drug Sales Online[11].

    • [1]  EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025, OJ C 102I, 24.3.2021.
    • [2]  EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025, OJ C 272, 8.7.2021.
    • [3] Priority area 5.2 of the EU Drugs Strategy, Action 28 of the EU Drugs Action Plan.
    • [4] Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA of 25 October 2004 laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking.
    • [5] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the EU roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime, COM/2023/641 final.
    • [6] Regulation (EU) 2021/522 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 establishing a Programme for the Union’s action in the field of health (‘EU4Health Programme’) for the period 2021-2027, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 282/2014, OJ L 107, 26.3.2021, p. 1.
    • [7] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/opioids-drugs-heroin/,
    • [8] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/psusa/psusa-00001370-202304, https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/psusa/psusa-00001370-202204
    • [9] Formerly European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
    • [10] Regulation (EU) 2023/1322 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2023 on the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006, OJ L 166, 30.6.2023, p. 16.
    • [11] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/networks/european-union-Internet-forum-euif_en

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive: Porsche Engineering’s Nardò Technical Center and its plans to expand a car test track – E-001434/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. In relation to the project referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission has asked Italy to provide some clarifications on the implementation of Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive[1]. This provision allows Member States to authorise, under certain conditions, projects likely to have a negative impact on a Natura 2000 site if they are justified under imperative reasons of overriding public interest and all the necessary compensatory measures are taken. Member States are required to inform the Commission about those measures. A prior step is an appropriate assessment of all the impacts expected from the project, taking into account the conservation objectives established for the concerned Natura 2000 site, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(3) of the directive.

    The requested clarifications concern namely the nature of the reasons that would justify the authorisation of the project despite a negative assessment of its impacts, as well as the adequacy of the site-specific conservation objectives for the Natura 2000 site to be impacted by the project.

    Italy has not yet provided the requested clarifications but has communicated that, in the meanwhile, the regional authorities have suspended the project.

    2. A Commission opinion is required where the site concerned by the project hosts a priority habitat type or species and the project is carried out for imperative reasons of overriding public interest other than those related to human health, public safety, or beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment.

    3. The Commission has not set any specific deadline for Italian authorities to reply to the note of 15 February 2024, mentioned by the Honourable Member.

    • [1] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7-50.
    Last updated: 20 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Closure period – common dolphinfish (coryphaena hippurus) – P-001516/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The management plan for the sustainable exploitation of common dolphinfish, adopted by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in 2023[1] and incorporated into EU law through Regulation EU 2024/259 establishing the fishing opportunities for 2024 for the Mediterranean Sea[2], covers only the fisheries targeting this species which uses Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD). However, there can be bycatches of this species in other fisheries, which can be marketed.

    To ensure the control of the common dolphinfish fishery, the GFCM adopted a permanent international inspection scheme[3] in 2023. In 2024, the European Fisheries Control Agency coordinated the deployment of one of its patrol vessels in the Strait of Sicily, for a joint inspection campaign with the relevant contracting parties.

    The campaign, carried out by the EU-GFCM fisheries inspectors in the South of Sicily, ended on 3 September 2024. So far, no suspected infringements for fishing dolphinfish with FADs during the closure period were detected.

    Ensuring a level playing field is one of the main objectives the Commission pursues at the level of the GFCM, where it initiated the above-mentioned management and control measures, in close cooperation with the Member States.

    Finally, as determined by the EU Fisheries Control Regulation[4], the responsibility for the operational implementation of applicable control measures and the enforcement in case of violation of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy lies with the Member States.

    • [1] Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/14 establishing a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of common dolphinfish in the Mediterranean Sea, repealing Recommendations GFCM/30/2006/2, GFCM/43/2019/1 and GFCM/44/2021/11.
    • [2] Council Regulation (EU) 2024/259 of 10 January 2024 fixing for 2024 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/259/oj
    • [3] Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/17 on an international joint inspection and surveillance scheme for common dolphinfish fisheries outside waters under national jurisdiction in the Mediterranean Sea.
    • [4] Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842.
    Last updated: 20 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Cyprus University of Technology gets €125 million in EIB support for campus upgrades

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB to help fund construction of student housing as well as renovation of academic, research and sports facilities at Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
    • CUT campuses in Paphos and Limassol to gain a total of 703 new student residences
    • EIB financing covers 70% of project costs
    • EIB Advisory services also included to improve energy efficiency of infrastructure

    The Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) will benefit from €125 million in European Investment Bank (EIB) loans to build affordable student housing and upgrade campus facilities in the cities of Paphos and Limassol. The EIB funds will ensure that the planned student lodgings are sustainable and affordable and that academic, research and sports facilities meet the highest teaching and environmental standards.

    The EIB funds stem from two financing agreements with CUT totalling €108 million and one funding accord with the municipality of Paphos amounting to €17 million. Part of the financing –

    €89 million – is backed by the InvestEU programme, which marks its first operation in Cyprus. The EIB support will cover 70% of the project’s total cost.

    “Investing in university infrastructure is key to ensuring that Cypriot universities can attract and train talented people and support economic growth, business innovation and social progress in the country,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “A lack of sustainable and affordable housing is a major problem in Cyprus as well as across the EU and one of our priorities is tackling this scarcity. With this new financial support for Cyprus, we are backing up pledges with concrete action.”

    The project will involve the construction and renovation of over 81,000 square metres of academic and administrative space along with the creation of 703 additional living places for students. In Limassol, the upgrades will include a solar-power plant to provide renewable energy, making the campus more energy independent. EIB Advisory Services are also providing technical assistance as part of the agreement to help the CUT maximise energy efficiency in the infrastructure that will be developed.

    “The EIB’s continued strong partnership with Cyprus has resulted in this vital new financing in our education sector,” said Cypriot Finance Minister Makis Keravnos. “This support is of huge significance and is aligned with our goal of accelerating investments for sustainable and affordable housing and energy efficiency.”

    The plans in Paphos offer a signal for Cyprus as a whole.

    “By establishing, operating and managing a student residence, the Municipality of Paphos sets the first example of a local authority in Cyprus responding to a clear social need,” said Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos. “Decent housing is a basic requirement to have happy, proud and productive students and it is here that local government needs to show that it listens to what the community needs.”

    CUT echoed the point.

    “A dream we have had for many years has come true,” said CUT Rector Panayiotis Zaphiris.

    “The provision of the necessary student accommodation and other major projects funded by the signing of these loan agreements build a stronger future for our university, especially for our students.”

    CUT Board Chairman Costas Galatariotis added: “Today is the ideal prelude to a new path of development for the Cyprus University of Technology. Our warmest thanks to the EIB and the Republic of Cyprus through the Ministries of Finance and Education, for the trust and support. The impact of this partnership will be extremely important for the University and especially for the progress and well-being of our student community.”

    CUT Student Union President Petros Christodoulou stressed the benefits of the planned new student housing.

    “The high cost of accommodation has become a significant social problem for university students in recent years,” Christodoulou said. “These investments will help the university accommodate the increasing number of students and keep growing.”

    The new loans bring total EIB financing for Cypriot universities and research institutions over the past decade to more than €300 million.

    Previous EIB commitments were to expand and modernise the University of Cyprus in 2014 and 2017, when the bank provided a total of €162 million for the extension and modernisation of the University of Cyprus’s facilities and to create the Faculty of Engineering. Those two financing packages also helped improve energy efficiency and protection against earthquakes.

    Furthermore, the EIB provided €25 million in 2017 for extra space, new equipment and research activities at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.

    Background information

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances sound investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed a total of €88 billion in new financing for over 900 projects in 2023. These commitments are expected to mobilise around €320 billion in investment, supporting 400,000 companies and 5.4 million jobs.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Accord. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support  €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower. This underscores the Bank’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and the convergence of living standards.

    Cyprus University of Technology gets €125 million in EIB support for campus upgrades
    Cyprus University of Technology gets €125 million in EIB support for campus upgrades
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    Cyprus University of Technology gets €125 million in EIB support for campus upgrades
    Cyprus University of Technology gets €125 million in EIB support for campus upgrades
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    Cyprus University of Technology gets €125 million in EIB support for campus upgrades
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – PRESENTATION OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENCY’S PROGRAMME to the AFCO Committee Meeting – Committee on Constitutional Affairs

    Source: European Parliament

    AFCO Committee held on 19.09.2024 in Strasbourg, heard Mr. János BÓKA, Minister for European Union Affairs of Hungary, who presented the priorities of the Hungarian Council Presidency in the institutional matters.

    Source : © European Union, 2024 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –