NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Grassley to Washington Post Editorial Board: Politics Shouldn’t Overcome Principle in the Debate Over Universal Injunctions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) highlighted the unconstitutional nature of universal injunctions in a response to the Washington Post Editorial Board. Read his Letter to the Editor below.
    To: Washington Post Editorial BoardFrom: Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) Regarding the May 29 editorial, “In defense of nationwide injunctions”
    The Post’s Editorial Board argued that, in spite of the lack of historical precedent and constitutional basis for universal injunctions, this judicial maneuver is ostensibly a necessary “check on presidential power.”
    But allowing district judges to exert bloated authority beyond the cases and controversies before them only creates further imbalance among the branches of government. The Post should have taken into serious consideration Article III of the Constitution, which limits courts to deciding “cases” or “controversies” — as well as the first 150 years of American history, during which time, as the board acknowledged, scholars have found no documented use of a universal injunction.
    It’s not the judiciary’s responsibility to set policy; that power is vested in the people through their elected leaders. For decades, Congress has failed to write specific legislation, leaving the door open for a variety of interpretations. Congress can and must pass clearer laws, but the legislative branch’s past mistakes aren’t a free pass for district judges to overstep constitutional guardrails and play policymaker.
    The continued use of universal injunctions does far more harm than good to our nation’s system of checks and balances. What’s more, injunctions place severe pressure on the Supreme Court by frequently forcing it to respond to emergency appeals.
    The bill I introduced to eliminate universal injunctions would instead encourage appropriate appellate action by making temporary restraining orders immediately appealable. In those cases where widespread judicial relief is appropriate, Congress has already provided a mechanism: class-action lawsuits. Courts should no longer be permitted to avoid the class certification process by opting instead for universal injunctions.
    I hope the Supreme Court steps in quickly to address injunctions. In the meantime, I’ll keep moving my legislative fixes toward the finish line, including through reconciliation.
    I continue to encourage my Democratic colleagues to join me in this effort. Many Democrats have sharply criticized the practice in the past — including in the case of the mifepristone ban The Post’s editorial referenced — but have shelved their opposition to universal injunctions since President Donald Trump returned to office. The Post itself argued for limiting injunctions in a separate editorial last June.
    The constitutional dangers posed by universal injunctions haven’t changed over the past year; the only thing that has is the White House’s current occupant. We shouldn’t let politics overcome principle by failing to address this bipartisan problem now.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Thursday, June 19, 2025

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Note: All times local

    National Capital Region, Canada

    11:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will chair the Cabinet meeting.

    Third floor
    West Block
    Parliament Hill

    2:15 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend Question Period. 

    West Block
    Parliament Hill

    3:15 p.m. The Prime Minister will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

    Third floor
    West Block
    Parliament Hill

    Closed to media

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone, Huffman, Castor, Booker, Reed, and Padilla Lead Charge to Block Trump’s Dangerous Offshore Drilling Plan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey), U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) along with 40 Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate submitted formal comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), opposing any new or expanded offshore oil and gas leasing in the Trump administration’s proposed updates to the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leasing program.

    In their letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers warned that more offshore drilling would threaten our national security, coastal communities, marine life, and local economies – all while handing more giveaways to an industry already sitting on millions of acres of unused leases. They urged the agency to exclude any new leasing in the final program. 

    “New or expanded oil and gas leasing poses risks to the health and livelihoods of our constituents, jeopardizes our tourism, fishing, and recreational economies, and threatens the marine life that inhabits our coastlines” the members wrote. “New, unnecessary lease sales will lock in decades more of pollution and climate impacts from an industry that already holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering more than 12 million acres of federal water, of which only 469 leases are currently producing oil and gas. The United States is already the number one producer of oil and gas in the world. There is no need for increased leasing, especially when oil and gas companies continue to impose environmental and climate consequences, public health risks, and billions of dollars in cleanup costs on the American people.”

    Members also reminded the Secretary of the long-standing legal restrictions that prevent the administration from offering lease sales in protected areas. 

    “We remind the agency that it cannot offer sales in areas permanently protected under Section 12(a) of OCSLA, including areas off the Atlantic coast, the Pacific off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and portions of the Artic Ocean, including the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea planning areas. In 2017, during his first term, President Trump attempted to reverse President Obama’s Arctic and Atlantic withdrawals, but Judge Sharon Gleason for the District Court of Alaska determined that Section 12(a) does not give the president authority to revoke prior withdrawals. President Trump does not have the authority to reverse the Obama and Biden withdrawals, and his Executive Order of January 2025, which attempts to do so, is unlawful.”

    During his first term, the Trump administration proposed 47 lease sales over five years, covering nearly every U.S. coastline. Fortunately, this program was never finalized due to litigation and strong bipartisan opposition. But now, with the Biden administration’s leasing plan under review and Secretary Burgum signaling that protections may be on the chopping block, lawmakers are raising the alarm once again.

    At a budget hearing last week, Secretary Burgum refused to commit to protecting Florida’s Gulf Coast from new oil and gas leasing, saying only that “the administration may be considering opportunities.” This region has long been protected by both bipartisan legislation and administrative withdrawals – protections that are now under threat. 

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone, Hospital Leaders Warn of Catastrophic Consequences of Republican Medicaid Cuts at Saint Peter’s “Save Our Hospitals” Event

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    New Brunswick, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) was joined today by hospital leaders, physicians, patients, and health care advocates at Saint Peter’s University Hospital to warn that the Republican budget reconciliation bill slashes more than a trillion dollars from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act over the next decade, which would devastate New Jersey’s safety-net hospitals and take health care away from hundreds of thousands of residents. This is the largest cut to Americans’ health care in history.  

    Speaking at a press conference, Pallone detailed how Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, which passed the House last month, would eliminate coverage for at least 360,000 New Jerseyans, and strip up to $3.6 billion a year from the state’s Medicaid program known as NJ FamilyCare. The cuts in the Republican bill would also slash an estimated $300 million in payments to New Jersey hospitals and other health care providers, forcing safety-net providers like Saint Peter’s to face catastrophic financial losses, reduce services, or close programs entirely.

    “Let’s be very clear: these cuts are not theoretical. They are real, they are dangerous, and they will directly harm patients,” Pallone said. “NJ FamilyCare covers nearly 1.8 million New Jerseyans, including 60 percent of those living in nursing home and 40 percent of all births statewide. If Republicans get their way, hospitals like Saint Peter’s will be forced to cut back services, lay off staff, or shutter programs entirely.”

    “The House Republican bill would slash Medicaid funding by hundreds of billions of dollars—cuts that would have devastating effects on our most vulnerable populations,” said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, who also serves on the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees and as chair of its Regional Policy Board 2 for New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. “At Saint Peter’s, we are committed to a Catholic mission of humble service, especially to those most in need. Medicaid is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline. Cuts to Medicaid could strip millions of individuals of access to even the most basic care. When people lose access to primary care, they turn to emergency departments, chronic conditions go untreated, health outcomes worsen, and tragically, preventable deaths increase. While we all agree that eliminating fraud, waste and abuse is important, gutting Medicaid is not the answer. These cuts could force painful decisions that would be felt immediately in the communities we serve.”

    “Any cuts to Medicaid would be devastating not only for patients, but also for the hospitals and health care providers who rely on this funding to keep their doors open,” said New Jersey Citizen Action Healthcare Program Director, Laura Waddell. “In New Jersey, these proposed cuts would slash $300 million in federal funding to our hospitals, cap $3.4 billion in Medicaid reimbursements through provider taxes, and lead to a significant rise in charity care cases.  The window of opportunity is closings to stop these cuts and we need all of our New Jersey federal delegation from both sides of the aisle, to join Congressman Pallone in standing up for the patients and health care consumers in our state and vote ‘no’ to any cuts to health care.”

    “The impact of any cuts to Medicaid funding for our 1.8million citizens would be devastating to the most vulnerable amongst us, children, working families, the elderly, people with disabilities. and those of lower incomes. These cuts are deeply alarming and completely unacceptable. I remain committed to working with our congressional delegation to do everything possible to ensure the well being of all our citizens and to protect this important program, “ Assemblyman Danielsen. 

    “The cuts to Medicaid will have grave consequences to our New Jersey residents-whether they are children, low-income adults, disabled individuals, and elderly residents,” said Assemblyman Egan (D-Middlesex, Somerset). “Hospitals, like Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas and Saint Peter’s University Hospital, may face major financial losses.  Many New Jersey residents will not receive the care they need from the hospitals they rely on, which could lead to needless deaths.  We need to work together to ensure that this does not happen, and I thank Congressman Pallone for fighting the good fight for New Jersey.”

    Saint Peter’s University Hospital faces potential losses of tens of millions of dollars annually if the Republican cuts are enacted. Health care leaders warned that the magnitude of the proposed cuts would force hospitals across New Jersey to reduce critical services such as maternity care, cancer treatment, mental health programs, and emergency care.

    The Republican Big Ugly Bill cuts funding to hospitals by limiting the payments that state Medicaid programs can make to hospitals, long-term care providers, and many other cash-strapped providers so they can stay in business and provide the services residents need. The Republican bill also cuts off a state’s ability to generate the funds they need to support their Medicaid programs—including payments to struggling hospitals—through a provider tax. 

    On Monday, Senate Republicans unveiled their bill that would even further reduce a state’s ability to generate these funds and cut provider payments–meaning even more devastating cuts for New Jersey and its hospitals. The House and Senate bill both prohibit new or increased provider taxes and prevent states from making certain new payments to providers, while the Senate bill also slashes the provider taxes and payments that states like New Jersey already have in place.

    Joining Pallone at the event were Garrick Stoldt, CFO of Saint Peter’s; Jim Choma, Vice President for Catholic Mission; Dr. Mariela Kapoor, Internal Medicine Physician at Saint Peter’s Family Health Center; Christine Stearns, Chief Government Relations Officer for the New Jersey Hospital Association; representatives from New Jersey Citizen Action; and local elected officials. A former patient of Saint Peter’s also spoke about how critical Medicaid coverage was to receiving care during a serious medical emergency.

    Pallone, who serves as top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has led Democratic opposition to the Republican Medicaid cuts in Congress. The House passed the Republican bill last month and now it is up for consideration in the Senate.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM holds phone talks with Omani FM over Israel-Iran conflict

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 18 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said that Israel’s attack on Iran violated international law and norms governing international relations, infringed upon Iran’s sovereignty and security, and undermined regional peace and stability.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi at the latter’s request, noting that China has always advocated the peaceful settlement of all disputes.

    Stressing that the immediate priority is achieving a ceasefire and bringing an end to the conflict, Wang said that China supports the joint statement on the Israel-Iran conflict issued by 21 Arab and Islamic countries, including Oman, and hopes that Arab and Islamic countries will unite and continue their efforts to push peace talks.

    China will also maintain communication and coordination with Oman and other regional countries, and play a constructive role at platforms such as the United Nations to help bring an end to the conflict and restore peace in the Middle East, Wang said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM holds phone talks with Egyptian counterpart

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 18 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday had a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Israel’s disregard for international law and norms has abruptly escalated tensions in the Middle East.

    China once again calls on all parties to the conflict, particularly Israel, to immediately cease fire and de-escalate the situation, Wang said.

    He said that at this critical juncture, the international community, especially regional countries, should further build consensus and take more unified actions.

    China stands ready to work with Egypt to enhance communication and coordination at multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, making every effort to push peace talks and reconciliation, Wang added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s attendance at 2nd China-Central Asia Summit renews friendship, charts course for development: Chinese FM

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Xi’s attendance at 2nd China-Central Asia Summit renews friendship, charts course for development: Chinese FM

    BEIJING, June 18 — Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana, where he renewed traditional friendship and drew a blueprint for development with heads of state of the five Central Asian countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while briefing reporters on the conclusion of Xi’s trip.

    In Astana, Xi and the Central Asian leaders have discussed cooperation plans and achieved more than 100 cooperation outcomes, Wang said.

    Wang noted that the most prominent highlight of this summit is Xi’s announcement of the China-Central Asia Spirit, which connotes four aspects of practices, namely practicing mutual respect and treating each other as equals; seeking to deepen mutual trust and enhancing mutual support; pursuing mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and striving for common development; helping each other in time of need and standing together through thick and thin.

    The Central Asian leaders unanimously agreed to uphold this spirit, he added.

    Wang said that China and the five Central Asia countries are all developing countries and have always been partners on the path of modernization.

    The most distinctive theme at the summit is that the six heads of state together designated 2025 and 2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation, said Wang.

    All parties will focus their cooperation on the six priority areas of smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization and personnel exchanges to strive for more tangible outcomes, he said.

    Xi, together with the heads of state of the five Central Asian countries, witnessed the signing of an action plan for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Wang said, noting that this is the first time that China signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with all countries in a neighboring region as a whole.

    China is the most important trade and investment partner of Central Asian countries, said Wang. All parties agreed that there is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars, and unilateralism and protectionism will lead nowhere, he noted.

    In response to the urgent desire of Central Asia for revitalization and boosting self-development capacities, Xi announced the establishment of three cooperation centers, i.e. on poverty reduction, on education exchange, and on desertification prevention and control, under the China-Central Asia cooperation framework, pledging to provide 3,000 training opportunities to Central Asian countries in the next two years, Wang said.

    The most important pioneering initiative in this summit is the signing of a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation by the heads of state of the six countries to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship in the form of law, which demonstrates that political mutual trust between China and Central Asian countries has reached a new height, Wang noted.

    During the summit, China and Central Asian countries reached a series of new cooperation outcomes in areas including subnational cooperation, personnel exchanges, educational exchanges and cultural tourism, among others, he said.

    The heads of state of the six countries witnessed the signing of multiple sister city agreements, thus the pairs of sister cities between China and the five Central Asian countries have exceeded 100, fulfilling the goal of an initiative proposed by Xi three years ago, Wang added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police incident in Mt Roskill

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police have closed a section of White Swan Road in Mt Roskill in response to an ongoing family harm incident.

    Cordons are in place between the intersections with Ellis Ave and Richardson Road.

    Police are attempting to engage with an individual in a nearby residence.

    The community can be reassured the matter is contained, and there is no wider risk.

    Further updates will follow when information is available.

    ENDS.

    Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Travis AFB sends KC-46 across the Pacific to train with Misawa F-16s 

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — This past week, aircrews assigned to the 9th Air Refueling Wing and 60th Air Mobility Wing flew a KC-46A Pegasus to Misawa Air Base, Japan, showcasing the indispensable role of air refueling during an off-station training in support of F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 14th Fighter Squadron (FS).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Secures More Than $7 Million to Strengthen Reno-Tahoe Airport’s Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she secured over $7.6 million for Reno-Tahoe International Airport to allow the airport to accommodate more overnight aircraft operations and improve overall airfield efficiency. The funding comes from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Senator Rosen helped write and pass. This funding will help add 8,850 square yards of ramp at the airport.
    “Reno-Tahoe International Airport is vital to Northern Nevada’s economy — bringing visitors from around the world who contribute to our economy,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to support the airport’s expansion and ensure it has the infrastructure it needs to meet growing demand. I’ll continue working to deliver the federal resources to boost Nevada’s tourism economy.”
    Senator Rosen continues delivering federal resources to support Nevada’s airport infrastructure. Last year, she announced nearly $28 million for airport safety and runway upgrades at Harry Reid International Airport. In February 2024, Rosen secured $7 million for terminal expansion at Reno–Tahoe International Airport through the Airport Terminal Program —which she personally helped create in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And in November 2023, Senator Rosen secured $60.9 million for Nevada airports, directing more than $6.9 million to Reno–Tahoe International Airport and over $46 million to Harry Reid International Airport.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, DeLauro, Scott, Baldwin Call on Department of Education to Immediately Cease Illegal Plan to Transfer Career and Technical Education Program Responsibilities to Labor Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    As McMahon and Trump attempt to illegally dismantle ED, top lawmakers call on McMahon to follow the explicit mandates in key authorizing and appropriations laws—ensuring essential educational programs are faithfully administered for students nationwide

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee; Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce; and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, sent a letter to Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon calling out the Department’s illegal efforts to attempt to transfer responsibility over career and technical education (CTE) programs to the Department of Labor (DOL).

    “We write to express our deep opposition to attempts, including the Interagency Agreement (IAA) dated May 21st, to move the administration of any aspect of career and technical education (CTE) programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 or the adult education programs authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act in Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor,” write the lawmakers, noting that: “Perkins CTE and adult education are education programs whose purpose is to expand educational opportunities to youth and adults. Any attempt to move these programs to Labor would fundamentally alter the purposes of those programs and risk turning them into short-term job training programs, no different than those that are funded under WIOA. Most importantly, it would upend decades of work that took place at the state and local level to embed CTE programs into secondary and postsecondary offerings and improve the quality of CTE and adult education.”

    The lawmakers noted that in addition to being illegal, ED’s attempt to transfer administration of grant funding for CTE programs to DOL while maintaining some policy functions at ED would actually create more inefficiency and trouble for everyone who depends on the programs: “This likely would mean states, institutions of higher education, and school districts would have to work with two federal agencies in the administration of these programs, leading to delays in agency decision-making and grant administration. This will likely lead to increased inefficiency in the administration of these important programs.”

    “We have a simple demand: to follow our nation’s education and appropriations laws as Congress wrote them. Congress authorized the Department of Education to carry out Perkins career and technical education programs and adult education programs, and Congress annually appropriates funding to the Department of Education to carry out these programs,” state the lawmakers. “Should the Trump Administration have ideas for changing which agency should administer the federal career and technical education program, then the administration needs to propose its ideas to Congress for full and fair consideration through the normal legislative process. In the meantime, we urge you to cease plans to implement this IAA immediately and implement CTE and adult education programs as specified in authorizing and annual appropriations laws.”

    The full letter is available HERE and below:

    The Honorable Linda McMahon

    Secretary

    U.S. Department of Education

    400 Maryland Avenue, SW

    Washington, DC  20202

    Dear Secretary McMahon:

    We write to express our deep opposition to attempts, including the Interagency Agreement (IAA) dated May 21st, to move the administration of any aspect of career and technical education (CTE) programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006[1] (Perkins) or the adult education programs authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act in Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)[2] from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor (Labor). Congress authorized the Department of Education to carry out career and technical education programs, most recently with the bipartisan reauthorization of Perkins in 2018 and adult education programs in WIOA. Congress also appropriates funding annually, on a bipartisan basis, to the Department of Education to carry out career and technical education programs and adult education programs. You have also acknowledged in congressional testimony, that only Congress is responsible for determining whether to dismantle the Department of Education and its programs. We write to remind you that it is not within your authority to move the administration of these programs to any other agency. Perkins CTE and adult education are education programs whose purpose is to expand educational opportunities to youth and adults. Any attempt to move these programs to Labor would fundamentally alter the purposes of those programs and risk turning them into short-term job training programs, no different than those that are funded under WIOA. Most importantly, it would upend decades of work that took place at the state and local level to embed CTE programs into secondary and postsecondary offerings and improve the quality of CTE and adult education. 

    Congress passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act in 2018 to reauthorize Perkins and clearly vested responsibility for administering the law to the Department of Education.[3] The law also vests the Secretary of Education with various responsibilities, including: allotting funds to States;[4] rulemaking under the law;[5] assisting States in establishing State-determined levels of performance required under the law;[6] carrying out numerous reporting requirements;[7] making grants to outlying areas;[8] making grants to Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian organizations;[9] reviewing and approving State plans;[10] working with States to implement improvement activities;[11] withholding a portion of an eligible agency’s allotment if the agency is not properly implementing improvement activities;[12] waiving distribution rules for Perkins formula dollars under certain circumstances;[13] and enforcing maintenance of effort requirements;[14] among other activities. But the law does not contain any provisions that would permit you to offload your responsibilities to another agency.

    Additionally, Congress authorized the Secretary of Education to carry out adult education programs in Title II of WIOA. As part of that title, Congress directed the Secretary to undertake various responsibilities in administering the adult education programs, including awarding grants to eligible agencies;[15] determining allotments for formula disbursements;[16] awarding grants to outlying areas;[17] carrying out fiscal management provisions;[18] enforcing supplement not supplant and maintenance of effort provisions;[19] carrying out national leadership activities;[20] awarding grants to state for integrated literacy and civics education;[21] and carrying out certain reporting requirements.[22] WIOA Title II does not contain any provisions that would permit you to offload your responsibilities to another agency.

    Congress also passes annual, bipartisan appropriations that provide funding to the Department of Education to carry out the Perkins career and technical education programs and the WIOA Title II adult education programs. As part of that annual appropriations process, Congress does not provide affirmative authority to the Department of Education to transfer career and technical education funding or adult education funding to Labor. In fact, the only transfer authority provided to the Department of Education by the annual appropriations bill is the authority to transfer one percent of discretionary funds between education appropriations accounts, so long as no such appropriation is increased by more than three percent by any such transfer.[23] Such a limited transfer within the Department of Education is not what you are contemplating here.[24] Moreover, transfers of any other type, including the type contemplated by the Department’s May 21st  IAA with the Department of Labor, are prohibited by section 512 of Division D of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (and maintained by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025), which states, “None of the funds made available in this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriation Act.”[25] As with the authorizing statutes, the annual appropriations process clearly requires the Department of Education to carry out both Perkins career and technical education programs and adult education programs.

    In testimony to Congress, you have stated that you will follow the law.[26] In May, before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, you testified that only Congress can abolish the Department of Education and end its functions, stating about you and President Trump, “We both know and understand that the Department of Education cannot be closed unless Congress votes to do that.”[27] But, troublingly, you also said about the Department that, “It is actually a pass-through mechanism for funding that is appropriated by Congress. And whether the channels of that funding are through HHS or whether they’re funneled through the DOJ, or whether they’re funneled through Treasury or SBA or other departments, the work is going to continue to get done.”[28]

    Respectfully, federal agencies are not interchangeable entities that simply hand out money to states and localities. Instead, each agency provides its own specific expertise in the administration of federal programs, in this case education programs. The Department of Education has the expertise in working with state educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and local school districts in the administration of these programs. Schools in local communities and state educational agencies rely on the guidance and technical expertise from the educational experts at the Department of Education to carry out these programs. Congress recognizes the expertise that specific agencies provide and very deliberately decides which agency to vest authority with when passing laws. Congress was similarly clear in 2018, when it vested the Department of Education with the authority to carry out Perkins career and technical education programs and did not provide any mechanism in the law for the Department to transfer that authority to another agency.

    The May 21 IAA flies in the face of laws enacted by Congress, annual appropriations requirements, and practice in states. The IAA also seems to purport to transfer the administration of grant funding for CTE and adult education programs to the Department of Labor, while maintaining some policy functions for CTE and adult education programs at your Department. This likely would mean states, institutions of higher education, and school districts would have to work with two federal agencies in the administration of these programs, leading to delays in agency decision-making and grant administration.  This will likely lead to increased inefficiency in the administration of these important programs.

    We have a simple demand – to follow our nation’s education and appropriations laws as Congress wrote them. Congress authorized the Department of Education to carry out Perkins career and technical education programs and adult education programs and Congress annually appropriates funding to the Department of Education to carry out these programs. Relying on interagency agreements drafted behind closed doors with no notice to the lawmakers who are responsible for the authorization and appropriations for these programs  cannot be considered “working with Congress” as one of your staff recently claimed you were doing on this matter.[29] Should the Trump Administration have ideas for changing which agency should administer the federal career and technical education program, then the administration needs to propose its ideas to Congress for full and fair consideration through the normal legislative process. In the meantime, we urge you to cease plans to implement this IAA immediately and implement CTE and adult education programs as specified in authorizing and annual appropriations laws. If you continue to flout the very clear reading of the law in this case, it will affirm deep concerns we have about how you will faithfully execute all laws you are tasked with carrying out as the Secretary of Education. 

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Announces $5.8 Million to Upgrade Airports Across Louisiana from His Infrastructure Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is granting Louisiana a total of $5,764,492.00 in funding from his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to improve airport infrastructure in Farmerville, Ruston, Oak Grove, Many, Lake Charles, and Abbeville.
    “Airports are the first impression communities make on people visiting our state,” said Dr. Cassidy. “These upgrades help local airports grow, create jobs, and improve regional development.”

    Grant Awarded
    Recipient
    Project Description

    $454,821.00
    Union Parish Police Jury (Farmerville)
    This grant will provide federal funding to construct an 8,400 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage to help the airport be self-sustaining by generating revenue.

    $839,000.00
    City of Ruston
    This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 1,050 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage to help the airport be self-sustaining by generating revenue.

    $585,000.00
    West Carroll Kelly Airport Authority (Oak Grove)
    This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 10,000 square foot sponsor-owned box hangar complex for aircraft storage to help the airport be self-sustaining by generating revenue.

    $493,000.00
    Town of Many
    This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 170-foot hangar taxilane and a 5,000 square foot sponsor-owned box hangar complex to improve airfield access and support airport self-sufficiency.

    $2,700,044.00
    Airport Authority District No. 1 (Lake Charles)
    This grant will provide federal funding to construct a new terminal parking lot and reconstruct 2,600 feet of access roads to better serve airport passengers and general aviation users.

    $576,954.00
    Chennault International Airport Authority (Lake Charles)
    This grant will provide federal funding to rehabilitate 5,420 square yards of the existing South Apron pavement to maintain structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris.

    $116,673.00
    City of Abbeville
    This grant will provide federal funding to construct a 700-foot T-Hangar taxilane to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Releases Statement on Terrible Outlook of Social Security, Medicare

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement after the release of the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds annual report examining how much longer these programs can pay full benefits promised to taxpayers without significant benefit cuts. The report states that Social Security will become insolvent in 2033, forcing an automatic 23% benefit cut for all current and future beneficiaries. The Medicare Trust Fund will become insolvent in 2033, three years earlier than previously predicted. 
    “In eight years, millions of Americans who rely on Social Security and Medicare will be left stranded if Washington does nothing,” said Dr. Cassidy. “If we borrow to pay for benefits, we will rack up hundreds of trillions of dollars in debt. Congress must do everything we can to address a cliff we all see coming.”
    Read the full report here. 
    Background
    Cassidy has championed his “Big Idea” to save, strengthen, and secure America’s retirement system. He released the inaugural Bill on the Hill video where he asked Capitol Hill visitors from across the country their thoughts on the looming benefit cuts to Social Security and presented his “Big Idea.”
    Cassidy has discussed the “Big Idea” at a public forum with AARP and delivered a keynote speech at the National Institute on Retirement Security’s (NIRS) 15th Annual Retirement Policy Conference on the future of Social Security. He also outlined his Social Security plan in a fireside chat with the Bipartisan Policy Committee, and authored op-eds in the Washington Examiner , the Wall Street Journal , State Affairs, and Washington Post.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Traditional tofu-making techniques power industry growth in China’s Huainan

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows the “Chrysanthemum-shaped tofu” made by Zhang Shihong, an inheritor of the tofu banquet making skills, in Shouxian County, Huainan City, east China’s Anhui Province. For thousands of years, the traditional tofu-making techniques have been carried on from generation to generation in Bagongshan Township of Shouxian County. This technique in 2014 was included in the fourth batch of the national representative list of intangible cultural heritage of China.

    The magic journey from soybeans to tofu includes more than ten processes, such as soybean selection, soaking, grinding, soy milk boiling and curdling.

    In Huainan City, tofu can be made into hundreds of dishes, including tofu dumplings, fried Huainan tofu steak and “Chrysanthemum-shaped tofu”, which requires chef to conduct cutting on a piece of tofo for over 160 times.

    In 2024, the output value of the entire soybean products industry chain in the city reached 4.52 billion yuan (about 0.63 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percent. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia ready to hand over 3,000 more bodies of Ukrainian soldiers: Putin

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Russia is prepared to hand over the bodies of an additional 3,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

    “We have returned the bodies of 6,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers. We are ready to hand over approximately 3,000 more,” he said during a meeting with the heads of leading international news agencies in St. Petersburg.

    “These are, I repeat, sad and tragic figures,” Putin said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Growing Chinese market offers greater stability, opportunity to world economy

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    From durian plantations to iron ore mines, producers around the world are placing their bets on China’s consumption boom.

    As the world’s second-largest importer, China boasts a vast market of 1.4 billion increasingly prosperous individuals. This market is offering much-needed stability amid subdued global growth and rising protectionism and unilateralism.

    Vendors transport packaged durians at Haijixing Market, a large wholesale fruit market, in Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 25, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    As China strives to stimulate domestic demand across the board while expanding voluntary and unilateral opening up in an orderly manner, its vast market will create more opportunities and choices for the world.

    A market too big to ingnore 

    A freshly harvested durian in Malaysia can now land on a Chinese plate within a day — a logistic sprint to satisfy China’s growing appetite for the “king of fruits.”

    Eyeing a bigger slice of the multi-billion-U.S. dollar market in China, the Southeast Asian country began exporting fresh durian to China last August, adding to its existing trade in frozen pulp and processed products.

    “Over 70 percent of Malaysia’s durian exports went to China between 2017 and 2023,” said Edwyn Chiang, secretary general of the Malaysia International Durian Industry Development Association.

    The durian frenzy in China, the world’s top consumer of the spiky fruit, epitomizes the nation’s broad import appetite. From Brazilian soybeans to German machinery, the breadth of China’s consumption continues to buoy global trade even as other engines sputter.

    Boosting imports is critical to China’s high-quality development. By bringing in high-quality foreign goods and services, they not only directly meet domestic production and consumption needs, but also stimulate market competition, elevate overall supply standards, and ultimately fulfill people’s aspirations for better lives, said Yu Chunhai, a professor at Renmin University of China.

    An anchor of stability 

    Nearly half a world away, in Nyagatare, a district in Rwanda’s eastern province, the sun beats down on the vibrant chili fields of Gashora Farm PLC, where a story of cooperation and prosperity is unfolding.

    The farm’s link to the Chinese market began in 2018 when Managing Director Dieudonne Twahirwa attended the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. “The Chinese market is enormous. We saw strong demand for Rwandan dried chili,” Twahirwa said.

    In 2024, the Gashora Farm partnered China’s Hunan Modern Agriculture International Development Co., Ltd. to launch the Rwanda-Hunan Chili Pepper Industry Demonstration Project. Under a contract farming model, the project covers 100 hectares and spans the entire value chain — from seedling cultivation to export. In the first season following the signing of the deal, 200 tonnes of dried chili were shipped to China.

    “The Chinese market offers more than orders. It brings stability and investment,” said Twahirwa.

    Chili is among the growing number of African products entering the Chinese market. In the first five months of 2025, China’s imports of African coffee, cocoa beans and frozen strawberries surged 145.7 percent, 88.6 percent, and 82 percent, respectively, according to Chinese customs data.

    “China’s expanding imports directly benefit other countries by creating more trade opportunities. For instance, more African products are entering the Chinese market thanks to China’s favorable trade policy for the region,” said Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

    China has recently announced that it is ready to negotiate and sign the agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development to implement the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

    Challenges remain 

    Despite China’s huge potential to expand imports, challenges and difficulties remain due to the uncertainty of international trade policies and slowing global economic growth, experts cautioned. This trend is evident in the recent decline of imports into China.

    Commenting on the decline of imports in May, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) spokesperson Fu Linghui said at a press conference early this week that slowing global trade growth inevitably affected China’s import growth and the restrictive trade measures by some countries also had adverse effects on imports. The drop in international commodity prices, meanwhile, also impacted import data. In the first five months of 2025, the average prices of China’s imported iron ore, crude oil, coal and soybeans all decreased.

    As China makes efforts to promote economic restructuring and consumption-led growth, Bai noted that it would be an exaggeration to say that the decline in imports in recent months indicates weak progress in China’s transition toward consumption-driven growth.

    The latest NBS data showed that China’s consumer spending in May posted its strongest growth in nearly 18 months, with retail sales of consumer goods expanding 6.4 percent year on year in May, a 1.3-percentage-point increase from April.

    Bai said China’s import expansion would also hinge on the availability of high-quality and price-friendly foreign products, and whether foreign supplies can match the country’s consumption needs. He added that some countries’ restrictive measures on exports to China further complicated the matter. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US-China fashion collaboration ‘Life is a Race’ blends streetwear cultures

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The capsule collection “Life is a Race” unites China’s Team Wang Design, founded by pop star Jackson Wang, and U.S. brand Billionaire Boys Club, created by Pharrell Williams, merging Eastern and Western streetwear aesthetics.

    Models wearing “Life is a Race” jackets. [Photo courtesy of Team Wang Design]

    “Life is a race, but your own race,” Wang explained, highlighting his vision for a collection that celebrates authenticity, resilience, and the beauty of forging one’s own path. “This collection is for those who aren’t racing to be first, but racing to be you. It’s about authenticity, resilience, and owning your journey.”

    Inspired by the culture surrounding motorsports, the collection fuses speed, precision, and self-expression through minimalist yet ambitious design. It embodies its founders’ distinct visions. The relaxed streetwear aesthetic of Pharrell Williams’ joins Jackson Wang’s sharp-edged style. The result is a versatile line that merges performance-wear with urban fashion, defying conventional categorization and redefining contemporary boundaries.

    “Fashion, to me, has always been about individuality and freedom of expression,” Pharrell Williams explained. He continued, “It’s a reflection of who you are and who you’re becoming. This partnership between Billionaire Boys Club and Jackson is more than just design. It’s about blending personalities, cultures, and perspectives.”

    This marks the second collaboration between Wang and one of Williams’ ventures. Jackson and Team Wang Design previously launched the popular Team Joopiter on Williams’ digital auction platform in June of last year.

    The new “Life is a Race” collection features varsity, and biker-style jackets, statement tees, and everyday accessories. They are available globally from June 25. Separately, an exclusive Joopiter × Billionaire Boys Club × Team Wang Design collaboration will launch at the same time, featuring a T-shirt, biker jacket, and moto-inspired hoodie.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s desertification control efforts embrace high-tech solutions

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    From employing biotechnological techniques to deploying a range of AI-powered automated machines, China has actively embraced innovations to replace strenuous manual labor in its efforts to build ecological barriers against desertification.

    Tuesday marked World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Often described as the “cancer of the earth,” desertification is a global challenge affecting more than 100 countries and regions. China, one of the countries most severely impacted, has made significant strides in halting desert expansion through its decades-long afforestation campaign.

    This aerial drone file photo taken on Sept. 6, 2023 shows the border area between the Tengger Desert and a sand-controlling forest belt in Zhongwei, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

    Winding through towering sand dunes along the edge of the Tengger Desert, China’s fourth-largest, the Lanzhou-Baotou Railway, built in 1958, has not only remained well-maintained and free from encroaching sand over the decades but has also helped transform the barren landscape. Its shelter belts have fostered the growth of biocrust, bringing new life to the once-desolate land.

    The green belt protecting this vital transport artery stands as a near-miracle in the arid landscape. Over the past 60 years, massive human efforts have been mobilized in Zhongwei City, in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to create “straw checkerboard,” a dune stabilization technique where straw is laid out in a checkerboard pattern on the desert surface. These grids have provided a foundation for vegetation to take root and gradually transform the sand into green.

    Nicknamed the “Chinese Rubik’s Cube,” the technique is now widely adopted both across China and internationally to increase soil surface roughness, effectively reducing wind erosion in sandy areas.

    Workers build straw checkerboards in the Tengger Desert, in Zhongwei of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

    Within the checkerboards, the sand surface gradually forms a soil crust that helps prevent wind-driven movement. To speed up this process, Chinese researchers have developed lab-cultured cyanobacteria that accelerate the formation of biological soil crusts.

    “Under natural conditions, the formation of biological soil crusts takes 10 to 20 years. With the application of cyanobacteria, that process can be shortened to just one year,” said Zhao Yang, a researcher at the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    Zhao added that the technology has already been applied across more than 267 hectares in Ningxia, with plans to further expand its coverage in the coming years.

    By spraying cyanobacterial liquid onto the sand surface and combining it with the straw checkerboard technique, stable artificial biological soil crusts can form within 10 to 16 months. In treated areas, wind erosion has been reduced by over 95 percent, the survival rate of sand-fixing shrubs has increased by 10 to 15 percent, and the need for seedling replacement has dropped by nearly 40 percent, significantly cutting the overall cost of sand control, Zhao explained.

    Tang Ximing, chief engineer at the Zhongwei state-owned forestry farm, recalled that with summer ground temperatures as high as 70 degrees Celsius, survival rates of saplings planted in decades ago were just over 40 percent. But the planting efforts have never been baffled.

    Tang Ximing, a senior engineer at a state-owned forestry farm in Zhongwei, demonstrates an upgraded electric seedling planter invented by himself in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

    In 2023, Tang developed an electric drilling device that allows workers to plant saplings into a 50-centimeter-deep layer of moist sand within the checkerboards in under 10 seconds. Previously, even skilled forestry workers needed three to four minutes to dig a single tree pit manually.

    Technology is accelerating China’s desertification control efforts, which are shifting from labor-intensive planting methods to innovative strategies powered by advanced technologies and intelligent machine fleets.

    Ordos City in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has introduced an integrated smart system that combines remote-controlled desertification monitoring with real-time data from satellite imagery, drone surveys, and ground sensors. This system enables precise tracking of dynamic indicators such as vegetation coverage and soil moisture levels of afforested areas.

    Meanwhile, in the green belt surrounding the Hunshandake Sandland — the nearest desert threat to Beijing — planting machines continuously shuttle back and forth, laying checkerboards and sowing grass seeds, making desert afforestation as efficient as plowing farmland.

    “Creating straw barriers and sowing grass seeds were once two separate manual steps in sand-fixing planting. Now, the new machine combines both processes,” said Wang Lei, director of the intelligent equipment research institute of the Inner Mongolia-based M-Grass Ecological Environment (Group) Co., Ltd.

    This photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows a chamber for accelerated seed breeding at M-Grass Ecological Environment (Group) Co., Ltd. in Hohhot, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Bei He)

    He added that these intelligent devices outperform manual labor by more than 20 times in terms of work efficiency.

    China initiated the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program in 1978 to combat desertification across the northwest, north and northeast of the country. The world’s largest afforestation project is still undergoing.

    Currently, 53 percent of China’s treatable sandy land has been effectively managed through afforestation. The country is not only the first in the world to achieve “zero growth” in land degradation and a “double reduction” in desertified and sandy land areas, but has also transformed its role from a recipient of international desertification control aid to a key contributor to global ecological governance.

    Tang said the forestry farm receives many foreign visitors each year, eager to learn sand prevention and control techniques. He recently demonstrated how to create straw checkerboards and use his electric drilling tool to plant saplings for a group of guests from Mongolia.

    China has actively fulfilled its commitments under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification by establishing the International Knowledge Management Center on Combating Desertification in Ningxia in December 2019. The center aims to share China’s expertise and experience in desertification control with countries worldwide.

    During a visit to Mongolia, Tang saw that the country lacks seedling nurseries. However, it has leveraged its geographical proximity to China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to support seedling cultivation.

    In 2024, Inner Mongolia exported a total of 2.8 million saplings to Mongolia, with exports expected to soar to 10 million this year for the green building in Mongolia.

    Zhang Tianliang, a seedling exporter based in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, noted that his company recently exported species such as larch, spruce and golden-leaf elm. These trees are highly adaptable to dry, poor soils and severe cold, making them well-suited for cultivation in Mongolia, Zhang explained. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Scott Introduces Value Over Cost Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott

    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced a bill to prioritize the best value available instead of the just lowest cost alternative when choosing products or services for the federal government. The Value Over Cost Act would allow the Administrator of General Services to consider factors of quality and performance instead of only the lowest price.

    “The cheapest option doesn’t always best serve the interest of the government, even when we are working to be fiscally responsible,” said Senator Scott. “This legislation would give the necessary flexibility to secure services and products that would have the best quality, not just the lowest price tag.” 

    Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Full text of the legislation can be found here. 

    BACKGROUND:

    • The bill allows the Administrator of General Services to prioritize best value (as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation) over simply choosing the lowest cost alternative when it benefits the federal government’s interests. 
    • The Federal Acquisition Regulations define the best value by considering factors of quality and performance, not just the lowest price.
    • The language in sections 152(3)(B) of Title 41 and 3012(3)(B) of Title 10 is amended to include the possibility of choosing the best value when it is determined to serve the government’s best interests.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Scott, Colleagues Lead Effort to Strengthen Review of Foreign Land Purchases Near Sensitive U.S. Military Sites

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, is leading an effort to strengthen national security by ensuring the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) can effectively review foreign land purchases near sensitive military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites.

    The Protect Our Bases Act, which Senator Scott introduced along with Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), requires CFIUS member agencies to annually update records of the military, intelligence, and national laboratory facilities that should be designated as sensitive sites for national security purposes.   

    “The Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to infiltrate and surveil all parts of the U.S national security apparatus requires vigilance from our national security agencies. This legislation will enhance the review of foreign real estate transactions near critical national security installations, helping ensure CFIUS has the information it needs to protect our homeland and keep our nation safe,” said Senator Scott.

    “We must protect sensitive military and government sites from foreign adversaries pursuing intelligence activities on our own land,” said Senator Crapo. “Idaho has multiple military installations and the acclaimed Idaho National laboratory conducting vital research, development and training of critical national security efforts right here in our back yard, and increasing accountability about land sales around these sites is of utmost importance.”

    “We must address the growing threat from the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile regimes trying to get close to our most sensitive military and intelligence sites,” said Senator Tillis. “The Protect Our Bases Act ensures the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has the most up-to-date information on key U.S. national security locations so dangerous land purchases can be blocked well before they become security risks.”

    “Ensuring the safety and security of our military and government installations is a national priority,” said Senator Hagerty. “For too long, foreign adversaries have tried to exploit America’s open real estate market and rule of law in an attempt to gain strategic footholds. The Protect Our Bases Act gives our nation the tools to identify who is buying land near sensitive sites and stop transactions that could put the security of Americans at risk.”

    “As threats from our foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, Iran, and Russia, continue to escalate, it’s paramount that we secure our intelligence,” said Senator Britt. “Allowing CFIUS to review foreign land purchases near sensitive military and government sites is just common sense. Proud to join this legislation that takes a crucial step toward strengthening our national security and safeguarding our strategic advantages.”

    “There’s no reason why America’s adversaries should be able to buy land next to our military bases,” said Senator Ricketts. “Farmland adjacent to sensitive sites should remain in the hands of American farmers and ranchers, not Communist China. This commonsense bill will help to protect our troops, prevent espionage, and counter our adversaries.”

    “It’s become all too apparent in recent years that our nation faces a threat from land purchases by foreign adversaries. Allowing the Chinese Communist Party to purchase land near our military bases and government sites poses a severe risk to our national security,” said Senator Moreno. “ We need to strengthen CFIUS to review these purchases near sensitive national security installations to protect our nation’s security from being compromised by the CCP and other enemies.”

    “The security of our nation’s military operations and intelligence cannot be taken lightly,” said Senator McCormick. “Conducting rigorous oversight of foreign real estate transactions near our bases is essential to upholding our national security. This legislation is a much-needed step toward combatting China’s malign influence.”

    BACKGROUND:

    In 2022, Fufeng Group, a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, announced it would purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) determined that it could not evaluate the transaction for national security risks because the Department of Defense had not listed the base as a sensitive site for national security purposes. Although the City of Grand Forks ultimately blocked the transaction, the incident demonstrated a significant flaw in the review process of foreign land purchases. CFIUS relies on its member agencies to provide updated information on sensitive military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites in order to properly assess the security risk of foreign investment in our country. If CFIUS member agencies do not appropriately update their site lists, CFIUS cannot ensure an accurate review.

    In addition to requiring agencies represented on CFIUS to provide updated records of the military, intelligence, and national laboratory facilities that should be sensitive sites on an annual basis, the Protect Our Bases Act makes these records easier for CFIUS to use for national security reviews and requires CFIUS to submit an annual report to Congress certifying the completion of such reviews and the accuracy of its real estate listings.

    For bill text, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Direk

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police and emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash at Direk.
    Just after 10am Thursday 19 June police were called to Heaslip Road after reports of a two-vehicle crash.
    Heaslip road is closed at Direk.
    Please avoid the area.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Popular period-tracking apps can hold years of personal data – new NZ research finds mixed awareness of risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Friedlander, PhD Candidate in Sociology, University of Waikato

    Shutterstock/Krotnakro

    Period-tracking apps are popular digital tools for a range of menstrual, reproductive and general health purposes. But the way these apps collect and use data involves risk.

    Many apps encourage users to log information well beyond their menstrual cycle, including sexual activity, medications, sleep quality, exercise, social activity and perimenopause symptoms. As well as this logged data, apps often collect location and other personally identifiable information.

    Period tracking apps may pose a particularly high risk in places where abortion is illegal because user data may be accessed by law enforcement on request.

    Our new research examines how aware app users in Aotearoa New Zealand are of these risks. We found a range of levels of understanding and perspectives on risk, from untroubled to concerned and deeply worried about the implications of digital tracking for reproductive rights.

    Privacy, data and risk

    The first period-tracking app was released in 2013. Since then, hundreds of such apps have been created, with collectively hundreds of millions of downloads worldwide.

    A recent analysis found app downloads are particularly prevalent in North America, Europe, Australia and Aotearoa. The same study found three apps – Flo, Clue and Period Tracker – make up the majority of downloads.

    Some period apps can link to and import information from other apps and wearables. For example, Clue can link to and import information from the Oura smart ring and Apple Health, both of which gather personal health metrics. Flo can similarly import information from other health apps.

    A recent analysis of period app privacy policies found they often collect a range of personally identifiable information.

    Personal health data flows to third parties

    Some participants in our research have used an app for a decade or longer. This means the app holds a comprehensive database of years of intimate health data and other personal information, including some which they may not have chosen to provide.

    This data can be used by a range of third parties in commercial, research or other applications, sometimes without app users’ explicit knowledge or consent. One study found many period apps exported more data than was declared in privacy policies, including to third parties.

    Another study reported that apps changed privacy policies without obtaining user consent. Apps can also infer sensitive information not explicitly logged by users by combining data.

    In 2021, Flo reached a settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission on charges over its sharing of user data with marketing and analytics companies without user consent.

    App privacy policies often state that user data may be accessed by law enforcement on request, which is a major concern in places where abortion is illegal. Users may explicitly log the start and end of pregnancies, but pregnancy can also be inferred or predicted using other data. In some cases, period app data may therefore reveal a user’s miscarriage or abortion.

    Making sense of the risk in New Zealand

    Our exploration of user attitudes about the risk of period-tracking apps has revealed that about half of participants were unconcerned about their data. Some imagined positive uses for their data, such as improving the app or contributing to reproductive healthcare research. These potential uses are often highlighted by period-tracking apps in marketing materials.

    Other participants were concerned about their data. Some had risk minimisation strategies, including limiting what information they logged. Concerned participants were often resigned to uncontrolled uses of their data.

    One said:

    [there’s] no such thing as private data these days.

    Another thought that:

    everyone that does anything online […] is kind of accepting the fact that your data is being potentially accessed and used by third parties. It’s just kind of where it is now.

    About a third of participants in our study contextualised their concerns with respect to reproductive rights and abortion access, especially since the 2022 overturn of Roe v Wade in the US.

    Others wondered if what happened in the US could happen in New Zealand. One participant referenced concepts such as rangatiratanga and mana motuhake (self determination) when thinking about period app data. She said:

    I worry about the politics that happen overseas coming here to Aotearoa […] knowing that I don’t have full control or rangatiratanga over the data I provide .  I worry for all users about what this information can be used for in future, as much as we like to say ‘this is New Zealand, that would never happen here’, we have no idea.

    With gender and reproductive rights at risk around the world, such concerns are reasonable and justified.

    Study participants used period-tracking apps for diverse reasons, including to plan for periods, to track pain and communicate it to doctors, to help get pregnant, and to learn about their bodies. Some participants told us that using period apps was empowering. Some perceived period apps as risky, with limits to how they can mitigate the risk.

    Menstruators shouldn’t have to trade data privacy and security in order to access the benefits of period-tracking apps. Legislators and policy makers should understand the benefits and risks and ensure strong data protections are in place.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Popular period-tracking apps can hold years of personal data – new NZ research finds mixed awareness of risk – https://theconversation.com/popular-period-tracking-apps-can-hold-years-of-personal-data-new-nz-research-finds-mixed-awareness-of-risk-258920

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing to discuss the Department of Defense’s (DOD) budget for Fiscal Year 2026. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed utilizing AI for military modernization and improving standards for military personnel. Additionally, Senator Tuberville and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General J. Daniel Caine, discussed the future of war fighting.

    Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    ON LIBERATING LOS ANGELES AND MILITARY PERSONNEL QUALITY OF LIFE

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for being here today. Mr. Secretary, thanks for looking out for the law enforcement and the millions of people in California that still love this country and want this country to survive and not the radicals that wave non-American flags, that protest in the streets, tear things down. It is ridiculous and thank you for doing what you’re doing, you and President Trump. It’s getting out of hand.”

    [I’m] chairman of the [Senate Armed Services] Personnel [sub]committee. Thanks for your recruiting. You’re doing great. Keep looking out after the quality of life [of our troops]. Please do that. We’ve done research after research. We did give a raise. We wanna continue to give raises. These first-year staffers in this building make tens of thousands [of] dollars more than first-year military personnel. That’s not right. We need to change that. It’s an all-volunteer army and thank you for working towards that.” 

    ON MILITARY STANDARDS

    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Secretary, your opening remarks mentioned the force-wide review of military standards. What’s the status of that review?”

    HEGSETH: “It is ongoing and very close to fruition. We’ve reviewed standards, specifically on Combat MOSs first to ensure that we haven’t seen a reduction in pursuit of quotas or any other agendas. So, standards are being moved back to where they were at their highest level, gender neutral. And then we’re looking at overall fitness standards, overall grooming standards, overall basic standards across our formations that we believe have slipped certainly under the previous administration, but over decades. But we’re being very careful about it too. We don’t wanna make big changes that are wide-sweeping that have unintended consequences. So, we’re looking service by service, but also trying to simplify and clarify as much as possible. High standards, clear standards that set us apart.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for your help on putting me on the Air Force Board of Visitors […] and I look forward to going out soon, it is very important. We understand we do have problems in the Air Force Academy, and we’re going to get those straightened out, one way or another. So, thanks for you and President Trump for putting me on the board of visitors.”

    ON THE FUTURE OF WARFIGHTING

    TUBERVILLE: “General Caine, over the last few years, we’ve seen major efforts to refocus our services for future fights, Marine Corps force design, and the Army’s Transformation Initiative—[these] are major changes to the Joint Force. Can you describe the Joint Staff’s level of involvement in these efforts?”

    CAINE: “Sure. Thanks for the question. As the services carefully consider what they need to look like, one of my primary jobs is a global integrator. And so, I look at all of these capabilities as well as capacities. And then through a series of formal products that we deliver to the secretary have a chance to give the secretary my views on this. I appreciate the leadership of both of those services, all of the services, and the combatant commanders to identify what the fight of the future looks like and what the force mix of the future needs to look like. So, we’re deeply involved in all that.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

    ON MILITARY SERVICE AND SPORTS

    TUBERVILLE: “This is right up my alley here. One important aspect of recruiting is how our services are represented in elite sports. We have made progress here, but we still have to work and work some things out. But West Point this year had a young man that was drafted to play baseball. In the past time when President Trump was in [office], he allowed them to go, do their thing, and [play] baseball, then come back and fulfill their service, but we are disallowing a young man at West Point to go to Major League Baseball. Could you look into that Mr. Secretary?”

    HEGSETH: “Coach, we will review that. Yes.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing to discuss the Department of Defense’s (DOD) budget for Fiscal Year 2026. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed utilizing AI for military modernization and improving standards for military personnel. Additionally, Senator Tuberville and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General J. Daniel Caine, discussed the future of war fighting.

    Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    ON LIBERATING LOS ANGELES AND MILITARY PERSONNEL QUALITY OF LIFE

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for being here today. Mr. Secretary, thanks for looking out for the law enforcement and the millions of people in California that still love this country and want this country to survive and not the radicals that wave non-American flags, that protest in the streets, tear things down. It is ridiculous and thank you for doing what you’re doing, you and President Trump. It’s getting out of hand.”

    [I’m] chairman of the [Senate Armed Services] Personnel [sub]committee. Thanks for your recruiting. You’re doing great. Keep looking out after the quality of life [of our troops]. Please do that. We’ve done research after research. We did give a raise. We wanna continue to give raises. These first-year staffers in this building make tens of thousands [of] dollars more than first-year military personnel. That’s not right. We need to change that. It’s an all-volunteer army and thank you for working towards that.” 

    ON MILITARY STANDARDS

    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Secretary, your opening remarks mentioned the force-wide review of military standards. What’s the status of that review?”

    HEGSETH: “It is ongoing and very close to fruition. We’ve reviewed standards, specifically on Combat MOSs first to ensure that we haven’t seen a reduction in pursuit of quotas or any other agendas. So, standards are being moved back to where they were at their highest level, gender neutral. And then we’re looking at overall fitness standards, overall grooming standards, overall basic standards across our formations that we believe have slipped certainly under the previous administration, but over decades. But we’re being very careful about it too. We don’t wanna make big changes that are wide-sweeping that have unintended consequences. So, we’re looking service by service, but also trying to simplify and clarify as much as possible. High standards, clear standards that set us apart.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thanks for your help on putting me on the Air Force Board of Visitors […] and I look forward to going out soon, it is very important. We understand we do have problems in the Air Force Academy, and we’re going to get those straightened out, one way or another. So, thanks for you and President Trump for putting me on the board of visitors.”

    ON THE FUTURE OF WARFIGHTING

    TUBERVILLE: “General Caine, over the last few years, we’ve seen major efforts to refocus our services for future fights, Marine Corps force design, and the Army’s Transformation Initiative—[these] are major changes to the Joint Force. Can you describe the Joint Staff’s level of involvement in these efforts?”

    CAINE: “Sure. Thanks for the question. As the services carefully consider what they need to look like, one of my primary jobs is a global integrator. And so, I look at all of these capabilities as well as capacities. And then through a series of formal products that we deliver to the secretary have a chance to give the secretary my views on this. I appreciate the leadership of both of those services, all of the services, and the combatant commanders to identify what the fight of the future looks like and what the force mix of the future needs to look like. So, we’re deeply involved in all that.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

    ON MILITARY SERVICE AND SPORTS

    TUBERVILLE: “This is right up my alley here. One important aspect of recruiting is how our services are represented in elite sports. We have made progress here, but we still have to work and work some things out. But West Point this year had a young man that was drafted to play baseball. In the past time when President Trump was in [office], he allowed them to go, do their thing, and [play] baseball, then come back and fulfill their service, but we are disallowing a young man at West Point to go to Major League Baseball. Could you look into that Mr. Secretary?”

    HEGSETH: “Coach, we will review that. Yes.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia is becoming a notable partner of China in the economy – Russian President V. Putin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    St. Petersburg, June 19 /Xinhua/ — Russia is becoming a significant economic partner of China, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in response to a question from Xinhua News Agency Director General Fu Hua during a meeting with heads of international news agencies on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is being held in St. Petersburg from June 18 to 21.

    “Russia is becoming a very visible partner for the People’s Republic of China in the economic sphere,” he noted.

    According to V. Putin, the volume of bilateral trade turnover of 240 billion US dollars is decent. In addition, Russia and China have planned investment projects worth 200 billion dollars. “And they are all realistic, they will all be implemented, I have no doubts,” he said.

    At the same time, the Russian President emphasized that the expansion of Russia’s economic cooperation with China is not connected with “some kind of turn” toward Asia. According to him, this is a natural direction of cooperation, and relations with China were not built yesterday. “This is not a matter of opportunism. All this is happening to a large extent, I must say frankly, due to the growth in the volume and quality of the Chinese economy, and, I hope, the growth in the volume and quality of the Russian economy,” the Russian leader added.

    Speaking about the priorities of bilateral cooperation, V. Putin named the financial sphere. “We need to ensure, of course, reliable financial flows that ensure growing volumes of trade turnover,” he said.

    The Russian President also spoke about the need to focus more on high-tech areas: the construction of heavy helicopters, space, and aircraft manufacturing. He praised China’s achievements in information technology. “I was surprised and pleased when the Chinese achieved simply demonstratively outstanding results in the development of artificial intelligence. It turned out to be 10 times cheaper than our competitors, and 10 times more effective – this is the result that our Chinese friends have achieved,” he noted.

    As V. Putin emphasized, military-technical cooperation is developing between Russia and China, which, according to him, is extremely important in order to “guarantee stability in world affairs.” “We have a whole plan for cooperation in this area, and the Ministry of Defense has its own plans for interaction. We regularly conduct exercises and will conduct them this year,” the president said.

    The Russian leader also declared his readiness to exchange military technologies with China. “We know about the wishes of our Chinese friends. This is not just about buying and selling, but about exchanging technologies. We are ready for this and will work in all directions,” he concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia is ready to continue negotiations on settlement in Ukraine – Russian President V. Putin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    St. Petersburg, June 19 (Xinhua) — Russia wants the conflict in Ukraine to end as soon as possible and is ready to continue settlement talks that began in Istanbul in 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with heads of international news agencies on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is being held in St. Petersburg from June 18 to 21.

    “In 2022, it seems strange, but we agreed on everything with them. Do you understand? The draft agreement was prepared. It touched on denazification issues, and territorial issues. We found formulations that generally suited both us and Ukraine. No, then those who want to increase defense spending now came: in Europe and overseas. They said – no need. We need to defeat Russia on the battlefield. Everything we agreed on was thrown in the trash. And that’s it. And we began to achieve this wonderful goal,” V. Putin said.

    “And now the situation is: no, you know, let’s negotiate. Let’s do it. But let’s open these packages and negotiate. But we can’t sit there day and night for a whole year. Therefore, we are ready to continue these negotiations,” the Russian president noted.

    According to him, it is necessary not only to end the Ukrainian conflict in its current form, but to find a solution for the long-term historical perspective.

    “We need to find a solution that would not only put an end to today’s conflict, but would create conditions for the non-recurrence of such situations over a long historical period,” the Russian leader emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Riccarton death not suspicious

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can now advise that the death of a woman in Leslie Hills Drive, Riccarton yesterday was not suspicious.

    The woman was located critically injured in a car park, likely as a result of a medical event, and tragically died while being transported to hospital.

    A scene guard that was in place in the car park has been stood down and the woman’s death will be referred to the Coroner.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: While Trump cuts suicide hotline for gay kids, California invests in their mental health

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 18, 2025

    What you need to know: The Trump administration announced today that is has directed the national suicide prevention hotline to stop offering specialized support to LGBTQ callers. California continues to support this population. 

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today condemned the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate specialized suicide prevention support for LGBTQ youth callers through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — a vital service used by hundreds of thousands in crisis. While the federal government turns its back on vulnerable youth, California is stepping up with historic mental health investments, including a $4.7 billion Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health and continued partnerships with organizations like the Trevor Project to provide LGBTQ suicide prevention for youth.

    “Cutting off a proven lifeline for people in need is outrageous and inexcusable. While this federal administration slashes services and tries to erase LGBTQ people, California will do the opposite. Every child — straight, gay, transgender — belongs.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Current landscape

    In September 2022, the Trevor Project started providing LGBTQ youth specialized support through the 988 Lifeline. Federal funding for these specialized services will no longer be available via the 988 program starting on July 17. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide each year, and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. They also said that their counselors helped about 500,000 people in 2024, 231,000 of which came through the 988 line.

    California resources

    In California, there are 12 centers that have trained crisis counselors to respond to 988 calls/chats/texts from help seekers needing support during suicide/behavioral health crises. Specialized services for LGBTQ youth and young adults can be accessed directly via the Trevor Project by phone/text/chat at 1-866-488-7386.

    Additionally, California offers digital mental health support for youth, young adults, and families via CalHOPE for non-crisis moments. The CalHOPE warm line connects callers to peer counselors who listen with compassion, provide non-judgmental support, and guide you to additional resources that can give hope and help you cope.

    CalHOPE Connect offers safe, secure, and culturally sensitive emotional support for all Californians who may need support related to stress, anxiety, and depression. Resources for LGBTQ youth can be found HERE.

    Recent news

    Jun 18, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Dina El-Tawansy, of San Leandro, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Transportation. El-Tawansy has been District 4 Director at the California Department of…

    Jun 18, 2025

    News What you need to know: President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles has already left crews fighting fires across the state short-staffed. SACRAMENTO – As multiple fires burn across the state today, a critical firefighting resource is short-staffed due…

    Jun 18, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring June 2025, as “LGBTQ+ Pride Month.” The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONThis month – and every month – California supports and celebrates the…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Peters Advocates for Continued Funding for Freight & Passenger Rail Projects Across Michigan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – During a hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) advocated for continued investments to upgrade railroad infrastructure in Michigan. During the hearing, Peters highlighted the success of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has invested more than $140 million to improve freight operations and passenger service across Michigan.  

    “No state better exemplifies the reality of, and the opportunities for, passenger and freight rail than my home state of Michigan… As the home of the auto industry, and the heart of American manufacturing, Michigan’s freight rail network delivers cars, agricultural products, construction materials, and everyday goods all over our state as well as across international borders,” said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety.  

    “Michigan is also leading the way when it comes to passenger rail. The Michigan Department of Transportation has effectively taken advantage of resources that Congress provided to improve passenger rail service,” Peters continued. “This includes efforts to restore Amtrak service to the historic Michigan Central station in downtown Detroit and to expand that service across the Canadian border into Windsor in the coming years, a project that I’m going to continue to fight for.” 

    Peters advocated for numerous federal programs that have supported rail projects in Michigan, including the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program, which is being used for the expansion of accessible and affordable rail transportation service between key urban and rural communities across the state. 

    “This funding has specifically allowed Michigan to conduct the analysis and the planning that they need to support future expansion of passenger rail on all three of our Amtrak lines, the Wolverine, the Blue Water, and the Pier Marquette,” Peters added. 

    To ensure these ongoing projects continue moving forward, Peters made it clear that more must be done to keep these programs on solid financial footing into the future.  

    “Michigan is certainly not alone. Communities across the country have benefited from increased resources to strengthen their rail infrastructure, but this work is far from over,” Peters said. “Programs like the Corridor ID and Railroad Crossing Elimination Grants can only reach their full potential if we follow up with continued investment to ensure projects that are already underway are not abandoned midway.” 

    In response, Ian Jefferies, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of American Railroads agreed with Peters, saying, “My concern, if you let those programs be dormant or stagnate, is that there’s going to be a lot of missed opportunities to partner with public agencies throughout the entire country… to do projects that otherwise may not get done. That will have real benefits to cities and towns across the U.S., and the movement of freight, goods, and people.”  

    To watch video of Senator Peters’ opening remarks and question at the hearing, click here.

    Peters has consistently advocated for investments in our rail infrastructure made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, including a $119 million investment to support five major commercial and passenger rail improvement projects across Michigan. In 2023, Peters helped announce $20 million in federal funding to replace the Manistee River Bridge in Manton to increase weight capacity and improve rail crossing safety. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Peters Releases Statement Ahead of Juneteenth National Independence Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following video statement to honor Juneteenth National Independence Day, which commemorates the day the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom.

    “On Juneteenth National Independence Day, we commemorate the closing of one of our nation’s darkest and most painful chapters, and recommit ourselves to addressing the systemic inequalities and racial disparities that persist in our society,” said Senator Peters. “Together, we can create a better, more inclusive future, one where we tackle disparities in healthcare, education, job opportunities, and housing. And one where we protect the bedrock of our democracy: the fundamental right to vote.”

    Click here for video of his remarks and see below the text as delivered:

    “On June 19th, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform over two hundred thousand of the last enslaved African Americans that they were free. This came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.  

    “On Juneteenth National Independence Day, we commemorate the closing of one of our nation’s darkest and most painful chapters, and recommit ourselves to addressing the systemic inequalities and racial disparities that persist in our society.? 

    “We’ve made significant progress toward creating a more just and equal society, but at the same time, we know there is still much more work to do to ensure every American has the same opportunities to succeed. No matter the challenges we face, the fight for fairness and equality must continue. 

    “Together, we can create a better, more inclusive future, one where we tackle disparities in healthcare, education, job opportunities and housing. And one where we protect the bedrock of our democracy: the fundamental right to vote.  

    “As we celebrate this holiday, let us remember the obligation we all share to the pursuit of justice, equality, and opportunity for all Americans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –