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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why the Nazis stole a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Millie Horton-Insch, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, History of Art Department, Trinity College Dublin

    There was great excitement at the news this month that the Bayeux tapestry – the 11th-century embroidered epic depicting the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 – will go on display at the British Museum in 2026. However, the tapestry had already been in the news earlier this year, admittedly to much less fanfare.

    In March, it was reported that a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry had been discovered in Germany in the Schleswig-Holstein state archives. To understand how it ended up there, we must turn to a troubling and little-known episode in the tapestry’s history: Sonderauftrag Bayeux (Special Operation Bayeux), a project operated by the Nazi Ahnenerbe, the SS regime’s heritage research group.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    It has often been observed that art seems to have been of disproportionate concern to the Nazis. However, their manipulation of visual and material culture should be understood as central to – not separate from – Hitler’s genocidal regime and its efforts towards global domination.

    The Ahnenerbe, under the ultimate authority of Heinrich Himmler, was established to develop and disseminate histories in support of that mythology central to the Nazi regime: the supremacy of the Aryan race. To this end, the Ahnenerbe oversaw research that claimed to use unassailable scientific methods.

    However, it has long been acknowledged that their projects consciously manipulated historical evidence to construct fabricated histories that would support racist ideologies. To achieve this, numerous research projects were conducted. These projects saw scholars travel across the globe in the pursuit of objects that could act as monuments to the mythologies of Aryan supremacy. Sonderauftrag Bayeux was one such project.

    Nazi interest in the Bayeux tapestry may seem surprising to British people, where the tapestry is considered a symbol of a singularly significant moment in Britain’s history. However, just as politicians in modern Britain have found it tempting to reference the tapestry in the advancement of their political agendas, so too did the Ahnenerbe.

    Sonderauftrag Bayeux aimed to produce a multi-volume study of the tapestry that would assert its inherently Scandinavian character. The objective was to present the tapestry as proof of the supremacy of the early medieval Norman people, whom the Ahnenerbe claimed as the ancestors of modern German Aryans and descendants of “Viking” northern Europeans.

    By June 1941, work on Sonderauftrag Bayeux had begun in earnest. Among the team sent to Normandy to study the tapestry first hand was Karl Schlabow, a textile expert and head of the Germanic Costume Institute at Neumünster in Germany. Schlabow spent a fortnight in Bayeux, and it was he who removed a fragment of the tapestry’s backing fabric and brought it back to Germany when his research visit was complete.

    Though initial reports suggested that Schlabow removed this fragment when the embroidery was later transferred by the Nazis to Paris, it is more likely that he did so during June 1941, when he and his fellow members of Sonderauftrag Bayeux were stationed in Bayeux.

    In a sketch by Herbert Jeschke – the artist commissioned to create a painted reproduction of the tapestry – during this visit, Jeschke depicted himself with Schlabow and Herbert Jankuhn (the director of the project) hunched over the tapestry. The sketch is accompanied by the emphatic title, “Die Tappiserie!”, an expression of delight at their privileged viewing of this medieval masterpiece.

    To join the Ahnenerbe, Schlabow, like others involved in the Sonderauftrag Bayeux, was inducted into the SS. He held the rank of SS-Unterscharführer (roughly the equivalent of a sergeant in today’s British army). After the second world war many members of the Ahnenerbe denied having sympathy for Nazi policies.

    However, documents seized by US intelligence officers at the end of the second world war reveal that some were denied entry to the Ahnenerbe if they, for instance, had had Jewish friends or expressed sympathy towards communist ideas. They therefore had to (at least outwardly) appear sympathetic to Nazism to be inducted into its ranks.

    Details of what exactly the Ahnenerbe project uncovered, or even hoped to uncover, from this study of the tapestry are opaque. It appears that, to a large extent, the act of producing an illustrated study and dispatching researchers to the original textile was enough to claim the object as a monument to Germanic Aryan supremacy. It is clear that perceived Scandinavian influence within the tapestry’s designs was to be central to the study’s conclusions, but the project was not completed before Germany’s defeat at the end of the war.

    Like many other members of the Ahnenerbe, Schlabow returned to research after the war, working at the Schleswig-Holstein State Museum in Gottorf Castle.

    The discovery of even the tiniest fragment of this remarkable medieval object is cause for much excitement. However, its recovery should be framed firmly in the context in which it was removed. It should come as no surprise that Schlabow felt empowered to steal this piece of the tapestry; the regime for which he worked claimed the object as a piece of his heritage, his birthright as an Aryan German.

    This find is a timely reminder that the past is closer than we realise and that there is still much work to be done to explore the long shadows cast by previous practices in the histories we inherit. The recovered fragment is currently on display in Schleswig-Holstein, but will return to the Musée la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Normandy in time for the museum’s re-opening in 2027 when the two elements will be reunited for the first time since 1941.

    Millie Horton-Insch receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. Why the Nazis stole a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry – https://theconversation.com/why-the-nazis-stole-a-fragment-of-the-bayeux-tapestry-260048

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why the Nazis stole a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Millie Horton-Insch, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, History of Art Department, Trinity College Dublin

    There was great excitement at the news this month that the Bayeux tapestry – the 11th-century embroidered epic depicting the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 – will go on display at the British Museum in 2026. However, the tapestry had already been in the news earlier this year, admittedly to much less fanfare.

    In March, it was reported that a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry had been discovered in Germany in the Schleswig-Holstein state archives. To understand how it ended up there, we must turn to a troubling and little-known episode in the tapestry’s history: Sonderauftrag Bayeux (Special Operation Bayeux), a project operated by the Nazi Ahnenerbe, the SS regime’s heritage research group.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    It has often been observed that art seems to have been of disproportionate concern to the Nazis. However, their manipulation of visual and material culture should be understood as central to – not separate from – Hitler’s genocidal regime and its efforts towards global domination.

    The Ahnenerbe, under the ultimate authority of Heinrich Himmler, was established to develop and disseminate histories in support of that mythology central to the Nazi regime: the supremacy of the Aryan race. To this end, the Ahnenerbe oversaw research that claimed to use unassailable scientific methods.

    However, it has long been acknowledged that their projects consciously manipulated historical evidence to construct fabricated histories that would support racist ideologies. To achieve this, numerous research projects were conducted. These projects saw scholars travel across the globe in the pursuit of objects that could act as monuments to the mythologies of Aryan supremacy. Sonderauftrag Bayeux was one such project.

    Nazi interest in the Bayeux tapestry may seem surprising to British people, where the tapestry is considered a symbol of a singularly significant moment in Britain’s history. However, just as politicians in modern Britain have found it tempting to reference the tapestry in the advancement of their political agendas, so too did the Ahnenerbe.

    Sonderauftrag Bayeux aimed to produce a multi-volume study of the tapestry that would assert its inherently Scandinavian character. The objective was to present the tapestry as proof of the supremacy of the early medieval Norman people, whom the Ahnenerbe claimed as the ancestors of modern German Aryans and descendants of “Viking” northern Europeans.

    By June 1941, work on Sonderauftrag Bayeux had begun in earnest. Among the team sent to Normandy to study the tapestry first hand was Karl Schlabow, a textile expert and head of the Germanic Costume Institute at Neumünster in Germany. Schlabow spent a fortnight in Bayeux, and it was he who removed a fragment of the tapestry’s backing fabric and brought it back to Germany when his research visit was complete.

    Though initial reports suggested that Schlabow removed this fragment when the embroidery was later transferred by the Nazis to Paris, it is more likely that he did so during June 1941, when he and his fellow members of Sonderauftrag Bayeux were stationed in Bayeux.

    In a sketch by Herbert Jeschke – the artist commissioned to create a painted reproduction of the tapestry – during this visit, Jeschke depicted himself with Schlabow and Herbert Jankuhn (the director of the project) hunched over the tapestry. The sketch is accompanied by the emphatic title, “Die Tappiserie!”, an expression of delight at their privileged viewing of this medieval masterpiece.

    To join the Ahnenerbe, Schlabow, like others involved in the Sonderauftrag Bayeux, was inducted into the SS. He held the rank of SS-Unterscharführer (roughly the equivalent of a sergeant in today’s British army). After the second world war many members of the Ahnenerbe denied having sympathy for Nazi policies.

    However, documents seized by US intelligence officers at the end of the second world war reveal that some were denied entry to the Ahnenerbe if they, for instance, had had Jewish friends or expressed sympathy towards communist ideas. They therefore had to (at least outwardly) appear sympathetic to Nazism to be inducted into its ranks.

    Details of what exactly the Ahnenerbe project uncovered, or even hoped to uncover, from this study of the tapestry are opaque. It appears that, to a large extent, the act of producing an illustrated study and dispatching researchers to the original textile was enough to claim the object as a monument to Germanic Aryan supremacy. It is clear that perceived Scandinavian influence within the tapestry’s designs was to be central to the study’s conclusions, but the project was not completed before Germany’s defeat at the end of the war.

    Like many other members of the Ahnenerbe, Schlabow returned to research after the war, working at the Schleswig-Holstein State Museum in Gottorf Castle.

    The discovery of even the tiniest fragment of this remarkable medieval object is cause for much excitement. However, its recovery should be framed firmly in the context in which it was removed. It should come as no surprise that Schlabow felt empowered to steal this piece of the tapestry; the regime for which he worked claimed the object as a piece of his heritage, his birthright as an Aryan German.

    This find is a timely reminder that the past is closer than we realise and that there is still much work to be done to explore the long shadows cast by previous practices in the histories we inherit. The recovered fragment is currently on display in Schleswig-Holstein, but will return to the Musée la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Normandy in time for the museum’s re-opening in 2027 when the two elements will be reunited for the first time since 1941.

    Millie Horton-Insch receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. Why the Nazis stole a fragment of the Bayeux tapestry – https://theconversation.com/why-the-nazis-stole-a-fragment-of-the-bayeux-tapestry-260048

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Why the Sycamore Gap tree provoked such strong emotional reactions – a psychologist explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Samuel Fairlamb, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London

    Joe Rey Photography/Shutterstock

    In September 2023, so many people were shocked when the famous Sycamore Gap tree, thriving in a dip along Hadrian’s Wall, was deliberately cut down overnight. For many, the tree symbolised British resilience, heritage and an enduring history. The public response was swift and intense, with widespread outrage and grief over the loss of this cultural landmark.

    The two men convicted of felling the Sycamore Gap tree have been sentenced to four years and three months in prison. Meanwhile, the tree lives on thanks to an AI-generated alternate world in the film 28 Years Later.

    As a psychologist, I’m interested in what inspired such a strong reaction to the destruction of a single tree. One psychological explanation, known as “terror management theory”, suggests that the emotional response reflects deeper anxieties about death – and not just about this tree.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Terror management theory, developed by psychologists Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski, builds on the work of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker, author of the Pulitzer prize-winning The Denial of Death (1973).

    This book’s central idea is simple yet profound. In it, Becker proposes that our awareness of mortality creates the potential for considerable existential anxiety.

    To manage this, we rely on cultural worldviews. These are our belief systems. These worldviews can be religious, secular, political or national. They all share a promise that life is meaningful and offer prescriptions for how we should live. When we live in accordance with our cultural values and standards – whether by being a good parent, a loyal citizen or following religious texts – we gain a sense of self-esteem and feel we are contributing to something enduring and significant.

    These worldviews also offer the promise of immortality. Some do so literally, as in religious faiths that promise life beyond death. Others offer symbolic immortality, through lasting achievements, family bloodlines, or the continuation of one’s nation. By embedding ourselves in these worldviews, we gain a sense that some part of us will continue after we die.

    Cultural symbols such as flags, religious icons, or even a tree can embody our core values and collective identity and are therefore treated with deep reverence. Throughout history, people have waged wars and shown intense emotional reactions to the desecration of such symbols (burning the American flag or the Qur’an, for example).

    The Sycamore Gap tree was cut down in September 2023.
    SunCity/Shutterstock

    The Sycamore Gap tree carried similar significance. As a centuries-old landmark, it came to represent Britain’s heritage, strength and continuity. From the perspective of terror management theory, its felling may have stirred strong reactions because it reminded people that even the symbols we rely on for a sense of permanence can be suddenly lost.

    This sense of cultural loss is also echoed by other recent events, such as Brexit and the immigration crisis. A collective fear over the erosion of British values and traditions place questions about the loss of British identity at the centre of public consciousness.

    Rooted in mortality

    Decades of psychological research support this theory’s claims. One common method (a technique called “mortality salience”) involves making participants subtly aware of their mortality (control participants are not reminded of death).

    In studies carried out in the 1990s, researchers found that when the solution to a task required desecrating a cultural symbol, such as using an American flag to separate ink from a jar of sand, participants reminded of death took longer to complete the task and experienced greater apprehension.

    Hundreds of studies also show how being reminded of death can increase anger and hostility towards people who threaten or violate one’s cultural values. One line of research examining reactions to those who commit moral transgressions may be particularly appropriate to this case.

    For instance, in one study, participants reminded of their own death were more likely to support harsher punishments for those who committed moral transgressions such as someone who destroyed an irreplaceable artefact (much like the cutting down of a tree). Other research has shown similar effects: participants (including judges!) when reminded of death gave out harsher penalties or sentencing for those who have committed a crime.

    You might question whether these effects truly reflect death anxiety or if they could be explained without invoking a desire for immortality. Research may provide compelling evidence. One study found that reminders of death increased support for harsher punishments for moral transgressors (replicating the study mentioned earlier).

    However, when participants were first presented with evidence of an afterlife, the effect of death increasing harsher punishments disappeared. In other words, the promise that death is not the end appeared to buffer from the anxiety that death arouses.

    The fall of the Sycamore Gap tree was more than a loss of natural beauty. It was, for many, a symbolic attack on permanence, on meaning, and on shared identity. Yet while such losses can stir outrage and calls for punishment, research also shows that when people endorse prosocial values like empathy, reminders of death can actually foster forgiveness towards those who commit moral transgressions.

    According to terror management theory, these responses are not just about anger, but about what it means to be human in the face of inevitable death. In this light, the tree’s felling uprooted something sacred: a collective continuity that gives meaning to our brief lives. As we grieve its loss, perhaps we’re also mourning something more elusive – the comforting illusion that some things might last forever.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Samuel Fairlamb 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. Why the Sycamore Gap tree provoked such strong emotional reactions – a psychologist explains – https://theconversation.com/why-the-sycamore-gap-tree-provoked-such-strong-emotional-reactions-a-psychologist-explains-257165

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why the Sycamore Gap tree provoked such strong emotional reactions – a psychologist explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Samuel Fairlamb, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London

    Joe Rey Photography/Shutterstock

    In September 2023, so many people were shocked when the famous Sycamore Gap tree, thriving in a dip along Hadrian’s Wall, was deliberately cut down overnight. For many, the tree symbolised British resilience, heritage and an enduring history. The public response was swift and intense, with widespread outrage and grief over the loss of this cultural landmark.

    The two men convicted of felling the Sycamore Gap tree have been sentenced to four years and three months in prison. Meanwhile, the tree lives on thanks to an AI-generated alternate world in the film 28 Years Later.

    As a psychologist, I’m interested in what inspired such a strong reaction to the destruction of a single tree. One psychological explanation, known as “terror management theory”, suggests that the emotional response reflects deeper anxieties about death – and not just about this tree.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Terror management theory, developed by psychologists Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski, builds on the work of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker, author of the Pulitzer prize-winning The Denial of Death (1973).

    This book’s central idea is simple yet profound. In it, Becker proposes that our awareness of mortality creates the potential for considerable existential anxiety.

    To manage this, we rely on cultural worldviews. These are our belief systems. These worldviews can be religious, secular, political or national. They all share a promise that life is meaningful and offer prescriptions for how we should live. When we live in accordance with our cultural values and standards – whether by being a good parent, a loyal citizen or following religious texts – we gain a sense of self-esteem and feel we are contributing to something enduring and significant.

    These worldviews also offer the promise of immortality. Some do so literally, as in religious faiths that promise life beyond death. Others offer symbolic immortality, through lasting achievements, family bloodlines, or the continuation of one’s nation. By embedding ourselves in these worldviews, we gain a sense that some part of us will continue after we die.

    Cultural symbols such as flags, religious icons, or even a tree can embody our core values and collective identity and are therefore treated with deep reverence. Throughout history, people have waged wars and shown intense emotional reactions to the desecration of such symbols (burning the American flag or the Qur’an, for example).

    The Sycamore Gap tree was cut down in September 2023.
    SunCity/Shutterstock

    The Sycamore Gap tree carried similar significance. As a centuries-old landmark, it came to represent Britain’s heritage, strength and continuity. From the perspective of terror management theory, its felling may have stirred strong reactions because it reminded people that even the symbols we rely on for a sense of permanence can be suddenly lost.

    This sense of cultural loss is also echoed by other recent events, such as Brexit and the immigration crisis. A collective fear over the erosion of British values and traditions place questions about the loss of British identity at the centre of public consciousness.

    Rooted in mortality

    Decades of psychological research support this theory’s claims. One common method (a technique called “mortality salience”) involves making participants subtly aware of their mortality (control participants are not reminded of death).

    In studies carried out in the 1990s, researchers found that when the solution to a task required desecrating a cultural symbol, such as using an American flag to separate ink from a jar of sand, participants reminded of death took longer to complete the task and experienced greater apprehension.

    Hundreds of studies also show how being reminded of death can increase anger and hostility towards people who threaten or violate one’s cultural values. One line of research examining reactions to those who commit moral transgressions may be particularly appropriate to this case.

    For instance, in one study, participants reminded of their own death were more likely to support harsher punishments for those who committed moral transgressions such as someone who destroyed an irreplaceable artefact (much like the cutting down of a tree). Other research has shown similar effects: participants (including judges!) when reminded of death gave out harsher penalties or sentencing for those who have committed a crime.

    You might question whether these effects truly reflect death anxiety or if they could be explained without invoking a desire for immortality. Research may provide compelling evidence. One study found that reminders of death increased support for harsher punishments for moral transgressors (replicating the study mentioned earlier).

    However, when participants were first presented with evidence of an afterlife, the effect of death increasing harsher punishments disappeared. In other words, the promise that death is not the end appeared to buffer from the anxiety that death arouses.

    The fall of the Sycamore Gap tree was more than a loss of natural beauty. It was, for many, a symbolic attack on permanence, on meaning, and on shared identity. Yet while such losses can stir outrage and calls for punishment, research also shows that when people endorse prosocial values like empathy, reminders of death can actually foster forgiveness towards those who commit moral transgressions.

    According to terror management theory, these responses are not just about anger, but about what it means to be human in the face of inevitable death. In this light, the tree’s felling uprooted something sacred: a collective continuity that gives meaning to our brief lives. As we grieve its loss, perhaps we’re also mourning something more elusive – the comforting illusion that some things might last forever.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Samuel Fairlamb 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. Why the Sycamore Gap tree provoked such strong emotional reactions – a psychologist explains – https://theconversation.com/why-the-sycamore-gap-tree-provoked-such-strong-emotional-reactions-a-psychologist-explains-257165

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province advances systemic changes to integrate social services, prevent crises

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    On the one-year anniversary of the release of the representative for children and youth’s (RCY) Don’t Look Away report, the Province is providing an update on its co-ordinated cross-government work across several ministries to better integrate social services and move to a more prevention-based model of support for children and youth.

    The report called for systemic transformation across government to better support vulnerable children and families in B.C. by detailing the devastating story of a child’s abuse and death. In response, the Province made eight key commitments and launched a cross-government deputy-minister project board to ensure a co-ordinated response to improving child and youth well-being in B.C. As part of this work, government is collaborating with Indigenous people and all partners to develop a child and youth well-being action plan and outcomes framework.

    This plan will serve as the cornerstone of the Province’s strategy to better aligning services across government, setting standards for child and youth well-being, preventing crises by prioritizing the most vulnerable and measuring the effectiveness of government programs in meeting core needs.

    “Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of Don’t Look Away, and we continue to hold the sacred stories of Colby and the other children in this report in our hearts and minds,” said Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development. “Every child in our province deserves safety, belonging and love, and we must do better. We are working with all our partners toward a renewed model of child well-being that focuses on prevention, care and supporting families before they find themselves in crisis.”

    While the plan and framework are being developed, the Province has made improvements to the way it serves children, youth and families. The Ministry of Children and Family Development has added tools for oversight and tracking that make sure child or youth visits occur at least once every 90 days and has increased its workforce by almost 20% in the last two years. The ministry is also improving resources for kinship care providers and providing updated information about supports available.

    B.C. is leading the country with First Nations as they reclaim jurisdiction over their children, youth and families. With a unique context of 204 First Nations, the Province has already signed 12 agreements with Nations that have determined their paths forward, with dozens more to come. A major step forward on the path of lasting reconciliation, this work will improve outcomes for children and youth and reduce the over-representation of Indigenous children and youth in care, and the Province is committed to consulting with Indigenous partners on its child and youth well-being action plan.

    “We hear these calls to action and are committed to continue advancing self-determination so that Indigenous children in B.C. are not only safe, supported and loved, but remain connected to their communities, families, culture and language,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.  

    Across government, several initiatives are underway to support the objectives of the plan, create strong foundations for families, and protect and uplift the most vulnerable. The stories in Don’t Look Away show that early supports are critical, and that is why government has taken action to provide more early intervention and mental-health and addiction programs for young people. 

    “Young people in British Columbia need access to age-appropriate mental-health and substance-use services that meet their unique needs,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “That’s why we’re focused on expanding prevention and early-intervention services, like Foundry Centres and Integrated Child and Youth Teams, to communities across the province. These services are vital to help young people get back on their feet, while our government continues to build a full continuum of mental-health and addictions care for everyone.”

    As recommended by the RCY, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has introduced an exemption to lift up people with disabilities and their families and to help reduce financial hardship for people with disabilities. That exemption ensures individuals and families receiving income, disability or hardship assistance can keep the full amount of the new federal Canada Disability Benefit without any reduction to their provincial benefits.

    “We want people with disabilities and their families to have access to the supports they need,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “That’s why this exemption allows people receiving provincial assistance to retain the entire amount of their federal Canada Disability Benefit, further helping them to support their children.” 

    The recommendations in Don’t Look Away address systemic issues that are directed at all of government. The RCY has acknowledged that the Province has taken action on 65% of the recommendations it is tracking from recent RCY reports, including Don’t Look Away.

    “The representative has recognized the steps we’ve taken so far and that the systemic changes we are making will take time,” Wickens said. “But we also hear the clear message that this work must continue, and it must expand. We are proud of the progress to date, but we know this is just the start and there is much more to do. Our government is determined to continue this work alongside the RCY and our Indigenous partners to change the way we work.”

    Government is committed to fundamentally rethinking how it supports children and families through improved accountability, increased oversight, enhanced safety and better co-ordination of services.

    Quick Facts:

    • Ministries involved in the development of a child and youth well-being action plan and outcomes framework include the Attorney General, Education and Child Care, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Health, Public Safety and Solicitor General, and Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
    • Since 2017, the Ministry of Children and Family Development has received year-over-year budget increases to significantly improve the supports and services provided to B.C.’s children, youth and families.
    • The ministry’s 2025-26 budget increased by $321.6 million to more than $2.4 billion, more than 81% of which goes directly to programs and services.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about RCY investigation and review, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024CFD0009-001124

    A backgrounder follows.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan’s Manufacturing Sales Sees Second Best Growth in Canada

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 15, 2025

    Strong Manufacturing Sector Fueling Economic Resilience

    Today’s manufacturing sales figures show that Saskatchewan saw an increase of 4.4 per cent in May 2025 compared to April 2025. This is the second highest month-over-month increase among the provinces.

    “These positive numbers highlight once again that Saskatchewan remains the best place in Canada to live, work, raise a family and start a business,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “The huge growth we are seeing in manufacturing sales means businesses can invest with confidence as our economy continues to grow and prosper.”

    Manufacturing sales, including shipments, inventories and orders, represent the dollar value of goods sold by manufacturers. 

    Saskatchewan continues to see significant economic growth. Statistics Canada’s latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers indicate that the province’s real GDP at basic prices reached an all-time high of $80.5 billion in 2024, increasing by $2.6 billion, or 3.4 per cent. This places Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth and above the national average of 1.6 per cent.

    Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces. Private capital investment is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.1 per cent over 2024. This is the second-highest anticipated percentage increase among the provinces.

    Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth – Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. This strategy, combined with Saskatchewan’s trade and investment website, InvestSK.ca, contains helpful information for potential markets and solidifies the province as the best place to do business in Canada. 

    For more information, visit: InvestSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: England’s redesigned banknotes will reveal how the country sees itself

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Pavan Mano, Lecturer in Global Cultures, King’s College London

    Richard z/Shutterstock

    The Bank of England has announced a redesign of its banknotes and invited the public to suggest new themes that might feature on them. Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier, said this was as “a symbolic representation of our collective national identity and an opportunity to celebrate the UK”.

    Even though they can appear like the unifying symbols Cleland suggests, my research shows that there are contradictions that surround many national symbols. They are not as unifying as they might seem. In fact, in many cases they also work to exclude people.

    For a long time, there has been a persuasive argument about belonging and the nation. As one of the grand theorists of the nation, Benedict Anderson, once put it, the nation is an “imagined political community”.

    The idea here is that the nation is simply a collection of people who form a community together, something larger than themselves. And national symbols are supposed to represent this community. As such, national symbols are often taken as markers of belonging.

    But what is often overlooked is the exclusionary element of the nation. In my book, Straight Nation, I show how for some people to belong to a nation, others must be portrayed as not belonging. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how one belongs to the nation; it is far easier to point at someone else and declare that they do not.

    The invitation to contribute to the redesign will therefore show two things. It will tell us how the country sees itself. It will also demonstrate the contradictions around national symbols and the exclusions they can produce. The former perhaps more straightforward than the latter.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    How does England see itself?

    In theory, the banknote is a perfectly neat national symbol. It is an object that is only valid within the borders of the state it is issued in, so the images printed on it can be treated as representations of the nation. Current notes feature images of historically significant characters: former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, author Jane Austen, painter J.M.W. Turner and scientist Alan Turing.

    Jane Austen is one of only three women who have been on the banknote.
    Dudaeva/Shutterstock

    Indeed, the Bank of England has suggested that images should not be “divisive”. In other words, they need to be as inclusive as possible. But in the current political environment, far-right politics and division have become extremely commonplace both globally and closer to home.

    In the US, the current administration has squarely taken aim at diversity, equity and inclusion programmes and launched a massive wave of deportations. Across much of western Europe, far-right parties are going from strength to strength.

    In the UK, rightwing Reform has emerged as the party that would win the most seats if a general election were held this year. The current prime minister, Keir Starmer, recently gave a speech where he warned the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers” without tougher immigration policies.

    Amid these political currents, it will be interesting to see which themes and images are eventually chosen to adorn the new banknotes from the consultation which closes at the end of July. The designs will be instructive not least because they will show how how the current climate translates onto these notes as well as how the country sees itself.

    For instance, there has never been a person of colour and only three women have previously featured on a banknote. It would be a a long time coming if this were to change.

    The exclusions at the heart of national symbols

    Perhaps more importantly, however, is the ironic contradiction around asking for the public’s views on banknotes when banknotes are disappearing from public view.

    At the start of this year, Lloyds Banking Group announced it would be closing 136 of its high street banks. This follows a broader trend. Since 2015, banks have closed more than 6,000 branches, and the number of cash machines has fallen by more than 7,000 between June 2021 and June 2024.

    Banking is becoming increasingly digital and carried out through a smartphone app. A growing number of establishments have gone entirely cashless.

    Many people are affected by this, including those with disabilities, older people, those living in rural areas and small businesses. Not only is cash no longer king, it is barely in the building.

    When it is redesigned, the new banknote will be released into an environment where it is less used and, in a growing number of establishments that have gone entirely cashless, will be almost entirely unwelcome.

    National belonging is often romanticised. There is a sense that nationalism and unity go hand in hand, and that the nation is simply a basin of belonging. National symbols are portrayed as a matter of pride.

    We do not know yet what designs they will bear when the crisp new banknotes are issued. But we do know that they will be issued in decreasing quantities and many people will find it harder to get their hands on them. That captures the contradictions of national symbols, and the exclusions they produce.

    Pavan Mano 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. England’s redesigned banknotes will reveal how the country sees itself – https://theconversation.com/englands-redesigned-banknotes-will-reveal-how-the-country-sees-itself-260842

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: England’s redesigned banknotes will reveal how the country sees itself

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Pavan Mano, Lecturer in Global Cultures, King’s College London

    Richard z/Shutterstock

    The Bank of England has announced a redesign of its banknotes and invited the public to suggest new themes that might feature on them. Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier, said this was as “a symbolic representation of our collective national identity and an opportunity to celebrate the UK”.

    Even though they can appear like the unifying symbols Cleland suggests, my research shows that there are contradictions that surround many national symbols. They are not as unifying as they might seem. In fact, in many cases they also work to exclude people.

    For a long time, there has been a persuasive argument about belonging and the nation. As one of the grand theorists of the nation, Benedict Anderson, once put it, the nation is an “imagined political community”.

    The idea here is that the nation is simply a collection of people who form a community together, something larger than themselves. And national symbols are supposed to represent this community. As such, national symbols are often taken as markers of belonging.

    But what is often overlooked is the exclusionary element of the nation. In my book, Straight Nation, I show how for some people to belong to a nation, others must be portrayed as not belonging. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how one belongs to the nation; it is far easier to point at someone else and declare that they do not.

    The invitation to contribute to the redesign will therefore show two things. It will tell us how the country sees itself. It will also demonstrate the contradictions around national symbols and the exclusions they can produce. The former perhaps more straightforward than the latter.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    How does England see itself?

    In theory, the banknote is a perfectly neat national symbol. It is an object that is only valid within the borders of the state it is issued in, so the images printed on it can be treated as representations of the nation. Current notes feature images of historically significant characters: former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, author Jane Austen, painter J.M.W. Turner and scientist Alan Turing.

    Jane Austen is one of only three women who have been on the banknote.
    Dudaeva/Shutterstock

    Indeed, the Bank of England has suggested that images should not be “divisive”. In other words, they need to be as inclusive as possible. But in the current political environment, far-right politics and division have become extremely commonplace both globally and closer to home.

    In the US, the current administration has squarely taken aim at diversity, equity and inclusion programmes and launched a massive wave of deportations. Across much of western Europe, far-right parties are going from strength to strength.

    In the UK, rightwing Reform has emerged as the party that would win the most seats if a general election were held this year. The current prime minister, Keir Starmer, recently gave a speech where he warned the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers” without tougher immigration policies.

    Amid these political currents, it will be interesting to see which themes and images are eventually chosen to adorn the new banknotes from the consultation which closes at the end of July. The designs will be instructive not least because they will show how how the current climate translates onto these notes as well as how the country sees itself.

    For instance, there has never been a person of colour and only three women have previously featured on a banknote. It would be a a long time coming if this were to change.

    The exclusions at the heart of national symbols

    Perhaps more importantly, however, is the ironic contradiction around asking for the public’s views on banknotes when banknotes are disappearing from public view.

    At the start of this year, Lloyds Banking Group announced it would be closing 136 of its high street banks. This follows a broader trend. Since 2015, banks have closed more than 6,000 branches, and the number of cash machines has fallen by more than 7,000 between June 2021 and June 2024.

    Banking is becoming increasingly digital and carried out through a smartphone app. A growing number of establishments have gone entirely cashless.

    Many people are affected by this, including those with disabilities, older people, those living in rural areas and small businesses. Not only is cash no longer king, it is barely in the building.

    When it is redesigned, the new banknote will be released into an environment where it is less used and, in a growing number of establishments that have gone entirely cashless, will be almost entirely unwelcome.

    National belonging is often romanticised. There is a sense that nationalism and unity go hand in hand, and that the nation is simply a basin of belonging. National symbols are portrayed as a matter of pride.

    We do not know yet what designs they will bear when the crisp new banknotes are issued. But we do know that they will be issued in decreasing quantities and many people will find it harder to get their hands on them. That captures the contradictions of national symbols, and the exclusions they produce.

    Pavan Mano 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. England’s redesigned banknotes will reveal how the country sees itself – https://theconversation.com/englands-redesigned-banknotes-will-reveal-how-the-country-sees-itself-260842

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London’s park life

    Source: Mayor of London

    London is home to over 3,000 publicly accessible parks and green spaces – which together cover 18 per cent of London.1

    In 2019, the Mayor established the London Green Spaces Commission “to help support London boroughs transform how their parks services are managed and funded so that they can maintain or increase investment in parks and green spaces, in the context of substantial and ongoing constraints imposed on public sector funding”.2

    The London Assembly Environment Committee will meet tomorrow to understand the current state of London’s parks and the challenges they face, five years on from the Mayor’s Green Spaces Commission report.

    At the start of the meeting, the Committee will also speak with Thames Water to understand its consultation plans for the Teddington Direct River Abstraction.

    The guests are:

    Thames Water Teddington Direct River Abstraction consultation (10:00 – 10:45):

    • Simon Adams, Programme Director for Strategic Resource Options, Thames Water
    • Myles Rawstron-Rudd, London Water Recycling Project Development Manager, Thames Water

    London’s Parks (10:45 – 13:00):

    • Ed Stannard, Executive Director, Parks for London
    • Ruth Lin Wong Holmes, Head of Landscape and Public Realm, London Legacy Development Corporation.
    • Andrew Bedford, Assistant Director Greener More Active, London Borough of Islington
    • Mark Cridge, Executive Director, London National Park City and National Park City Foundation
    • Rochelle Shanthakumar, Programme Manager at London National Park City

    The meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 July 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

    Follow us @LondonAssembly.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Halifax Marine Container Examination Facility Opening

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Halifax, NS, July 15, 2025 — The Halifax Port Authority and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are pleased to invite members of the media to the ceremonial opening of the Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF) in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    The following representatives will be present:

    • Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety
    • Jennifer Lutfallah, Vice-President, CBSA Commercial and Trade Branch
    • Dominic Mallette, Regional Director General, CBSA Atlantic Region
    • Fulvio Fracassi, President and CEO, Halifax Port Authority
    •  Juanita Peters, Executive Director, Africville Museum
    •  Jim Lambe, General Manager, Atlantic Canada, Logistec Corporation
    • Kevin Piper, President, Halifax Longshoremen’s Association

    CBSA officials will be on site to discuss detection tools.

    Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
    Time: 10:00 a.m.
    Place: 6015 Africville Rd, Halifax, Nova Scotia

    RSVP: Media who wish to participate in the event must register and provide their contact information in advance by contacting communicationsatl@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. Identification is required to access the building. Parking is limited; please carpool if possible. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First part of £50 million Aberdeen beachfront redevelopment officially opened

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    The first part of a £50million redevelopment of Aberdeen beach was officially opened today with the unveiling of the new-look Broadhill.

    Aberdeen’s Lord Provost, Councillor David Cameron, toasted the occasion with a cup of tea from a tartan flask and a traditional rowie at a striking new viewpoint on top of the well-known landmark.

    The five-hectare Broadhill has been transformed with new access steps, footpaths, viewpoints, drystone walls, timber and concrete seating and landscaping. The work has been completed in time for the public to enjoy the site as a vantage point for the forthcoming Tall Ships Race (19-22 July).

    As he surveyed the completed works, the Lord Provost said: “This is an exciting occasion to toast with the first part of the beachfront works finished.

    “As thousands of people come into the city for the Tall Ships Races, the revamped Broadhill with additional seating and a viewpoint will be a prime place to watch the vessels sail into the harbour as well as the spectacular Red Arrows display.”

    Broadhill is part of the biggest redevelopment of Aberdeen beach for 35 years with work well under way in creating a beach park and a large events field.

    The Broadhill works have seen more than 10,000 new trees, shrubs, and underlying vegetation planted across the site to help enhance the natural environment by further diversifying the habitat and ecological value of the area.

    The Lord Provost was joined for today’s opening ceremony by members of the city’s Young Ambassadors, a group of young people who contributed ideas for the beach plans.

    Aberdeen City Council’s Co-Leaders welcomed today’s opening as the first project to be completed in the ambitious Aberdeen City Centre and Beach Master Plan.

    Co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “It is good to see the first of the beach works finished as the first of the City Centre and Beach Master Plan projects.  We hope many generations to come will make good use of the changes at Broadhill. The beachfront is one of the jewels in the city’s crown and the work taking place in the area will further transform the beach area for the enjoyment of everyone.

    “The works are the biggest redevelopment the beach has had for 35 years and is the next step to make Aberdeen an even better place for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

    Co-leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “We welcome the works finishing at Broadhill. As work continues at the beach, I am looking forward to more of the works finishing and people of all ages being able to make use of the great new facilities.

    “We welcome the input of the Young Ambassadors who helped to shape the new facilities here at the city’s beach.  The Council is committed to working with Aberdeen’s residents, beach users, partner organisations, and businesses at the beach to make Aberdeen beach and the Links the envy of other cities and a place where local people and visitors alike will want to visit to again and again.”

    The other beach works have seen five new buildings and shelters currently being constructed for the play and events sites along with a new skate landscape while the foundations have been laid for a large bespoke play structure called the Rope Factory which is set to become an iconic attraction.

    The play area will have four zones – sport, adventure, woodland, and coastal – all with different free activities.

    The 2.5-hectare events field will have an amphitheatre and will be able to host festivals, larger concerts and gatherings. The play park and events field are due for completion in Autumn 2026.

    Hub North Scotland is the council’s development and delivery partner for the master plan projects and the main contractor for the beach works is the Robertson Construction Group.

    Richard Park, chief executive of hub North Scotland, said: “This is a landmark moment for the beach redevelopment with the transformation of Broadhill and the progress on the other works. Robertson has done a fantastic job in completing the Broadhill and every day now you can see the progress on the rest of the area. This will be a ‘must-visit’ destination when completed.”

    Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Robertson Construction Group, said: “The opening of Broadhill is the first completed project as part of the overall transformation of Aberdeen’s beach. Being the trusted delivery partner, we understand the importance of bringing the vision of Aberdeen City Council and the local community to life.

    “Working closely with hub North Scotland and the Council, significant progress is being made in the creation of well-designed, connected spaces which will be home to high-quality facilities. The vision to redevelop the beach will benefit the community through the provision of public realm spaces that will inspire wellbeing and activity and contribute to the local and regional economy.”

    Work is progressing on stripping out the former Beach Leisure Centre in preparation for demolition of the building, which is due to begin next month. The Linx Ice Arena is open for business as normal during the works.

    The beach improvements are part of a £150million commitment by Aberdeen City Council towards the City Centre and Beach Master Plan. Works are well under way on a new streetscape for the Union Street Central area while construction on the new market building is progressing as planned. Work is also due to begin on new streetscape improvements to the Castlegate next month. These areas will create vibrant and accessible areas to help make the city a destination of choice for the benefit of residents, visitors, and businesses.

    Pic caption: Cllr Martin Greig, the Lord Provost Dr David Cameron, Richard Park, chief executive of hub North Scotland, and Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Robertson Construction Group, with some of the Young Ambassadors in the background, on one of the viewing platforms at the new-look Broadhill

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 07.15.2025 Cruz, Cornyn, Babin Bill to Make Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Renaming Permanent Passes House

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Congressman Brian Babin (R-TX-36) released the following statements after their Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the President’s desk. This bill would codify President Trump’s Executive Order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge near Houston, Texas, to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Refuge.
    Sen. Cruz said, “Jocelyn Nungaray was brutally murdered by illegal aliens, an unspeakable crime which should have been prevented. We have a duty to honor her memory, and to bear witness alongside her family. I applaud my colleagues in the House for passing this bill, which codifies President Trump’s order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge as the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law.”
    Sen. Cornyn said, “Twelve-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray’s life was stolen from her by murderers who were wrongfully let into the country by the Biden-Harris administration, and we owe it to her and her family to ensure her legacy is never forgotten. I am glad the House of Representatives passed my legislation to make President Trump’s renaming of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Jocelyn’s honor permanent, and I look forward to the President signing it into law.”
    Rep. Babin said, “Today’s vote is a step toward ensuring Jocelyn Nungaray is never forgotten. This refuge will forever honor her bright spirit, her love for animals, and the beautiful life she should have been able to live. It also stands as a solemn reminder of the devastating cost of an open border — and our responsibility to prevent this kind of tragedy from ever happening again.”
    BACKGROUND
    On June 17, 2024, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was brutally murdered in Houston, Texas. Two illegal aliens who were allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang have been charged with her murder. Jocelyn loved animals and, given the close proximity of her hometown of Houston, it is fitting that the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge be renamed in her honor.
    Located along the Texas Gulf Coast, the 39,000-acre refuge is a sanctuary for migratory birds and diverse wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System and plays a vital role in coastal conservation, public recreation, and environmental education. Now, it will also stand as a solemn tribute to Jocelyn’s memory and a symbol of the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting American communities. On March 4, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14229 to officially change the name from Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge. On March 7, 2025, the refuge was officially renamed after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s implementation order was signed. This legislation would ensure that this renaming cannot be overturned by a future administration by codifying the refuge’s new name into law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chinese Nationals Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud Elderly Victims

    Source: US FBI

    WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that eight Chinese nationals who obtained student visas to attend college in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Those indicated include: Yankun Jiang, 24, of State College, PA, Hanlin Yang, 24, of State College; Chenhao Chen, 25, of California; Xiaoqing Tu, 24, of California; Dongjie Lu, 35, of California; Lei Bao, 22, of New York; Kuo Zhang, 31, of New Jersey; and Jiacheng Zhang, 25, of Florida.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that beginning in or about August of 2023 and continuing until on or about February 22, 2024, the defendants orchestrated a wide-scale computer “pop-up” scam targeting elderly victims falsely claiming that their computer or bank accounts had been compromised.  The indictment further alleges that members of the conspiracy traveled to victims’ homes and posed as federal law enforcement officers to collect large sums of cash from the victims claiming that the assets would be protected, among other falsehoods.  It is alleged that more than 50 victims across 19 states were defrauded of more than $10,000,000.

    “These indictments highlight the relentless efforts of Homeland Security Investigations to safeguard our elderly population from complex fraud operations,” stated Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens of HSI Philadelphia. “Schemes like these cause significant emotional and financial harm to elderly victims across the country. HSI, in partnership with the FBI, remains steadfast in our commitment to securing justice for the victims and ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable.”

    “As outlined in the indictment, this criminal enterprise not only exploited elderly victims but did so by impersonating federal law enforcement—an egregious abuse of trust,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “We urge older Americans and their families to remain alert to these kinds of scams. The FBI will never ask for money or payment of any kind. We are grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations for their dedicated work in bringing this case forward.”

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chinese Nationals Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud Elderly Victims

    Source: US FBI

    WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that eight Chinese nationals who obtained student visas to attend college in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Those indicated include: Yankun Jiang, 24, of State College, PA, Hanlin Yang, 24, of State College; Chenhao Chen, 25, of California; Xiaoqing Tu, 24, of California; Dongjie Lu, 35, of California; Lei Bao, 22, of New York; Kuo Zhang, 31, of New Jersey; and Jiacheng Zhang, 25, of Florida.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that beginning in or about August of 2023 and continuing until on or about February 22, 2024, the defendants orchestrated a wide-scale computer “pop-up” scam targeting elderly victims falsely claiming that their computer or bank accounts had been compromised.  The indictment further alleges that members of the conspiracy traveled to victims’ homes and posed as federal law enforcement officers to collect large sums of cash from the victims claiming that the assets would be protected, among other falsehoods.  It is alleged that more than 50 victims across 19 states were defrauded of more than $10,000,000.

    “These indictments highlight the relentless efforts of Homeland Security Investigations to safeguard our elderly population from complex fraud operations,” stated Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens of HSI Philadelphia. “Schemes like these cause significant emotional and financial harm to elderly victims across the country. HSI, in partnership with the FBI, remains steadfast in our commitment to securing justice for the victims and ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable.”

    “As outlined in the indictment, this criminal enterprise not only exploited elderly victims but did so by impersonating federal law enforcement—an egregious abuse of trust,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “We urge older Americans and their families to remain alert to these kinds of scams. The FBI will never ask for money or payment of any kind. We are grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations for their dedicated work in bringing this case forward.”

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Luzerne County Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment on Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

    Source: US FBI

    SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Essameddin Birry, age 43, of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 9, 2025, to 15 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, between May 31, 2023, and July 27, 2023, Birry distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions in the Wilkes-Barre area within Luzerne County. On September 11, 2023, Birry was involved in a motor vehicle stop in Olyphant, Lackawanna County. Birry attempted to flee on foot from law enforcement but was apprehended and found to be in possession of distribution amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl and possessed a loaded handgun. Birry was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony drug trafficking convictions. At the time of this offense, Birry was on probation for a prior drug trafficking conviction.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiate that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police and Olyphant Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Patrick Bannon prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 07.15.2025 Cruz-Led Bipartisan Bill to Protect Livelihoods of Texas Fishermen Passes the Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate passed the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, which was introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). The bipartisan bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and certain species of tuna imported into the United States.
    Technology exists to chemically test and find the geographic origin of many foods, but not for red snapper and tuna. The legislation supports the development of a field test kit that can be used to accurately ascertain whether fish were caught in U.S. or foreign waters, thus allowing federal and state law enforcement officers to identify the origin of the fish and confiscate illegally caught red snapper and tuna before it is imported back into the U.S.
    The Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Act was reintroduced in January and advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee the following month. The legislation was also co-sponsored by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
    Sen. Cruz said, “Hardworking Texas fishermen in the Gulf of America are being undercut by cartel-backed entities who illegally catch and smuggle red snapper into U.S. markets, using profits to fund other illicit activities. I am proud to lead the fight on this bipartisan legislation to crack down on these corrupt operations, stand up for Texas fishermen, and protect our communities. Now, it’s time for the House to act and help us put an end to this illegality.”
    Sen. Schatz said, “Seafood that’s caught illegally or intentionally mislabeled rips off consumers and makes it harder for law-abiding U.S. fishermen to compete. Our bill will help fight against anyone who tries to pass off cheap foreign tuna for high-quality ahi from local Hawai‘i fishermen.”
    BACKGROUND
    Mexican fishermen cross the maritime border between Texas and Mexico on small boats called “lanchas” to illegally catch red snapper in U.S. waters and return to Mexico. The fish are sold in Mexico or mixed in with legally-caught red snapper then exported back into the United States across land borders. Red snapper is one of the most well-managed and profitable fish in the Gulf, but illegal fishing by Mexican lanchas puts law-abiding U.S. fishermen and seafood producers at a competitive disadvantage.
    Last year, the Coast Guard seized more than 18 tons of illegally caught fish from Mexican lanchas. As of June of this year, the Coast Guard has arrested more than 50 Mexican fishermen and seized thousands of pounds of illegally caught fish, further underscoring the need for additional measures to protect our resources.
    In Hawaii, commercial fishermen have long fought to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and human trafficking in the seafood industry. IUU fishing activities violate both national and international fishing regulations.
    Sens. Cruz, Britt, and Tuberville previously introduced similar legislation during the 118th Congress, which passed the Commerce Committee in July of last year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: CPPCC National Committee Holds Consultative Meeting on Improving, Renewing Social Governance

    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 15 (Xinhua) — The National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a thematic consultation meeting on improving and innovating social governance in Beijing on Tuesday.

    Speaking at the meeting, Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, called on political consultants to rely on a people-centered approach when improving social governance.

    Wang Huning called for developing a social governance system based on joint construction, joint management and joint use, shifting the focus of social governance to the grassroots level, and improving the quality and effectiveness of policy consultation and professional proposals.

    The chairman of the CPPCC National Committee stressed the need to continuously deepen research on key issues in social governance, strengthen the reflection of public opinion in social governance, and properly carry out the work of consolidating forces in social governance.

    About 100 members of the CPPCC National Committee attended the meeting, of whom 22 delivered speeches.

    Chen Wenqing, member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the event and delivered a speech.

    Chen Wenqing called for raising the level of modernization of social governance, turning the Party’s leadership advantages into the effectiveness of social governance, better responding to public concerns and protecting public interests, and enhancing the rule of law in social governance. –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 USA: Debtors Who Failed to Disclose Foreign Assets Lose Bankruptcy Discharge After U.S. Trustee Program Investigation

    Source: US State of California

    A Texas couple who failed to disclose assets in Dubai and Pakistan waived their bankruptcy discharge of more than $14.6 million in unsecured debt after an investigation by the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP).

    On May 30, the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas approved a waiver of discharge by chapter 7 debtors Hasan Farid Hashmi and Umme Salma Hashmi. As a result, the Hashmis remain personally liable for their debts, and creditors are free to pursue payment from them after the case is closed.

    “The bankruptcy system depends on transparency,” said Lisa Lambert, U.S. Trustee for Region 6, which includes the Northern District of Texas. “Debtors who intentionally undermine that system should not receive the benefit of a fresh start.”

    The Hashmis filed for bankruptcy in September 2023 after the closure of several Texas hospitals owned by Hasan Hashmi, a physician. Among their assets, the couple listed a $2 million Dallas home as their only real estate and two American bank accounts with small balances. They also disclosed that they had established a trust for their descendants — which Dr. Hashmi managed as trustee — but claimed no interest in the trust’s assets as owners or beneficiaries. An investigation by the USTP’s Dallas office, however, revealed that the Hashmis owned several other properties and bank accounts in Dubai and Pakistan and that they used funds from the trust to pay personal expenses.

    In February 2024, the USTP filed a complaint seeking to bar the Hashmis’ bankruptcy discharge for making false oaths; concealing assets; failing to maintain financial records; failing to cooperate with the chapter 7 trustee’s document requests; and refusing to obey a court order requiring the Hashmis to comply with the U.S. Trustee’s document requests. One day before trial, the Hashmis agreed to waive their discharge.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 88 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Leads Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Nursing Workforce 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today, U.S. Reps. Young Kim (CA-40), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Sarah McBride (DE-At Large) introduced the National Nursing Workforce Center Act to address the nationwide nursing shortage and sustain a resilient healthcare workforce. 

    The National Nursing Workforce Center Act would establish a pilot program to support the development of state-based nursing workforce centers. These centers serve as critical hubs for research, planning, and programs that strengthen the nursing pipeline and improve workforce planning across states.  

    “Unsustainable schedules are hurting our nurses, who play a vital role in delivering care across the nation,” said Rep. Young Kim. “We must strengthen our nursing workforce to meet evolving healthcare needs. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill to support these heroes who care for us every day.” 

    “This bill helps to establish and promote nursing workforce centers, as we try to address the skilled nursing shortage,” said Rep. Marilyn Strickland. “We must support nurses at all stages of their careers, so we can grow a strong nursing workforce.” 

    “State-based nursing workforce centers help improve the pipeline for nursing education programs because of the data-driven solutions they research,” said Rep. Don Bacon. “I’m thankful to join Rep. Kim on this legislation that will focus on localized research, data analysis and strategic planning to improve nursing education.” 

     “Nurses are the backbone of our health care system—and they’re burned out and stretched thin,” said Rep. Sarah McBride. “I’m proud to join Rep. Young Kim in introducing this bipartisan bill to strengthen nursing education, expand mental health support, and build the workforce patients count on. I’m grateful to Senator Blunt Rochester for her leadership in the Senate as we work to ensure nurses have the resources they need to keep our communities healthy.”  

    The National Nursing Workforce Center Act would:   

    • Create a two-year pilot program through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to help states establish or expand nursing workforce centers; 
    • Support research, planning, and programs that address nursing shortages and strengthen nursing education; 
    • Direct HRSA to create a national center focused on nursing workforce research and solutions. 

    Read the bill here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni meets with Federal Chancellor of Austria

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    15 Luglio 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met with the Federal Chancellor of Austria, Christian Stocker, at Palazzo Chigi today. Following their meeting, the two leaders issued statements to the press.

    [Press statements by President Meloni and Federal Chancellor Stocker (Original audio)]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada invests $13.4 million in Rogers Pass Centre and Trans-Canada Highway 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Work will improve safety for visitors, the traveling public, and wildlife

    July 15, 2025                            Rogers Pass/Glacier, BC                    Parks Canada

    The Government of Canada is committed to protecting natural and cultural treasures in Canada and advancing infrastructure projects at Parks Canada administered sites to conserve the environment, create economic and tourism opportunities and ensure the safety of visitors travelling to and through these iconic places.

    Today, the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced $13.4 million for infrastructure improvements to the Rogers Pass Centre in Glacier National Park and key assets along the Trans-Canada Highway through Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks.

    The Rogers Pass Centre is an essential visitor experience and public safety node and rest point for travellers along this busy national corridor. During the rehabilitation, a temporary facility called Summit Station will provide travellers with visitor experience and safety information, park pass sales and merchandise, thereby ensuring minimal disruption to these services.

    This funding will also support critical roadway improvements along the Trans-Canada Highway, including:

    ·        Upgrades to the Mount Revelstoke National Park entrance overpass to meet current safety standards

    ·        Installation of an eco-passage to enable wildlife of all sizes to cross more safely

    ·        Slope stabilization in Glacier National Park to address landslide impacts to the highway

    ·        Drainage and surfacing improvements to improve safety

    This Government of Canada investment is ensuring that future generations can safely connect with the cultural and natural heritage of Rogers Pass National Historic Site and Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks while helping to protect and conserve important infrastructure, support the local economy and contribute to growth in the tourism sector.

                                                                                                       -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Debtors Who Failed to Disclose Foreign Assets Lose Bankruptcy Discharge After U.S. Trustee Program Investigation

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Texas couple who failed to disclose assets in Dubai and Pakistan waived their bankruptcy discharge of more than $14.6 million in unsecured debt after an investigation by the Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP).

    On May 30, the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas approved a waiver of discharge by chapter 7 debtors Hasan Farid Hashmi and Umme Salma Hashmi. As a result, the Hashmis remain personally liable for their debts, and creditors are free to pursue payment from them after the case is closed.

    “The bankruptcy system depends on transparency,” said Lisa Lambert, U.S. Trustee for Region 6, which includes the Northern District of Texas. “Debtors who intentionally undermine that system should not receive the benefit of a fresh start.”

    The Hashmis filed for bankruptcy in September 2023 after the closure of several Texas hospitals owned by Hasan Hashmi, a physician. Among their assets, the couple listed a $2 million Dallas home as their only real estate and two American bank accounts with small balances. They also disclosed that they had established a trust for their descendants — which Dr. Hashmi managed as trustee — but claimed no interest in the trust’s assets as owners or beneficiaries. An investigation by the USTP’s Dallas office, however, revealed that the Hashmis owned several other properties and bank accounts in Dubai and Pakistan and that they used funds from the trust to pay personal expenses.

    In February 2024, the USTP filed a complaint seeking to bar the Hashmis’ bankruptcy discharge for making false oaths; concealing assets; failing to maintain financial records; failing to cooperate with the chapter 7 trustee’s document requests; and refusing to obey a court order requiring the Hashmis to comply with the U.S. Trustee’s document requests. One day before trial, the Hashmis agreed to waive their discharge.

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 88 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Peters Urge FAA to Expedite Delivery of Airport Entitlement Funds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The formula-based Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program funds are regularly awarded to nearly 3,300 public-use airports across the nation annually. Since these funds are often not awarded until late June and July, it’s challenging for airports to implement the projects during the summer construction season, leading to project delays, cancellations, and cost escalations, especially at small and rural airports.

    U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Gary Peters (D-MI) sent a bipartisan letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford urging him to expedite the disbursement of AIP and AIG entitlement funds to help airports deliver projects more efficiently and better serve travelers.

    “Despite their guaranteed nature, AIP and AIG entitlement funds are often not available to airports until late June or July,” the senators wrote. “For small airports with limited resources and in states with truncated construction seasons due to severe weather, this delay poses significant challenges. It results in project cancellations, increased costs, and makes each federal dollar less effective. Further, for states that participate in the FAA’s Block Grant program, agency actions to limit which AIP funds are provided via block grant challenge the usefulness of the program and increase administrative burden.

    “We urge the FAA to take steps to disburse entitlement funds earlier in the fiscal year and to work with block grant states to maximize the utility of the program moving forward,” the senators concluded.  “We look forward to your response on this important matter.”

    Supporters of the letter include the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, National Association of State Aviation Officials, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Transportation Construction Coalition.

    Cosigners include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jim Justice (R-WV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jim Risch (R-ID), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

    Click here for the letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican Navy collaborate to disrupt suspected maritime smuggling venture off the coast of San Diego

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    07/15/2025 12:55 PM EDT

    SAN DIEGO — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward (WPC 1130) and the Mexican Navy vessel ARM Revolución successfully collaborated to deter a suspected maritime smuggling attempt approximately 11 miles southwest of Point Loma, Sunday. At approximately 4 p.m., the crew of Robert Ward detected a vessel transiting north from Mexican waters into U.S. territorial waters. As the cutter prepared to deploy its small boat to conduct a boarding, the suspected smuggling vessel suddenly reversed course and fled south at a high rate of speed.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Alsobrooks Lead Bipartisan Effort to Permanently Add Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking Housing and Urban Affairs Committees, and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen food and national security. A companion bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee and the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously.

    The Agricultural Risk Review Act codifies a key plank of the Trump administration’s National Farm Security Action Plan by permanently adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for agriculture transactions. CFIUS is an interagency committee tasked with reviewing transactions involving foreign investment in the United States to determine the national security implications. 

    “We’ve made tremendous progress over the last few years in our efforts to safeguard our agricultural systems and food supply chains against adversaries,” said Cramer. “After Grand Forks’ experience with Fufeng, we now know how essential it is to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS. Foreign land purchases, especially near sensitive sites, are a threat to both our national and food security. Republicans and Democrats both understand the importance of protecting food supply chains. President Trump was right to put Secretary Rollins on CFIUS. I look forward to making his effort permanent with the Agricultural Risk Review Act.”

    “Formalizing the Secretary of Agriculture’s role in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is critical to our national security,” said Alsobrooks. “Maryland is home to many vital, sensitive sites including Fort Meade, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Camp David, and more. I will do everything in my power to make sure these locations are safe from foreign adversaries so that Maryland’s agricultural communities can remain resilient and continue to support our nation’s food security.”

    “Now more than ever, it is imperative we protect our farmland and secure our food supply,” said Lummis. “This commonsense legislation ensures the Secretary of Agriculture has a seat on the committee that reviews foreign acquisitions of American land and gives the secretary a voice when it comes to safeguarding our agriculture industry. Farm and food security are national security, and I am proud to join my colleagues in protecting Wyoming land and agriculture.”  

    “Food security is national security,” said Fetterman. “The bipartisan Agriculture Risk Review Act finally locks in what I’ve said before: the Agriculture Secretary belongs at the CFIUS table every time a deal touches our farms, our food supply, or the businesses that keep them moving. The White House directive is a good start, but this bill makes it permanent because safeguarding our fields and our food shouldn’t depend on who’s sitting in the Oval Office. I’ll keep working to limit CCP and other adversary investment in our nation’s farmland.”

    “Senator Cramer understands that food security is national security,” said Ethan Lane, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for National Cattleman’s Beef Association. “The cattle industry greatly appreciates his leadership to ensure our food security by adding the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS. This is a critical step in protecting American farm and ranch land from foreign actors.”

    In 2021, the Chinese Fufeng Group purchased 370 acres of land for a wet-corn milling plant 12 miles from Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Cramer was a vocal opponent of the purchase due to national security concerns, given the food manufacturer’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and the sensitive work performed at the base. He requested CFIUS review the investment, however the committee ultimately concluded it lacked the legal jurisdiction to make a determination, regardless of the merits of the case. In a January 2023 letter, the U.S. Air Force officially asserted the Fufeng project “presents a significant threat to national security with both near- and long-term risks of significant impacts to our operations in the area.”

    Following the Fufeng controversy, CFIUS expanded jurisdiction over GFAFB and seven other bases. The Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations minibus included language Cramer supported to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS to review foreign agricultural and biotechnology purchases of national concern.

    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: One Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Charged, Another Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate Civil Rights While Providing Off-Duty Security for Clients

    Source: US FBI

    LOS ANGELES – Federal prosecutors today secured a guilty plea from a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy and charged and filed a plea agreement with another LASD deputy – both of whom used their positions in law enforcement while acting as private security for their off-duty clients, including a now-jailed cryptocurrency businessman who proclaimed himself “The Godfather.” 

    David Anthony Rodriguez, 43, of La Verne, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy against rights.

    Relatedly, Christopher Michael Cadman, 33, of Fullerton, agreed to plead guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiracy against rights and subscribing to a false tax return. Cadman, who will face up to 13 years in federal prison at his sentencing hearing after he pleads guilty, is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in the coming days.

    Rodriguez and Cadman formerly were employed by Adam Iza, 24, who resided in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, a cryptocurrency businessman who has been in federal custody since September 2024. Iza pleaded guilty on January 30 to one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of wire fraud, and one count of tax evasion. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 15.

    According to court documents, in August 2021, Cadman and a law enforcement officer identified as “LASD Deputy 6” intimidated and threatened a victim who was one of Iza’s adversaries. LASD Deputy 6 held the victim at gunpoint during a meeting at Iza’s office inside his Bel Air mansion. Immediately afterward, the victim transferred approximately $25,000 from his bank account to Iza’s bank account in response to the threat and demand.

    In September 2021, Cadman and other law enforcement officers orchestrated a traffic stop in Paramount to arrest the same victim. Cadman admitted in his plea agreement to helping organize the traffic stop and arrest on Iza’s behalf and to receiving cash payments while he worked for Iza.

    Cadman also received income he knowingly failed to report – at least $40,500 – on his 2021 federal tax return, which he signed and filed with the IRS in February 2022. Cadman admitted to owing approximately $11,000 in federal taxes for that year.

    In a separate plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted to using his powers as a law enforcement officer in July 2022 to improperly obtain a court-authorized search warrant, lying to a judge that it was related to a robbery investigation, to obtain GPS location information associated with another victim’s cellular phone on behalf of a client – other than Iza – who hired Rodriguez as a private security guard. 

    After securing the GPS location information for the victim’s phone, Rodriguez shared the coordinates with co-conspirators, including Eric Chase Saavedra, 42, of Chino, an LASD deputy and former federal task force officer who ran a private security company, who pleaded guilty on February 6 to one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. LASD deputies and other co-conspirators would use information obtained from the court-authorized search warrant to harass, threaten, and intimidate the victim.

    Saavedra, who is free on $50,000 bond, is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.

    United States District Judge Percy Anderson scheduled a November 10 sentencing hearing for Rodriguez, who faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

    The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has assisted.

    Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting these cases.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Leads Legislation to Provide Rural Communities with Funding for Emergency Recovery Technical Assistance After Disasters Hit 

    US Senate News:

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, and U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), reintroduced the Rural Recovery Act, legislation that will create a new program at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) to provide RD state offices with automatic funding for emergency recovery technical assistance after disasters take place in their jurisdiction. The Rural Recovery Act was inspired and shaped by the need to bolster capacity of towns and cities across Vermont recovering from historic floods in 2023 and 2024. 
    “Vermont is still reeling from brutal back-to-back floods that tore through our state in July of 2023 and 2024. Just last week, towns were hit with flash flooding for the third year—it’s a painful reminder that these disasters are becoming more frequent, and we need to be ready for them. A critical part of the recovery process is ensuring every town has the resources necessary to access emergency relief funds when disasters strike. But many rural communities often don’t have the capacity to apply for disaster relief when they’re still trying to dig out their driveways and make sure their neighbors are safe after a major flood,” said Senator Welch. “The Rural Recovery Act will deliver vital assistance and improve the post-disaster recovery process for rural communities impacted by extreme weather across the country.” 
    “Climate change is making extreme weather more frequent, severe and damaging. Vermonters know this all too well following years of devastating flooding. What they also know is that the recovery process is difficult and slow, and that working with the various federal agencies involved is complicated and time-consuming. Many of our small towns simply don’t have the time or staff resources to manage the endless paperwork and apply for the resources available to help in recovery. The Rural Recovery Act will help ensure communities can access the disaster relief they need to recover and rebuild,” said Senator Sanders. 
    “New Hampshire has been hit hard by a number of severe storms in recent years that caused flooding and other serious damage to residences and businesses across the state, including in rural areas,” said Senator Shaheen. “The technical expertise needed to apply for emergency assistance is often a huge barrier for smaller, rural communities. Our legislation would allow USDA Rural Development to provide assistance, which will help more Granite Staters access recovery funds when they’re needed most.” 
    The Rural Recovery Act would provide automatic funding to USDA RD state offices in disaster impacted states, following a disaster declaration by the president. States can use funding to administer disaster recovery technical assistance to towns. The technical assistance funding—generally available up to three years after a disaster occurs—could be used by state RD offices to hire internal employees or contractors to provide technical assistance to towns for their recovery efforts. The program is modeled after a pilot program spearheaded by USDA RD and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) which provides towns with technical assistance for disaster recovery. 
    Technical assistance providers could also assist with any federal agency funding applications for disaster-damaged infrastructure, including U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), USDA, or state agency funding applications to address disaster damage.  
    Learn more about the Rural Recovery Act of 2025. 
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Taurine could power your energy drink – and maybe cancer cells too. Here’s what you need to know

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gulshanara (Rumy) Begum, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition & Exercise Science, University of Westminster

    shutterstock New Africa/Shutterstock

    Energy drinks are big business. Marketed as quick fixes for fatigue and performance dips, energy drinks are especially popular among young people, athletes, sports enthusiasts, and so-called “weekend warriors” – people who pack their workouts into the weekend instead of exercising regularly. Gamers are now a major target too.

    But as the market grows, so do concerns about what’s actually in these drinks – and what these ingredients might be doing to our bodies.

    Many energy drinks contain some combination of three familiar stimulants: caffeine, found naturally in coffee, tea and cacao; guarana, an Amazonian plant rich in caffeine; and taurine, a naturally occurring amino acid found in scallops, mussels, turkey and chicken.

    Taurine, in particular, has drawn both hype and hope. It is credited with performance-enhancing properties and potential health benefits. But new research is raising important questions about how it behaves in the body – and when it might do more harm than good.

    In May 2025, a study published in Nature sparked headlines and unease in equal measure. It found that taurine may fuel the progression of leukaemia, a group of blood cancers that begin in the bone marrow.

    The study showed that while healthy bone marrow cells naturally produce taurine, leukaemia cells cannot. But they can absorb taurine from their surroundings and use it as a fuel source to grow and multiply. Research on mice and in human leukaemia cell samples demonstrated that taurine in the tumour microenvironment – the area around a tumour that includes blood vessels, immune cells and structural support – accelerated the progression of leukaemia.

    Crucially, when researchers blocked taurine uptake by leukaemia cells (using genetic techniques), cancer progression slowed significantly. The authors suggest taurine supplements could potentially worsen outcomes in people with leukaemia and propose that developing targeted ways to block taurine uptake by cancer cells might offer a new treatment strategy.

    Taurine: friend or foe?

    Taurine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the human body, found in especially high concentrations in the heart, muscles and brain. In healthy people, it’s mainly obtained through diet, but the body can also synthesise taurine from the amino acids methionine and cysteine, provided it has enough vitamin B6, which is found in foods such as salmon, tuna, chicken, bananas and milk.

    Most people consuming a typical western diet take in 40mg–400mg of taurine a day from food alone. This figure refers only to taurine that is directly ingested, not including the additional amount the body can synthesise internally, which may vary depending on age, diet and health.

    Scallops contain high levels of taurine.
    barmalini/Shutterstock

    Taurine is listed on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) generally recognised as safe (GRAS) database, and according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), it’s safe to consume up to six grams per day. By comparison, a serving of Red Bull or Monster contains around one gram – comfortably below that threshold.

    Despite recent concerns about a possible link to blood cancer progression, taurine isn’t inherently harmful. In fact, some people may benefit from supplementation, especially those receiving long-term parenteral nutrition, where nutrients are delivered directly into the bloodstream because the gut isn’t working properly. People with chronic liver, kidney or heart failure may also have trouble producing or holding on to enough taurine, making supplementation helpful in specific clinical settings.

    Ironically, some research suggests taurine may actually help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy in leukaemia patients – even as emerging studies raise concerns that it could also fuel the disease. This contradiction underscores how much context matters: the effects of taurine depend not just on dosage and delivery, but also on the patient’s underlying condition. What helps in one context, could harm in another.

    But here’s the catch: taking taurine as a supplement for particular health reasons is very different from consuming large quantities through energy drinks, which often combine taurine with high levels of caffeine and sugar. This combination can put strain on the heart, interfere with sleep and increase the risk of side effects, particularly for people with underlying health conditions or those taking other stimulants.

    The latest research raises important questions about whether taurine-heavy products could be harmful in some cases, especially for people with, or at risk of, blood cancers.

    So, should you worry?

    According to the current evidence, if you’re a healthy adult who occasionally sips an energy drink, there’s little cause for alarm. But moderation is key. Consuming multiple high-taurine drinks daily or taking taurine supplements (without prior professional consultation), on top of a taurine-rich diet might not be wise, especially if future research confirms links between taurine and cancer progression.

    Until more is known, the safest approach would be to enjoy your energy boosts by consuming a nutritious diet rather than consuming energy drinks. If you have any underlying health conditions – or a family history of cancer – it’s always best to consult a healthcare professional before diving into taurine supplementation or consumption of energy drinks.

    Gulshanara (Rumy) Begum 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. Taurine could power your energy drink – and maybe cancer cells too. Here’s what you need to know – https://theconversation.com/taurine-could-power-your-energy-drink-and-maybe-cancer-cells-too-heres-what-you-need-to-know-256957

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Leads Legislation to Support Rural Behavioral Health by Fully Funding Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced the Farmers First Act, which would expand and improve behavioral health services in rural communities and connect those in times of crisis with trained medical professionals to receive the personalized care that they need.

    This legislation would reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), increase funding to a total of $15,000,000 annually over the next five years, and allow FRSAN regional centers to establish referral connections with certified community behavioral health clinics, critical access hospitals, and rural health centers.

    “Agriculture is the economic engine of Iowa, and our farmers and producers work long hours and make unseen sacrifices to feed and fuel our country and the world. Those sacrifices can take a toll on our farm producers, especially when commodity prices tumble or severe weather destroys crops,” said Rep. Feenstra. “It’s why I’m glad to lead legislation to fully fund the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, providing farmers with real support in times of crisis. I will always stand with our producers and ensure that they have access to the high-quality healthcare they deserve.”

    “Dairy farmers routinely endure volatile economic environments that are naturally cause for emotional stress. The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network provides vital resources that can support producers and their families during times of crisis. We commend Representative Randy Feenstra and Ranking Member Angie Craig for leading the bipartisan Farmers First Act to continue and strengthen FRSAN for the betterment of all farmers and rural communities,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.

    “On behalf of over 60,000 pork producers nationwide, we commend Congressman Feenstra and Ranking Member Craig for addressing the critical issue of mental and behavioral health in agriculture. As farmers and ranchers, we face unique stressors that are often beyond our control. By prioritizing these resources, we can strengthen the resilience of rural communities and ensure long-term support for both producers today and future generations,” said Duane Stateler, President of National Pork Producers Council.

    “Farmers face incredible stressors in their day-to-day work and often feel as though the weight of the world rests on their shoulders as they navigate tough times while maintaining farms that have been passed down through multiple generations of family members,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., Illinois farmer and President of the National Corn Growers Association. “Yet, they often find it hard to access the mental health tools they need to cope with these challenges. That’s why we are deeply appreciative for the sponsors of this legislation for working to extend mental health resources to growers through this important legislation.”

    “From trade uncertainty to labor shortages and natural disasters, many stressors are weighing heavily on the minds of farmers and ranchers. Resources supported through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network are more critical now than at any time in recent memory. Farm Bureau appreciates Representatives Craig and Feenstra, as well as Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their tireless commitment to supporting farmer and rancher mental health across the country,” said Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

    “U.S. soybean farmers face serious pressures, from the impacts of ongoing tariffs to looming, unscientific threats to crop protection tools and seed oils. These policy and market challenges take a toll, not just financially, but mentally. Mental health remains an often-unspoken crisis in rural communities, and ASA is committed to addressing it head-on. The Farmers First Act of 2025 would provide critical support by reauthorizing the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and strengthening mental health resources farmers can count on. We thank Representative Feenstra for championing this legislation and standing with farm families,” said Caleb Ragland, President of the American Soybean Association and soybean farmer from Magnolia, Kentucky.

    “Farmers and ranchers across the United States face unique and extreme stresses in their work to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. NASDA applauds the bipartisan Farmers First Act, which bolsters access to critical mental health resources through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. State departments of agriculture play an important role in coordinating FRSAN operations and NASDA looks forward to continuing to support these invaluable activities,” said Ted McKinney, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

    “When farmers struggle, ag retailers feel it too—financially, emotionally, and as part of the same rural fabric. The Farmers First Act recognizes that mental health is a shared concern in agriculture, and strengthening the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network helps support not just our customers, but our communities and our own teams as well,” said Hunter Carpenter, Senior Director of Public Policy at the Agricultural Retailers Association.

    “The Farmer Veteran Coalition strongly supports the reauthorization of the Farmers First Act. Expanding and strengthening the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network is essential to ensuring farmers, ranchers have access to the mental health resources they need to thrive. We commend Representatives Feenstra and Craig, as well as Senators Baldwin and Ernst, for their bipartisan leadership in prioritizing the well-being of those who feed our nation. This bill will provide critical support for agricultural producers facing stress, isolation, and mental health challenges, and we urge swift passage this Congress,” said Jeanette Lombardo, Chief Executive Officer of the Farmer Veteran Coalition.

    “The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Congressman Feenstra and Ranking Member Craig for their leadership on ensuring access to mental health care for rural agricultural communities. The Farmers First Act supports the continuation of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, expanding the network of rural providers to deliver critical services to farming and ranching populations. We look forward to working with Congress to continue bringing much-needed resources to our agricultural populations,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.

    “Farmers in rural communities face unique mental health and substance use challenges, often with limited access to care,” said Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “The reintroduction of the Farmer’s First Act by Representatives Feenstra and Craig is a meaningful step toward expanding access to high-quality behavioral health services in agricultural communities. By supporting programs that leverage proven models like Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), this bill will help ensure that farmers and their families can access comprehensive, coordinated care no matter where they live.”

    “Farming and the financial insecurity associated with farming can be very stressful. Farmers dealing with stress-related mental health challenges often feel stigmatized if they seek help, which only compounds the problem. We applaud Representatives Feenstra (R-IA) and Craig (D-MN) and Senators Baldwin (D-WI) and Ernst (R-IA) for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the Farmers First Act to increase resources available to farmers and rural communities to address mental health challenges,” said Steve Etka, Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition. 

    “Farmers are daily facing the changing and unpredictable weather patterns that can devastate the best laid plans. They must deal with rising cost of inputs, uncertainty about trade, uncertainty about support services, uncertainty about the role of the USDA and managing difficult financial decisions against a backdrop of uncertainty around the domestic economy. Organic dairy farmers care for the environment, care for their livestock and for the health and welfare of their family and their customers every day. Dairy farming is many times a solitary occupation and farmers need access to all the resources possible to deal with the stress and uncertainty in their lives. We wholeheartedly support the Farmers First Act and all the assistance it can provide to care for our farm families,” said Ed Maltby, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.

    “Ensuring sufficient access to evidence-based mental health services continues to be a challenge in many rural and agricultural communities, in many cases a challenge that has endured over generations,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association Services, Inc. (APA Services). “The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network program continues to be a lifeline to many of these communities. APA Services applauds Representatives Feenstra and Craig and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their efforts to ensure adequate mental health resources in rural communities, and we ask Congress to swiftly enact the Farmers First Act.”

    “Any farmer will tell you—agriculture is an incredibly demanding and often stressful profession, especially during times of economic hardship. Tragically, suicide rates among farmers are two to five times higher than the national average. One of the biggest challenges in addressing this crisis is the persistent stigma around mental health in rural communities, which too often prevents individuals from seeking help. NAWG is deeply grateful to Congressman Feenstra for his leadership on this critical legislation and for his unwavering commitment to expanding access to mental health resources for farmers and rural communities across the country,” said Chandler Goule, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Wheat Growers.

    “The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network helps provide essential support to our nation’s producers” said Doug O’Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association. “The National Cooperative Business Association applauds the bipartisan leadership to increase access to mental health services for rural communities while providing a critical lifeline to our farmers and ranchers”

    “The Organic Trade Association applauds Congressman Feenstra for recognizing that a healthy farm system begins with healthy farmers,” said Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association. “We proudly support the Farmers First Act which safeguards the well-being of farmers.”

    “Farming is a stressful job, even in good times, and rural residents often face unique barriers to seeking mental health care,” said Christy Seyfert, Farm Credit Council President and CEO. “FRSAN brings valuable stress assistance services and expertise to the farm and ranch communities most in need of resources. Farm Credit commends Ranking Member Craig, Representative Feenstra, and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their leadership on the Farmers First Act.”

    “Since it was funded in the 2018 Farm Bill, the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) has been an essential lifeline for farmers, ranchers and farmworkers, who face increased levels of stress and often lack access to mental health support services,” said Hannah Tremblay, Farm Aid’s Policy & Advocacy Manager. “Farm Aid enthusiastically supports the Farmers First Act of 2025 which continues the crucial work of the FRSAN to support and strengthen the agricultural workers we all depend upon. Importantly, the increased funding will allow for deeper support networks and increased outreach to underserved farmers and agricultural workers. As farmers struggle with an uncertain farm economy, FRSAN is now more critical than ever.”

    “We are grateful to Representatives Randy Feenstra and Angie Craig for reaffirming the clear and present need for increased funding of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance network. Many reasons exist for ongoing farm stress and mental health challenges for farmers and farm workers. Continued FRSAN funding is essential to ensure critical support services and programming reach populations where the need is great, and resources are often limited,” said David Howard, Policy Development Director at Young Farmers.

    “Farming can be incredibly stressful, and too many rural communities still don’t have the mental health support they need,” said Rob Larew, President of National Farmers Union. “The Farmers First Act will help get essential resources to farmers who are struggling. We thank Representatives Feenstra and Craig and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for leading the charge and urge Congress to reauthorize FRSAN with increased funding.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Leads Legislation to Support Rural Behavioral Health by Fully Funding Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced the Farmers First Act, which would expand and improve behavioral health services in rural communities and connect those in times of crisis with trained medical professionals to receive the personalized care that they need.

    This legislation would reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), increase funding to a total of $15,000,000 annually over the next five years, and allow FRSAN regional centers to establish referral connections with certified community behavioral health clinics, critical access hospitals, and rural health centers.

    “Agriculture is the economic engine of Iowa, and our farmers and producers work long hours and make unseen sacrifices to feed and fuel our country and the world. Those sacrifices can take a toll on our farm producers, especially when commodity prices tumble or severe weather destroys crops,” said Rep. Feenstra. “It’s why I’m glad to lead legislation to fully fund the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, providing farmers with real support in times of crisis. I will always stand with our producers and ensure that they have access to the high-quality healthcare they deserve.”

    “Dairy farmers routinely endure volatile economic environments that are naturally cause for emotional stress. The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network provides vital resources that can support producers and their families during times of crisis. We commend Representative Randy Feenstra and Ranking Member Angie Craig for leading the bipartisan Farmers First Act to continue and strengthen FRSAN for the betterment of all farmers and rural communities,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.

    “On behalf of over 60,000 pork producers nationwide, we commend Congressman Feenstra and Ranking Member Craig for addressing the critical issue of mental and behavioral health in agriculture. As farmers and ranchers, we face unique stressors that are often beyond our control. By prioritizing these resources, we can strengthen the resilience of rural communities and ensure long-term support for both producers today and future generations,” said Duane Stateler, President of National Pork Producers Council.

    “Farmers face incredible stressors in their day-to-day work and often feel as though the weight of the world rests on their shoulders as they navigate tough times while maintaining farms that have been passed down through multiple generations of family members,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., Illinois farmer and President of the National Corn Growers Association. “Yet, they often find it hard to access the mental health tools they need to cope with these challenges. That’s why we are deeply appreciative for the sponsors of this legislation for working to extend mental health resources to growers through this important legislation.”

    “From trade uncertainty to labor shortages and natural disasters, many stressors are weighing heavily on the minds of farmers and ranchers. Resources supported through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network are more critical now than at any time in recent memory. Farm Bureau appreciates Representatives Craig and Feenstra, as well as Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their tireless commitment to supporting farmer and rancher mental health across the country,” said Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

    “U.S. soybean farmers face serious pressures, from the impacts of ongoing tariffs to looming, unscientific threats to crop protection tools and seed oils. These policy and market challenges take a toll, not just financially, but mentally. Mental health remains an often-unspoken crisis in rural communities, and ASA is committed to addressing it head-on. The Farmers First Act of 2025 would provide critical support by reauthorizing the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and strengthening mental health resources farmers can count on. We thank Representative Feenstra for championing this legislation and standing with farm families,” said Caleb Ragland, President of the American Soybean Association and soybean farmer from Magnolia, Kentucky.

    “Farmers and ranchers across the United States face unique and extreme stresses in their work to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. NASDA applauds the bipartisan Farmers First Act, which bolsters access to critical mental health resources through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. State departments of agriculture play an important role in coordinating FRSAN operations and NASDA looks forward to continuing to support these invaluable activities,” said Ted McKinney, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

    “When farmers struggle, ag retailers feel it too—financially, emotionally, and as part of the same rural fabric. The Farmers First Act recognizes that mental health is a shared concern in agriculture, and strengthening the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network helps support not just our customers, but our communities and our own teams as well,” said Hunter Carpenter, Senior Director of Public Policy at the Agricultural Retailers Association.

    “The Farmer Veteran Coalition strongly supports the reauthorization of the Farmers First Act. Expanding and strengthening the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network is essential to ensuring farmers, ranchers have access to the mental health resources they need to thrive. We commend Representatives Feenstra and Craig, as well as Senators Baldwin and Ernst, for their bipartisan leadership in prioritizing the well-being of those who feed our nation. This bill will provide critical support for agricultural producers facing stress, isolation, and mental health challenges, and we urge swift passage this Congress,” said Jeanette Lombardo, Chief Executive Officer of the Farmer Veteran Coalition.

    “The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Congressman Feenstra and Ranking Member Craig for their leadership on ensuring access to mental health care for rural agricultural communities. The Farmers First Act supports the continuation of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, expanding the network of rural providers to deliver critical services to farming and ranching populations. We look forward to working with Congress to continue bringing much-needed resources to our agricultural populations,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.

    “Farmers in rural communities face unique mental health and substance use challenges, often with limited access to care,” said Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “The reintroduction of the Farmer’s First Act by Representatives Feenstra and Craig is a meaningful step toward expanding access to high-quality behavioral health services in agricultural communities. By supporting programs that leverage proven models like Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), this bill will help ensure that farmers and their families can access comprehensive, coordinated care no matter where they live.”

    “Farming and the financial insecurity associated with farming can be very stressful. Farmers dealing with stress-related mental health challenges often feel stigmatized if they seek help, which only compounds the problem. We applaud Representatives Feenstra (R-IA) and Craig (D-MN) and Senators Baldwin (D-WI) and Ernst (R-IA) for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the Farmers First Act to increase resources available to farmers and rural communities to address mental health challenges,” said Steve Etka, Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition. 

    “Farmers are daily facing the changing and unpredictable weather patterns that can devastate the best laid plans. They must deal with rising cost of inputs, uncertainty about trade, uncertainty about support services, uncertainty about the role of the USDA and managing difficult financial decisions against a backdrop of uncertainty around the domestic economy. Organic dairy farmers care for the environment, care for their livestock and for the health and welfare of their family and their customers every day. Dairy farming is many times a solitary occupation and farmers need access to all the resources possible to deal with the stress and uncertainty in their lives. We wholeheartedly support the Farmers First Act and all the assistance it can provide to care for our farm families,” said Ed Maltby, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.

    “Ensuring sufficient access to evidence-based mental health services continues to be a challenge in many rural and agricultural communities, in many cases a challenge that has endured over generations,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., CEO of the American Psychological Association Services, Inc. (APA Services). “The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network program continues to be a lifeline to many of these communities. APA Services applauds Representatives Feenstra and Craig and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their efforts to ensure adequate mental health resources in rural communities, and we ask Congress to swiftly enact the Farmers First Act.”

    “Any farmer will tell you—agriculture is an incredibly demanding and often stressful profession, especially during times of economic hardship. Tragically, suicide rates among farmers are two to five times higher than the national average. One of the biggest challenges in addressing this crisis is the persistent stigma around mental health in rural communities, which too often prevents individuals from seeking help. NAWG is deeply grateful to Congressman Feenstra for his leadership on this critical legislation and for his unwavering commitment to expanding access to mental health resources for farmers and rural communities across the country,” said Chandler Goule, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Wheat Growers.

    “The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network helps provide essential support to our nation’s producers” said Doug O’Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association. “The National Cooperative Business Association applauds the bipartisan leadership to increase access to mental health services for rural communities while providing a critical lifeline to our farmers and ranchers”

    “The Organic Trade Association applauds Congressman Feenstra for recognizing that a healthy farm system begins with healthy farmers,” said Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association. “We proudly support the Farmers First Act which safeguards the well-being of farmers.”

    “Farming is a stressful job, even in good times, and rural residents often face unique barriers to seeking mental health care,” said Christy Seyfert, Farm Credit Council President and CEO. “FRSAN brings valuable stress assistance services and expertise to the farm and ranch communities most in need of resources. Farm Credit commends Ranking Member Craig, Representative Feenstra, and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for their leadership on the Farmers First Act.”

    “Since it was funded in the 2018 Farm Bill, the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) has been an essential lifeline for farmers, ranchers and farmworkers, who face increased levels of stress and often lack access to mental health support services,” said Hannah Tremblay, Farm Aid’s Policy & Advocacy Manager. “Farm Aid enthusiastically supports the Farmers First Act of 2025 which continues the crucial work of the FRSAN to support and strengthen the agricultural workers we all depend upon. Importantly, the increased funding will allow for deeper support networks and increased outreach to underserved farmers and agricultural workers. As farmers struggle with an uncertain farm economy, FRSAN is now more critical than ever.”

    “We are grateful to Representatives Randy Feenstra and Angie Craig for reaffirming the clear and present need for increased funding of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance network. Many reasons exist for ongoing farm stress and mental health challenges for farmers and farm workers. Continued FRSAN funding is essential to ensure critical support services and programming reach populations where the need is great, and resources are often limited,” said David Howard, Policy Development Director at Young Farmers.

    “Farming can be incredibly stressful, and too many rural communities still don’t have the mental health support they need,” said Rob Larew, President of National Farmers Union. “The Farmers First Act will help get essential resources to farmers who are struggling. We thank Representatives Feenstra and Craig and Senators Baldwin and Ernst for leading the charge and urge Congress to reauthorize FRSAN with increased funding.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –