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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian retailers are seeing a surge in domestic sales amid the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Melise Panetta, Lecturer of Marketing in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

    In recent months, the “Buy Canadian” movement has gained significant momentum, driven by a collective push to support domestic products and services, strengthen local businesses and reduce reliance on foreign imports.

    Escalating trade tensions and tariff disputes with the United States and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Canada have played a pivotal role in fuelling this shift toward economic nationalism.

    Though still in its early stages, the movement has already gained strong support from Canadians, with both consumers and businesses prioritizing homegrown products to strengthen the local economy.

    Early results are promising

    The “Buy Canadian” movement is already delivering promising results across the retail sector. Major retailers such as Loblaws Companies have reported a 10 per cent increase in sales of Canadian-made products. Sobey’s parent company Empire also noted a decline in sales of U.S.-sourced goods.

    Importantly, the shift isn’t limited to big retailers or headline product categories. Smaller retailers and established brands are also seeing tangible benefits.

    Ice cream producer Chapman’s, long known for its strong Canadian brand identity, has seen a 10 per cent increase in sales. E-commerce platform giant Shopify has reported a spike in sales for Canadian merchants across a long list of categories including mattresses, row boats, ribbons, armchairs and more.

    Some provinces have pulled U.S. alcohol from store shelves to prioritize selling homegrown options, putting Canadian wineries, breweries and distillers in a position to grow substantially.

    Though more data will emerge in the months ahead, early indications show that Canadians are backing the “Buy Canadian” movement not just in spirit, but with their wallets.

    Helping Canadians choose Canadian

    One of the most noticeable effects of the “Buy Canadian” campaign has been a nationwide effort to make it easier for consumers to identify Canadian-made products.

    Demand for clear labelling has surged, prompting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to issue a notice to industry urging producers to improve transparency.

    Consumers are becoming increasingly proactive in educating themselves, with searches for “Buy Canadian” related terms skyrocketing in the past few months. Websites such as Madeinca.ca have seen a large uptick in traffic, peaking at 100,000 visits in a single day.

    Retailers have been offering more in-store and online signage highlighting Canadian products. Loblaws has introduced a “Swap & Shop” tool in its Optimum app that helps users find Canadian-made alternatives for items on their shopping list. It has seen a 75 per cent week-over-week growth.

    Home improvement retailer RONA has launched the “Well Made Here” campaign that provides staff training and partners with non-profits to educate consumers about Canadian-made alternatives.

    Celebrity endorsements have also amplified the movement. Actor and comedian Mike Myers showcased the colloquial expression “elbows up” on Saturday Night Live, while Michael Bublé used his platform at the Juno Awards to deliver the message that “Canada is not for sale.”

    #TheMoment ‘Elbows Up’ became a rally cry against Trump (CBC News).

    Pushing the movement forward

    Consumers have been turning to social media to further propel the Buy Canadian movement. Hashtags like #ShopLocalCanada and #MadeInCanada have gained significant traction, with nearly three million posts across major social media channels Facebook and Instagram.

    A newly launched web browser plug-in called Support Canadian is also gaining attention. It works by bringing Canadian products to the top of search results on retailers such as Amazon. In its first week, it attracted 500 users. Although these numbers may appear small, early analytics suggest it could keep over a million dollars inside the Canadian economy.

    Mobile apps designed to help consumers determine the origin of their purchases are gaining popularity. The BuyBeaver app, which crowd-sources product origins, reached 100,000 downloads in just five weeks.

    Meanwhile, OScanAda, which uses AI and barcode scanning to provide detailed insights into Canadian ownership and sourcing, has been downloaded 160,000 times. MapleScan, which currently is ranked second in the shopping category on the Apple App Store, uses AI to scan products and suggest Canadian alternatives.

    Brands are leveraging their Canadian roots

    In response to growing national sentiment, a number of Canadian brands are using marketing strategies to underscore their national identity for consumers.

    Kicking Horse Coffee, for example, has humorously rebranded the Americano as the “Canadiano” in a nod to Canadian pride. Black Diamond recently launched a campaign with the cheeky tagline “Made with 0% American Cheese.”

    Meanwhile, Moosehead Brewery has launched a limited-edition “Presidential Pack” containing 1,961 beers — one for each day of the U.S. presidential term.

    Other companies have modified existing campaigns to better align with the movement. Sobeys recently debuted a new “So Canadian” campaign, a new iteration of its long-running “So.be.it.” campaign.

    Healthy Planet has expanded its #Healthyplanetswap campaign to include #HealthyCanadianSwap, which focuses on providing domestically sourced options.

    Whether through packaging that clearly marks country of origin or marketing campaigns that play on national pride, Canadian brands are leveraging their national identity to resonate with consumers.

    A smart choice in uncertain times

    The early momentum behind the Buy Canadian movement is promising. While Canada was largely spared from Trump’s most recent tariffs under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy and broader global tensions make it more important than ever to build long-term economic resilience at home.

    The early days of the movement show a strong desire among Canadians to support local industries, protect jobs and reinforce national self-sufficiency. Even as higher costs and global disruptions remain real challenges, buying Canadian serves as both a practical and symbolic choice, one that reduces dependency on volatile foreign markets and strengthens the domestic economy.

    This is a pivotal moment. The foundations of the movement are in place, and its early success is encouraging. For the “Buy Canadian” effort to have lasting impact, it needs sustained commitment from consumers, businesses and policymakers alike.

    By continuing to prioritize homegrown goods and services, Canadians can help shield their economy from future shocks and chart a more independent, stable path forward.

    Melise Panetta 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. Canadian retailers are seeing a surge in domestic sales amid the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement – https://theconversation.com/canadian-retailers-are-seeing-a-surge-in-domestic-sales-amid-the-buy-canadian-movement-253502

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Science Launching on SpaceX’s 32nd Cargo Resupply Mission to the Space Station

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Experiments focused on vision-based navigation, spacecraft air quality, materials for drug and product manufacturing, and advancing plant growth with less reliance on photosynthesis are bound for the International Space Station via the NASA and SpaceX 32nd commercial resupply services mission.

    More: https://go.nasa.gov/42EIrfi

    Credit: NASA
    Producer: Nicole Rose
    Music: Universal Production Music

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4841piONzVk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: VA Housekeeper assists a Veteran in crisis: I CARE in Action

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    VA Employee Kelvin Salmon in Orlando, Florida demonstrates I CARE in action by putting Veterans first in everything we do.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVc054ROBzM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Have We Been to Uranus? We Asked a NASA Expert

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Have We Ever Been to Uranus? In 1986, NASA’s Voyager 2 gave us our first and only close-up look at this ice giant. What it found was a bizarre, tilted world with extreme seasons, swirling methane clouds, narrow dusty rings and icy moons that could even hide oceans beneath their crusts.

    Not only could Uranus hold clues about our own solar system but also the many similar-sized planets found throughout the galaxy.

    A NASA scientist explains why Uranus is worth a second visit. Explore more about Uranus: https://science.nasa.gov/uranus/

    Producers: Scott Bednar, Pedro Cota, Jessie Wilde
    Editor: Daniel Salazar

    Download Video: https://images.nasa.gov/details/Have%20We%20Been%20to%20Uranus

    Credit: NASA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzNAWw9EerQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: After A Flood Ready PSA

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    As flood water recedes, the danger can still be left behind. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.
    Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
    For more information on how to stay safe visit Ready.gov/floods

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPwdXz3983A

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: During A Flood Ready PSA

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    You never know how deep flood waters actually are or what could be underneath. Hidden below the water, roads can be compromised or even fully washed away. Please don’t risk your life by driving into flood waters! Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

    For more information on how to stay safe visit Ready.gov/floods

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn6dEBDxC7E

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Before A Flood Ready PSA

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Floods are the most common disaster in the United States. It is important to make a plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from flooding. Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash flood response. Gather supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if services are cut off in your area.
    For more information on how to stay safe visit Ready.gov/floods

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBsyMcfDeQ0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office Press Conference

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons and Deputy Director Madison Sheahan announce the relaunch of the VOICE Office during a press conference April 9 at 1:30 p.m.

    Families who have lost loved ones at the hands of criminal aliens will also speak during the event.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsSxXcJOz6c

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hinson: Illegal Immigrants Should Never Vote in U.S. Elections

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-01)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) released the following statement after voting for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation she cosponsored that prevents noncitizens from registering to vote in U.S. federal elections.

    “Voting in our elections is a sacred right for American citizens. After years of Biden allowing millions of illegal aliens into our country, Democrats are trying to maintain loopholes that allow illegal immigrants to register to vote. We must fight back against this transparent political ploy and sign the SAVE Act into law to protect the integrity of our elections.” – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

    Background:

    The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act will prevent illegal immigrants and non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections by:

    • Requiring state election officials to ask about citizenship before providing voter registration forms.
    • Requiring an individual to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections.
    • Expanding the variety of documents accepted by state election officials to allow a citizen to register to vote.
    • Providing state election officials with access to federal agency databases to confirm citizenship and remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
    • Requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to notify state chief election officials of recently naturalized citizens and directing DHS to remove noncitizens who are registered to vote.

    For individuals who need to update their documentation to reflect a name change, the SAVE Act explicitly directs states to establish a process for them to register to vote, irrespective of those discrepancies. Like other areas of the law, citizens will be able to use combinations of existing identification documents, certificates of birth from the state, and other similar documentation to demonstrate citizenship. No one will be left unable to register to vote due to a name change.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sherrill Votes NO on Republican Budget Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement after voting against House Republicans’ extreme budget resolution that will strip access to Medicaid and food assistance while giving tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy:

    “Today, I once again voted against Republicans’ outrageous budget resolution that will threaten Medicaid access for nearly two million New Jerseyans — including one in three New Jersey children — eliminate critical food assistance as the price of groceries rise, and strip funding from New Jersey’s public schools.

    “At the same time, this budget adds trillions to our national debt by giving massive tax breaks to billionaires like Trump and Musk — paid for by hardworking New Jersey taxpayers. This disastrous bill is neither government efficiency nor fiscal responsibility.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Davis, Moore, Moore, Feenstra, Bacon, Kamlager-Dove, and Aderholt Champion Bipartisan Legislation to Help Children Find Permanent Families via Adoption

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    The bill helps more children join permanent, loving families by removing income as a barrier to adoption.

     

    Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, April 10, 2025, Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Blake Moore (R-UT), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and Robert Aderholt (R-AL) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025. The legislation would help children find permanent, loving families by removing income as a barrier to adoption.  Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will introduce companion legislation in the Senate. 

    The Adoption Tax Credit helps families offset some of the costs of adoption, especially for children with special needs. Currently, the tax credit disadvantages low- and middle-income families, in particular families with annual incomes between $30,000 to $50,000.  This inequity is problematic given that approximately half of youth adopted from foster care live in families with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; thus, the credit inadvertently creates barriers to permanency for a substantial number of families.  During the Great Recession, Congress allowed families to receive the Adoption Tax Credit if the credit exceeded their tax liability recognizing that the economic hardship could prevent families from adopting or exact a heavy financial toll from families choosing adoption.  The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025 would again make this credit refundable to remove income as a barrier to adoption to help more children join permanent, loving families.

    “The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act reflects common-sense federal policy,” said Rep. Davis. “It strengthens families, removes income as a barrier to adoption, and helps vulnerable children join permanent, loving families.  Former foster youth represent the majority of children adopted by families earning less than 200 percent of the poverty level.  This bill will make a critical difference in the ability of lower and middle-income families to adopt. I am proud to work across the aisle to improve the Adoption Tax Credit to better help more children and families benefit.”

    “Even before joining Congress, I have been committed to supporting and engaging with the adoption community in Utah,” said Rep. Moore (UT). “In learning more about their priorities and challenges, it is clear that many families cannot adopt due to financial barriers. I am proud to co-lead the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act as we seek to alleviate these hurdles. This bipartisan bill will make the adoption tax credit fully refundable so that low- and middle-income families can receive the full value of the credit, making it easier for them to open their homes to children in need of forever families.”

    “This bipartisan legislation can offer support that helps transform the lives of countless children and families,” said Rep. Gwen Moore. “By permanently reinstating the refundability of the Adoption Tax Credit, we help lower financial barriers to placing children in loving families permanently and we also ensure that more families, including low and middle-income families, can fully benefit from this credit. With this bill, we can pave the way for more children who have already suffered much to find permanent homes. I am honored to partner with my colleagues, including my fellow-cochairs on the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth.”

    “As a father of four, I believe that every child deserves a loving home and that we should encourage families to adopt. That means that Iowans who want to adopt but do not have the financial resources to do so should not be prevented from making additions to their families – they should be supported,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m glad to work with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to make the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable so that families can adopt without facing costly financial barriers. To keep our communities strong, we need to invest in our families and help every child find a permanent, loving home.”

    “For years, income has become a roadblock for many families wishing to adopt,” said Rep. Bacon. “As co-chair of the Foster Youth Caucus and an adoptive parent myself, I understand the need to remove this barrier by offsetting these burdensome costs. By making the adoption tax credit fully refundable, this bill makes it easier for families to adopt and gives our nation’s youth a safe, loving, and permanent home. I thank my co-leads for their partnership on this common-sense, bipartisan legislation that is desperately needed today.”

    “As a Co-Chair of the Foster Youth Caucus, I am proud to co-lead the reintroduction of the bipartisan Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act with my colleagues,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “Each and every one of our foster youth deserves to have a loving home, and reducing the financial barriers to adoption for low and middle-income families will help ensure this reality. We need more commonsense efforts like this to reform our care system and improve outcomes for families and children.”

    “Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a loving, permanent home,” said Rep. Aderholt. “One of the biggest concerns I hear from adoptive parents is the high cost of adoption, which can be overwhelming and discouraging. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act helps make adoption more accessible by easing the financial barriers that too often stand in the way. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to ensure more families can say yes to adoption and more children can find the forever homes they deserve.”

    “Adoption is a true joy for families, but it is not without significant financial cost,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill will make the credit refundable to help all adoptive families access the full amount of the adoption tax credit, regardless of their tax burden. Support for adoptive families is essential to ensure more children find the stable, loving home they deserve.”

    “Minnesotans have a long and proud tradition of adoption to welcome children into safe and loving homes,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will allow more families to access the full adoption tax credit, helping ensure a smooth and successful transition for children and families. As co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I’ll keep working to improve the adoption process and help every child find the permanent home they deserve.”

    The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025 is supported by 98 state, local and national organizations, including:  Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys; Child Welfare League of America; Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (Secretariat of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group); Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption; Families Rising; Generations United; Jewish Children’s Adoption Network; Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois; National Council for Adoption; National Foster Parent Association; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Voice for Adoption; and Youth Villages. 

    Example Statements in Support of the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act

    Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys

    “Restoring refundability to the Adoption Tax Credit will help more families welcome children into loving homes and help secure their futures,” said Deb Guston, Adoption Policy Director of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). “We applaud the leadership of our Adoption Tax Credit champions in Congress in reintroducing legislation on this important issue for children and families.”

    Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute

    “CCAI is proud to serve as the secretariat of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group, a national coalition of nearly 100 organizations committed to making adoption more accessible,” said Kate McLean, Executive Director of CCAI. “As the nonprofit partner of the bipartisan, bicameral Adoption Caucus, we’re grateful for the leadership of Caucus Members, especially Co-Chairs Robert Aderholt, Kevin Cramer, Danny K. Davis, and Amy Klobuchar as well as Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Reps. Blake Moore and Don Bacon, in advancing adoption tax credit refundability and helping remove barriers to permanency.”

    Families Rising

    “This bipartisan legislation stands as a beacon of hope, leveling the playing field and extending a helping hand to lower-income families on par with their middle-income counterparts. It champions the cause of permanency for children transitioning out of the foster care system, enabling them to find loving homes through adoption,” said Ligia Cushman, Chief Executive Officer of Families Rising who emphasizes that “This transformative legislation addresses the stark reality faced by numerous children adopted from foster care. With the introduction of this legislation, a bright and promising future becomes possible for these vulnerable children, as their families are granted the opportunity to access what they need to thrive.”

    National Council For Adoption

    “We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership in making the adoption tax credit available to more families,” said Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of National Council For Adoption. “The cost of adoption should never be a barrier for children to find permanent, loving families, and this legislation ensures we support all families, including lower-income families.”

    Voice for Adoption

    “Many children adopted from foster care are adopted by families at or near the poverty line and they receive little or no assistance under the current tax credit,” said Patrick Lester, Executive Director of Voice for Adoption. “This bipartisan legislation will make adoption possible for many more vulnerable children who need a permanent place to call home.”

    A copy of the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act is here; a summary of the bill is here. 

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    Representatives Davis (IL), Moore (UT), Moore (WI), and Feenstra (IA) are Members of the House Ways and Means Committee with broad jurisdiction over Federal revenue measures.  Representatives Bacon (NE), Kamlager-Dove (CA), and Moore (WI)  are co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth.  Representatives Adherholt and Davis as well as Senators Cramer and Klobuchar co-chair the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Measures Moonlight to Improve Earth Observations

    Source: NASA

    Flying high above the clouds and moon-gazing may sound like a scene from a timeless romance, but NASA did just that in the name of Earth science research. In March 2025 pilots took the agency’s ER-2 science aircraft on a series of night flights over NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, as the Moon increased in visible size. For those few nights, the high-flying plane was converted into a one-of-a-kind airborne lunar observatory.
    The Airborne Lunar Spectral Irradiance, or air-LUSI, mission observed the Moon at different phases and measured the sunlight reflected by the lunar surface. Specifically, the instrument tracks the amount of light reflected at different wavelengths. This information enables scientists to use the Moon as a calibration tool for Earth-observing sensors.
    As an “absolute reference, the Moon also becomes the perfect benchmark for satellites to consistently and accurately measure processes on Earth,” said Kevin Turpie, air-LUSI’s principal investigator and a researcher based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. This helps scientists to improve the precision of many different measurements, including data on weather patterns, vegetation growth, and ocean conditions.
    As the highest-flying platform for airborne science, the ER-2 can fly the air-LUSI instrument in the stratosphere, above 95% of the atmosphere. Data collected at an altitude nearing 70,000 feet are highly accurate because the air is predominantly clear of the gases and particles found in the lower atmosphere that can interfere with measurements.

    “To date, air-LUSI measurements of the Moon are the most accurate ever made,” said Kelsey Bisson, the NASA program scientist supporting the mission. “Air-LUSI data can advance our ability to understand the Earth and our weather, and they provide a new way to calibrate satellites that can result in cost savings.”
    The quality of these data has transformative implications for satellite and Earth observing systems. The improved accuracy and enhanced ability provided by air-LUSI data flown on the ER-2 reduces the need for onboard reference devices, effectually cutting satellite costs.
    The air-LUSI project is a collaboration between scientists and engineers from NASA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and McMaster University in Ontario.

    “The collective effort of the American and Canadian team members offers an opportunity for truly exciting engineering and science collaboration,” said Andrew Gadsden, associate professor and associate chair for graduate studies in mechanical engineering at McMaster University, and co-investigator on the air-LUSI project. The McMaster team developed the Autonomous Robotic Telescope Mount Instrument System and High-Altitude Aircraft Mounted Robotic (HAAMR) telescope mount, which support the air-LUSI system.

    The HAAMR telescope mount was integrated onto the ER-2 and flown for the first time during the science flights in March. This new lunar tracking system is contributing to what John Woodward IV, co-investigator for air-LUSI, called the “highest accuracy measurements” of moonlight. To improve Earth observation technology, air-LUSI represents an important evolutionary step.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Have We Been to Uranus? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 56

    Source: NASA

    [embedded content]

    Have we ever been to Uranus?
    The answer is simple, yes, but only once. The Voyager II spacecraft flew by the planet Uranus back in 1986, during a golden era when the Voyager spacecraft explored all four giant planets of our solar system. It revealed an extreme world, a planet that had been bowled over onto its side by some extreme cataclysm early in the formation of the solar system.
    That means that its seasons and its magnetic field get exposed to the most dramatic seasonal variability of any place that we know of in the solar system. The atmosphere was a churning system made of methane and hydrogen and water, with methane clouds showing up as white against the bluer background of the planet itself.
    The densely packed ring system is host to a number of very fine, narrow and dusty rings surrounded by a collection of icy satellites. And those satellites may harbor deep, dark, hidden oceans beneath an icy crust of water ice.
    Taken together, this extreme and exciting system is somewhere that we simply must go back to explore and hopefully in the next one to two decades NASA and the European Space Agency will mount an ambitious mission to go out there and explore the Uranian system. It’s important not just for solar system science, but also for the growing field of exoplanet science. As planets of this particular size, the size of Uranus, about four times wider than planet Earth, seem to be commonplace throughout our galaxy.
    So how have we been to Uranus? Yes, but it’s time that we went back.
    [END VIDEO TRANSCRIPT]
    Full Episode List
    Full YouTube Playlist

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Linear Sand Dunes in the Great Sandy Desert

    Source: NASA

    On March 25, 2013, an astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photo of the Great Sandy Desert in northwest Australia, showcasing linear dunes separated in a roughly regular fashion. When you fly over such dune fields—either in an airplane or the space station—the fire scars stand out. Where thin vegetation has been burned, the dunes appear red from the underlying sand; dunes appear darker where the vegetation remains.
    Strings of narrow lakes that represent ancient rivers are also present in the region. The white feature down the center of the image is Lake Auld. The color is the result of a cemented combination of fine, clay-like sediment and salts from the evaporation of flood waters that occasionally fill the lake. Linear dunes can be seen entering Lake Auld on the east side. During flooding events, the sand of the dune noses is dispersed, becoming incorporated into the muds and salts of the lake floor sediments. During the long, intervening dry periods, sand can blow across the lake floor to build thinner, smaller dunes, visible as linear accumulations on the west side of the lake.
    See more photos taken by astronauts.
    Text credit: NASA/M. Justin Wilkinson
    Image credit: NASA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Webb’s Autopsy of Planet Swallowed by Star Yields Surprise

    Source: NASA

    Observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have provided a surprising twist in the narrative surrounding what is believed to be the first star observed in the act of swallowing a planet. The new findings suggest that the star actually did not swell to envelop a planet as previously hypothesized. Instead, Webb’s observations show the planet’s orbit shrank over time, slowly bringing the planet closer to its demise until it was engulfed in full.
    “Because this is such a novel event, we didn’t quite know what to expect when we decided to point this telescope in its direction,” said Ryan Lau, lead author of the new paper and astronomer at NSF NOIRLab (National Science Foundation National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory) in Tuscon, Arizona. “With its high-resolution look in the infrared, we are learning valuable insights about the final fates of planetary systems, possibly including our own.”
    Two instruments aboard Webb conducted the post-mortem of the scene – Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) and NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph). The researchers were able to come to their conclusion using a two-pronged investigative approach.

    The star at the center of this scene is located in the Milky Way galaxy about 12,000 light-years away from Earth.
    The brightening event, formally called ZTF SLRN-2020, was originally spotted as a flash of optical light using the Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego, California. Data from NASA’s NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) showed the star actually brightened in the infrared a year before the optical light flash, hinting at the presence of dust. This initial 2023 investigation led researchers to believe that the star was more Sun-like, and had been in the process of aging into a red giant over hundreds of thousands of years, slowly expanding as it exhausted its hydrogen fuel.
    However, Webb’s MIRI told a different story. With powerful sensitivity and spatial resolution, Webb was able to precisely measure the hidden emission from the star and its immediate surroundings, which lie in a very crowded region of space. The researchers found the star was not as bright as it should have been if it had evolved into a red giant, indicating there was no swelling to engulf the planet as once thought.

    Researchers suggest that, at one point, the planet was about Jupiter-sized, but orbited quite close to the star, even closer than Mercury’s orbit around our Sun. Over millions of years, the planet orbited closer and closer to the star, leading to the catastrophic consequence.
    “The planet eventually started to graze the star’s atmosphere. Then it was a runaway process of falling in faster from that moment,” said team member Morgan MacLeod of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “The planet, as it’s falling in, started to sort of smear around the star.”
    In its final splashdown, the planet would have blasted gas away from the outer layers of the star. As it expanded and cooled off, the heavy elements in this gas condensed into cold dust over the next year.

    While the researchers did expect an expanding cloud of cooler dust around the star, a look with the powerful NIRSpec revealed a hot circumstellar disk of molecular gas closer in. Furthermore, Webb’s high spectral resolution was able to detect certain molecules in this accretion disk, including carbon monoxide.
    “With such a transformative telescope like Webb, it was hard for me to have any expectations of what we’d find in the immediate surroundings of the star,” said Colette Salyk of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, an exoplanet researcher and co-author on the new paper. “I will say, I could not have expected seeing what has the characteristics of a planet-forming region, even though planets are not forming here, in the aftermath of an engulfment.”
    The ability to characterize this gas opens more questions for researchers about what actually happened once the planet was fully swallowed by the star.
    “This is truly the precipice of studying these events. This is the only one we’ve observed in action, and this is the best detection of the aftermath after things have settled back down,” Lau said. “We hope this is just the start of our sample.”
    These observations, taken under Guaranteed Time Observation program 1240, which was specifically designed to investigate a family of mysterious, sudden, infrared brightening events, were among the first Target of Opportunity programs performed by Webb. These types of study are reserved for events, like supernova explosions, that are expected to occur, but researchers don’t exactly know when or where. NASA’s space telescopes are part of a growing, international network that stands ready to witness these fleeting changes, to help us understand how the universe works.
    Researchers expect to add to their sample and identify future events like this using the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory and NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will survey large areas of the sky repeatedly to look for changes over time.
    The team’s findings appear today in The Astrophysical Journal.
    The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
    To learn more about Webb, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/webb
    Downloads
    Click any image to open a larger version.
    View/Download all image products at all resolutions for this article from the Space Telescope Science Institute.
    View/Download the science paper from the The Astrophysical Journal.

    Laura Betz – laura.e.betz@nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
    Hannah Braun – hbraun@stsci.eduSpace Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.

    Read more about Webb’s impact on exoplanet research
    Video: How to Study Exoplanets
    Learn more about exoplanets
    More Webb News
    More Webb Images
    Webb Science Themes
    Webb Mission Page

    What is the Webb Telescope?
    SpacePlace for Kids
    En Español
    Ciencia de la NASA
    NASA en español 
    Space Place para niños

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Station Nation: Meet Nick Kopp, SpaceX Dragon Flight Lead 

    Source: NASA

    Nick Kopp is a Dragon flight lead in the Transportation Integration Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston. He is currently leading NASA’s efforts to prepare, launch, and return the agency’s 32nd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission. He works directly with SpaceX and collaborates with NASA’s many internal, external, and international partners to ensure the success of this and other cargo missions to the International Space Station. 
    Read on to learn about his career with NASA and more! 

    Nick Kopp
    Transportation Integration Office Flight Lead

    Where are you from? 
    I am from Cleveland, Ohio. 
    Tell us about your role at NASA.  
    I work directly with SpaceX to ensure the Dragon cargo spacecraft meets NASA’s requirements to visit the space station. I also collaborate with NASA’s various partners who are safely flying science investigations and other cargo to and from the space station. For the upcoming flight, I’ve worked extensively with SpaceX to prepare to return the Dragon cargo spacecraft off the coast of California. 
    How would you describe your job to family or friends who may not be familiar with NASA?  
    I’m responsible for getting stuff to and from the International Space Station safely. 
    How long have you been working for NASA?  
    I have been working for NASA for about 15 years at both Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama and Johnson Space Center in Texas. 
    What advice would you give to young individuals aspiring to work in the space industry or at NASA?  
    It takes so many different people with all kinds of different skills working together to make missions happen. I would suggest looking at NASA’s websites to find the skill or task that makes you want to learn more and then focusing your energy into that skill. Surround yourself with people with similar goals. Connect with people in the industry and ask them questions. You are in control of your destiny! 

    What was your path to NASA?  
    I’ve wanted to work at NASA since I was a kid and my grandfather showed me the Moon through his home-built telescope. I studied aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois, where I joined Students for the Exploration and Development of Space and attended a conference at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. I met some folks from the Payload Operations Integration Center and learned of the awesome space station science operations at Marshall. I was lucky enough to be chosen for a contractor job working directly with astronauts on the space station to conduct science experiments! 
    Is there someone in the space, aerospace, or science industry that has motivated or inspired you to work for the space program? Or someone you discovered while working for NASA who inspires you?   
    After working with him from the ground when he was aboard the space station, I was lucky enough to spend many overnight shifts getting to know NASA astronaut and Flight Director TJ Creamer. TJ’s path to NASA and his servant leadership have left an ongoing legacy for people at the agency. His general attitude, extreme competence, friendly demeanor, and genuine care for people around him continue to inspire me every day to become a great leader.   
    What is your favorite NASA memory?  
    My favorite NASA memory is being selected as a payload operations director on the International Space Station Payload Operations and Integration Center flight control team. I looked up to those in this position for 10 years and did everything I could to gather the skills and knowledge I needed to take on the role. I became responsible for the minute-to-minute operations of astronauts conducting science investigations on the space station. I vividly remember the joy I felt learning of the news of my assignment, taking my first shift, my first conversation with an astronaut in space, and the bittersweet decision to leave and continue my career goals at NASA in a different role. 

    What do you love sharing about station? What’s important to get across to general audiences to help them understand the benefits to life on Earth?  
    Although it takes place off the planet, research on the space station is conducted for people on Earth. The time and effort spent building, maintaining, and conducting science on the International Space Station is spent by people in our community and communities around the world to further humanity’s collective understanding of the universe around us. When we understand more about science, we can be more successful. So many people around the planet have had life-changing benefits from experiments that can only be done by people conducting research in microgravity, above the atmosphere, where you can view most of Earth. 
    If you could have dinner with any astronaut, past or present, who would it be?  
    I would have dinner with anyone from the Apollo 13 crew. I’d love to learn how they felt that NASA’s culture drove the outcome of that mission. 
    Do you have a favorite space-related memory or moment that stands out to you?  
    While working a night shift at the operations center in Huntsville, Alabama, we were monitoring payloads returning to Earth on a Dragon cargo spacecraft. We took a quick break outside the control center to watch as the spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere above us on its way to splash down off the coast of Florida. It was a clear night. As the spacecraft flew overhead, we saw the ablative heat shield create a shimmering trail of fire and sparkles that stretched across the whole night sky. It looked as though Tinker Bell just flew over us!   
    What are some of the key projects you’ve worked on during your time at NASA? What have been your favorite?   
    Some of my favorite projects I’ve worked on include: 

    Serving as the International Space Station Program’s representative as flight lead for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission 

    Troubleshooting unexpected results when conducting science on the space station 

    Writing instructions for astronauts filming a virtual reality documentary on the space station 

    Assessing design changes on the Space Launch System rocket’s core stage  

    Managing and training a team of flight controllers 

    Helping NASA move Dragon spacecraft returns from Florida to California 

    What are your hobbies/things you enjoy outside of work?  
    I love playing board games with my wife, sailing, flying, traveling around the world, and learning about leadership and project management theory. 
    Day launch or night launch?   
    The Crew-8 night launch, specifically, where the Falcon 9 booster landed just above me! 
     Favorite space movie?  
    Spaceballs 
    NASA “worm” or “meatball” logo?  
    Meatball 

    Every day, we’re conducting exciting research aboard our orbiting laboratory that will help us explore further into space and bring benefits back to people on Earth. You can keep up with the latest news, videos, and pictures about space station science on the Station Research & Technology news page. It’s a curated hub of space station research digital media from Johnson and other centers and space agencies.  
    Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to get the updates delivered directly to you.  
    Follow updates on social media at @ISS_Research on Twitter, and on the space station accounts on Facebook and Instagram.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Studies Trove of Rocks on Crater Rim

    Source: NASA

    The diversity of rock types along the rim of Jezero Crater offers a wide glimpse of Martian history.
    Scientists with NASA’s Perseverance rover are exploring what they consider a veritable Martian cornucopia full of intriguing rocky outcrops on the rim of Jezero Crater. Studying rocks, boulders, and outcrops helps scientists understand the planet’s history, evolution, and potential for past or present habitability. Since January, the rover has cored five rocks on the rim, sealing samples from three of them in sample tubes. It’s also performed up-close analysis of seven rocks and analyzed another 83 from afar by zapping them with a laser. This is the mission’s fastest science-collection tempo since the rover landed on the Red Planet more than four years ago.
    Perseverance climbed the western wall of Jezero Crater for 3½ months, reaching the rim on Dec. 12, 2024, and is currently exploring a roughly 445-foot-tall (135-meter-tall) slope the science team calls “Witch Hazel Hill.” The diversity of rocks they have found there has gone beyond their expectations.
    “During previous science campaigns in Jezero, it could take several months to find a rock that was significantly different from the last rock we sampled and scientifically unique enough for sampling,” said Perseverance’s project scientist, Katie Stack Morgan of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “But up here on the crater rim, there are new and intriguing rocks everywhere the rover turns. It has been all we had hoped for and more.”

    That’s because Jezero Crater’s western rim contains tons of fragmented once-molten rocks that were knocked out of their subterranean home billions of years ago by one or more meteor impacts, including possibly the one that produced Jezero Crater. Perseverance is finding these formerly underground boulders juxtaposed with well-preserved layered rocks that were “born” billions of years ago on what would become the crater’s rim. And just a short drive away is a boulder showing signs that it was modified by water nestled beside one that saw little water in its past.
    Oldest Sample Yet?
    Perseverance collected its first crater-rim rock sample, named “Silver Mountain,” on Jan. 28. (NASA scientists informally nickname Martian features, including rocks and, separately, rock samples, to help keep track of them.) The rock it came from, called “Shallow Bay,” most likely formed at least 3.9 billion years ago during Mars’ earliest geologic period, the Noachian, and it may have been broken up and recrystallized during an ancient meteor impact.
    About 360 feet (110 meters) away from that sampling site is an outcrop that caught the science team’s eye because it contains igneous minerals crystallized from magma deep in the Martian crust. (Igneous rocks can form deep underground from magma or from volcanic activity at the surface, and they are excellent record-keepers — particularly because mineral crystals within them preserve details about the precise moment they formed.) But after two coring attempts (on Feb. 4 and Feb. 8) fizzled due to the rock being so crumbly, the rover drove about 520 feet (160 meters) northwest to another scientifically intriguing rock, dubbed “Tablelands.”
    Data from the rover’s instruments indicates that Tablelands is made almost entirely of serpentine minerals, which form when large amounts of water react with iron- and magnesium-bearing minerals in igneous rock. During this process, called serpentinization, the rock’s original structure and mineralogy change, often causing it to expand and fracture. Byproducts of the process sometimes include hydrogen gas, which can lead to the generation of methane in the presence of carbon dioxide. On Earth, such rocks can support microbial communities.
    Coring Tablelands went smoothly. But sealing it became an engineering challenge.

    Flick Maneuver
    “This happened once before, when there was enough powdered rock at the top of the tube that it interfered with getting a perfect seal,” said Kyle Kaplan, a robotics engineer at JPL. “For Tablelands, we pulled out all the stops. Over 13 sols,” or Martian days, “we used a tool to brush out the top of the tube 33 times and made eight sealing attempts. We even flicked it a second time.”
    During a flick maneuver, the sample handling arm — a little robotic arm in the rover’s belly — presses the tube against a wall inside the rover, then pulls the tube away, causing it to vibrate. On March 2, the combination of flicks and brushings cleaned the tube’s top opening enough for Perseverance to seal and store the serpentine-laden rock sample. 
    Eight days later, the rover had no issues sealing its third rim sample, from a rock called “Main River.” The alternating bright and dark bands on the rock were like nothing the science team had seen before.
    Up Next
    Following the collection of the Main River sample, the rover has continued exploring Witch Hazel Hill, analyzing three more rocky outcrops (“Sally’s Cove,” “Dennis Pond,” and “Mount Pearl”). And the team isn’t done yet.  
    “The last four months have been a whirlwind for the science team, and we still feel that Witch Hazel Hill has more to tell us,” said Stack. “We’ll use all the rover data gathered recently to decide if and where to collect the next sample from the crater rim. Crater rims — you gotta love ’em.”
    More About Perseverance
    A key objective for Perseverance’s mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover is characterizing the planet’s geology and past climate, to help pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet and is the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith.
    NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program, in cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency), is designed to send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis.
    The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio and the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.
    NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover.
    For more about Perseverance:

    Mars 2020: Perseverance Rover

    News Media Contacts
    DC AgleJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-393-9011agle@jpl.nasa.gov
    Karen Fox / Molly WasserNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov  
    2025-051

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s SpaceX 32nd Resupply Mission Launches New Research to Station

    Source: NASA

    [embedded content]

    NASA and SpaceX are launching the company’s 32nd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station later this month, bringing a host of new research to the orbiting laboratory. Aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft are experiments focused on vision-based navigation, spacecraft air quality, materials for drug and product manufacturing, and advancing plant growth with less reliance on photosynthesis.
    This and other research conducted aboard the space station advances future space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars, and provides many benefits to humanity.
    Investigations traveling to the space station include:

    Smartphone Video Guidance Sensor-2 (SVGS-2) uses the space station’s Astrobee robots to demonstrate using a vision-based sensor developed by NASA to control a formation flight of small satellites. Based on a previous in-space demonstration of the technology, this investigation is designed to refine the maneuvers of multiple robots and integrate the information with spacecraft systems.
    Potential benefits of this technology include improved accuracy and reliability of systems for guidance, navigation, and control that could be applied to docking crewed spacecraft in orbit and remotely operating multiple robots on the lunar or Martian surface.

    During spaceflight, especially long-duration missions, concentrations of airborne particles must be kept within ranges safe for crew health and hardware performance. The Aerosol Monitors investigation tests three different air quality monitors in space to determine which is best suited to protect crew health and ensure mission success. The investigation also tests a device for distinguishing between smoke and dust. Aboard the space station, the presence of dust can cause false smoke alarms that require crew member response. Reducing false alarms could save valuable crew time while continuing to protect astronaut safety.

    The DNA Nano Therapeutics-Mission 2 produces a special type of molecule formed by DNA-inspired, customizable building blocks known as Janus base nanomaterials. It also evaluates how well the materials reduce joint inflammation and whether they can help regenerate cartilage lost due to arthritis. These materials are less toxic, more stable, and more compatible with living tissues than current drug delivery technologies.
    Environmental influences such as gravity can affect the quality of these materials and delivery systems. In microgravity, they are larger and have greater uniformity and structural integrity. This investigation could help identify the best formulations and methods for cost-effective in-space production. These nanomaterials also could be used to create novel systems targeting therapy delivery that improves patient outcomes with fewer side effects.

    The newest Industrial Crystallization Cassette (ADSEP-ICC) investigation adds capabilities to an existing protein crystallization facility. The cassette can process more sample types, including tiny gold particles used in devices that detect cancer and other diseases or in targeted drug delivery systems. Microgravity makes it possible to produce larger and more uniform gold particles, which improves their use in research and real-life applications of technologies related to human health.

    Rhodium USAFA NIGHT examines how tomato plants respond to microgravity and whether a carbon dioxide replacement can reduce how much space-grown plants depend on photosynthesis. Because photosynthesis needs light, which requires spacecraft power to generate, alternatives would reduce energy use. The investigation also examines whether using supplements increases plant growth on the space station, which has been observed in preflight testing on Earth. In future plant production facilities aboard spacecraft or on celestial bodies, supplements could come from available organic materials such as waste.
    Understanding how plants adapt to microgravity could help grow food during long-duration space missions or harsh environments on Earth.

    An ESA (European Space Agency) investigation, Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES), examines fundamental physics concepts such as Einstein’s theory of relativity using two next-generation atomic clocks operated in microgravity. Results have applications to scientific measurement studies, the search for dark matter, and fundamental physics research that relies on highly accurate atomic clocks in space. The experiment also tests a technology for synchronizing clocks worldwide using global navigation satellite networks.

    Download high-resolution photos and videos of the research mentioned in this article.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Laurel, McCreary Counties Now Eligible for FEMA Public Assistance

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>FRANKFORT, Ky. – Additional counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky have been added to the major disaster declaration for the FEMA Public Assistance program for Kentucky’s severe storms and flooding in February. 

    Laurel and McCreary counties added for all categories of Public Assistance, including direct federal assistance.

    Commonwealth, local and territorial governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations in these designated counties are eligible for assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Learn more about the Public Assistance program.
    For the latest information about Kentucky’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4860. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Offers Free High School Engineering Program This Summer

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is launching the NASA Glenn High School Engineering Institute this summer. The free, work-based learning experience is designed to help high school students prepare for a future in the aerospace workforce.
    Rising high school juniors and seniors in Northeast Ohio can submit applications for this new, in-person summer program from Friday, April 11, through Friday, May 9.
    The NASA Glenn High School Engineering Institute will immerse students in NASA’s work while providing essential career readiness tools to help them in future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-focused academic and professional pursuits.
    Throughout the five-day institute, students will use authentic NASA mission content and work alongside Glenn’s technical experts to gain a deeper understanding of the engineering design process, develop practical engineering solutions to real-world challenges, and test prototypes to answer questions in key mission areas:

    Acoustic dampening – How can we reduce noise pollution from jet engines?
    Power management and distribution – How can we develop a smart power system for future space stations?
    Simulated lunar operations – Can we invent tires that don’t use air?

    Program DatesSelected students will participate in one of the following week-long sessions.

    Session 1: July 7 – 11, 2025
    Session 2: July 14 – 18, 2025
    Session 3: July 21 – 25, 2025

    Eligibility and Application RequirementsTo be eligible for this program, students must:

    Be entering 11th or 12th grade for the 2025-2026 academic year
    Have a minimum 3.2 GPA, verified by their school counselor
    Submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher

    Additional application requirements are outlined in the Supplemental Application.
    How to Apply:To be considered for this opportunity, complete and submit the NASA Gateway application and the Supplemental Application by Friday May 9.
    Questions pertaining to the NASA Glenn High School Engineering Institute should be directed to Gerald Voltz at GRC-Ed-Opportunities@mail.nasa.gov.
    For information about NASA Glenn, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/glenn
    -end-
    Debbie WelchGlenn Research Center, Cleveland216-433-8655debbie.welch@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pennsylvania State Police Completes Rollout of Body-Worn Cameras Ahead of Schedule, Demonstrating Strong Commitment to Transparency and Accountability in Policing

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 10, 2025 – Harrisburg, PA

    Pennsylvania State Police Completes Rollout of Body-Worn Cameras Ahead of Schedule, Demonstrating Strong Commitment to Transparency and Accountability in Policing

    The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced that patrol troopers at every station across the Commonwealth are now equipped with body-worn cameras to record their public interactions. PSP successfully completed its initiative to outfit troopers with these cameras and to update the mobile video recorders in their patrol vehicles – weeks ahead of schedule.

    “Our ability to maintain efficient operations relies heavily on the trust placed in us by the communities we serve,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “With the completion of our body-worn camera rollout, we aim to strengthen that trust by documenting our public interactions and demonstrating our commitment to transparency, accountability, and respectful police services.”

    PSP’s initiative involved outfitting more than 3,000 troopers whose assignments are spread across 89 stations within 16 troops with body-worn cameras. The initiative additionally upgraded the mobile video recorders in more than 1,400 patrol vehicles.

    Speakers Include:
    Sgt. Logan Brouse
    Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Shapiro at the Port of Philadelphia: New Tariffs Causing Chaos, Uncertainty, and Higher Prices for Pennsylvania Consumers and Businesses

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 10, 2025 – Philadelphia, PA

    Governor Shapiro at the Port of Philadelphia: New Tariffs Causing Chaos, Uncertainty, and Higher Prices for Pennsylvania Consumers and Businesses

    Governor Josh Shapiro visited the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) to hear directly from port leaders, businesses, and workers about how new federal tariffs are injecting chaos and uncertainty into their work and raising costs for consumers across the Commonwealth. The Governor’s visit comes as new federal tariffs – the highest in 100 years – disrupt supply chains and raise prices on everything from fruit and produce to cars, electronics, and cocoa.

    PhilaPort is the largest port in the U.S. for imported fruit and a major gateway for goods entering the country, supporting 12,000 jobs locally and 66,000 maritime jobs statewide. Last year, the Port accounted for $3.2 billion in fruit imports – more than any other American port and 20 percent of all U.S. food imports – and is a global leader in the import of food products, cars, meat, cocoa, and steel. Pennsylvania is also home to two other ports – Pittsburgh and Erie – that support international trade.

    “Tariffs are taxes – and they’re going to make everything from fresh fruit to chocolate to auto parts more expensive for Pennsylvanians,” said Governor Shapiro. “While Washington drives up prices and makes it harder for our businesses to compete, my Administration is focused on cutting costs, growing our economy, and making smart, strategic investments to show Pennsylvania is open for business. The President may have announced changes to his tariffs yesterday – but despite the chaos and confusion, the reality is this: the tariffs

    List of Speakers:
    Michael Pearson, Chairman of PhilaPort
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Daniel Duffy, a crane operator with 27 years of experience at PhilaPort and a member of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1291
    Leo Holt, President of Holt Logistics;
    Representative Ed Neilson

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California’s Jobs First regional plans recognized by federal government, creating new opportunities for state economic investment and coordination

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 10, 2025

    What you need to know: The U.S. Economic Development Administration formally accepted all 13 Jobs First regional plans as Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies, allowing communities across California to accelerate local economic investment.

    SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Newsom and the California Jobs First Council Co-Chairs announced that the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) has formally accepted all thirteen Jobs First regional plans as Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). This acceptance marks the first time in California’s history that all 482 cities, 58 counties and every community have a federally recognized strategy, creating new opportunities to attract and leverage investments in the implementation of these plans. 

    “This is a significant milestone for communities up and down the Golden State – giving our regional partners access to additional federal funds, in addition to state, private, and philanthropic resources, that will help us grow and strengthen California’s world-leading economy. This is the Jobs First vision of an inclusive, bottom-up economic development strategy come to life.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The U.S. EDA, along with many other federal agencies, requires an approved CEDS for communities to be eligible for funding from a wide variety of programs that promote economic, infrastructure, and workforce development. The approval of these plans also positions California’s regions to further advocate for financial resources from many funders, including philanthropy, private investors, Community Development Financial Institutions, and Community Reinvestment Act bankers.

    “Over the past two and a half years, communities have worked tirelessly to develop these regional plans, and this acceptance is a major accomplishment that comes at just the right time as we pivot from planning into action,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. “We look forward to supporting our regional partners as they work to attract more investment and economic activity to their communities in the coming years.”

    In 2022, California invested $5 million into each of the thirteen Jobs First entities, to establish collaboratives made up of a variety of stakeholders including local governments, business and labor leaders, environmental justice advocates, workforce professionals, and more. These collaboratives then developed region-specific, data-driven, community-led economic development strategies focused on creating good-paying, accessible jobs and sustainable growth. 

    These thirteen strategies laid the foundation of the statewide Blueprint and marked the first time that California had ever made this type of investment to promote regions-up economic planning, clearing the way for newfound regional and cross-regional collaboration.

    “Having led the development of local and regional CEDS across California, I can attest first-hand how incredible it is for all our communities to have received this acknowledgement,” said Stewart Knox, Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development. “Now, it’s time for us to get to work on making sure these new opportunities result in good-paying jobs up and down the state.”
     

    California’s Economic Blueprint

    These approvals are a direct result of the recently released  California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, a statewide plan built with input from thirteen regional strategies to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation, and access to good-paying jobs over the next decade.

    Made up of ten strategic industry sectors, this framework will help streamline the state’s economic, business, and workforce development programs to create more jobs, faster. The state’s thirteen economic regions engaged more than 10,000 local residents and experts who collectively identified these sectors as key to driving local economies into the future.

    California’s economic dominance

    California remains the fifth-largest economy in the world. With an increasing state population and record-high tourism spending, California is the nation’s top state for new business starts, access to venture capital funding, and manufacturing, high-tech, and agriculture.
     

    Learn more

    More information about California Jobs First and the Economic Blueprint can be found here. For ongoing updates, follow California Jobs First on LinkedIn and X.

    Recent news

    Apr 10, 2025

    News What you need to know: More than 500 critical restoration projects have been fast-tracked in recent years thanks to California’s ‘Cutting Green Tape’ program. SACRAMENTO – California is making it faster, easier, and more affordable to launch environmental…

    Apr 10, 2025

    News What you need to know: California officials continue to protect consumers and support the legal cannabis market through operations to seize 212,681 illegal cannabis plants worth $316 million. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that officials have…

    Apr 9, 2025

    News What you need to know: As Washington, D.C. keeps changing the rules, California is standing strong as a steady and reliable international economic partner. SACRAMENTO – As President Trump’s economic agenda disrupts the national economy, sends markets spiraling,…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California cuts ‘green tape’: 500+ fast-tracked projects have restored nearly 200,000 acres and improved 700 miles of streams

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 10, 2025

    What you need to know: More than 500 critical restoration projects have been fast-tracked in recent years thanks to California’s ‘Cutting Green Tape’ program.

    SACRAMENTO – California is making it faster, easier, and more affordable to launch environmental restoration projects across the state, thanks to a program the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife established in 2021 called Cutting Green Tape.

    It’s a simple idea: streamline the complex red tape – ‘green tape’ in the case of restoration work – that often delays or blocks habitat restoration projects. Instead of forcing good environmental work to get stuck in paperwork, Cutting Green Tape removes unnecessary barriers and helps important conservation projects get approved more quickly.

    And it’s working.

    Since 2022, the program has helped more than 500 restoration projects move forward by reducing costly delays and making the approval process easier to navigate. These efforts have already contributed to the restoration of nearly 200,000 acres of habitat, the reconnection of 5.5 million acres of land, and the improvement of over 700 miles of California streams. All of these projects are critical for fish, wildlife, and clean water.

    The results speak for themselves: California is proving that cutting red tape and protecting our environment go hand-in-hand. In just the last few years, we’ve cut red tape on more than 500 projects that have restored nearly 200,000 acres of habitat and improved hundreds of miles of streams.

    We’re unleashing projects from being stuck in endless paperwork and bureaucracy – all to support California’s thriving biodiversity.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Why it matters

    By removing red tape, the state is saving time, money, and precious ecosystems. Faster restoration means healthier rivers, cleaner water, stronger fish populations, and better protection against climate impacts like wildfire and drought. It also means public funds and community efforts go further and have a bigger impact.

    CDFW estimates the program has already saved nearly $10 million in permitting costs — savings that go right back into protecting the environment.

    New streamlined permit makes restoration even easier

    Restoration projects require permits from the state to ensure they are environmentally responsible, protect wildlife, and foster abundant ecosystems. In a significant development, CDFW recently issued its first newly expanded Restoration Management Permit (RMP), a streamlined permit that consolidates five of the most common CDFW approvals typically needed for restoration projects into one single permit. This follows legislation – Assembly Bill 1581 (Kalra) – signed by Governor Newsom last September, creating the pathway to establish the fully realized RMP. That means fewer hoops to jump through and faster starts for high-priority projects.

    This first expanded RMP was granted to the San Mateo Resource Conservation District for a project improving fish passage and habitat along Little Butano Creek. This work will create cleaner, more connected streams, which in turn will boost biodiversity and support long-term ecosystem health.

    “Making it faster and easier to approve restoration projects has huge benefits for people and wildlife alike, which is why I’m excited we’ve issued our first restoration permit for the Little Butano Creek Project in the Pescadero watershed,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Now, rather than navigating multiple approvals from the department, we can streamline restoration projects with a single approval process, exponentially cutting down on time and cost. This is a huge benefit for California’s restoration projects, and I anticipate many more streamlined approvals to come.”

    Located along a tributary to Butano Creek in the Pescadero Creek watershed, the goal of the project is to restore fish passage at an existing 15-foot-tall chute. This will increase access to the Little Butano Creek watershed, enabling certain fish to complete their lifecycle and keep these species thriving. The project is expected to enhance approximately 1,000 linear feet of aquatic habitat and 3.52 acres of riparian and wetland habitat for the benefit of coho salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific lamprey, California red-legged frog, southwestern pond turtle, San Francisco garter snake, California giant salamander, Santa Cruz black salamander and San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat.

    “The Restoration Management Permit is a game changer, enabling us to complete high-priority habitat restoration, like the project on Little Butano Creek, much more quickly and cost-effectively in partnership with CDFW,” said Kellyx Nelson, San Mateo RCD Executive Director. 

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Apr 10, 2025

    News What you need to know: California officials continue to protect consumers and support the legal cannabis market through operations to seize 212,681 illegal cannabis plants worth $316 million. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that officials have…

    Apr 9, 2025

    News What you need to know: As Washington, D.C. keeps changing the rules, California is standing strong as a steady and reliable international economic partner. SACRAMENTO – As President Trump’s economic agenda disrupts the national economy, sends markets spiraling,…

    Apr 9, 2025

    News What you need to know: Ridership is up over 40% on the Bay Area’s recently electrified Caltrain, made possible by local, state, and federal investments supporting Governor Newsom’s goal to connect more Californians through sustainable public transportation….

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Since January, California has seized over $316 million in illicit cannabis

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 10, 2025

    What you need to know: California officials continue to protect consumers and support the legal cannabis market through operations to seize 212,681 illegal cannabis plants worth $316 million.

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that officials have seized more than $316 million worth of illegal cannabis and $474,000 in cash since January 2025. Through coordinated enforcement actions with state agency partners and local governments, these efforts build upon the previous work to seize $534 million worth of illegal cannabis in 2024.

    In addition to confiscating 212,681 illicit cannabis plants, officials issued 99 warrants, which resulted in the removal of 35 firearms and 29 arrests.

    “As California’s legal cannabis market expands, we have a responsibility to crack down on the nefarious actors that put public health at risk and undermine the progress we’ve made. Unlicensed, unregulated products threaten consumer safety and jeopardize the integrity of this industry. We’re doubling down on our commitment to protect Californians and lift up the legal cannabis marketplace that so many have worked hard to build.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    These figures represent combined enforcement efforts from the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), the Department of Fish & Wildlife (DFW), the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the California Department of Pesticide Regulations, Torrance Police Department, Alameda District Attorney’s Office, Oakland Police Department, among others, since January.

    California’s regulated cannabis market is the largest in the world, fostering environmental stewardship, compliance-tested products, and fair labor practices, while driving economic growth and funding vital programs in education, public health, and environmental protection. The Department of Cannabis Control recently released a market outlook report that shows prices are stable, industry value is up, and the licensed market is growing.

    A unified strategy across California 

    Since 2019, officials have seized and destroyed over 800 tons, or over 1.7 million pounds, of illegal cannabis worth an estimated retail value of $3.1 billion through over 1,500 operations.

    The cannabis task force was established in 2022 by Governor Newsom to enhance collaboration and enforcement coordination between state, local, and federal partners. Partners on the task force include the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, among others. 

    Protecting California’s consumers

    In September, Governor Newsom announced emergency hemp regulations in response to increasing health incidents related to intoxicating hemp food and beverage products, which state regulators found sold across the state. The new regulations ban any detectable quantity of THC from consumable hemp products to protect youth and mitigate the risk of adverse health effects. The emergency regulations better align the sale of hemp products with certain restrictions currently seen in the California legal cannabis market by limiting serving and package size and establishing a minimum age of 21 to legally purchase industrial hemp food, beverage and dietary products.

    In October, Governor Newsom issued a statement following the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s recent decision to reject the hemp industry’s attempt to block enforcement of the regulations.

    Since the emergency hemp regulations were put in place, agents from California’s Alcoholic Beverage Control have visited 9,251 locations and seized 7,007 hemp products from 141 violators. 

    To learn more about the legal California cannabis market, state licenses, and laws, visit cannabis.ca.gov.

    Recent news

    Apr 9, 2025

    News What you need to know: As Washington, D.C. keeps changing the rules, California is standing strong as a steady and reliable international economic partner. SACRAMENTO – As President Trump’s economic agenda disrupts the national economy, sends markets spiraling,…

    Apr 9, 2025

    News What you need to know: Ridership is up over 40% on the Bay Area’s recently electrified Caltrain, made possible by local, state, and federal investments supporting Governor Newsom’s goal to connect more Californians through sustainable public transportation….

    Apr 9, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom recognizes California’s resources and support for victims of crime during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Sacramento, California – Showing support for survivors and victims of crime and highlighting the resources…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine worth about $4 million at airport (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Hong Kong Customs today (April 10) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 20 kilograms of suspected 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $4 million.

    A 31-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Vancouver, Canada, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine inside her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.

    The investigation is ongoing. 
     
    Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

    Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

    Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

    Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Amicus Brief in Support of Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful Removal of Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general, announced the filing of an amicus brief in Harris v. Bessent in support of Cathy Harris, who is challenging President Donald Trump over her unlawful removal from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order in the case declaring that Chairperson Harris should remain a full member of the MSPB. The federal government appealed the Court’s decision, and the coalition of attorneys general today filed an amicus brief in full support of Chairperson Harris, who is opposing the federal government’s appeal of the district court’s order to reinstate the Chairperson to her position following her unlawful removal.

    “With the President’s continuous attacks on workers’ rights, the Merit Systems Protection Board’s work to safeguard the rights of federal employees is now more critical than ever. Any attempt to undermine the Board’s statutory protections threatens the integrity of the federal workforce and the ability of career public servants to do their jobs, free from political interference,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why I, alongside attorneys general across the nation, fully support Chairperson Harris’ challenge of her unlawful removal and urge the Court to reinstate her position.”

    The MSPB is an independent quasi-judicial body that protects federal merit principles and ensures that they are applied uniformly and fairly. Its primary role is to adjudicate appeals from federal employees who believe they have been subjected to unjust personnel actions, such as wrongful termination, demotion, or whistleblower retaliation. The Board also ensures that employment decisions are based on merit, free from political influence or discrimination.

    In the amicus brief, the attorneys general strongly support the Chairperson’s opposition to the federal government’s appeal and highlight that the President’s removal is unlawful under the terms of the Civil Service Reform Act. Members of the board are only subject to removal for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The attorneys general also underscore the importance of the MSPB, specifically in hearing the appeals of federal employees who may have been denied their employment rights in the federal civil service. Given the current challenges, the Board is particularly critical as thousands of federal employees are being fired under circumstances that may violate civil service protections. Yet without Chairperson Harris, the MSPB lacks a quorum and would effectively cease to operate.

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia in filing this amicus brief.

    A copy of the brief can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Police and security cooperation between Europol and the Dominican Republic – E-001379/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001379/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Javi López (S&D), Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D)

    The fight against organised transnational crime, internal security, and respect for and compliance with the law are objectives shared by the countries of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean. Police cooperation between the two regions is key to ensuring safer societies for our citizens. The cooperation agreements signed by Europol with third countries are of great importance in this regard.

    The Dominican Republic is one of the most stable and safest countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with one of the lowest homicide rates in the entire region and excellent bilateral cooperation on internal security with many European Member States. However, the Dominican Republic and Europol have not signed cooperation agreement, as this would require the country to be declared a ‘country of interest’ by the European Commission (DG HOME).

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to add the Dominican Republic to its list of countries of interest to Europol?
    • 2.What action is being taken in this regard and what progress has been achieved?

    Submitted: 3.4.2025

    Last updated: 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Prospects of EU membership or association status for Canada – E-001336/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001336/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Joachim Streit (Renew)

    Recent international developments clearly show that the EU needs new reliable allies. At the same time, Canada is increasingly becoming the target of the new Trump administration’s attacks on the sovereignty of other states. It seems judicious to consider Canada as a potential candidate for full EU membership or associated membership through the European Economic Area. Moreover, recent surveys show that a large number of Canadians (44-46 %) want to consider joining the Union. A European Union strengthened in this manner would expand its single market, create sales opportunities, facilitate the exchange of goods and services, and be better able to withstand threats of tariffs and global security risks.

    From a cultural and political point of view, Canada can indeed be considered European. It shares the EU’s historical, linguistic and cultural background, performs well on key development indicators and would be able to meet the EU’s Copenhagen criteria.

    • 1.Does the Commission believe that Article 49 TEU, as it stands, can be interpreted in such a way as to allow Canadian membership?
    • 2.Alternatively, if Canada were to apply for membership, would the Commission propose a legal revision of the treaties to make this possible?
    • 3.Does the Commission plan to assess the benefits and possible consequences of Canada’s accession in terms of the EU’s economic competitiveness, standing, and defence and foreign policy positions?

    Submitted: 1.4.2025

    Last updated: 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Leger Fernández Lead New Mexico Delegation in Reintroduction of Legislation to Permanently Protect Chaco Canyon

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján
    New Mexico Delegation Moves to Protect Sacred Site for Years and Generations to Come
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, legislation to protect Chaco Canyon and the greater sacred landscape surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The legislation will prevent future leasing and development of oil, gas, and minerals on non-Indian federal lands within a 10-mile buffer zone around the park. This proposed Chaco Protection Zone will preserve the sacred sites and cultural patrimony within Chaco Canyon and the surrounding landscape for generations to come.
    Located in northwestern New Mexico, the Greater Chaco landscape is a region of great cultural, spiritual, and historical significance to many Pueblos and Tribes that contains living sacred sites. Chaco was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is one of only 24 such sites in the United States.
    In 2023, the Biden administration announced it would commence a 20-year Administrative Withdrawal of non-Indian federal lands in the 10-mile buffer zone. That welcome step has been successful and is still in place but is under threat from the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress. By contrast, this legislation would provide permanent protections for the Greater Chaco Region by withdrawing non-Indian federal lands from new mineral development in perpetuity.
    “Chaco Culture National Historical Park – and the Greater Chaco Region – is one of the world’s greatest treasures that must be protected for our future generations. Chaco holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for Tribes and Pueblos and is one of only a handful of World Heritage Sites in the United States,” said Luján. “With the New Mexico Delegation, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to permanently protect the Greater Chaco Region. This legislation is a longstanding priority for Pueblo and Tribal communities, environmental advocates, and the New Mexico Delegation to ensure we protect our sacred sites. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect Chaco Canyon and the Greater Chaco Region for generations to come.”
    “Chaco Canyon is one of the most important living cultural landscapes on the planet. It holds deep meaning for many communities and Pueblos across New Mexico,” said Heinrich. “Our Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act will prevent new oil and gas development in the vicinity of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and permanently protect the Chaco Canyon landscape. I am proud to stand alongside the Pueblos, Tribal Nations, and New Mexicans who have called for permanent protection of this irreplaceable and sacred landscape.”
    “When we visit Chaco Canyon and the Greater Chaco Region, we better understand America’s ancient history and wisdom about astronomy. It is a sacred area that educates, inspires, and compels us to reflect on our shared history and the communities we love today,” said Leger Fernández. “I am reintroducing the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, along with my colleagues in the New Mexico Congressional Delegation, so that we may preserve this irreplaceable, living landscape that so many Indian Tribes and Pueblos still use for traditional purposes. I will continue to work with surrounding communities and Tribal nations to preserve this jewel of New Mexico so future generations may be humbled by its beauty.”
    “Pueblo and Tribal leaders have fought to protect the sacred and ancestral lands of Chaco Canyon for generations, and the United States government must step up to ensure these lands remain protected,” said Stansbury, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee. “This legislation will protect sacred lands and sites for future generations, but we must not stop here. Protecting places like Chaco Canyon from the Trump Administration takes all of us. I am proud to join Pueblo and Tribal leaders, and the New Mexico delegation to re-introduce this critical piece of legislation.”
    “Chaco Canyon is sacred to Tribal communities and vital to our understanding of the Southwest’s cultural and environmental heritage. I’m proud to stand with leaders across New Mexico to permanently protect this irreplaceable site from future drilling and destruction. We have a responsibility to honor the voices of Indigenous leaders, safeguard our public lands, and preserve Chaco’s legacy for generations to come,” said Vasquez.
    “This legislation reflects the APCG’s long-standing commitment to protect Chaco Canyon and the Greater Chaco Region. Through countless meetings, cultural resource studies, and tireless advocacy, we have guided this effort forward. We extend our profound appreciation to Senator Luján, Representative Leger Fernández, our New Mexico Congressional Delegation, and all who stand with our Pueblos in ensuring these sacred landscapes remain a source of inspiration and cultural continuity for generations to come,” said James R. Mountain, Chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors.
    “As a Diné allottee and community organizer, I welcome the reintroduction of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act as a critical step to defend our land, air, water, and sacred sites. For too long, extractive industries have threatened our health, culture, and future generations. This Act moves us closer to honoring the deep spiritual and cultural significance of Chaco while protecting the integrity of our homelands,” said Joseph Franklin Hernandez, Indigenous Energy Organizer, Naeva, Navajo Nation.
    “We are thankful and grateful for the reintroduction of the Chaco Cultural Heritage Protection Act. This would enhance our connections to the land and tell the generations ahead of the history of ancestral knowledge in astronomy, architecture, and independence. All of this in the time of pillage and extraction, the tourism economy will be enhanced.  To Our Congressional Leaders, you have our vote of endorsement,” said Former Navajo Councilman Daniel Tso.
    To ensure Indian lands and non-federal lands retain rights to develop their lands as the surrounding area is protected, this legislation strengthens protections for infrastructure and development on private, state, and Tribal lands, including Navajo allotments. According to a 2022 federal assessment of the proposed 10-mile buffer zone, only 10 Navajo allotments will be highly impacted by a withdrawal.
    The Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act is supported by the All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG), Archaeology Southwest, Native Lands Institute, New Mexico Wild, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Voices for Children, The Wilderness Society, Conservation Lands Foundation, Environment New Mexico, Sierra Club, and the National Wildlife Federation.
    Other supporting quotes can be found here. 
    A summary of the bill is available here. Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –