NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: 07.22.2025 Sen. Cruz Introduces Bill Targeting NGOs and Adversaries Funding Violent Riots

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and colleagues introduced the Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (Stop FUNDERs) Act. This bill adds rioting, as defined by the federal anti-riot statute, to the list of RICO predicate offenses, allowing the Department of Justice to use the full suite of RICO tools against entities who fund or coordinate violent interstate riots.
    Sen. Cruz said, “Every American has the right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest, but not to commit violence. Domestic NGOs and foreign adversaries fund and use riots in the United States to undermine the security and prosperity of Americans. My legislation will give the Department of Justice the tools it needs to hold them accountable, and I urge colleagues to pass it expeditiously.”
    The bill is cosponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Josh Hawley (R- Mo.).
    Sen. Cornyn said, “Radical, left-wing groups who fund acts of violence, coordinate attacks against law enforcement, and spearhead the destruction of property must be stopped. This legislation would add rioting to the list of racketeering offenses to crack down on this lawless behavior while ensuring the First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceful protest are protected.”
    Sen. Tuberville said, “77 million Americans voted for President Trump and his America First policy agenda – and that includes arresting and deporting illegal aliens. Democrats don’t like that – so they are rioting in the streets and violently attacking law enforcement officers. This cannot stand. My colleagues and I are introducing a bill to make sure the Department of Justice has the tools it needs to go after anti-American terrorist groups and their funders who are protecting illegal rapists, murderers, and criminals. We have to cut these violent riots off at the source. The adults are back in charge, and law and order will prevail.”
    Sen. Hagerty said, “From anti-Semitic riots to violent anti-ICE attacks, those who fund and coordinate violent riots across our country must be held accountable. The Stop FUNDERs Act will give the Department of Justice the tools it needs to bring those facilitating and financing violence on our campuses and in our streets to account.”
    Sen. Tillis said, “Organized riots like those in Los Angeles pose a serious threat to public safety, endanger law enforcement, and undermine the rule of law. The Stop FUNDERs Act gives the Department of Justice the tools to go after the individuals and organizations that fund and orchestrate violent riots across our country. I’m proud to support this legislation to hold these bad actors accountable and restore law and order in our communities.”
    Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas-24).
    Rep. Van Duyne said, “The standard of treating violent, extremist activists as individual criminals must end. It is time we empower our law enforcement with a commonsense tool to treat these violent mobs, their funding sources, and their organizers as the criminal enterprises they are by passing the Stop FUNDERS Act. Since the days of the George Floyd riots, to the violence we see across American cities and college campuses today, it is obvious there are well funded, well outfitted, and highly coordinated efforts to plan and execute violent and potentially deadly missions of chaos and mayhem. This is organized crime, and we need to attack it as such.”
    This bill is supported by Heritage Action and National Right to Work Committee.
    Read the full text of the bill here.
    BACKGROUND
    The Stop FUNDERs Act will:
    Amend 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1) to add “rioting,” as defined in the Anti-Riot Act, to the list of racketeering predicate offenses.
    Enable the Department of Justice to use RICO tools—including joint liability and group prosecution, conspiracy charges, asset forfeiture, and enhanced criminal penalties—against organizations and individuals who repeatedly fund or coordinate violent interstate riots.
    Deter abuse of nonprofit status and expose hidden financial pipelines behind politically motivated violence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • PM Modi to begin two-nation tour of UK, Maldives today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives beginning Wednesday, with a focus on deepening strategic partnerships and regional cooperation.

    PM Modi’s visit to the UK from July 23–24 comes at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marking his fourth trip to the country. Both sides are expected to review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), with discussions centred around trade, innovation, defence, climate action, health, and education.

    According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the talks will also include regional and global developments of mutual concern. PM Modi is also likely to meet King Charles III during the visit. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), under negotiation for some time, is expected to feature prominently in the discussions.

    In the second leg, the Prime Minister will travel to the Maldives from July 25–26 at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. This will be the PM’s third visit to the island nation, and the first by any head of government during President Muizzu’s tenure.

    The visit coincides with the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations on July 26, where Modi will be the Guest of Honour. The two leaders are expected to review the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.

    The visit underscores India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation. Key areas on the agenda include infrastructure development, defence collaboration, and regional economic connectivity.

    IANS

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Pacific – New world-class health services will transform Nauru – Govt of Nauru

    Source: Government of Nauru

     

    A month after the Government of Nauru announced a ground breaking strategic partnership with UAE company Global Mission Support Services (GMSS) to take over the management and delivery of the country’s health services, the results have already been transformational. 

     

    Minister for Public Health Maverick Eoe said while the first 30 days were earmarked for assessment and planning, the new medical team had already made major progress including reactivating the eye clinic and performing high-impact surgeries that previously could not be performed domestically.

     

    “The government decided that in order to make a real difference in the health care of all Nauruans we had to be innovative, and we are absolutely confident that this solution will dramatically improve, and restore trust in, our health system,” he said. 

     

    The health team has also responded to a dengue fever outbreak which is now under control following consultation with the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, while the company’s engineering team fixed the flooding at the hospital’s entrance which has been an issue for decades.  

     

    The partnership, at no extra cost to the Government, was announced in Parliament last month by President David Adeang, who said, “The government…. had concluded that engaging an experienced and capable private sector partner is a necessary step to ensure our people continue to receive quality and timely medical care, both locally and abroad.”

     

    He also said the new arrangement will reduce the financial burden on the OMR but assured the nation that “this arrangement will (still) ensure that our most vulnerable citizens—those who require overseas medical treatment—are cared for with dignity, efficiency, and compassion.”

     

    The GMSS medical team on Nauru are leading experts from across the world and include a US chief medical officer, a Ukrainian brigadier general who was a special forces physician, an Israeli ophthalmic surgeon, an Australian professor of public policy, a former British Royal Air Force doctor, and a US Navy admiral. 

     

    GMSS manager Roy Shaposhnik said, “Our mission has been receiving outstanding support and goodwill from government, the private sector, and most importantly, the people of Nauru.

     

    “Their support and cooperation remain our greatest motivators and enablers.”

     

    The initial team included civil engineers, logistics specialists, and operations personnel, followed by additional subject-matter experts who conducted in-depth assessments of the Nauru hospital and public health facilities.

     

    GMSS medical adviser Dr Dezheen Zebari said thinking of just how much change they can make in Nauru is “very exciting”.

     

    “This will be a transformative change and build a resilient health care system,” she said.

     

    Dr Zebari credited President Adeang along with ministers Eoe and Charmaine Scotty for “their vision.”

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Protect American Assets From Unlawful Seizure by Foreign Governments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    In violation of USMCA, Mexico’s president has repeatedly threatened to declare an American company’s property as a “Protected Natural Area” to unjustifiably seize the company’s assets
    WASHINGTON—Yesterday,United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led his colleagues in reintroducing the Defending American Property Abroad Act, legislation to impose retaliatory prohibitions to deter and punish any nation in the Western Hemisphere that unlawfully seizes American assets. This legislation responds to ongoing efforts by the Mexican government to seize a deep-water port owned by U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company in flagrant violation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) governing trade between our two nations. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ted Budd (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD). Representative August Pfluger (R-TX-11) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    In specific, this legislation would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prohibit vessels from entering a U.S. port if they previously used a port, land, or infrastructure that had been illegally seized from a U.S. entity by a foreign nation in the Western Hemisphere.  It also empowers the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate and respond to foreign governments that deny U.S. companies fair and equal treatment or that have expropriated, nationalized, or seized U.S. assets.
    “I strongly condemn the Mexican government’s threats against Vulcan Materials Company and I am pleased to see this bipartisan and bicameral rebuke from the United States Senate,” said Senator Hagerty.  “Under the leadership of Mexico’s previous president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and now the current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican government is committing a blatant theft against a major American company and, by extension, the United States itself. No nation should be allowed to bully an American firm without consequences. Our legislation will counter any attempt by the Mexican government to profit from illegal moves to expropriate, nationalize, or otherwise seize U.S. assets.”
    “American companies operating abroad should not have to fear arbitrary government actions that undermine their property rights,” said Representative Pfluger. “The Defending American Property Abroad Act will ensure that such actions do not go unchecked and that American businesses are protected from unjust expropriation. The protection of American property rights abroad is essential for fostering economic growth and maintaining our national security. I urge my colleagues in Congress to support this critical legislation and send a clear message that the United States will not tolerate unjust actions against American companies.”
    “The Mexican government’s unfair targeting of Vulcan Materials Company, a U.S.-based company that employs over 1,000 people in Virginia, is harmful to the relationship between our two countries and severely undermines investor confidence,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m joining my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to deter the illegal seizure of U.S. assets.”
    “The threats toward Vulcan’s lawfully permitted, U.S.-owned deep-water port from the Government of Mexico, even under a new president, have not ceased,” said Senator Britt. “Mexico continues to flagrantly violate international law with its actions, putting America’s and Alabama’s economic and national security at risk — and it won’t stand. I’m proud to fight for the rule of law and join Senator Hagerty in introducing the bipartisan Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025. This reaffirms the U.S. will impose crushing consequences if the Government of Mexico continues to execute its illegal scheme against Vulcan’s property.”
    “For years, the Mexican Government has shown undue aggression toward American businesses, primarily Alabama’s Vulcan Materials,” said Senator Tuberville. “The continued attempts to exploit Vulcan’s operation in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is a disgrace to our longstanding trade agreement with Mexico. The Trump Administration has hit the ground running to prioritize and empower American companies — I look forward to seeing this bill get across the finish line to ensure American companies are fully protected.”
    “U.S.-owned properties in the Western Hemisphere contribute much to our economy and should not be targeted by foreign nations,” said Senator Wicker. “This legislation would hold our allies accountable for their actions and increase protections on American-owned assets that have been expropriated.”
    “American-owned properties and businesses should not experience unlawful expropriation and abuse at the hands of hostile foreign governments,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Defending American Property Abroad Act would strengthen the U.S. response to the illegal seizure of American-owned properties by creating a clear set of consequences for those actions.” 
    Background:
    In May 2022, then-Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) abruptly shut down Vulcan Materials Company’s operations with false claims that the firm was violating its contract and his government subsequently waged an unceasing pressure campaign against Vulcan, including multiple lawsuits and sending military and law enforcement to its facilities.In May 2022, Senator Hagerty urged then-President Joe Biden to take action against the Mexican government’s moves to expropriate the property of U.S. companies with investments and operations in Mexico.
    In March 2023, Senator Hagerty pressed then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the seizure by Mexican military troops and civilian authorities of U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company’s assets in Mexico.
    In December 2023, Senators Hagerty and Kaine spoke on the Senate floor imploring then-President López Obrador to halt harmful actions against American companies’ lawfully owned assets in Mexico, noting that these unlawful actions violate agreements made between the two countries under the USMCA and jeopardize a key U.S. trade relationship.
    In August 2024, AMLO announced that he is pushing to designate the port and mine a “Protected Natural Area”.
    In September 2024, Senators Hagerty and Kaine introduced legislation to impose retaliatory prohibitions that deter and punish any Western Hemisphere nation that unlawfully seizes American assets, responding to ongoing efforts by the Government of Mexico to seize a deep-water port owned by U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company, which is a flagrant violation of the United Sates-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) governing trade between our two nations.
    In December 2024, Senators Hagerty and other lawmakers condemned ongoing efforts by then-U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai to weaken protections for American companies under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a counterproductive move that would make American companies vulnerable to Mexico seizing their property and assets.
    In April 2025, Senators Hagerty and Kaine sent a letter to Mexican Minister of Economy Ebrard Casaubon urging him to address the country’s unfair treatment of the U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company, which has operated in Mexico for decades and supports thousands of jobs in both countries.
    Full text of the Defending American Property Abroad Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing on SOCOM and AFRICOM Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing to consider the nominations of two senior military officers to lead U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
    In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker emphasized the importance of each combatant command in confronting the increasingly dangerous and complex national security environment and underscored the importance of ensuring both have sufficient funding and manpower to address growing threats.
    Read Senator Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.
    Good morning.  The committee meets today to consider the nominations of Vice Admiral Mitch Bradley, to be Commander, United States Special Operations Command, and Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson, to be Commander, United States Africa Command.
    I welcome our witnesses and their families, and I thank them for their continued willingness to serve our nation.
    If confirmed, Admiral Bradley will assume command at a time when Special Operations Command (SOCOM) faces a formidable challenge: SOCOM is being asked to build a force capable of combatting the advanced militaries of China and Russia while simultaneously remaining fully engaged in the fight against violent Islamic terrorism. At the same time, special operators must be ready to respond at a moment’s notice as our nation’s premier crisis response force.
    It is clear to me that the role and importance of SOCOM is greater today than at any time since its establishment four decades ago.  However, SOCOM’s budget does not reflect this reality. Its budget has remained flat since 2019.  Adjusted for inflation, that amounts to roughly a 14 percent cut in purchasing power.  To amplify that point, SOCOM identified $757 million in unfunded requirements for Fiscal Year 2026.
    We want to ensure that SOCOM is fully resourced to meet the demands placed on it.  Admiral Bradley should tell us how he plans to meet those demands and how we can help.
    If confirmed, General Anderson will confront a growing array of threats on the African continent.  The Chinese Communist Party views Africa as a critical link in Xi Jinping’s unprecedented global military expansion and continues to pursue new bases for the People’s Liberation Army.  Vladimir Putin remains fully engaged in his destabilizing campaign to trade security assistance for access to Africa’s abundant natural resources.  This is one of Putin’s ways to fund his malign activities around the world.  All the while, Islamic violent extremist groups aligned with ISIS and al-Qaeda remain an enduring threat in Africa.
    Despite the growing complexity and scale of threats on the continent, AFRICOM remains under-resourced in both manpower and in critical capabilities like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
    I look forward to General Anderson’s assessment of Africa’s importance to our national security, as well as his description of what AFRICOM’s strategy should be to counter the growing threat posed by China, Russia, and our other adversaries across the continent. I am particularly interested in how General Anderson plans to use America’s economic tools, including the Office of Strategic Capital, to combat Chinese influence.
    If confirmed, our nominees will confront a global security environment that is defined by emboldened, aggressive dictators in Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, and Pyongyang.  They view this fight as a global fight, unconstrained by geographic boundaries and the traditional norms of warfare.  This axis of aggressors blends conventional military power with asymmetric tactics, including economic warfare, disinformation, and the use of proxy networks to undermine American security interests. The witnesses before us today will play a key role in the Department of Defense’s efforts to combat these challenges, and I look forward to hearing them address these and many other concerns during today’s hearing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing in Summer: Lotuses Blossom in City Parks

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) — Lotus flowers have started blooming in Beijing’s parks in the height of summer, adding beauty to the summer capital.

    BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) — Lotus flowers have started blooming in Beijing’s parks in the height of summer, adding beauty to the summer capital.

    BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) — Lotus flowers have started blooming in Beijing’s parks in the height of summer, adding beauty to the summer capital.

    BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) — Lotus flowers have started blooming in Beijing’s parks in the height of summer, adding beauty to the summer capital.

    BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) — Lotus flowers have started blooming in Beijing’s parks in the height of summer, adding beauty to the summer capital.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Central Asia Poverty Alleviation Cooperation Center and China-Central Asia Education Exchange and Cooperation Center Open in Urumqi

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) — The China-Central Asia Poverty Alleviation Cooperation Center and the China-Central Asia Education Exchange and Cooperation Center were opened Monday in Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    The decision to establish these two centers was announced on June 17 this year at the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana.

    The China-Central Asia Poverty Alleviation Cooperation Center is located in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the China-Central Asia Education Exchange and Cooperation Center is located in the Department of Education of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    The opening ceremony of these institutions was attended by Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee Chen Xiaojiang, Secretary General of the China-Central Asia Format Sun Weidong and others, the Xinjiang Daily newspaper reported.

    The opening of the above-mentioned centers marks a new stage of exchanges and cooperation between China and Central Asian countries in the field of poverty alleviation and education. In addition, it will expand a new space for practical exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between Xinjiang and the regions of Central Asian countries, the newspaper writes.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Wellness Boom in China: How Chinese Youth Are Investing in Their Health

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) — Young girls have become the main consumers of health products on Chinese e-commerce platforms. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals, “national health products” such as candied sweet rice (also known as babaofan) are widely popular among young people, and various immune-boosting drugs are gradually becoming the “fourth meal” for young people…

    Such phenomena are not uncommon in China. More and more young Chinese are paying attention to a healthy lifestyle and forming a new health trend.

    In contrast to traditional concepts of maintaining the health of the older generation, young people do not simply “drink more hot water” or “use immunomodulators,” but strive to implement a healthy lifestyle into all aspects of their lives.

    Zhang Yongjian, head of the Research Center for the Development and Supervision of Food and Pharmaceutical Industry at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the rise in education, more convenient access to scientific information in the field of health, as well as the trend towards “rejuvenation” of chronic diseases are forcing more and more young people to monitor their health more closely.

    According to the China Institute of Industry Research, the 15-25 year old group of young people is gradually becoming the main consumers in the health care market, and the related methods in this field are also becoming more and more diverse.

    Recently, the hashtag “TCM salon beats milk tea outlet in popularity” has been trending on Chinese social media Weibo. In response to the preferences of young people, some TCM pharmacies make special milk tea and sour plum soup, and some also serve them along with medicinal dishes.

    The First People’s Hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, southwest China, sells special TCM medicinal dishes according to the health maintenance methods of different seasons. “One of the milk teas with turmeric and cinnamon is very popular with young people,” said Liu Yan, deputy head of the hospital’s clinical dietetics department.

    As young people increasingly pay attention to healthy lifestyles, the health care product industry is booming. According to a report by marketing agency iiMedia Research, the health care product market has been growing steadily over the past five years and is expected to reach 423.7 billion yuan (about $59.1 billion) in 2027.

    “When consumers buy milk tea, they prefer low-sugar, low-fat products that have ingredients listed on the label,” said a worker at a confectionery shop in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, noting that big brands are starting to pay attention to adding healthy ingredients and their products are popular with young people who eat healthily.

    In addition, scientific and technological means also help Chinese youth improve their health. For example, with the popularization of intelligent health testing equipment such as smart bracelets, personal health management is simplified and more efficient.

    “You’ve been sitting for over 90 minutes!” – the smartwatch of 32-year-old programmer Zhang Yang vibrates, reminding him to get up and move around. After Zhang Yang took a break from work and performed a set of traditional Chinese breathing exercises called “Baduanjin”, the mobile health management app updated his activity in real time.

    According to the data, in the first quarter of 2024, shipments of wearable devices in the Chinese market grew by 36.2 percent year on year to 33.67 million units. Some smartwatches have increasingly advanced health monitoring features, including heart rate and blood saturation monitoring.

    “Maintaining health is no longer just advice from elders, but a quantitatively measurable aesthetic of daily life,” said Liu Junkang, CEO of Jinaitang Health Management Company.

    According to him, there are three key trends in healthy living among young consumers: using data to customize their daily routine, rethinking traditional treatments in a modern way, and prioritizing enjoyable and practical experiences in maintaining good health, which are changing the structure of the industry in the country.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first meeting of the Belarusian-Tajik intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation was held in Minsk

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    MINSK, July 23 (Xinhua) — The first meeting of the Belarusian-Tajik intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation was held in Minsk on Tuesday, the press service of the State Military-Industrial Committee (Goskomvoenprom) of Belarus reported.

    The event was held under the leadership of the Chairman of the State Military Industrial Committee Dmitry Pantus and the Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan Sherali Kabir. During the meeting, the parties reviewed the progress of the implementation of existing contracts, as well as promising areas for further cooperation and algorithms for their implementation.

    “This dialogue opens up new opportunities for strengthening the partnership between the two countries in the field of military technologies,” the State Military Industrial Committee said. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Willing to Work with All Parties to Advance High-Quality Joint Construction of Belt and Road Initiative — Chinese Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) — China is willing to continue working with all parties to push for tangible progress in the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road for common development and a win-win future, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Tuesday.

    The diplomat made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a recent report on the Belt and Road Initiative. According to the document, the value of projects under the Belt and Road Initiative in the first six months of this year exceeded the total amount of projects for the whole of 2024, reaching a record high. As some media outlets and experts have noted, China’s growing engagement with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative stands in stark contrast to the approach of the United States, which imposes high tariffs on trading partners around the world. Many countries see cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to deepen ties with China.

    Guo Jiakun pointed out that the joint construction of the Belt and Road has entered a new phase of high-quality development: from Eurasia to Africa and Latin America, from infrastructure and institutional connectivity to people-to-people connectivity. The fruits of this cooperation have benefited the people of more than 150 countries.

    To support this, the official cited some of the results of the Belt and Road demonstration projects. For example, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway has served more than 10 million passengers; the total number of trains dispatched within the China-Europe freight rail service has exceeded 110,000 trips; the new land-sea corridor between China and Latin American countries, linking the port of Chancai in Peru with the port of Shanghai in China, has opened for traffic in both directions; the installed capacity of solar power plants jointly built by China and African countries has exceeded 1.5 GW; “small and beautiful” projects such as the “Lu Ban Workshop” and the “juncao” grass cultivation technology have led many households onto the path to a prosperous life.

    Guo Jiakun noted that after more than a decade of development, the joint construction of the Belt and Road, which is based on promoting connectivity, has expanded to a platform for industrial and trade cooperation, helping more countries integrate into international industrial chains and jointly safeguarding the stability and resilience of global supply chains.

    According to the diplomat, in carrying out cooperation within the framework of the “Belt and Road”, China firmly adheres to the principle of “joint consultation, joint construction and joint use”, the concept of openness, greenness and integrity, as well as the pursuit of high-standard, sustainable and human-centered development. At the same time, China strives to promote the modernization of all countries, Guo Jiakun added.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: Your Questions Answered: How Will the Big Beautiful Bill Affect Asia and the Pacific?

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Economists Ahmad Miraj and Gabriele Ciminelli, with ADB’s Economic Research and Development Impact Department, answer questions about the recently approved One Big Beautiful Bill Act in the United States, based on research for the July 2025 Asian Development Outlook.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor’s new bill would cut HELP loans by 20%. But it also risks locking some graduates into a ‘debt treadmill’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor of Higher Education Policy, Monash University

    The Albanese government’s 20% cut to student debt is the first bill introduced to the new federal parliament. It is clever politics.

    In the government’s first term, the 3 million Australians with a student debt turned high indexation of their loan balances into a major issue. The proposed 20% cut flipped a political negative into a positive ahead of the May 2025 federal election.

    The 20% cut legislation, introduced on Wednesday, will also change how student debt is repaid. All the 1.2 million people currently repaying student loans will pay less per year as a result.

    How does the cut work, and what does it mean in practice for current students and people with student debt?

    Beware the fine print

    These changes come with disadvantages. The 20% cut is not well targeted. It will deliver major benefits to recent graduates, but much less to current students or earlier graduates, and nothing to future students.

    While repaying less HELP debt per year sounds good, more graduates will be caught on a debt treadmill, repaying less than the annual indexation on their HELP balance. Both HELP changes will also be costly for government.

    Meanwhile, the government has not changed the cost of degrees. Arts, law and business students continue to accrue debts of about $17,000 per year of study.

    How does the cut work?

    The 20% cut applies to all student loan schemes, including the five HELPs now operating in higher education – HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, OS-HELP, SA-HELP and START-UP HELP. These cover student fees as well as other programs to assist with overseas study or amenities fees.

    The loans to be cut by 20% will be based on amounts owed as at June 1 2025. As a guide to the amounts of money involved, the table below shows balances as at June 30 2024.

    Why the cut is not fair

    The benefits of the 20% cut will be distributed in a random and inequitable way, as a recent analysis from economic think tank the e61 Institute shows.

    The biggest beneficiaries will be people who recently completed their degrees: their borrowing has peaked but they have not made any significant repayments. Graduates who are partway through clearing their debt, and current students, will receive some benefit. People who recently completed their repayments, and future students, will receive no benefit at all.

    Other winners from the 20% cut will be current and former students of private higher education institutions, as they pay relatively high fees via the FEE-HELP scheme. So too do people who have borrowed to finance postgraduate degrees. Although most student debtors are women, men on average have higher debts, so they will benefit more from the 20% cut.

    A new repayment scheme

    The government is also changing how student debt is repaid.

    The income threshold at which repayments start will increase from A$56,156 to $67,000 a year for 2025–26. People with incomes between these levels who currently repay via employer salary deductions can stop after the legislation comes into force. Any unnecessary repayments will be refunded when 2025–26 tax returns are processed.

    Once the first income threshold is passed, the way repayments are calculated will also change. Under the current system, the repayment is a percentage of the person’s total income. At the $56,156 threshold the repayment rate is 1%, leading to a repayment of $561.56. These percentages increase incrementally up to 10% on incomes of $164,712 or more. The jagged repayment amounts in the chart below are the percentage of income rates changing 18 times on their way to 10%.

    The current repayment system was criticised as “unfair” by the Universities Accord final report in 2024, as an increase in income can result in lower take-home pay.

    Under the proposed system nobody will take home less money after a pay rise. Repayment will be based only on marginal income – the amount above the threshold. People with student debt will pay 15 cents in the dollar for all they earn between $67,000 and $124,999. From $125,000 the rate lifts to 17 cents in the dollar.

    The government has capped annual repayments at no more than 10% of the person’s total income. This ensures nobody pays more under the new repayment system.

    Slower repayments mean more debt in the end

    But there’s a catch.

    A Parliamentary Budget Office costing released in April 2025 estimates the effects of the new system on HELP repayment times. Obviously, if people repay less each year it will take them longer to clear their debt.

    For a HELP debtor consistently earning an average graduate income, the budget office estimates full repayment would take one more year, to 11 years in total. But for people starting their careers on lower incomes, below the $67,000 first threshold, repayment times could increase by much more, dragging out full repayment time from 32 to 40 years.

    What happens early in graduate careers is a major concern with the new system.

    Consider an arts graduate who finishes their degree with a HELP debt of $50,000. Indexation at the current inflation rate of 2.4% would be $1,200. Under the current repayment system, an arts graduate earning $65,000 would cover their indexation and reduce their debt by $100. Under the proposed system, arts graduates will see their debt increase through indexation unless they earn at least $75,000. For context, the median full-time salary for an arts graduate in 2023 was $69,400.

    The worry is many people will get stuck on a HELP debt treadmill, seeing their debt increase each year as they repay nothing or less than the indexation amount.

    The cost of these reforms

    In another report, the Parliamentary Budget Office estimated the initial debt waiver will cost $9 billion, plus the loss of future indexation.

    But quantifying the total cost of these changes is not straightforward, as it involves estimating the future income and consequent HELP repayments of 3 million people.

    As most HELP debtors will repay less each year under the new system, for the government it means delayed repayments and higher bad debt. The budget office thinks in 2025–26, repayments of loan principal will decline by $820 million compared to the current system.

    What about the Job-ready Graduates scheme?

    This highlights the need for a more coherent funding approach, which integrates debts and repayments in ways that are fair to students while moderating the cost to government.

    The Universities Accord final report recommended student contributions should be realigned with graduate earnings.

    Ideally, graduates working full-time should complete repayments within similar ranges of years, regardless of which course they took. That is far from what happens under the current system – known as the Job-ready Graduates scheme – set up under the Morrison government. With the annual humanities student contribution for 2026 set at $17,399, many arts graduates will struggle to ever get their debt under control.

    The government has promised but postponed changes to student contribution levels. The new Australian Tertiary Education Commission will advise the government on this matter.

    But student contributions alone cannot fix the problem. The repayment system must also be realistic about what different types of debtors earn. Especially with student loans now also serving vocational education, the $67,000 first threshold risks creating a larger group of people with permanent student debt.

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

    – ref. Labor’s new bill would cut HELP loans by 20%. But it also risks locking some graduates into a ‘debt treadmill’ – https://theconversation.com/labors-new-bill-would-cut-help-loans-by-20-but-it-also-risks-locking-some-graduates-into-a-debt-treadmill-261472

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ghosted by a friend? 4 expert tips on how to handle the hurt

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Willis, Associate Professor, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University

    martin-dm/Getty

    When we talk about “ghosting”, we usually think it relates to dating. But what happens when you’ve been ghosted by someone you’ve known for years – your childhood best friend, a parent, a child?

    These disappearances can be harder to explain, and even harder to heal from.

    It’s also surprisingly common. For instance, one study showed 38.6% of people have been ghosted by a friend.

    So why do people ghost those closest to them? What impact does it have on those left behind? How do you begin to move on?

    What is ghosting?

    Ghosting is when someone abruptly, or gradually, cuts off all communication without explanation. Whether it’s a friend, family member or love interest, the signs are much the same – messages left on read or calls ignored. Sometimes you’re blocked.

    Ghosting doesn’t just happen online. It can also play out in person, when someone deliberately ignores you – avoiding eye contact, refusing attempts to engage in conversation, pretending you’re not there.

    Unlike relationships that gradually wither over time, or end abruptly after an argument, ghosting is a one-sided withdrawal from a relationship that happens without closure.

    For the person left behind, it can feel like grief.

    Why do people ghost family and friends?

    People often ghost friends for the same reasons they ghost romantic partners.

    Ghosting is more common – and considered more acceptable – in brief or casual romantic relationships or friendships. That’s when people may ghost because they lose interest, wish to avoid confrontation, or find it easier than facing the discomfort of ending things directly.

    In longer-term relationships, ghosting may stem from incompatibility, be prompted by different priorities, physical distance, or growing apart over time.

    Major life transitions – such as becoming a parent, entering the workforce, moving, or going through a divorce – can often provide the catalyst for someone to shrink their social network.

    In some cases, ghosting is driven by self-preservation or concerns for personal safety, particularly when ghosting involves family members.

    People report ghosting in response to toxic, emotionally draining, or abusive relationships, often when previous attempts to resolve issues were met with abuse or aggression. In such instances, ghosting isn’t so much an avoidance strategy, but a last resort to preserve someone’s safety and psychological wellbeing.

    Ghosting has also been linked to certain personality traits. One study found people who reported ghosting others tended to score higher in narcissism (tend towards entitlement and lack of empathy) and borderline traits (so have trouble regulating emotions and are impulsive).

    Why does it hurt so much?

    People often ghost as they hope to spare the other person the pain of rejection. But that is rarely the case.

    Being ghosted by someone you’ve been close to for a long time is often associated with grief, much like the death of the loved one. After the initial shock, there is often anger and sadness.

    Ghosting also involves “ambiguous loss”. This ambiguity – the uncertainty and lack of closure – can almost freeze the grief process, making it particularly hard to move on.

    In addition to grief-like emotions, ghosting is also often associated with self-blame, rumination, feelings of worthlessness, and trust issues that can affect how someone relates to others in the future.

    How to cope if you’ve been ghosted

    There’s no easy fix and you can’t force someone to communicate with you if they don’t want to. But research points to some strategies that may help you move on and ease the pain:

    1. Acknowledge your feelings. Grief-like emotions are a normal reaction to being ghosted. Accept your emotions and express them in healthy ways. This is better than suppressing them, which is linked to depression, low self-esteem and reduced wellbeing.

    2. Seek social support. Social support is linked to a range of mental health benefits. Talk about your experience with friends, family or a mental health professional. This can help reduce feeling of isolation, and low self-worth. Greater social support is also associated with post-traumatic growth – positive psychological change that can emerge after a challenging life event.

    3. Choose self-compassion over rumination. It’s easy to get caught in the trap of replaying what happened and wondering what went wrong. But this can prolong distress and make it harder to move on. Instead treat yourself as you would a close friend – with kindness, compassion and care. Self-compassion has been linked to reduced rumination, anxiety and depression. Exercise, mindfulness and spending time in nature are examples of self-care with similar
      psychological benefits.

    4. Create your own closure. Being ghosted can often leave you stuck in a cycle of uncertainty and unanswered questions. You may never get an explanation and waiting for answers will only make it harder to move on. Writing a letter you don’t send can help create closure. This form of expressive writing can help you articulate your thoughts and emotions and make sense of your experience – and is linked to a range of psychological benefits.

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

    – ref. Ghosted by a friend? 4 expert tips on how to handle the hurt – https://theconversation.com/ghosted-by-a-friend-4-expert-tips-on-how-to-handle-the-hurt-260300

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Hard labour conditions of online moderators directly affect how well the internet is policed – new study

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tania Chatterjee, Joint PhD Candidate at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, The University of Queensland

    Getty Images/GCShutter

    Big tech platforms often present content moderation as a seamless, tech‑driven system. But human labour, often outsourced to countries such as India and the Philippines, plays a pivotal role in making judgements that involve understanding context. Technology alone can’t do this.

    Behind closed doors, hidden human moderators are tasked with filtering some of the internet’s most harmful material. They often do so with minimal mental health support and under strict non-disclosure agreements.

    After receiving vague training, moderators are expected to make decisions within seconds, keeping in mind a platform’s constantly changing content policies and ensuring at least 95% accuracy.

    Do these working conditions affect moderating decisions? To date, we don’t have much data on this. In a new study published in New Media & Society, we examined the everyday decision-making process of commercial content moderators in India.

    Our results shed light on how the employment conditions of moderators do shape the outcomes of their work – and three key arguments that emerged from our interviews.

    Efficiency over appropriateness

    “Would never recommend de-ranking content as it would take time.”

    —A 28-year-old audio moderator working for an Indian social media platform

    As moderators work under high productivity targets, it compels them to prioritise content that can be handled quickly without drawing attention from supervisors.

    In the above excerpt, the moderator explained she avoided content and processes that required more time to maintain her pace. While observing her work over a screen-share session, we noticed that reducing the visibility of content (de-ranking) involved four steps. Meanwhile ending live streams or removing posts required only two steps.

    To save time, she skipped the content flagged to be de-ranked. As a result, content marked for reduced visibility, such as impersonations, often remained on the platform until another moderator intervened.

    This shows how productivity pressures in the moderation industry easily lead to problematic content staying online.

    Decontextualised decisions

    “Ensure that none of the highlighted yellow words remained on the profile”

    —Instructions received by a text/image moderator

    Moderation work often includes automation tools that can detect certain words in text, transcribe speech, or use image recognition to scan the contents of pictures.

    These tools are supposed to assist moderators by flagging potential violations for further judgement that takes context into account. For example, is the potentially offensive language simply a joke, or does it actually violate any policies?

    In practice we found that under tight timelines, moderators frequently follow the tools’ cues mechanically rather than exercising independent judgement.

    The quoted moderator above described instructions from her supervisor to simply remove text detected by the software. During a screen-share, we observed her removing flagged words without evaluating the context.

    Often the automation tools that queue content and organise it for human moderators will also detach it from the broader conversational context. This makes it even harder for the moderator to make a context-based judgement on content that gets flagged but was actually innocent – despite that judgement being one of the reasons human moderators are hired in the first place.

    Impossibility of thorough judgements

    “If you guys can’t do the work and complete the targets, you may leave”

    —Work group message of a freelance content moderator

    Precarious employment compels moderators to mould their decision‑making processes around job security.

    They are compelled to use strategies that allow them to decide quickly and appropriately. In turn, this influences their future decisions.

    For instance, we found that over time, moderators develop a list of “dos and don’ts”. They may dilute expansive moderation guidelines into an easily remembered list of ethically unambiguous violations which they can quickly follow.

    These strategies reveal how the very structure of the moderation industry impedes thoughtful decisions and makes thorough judgement impossible.

    What should we take away from this?

    Our findings show that moderation decisions aren’t just shaped by platform policies. The precarious working conditions of moderators play a crucial role in how content gets moderated.

    Online platforms can’t put into place consistent and thorough moderation policies if the moderation industry’s employment practices are not improved too. We argue that content moderation and its effectiveness are as much a labour issue as it is a policy challenge.

    For truly effective moderation, online platforms must address the economic pressures on moderators, such as strict performance targets and insecure employment.

    We need greater transparency around how much platforms spend on human labour in trust and safety, both in‑house and outsourced. Currently, it’s not clear whether their investment in human resources is truly proportionate to the volume of content flowing through their platforms.

    Beyond employment conditions, platforms should also redesign their moderation tools. For example, integrating quick‑access rulebooks, implementing violation‑specific content queues, and standardising the steps required for different enforcement actions would streamline decision-making, so that moderators don’t default to faster options just to save time.

    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. Hard labour conditions of online moderators directly affect how well the internet is policed – new study – https://theconversation.com/hard-labour-conditions-of-online-moderators-directly-affect-how-well-the-internet-is-policed-new-study-261386

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden provides SEK 10 million in humanitarian assistance to Save the Children in Gaza

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Children are particularly vulnerable and severely affected under the current circumstances. In light of this, the Swedish Government has decided to allocate SEK 10 million to Save the Children’s efforts in Gaza.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden provides SEK 10 million in humanitarian assistance to Save the Children in Gaza

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Children are particularly vulnerable and severely affected under the current circumstances. In light of this, the Swedish Government has decided to allocate SEK 10 million to Save the Children’s efforts in Gaza.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: NATO Defence Ministers agree on new capability targets

    Source: Government of Sweden

    At the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels on 5 June, member countries’ defence ministers agreed on new capability targets for the Alliance. In conjunction with the meeting, Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson also signed a number of agreements on behalf of Sweden.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Appropriations Committee Approves Chairman Fleischmann’s FY26 Energy and Water Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

    Washington, DC – The House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, led by Energy and Water Appropriations Chairman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03). The bill was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 27. Approval of Rep. Fleischmann’s FY26 Energy and Water Appropriations bill by the Appropriations Committee is a key step before the bill can be brought to the House Floor for a vote.

    Energy and Water Chairman Chuck Fleischmann said, “To achieve America’s new Golden Age, we must safeguard our national security, unleash American energy dominance, and increase economic prosperity for all our citizens. I am proud that, in tight fiscal times where every dollar spent must be scrutinized, the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill makes historic investments in our national security and nuclear deterrent, advances American leadership in deploying new nuclear technologies, provides robust funding for waterways infrastructure projects nationwide, reduces our reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals, unleashes American energy production, and stops wasteful, inflationary spending. This bill is the product of close collaboration with the Trump Administration and my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, and I thank them for their strong support.”

    House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (OK-04) said, “This FY26 Energy and Water bill is focused on lowering energy costs and advancing affordable, reliable, and secure power for the nation. It recognizes that American energy dominance is essential to our economic strength, national security, and global leadership—fueling jobs, innovation, and resilience across every community. Further, we make clear to our adversaries that America will lead with strength built on domestic energy and critical mineral production. We also prioritize essential waterway, flood control, and ports and harbors projects. Chairman Fleischmann’s approach ensures a stronger future reinforced through cutting-edge technology, strategic use of abundant resources, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and I commend its full committee approval.”

    Energy and Water Subcommittee Chairman Fleischmann’s opening remarks are available here.
    Chairman Cole’s opening remarks are available here.

    Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
    The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $57.300 billion, which is $766.4 million below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. The defense portion of the allocation is $33.223 billion, and the non-defense portion of the allocation is $24.077 billion.

    The bill prioritizes funding for agencies and programs that safeguard U.S. national security, unleash American energy dominance, and advance economic competitiveness.

    Key Takeaways

    Champions America’s nuclear deterrent and strengthens national security by: 

    • Providing $20.662 billion for the continued modernization of the nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure.
    • Providing $2.171 billion to support the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet by investing in infrastructure and new technologies to maintain America’s advantage over our adversaries.
    • Providing $1.984 billion to reduce the danger of hostile nations or terrorist groups acquiring nuclear weapons.
    • Prohibiting the sale of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party.
    • Prohibiting access to U.S. nuclear weapons production facilities by citizens of China and Russia.
    • Prohibiting the Department of Energy from providing financial assistance to any foreign entity of concern.
    • Prohibiting the purchase of technology and telecommunications equipment from China and other adversaries.

    Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

    • Codifying President Trump’s executive actions by prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Critical Race Theory programs and ending federal censorship of free speech.
    • Continuing the prohibition on funding for any discriminatory action against individuals advocating for traditional marriage.
    • Allowing for the lawful carry of firearms on Corps of Engineers land.

    Restores American energy dominance and bolsters the national economy by: 

    • Supporting one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for critical minerals extraction in decades, reducing reliance on foreign sources.
    • Robustly funding small modular reactor and advanced reactor demonstration projects, as well as increasing funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand capacity for the review, licensing, and oversight of new nuclear reactors.
      • These investments are key to regaining international dominance in the nuclear market and achieving the Trump Administration’s goal to expand nuclear energy capacity to 400 gigawatts by 2050.
    • Facilitating the efficient transport of goods and commodities through improvements and maintenance of America’s ports and waterways.
    • Increasing investments to develop new baseload geothermal energy sources to capitalize on our vast domestic resources.
    • Maintaining funding for cybersecurity efforts that enable a resilient, reliable, and secure electric grid.

    Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

    • Eliminating the Biden-era Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
    • Including no funds for the Department of Energy Office of Energy Justice and Equity.
    • Refocusing applied energy technology program funding to ensure taxpayer resources are directed to the highest priority research and development efforts.
    • Reducing global dependency on the U.S. for foreign nuclear reactor conversions.

    During the markup, Committee Republicans also stood with the America First agenda and rejected Democrat amendments that would have: 

    • Restricted the implementation of the America First agenda.
    • Repealed reconciliation efforts that reformed green new scam climate initiatives.
    • Sought to hamper enforcement efforts at Alligator Alcatraz.
    • Promoted and advanced critical race theory.
    • Allowed unapproved flags to be flown over federal facilities.
    • Funded polarizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
    • Exposed Americans to religious discrimination.
    • Prohibited the implementation of certain President Trump executive orders.
    • Increased taxpayer spending to unnecessary levels for certain programs.

    Adopted Amendments 

    • Fleischmann #1 (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
      • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    • Clyde #1 – Addresses the collection and utilization of recreation fees.
      • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    • Moore #2 – Increases funding for Regional Commissions.
      • The amendment was adopted by voice vote. 

    Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
    Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
    A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Fleischmann Honors the Tenth Anniversary of the Fallen Five

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

    Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), released the following statement commemorating the tenth anniversary of the July 16, 2015, terrorist attacks in Chattanooga that took the lives of five brave U.S. servicemen, remembered forever as the Fallen Five.

    “Ten years ago today, tragedy struck our Chattanooga community when a radical jihadist terrorist took the lives of five heroic servicemen and wounded two others in one of the darkest days Chattanooga and Tennessee have endured. Out of the horror and violence of that terrible day, our community has stood firmly together in love, support, kindness, and strength to honor and remember the ultimate sacrifice and legacy of the Fallen Five and to uplift and support their beloved families,” said Congressman Fleischmann.

    “Chattanoogans, Tennesseans, and Americans nationwide will never forget the Fallen Five. We will always pay homage to U.S Marine Gunnery Sergeant Thomas J. Sullivan, U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant David A. Wyatt, U.S. Marine Sergeant Carson A. Holmquist, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Squire K. “Skip” Wells, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall J. Smith. Their dedication to America, our community, our military, our freedoms, and service to others will always be remembered.”

    “Please join Brenda and me in praying for the eternal souls of the Fallen Five who are home now with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for their families and loved ones. We remember the eternal, healing words spoken through Psalms, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,’ and ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me’”.

    “May God bless the Fallen Five and their families, and may God continue to bless Chattanooga and our great nation.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar Votes for Funding for Military Readiness and Service Member Pay Raise

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar Votes for Funding for Military Readiness and Service Member Pay Raise

    Last night, Congressman John Moolenaar voted in favor of H.R. 4016, The Defense Appropriations Act, 2026. The legislation contains key provisions to advance American interests, strengthens America’s national security, deters our adversaries, and invests in military readiness through funding exercises like Northern Strike in Michigan. It also delivers significant support for servicemembers with a 3.8% pay raise, and provides increased support for their families.

    “The Defense Appropriations Act passed today restores peace through strength, gives a well-deserved pay raise to our troops, and supports Northern Strike right here in Michigan,” said Moolenaar. “It ensures our military remains the most capable in the world by funding next generation aircraft, missile defense, and space capabilities to deter our adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party. This critical legislation puts our service members and their families first, with funding for equipment upgrades and enhanced quality of services so they can continue to keep America safe.”

    Exercise Northern Strike is a semi-annual military training hosted by the Michigan National Guard. The Defense Appropriation Act, 2026 allocates increased funding for personnel and operations, maintaining Northern Strike as a premier joint readiness exercise for American military personnel and our allies.

    The legislation passed the House of Representatives in a vote of 221 to 209. More information about the Defense Appropriations Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Jayapal, Raskin, Senate Colleagues Fight for Children’s Fundamental Right to a Healthy, Livable Planet

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Full Text of Resolution (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led over 40 Representatives in the introduction of a new resolution to protect the fundamental rights of the nation’s children to a safe, habitable environment in the face of climate chaos’ increasingly destructive and deadly impacts.

    “There is no room for debate: climate change is real, and as this crisis grows, our kids are increasingly paying the price. The movement to protect our planet is more important than ever before because we have a president who continues to ignore the science and cozy up to the fossil fuel industry,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am introducing the Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System Resolution to emphasize that we as leaders have a duty to ensure that all people, especially our young people, are protected from the existential threat of climate change. Our children and grandchildren should not be forced to suffer the consequences of our lack of action. Together we can save our planet.”

    “Every single one of us — no matter our age, our background, our race, our income — has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But those rights are in jeopardy, because the future of our planet is in jeopardy. I applaud the young people who are taking their futures into their own hands and standing up to the Trump administration’s efforts to sell out our clean air and water to the highest fossil fuel bidder. Inaction is not an option and we all must stand up for climate justice and a future where we can all thrive,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.

    “Children have a right to live and therefore a right to a livable planet,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “But the Trump Administration wants to carve out more giveaways to the Carbon Kings rather than protect the climate for children and future generations of Americans. Our Resolution with Representatives Jayapal and Schakowsky and Senator Merkley is about uplifting the voices of those who will be most affected by this climate irresponsibility and corruption—young people and children—and sounding the alarm on America’s accelerating climate disaster. The time to act for public accountability is right now. I salute everyone involved in this important campaign.”

    The resolution — led in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — responds to the Trump Administration’s ‘Polluters over People’ agenda that has enriched Big Oil, fueled climate chaos, and increased energy costs for working families. The resolution calls for leadership to put the United States on a trajectory to avoid the worst impacts of climate chaos.   

    “Every child in America deserves a healthy and prosperous future, but the Trump Administration is selling out our health, safety, planet, and future to make billionaire corporate polluters even richer,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “We stand with these courageous young activists in Oregon and across the country who are taking matters into their own hands with immediate and decisive steps to fight for themselves and future generations, address climate chaos, and tackle environmental injustice.”

    The resolution highlights the principles underpinning Lighthiser v. Trump, a youth-led lawsuit that was filed by 22 young plaintiffs from five states, challenging the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders that “unleash fossil fuels” and endanger the lives of children and future generations.

    In addition to Reps. Schakowsky, Jayapal, and Raskin, cosponsors of the resolution include Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Summer L. Lee, Shri Thanedar, Delia C. Ramirez, Yassamin Ansari, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Andre Carson, Nydia M. Velázquez, Nanette Barragán, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Dina Titus, Maxwell Frost, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Steve Cohen, Mary Gay Scanlon, Lateefah Simon, Jerrold Nadler, Kathy Castor, Kevin Mullin, Danny Davis, Julia Brownley, Dave Min, Sara Jacobs, Judy Chu, Maxine Dexter, David Scott, Mark Takano, Gabe Amo, Jared Huffman, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Valerie Foushee, Becca Balint, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Ro Khanna, Alma S. Adams, Ritchie Torres, James P. McGovern, Jill Tokuda, Darren Soto, Stephen F. Lynch, LaMonica McIver, Val Hoyle, and Jahana Hayes.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Huffman, Johnson Introduce Legislation to Empower Franchise Owners

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Full Text of Bill (PDF) | One-Pager of Bill (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced legislation to ensure that small business owners who enter into franchise agreements with big corporations will be afforded the opportunity to address claims against the franchisor, putting them on a level playing field. The Franchisee Freedom Act will explicitly give franchise owners private right of action on FTC Franchise Rule violations. 

    “Becoming a franchisee can be a lifeline for those looking to create their own American dream. Unfortunately, due to a weak rule and even weaker enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission’s Franchise Rule, that dream can turn into a nightmare, one in which they are under the thumb of a predatory corporation,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “That is why it is imperative for franchisees that we pass this legislation, which provides small business owners harmed by violations of the Franchise Rule with the means to recover from the harm done.”

    “Entering franchise agreements is a great way for small business owners to gain the assurance and financial support of a larger corporation, but current law enables franchisers to unfairly take advantage of these negotiations,” said Congressman Jared Huffman. “Our bill would help prevent franchisees from falling victim to predatory practices and put them on a level playing field with their franchisers. This legislation is a necessary step toward ensuring fairness in franchising and accommodating for the current gaps in Federal Trade Commission regulations.”

    “The vast majority of franchisees are small businesses with less than 20 employees,” said Congressman Hank Johnson. “I’m proud to co-lead this bill with Congresswoman Schakowsky and Congressman Huffman to give franchisees access to the courts so that they can address claims against the franchisor, putting them on a level playing field when enforcing their rights.”

    Currently there is no private right of action allowed on FTC Franchise Rule violations. Courts have ruled, and it has been footnoted in the FTC Act, that since Congress has not given a private right of action, none can be implied. 

    The bill has been endorsed by over 45 organizations. Find a full list of endorsements here.

    “I appreciate Reps. Schakowsky, Huffman, and Johnson for reintroducing the Franchisee Freedom Act. Giving franchisees access to the courts to mitigate claims of improper disclosure seems like a fundamental right. This year she has added the franchisees’ right to association without interference or retaliation. It actually blows me away that we even have to fight for what most would consider basic American protections”, said Keith Miller, Principal, Franchisee Advocacy Consulting.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Chaotic Trump Tariffs Drive Price Hikes, Schakowsky, Deluzio, Warren, Baldwin Propose New Tools to Fight Price Gouging

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Full Text of Bill (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17), along with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) reintroduced the Price Gouging Prevention Act to fight back against the corporate greed enabled by the Trump administration’s chaotic tariff policies. The bill would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general new tools to enforce a federal ban against grossly excessive price increases.

    The last five years have repeatedly shown us that giant corporations will take advantage of inflation and supply chain disruptions to expand their profit margins by raising prices higher than necessary to cover cost increases. President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs have created yet another opportunity for corporate price gouging. The tariff-driven uncertainty gives companies the opportunity to raise prices on all goods, regardless of whether they are actually subject to new tariffs, higher and for longer than what is necessary to cover any cost increases. Now, dozens of companies have reported raising the prices of goods and services unaffected by Trump’s tariffs. 

    “President Donald Trump promised to lower costs, but we have seen the exact opposite. Greedy corporations are using the economic turmoil the Trump Administration has created to gouge the American people on everything from groceries to consumer goods. While these large corporations rake in record profits, families in my community and across the country are struggling to put food on the table,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “Our bill will finally put an end to price gouging by empowering the FTC and state attorneys general to hold bad actors accountable when they take advantage of consumers.”

    “Prices are still too high, and inflation is still pounding folks. Especially now, we need to rein in monopolists and other huge corporations with the power to price gouge the American people,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio. “By upping FTC enforcement practices and boosting transparency, this bill will take some of the squeeze off American families and small businesses suffering under the thumb of out-of-control corporate power.”

    “Donald Trump’s reckless tariff policies are giving companies cover to squeeze families and raise prices more than necessary. My bill is an opportunity for Congress to stand up for families by cracking down on price gouging and fighting back against corporate abuse,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren.

    “The biggest corporations in our country jack up the cost of everyday household items, take in record profits, and give their executives huge bonuses – all on the backs of hard-working Wisconsin families. Donald Trump claimed he would lower prices – so far, he has done just the opposite and is even opening the door to more price gouging. But, if we pass this bill, we can rein that in and give Wisconsinites some breathing room and allow them to save for the future,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “Our bill will finally crack down on corporate greed and help stop those big companies at the top of the food chain from sticking families with exorbitant costs.”

    The Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025 would help the federal government and state attorneys general fight corporate price gouging. The bill would: 

    • Prohibit price gouging at the federal level—anytime and anywhere. The bill would clarify that price gouging is an unfair and deceptive practice under the FTC Act. It would allow the FTC and state attorneys general to stop sellers from charging a grossly excessive price, regardless of where the price gouging occurs in a supply chain or distribution network;
    • Help enforcers establish when price gouging is occurring during a significant shift in trade policy. The bill lists a set of exceptional market shocks—including an “abrupt or significant shift in trade policy”—and outlines a standard for a presumptive violation of the price gouging prohibition during such a shock, such as when companies brag about increasing prices;
    • Create an affirmative defense for small businesses acting in good faith. Small and local businesses sometimes must raise prices in response to crisis-driven increases in their costs because they have little negotiating power with their price-gouging suppliers. This affirmative defense protects small businesses earning less than $100 million from frivolous litigation if they show legitimate cost increases;
    • Require public companies to clearly disclose costs and pricing strategies. During periods of exceptional market shock, the bill requires public companies to transparently disclose and explain changes in their cost of goods sold, gross margins, and pricing strategies in their quarterly SEC filings; and
    • Provide $1 billion in additional funding to the FTC to carry out its work.

    Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Paul Tonko (NY-20) joined as co-sponsors. 

    Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined as co-sponsors. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Fletcher, Matsui, Pressley Introduce Safer Beauty Bill Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on Wednesday reintroduced the Safer Beauty Bill Package with her colleagues, Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). The bill package includes four separate bills that offer progressive updates to an increasingly outdated set of federal cosmetics laws. This package builds upon the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), which passed under President Joe Biden and expanded FDA oversight to include the regulation of the cosmetics industry, including mandatory recall authority, adverse event reporting, and requiring facility registration, and more.

    “Safe, accessible beauty cannot wait. After more than 80 years of inaction, the United States finally updated its cosmetics laws in 2022. President Biden was able to sign into law the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, which now gives authority to the Food and Drug Administration to recall beauty and personal care products that are harming human health. While this was an important first step, our work is not done,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud to reintroduce the Safer Beauty Bill Package with my colleagues, Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Doris Matsui, and Ayanna Pressley, which would protect consumers from toxic chemicals linked to hormone disruption, cancer and other health problems; require full ingredient transparency for consumers and manufacturers; and protect the health of women of color and salon workers, who are among the most highly exposed to toxic chemicals because of the products marketed to them or commonly found in their workplaces. We must pass the Safer Beauty Bill Package now!”

    “Many people assume that the personal care and beauty items they use are safe, but with minimal oversight, many of the care, beauty, and salon products sold across the country actually contain toxic chemicals,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I am glad to partner with Congresswoman Schakowsky to reintroduce the Toxic-Free Beauty Act to protect the health and safety of people across the country by banning chemicals known to cause significant harm in beauty products.”

    “Americans deserve the comfort of knowing the products they use every day are safe and properly labeled,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. “That’s why I am proud to join Congresswoman Schakowsky in announcing the Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act, which will introduce much needed transparency and accountability to the cosmetics industry. This is a commonsense step toward protecting consumers and our public health. Whether it’s a parent buying shampoo for their child or a professional exposed to dozens of products daily, every person should have clear, honest information about what they’re putting on their bodies.” 

    “For decades, the beauty products marketed to Black women and girls and found in our salons have contained toxic, unregulated chemicals – leaving us to disproportionately suffer from increased incidences of cancer, respiratory issues, and adverse reproductive outcomes,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “This isn’t a coincidence – this is exploitation. Black women, girls, and salon workers should be able to show up everyday as our beautiful, authentic selves, without fear for our health and safety. It’s past time that we regulate these hazardous products and affirm our right to safer alternatives, and I am proud to co-lead the Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers Act and partner with my colleagues and dedicated advocates on the Safer Beauty Bill Package to do exactly that.”

    The four bills cover almost every aspect of personal care product safety. They are:  

    • H.R. 4433 – The Toxic-Free Beauty Act (Reps. Schakowsky and Fletcher): Bans 18 of the most toxic chemicals and two whole classes of chemicals (phthalates and formaldehyde releasing preservatives) that have been banned by the European Union and a number of states including California, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont.
    • H.R. 4434 – Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act (Rep. Schakowsky): Requires suppliers of raw materials, ingredients, and private label products to provide full ingredient disclosure and safety data to cosmetic companies so they can make safer products.
    • H.R. 4435 – Cosmetic Hazardous Ingredient Right to Know Act (Reps. Schakowsky and Matsui): Requires product label and website disclosure of secret, unlabeled, and often toxic chemicals in our personal care products. Last Congress, this bill only required transparency for fragrance and flavor ingredients and has been expanded to cover all ingredients that can pose a health risk to consumers.
    • H.R. 4436 – Cosmetic Safety Protections for Communities of Color and Salon Workers (Reps. Schakowsky and Pressley): Funds research, resource materials, education and outreach, and the development of safer chemicals to protect the health of women of color and salon workers, two vulnerable populations who are among the most highly exposed to toxic chemicals because of the cosmetic products marketed to them or commonly found in their workplaces. This bill also requires the FDA to regulate the safety of synthetic braids, which can contain toxic chemicals.

    The average American adult uses about 12 personal care products a day, resulting in exposure to an average of 168 unique chemicals. Children are also exposed to products containing risky chemicals during critical stages of childhood development. As these products range from toothpaste to makeup, it is easy for companies to conceal harmful chemicals that risk American livelihoods. Chemicals in beauty and personal care products have been linked to cancer, infertility, poor infant and maternal health outcomes, asthma, and many other serious health concerns. Women of color are disproportionately exposed to these harmful chemicals due to workplace conditions.

    Joining Reps. Schakowsky, Fletcher, Matsui, and Pressley as original cosponsors of the Safer Beauty Bill Package are Reps. Dingell, Khanna, Norton, and Tlaib. 

    The bill has been endorsed by a coalition of over 150 organizations and safe cosmetics companies. Find a full list of endorsements here.

    “Thank you, Rep. Schakowsky, for your steadfast advocacy on behalf of cosmetic safety and for introducing the 2025 Safer Beauty Bill Package which will protect everyone regardless of where they live, shop or work” said Janet Nudelman, Director of Breast Cancer Prevention Partner’s Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “This important suite of bills will match the new high bar for ingredient safety set by laws recently enacted in CA, MD, OR, WA, VT, and NY; create long overdue protections for women of color and professional salon workers; and set a new industry standard for ingredient and supply chain transparency.”

    For over a decade, Congresswoman Schakowsky has fought tirelessly to pass a robust regulatory framework for cosmetics and personal care products. The efforts focus on closing major loopholes in federal law that allow companies to use nearly any ingredient in these products, even chemicals that are known to harm human health and the environment like coal tar dyes, formaldehyde, lead acetate, parabens, and phthalates.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Slams Republican Rescissions Package as “Reckless Attack on Services Families Depend On”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) issued the following statement after House Republicans passed their latest rescissions package, which slashes funding for essential public services while handing out massive tax breaks to the wealthiest among us:

    “Last night, House Republicans chose to gut public health, emergency communications, and national security in order to appease Donald Trump. Slashing funding for public broadcasting in the middle of climate disasters and handing tax breaks to the wealthiest among us while ballooning the deficit and risking a government shutdown is not fiscal discipline—it’s a reckless attack on the services families depend on.”

    The rescissions package includes sweeping cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, pandemic preparedness programs, and emergency response funding—all while preserving tax giveaways that overwhelmingly benefit billionaires.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Denounces FDA Authorization of Juul E-Cigarettes as Step Backward in Fight Against Youth Nicotine Addiction

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a national leader in the fight to end youth vaping, condemned the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize the sale of Juul e-cigarettes, including menthol-flavored products. As co-founder of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic and the first Member of Congress to launch an investigation into Juul’s role in fueling youth nicotine addiction, Congressman Krishnamoorthi has long pushed for stricter enforcement and regulation of e-cigarette products that target children.

    “Juul helped ignite the youth vaping epidemic, and the FDA’s decision to reauthorize its products—including menthol-flavored vapes popular with kids—is a profound mistake,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “This ruling is a clear win for Big Tobacco and undermines years of bipartisan work to get these addictive products off the market. The FDA must reverse course before more young people are hooked for life.”

    Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been at the forefront of efforts to protect children from harmful e-cigarette products. In 2019, he launched the first congressional investigation into youth vaping, exposing Juul’s marketing tactics and pushing legislation to ban flavored e-cigarettes and close the synthetic nicotine loophole. He has led bipartisan letters urging the FDA to crack down on illegal flavored vapes still widely sold online and in stores, and in April, he applauded the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to uphold the FDA’s rejection of fruit- and dessert-flavored vaping products. In December, Congressman Krishnamoorthi, through his role as Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), announced a new investigation into illicit vaping products from China with advertising targeted at children. Most recently, he partnered with Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT), his fellow co-chair of the bipartisan Caucus to End Youth Vaping, in calling on the FDA to strengthen enforcement as over 6,000 flavored products remain on the market, many of them designed to appeal directly to children.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Leads 104 Colleagues in Letter to Protect 988 LGBTQI+ Youth Lifeline

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), a national leader in bipartisan efforts to protect crisis services for vulnerable youth, led a letter with Reps. Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Paul Tonko (NY-20), urging House Appropriations Committee leaders to preserve funding for the 988 LGBTQI+ Youth Lifeline. The letter—sent to Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt (AL-04) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)—was co-signed by 104 Democratic Members of Congress.

    The letter comes as the Trump Administration moved to eliminate the 988 LGBTQI+ Youth Lifeline, a service that has received nearly 1.5 million contacts since its inception. It has served as a critical resource for LGBTQI+ youth nationwide, who are at significantly higher risk of suicide and mental health challenges.

    Dear Chair Aderholt and Ranking Member DeLauro:

    As you craft the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related Agencies appropriations bill, the undersigned Members urge you to maintain funding for the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Budget. 

    In 2022, SAMHSA launched the LGBTQ+ youth specialized services as a pilot program in coordination with the broader 988 lifeline. Since its launch, the line has received nearly 1.5 million contacts from LGBTQ+ youth through calls, texts, and online chats[1]. In 2024 alone the LGBTQ+ service served over 600,000 crisis contacts, demonstrating both its necessity and impact[2].

    Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 14, and LGBTQ+ young people are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. It is estimated that one LGBTQ+ young person attempts suicide every 45 seconds[3]. 

    The LGBTQ+ Youth lifeline was designed to address this higher risk of suicide for this population. When an adolescent reaches out to the LGBTQ+ Youth lifeline, they can access specialized services from somebody who cares, who may have shared experience, understands where they are coming from, and is trained to address the unique situation LGBTQ+ youth may face[4].

    LGBTQ+ identifying youth can face distinct mental health issues rooted in rejection and social discrimination. In fact, of LGBTQ+ youth who reported they slept away from parents or were kicked out of the house, 40 percent were abandoned due to their identity and 28 percent of LGBTQ+ youth report experiencing homelessness or housing instability during their lives[5]. 

    Despite the need, a 2024 study demonstrated that 50 percent of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the previous year were unable to access i[6]t. More than 80 percent say it is important that crisis services include a specific focus on LGBTQ+ youth[7].

    In the midst of a youth mental health crisis, we cannot afford to eliminate a critical, life-saving resource for LGBTQ+ youth, who face both higher risks and greater barriers to care. These young people deserve to speak with professionals who are trained and equipped to meet their unique needs.

    Please maintain the lifesaving funding for the 988 LGBTQ+ youth specialized services so we can continue to serve LGBTQ+ young people across the country who are at an elevated risk of suicide and mental illness. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Introduces BURDEN Act to Force Congress to Complete the Medicaid and SNAP Paperwork They Imposed on Millions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    The bill requires Members of Congress to comply with the same bureaucratic red tape now mandated for Medicaid and SNAP recipients under the “Large Lousy Law.”

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) introduced the Bringing Unfair Reporting Duties to Electeds Now (BURDEN) Act, a bill that would require Members of Congress to personally comply with the same burdensome work requirement paperwork they imposed on low-income Americans under President Trump’s so-called “Large Lousy Law” budget reconciliation package, which became law earlier this month.

    Under the BURDEN Act, Members of Congress would be barred from enrolling in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program unless they submit monthly proof of “community engagement,” the same bureaucratic reporting required of Medicaid recipients. Additionally, the bill requires Members to complete and submit the same paperwork now mandated for SNAP recipients to verify employment, income, and eligibility on a recurring basis.

    “President Trump’s reckless ‘Large Lousy Law’ forces millions of vulnerable Americans to jump through hoops just to keep food on the table or get the medical care they need,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “If Congressional Republicans think these burdens are appropriate for struggling families, then Members of Congress should shoulder them too. The BURDEN Act simply says, if you want taxpayer-funded health coverage, prove you meet the same standards you’re imposing on the American people.”

    The “Large Lousy Law” slashes Medicaid by over $1 trillion, imposes sweeping work requirements, and adds layers of red tape that threaten access to health care and nutrition assistance for millions of Americans—including working parents, caregivers, and individuals with unstable or part-time employment. According to the Congressional Budget Office, more than 17 million Americans are projected to lose their health care under the new law.

    Key provisions of the BURDEN Act include:

    • Requiring Members of Congress to submit monthly certifications proving they meet Medicaid work requirement standards for “community engagement” — typically including documented employment, job training, or approved volunteer work.

    • Requiring Members to complete and submit recurring SNAP eligibility documentation, including income reporting, employment verification, and other required paperwork, on the same schedule as SNAP recipients.

    • Prohibiting enrollment in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for Members who fail to comply with these requirements.

    By exposing the double standard in how burdensome requirements are applied, the BURDEN Act seeks to restore basic fairness and highlight the real-world consequences of Republican policies that target working families.

    The full copy of the bill is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Condemns Vandalism of Little Village Community Centers as “Cowardly Acts of Hate”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    CHICAGO– Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) issued the following statement in response to the hateful vandalism of several buildings in the Little Village neighborhood, including swastikas and anti-immigrant graffiti:

    “These cowardly acts of hate are meant to intimidate and divide, but they will fail. I stand with the people of Little Village and the community organizations targeted in this vile attack. There is no place for anti-immigrant extremism or Nazi imagery in any of our neighborhoods. At a time when immigrant communities are under siege, we must stand shoulder to shoulder against xenophobia and all forms of hate.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Johnson’s Statement on Supreme Court’s Ruling on Dismantling of Department of Education

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    MIL OSI USA News –